Halophytes as sources of metals in estuarine systems with low levels of contamination
Thiago Couto A C , Bernardo Duarte B , Dimitri Barroso A , Isabel Caçador B and João C. Marques A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A IMAR – Institute of Marine Research, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
B Centre of Oceanography, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal.
C Corresponding author. Email: thiagoc@uc.pt
This paper originates from a presentation at the COST WG2 Meeting ‘Putting halophytes to work – genetics, biochemistry and physiology’ Hannover, Germany, 28–31 August 2012.
Functional Plant Biology 40(9) 931-939 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12300
Submitted: 9 October 2012 Accepted: 18 February 2013 Published: 15 March 2013
Abstract
Heavy metal concentrations present in the above- and beowground tissues of Scirpus maritimus L., Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald and Zostera noltii Hornem were analysed seasonally in the Mondego Estuary, Portugal. The sediments of the estuary were confirmed to contain only low concentrations of heavy metals. The belowground tissues of all three species showed higher heavy metal concentrations than the aboveground tissues. Although the sediments only contained low levels of contamination, because the area occupied by S. maritimus and Z. noltii was large, significant quantities of heavy metals were accumulated and exported to the surrounding water bodies. In contrast with observations of highly contaminated estuaries, it was found that in spite of the low level of contaminants in the sediments of the Mondego Estuary, aquatic vegetation functioned as a source of metals for nearby systems.
Additional keywords: estuary, halophytes, heavy metal, Portugal.
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