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Heavy metal bioaccumulation and Fulton’s K condition indices in Scylla serrata (Forskål) in relation to sex

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Abstract

This article discusses the temporal variation and stress of heavy metal accumulation in Scylla serrata (Forskål) with reference to sexes. Cd and Sn were undetected (i.e., below the method detection limits of 0.001 Cd mg/kg wet weight and 0.005 Sn mg/kg) in both sexes. However, Scylla serrata (Forskål) consistently exhibited high accumulation of As, Pb, Hg and Zn. Zn was the most abundant metal in both sexes. (Average Zn content in males and females was around 40.76 ± 2.51 and 45.10 ± 2.24 mg/kg wet weight, respectively.) Pb and Hg levels exceeded EU and Sri Lankan admissible limits on many occasions (0.02 Pb mg/kg wet weight and 0.5 Hg mg/kg wet weight). Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of As and Zn from the water > 1 in both sexes indicating effective direct uptake from the water. However, temporal variation of Zn and Hg and the interaction between temporal variation of these metals and the two sexes were insignificant (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, temporal variation of Pb (P < 0.008) and As (P < 0.05) and the interaction between temporal variation and gender were significant with females exhibiting higher BCFs (As P = 0.002, and Pb P = 0.003). However, there was no statistical significance (P = 0.355) in the Fulton’s K condition index in relation to gender despite females exhibiting higher As and Pb levels. (Highest As and Pb levels in females were around 5.9 As mg/kg wet weight and 0.12 Pb mg/kg wet weight.) Therefore, Fulton’s K condition index is not a reliable indicator regarding stress in crabs due to heavy metal accumulation.

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Notes

  1. Sri Lanka follows the EU Regulations and the Sri Lanka Export Regulation of Fish (fish product export regulation No. 1528/7, 2007 in Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Act, No. 2 of 1996) with reference to acceptable levels of metals in fish and other aquatic food sources.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a Grant from the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (NSF Grant No. NSF/SCH/2015/05). We thank the two anonymous reviewers and Prof. Majid Abbaspour for their useful comments and suggestions that enabled us to drastically improve our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Eastern University, Vantharumoolai, Chenkalady, Sri Lanka

    J. M. Harris & P. Vinobaba

  2. No. 16, Samudra Sanna Road, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka

    R. K. A. Kularatne

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Hapugala, Galle, Sri Lanka

    C. E. Kankanamge

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  1. J. M. Harris
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  2. P. Vinobaba
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  3. R. K. A. Kularatne
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  4. C. E. Kankanamge
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Correspondence to J. M. Harris.

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Harris, J.M., Vinobaba, P., Kularatne, R.K.A. et al. Heavy metal bioaccumulation and Fulton’s K condition indices in Scylla serrata (Forskål) in relation to sex. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 201–210 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1653-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1653-7

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