Nutrient Enrichment in Marine Systems Can Increase

Newswise — Metallic-flavored fish may eventually be on the menu as new research finds that coastal ecosystems may be subject to increased uptake of metals via the benthic food web. The research is published in the latest issue of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Excessive nutrients, called eutrophication, and metals can be harmful to organisms in water bodies. In a previous study, nutrient enrichment of sandy sediment increased microalgal biomass fourfold, thus altering the structure of producer communities and coastal food webs. Nutrient enrichment also may increase the uptake of heavy metals by primary producers, but studies to date have generally considered each in isolation.

In the current study, researchers chose to analyze benthic invertebrates, which by both suspension and deposit feeding may consume a large fraction of microalgae. Because of this, benthic invertebrates play important roles in energy and contaminant transfer to higher trophic levels.

Study results indicated that increased nitrogen enhanced the trophic transfer of cadmium from microalgae to suspension-feeding benthic invertebrates. Researchers also studied the effects of phosphorus enrichment, finding that it did not influence cadmium uptake. With the increased presence of excessive nutrients and metals in the marine ecosystem, the study researchers encourage more testing of what impact they may have.

To read the entire study, click here: http://www.allenpress.com/pdf/entc_25_1129_3065_3072.pdf

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry is the monthly journal of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). For more information about the Society, visit http://www.setac.org.