Abstract
Abstract: Deep sea-research has made significant discoveries thanks to the availability of high resolution bathymetric mapping and vehicles able to reach hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The Pacific continental margin of Costa Rica includes cold seeps that are inhabited by vesicomyid clams, which are expected to accumulate metals. Data on metals from cold seep clams are scarce. Thus, the objective of this study is to present the concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Sb and Zn in samples from seven clams, a mussel, sediment, and a rock, together with clam morphometric data. The bivalves (Archivesica sp.?) were collected in 2005 at a depth of 1 888 m on the Jaco Scar (09o06’ N - 84o50’ W) during DSRV Alvin dive 4 129. Metals were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace (GFAAS). Concentrations are in µg/g dry weight. The order of decreasing maximm concentrations and range in tissues of seven clams, were: Zn (43.4 - 266.3) > Fe (27.2 - 100.0) > Al (5.0 - 69.9) > Cd (0.1 - 12.2) > Sn (2.8 - 9.5) > Cu (4.0 - 7.3) > Mn (1.1 - 2.2) > Pb (0.2 - 0.8) > Ni (0.19 - 0.58 ). The gills had the maximum concentrations of Fe and Al. Maximum concentrations in the only mussel specimen collected, were: Zn (80.4 - gills), Fe (70.6 - gills), Cu (31.0 - gills), Al (26.6 - gills), Sn (4.8 - mantle), Mn (1.7 - mantle), Ni (0.97 - muscle), Pb (0.7 - muscle), Cd (0.57 - gills). The sediment sample had: Al (40 800), Fe (26 500), Mn (72.0), Zn (64.7), Cu (29.4), Ni (19.3), Sn (15.5), Pb (2.98), Cd (0.16). A rock fragment had: Fe (15 650), Al (9 240), Mn (170), Sn (99.5), Zn (36.5), Ni (20.4), Cu (13.4), Pb (1.6), Cd (traces). Clam gills concentrated metals such as Fe and Al. Fe was below the range reported for hydrothermal vent clams, while concentrations of other metals were near the lower range. Fe, Cd, Mn, and Pb in mussel tissues were lower than those in mussels from hydrothermal vent sites, while Cu and Zn were within the range. Metals in the sediment and rock samples appeared very rich in certain metals like Al and Fe and very poor in others, such as Cd. There is a paucity of information on metals and pollutants in clams and other macrofaunal species from Costa Rican cold seeps. Data presented herein must be complemented with future studies conducted jointly on the geochemistry, biology, and management of these deep-sea systems. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(Suppl. 1): S269-S279. Epub 2018 April 01.
Highlights
In 1979 the Marine and Limnology Research Center (CIMAR) was established at the University of Costa Rica
Most of the early Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR) research on the Pacific coast focused on the Gulf of Nicoya estuary, an important fishing ground and the site of the main Pacific port facilities of Costa Rica
Empty shells and whole specimens were deposited in the mollusk collection of the Museum of Zoology, University of Costa Rica (MZUCR)
Summary
In 1979 the Marine and Limnology Research Center (CIMAR) was established at the University of Costa Rica. Collaboration with private deep-sea shrimp trawling vessels has facilitated the study of benthic fauna at depths near 350 m along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (Wehrtmann, Herrera-Correal, Vargas, & Hernáez, 2010). Another cooperative effort allowed access to the Deep See submersible (Undersea Hunter Group) to study the deep water (450 m) at the Isla del Coco National Park, a Pacific site located 300 nautical miles from the Gulf of Nicoya (Cortés & Blum, 2008; Starr, Cortés, Barnes, Green, & Breedy, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
