title: The effects of heavy metals on germination and seedling characteristics in two halophyte species in Mediterranean marshes.
abstract: The influence of different concentrations (10-2000 μM) of heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn) was analysed in Atriplex halimus and Salicornia ramosissima germination pattern and seedling size. They are two halophyte species that grow in the Estuary of Huelva (Southwest Iberian Peninsula, Spain), one of the most heavy metal-polluted environments in the world. All of the metals tested affected the final germination percentage in A. halimus and only Ni reduced germination in S. ramosissima. The germination rate was unaffected in both species. The study of seedling development shows that S. ramosissima, an intertidal annual species, has a higher tolerance of metals than A. halimus, a bush that inhabits the upper part of the marshes. Taking into account the metal concentrations in the estuary and the effects of these on the seedling development of the species analysed, we conclude that metals might limit plant colonisation in some parts of the marshes.
authors: Dpto Biología Ambiental y Salud Pública, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva 21071, Spain.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Márquez-García
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Márquez
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Sanjosé
authors: F J J
authors: FJ
authors: Nieva
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Rodríguez-Rubio
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Muñoz-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical