The bioaccumulation of cadmium by the Blue Swimmer Crab Portunus pelagicusL.

The Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus pelagicus) accumulates only cadmium in the hepatopancreas after being presented elevated levels of the metals Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Fe and Al via a food source, the mussel Trychomya hirsuta. Over 8 w eeks, crabs were fed a controlled diet to determine the accumulation of met als. Significant (P = 0.05) Cd accumulation was detected after 4 weeks of f eeding. Food mussels were sourced from either 'contaminated' or 'uncontamin ated' sites. Mussels from uncontaminated sites had an average Cd level of 0 .07 mug/g wet weight and contaminated mussels had an average of 5.2 mug/g w et weight. The usefulness of presenting metals in this way to assess potent ial bioaccumulators is further considered against other presentation method s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.