Abstract
Specimens of the oceanic decapod Systellaspis debilis were collected from six sites in the East Atlantic Ocean between 1970 and 1984, and were analysed for Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Cd. The data confirm that there are small but significant differences in mean metal concentrations from some sites which showed no obvious pattern in relation to geographic location of the samples. As a result, ranges of site means are quoted as “baseline” levels for each metal (μg g-1 dry wt): 2.3 to 2.9 μg Mn g-1, 31.2 to 77.8 μg Fe g-1, 25.9 to 83.4 μg Cu g-1, 41.9 to 92.9 μgZn g-1, 11.1 to 31.8 μg Cd g-1. The concentration of cadmium in S. debilis from all sites was raised relative to cadmium concentrations reported for coastal decapods, perhaps as a result of dietary enrichment. Metal accumulation may provide useful information for understanding the complex feeding behaviour of many oceanic animals.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Abdullah, M. I. and L. G. Royle: A study of the dissolved and particulate trace elements in the Bristol Channel. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 54, 581–597 (1974)
Borg, H., A. Edin, K. Holm and E. Skold: Determination of metals in fish livers by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Wat. Res. 15, 1291–1295 (1981)
Bruland, K. W.: Trace elements in seawater. In: Chemical oceanography, pp 157–220. Ed. by J. P. Riley and R. Chester. London: Academic Press 1983
Bryan, G. W.: Zinc regulation in the lobster Homarus vulgaris. I. Tissue zinc and copper concentrations. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 44, 549–563 (1964)
Bryan, G. W.: The metabolism of Zn and 65Sn in crabs, lobsters and freshwater crayfish. In: Radioecological concentration processes. Proceedings of an international symposium, Stockholm, pp 1005–1016. Ed. by B. Aberg and F. P. Hurrgate. New York: Pergamon Press 1966
Bryan, G. W.: Zinc regulation in the freshwater crayfish (including some comparative copper analyses). J. exp. Biol. 46, 281–296 (1967)
Bryan, G. W.: Concentrations of zinc and copper in the tissue of decapod crustaceans. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 48, 303–321 (1968)
Bryan, G. W.: The effects of heavy metals (other than mercury) on marine and estuarine organisms. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B). 177, 389–410 (1971)
Bryan, G. W.: Bioaccumulation of marine pollutants. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 286, 483–505 (1979)
Bryan, G. W. and E. Ward: The absorption and loss of radioactive and non-radioactive manganese by the lobster Homarus vulgaris. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 45, 65–95 (1965)
Dethlefsen, V.: Uptake, retention and loss of cadmium by brown shrimp (Crangon crangon). Meeresforsch. Rep. mar. Res. 26, 137–152 (1978). (Ber. dt. wiss. Kommn Meeresforsch.)
Eisler, R.: Crustacea. In: Trace metal concentrations in marine organisms, pp 326–401. New York: Pergamon Press 1981
Foxton, P.: The vertical distribution of pelagic decapods (Crustacea: Natantia) collected on the SOND cruise 1965. I. The Coridea. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 50, 939–960 (1970)
Jennings, J. R. and P. S. Rainbow: Studies on the uptake of cadmium by the crab Carcinus maenas in the laboratory. I. Accumulation from seawater and a food source. Mar. Biol. 50, 131–139 (1979)
Jones, P. G. W. and P. F. Jefferies: The distribution of selected trace metals in United Kingdom shelf waters and the North Atlantic. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sciences 40 (Suppl. 2), 111–123 (1983)
Leatherland, T. M., J. D. Burton, F. Culkin, M. J. McCartney and R. J. Morris: Concentrations of some trace metals in pelagic organisms and of mercury in northeast Atlantic Ocean water. Deep-Sea Res. 20, 679–685 (1973)
Martin, J.-L. M.: Metals in Cancer irroratus (Crustacea: Decapoda): concentrations, concentration factors, discrimination factors, correlations. Mar. Biol. 28, 245–251 (1974)
Martin, J.-L. M. and G. A. Knauer: The elemental composition of plankton. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 37, 1639–1653 (1973)
Peden, J. D., J. H. Crothers, C. E. Waterfall and J. Beasley: Heavy metals in Somerset marine organisms. Mar. Pollut Bull. 4, 7–10 (1973)
Phillips, P. J. H.: Quantitative aquatic biological indicators, 488 pp. Barking: Applied Science Publishers 1980
Roe, H. S. J.: The diel migrations and distributions within a mesopelagic community in the north east Atlantic. 2. Vertical migration and feeding of mysids and decapod Crustacea. Prog. Oceanogr. 13, 269–318 (1984)
Sokal, R. R. and F. J. Rohlf: Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 776 pp. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Co. 1969
White, S. L. and P. S. Rainbow: Regulation and accumulation of copper, zinc and cadmium by the shrimp Palaemon elegans. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 8, 95–101 (1982)
White, S. L. and P. S. Rainbow: Regulation of zinc by Palaemon elegans (Crustacea, Decapoda): zinc fluxes and effects of temperature, zinc concentration and moulting. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 16, 135–146 (1984a)
White, S. L. and P. S. Rainbow: Zinc flux in Palaemon elegans (Crustacea, Decapoda): moulting, individual variation and tissue distribution. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser 19, 153–166 (1984b)
Willcocks, A.: Trace metal concentrations in natural populations of the Atlantic mesopelagic decapod, Systellaspis debilis. 66 pp. MSc dissertation, University of Southampton 1984
Wright, D. A.: Heavy metals in animals from the North East coast. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 7, 36–38 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ridout, P.S., Willcocks, A.D., Morris, R.J. et al. Concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Cd in the mesopelagic decapod Systellaspis debilis from the East Atlantic Ocean. Mar. Biol. 87, 285–288 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397807
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397807