Geogenic and anthropogenic zinc in epiphytic and terricolous lichens in Finland

At 31 sites in Finland the Zn content was determined of the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. growing on pine and birch, the terricolous lichen Cladina spp. in pine bark, and the inner part of birch bark. The anomalous contents of Zn in H. physodes on pine and Cladina spp. in soil appeared to be strongly related to sulphide ore deposits. Anthropogenic Zn correlated closely with S and Fe in H. physodes on pine and with Fe in Cladina spp. The binding of geogenic Zn was related to iron hydroxides, and was attributed to the different uptake mechanism of S in these lichens. Elevated values of Zn in H. physodes on birch were due to both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. Zinc in pine bark increased with the Zn content in H. physodes and reached a limiting value.