Conclusion/Outlook for the Future
This monograph has given an insight on heavy metals; a marine pollutant and their
effects on scleractinian corals, which are reef building corals. Heavy metals are
perpetual additions to the marine environment and are toxic, persistent and nonbiodegradable and do not get degraded by bacteria. Entry to the marine environment is
by natural as well as anthropogenic means. Being sessile in nature, corals accumulate
these metals and hence represent good environmental indicators.
This monograph has studied the current state of knowledge on the status quo of
heavy metals in the marine environment and its effects of the scleractinian corals;
heavy metal regulation in corals and the possible analytical techniques through which
these metals can be measured. A holistic view of heavy metals and their effects on
the corals has been deliberated.
Recommendations for future include investigating the route of uptake and transfer
of the heavy metals and the mechanism of metal detoxification and regulation
in corals for the various coral species. Since chemical speciation is a common
phenomenon in the marine environment, detailed information on this with respect to
the different heavy metals and their respective effects on corals could be looked into.
As new studies emerge regarding heavy metals as eminent pollutants in the marine
environment, their effects on the various coral species could be studied in detail.
Toxicological studies of heavy metal pollution in marine environments need
to take into account the interactions amongst metals, which may influence the
uptake, accumulation and toxicity of various metals synchronously. Toxicological
and ecotoxicological studies should aim to provide relevant information on heavy
metal pollution from anthropogenic sources, such that these do not give rise to adverse
effects on marine organisms such as corals. In addition, ecotoxicological studies need
to consider the differences in the bioavailability of heavy metals amongst different
species of corals. An in-depth knowledge of the escalating pollution in combination with other anthropogenically—induced environmental changes and their consequences on the global shifts in climate and oceanographic conditions on heavy metal
toxicity is needed. Despite the spatial and temporal distributions of tropical keystone
species; namely scleractinian corals, a work in progress needs to be articulated to
discuss ways to destress the already stressed coral reefs.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
S. B. Shah, Heavy Metals in Scleractinian Corals, SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73613-2
89
This monograph has given an insight on heavy metals; a marine pollutant and their
effects on scleractinian corals, which are reef building corals. Heavy metals are
perpetual additions to the marine environment and are toxic, persistent and nonbiodegradable and do not get degraded by bacteria. Entry to the marine environment is
by natural as well as anthropogenic means. Being sessile in nature, corals accumulate
these metals and hence represent good environmental indicators.
This monograph has studied the current state of knowledge on the status quo of
heavy metals in the marine environment and its effects of the scleractinian corals;
heavy metal regulation in corals and the possible analytical techniques through which
these metals can be measured. A holistic view of heavy metals and their effects on
the corals has been deliberated.
Recommendations for future include investigating the route of uptake and transfer
of the heavy metals and the mechanism of metal detoxification and regulation
in corals for the various coral species. Since chemical speciation is a common
phenomenon in the marine environment, detailed information on this with respect to
the different heavy metals and their respective effects on corals could be looked into.
As new studies emerge regarding heavy metals as eminent pollutants in the marine
environment, their effects on the various coral species could be studied in detail.
Toxicological studies of heavy metal pollution in marine environments need
to take into account the interactions amongst metals, which may influence the
uptake, accumulation and toxicity of various metals synchronously. Toxicological
and ecotoxicological studies should aim to provide relevant information on heavy
metal pollution from anthropogenic sources, such that these do not give rise to adverse
effects on marine organisms such as corals. In addition, ecotoxicological studies need
to consider the differences in the bioavailability of heavy metals amongst different
species of corals. An in-depth knowledge of the escalating pollution in combination with other anthropogenically—induced environmental changes and their consequences on the global shifts in climate and oceanographic conditions on heavy metal
toxicity is needed. Despite the spatial and temporal distributions of tropical keystone
species; namely scleractinian corals, a work in progress needs to be articulated to
discuss ways to destress the already stressed coral reefs.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
S. B. Shah, Heavy Metals in Scleractinian Corals, SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73613-2
89