title: Trace metal concentration and fish size: variation among fish species in a Mediterranean river.
abstract: Concentration of trace metals (Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and As) in the muscle of six fish species was analyzed to determine the variation with fish size and fish species in an Iberian river with moderate metal pollution. Al, Fe and Zn were the most abundant metals across sites. Fish size and sampling site explained more variation than fish species, and a high intraspecific variability (among individuals) in metal loads was also observed. Considering the most spread species, concentrations were highest in bleak (Alburnus alburnus) and lowest in gudgeon (Gobio occitaniae) for all the elements. Metal loads were comparable with literature data from contaminated sites, often exceeding recommended European Environmental Quality Standards. The relationships between metal concentration and fish size varied markedly among sites, elements, and fish species. The slopes of these relationships were often significantly heterogeneous, a fact barely acknowledged in the literature, and were often negative, probably due to size-specific metabolic rates related to fish growth.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: roberto.merciai@udg.edu.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merciai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guasch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Awadhesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabater
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Emili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Berthou
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D049628:Body Size; D003530:Cyprinidae; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D010473:Perciformes; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013030:Spain; D013045:Species Specificity; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000535:Aluminum; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Cyprinid fish; Heavy metals; Llobregat River; Mediterranean