Mosses and foliage of forest tree species as biomonitors of nitrogen pollution

Abstract

The foliage N concentrations were determined in 405 permanent monitoring plots (PMP) in four National Parks (NP) and 16 Landscape Protection Areas (NPA) and were compared with 3062 PMP in Slovakia. The foliage concentration of N ranged from 9.7 to 48.7 mg kg−1 in conifers (Picea abies Karst., Pinus silvestris L.), and from 7.8 to 51.4 mg kg−1 in broadleaved forests (Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L.). A low level of N was determined in one LPA and a critical increase in four NPAs. The S/N ratio ranged from 0.08 to 0.176 in conifers, and from 0.078 to 0.253 in broadleaved tree species. The S/N ratio was dislocated on 90% of localities when compared with the range limit. Concentrations of N in the foliage of three forest tree species (1101 trees) from 24 sites of the Carpathian Mountains forests – in the Czech Republic (CZ), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Slovakia (SK) and Ukraine (U) – were evaluated and compared taking the limit values into account. The foliage concentrations of N for Fagus sylvatica L. were all over the European threshold value of 20.8 mg kg−1 (i.e. 26.24±14.47(CZ); 28.2±18.15 (PL); 23.1±2.1 (RO); 23.9±3.6 (SK); 26.6±2.7 (U)). The concentrations in the foliage of Picea abies Karst and Abies alba Mill. were also over or around the European Union limits. The results for the atmospheric deposition of N in 6 Slovak sites using the moss biomonitoring technique are also presented in this study. Concentrations of N (in g. kg−1) in the three‐year‐old segments of mosses (Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium splendens and Dicranum sp.) ranged from 19.6 to 27.3 (2000); from 9 to 24.9 (2005). In comparison to the year 2000, we found increased N concentrations in 2005.