title: Effect of heavy metals on the carbon and nitrogen ratio in Avicennia marina from polluted and unpolluted regions.
abstract: The accumulation of heavy metals and its impact on the C/N ratio of Avicennia marina of the Patalganga and Amba estuaries were studied. Vadinar was selected as a relatively uncontaminated location for comparison. Cd was accumulated in leaves of the Patalganga and Amba estuarine mangroves; however, at Vadinar it was accumulated and arrested only in roots and stems. Negative correlation of Cr, Cd, Pb and Zn with C in the mangroves suggested that their accumulation may lead to lowered C content in the mangroves. The average C/N ratios in mangroves of the inner Patalganga estuary, Patalganga mouth, and Amba estuary were found to be 80.1 ± 7.3, 105.8 ± 12.5 and 52.4 ± 3.4 respectively, whereas at Vadinar it was well within the expected range (26.4 ± 2.8). The results of the present study suggest: (i) metal accumulation, leading to less carbon content in plants; (ii) heavy metal enrichment in the root zone sediment, affecting the uptake of nitrogen by plants and resulting in altered C/N ratio.
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India. Electronic address: anirudhram@nio.org.
authors.forename: Anirudh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Majithiya
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Shailesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonavane
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamble
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghadigaonkar
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Jiyalal Ram M
authors.initials: JRM
authors.lastname: Jaiswar
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gajbhiye
mesh_terms: D032407:Avicennia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Bioaccumulation; C/N ratio; Enrichment; Heavy metals; Mangroves; Nutrient availability