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Heavy metal and trace elements in riparian vegetation and macrophytes associated with lacustrine systems in Northern Patagonia Andean Range

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Abstract

Vegetation associated with lacustrine systems in Northern Patagonia was studied for heavy metal and trace element contents, regarding their elemental contribution to these aquatic ecosystems. The research focused on native species and exotic vascular plant Salix spp. potential for absorbing heavy metals and trace elements. The native species studied were riparian Amomyrtus luma, Austrocedrus chilensis, Chusquea culeou, Desfontainia fulgens, Escallonia rubra, Gaultheria mucronata, Lomatia hirsuta, Luma apiculata, Maytenus boaria, Myrceugenia exsucca, Nothofagus antarctica, Nothofagus dombeyi, Schinus patagonicus, and Weinmannia trichosperma, and macrophytes Hydrocotyle chamaemorus, Isöetes chubutiana, Galium sp., Myriophyllum quitense, Nitella sp. (algae), Potamogeton linguatus, Ranunculus sp., and Schoenoplectus californicus. Fresh leaves were analyzed as well as leaves decomposing within the aquatic bodies, collected from lakes Futalaufquen and Rivadavia (Los Alerces National Park), and lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi (Nahuel Huapi National Park). The elements studied were heavy metals Ag, As, Cd, Hg, and U, major elements Ca, K, and Fe, and trace elements Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Na, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn. Geochemical tracers La and Sm were also determined to evaluate contamination of the biological tissues by geological particulate (sediment, soil, dust) and to implement concentration corrections.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Ricardo Sánchez for his collaboration in field work and sample conditioning, to the reactor RA–6 operation staff for their assistance in sample analysis, and to two unknown reviewers for their valuable comments. This work was partially supported by the projects PICT 33838, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (Argentina), Fundación Balseiro 85/CA/10, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo project 06/C414 SECTyP, and IAEA TCP ARG7007.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Análisis por Activación Neutrónica, Centro Atómico Bariloche, CNEA, Av. Bustillo km 9.5, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina

    Andrea Juárez, María A. Arribére, Marina Arcagni, Natalia Williams, Andrea Rizzo & Sergio Ribeiro Guevara

  2. Instituto Balseiro, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo and Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Bariloche, Argentina

    María A. Arribére

  3. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET Patagonia Norte, Bariloche, Argentina

    Marina Arcagni, Natalia Williams & Andrea Rizzo

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  1. Andrea Juárez
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  2. María A. Arribére
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  3. Marina Arcagni
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  4. Natalia Williams
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  5. Andrea Rizzo
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  6. Sergio Ribeiro Guevara
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Correspondence to Sergio Ribeiro Guevara.

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Juárez, A., Arribére, M.A., Arcagni, M. et al. Heavy metal and trace elements in riparian vegetation and macrophytes associated with lacustrine systems in Northern Patagonia Andean Range. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 17995–18009 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6811-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6811-1

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