Chronology of lead pollution contained in banded coral skeletons

Dodge, Richard E.; Gilbert, Thomas R.

doi:10.1007/bf00392758

Cited by 70 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…High concentrations of Fe observed in the skeletal phase of P. andrewsi, compared to relatively less concentrations within its tissue, may be pointed towards the usefulness of this species as an indicator organism to monitor anthropogenic loads of iron in coral ecosystems. But it has to be distinguished that at polluted sites, metal concentrations in skeleton material can be used to monitor changes in environmental metal loads, whereas in less polluted settings skeletal metal is probably too low and too variable to be widely used for this purpose (Dodge and Gilbert, 1984;Scott, 1990;Bastidas and Garcia, 1999;David, 2003).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of heavy metal partitioning in reef corals of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean

Gopinath¹,

Kumar

Jayalakshmi

et al. 2006

Environ Monit Assess

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This paper focuses on the partitioning of trace metals in five selected coral species from Lakshadweep Archipelago, which remains as one of the least studied areas in the Indian Ocean. Based on the morphological features, selected coral species are classified as massive (Porites andrewsi), ramose or branching (Lobophyllia corymbosa, Acropora formosa and Psammocora contigua) and foliaceous (Montipora digitata). Relating trace metal concentrations with morphological features in skeleton, highest concentrations of all the trace metals (except Zn) were reported for the ramose type corals. In tissue, all the metals (essential as well as non essential) showed highest concentrations within the branching type corals. Irrespective of their growth characteristics/pattern, all species except P. contigua displayed higher concentrations of Pb, Ni, Mn and Cd within their skeleton compared to tissue which may exemplify a regulatory mechanism to avoid the build up of the concentrations of these metals in their bio-part, strikingly toxic metals like Cd and Pb. The concentrations of trace metals in the skeleton and tissues of these coral species were subjected to 3 way ANOVA based on non standardized original data and the results showed significant differences between metals and between species leading to high skeleton/ tissue - species interaction as well as skeleton/tissue - metal interaction. The significant values of student's t calculated are depicted in the form of Trellis diagrams.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of heavy metal partitioning in reef corals of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean

Gopinath¹,

Kumar

Jayalakshmi

et al. 2006

Environ Monit Assess

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“…Coral skeletons have been used as records of both local and global marine pollution. The chronology of Pb pollution in local and global terms has been investigated (Dodge and Gilbert, 1984;Boyle, 1987, 1988). Similarly, Cd/Ca ratios have been correlated with industrial Cd production and El Nino perturbation of cold upwelling currents carrying Cd .…”

Section: Metal Incorporation By the Skeletonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence, distribution, and localisation of metals in cnidarians

Marshall

2002

Microscopy Res & Technique

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The Cnidaria are simple organisms that have remarkable physiological features susceptible to microscopic investigation. As a group they produce cnidae, the most complex intracellular organelles known, form symbioses with a range of unicellular algae, contain mucocytes that account for a very substantial fraction of their body mass, and form complex skeletal structures of calcium carbonate. This review summarises contributions dealing with the distribution and localisation of metals of physiological and pathological importance within soft tissues and skeletons. Whilst there have been detailed studies of microscale metal distribution, using X-ray microanalysis, in the stinging organelles or cnidocysts and in mucocytes, other cells such as symbiotic algae and the epithelial cells have received little attention. In the skeleton-producing scleractinian corals X-ray microanalysis has provided tenuous, but persistent, evidence of Ca associated with intracellular vesicles or granules in the skeletogenic epithelium, even though the investigations were technically limited. These observations may be germane to the intriguing and intransigent problem of the mechanism of coral calcification. Metal localisation in coral skeleton at the resolution of annual growth rings has been concerned with the validity of Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios as thermometers for paleoclimatic studies. It is not clear whether these ratios are influenced primarily by environmental or biological parameters. Microscale analyses by X-ray microanalysis and ion microprobe indicate a much greater variability of metal ratios which suggests biological control of metal deposition. New data are provided on the elemental composition, measured by X-ray microanalysis, of cells and cell compartments in the coral Galaxea fascicularis and zooxanthellae in the anemone Aiptasia sp. New information is also presented on changing Ca/Sr ratios at the skeletal interface in Galaxea fascicularis.

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“…Regardless of the incorporation mechanisms, corals have been shown to be good tracers of pollutants in the marine environment (e.g. Dodge and Gilbert 1984;Scott 1990;Guzman and Jimenez 1992;Bastidas and Garcia 1999;Fallon et al 2002;Ramos et al 2004;Al-Rousan et al 2007;Anu et al 2007;Jayaraju et al 2009). This study was designed to assess the heavy metals levels in coral reef ecosystems in the Northern Red Sea and provide appropriate information to coral reef managers and conservators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metals distribution in the coral reef ecosystems of the Northern Red Sea

2010

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Concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co and Fe) were measured in the seawater, sediments, common scleractinian reef-building corals and soft corals (Octocorallia : Alcyonacea) at seven reef sites in the Northern Red Sea: I (Hurghada), II (Ras Za'farana), III (El-Ain Al-Sukhna), IV (El-Tur), V (Sha'b Rashdan), VI (Sharm El-Sheikh) and VII (Dahab). Levels of heavy metals were considerably elevated in seawater, sediments and corals collected from reef sites exposed to increased environmental contamination, as a result of diversiWed natural and anthropogenic inputs. Soft corals of genera Lithophyton, Sarcophyton and Sinularia showed higher concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni than hard coral genera Acropora and Stylophora. Soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum collected from El Ain Al-Suhkna (Gulf of Suez) had greater concentration of Cu, followed by hard corals Acropora pharaonis and Acropora hemprichi. The elevated levels of Zn, Cd and Ni were reported in the dry tissue of soft coral Sinularia spp. On the other hand, the soft coral Lithophyton arboreum displayed the highest concentration of Pb at Sha'b Rashdan (Gulf of Suez) and elevated concentration of Zn at Sharm El-Sheikh. Sediments showed signiWcantly higher concentration of Fe than corals. The higher levels of Fe in hard corals than soft corals reXected the incorporation of Fe into the aragonite and the chelation with the organic matrix of the skeleton. The greater abundance of soft corals in metal-contaminated reef sites and the elevated levels of metals in their tissue suggesting that the soft corals could develop a tolerance mechanism to relatively high concentrations of metals. Although the eVects of heavy metals on reef corals were not isolated from the possible eVects of other stresses, the percentage cover of dead corals were signiWcantly higher as the concentrations of heavy metals increased.

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Chronology of lead pollution contained in banded coral skeletons

Cited by 70 publications

References 29 publications

Monitoring of heavy metal partitioning in reef corals of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean

Monitoring of heavy metal partitioning in reef corals of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean

Occurrence, distribution, and localisation of metals in cnidarians

Heavy metals distribution in the coral reef ecosystems of the Northern Red Sea

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