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Depositional environment of mudflats and mangroves and bioavailability of selected metals within mudflats in a tropical estuary

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Abstract

Four sediment cores representing adjacent mudflat and mangrove sub-environments of middle estuary (Shastri) were analyzed for sand, silt, clay, and organic carbon. Total metal concentration of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and lead (Pb) and chemical speciation of Fe, Mn, and Co on selected samples was also carried out on mudflat cores. The sediments in the upper middle estuary were found to be deposited under highly varying hydrodynamic energy conditions; whereas lower middle estuary experienced relatively stable hydrodynamic energy conditions with time. The tributary joining the river near the upper middle estuary is found to be responsible for the addition of enhanced organic carbon and metal concentrations. Speciation study indicated Fe and Co are from natural lithogenic origin while Mn is derived from anthropogenic sources. Higher Mn and Co than apparent effects threshold can pose a high risk of toxicity to organisms associated with these sediments.

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors (GNN) wish to thank the Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi for the financial support to carry out research work on mudflats along central west coast of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Sciences Department, Goa University, Taleigao, Goa, 403206, India

    M. C. Fernandes, G. N. Nayak, A. Pande & S. P. Volvoikar

  2. National Center for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Headland Sada, Vasco da Gama, Goa, 403804, India

    D. R. G. Dessai

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  1. M. C. Fernandes
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  2. G. N. Nayak
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  4. S. P. Volvoikar
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  5. D. R. G. Dessai
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Correspondence to G. N. Nayak.

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Fernandes, M.C., Nayak, G.N., Pande, A. et al. Depositional environment of mudflats and mangroves and bioavailability of selected metals within mudflats in a tropical estuary. Environ Earth Sci 72, 1861–1875 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3095-y

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