Rainfall-driven metal resuspension triggers photosynthetic stress in Restinga vegetation
- 1Núcleo de Estudos da Fotossíntese (NEF), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Espírito Santo
- 2Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, CCHN, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
Abstract
Extreme rainfall events can remobilize contaminated sediments, increase metal bioavailability and trigger physiological stress in coastal vegetation. This is particularly relevant in mining-impacted areas such as the Rio Doce basin (Brazil), where contaminated sediments remain susceptible to resuspension. However, short-term plant responses to rainfall-driven metal dynamics are still poorly understood. This study investigated whether abiotic stress drives spatiotemporal responses or if adaptive strategies are species-specific. We analyzed chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF), leaf concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, and V, and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in four coastal species across three phases of the 2020 rainy season. Herbaceous species showed higher concentrations of toxic elements, while tree species exhibited no significant variation. Rainfall pulses reduced elemental accumulation in shoots, particularly BAF_Fe in herbs and BAF_Mn in trees. Chlorophyll index (SPAD) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) indicated negative effects on photosynthesis following heavy rainfall. Herbaceous plants showed temporary declines in photosystem stability and energy-use efficiency, alongside increased energy dissipation (DI0/RC), suggesting a protective response. In January 2020, energy dissipation increased by ~ 148% in Ipomoea pes-caprae and ~ 69% in Scaevola plumieri, while their performance index (PIABS) declined. In contrast, tree species (Manilkara salzmannii and Protium heptaphyllum) remained relatively stable. These findings reveal a functional gradient: herbaceous species show rapid but reversible stress responses, whereas tree species maintain functional stability under fluctuating conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates that rainfall-driven metal resuspension differentially influences plant groups, providing insights into species as diagnostic indicators of acute stress (herbs) and their long-term phytostabilization potential (trees), highlighting the distinct roles in ecosystem resilience.
Related
- Post-Fire Resuspension of Metal Toxins at the Wildland–Urban Interface
- Winter sediment resuspension in a submarine canyon drives the offshore export of toxigenic Alexandrium catenella cysts
- Assessment of Rainfall Variability and Its Impact on Soil Erosion Risk Using Rainfall Erosivity in Kwara State, Nigeria
- Rainfall and salinity-related landscapes shape cholera persistence in Haiti
- Conditional reliability of gridded rainfall datasets in Nigeria
BibTeX
@article{broetto2026rainfalldriven,
title = {{Rainfall-driven metal resuspension triggers photosynthetic stress in Restinga vegetation}},
author = {Sabrina Garcia Broetto and Gislane Chaves Oliveira and Romario de Oliveira Silva Junior and Juliana da Silva Penha and Patrícia Bourguignon Soares and Oberdan José Pereira and Diolina Moura Silva},
journal = {Discover Plants},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s44372-026-00984-4},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00984-4},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Rainfall-driven metal resuspension triggers photosynthetic stress in Restinga vegetation
AU - Sabrina Garcia Broetto
AU - Gislane Chaves Oliveira
AU - Romario de Oliveira Silva Junior
AU - Juliana da Silva Penha
AU - Patrícia Bourguignon Soares
AU - Oberdan José Pereira
AU - Diolina Moura Silva
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Discover Plants
DO - 10.1007/s44372-026-00984-4
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00984-4
AB - Extreme rainfall events can remobilize contaminated sediments, increase metal bioavailability and trigger physiological stress in coastal vegetation. This is particularly relevant in mining-impacted areas such as the Rio Doce basin (Brazil), where contaminated sediments remain susceptible to resuspension. However, short-term plant responses to rainfall-driven metal dynamics are still poorly understood. This study investigated whether abiotic stress drives spatiotemporal responses or if adaptive strategies are species-specific. We analyzed chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF), leaf concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, and V, and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in four coastal species across three phases of the 2020 rainy season. Herbaceous species showed higher concentrations of toxic elements, while tree species exhibited no significant variation. Rainfall pulses reduced elemental accumulation in shoots, particularly BAF_Fe in herbs and BAF_Mn in trees. Chlorophyll index (SPAD) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) indicated negative effects on photosynthesis following heavy rainfall. Herbaceous plants showed temporary declines in photosystem stability and energy-use efficiency, alongside increased energy dissipation (DI0/RC), suggesting a protective response. In January 2020, energy dissipation increased by ~ 148% in Ipomoea pes-caprae and ~ 69% in Scaevola plumieri, while their performance index (PIABS) declined. In contrast, tree species (Manilkara salzmannii and Protium heptaphyllum) remained relatively stable. These findings reveal a functional gradient: herbaceous species show rapid but reversible stress responses, whereas tree species maintain functional stability under fluctuating conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates that rainfall-driven metal resuspension differentially influences plant groups, providing insights into species as diagnostic indicators of acute stress (herbs) and their long-term phytostabilization potential (trees), highlighting the distinct roles in ecosystem resilience.
SN - 3005-1207
ER -