Seasonal variation of aluminium and zinc content in Cystoseira abies-marina

Abstract

The paper describes a fast and simple electrochemical method to measure aluminium and zinc in algae. It is applied to measure their seasonal variation at two communities of Cystoseira abies‐marina (GMELIN) C. Agardh (Fucales, Cytoseiraceae) in the Canary Islands. Our results show high seasonal variability for both metals, concentrations increase during late summer and fall while decrease in late winter and spring. Both the cycle of the plant and the environmental conditions produce an effect on metal concentration in the tissue. Thus, the use of Cystoseira abies‐marina as metal bioindicator requires knowledge of the natural cycle of the plant and calibration of the environmental effects.