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Influence of heavy metals on the occurrence of Antarctic soil microalgae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2021

Nguk-Ling Dang Open the ORCID record for Nguk-Ling Dang [Opens in a new window] ,
Wan-Loy Chu ,
Kok-Seng Ivan Yap ,
Yih-Yih Kok ,
Siew-Moi Phang ,
Kok-Keong Chan  and
Peter Convey Open the ORCID record for Peter Convey [Opens in a new window]
Nguk-Ling Dang*
Affiliation:
School of Postgraduate Studies, Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Wan-Loy Chu
Affiliation:
School of Postgraduate Studies, Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia National Antarctic Research Centre, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kok-Seng Ivan Yap
Affiliation:
Sarawak Research and Development Council, 11th Floor LCDA Tower, The Isthmus, Off Jalan Bako, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Yih-Yih Kok
Affiliation:
Division of Applied Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Siew-Moi Phang
Affiliation:
Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kok-Keong Chan
Affiliation:
Division of Human Biology, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Peter Convey
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
*
dododangnl@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Human- and animal-impacted sites in Antarctica can be contaminated with heavy metals, as well as areas influenced by underlying geology and naturally occurring minerals. The present study examined the relationship between heavy metal presence and soil microalgal occurrence across a range of human-impacted and undisturbed locations on Signy Island. Microalgae were identified based on cultures that developed after inoculation into an enriched medium. Twenty-nine microalgae representing Cyanobacteria, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta and Tribophyta were identified. High levels of As, Ca, Cd, Cu and Zn were detected in Gourlay Peninsula and North Point, both locations hosting dense penguin rookeries. Samples from Berntsen Point, the location of most intense human activity both today and historically, contained high levels of Pb. The contamination factor and pollution load index confirmed that the former locations were polluted by Cd, Cu and Zn, with these being of marine biogenic origin. Variation in the microalgal community was significantly correlated with concentrations of Mn, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr and Cu. However, the overall proportion of the total variation contributed by all metals was low (16.11%). Other factors not measured in this study are likely to underlie the majority of the observed variation in microalgal community composition between sampling locations.

Keywords

animal impactscontaminationhuman impactsICP-MSpollutantsterrestrial environment
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 33 , Issue 6 , December 2021 , pp. 645 - 659
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Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2021

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