Spider Webs and Lichens as Bioindicators of Heavy Metals: A Comparison Study in the Vicinity of a Copper Smelter (Poland)

Agnieszka Stojanowska, Justyna Rybak, Marta Bożym, Tomasz Olszowski and Jan Stefan Bihałowicz
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Agnieszka Stojanowska: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Justyna Rybak: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Marta Bożym: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Environmental Protection, Opole University of Technology, 5 Mikołajczyka Str., 45-271 Opole, Poland
Tomasz Olszowski: Department of Thermal Engineering and Industrial Facilities, Opole University of Technology, 45−271 Opole, Poland
Jan Stefan Bihałowicz: Institute of Safety Engineering, The Main School of Fire Service, 52/54, Słowackiego St.,01-629 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: This paper presents the comparison of heavy metals accumulation in spider webs from Agelenidae family ( Eratigena atrica and Agelena labyrinthica ) and lichens Hypogymnia physodes , exposed to pollution for two months. Webs were obtained from the laboratory-reared spiders and stretched on Petri dish while lichens were transplanted from Stobrawa Landscape Park into the study area. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and As were determined in both biomonitors and the elevated values indicated the impact of the copper smelter and surrounding roads. Our study revealed that webs were more sensitive than lichens to emissions of pollutants, and for all of the studied elements, the determined concentrations were much higher for spider webs. The results of similarity tests showed a clear difference among the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni and As in lichens and spider webs, with the exception of Pb, suggesting that this element could be accumulated in a similar way by both bioindicators. These differences are probably due to their morphological and ecological dissimilarities suggesting that spider webs should be favorably applied where the use of lichens is improper due to the drought, which is an unfavorable condition for accumulation of elements in lichens, or their limited uptake of elements.

Keywords: biomonitoring; heavy metals; lichens; spider webs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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