Itracellular and Extracellular 

concentration of Manganese 

nd Other Elements by 

quatic Organisms

EUGENE T. OBORN

HEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

IOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1667-C

NTITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1964
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402
CONTENTS

Abstract_ __-.______________-..___--____-_-_-___-_-_-----

Introduction. ___________________--__-__-_-----_-___-_----

Purpose-.-_----_____________-------------------------_--

Mineral deposition associated with plant growth-._____________

Greenhouse study____________________________________

Irrigation-water study______.__._.-_--__-___-___-__-_.

Brackish-water study. _____________-_-_---___---_---__.

Biological examination of ocean nodules____-__-___--_-_-.

Intracellular concentration of manganese by aquatic plants. 

General conclusions..______________________________________

References cited.-_______________________-_-----------_-_--

Face 

Cl

1

2

3

3

4

6

11

11

17

17

ILLUSTRATIONS

FIGURE 1. Typical sections of Cladophora sp. filaments, with and without 

mineral deposition.__-_-___-_-_-_-_-_______--__------__

2. Three abundant and conspicuous submersed aquatic plants 

identified with demineralization in Timpie Big Spring.-----

3. Photomicrographs showing different types of mineral deposition in aquatic plants...-------------_.--_-_-_-__-_------

Page

C5

10

TABLES

TABLE 1. Mineral-microbe deposition mixtures identified and measured 

on greenhouse culture tanks after 1 year of plant growth in the 

tanks _-_______-_-_-_______-___-__-___-_-----._________

2. Composition of material precipitated by organisms from tap, 

irrigation, and brackish waters.__________________________

3. Chemical analyses of water samples from inlet and outlet of 

Timpie Big Spring..__------___________-__-___-_--____--

4. Microbe populations identified as symbiont associates of the 

more conspicuous submersed aquatic plants growing in 

Timpie Big Spring, Utah._______________________________

5. Dry matter, ash, and manganese content of various types of 

plants.. _--______-__________.____-_-_-_-__________-___-

6. Average analyses for types of plant and plant parts tested- _____

Page

C3

14

16

CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

INTRACELLULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR CONCENTRATION OF MANGANESE AND OTHER ELEMENTS 

BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS

By EUGENE T. OBORN

ABSTRACT

Examinations of mineral concretions or deposits accumulated on the inside 

walls of plant-culture tanks used in a greenhouse study show that the amount of 

the mineral deposited is related to the aquatic-plant species growing in the tanks.

A bacterium tentatively identified as Bacterium precipitatum Kalin commonly 

grows symbiotically on sago pondweed. This bacterium is responsible for deposition of a mineral, mainly calcite, on the plant-body surface of the pondweed; 

this deposit may amount to more than 1.2 percent of the fresh weight of the plant.

Micrococci spp. bacteria were abundant in both manganese and phosphorite 

nodules taken from the ocean floor. Water-submersed lake-bottom soil had four 

times as much manganese as adjacent farm-land soil. The manganese concentration in aquatic plants may be more than 30 times that found in comparable 

parts of land plants.

Microscopic study of plant sections shows that mineral deposition patterns 

associated with the growth of pond scum, stonewort, and pondweed range widely. 

In addition to the inanimate phenomena of water-body area, depth, and evaporation, the growth processes of the different aquatic-organism species and species 

associates are significant in the determination of the amount and type of mineral 

accumulations.

INTRODUCTION

The expression "balance of nature" implies to those working in thenatural sciences a state of equilibrium brought about by an existent 

order of influences. If the equilibrium is disturbed it may be rapidly 

reestablished or may remain out of balance for years. The return to 

equilibrium may involve either the animate or the inanimate factors 

of the natural system, or a combination of both, in varying degrees. 

The dissolved mineral matter in natural water is a factor in a complex 

system which can be strongly influenced by many forms of aquatic 

life.

Both water-rooted and soil-rooted species of aquatic plants absorb 

and accumulate mineral matter. Mineral deposition around and

Cl
C2 CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

(or) in the commonly occurring aquatic plants is aoparently related 

to the morphology and physiology of a plant specier. In some plant 

species, intracellular deposits of mineral matter are predominant; in 

others the plants become encased in extracellular deposits.

Limnologists share the general concept that soil-rooted aquatic 

plants, although wholly submerged, obtain most of their mineral 

salts from the substratum and not from the surrounding water. On 

the other hand, floating or drifting water-rooted plants obtain their 

mineral salts directly from the surrounding water (Putcher, 1933).

The influence of the morphology of individual plan ts on the amount 

of mineral deposition became apparent in earlier wo~k (Oborn, 1960). 

The degree to which the water surface was shaded from sunlight or 

other light sources affected both ecological assoc; ates and microbiological symbionts. The interrelation between water-surface 

shading, atmosphere-hydrosphere gas exchange, oxidation-reduction 

potential (Eh), and mineral content of water at the soil-water interface in greenhouse tanks has been reported from an earlier study 

(Oborn and Hem, 1962).

Microbiological symbiosis and water demineraliz^.tion by aquatic 

plants are widespread in diverse aquatic mineral environments, and 

their study has become increasingly significant owinz to their varying 

response to many local biological and environmental factors.

In recent years the significant removal of water-soluble radioactive 

elements from water bodies by plankton has been frequently noted 

(Element and Schultz, 1962). The commonly held belief, however, 

is that such concentration by the organism is only temporary after 

the death of the organism and the disintegration cf its protoplasm, 

the mineral is assumed to be returned to aqueous section.

Mineral removal is accomplished by the intracellular concentration 

of mineral matter by water organisms prevalent in nearly all natural 

water bodies. Such mineral absorption may be mostly from the 

water-submersed soil or directly from the water, depending on whether 

the species involved was soil- or water-rooted, respectively.

PURPOSE

The primary aim of the present study is to consider the manner in 

which plants and associated biota incorporate mir^ral matter into 

their structure and to obtain data on the composition of the mineral 

matter so deposited, especially with respect to manganese. The 

mineral accumulations studied formed in chemical!^ diverse waters 

and in widely separated geographic areas. Such information should 

be a valuable aid to geologists and others workers ir interpreting the 

dissolved-mineral content and content changes tak;ng place in any 

natural water body.
CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS C3

MINERAL DEPOSITION ASSOCIATED WITH PLANT

GROWTH

GREENHOUSE STUDY

Each species of aquatic plant investigated grew in 30-, 15-, and 5- 

^allon tanks made of stoneware. Each tank contained a 4-inch 

ayer of bottom soil from the Denver Federal Center Lake bottom, 

and Denver tap water was used to fill the tanks and to replenish the 

svater used each week of the year. After the termination of a 1-year 

study of the effects of aquatic plants on the iron content of water in 

the tanks (Oborn and Hem, 1962), deposits of solid material were 

observed in the tanks. The amount of mineral concretions or deposits which had accumulated around the inside periphery of the 

respective plant-culture tanks seemed to differ from one species 

series to another.

The mineral-microbe deposition mixtures obtained from the plantculture tanks of the four species series are listed in table 1. In the 

table, initial and predominant plants grown in the tanks are lifted in 

the order of decreasing mineral deposition.

TABLE 1. Mineral-microbe deposition mixtures identified and measured on greenhouse culture tanks after 1 year of plant growth in the tanks

Initial and predominant 

vegetation-species series

Solms (water-hyacinth) .

Camb. (parrot-feather) .

^lodea nuttallii (Planch.) 

St. John (western waterweed) . 

larex aquatilis Wahlenb.

(water-sedge) .

Average 

water use 

(gallons 

per week 

per square 

foot of tank 

surface)

9 0

1. 0

.9 

3.0

Microbe population, other than bacteria, 

mixed with mineral deposit

Blue-green algae. _______ _ _ _

Microcystis sp. 

Nostoc sp. 

Phormidium sp. 

Green algae: Chlamydomonas 

sp. 

Diatoms: Eunotia sp.

Microcystis sp. 

Phormidium sp. 

Green algae: 

Chlamydomonas sp. 

Cladophora sp. 

Diatoms: 

Diatoma sp. 

Gomphonema sp. 

Blue-green algae: Phormidium 

sp. 

Green algae: Cladophora sp.

Microcystis sp. 

Phormidium sp. 

Green algae: Pleurococcus sp.

Grams of 

nicrobemineral 

deposit in 

species 

series per 

sc uare foot 

of open 

tank surface

2.42

2. 26

. 63 

. 06
C4 CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

Table 1 shows that the amount of deposition was more closel; 

related to the kind of emergent or submersed aquatic-plant specie 

growing in the tank than to the amount of water used. Blum (1956 

wrote that one of the blue-green algal organism^ (Phormidium) i 

able to convert an entire tuft or stratum of continuous tufts of alp? 

growth into a mineral crust 4-5 millimeters thick.

Mineral fragments collected from the tanks were crushed an 

placed in water overnight. Microscopic examinr.tion the followin 

morning showed algal filaments beginning to grow from each of mos 

of the individual mineral fragments. The blue-green algae Micrc 

cystis sp. and Phormidium sp. and an assortment of green algae an 

diatoms were identified in the solid material and evidently wer 

effective in absorbing and depositing minerals taken from the plant 

culture water.

If the mineral accumulation around the tank-top periphery wer 

directly related to transpiration and (or) evaporation, then the cultur 

tanks containing Carex aquafalis growth should hs ve had the larges 

mineral accumulation. Compared with other anuatic plants thi 

species used large amounts of water during the teet period; however 

mineral accumulation in tanks containing Carex aguatilis average 

only 0.06 gram per square foot of open tank surface.

Sections of the filaments of one of the green algae (fig. 1) shov 

abundant and irregular deposition of mineral around the older fila 

ments. This deposition may be related to the fact that aquati 

plants, by photosynthesis, exhaust the carbon dioride in water, thu 

promoting the deposition of calcium carbonate (Whipple, 1927) 

The varying amount of mineral accumulation indicates that, i" 

addition to the influence of water body area, depth, and evaporation 

the growth processes of the different species and their symbionts ar 

significant in mineral accumulations.

The cationic composition of the deposited material is shown i' 

table 2, where the calcium content probably indicates that much o 

the material is calcium carbonate. Earlier studies (Oborn and Hem 

1962) showed that Cladophora filaments contain iron, and the amoun 

of manganese in the filaments is shown in table 5 cf this report.

IRRIGATION-WATER STUDY

Irrigation systems in the 17 Western States of the continental Unitet 

States total more than 47,000 miles of canals that are infested wit! 

submersed aquatic weeds and more than 20,000 miles of canals tha 

support thick growths of algae (Timmons, 1960). One of the mos 

common and abundant of the submersed aquatic plants is sago pond 

weed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.).
CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS C5

In 1961 an opportunity arose which permitted the measurement of 

extracellular mineral deposition by the single species sago pond weed. 

VIore than a ton of this water plant was harvested in pure form from 

in irrigation canal west of Phoenix, Ariz., in July 1961.

After harvesting, the plants were water washed, turned frequently, 

and allowed to dry in the sun for 30 days. An inconspicuous mineral 

incrustation that had formed on the submersed plants loosened and 

scaled off as the moisture content of the plants decreased from an 

original value of 90 percent to a final value of less than 10 percent. 

The mineral incrustation was about 90 percent calcite. Among the

FIGURE 1. Typical sections of Cladophora sp. filaments. Note that the younger filar-rents 

(A, F, H) consist of the algal protoplast alone and show little or no extracellular mineral deposition. The shape and amount of amorphous mineral deposited varies for other filan-ents. 

(Magnification 532 X.)

common impurities in the calcite were manganese, iron, magr Q-sium, 

cobalt, barium, and strontium, elements which may substitute for 

calcium in variable amounts. For a 200-pound sample of sun-dried 

pondweed containing less than 10 percent moisture, this extracellular 

mineral material amounted to about 12 percent of the total weight, 

or about 1.2 percent of the total weight of the fresh plants.

The same kind of mineral deposit involved here was illustrated 

earlier by Oborn and others (1954, fig. 13) from the -leaves of the 

closely related leafy pondweed (Potamogeton foliosus Raf.). Ward and 

Whipple (1918, p. 185-187), after posing several hypothetical chemical 

explanations to account for the mineral deposition, concluded with

709J-587 O 63 2
C6 CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

certainty only that the mineral deposition is a consequence of processe 

in the plant.

Many bacteria were interspersed with the min ,ral deposit on th 

pondweed, but in other published discussions of similar deposits the; 

were not mentioned. The bacteria can be readily separated from th 

rest of the deposit by using Gram's differential-staining proceduri 

(Bryan and Bryan, 1942). The bacteria are Gram-negative and aver 

age 5 by 15 microns in size. They have been tentatively identifiet 

as Bacterium precipitatum Kalin, a form which, together with iroi 

bacteria, actively precipitates minerals in the Kara Sea (Kalmenko 

1949).

Bacterium precipitatum Kalin has been consistently found by th 

writer in great abundance among the particles of mineral matte 

deposited on sago pondweed. This bacterium was on the precipitate' 

material on plants growing in Denver tap water in the greenhous 

and on plants growing in brackish water at Timpie Big Spring, Utah 

(See following section on "Brackish-water study.")

Because of the persistent abundance of this bacterium in mineral 

precipitated at widely separated locations and from water of divers 

mineral compositions, this bacterium is probably a constant symbion 

that plays a major role in the precipitation of minerals on sago pon<* 

weed and, presumably, the other water macrophytes.

The composition of material precipitated by organisms from wate 

from three different sources is shown in table 2. The ash represent 

the residue remaining after heating at 575° C. Constituents of thi 

residue are reported as percentages of the residue dried at 62° C.

BRACKISH-WATER STUDY

Timpie Big Spring is about a quarter of a mile so utheast of Timpie 

Utah, and just south of Great Salt Lake; the spring pool has a surfac 

area of about 2 acres. The main inlet from the ground-water bod; 

is below the water surface at the extreme south end of the pool. A: 

additional seep in the east side of the pool contributes a volume o 

water about two-thirds that from the main inlet. The water flow 

north, leaving the spring area through a culvert under U.S. Highwa; 

40-50, and eventually reaches Great Salt Lake.

In a salinity study of closed lakes, Langbsin (1961) found that 

significant part of differences in salinity could be explained b; 

differences in lake area, mean depth, rate of evaporation, tributar 

area, and volume between lake level and level of overflow. Thi 

study suggested also that biological factors may play a major rol 

in lake demineralization.

Analyses of water from Timpie Big Spring (tal^e 3) showed tha 

the dissolved-solids content of the water was about 9,000 ppm (part
CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS C7

TABLE 2. Composition of material precipitated by organisms from tap, irrigation,

and brackish waters

[Percent composition (dry-weight basis)]

Ash in dry matter. _ ____________

Iron (Fe) _ __________ ____________

Manganese (Mn)__ ____ _______ __

Calcium (Ca)_____ _ _ .____-_-_. _

Magnesium (Mg) __ ____ ____ _ ___

Sodium (Na) ___ ________ ____ _ _

Potassium (K)__ ____________ _____

Tap water 

(Denver, Colo.)

77.8

. 18

.02

19. 2

. 00

1.74

5.70

Irrigation water 

(Phoenix, Ariz.)

87 5

07

04

34. 1

05

1 82

2.48

Brackish water 

(Tin-Die, Utah)

95 7

00

00

15 8

30

10 5

22

per million), most of which was sodium chloride. The analyses also 

showed a general decrease in dissolved solids between inlet anc1 outlet. 

The spring was visited several times, and on each occasion the flora 

of the spring was examined. It was evident that mineral matter was 

being deposited on the vegetation in the Timpie Big Spring water.

Three of the most abundant and conspicuous submersed aquatic 

plants identified with mineral deposition in Timpie Big Spring were 

sago pond weed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.), pond scum (Cladophora 

glomerata [L.] Kiitz.), and stonewort (Chara fragilis Desvaux and 

Loiseleur-Deslongchamps). Samples of all three in various stages of 

mineral encasement are illustrated in figure 2. Deposition of mineral

TABLE 3. Chemical analyses of water samples from inlet and outlet of Timpie

Big Spring

[Results in parts per million, except as indicated]

Silica (SiO2)-__ --_______-_-____-___-_______.___

Calcium (Ca)_ _ ___ _ _ __ __________ __ __

Magnesium (Mg)_ _ __ __ ___ ____ _____ ___

Sodium (Na)-_____ _______ _______ _ _ __

Potassium (K) __ __ _ _ ___ _ ______________

Bicarbonate (HCO3)---_- __ _____________ _ ___

Carbonate (CO3)_ __---_---_ _ _______ ___ ___ _

Sulfate (SO4)_ -_- __- _ - - - __ -

Chloride (Cl)____ ___ _________ _ ____ _ ___ _

Nitrate (NO3) -_- .- .- ._.

Boron (B)_______ _ __ __________ ______ ____ _

Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation at 180° C)_ 

Specific conductance (micromhos per cm at 25° C)__ 

pH_ _____ __ _________________________ _____

Temperature (° F)___ ________ _ ._ .......

Inlet (average 

of samples 21543 

and 22014)

10

.01

156

89

3,090

109

219

0

364

4,980

13

1. 1

8,870 

14, 800

7.7

55

Outlet (average 

of san^nles 20012, 

22531, 22520, 

23262, and 23264)

9.9

.01

141

78

2,820

101

203

0

346

4,580

11

. 9

8,310 

13, 800

7. 7

56

CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS C9

round the filaments of pond scum has already been illustrated in 

gure 1. It is significant here to mention that, of the pond spurns, 

lembers of the genus Spirogyra were not identified in mineral accumuitions. Differences in the type of mineral deposition are thus due to 

he specific functions of the particular aquatic plants or associated 

pmbionts.

Examination of sections of pondweed, pond scum, and stonewort in 

arious stages of incrustation reveals significant differences in types of 

lineral deposition. For pond scum, mineral deposition was entirely 

>y encasement of the filament. Pondweed, in about half the sections 

xamined, had mineral deposition in the lacunae of the leaf cells, and 

aineral encasement of the plant parts originated from several foci. 

Mineral deposition in stonewort was both internal cell deposition and 

ell-wall impregnation; deposition by encasement did not take place, 

because of these differences in the form of mineral deposition, stonevort should retain its external appearance during the incrustation 

>rocess better than the other two aquatic plants. Photomicrographs 

>f typical sections of pond scum, sago pondweed, and stonewort are 

ihown in figure 3. The deposited material appears black in these 

llustrations.

The principal aquatic plants growing in the spring pool at T: mpie 

3ig Spring, and their associated microflora, are listed in table 4.

""ABLE 4. Microbe populations identified as symbiont associates of the more conspicuous submerged aquatic plants growing in Timpie Big Spring, UtaL

7on*picuotu vegetation Microbe population mixed with, mineral

deposit on the plant*

^otamogeton pectinatus L. (sago pondweed). Bacteria

Bacterium precipitatum

Kalin 

Des raids

Closterium sp. 

Diatoms

Melosira sp.

Synedra sp. 

('Hadophora glomerata [L.] Kiitz (pond scum). Blue-green algae

Microcystis sp.

Phormidium sp. 

Green algae

Chlorella sp. 

Diatoms

Cyclotella sp.

Diatoma sp.

Melosira sp.

Navicula sp.

Nitzchia sp. 

(lhara fragilis (Desvaux and Loiseleur-Des- Green algae

longchamps) (stonewort). Botryococcus sp.

Chlamydomonas sp.

Chlorella sp. 

Diatoms

Amphora sp.

Navicula sp.

Synedra sp.
CIO CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

.vrP.,-,

FTQUBE 3. Photomicrographs showing different types of mineral 

deposition in the three aquatic plants illustrated in figure 2. Note 

that in pond scum (top), mineral deposition is encasement. In sago 

pondweed (center), half of the lacunae examined have mineral 

deposits; encasement originates from several foci. In stnnewort 

(bottom), cell-wall impregnation and internal cell deposi 'on are 

dominant; actual encasement is minor. All magnifications 1,000 X.
CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS Cll

The bacterial mineral precipitant Bacterium precipitatum Kalin 

ras abundant among the mineral particles deposted on sago pondreed. This association also was noted earlier for sago pondweed 

rowing hi the Denver greenhouse and hi the irrigation canals at 

^oenix, Ariz.

The nature of the deposit on plants growing in Timpie Big Spring 

pas determined by chemical analysis (table 2). The deposited mateial is rather high hi sodium, but manganese content was below 

letection.

The analyses for Timpie Big Spring showed that the outflowing 

vater had a fairly constant composition, but data on the composi- 

<ion of inflow and outflow are not complete enough to allow computaiion of the rate at which mineral matter is being deposited on plants.

BIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF OCEAN NODULES

In the summer of 1962 one manganese nodule and one phosphorite 

aodule taken from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean were received by 

bhe writer for microbiological study. The manganese nodule was 

submitted by Robert W. Geehan, Regional Director, Region 3, U.S. 

Bureau of Mines, and was described as having been taken from very 

deep Pacific Ocean water in 1953. The phosphorite nodule was subflitted by John L. Mero, Research Engineer, California Institvite ol 

^larine Resources, and was described as having been taken from the 

^orty Mile Bank deposit about 40 miles due west of San Diego, Calif.

Scrapings from both nodules were pulverized using mortar and

 ^estle and then stained with Gram's differential stain (Bryan and 

3ryan, 1942). Gram-positive cocci, Micrococcus spp., were found 

in abundance in the pulverized scrapings from both the manganese 

lodule and the phosphorite nodule.

Mero (1960) discussed the physical and chemical factors possibly 

'esponsible for the formation of manganese and phosphorite nodules 

on the ocean floor. Krauskopf (1955) and ZoBell (1957) suggested 

"nicrobioorganic processes which may play a major role in rodule 

'ormation.

"NTBACELLULAR CONCENTRATION OF MANGANESE BY AQUATIC

PLANTS

The chemistry of manganese is somewhat like that of iron, in that 

1 oth elements are considered to be oxidation-reduction element reguators in protoplasm. Water near the bottom of a lake where oxyTen is depleted and redox potential is low may be rich in manganese

 >nd even richer in dissolved iron. Bottom water of lakes having a 

Tiigh manganese content may have a pronounced opalescent turbid- 

? ty and, sometimes, a rich brown color. When carried to the sur-
C12 CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

face during seasonal turnover, manganese in Japanese lakes becair 

oxidized and insoluble and finally precipitated as a reddish-brov 

powder (Yoshimura, 1931).

Riddick (1958) successfully precipitated manganese in a reserve 

by artificial aeration. Much study has been given to methods < 

removing manganese from water because of the problem produce 

when brown or black precipitates form in water-supply system 

Riddick and others (1958) found that oxidation 1 y chlorination wr 

an effective method of manganese removal.

In studying the Japanese lakes, Yoshimura (1931) did not belie^ 

that the inflowing water would account for the increase of mang* 

nese during stagnation. More recently, Perkins and Novielli (195£ 

found that microbiota are active in leaching manganese from ore 

Hem (1963) investigated various aspects of chemical equilibria an 

rates of manganese oxidation.

An extensive literature has been built up on the utilization c 

manganese by plants. Levanidov (1957) found that when trees i 

a birch forest shed their leaves, approximately 2 pounds of manganer 

per acre is transferred to the ground surface, and that in 30 hour!: 

43-53 percent of the manganese in the leaves is extracted by leaching 

Ljunggren (1951), working in Sweden, found that manganese i 

ash from spruce needles ranged between 1.3 and 7.6 percent, th 

higher values being found in the ash from needles of trees growin 

in old river channels. Gamelin (1937), in his study of the Finale 

found the order of manganese concentration in ary tree to be leave 

!> bark !> twigs !> heartwood ]> fruits ]> sap wood.

Bertrand and Rosenblatt (1921), reporting on the general presenc 

of manganese in the vegetable kingdom, found 0.21-17 milligrams c 

manganese per 100 grams of dry plant parts, tl n. largest amount 

being found in the roots. These investigators irentioned also tha 

fresh-water plants of the lower types (probably algae) contain 10-77 

milligrams per 100 grams of dry plant material. Cannon (I960 

reported 0.48 percent manganese in ash on the bas'^ of published dat 

on all plant types.

A good indicati6n of the optimum amount of manganese whic 

should be in water for plant extraction was reported by Ellis an 

Swaney (1947) in connection with commercial hydroponic growth c 

plants. They suggested that the ion concentration, in parts pe 

million, of manganese should range between 0.25 and 0.50, preferenc 

being given to the lower concentration.

Murata (1939) noted that exchangeable manganese in soil an 

sediment increased and insoluble oxides decrear?,d as a result c 

reducing conditions brought about by the presence of organic mattei 

Riquier (1954) observed that manganese was carried with humi
CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS C13

natter by subterranean waters. Krauskopf (1957) observed that 

tt any pH-Eh condition, manganese compounds are more soluble 

han are those of iron.

Proper evaluation of the effectiveness of aquatic plants in renoving manganese from a lake's water or mud bottom required that 

in adequately diverse assortment of plants be collected, processed, 

malyzed, and categorized as to method of normal manganese exaction from the natural environment. The usual precautions for 

sample collection and preparation were followed, and duplicate samples 

vere analyzed in accordance with methods of analysis designated 

>y the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (1955). Pertinent

 eports have been prepared on the natural occurrence of manganese 

,nd on precautions to be followed in its analysis (Rainwate^ and 

^hatcher, 1960, p. 205-209; Hem, 1959, p. 66-68). The contents of

*ry matter, ash, and manganese for each species tested are presented 

n table 5. In table 5 the plant growth classification is, of course, 

"ot exact. Nevertheless, such a breakdown into rock, land, v^atermergent, water-submersed, soil- and water-rooted aquatic organisms 

dequately categorized groups according to both their manganese 

xtraction method and the amount of manganese absorbed by the 

x!ants.

Earlier, studies of the iron content in the same species of pT ants 

'Oborn, 1960) showed a concentration pattern similar to the one here 

reported for manganese. However; the manganese content of most 

species studied tends to be lower than the iron content. This tendency is particularly notable in the crustose lichens which are very 

high in iron but, as a group, have only about twice as much manganese 

r s land plants. Water-emergent leaf culms and the water-emergent, 

< vater-rooted duckweed were especially notable in having more mangai ese than iron. The highest manganese concentration was 5.41 

milligrams per gram of dry matter in sago pond weed.

Table 6 contains averages of the analyses reported in table 5 for 

types of plant and plant parts tested. The content of manganese, 

H milligrams per gram of dry matter, in these plant types suggests 

the following conclusions:

r. Leafy culms of the hard-stem bullrush and both the narrow-leaved

and broad-leaved cattail (all water-emergent soil-rooted plants)

contain more manganese than comparable parts of American

pondweed, a water-submersed soil-rooted species;

£. the leafy culms of these water-emergent soil-rooted specier had

four tunes as much manganese as the rhizome roots. 

Summaries B, D, and E in table 6 show average manganese content 

cf the whole plant. These data show that the water-submersed 

rquatic plants had the highest manganese content. Manganese
C14 CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

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C16 CHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

TABLE 6. Average analyses for types of plant and plant parts tested

Summary

A. .....

B..... __

C.........

D. .......

E.........

Type of plant

Land.. .................................

Land-water. _________ . .

Water emergent:

.....do... ...............................

Water submersed:

Rock...................................

Rock-soil ... __ .. __________ ..

Land. .. ____ .. __ ________ .

Water emergent:

Soil-roots.. _____________

Water submersed: 

Water-roots _ . _ . .................

Soil-roots. ... ___ _________ .

Water emergent (including land-water 

type). 

Water submersed. ... ................

Water emergent (including land-water 

type). 

Water submersed. __ . _____ ......

Land.. _ ___ ___ .. _ ... ...

Water (including land- water type) ......

Plant part 

tested

Leafy culms .-

- do.-. _

Rhizome-roc ts.

Leafy culms. . 

Whole plant. - 

 ..do.. ......

 -do.... 

.... .do.. ......

 do...... ..

 do........

 do....... _

... ..do.. ......

Leafy culms. . 

 -do-.. ..

Whole plant. - 

-...-do........

... ..do... ..

 ..do... .-

 -do__ ____..

Percentage contents of 

plaTt constituents, in 

weight percent

Dr7 

matter

15 1 

30 4

40 0 

15 0

16 8 

91.4 

24. 4 

19.6 

25.5

6.2

14.8

15.8 

10.4 

36.2

16.8 

16.6

11.2 

64.6 

19.6 

13.1

Ash in 

dry 

matter

16.1 

12.5

8.97 

6.12

10.0 

15.9 

26.0 

12.5 

14.3

17.5 

14.6

21.4 

19.6 

10.4

10.0 

14.9

19.8 

19.9 

12.5 

18.1

Manganese 

mash

0.06 

.08

1.29 

.42

.37

.05 

.08 

.03 

.19

.80 

.66

.72 

.89 

.81

.37

.54

.86 

.07 

.03

.75

Mill 

grams 

man 

gane; 

per jrof 'r 

matt

r

1

1

1

1

1

1

content of the water-emergent aquatic plants was lower than that 

the water-submersed group but much higher than that of the no 

aquatic plants. Rock-soil plants, including folio-^e lichen and bla 

moss, had nearly three times as much manganese as the rock plan' 

represented by the crustose lichens. The results show clearly th 

aquatic plants in general contain much more manganese than ( 

land plants and that the aquatics plants are effective mangane 

accumulators.

The entry of manganese into cells of the living organism requir 

passage through a differentially permeable ce?l wall. The me 

presence of abundant manganese or any other mineral in nutrie 

solutions available to the organism does not necessarily mean f 

unusual buildup or concentration of the particular mineral by th 

organism. Conversely, minerals in water or soils in small amoun 

may be concentrated in the living organisms inhabiting such medi

Since manganese content of aquatic plants, as compared to lar 

plants, is high, it seemed desirable to compare manganese content 

the soils on which these two classes of plants grow. Crested whea 

grass, a land plant, was growing at the Denver Federal Center 

topsoil which had 0.12 percent manganese in its nonvolatile (at 575° ( 

residue. The comparable manganese value for Denver Feder 

Center Lake bottom soil on which a variety of aquatic plants we 

growing was 0.50 percent. The enrichment in manganese of tl
CONCENTRATION BY AQUATIC ORGANISMS C17

ie-bottom soil is probably the result of accumulation of manganese 

r aquatic plants and the continuing addition of dead plant material 

the debris on the lake bottom during the period of the lake's 

istence.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

All water organisms absorb mineral matter from water; some 

lecies, alone or in symbiotic combination, precipitate minerals such 

~, iron or manganese oxide or calcium carbonate. The organisms 

mally include both the microbiological and macrobiological species.

bacterial symbiont tentatively identified as Bacterium precipitatum 

alin commonly occurs as a mineral precipitator in natural water 

t areas where sago pondweed (presumably, other aquatic species 

so) grows. The bacterium was a symbiont associate of sago pondeed growing in the greenhouse in Denver, in the irrigation canals at 

hoenix, Ariz., and in the brackish water at Timpie Big Spring in 

tah.

Microscopic examination of pond scum, sago pondweed, and stoneort, all from Timpie Big Spring, shows different patterns or methods 

F mineral deposition around the plant organism.

The intracellular deposition of manganese in aquatic and marsh 

lants amounts to many times that deposited in comparable parts of 

ind plants.

Crustose lichens are not necessarily high in manganese cor tent, 

'oliose lichen and black moss may contain several times more mananese than the crustose lichens.

It is evident that biochemical factors play a major role in establish - 

ng the chemical composition of natural water.

REFERENCES CITED

Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, 1955, Official methods of analysis:

8th ed., Washington, D.C., The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, 1008 p. 

"^rtrand, Gabriel, and Rosenblatt, M., 1921, General presence of manganese in

the vegetable kingdom: Acad. Sci. [Paris] Compt. Rend., v. 173, p. 333-336. 

"him, J. L., 1956, The ecology of river algae: Bot. Rev., v. 22, no. 5, p. 291-341. 

r-yan, M. A. H., and Bryan, C. G., 1942, Principles and practice of bacteriology:

3d ed., New York, Barnes and Noble, 410 p. 

f'ltcher, R. W., 1933, Studies on the ecology of rivers, I. On the distribution of

macrophytic vegetation in the rivers of Britain: Jour. Ecology, v. 21, p.

58-91. 

Cannon, H. L., 1960, Botanical prospecting for ore deposits: Science, v. 132,

p. 591-598. 

E'Uis, C., and Swaney, M. W., 1947, Soilless growth of plants: 2d ed., revised

and enlarged by Tom Eastwood, 1947, New York, Reinhold Publishing

Corp., 277 p. 

Gamelin, B. M., 1937, Manganese and iron in the Pinales of the province of

Quebec: Contr. lab. ecole hautes etudes com. Montreal, no. 8, 182 p.
CIS CHEMISTRY OP MANGANESE IN NATURAL WATER

Hem, J. D., 1959, Study and interpretation of the che^cal characteristics 

natural water: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Pap^r 1473, 269 p.

 1963, Chemical equilibria and rates of manganese oxidation: U.S. Ge

Survey Water-Supply Paper 1667-A, p. A1-A64. 

Kalinenko, V. 0., 1949, The origin of ferro-manganese concretions: Mik

biologiia, v. 18, no. 6, p. 528-532. 

Klement, A. W., Jr., and Schultz, Vincent, 1962, Terrestrial and freshwa

radioecology A selected bibliography: U.S. Atomic Energy Comm. TI

3910. 

Krauskopf, K. B., 1955, Sedimentary deposits of rare metals: Econ. Geolo

Anniversary Volume 1, p. 411-63.

 1957, Separation of manganese from iron in sedimentary process

Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, v. 12, p. 61-84. 

Langbein, W. B., 1961, Salinity and hydrology of closed lakes: U.S. Geol. Sun

Prof. Paper 412, 20 p. 

Levanidov, L. Y., 1957, Manganese in the geochemical landscape of the Sor

Ural forest-steppe: Uchenye Zapiski Chelabinsk. Otdel. Geograf. Ob*

chestva SSSR, no. 2, p. 137-143. 

Ljunggren, Pontus, 1951, The biogeochemistry of manganese: Geol. For

Stockholm Forh., v. 73, p. 63952.

Mero, J. L., 1960, Minerals on the ocean floor: Sci. Am., v. 203, no. 6, p. 64- 

Murata, K. J., 1939, Exchangeable manganese in river and ocean mud: A

Jour. Sci., v. 237, p. 725-735. 

Oborn, E. T., 1960, Iron content of selected water and land plants: U.S. Ge

Survey Water-Supply Paper 1459-G, p. 191-211. 

Oborn, E. T., and Hem, J. D., 1962, Some effects of the larger types of aqua

vegetation on iron content of water: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Sup'

Paper 1459-1, p. 237-268. 

Oborn, E. T., Moran, W. T., Greene, K. T., and Bart^y, T. R., 1954, We

control investigations on some important aquatic plants which impe

flow of western irrigation waters: U.S. Bur. Reclamation Joint Lab. Re

SI-2, 84 p. 

Perkins, E. C., and Novielli, F., 1958, Bacterial leaching of manganese or

Mining Cong. Jour., v. 44, no. 8, p. 72-73. 

Rainwater, F. H., and Thatcher, L. L., 1960, Methods for collection and anab

of water samples: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1454, 301 p. 

Riddick, T. M., 1958, Forced circulation of large bod^s of water: Am. S

Civil Engineers Proc., v. 84, no. SA4, 21 p. 

Riddick, T. M., Lindsay, N. L., and Tomassi, Antonio, 1958, Iron and mangan

in water supplies: Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., v. 50, p. 688-696. 

Riquier, J., 1954, The formation of ferruginous and manganiferous crust

lateritic regions: Internat. Cong. Soil Sci. Trans., 5th, Leopoldville, 19

v. 4, p. 227-236. 

Timmons, F. L., 1960, Weed control in western irrigation and drainage syster

U.S. Agr. Research Service 34-14, 21 p. 

Ward, H. B., and Whipple, G. C., 1918, Fresh water biology: 1st ed., New Yo

John Wiley & Sons, 1111 p. 

Whipple, G. C., 1927, The microscopy of drinking water: 4th ed., New Yo

John Wiley & Sons, 586 p. 

Yoshimura, Shinkichi, 1931, Seasonal variation of iron and manganese in

water of Taka-suka-numa, Saitama: Japanese Jour. Geol. Geog., v. 8,

269-279. 

ZoBell, C. E., 1957, Marine bacteria: Geol. Soc. America, v. 1, memoir 67,

1035-1040.

U. S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFtCE : 1964 O - 709-537