BRYOPHYTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

A REVIEW OF BIOINDICATOR APPLICATIONS

Abstract

  The aim of this review is to summarize the role of bryophytes as bioindicators of environmental change, highlighting their main areas of application and future research directions. Bryophytes (Bryophyta, Marchantiophyta, Anthocerotophyta) represent one of the most ancient groups of terrestrial plants, which, despite their small size, play a significant ecological and indicator role. Due to their simple structure, they are directly affected by environmental impacts and are therefore sensitive to changes in the chemical composition of air, water, and soil. Research in recent decades has confirmed their usefulness in monitoring air pollution, water quality, the state of forest ecosystems, and the effects of climate change. A classic example is the elimination of sulphur dioxide-sensitive epiphytic bryophytes from industrial areas, while heavy metal accumulation studies have also revealed spatial and temporal changes in atmospheric deposition. Aquatic mosses are important components of many European and Mediterranean biomonitoring programs, while forest and deadwood species indicate the naturalness and structural condition of habitats. Changes in distribution observed as a result of climate change indicate that mosses may be potential predictors of future biodiversity trends.