Determining Potential Uptake Pathways of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metals in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico

Authors

Ashley Huber

First Advisor

Major Professor: Henry Alegria, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Michael Martinez-Colon, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Foday Jaward, Ph.D.

Publisher

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2018

Date Issued

March 9, 2018

Abstract

Fiddler Crab (U. rapax) tissue, mangrove tissue and sediment from crab burrows were collected in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico, to quantitate Persistent Organic Pollutants (OCs, PCBs, PBDEs) and selected heavy metals (cadmium, barium, mercury, lead, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic and selenium). Once quantified, the concentrations were applied to a bioconcentration factor equation to determine potential uptake pathways of the target analytes. Bioconcentration factors determined that fiddler crabs were the most efficient at concentrating OC pesticides, while mangroves were the most efficient at concentrating PCBs and heavy metals.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Geography College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Saint Petersburg

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Huber, Ashley, "Determining Potential Uptake Pathways of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metals in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico" (2018). USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate).
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/masterstheses/172