Bioindicator plants

This takes into account the number of tests performed on various bioindicators (the greater the number of tests performed, the more reliable the assessment of a given sample) and the variability in the toxicity estimated using various bioindicators (plants and animals). 

The effect of anthropogenic pollution on the chemical composition and anatomic structure of bioindicator plants (hydrophytes) was studied with the aid of Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning election microscopy (SEM), and X-ray microanalysis. A correlation between the changes existing in the IR spectrum of the plant samples and anthropogenic pollution of the plant inhabitation is established. Deformation and epidermis cell disruption were revealed in the samples from polluted sites. 

The IR spectroscopic data on the chemical composition changes in bioindicator plants may be informative for the estimation of hydrosphere pollution in industrial regions. The exact identification of the types of compounds formed in the plant as a result of accumulation of various pollutants enables the use of FTIR for biomonitoring of acid pollutions (sulfur and nitrogen dioxides) and petrolemn products and also organic compoimds [5-7]. 

As far as bioindicator plants are subject to change at chemical and anatomic levels due to the action of anthropogenic enviromnent pollution, these transformations may be effectively monitored with the aid of FTIR speetroseopy, SEM, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) [8,9]. 

Several candidate wildlife indicators are suggested and discussed in this chapter. In addition, we recognize that valuable sources of data on residue-effect relationships are available to assist in the selection of habitat-specific indicators (Jarvinen and Ankley 1999 USCOE and USEPA 2005). Although this chapter emphasizes animals, similar considerations and literature exist for plants and microorganisms as bioindicators and biomarkers (National Research Council 1989 USEPA 1997 Gawel et al. 2001 Citterio et al. 2002 Yuska et al. 2003). 

Fig. 8. Variation with location of the mean levels of "Tc in samples of Fucus serrantus bioindicators along the French coast of the English Channel. The discharge outlet at the La Hague reprocessing plant is shown by an arrow. (Reprinted with permission from Ref. 43. Copyright (1987) Elsevier Science Ltd)...

Roshchina V.V. (2003). Autofluorescence of plant secreting cells as a biosensor and bioindicator reaction. Journal of Fluorescence 13 403-420. 

Sdnchez, E. Ruiz, J.M. Garcia, P.C. L6pez-Lefebre, L.R. Rivero, R.M. Romero, L. Behaviour of phenolic and oxidative metabolism as bioindicators of nitrogen deficiency in green bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. Cv. Strike). Plant Biol., 2000 (in press). 

Bioindicators. Water-soluble, colorless tetrazolium salts can be reduced to water-insoluble, deeply colored formazans. The reduction of tetrazolium salts in plant tissue at pH 7.2 was first demonstrated in 1941 [77], Tetrazolium salts have since been used in biochemistry, cytochemistry, and histochemistry because of the great sensitivity of this reaction. They can be used to detect biological redox systems in blood serum, in living cells, tissues, tumors, and bacteria. Tetrazolium Blue [167429-81-7] (48) is a particularly sensitive reagent. 

Bioassays used in analytical practice can be classified according to the type of bioindicators used in a given toxicity test. The organisms most frequently used are bacteria, plants, and animals detailed information on their application in bioassays to assess environmental pollution is given in a review study.20 In this chapter, we present tables for the use of selected bioindicators in toxicity tests. 

Use has also been made of the metal content of crop plants in the assessment of contaminated soils. Kabata-Pendias et al. (1993) suggest that legumes are promising as bioindicators of metal pollution since they have in general a relatively higher tolerance to and uptake of metal than monocotyledons. Kovacs et al. (1993) have... 

Plants such as mung bean seedlings can be used as bioindicators for toxic elements such as As [267]. Analysis of tree rings can provide information on short-term variations in pollution sources [268]. Elemental fingerprints have also been used to identify sources of plants, including cannabis [269]. 

CRMs for environmental studies (e.g., water, soil, plants, animal tissues as bioindicators)... 

The intersection of the complex stability lines at E (L) -0.15 V (Fig. 2.15) reveals a possible way into optimum bioindication, given the similarity of this value towards to that of many moderate-climate terrestrial plants (Table 2.7). But there can be some more general reasoning. 

Plate 8. Necrotic leaf tissue of young bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) reveals the impact of oxidants mainly of ozone. This plants is used as bioindicator in the U. S. to control oxidant air pollution. Cincinnati. Ohio, U.S.A., 1967. 

Knabe W., Monitoring of air pollutants by wild life plants and plant exposure Suitable bioindicators for different immissions types. In Steubing, L., Jager, H.-J. (Eds.) Monitoring of air pollutants by plants. Methods and problems . ISBN 90-6193-947-x, Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague, pp. 59-72 (1982). 

Kovalchuk I et al., Transgenic plants are sensitive bioindicators of nuclear pollution caused by the Chernobyl accident, Nat. Biotechnol., 16, 1054, 1998. 

Citterio S et al., Soil genotoxicity assessment A new strategy based on biomolecular tools and plant bioindicators, Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, 2748, 2002. 

In general, the chemical composition of plants closely reflects the chemical properties of whole environments, soils, waters, and air. Using plant chemical status for geochemical prospecting is very old practice (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 2001), but recently it has been used broadly for the bioindication of contaminated sites and for the environmental biomonitoring (see Part I, Chapter 12). 

Among various species of plants, yttrium contents have been reported to range from 0.01 to 200 mg kg (in Lichens and Bryo-phyta as bioindicators of yttrium), and up to 700 mg kg in the ashes of bushes and trees. The mean yttrium content of animals... 

In actual "damage to forest" ("acid rain"- probiems) investigations, the main matrices which must be anaiyzed are needles, leaves, pieces of wood, roots and soil. The elements Al, B, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, S, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn can be determined routinely in such samples by ICP/DCP-spectrometry (Table 9). The concentrations of the heavy metals Cd, Pb, Hg, As and others are in most cases too low (exception soil, for these analytical techniques). A similar picture can be obtained for the field of bioindicators for environmental influences (plants, animals, organs of man) (Schramel et al., 1984 Wolf et al., 1984) (Table 10). In case of soils and sludges, in most the samples one can obtain all relevant elements, such as the legally regulated heavy metals Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr (Table 11,12) (Schramel et al., 1982). 

In an additional study, Freitas (1995) analyzed the comparative accumulation of Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Sb and Hg in two vascular plants, Cistus salvifolius and Inula viscosa and in the epiphytic lichen Parmelia sulcata in an industrial region occupied by a thermal coal-fired power station, a chemical plant and an oil refinery. Of the three organisms, the lichen P. sulcata was found to be the most effective bioaccumulator, as the above-mentioned elements accumulated in large amounts in the lichen. Thus, P. sulcata was recommended as a reliable bioindicator of air pollution. 

Nimis, P.L., Castello, M., Perotti, M., 1993. Lichens as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution a case study at La Spezia (N Italy). In Markert, B. (Ed.), Plants as Biomonitors, Indicators for Heavy Metals in the Terrestrial Environment. VCH, Weinheim, pp. 265-284. 

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