TRACE-ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN ANTARCTIC KRILL, EUPHAUSIA-SUPERBA

Whole Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba collected along the Western A ntarctic Peninsula, were analyzed for 14 elements. Average element abu ndances (in parentheses) in mu/g, in descending order, were as follows : P(9940), Cu (80.5), Zn (43.5), Fe (28.0), Se (5.80), Ba (3.78), Mn ( 1.98), As (1.92), Ag (1.71), Ni (0.54), Cr (0.30), Cd (0.29), Pb (0.22 ), and Hg (0.025). Inverse relationships were found between krill leng th and Hg concentration as well as between As and P levels. A geograph ic trend of increasing Mn and P levels from southwest to northeast alo ng the Antarctic Peninsula was found. Results were compared to earlier data for evidence of metal concentration changes due to anthropogenic activity over the last 15 years.