Brown Seaweed as an Indicator of Heavy Metals in Estuaries in South-West England

Abstract

Concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, manganese and iron in the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus have been measured in samples collected over its range of distribution in four estuaries having different degrees of metal contamination. Factors controlling the concentrations in the weed have been studied and include the concentrations of metals in the water, seasonal changes, the position of the weed in the intertidal zone and the particular portion of the plant which is analysed. It is concluded that analysis of the weed gives a reasonable indication of average conditions in the water at points along an estuary and provides a method of making comparisons with the same estuary in subsequent years or with other estuaries.