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Accumulation of vanadium, manganese, and nickel in Antarctic tunicates

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Abstract

The vanadium, manganese, and nickel contents of nine species of Antarctic tunicates were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Antarctic species Distaplia cylindrica contained significantly more vanadium (1,445 ppm dry weight) than the other Antarctic tunicates investigated. Antarctic Ascidia sp. was also shown to accumulate considerable amounts of vanadium (567 ppm). Low levels of bioaccumulated manganese (<50 ppm) and nickel (<15 ppm) were observed in all tunicates examined.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to a number of colleagues for collecting specimens including K. Koplovitz, M. Amsler, A. Maschek, C. Aumack, P. Bucolo, and J. Zamzow. We would like to acknowledge the staff of Raytheon Polar Services Company and the Antarctic Support Services of the National Science Foundation for their logistical support. This research was facilitated by funding from the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation (OPP-0442769 and ANT-0838773 to CDA and JBM, OPP-0442857 and ANT-0838776 to B.J.B).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Diversity in Drug Design, Discovery and Delivery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    Matthew D. Lebar, Lisha Luttenton & Bill J. Baker

  2. Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    James B. McClintock & Charles D. Amsler

Authors
  1. Matthew D. Lebar
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  2. Lisha Luttenton
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  3. James B. McClintock
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  4. Charles D. Amsler
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  5. Bill J. Baker
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Correspondence to Bill J. Baker.

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Lebar, M.D., Luttenton, L., McClintock, J.B. et al. Accumulation of vanadium, manganese, and nickel in Antarctic tunicates. Polar Biol 34, 587–590 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0902-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0902-0

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