title: The impact of marine shallow-water hydrothermal venting on arsenic and mercury accumulation by seaweed Sargassum sinicola in Concepcion Bay, Gulf of California.
abstract: The influence of hydrothermal venting activity on arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) accumulation was investigated in the shallow-water marine ecosystem of Concepcion Bay in the western Gulf of California. Geochemical data indicate that the marine shallow-water hydrothermal system of the Mapachitos site is a source of As and Hg for the water, sediment and algae collected along a transect moving across the western region of the bay. Although a small proportion of As and Hg precipitates close to the hydrothermal vent, both elements remain largely in the dissolved fraction, spreading a long distance from the source. The brown seaweed Sargassum sinicola thriving near the area of hydrothermal venting accumulates large quantities of As (above 600 mg kg (-1)), surpassing its typical concentration in the genus Sargassum by an order of magnitude. In contrast to As, the seaweed does not significantly accumulate Hg.
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas - Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN s/n, colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita, Apdo postal 592, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico. eshumili@ipn.mx maluleal40@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Leal-Acosta
authors.forename: Evgueni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shumilin
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mirlean
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delgadillo-Hinojosa
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D002140:California; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060086:Hydrothermal Vents; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D044647:Sargassum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic