Trophic ecology drives trace element concentrations in the Antarctic octopod community

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Lischka, Alexandra, Bustamante, P, Braid, H, Piatkowski, Uwe, Lacoue-Labarthe, T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctic Ocean; Elephant Island; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/51750/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/51750/1/Lischka%20etal%20SciTotalEnvironm%20768%20-%202021%20heavy%20metals%20in%20Ant%20octopods.pdf; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/51750/2/Lischka%20et%20al%202021%20STOTEN.pdf; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969720379043?via%3Dihub; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144373

Highlights: • Stable isotope values vary among species with Adelieledone polymorpha, having highest values. • Variations in trace element concentrations suggest different feeding ecology. • Antarctic incirrate octopods are likely vectors of As, Cd and Hg to their predators. • Sex influences Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn concentrations. Despite the Antarctic Ocean being considered a pristine environment, elevated trace element concentrations have been reported in many marine organisms. The Antarctic Ocean is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which can also affect the bioaccumulation of trace element concentrations in biota. While Antarctic octopods are key components of the regional food webs as prey for a variety of predators (e.g., seals, fish, and seabirds), their contamination state by trace elements remains largely unknown. This study investigated the trace element concentrations in relation to the trophic ecology in Antarctic octopods. Stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) and trace element concentrations (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn) were measured in eight different species (Adelieledone polymorpha, Pareledone aequipapillae, P. albimaculata, P. aurata, P. charcoti, P. cornuta, P. felix, and P. turqueti) sampled near Elephant Island, close to the Antarctic Peninsula. Stable isotopes of δ15N varied among species, with significant differences between A. polymorpha and P. aurata suggesting potential niche segregation. Trace element concentrations also differed among species and with sampling depth, which likely reflects their trophic ecology. The data presented in this study provides the first insight into the trace element concentrations for these endemic octopods in this vulnerable habitat and their stable isotope values