Arsenic distribution and species in two Zostera capricorni seagrass ecosystems, New South Wales, Australia

William Maher, Simon Foster, Anne Taylor, Anthony Chariton

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43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Arsenic concentrations and species were compared in biota from two Zostera capricorni ecosystems. Mean arsenic concentrations were not significantly different for non-vegetative sediment, rhizosphere sediment, Z. capricorni blades, roots, rhizomes, epiphytes, amphipods, polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and fish, but were significantly different in detritus. Sediments and plant tissues contained mostly inorganic arsenic and PO4â¿¿arsenoriboside. Detritus contained mostly PO4â¿¿arsenoriboside. Fish tissues contained predominately arsenobetaine. Other animals had lower proportions of arsenobetaine and variable quantities of minor arsenic species. Bioconcentration but not biomagnification of arsenic is occurring with no evidence of arsenic hyper accumulation. The proportion of arsenobetaine increases through the food web and is attributed to a shift from a mixed diet at lower trophic levels to animals containing mostly arsenobetaine at higher trophic levels and the more efficient retention of arsenobetaine, compared to other arsenic species.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9-18
Number of pages10
JournalEnvironmental Chemistry
Volume8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

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