Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils
<i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> (Kunt) is one of the two vascular plant species present in Antarctica and develops under severe environmental conditions, being found in both pristine and human-threatened environments. We determined the Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels in <i>C. qu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2593 |
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| author | Jaime Tapia Marco Molina-Montenegro Camila Sandoval Natalia Rivas Jessica Espinoza Silvia Basualto Pablo Fierro Luis Vargas-Chacoff |
| author_facet | Jaime Tapia Marco Molina-Montenegro Camila Sandoval Natalia Rivas Jessica Espinoza Silvia Basualto Pablo Fierro Luis Vargas-Chacoff |
| author_sort | Jaime Tapia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> (Kunt) is one of the two vascular plant species present in Antarctica and develops under severe environmental conditions, being found in both pristine and human-threatened environments. We determined the Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels in <i>C. quitensis</i> roots, leaves, and soils of origin using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. In January 2017, we collected samples from four geographical zones on the longitudinal gradient along which <i>C. quitensis</i> is distributed, starting from Punta Arenas (PAR) at the extreme south of mainland Chile and moving southwards to the Antarctic territory from King George Island (KGI) to Hannah Point Peninsula (PHA) and finally Lagotellerie Island (LAT). We used certified reference material to validate the plant tissues and soil samples we collected. The highest concentrations of metals that we measured in the soils and in the <i>C. quitensis</i> roots and leaves were in samples we collected at the KGI station, the zone with the greatest human activity. The lowest concentrations we measured were at the LAT station, an island with little human intervention and scarce fauna. The mean concentrations of metals in the roots and leaves of <i>C. quitensis</i> followed a similar order at all sampling locations: Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd. In contrast, in soil, they followed the following order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The concentration levels obtained for the different metals in the soil and plants tissue samples in this region of Antarctica indicated that the area was non-polluted. However, the metallic trace element (MTE) concentrations may be at an early stage of contamination, as described in other areas of the Antarctic, being a new threat to this continent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:17:24Z |
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| id | doaj.art-4ed7c43ecc3d4d3a847c3e5c2aa54dc1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:17:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ed7c43ecc3d4d3a847c3e5c2aa54dc12023-11-23T10:10:24ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-11-011012259310.3390/plants10122593Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and SoilsJaime Tapia0Marco Molina-Montenegro1Camila Sandoval2Natalia Rivas3Jessica Espinoza4Silvia Basualto5Pablo Fierro6Luis Vargas-Chacoff7Institute of Natural Resources Chemistry, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, ChileInstitute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, ChileInstitute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, ChileInstitute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, ChileInstitute of Natural Resources Chemistry, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, ChileEULA Center, University of Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileInstitute of Marine Science and Limnology, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, ChileInstitute of Marine Science and Limnology, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile<i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> (Kunt) is one of the two vascular plant species present in Antarctica and develops under severe environmental conditions, being found in both pristine and human-threatened environments. We determined the Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels in <i>C. quitensis</i> roots, leaves, and soils of origin using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. In January 2017, we collected samples from four geographical zones on the longitudinal gradient along which <i>C. quitensis</i> is distributed, starting from Punta Arenas (PAR) at the extreme south of mainland Chile and moving southwards to the Antarctic territory from King George Island (KGI) to Hannah Point Peninsula (PHA) and finally Lagotellerie Island (LAT). We used certified reference material to validate the plant tissues and soil samples we collected. The highest concentrations of metals that we measured in the soils and in the <i>C. quitensis</i> roots and leaves were in samples we collected at the KGI station, the zone with the greatest human activity. The lowest concentrations we measured were at the LAT station, an island with little human intervention and scarce fauna. The mean concentrations of metals in the roots and leaves of <i>C. quitensis</i> followed a similar order at all sampling locations: Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd. In contrast, in soil, they followed the following order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The concentration levels obtained for the different metals in the soil and plants tissue samples in this region of Antarctica indicated that the area was non-polluted. However, the metallic trace element (MTE) concentrations may be at an early stage of contamination, as described in other areas of the Antarctic, being a new threat to this continent.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2593bioaccumulationbiomonitoring<i>Colobanthus quitensis</i>metallic trace elementssoil pollution |
| spellingShingle | Jaime Tapia Marco Molina-Montenegro Camila Sandoval Natalia Rivas Jessica Espinoza Silvia Basualto Pablo Fierro Luis Vargas-Chacoff Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils Plants bioaccumulation biomonitoring <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> metallic trace elements soil pollution |
| title | Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils |
| title_full | Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils |
| title_fullStr | Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils |
| title_short | Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils |
| title_sort | human activity in antarctica effects on metallic trace elements mtes in plants and soils |
| topic | bioaccumulation biomonitoring <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> metallic trace elements soil pollution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2593 |
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