Spatial distribution and isotopic signatures of N and C in mosses across Europe

Izquieta-Rojano, Sheila; Morera-Gómez, Yasser; Elustondo, David; Lasheras, Esther; Santamaría, Carolina; Torrens-Baile, Julen; Alber, Renate; Barandovski, Lambe; Coşkun, Mahmut; Coskun, Munevver; Danielsson, Helena; De Temmerman, Ludwig; Harmens, Harry ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8792-0181; Jeran, Zvonka; Leblond, Sébastien; Martínez-Abaigar, Javier; Núñez-Olivera, Encarnación; Pesch, Roland; Pihl karlsson, Gunilla; Piispanen, Juha; Soja, Gerhard; Spiric, Zdravko; Stafilov, Trajče; Thöni, Lotti; Santamaría, Jesús Miguel. 2025 Spatial distribution and isotopic signatures of N and C in mosses across Europe. Science of The Total Environment, 958, 178043. 13, pp. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178043

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178043

Abstract/Summary

The accumulation of nitrogen (N) in moss tissue has proven to be a reliable marker of increasing N deposition. However, this measurement does not offer additional data about the origin of pollution. In this respect, the analysis of the N isotopic ratios might be a helpful tool in providing supplementary information about the nature of the nitrogenous species in biomonitoring surveys. Furthermore, isotopic signatures have been extensively used in the study of N and carbon (C) biogeochemical cycles. The main purpose of this study was to determine N and C elemental contents and their stable isotopes in mosses to investigate atmospheric pollution patterns across Europe. We aimed at identifying the main N polluted areas and evaluating the potential use of isotopic signatures in the attribution of pollution sources at a regional scale. With these objectives in mind, >1300 samples from 15 countries from Europe, all of them participants of the ICP-Vegetation programme 2005–2006, were analyzed for their C and N contents and δ15N and δ13C. The results were compared to those derived from EMEP model, which provided modeled deposition and emission data, as well as to the predominant land uses at the sampling sites (based on CORINE Land Cover). This evaluation suggests that additional measurements of stable C and N isotopes in mosses could be a valuable tool in European environmental surveys. Such measurements not only provide useful information for identifying probable pollution sources but also enable the quantification of their contributions, serving as biological indicators of significant environmental processes. This study presents the first quantitative assessment of major atmospheric nitrogen (N) sources based on stable isotope analysis on a European scale, establishing a framework for evaluating historical changes in N across the region.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178043
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	moss biomonitoring, δ15N, δ13C, source apportionment, MixSIAR, EMEP, CORINE Land Cover
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	18 Dec 2024 11:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538564

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178043

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

moss biomonitoring, δ15N, δ13C, source apportionment, MixSIAR, EMEP, CORINE Land Cover