Relationship between trace metal concentrations in the terrestrial moss Pseudoscleropodium purum and in bulk deposition.
The relationship between trace metal concentrations in Pseudoscleropodium purum (Hedw.) M. Fleish. and bulk deposition (BD) was examined at 21 sites (SS) to ascertain whether the lack of correlations reported in previous studies are due to limitations in the experimental design. Thus, we implemented some improvements to it and examined the correlations in depth. We could conclude that this relationship is determined by other variables rather than by the pollutant inputs themselves (BD). Thus, whether or not moss concentrations and bulk deposition are significantly correlated will depend on the combination of the above referred factors in a given area at a given time. Therefore, P. purum in particular, and most likely native terrestrial mosses in general, are less than ideal biomonitors for yielding absolute values of atmospheric trace metal deposition. We recommend their use as qualitative indicators and the use of classical methods to obtain absolute values.
Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Electronic address: teresa.boquete@usc.es.
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Boquete
Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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JA
Fernández
Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Carballeira
Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Aboal
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements
Air quality; Biomonitoring; Trace metals