%0 Journal Article
%T The effect of Zostera noltei recolonization on the sediment mercury vertical profiles of a recovering coastal lagoon.
%A Oliveira VH
%A Fonte BA
%A Costa F
%A Sousa AI
%A Henriques B
%A Pereira E
%A Dolbeth M
%A Díez S
%A Coelho JP
%J Chemosphere
%V 345
%N 0
%D 2023 Dec 16
%M 37852379
%F 8.943
%R 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140438
%X 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.