Chapter 13 Higher plants as accumulative bioindicators

This chapter gives an introduction to accumulative biomonitoring with higher plants. The basic difference between active and passive biomonitoring is explained including information about those species routinely used for each approach. The differences and possible advantages over more tech-orientated screening methods are discussed (in awareness of a recurring confusion between the terms “technic” and “scientific”). The reader is confronted with a variety of biotic and abiotic factors that influence accumulation processes including soil conditions deposition patterns plant morphology and many more. A number of important methodical considerations is presented together with some caveats and common pitfalls. The necessity of adequate and comprehensive documentation is discussed as well the particular demands on statistical analysis arising from small sample sizes and ostensible “outlier” values. A summarizing lookup table offers quick orientation among different screening designs. Throughout the chapter the practical relevance of accumulative biomonitoring is illustrated by numerous examples of field studies from different countries and impact situations.