Temporal variation of metals in the seagrass Posidonia australis and its potential as a sentinel accumulator near a lead smelter

Translational Fluctuating Asymmetry and Leaf Dimension in Seagrass,Zostera capricorniAschers in a Gradient of Heavy Metals

“…This result is in line with other studies of the relationships between metal levels in the environment and in seagrasses (Brix et al 1983;Ward 1987;Ward 1989;Malea et al 1994;Sanchiz et al 2000;Campanella et al 2001;Filho et al 2004). Therefore, given a simple correlation between metal levels in their ns -not significant; * -significant at p < 0.05; ** -significant at p < 0.01.…”

“…Experimental exposure of seagrass to concentrations of heavy metals in water from 0.5 to 5 ppm for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn had an effect on the photosynthetic activity, structural characteristics of leaves and shoots, and on seagrass growth (Conroy et al 1991). However, seagrass exposed to higher concentrations of heavy metals (18.4 ppm of Cd, 406 ppm of Pb and 1270 ppm of Zn) in the field did not show evidence of growth inhibition (Ward et al 1984;Ward 1987).…”

Effects of trace metals on infaunal species composition in polluted intertidal and subtidal marine sediments near a lead smelter, Spencer Gulf, South Australia

“…This indicates that the infauna is apparently much more sensitive to the metals than is Zostera itself. Similarly, in the Posidonia meadows in this study area, the motile fauna also appears to be more sensitive to the effects of metals than the seagrass itself (Ward & Young 1982, Ward 1987. The tanald crustacean Tanais dulongii was the most abundant animal recorded in this survey, but it occurred only in the contaminated intertidal sites.…”

Posidonia oceanica and Zostera marina as Potential Biomarkers of Heavy Metal Contamination in Coastal Systems

“…Variation in metallic accumulation between above-and below-ground seagrass tissue has been discussed by various authors (see synthesis in Pergent Martini & Pergent, 2000), and could be a function of differences in binding sites or seasonal translocation between aboveand below-ground structures (Libes & Boudouresque, 1987;Ward, 1987 environmental contamination within a particular site also may be an important factor. For example Capiomont et al (2000) found that mercury content was higher in the interstitial water than in the water column at our Rosignano sampling location.…”

“…Heavy metals are known to have adverse affects on the physiology of P. oceanica and Z. marina as well as other seagrasses (Ward, 1987). have shown that the order of heavy metal inhibition of growth of Z. marina from greatest to least is mercury, copper, cadmium, zinc, chromium, and lead.…”