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Spatial Variations in Element Concentrations in Saudi Arabian Red Sea Mangrove and Seagrass Ecosystems: A Comparative Analysis for Bioindicator Selection

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Abstract

The Red Sea supports a diverse array of macrophyte species, including mangroves and seagrasses. Our study quantified the concentrations of 22 common elements, including trace metals, in mangrove and seagrass leaves and sediments to investigate the current pollution level in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea blue carbon habitat. Mangrove leaves were found to contain higher mean concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), strontium (Sr), and tin (Sn) than seagrass leaves, which contained lower levels of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), chromium (Cr), nickle (Ni), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb), and lead (Pb) (p < 0.05). Concentrations of 16 elements were significantly higher in mangrove sediments, whereas higher levels of S, Ca, and Sn were found in seagrass sediments (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was identified between P and Cd concentrations in both mangrove and seagrass leaves (R > 0.35, p < 0.05), with a negative correlation to latitude (R <  − 0.30). Certain leaves of Halophila decipiens (5.42 mg kg−1) and Halophila ovalis (5.08 mg kg−1) exhibited Cr concentrations exceeding known toxicity levels for plants. Cr (127 mg kg−1), Ni (60.0 mg kg−1), Cu (24.7 mg kg−1), Zn (263 mg kg−1), and Cd (1.50 mg kg−1) concentrations in certain Avicennia marina, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule uninervis, and Thalassia hemprichii sediments exceeded the sediment quality guideline levels, revealing the exposure of both ecosystems to varying degrees of trace metal pollution. Our study underscored the criticality of including both ecosystems in assessments to accurately evaluate the impact of pollution on coastal environments.

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Acknowledgements

The research presented in this publication was supported by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KAUST, through funding provided to Susana Agusti (BAS/1/1072-01-01). We extend our gratitude to Mohammed K. Khalid and Jingyu Liu from the KAUST Analytical Core Laboratory (ACL) for their ICP-OES training; to Vijayalaxmi Dasari of the KAUST Red Sea Research Center for her invaluable assistance with laboratory analyses; and to Yixin Wang for her insightful suggestions on physical oceanography.

Funding

The research presented in this publication was supported by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KAUST, through funding provided to Susana Agusti (BAS/1/1072–01-01) and the Red Sea Research Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Program, The Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 23955, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Chunzhi Cai, Andrea Anton, Carlos M. Duarte & Susana Agusti

  2. Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 07190, Esporles, Spain

    Andrea Anton

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  1. Chunzhi Cai
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  2. Andrea Anton
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  3. Carlos M. Duarte
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  4. Susana Agusti
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Contributions

Carlos M. Duarte and Susana Agusti contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, sample collection and analysis were performed by Andrea Anton. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Chunzhi Cai and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chunzhi Cai.

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Cai, C., Anton, A., Duarte, C.M. et al. Spatial Variations in Element Concentrations in Saudi Arabian Red Sea Mangrove and Seagrass Ecosystems: A Comparative Analysis for Bioindicator Selection. Earth Syst Environ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-024-00390-4

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