Hsiao, S.H., J.S. Hwang & T.H. Fang. (2010). The heterogeneity of the contents of trace metals in the dominant copepod species in the seawater around northern Taiwan. Crustaceana. 83(2):179-194.
The heterogeneity of the contents of trace metals in the dominant copepod species in the seawater around northern Taiwan.
Crustaceana
83(2):179-194.
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The dominant copepod species, Canthocalanus pauper (Giesbrecht, 1888), Oncaea venusta
Philippi, 1843, Temora turbinata (Dana, 1849), and Undinula vulgaris (Dana, 1849), collected
from the sea around northern Taiwan and from the southern East China Sea extending to the
Okinawa Trough, were analysed for trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) to study
possible spatial heterogeneity in these species of copepods. Trace metal concentrations ranged as
follows: Cd, 0.39-141.78 μg/g; Co, 0.03-91.9 μg/g; Cr, 2.26-243.5 μg/g; Cu, 4.36-195.5 μg/g;
Fe, 19.96-2886.9 μg/g; Mn, 5.34-735.8 μg/g; Ni, 1.69-954.9 μg/g; Pb, 0.04-85.8 μg/g; and Zn,
5.57-941.8 μg/g. The average concentration of trace metals in the copepod samples analysed
follows the sequence: Fe > Zn > Ni > Mn > Cu > Cr > Cd > Co > Pb. The sequence of total
metal contents in the copepods is: Oncaea venusta > Temora turbinata > Canthocalanus pauper >
Undinula vulgaris. The content of the same metal shows considerable variation both intra- and
inter-specifically, and the difference in concentration can vary 1 to 3 orders of magnitude. We also
found that metal concentrations in males are higher than in females in Oncaea venusta and Undinula
vulgaris. In addition, copepod metal quota also display spatial variation: coastal water > southern
East China Sea Kuroshio Water, suggesting that the metal contents of copepods are influenced by
the water quality of their marine environment.