Heavy metal concentrations in the spiders Pirata piraticus (Clerck, 1757) and Clubiona phragmitis (C.L. Koch, 1843) along the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium).
Wetland ecosystems may be affected by deposition and accumulation of heavy metals. Metal concentrations in the spiders Pirata piraticus and Clubiona phragmitis living in marshes along the river Scheldt (Flanders, Belgium) were analyzed. The organisms were sampled on seven sites along a gradient from freshwater to brackish marshes. Except for lead, P. piraticus contained higher metal concentrations than C. phragmitis. This is related to physiological and ecological differences between species. No correlation was found between metal concentration in the organisms and soil total concentration.
Tojal
Catarina
C
Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Hendrickx
Frederik
F
Tack
Filip M G
FM
Maelfait
Jean-Pierre
JP
Bogaert
Nicolas
N
Willems
Katrien
K
Vernaillen
Pieter
P
Mertens
Johan
J
Verloo
Marc G
MG
D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002586:Cesium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D013112:Spiders / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D002586:Cesium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc