The role of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora and associated sediments in the heavy metal biogeochemical cycle within Bahía Blanca estuary salt marshes

HEMPEL, M.; BOTTÉ, S.E.; NEGRIN, V.; CHIARELLO, M.N.; MARCOVECCHIO, J.E.

JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS (PRINT)

Springer-Verlag

Lugar: Germany; Año: 2008 vol. 8 p. 289 - 297

1439-0108

Bahía Blanca estuary is characterized by the occurrence of large intertidal areas, including both naked tidal flats and salt marshes densely vegetated with Spartina alterniflora. The estuary is strongly affected by human activities, including industrial and municipal discharges, harbor maintenance, cargo vessels and boat navigation, oil storage and processing, etc. Even numerous studies have reported the occurrence and distribution of heavy metals in sediments and biota from this estuary, although the function of the halophyte vegetation on metals distribution was at present not studied. The main objective of the present study was to understand the potential role of the salt marshes as a sink or source of metals to the estuary, considering both the obtained data on metal levels within sediments and plants from the studied areas at naked tidal as well as vegetated flats.