Heavy metals distribution in sediments and their transfer rate to benthic fauna in mangrove area near Hawks Bay Karachi, Pakistan
Mangrove ecosystems are vulnerable to different types of contaminationthrough various anthropogenic activities which threaten to system and their residentbiota. This study aims to evaluate the eight heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb andCd) distribution in the mangrove sediments and their transfer rate in two inhabitantdeposit feeder crabs (Macrophthalmus depressus and Austruca sindensis) near HawksBay. According to the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), mangrove sediments werecontaminated by Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb and Cd and considered infrequent or frequent adverseeffect of these metals on benthic fauna. The significant differences (p <0.05) wereobserved in Fe, Ni, Cr and Pb concentrations between the sediment and crab species, butonly Pb was observed significantly greater in crab species as compared to sediment. Thelevels of Fe, Zn and Cr were observed significantly higher in M. depressus as comparedto A. sindensis, while other metals showed no significant differences between bothspecies and showed similar rates of metal accumulation. Sediment biota accumulationfactor (SBAF) showed the values of Cu, Pb and Cd greater than one, indicate the hightransfer rate of these metals from sediment to both crab species through activeaccumulation. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed the dissimilar sources of metalscontamination in sediment, whereas, strong inter-elemental correlations were observed inboth crab species which indicates the similar source of metal accumulation.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | article biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2015
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| Subjects: | Biology, Environment, Pollution, Heavy metals contamination, deposit feeder crab, bioaccumulation, mangroves habitat, Hawks Bay., |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/40791 |
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