Non-proportional distribution and bioaccumulation of metals between phytoplankton and zooplankton in coastal waters

Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico; Chiu-Wen Chen; Yee Cheng Lim; Ming-Huang Wang; Chih-Feng Chen; Cheng-Di Dong

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114168

Non-proportional distribution and bioaccumulation of metals between phytoplankton and zooplankton in coastal waters

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Nov:184:114168. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114168. Epub 2022 Sep 29.

Authors

Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico¹, Chiu-Wen Chen², Yee Cheng Lim³, Ming-Huang Wang³, Chih-Feng Chen³, Cheng-Di Dong⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Sagay City 6122, Philippines.
² Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cwchen@nkust.edu.tw.
³ Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cddong@nkust.edu.tw.

PMID: 36183508
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114168

Abstract

Metal concentrations were concurrently quantified in seawater, phytoplankton, and zooplankton from a heavily impacted coast of southern Taiwan. Combined size and density fractionation were used to accurately quantify metal concentrations in phytoplankton. Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, As, and Pb were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). As expected, metals significantly increased with an order of seawater < phytoplankton < zooplankton (p < 0.05); but did not differ between estuarine, nearshore, and offshore sites (p > 0.05). Metals were higher along Kaohsiung Harbor and marine outfall diffusion sites, highlighting their major impacts on plankton metal contamination. Notably, phytoplankton (Cr BCF > 100; half of the sites) significantly accumulated more metals contrary to zooplankton (BAF < 10). Metal concentrations and bioaccumulation factors between phytoplankton and zooplankton showed significant negative correlations. This demonstrates a non-proportional distribution and bioaccumulation of metals in phytoplankton and zooplankton-corroborating laboratory findings on zooplankton ability to control metals, irrespective of significantly high bioaccumulation in phytoplankton.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; IDW; Metals; Plankton food web; Taiwan.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bioaccumulation
Environmental Monitoring
Lead
Phytoplankton
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Zooplankton*

Substances

Lead
Water Pollutants, Chemical