BACKGROUND AND AIMS Anthropogenic depletion of stratospheric ozone in Arctic latitudes has resulted in an increase of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) reaching the biosphere. UV-B exposure is known to reduce above-ground biomass and plant height, to increase DNA damage and cause accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds in polar plants. However, many studies on Arctic mosses tended to be inconclusiv...

Mosses have been widely used as biomonitors of a variety atmospheric pollutants, including radionuclides. Here we determine the radionuclide activity concentration 210Pb, 137Cs, 7Be, and 40K in moss tissue (Hylocomium splendens) collected from 24 sites across Ireland assess influence precipitation on spatial distribution. Lead-210 was most abundant (range: 226–968 Bq kg–1), followed by 7Be <...

Duplicate samples of the two terrestrial moss species Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, which are widely used to monitor airborne heavy metal pollution, have been collected from eight catchments spread over a 1,500,000 km2 area in northern Europe. These were analysed for a total of 38 elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emissi...

Abstract The bryosphere (that is, ground mosses and their associated biota) is a key driver of nutrient carbon dynamics in many terrestrial ecosystems, part because it regulates litter decomposition. However, we have poor understanding how decomposition responds to changes the bryosphere, including cover, moss species, bryosphere-associated biota. Specifically, contribution micro-arthropods unc...

Wildfire is a threat for many boreal ecosystems and induces deep modifications in organic horizons. In this paper, we have considered fire-induced changes to the horizon properties. The effect of fire was studied by using forest litter burning experiment. Sample heating performed lab at fixed temperatures (200, 300 500 °C), on set O horizons developed under pine (Flavocetraria-Pinetum associati...

We studied the testate amoebae in the moss Hylocomium splendens along an altitudinal gradient from 1000 to 2200 m asl. in the south-eastern Alps of Italy in relation to micro- and macro-nutrient content of moss plants. Three mountainous areas were chosen, two of them characterised by calcareous bedrock, the third by siliceous bedrock. A total of 25 testate amoebae taxa were recorded, with a mea...

Attention to the tourism potential of Republic North Ossetia-Alania is increasing with attendant need monitor and control atmospheric air pollution. Aim. The assessment possibility using mosses as biomonitors for determining content heavy metals other trace elements in atmosphere territory Ossetia-Alania. Material Methods. green Hylocomium splendens Pleurosium schreberi were used bioindicators....