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Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental...
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Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 6654

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Rajfur

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biology, University of Opole, 45-032 Opole, Poland
Interests: biomonitoring with the use of algae; mosses and lichens; environmental monitoring; environmental chemistry; heavy metals; absorption atomic spectrometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Paweł Świsłowski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biology, University of Opole, 45-032 Opole, Poland
Interests: biological monitoring; mosses; algae; air & water pollutants; heavy metals; microplastic; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; ecological chemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The impact of environmental pollution on living organisms has been known for a long time, but it was only in the second half of the 20th century that methodical studies began to be carried out on the impact of anthropopressure on changes in ecosystems. Living organisms began to be used as biological indicators of environmental pollution. Cyclic and quantitative studies of pollutant concentrations in bioaccumulators became the basis of modern biological monitoring (biomonitoring) of environmental pollution.

Analysis of trace elements, including heavy metals, but also polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microplastics accumulated in algae, mosses, or lichens used in biological monitoring provides a wealth of information on, among other things, the concentration and origin of pollutants and the directions of their spread. Biomonitoring is used to assess the level of pollution of selected ecosystems, as well as to study the impact of individual emitters on the environment. An important element in determining the concentrations of pollutants in biological material used in biomonitoring is the proper planning of the experiment, taking into account, among other things: the means of collecting or exposure samples, the selection of analytical methods, and the means of evaluating and interpreting the results.

The purpose of this special issue of Plants is to expand the current state of knowledge on topics related to the use of biological monitoring methods in assessing the state of environmental pollution. The topics of the issue include issues related to, among others, the biodiversity of selected ecosystems; the sorption properties of bioindicators and the possibility of their use in biomonitoring of environmental pollution; the use of plants in phytoremediation and environmental protection. The scope of the issue also includes issues of environmental bioanalysis in the broadest sense, using plants.

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Rajfur
Dr. Paweł Świsłowski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant biodiversity
  • environmental biomonitoring
  • environmental pollution
  • environmental protection
  • bioindicators

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1522 KiB  
Article
Is Moss Still a Reliable Biomonitor of Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition After Decades of Emissions Reductions?
by Mehriban Jafarova, Julian Aherne, Monia Renzi, Serena Anselmi, Inga Zinicovscaia, Nikita Yushin, Ilaria Bonini and Stefano Loppi
Plants 2025, 14(7), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071114 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 704
Abstract
Mosses are widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition due to their broad distribution, ease of sampling, and capacity to trap and accumulate atmospheric particles. However, since 2000, S emissions have decreased by more than 80% across Europe, [...] Read more.
Mosses are widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition due to their broad distribution, ease of sampling, and capacity to trap and accumulate atmospheric particles. However, since 2000, S emissions have decreased by more than 80% across Europe, and N oxides by 40–50%. This study evaluated whether moss remains effective for monitoring atmospheric N and S deposition after decades of emission reductions. This assessment was conducted at 33 rural sites in Tuscany, Central Italy, a region characterized by relatively low levels of N and S deposition. The content of N and S in moss were compared with the air concentrations (gases and particles) and wet and dry deposition of N and S from the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) model and an air pollution index derived from trace element concentrations. The average N content of moss (1.15 ± 0.42%) was an order of magnitude greater than that of S (0.11 ± 0.02%), reflecting the dominance of N deposition. Nevertheless, N and S in moss were strongly correlated (rs = 0.55), suggesting shared sources. Further, N showed a strong correlation with the dry deposition of oxidized N (rs = 0.53), while S was strongly correlated with the wet deposition of S oxides (rs = 0.53) and magnetic susceptibility (rs = 0.69). Overall, our findings confirm that mosses remain effective biomonitors of N and S deposition and can provide reliable spatial and temporal monitoring, especially as the traditional monitoring networks decline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection)
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19 pages, 4029 KiB  
Article
Strawberry Plant as a Biomonitor of Trace Metal Air Pollution—A Citizen Science Approach in an Urban-Industrial Area near Lisbon, Portugal
by Carla A. Gamelas, Nuno Canha, Ana R. Justino, Alexandra Nunes, Sandra Nunes, Isabel Dionísio, Zsofia Kertesz and Susana Marta Almeida
Plants 2024, 13(24), 3587; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243587 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1139
Abstract
A biomonitoring study of air pollution was developed in an urban-industrial area (Seixal, Portugal) using leaves of strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier) as biomonitors to identify the main sources and hotspots of air pollution in the study area. The [...] Read more.
A biomonitoring study of air pollution was developed in an urban-industrial area (Seixal, Portugal) using leaves of strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier) as biomonitors to identify the main sources and hotspots of air pollution in the study area. The distribution of exposed strawberry plants in the area was based on a citizen science approach, where residents were invited to have the plants exposed outside their homes. Samples were collected from a total of 49 different locations, and their chemical composition was analyzed for 22 chemical elements using X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry. Source apportionment tools, such as enrichment factors and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to identify three different sources, one geogenic and two anthropogenic (steel industry and traffic), besides plant major nutrients. The spatial distribution of elemental concentrations allowed the identification of the main pollution hotspots in the study area. The reliability of using strawberry leaves as biomonitors of air pollution was evaluated by comparing them with the performance of transplanted lichens by regression analysis, and a significant relation was found for Fe, Pb, Ti, and Zn, although with a different accumulation degree for the two biomonitors. Furthermore, by applying PCA to the lichen results, the same pollution sources were identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection)
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19 pages, 6256 KiB  
Article
Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
by Omari Chaligava, Inga Zinicovscaia, Alexandra Peshkova, Nikita Yushin, Marina Frontasyeva, Konstantin Vergel, Makhabbat Nurkassimova and Liliana Cepoi
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3298; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233298 - 23 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1159
Abstract
The study, carried out as part of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops, involved collecting 95 moss samples across the territory of Georgia during the period from 2019 to 2023. Primarily samples of Hypnum cupressiforme [...] Read more.
The study, carried out as part of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops, involved collecting 95 moss samples across the territory of Georgia during the period from 2019 to 2023. Primarily samples of Hypnum cupressiforme were selected, with supplementary samples of Abietinella abietina, Pleurozium schreberi, and Hylocomium splendens in cases of the former’s absence. The content of 14 elements (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, V, and Zn) was detected using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), while the Hg content was determined using a Direct Mercury Analyzer. To identify any relationships between chemical elements and to depict their sources, multivariate statistics was applied. Principal component analysis identified three main components: PC1 (geogenic, 43.4%), PC2 (anthropogenic, 13.3%), and PC3 (local anomalies, 8.5%). The results were compared with the first moss survey conducted in Georgia in the period from 2014 to 2017, offering insights into temporal trends of air quality. Utilizing GIS, a spatial map illustrating pollution levels across Georgia, based on the Pollution Load Index, was generated. The Potential Environmental Risk Index emphasized significant risks associated with mercury and cadmium at several locations. The study highlights the utility of moss biomonitoring in assessing air pollution and identifying hotspots of contamination. The findings from this study could be beneficial for future biomonitoring research in areas with varying physical and geographical conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection)
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11 pages, 2119 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Atmospheric Deposition of Potentially Toxic Elements Using Moss Pleurozium schreberi in an Urban Area: The Perm (Perm Region, Russia) Case Study
by Evgeniya Gatina, Inga Zinicovscaia, Nikita Yushin, Omari Chaligava, Marina Frontasyeva and Alina Sharipova
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2353; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172353 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
Assessment of air quality in urban areas is very important because pollutants affect both the environment and human health. In Perm (Russia), a moss biomonitoring method was used to assess the level of air pollution. The concentrations of 15 elements in 87 samples [...] Read more.
Assessment of air quality in urban areas is very important because pollutants affect both the environment and human health. In Perm (Russia), a moss biomonitoring method was used to assess the level of air pollution. The concentrations of 15 elements in 87 samples of moss Pleurozium schreberi in the city territory were determined using a direct mercury analyzer and an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Using factor and correlation analyses, the grouping of elements and their relationship with emission sources were established. The main sources of emissions of potentially toxic elements are the transportation (road and rail), metallurgical, and chemical industries. The level of atmospheric air pollution was assessed by calculating the environmental risk index, pollutant load index, and pollution coefficient. Based on the values of the pollution index, the level of atmospheric air pollution in Perm varies from unpolluted to highly polluted, with moderate environmental risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection)
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15 pages, 12051 KiB  
Article
Biomonitoring with the Use of the Herbal Plant Taraxacum officinale as a Source of Information on Environmental Contamination
by Zuzanna Respondek, Oznur Isinkaralar, Paweł Świsłowski, Kaan Isinkaralar and Małgorzata Rajfur
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1805; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131805 - 29 Jun 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1670
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of the common dandelion—Taraxacum officinale—with selected metals (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) and to demonstrate that this plant can be used in passive biomonitoring of industrial sites. [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of the common dandelion—Taraxacum officinale—with selected metals (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) and to demonstrate that this plant can be used in passive biomonitoring of industrial sites. Two sample transects (the first was near a forest, an area potentially uncontaminated by analytes [A], while the second ran near a steel mill, a contaminated area [B]), each about 1.5 km long, located in Ozimek, Opole Province, Poland, were used in this study. Metals in plant and soil samples were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Based on the analysis of the obtained results to determine the concentration of metals, plants at site A were more contaminated with Mn (240 mg/kg d.m.) and those at site B with Fe (635 mg/kg d.m.). Mean Pb values (8.39 mg/kg d.m.) were higher at the industrial site (B) and statistically significant at the forest site (A), together with Mn and Fe at the p < 0.001 level. The BCF values for T. officinale showed that Cu (0.473) and Zn (0.785) accumulated to an average degree on both transects. This shows that dandelion is heavily loaded with these metals. Both dandelion and soil samples showed the highest concentrations of Mn, Fe, and Zn, especially in the polluted area B, which is the result of pollution not only from the smelter (dust from electric arc furnaces in steel smelting, extraction installations in production halls transmitting pollutants into the air from molding sand, or waste from molding and core masses dumped on the heap and blown by the wind from the landfill) but also from the high anthropopressure caused by human activity—for example, heating processes or road transport. Our results confirmed that Taraxacum officinale can be successfully used as a herbal plant in passive biomonitoring to assess the quality of the environment, but it must be collected from uncontaminated areas if we want to use it like a medicinal plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection)
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