Skip to main content

Fluctuations of element concentrations during the growing season of Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.)

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution volume 43, pages 177–189 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

Fourteen elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Zn) were quantitatively determined by AES/ICP in aboveground parts of the endohydric moss Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.) after sampling over regular intervals from 1985 to 1987. With the exception of K, Mg, and Zn all elements showed a large continuous fluctuation (> 30%) during the growing season. Four different patterns of seasonal variation were found: (1) large seasonal variations of element concentrations (∼80%) with maximum concentrations in winter and lowest concentrations in the summer months (Al, Fe, Cr, Mg, Pb, and Ti), (2) smaller seasonal variations (∼50%) with maximum concentrations in winter and lowest concentrations in summer (Ba, Ca, Cd, Cu, Sr), (3) slight seasonal variations (∼30%) with maximum concentrations in the summer (K), and (4) slight seasonal changes (∼30%) with maximum concentrations in the winter (Mg and Zn). The relative biological variance of element concentrations between 9 different stands of Polytrichum formosum decreases in the following sequence: Ti, Al, Pb, Fe, Cr, Ni, Ba, Ca, Cu, Cd, K, Mg, Sr, Zn. The relative biological variance of individual elements is generally lower than the variance in element concentrations caused by seasonal changes. Because of its high biological variance for most elements investigated (seasonal as well as between different stands of Polytrichum formosum) this moss should only be used as a passive bioindicator, if all other environmental parameters are standardized.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

£ 29.95

Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Arndt, U., Nobel, W., and Schweitzer, B.: 1987, Bioindikatoren, Möglichkeiten, Grenzen und neue Erkenntnisse, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 388 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayfield, N. G.: 1973, J. Bryol. 7, 607.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. H. and Beckett, R. P.: 1985, Annales of Botany 55, 179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buch, H.: 1947a, Commentat. Biol. 9 (16), 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buch, H.: 1947b, Commentat. Biol. 9 (20), 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callaghan, T. V., Collins, N. J., and Callaghan, C. H.: 1978, Oikos 31, 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, A. J. and Nickless, G.: 1977, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 7, 117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin, III, F. S., Oechel, W. C., Van Cleve, K., and Lawrence, W.: 1987, Oecologia 74, 310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelke, R.:1984, ‘Schwermetallgehalte in Laubmoosen des Hamburger Stadtgebietes und Untersuchungen zur Sensibilität bei experimenteller Belastung’, Ph. D. Thesis, University of Hamburg, 101 pp.

  • Goodmann, G. T. and Roberts, T. M.: 1971, Nature 231, 287.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, T. D. W. and Smith, D. W.: 1978, Can. J. Bot. 56, 1798.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth, H. and Markert, B.: 1985, Naturwissenschaften 72, 322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth, H. and Markert, B.: 1988, Biology International 16, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, P. and Martin, M. H.: 1974, Environ. Pollut. 6, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning, W. J. and Feder, W. A.: 1980, Biomonitoring Air Pollutions with Plants, Applied Science Publishers Ltd, London, 142 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B. and Meer, G.: 1985, Veröffentlichungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Emden von 1814, Serie Jahresberichte, Band 5, p. 57.

  • Markert, B.: 1987a, Phytochemistry 26, 3167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B.: 1987b, Fresenius Zeitschrift für Analytische Chemie 329, 462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B. and Jayasekera, R.: 1987, Journal of Plant Nutrition 10, 783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B. and Lieth, H.: 1987, Fresenius Zeitschrift für Analytische Chemie 326, 716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B. and Steinbeck, R.: 1988, Fresenius Zeitschrift für Analytische Chemie 331, 616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rastorfer, J. R.: 1972, Antarctica Res. Ser. 20, 143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rejment-Grochowska, I.: 1976, Journ. Hattori Bot. Lab. 41, 225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, T. M.: 1972, Journal of Environmental Planning and Pollution Control 1, 43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, R.: 1985, Bioindikation in terrestrischen Ökosystemen, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 327 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skre, O., Dechel, W. C., and Miller, P. M.: 1983, Can. J. For. Res. 13, 860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinnes, E.: 1984, Fresenius Zeitschrift für Analytische Chemie 317, 350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steubing, L. and Jaeger, H. J. (eds.): 1982, Monitoring of Air Pollutants by Plants, Methods and Problems, Tasks for Vegetation Science, 7, Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague, Boston, London, 161 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Streeter, D. T.: 1970, Sci. Prog. Oxf. 58, 419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M. and Wood, S.: 1982, ‘Atomic Absorption Methods in Applied Geochemistry’, in J. E. Cantle (ed.), Techniques and Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry, No. 5, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 261–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeaple, D. S.: 1972, Nature 235, 229.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Systems Research Group, University of Osnabrück, P.O. Box 4469, 4500, Osnabrück, F.R.G.

    Bernd Markert & Vera Weckert

Authors
  1. Bernd Markert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vera Weckert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Markert, B., Weckert, V. Fluctuations of element concentrations during the growing season of Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.). Water Air Soil Pollut 43, 177–189 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175592

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175592

Keywords

  • Seasonal Variation
  • Maximum Concentration
  • Seasonal Change
  • Element Concentration
  • Biological Variance