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Accumulation of Arsenic and Copper by Bryophytes Growing in an Aquatic Environment near Copper Mine Tailings

Arsen- und Kupferakkumulation durch Bryophyten aus einem aquatischen Ökosystem im Bereich eines Kupferschlammteichs

Acumulación de arsénico y cobre por briófitas creciendo en un ambiente acuático cerca de las colas de una mina de cobre

铜矿尾库矿附近水生苔藓植物的砷(As)、铜(Cu)累积效应

Mine Water and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bryophytes with high As accumulation affinity were identified in the aquatic environment. We surveyed a stream near copper mine tailings and then conducted laboratory experiments to confirm As accumulation in the bryophytes with high As affinity. We found that a moss, Scopelophila cataractae, accumulates As in addition to Cu in aquatic environments and confirmed it in laboratory experiments. The highest value for As in S. cataractae from the field survey was 1300 mg/kg dry weight at relatively low As concentrations in the stream water (0.005 mg/L). In addition, Brachythecium plumosum and Rhynchostegium riparioides may also be useful bryophytes for accumulation of Cu and As, though the mechanisms of As accumulation might differ between these two bryophytes and S. cataractae.

Zusammenfassung

Bryophyten mit Neigung zu hoher As-Akkumulation wurden in einem aquatischen Ökosystem identifiziert. Die Untersuchungen konzentrierten sich auf ein Oberflächengewässer in unmittelbarer Nähe zu abgelagerten Rückständen aus der Kupfer-Aufbereitung. Die anschließenden Laborexperimente zielten auf die Bestätigung einer As-Anreicherung innerhalb der As-affinen Bryophyten. Es zeigte sich, dass eines der Moose, Scopelophila cataractae, in der Lage ist, As zusätzlich zu Cu zu akkumulieren, was sich in den Laborexperimenten bestätigte. Aus den Felduntersuchungen wurden in S. cataractae maximale As-Konzentrationen von 1.300 mg/kg Trockenmasse gefunden, und dies bei relativ niedrigen As-Konzentrationen im Oberflächenwasser (0,005 mg/L). Darüber hinaus erwiesen sich Brachythecium plumosum und Rhynchostegium riparioides als für die Cu- und As-Akkumulation ebenfalls nutzbare Bryophyten, wobei sich bei diesen beiden Arten die für die As-Akkumulation verantwortlichen Mechanismen möglicherweise von den bei S. cataractae auftretenden unterscheiden.

Resumen

Se identificaron briófitas en ambiente acuático con alta afinidad para acumular arsénico. Se realizaron estudios en una corriente cerca de las colas de una mina de cobre y luego se condujeron experimentos en laboratorio para confirmar la acumulación de As en la briófitas con alta afinidad por As. Se encontró que un musgo, Scopelophila cataractae, acumula As junto a Cu en ambientes acuáticos y luego confirmado en experimentos de laboratorio. El mayor valor de As en S. cataractae en los estudios de campo fue 1.300 mg/kg peso seco a relativamente bajas concentraciones de As en el agua de la corriente (0005 mg/L). Además, las briófitas Brachythecium plumosum y Rhynchostegium riparioides también pueden ser útiles para la acumulación de Cu y As, aunque sus mecanismos de acumulación de As podrían diferir con los que tiene S. cataractae.

摘要

具有As累积效应的苔藓植物往往生存于水生环境。我们沿铜矿尾矿库附近的一条小溪进行调查并通过室内实验证实了苔藓植物的砷(As)亲和能力。研究发现一种叫剑叶舌叶藓(Scopelophila cataractae)的苔藓能够积聚除铜(Cu)之外的水生环境中的砷(As),并通过室内实验证实了这一发现。剑叶舌叶藓(S.cataractae)野外干燥样品中砷(As)的最大含量为1300 mg/kg(干重),而水环境中砷(As)的浓度仅0.005 mg/L。另外,羽枝青藓(Brachythecium plumosum)和水生长喙藓(Rhynchostegium riparioides)也是具有铜(Cu)、砷(As)累积效应的苔藓植物,但是这两种藓类植物与剑叶舌叶藓的砷(As)累积机理可能不尽相同。

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Correspondence to Chisato Takenaka.

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Suzuki, Y., Takenaka, C., Tomioka, R. et al. Accumulation of Arsenic and Copper by Bryophytes Growing in an Aquatic Environment near Copper Mine Tailings. Mine Water Environ 35, 265–272 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0335-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0335-7

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