Trace element analysis reveals bioaccumulation in the squid Gonatus fabricii from polar regions of the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

The boreoatlantic gonate squid (Gonatus fabricii) represents important prey for top predators-such as marine mammals, seabirds and fish-and is also an efficient predator of crustaceans and fish. Gonatus fabricii is the most abundant cephalopod in the northern Atlantic and Arctic Ocean but the trace element accumulation of this ecologically important species is unknown.

Influence of sexual dimorphism on stable isotopes and trace element concentrations in the greater hooked squid Moroteuthopsis ingens from New Zealand waters

“…The tissue distribution of Zn found herein was comparable to that observed for the boreoatlantic armhook squid Gonatus fabricii, where Zn concentrations were higher in the mantle compared to the digestive gland tissue (Lischka et al, 2019a). Unbound Zn in the digestive gland cells is believed to induce metallothionein production, which plays an important part in the detoxification process of Cd in cephalopods (Bustamante et al, 2002b;Miramand and Bentley, 1992).…”

“…Selenium has been suggested to have a protective role against Hg toxicity (Cuvin-Aralar and Furness, 1991) and an excess of Hg in relation to Se in the tissue is indicated by a Hg:Se molar ratio >1 (Ralston et al, 2008). Molar ratios were assessed for both tissue types by converting measured concentrations to nmol g -1 using the molecular weight of 200.59 for Hg and 78.96 for Se (Lischka et al, 2019a).…”

Trophic ecology drives trace element concentrations in the Antarctic octopod community

“…Nevertheless, As concentration data is available for certain cephalopod species (e.g., Todarodes filippovae, Kojadinovic et al, 2011). The As concentrations measured in all octopods in this study were higher (digestive gland As concentration average = 37.48 µg g -1 dw) relative to pelagic squid species from previous studies (e.g., Gonatus fabricii, 10.18 µg g -1 dw, Lischka et al, 2020b; Sthenoteuthis pteropus, 18.33 µg g -1 dw, Lischka et al, 2018), but comparable to octopod species from temperate environments (e.g., Octopus vulgaris; ~40 µg g -1 dw, Raimundo et al, 2010). This is congruent with the well-supported hypothesis that the benthic vs pelagic habitat is the main driver of As accumulation since As tends to be trapped in sediments (Sanders, 1980).…”

Life History of the Arctic Squid Gonatus fabricii (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) Reconstructed by Analysis of Individual Ontogenetic Stable Isotopic Trajectories

“…Stable isotope analysis has been used on cephalopods to reveal their foraging habitat changes, migrations, and dietary changes throughout their ontogeny e.g., [ 30 , 47 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 75 , 76 ]. Specific SIA studies on G. fabricii with different ML demonstrated an increase of δ 15 N values from small to large individuals, suggesting a change in the food spectra from low to high trophic level (TL) prey as squid grow [ 27 , 77 ]. The combination of ontogenetic descent to deep waters, changes in diet, and an increase in TL suggests that G. fabricii occupies several ecological roles during its life-time.…”

“…However, this hypothesis remains untested. Studies to date have used snapshot data from multiple individuals of different sizes to generalize a pattern over the lifetime of an average individual [ 27 , 77 ]. However, such an approach is incomplete and does not take into account individual variation linked to continuous growth e.g., [ 50 , 51 , 52 ], and consequently is not really suitable for highlighting potential migrations or clearly defining ontogenetic stages during a lifetime.…”