Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the Sydney rock oyster, saccostrea commercialis (Iredale & Roughley)

Pearson, B

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the Sydney rock oyster, saccostrea commercialis (Iredale & Roughley)

Pearson, B

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 1993

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Pearson, B
dc.date.accessioned	2008-08-18T05:30:58Z
dc.date.accessioned	2012-12-15T03:51:46Z
dc.date.available	2008-08-18T05:30:58Z
dc.date.available	2012-12-15T03:51:46Z
dc.date.issued	1993
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/20055
dc.description	University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_AU
dc.description.abstract	The suitability of the Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea commercialis) as a monitor of heavy metal contamination in estuarine and coastal waters was assessed. Case study I examined the influence of body size (ie: soft tissue dry weight) on the tissue concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe. Sampling was replicated both spatially and temporally in order to determine whether the size-metal relationship for these elements varied with geographical location (ie: differing levels of environmental contamination) or season. All oysters were collected from 'wild' populations in the HawkesburyfNepean estuary. Least-squares regression analysis indicated that Cu concentrations were independent of body size at all times. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that this relationship did not change with either geographical location or season. Size-metal relalionships for Zn indicated that concentrations for this element varied from being independent of size to being size-dependent with proportionally greater concentrations present in the larger individuals. Yet lests for homogeneily of slopes (ANCOVA) showed that no differences in regression coefficients occurred with geographical location or season. Iron concentrations were size-dependent with proportionally greater concentrations in the smaller individuals. ANCOVA revealed that homogeneity of slopes with geographical location occurred only on two of the four sampling occasions. Further examination of data revealed that the size·range of the individuals sampled may be important in determining size-metal relationship for iron. Case Study II examined the concentrations of Cu and Zn in S. commercialis deployed into the Georges River/Botany Bay and the Port Stephens estuaries. The influence of tissue assimilation/loss on metal concenlralions was also examined. Organisms of a homogenous genetic stock, of a similar size and age, and transplanted to a similar lidal height were utilized. As all organisms were of a similar size and age at the time of their deployment any differences in size during sampling were attributed to growth. Results indicated that tissue loss (ie: 'degrowth') not accompanied by a similar loss of metal resulted in an increase in metal concentrations. The assimilation of new tissue at a greater rate than metal accumulation (ie: 'dilution') resulted in decreased metal concentrations. From these relationships it was apparent that measures must be taken to reduce, account for, or eliminate the effects of growth in bivalve monitoring programs. Unless this problem is addressed, metal concentration values in S. commercialis are likely to give an inaccurate estimation of the level of environmenlal contamination and confound attempts to isolate pollution point sources.	en_AU
dc.format	Thesis (MSc)	en_AU
dc.language.iso	en	en_AU
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/20055/2/02Whole.pdf
dc.relation.replaces	http://hdl.handle.net/2100/629
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.subject	Oysters.	en_AU
dc.subject	Sydney rock oysters.	en_AU
dc.subject	Saccostrea commercialis.	en_AU
dc.subject	Heavy metals.	en_AU
dc.title	Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the Sydney rock oyster, saccostrea commercialis (Iredale & Roughley)	en_AU
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access

Abstract:

The suitability of the Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea commercialis) as a monitor of heavy metal contamination in estuarine and coastal waters was assessed. Case study I examined the influence of body size (ie: soft tissue dry weight) on the tissue concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe. Sampling was replicated both spatially and temporally in order to determine whether the size-metal relationship for these elements varied with geographical location (ie: differing levels of environmental contamination) or season. All oysters were collected from 'wild' populations in the HawkesburyfNepean estuary. Least-squares regression analysis indicated that Cu concentrations were independent of body size at all times. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that this relationship did not change with either geographical location or season. Size-metal relalionships for Zn indicated that concentrations for this element varied from being independent of size to being size-dependent with proportionally greater concentrations present in the larger individuals. Yet lests for homogeneily of slopes (ANCOVA) showed that no differences in regression coefficients occurred with geographical location or season. Iron concentrations were size-dependent with proportionally greater concentrations in the smaller individuals. ANCOVA revealed that homogeneity of slopes with geographical location occurred only on two of the four sampling occasions. Further examination of data revealed that the size·range of the individuals sampled may be important in determining size-metal relationship for iron. Case Study II examined the concentrations of Cu and Zn in S. commercialis deployed into the Georges River/Botany Bay and the Port Stephens estuaries. The influence of tissue assimilation/loss on metal concenlralions was also examined. Organisms of a homogenous genetic stock, of a similar size and age, and transplanted to a similar lidal height were utilized. As all organisms were of a similar size and age at the time of their deployment any differences in size during sampling were attributed to growth. Results indicated that tissue loss (ie: 'degrowth') not accompanied by a similar loss of metal resulted in an increase in metal concentrations. The assimilation of new tissue at a greater rate than metal accumulation (ie: 'dilution') resulted in decreased metal concentrations. From these relationships it was apparent that measures must be taken to reduce, account for, or eliminate the effects of growth in bivalve monitoring programs. Unless this problem is addressed, metal concentration values in S. commercialis are likely to give an inaccurate estimation of the level of environmenlal contamination and confound attempts to isolate pollution point sources.

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