Biogeochemical cycling of Pb in the coastal marine environment at Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea

The biogeochemical cycle of lead in the marine coastal environment of Terra Nova Bay has been investigated by determining the lead concentration in a large number of matrices: marine sediments, pack ice, snow, seawater, marine microlayer, aerosol and eight species of marine organisms (the bivalve mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: RIVA, S. DALLA, ABELMOSCHI, M.L., CHIANTORE, M., GROTTI, M., MAGI, E., SOGGIA, F.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2003
Subjects:
Geology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Oceanography
Ross Sea
Terra Nova Bay
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Antarctica
ice core
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102003001524
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102003001524
Description
Summary:The biogeochemical cycle of lead in the marine coastal environment of Terra Nova Bay has been investigated by determining the lead concentration in a large number of matrices: marine sediments, pack ice, snow, seawater, marine microlayer, aerosol and eight species of marine organisms (the bivalve molluscs Adamussium colbecki and Laternula elliptica , the seastar Odontaster validus , the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri , the fish Trematomus bernacchii , the seaweeds Iridaea cordata and Phyllophora antarctica , and the nemertine worm Parborlasia corrugatus ). The study of solid speciation of sediment showed that the site is not influenced by human activity and is hence suitable to examine natural processes. The concentration values found in the suspended paniculate matter (SPM) of pack ice core, aerosol, marine microlayer and seawater as well as the particulate morphology, investigated by SEM, seem to support the hypothesis that particulate lead is transferred from the atmosphere to the water column through three different mechanisms: (i) release of SPM from the pack ice during its melting, (ii) input from the continental land through wet deposition, (iii) transport by aerosol and marine microlayer. Concentration data both in the whole organism and in some target organs indicated two suitable biomonitor organisms: the bivalva Laternula elliptica (particularly its digestive gland) and the fish Trematomus bernacchii (particularly its bones).

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