Question

Write a note on living indicators of Air Pollution.

Answer 1

Dear student.

Lichen, phytoplankton etc act as good pollution indicator.

Lichens act as a bioindicator of air pollution. If air is very badly polluted there may be no lichens present, just green algae may be found. If the air is clean, shrubby, hairy and leafy lichens become abundant.

Phytoplanktons are small plants that float in the water of any aquatic body. They grow well in nutrient rich water. When a water body gets polluted, the amount of organic matters and minerals increase in water. As a result huge growth of planktons is observed in that particular nutrient rich water body. Thus by observing the growth of specific planktons in a water body, it can be concluded whether the aquatic body is polluted or not. For this reason, some specific phytoplanktons are considered as pollution indicator.


Regards.