Metal uptake from soils by plants and their food chain

transfer to Testudo hermanni eggs

Presenting Author: Marius Lucian Matache1,

Co-Author(s): A.D. Neagoe2, L. Rozylowicz1

1University of Bucharest, Centre for Environmental Research and Impact StudiesE-mail: media@portiledefier.ro

2University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Research Centre for Ecological Services (CESEC), SE-mail: auroradaniela.neagoe@g.unibuc.ro

1) to assess the concentration of copper, lead and zinc in soil, plant and Testudo hermanni boettgeri eggs samples,

2) to assess the uptake of heavy metals by plants from soils in the Iron Gates Natural Park and

3) to evaluate whether a transfer to Testudo hermanni boettgeri and their eggs may have occurred.

Research objectives

Rationale

• Samples: soil, plants, Testudo;

• Cu, Pb, Zn;

Serbia

• Protected area – Iron Gates Natural Park, SW RO;

• Protected species – Testudo hermanni boettgeri;• Historic pollution due to mining activities;

Sampling• 41 soil samples, 2 regions – Eselnita and Bazias• 2 sampling campaigns (2011, 2012);• 12 plant samples

Fragaria sp. and Festuca sp. – part of Testudo diet;

• 28 Testudo eggshells samples;

Method of analysis

• Soil samples: XRF (verified with ICP-MS, >90% match);

• Plant and eggshell samples: microwave digestion and ICP-MS;

• Romanian standards for soil quality;• Correlations with Testudo growth indicators (SCL,

weight);• Statistics for soil&Testudo (Wilcox-Mann-

Whitney);

Metals in soils• Zn > Cu > Pb;• 4 (Pb) and 2 (Zn) > normal values in soils;• Pb: Bazias <> Eselnita - WMW = 228, p = 0.65;• Bazias > Eselnita – Cu: WMW = 371, p > 0.001– Zn: WMW = 345, p > 0.001

• Pb – anthropogenic,• Cu, Zn – natural occurence;

Risk assessment mapsBazias Eselnita

• pollution hotspots; • favourability/risks;•

Trace elements in plants• Fragaria - higher concentration of Cu and Pb;• Festuca - higher concentration of Zn;

• BAF: 100*Cplant/Csoil

Trace elements in Testudo eggshell

• Why eggshell?• Much lower concentration compared to soils and

plants (ppm vs. ppb);• Differences between

regions for Pb (11.107, p = 0.01);

• No correlations with growth indicators;

Conclusions to assess the concentration of copper, lead and zinc in soil, plant and Testudo hermanni boettgeri

eggs samples,

• No immediate threat of soil contamination; to assess the uptake of heavy metals by plants from soils in the Iron Gates Natural Park;

• Plants BAF < 1; to evaluate whether a transfer to Testudo hermanni

boettgeri and their eggs may have occurred.

• Low levels of contaminants in Testudo eggshells;