Dr Harry HarmensSpatial and Temporal Trends in Heavy Metal Accumulation in Mosses

Dr Harry Harmens

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Environment Centre Wales
Deiniol Road
Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW
Tel: 01248 374500
Fax: 01248 362133
E-mail: Dr Harry Harmens
 

Current work

I am chairman of the ICP Vegetation. The ICP Vegetation studies the impacts of air pollution (ozone, heavy metals and nitrogen) on vegetation and reports to the Working Group on Effects of the UNECE Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention); 35 countries participate in the ICP Vegetation. I lead both the UK and European heavy metals and nitrogen monitoring network using mosses and contribute to research on the impacts of atmospheric ozone on crops and semi-natural vegetation. Knowledge transfer to policy advisors (e.g. Defra, LRTAP Convention) is an important part of my job.

My work is related to CEH Delivery Plan Topics/Objectives BGC 1.1, 1.3, 3.3, 3.4.

Research interests

I am interested in how pollution and environmental changes affect the ecophysiology of plants. I have more than 20 years experience in research on the impacts of climate change (elevated carbon dioxide and warming), nitrogen enrichment and atmospheric pollution (heavy metals and ozone) on plant growth and physiology at the individual plant and ecosystem level.

Brief CV

  • 2006 – date: Senior Scientific Officer, CEH at Bangor.
  • 2004 – date: Chairman of the ICP Vegetation, involving the coordination and dissemination of research on the impacts of air pollution on vegetation within the UNECE region.
  • 1999 – 2006: Higher Scientific Officer, CEH at Bangor.
  • 2003 – date: Leading the UK and European heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses monitoring network.
  • 1999 – 2003: Research on the impacts of elevated CO2, warming and interactions with management (cutting, fertilisation) on grasslands.         
  • 1995 – 1999: Post-doctoral Research Officer, CEH Bangor and Bangor University. Research on the impacts of elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilisation on grasses.

 

 

Selected publications

See also the NERC Open Research Archive.

Vandermeiren K., Harmens H., Mills G., De Temmerman L. (2009) Impact of ground-level ozone on crop production in a changing climate. In: Climate Change and Crops (Ed. S.N. Singh). ISBN: 978-3-540-88245-9

Harmens, H., Norris, D. and the participants of the moss survey. (2008) Spatial and temporal trends in heavy metal accumulation in mosses in Europe (1990-2005). Programme Coordination Centre for the ICP Vegetation, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bangor, UK. ISBN 978-1-85531-239-5.

Harmens, H., Norris, D.A., Koerber, G.R., Buse, A., Steinnes, E., Rühling, Å. (2008) Temporal trends (1990 – 2000) in the concentration of cadmium, lead and mercury in mosses across Europe. Environmental Pollution 151: 368-376.

Harmens, H., Norris, D.A., Koerber, G.R., Buse, A., Steinnes, E., Rühling, Å. (2007). Temporal trends in the concentration of arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, vanadium and zinc in mosses across Europe between 1990 and 2000. Atmospheric Environment 41: 6673-6687.

Harmens, H., Mills, G., Emberson, L., Ashmore, M. (2007). Implications of climate change for the stomatal flux of ozone: a case study for winter wheat. Environmental Pollution 146: 763-770.

Hayes, F., Mills, G., Harmens, H., Norris, D. (2007). Evidence of widespread ozone damage to vegetation in Europe (1990 – 2006). ICP Vegetation Programme Coordination Centre, CEH Bangor, UK. ISBN 978-0-9557672-1-0.

Hayes, F., Mills, G., Williams, P., Harmens, H., Büker, P. (2006). Impacts of summer ozone exposure on the growth and overwintering of UK upland vegetation. Atmospheric Environment 40: 4088-4097

Harmens, H., Marriott, D.J., Ashenden, T.W. (2005). Photosynthetic capacity and productivity of CO2-enriched rice (Oriza sativa L.) under field conditions: the role of N fertilization. Journal of Crop Improvement 13: 55-72.

Harmens, H., Williams, P.D., Peters, S.L., Bambrick, M.T., Ashenden, T.W., Hopkins, A. (2004). Impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature on plant community structure in a temperate grassland are modulated by cutting frequency. Grass and Forage Science 59: 144-156.

Romain Barnard, Laure Barthes, Xavier Le Roux, Harry Harmens, Antonio Raschi, Jean-François Soussana, Barbro Winkler, Paul W. Leadley. (2004). Atmospheric CO2 elevation has little effect on nitrifying and denitrifying enzyme activity in four European grasslands. Global Change Biology 10: 488-497.