Sanionia uncinata and Salix polaris as bioindicators of trace element pollution in the High Arctic: a case study at Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Norway

Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen) is influenced by local contamination sources, such as exhausts from power plants, traffic, coal mines, and industrial waste dumps subject to weathering, which threatens soil and living organisms. Therefore, the trace element level in this area needs to be evaluated. The moss Sanionia uncinata and prostrate dwarf-shrub Salix polaris were collected as contamination indicators. Concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in these species were measured. The tested hypotheses were: in Longyearbyen and its vicinity (1) the moss S. uncinata and the willow S. polaris may be used as phytoaccumulatorsand therefore as bioindicators and bioremediators of certain trace elements; (2) the moss S. uncinatacontains higher concentrations of metals than the willow S. polaris. The soil of Longyearbyen was contaminated with Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The willow S. polaris may be used in phytoaccumulationand therefore in the bioremediation and bioindication of Cd and Zn from its environment. Stems of S. polaris from Longyearbyen are better bioindicators of Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb and poorer bioindicators of Cd, Mn, and Zn than leaves of this species. S. polaris (both stems and leaves) was a better bioindicator of Cd and Zn concentrations than green gametophytes of S. uncinata. S. uncinata was a better bioindicator of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, and Pb than S. polaris.