Abstract
Ecological half-life ( T e) is a useful measure for studying the long-term decline of contaminants, such as radionuclides, in natural systems. The current investigation determined levels of radiocesium ( 137Cs) in two aquatic ( Polygonum punctatum, Sagittaria latifolia) and three terrestrial ( Alnus serrulata, Myrica cerifera, Salix nigra) plant species from a contaminated stream and floodplain on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site. Current 137Cs levels in plants were used in conjunction with historical data to determine T e of 137Cs in each species. Median concentrations of 137Cs were highest in S. latifolia (0.84 Bq g −1) and lowest in M. cerifera (0.10 Bq g −1). T e's ranged from 4.85 yr in M. cerifera to 8.35 yr in S. nigra, both terrestrial species. T e's for all aquatic (6.30 yr) and all terrestrial (5.87) species combined were very similar. The T e's of the two aquatic primary producers ( P. punctatum and S. latifolia) in the Steel Creek ecosystem were somewhat longer than T e values previously reported for some consumers from this ecosystem.
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