A dynamic compartmental food chain model of radiocaesium transfer to Apodemus syl aticus in woodland ecosystems

A study was undertaken to quantify the activity concentrations of 137Cs in Apodemus syl aticus Žthe woodmouse. in two woodland sites, Lady Wood and Longrigg Wood, adjacent to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. ŽBNFL. Sellafield, Cumbria, UK. A deterministic dynamic compartmental food chain model was also constructed to predict 137Cs activity concentration Bq kg 1 dry weight Ždw. in A. syl aticus on a seasonal basis given the activity concentrations in its diet. Within the coniferous woodland site ŽLady Wood., significant differences were found between seasons ŽP 0.05, summer vs. autumn cohort; P 0.001, spring vs. autumn cohort., with an autumn peak in activity concentration Žgeometric mean 140 2.3 Bq kg 1 dw. being attributed to mycophagy. Fungal concentrations ranged from 2 3213 Bq kg 1 dw. The modelled activity concentrations fell between the confidence intervals of the observed data in four of the six seasonal cohorts sampled. Disparities between predicted and observed activity concentrations are attributed to uncertainties surrounding the fundamental feeding ecology of small mammals