Pollen and Flora as Bioindicators in Assessing the Status of Polluted Sites: The Case Study of the Mantua Lakes (SIN “Laghi di Mantova e Polo Chimico”; N Italy)

An integrated study of flora and pollen at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mantua and Sabbioneta reveals that anthropogenic pollution significantly impacts plant communities, detectable both macroscopically and microscopically. The research found higher incidences of abnormal or empty pollen in highly contaminated sectors (9.3% in area A and 7.6% in area B) compared to a control sector (2.5% in area C), indicating environmental stress. Additionally, the discovery of the protected species Narcissus pseudonarcissus in area C underscores the importance of targeted conservation efforts. The study employed floristic surveys and palynological analysis to compare 195 species across three sectors, highlighting differences in ecological strategies and pollution resilience among plant communities.

Braga, L., Furia, E., Buldrini, F., & Mercuri, A. M. (2023). Pollen and Flora as Bioindicators in Assessing the Status of Polluted Sites: The Case Study of the Mantua Lakes (SIN “Laghi di Mantova e Polo Chimico”; N Italy). Sustainability, 15(12), 9414. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129414