, metal-bearing fine
sediment is a greater source of biologically available metals relative
to the dissolved fraction. Given that fine-grained suspended sediment
accumulates and concentrates metals (Forstner and Salomons, 1980;
Reichelt-Brushett and Jones, 1994), the silt-size sediment in CH may
provide an important transport medium for transferring heavy metals
to corals. Biogeochemical processes can also play a role, for example
elevated coral Zn and Fe levels at CH relative to the sediment may reflect
trophic transfer of nutrients through feeding, where zooplankton
uptake may be a significant source of metal enrichment (