EN
Bioindication is a method of assessing the state of the environment, especially pollution, based on the survey responses of living stenobionts organisms reaction (indicator organisms) to the changes. Stenobionts are species with a narrow ecological tolerance to the given agent. If you know the factor which makes it sensitive and on what condition favor is based their presence in the environment we can estimate the presence of a specifi c environmental factor. Among the universal bioindicators are also lichens = lichenicolous fungi. Lichens (Lichenes) are fascinating organisms which thallus is build from two components – photobiont (algae and/or cyanobacterium) and mycobiont (fungus – Ascomycetes, or less Basidiomycetes or imperfect fungus). The paper presents the biological characteristics of lichens (described their morphology, anatomical, physiological characteristics), as one of the best indicator organisms and the use of lichens in atmospheric aerosol pollution biomonitoring. The paper describes fi eld and laboratory methodology (1. test methods for the study of biodiversity and abundance of lichens, 2. anatomical and morphological mehtods, 3. physiological methods, 4. chemical analytical methods). Data on lichenoindication research conducted in Poland were collected, so as the methodology on collecting and processing the results and observations were learnt and obtained. In addition, the role of lichens as indicators of natural and lowland forests and as indicators of climate change has been described.