Trace metal concentrations in menhaden larvae Brevoortia patronus from the northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Whole body concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe were measured in individual gulf menhaden larvae, Brevoortia patronus (11–18 mm standard length) from coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico as part of a continuing project investigating the mechanisms of biological interaction and effect of trace metals in marine food webs. Larvae were collected at three different times between February 1981 and 1982 at two locations, offshore of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River and offshore of Galveston, Texas. Fish at the Mississippi location had significantly ( P≤0·05) greater concentrations of all metals compared with those from the Galveston location. No significant ( P>0·05) differences in concentration were detected among the three sampling periods. Menhaden larvae had metal conentrations comparabe to other species of larval fish and zooplankton from the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal waters. Differences in metal concentrations in larvae from the two locations appear to be a subtle response of the fish to differences in the trace metal chemistries of the two coastal areas. Processes influencing metal concentrations are discussed.