Krzysztof Kolon

Short shoots of Betula pendula Roth. as bioindicators of urban environmental pollution in Wrocław (Poland)

Concentrations of the elements Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Ni, P, Pb and Zn were measured in leaves of Betula pendula from the polluted areas of Wrocław, Poland and from a control site, relatively free from pollution. From the same sampled trees, lengths of vegetative short shoots were measured to investigate the influence of environmental pollution. Length of the vegetative short shoots of B. pendula was positively influenced by the traffic intensity and by the concentration of Co, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb in leaves of this species. Vegetative short shoots of B. pendula from polluted sites in Wrocław were significantly longer than that of the trees growing in a clean area. Thus, this feature may be used as a pollution bioindicator.

Bioindication capacity of metal pollution of native and transplanted Pleurozium schreberi under various levels of pollution

During a period of 90d assays were carried out with the moss Pleurozium schreberi transplanted from an uncontaminated control site to 27 sites selected in one of the most polluted regions of Upper Silesia (Poland). The native mosses of this species were collected from the polluted sites. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined in P. schreberi and in the soil of all of the sites. The sites were divided into more and less polluted ones. The obtained results indicate that the native P. schreberi from the more polluted sites accumulated significantly more Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn than the transplanted moss from the same sites. The transplanted P. schreberi from the less polluted sites accumulated significantly more Cr, Pb, Zn, significantly less Cu and comparable amounts of Cd, as compared to the native moss. The selection of native versus transplant P. schreberi as a bioindicator depends on the level of pollution.

Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) loeske as bioindicator of metal pollution in polar regions

The length of gametophytes in the moss Sanionia uncinata and concentrations of the elements Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in this moss and in the parent rock material were measured in West Spitsbergen (Svalbard). Samples were collected at different distances from the seashore from pure colonies in a wet moss tundra, a moderately wet moss and herb tundra, and a dry rock and terrestrial tundra. Not any statistical relation (PCCA) between concentration of elements in mosses and type of tundra habitat could be found. The principal component and classification analysis (PCCA) ordination revealed that S. uncinata from sites the most close, the most remote and on an intermediary distance from the seashore differentiated by the value of factor 1, which relates negatively to concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and V. S. uncinata from sites situated the most close to and the most distant from the seashore was differentiated by the value of factor 2, which was negatively related to concentrations of Na, Ni and Mn in this moss. The established model points that Na, Mn, Cu, Ni and Zn were accumulated by S. uncinata mostly from sea spray.

Market Basket Analysis: A New Tool in Ecology to Describe Chemical Relations in the Environment—A Case Study of the Fern Athyrium distentifolium in the Tatra National Park in Poland

In this study, the novel data mining technique Market Basket Analysis (MBA) was applied for the first time in biogeochemical and ecological investigations. The method was tested on the fern Athyrium distentifolium, in which we measured concentrations of the elements Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Plants were sampled from sites with different types of bedrock in the Tatra National Park in Poland. MBA was used to investigate whether specimens of Athyrium distentifolium that contain elevated levels of certain elements occur more frequently on a specific type of bedrock and to identify relationships between the type of bedrock and the concentrations of the elements in this fern. The results were compared with those of the commonly used principal component and classification analysis (PCCA) technique. MBA and PCCA ordination both yielded distinct groups of ferns growing on different types of bedrock. Although the results of MBA and PCCA were similar, MBA has the advantage of being independent of the size of the data set. In addition, MBA revealed not only dominant elements but, in the case of limestone bedrock, also showed very low concentrations of Cd, Fe, Mn, and Pb in ferns growing on this type of parent material. MBA, thus, appeared to be a promising data mining method to reveal chemical relations in the environment as well as the accumulation of chemical elements in bioindicators. This technique can be used to reveal associations and correlations among items in large data sets collected on a national or even larger scale.

A survey of metal concentrations in higher plants, mosses, and lichens collected on King George Island in 1988

Antarctica is considered to be one of the least polluted regions on earth, and therefore, it is important to survey and control the level of contamination. Antarctic vegetation is very sparse and is essentially restricted to seashore oases and nunataks. Therefore, any data concerning metal levels in plants and lichens are of crucial value for this area. Our first goal was to determine metal concentrations in two higher plants and the most dominant species of mosses and lichens collected in 1988. We then compared the results of our survey with recent studies employing similar methodology. In our study, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn concentrations in mosses, C. quitensis and D. antarctica were also higher than typical values for mosses and vascular plants from unpolluted areas indicating anthropogenic influence. Mosses were determined to be better bioindicators of metals than lichens. Hg concentrations in mosses were significantly higher than those in shoots of C. quitensis and D. antarctica. Increases in Cr, Pb, and V concentrations over time were observed in moss when concentrations from samples collected in 1988 were compared with more recent data from other studies. Our results for King George Island may apply at least to all the maritime Antarctic where climate and plant communities are similar.

Decreasing concentrations of metals in sphagnum mosses in ombrotrophic mires of the sudety mountains (sw poland) since late 1980s

In this investigation we focus on the evaluation of changes in metal pollution between 1986 until 2011 by Sphagnum species as bioindicators in 100 km part of the Sudety mountains influenced by the former Black Triangle Region. Concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in various Sphagnum species all from ombrotrophic bogs in the Sudety mountains (SW Poland). The tested hypothesis was that overall improvements in pollution control in the former Black Triangle Region between 1986 until recent reduced the amount of metals deposited and accumulated by these plants. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in Sphagnum species were very high in 1986 indicating a heavy pollution of the examined bogs in this period, and significantly higher than in samples collected in 2011. The PCCA ordination showed the similar pattern in all bogs. In 2011 concentration of the Co was significantly higher in hollow species and concentration of Mn was significantly higher in those from hummocks. Differences between hollow/hummock sites were more important than species-specific abilities of Sphagnum mosses to accumulate metals. Species from hollows were better bioindicators of Co and those from hummocks were better bioindicators of Mn pollution.

Mercury in Pleurozium schreberi and Polytrichum commune from areas with various levels of Hg pollution – an accumulation and desorption experiment with microscopic observations

Because of its high mobility in ecosystems, mercury is one of the main toxic threats to the environment, and its concentration must be carefully controlled. To fulfill this need, we selected terrestrial mosses with different characteristic life forms: orthotropic and endohydric Polytrichum commune and plagiotropic and ectohydric Pleurozium schreberi. The concentrations of mercury were determined in both species growing together at sites situated approximately 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 6km to the north, south, east and west, respectively of five known mercury polluters. The mercury concentrations reflected the emissions produced by the surrounding industry, reaching values of 0.44mgkg(-1) in P. schreberi and 0.79mgkg(-1) in P. commune in the vicinity of the chlor-alkali industry. To determine how long a load of Hg would remain in the mosses after mercury emitters restricted releases of Hg to the atmosphere, accumulation and desorption experiments were performed. We compared the two moss species collected from clean and moderately and heavily mercury-polluted sites. After eight days of exposure to mercury, P. schreberi accumulated up to 25mgkg(-1) of Hg, and P. commune accumulated up to 31mgkg(-1). Both in the field and in the experiment, P. commune accumulated significantly higher concentrations of Hg than did P. schreberi, most likely because of its surface morphology, which is likely to enhance the capture of metal from the atmosphere. After sixteen days of exposure, mercury changed the structure of the plasma membrane and affected organelles such as the nuclei and chloroplasts, leading to cell disintegration and death. The negative effects of mercury on the functioning of living cells appeared first in the older leaves of P. schreberi. After 64 days growing in the absence of Hg, P. schreberi clearly retained only 10-14% of the initially accumulated Hg, while P. commune retained 10-21%.

δ34s values and s concentrations in native and transplanted pleurozium schreberi in a heavily industrialised area

Sulphur is an element found in surplus in anthropogenic areas and one of the minerals responsible for the development of acid rains. The analysis of stable S isotopes provides a powerful tool for studying various aspects of the biogeochemical circulation of sulphur. δ(34)S values and S concentrations were determined in a 90-day experiment with the native moss Pleurozium schreberi from rural, urban and industrial sites in Upper Silesia in southern Poland. At the same time P. schreberi from a control site was transplanted to the same rural, urban and industrial sites and the δ(34)S values and S concentrations were determined in the same 90-day experiment. (34)S enrichment (up to 4.7‰) in the mosses tested indicates that these plants responded to environmental pollution stress. Sulphur isotopic composition in the transplanted P. schreberi was related to S concentrations in this species after 90 days of the experiment. Higher δ(34)S values and S concentrations were noted in native mosses than in those transplanted from rural and urban sites while an opposite situation was reported in industrial sites. The transplanted P. schreberi was a better sulphur bioindicator than the native moss in more polluted industrial sites and worse in less polluted rural and urban sites.

Trace elements in the Fontinalis antipyretica from rivers receiving sewage of lignite and glass sand mining industry

Intensive lignite and glass sand mining and industrial processing release waste which may contain elements hazardous to the aquatic ecosystem and constitute a potential risk to human health. Therefore, their levels must be carefully controlled. As a result, we examined the effects of sewage on the aquatic Fontinalis antipyretica moss in the Nysa Łużycka (lignite industry) and the Kwisa Rivers (glass sand industry). The Nysa Łużycka and the Kwisa Rivers appeared to be heavily polluted with As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn, which were reflected in the extremely high concentration of these elements in F. antipyretica along the studied watercourses. In the Nysa Łużycka, trace element composition in the moss species is affected by lignite industry with accumulation in its tissues of the highest concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, while samples from the Kwisa sites influenced by glass sand industry revealed the highest concentrations of As, V and Fe. The principal component and classification analysis classifies the concentration of elements in the aquatic F. antipyretica moss, thus enabling the differentiation of sources of water pollution in areas affected by mining industry.

Andromeda polifolia and Oxycoccus microcarpus as pollution indicators for ombrotrophic bogs in the Western Sudety Mountains (SW Poland)

Concentrations of the elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, N, Ni, Pb and Zn in Andromeda polifolia, Oxycoccus microcarpus and in the peat in which these plants grew were measured in the Western Sudety (Karkonosze and Izerskie Mts., SW Poland). Of both the investigated plant fruit, O. microcarpus harvested from wild populations are commonly used as medicines. Samples from ombrotrophic bogs were investigated within the area influenced by exhausts of the former Black Triangle, one of the most heavily industrialized and polluted areas in Europe. A. polifolia and O. microcarpus growing at the highest elevations contained the highest Cu, Li, Ni, Mn and Zn concentrations and in addition O. microcarpus also contained the highest Cr concentrations. Both the investigated species have wide circumpolar distribution in ombrotrophic mires of the Northern hemisphere. As this type of mires is nourished solely by atmospheric deposition, the increased metal concentrations in A. polifolia and O. microcarpus may be an indication that their habitats receive an atmospheric input of long-range transported pollution. Our investigation proves that both species are able to accumulate elevated metal levels and may be used in the bioindication of the metal status in ombrotrophic mires. Controlling the collection of O. microcarpus fruit for consumption and medicinal purposes is recommended as this species can accumulate increased metal levels. However, further more detailed studies are necessary to verify the inner translocation of metals into fruit.