title: Persistent pollutants and the patchiness of urban green areas as drivers of genetic richness in the epiphytic moss Leptodon smithii.
abstract: We determined genetic variation and metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in Leptodon smithii moss collected in holm oak stands at cities, outskirts and remote areas of Campania and Tuscany (Italy) to investigate if anthropogenic pressure (pollutant emissions and land use change) affects moss genetic richness. In both regions, metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations reflected the trend urban>outskirts>remote areas, excepting Tuscany remote site. In both regions, the moss gene diversity increased from urban to remote areas. The findings suggest the extent and the fragmentation of urban green areas, as drivers of moss genetic richness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia 4, Naples 80126, Italy. Electronic address: vspagnuo@unina.it.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spagnuolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, Benevento 82100, Italy. Electronic address: fdenicol@unisannio.it.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Nicola
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia 4, Naples 80126, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terracciano
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bargagli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baldantoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alfani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia 4, Naples 80126, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D002947:Cities; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007558:Italy; D029963:Quercus
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: Environmental disturbance; Gene diversity; Habitat fragmentation; Metals; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons