Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS39 Trace Metal Limitation of Biogeochemistry

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 3:00:00 PM

Location: Dona Ana

Fisher, N, S, Marine Sciences Research Center, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, USA, nfisher@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Baines, S, B, Marine Sciences Research Center, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, USA, sbaines@ms.cc.sunysb.edu

BIOKINETIC AND BIOENERGETIC CONSTRAINTS ON THE TRACE ELEMENT CONTENT OF JUVENILE STRIPED BASS

We assessed the assimilation of Se, Cd, Zn, Ag and Am from food by larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Brine shrimp nauplii fed radiolabeled algae were fed to 2-4 cm striped bass and the radioactivity in the fish was monitored for two weeks. The assimilation efficiency (AE) of Se, Zn, Cd, Ag, and Am averaged 36%, 24%, 22%, 18% and 6%, respectively and efflux rates (k[ef]) for the same elements were 9%, 1%, 5%, 5%, and 5% d-1. AE and k[ef] did not differ between 2 and 4 cm fish. Except for Zn, the kef values are higher than observed for marine and freshwater bivalves of similar size. Se and Cd were highly concentrated in the gut. Using a biokinetic model for assessing metal bioaccumulation in animals, our estimates of AE and k[ef] lead to predictions of steady-state Se tissue concentrations that agree well with independent measurements of San Francisco Bay striped bass. Relatively small shifts in Se content of prey and in bioenergetic parameters may cause Se tissue contents of juvenile striped bass to exceed toxic thresholds.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks