Matching pollution with adaptive changes in mangrove plants by multivariate statistics. A case study, Rhizophora mangle from four neotropical mangroves in Brazil

Roots of mangrove trees have an important role in depurating water and sediments by retaining metals that may accumulate in different plant tissues, affecting physiological processes and anatomy. The present study aimed to evaluate adaptive changes in root of Rhizophora mangle in response to different levels of chemical elements (metals/metalloids) in interstitial water and sediments from four neotropical mangroves in Brazil. What sets this study apart from other studies is that we not only investigate adaptive modifications in R. mangle but also changes in environments where this plant grows, evaluating correspondence between physical, chemical and biological issues by a combined set of multivariate statistical methods (pattern recognition). Thus, we looked to match changes in the environment with adaptations in plants. Multivariate statistics highlighted that the lignified periderm and the air gaps are directly related to the environmental contamination. Current results provide new evidences of root anatomical strategies to deal with contaminated environments. Multivariate statistics greatly contributes to extrapolate results from complex data matrixes obtained when analyzing environmental issues, pointing out parameters involved in environmental changes and also evidencing the adaptive response of the exposed biota. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Fil: Souza, Iara da Costa. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil

Fil: Morozesk, Mariana. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Duarte, Ian Drumond. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Bonomo, Marina Marques. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Rocha, Lívia Dorsch. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Furlan, Larissa Maria. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Arrivabene, Hiulana Pereira. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Monferran, Magdalena Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; Argentina

Fil: Matsumoto, Silvia Tamie. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Milanez, Camilla Rozindo Dias. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil

Fil: Wunderlin, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; Argentina

Fil: Fernandes, Marisa Narciso. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil