Dynamics of lipids and polychlorinated biphenyls in a baltic amphipod (Monoporeia affinis): A field study

Abstract

Processes such as accumulation and elimination, which control tissue concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were examined over time in an in situ study of the amphipod Monoporeia affinis. These processes were studied with respect to individual PCB congeners, percentage lipid and composition, and body weight. A secondary objective was to examine the impact of seasonal variability in percentage lipids and lipid composition on PCB concentration in two coexisting Baltic amphipods, M. affinis and Pontoporeia femorata. Polycholorinated biphenyl concentrations tended to be higher in P. femorata than in M. affinis, possibly because of P. femorata's lower respiration rate and larger size. The net accumulation of PCBs was congener dependent and negatively correlated to lipid concentration. The relation between the net concentration change rate of 16 PCB congeners over time and log Kow was not significant during the spring and summer months, a time when lipid accumulation and strong growth occur. In contrast, the net concentration change rate of the corresponding PCB congeners over time during autumn and early winter, that is, from the period before gonad maturation to the period after mating and early embryogenesis, showed a significant relation to tog Kow (r2 = 0.62, p < 0.001, n = 16). During the latter period, amphipod lipid weight was reduced while the PCB body burden increased. Results strongly indicate that elimination rather than accumulation is the main process controlling amphipod body burden. This pattern results in a transfer of PCBs from the female to the developing embryos, which is reflected in high PCB body burden in newly released offspring.

Embryo aberrations in the amphipod Monoporeia affinis as indicators of toxic pollutants in sediments: A field evaluation

“…However, four of these PCB congeners are listed as congeners of particular concern based on their potential toxicity, with CB105 being the highest priority congener for environmental toxicity assessment (McFarland and Clarke, 1989). Transfer of PCBs from females to the developing oocytes has previously been demonstrated in M. affinis, resulting in high PCB concentrations in offspring (Wiklund et al, 2003), which implies potential embryogenic defects. Furthermore, although Hg was often below the detection limit, its measured concentrations correlated strongly with Cd and the same PCB congeners that correlated with %FemMalf.…”

Evaluation of the role of black carbon in attenuating bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from field‐contaminated sediments

“…Monoporeia affinis is a glacial relic that occurs in both brackish-water and freshwater environments. The high abundance and high lipid concentrations in amphipods, which can account for up to 40 to 50% of the body weight [26], makes this species very important in transport of carbon and PHOCs through the food chain to the fish community [22,26]. It feeds on the top surface sediment but is normally buried in the sediment at depth of 2 to 5 cm [25].…”

“…It feeds on the top surface sediment but is normally buried in the sediment at depth of 2 to 5 cm [25]. The high abundance and high lipid concentrations in amphipods, which can account for up to 40 to 50% of the body weight [26], makes this species very important in transport of carbon and PHOCs through the food chain to the fish community [22,26]. The scud Diporeia sp., which is genetically very closely related to M. affinis, has no or negligible biotransformation of PAHs [27 and references therein].…”

Seasonal variation of the distribution of PCBs in sediments and biota in a PCB-contaminated estuary

“…Meanwhile, higher PCB body burden in aquatic biota was found in spring than in autumn. This was mainly attributed to the consumption of lipid of biota in winter, which resulted in a concentration effect seen in spring (Huhnerfuss et al, 1995;Harding et al, 1997;Stapleton et al, 2002;Wiklund et al, 2003). Additionally, precipitations, either seasonal or episodic, are important factors on the distribution of PCBs.…”