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Accumulation of 137Cs by Carnivorous Aquatic Macrophytes (Utricularia spp.) on the Savannah River Site

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Abstract

Plants are an important mode of transfer of contaminants from sediments into food webs. In aquatic ecosystems, contaminant uptake by macrophytes can vary by path of nutrient uptake (roots vs. absorption from water column). Carnivorous plants likely have additional exposure through consumption of small aquatic organisms. This study expanded on previous research suggesting that bladderworts (Genus Utricularia) accumulate radiocesium (137Cs) and examined for (1) a potential association between sediment and plant concentrations and (2) differences in 137Cs accumulation among rooted and free floating Utricularia species. A strong correlation was found between average 137Cs concentrations in all Utricularia species (combined) and sediments (rs = 0.9, p = 0.0374). Among three bladderwort species at common sites, Utricularia floridana, the only rooted species, had higher mean 137Cs concentrations than Utricularia purpurea, and U. purpurea had a greater mean 137Cs concentration than Utricularia inflata.

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Acknowledgements

This research would not have been possible without the field and lab assistance of Chris Leaphart, David Haskins, and Christina Fulghum. A special thanks to Angela Lindell and John C. Seaman for their advice on procedures and assistance with laboratory equipment, as well as Linda Lee for help with species identification. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EM0004391 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation.

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  1. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA

    Alexis M. Korotasz & Albert L. Bryan

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  1. Alexis M. Korotasz
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  2. Albert L. Bryan
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Correspondence to Albert L. Bryan.

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Korotasz, A.M., Bryan, A.L. Accumulation of 137Cs by Carnivorous Aquatic Macrophytes (Utricularia spp.) on the Savannah River Site. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 75, 273–277 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0498-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0498-2

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