Premium
Responses of polychaetes to cadmium‐contaminated sediment: Comparison of uptake and behavior
Author(s) -
Olla B. L.,
Estelle V. B.,
Braun G.,
Swartz R. C.,
Studholme A. L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620070707
Subject(s) - polychaete , cadmium , bioaccumulation , biology , sediment , environmental chemistry , dry weight , crustacean , ecology , zoology , chemistry , botany , paleontology , organic chemistry
The burrowing behavior of three polychaete species, Nereis virens Sars, Glycera dibranchiata Ehlers and Nephtys caeca Fabricius, was examined after variable exposure periods (7, 14, 21 and 28 d) to sediment contaminated with a cadmium concentration of about 40 mg kg −1 (dry weight). Most comparisons of burrowing times and rates between exposed and unexposed worms were not statistically significant. Those that were significant were relatively minor, e.g., a maximum reduction in burrowing time of 6.3 s, and probably would have little ecological relevance. The feeding behavior of G. dibranchiata on the polychaete Euzonus mucronata was not affected by a 28‐d exposure to cadmium‐contaminated sediment. Uptake of cadmium varied among the three species. After 28 d of exposure, cadmium body burdens were highest for N. virens (319mg kg −1 ), intermediate for G. dibranchiata (120 mg kg −1 ) and lowest for N. caeca (39 mg kg −1 ). This potential for bioaccumulation and survival in cadmium‐contaminated sediment indicates that some polychaete species like N. virens may be an amplified source of cadmium for their crustacean, fish and avian predators.