SEASONAL-VARIATIONS IN THE CONCENTRATIONS OF CU, CD, PB AND ZN IN ARCTICA-ISLANDICA L (MOLLUSCA, BIVALVIA) FROM KIEL-BAY, WESTERN BALTIC SEA

Seasonal variations in the concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in soft dry tissues of the ocean quahog, Arctica islandica, from Kiel Bay, Ge rmany were studied, Significant monthly variations in the concentratio ns of the four metals were observed, The two essential metals, Cu and Zn, had their maximum values during the summer months, when the dry so ft tissue weight of A, islandica was reaching its maximum values as we ll, The highest values of the non-essential metals, Cd and Ph, were ob served in winter when the dry soft tissue weight of A, islandica was r eaching its minimum values. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd