Monitoring atmospheric pollutants in the biosphere reserve Wienerwald by a combined approach of biomonitoring methods and technical measurements.
In this study a combined approach of bioindication results correlated with an extensive set of data on air pollution and climate was used to assess the pollution status of the Man and Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald (Austria). Bryophytes served as impact indicators (via the Index of Atmospheric Purity-method IAP) at 30 sites as well as accumulation monitors for airborne trace elements (Al, Pb, V, S, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, Mo, Cd, As, Sb and 16 EPA-PAHs) at 10 sites within the reserve. The results of these bioindication methods were subsequently correlated with further pollution (NO(2), SO(2) and dust) and climate data (precipitation, temperature and humidity). The findings obtained clearly indicate the following: Bryophyte distribution is solely influenced by the status of air quality, without interference by climatic or site-related factors, which is in contrast to several previous investigations. IAP-values correlated significantly with NO(2) (0.553; P=0.004), SO(2) winter values (0.511; P=0.013) and PM10 (dust) (0.561; P=0.013). The results obtained via chemical analyses revealed a strong correlation with data derived from the IAP methodology. In terms of the overall air quality within the biosphere reserve Wienerwald, the north-eastern part appears to be the most affected one with a most likely pollution contribution emitted by the capital city Vienna, agriculture and neighbouring countries.
Krommer
Viktoria
V
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Zechmeister
Harald G
HG
Roder
Ingrid
I
Scharf
Sigrid
S
Hanus-Illnar
Andrea
A
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D001317:Austria; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002980:Climate; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008954:Models, Biological; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons