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Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Trophic Levels of Wetland Plants and Waterfowl Birds

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Abstract

Present study investigates relationships between total and bioaccessibility of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, NI, Pb, V, and Zn) concentrations in sediment and their bioaccumulation in species in Shadegan wetland in southwest of Iran. Bioavailability factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated in plants and trophic transfer factor (TTF) was determined in bird species. For this purpose, sampling of sediments, aquatic plants including Phragmites australis, Typha australis, Scripus maritimus and two bird species encircling Porphyrio porphyrio and globally threatened Marmaronetta angustirostris were carried out during winter 2009. Result of chemical analysis show that bioaccessibility concentrations of Mn (8.31 mg/kg), V (1.33 mg/kg), and Pb (1.03 mg/kg) are higher than other metals. The uptake trend of trace elements in plant decreases as root > stem > leaf. Accumulation levels of trace elements in different tissues of P. porphyrio and M. angustirostris are almost identical and considerable. Accumulation and toxicity of Cd in birds is more than plants. In addition, BAF of V, Pb, and Cr indicates high accumulation by plants and great pollution rate in the area of study. In S. maritimus TF for Mn, Cu, Pb, and V are high whereas in T. australis, Cu and Pb posses the highest TF. Also Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn have higher TF from stem to leaf than root to stem in P. australis. Finally, TTFs were compared in various bird species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School of the Environment and Energy, Science and Research Campus, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Azam Sadat Hosseini Alhashemi & Seyed Masoud Monavari

  2. Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran

    Abdolreza R. Karbassi

  3. Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University G.C., Tehran, Iran

    Bahram Hassanzadeh Kiabi

  4. Faculty of Marine Biology, University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran

    Seyed Mohammad Bagher Nabavi

  5. Department of Environmental Engineering, Science and Research Campus, Islamic Azad University, Khuzestan, Iran

    Mohammad Sadegh Sekhavatjou

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  1. Azam Sadat Hosseini Alhashemi
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  2. Abdolreza R. Karbassi
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  3. Bahram Hassanzadeh Kiabi
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  4. Seyed Masoud Monavari
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  5. Seyed Mohammad Bagher Nabavi
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  6. Mohammad Sadegh Sekhavatjou
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Correspondence to Azam Sadat Hosseini Alhashemi.

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Hosseini Alhashemi, A.S., Karbassi, A.R., Hassanzadeh Kiabi, B. et al. Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Trophic Levels of Wetland Plants and Waterfowl Birds. Biol Trace Elem Res 142, 500–516 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8795-x

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