Coastal pollution from the industrial park Quintero bay of central Chile: Effects on abundance, morphology, and development of the kelp Lessonia spicata (Phaeophyceae)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240581
• Publication Date: 2020-10-15T18:48:33Z
• Authors: Carolina Oyarzo-M...; Nicolás Latorre; Andrés Meynard; Jorge Rivas; Cristian Bulboa; Loretto Contreras...
• Keywords: Macrocystis pyrifera

The industrial park of Quintero Bay (QB) in the central coast Chile was established 1960s, presents high levels pollution due to activity, and it is known as one five Chilean "sacrifice zones". Lessonia spicata most important habitat-forming kelp species intertidal along south shores Chile, currently there are no morphometric population studies L. (or other seaweed species) nor about effects on its development QB neighbouring sites. In this context, aims study were (i) register abundance morphological features populations from Ventanas, Horcón Cachagua (sites with different histories located only up 40 km QB); ii) determine heavy metals (HMs) concentration seawater marine sediments; (iii) evaluate vitro exposure three sampling sites spore release early developmental stages, juvenile sporophyte. Results showed that chronically exposed Ventanas had smallest adult individuals comparison registered HMs sediments exceeding international permissible limits (e.g Cu 20–859 μg L-1; > 50,000 kg-1). Unexpectedly Cachagua, a site often considered unpolluted, concentrations As also (859 1,484 L-1, respectively) (20,895 Exposure gametophytes resulted delay compared treatments; however, low sporophyte production determined all treatments. Our results indicate QB, more notably induce highly negative individual development, consequently populations, which suggest long-term impact community structure these zones. Furthermore, reported here at recent expansion evidencing ecosystem health even far source.