Abstract
The dynamics of 65Zn specific activity and total zinc in benthic fishes on the outer continental shelf off central Oregon (USA) were examined. A differential equation that relates specific activity of 65Zn in fish to that in fish food was used to estimate α's (zinc uptake-rate coefficients) for 3 different size classes of the flounder Lyopsetta exillis, a small predator of pelagic Crustacea, and for 1 size class of the flounder Microstromus pacificus, a large predator of infauna. The α's obtained for L. exilis were very close to the α obtained in the laboratory for the flounder Pleuronectes platessa. The α estimated for M. pacificus was very much smaller than the α's estimated for the other two species. A model that related α to predicted weight-specific feeding rates suggested that the smaller α of M. pacificus was caused by a low absorption efficiency of zinc from its prey. Sensitivity studies indicated that time histories of specific activity in the fishes are not sensitive to moderate changes in α. The negative correlation between specific activity in the diet and in the weight of L. exilis was the major cause of the negative correlative between specific activity and weight in this species. In M. pacificus, where composition of diet does not vary with size, specific activity was independent of weight. The time history of specific activity in M. pacificus was very much lower than those in the different size classes of L. exilis, a result caused mainly by the much lower specific activity of the prey of M. pacificus. Differences in specific activity among other benthic fishes were also correlated with differences in specific activity of their prey. The food-web dynamics responsible for these patterns are discussed. Variation in total zinc concentrations among species was small. Within species of flounder, zinc concentration varied only slightly or not at all with weight.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Baptist, J.P. and C.L. Lewis: Transfer of 65Zn and 51Cr through an estuarine food chain. Proc. 2nd natn. Symp. Radioecol. (Ann Arbor, 1967) 2, 420–430 (1969). (Copies available from: National Technical Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Va. 22151, USA; Ref. USAEC-CONF-670503)
Barnes, C.A. and M.C. Gross: Distribution at sea of Columbia River water and its load of radionuclides. In: Disposal of radioactive wastes into seas, oceans, and surface waters, pp 291–302. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency 1966
Bevington, P.R.: Data reduction and error analysis for the physical sciences, 336 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill 1969
Boyden, C.R.: Trace element content and body size in molluscs. Nature, Lond. 251, 311–313 (1974)
Carey, A.G., Jr.: Zinc-65 in echinoderms and sediments in the marine environment off Oregon. Proc. 2nd natn. Symp. Radioecol. (Ann Arbor, 1967) 2, 380–388 (1969). (Copies available from: National Technical Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Va. 22151, USA; Ref. USAEC-COF-670503)
— and N. Cutshall: Zinc-65 specific activities from Oregon and Washington continental shelf sediments and benthic invertebrate infauna. In: Radioactive contamination of the marine environment, pp 287–305. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency 1973
Davis, G.E. and C.E. Warren: Estimation of food consumption rates. In: Methods for assessment of fish production in fresh waters, pp 204–225. Ed. by W.E. Ricker. Oxford and Edinburgn: Blackwell Scientific Publications 1968
Ege, R. and A. Krogh: On the relation between the temperature and the respiratory exchange in fishes. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr. 7, 48–55 (1914)
Fowler, S.W., L.F. Small and J.M. Dean: Experimental studies on elimination of zinc-65, cesium-137 and cerium-144 by euphausiids. Mar. Biol. 8, 224–231 (1971)
Frederick, L.C.: Dispersion of the Columbia River plume based on radioactivity measurements, 134 pp. Ph.D. thesis, Oregon State University 1967
Hagerman, F.B.: The biology of the Dover sole Microstomus pacificus. Calif. Fish Game Fish. Bull. 85, 1–48 (1952)
Kolehmainen, S.E.: Balances of 137Cs, stable cesium and potassium of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Raf.) and other fish in White Oak Lake. Hlth Phys. 23, 301–315 (1972)
Lasker, R.: Feeding, growth, respiration, and carbon utilization of a euphausiid crustacean. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 23, 1291–1317 (1966)
Mann, K.H.: Cropping the food supply. In: The biological basis of freshwater fish production, pp 243–257. Ed. by S.D. Gerking. Oxford and Edinburgh: Slackwell Scientific Publications 1967
National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council: Disposal of radioactive waste into Pacific coastal waters. Publs natn. Res. Coun., Wash. 985, 1–87 (1962)
Osterberg, C.L., J. Pattullo and W. Pearcy: Zinc-65 in euphausiids as related to Columbia River water off the Oregon coast. Limnol. Oceanogr. 9, 249–257 (1964)
Paloheimo, J.E. and L.M. Dickle: Food and growth of fishes. II. Effects of food and temperature on the relation between metabolism and body weight. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 23, 869–908 (1966)
Pearcy, W.G.: Vertical migration of the ocean shrimp, Pandalus jordani: a feeding and dispersal mechanism. Calif. Fish Game 56, 125–129 (1970)
— and H.A. Vanderploeg: Radioecology of benthic fishes off Oregon. In: Radioactive contamination of the marine environment, pp 245–261. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency 1973
Pentreath, R.J.: The roles of food and water in the accumulation of radionuclides by marine teleost and elasmobranch fish. In: Radioactive contamination of the marine environment, pp 421–436. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency 1973a
—: The accumulation and retention of 65Zn and 54Mn by the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 12, 1–18 (1973b)
—: Some further studies on the accumulation and retention of 65Zn and 54Mn by the plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 21, 179–189 (1976)
Renfro, W.C. and G. Benayoun: Sediment-worm interaction: transer of 65Zn from marine silt by the polychaete Nereis diversicolor. In: Radioecology and energy resources, pp 250–255. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross 1976
Vanderploeg, H.A.: Rate of zinc uptake by Dover sole in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: preliminary model and analysis. Proc. 3rd natn. Symp. Radioecol. (Oak Ridge, 1971) 3, 840–848 (1973a). (Copies available from: National Technical Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Va. 22151, USA; Ref. USAEC-CONF-710501-P2)
Vanderploeg, H.A.: The dynamics of 65Zn in benthic fishes and their prey off Oregon, 104 pp. Ph.D. thesis, Oregon State University 1973b
— and R.S. Booth: Interpretation of biologicalrate coefficients derived from radionuclide content, radionuclide concentration and specific activity experiments. Hlth Phys. 31 (July), 57–59 (1976)
—— and F.H. Clark: A specific activity and concentration model applied to cesium movement in an oligotrophic lake. ERDA (Environmental Research and Development Administration) Symp. Ser. 1975, 142–165 (1975). (Copies available from: National Technical Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Va. 22151, USA; Ref. ERDA-CONF-740523)
———: A specific activity and concentration model applied to cesium-137 movement in a eutrophic lake. In: Radioecology and energy resources, pp 164–177. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross 1976
Vanderploeg, H.A. and R.S. Booth and F.H. Clark and W.G. Pearcy: Spatial patterns of zinc-65 specific activity in pelagic and benthic food webs on the continental shelf off Oregon and Washington (In preparation)
Westrheim, S.J. and A.R. Morgan: Results from tagging a spawning stock of Dover sole Microstomus pacificus. Bull. Pacif. mar. Fish. Commn 6, 14–21 (1963)
Winberg, G.G.: Rate of metabolism and food requirements of fishes. [In Russ.]. Nauch. Trudy belorussk. gos. Univ. V.I. Lenina (Minsk) 1–235 (1956). [Transl. Fish. Res. Bd Can. No. 194]
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vanderploeg, H.A. Dynamics of zinc-65 specific activity and total zinc in benthic fishes on the outer continental shelf off Central Oregon. Mar. Biol. 52, 259–272 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398140
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398140