Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica

The chlorophyll content of the bryophyte species Fontinalis antipyretica was studied in seven small boreal streams of varying water quality. The aim was to determine whether the chlorophyll content of F. antipyretica responds to increasing water colour, and if the bryophyte could thus be used as a b...

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Main Authors: Rajala Salla, Estlander Satu, Nurminen Leena, Horppila Jukka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
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Online Access:https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2025/01/kmae250029/kmae250029.html
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author Rajala Salla
Estlander Satu
Nurminen Leena
Horppila Jukka
author_facet Rajala Salla
Estlander Satu
Nurminen Leena
Horppila Jukka
author_sort Rajala Salla
collection DOAJ
description The chlorophyll content of the bryophyte species Fontinalis antipyretica was studied in seven small boreal streams of varying water quality. The aim was to determine whether the chlorophyll content of F. antipyretica responds to increasing water colour, and if the bryophyte could thus be used as a bioindicator for browning in stream environments. Significant variation in the CHL contents (CHL a+b, CHL a:b) of F. antipyretica was observed between streams of differing water colour. Despite this, no significant effect of water colour or the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration on the CHL contents (CHL a+b, CHL a:b) was observed. However, the CHL a:b ratio decreased significantly with increasing light attenuation coefficient, thus suggesting that light is an important factor causing physiological changes in F. antipyretica. The DOC concentration explained one-third of the light attenuation coefficient, whilst no significant effect of water colour was found. Our findings suggest that whilst the CHL a:b of F. antipyretica can indicate changes in light conditions, it does not directly show a clear pressure-response association with increased water colour or DOC concentration.
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spelling doaj-art-ccef132efad5459b9d951a4f6c5854282025-08-20T02:33:54ZengEDP SciencesKnowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems1961-95022025-01-0104261610.1051/kmae/2025013kmae250029Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyreticaRajala Salla0Estlander Satu1Nurminen Leena2Horppila Jukka3Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiEcosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiEcosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiEcosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiThe chlorophyll content of the bryophyte species Fontinalis antipyretica was studied in seven small boreal streams of varying water quality. The aim was to determine whether the chlorophyll content of F. antipyretica responds to increasing water colour, and if the bryophyte could thus be used as a bioindicator for browning in stream environments. Significant variation in the CHL contents (CHL a+b, CHL a:b) of F. antipyretica was observed between streams of differing water colour. Despite this, no significant effect of water colour or the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration on the CHL contents (CHL a+b, CHL a:b) was observed. However, the CHL a:b ratio decreased significantly with increasing light attenuation coefficient, thus suggesting that light is an important factor causing physiological changes in F. antipyretica. The DOC concentration explained one-third of the light attenuation coefficient, whilst no significant effect of water colour was found. Our findings suggest that whilst the CHL a:b of F. antipyretica can indicate changes in light conditions, it does not directly show a clear pressure-response association with increased water colour or DOC concentration.https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2025/01/kmae250029/kmae250029.htmlbioindicatorbryophytelotic watersbrownificationwater framework directive
spellingShingle Rajala Salla
Estlander Satu
Nurminen Leena
Horppila Jukka
Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica
Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
bioindicator
bryophyte
lotic waters
brownification
water framework directive
title Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica
title_full Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica
title_fullStr Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica
title_full_unstemmed Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica
title_short Investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams: chlorophyll content of Fontinalis antipyretica
title_sort investigating tools for biomonitoring browning in streams chlorophyll content of fontinalis antipyretica
topic bioindicator
bryophyte
lotic waters
brownification
water framework directive
url https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2025/01/kmae250029/kmae250029.html
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AT nurminenleena investigatingtoolsforbiomonitoringbrowninginstreamschlorophyllcontentoffontinalisantipyretica
AT horppilajukka investigatingtoolsforbiomonitoringbrowninginstreamschlorophyllcontentoffontinalisantipyretica