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Plant phenological dataset collected at 42 sites across the mainland of Finland and covering the years 1997–2017 is presented and analysed for temporal trends. The dataset of n = 16,257 observations represents eleven plant species and fifteen phenological stages and results in forty different variables, i.e. phenophases. Trend analysis was carried out for n = 808 phenological time-series that contained at least 10 observations over the 21-year study period. A clear signal of advancing spring and early-summer phenology was detected, 3.4 days decade−1, demonstrated by a high proportion of negative trends for phenophases occurring in April through June. Latitudinal correlation indicated stronger signal of spring and early-summer phenology towards the northern part of the study region. The autumn signal was less consistent and showed larger within-site variations than those observed in other seasons. More than 60% of the dates based on single tree/monitoring square were exactly the same as the averages from multiple trees/monitoring squares within the site. In particular, the reliability of data on autumn phenology was increased by multiple observations per site. The network is no longer active. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00484-020-01961-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The use of transplanted moss (Pleurozium schreberi) in active biomonitoring of traffic-related emissions of Pd, Pt, and Rh was studied. Moss mats were transplanted to three locations along highway E75 (in Oulu, Finland) at three different distances from the highway. Five samples were collected from a background site after the same exposure period. Mass fractions of Pd, Pt, and Rh as well as mass fractions of 18 other elements were determined in these samples. The results indicated that P. schreberi is well suited for active biomonitoring of Pd, Pt, and Rh. Mass fractions above the background values were observed in the samples exposed to traffic-related emissions. When the results were compared with those of the other elements, high correlations of Pd, Pt, and Rh with commonly traffic-related elements (e.g., Cu, Ni, Sb, Zn, etc.) were found. It was also found that the amounts of Pd, Pt, and Rh in moss samples decreased when the distance to the highway increased. This trend gives evidence for the suitability of P. schreberi for active biomonitoring of Pd, Pt, and Rh. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the mass fractions determined in this study provide valuable evidence about the current state of Pd, Pt, and Rh emissions in Oulu, Finland.

Mosses take up nitrogen (N) mainly from precipitation through their surfaces, which makes them competent bioindicators of N deposition. We found positive relationships between the total N concentration (mossN%) of common terrestrial moss species (feather mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens, and a group of Dicranum species) and different forms of N deposition in 11-16 coniferous forests with low N deposition load in Finland. The mosses were collected either inside (Dicranum group) or both inside and outside (feather mosses) the forests. Deposition was monitored in situ as bulk deposition (BD) and stand throughfall (TF) and detected for ammonium (NH4+-N), nitrate (NO3--N), dissolved organic N (DON), and total N (N-tot, kg ha(-1)yr(-1)). N-tot deposition was lower in TF than BD indicating that tree canopies absorbed N from deposition in N limited boreal stands. However, mossN % was higher inside than outside the forests. In regression equations, inorganic N in BD predicted best the mossN% in openings, while DON in TF explained most variation of mossN% in forests. An asymptotic form of mossN% vs. TF N-tot curves in forests and free NH4+-N accumulation in tissues in the southern plots suggested mosses were near the N saturation state already at the N-tot deposition level of 3-5 kg ha(-1) yr(-1). N leachate from ground litterfall apparently also contributed the N supply of mosses. Our study yielded new information on the sensitivity of boreal mosses to low N deposition and their response to different N forms in canopy TF entering moss layer. The equations predicting the N-tot deposition with mossN% showed a good fit both in forest sites and openings, especially in case of P. schreberi. However, the open site mossN% is a preferable predictor of N deposition in monitoring studies to minimize the effect of tree canopies and N leachate from litterfall on the estimates. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background This paper aims to investigate the correlations between the concentrations of nine heavy metals in moss and atmospheric deposition within ecological land classes covering Europe. Additionally, it is examined to what extent the statistical relations are affected by the land use around the moss sampling sites. Based on moss data collected in 2010/2011 throughout Europe and data on total atmospheric deposition modelled by two chemical transport models (EMEP MSC-E, LOTOS-EUROS), correlation coefficients between concentrations of heavy metals in moss and in modelled atmospheric deposition were specified for spatial subsamples defined by ecological land classes of Europe (ELCE) as a spatial reference system. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and logistic regression (LR) were then used to separate moss sampling sites regarding their contribution to the strength of correlation considering the areal percentage of urban, agricultural and forestry land use around the sampling location. After verification LDA models by LR, LDA models were used to transform spatial information on the land use to maps of potential correlation levels, applicable for future network planning in the European Moss Survey. Results Correlations between concentrations of heavy metals in moss and in modelled atmospheric deposition were found to be specific for elements and ELCE units. Land use around the sampling sites mainly influences the correlation level. Small radiuses around the sampling sites examined (5 km) are more relevant for Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn, while the areal percentage of urban and agricultural land use within large radiuses (75–100 km) is more relevant for As, Cr, Hg, Pb, and V. Most valid LDA models pattern with error rates of

Trends in the timing of spring and autumn phenophases of Betula pubescens were investigated in the southern, middle, and northern boreal zones in Finland. The field observations were carried out at 21 sites in the Finnish National Phenological Network in 1997-2013. The effective temperature sum of the thermal growth period, i.e. the sum of the positive differences between diurnal mean temperatures and 5 °C (ETS1), increased annually on average by 6-7 degree day units. Timing of bud burst remained constant in the southern and middle boreal zones but advanced annually by 0.5 day in the northern boreal zone. The effective temperature sum at bud burst (ETS2) showed no trend in the southern and middle boreal zones, whereas ETS2 increased on average from 20-30 to 50 degree day units in the northern boreal zone, almost to the same level as in the other zones. Increase in ETS2 indicates that the trees did not start their growth in very early spring despite warmer spring temperatures. The timing of leaf colouring and leaf fall remained almost constant in the southern boreal zones, whereas these advanced annually by 0.3 and 0.6 day in the middle boreal zone and by 0.6 and 0.4 day in the northern boreal zone, respectively. The duration of the growth period remained constant in all boreal zones. The results indicate high buffering capacity of B. pubescens against temperature changes. The study also shows the importance of the duration of phenological studies: some trends in spring phenophases had levelled out, while new trends in autumn phases had emerged after earlier studies in the same network for a shorter observation period.

In recent decades, naturally growing mosses have been used successfully as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen. Since 1990, the European moss survey has been repeated at five-yearly intervals. In 2010, the lowest concentrations of metals and nitrogen in mosses were generally found in northern Europe, whereas the highest concentrations were observed in (south-)eastern Europe for metals and the central belt for nitrogen. Averaged across Europe, since 1990, the median concentration in mosses has declined the most for lead (77%), followed by vanadium (55%), cadmium (51%), chromium (43%), zinc (34%), nickel (33%), iron (27%), arsenic (21%, since 1995), mercury (14%, since 1995) and copper (11%). Between 2005 and 2010, the decline ranged from 6% for copper to 36% for lead ; for nitrogen the decline was 5%. Despite the Europe-wide decline, no changes or increases have been observed between 2005 and 2010 in some (regions of) countries.

International audience; AbstractKey messageMoss surveys provide spatially dense data on environmental concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen which, together with other biomonitoring and modelling data, can be used for indicating deposition to terrestrial ecosystems and related effects across time and areas of different spatial extension.ContextFor enhancing the spatial resolution of measuring and mapping atmospheric deposition by technical devices and by modelling, moss is used complementarily as bio-monitor.AimsThis paper investigated whether nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations derived by biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition are statistically meaningful in terms of compliance with minimum sample size across several spatial levels (objective 1), whether this is also true in terms of geostatistical criteria such as spatial auto-correlation and, by this, estimated values for unsampled locations (objective 2) and whether moss indicates atmospheric deposition in a similar way as modelled deposition, tree foliage and natural surface soil at the European and country level, and whether they indicate site-specific variance due to canopy drip (objective 3).MethodsData from modelling and biomonitoring atmospheric deposition were statistically analysed by means of minimum sample size calculation, by geostatistics as well as by bivariate correlation analyses and by multivariate correlation analyses using the Classification and Regression Tree approach and the Random Forests method.ResultsIt was found that the compliance of measurements with the minimum sample size varies by spatial scale and element measured. For unsampled locations, estimation could be derived. Statistically significant correlations between concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen in moss and modelled atmospheric deposition, and concentrations in leaves, needles and soil were found. Significant influence of canopy drip on nitrogen concentration in moss was proven.ConclusionMoss surveys should complement modelled atmospheric deposition data as well as other biomonitoring approaches and offer a great potential for various terrestrial monitoring programmes dealing with exposure and effects.

Objective This study explores the statistical relations between the concentration of nine heavy metals (HM) (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn)), and nitrogen (N) in moss and potential explanatory variables (predictors) which were then used for mapping spatial patterns across Europe. Based on moss specimens collected in 2010 throughout Europe, the statistical relation between a set of potential predictors (such as the atmospheric deposition calculated by use of two chemical transport models (CTM), distance from emission sources, density of different land uses, population density, elevation, precipitation, clay content of soils) and concentrations of HMs and nitrogen (N) in moss (response variables) were evaluated by the use of Random Forests (RF) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Four spatial scales were regarded: Europe as a whole, ecological land classes covering Europe, single countries participating in the European Moss Survey (EMS), and moss species at sampling sites. Spatial patterns were estimated by applying a series of RF models on data on potential predictors covering Europe. Statistical values and resulting maps were used to investigate to what extent the models are specific for countries, units of the Ecological Land Classification of Europe (ELCE), and moss species. Results Land use, atmospheric deposition and distance to technical emission sources mainly influence the element concentration in moss. The explanatory power of calculated RF models varies according to elements measured in moss specimens, country, ecological land class, and moss species. Measured and predicted medians of element concentrations agree fairly well while minima and maxima show considerable differences. The European maps derived from the RF models provide smoothed surfaces of element concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, N, Ni, Pb, Hg, V, Zn), each explained by a multivariate RF model and verified by CART, and thereby more information than the dot maps depicting the spatial patterns of measured values. Conclusions RF is an eligible method identifying and ranking boundary conditions of element concentrations in moss and related mapping including the influence of the environmental factors.

The study area of Fennoscandia is a heterogeneous climatic region. To map the linear trends in onset, end, and length of the growing season in Fennoscandia, the bimonthly Global Inven- tory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) satel- lite data set was used. The data set has an 8 × 8 km 2 spatial resolution and covers the period from 1982 to 2006. The mapping was done by applying pixel-specific threshold values to the NDVI data. These threshold values were determined from surface phenology data on birch Betula pubescens from 28 stations across the study area. During spring, most stations showed a moderately strong positive cor- relation between field and NDVI data. However, mapping of the end of the growing season showed less correlation with field phenology data and presented some uncertainty. On average, there was a linear trend for all of Fennoscandia of a 0.27 d yr -1 earlier onset of the growing season, a 0.37 d yr -1 later end of the growing season, and a 0.64 d yr -1 longer growing season. Within Fennoscandia, the trends showed similarities with vegetation zones and sections, which reflect the climatic gradients from north to south and from west to east in the study area. The southern and oceanic regions showed a trend of about a 1 d yr -1 longer growing season, in contrast to the alpine and northern continental regions which showed either no trend or a slightly shorter growing season.

Northern Fennoscandia is an ecologically heterogeneous region in the arctic/alpine-boreal transition area. Phenology data on birch from 13 stations and 16-day MODIS-NDVI composite satellite data with 250 m resolution for the period 2000 to 2006 were used to map the growing season. A new combined pixel-specific NDVI threshold and decision rule-based mapping method was developed to determine the onset and end of the growing season. A moderately high correlation was found between NDVI data and birch phenology data. The earliest onset of the growing season is found in the narrow strip of lowland between the mountains and the sea along the coast of northern Norway. The onset follows a clear gradient from lowland to mountain corresponding to the decreasing temperature gradient. In autumn, the yellowing of the vegetation shows a more heterogeneous pattern. The length of the growing season is between 100 and 130 days in 55% of the study area.

The use of Pt and Rh as active components in automobile catalytic converters has led to increasing concentrations of these elements in several natural matrices. Because of this, the suitability of the use of a terrestrial moss (Pleurozium schreberi) for the passive biomonitoring of traffic-related Pt and Rh deposition was studied. The moss samples collected from Finland in and around areas with heavy traffic had increased Pt and Rh concentrations, with maximum values of 12.2 and 4.5 ng g(-1), respectively. In addition, the concentrations of commonly used catalytic converter additives (Al, Ce, La, Y, and Zr) and some elements related to traffic or mineral dust (Cd, Cu, Fe, Hf, Pb, and Zn) were also measured to obtain more information about the sources of Pt and Rh. Multivariate principal component analysis and cluster analysis were applied for identification of the emission sources of the elements. The results indicated a common traffic-related source of Pt and Rh. However, the results also showed that Pt and Rh concentrations in mosses are increased only in areas located close to traffic lanes.

Mean temperature and relative humidity (RH) were monitored over a 12-month period in three different dry storage rooms in the Paljakka Environmental Specimen Bank, Finland. Although the storage rooms follow the Archives Law in Finland and The National Building Code of Finland, temperature and RH fluctuations inside the rooms were high. However, our study showed that preservation conditions can be improved without expensive heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Temperature and RH fluctuations can be stabilized, e.g., by ensuring adequate air circulation and ventilation inside the storage rooms and by packing sample materials in porous archive boxes to buffer temperature and RH fluctuations. Seasonally adjusted temperature and RH values are recommended in northern latitudes, where fluctuations in storage conditions are typically high. Within seasonally adjusted values, maximum allowable 24-hour fluctuations are recommended in order to avoid rapid short-term changes. Our study sh...

For analysing element input into ecosystems and associated risks due to atmospheric deposition, element concentrations in moss provide complementary and time-integrated data at high spatial resolution every 5 years since 1990. The paper reviews (1) minimum sample sizes needed for reliable, statistical estimation of mean values at four different spatial scales (European and national level as well as landscape-specific level covering Europe and single countries); (2) trends of heavy metal (HM) and nitrogen (N) concentrations in moss in Europe (19902010); (3) correlations between concentrations of HM in moss and soil specimens collected across Norway (19902010); and (4) canopy drip-induced site-specific variation of N concentration in moss sampled in seven European countries (19902013). While the minimum sample sizes on the European and national level were achieved without exception, for some ecological land classes and elements, the coverage with sampling sites should be improved. The decline in emission and subsequent atmospheric deposition of HM across Europe has resulted in decreasing HM concentrations in moss between 1990 and 2010. In contrast, hardly any changes were observed for N in moss between 2005, when N was included into the survey for the first time, and 2010. In Norway, both, the moss and the soil survey data sets, were correlated, indicating a decrease of HM concentrations in moss and soil. At the site level, the average N deposition inside of forests was almost three times higher than the average N deposition outside of forests. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

High atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) impacts functions and structures of N limited ecosystems. Due to filtering and related canopy drip effects forests are particularly exposed to N deposition. Up to now, this was proved by many studies using technical deposition samplers but there are only some few studies analysing the canopy drip effect on the accumulation of N in moss and related small scale atmospheric deposition patterns. Therefore, we investigated N deposition and related accumulation of N in forests and in (neighbouring) open fields by use of moss sampled across seven European countries. Sampling and chemical analyses were conducted according to the experimental protocol of the European Moss Survey. The ratios between the measured N content in moss sampled inside and outside of forests were computed and used to calculate estimates for non-sampled sites. Potentially influencing environmental factors were integrated in order to detect their relationships to the N content in moss. The overall average N content measured in moss was 20.0mgg(-1) inside and 11.9mgg(-1) outside of forests with highest N values in Germany inside of forests. Explaining more than 70% of the variance, the multivariate analyses confirmed that the sampling site category (site with/without canopy drip) showed the strongest correlation with the N content in moss. Spatial variances due to enhanced dry deposition in vegetation stands should be considered in future monitoring and modelling of atmospheric N deposition.

Different temperature-pressure controlled microwave-assisted digestion methods were compared for the digestion of dust samples prior to the determination of rhodium and platinum by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained for platinum and rhodium in the digested reference material (BCR-723, road dust) were generally in good agreement with the certified values. However, the determination of matrix elements (Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Hf and Pb) showed clear differences between the digestion methods. In addition, different internal standards were compared in the determination rhodium, palladium and platinum by ICP-MS. According to the results, even serious non-spectral interferences can be corrected by choosing a suitable internal standard or combination of internal standards.

The platinum group elements (PGEs), particularly platinum, palladium and rhodium, are nowadays increasingly emitted into the environment from automotive catalytic converters. Thus, a method for the determination of PGEs (especially platinum and rhodium) in dust and plant samples was developed. The developed method was based on microwave-assisted sample digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) determination. Spectral interferences in ICP-MS determination were corrected using mathematical correction equations based on signal ratio measurement. In addition, platinum and rhodium concentrations in the digested dust samples were also determined after Te coprecipitation without correction of the interferences. The results for platinum and rhodium in reference materials (NIST SRM 2557, recycled monolith autocatalyst and BCR-723, road dust) were in good agreement with the certified values. Preliminary results for the anthropogenic platinum and rhodium emissions in Oulu, northern Finland, based on dust and plant samples, indicated a common traffic-related source of these metals.

Nation-wide surveys of the accumulation of 10 heavy metals in mosses were carried out in Finland in 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000. Separate investigations were carried out, on the basis of these surveys, into the atmospheric deposition of Hg, Cd, and Pb beyond the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. These metals are readily distributed in the form of long-range transboundary pollution, and particular concern has been raised about the transport and accumulation of these metals into Arctic areas. The Hg, Cd, and Pb concentrations in mosses in northern Finland were low. There was a clear decrease in Cd and Pb concentrations during the period 1985–2000. The Pb concentration decreased, on the average, from 8 to 2 μg g−1, and the Cd concentration from 0.3 to 0.1 μg g−1. Hg concentrations, which were analyzed in 1995 and 2000, decreased only slightly from 0.037 to 0.031 μg g−1. The slight decrease in Hg concentrations in northern Finland appears to reflect the decreasing Hg emissions and the high mobility o...

Heavy metal deposition and changes in the deposition patterns were investigated on the basis of surveys carried out in 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000. The concentrations of 10 elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and V; and As and Hg since 1995) were determined on moss (Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi) samples collected from the same permanent sample plots in each survey. The heavy metal concentrations, apart from those in southernmost Finland and close to a number of major emission sources, were relatively low. The mean concentrations of all the heavy metals decreased during the period covered by the surveys. The metals that showed the strongest decrease in concentration since 1985 were Pb (78%), V (70%) and Cd (67%). The concentrations of the other heavy metals decreased by 16-34%. The concentrations of Cr, Cu and Ni were clearly associated with local emission point sources and changes in emission levels. The concentrations of As and Hg, which were measured for the first time during the 1995 survey, decreased on the average by 26% and 10%, respectively.

To assess the relationship between nitrogen concentrations in mosses and wet bulk nitrogen deposition or concentrations in precipitation, moss tissue and deposition were sampled within a distance of 1 km of each other in seven European countries. Relationships for various forms of nitrogen appeared to be asymptotic, with data for different countries being positioned at different locations along the asymptotic relationship and saturation occurring at a wet bulk nitrogen deposition of ca. 20 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1). The asymptotic behaviour was more pronounced for ammonium-N than nitrate-N, with high ammonium deposition at German sites being most influential in providing evidence of the asymptotic behaviour. Within countries, relationships were only significant for Finland and Switzerland and were more or less linear. The results confirm previous relationships described for modelled total deposition. Nitrogen concentration in mosses can be applied to identify areas at risk of high nitrogen deposition at European scale.

A systematic mapping of thirteen epiphytic lichen species on conifers was carried out in Finland at the first time in 1985–1986 and the second time in 1995. The aim of mapping work was to describe the regional distribution of the most common epiphytic lichens and to assess air quality based on the abundance of epiphytic lichens. All lichen species demonstrated increases in their abundance between the years 1985 and 1995. Scoliciosphorum chlorococcum , a species tolerant to air pollution, increased most in parts of the southern Finland where the nitrogen levels are relatively high. This indicate increased levels of nutrients in the forests. On the other hand, sensitive lichen species had become more common particularly in the central parts of the country, which is in agreement with decreasing sulphur deposition. The climate, tree species, stand age etc., however, mainly determining the distribution and the abundance of epiphytic lichens in Finland.

Green algae have become considerably more abundant in the years 1985–1995 in Finland and their distribution area has expanded northwards. Green algae on conifers were most abundant in southern Finland where the nitrogen deposition is highest. Correlations were observed between the abundance of green algae and a modelled nitrogen and sulphur deposition as well as the nitrogen concentration of the biomonitors. The increased abundance of green algae in Finland may be caused by several concurrent changes which have taken place in the environment and which have all promoted the occurrence of green algae. A slight rise in mean annual temperature, the long-term stability of nitrogen deposition, and the clear fall in the amount of sulphur deposition have probably all increased the growth and abundance of green algae. At a local level, the differences in microclimate have also effect on the abundance of green algae and the microclimate varies, inter alia, by the nutrient-richness of the habitat, the predominant tree species, stand age and stand density.

An environmental specimen bank was built in 1994 by the Finnish Forest Research Institute. The main material stored is moss samples collected from the permanent nationwide sampling network every five years since 1985 for both national and international heavy metal surveys. Correspondingly there are nationwide biomonitoring samples of epiphytic lichen, pine bark and humus for surveying atmospheric heavy metal deposition. The bank is also storage of forest litter collected from 1960's onwards. This large material, tens of thousands of sorted samples, is valuable for indicating environmental changes of the forest ecosystem.

This study measured heavy metal and nutrient concentrations of two feather mosses during the periods of dry storage. Samples (Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi) were collected in the nationwide moss surveys carried out on the permanent sample plots of the 8th Finnish National Forest Inventory in 1985–86, 1990, 1995 and 2000. A small amount of each moss sample was analyzed soon after collection, and the remainder was dried and stored at the Paljakka environmental specimen bank (ESB). The 108 stored samples from 27 plots were reanalyzed in 2008. Concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) and nutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P) were determined and compared for each survey year. Overall, Fe, Pb and Cr concentrations decreased, and Cu concentrations increased significantly during storage. The greatest decrease was observed in samples from plots where their initial concentrations were the highest. Changes in the concentrations of Cd, Ni and Zn were less pronounced. The loss of heavy metals is likely due to drying when cell membranes rupture and some of the surface material is lost. K, P and, to some extent, Mg concentrations increased during storage, whereas Ca did not change significantly. Nutrient increase is probably due to their movement from older to younger growths during the initial phase of drying. Ca is mostly bound to cell walls and is not easily released. Results emphasize the importance of establishing the intended use of a stored moss prior to sampling, in order to select and optimize an appropriate storage technique.

Mosses, lichens and pine bark were compared as indicators of atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Finland. The samples were collected from the nationwide sampling network systematically covering the country as a whole. All three bioindicators showed a fairly similar result concerning heavy metal deposition. The major emission sources and the areas affected were reflected in the metal concentrations in the samples. However, there were differences between the accumulation of metals. The correlation between concentrations in mosses and lichens was generally higher than that between mosses and bark or lichens and bark. Concentrations in lichens were the highest and lichens reflected the regional differences in background areas as well as the local emission sources. The concentrations in the mosses were slightly lower than those in lichens and also the mosses pinpointed the emission sources and the extend of the areas polluted. Bark had the lowest concentrations and bark did not generally reveal regional differences as well as mosses and lichens. In spite of the differences, all three bioindicators proved to be suitable for monitoring atmospheric heavy metal deposition.

Previous analyses at the European scale have shown that cadmium and lead concentrations in mosses are primarily determined by the total deposition of these metals. Further analyses in the current study show that Spearman rank correlations between the concentration in mosses and the deposition modelled by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) are country and metal-specific. Significant positive correlations were found for about two thirds or more of the participating countries in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 (except for Cd in 1990). Correlations were often not significant and sometimes negative in countries where mosses were only sampled in a relatively small number of EMEP grids. Correlations frequently improved when only data for EMEP grids with at least three moss sampling sites per grid were included. It was concluded that spatial patterns and temporal trends agree reasonably well between lead and cadmium concentrations in mosses and modelled atmospheric deposition.

In 2005/6, nearly 3000 moss samples from (semi-)natural location across 16 European countries were collected for nitrogen analysis. The lowest total nitrogen concentrations in mosses (

Nitrogen deposition in Finland was investigated on the basis of the nitrogen concentration in the forest moss, Hylocomium splendens, collected during heavy metal moss surveys carried out in 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005/06. Significant regional differences were found in the nitrogen concentrations in mosses. The concentrations were the highest in the southern part of the country in all the surveys, with a decreasing trend on moving northwards. The mean concentrations in the surveys were 1.07%, 1.00%, 0.89% and 0.92%. In general, the concentrations in mosses reflected nitrogen deposition at the level of the whole country. However, they did not correlate very well with the modelled nitrogen deposition because of the high local variation in the nitrogen concentration in H. splendens. One reason for the high variation was the effect of the structure of the tree stand on nitrogen concentrations in H. splendens.

Timing of plant phenophases is a useful biological indicator which shows how nature responds to the variation in climate. Thus, long phenological observation series help to estimate the impact of changing climate on forest plants. We investigated whether phenological patterns of downy birch Betula pubescens respond to warming climate and whether the intensity of the responses varies among phytogeographical zones. We studied data collected by the Finnish National Phenological Network from 30 observation sites across Finland during 1997–2006. The advancement in the timing of the earliest phenophase, bud burst, ranged from 0.7 days/year in southern boreal zone to 1.4 days/year in middle and northern boreal zones. Timing of bud burst was most clearly dependent on mean May temperatures. The intensity of the response to temperature increased from south to north. The advancement of bud burst resulted into a significant lengthening of the growth period by 1.2–1.6 days per year in northern and middle boreal zones, respectively, whereas the lengthening was not significant in the southern boreal zone. No trend was observed in the timing of autumn phenophases.

Taulavuori, K., Sarala, M., Karhu, J., Taulavuori, E., Kubin, E., Laine, K., Poikolainen, J. & Pesonen, E. 2005. Elongation of Scots pine seedlings under blue light depletion. Silva Fennica 39(1): 131–136.The effect of blue light (400–500 nm) removal on the elongation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvetris L.) seedlings was investigated in a field experiment in Northern Finland during two growing seasons. The seedlings were grown in plexiglass chambers and ambient control plots. The blue wavelengths were removed from the light spectrum by using chambers made of orange plexiglass. The results of nearly daily measurements showed that the elongation of Scots pine seedlings was increased by the removal of blue light only at high latitudes.Keywords blue light, elongation, high latitude, Scots pineAuthors´ addresses Taulavuori K. & E., Sarala & Laine: Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland; Karhu, Kubin & Poikolainen: Muhos Research Station, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Kirkkosaarentie 7, FIN-91500 Muhos, Finland; Pesonen: Vantaa Research Centre, Finnish Forest Research Institute, PO Box 18, FIN-01301, Vantaa, FinlandE-mail ktaulavu@cc.oulu.fiReceived 10 June 2004 Revised 15 September 2004 Accepted 24 January 2005

The litterfall material collected since the 1950’s as part of research into the seed crop of forest trees has proved to be extremely valuable in the monitoring of epiphytic lichens. The litter falling from the trees has been collected on 50×50 m or 100×100 m plots using special litter traps (7–15 traps/plot). After drying, the litter has been divided into the following fractions: seeds, cones, male flowers, leaves, needles, bark, branches, insects and other litter. Epiphytic lichens have subsequently been separated from the bark, branch and other litter fractions.

The carpet-forming moss species, Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, are especially suitable for surveying heavy metal deposition because they obtain most of their nutrients directly from rainwater and particles deposited on their surfaces. The dense stands formed by these mosses also filter out particulate and aerosol material from large volumes of air, and are thus efficient at collecting air pollutants. The moss technique has been used in many regional and national heavy metal surveys (Anon. 1987, Steinnes et al 1993, Markert et al 1996, Ruhling 1994, Ruhling and Steines 1998).

The abundance of a total of 13 indicator lichen species or families was estimated on about 6 500 conifers in 1985 and 1995 as part of the lichen survey on permanent National Forest Inventory (NFI) sample plots (3 000 plots) covering the whole country. Lichen abundance was estimated on the branches and stem at a height of 0.5–2.0 m on three dominant trees (diameter > 4.5 cm) on each plot. Changes in lichen frequency during the 10-year period (1985–1995) were analysed on those trees that had been inspected in both surveys.

Bioindicators represent a rapid and relatively cost-effective means of obtaining information about air quality and the distribution of air pollutants. Epiphytic lichens, which grow on the branches and trunks of trees, are the most widely used bioindicators because they are extremely sensitive to air pollutants and to changes in the environment. The high sensitivity of lichens is due to their special structure and to the way in which they obtain their nutrients.