RESUME
The biodiversity of the MPA Protected Marine Area: UTRÍA (ID 303549), on the Colombian Pacific coast, it contains high mercury concentrations from illegal gold extraction mining activities in the Atrato and Jurubid River rivers. We locate 208 sources of illegal mining in rivers surrounding the coast, which generate the felling of 16,000ha of mangroves/annuals; and the contamination of soils and wetlands with heavy metals (mercury). To extract 1gr of gold, these mining structures need four people, a backhoe to eliminate 6th ground from the forest soil; In addition, they build an artificial pool applying 1,000L of water/second and 10 g of mercury. All the residual mercury used is discharged on the MPA Urtry coast, increasing the mercury content to> 0.93 µg/g, level above international critical limits (<0.3 µg/g). The illegal miners dragan the rivers to change the course and build pools where Mercury breaks the rock that carries gold. The Colombia Wild Corporation evaluated the HG concentrations in absorbent and aerial red mangrove roots (Rhizophora Mangle)., In four coastal areas of the MPA, corresponding to the indigenous territory Emberá during the months of November 2020 (period of little rain) and January 2021 (rain period). A total of 80 roots, 10 air and 10 absorbents in each area were collected. The HG was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry coupled to cold hydride vapor generation and expressed in mg/kg (dry matter). The HG concentration in air and absorbent roots did not present significant differences, with values of 243.13 ± 91.14 and 300.03 ± 170.96 mg/kg, respectively. The absorbent roots presented a significantly higher HG concentration during the rainy season, with a value of 321.68 ± 85.59 mg/kg. The Emberá indigenous territory presented the highest HG value (382.46 ± 273.84 mg/kg) in the absorbent roots. These findings demonstrate that R. Mangle L. has a great capacity to incorporate HG and has mercury phytorecreader capacity in mangrove ecosystems contaminated with heavy metals.
Keywords: mangroves, phytoremeciation, contamination with mercury, biodiversity, Emberá indigenous community.
