Effect of body size and season on the concentration of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in Diastylis rathkei (Crustacea : Cumacea) from Kiel Bay, Western Baltic

Abstract

The concentrations of four metals (Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn) in the cumacean Diastylis rathkei were estimated from four stations in Kiel Bay, Western Baltic. Metal concentrations in samples from the four stations were not significantly different from each other. Smaller animals were found to contain less Cu and Cd and more Pb and Zn than larger ones. Seasonality in the concentrations of the four metals was observed. Generally, high concentrations of the four metals occurred during the summer months, which corresponds to the main growth period of D. rathkei. The ratio between monthly maximum and minimum mean concentrations was greatest for Pb (factor 2.5) and least for Zn (factor 1.4). Cd and Cu had a common ratio of 1.6.