title: Patterns of trace element bioaccumulation in jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon from SE Spain.
abstract: The effects of an abandoned mining area, exploited for centuries in the mining district of Cartagena-La Union, result in a continuous supply of heavy metals into the Mar Menor coastal lagoon after rain episodes. As a consequence, concentration of trace elements in water column and sediments of this ecosystem is usually higher than in other areas. For monitoring ecosystem health, this study assessed the ability of Rhizostoma pulmo to bioaccumulate trace elements. A total of 57 individuals were sampled at eight different sampling stations during the summer of 2012. Although the concentrations of different analyzed elements (Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, and Pb) were moderate, bioconcentration levels in relation to seawater metal concentration were extremely high. In any case, the use or disposal of these organisms should consider their metal content, because of their potential environmental and health implications.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agraria Área de Edafología, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), Paseo de Alfonso XIII, 48, E-30203 Cartagena, SPAIN. Electronic address: amv.tana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Vera
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agraria Área de Edafología, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), Paseo de Alfonso XIII, 48, E-30203 Cartagena, SPAIN. Electronic address: jose.castejon@upct.es.
authors.forename: Jose Matías
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peñas Castejón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agraria Área de Edafología, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), Paseo de Alfonso XIII, 48, E-30203 Cartagena, SPAIN. Electronic address: gregorio.garcia@upct.es.
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D037401:Scyphozoa; D013030:Spain; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bioaccumulation pattern; Jellyfish; Mediterranean coastal lagoon; Metal mining waste; Rhizostoma pulmo