Answer:
Lichens are not abundant due to air pollution
Explanation:
Lichens are the symbiotic association of photosynthetic algae and non-photosynthetic fungi. Lichens are indicators of air pollution as they cannot tolerate the pollutants present in the air and die off under polluted conditions. New York City is highly industrialized and a large number of vehicles emitting pollutants to the air. The presence of pollutants in the air of New York City would not support the growth of lichens. Therefore, the lichens would not be observed by the observer.