Bio-monitoring Air Quality Using Lichen

Transcription

1 Bio-monitoring Air Quality Using Lichen An Expedition to the Gaoligong Mountains of Western Yunnan Provence, China June July 2011 Explorers Club Flag # 60 Expedition Leader: Lawrence Glacy, FN 09

2 Biomonitoring with Lichen in the Gaoligong Mountains of Northwest Yunnan Province, China Expedition Leader: Lawrence Glacy M.A, J.D., (FN 09) Report Our original plan to leave for the Gaoligong Mountains in northwest Yunnan Provence in early April was delayed until June 15 th due to snowfall and cold temperatures preventing an early snow melt. However, we couldn t wait too long into late June or July as an early monsoon would have terminated the expedition as heavy rainfall in the area causes extreme flooding and landslides. We were fortunate to have made it to the Gaoligong Mountains during a snow free, monsoon free period. Conditions were excellent during our time in the mountains from June 15 th to June 25 th The second major obstacle to accomplishing our intended exploration and research in doing a lichen collection getting selected specimens for metal analysis and setting up photo plots to access air quality was caused by bureaucratic and economic obstacles in obtaining a collection permit. Lawrence Glacy FN 09 by the turbulent Nu Jiang River, northwest Yunnan Nancy Nenow arrived in Kunming, China on May 26 to join the expedition and after spending several weeks at the Chinese Academy of Science at Heilongtan s Botanical Garden getting familiar with the flora we would encounter in western Yunnan Provence. We left for Dali City, Yunnan Province, China and on June 15 th we loaded up our vehicle and left for the Nu Jiang River which we then followed north to Bingzhongluo a small one street town on the upper reaches of the Nu Jiang River near Tibet. This area became the preliminary base for our expedition for the northern Gaoligong region. Just north of Bingzongluo along the east bank of the Nu Jiang River are excellently preserved remnants of the ancient Tea Horse Caravan Trail providing southern Yunnan tea to the communities on the Tibetan Plateau. It was here, near the trail that our first photo plots were established. Near the town of Bingzongluo we set up another photo plot and found an old, unused wooden power pole with a healthy accumulation of Usnea lichen which was taken for metal analysis. By the end of our 2

3 three days exploring the Bingzongluo area we drove up a fire road into the high elevation of the Gaoligong and collected additional Usnea at 5,000, 7,000, and 9,000 feet elevation gradients. This collection will be tested for metal and provide an excellent baseline for further observations of air quality changes. Remnants of the ancient Tea Horse Trail carved into the steep cliff above the Nu Jiang River The permit problems resulted from our obtaining misinformation about permit costs and availability and required us to scale our project down to accommodate those concerns. It was reported to us that permits would take 3 months and cost between $2,000 and $3,000 US dollars. We learned that this information was untrue- the permit is free but it was too late to apply. In addition, other costs were seriously misrepresented and as a result and after discussion over a two week period with members of the Chinese Academy of Science, Institute of Botany, and other institutional contacts we decided to continue the expedition but scale back our requirements and expectations. This proved to be a successful approach and most of our goals were achieved. The facets of our research that were not completed can be easily resolved in preparation of our return in Since our permit issues did not allow us to collect at higher elevation our goal of crossing the pass into the Dulong Valley was cancelled and we substituted spending more time at lower elevation on the Old Stillwell Trail leading into Myanmar (Burma) and basing ourselves in Pian Ma. It was in Pian Ma that we observed the thousands of large logs being traded to China from the Myanmar (Burma) side of the border. In addition, we were fortunate to collect more Usnea species between 5,000 and 10, 000 feet elevation and then were able to make a second baseline assessment at both the northern and southern terminus of the Northern Gaoligong administration region. 3

4 Logs coming from across the border from Myanmar The gradient established and collection made at these two locations within the Gaoligong are only a beginning and a return to the regions higher elevations using lichen as biomonitoring species in this region which contains the world s largest diversity of plants and probably fungi as well in the world will help clarify any threats coming into the area from the west. Large variety of lichen on rock Caloplaca on rock Our return down the Nu Jiang from Bingzhougluo to Pian Ma gave us an opportunity to photograph and appreciate the powerful nature of a still un-dammed river. We were able to meet with numerous Lisu minority people in the area and take in the full power of the Nu Jiang. We observed the local people crossing the river on a single cable with an attached pulley with large quantities of supplies and visited several towns along the river where pack animals that supplied many of the remote mountain villages were maintained. Due to changes brought about by the misrepresentation of permit costs and bureaucratic issues limiting our collection capacity in the Gaoligong Mountains we further revised our collection research design to include areas of the Yangze River but at 4

5 similar latitudes as our collecting areas in the Nu Jiang area. We were thus able to include a second mountain area about 250 kilometers to the east that would be influenced by contaminants in the air currents thus depositing metals from areas west of the Nu Jiang River. These locations included the mountain area around Shazi, a high 11,000 foot meadow area southwest of Zhongdian (Shangrila) and near Bai Shui Tai falls, a rich calcium carbonate area. These six additional specimens will be sent in for metal analysis and included in a final publication on out first effort to biomonitor the Goaligong Mountain National Protection Area and Biosphere Reserve for air quality using lichen. Crossing the Nu Jiang River with supplies on a single cable As a final note I would like to express my thanks to the Explorers Club for encouraging this initial phase of research and exploration and that it resulted in several new projects. It led me to participate in two other scientific researches during our stay in the Gaoligong which included a doctoral study on issues related to fire ecology and we were able to collect a species of the fungus Cordyceps sinensis which will undergo genetic analysis in Beijing for elements of speciation within this genus. Both these studies were unintended benefits of our presence in the area. The Lisu minority people live in the mountains along the Nu Jiang River 5

6 Usnea longissima hanging from trees Sterocaulon sp. on rock Nancy Nenow MN 04 and Lawrence Glacy FN 09 in the Gaoligong Mountains above the village of Bingzhougluo, Yunnan, China 6

7 Calligraphy map of Explorers Club Expedition to the Gaoligong Mountains, northwestern Yunnan Provence, China. June July

8 Map of Expedition Area 8