Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Trace metals in barnacles: the significance of trophic transfer

  • Published:
Science in China Series C: Life Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Barnacles have very high accumulated trace metal body concentrations that vary with local trace metal bioavailabilities and represent integrated measures of the supply of bioavailable metals. Pioneering work in Chinese waters in Hong Kong highlighted the potential value of barnacles (particularlyBalanus amphitrite) as trace metal biomonitors in coastal waters, identifying differences in local trace metal bioavailabilities over space and time. Work in Hong Kong has also shown that although barnacles have very high rates of trace metal uptake from solution, they also have very high trace metal assimilation efficiencies from the diet. High assimilation efficiencies coupled with high ingestion rates ensure that trophic uptake is by far the dominant trace metal uptake route in barnacles, as verified for cadmium and zinc. Kinetic modelling has shown that low efflux rate constants and high uptake rates from the diet combine to bring about accumulated trace metal concentrations in barnacles that are amongst the highest known in marine invertebrates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cullen, J. T., Lane, T. W., Morel, F. M. M. et al., Modulation of cadmium uptake in phytoplankton by seawater CO2 concentration, Nature, 1999, 402: 165–167.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rainbow, P. S., Trace metal concentrations in aquatic invertebrates: why and so what? Environmental Pollution, 2002, 120: 497–507.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rainbow, P. S., Phylogeny of trace metal accumulation in crustaceans, in Metal Metabolism in Aquatic Environments, Langston, W. J., Bebianno, M. eds., London: Chapman and Hall, 1998, 285–319.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Eisler, R., Trace Metal Concentrations in Marine Organisms, Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Phillips, D. J. H., Rainbow, P. S., Biomonitoring of Trace Aquatic Contaminants, 2nd ed., London: Chapman and Hall, 1994, 1–371.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rainbow, P. S., Biomonitoring of heavy metal availability in the marine environment, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 1995, 31: 183–192.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Phillips, D. J. H., The rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata as an indicator of trace metals in Hong Kong, Marine Biology, 1979, 53: 353–360.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Phillips, D. J. H., Organochlorines and trace metals in green-lipped mussels Perna viridis from Hong Kong waters: a test of indicator ability, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1985, 21: 251–258.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chan, H. M., Rainbow, P. S., Phillips, D. J. H., Barnacles and mussels as monitors of trace metal bio-availability in Hong Kong waters The marine flora and fauna of Hong Kong and southern China II, in Proceedings of the Second International Marine Biological Workshop: The marine flora and fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, Hong Kong, Morton, B. ed., Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 1990, 1239–1268.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Phillips, D. J. H., Yim, W. W.-S., A comparative evaluation of oysters, mussels and sediments as indicators of trace metals in Hong Kong waters, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1981, 6: 285–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Phillips, D. J. H., Rainbow, P. S., Barnacles and mussels as biomonitors of trace elements: a comparative study, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1988, 49: 83–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Morton, B., Wu, R. S. S., The hydrology of the coastal waters of Hong Kong, Environmental Research, 1975, 10: 319–347.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rainbow, P. S., Heavy metals in barnacles, in Barnacle Biology, Southward, A. J., ed., Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema, 1987, 405–417.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Blackmore, G., Biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution in Hong Kong coastal waters, using barnacles, Asian Marine Biology, 1996, 13: 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Blackmore, G., Temporal and spatial biomonitoring of heavy metals in Hong Kong coastal waters using Tetraclita squamosa, Environmental Pollution, 1999, 106: 273–283.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Blackmore, G., Rainbow, P. S., Biomonitoring of spatial and temporal patterns of trace metal bioavailabilities in Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong using barnacles and mussels, in Forecasting the Environmental Fate and Effects of Chemicals, Rainbow, P. S., Hopkin, S. P., Crane, M., eds., Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2001, 191–209.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rainbow, P. S., Huang, Z.-G., Yan, S.-K. et al., Barnacles as biomonitors of trace metals in the coastal waters near Xiamen, China, Asian Marine Biology, 1993a, 10: 109–121.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Blackmore, G., Morton, B., Huang, Z.-G., Heavy metals in Balanus amphitrite and Tetraclita squamosa (Crustacea: Cirripedia) collected from the coastal waters of Xiamen, China, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 1998, 36, 32–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rainbow, P. S., Fialkowski, W., Wolowicz, M. et al., Geographical and seasonal variation of trace metal bioavailabilities in the Gulf of Gdansk, Poland using mussels (Mytilus trossulus) and barnacles (Balanus improvisus) as biomonitors, Marine Biology, 2004, 144: 271–286.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rainbow, P. S., Smith, B. D., Biomonitoring of Hong Kong coastal trace metals by barnacles, 1986–1989, The marine flora and fauna of Hong Kong and southern China III, in Proceedings of the Fourth International Marine Biological Workshop: The marine flora and fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, Hong Kong, Morton, B. ed., Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 1992, 585–597.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rainbow, P. S., Blackmore, G., Barnacles as biomonitors of trace metal availabilities in Hong Kong coastal waters: changes in space and time, Marine Environmental Research, 2001, 51: 441–463.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rainbow, P. S., White, S. L., Comparative strategies of heavy metal accumulation by crustaceans: zinc, copper and cadmium in a decapod, an amphipod and a barnacle, Hydrobiologia, 1989, 174: 245–262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Rainbow, P. S., White, S. L., Comparative accumulation of cobalt by three crustaceans: a decapod, an amphipod and a barnacle, Aquatic Toxicology, 1990, 16: 113–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang, W.-X., Interactions of trace metals and different marine food chains, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2002, 243: 295–309.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. White, S. L., Rainbow, P. S., A preliminary study of Cu-, Cd-and Zn-binding components in the hepotopancreas of Palaemon elegans (Crustacea: Decapoda), Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 1986, 83C: 111–116.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang, W.-X., Qiu, J.-W., Qian, P.-Y., Significance of trophic transfer in predicting the high concentration of zinc in barnacles, Environmental Science and Technology, 1999a, 33: 2905–2909.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wang, W.-X., Qiu, J.-W., Qian, P.-Y., The trophic transfer of Cd, Cr, and Se in the barnacle Balanus amphitrite from planktonic food, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1999b, 187: 191–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Rainbow, P. S., Wang, W.-X., Comparative assimilation of Cd, Cr, Se, and Zn by the barnacle Elminius modestus from phytoplankton and Zooplankton diets, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2001, 218: 239–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Rainbow, P. S., Blackmore, G., Wang, W.-X., Effects of previous field-exposure history on the uptake of trace metals from water and food by the barnacle Balanus amphitrite, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2003, 259: 201–213.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang, W.-X., Rainbow, P. S., Dietary uptake of Cd, Cr, and Zn by the barnacle Balanus trigonus: influence of diet composition, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2000, 204: 159–168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Everaarts, J. M., Otter, E., Fischer, C. V., Cadmium and polychlorinated biphenyls: different distribution pattern in North Sea benthic biota, Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 1990, 26: 75–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Nugegoda, D., Rainbow, P. S., Zinc uptake and regulation by the sublittoral prawn Pandalus montagui (Crustacea: Decapoda), Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 1988, 26: 619–632.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Rainbow, P. S., Copper, cadmium and zinc concentrations in oceanic amphipod and euphausiid crustaceans, as a source of heavy metals to pelagic seabirds, Marine Biology, 1989, 103: 503–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Rainbow, P. S., Emson, R. H., Smith, B. D. et al., Talitrid amphipods as biomonitors of trace metals near Dunedin, New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1993b, 27: 201–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Rainbow, P. S., Moore, P. G., Watson, D., Talitrid amphipods as biomonitors for copper and zinc, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 1989, 28: 567–582.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Rainbow, P. S., Scott, A. G., Wiggins, E. A. et al., Effect of chelating agents on the accumulation of cadmium by the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, and complexation of soluble Cd, Zn and Cu, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1980, 2: 143–152.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Ridout, P. S., Rainbow, P. S., Roe, H. S. J. et al., Concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd in mesopelagic crustaceans from the north east Atlantic Ocean, Marine Biology, 1989, 100: 465–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Walker, G., ‘Copper’ granules in the barnacle Balanus balanoides, Marine Biology, 1977, 39: 343–349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, London, UK

    Rainbow Philip S.

  2. Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China

    Wen-Xiong Wang

Authors
  1. Rainbow Philip S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wen-Xiong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rainbow, P.S., Wang, WX. Trace metals in barnacles: the significance of trophic transfer. Sci. China Ser. C.-Life Sci. 48 (Suppl 1), 110–117 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889808

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889808

Keywords

Search

Navigation