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Biomonitoring — Evaluation and Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations from Two German Moss Monitoring Surveys

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Biomonitoring: General and Applied Aspects on Regional and Global Scales

Part of the book series: Tasks for vegetation science ((TAVS,volume 35))

Abstract

On the basis of two national moss monitoring programmes carried out in 1990/91 and 1995/96 this paper shows the geographical and time-related changes in lead concentrations in mosses (this element being used as an example). It proves that the lead concentrations fell considerably over large areas between 1990/91 and 1995/96. This is attributed to the continuing trend towards low-lead petrol and the closing or modernization of industrial firing systems, especially in eastern Germany.

Such bioindication techniques for environmental monitoring require more sophisticated methods of evaluating the results. This paper describes the methods available for evaluating bioindication data. “Normal values” and deviations are calculated for all elements as a basis for evaluation and shown in the form of a map, using lead as an example. With these normal values and a specific evaluation model an integrated evaluation of all the elements analyzed is performed to determine the quality of the air. With the aid of the evaluation model the data thus obtained can be included as a partial result in an overall rating of environmental quality. The objective is a combined evaluation of different ecosystems and sub-models covering all media and their representation in an “overall ecological quality map”.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe [BGR]), Stilleweg 2, D-30655, Hannover, Germany

    Uwe Herpin & Ulrich Siewers

  2. Institute for Environmental Protection Baden-Württemberg (Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz [LfU]), Griesbachstr. 1, D-76185, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Kurt Kreimes

  3. International Graduate School (Internationales Hochschulinstitut [IHI]), Zittau, Markt 23, D-02763, Zittau, Germany

    Bernd Markert

Authors
  1. Uwe Herpin
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  2. Ulrich Siewers
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  3. Kurt Kreimes
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  4. Bernd Markert
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    C. A. Burga

  2. Department of Biology/Ecology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany

    A. Kratochwil

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Herpin, U., Siewers, U., Kreimes, K., Markert, B. (2001). Biomonitoring — Evaluation and Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations from Two German Moss Monitoring Surveys. In: Burga, C.A., Kratochwil, A. (eds) Biomonitoring: General and Applied Aspects on Regional and Global Scales. Tasks for vegetation science, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9686-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9686-2_5

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  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5621-4

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