The bioaccumulation of cadmium by the Blue Swimmer Crab Portunus pelagicus L.

The Blue Swimmer Crab ŽPortunus pelagicus. accumulates only cadmium in the hepatopancreas after being presented elevated levels of the metals Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Fe and Al via a food source, the mussel Trychomya hirsuta. Over 8 weeks, crabs were fed a controlled diet to determine the accumulation of metals. Significant ŽP 0.05. Cd accumulation was detected after 4 weeks of feeding. Food mussels were sourced from either ‘contaminated’ or ‘uncontaminated’ sites. Mussels from uncontaminated sites had an average Cd level of 0.07 g g wet weight and contaminated mussels had an average of 5.2 g g wet weight. The usefulness of presenting metals in this way to assess potential bioaccumulators is further considered against other presentation methods.