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Three tropical seagrasses as potential bio-indicators to trace metals in Xincun Bay, Hainan Island, South China

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Abstract

Concentrations of the trace metals Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn were measured in seawater, rhizosphere sediments, interstitial water, and the tissues of three tropical species of seagrasses (Thalassia hemprichii, Enhalus acoroides and Cymodocea rotundata) from Xincun Bay of Hainan Island, South China. We analyzed different environmental compartments and the highest concentrations of Pb and Zn were found in the interstitial and seawater. The concentrations of Cd and Zn were significantly higher in blades compared with roots or rhizomes in T. hemprichii and E. acoroides, respectively. A metal pollution index (MPI) demonstrated that sediment, interstitial water, and seagrasses in the sites located nearest anthropogenic sources of pollution had the most abundant metal concentrations. There was obvious seasonal variation of these metals in the three seagrasses with higher concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in January and Cd in July. Furthermore, the relationships between metal concentrations in seagrasses and environmental compartments were positively correlated significantly. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) demonstrated that Cd from the tissues of the three seagrasses might be absorbed from the sediment by the roots. However, for C. rotundata, Zn is likely to be derived from the seawater through its blades. Therefore, the blades of T. hemprichii, E. acoroides and C. rotundata are potential bio-indicators to Cd content in sediment, and additionally Zn content (C. rotundata only) in seawater.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China

    Lei Li  (李磊) & Xiaoping Huang  (黄小平)

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Lei Li  (李磊)

  3. Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572200, China

    Lei Li  (李磊)

Authors
  1. Lei Li  (李磊)
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  2. Xiaoping Huang  (黄小平)
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Correspondence to Xiaoping Huang  (黄小平).

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 40776086, 41076069), the Pilot Project of the Knowledge Innovation Program, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. LYQY200706), and the National 908 Special Project (No. GD908-02-08)

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Li, L., Huang, X. Three tropical seagrasses as potential bio-indicators to trace metals in Xincun Bay, Hainan Island, South China. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 30, 212–224 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1092-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1092-0

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