Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers
Anthropogenic microfibers (mfs) are synthetic particles composed of cellulose (cotton, rayon, acetate, etc.) or petrochemical-based polymers (i.e., microplastics—MPs) that are less than 5 mm in length. The accumulation of mfs, including MPs, in the moss <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> and th...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| author | Fiore Capozzi Maria Cristina Sorrentino Angelo Granata Alessandro Vergara Miriam Alberico Manuela Rossi Valeria Spagnuolo Simonetta Giordano |
| author_facet | Fiore Capozzi Maria Cristina Sorrentino Angelo Granata Alessandro Vergara Miriam Alberico Manuela Rossi Valeria Spagnuolo Simonetta Giordano |
| author_sort | Fiore Capozzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthropogenic microfibers (mfs) are synthetic particles composed of cellulose (cotton, rayon, acetate, etc.) or petrochemical-based polymers (i.e., microplastics—MPs) that are less than 5 mm in length. The accumulation of mfs, including MPs, in the moss <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> and the lichen <i>Pseudevernia furfuracea</i> was compared in a transplant experiment lasting 6 weeks. We also tested the effects of the bag used for transplants on the accumulation of mfs. Anthropogenic particles trapped by both biomonitors were mostly filamentous (99% mfs), and their number was overall higher in the moss (mean ± s.d. 102 ± 24) than in the lichen (mean ± s.d. 87 ± 17), at parity of sample weight. On average, mfs found in lichen were significantly longer than those found in moss bags, suggesting that lichens are less efficient at retaining smaller mfs. Exposure without the net yielded a higher mfs number accumulation in both species, indicating that “naked” transplants provide greater sensitivity. The calculation of daily fluxes evidenced a loss of mfs in the lichen, suggesting the presence of more stable bonds between moss and mfs. Raman microspectroscopy carried out on about 100 debris confirms the anthropogenic nature of mfs, of which 20% were MPs. Overall results indicate that moss is preferable to lichen in the biomonitoring of airborne mfs especially when exposed naked. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:25:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d2d0c01fbd545a580861c7022c76cb62023-11-19T15:43:01ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-09-011210127810.3390/biology12101278Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic MicrofibersFiore Capozzi0Maria Cristina Sorrentino1Angelo Granata2Alessandro Vergara3Miriam Alberico4Manuela Rossi5Valeria Spagnuolo6Simonetta Giordano7Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyAnthropogenic microfibers (mfs) are synthetic particles composed of cellulose (cotton, rayon, acetate, etc.) or petrochemical-based polymers (i.e., microplastics—MPs) that are less than 5 mm in length. The accumulation of mfs, including MPs, in the moss <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> and the lichen <i>Pseudevernia furfuracea</i> was compared in a transplant experiment lasting 6 weeks. We also tested the effects of the bag used for transplants on the accumulation of mfs. Anthropogenic particles trapped by both biomonitors were mostly filamentous (99% mfs), and their number was overall higher in the moss (mean ± s.d. 102 ± 24) than in the lichen (mean ± s.d. 87 ± 17), at parity of sample weight. On average, mfs found in lichen were significantly longer than those found in moss bags, suggesting that lichens are less efficient at retaining smaller mfs. Exposure without the net yielded a higher mfs number accumulation in both species, indicating that “naked” transplants provide greater sensitivity. The calculation of daily fluxes evidenced a loss of mfs in the lichen, suggesting the presence of more stable bonds between moss and mfs. Raman microspectroscopy carried out on about 100 debris confirms the anthropogenic nature of mfs, of which 20% were MPs. Overall results indicate that moss is preferable to lichen in the biomonitoring of airborne mfs especially when exposed naked.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/10/1278<i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i><i>Pseudevernia furfuracea</i>Raman microspectroscopymicroplasticsbiomonitoring |
| spellingShingle | Fiore Capozzi Maria Cristina Sorrentino Angelo Granata Alessandro Vergara Miriam Alberico Manuela Rossi Valeria Spagnuolo Simonetta Giordano Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers Biology <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> <i>Pseudevernia furfuracea</i> Raman microspectroscopy microplastics biomonitoring |
| title | Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers |
| title_full | Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers |
| title_short | Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers |
| title_sort | optimizing moss and lichen transplants as biomonitors of airborne anthropogenic microfibers |
| topic | <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> <i>Pseudevernia furfuracea</i> Raman microspectroscopy microplastics biomonitoring |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/10/1278 |
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