title: Fine-scale detection of pollutants by a benthic marine jellyfish.
abstract: Local sources of pollution can vary immensely on small geographic scales and short time frames due to differences in runoff and adjacent land use. This study examined the rate of uptake and retention of trace metals in Cassiopea maremetens, a benthic marine jellyfish, over a short time frame and in the presence of multiple pollutants. This study also validated the ability of C. maremetens to uptake metals in the field. Experimental manipulation demonstrated that metal accumulation in jellyfish tissue began within 24h of exposure to treated water and trended for higher accumulation in the presence of multiple pollutants. C. maremetens was found to uptake trace metals in the field and provide unique signatures among locations. This fine-scale detection and rapid accumulation of metals in jellyfish tissue can have major implications for both biomonitoring and the trophic transfer of pollutants through local ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. Electronic address: hannah.epstein@my.jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Hannah E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Templeman
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kingsford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008670:Metals; D037401:Scyphozoa; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Cassiopea maremetens; Fine-scale; Pollution; Queensland, Australia; Trace metals