Is Your Moss Alive during Active Biomonitoring Study?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Biomonitoring

Background:

• Bioindicators assess ecosystem health by responding to pollutants.
• Effective bioindicators must survive and retain sensitivity to contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the survival and pollutant uptake of Pleurozium schreberi moss using the moss-bag technique.
• To assess the suitability of P. schreberi as a bioindicator in urban environments.

Main Methods:

• Moss-bag technique with P. schreberi exposed for 12 weeks.
• Measurements included elemental concentrations (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb), chlorophyll content, and fluorescence.
• Analysis utilized CCM-300, fluorometer, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and atomic absorption spectrometry.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in initial chlorophyll content between fresh and lab-dried moss.
• Chlorophyll-a and -b decreased by over 50% and 60% respectively during exposure.
• Chlorophyll content strongly correlated with photosystem II photochemical efficiency (r=0.94, p=0.02).
• Elevated zinc, lead, and copper concentrations were observed after 2-3 months.

Conclusions:

• P. schreberi demonstrates significant physiological changes indicative of pollution.
• The moss maintains its bioindicator properties for urban environmental quality assessment over three months.