| Summary: | This paper investigates the processes influencing the concentrations of thirteen heavy metals (Ag, AI, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb Ti, Zn) in four benthic invertebrate species collected from Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctica. The species stu,died included the patellid limpet Nacella concinna, the fiIterfeeding holothurian Heterocucumis steineni, the nemertean Parborlasia corrugatus and an unidentified terebellid polychaete. Heavy metal concentrations in the latter three species showed elevated intraspecific variability, making these organisms unsuitable biomonitors. For the majority of metals in N. concinna tissues, significantly higher concentrations were found at Rothera in comparison to the reference location. In particular, highest levels of Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Co were observed near the end of the runway. However, metal concentrations in surface sediments near the runway and in limpet tissues across the study area were typical of unpolluted temperate and Antarctic regions, suggesting little anthropogenic impact. The trend of increasing metal concentrations observed towards the Rothera Station is attributed to a lithogenic influence via meltwater runoff during the austral summer, as evidenced by the strong correlations between Co, Cu, Pb and Mn with Fe in N. concinna tissues. The results indicate that the patellid limpet N .concinna is a useful and sensitive heavy metal biomonitor in Antarctic coastal waters. Key words: Antarctic Research Stations, biomonitors, glacial runoff, trace elements, surface sediment FacuIty of Science, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, U.K.
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