title: Prawn biomonitors of nutrient and trace metal pollution along Asia-Pacific coastlines.
abstract: To assess coastal ecosystem status and pollution baselines, prawns were collected from the commercial catches of eight Asia-Pacific countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand). Samples collected from 21 sites along regional coastlines were analysed for trace metal and stable isotopic compositions of H, C, N, O and S. A combination of simple averaging and multivariate analyses was used to evaluate the data. Sites could be assigned to easily recognise polluted and unpolluted groups based on the prawn results. Some filter-feeding clams were also collected and analysed together with the benthic-feeding prawns, and the prawns generally had lower trace metal burdens. Climate change effects were not strongly evident at this time, but altered ocean circulation and watershed run-off patterns accompanying future climate change are expected to change chemical patterns recorded by prawns along these and other coastlines. Stable isotopes, especially (15)N, can help to distinguish between relatively polluted and unpolluted sites.
authors.affiliation: a Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University , Nathan , QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.affiliation: b Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services , Archerfield , QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: b Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services , Archerfield , QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Ujang
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tinggi
authors.affiliation: c Center for Isotopes and Radiation Application, National Nuclear Energy Agency , Jakarta , Indonesia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arman
authors.affiliation: d Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Atomic Energy Centre , Chittagong , Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Masud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: e International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA Environment Laboratories, Monaco, Principality of Monaco , Kajang , Selangor , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metian
authors.affiliation: f Atomic Energy Authority , Orugodawatte , Wellampitiya , Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Vajira Ariyaratna
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Waduge
authors.affiliation: g Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Komplek Nuclear Malaysia Bangi , Kajang Selangor , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rahman Bin
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Yaccup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D003445:Crustacea; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bio-indicators; bivalves; carbon-13; climate change; fish; hydrogen-2; modelling; nitrogen-15; oxygen-18; pollution; stable-isotope ecology; sulphur-35; trace elements