Accumulation and Transport of Sediment Metals by the Vertically Migrating Opossum Shrimp, Mysis relicta

This study examined the accumulation of metals (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, V, and Zn) in the opossum shrimp Mysis relicta from sediments to understand the contribution of sediment metals to overall body burden metal contents. Metal biota-sediment accumulation factors, tissue depuration ratios, and sediment metal assimilation efficiencies were calculated to examine the extent to which mysids accumulate metals from sediments contained within their guts. Results were then used to estimate the concentrations of metals transported to the water column and to fish because of mysid diel vertical migration. Results showed that Al, Cr, Fe, and V were readily depurated (34 to 73% of total body burden) and were not preferentially accumulated in mysid tissues (Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor, BSAF 0.037). Nickel shows an intermediate behavior for depuration and accumulation. Calculations suggest that following 12 hours depuration through vertical migration, about 1.57 μg sediment/mysid (0.05% of dry weight of M. relicta) remained as gut contents. As a result, 16 to 50% of the Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, and V and 1.0 to 5.5% of the As, Cd, Cu, and Zn mysid body burden metal content transported to the water column was attributed to sediment in the gut. These results indicate that trace metals (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) ingested from sediments are poorly accumulated in mysids (calculated AEs ranged from 0.07 for Cr to -11 for Cu) and metals transported by mysids to fish in the water column are primarily associated with mysid tissues.