title: Copper phytoremediation by a salt marsh plant (Phragmites australis) enhanced by autochthonous bioaugmentation.
abstract: Here we evaluated whether the potential of Phragmites australis to phytoremediate Cu contaminated sediments could be enhanced by bioaugmentation with an autochthonous microorganism consortium (AMC) that is resistant to Cu. Saltmarsh plants with sediment attached to their roots were collected, placed in vessels and kept in greenhouses, under tidal simulation. Sediments were contaminated with Cu and the AMC was added to half of the vessels. After two months, plants accumulated significant amounts of Cu (2-10 times more) in all tissues although in higher amounts (7-10 times more) in belowground structures. AMC addition increased Cu bioavailability (5-10%) in sediments leading to a decrease in belowground structures biomass. However, bioaugmentation increased Cu translocation, with higher amounts (2 times more) of Cu in the plant stems, without significant visual toxicity signs. Therefore, autochthonous bioaugmentation can increase Cu phytoextraction potential of P. australis, which can be a valuable strategy for the recovery and management of moderately impacted estuaries.
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mucha
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: calmeida@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: C M R
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001682:Biological Availability; D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D003300:Copper
keywords: Autochthonous bioaugmentation; Estuarine areas; Metal contamination; Phytoremediation; Saltmarsh plants