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Nitrogen multitemporal monitoring through mosses in urban areas affected by mud volcanoes around Mt. Etna, Italy

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Abstract

Nitrogen emissions were assessed by using mosses as bioindicators in a densely inhabited area affected by mud volcanoes. Such volcanoes, locally called Salinelle, are phenomena that occur around Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy), and are interpreted as the surface outflow of a hydrothermal system located below Mt. Etna, which releases sedimentary fluids (hydrocarbons and Na-Cl brines) along with magmatic gases (mainly CO2 and He). To date, N emissions from such mud volcanoes have been only quantitatively assessed, and no biomonitoring campaigns are reported about the cumulative effects of these emissions. This study analyzed N concentrations in moss, water and soil samples, collected in a 4-year monitoring campaign. The bryophyte Bryum argenteum, a species widely adopted in surveys of atmospheric pollution, was used as a biological indicator. N concentrations in biomonitors showed relatively low values in the study sites. However, the results of this study suggest that N emissions from Salinelle may have an impact on surrounding ecosystems because N values in moss and water showed a significant correlation. N oxides, in particular, contribute to acidification of ecosystems, thus multitemporal biomonitoring is recommended, especially in those areas where N emitting sources are anthropogenic and natural.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Research, grants no. 20206059003 (2007) and 20206059012 (2008). The author wishes to thank David Flynn for his useful suggestions, and Dr. Grazia Rita Messina for fieldwork and material provided.

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  1. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, via Longo 19, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Giuseppe Bonanno

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Bonanno, G. Nitrogen multitemporal monitoring through mosses in urban areas affected by mud volcanoes around Mt. Etna, Italy. Environ Monit Assess 185, 8115–8123 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3159-6

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