Metal bioaccumulation pattern by Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain)

Abstract

Coastal lagoons are ecosystems highly vulnerable to human impacts because of their situation between terrestrial and marine environment. Mar Menor coastal lagoon is one of the largest lagoons of the Mediterranean Sea, placed in SE Spain and subjected to major human impacts, in particular the mining of metal sulphides. As a consequence, metal concentration in water column and sediments of this ecosystem is usually higher than in other areas. For monitoring ecosystem health, the present study has assessed the ability of Cotylorhiza tuberculata for bioaccumulating metals from sea water. Up to 65 individuals were sampled at 8 different sampling stations during the summer of 2012. Although the concentration values for different elements considered were moderate (Pb: 0.04-29.50 ppm, Zn: 2.27-93.44 ppm, Cd: 0-0.67 ppm, As: 0.56-130.31 ppm) by dry weight of the jellyfish tissues (bell and oral arms combined), 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.

A Multi-screening Evaluation of the Nutritional and Nutraceutical Potential of the Mediterranean Jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca

“…Jellyfish bioaccumulates and transfers essential minerals and trace elements from lower trophic levels to high-order fish predators, having a key role in balancing any potential nutritional shortfall of the food chain. The same applies to nonessential and potentially toxic elements, which could instead represent a threat for the health of marine ecosystems, and, not least, human consumers [84,85]. To date, few published data dealt with inorganic elements in this gelatinous zooplankton, mainly to test the environmental quality of coastal systems [81,84,85,86,87], rather than for food/feed purposes [38].…”

“…In fact, they are essential for the metabolism of vertebrate and invertebrate marine organisms, as they constitute a variety of metalloproteins and antioxidant enzymes and play a key role in cellular detoxification activity, but, at the same time, they become toxic at high concentrations, leading to damaging oxidative processes [88]. In the same way as for major elements, the comparison of trace element levels from P. noctiluca with those from other jellyfish species addressed in previous works [81,84,85] becomes challenging. In fact, an increasing discrepancy seems to appear dealing thoroughly with getting smaller contents of essential trace elements; however, similarly to P. noctiluca , also other species, such as C. stagi [81], Cassiopea sp.…”

“…In fact, an increasing discrepancy seems to appear dealing thoroughly with getting smaller contents of essential trace elements; however, similarly to P. noctiluca , also other species, such as C. stagi [81], Cassiopea sp. [84], and Cotylorhiza tuberculata [85], showed to more bioaccumulate such trace elements in oral arms than bells. These distribution patterns could be related to the metal uptake via food, occurring by oral arms directly involved in suctorial feeding, and fine filtering functions [89].…”

Impact of metallic mineral residues on the marine ecosystem of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon

“…Sin embargo, el problema que se afronta en este estudio es el relacionado con las antiguas actividades mineras en la cercana Sierra de Cartagena-La Unión. Aunque estas actividades mineras cesaron en 1991, las ramblas, o ríos estacionales, aún transportan elementos procedentes de la minería durante los episodios de fuertes lluvias, lo que está provocando una grave contaminación por metales de los sedimentos y la biota en la laguna (Simonneau, 1973;De León et al, 1982;Pérez-Ruzafa et al, 2005;Marín-Guirao et al, 2007;García y Muñoz-Vera, 2015;Muñoz-Vera et al, 2015.…”

“…Por lo tanto, todas estas características, presentes en las medusas, las hacen objetivo de interés para ser utilizadas como biomonitores en ambientes marinos costeros(Muñoz- Vera et al, 2015. distrito minero de Cartagena-La Unión se localiza cercano a la orilla meridional de la laguna costera del Mar Menor, cubriendo un área de unos 50 Km 2 , la mayoría perteneciente a la Sierra de Cartagena-La Unión (parte oriental de la cordillera Bética) también conocida como Sierra Minera.…”