Abstract：
Mercury\'s extreme toxicity and persistence in the environment justifies a thorough evaluation of its dynamics in ecosystems. Aveiro Lagoon (Portugal) was for decades subject to mercury effluent discharges. A Nature-based Solution (NbS) involving Zostera noltei re-colonization is being tested as an active ecosystem restoration measure. To study the effect of Zostera noltei on the sediment contaminant biogeochemistry, seasonal (summer/winter) sediment, interstitial water and labile mercury vertical profiles were made in vegetated (Transplanted and Natural seagrass meadows) and non-vegetated sites (Bare-bottom area). While no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the sedimentary phase, Zostera noltei presence reduced the reactive/labile mercury concentrations in the top sediment layers by up to 40% when compared to non-vegetated sediment, regardless of season. No differences were found between vegetated meadows, highlighting the fast recovery of the contaminant regulation ecosystem function provided by the plants after re-colonization and its potential for the rehabilitation of historically contaminated ecosystems.
摘要：
汞在环境中的极端毒性和持久性证明了对其在生态系统中的动态进行全面评估的合理性。AveiroLagoon（葡萄牙）数十年来一直受到汞废水排放的影响。涉及Zosteranoltei重新定殖的基于自然的解决方案（NbS）正在作为一种积极的生态系统恢复措施进行测试。为了研究Zosteranoltei对沉积物污染物生物地球化学的影响，季节性（夏季/冬季）沉积物，间质水和不稳定的汞垂直剖面是在植被（移植和天然海草草甸）和非植被（裸露的底部区域）中进行的。虽然在沉积相中没有观察到显著差异(p>0.05),与无植被沉积物相比，Zosteranoltei的存在将顶部沉积物层中的反应性/不稳定汞浓度降低了40％，不管季节。植被草甸之间没有发现差异，强调植物在重新定殖后提供的污染物调节生态系统功能的快速恢复及其恢复历史污染生态系统的潜力。
