title: The usefulness of transplantation studies in monitoring of metals in the marine environment: South African experience.
abstract: Due to their close proximity to the point sources of pollution, estuaries and harbours are exposed to metals. Mussels are used worldwide to monitor marine pollution due to their ability to take up contaminants and the ease of transplantation. Mussels were collected from two reference sites and transplanted in Richards Bay Harbour (2006 and 2010) and in three harbours. Transplanted and resident mussels were removed after 6 weeks exposure and metal concentrations were analysed using ICP-MS techniques. Transplanted mussels had higher metal concentrations than the resident mussels. This was attributed to regulation of metals by the resident mussels. Metal regulation was greater in mussels that are continuously submerged as opposed to those that undergo tidal influences. For monitoring it is essential that the reference population for transplantation is considered carefully as upwelling events in the pristine reference location results in significant increases in metal bioaccumulation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Aquatic Research, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.affiliation: Centre for Aquatic Research, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.affiliation: Centre for Aquatic Research, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Degger
authors.affiliation: Water Research Group (Ecotoxicology), School of Biological Sciences, Unit for Environmental Science and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa. Electronic address: victor.wepener@nwu.ac.za.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wepener
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D049883:Perna / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D013019:South Africa; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Harbours; Metal bioaccumulation; Perna perna; Spatial and temporal