Bioindication of Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition in the Blue Ridge Using the Moss Thuidium delicatulum
Schilling JS. 2000. Bioindication of Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition in the Blue Ridge Using the Moss Thuidium delicatulum. Longwood College
ABSTRACT: Heavy metals in the environment pose a risk to human health as well as to ecosystem health. These metals are released into the atmosphere as a result of industrial processes, and can be transported away from their sources to be deposited into the environment. Ectohydric mosses are known accumulators of atmospheric heavy metals, and their tissue can be used to quantify integrated deposition of these metals over time in the ecosystem. In this study, the moss Thuidium delicatulum (Hedw.) was used to quantify lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni) concentrations in the central Blue Ridge of Virginia. Projects using moss as a bioindicator of heavy metals on a landscape scale have been infrequent in the southern U.S. and have never occurred in the Blue Ridge. The objectives of the project were to evaluate the suitability of this moss for a moss-monitoring study to assess the effects of several geographical and environmental variables on deposition, and to contribute to the current literature regarding the deposition of heavy metals in the Appalachians.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Schilling, Jonathan
- Date of Issue
- 2000-08
- Publisher
- Longwood College
- Units
- BLRI
- Keywords
- air pollution, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, atmospheric deposition, bioaccumulation, BLRI, Blue Ridge Parkway, bryophyte, chromium, copper, heavy metals, lead, moss, nickel, SER, Southeast Region, thesis, Thuidium delicatulum