Fieldwork
Lichens as bio-indicators of air quality
Lichens and Pollution: A fieldwork activity using lichens as bio-indicators to assess air quality in the local area
Lichens are a common, natural indicator of air quality. They are highly sensitive to subtle changes in environmental conditions, especially air pollution from sulphur dioxide and nitrous compounds. In this fieldwork module, produced by Lisa Bell and aimed at KS3 and GCSE students, comparison is made between contrasting sites in the local area, identifying lichen species and using them as bio-indicators of air quality.