Cadmium bioaccumulates after acute exposure but has no effect on locomotion or shelter-seeking behaviour in the invasive green shore crab (Carcinus maenas).

Tamzin A Blewett,Dustin Newton,Greg G Goss,Daniel S Alessi,Trevor J Hamilton,Shannon L Flynn

doi:10.1093/conphys/cox057

Tamzin A Blewett, Dustin Newton + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cox057

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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd2+) is a non-essential metal ubiquitous in the environment due to industrial processes. However, little is known regarding the ability of Cd2+ to impact the behaviour of aquatic animals in receiving environments. Green shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) were exposed to waterborne Cd2+ [control (no Cd2+), low (0.30 μmol/L), medium (3.3 μmol/L) and high (63 μmol/L)], for 24 h, then, crabs were placed in an open field and shelter test to determine potential changes in locomotion and preference for shelter. Tissues (gill, haemolymph, stomatogastric ganglion) were taken for bioaccumulation analysis of Cd2+ and ion content. Behavioural testing was recorded with a motion-tracking software system and showed no impact of Cd2+ on any variable in either of the tests used. All three tissues accumulated Cd2+ in a concentration-dependent manner. Crabs exposed to low Cd2+ showed a small but significant decrease in haemolymph Ca2+, however, this effect was not present at higher Cd2+ exposures. Overall, the results indicate that short-term Cd2+ exposure, and the resulting Cd2+ accumulation, had no effect on locomotor and anxiety-related behaviour of green shore crabs.

Highlights

Cadmium (Cd2+) is a non-essential metal with a wide range of industrial uses, including the production of batteries, pigments, stabilizers and some alloys (ICA, 2000)
The current study aimed to examine the concentrationdependent effects of Cd2+ on behaviour of the model estuarine species, C. maenas
Male green shore crabs (C. maenas) (n = 80; mean mass = 13.5 ± 0.7 g; mean carapace width = 3.9 ± 0.1 cm) were wild caught via baited traps under a license from Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Summary

Introduction

Cadmium (Cd2+) is a non-essential metal with a wide range of industrial uses, including the production of batteries, pigments, stabilizers and some alloys (ICA, 2000). Occurring Cd2+ can be enriched through processes such as mining and through the manufacture of fertilizers (Chandurvelan, et al, 2012). Processes like smelting, mining and agricultural run-off can lead to enhanced concentrations of Cd2+ in aquatic settings. Estuarine and marine coastal aquatic environments are considered sinks for metals coming from both natural and anthropogenic sources (Henry et al, 2012)

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