Concentration and Distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in Mackerel Icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) in South Georgia, Antarctic, During Winter

Abstract

Knowledge of the essential and nonessential elements distribution and behavior in Antarctic fish is important for understanding the essentiality and requirements of minerals in the diet of those species, as well as the bioavailability and storage of trace minerals in the tissues of fishes. In this study, the levels of zinc, copper, cadmium, and lead in muscle, intestine, liver, gill, and skin of mackerel icefish Champsocephalus gunnari (Lönnberg, 1905) in South Georgia were determined during winter. The following element concentration ranking was recorded: Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb in the muscle, Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb in the skin, Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb in the intestine, Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd in liver, and Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb in the gill. The concentration of Zn is higher by about two orders of magnitude than that of the other three elements for the tissues. Generally, apart from Cu levels in the liver and Cd levels in the intestine, the correlation of elements in tissues with both size and weight of C. gunnari is not observed. The levels of elements were compared to those reported for C. gunnari in the Kerguelen waters.