Bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd, Pb and Zn in Four Marine Phanerogams and the Alga Caulerpa prolifera (Försskal) Lamouroux from the East Coast of Spain

• Published in: Botanica marina Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 157 - 164
• Main Authors: Sanchiz, C., García-Carrascosa, A. M., Pastor, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Walter de Gruyter 01.03.1999
• Subjects: Caulerpa prolifera; Cymodocea nodosa; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; Posidonia oceanica; Ruppia cirrhosa; Spain; Zostera noltii; MED, Spain
• DOI: 10.1515/BOT.1999.018
• ISSN: 0006-8055

In this paper, the metal accumulation in different fractions of the marine phanerogams Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera noltii and Ruppia cirrhosa and of the Chlorophyceae Caulerpa prolifera is studied on the Mediterranean Spanish coast. The distribution of the metals among the different parts of the plants was different for the five species. In Posidonia oceanica, Cd and Zn were accumulated to a higher degree in the leaves, and Pb in the roots. In Cymodocea nodosa, the four metals were found in higher concentrations in the leaves. In Z. noltii and R. cirrhosa, the highest concentrations of Hg, Cd and Pb were found in the roots, whereas Zn was equally distributed between roots and leaves. The rhizomes of C. nodosa showed higher contents of Zn than the roots, suggesting a translocation of Zn towards this part. Also the uniform distribution of Zn among the anatomic fractions of R. cirrhosa suggests some transport of this element. In C. prolifera rhizoids + stolons and fronds showed similar metal concentrations, indicating an appreciable mobility of the metals, probably due to the absence of internal cell walls. The five species varied in their bioaccumulation capacities. Thus, P. oceanica, Z. noltii and R. cirrhosa had the highest concentrations of Hg and Cd. In addition, P. oceanica showed the highest concentrations of Zn. Lead concentrations were very similar in all five species. For the phanerogams the relative bioavailability of the metals from the sediment was: Cd > Hg = Zn > Pb. In the alga the four elements showed similar concentrations to those in the sediment