ABSTRACT
Terrestrial mosses are promising species to study concerning metal deposition, absorption, and soil fertility as moss biocrusts. However, acrocarpous moss, as a kind of terrestrial mosses, has not yet been well understood, both in environmental monitoring and ecological application, especially exposed to an abandoned pyrite mining. Herein, we investigated the concentrations of different heavy metals in soil underlying acrocarpous moss Campylopus schmidii at three distances from an abandoned pyrite mine tailings (0.5, 1, 2 km) by sampling analysis, as well as the accumulation properties of heavy metals in different parts of mosses and soil nutrients under intact mosses and moss-free layers. The results indicated that the soil we researched was heavily polluted by Cr, Cu, and Cd, which was 4.46, 4.18, and 1.77 times higher than the standard of risk screening values for soil environment quality in China. And there was a marked difference in the concentrations and distribution of heavy metals in mosses, with higher concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb mainly in the ageing parts. In addition, mosses can effectively promote soil fertility. Compared with the bare soil without the moss layer, the total organic matter and total potassium concentrations of the soil covered by the intact moss layer were significantly increased, by 113.91% and 186.08% respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that similar pollution sources for Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb, and the concentrations of these heavy metals in soil connected with the distance from the source of pollution. Overall, we expected that these findings could assess the greater potential of single native dominant moss species C.schmidii to act as biomonitors in specific pyrite mine tailings characterized by barren soil with strong acids (pH < 4.0) and polymetallic pollution. Meanwhile, our results revealed may serve as a possibility reference for similar areas and is recommended for developing a vegetative cover utilizing local acrocarpous mosses to achieve greening of degraded tailings in the future, as well as environmental management and protection.
Subject(s)
Bryophyta , Metals, Heavy , Soil Pollutants , Cadmium/analysis , China , Environmental Biomarkers , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Iron , Lead/analysis , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Risk Assessment , Soil/chemistry , Soil Pollutants/analysis , SulfidesABSTRACT
The moss genus Ochrobryum was chosen for this phenological study because of its wide range in the Brazilian territory markedly in Cerrado areas and there, without ecological studies and a significant number of samples in SP Herbarium. We analyzed 302 exsiccatae (totaling 906 individuals - three individuals per exsiccatae), and observed phenological patterns with alternance of the reproductive structures within the seasonal periods of the year. The sexual reproduction in Ochrobryum is highly related to the rainy periods and the asexual reproduction present uninterruptedly with an increase in the dry season. Our results demonstrate that Ochrobryum has a seasonal alternation of colonization strategies.
O gênero de musgos Ochrobryum foi escolhido para este estudo fenológico porque possui uma ampla distribuição no Brasil, especialmente nas áreas de Cerrado; nunca foi estudado do ponto de vista ecológico e possui número significativo de amostras no Herbário SP. Nós analisamos 302 exsicatas (totalizando 906 indivíduos - três indivíduos por exsicata), e encontramos padrões fenológicos e alternância de estruturas reprodutivas em relação a sazonalidade. A reprodução sexual em Ochrobryum está relacionada com os períodos chuvosos e a reprodução assexual ocorre em todas as épocas do ano com aumento na estação seca. Nossos resultados demonstram que Ochrobryum alterna seu potencial de colonização sazonalmente.
