Moss survey protocol

Since the late 1960s, mosses have been used as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in the Nordic Countries.  From 1990 onwards, the European heavy metals in mosses survey has been conducted every five years.  In 2005, the total nitrogen concentration in mosses was also determined for the first time.  In 2010, a pilot study for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is included.  Mosses are sampled according to a standardised protocol.  The next European moss survey will take place in 2010/11 and the manual for sampling mosses can be downloaded here.