A comparison of native and transplanted Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. as biomonitors of water polluted with heavy metals

Abstract

Native and transplanted mosses of the species Fontinalis antipyretica were studied to assess their capacity as biomonitors of heavy metals. Assays were carried out with transplanted mosses (sampled from an unpolluted control stream) exposed for 60 days to five streams polluted with heavy metals. At the same time, native mosses were collected from the exposure sites. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were determined in the mosses (native and transplants), stream waters, and sediments of both exposure and control sites. The results showed that the transplanted mosses accumulated significantly more Al, Cr, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn than the native mosses. The concentrations of Co and Mn in all streams were significantly higher in the native mosses. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.