Ecological Bench-marking and Biomonitoring for Detection of Airborne Pollutant Effects on Vegetation and Soils

Biomonitoring plots established in 1976 and 1977 were revisited in 1979 and quantified with respect to their vascular plant community of the lower stratum, lichen community of black spruce branches, and both soil and plant element contents. There was no measurable change in any of the above factors. Several biomonitoring techniques were tested throughout the 5 year study period of this project. Although there was little measurable effect of air pollution in the area as a whole, certain techniques showed promise for long-term biomonitoring for pollution effects. In general, there was only very limited evidence of biological responses to increased pollutant content in spite of significantly higher pollutant levels in tissues close to existing industrial developments.