A field study of the ecotoxicology of copper to bryophytes

The impact of particulate copper, emitted from a copper rod-rolling plant, on the distribution of common grassland bryophytes has been investigated. S everal areas of managed grassland, differing in total and water-extractable soil copper content, surrounding the factory were surveyed to establish sp ecies composition and distribution of the bryophyte flora. Clear difference s emerged in the distribution patterns of the main acrocarpous (upright/tuf ted growth form) and pleurocarpous (horizontal/spreading growth form) speci es present, with some species being more or less confined to soils with ele vated copper (Pohlia nutans), whilst others were absent from such sites. Th e distribution of acrocarpous species was not related to increasing soil co pper concentrations, whereas pleurocarpous species showed considerable sens itivity. This may not be a simple reflection of sensitivity to copper; ecol ogical factors such as differences in patterns of water and soluble copper uptake between the different growth forms may be significant factors, as ma y be changes in the vascular plant flora giving rise to differences in popu lation densities of potential competitors between sites. Pleurocarpous spec ies are absent from grassland where total soil copper > 550 mu g g(-1) dry weight, whilst the less sensitive acrocarpous species occur at total soil c opper levels in excess of 2000 mu g g(-1) dry weight. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.