Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Field experiments on the fate of lead and chromium in an intertidal benthic mesocosm, the Bremerhaven Caisson

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Bremerhaven Caisson, a benthic mesocosm enclosing a 13 m2 sediment area and 13 m3 trapped water column at high tide, was used for field experiments on the fate of lead and chromium at the isle of Norderney, Southern German Bight. The caisson, made from seawater resistant aluminium, settled on fine sand (mean grain size: 0.2 mm) at an experimental site with about 0.9-m tidal height and 4.5 h of water coverage. During 38 consecutive tides a constant amount of lead was administered to the inflowing water, resulting in a nominal concentration of 0.1 mg l-1 at high tide. A second caisson was taken for chromium using the same procedure. The compartments analysed (water, seston, sediment, and infauna) showed distinct differences for lead and chromium. The particle-reactive element Pb adsorbed by 50–70% onto seston particles, the soluble element Cr-VI by less than 2%. Only a moderate enrichment was measured in the sediment, about 3–4% of the total Pb and Cr added accumulated in the top 3 cm. The fauna attained much higher accumulation factors than the sediment. The lead uptake rates of 15 species and 2 taxa can be placed in order according to the feeding type: filter feeder > deposit feeder (surface) > opportunistic feeder (deposit feeder or predator) > deposit feeder (depth). Chromium was accumulated about 10 times lower than lead, the uptake seems to be more related to the systematic position of the animal (calcareous shell versus chitinous cuticle). In the total mass balance only 0.2% of the lead added and 0.02% of the chromium added were fixed by the fauna.

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

Literature cited

  • Amdurer, M., D. M. Adler and P. H. Santschi: Radiotracers in studies of trace metal behavior in mesocosms: advantages and limitations. In: Marine mesocosms, pp 81–95. Ed. by G. D. Grice and M. R. Reeve. New York-Heidelberg-Berlin: Springer Verlag 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Banse, K.: Experimental marine ecosystem enclosures in a historical perspective. In: Marine mesocosms, pp 10–24. Ed. by G. D. Grice and M. R. Reeve, New York-Heidelberg-Berlin: Springer Verlag 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyden, C. R.: Trace element content and body size in molluscs. Nature, Lond. 251, 311–314 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyden, C. R.: Distribution of some trace metals in Poole Harbour, Dorset. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 6, 180–187 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyden, C. R.: Effect of size upon metal content of shellfish. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 57, 675–714 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, G. W.: Adaptation of an estuarine polychaete to sediments containing high concentrations of heavy metals. In: Pollution and physiology of marine organisms, pp 123–135. Ed. by F. J. Vernberg and W. B. Vernberg, New York: Academic Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, G. W. and L. G. Hummerstone: Adaptation of the polychaete Nereis diversicolor to estuarine sediments containing high concentrations of heavy metals. I. General observations and adaptation to copper. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 51, 845–863 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, M., G. Nickless, R. E. Lawn and D. J. Roberts: Biological availability of sediment-bound cadmium to the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule. Bull. environ. Contam. Toxicol. 23, 381–386 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cranston, R. E. and J. W. Murray: The determination of chromium species in natural waters. Analyt. chim. Acta 99, 275–282 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, P. A.: The use of bivalve molluscs in heavy metal pollution research. In: Marine pollution: functional responses, pp 183–221. Ed. by W. B. Vernberg, A. Calabrese, F. P. Thurberg and F. J. Vernberg. New York: Academic Press 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wilde, P. A. and B. R. Kuipers: A large indoor tidal mud-flat ecosystem. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 30, 334–342 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wolf, P., W. C. De Kock and A. Stam: Veldproeven over de invloed van koper en kwik op een natuurlijke mosselbank. TNO-nieuws 27, 497–504 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duinker, J. C. and R. F. Nolting: Distribution model for particulate trace metals in the Rhine estuary, Southern Bight and Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 10, 71–102 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldon, J., M. Pekkarinen and R. Kristoffersson: Effects of low concentrations of heavy metals on the bivalve Macoma balthica. Ann. Zool. Fennici 17, 233–242 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farke, H., M. Schulz-Bades and S. A. Gerlach: The Bremerhaven Caisson, a mesocosm for field studies of intertidal ecosystems. (In preparation)

  • Fernandez, F. J., M. M. Beaty and W. B. Barnett: Use of the L'Vov platform for furnace atomic absorption applications. At. Spectrosc. 2, 16–21 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grice, G. D. and M. R. Reeve: Marine mesocosms, 430 pp. New York-Heidelberg-Berlin: Springer Verlag 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Haul, R. and G. Dümbgen: Vereinfachte Methode zur Messung von Oberflächengrößen durch Gasadsorption. Chem.-Ing. Techn. 35, 586–589 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackim, E., E. Morrison and R. Stede: Effects of environmental factors on radiocadmium uptake by four species of marine bivalves. Mar. Biol. 40, 303–308 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kremling, K., J. Pinze, K. von Bröckel and C. S. Wong: Studies on the pathways and effects of cadmium in controlled ecosystem enclosures. Mar. Biol. 48, 1–10 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luoma, S. N. and E. A. Jenne: The availability of sedimentbound cobalt, silver, and zinc to a deposit-feeding clam. In: Biological implications of metals in the environment, pp 213–230. Ed. by H. Drucker and R. E. Wildung. Springfield: Technical Information Center, Energy Research and Development Administration 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell, R. C.: Biology of intertidal animals, 3rd edition, 781 pp. Faversham, Kent: Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Packer, D. M., M. P. Ireland and R. J. Wootton: Cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, and manganese in the polychaete Arenicola marina from sediments around the coast of Wales. Environ. Pollut. 22, 309–321 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Phelps, H. L.: Cadmium sorption in estuarine mud-type sediment and the accumulation of cadmium in the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria. Estuaries 2, 40–44 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. J. H.: The use of biological indicator organisms to monitor trace metal pollution in marine and estuarine environments — a review. Environ. Pollut. 13, 281–317 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. J. H.: Quantitative aquatic biological indicators, 488 pp. London: Applied Science Publishers Ltd. 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilson, M. E. Q., C. A. Oviett, G. A. Vargo and S. L. Vargo: Replicability of MERL microcosms: initial observations. In: Advances in marine environmental research, pp 359–381. Ed. by F. S. Jakoff. Narragansett, R. I.: EPA-600/9-79-035, US Environmental Protection Agency 1979

  • Prentø, P.: Metals and phosphate in the chloragosomes of Lumbricus terrestris and their possible physiological significance. Cell Tissue Res. 196, 123–134 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, S., D. W. McLeese and M. R. Peterson: Accumulation of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead from two contaminated sediments by three marine invertebrates — a laboratory study. Bull. environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26, 315–322 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Santschi, P. H., Y. H. Li and S. R. Carson: The fate of trace metals in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island: radiotracer experiments in microcosms. Estuar. coast. mar. Sci. 10, 635–654 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Santschi, P. H.: Application of enclosures to the study of ocean chemistry. In: Marine mesocosms, pp 63–80. Ed. by G. D. Grice and M. R. Reeve. New York-Heidelberg-Berlin: Springer Verlag 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz-Baldes, M.: Die Miesmuschel Mytilus edulis als Indikator für die Bleikonzentration im Weserästuar und in der Deutschen Bucht. Mar. Biol. 21, 98–102 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz-Baldes, M.: Lead uptake from sea water and food, and lead loss in the common mussel Mytilus edulis. Mar. Biol. 25, 177–193 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sperling, K.-R.: Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. IX. Determination of cadmium traces in biological materials by a simple extraction method. Fresenius. Z. Anal. Chem. 299, 103–107 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Topping, G. and H. L. Windom: Biological transport of copper at Loch Ewe and Saanich Inlet: controlled ecosystem pollution experiment. Bull. mar. Sci. 27, 135–141 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Meeresforschung Bremerhaven, 2850, Bremerhaven, Germany (FRG)

    M. Schulz-Baldes, E. Rehm & H. Farke

Authors
  1. M. Schulz-Baldes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Rehm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Farke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schulz-Baldes, M., Rehm, E. & Farke, H. Field experiments on the fate of lead and chromium in an intertidal benthic mesocosm, the Bremerhaven Caisson. Mar. Biol. 75, 307–318 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406017

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406017

Keywords

Search

Navigation