LICHENS GROWING ON PAINTED METAL PLATES
A. GARCÍA RENATO *
LEMIT, Laboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológica. 52 e/121 y 122. La Plata (1900), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina and CIC, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
V. CORREA MARÍA
LEMIT, Laboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológica. 52 e/121 y 122. La Plata (1900), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina and CIC, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
G. ROSATO VILMA
LEMIT, Laboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológica. 52 e/121 y 122. La Plata (1900), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina and LEMAC, Centro de Investigaciones Viales. 60 y 124. La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina and CONICET, Argentina.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study was based on the description of different species of lichens which were growing on metal plates exposed to the weather conditions in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Among the six species observed, Caloplaca cinnabarina was the most common. Lichen species were identified by observation under optical microscope and chemical reactions. The chemical composition of the paint was analyzed by IRS and the metal composition of the plates by SEM and EDS. SEM analysis also revealed paint cracking around the lichen and paint particles trapped in the thallus.
Keywords: Argentina, Caloplaca cinnabarina, SEM, EDS