Trace Metals in Mesozooplankton of the North Sea: Concentrations in Different Taxa and Preliminary Results on Bioaccumulation in Copepod Collectives ( Calanus finmarchicus/C. helgolandicus)

• Published in: Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie und Hydrographie
• Main Authors: Zauke, Gerd‐Peter, Krause, Michael, Weber, Adolf
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1996
• Subjects: Calanus finmarchicus; Copepods
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19960810115; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Firoh.19960810115; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/iroh.19960810115

Abstract Trace metals (Cd, Cu, Zp, Pb, Ni) were determined in different zooplankton taxa to assess their role in the biogeochemical cycle in the North Sea. Results of semi‐static bioaccumulation experiments on board ship using collectives of Calanus finmarchicus/C. helgolandicus were in agreement with a net accumulation strategy, thus meeting an inevitable precondition for their utilization as biomonitors. Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in field samples of zooplankton displayed a pronounced variability between taxa, with Cd ranging from 0.13 mg kg‐1 (d.w.) in fish larvae to 5I mg kg‐1 in hyperiid amphipods. Almost no information is available about metal requirements of copepods. However, most of our and worldwide reported Cu concentrations in calanoid copepods (6‐22 mg kg −1 ) coincided with estimates of enzymatic requirements of decapod crustaceans. Cd levels in Calanus collectives increased significantly from 0.68 mg kg‐1 in the German Bight to 11 mg kg −1 at some stations around Scotland above 59° N, in line with literature data reported for benthic decapod crustaceans.