Manganese accumulation by the antennule of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (L.) as a biomarker of hypoxic events.

In laboratory tests, manganese accumulation by the appendages of the sediment burrowing Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.) (including the lateral antennules) was approximately three times greater [600 μg Mn g−1 (dry weight) after 5 days in 20 mg Mn l−1] than that by the carapace. The accumulation was linearly dose-dependent (10–40 mg Mn l−1) and duration-dependent (2–30 days), and showed no decrease after 3 weeks in undosed seawater. A high manganese uptake to the lateral antennules during hypoxia in the field was verified from the SE Kattegat, Sweden. These results indicate that accumulation of Mn on the mobile appendages of the Norway lobster fulfils most of the criteria for a biomarker of exposure to hypoxia. Using these measurements in conjunction with Mn concentrations in the internal tissues, it may be possible to resolve both the timing and the extent of the Mn exposure and the underlying hypoxic event.