This feature is determined by the specificity of highly-radioactive granitic substrate of the sampling area (Barguzin-Chivyrkuysky land bridge of Baykal lake) (Bolshunova et al., 2015).
The main sources of these elements in the lichens are likely both soil transfer and wet aerosol transfer from Baykal Lake area.
The first factor (42.75%) does not determine stable associations, U-Ti association is only isolated, being rock component probably connected with the transport of particles from the nearby Barguzin-Chivyrkuysky land bridge of Baykal Lake (Zabaykalsky National Park).