Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Neocalanus copepods in Port Valdez, Alaska.
Sampling zooplankton is a useful strategy for observing trace hydrocarbon concentrations in water because samples represent an integrated average over a considerable effective sampling volume and are more representative of the sampled environment than discretely collected water samples. We demonstrate this method in Port Valdez, Alaska, an approximately 100 km(2) basin that receives about 0.5-2.4 kg of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) per day. Total PAH (TPAH) concentrations (0.61-1.31 microg/g dry weight), composition, and spatial distributions in a lipid-rich copepod, Neocalanus were consistent with the discharge as the source of contamination. Although Neocalanus acquire PAH from water or suspended particulate matter, total PAH concentrations in these compartments were at or below method detection limits, demonstrating plankton can amplify trace concentrations to detectable levels useful for study.
Carls
Mark G
MG
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Auke Bay Laboratory, 11305 Glacier Hwy, Juneau, AK 99801, USA. mark.carls@noaa.gov
Short
Jeffrey W
JW
Payne
James
J
D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D033342:Copepoda / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical