Changes in trace metals in Thalassia testudinum after hurricane impacts |
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| Authors: | Whelan T Van Tussenbroek B I Santos M G Barba |
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| Institution: | aUniversity of Texas Pan American, Department of Chemistry, Edinburg, TX, USA;bUnidad Académica Sistemas Arrecifales/Puerto Morelos, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 1152, Cancún, 77500 Quintana Roo, Mexico |
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| Abstract: | Major hurricanes Emily and Wilma hit the Mexican Caribbean in 2005. Changes in trace metals in the seagrass Thalassiatestudinum prior to (May 2004, 2005) and following passage of these hurricanes (May, June 2006) were determined at four locations along a ∼130 km long stretch of coast. Before the hurricanes, essential metals were likely limiting and concentrations of potentially toxic Pb were high in a contaminated lagoon (27.5 μg g−1) and near submarine springs (6.10 μg g−1); the likely sources were inland sewage disposal or excessive boat traffic. After the hurricanes, Pb decreased to 2.0 μg g−1 in the contaminated lagoon probably through flushing. At the northern sites, essential Fe increased >2-fold (from 26.8 to 68.3 μg g−1 on average), possibly from remobilization of anoxic sediments or upwelling of deep seawater during Wilma. Thus, hurricanes can be beneficial to seagrass beds in flushing toxic metals and replenishing essential elements. |
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| Keywords: | Caribbean Hurricane Reef lagoon Seagrass Thalassia Trace metals |
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