EPIPHYTIC LICHENS AS AIR QUALITY BIOMONITORS IN BASILICATA (SOUTHERN ITALY): RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IAP INDEX AND SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES

Epiphytic lichen communities in the province of Potenza (Basilicata, Italy) are studied to provide preliminary data in order to design an air pollution monitoring network. The patterns in such communities are outlined using multivariate analysis procedures. Correlation between IAP values and climatic parameters is also checked.