BRYOPHYTA AS ТЕST-ОBJECTS OF BRYOGEOCHEMICAL INDICATION OF ATMOSPHERIC FALLOUTS OF HEAVY METALS AND RADIONUCLIDES IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF EUROPE. АNALYTICAL REVIEW

The review presents the analysis of publications dedicated to problems of using of Bryobionta representatives for bryogeochemical indication and biomonitoring of heavy metals and radionuclides in the environment. Taxonomic structure of Bryobionta is briefly observed, three divisions of Bryobionta are elucidated – Anthocerotophyta, Marchantiophyta and Bryophyta. It is concluded that the most suitable moss species for biomonitoring of heavy metals and radionuclides are representatives from division Bryophyta, such as Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Hypnum cupressiforme, Scleropodium purum. The mosses have been successfully used in biomonitoring of atmospheric fallout of heavy metals in the environment in Europe for 25 years. A special system of monitoring on their basis is applied in 28 countries of the continent. For the most important moss species used as test-objects of biomonitoring, significant width of their geographic distribution is shown as well as distribution on different substrates of growth (epigeious, epiphytic, epilytic). The main biological peculiarities of mosses which allow to use them for purposes of biomonitoring of heavy metals and radionuclides have been analyzed, i.e. absence of roots, that permits them to derive the main part of nutrients (and pollutants) directly from aerial fallouts – dry (dust) and wet (rain, snow), and high cation exchange capacity of their cell membranes. The most important anatomical and morphological features of three moss groups (endohydritic, ectohydritic, mixohydritic) are briefly reported, and a conclusion about the best suitability of ectohydritic moss species for bryogeochemical indication and biomonitoring of pollutants is made. Results of numerous biomonitoring studies conducted with using of widely distributed moss species in Europe in nature and anthropogenic biogeocenoses are demonstrated. Criteria to mosses as test-objects of bryogeochemical indication and biomonitoring are briefly reported. Physiological adaptations of mosses to stress emerging due to intake of significant concentrations of heavy metals to their phytomass are generalized. Requirements to sampling of moss cover for purposes of bryogeochemical indication and biomonitoring of pollutants are reported. Perspective moss species as test-objects of environmental pollution by heavy metals and radionuclides are proposed for different natural zones of Ukraine: for Polissya zone – Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, for Forest-Steppe zone – Hypnum cupressiforme, for Steppe zone – Tortula muralis and Bryum argenteum.

A Ten-Year Biomonitoring Study of Atmospheric Deposition of Trace Elements at the Territory of the Republic of Belarus

For the third time since 2005 atmospheric deposition of trace elements in Belarus was monitored by the moss technique widely used in Europe for air pollution studies. Samples of moss species of Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi were collected at 86 sites over the Gomel, Vitebsk and Minsk Regions in the summer of 2015. A total of 30 elements were determined by epithermal neutron activation analysis. Studying of the temporal trends in Belarus was undertaken with the results obtained in previous moss surveys in 2005/2006 and 2010/2011. Comparison with the analogous data from the neighbouring countries showed relatively low contamination levels in Belarus for the most heavy and toxic elements. The results of survey 2010/2011 showed that, except Cr, other element concentrations reduce or are at the same levels.

On moss genera Hylocomiadelphus Ochyra & Stebel and Rhytidiadelphus (Limpr.) Warnst.

The moss family Hylocomiaceae is studied for the generic level taxonomy within a molecular phylogenetic approach. We confirm segregating of the species formerly known as Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus to Hylocomiadelphus Ochyra & Stebel from the genus Rhytidiadelphus. Hylocomiadelphus forms a clade with Loeskeobryum and Meteoriella, sharing with both genera cordate to auriculate leaf bases and non-squarrose leaves, and with the former undulate leaves and reticulate exostome teeth ornamentation. However, Loeskeobryum differs from Hylocomiadelphus in having paraphyllia, while Meteoriella has a straight capsule and reduced peristome, likely caused by its epiphytic ecology. In the group of species closely related to R. squarrosus, in addition to R. subpinnatus, the third species with North Pacific distribution is described as R. pacificum. Macrothamnium is found deeply nested in Rhytidiadelphus, although no nomenclatural implications are suggested at the moment due to insufficient sampling. Hylocomium splendens var. splendens and var. obtusifolium were found intermingled in the phylogenetic tree, indicating no correlation between morphology and variation in ITS region, thus supporting a view that these taxa are merely environmentally induced morphs.