Spatial and temporal variation in cadmium body loads of four intertidal invertebrates from False Bay, South Africa
Date
2012
Authors
Reinecke, A.J.
Mdzeke, N.P.
Reinecke, S.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Open Journal Systems
Abstract
Increasing urbanization and industrialization along the coastal areas of False Bay in South
Africa can endanger coastal ecosystems because of increasing metal pollution. To obtain baseline
data on contamination levels in the intertidal zone, cadmium (Cd) body loads of four
invertebrate species were measured seasonally over a period of 15 months from different sites
within the bay. Specimens of Tetraclita serrata (barnacle), Oxystele sinenses (periwinkle),
Cymbula oculus (limpet) and Choromytilus meridionalis (mussel) were collected and analysed
to determine temporal changes in Cd body burdens. Cd concentrations were also measured in
water and sediments. Cd concentrations in the intertidal animals varied considerably between
sampling sites and between seasons and also occasionally between species. All four species
accumulated Cd in their bodies to levels several times higher than environmental concentrations.
No significant difference could be shown between the Cd concentrations in the gastropod
grazers and the filter-feeders. The highest mean body load of Cd (70.67 μg/g dry weight)
for a single sampling occasion was measured in the sessile barnacles (T. serrata) collected at
Rooi-Els. The highest mean Cd concentration (11.95 μg/g) for the bay as a whole was measured
in the limpet C. oculus. Two-way analysis of variance indicated that spatial (location) rather
than temporal (seasonal) factors affected Cd concentrations in the invertebrates. Cd concentrations
in False Bay sometimes exceeded the norms or water quality standards.
Description
The original publication is available at http://africanzoology.journals.ac.za/pub.
Keywords
Cd, invertebrate body burdens, marine pollution, seasonal variations
Citation
Reinecke, A.J., Mdzeke, N.P. & Reinecke, S.A. 2012. Spatial and temporal variation in cadmium body loads of four intertidal invertebrates from False Bay, South Africa. African Zoology, 47 (1), 12-25.