Ecophysiology of Terricolous Mosses and Atmospheric Pollutants

The book 'ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF TERRICOLOUS MOSSES AND ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS' provides information pertaining the physiological changes of mosses from different habitats and substrata upon exposure to atmospheric pollutants i.e. bisulphite, the dissolved product of sulphur dioxide, aerosols of oxidised and reduced nitrogen as well as simulated acid precipitation. The hypotheses that the substratum type is one of the main factors influencing the susceptibility of bryophyte species to atmospheric pollutants has been illustrated in the book. Short term and long term effects of the pollutants on carbon dioxde exchage, tissue nitrogen and growth are discussed. The changes in membrane permeability by bisulphite and mechanism(s) of bisulphite detoxification in presence of cations (e.g. iron and calcium)in indifferent mosses are presented. The reader will enrich their knowledge on the tissue chemistry of terricolous mosses and mitigation of pollution sensitivity by cations in the substratum, which is a feature of calcifuge and calcicole mosses.