Assessing atmospheric contamination zones through lichen bio-indicators in a Northwestern Peruvian city

Authors

  • Jani Elisabet Mendoza Merino Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas Author
  • Cristobal Torres-Guzman Geomatics Laboratory. Instituto de investigación para el desarrollo sustentable de Ceja de Selva, National University To-ribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0932-7224
  • Manuel Oliva Instituto de investigación para el desarrollo sustentable de Ceja de Selva, National University Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9670-0970
  • Ligia García Institute of Research, Innovation and Development for the Agricultural and Agroindustrial Sector of the Amazon Region. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7508-7516
  • Jesús Rascón Soil and Water Research Laboratory. Instituto de investigación para el desarrollo sustentable de Ceja de Selva, National University Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9305-7203

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46488/

Keywords:

Index of atmospheric purity modified, map, kriging, environmental variables

Abstract

Lichens, organisms formed by the intimate union – symbiosis – of a fungus and algae, are used as bioindicators to evaluate air quality. This is numerically expressed with the use of a Modified Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAPM). This research determined air quality and isocontamination zones in an urban area. Lichen samples were collected from 36 points within six sectors in Chachapoyas city, Peru. In addition, phorophyte bark was collected and analyzed (by measuring pH). Moreover, the humidity and temperature of each sector were measured. A total of 27 lichen species were recorded on 15 phorophyte species, and the results indicated that the factors: pH of the bark, species of phorophytes, environmental temperature, and humidity do not present a significant correlation with IAPM value. Subsequently, a map of the atmospheric isocontamination area was elaborated using IAPM values and the Kriging interpolator in QGis. The resulting map shows the air pollution distribution in the city, highlighting the central sector as having the poorest air quality compared to the other sectors.

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Issue

September 2026 (Forthcoming Issue)

Section

Articles