Moss as a bioindicator of atmospheric nitrogen pollution

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K00566
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental impact assessment
• Research Institution: Fukui Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Oishi Yoshitaka 福井県立大学, 学術教養センター, 准教授 (80578138)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: コケ植物 / 生物指標 / 窒素汚染 / 窒素安定同位体 / 越境大気汚染 / 広域スケール / 山岳 / 金属同位体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study evaluated the spatial and temporal patterns of atmospheric nitrogen pollution in Japan using moss as a bioindicator. In mountainous areas, western slopes are more seriously affected by nitrogen pollution, as western slope aspects are subject to transboundary pollutants carried to Japan via westerly winds. This influence varies based on elevation because domestic nitrogen pollution decreases with increasing elevation. However, moss did not clearly reflect national-scale spatial patterns of nitrogen pollution, likely because moss is influenced by both atmospherically derived and soil-derived nitrogen. The usefulness of moss as an indicator was therefore reduced when it was applied to areas with more varied soil properties. Similar to the results regarding national-scale spatial patterns, no clear trends were detected concerning the temporal patterns of nitrogen pollution over the past 70 years.

Free Research Field

生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の意義として、（１）調査が容易な指標生物を利用することで、低コストで窒素降下物の汚染が評価できること、（２）金属同位体比も同時に利用することで、多角的に大気降下物による汚染を評価することができること、が挙げられる。
また、生物指標は機器を設置する必要がないことから長期モニタリングに最適であり、生物指標を利用した環境動態モニタリングの提案にもつながることが期待される。