Note: In December, 1996, Amy outlined her experiment.

Amy Begins Her Investigation
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Amy Introduces Her Investigation
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lichens: any of various complex lower plants made up of an alga and a fungus growing together as a new organism

Purpose

I am investigating the effect of acid rain pollution on different samples of lichens, and as a result, seeing if these lichens can be used as bioindicators. I will do this using samples of crustose, foliose, and fruticose lichens.

crustose - crustlike, flaky	foliose - leaflike, papery thin
fruticose-pendant - a variety of fruticose	fruticose - stalked, branchlike

Predictions

I feel that out of the three types of lichens, the fruticose sample will be most susceptible to the acidic solution. This "beard lichen" is described as bushy and shrubby. Most commonly grown from trees, these lichens are known to grow where the air is clean and less polluted. I feel the foliose lichen sample will be the next most susceptible to the acidic solution. These lichens can be green, yellow, black, or orange and cling to rocks and trees. Foliose lichens are known to be able to survive in slightly polluted areas. The crustose lichen sample will be the least susceptible to the acidic solution. This type of lichen forms hard crusts on barks and rocks. They can survive in polluted areas and are the least developed lichen form.

Procedure

1. I will order two samples of lichen sets that include portions of crustose, foliose, and fruticose lichens priced at $10.25 per set.
2. I will take both of the sets and place each type of lichen into a different glass bowl with a lid.

   

3. I will use a sample of crustose, foliose, and fruticose as a control, watering it daily with ten sprays of normal water.

   

4. I will take the remaining sample of crustose, foliose, and fruticose lichens and mist them daily with ten sprays of acidic solution.
5. I will keep a daily chart of the progress of both the control and the manipulated lichen samples.
6. I will take photographs for visual purposes to further record the progress of the samples.
7. I will record all observations in my science fair notebook.

Note: In March, 1997, Amy published her results.