Comparative Analysis of Copper and Cadmium Accumulation by Macrophytes of the Chupa Inlet, Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea

Abstract

The content of dry matter, copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd) have been studied in five species of brown algae and one species of higher plants at six sampling sites in the Chupa Inlet of the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea. Despite a common natural geochemical background, a variability in the content of Cu and Cd has been observed in algae species which have similar systematic positions. No simple functional relationship could be established between the dry matter content and content of metals. Copper affects the accumulation of cadmium only when the Cu content is high. Species of the family Fucaceae (Fucus vesiculosus, F. serratus, and Pelvetiacanaliculata) accumulated Cu and Cd most effectively. The minimum content of Cd was found in the leaves of Triglochinmaritimum.