Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal Pollution at Mount Abu (Rajasthan, India) using Riccia Billardieri Mont. & Nees Ex Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees (Bryophyta: Hepaticae)

Abstract

In current effort the level of selected atmospheric pollutants viz. S, Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb and Co was projected in samples of the common thalloid liverwort Riccia billardieri Mont. & Nees ex Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, from Mount Abu, (Rajasthan, India). Concentration of studied elements in plant tissue for R. billardieri was reported in the order of S> Zn> Pb> Cu> Cd>Co, while in substrate it was Zn> Pb> Cu> Cd> S> Co. Quantitative analysis of these elements in vegetative thalli of R. billardieri and the substrate showed a remarkable increase in metallic content during winter, which reveals the significance of this thalloid liverwort as an effective biological sink for metal pollutants present in the soil and air.