Abstract
This paper focuses on the partitioning of trace metals in five selected coral species from Lakshadweep Archipelago, which remains as one of the least studied areas in the Indian Ocean. Based on the morphological features, selected coral species are classified as massive (Porites andrewsi), ramose or branching (Lobophyllia corymbosa, Acropora formosa and Psammocora contigua) and foliaceous (Montipora digitata). Relating trace metal concentrations with morphological features in skeleton, highest concentrations of all the trace metals (except Zn) were reported for the ramose type corals. In tissue, all the metals (essential as well as non essential) showed highest concentrations within the branching type corals. Irrespective of their growth characteristics/pattern, all species except P. contigua displayed higher concentrations of Pb, Ni, Mn and Cd within their skeleton compared to tissue which may exemplify a regulatory mechanism to avoid the build up of the concentrations of these metals in their bio-part, strikingly toxic metals like Cd and Pb. The concentrations of trace metals in the skeleton and tissues of these coral species were subjected to 3 way ANOVA based on non standardized original data and the results showed significant differences between metals and between species leading to high skeleton/ tissue -- species interaction as well as skeleton/tissue – metal interaction. The significant values of student's t calculated are depicted in the form of Trellis diagrams.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown, B.E., & Holley, M.C. (1982). Metal levels associated with tin dredging and smelting and their effects on intertidal reef flats at Ko Phuket, Thailand. Coral Reefs 1, 131 –137.
Brown, B., & Howard, S. (1985). Responses of coelenterates to trace metals: a field and laboratory evaluation. In: Proceedings of V International Coral Reef Congress, 1985, Tahiti, Moorea, pp. 456 –469.
Bastidas, C., & Garcia, E. (1999). Meal content of reef coral Porites asteroids: an evaluation of river influence and 35 years chronology. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 38, 899 –907.
Beyersmann, D. (1994). Interactions in metal carcinogenicity. Toxicology Letters, 72, 333 –338.
Chester, R., & Elderfield, H. (1967). The application of infra-red absorption spectroscopy to carbonate mineralogy. Sedimentology, 9, 5 –21.
David, C.P. (2003). Heavy metal concentrations in growth bands of corals: a record mine tailings input through time (Marinduque Island, Philippines). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 87 –196.
Dodge, R.E., & Gilbert, T.R. (1984). Chronology of lead pollution contained in banded coral skeletons. Marine Biology, 82, 9 –13.
Druffel, E.R.M. (1997). Geochemistry of corals: Proxies of past ocean chemistry, ocean circulation, and climate. Proceedings National Academy of Science USA 94, 8354 –8361.
Elizalde, M.M., Gold-Bouchot, G., & Ceja-Moreno, V. (2002). Lead contamination in the Mexican Caribbean recorded by the coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44, 421 –431.
Esslemont, G. (1999). Heavy metals in corals from Heron Island and Darwin harbour, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 38, 1051 –1054.
Esslemont, G. (2000a). Heavy metals in seawater, marine sediments and corals from the Townville section, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland. Marine. Chemistry, 71, 215 –231.
Esslemont, G. (2000b). Development and comparison of methods for measuring heavy metal concentrations in coral tissues. Marine Chemistry, 69, 69 –74.
Esslemont, G., Harriott, V.J., & Mc Conchie, D.M. (2000). Variability of trace metal concentrations within and between colonies of Pocillopora damicornis. Marine Pollution Bulletin 40, 637 –642.
Fallon, S.J., White, J.C., & McCulloch, M. (2002). Porites corals as records of mining and environmental impacts: Misima Island, Papua New Guinea. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 66, 45 –62.
Hanna, R.G., & Muir, G.L. (1990). Red Sea corals as biomonitors of trace metal pollution. Environmental Monitoring Assesment, 14, 211 –222.
Harland, A.D., Bryan, G.W., & Brown, B.E. (1990). Zinc and cadmium absorption in the symbiotic anemone Anemonia viridis and the non-symbiotic anemone Actinia equina. Journal of the Marine Biological Association UK, 70, 789 –802.
Hoffmann, T.C. (2002). Coral reef health and effects of socio-economic factors in Fiji and Cook Islands. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 20, 1281 –1293.
Langston, W.J., & Spence, S.K. (1995). Biological factors involved in metal concentrations observed in aquatic organisms. In: A. Tessier, and D.R. Turner (eds), Metal Speciations and Bioavailability in Aquatic Systems. John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp. 407 –479.
Langston, W.J., & Bebianno, M.J. (1998). Metal Metabolism in Aquatic Environments, Chapman and Hall, London, pp. 1 –430.
Marshall, A.T. (2002). Occurrence, distribution, and localization of metals in cnidarians review. Microscience Research Technique 56, 341 –357.
McConchie, D.M., & Harriott, V.J. (1992). The partitioning of metals between tissues and skeletal parts of corals: application in pollution monitoring. In: Proceedings of VII International Coral Reef Symposia, 1992, Guam. Mangilao, pp. 97 –103.
Muhando, C.A., Kuguru, B.L., Wagner, G.M., Mbije, N.E., & Ohman, M.C. (2002). Environmental effects on the distribution of Corallimorpharians in Tanzania. Ambio 31, 558 –561.
Rasmussen, C.E., Cuff, C., & Hopley, D. (1992). Evidence of anthropogenic disturbances retained in the skeleton of massive corals from Australia 's Great Barrier Reef. In: Proceedings of VII International Coral Reef Symposium, 1992, Guam. Mangilao, pp. 201 –210.
Reichelt-Brushett, A.J.B., & Harrison, P.L. (2000). The effect of copper on the settlement success of larvae from the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis Marine Pollution Bulletin, 41, 385 –396.
Reichelt-Brushett, A.J., & McOrist, G. (2003). Trace metals in the living and nonliving components of scleractinian corals. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 1573 –1582.
Rosenberg, G.D. (1980). An ontogenetic approach to the environmental significance of bivalve shell chemistry. In: D.C. Rhoads and R.A. Lutz (eds.). Skeletal Growth of Aquatic Organisms, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 133 –168.
Scott, P.J.B. (1990). Chronic pollution recorded in coral skeletons in Hong Kong. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 139, 51 –64.
Shen, G.T., & Boyle, E.A. (1988). Determination of lead, cadmium and other trace metals in annually banded corals. Chemical Geology, 67, 46 –62.
St. John, B.E. (1974). Heavy metals in the skeletal carbonate of scleractinian corals. in: Proceedings of II International Coral Reef Symposium. 1974, Brisbane, pp. 461 –469.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anu, G., Kumar, N.C., Jayalakshmi, K.J. et al. Monitoring of heavy metal partitioning in reef corals of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean. Environ Monit Assess 128, 195–208 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9305-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9305-7