Uptake of Heavy Metals on Eelgrass in Possession Sound
Presentation Abstract
The Possession Sound estuary is located between Everett and Whidbey Island. In Washington state, two study locations for the students enrolled in the Ocean Research College Academy include Mount Baker Terminal and Whidbey Island, both contain large eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds, an underwater sea grass that sustains a healthy estuary. Eelgrass helps prevent underwater erosion, removes nutrients from the substrate and transfer them to the surroundings, and supports major food chains. Zinc and copper are two metals that exist within Possession Sound, entering the water column through storm drains and the Snohomish River via anthropogenic runoff and erosion. In 2015, sediment samples were collected from Mount Baker Terminal, which is in close proximity to three storm drains. Eelgrass samples were collected from Mount Baker Terminal and Whidbey Island. It was hypothesized that eelgrass samples with a closer proximity to storm drains would contain higher amounts of zinc and copper while eelgrass located further away from storm drains would contain a lower concentration of heavy metals. Data were analyzed by a local lab with approved EPA protocols using an IPC/MS for concentration of heavy metals at the storm drains and within the eelgrass itself. The concentration of zinc was 34.60 mg/kg in the sediment at Mount Baker Terminal, while copper had a concentration of 8.69 mg/kg. The zinc concentration in the sediment at Whidbey Island was 15.6 mg/kg, while copper had a concentration of 5.46 mg/kg. The concentration of zinc in the eelgrass blades at Mount Baker Terminal was 37.66 mg/kg, while copper had a concentration of 9.622mg/kg. The concentration of zinc in eelgrass blades at Whidbey Island was 18.24 mg/kg and copper had a concentration of 1.824 mg/kg. These preliminary results support the connection of anthropogenic influences on the uptake of metals by eel grass and warrants further study.
Session Title
The Role of Eelgrass Ecosystems in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Habitat
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Eelgrass--Effect of heavy metals on--Washington (State)--Possession Sound
Geographic Coverage
Possession Sound (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Uptake of Heavy Metals on Eelgrass in Possession Sound
2016SSEC
The Possession Sound estuary is located between Everett and Whidbey Island. In Washington state, two study locations for the students enrolled in the Ocean Research College Academy include Mount Baker Terminal and Whidbey Island, both contain large eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds, an underwater sea grass that sustains a healthy estuary. Eelgrass helps prevent underwater erosion, removes nutrients from the substrate and transfer them to the surroundings, and supports major food chains. Zinc and copper are two metals that exist within Possession Sound, entering the water column through storm drains and the Snohomish River via anthropogenic runoff and erosion. In 2015, sediment samples were collected from Mount Baker Terminal, which is in close proximity to three storm drains. Eelgrass samples were collected from Mount Baker Terminal and Whidbey Island. It was hypothesized that eelgrass samples with a closer proximity to storm drains would contain higher amounts of zinc and copper while eelgrass located further away from storm drains would contain a lower concentration of heavy metals. Data were analyzed by a local lab with approved EPA protocols using an IPC/MS for concentration of heavy metals at the storm drains and within the eelgrass itself. The concentration of zinc was 34.60 mg/kg in the sediment at Mount Baker Terminal, while copper had a concentration of 8.69 mg/kg. The zinc concentration in the sediment at Whidbey Island was 15.6 mg/kg, while copper had a concentration of 5.46 mg/kg. The concentration of zinc in the eelgrass blades at Mount Baker Terminal was 37.66 mg/kg, while copper had a concentration of 9.622mg/kg. The concentration of zinc in eelgrass blades at Whidbey Island was 18.24 mg/kg and copper had a concentration of 1.824 mg/kg. These preliminary results support the connection of anthropogenic influences on the uptake of metals by eel grass and warrants further study.
