Comparison of metal concentrations in the fore and hindguts of the crayfish Cambarus bartoni and Orconectes virilis and implications regarding metal absorption efficiencies

Abstract

The anthropogenic perturbation of trace metal cycle has resulted in increased emission of trace metals into the atmosphere. This has resulted in the elevation of trace metals in recently deposited sediments of lakes far removed from the original source. Benthic invertebrates, such as crayfish, live and feed directly on recently deposited sediments and are in direct contact with metals both of natural and anthropogenic origin. Crayfish may be good indicators of sediment-metal levels as they appear to retain tissue-metal concentrations that are correlated to environmental levels (e.g., for Cu, Zn and Fe). However, it is suggested that as crayfish homeostatically control tissue elemental concentrations they, in fact, cannot be used as indicators of environmental metal level. One aspect often missing is a comparison of how efficiently crayfish can absorb the element from its food under different environmental conditions. Differences in the ability of the crayfish to absorb elements from food will in turn influence ultimate tissue concentrations. One possible way to assess the importance of food as a source of elemental contamination is through gut content analysis. For essential elements not in excess (i.e., uncontaminated sites), foregut concentrations should either be equal to or greater than hindgut concentrations. Alternatively, essentialmore » elements in excess (i.e., from contaminated sites) or non-essential elements such as Cd, foregut elemental concentrations should be less than hindgut. This study aims at determining the importance of food as a source of essential (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Mg and Ca) and non-essential elements (Al, Cd) in crayfish sampled from two metal and acid stressed-sites versus two non-contaminated reference sites. 22 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.« less