BIOMONITORING OF ATHMOSPHERE AIR QUALITY

The foundation of the sustainable ecological balance in the functioning of forest ecosystems serve Critical Loads established by the Geneva Convention (1979) for SO2, NOx and NH3. Through critical loads concerning the harmfulness of sulphur and nitrogen on ecosystems are understood the acidification deposition concentration levels, which cause no long-term adverse effects on the structure and functionality of ecosystems. Within our research, the air quality of 62 forest ecosystems from Republic of Moldova was assessed, taking into consideration the lichens indicator species specific diversity, abundance and toxitolerance. It was established that the Moldavian forest ecosystems do not contain reserves concerning critical loads for SO2 pollution, the annual average for the vegetation season for dendrological species being 0,02 mg/m3 air, and for communities of lichens and cyanobacteria, organisms sensitive to pollution, represented only 0,01 mg/m3. Lichen indication demonstrated that the current level of pollution is between 0,05 and 0,5 mg/m3 SO2 air, thus long-term harmful effects are manifested in all 62 studied forest ecosystems.