Bryophytes as Heavy Metal Biomonitors in the Canadian High Arctic

Mosses are a major component of the tundra flora in the Canadian Arctic, yet their use in arctic contaminant research is lacking. Biomonitoring of atmospheric heavy metal deposition using mosses has been extensively employed in Europe, providing a higher sampling density than precipitation monitorin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arctic, antarctic, and alpine research antarctic, and alpine research, 2011-05, Vol.43 (2), p.289-300
Main Authors: Wilkie, David, La Farge, Catherine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Atmospherics
Biological and medical sciences
Bryophyta
Bryophytes
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gongs
Heavy metals
Lichens
Mosses
Original Research
Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution
Specimens
Taxa
Terrestrial environment, soil, air
Xeric environments
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Summary:Mosses are a major component of the tundra flora in the Canadian Arctic, yet their use in arctic contaminant research is lacking. Biomonitoring of atmospheric heavy metal deposition using mosses has been extensively employed in Europe, providing a higher sampling density than precipitation monitoring. Temporal, spatial, and habitat gradients of concentrations and enrichment factors of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb (and its stable isotopes) in mosses from Ellesmere Island are examined. Anthropogenically influenced concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in samples collected in 2007 were observed. Concentrations of heavy metals in hydric taxa were larger than those observed in xeric or mesic taxa, though non-significant. Generally, heavy metal concentrations decreased from 1983 to 2007 in a single high arctic locality, though non-significant. Pb-isotope ratios were radiogenic and characteristic of the High Arctic Islands. Trends in high arctic moss data corresponded with environmental proxies such as glacial ice cores, lake sediments, and atmospheric aerosols illustrating the usefulness of bryophytes as biomonitors. This paper outlines the utility of using mosses as biomonitors of heavy metal depositions in the Canadian High Arctic.
ISSN:1523-0430
1938-4246
DOI:10.1657/1938-4246-43.2.289