To the study of the features of the heavy metals deposition in the mosses of the Samara region

Abstract

The features of the deposition of heavy metals by mosses from the atmosphere in the identified background area (Krasnosamarsky forest) for the Samara region were studied. Pleurozium schreberi showed the highest metal accumulating capacity, Brachythecium salebrosum - average, Dicranum polysetum - the lowest. Climacium dendroides showed high species specificity in the accumulation of heavy metals among the studied species, which may be related to its water regime. A comparative analysis of the chemical “fingerprint” of the average content of heavy metals for the mosses of the Krasnosamarsky forest area according to to Markert revealed a negative deviation from the average content of heavy metals in the bryophytes of the Samara region, which meant that there were no atmospheric sources of heavy metal pollution in the study area. Mosses growing in the Krasnosamarksky forest can be used as reference species for the region. The revealed increased level of accumulation of a number of elements (Cr, V, Co, Ni, As, Fe, Zn) demonstrated the biogeochemical features of the Samara region in comparison with the reference moss species Pleurozium schreberi in Western Europe. This also indicates the need to use indicators of species growing in the region as reference values.