Metal accumulation in mosses across national boundaries: uncovering and ranking causes of spatial variation.
This study aimed at cross-border mapping metal loads in mosses in eight European countries in 1990, 1995, and 2000 and at investigating confounding factors. Geostatistics was used for mapping, indicating high local variances but clear spatial autocorrelations. Inference statistics identified differences of metal concentrations in mosses on both sides of the national borders. However, geostatistical analyses did not ascertain discontinuities of metal concentrations in mosses at national borders due to sample analysis in different laboratories applying a range of analytical techniques. Applying Classification and Regression Trees (CART) to the German moss data as an example, the local variation in metal concentrations in mosses were proved to depend mostly on different moss species, potential local emission sources, canopy drip and precipitation.
Schröder
Winfried
W
Landscape Ecology, University of Vechta, Vechta, Germany. wschroeder@iuw.uni-vechta.de
Pesch
Roland
R
Englert
Cordula
C
Harmens
Harry
H
Suchara
Ivan
I
Zechmeister
Harald G
HG
Thöni
Lotti
L
Mankovská
Blanka
B
Jeran
Zvonka
Z
Grodzinska
Krystyna
K
Alber
Renate
R
D000531:Altitude; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005060:Europe; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D007753:Laboratories; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011891:Rain; D013045:Species Specificity
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals