Correspondence:
234 Th is considered a valuable and useful tracer of oceanic biogeochemical processes occurring over timescales of days to weeks. While the geochemical behaviour of this radionuclide in the marine environment is well known, relatively few studies have explored its interactions with biota. To better...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.321.1261 http://www.geol.sc.edu/cbnelson/Thmeeting/Papers/Rodriguez Bio.pdf |
| Summary: | 234 Th is considered a valuable and useful tracer of oceanic biogeochemical processes occurring over timescales of days to weeks. While the geochemical behaviour of this radionuclide in the marine environment is well known, relatively few studies have explored its interactions with biota. To better understand biologically related 234 Th dynamics, bioaccumulation of 234 Th from the dissolved phase and its subsequent retention in small Antarctic crustaceans (the isopod Natatolana oculata and the amphipods Orchomenella ultima and Uristes stebbingi) was determined under controlled laboratory conditions. Despite morphological and behavioural differences, all three species displayed comparable concentration factors (CF ≥ 80) and very long retention of 234 Th (biological half-life not significantly different from infinity). From 16 % (isopod) to 49 % (both amphipods) of accumulated 234 Th was associated with the animal soft parts, which is substantial when compared with reported values for other particle-reactive transuranic elements. The relevance of zooplankton as a potential modulator of 234 Th distribution in |
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