Trace metals are one of the most serious pollutants in tropical seagrass meadows given their persistence and toxicity. Whereas quantity is frequently measured, there is no information on the spatial extent of metal pollution in these systems. Here, we use an island in Indonesia (Barang Lompo) as a model system to study the impact radius of two major and eight trace metals in sediment and seagrass leaves. We provide evidence for exponential decay in both the metal pollution index and concentrations of most metals with increasing distance from the island (k = −0.01 to −0.08 m–1). Consequently, there is an impact radius of approximately 100 m around the island. The comparative analysis of both seagrass species further revealed interspecific differences in metal loads. This study highlights the importance of assessing the spatial extent of metal pollution in addition to its quantity.
Baptista Nobre T., Wright L.S., Kneer D., Priosambodo D. and Ferse S.C.A. (2024) Trace metal pollution gradients in a tropical seagrass ecosystem. 200: 106632. 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106632
@article{Baptista Nobre2024,
Title = {Trace metal pollution gradients in a tropical seagrass ecosystem},
Author = {Baptista Nobre, Teresa and Wright, Luka Seamus and Kneer, Dominik and Priosambodo, Dody and Ferse, Sebastian C. A.},
Editor = {},
Year = {2024},
Pages = {106632},
Volume = {200},
Doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106632},
Abstract = {Trace metals are one of the most serious pollutants in tropical seagrass meadows given their persistence and toxicity. Whereas quantity is frequently measured, there is no information on the spatial extent of metal pollution in these systems. Here, we use an island in Indonesia (Barang Lompo) as a model system to study the impact radius of two major and eight trace metals in sediment and seagrass leaves. We provide evidence for exponential decay in both the metal pollution index and concentrations of most metals with increasing distance from the island (k = −0.01 to −0.08 m–1). Consequently, there is an impact radius of approximately 100 m around the island. The comparative analysis of both seagrass species further revealed interspecific differences in metal loads. This study highlights the importance of assessing the spatial extent of metal pollution in addition to its quantity.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Baptista Nobre, Teresa
AU - Wright, Luka Seamus
AU - Kneer, Dominik
AU - Priosambodo, Dody
AU - Ferse, Sebastian C. A.
TI - Trace metal pollution gradients in a tropical seagrass ecosystem
PY - 2024
SP - 106632
VL - 200
DO - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106632
AB - Trace metals are one of the most serious pollutants in tropical seagrass meadows given their persistence and toxicity. Whereas quantity is frequently measured, there is no information on the spatial extent of metal pollution in these systems. Here, we use an island in Indonesia (Barang Lompo) as a model system to study the impact radius of two major and eight trace metals in sediment and seagrass leaves. We provide evidence for exponential decay in both the metal pollution index and concentrations of most metals with increasing distance from the island (k = −0.01 to −0.08 m–1). Consequently, there is an impact radius of approximately 100 m around the island. The comparative analysis of both seagrass species further revealed interspecific differences in metal loads. This study highlights the importance of assessing the spatial extent of metal pollution in addition to its quantity.
ER -
