Anthoceros punctatus L. and Jungermannia borealis Damsh. et Váňa have been erroneously reported from Romania and are hereby rejected from the bryophyte checklist of Romania, until new reports. The ...presence in Romania of Anthoceros agrestis Paton, Cephaloziella massalongi (Spruce) Müll. Frib., Cephaloziella spinigera (Lindb.) Warnst., Marsupella apiculata Schiffn., Scapania cuspiduligera (Nees) Müll. Frib and Scapania praetervisa Meyl. is confirmed, and is commented for Nardia breidleri (Limpr.) Lindb.
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•National monitoring of air pollution is a mandatory requirement for many countries.•New, green methodologies are needed for the environmental decision-making process.•Common tree ...species were used in an innovative national biomonitoring programme.•Concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As) was measured.•BioMonRo software is a novel functional warning-informing and decision-making tool.
Biomonitoring, i.e. using plant species for measuring pollution levels, has been previously explored in several locations using various protocols and organisms in the search for effective strategies and practices for monitoring and reducing the levels of pollution.
Here we present a tested and functional cost-effective method of using the foliar accumulation of tree species to develop a system for the long-term monitoring of airborne heavy metal bioaccumulation at a large, national scale. A total number of 1230 leaf samples have been collected during a vegetation season in 410 sampling locations scattered across Romania. Concentration levels were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Data from literature were used as reference values for the natural concentration of heavy metals in plants. Values exceeding these levels were considered as indicators of pollution, and used to define pollution thresholds. The maximum amounts measured in the collected samples were 152 mg kg−1 dry weight for lead, 25.65 mg kg−1 dry weight for cadmium, 65.51 mg kg−1 dry weight for nickel and 4.81 mg kg−1 dry weight for arsenic.
For analysing and communicating the findings, the BioMonRo software has been developed as a novel tool for warning-informing and decision-making. The software, now implemented by the Ministry of Environment for monitoring environmental quality, uses concentration data to build up national heavy metal pollution maps and can generate reports, which are automatically sent to various stakeholders. Based on our findings, we consider that tree species are efficient biomonitors, and similar methods could be successfully used in extensive biomonitoring programmes (national, regional or European), and for informing authorities.
As airborne pollution is recognised as the single largest environmental health hazard in Europe, the necessity to develop effective systems for monitoring and reducing the level of air pollutants, ...becomes imperative. The paper describes a tested and implemented long-term biomonitoring system for airborne heavy metals at a national scale. Moss bags (Hylocomium splendens) were exposed in 142 monitoring stations designated in Romania, and the content of Pb, Cd, Ni and As was quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results revealed that the accumulation of heavy metals exceeded the established thresholds, marking high pollution levels in 8.8% of samples for As, in 5.63% samples for Cd, in 3.17% samples for Pb, and in 0.35% samples for Ni. The maximum heavy metal concentration was 113.77 mg kg−1 dry weight for Pb, 44.93 mg kg−1 dry weight for Ni, 14.68 mg kg−1 dry weight for As, and 3.88 mg kg−1 dry weight for Cd, with several overlaps for at least two metals, thus marking pollution hotspots. In order to process, summarise and communicate the obtained data, a software named BioMonRo has been developed as the core part of a complex monitoring and warning-informative system. The software is able to generate heavy metal pollution maps and specific reports, depicting the levels and patterns of distribution, which can be automatically sent to a number of interested recipients. The results show that the developed national system is functional, cost-effective, and could be successfully used for long-term monitoring of airborne heavy metals.
•Moss bag biomonitoring was performed at 142 sampling sites across Romania.•Hylocomium splendens was used in an innovative national biomonitoring programme.•Concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As) was measured.•Concentrations exceeded the high pollution threshold value in 8.8% samples for As.•BioMonRo proved to be a functional long-term monitoring and informative system.
•Passive and active biomonitoring was performed in an innovative national assessment.•Concentrations of seven air pollutant metals were measured in 410 sampling sites.•High pollution was measured for ...4.7% passive and 9.8% active monitoring samples.•Element concentrations were significantly higher in the moss bag samples.•Active biomonitoring may be more suitable for large-scale studies.
Despite the growing list of elements assessed and recognised as environmental and human health hazards, pollution monitoring and mitigation strategies are mandatory only for a limited number of metals, for which ambient air quality limits are defined by national and international policies. In order to overcome this deficiency, and promote cost-effective strategies and methods to assess airborne pollution, biomonitoring has been employed on several occasions using various protocols and organisms. Here we present a complex national monitoring study based on a combined approach that integrates air pollution data obtained through passive biomonitoring using the foliar content of various tree species and active biomonitoring with Hylocomium splendens moss bags. Concentrations of seven air pollutant metals, Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, not regularly monitored and lacking established legal limit values, were measured in 410 passive and 142 active biomonitoring sampling sites across Romania, in two seasons, representing the largest study reported up-to-date applying complementary passive and active biomonitoring. Literature data reporting concentrations from uncontaminated areas was used to establish the concentration limits for four pollution levels (no, low, medium and high pollution), in order to develop a colour-coded warning system. High pollution levels were measured for 4.7% of passive and 9.8% of active monitoring samples. The largest proportions of samples showing high pollution levels were obtained for zinc (38.4%, for active monitoring) and chromium (18.9%, for passive monitoring). A significantly higher element content was found in moss bag samples than in leaves/needles. Though we emphasize the potential of both passive and active biomonitoring in assessing airborne pollution, our experiences and findings show that the more standardized methodology of moss-bag biomonitoring is sounder and better suited for such large-scale studies than a study conducted on multiple tree species. Some of the difficulties encountered during the two biomonitoring studies are also reported, including the range limit of species and the lack of established reference values for pollution limits.
The field survey made in the last 20 years revealed that large areas of Romania's territory are still unexplored concerning moss distribution. The long-term research in natural and mature spruce ...forest habitats of this country shows that many sites are well protected, a status that is also confirmed by reports of
. However, many other sites where this species was identified still lack legal protection. We also generated a potential distribution of the species based on an ensemble model, useful in guiding extensive field surveys and also management and conservation measures. In a country where the volume of wood cut by illegal logging is larger than the legal one, according to official data, it is very important that all habitats for
be included in protected areas. Our paper brings important data to aid in this goal.
This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in
SE Europe and adjacent regions: red algae Lemanea fucina and Paralemanea
annulata, parasitic fungus Anthracoidea ...pratensis, saprotrophic fungi
Cyathus olla, Massaria campestris, and Xylaria sicula, stonewort Chara
canescens, liverworts Gymnomitrion commutatum and Porella baueri, moss
Acaulon triquetrum, monocots Anacamptis laxiflora, Cephalanthera damasonium,
and Himantoglossum robertianum and dicot Jacobaea othonnae are given within
SE Europe and adjacent regions.
This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in
SE Europe and adjacent regions: saprotrophic fungus Geastrum morganii,
Guignardia istriaca and Hypoxylon howeanum, ...mycorrhizal fungus Amanita
friabilis and Suillus americanus, xanthophyte Vaucheria frigida, stonewort
Chara hispida, liverwort Calypogeia integristipula and Ricciocarpus natans,
moss Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum transsylvanicum, Tortella
pseudofragilis and Trematodon ambiguus, fern Ophioglossum vulgatum subsp.
vulgatum, monocots Epipactis exilis, Epipactis purpurata and Epipogium
aphyllum and dicots Callitriche cophocarpa, Cornus sanguinea subsp.
hungarica and Viscum album subsp. austriacum are given within SE Europe and
adjacent regions.
This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in
SE Europe and adjacent regions: red algae Lemanea rigida and Paralemanea
torulosa, mycorrhizal fungi Amanita simulans and ...Terfezia pseudoleptoderma,
parasitic fungus Microbotryum vinosum, saprotrophic fungus Sarcoscypha
jurana, stonewort Chara tenuispina, mosses Brachytheciastrum collinum and
Meesia longiseta, monocots Dactylorhiza romana and Neotinea maculata and
dicots Adenophora liliifolia, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Tanacetum
corymbosum subsp. cinereum are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions.
This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in
SE Europe and adjacent regions: saprotrophic fungi Psathyrella typhae,
Stropharia halophila, mosses Bryum klingraeffii and ...Buxbaumia viridis,
liverwort Scapania gymnostomophila, fern Matteuccia struthiopteris, monocots
Galanthus nivalis, Listera ovata, and Ophrys apifera, and dicots Astragalus
dasyanthus and Paeonia officinalis subsp. banatica.
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