32 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 FieldBryology No114 | Nov15 33 vLeft: Hylocomium often grows in large mats on grassy hummocks, stone walls, rocks, and sometimes the ground. When found in such abundance, the group sub- sampled moss from different mats at the site to compare variation within the site to variation between other sites. E. Olmsted. for the purpose of participating in the ICP Vegetation Moss Monitoring Program. Prior to commencing field work, a 25 km x 25 km grid was overlaid across a map of the island, and efforts were made to collect a sample from within each grid. To streamline the sampling process, the team headed first to coordinates obtained from both the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the British Bryological Society (BBS) where the desired species had been previously found. No prior observations were recorded for some grids; in these cases satellite imagery (Google Maps; URL: google.com/maps, Bing Maps; URL: bing.com/maps) was used to predict likely Hylocomium and Pleurozium habitats. erefore, a secondary goal of the project was to add to the database of observations from the BBS and NPWS. A third goal of the project was to re-visit and re-sample sites where Hylocomium had been sampled and analyzed in a previous study (Bowman & Harlock, 1998). In that way, a temporal comparison could be made at those sites for nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations then (1996) and now. Additionally, the team e goal of this network is to gauge the effect of pollutants emitted into the air from either local or transboundary sources such as factories, farms, smelters, or mines on local vegetation; biomonitoring using bryophytes is one step in this process, used to map spatial or temporal differences in atmospheric deposition. is study is Ireland’s inaugural participation in the ICP vegetation moss monitoring program. All that glitters is not gold Hylocomium splendens (glittering wood-moss) and Pleurozium schreberi (red-stemmed feather-moss) are two well-documented biomonitors that the team collected this year at over 100 sites across Ireland. Abundant across Europe, Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi have been used in over 40 countries to monitor air quality (Harmens et al., 2013). e ICP Vegetation moss monitoring manual recommends that pleurocarpous mosses, rather than acrocarpous mosses, be used for biomonitoring. Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi are the two favoured species for sampling, followed by Hypnum cupressiforme and Pseudoscleropodium purum (Harmens et al., 2013). If other species were to be used, precursory studies would be required to determine their uptake of atmospheric pollutants compared with the preferred species. Samples were collected away from any tree canopy, and away from roads, buildings, or other urban artifacts. Project goals e primary aim of the team’s field sampling efforts was to collect the desired moss species from a relatively consistent distribution across Ireland to be analyzed for nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations, as well as radionuclides, Clear skies in the emerald isle A s the westernmost country in Europe, Ireland boasts relatively clean air, thanks to prevailing westerly winds bringing fresh, unpolluted Atlantic air. But Ireland is not immune to air quality concerns. For example, atmospheric deposition of mercury has been on the rise, in part because mercury- containing peat from the industrialisation era is farmed from the depths of Irish bogs and when burned as household fuel, re-releases mercury on ecosystems and urban areas (Scott & Aherne, 2013). e agricultural sector is a major source of elevated nitrogen deposition (Henry & Aherne, 2014), potentially on the rise in the near future as Ireland intends to double its dairy output by 2020 (Farrelly et al., 2014). Along the eastern side of the island, transboundary air pollution from mainland Europe and local increases in industrial emissions have been linked with increasing heavy metal deposition (Bowman & McGettigan, 1994; Burton et al., 2013). All of these sources of atmospheric deposition can put stress on the local natural habitats and native flora and fauna. Ordinarily, collecting and measuring the deposition of atmospheric pollutants such as metals, nitrogen, or radionuclides is a costly and labour intensive endeavour; however, mosses soak up pollutants along with the nutrients they absorb from the atmosphere, offering an excellent alternative for monitoring atmospheric deposition (Steinnes, 1995). Mosses can be sampled and analysed relatively easily and feasibly—in this case, for the cost of sending a team of four Canadians on their first international moss collecting trip. Bryophytes have been widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metal and nitrogen pollution (e.g. Bassingthwaight & Shaw, 2010; Harmens et al., 2011, 2012; Holy et al., 2009; Pitcairn et al., 1995; Špirić et al., 2014; Vučković et al., 2013; Zechmeister et al., 2003). In Europe, the International Co-operative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation, established under the UNECE Convention on long-range transboundary Air pollution) has co-ordinated dense moss surveys since 2000 (URL: icpvegetation.ceh.ac.uk). Hunting high and low for Hylocomium in Ireland Nowhere in the world is moss as plentiful and magical as in the Emerald Isle. So much of it grows on rocks, hedgerows and trees that the mythical giant Fionn Machumaill stuffed five pounds of it in each ear to muffle the sound of his approaching, much-larger Scottish nemesis, Fear Rhuadh. But there is more than magic in the Irish bryophytes; they are today being used as tools in air quality assessments, not just in Ireland, but across Europe. Hazel Cathcart & Kayla Wilkins report. rAbove: Map illustrating the 25 x 25 km grids where observations of Hylocomium or Pleurozium were recorded during the 2015 field season. Note that only five sites in Northern Ireland were included in the survey. Article
vLeft: Hylocomium often grows in large mats on grassy hummocks, stone walls, rocks, and sometimes the ground. When found in such abundance, the group sub-sampled moss from different mats at the site to compare variation within the site to variation between other sites. E. Olmsted.
for the purpose of participating in the ICP Vegetation Moss Monitoring Program. Prior to commencing field work, a 25 km x 25 km grid was overlaid across a map of the island, and efforts were made to collect a sample from within each grid. To streamline the sampling process, the team headed first to coordinates obtained from both the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the British Bryological Society (BBS) where the desired species had been previously found. No prior observations were recorded for some grids; in these cases satellite imagery (Google Maps; URL: google.com/maps, Bing Maps; URL: bing.com/maps) was used to predict likely Hylocomium and Pleurozium habitats. Therefore, a secondary goal of the project was to add to the database of observations from the BBS and NPWS. A third goal of the project was to re-visit and re-sample sites where Hylocomium had been sampled and analyzed in a previous study (Bowman & Harlock, 1998). In that way, a temporal comparison could be made at those sites for nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations then (1996) and now. Additionally, the team
The goal of this network is to gauge the effect of pollutants emitted into the air from either local or transboundary sources such as factories, farms, smelters, or mines on local vegetation; biomonitoring using bryophytes is one step in this process, used to map spatial or temporal differences in atmospheric deposition. This study is Ireland’s inaugural participation in the ICP vegetation moss monitoring program.
All that glitters is not goldHylocomium splendens (glittering wood-moss) and Pleurozium schreberi (red-stemmed feather-moss) are two well-documented biomonitors that the team collected this year at over 100 sites across Ireland. Abundant across Europe, Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi have been used in over 40 countries to monitor air quality (Harmens et al., 2013). The ICP Vegetation moss monitoring manual recommends that pleurocarpous mosses, rather than acrocarpous mosses, be used for biomonitoring. Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi are the two favoured species for sampling, followed by Hypnum cupressiforme and Pseudoscleropodium purum (Harmens et al., 2013). If other species were to be used, precursory studies would be required to determine their uptake of atmospheric pollutants compared with the preferred species. Samples were collected away from any tree canopy, and away from roads, buildings, or other urban artifacts.
Project goalsThe primary aim of the team’s field sampling efforts was to collect the desired moss species from a relatively consistent distribution across Ireland to be analyzed for nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations, as well as radionuclides,
Clear skies in the emerald isle
As the westernmost country in Europe, Ireland boasts relatively clean air, thanks to prevailing westerly winds bringing
fresh, unpolluted Atlantic air. But Ireland is not immune to air quality concerns. For example, atmospheric deposition of mercury has been on the rise, in part because mercury-containing peat from the industrialisation era is farmed from the depths of Irish bogs and when burned as household fuel, re-releases mercury on ecosystems and urban areas (Scott & Aherne, 2013). The agricultural sector is a major source of elevated nitrogen deposition (Henry & Aherne, 2014), potentially on the rise in the near future as Ireland intends to double its dairy output by 2020 (Farrelly et al., 2014). Along the eastern side of the island, transboundary air pollution from mainland Europe and local increases in industrial emissions have been linked with increasing heavy metal deposition (Bowman & McGettigan, 1994; Burton et al., 2013). All of these sources of atmospheric deposition can put stress on the local natural habitats and native flora and fauna.
Ordinarily, collecting and measuring the deposition of atmospheric pollutants such as metals, nitrogen, or radionuclides is a costly and labour intensive endeavour; however, mosses soak up pollutants along with the nutrients they absorb from the atmosphere, offering an excellent alternative for monitoring atmospheric deposition (Steinnes, 1995). Mosses can be sampled and analysed relatively easily and feasibly—in this case, for the cost of sending a team of four Canadians on their first international moss collecting trip. Bryophytes have been widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metal and nitrogen pollution (e.g. Bassingthwaight & Shaw, 2010; Harmens et al., 2011, 2012; Holy et al., 2009; Pitcairn et al., 1995; Špirić et al., 2014; Vučković et al., 2013; Zechmeister et al., 2003). In Europe, the International Co-operative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation, established under the UNECE Convention on long-range transboundary Air pollution) has co-ordinated dense moss surveys since 2000 (URL: icpvegetation.ceh.ac.uk).
Hunting high and low for Hylocomium in Ireland
Nowhere in the world is moss as plentiful and magical as in the Emerald Isle. So much of it grows on rocks, hedgerows and trees that the mythical giant Fionn Machumaill stuffed five pounds of it in each ear to muffle the sound of his approaching, much-larger Scottish nemesis, Fear Rhuadh. But there is more than magic in the Irish bryophytes; they are today being used as tools in air quality assessments, not just in Ireland, but across Europe. Hazel Cathcart & Kayla Wilkins report.
rAbove: Map illustrating the 25 x 25 km grids where observations of Hylocomium or Pleurozium were recorded during the 2015 field season. Note that only five sites in Northern Ireland were included in the survey.
is short, very flat and very lush green fields were not typically good sites.
3. Grazed land was often ok – as long as there was some “roughness” to the terrain, such as hills, bumps and lumps!
4. Scrubby, natural-looking landscapes are good to check, as long as there is short vegetation between the scrub.
5. Highland is better than lowland – head up hill!6. Ask the locals – if you can describe the type
of habitat you are looking for, you may get lucky and someone local can point you in the right direction. This is particularly useful to combine with a coffee or ice-cream break.
7. If you are becoming discouraged in a particular area, check a local map for nearby castles, holy wells, or other interesting architecture or land marks. Even if you don’t find moss, you will hopefully get to do a little bit of enjoyable sight-seeing!
From the field to the laboratory At this stage of the project, all samples have been brought back to Canada (with proper permitting and precautions) for analysis. The samples are first dried and carefully recorded. Then they are prepared for tissue analysis for nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations. Some of the larger samples are used for radionuclide (such as Pb-210 and Cs-137 ) analysis. The
aimed to sub-sample a selection of sites where moss was most abundant to compare tissue concentration between mosses growing within a single site versus mosses from different sites. Lastly, the team of course had to sample some of the beverages offered in Ireland’s famous pubs along the way!
Field sampling anecdotes: Or, how to spot Hylocomium from a moving carAs any field researcher knows, there are always challenges and setbacks with any sampling expedition. Since our team was travelling from Canada, we were on a very fixed time-schedule that fell between flights. In some areas, particularly those where previous observations did not exist, samples were difficult to find. Many stops proved fruitless (or moss-less), which was discouraging. Due to time constraints, the team would have to press on without a sample from a given grid. However, as the trip progressed, the team became increasingly savvy at identifying Hylocomium and Pleurozium habitats on the fly (i.e. from the car). This anecdotal list of preferred-habitat-characteristics may prove to be good tips for others looking to find some Hylocomium: 1. Look for short vegetation. Areas with longer
grasses and herbs were not often successful.2. Avoid flat, lush pastures. Even if the vegetation
preparation and analysis stage takes more time than the initial sampling. Results will be published as they become available; stay tuned!
Hazel Cathcart & Kayla WilkinsField team: Phaedra Cowden, Emily Olmstead, Hazel Cathcart &Kayla Wilkins, under the supervision of Dr. Julian Aherne. Additional field support: Kevin Adkinson, Tanner Liang & Victoria McFarland. Environmental & Resource Sciences Department, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8e: [email protected] or [email protected]
References
Bassingthwaight, T. & Shaw, P. D. (2010). Measuring nitrogen and sulphur deposition in the Georgia Basin, British Columbia, using lichens and moss. Journal of Limnology, 69, 22–32.
Bowman, J. J. & McGettigan, M. (1994). Atmospheric deposition in acid sensitive areas of Ireland—the influence of wind direction and a new coal burning electricity generation station on precipitation quality. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 75, 159–175.
Bowman, J.J. & Harlock, S. (1998). The spatial distribution of characterised fly-ash particles and trace metals in lake sediments and catchment mosses: Ireland. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 106, 263-286.
Burton, A., Aherne, J. & Hassan, N. (2013). Trace metals in upland headwater lakes in Ireland. AMBIO, 42, 702–714.
Farrally, P., Crosse, S., O’Donoghue, P., Whyte, S., Burns, T., Byrne, D., Holmes, O., Maklin, R., McKearney, J.J. & Salley, F. (2014). Food harvest 2020: Environmental analysis report. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland. Retrieved from http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/ruralenvironment/climatechange/
Harmens, H., Ilyin, I., Mills, G., Aboal, J. R., Alber, R., Blum, O. & Zechmeister, H. G. (2012). Country-specific correlations across Europe between modelled atmospheric cadmium and lead deposition and concentrations in mosses. Environmental Pollution, 166, 1–9.
Harmens, H., Norris, D. A., Cooper, D. M., Mills, G., Steinnes, E., Kubin, E. & Zechmeister, H. G. (2011). Nitrogen concentration in mosses indicate the spatial distribution of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in Europe. Environmental Pollution, 159, 2852–2860.
Harmens, H., Mills, G., Hayes, F., Norris, D. and the participants of the ICP Vegetation. (2013). Air pollution and vegetation. ICP Vegetation annual report 2012/2013. ICP Vegetation Programme Coordination Centre, CEH Bangor, UK.
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Zechmeister, H. G., Hohenwallner, D., Riss, A. & Hanus-Illnar, A. (2003). Variations in heavy metal concentrations in the moss species Abietinella abietina (Hedw.) Fleisch. according to sampling time, within site variability and increase in biomass. Science of The Total Environment, 301, 55–65.
rAbove left: A close-up of the abundant Hylocomium splendens, used across Europe and North America as a biomonitor for atmospheric deposition (photographed in Canada). P. Cowden. rAbove right: Members of our team sampling Hylocomium splendens, sprig by sprig. To ensure clean sample, each sprig of moss must be carefully cleaned of debris and insects before being dried for transportation. Picking the sample is a slow process, but very relaxing in the Irish countryside. E. Olmstead.
