Metalleinträge in terrestrische Ökosysteme: Analyse von Daten aus Modellierung und Biomonitoring

Abstract

Metal deposition into terrestrial ecosystems: evaluating data from modelling and biomonitoring In Germany, atmospheric deposition of heavy metals derived by modelling and measurements using biological and technical samplers are used to spatially differentiate respective European data. However, a comparative analysis is still missing. Therefore, this article compares results from deposition modelling derived by LOTOS-EUROS and EMEP with data on heavy metals concentrations in leaves, needles and organic surface soil collected by intensive forest monitoring (ICP Forests Level II) and the Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB). The concentrations in leaves and needles collected during the years 2007–2011 for the specimen bank revealed clear correlations with the modelled values. They were specific for the matrices sampled and, in case of Cd concentrations in one year old spruce needles, for ecosystem types. Thereby, the correlations with LOTOS-EUROS were stronger than those with EMEP. Yet, these differences could not be proved to be significant. Most data retrieved from ICP Forests Level II monitoring showed stronger correlations with EMEP. They are lower than those calculated from specimen bank data. The advantage of IPC Forests Level II data is that it yields concentrations for different age groups of needles. Rather high correlations were found especially between LOTOS-EUROS results and Pb concentrations in two year old needles collected from pine and spruce. Additionally to leaves and needles, Forests Level II data were used to analyze heavy metal concentrations in organic soil layers. Significant correlations were computed for Cd between the modelled total deposition and respective concentrations in OH soil layers and for Pb between modelled total deposition and OL and OH soil layers. The different biomonitoring networks should be connected more tightly to enhance the spatial significance of their common data.