Metal (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) levels in the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps

During the 1994/1995 Antarctic summer 20 Antarctic cod (Notothenia coriicep s) of both sexes were collected at King George Island, South Shetland Islan ds, Antarctica, to determine the levels of Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in muscle, liv er, gonad and kidney. Metal levels were assessed using the inductively coup led plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) technique. The levels of Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu observed in both sexes of N. coriiceps were significantly lower in muscle tissue than in liver, kidney and gonad; the livers of male s and gonads of females had the highest levels. The differences between the sexes were significant for Zn and Mn in gonads and for Cu in liver. Despit e the modest size-range of the specimens, the Cu levels in liver, muscle an d kidney were significantly inversely correlated with female mass (P < 0.05 ) as was gonad Cu level and male body length. Fe mainly presented the highe st concentrations and Cu and Mn the lowest ones. Mean muscle metal levels a re similar to those of hake, cod, herring and mackerel; however, the level of Fe was slightly higher. Accumulation may occur for Fe, Zn and Mn in live r, kidney and gonad, which have higher levels than those of most prey.