LOCALIZATION OF HEAVY-METALS AND OTHER ELEMENTS ACCUMULATED IN THE LICHEN THALLUS

The extracellular deposition of particulate metallic fall-out accumulated in the lichen Caloplaca aurantia is shown with the aid of scanning and transmission electron microscopy and the application of energy dispersive X-ray analyses. The elemental composition of particles integrated in the lichen tissue was compared with the elemental composition of dust particles collected from the surface of the lichen colonies. The different effect of heavy metals in particulate form or in solution, as reflected by lichen''s tolerance or sensitivity, is discussed.