Regional and species variations in metal content of two woodland mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens in Finland and northern Norway.

Abstract

The woodland mosses (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt. and (Hedw.) Schimp. were used in air pollution monitoring. During late summer and autumn 1977, 44 samples of were collected in semi-open coniferous forests from Southern Finland (60°N) to Northern Finland and Northern Norway (70°N). Additional 26 samples of were collected in similar places south of 61°30’N. Analysis of both moss species revealed decreasing concentration gradients from south to north for Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn. Conversely, Mn and Mg levels increased with latitude, while Ca did not change significantly. Some decreasing west to east concentration gradients for Cu, Zn and Pb were measured in and in collected from Southern Finland.Pleurozia shcreberi Hylocomnium splendensPleurozia shcreberiHylocomnium splendensP. schreberiH. splendendsH. splendendsP. schreberiP. schreberiH. splendens