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Metal(loid)s in suspended particulate matter and plankton from coastal waters (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea)

  • IASWS2022: Interactions Between Sediments and Water
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The levels of metal(loid)s at the beginning of the coastal pelagic food web, providing an insight into accumulation in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) and size-fractionated plankton, were studied in the shallow coastal marine environment of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) affected by the metal polluted Isonzo/Soča River as a result of historical Hg, and Pb and Zn mining activities in the hinterland.

Materials and methods

Levels of metal(loid)s were investigated in suspended particulate matter (0.45–20 µm) and fractionated plankton (20–50 µm, 50–200 µm, > 200 µm) collected monthly at the Marine Biology Station oceanographic buoy Vida in the southern part of the Gulf of Trieste.

Results and discussion

Concentrations of meta(loid)s showed the following order Al,Fe > Zn,Mn > Ni > Cu,Cr > As,Pb,V > Co > Se > Cd > U > Hg and were similar to those of dissolved metal(loid)s of the gulf waters (Al,Fe > Zn > Cu > V > Mn > As > Ni,Se > U,Cr > Cd > Hg) where Hg, Cu, Cr and Se were significantly associated with colloidal organic matter (< 0.2 µm, > 5 kDa). The partition of metal(loid)s between their particulate phase and free ion and inorganic complexes in the water (Kpd) confirmed a strong binding of Hg, Al, Mn, Fe, Cr and Pb onto seawater particles. In general, the metal(loid) data for SPM and plankton showed high levels in the 50–200 µm microplankton fraction. Larger plankton fractions, especially > 200 µm, contain a lower amount of metal(loid)s associated with mineral particles originating from sedimentary pelite resuspension and riverine inflows. Variations of metal(loid)s levels in SPM and plankton fractions were related to their biomass (ash free dry weight—AFDW) and organic matter, and mineral (inorganic) content, which is difficult to separate from biogenic particles including organisms, and to the taxonomic composition and feeding behaviour of organisms in various fractions.

Conclusions

The Redfield's stoichiometric concept including metal(loid)s in the coastal marine plankton (SPM and mesozooplankton) appears unreliable. The bioconcentration factors (log BCFs) of the studied metal(loid)s, ranging between 4 and 6 for Hg, Fe, Mn, Cr, Pb, Co, Zn, Ni, As, Cu and V and lower for Se and U both in micro- and mesoplankton, can possibly be used in micro- and especially in mesoplankton fraction less impacted by mineral metal(loid)s. This should be considered when establishing the metal(loid)s levels at the base of the coastal and estuarine food webs, at the onset of marine bioaccumulation, to provide information for marine organisms consumed by humans.

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Data availability

The complete data set is available on request (by e-mail) from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

Ms. Karry Close is acknowledged for linguistic corrections.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) through Research programmes P1-0143 and P1-0237.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Bioloy Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornace 41, 6330, Piran, Slovenia

    Jadran Faganeli, Katja Klun, Patricija Mozetič & Nives Kovač

  2. Department of Enviromental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Ingrid Falnoga, Darja Mazej & Tea Zuliani

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  1. Jadran Faganeli
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  2. Ingrid Falnoga
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  3. Katja Klun
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Correspondence to Jadran Faganeli.

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Faganeli, J., Falnoga, I., Klun, K. et al. Metal(loid)s in suspended particulate matter and plankton from coastal waters (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea). J Soils Sediments 23, 4085–4097 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-023-03519-6

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