Reichelt-Brushett A J, McOrist G
Environmental Science and Management, Centre for Coastal Management, P.O. Box 157, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2003 Dec;46(12):1573-82. doi: 10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00323-0.
Trace metals in coral tissue and skeleton have been investigated in various ways since the early seventies. More recently it has been suggested that the symbiotic zooxanthellae may play an important role in the accumulation and regulation of trace metals. Furthermore gamete development and mucus production may influence the metal accumulation and loss in corals. Many studies have attempted to use the annual growth bands in coral skeletons to investigate historical pollution events. However the relationship between the metal concentrations in the surrounding environment and the incorporation of this into coral skeleton is not well understood. This paper explains a method for investigating metal loads in coral tissue, zooxanthellae and skeleton. Furthermore, it presents new information suggesting that zooxanthellae accumulate most metals (Al, Fe, As, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) in greater concentrations than the coral tissue. Coral skeletons had consistently lower metal concentration than the zooxanthellae, tissue and gametes. The loss of zooxanthellae during stress events may have a significant contribution to the total metal loads in corals. The use of corals as biomonitors should carefully factor in zooxanthellae densities and gamete development before conclusions are drawn.
自20世纪70年代初以来，人们以各种方式对珊瑚组织和骨骼中的痕量金属进行了研究。最近有人提出，共生虫黄藻可能在痕量金属的积累和调节中发挥重要作用。此外，配子发育和黏液产生可能会影响珊瑚中金属的积累和流失。许多研究试图利用珊瑚骨骼中的年度生长带来调查历史污染事件。然而，周围环境中的金属浓度与这种金属在珊瑚骨骼中的掺入之间的关系尚未得到很好的理解。本文解释了一种研究珊瑚组织、虫黄藻和骨骼中金属负荷的方法。此外，它还提供了新的信息，表明虫黄藻积累的大多数金属（铝、铁、砷、锰、镍、铜、锌、镉、铅）的浓度高于珊瑚组织。珊瑚骨骼中的金属浓度一直低于虫黄藻、组织和配子。应激事件期间虫黄藻的流失可能对珊瑚中的总金属负荷有重大贡献。在得出结论之前，将珊瑚用作生物监测器时应仔细考虑虫黄藻密度和配子发育情况。
