Arsenic and Mercury in Native Aquatic Bryophytes: Differences Among Species

Abstract

This study investigated the capacities of five species of aquatic bryophytes to accumulate As and Hg from their natural habitats in rivers in Galicia (NW Spain). The distributions of the concentrations of both elements in all species were skewed to the right, with a higher incidence of extreme values in the As data, which may indicate a greater degree of contamination by this metalloid. There were no significant differences in the accumulation of either of the elements between the different species studied, which justifies their combined use as biomonitors of As and Hg, at least in the study area.

Macrophyte-Based Assessment of Upland Rivers: Bioindicators and Biomonitors

“…The sampling location was in an undisturbed area, where atmospheric deposition could be suggested as a source of contamination. A similar median Hg concentration (101 ng g −1 ) was reported for F. antipyretica from rivers throughout Galicia, Spain [ 24 ].…”

“…The hypothesis that different moss species can be adopted as biomonitors and can reveal pollution patterns has been already been confirmed [ 16 ]. The lack of significant differences in the accumulation of As and Hg between five aquatic bryophytes ( F. antipyretica , P. riparioides , S. undulata , B. rivulare, and F. polyphyllus ) justified their combined use as biomonitors [ 24 ]. Three moss and two submerged vascular plant species that were applied as biomonitors in the current study confirmed the above-mentioned findings and revealed the possibility of combining aquatic mosses and vascular plants to meet the needs of rapid assessment.…”