<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition were collected from 41 locations in the Moravian Silesian borderlands. Total N concentrations were determined via elemental analysis. Site-specific and local factors were investigated using geostatistical and statistical analyses at a local scale. To assess the correlation between moss N concentrations and chosen factors, Spearman Rank Correlation Analysis was used. Then Exploratory Regression was applied in order to find the factors explaining the spatial distribution pattern of N concentrations. The correlation analysis for the chosen factors showed the strongest correlation between the total N concentrations in mosses and the 7-day precipitation (rs = -0.54), the Forested land use within 0.5 km radius around the site (rs = -0.33) and the Agricultural land use within 0.5 km radius around the site and 1 km respectively (rs = 0.34 and rs = 0.31). The accurate regression model comprised four factors: the 7-day precipitation, the 3-month precipitation, Forested land use within 0.5 km radius and Agricultural land use within 0.5 km radius around the site, with calculated adjusted R-squared = 0.49. Analyses also identified the dependence of the total N concentration on the moss species but the statistical data set is considered too small to make further conclusions.</abstract>

Mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition were collected from 41 locations in the Moravian Silesian borderlands. Total N concentrations were determined via elemental analysis. Site-specific and local factors were investigated using geostatistical and statistical analyses at a local scale. To assess the correlation between moss N concentrations and chosen factors, Spearman Rank Correlation Analysis was used. Then Exploratory Regression was applied in order to find the factors explaining the spatial distribution pattern of N concentrations. The correlation analysis for the chosen factors showed the strongest correlation between the total N concentrations in mosses and the 7-day precipitation (rs = -0.54), the Forested land use within 0.5 km radius around the site (rs = -0.33) and the Agricultural land use within 0.5 km radius around the site and 1 km respectively (rs = 0.34 and rs = 0.31). The accurate regression model comprised four factors: the 7-day precipitation, the 3-month precipitation, Forested land use within 0.5 km radius and Agricultural land use within 0.5 km radius around the site, with calculated adjusted R-squared = 0.49. Analyses also identified the dependence of the total N concentration on the moss species but the statistical data set is considered too small to make further conclusions.

Identification of environmental factors explaining the total nitrogen concentration in mosses collected in the Moravian Silesian borderlands

Dept. of Environmental Protection in Industry, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava,

Dept. of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, CZ-710 00 Ostrava,

VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava,

Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition were collected from 41 locations in the Moravian Silesian borderlands. Total N concentrations were...

Identification of environmental factors explaining the total nitrogen concentration in mosses collected in the Moravian Silesian borderlands

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 235 - 242

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cszma-2016-0030

© Silesian Museum

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.