Abstract

GRACIANO, Corina; FERNANDEZ, L V  and  CALDIZ, D O. Tillandsia recurvata L. as a bioindicator of sulfur atmospheric pollution. Ecol. austral [online]. 2003, vol.13, n.1, pp.3-14. ISSN 1667-782X.

Tillandsia recurvata L. is an epiphyte that absorbs nutrients from the air, so it could be used as a bioindicator of atmospheric sulfur pollution. In order to test this idea, Tillandsia recurvata samples were seasonally collected for two years at three sites of La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, in a suburban park and in a rural area 60 km away from the city. Macro- and microscopic observations were carried out and chlorophyll and sulfur concentrations of the tissue were measured to evaluate if this epiphyte shows morphological or physiological damage in the most polluted sites or if it accumulates sulfur in the tissues when sulfur in the air increases. No micro- or macroscopic damage was observed, and chlorophyll content seemed not to be related with pollution level. Samples from the rural site always had a lower sulfur content than those from the urban and suburban sites. In conclusion, Tillandsia recurvata tolerates the local level of sulfur contamination without showing morphological damage and could be a suitable bioindicator because of its capacity to accumulate sulfur.

Keywords : Tillandsia recurvata; Sulfur dioxide; Atmospheric pollution; Bioindicator.

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