Mangrove Macroalgae as Biomonitors of Heavy Metal Contamination in a Tropical Estuary, Malaysia

Abstract

Until recently, there have been only few published reports concerning the use of mangrove macroalgae as biomonitors to assess the estuarine metal contamination. Therefore, the present study was an effort to investigate the biomonitoring of metal contamination using mangrove macroalgae in the tropical Miri estuary of Sarawak, Malaysia. The metal concentrations (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were determined in the surface sediments, estuarine water, and six dominant macroalgae species that epiphytically grow on mangrove pneumatophores. The results showed that the scheme of metal occurrences in estuarine surface water and sediments was Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu and Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu, respectively. Among the studied metals in algal tissues, irrespective of macroalgal species, the concentration of Fe was found to be the highest. Significant positive correlations were found between Cu and Zn in all macroalgal species (except Caloglossa ogasawaraensis and Dictyota sp.), indicating the common origin of those elements. Concentrations of each of the studied metal in algal tissues varied among macroalgal species, probably because of the differences of structure, age, and growth of thallus among macroalgal species. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report describing the biomonitoring of metal contamination using macroalgae from Malaysian mangrove systems.

Spatial distribution and contamination assessment of heavy metals in marine sediments of the southern coast of Sfax, Gabes Gulf, Tunisia

“…Due to their toxicity, non biodegradability and accumulative behaviors, heavy metals are considered as dangerous environmental pollutants that need to be monitored with care (Billah et al, 2017;Pekey, 2006;Yu et al, 2008). These elements play a role in many biological and geochemical cycles due to their presence in both solid and dissolved form.…”

Spatial and temporal variations of heavy metals accumulation in some macroalgal flora of the Red Sea

“…Fe, Ni and Cu). Billah et al (2017) documented that the concentrations of heavy metals in algal tissues are varied among macroalgal species, probably due to of the differences of structure, age, and growth of thallus among macroalgal species. Levels of heavy metals in Red Sea macroalgae and other tropical locations worldwide comparing to background concentrations are listed in Table 2.…”

Which Organism is More Suitable As A Toxic Metal Accumulation Bioindicator – Fishes Or Diatoms: A Case Study Of An A Class Wetland In Northwest Türkiye Under Effect Of An Intensive Paddy Cultivation Stress?

“…Bioaccumulation levels of toxicants in organisms, especially in the first steps of the aquatic food chain may be an earlywarning of the hazards of the toxicants for the other organisms located at the higher levels of the food chain by means of many trophic interactions (Farias et al 2018). Numbers of previous researches show that some aquatic organisms living at different stages of the food chain, such as algae, invertebrates and fishes may be used as effective and suitable bioindicators of toxic metal contamination (Caçador et al 2012, Chakraborty et al 2014, Chiarelli and Roccheri 2014, Billah et al 2017, Chua et al 2018.…”