Metal reservoir in a red mangrove forest

Abstract

This study presents heavy metal concentrations and distributions in a mangrove forest in Sepetiba Bay, Rio Sediments are the main reservoir of the total metal contained in mangrove studied: 99 percent for Mn; 1 for Fe; 100 percent for Zn; 99 percent for Cu; 100 percent for Cr and 100 percent for Pb and Cd. Rhizoph biomass contained less than 1 percent of reservoir. Within the biotic compartment, perennial tissues acco almost all of the metals present in biomass. The results indicate that mangrove may act as an efficient me tropical coastal enviroment.