title: Trophically available metal--a variable feast.
abstract: Assimilation of trace metals by predators from prey is affected by the physicochemical form of the accumulated metal in the prey, leading to the concept of a Trophically Available Metal (TAM) component in the food item definable in terms of particular subcellular fractions of accumulated metal. As originally defined TAM consists of soluble metal forms and metal associated with cell organelles, the combination of separated fractions which best explained particular results involving a decapod crustacean predator feeding on bivalve mollusc tissues. Unfortunately TAM as originally defined has subsequently frequently been used in the literature as an absolute description of that component of accumulated metal that is trophically available in all prey to all consumers. It is now clear that what is trophically available varies between food items, consumers and metals. TAM as originally defined should be seen as a useful starting hypothesis, not as a statement of fact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom. p.rainbow@nhm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rainbow
authors.forename: Samuel N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Luoma
authors.forename: Wen-Xiong
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020387:Food Chain; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical