Abstract:
Avicennia marina and Bruguiera cylindrica leaves, barks, roots and sediments
samples were collected from Setiu and Kuantan mangrove forests which then
analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The roots of B. cylindrica showed the highest
concentration of each metal (Cd = 0.143μglg; Cu = 4.97 μg/g; Pb = 1.47 μg/g; Zn =
22.68 μgig) in Setiu and A. marina roots (Cd = 0.079 μgig; Cu = 4.93 μg/g; Pb = 2.31
ug/g; Zn = 23.42 pg/g) in Kuantan. Concentration factor results showed that A.
marina had a higher degree of metals' storage compare to B. cylindrica of heavy
metals which indicate that A. marina accumulates more metals. Heavy metals
concentration in sediment of Kuantan mangroves is higher than Setiu. Respectively,
the metals level in the mangrove plants was under the surrounding sediment's metal
levels but above natural level of metal uptake by plants. The high level uptake of
metals by both mangrove species indicates that there was metals contamination in the
mangrove area. The success of A. marina and B. cylindrica in both Setiu and Kuantan
mangrove forest most likely due to the plants' ability to actively avoid uptake of
metals, even when sediment concentrations were high.
