Rhizosediments of Salicornia tegetaria Indicate Metal Contamination in the Intertidal Estuary Zone

Frontiers in Environmental Science

Janine B. Adams²  Gletwyn Rubidge³  Marelé A. Nel⁴  Lucienne R. D. Human⁴ 

[1] DSI/NRF Research Chair, Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa;Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa;Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa;South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Elwandle Coastal Node Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa;

关键词: metal pollution;    Swartkops Estuary;    baseline;    coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer;    salt marsh;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fenvs.2020.572730

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Metal pollution is a well-known anthropogenic impact of highly developed estuaries, with dire consequences to the ecosystem. This study investigated the metal concentrations (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in the sediment colonized by Salicornia tegetaria, a dominant salt marsh plant in the lower intertidal zone of the Swartkops Estuary. The samples were collected at five sites along the banks of the middle and lower reaches of the estuary, and analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma –Optical Emission Spectrometer. Metal contamination was determined using established normalized baseline models. It was found that all the sites contained metal enrichment, with the estuary mouth experiencing the least enrichment. Salicornia tegetaria holds a substantial amount of anomalous metals within its rhizosediment—providing a valuable ecosystem service to a highly developed Swartkops Estuary.

【 授权许可】

Unknown