Lichen and moss bags as monitoring devices in urban areas. Part I: Influence of exposure on sample vitality

Lichens and Particulate Matter: Inter-relations and Biomonitoring with Lichens

“…Indeed, Pb (together with Cu, Fe, and Zn) was retained in thalli of P. furfuracea, washed upon exposure, in considerable quantities (ca. 60-80 %) in all lichen material (Adamo et al 2007). Unwashed samples of Canoparmelia texana presented elemental concentrations at the same magnitude or slightly higher than the washed samples (Saiki et al 1997).…”

“…Studies in this category should be classified as follows: 1. Descriptive studies of the elemental content of lichens, soil, and additional media performed to indicate the general status of the environment or to establish a set of markers on a local or regional scale: several studies in this category compared the elemental content of both soil and lichens (Garty 1985;Bargagli 1990a;Garty et al 1995Garty et al , 1996bDillman 1996;Loppi 1997;Rizzio et al 2001;Bačkor and Fahselt 2004;Bargagli et al 2007;Leonardo et al 2011;Grangeon et al 2012); these studies showed mostly a high level of coincidence. Chemical analyses of both soil and the epiphytic foliose lichen X. parietina sampled in Luxemburg (Hissler et al 2008) determined fractionated ratios of Sm/Nd as a function of distance from a steelworks.…”

“…The greater adaptability of foliose and fruticose lichens for biomonitoring over and above crustose lichens derives from ease of sampling. Since the interception of atmospheric particulates is dependent on a high ratio of surface to mass (Tretiach et al 2007;Adamo et al 2007), foliose lichens accumulated in certain cases more than twice the amount of Cu than fruticose lichens. St.…”

Molecular and chemical characterization of a Sphagnum palustre clone: Key steps towards a standardized and sustainable moss bag technique

“…The acid washing as moss devitalizing treatment was criticized by recent studies (e.g. Adamo et al, 2007;Tretiach et al, 2007) recommending rather the use of other methods making treated moss shoots less fragile and consequently reducing the loss of material during the exposure.…”

Biomonitoring of air borne metal pollution

“…Moss is collected, purified and placed in nylon nets in trees throughout the study area for a certain period of time (often 1-2 months). Although air pollutants may damage exposed transplants (lichens or mosses) [47,48] they are still capable of taking up metals from the atmosphere. The most common species used in moss bags are mosses from the genus Sphagnum but also other species like Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi and Hypnum spp.…”