Ecodynamics and bioavailability of metal contaminants in a constructed wetland within an agricultural drained catchment

Constructed wetlands are designed to mitigate nutrient and pesticide fluxes from agricultural catchments. Nevertheless, information on their efficiency in removing non-degradable contaminants such as metals is still scarce. This study aimed to explore the metallic signature and fate of metals within the Rampillon wetland (France) receiving water from a drained 355-ha catchment under intensive agriculture. Original monitoring coupling classic, time-integrated and bioaccumulation-based tools was achieved to characterise spatiotemporal dynamics of various metals (As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn). To assess metal inflows and mitigation, samples of dissolved and particulate metals were collected bimonthly at the inlet and outlet of the wetland over 3 months. Simultaneously, time-integrated (sediment traps and passive samplers) and bioaccumulation-based (caged gammarids and biofilms) tools were deployed to monitor temporal changes in metal speciation and bioavailability. To gain insight into the spatial distribution of metals between abiotic and biotic matrices, sediments and indigenous invertebrates with contrasted ecologies were sampled in different cells of the wetland. The results showed time-integrated tools were more suitable than bimonthly samples to quantify metal mitigations because of temporal fluctuations and low contamination levels. Significant mitigations were thus observed in trapped sediments for all metals (ranged 11-23%, except Mn) as well as in the DGT-labile fraction for Cd, Cr, Co, Mn and Ni (ranged 13-51%). Bioaccumulation levels in biofilms also revealed a decrease in metal bioavailability at the outlet. Furthermore, the spatial survey supported the central role of sediments in metal trapping and the beneficial effect of this wetland for local biodiversity in terms of exposure. To conclude, this study provides valuable information on the ecodynamics and bioavailability of metals required for sustainable management of such artificial ecosystems and furthermore, of agricultural areas.