Journal of Ecological Engineering Journal of Ecological Engineering 2021, 22(2), 169–177 Received: 2020.11.16 https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/131032 Accepted: 2020.12.14 ISSN 2299-8993, License CC-BY 4.0 Published: 2021.01.01 Performance of Avicennia alba and Rhizophora mucronata as Lead Bioaccumulator in Bee Jay Bakau Resort, Indonesia Mohammad Mahmudi1,2*, Aliyyil Adzim1, Difia Helsa Fitri1, Evellin Dewi Lusiana1,2, Nanik Retno Buwono1,2, Sulastri Arsad1,2, Muhammad Musa1,2 1 Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran Malang 65145, Indonesia 2 AquaRES Research Group, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Brawijaya. Jl. Veteran Malang 65145, Indonesia * Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Mangroves are a crucial ecosystem in coastal areas and serve a significant ecological function. However, this ecosystem is under the continuous pressure of anthropogenic activities which create toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals. The presence of marine ports and electric steam power plants next to Bee Jay Bakau Resort (BJBR) Mangrove Forest may worsen the heavy metal pollution, especially in the case of non-essential metals like lead (Pb). The vegetation in mangrove ecosystems can help store and trap this contaminant. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the potency of the Avicennia alba and Rhizopora mucronata mangrove species, which dominate the mangrove vegetation in BJBR Mangrove Forest, as Pb phytoremediation agents. The samples were taken from the sediment, roots, stems, and leaves of the mangrove trees. The results showed that the Pb found in the sediment of these species ranged from 10.323 to 11.071 ppm, while the Pb concentration in the mangrove parts was less than 1 ppm with the order roots > stems > leaves. Furthermore, the statistical analysis indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the Pb values across sites and species. Moreover, the BCF, BAC, and TF in this study were less than 1, making the observed mangrove species unsuitable for phytoextraction or phytostabilization. Keywords: Avicennia alba; Rhizopora mucronata; lead accumulation; toxic metal INTRODUCTION The existence of mangrove ecosystems is continuously under the pressure of numerous Mangrove forests are an undeniably predomi- anthropogenic activities, including industrial ef- nant coastal ecosystem located in the intertidal fluent wastewater, port activities, mining, agri- zone of tropical and subtropical coasts [Kathire- cultural runoff, and aquaculture waste [Maiti and san, 2012; Himes-Cornell et al., 2018]. They offer Chowdhury, 2013; Santos et al., 2014]. Amidst ecological services, such as protecting the coast the diverse pollutants produced by these activi- from the greenhouse effect, floods, rising sea lev- ties, heavy metals such as lead (Pb) are a seri- els, wave action, and erosion and providing nutri- ous pollutant for mangrove ecosystems [He et al., ents for a large number of organisms [Carugati et 2014; Abou Seedo et al., 2017]. Because of its al., 2018]. Mangrove ecosystems are considered persistence and toxicity, the accumulation of Pb a foremost ecosystem, as they are important sites in natural environments may threaten the human for primary production and habitats for many spe- health and biodiversity [Ali et al., 2019]. Glob- cies [Ribeiro et al., 2019], leading them to play a ally, coastal and marine habitats are polluted by significant role in complex food webs as well as Pb from urban waste and runoff from agricultural energy transfer [Mendoza-Carranza et al., 2010]. and industrial sources [Qian et al., 2015]. Thus, 169 Journal of Ecological Engineering 2021, 22(2), 169–177 the vegetation in coastal areas serves an impor- METHOD AND MATERIALS tant function in storing and trapping these con- taminants [Martin et al., 2019]. Sampling Location and Procedure As a tropical country, Indonesia is an ideal site for mangrove forests [Feller et al., 2017]. It is esti- There were three sampling locations in this mated that this country is home to around 20% of study, each 200 m away from the others. The the world’s mangrove forests and more than 50% distance of each sampling plot was 20 m. The of those in Asia [Choong et al., 1990]. Most are location was determined using GPS (Figure 1). situated on Papua Island and are still in relatively Sampling was performed on the sediments, roots, good condition [Sillanpää et al., 2017]. However, stems, and leaves of mangrove trees A. alba and the mangroves located in populated areas in In- R. mucronata. The trees used in this research had donesia, such as the island of Java, have been ex- trunks with a diameter of 10–15 cm. The stem ploited [Hakim et al., 2017; Puryono and Suryanti, samples were taken by harvesting the stem at 2019]. Specifically, a coastal area in Java situated chest height, while the root samples were taken in Probolinggo Regency called BJBR Mangrove from mangrove roots in the soil with a length of Forest has been heavily used for tourism, port ac- 10–20 cm. The leaves taken for this study were tivities, aquaculture, and community settlements old leaves that were dark green in color. The sedi- and is located near the largest electric steam power ment samples were taken under the sampled tree plant in southeast Asia [Parmawati and Hardy- at a depth of 15–30 cm. In order to analyze the ansah, 2020]. Agricultural runoff, municipal waste, Pb content in these samples, HNO3 was added, and industrial sewage discharged into the river and the samples were then heated at 200˚C for may contain the Pb pollutants [Iloms et al., 2020]. 2–3 hours. Next, the samples were analyzed using While many regulations have been developed to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer at wave- handle waste before discharge into a natural eco- length 235.5 nm. system, it is frequently discharged indiscriminately into nearby bodies of freshwater and eventually ends up in estuaries [Liu et al., 2015] Bio-Concentration Factor (BCF), The presence of marine ports has worsened Bioaccumulation Coefficient (BAC), the heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosys- and Translocation Factor (TF) tems due to shipping traffic, repairs, loading, and BCF is a coefficient that is used to measure dredging. In addition, the electric steam power the metal uptake of a plant [Amin et al., 2018]. It plant uses coal as fuel [Galkus et al., 2012]. The denotes the ratio of metal concentration in roots heavy metals from coal may be contained in solid to its concentration in sediment (equation 1). and gaseous materials, collecting in the form of ash from coal [Huang et al., 2017]. Some of this (1) ash is released into the atmosphere through stacks and is transferred into soils and waters via wet or where: BCF = Bio-concentration= factor dry deposition [Wuana and Okieimen, 2011]. MCroots = Metal concentration in roots BJBR Mangrove Forest is dominated by the (ppm) species Avicennia alba and Rhizopora mucrona- MCsediment = Metal concentration in sedi- ta [Fattah et al., 2020]. A. alba is able to absorb ment (ppm) heavy metals because it has a complex root sys- tem [Paz-alberto et al., 2014] and can therefore The metal uptake of other plant parts relative be used as a phytoremediation agent [Nguyen et to sediment is called the bioaccumulation coef- al., 2020]. R. mucronata can be used as a bio-in- ficient, or BAC (equation 2) [Amin et al., 2018]. dicator for monitoring the Pb pollution [Pahala- wattaarachchi et al., 2009]. The objective of this (2) study was to determine the Pb phytoremediation / = by A. alba and R. mucronata in BJBR Mangrove where: BCF = Bio-concentration factor Forest. Such research is essential for this site, as MCstems/leaves = Metal concentration in it has been heavily exploited and is surrounded stems/leaves (ppm) by many activities that may heighten the Pb con- MCsediment = Metal concentration in sedi- tamination in its aquatic environment. ment (ppm) 170 Journal of Ecological Engineering 2021, 22(2), 169–177 Figure 1. Research location at BJBR mangrove forest, Probolinggo, Indonesia In addition to BCF, TF is also used to quan- 10.43 ± 0.14 ppm, while that of R. mucronata was tify the metal translocation from roots to leaves, 10.76 ± 0.38 ppm. The limit for the Pb concentra- which represents the phytoextraction of the plant tion in sediment set by CCME is 30.2–112 ppm. [Nirola et al., 2015]. The formula for TF is shown Therefore, the Pb content in this study was deemed in equation 2. to be at a safe level. Moreover, the Pb concentra- tion in sediment showed no significant difference (3) across sites or mangrove species (p > 0.05). The / contamination of heavy metal sediments is an = important environmental problem with implica- where: TF = Translocation factor MC = Metal concentration in roots (ppm) tions for marine life and human health. Sediments roots serve as the principal metal layer in the marine MCstems/leaves = Metal concentration in stems or leaves (ppm) world. Their quality may indicate the water pol- lution status [Zahra et al., 2014]. Sediments act as both sinks and sources of heavy metals and release Statistical Analysis them into the water column [Fernandes and Nay- The data obtained from this research were ak, 2012]. Continued deposition of heavy metals analyzed using two-way analysis of variance into sediments can also result in groundwater pol- (ANOVA) incorporating two factors: site and lution from these pollutants [Sanyal et al., 2015]. mangrove species. The purpose of this analysis On the other hand, low concentrations of was to determine the differences in the Pb con- Pb were found in the roots, stems, and leaves centration and BCF, BAC, and TF across sites of the mangrove tree (< 1.00 ppm) with order and mangrove species.