Abstract
Experiments were conducted to establish the suitability of the seagrass Zostera muelleri as a sentinel accumulator for copper in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. A technique was developed for partitioning the environment of intact aquatic plants, so that uptake and translocation of copper within Z. muelleri could be monitored in a flow-through system. Plants were supplied with a range of copper concentrations, ranging from those found naturally in the environment to levels indicative of severe pollution. After 7 days in the partitioned system, root, stem, and leaf sections were analysed for copper content. It was found that the leaves of Z. muelleri accumulated copper to a greater extent than the root-rhizome component. There was little or no increase in the stem section of the plants, indicating minimal translocation of copper within the plant. The copper levels found in the plants reflect the ambient concentration of copper in the aquatic environment.
Published Version
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