Bioenhancement of cadmium transfer along a multi-level food chain.
Previous studies have shown that metal partitioned to a subcellular compartment containing trophically available metal (TAM) is readily available to predators and may be enhanced by increased binding of metal to heat-stable proteins (HSP - e.g., metallothioneins). The aim of the current investigation was to determine the influence of TAM on the trophic transfer of Cd along an experimental, three-level food chain: Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp)-->Palaemonetes pugio (grass shrimp)-->Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog). P. pugio were fed for 7 days on A. franciscana exposed to Cd in solution (including (109)Cd as radiotracer) and subjected to subcellular fractionation or fed to F. heteroclitus. An HSP-driven increase in the percentage of Cd associated with TAM (TAM-Cd%) in A. franciscana exposed to 1 muM Cd resulted in a bioenhancement (i.e., a greater than linear increase with respect to A. franciscana exposure) of Cd trophic transfer to P. pugio. Increased dietary Cd exposure did not affect TAM-Cd% in P. pugio nor trophic transfer to F. heteroclitus.
Seebaugh
David R
DR
Department of Biology, Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Goto
Daisuke
D
Wallace
William G
WG
D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004032:Diet; D020387:Food Chain; D023781:Fundulidae; D033541:Palaemonidae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D014873:Water Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium