Bryophytes (non- vascular land plants) owing to their simple morphological, anatomical structures, worldwide in distribution, and forming an important component of forest ecosystem can be of immense importance in determining the prevailing edaphic conditions(hydrogen ion concentration) by their distribution patterns. Especially, mosses that are highly versatile due to their adaptability to different substrata can be used all the year round in the laboratory and in-situ to monitor the area in every season, suggesting their wider use as bio-indicators as compared to higher vascular plants which are comparatively difficult to handle.
Six moss taxa, namely Anoectangium clarum, Gymnostomum calcareum, Hyophila involuta, H.spathulata, Hydrogonium arcuatum
var. gangeticum and Hydrogonium consanguineum are found in sites polluted by dark effluents discharged from the industries. The
pH value of the substrata supporting these taxa is found to be in a very range (6.66- 7.81). The concentration of the micro elements,
As+, Pb++, Ni++, Cr+++, Cd+++., Mn++, Cu++, Zn++, Co+++ and Fe++ found in the plant material and substratum has brought out at
the extent of toleration capacity of these taxa which enabled these mosses to out compete in such sites.
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