Effect of heavy metals on the carbon and nitrogen ratio in Avicennia marina from polluted and unpolluted regions

Yadav, Ajay; Ram, Anirudh; Majithiya, Divya; Salvi, Shailesh; Sonavane, Swati; Kamble, Archana; Ghadigaonkar, Suman; Jaiswar, Jiyalal Ram M.; Gajbhiye, S.N.

Effect of heavy metals on the carbon and nitrogen ratio in Avicennia marina from polluted and unpolluted regions

2015

The accumulation of heavy metals and its impact on the C/N ratio of Avicennia marina of the Patalganga and Amba estuaries were studied. Vadinar was selected as a relatively uncontaminated location for comparison. Cd was accumulated in leaves of the Patalganga and Amba estuarine mangroves; however, at Vadinar it was accumulated and arrested only in roots and stems. Negative correlation of Cr, Cd, Pb and Zn with C in the mangroves suggested that their accumulation may lead to lowered C content in the mangroves. The average C/N ratios in mangroves of the inner Patalganga estuary, Patalganga mouth, and Amba estuary were found to be 80.1±7.3, 105.8±12.5 and 52.4±3.4 respectively, whereas at Vadinar it was well within the expected range (26.4±2.8). The results of the present study suggest: (i) metal accumulation, leading to less carbon content in plants; (ii) heavy metal enrichment in the root zone sediment, affecting the uptake of nitrogen by plants and resulting in altered C/N ratio.

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