abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of seagrass recolonization as a nature-based solution for the recovery of a coastal area historically contaminated by mercury (Laranjo Bay, Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). A mesocosm approach was employed to assess the resistance of Zostera noltei to transplantation into contaminated sediments collected in-situ (0.5–20 mg kg−1 Hg). At each sampling time (15, 30, 60, 120 and 210 days), the resistance of transplanted Z. noltei was evaluated through growth parameters (biomass and coverage area), photosynthetic performance and elemental composition. Although some significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between treatments, essentially associated with the elemental composition of plant tissues, the most relevant variations were associated with seasonality. Overall, plants were found to not be affected by sediment contamination, under the tested concentrations, suggesting that recolonization with Z. noltei can be an effective restoration strategy for historically contaminated coastal areas. © 2023 The Authors
subject category
Bioaccumulation; Biomass; Geologic Sediments; Mercury; Plants; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zosteraceae; Aveiro [Portugal]; Portugal; Ria de Aveiro; Biochemistry; Coastal zones; Contamination; Ecosystems; Mercury (metal); Plants (botany); Restoration; carotenoid; chlorophyll a; chlorophyll b; mercury; mercury; Coastal area; Contaminated sediment; Ecosystem restoration; Mercury; Mesocosms; Nature-based solution; Performance; Re-colonization; Seagrasses; Zostera; bioaccumulation; environmental restoration; estuarine environment; growth; mercury (element); mesocosm; photosynthesis; recolonization; seagrass; sediment pollution; acclimatization; Article; bioaccumulation; biomass; chemical composition; contamination; controlled study; ecosystem restoration; electron transport; fluorometry; heat tolerance; light intensity; mesocosm; nonhuman; photosynthesis; photosynthetic rate; photosystem II; physiological stress; plant leaf; plant root; seagrass; seashore; seasonal variation; sediment; vegetative growth; Zostera noltei; Zosteraceae; bioaccumulation; plant; sediment; water pollutant; Sediments
authors
Fonte B.A.; Oliveira V.H.; Sousa A.I.; Lopes C.B.; Henriques B.; Pereira M.E.; Figueira E.; Calado R.; Lillebø A.I.; Coelho J.P.
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