Bioaccumulation of trace metals in Greenland Sea copepod and amphipod collectives on board ship: verification of toxicokinetic model parameters

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in mesozooplankton collectives ( Calanus hyperboreus, Themisto abyssorum and T. libellula) was investigated during a cruise of RV “Polarstern” to the Greenland Sea. The main goal was to provide further information on accumulation strategies of the organisms tested and to verify previously reported toxicokinetic models as a predictive tool. Our results indicate a net accumulation strategy for water born Cu, Pb and Zn (within the given experimental conditions), and two compartment models were successfully verified up to exposure levels of 12–36 μg Pb l −1, 120–240 μg Cu l −1 and 400–1200 μg Zn l −1. Conversely, Cd levels did not increase significantly in the organisms tested upon external Cd exposure. Regarding copepods this may be due to their life-history status by the end of the Arctic winter, while amphipods would need considerable uptake in an extremely short period to show any significant increase above the high observed Cd background body concentrations. Thus, the Zooplankton collectives investigated may be regarded as potentially suitable biomonitors of Cu, Pb and Zn, but probably not of Cd.