The
anthropogenic inputs have influenced the community structure and activities of
microorganisms that have been intruded the functioning of estuarine and coastal
ecosystem. Some of the heavy metals like Magnesium, Iron, Nickel, Copper andZinc are based on the structure of cyanobacteria and is easy to dissolve. These
dissolved heavy metals have high metabolic activity during dry season with zinc
as major pollutant. Therefore, it was observed that Zinc pollution may be a
critical factor that has to be monitored and controlled in nutrient rich
estuaries
Influence of heavy metals on the community
structure and activities of microorganisms in aquatic systems, varies depending
on their concentration and available chemical forms. At optimum concentration,
heavy metals like Cu, Zn and Mn support major life processes such as
maintenance of osmotic balance, stabilization of cellular organelles, they
function as electron acceptors in many processes and cofactors for
metallo-enzymes. The heavy metal pollution can induce long lasting effects on
health of estuaries as they are not easily or rapidly eliminated from these
ecosystems by natural degradative processes. Estuaries, being the transition
zone between fresh- and marine-water systems, function as receiving points of
heavy metals and other pollutants of anthropogenic origin and regulate their
supply to the coastal environment.
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