Responses of transplanted lichens to sulphur dioxide dosages - a new semi-statistical dosage/injury model

A semi-statistical model is suggested for monitoring injuries of plants for long-time field exposures (months). The model is based on the following assumptions: 1. The concentrations of air pollutants in the atmosphere follow the Johnson SB distribution. 2. The degree of plant injury is proportional to the logarithm of air pollutant dose. 3. No injuries occur below a certain dose level. 4. A dose is defined as the air pollutant concentration multiplied by the duration of exposure raised to an exponent. Based on the air pollutant frequency distribution a total dose for the exposure period is calculated by integration, and the total dose is related to the observed plant injury by non-linear regression. The model is tested for long-time exposures of sulphur dioxide to transplant lichen in natural environment.