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Ecological Section

Mitra, Madhumi [1], Balogun, Bashiru [1], Waguespack, Yan [1].

Analysis of metals in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) populations from the Chincoteague Bay, Virginia.

Fifty samples of Zostera marina L. were sampled from Egg Marsh and Powell Creek localities (twenty five from each) of the Chincoteague Bay, Virginia. Some of the plants had distinct round to oval-shaped brown spots or long black streaks on their leaves. Plants with spots/streaks had smaller leaves and shorter rhizomes compared to those without spots and streaks. The collected samples were separately oven-dried, weighed (0.5 g), and analyzed for metals using the ICP-OES/AES method to determine whether uptake and retention of certain metals in aquatic plants have any correlation to stress or not. The results from Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis displayed that metals such as magnesium, manganese, and strontium were found in higher concentrations in both plants with spots/streaks and plants without spots/streaks compared to other metals such as cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and copper. Lead was practically absent in these plants. Although magnesium, manganese, and strontium were higher in both types of plants, the plants with spots and streaks were reported to have much higher concentrations of these three metals compared to those without spots and streaks. This study indicates that very high concentration of certain metals could sometimes act as stressors in submersed plants. The differential trapping and mobilization of metals could reflect the characteristics of sediments and water chemistry.


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Abstract on analysis of metals in eelgrass



1 - University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Natural Sciences, Backbone Road, Princess Anne, Maryland, 21853, USA

Keywords:
Chincoteague Bay
Eelgrass
ICP
metals.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 32-25
Location: Special Event Center (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:397


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