Trace element enrichments in decomposing litter of Spartina alterniflora

Concentrations of mercury, copper, zinc, chromium, iron and manganese were measured in Spartina alterniflora Loisel. during different stages of decomposition. Samples were collected from a salt marsh treated with a metal-containing sewage sludge and from a control marsh area. Overall, substantial in...

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Published inAquatic botany Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 111 - 120
Main Authors Breteler, R.J., Teal, J.M., Giblin, A.E., Valiela, I.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 1981
Subjects
aquatic plant culture
aquatic plants
Brackish
Spartina alterniflora
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Summary:Concentrations of mercury, copper, zinc, chromium, iron and manganese were measured in Spartina alterniflora Loisel. during different stages of decomposition. Samples were collected from a salt marsh treated with a metal-containing sewage sludge and from a control marsh area. Overall, substantial increases were found in the concentrations of Hg, Cu, Fe, and Zn in all the Spartina litter samples collected. The trace-metal enrichment in the decaying Spartina grass was best explained by the adsorption of metal-enriched organic substances during tidal flooding of the marsh surface. No metal adsorption was observed from the sludge-treated marsh soil in spite of an elevation in several of the metals studied.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0304-3770
1879-1522
DOI:10.1016/0304-3770(81)90052-8