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Kinetics of Mercury Bioaccumulation in the Polychaete Hediste diversicolor and in the Bivalve Scrobicularia plana, Through a Dietary Exposure Pathway

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Abstract

Mercury bioaccumulation kinetics of two important macrobenthic species, the polychaete Hediste diversicolor and the bivalve Scrobicularia plana, were evaluated following a dietary pathway (i.e. contaminated algae), through a mesocosm laboratory experiment. Both studied species presented a similar model of Hg bioaccumulation kinetics, a linear pattern of accumulation through time being the mercury accumulation in the organisms proportional to the mercury concentration in the food. Mercury bioaccumulation rates were higher in the polychaete H. diversicolor (reaching approximately 0.15 μg g−1 at the end of the experiment) than in the bivalve S. plana (≈0.07 μg g−1), which could be related to their feeding strategies, ingestion rates and assimilation efficiencies. Moreover, the mercury bioaccumulation revealed to be quite a fast process especially for the polychaete, and despite the fact that this species is not an edible organism, it is an important prey item, which can greatly contribute to the transport of contaminants to higher trophic levels. Therefore, the bioaccumulation of mercury by these important macrobenthic species, especially the bivalves, represents a non-negligible risk for humans.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) through a project (MERCOAST)-PTDC/MAR/10,916/2008. The authors are indebted to all the colleagues who assisted in the field and lab work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMAR–CMA–Marine and Environmental Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PO Box 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    Patricia G. Cardoso

  2. CESAM–Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Eduarda Pereira & Armando C. Duarte

  3. CFE–Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PO Box 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    Tiago F. Grilo & Miguel A. Pardal

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  1. Patricia G. Cardoso
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  2. Eduarda Pereira
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  3. Tiago F. Grilo
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  4. Armando C. Duarte
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  5. Miguel A. Pardal
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Correspondence to Patricia G. Cardoso.

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Cardoso, P.G., Pereira, E., Grilo, T.F. et al. Kinetics of Mercury Bioaccumulation in the Polychaete Hediste diversicolor and in the Bivalve Scrobicularia plana, Through a Dietary Exposure Pathway. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 421–428 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0870-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0870-1

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