Long-term changes in nitrogen deposition in Finland (1990–2006) monitored using the moss Hylocomium splendens

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 157; no. 11; pp. 3091 - 3097
• Main Authors: Poikolainen, J., Piispanen, J., Karhu, J., Kubin, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Bio-monitoring; Bryophyta - chemistry; Bryophyta - metabolism; Deposition; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Finland; Foliar nitrogen; Forests; Hylocomium splendens; Moss; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrogen - metabolism; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Stands; Surveys; Europe; Finland; Foliar nitrogen; Hylocomium splendens; Deposition; Bio-monitoring; Finland; Musci; Atmospheric fallout; Regional scope; Bryophyta; Biological indicator; Long term variation; Nitrogen; Biological monitoring; Trend analysis; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.05.018

Nitrogen deposition in Finland was investigated on the basis of the nitrogen concentration in the forest moss, Hylocomium splendens, collected during heavy metal moss surveys carried out in 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005/06. Significant regional differences were found in the nitrogen concentrations in mosses. The concentrations were the highest in the southern part of the country in all the surveys, with a decreasing trend on moving northwards. The mean concentrations in the surveys were 1.07%, 1.00%, 0.89% and 0.92%. In general, the concentrations in mosses reflected nitrogen deposition at the level of the whole country. However, they did not correlate very well with the modelled nitrogen deposition because of the high local variation in the nitrogen concentration in H. splendens. One reason for the high variation was the effect of the structure of the tree stand on nitrogen concentrations in H. splendens. The use of mosses for monitoring nitrogen deposition requires further investigations on the factors affecting their nitrogen concentrations.