Development of a Wintertime Biomonitor for Heavy Metals in Flowing Waters

摘要

Two species of Fontinalis were cultured at 1 and 5C in Lake Superior water with experimentally varied alkalinity and humic acid, copper and cadmium concentrations, to determine the suitability of using these mosses as wintertime biomonitors for heavy metal contamination. Both species exhibited growth and healthy appearance at 1 and 5C. Alkalinity and humic acids had no significant effect on the chlorophyll content or appearance of the moss within the range of concentrations known in Michigan. Copper caused reduced chlorophyll and visible loss of color at 1 mg/l in four days at 1C. Cadmium caused reduced chlorophyll and visible loss of color only at 35 mg/l and above after 10 days exposure at 1C. Cellular re-organization paralleled color response to both copper and cadmium. Several species of mosses were compared for ease of recognizing stress symptoms. Fontinalis hypnoides var. duriaei and Eurhynchium riparioides had the most easily recognized microscopic response.