Uptake and Elimination of Lead, Zinc, and Copper by Caddisfly Larvae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) Using Stable Isotope Tracers

Stable isotopes of Pb, Zn, and Cu were used in laboratory experiments to determine the uptake and elimination of these metals by stream-dwelling caddisfly (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) larvae. For Pb and Cu, larvae were exposed to environmentally realistic levels (2.5 and 4.5 μg · L−1, respectively) of one isotope for 9 days followed by a 9-day exposure to either the same isotope, to a second stable isotope of the same metal, or to RW containing no added isotope (two phases in total). For zinc, the exposure concentration was 15 μg · L−1, and the experiment lasted for a total of 27 (i.e., three phases) rather than 18 days to see if uptake and elimination changed during the extended time period. The uptake clearances (ku) determined for the various metals averaged 7.8, 1.4, and 0.6 L · g dw−1 · d−1 for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, if the total metal concentration in the water was used in the calculations. The clearance rate constants (ke) were less variable, averaging 0.15 d−1 for Pb, 0.22 d−1 for Zn, and approximately 0.1 d−1 for Cu and were similar in both the presence (i.e., elimination) and absence (i.e., depuration) of metal in the water. These values are also comparable with those reported in the literature for other aquatic invertebrates. The use of stable isotopes thus allowed simultaneous measurement of uptake and clearance (elimination and depuration) of these metals at environmentally realistic concentrations and could be of great benefit for determining partitioning, assimilation efficiency, and pathways of these and other metals in the environment.