Seasonal variation in the bioaccumulation of potentially toxic metals in the tissues of Astrangia poculata in the northeastern United States

Abstract

Astrangia poculata inhabits coasts near dense human populations in the northeastern United States and may be exposed to elevated pollutants. No studies have assessed heavy metal concentration in temperate corals despite their proximity to anthropogenic activity. We collected colonies four times in one year and analyzed coral tissue for As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn. Most heavy metals except for As were 1.5-3.3 times lower in summer compared to other seasons. Pb, As, and Cd were three orders of magnitude higher than concentrations for other Narragansett Bay benthic species, suggesting that A. poculata bioaccumulates more readily and/or inhabits more contaminated areas of the Bay. Zn, Pb, and As had similar concentrations to tropical corals inhabiting anthropogenically polluted sites. While physiological impacts are unknown, this population of A. poculata may have a higher tolerance for heavy metal pollution than most scleractinians, making it an interesting candidate for future studies.

Keywords: Astrangia poculata; Heavy metal pollution; Narragansett Bay; Seasonality; Temperate.