Lichens found on the bridge "La Postrera" across the Salado river, Cháscomús (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)

Title: Lichens found on the bridge "La Postrera" across the Salado river, Cháscomús (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
Author(s): V. G. Rosato
Paper category : conference
Book title: RILEM International Conference on Microbial Impact on Building Materials
Editor(s): M. Ribas Silva
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-43-8
e-ISBN: 2351580184
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2003
Pages: 77 - 83
Total Pages: 7
Nb references: 3
Language: English

Abstract: "La Postrera" bridge, that goes across Salado river at Chascomús (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina), is of historical interest, because it was built in 1865 by José María Huergo, the first argentine Engineer, with metal pieces cast and brought from England.
It is an interesting study case also because different materials were used to build it: cement, granite and painted metals. The aim of this study it to identify the lichen species growing on this bridge and to assess which materials they colonize and also if they prefer certain materials.
Nine lichen species were found: Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Caloplaca americana, Staurothele monosporoides grow on granite; Punctelia microsticta, Hypotrachyna sp.
Ramalina celastri and Teloschistes chrysophtalmus colonize the painted metal bars, whereas Caloplaca citrina and Lecania erysibe were found on cement.
This proves that each species grows on a clearly defined substrate, so each one has a preference for a special material.
None of these lichens belongs to a rare species, but the ones growing on metal are usually corticolous, which means they grow on bark of trees and shrubs.
Although there are lichens known to grow on metal (rusty or painted), is noteworthy that no Ramalina o Teloschistes species were mentioned on that substrate.

Online publication: 2003-07-03
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/2351580184.008