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3.3.2 Moss Sampling
Moss sampling was done following the instructions of the monitoring manual (2015
survey): “Monitoring of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals, nitrogen and POPs
in Europe using briophytes” given by the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.
Sampling in the field was done according to the following principles:
• Each sampling point should be situated at least 3 m away from the nearest projected tree canopy: in gaps of forests (diameter >10 m) or plantations primarily
(diameter >5 m), without pronounced influence from canopy drip from trees,
preferably on the ground or on the surface of decaying stumps. In nitrogenpolluted regions with high density of livestock, the horizontal distances to tree
crowns should be more than 7 m.
• In habitats such as open heath land, grassland or peatland, sampling below a
canopy of shrubs or large-leafed herbs should be avoided, as well as areas with
running water on slopes.
• Coarse contamination of moss samples (litter, soil animals) should be carefully
removed. Moss cushions that are sandy and/or occupied by ants should be
avoided.
• The sampling points should be located at sites representative of non-urban areas
of the respective countries. In remote areas the sampling points should be at least
300 m from main roads (highways), villages and industries and at least 100 m
away from smaller roads and houses.
• In order to enable comparison of the data from this survey with previous surveys,
it is suggested to collect moss samples from the same (or nearby, i.e. no more
than 2 km away but with the same biotope conditions) sampling points as used in
the most recent moss surveys.
• It is recommended to make one composite sample from each sampling point,
consisting of five to ten subsamples, if possible, collected within an area of about
50 m × 50 m.
• Only pleurocarpous mosses should be sampled. Samples should preferably be
collected during the period April–October 2016. In the composite sample, only
one moss species should be represented. If there is no representative moss species of Homalothecium lutescens (Hed. sw. Robins), the other species of moss
could be collected: Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw.), Lencodon scinroides and
Scleropodium purum (Fig. 3.2).
• The subsamples will be placed side by side or on top of each other in suitable
paper containers. The amount of fresh moss needed for metal analysis is about
1 L.
• Each locality must be given coordinates, preferably longitude and latitude
(Greenwich coordinates, 360° system), suitable for common data processing.
In the composite sample, only one moss species should be represented. The subsamples should be placed side by side or on top of each other in suitable containers.
3 Moss Biomonitoring of Air Pollution Around the Coal Mine and Bitol…
3.3.2 Moss Sampling
Moss sampling was done following the instructions of the monitoring manual (2015
survey): “Monitoring of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals, nitrogen and POPs
in Europe using briophytes” given by the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.
Sampling in the field was done according to the following principles:
• Each sampling point should be situated at least 3 m away from the nearest projected tree canopy: in gaps of forests (diameter >10 m) or plantations primarily
(diameter >5 m), without pronounced influence from canopy drip from trees,
preferably on the ground or on the surface of decaying stumps. In nitrogenpolluted regions with high density of livestock, the horizontal distances to tree
crowns should be more than 7 m.
• In habitats such as open heath land, grassland or peatland, sampling below a
canopy of shrubs or large-leafed herbs should be avoided, as well as areas with
running water on slopes.
• Coarse contamination of moss samples (litter, soil animals) should be carefully
removed. Moss cushions that are sandy and/or occupied by ants should be
avoided.
• The sampling points should be located at sites representative of non-urban areas
of the respective countries. In remote areas the sampling points should be at least
300 m from main roads (highways), villages and industries and at least 100 m
away from smaller roads and houses.
• In order to enable comparison of the data from this survey with previous surveys,
it is suggested to collect moss samples from the same (or nearby, i.e. no more
than 2 km away but with the same biotope conditions) sampling points as used in
the most recent moss surveys.
• It is recommended to make one composite sample from each sampling point,
consisting of five to ten subsamples, if possible, collected within an area of about
50 m × 50 m.
• Only pleurocarpous mosses should be sampled. Samples should preferably be
collected during the period April–October 2016. In the composite sample, only
one moss species should be represented. If there is no representative moss species of Homalothecium lutescens (Hed. sw. Robins), the other species of moss
could be collected: Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw.), Lencodon scinroides and
Scleropodium purum (Fig. 3.2).
• The subsamples will be placed side by side or on top of each other in suitable
paper containers. The amount of fresh moss needed for metal analysis is about
1 L.
• Each locality must be given coordinates, preferably longitude and latitude
(Greenwich coordinates, 360° system), suitable for common data processing.
In the composite sample, only one moss species should be represented. The subsamples should be placed side by side or on top of each other in suitable containers.
3 Moss Biomonitoring of Air Pollution Around the Coal Mine and Bitol…