Trace metals in the sponge <italic>Ircinia felix</italic> and sediments from north‐western Trinidad, West Indies: Fid-Bau Portal

Trace metals in the sponge Ircinia felix and sediments from north‐western Trinidad, West Indies

Nelson, Wendy / Slinger‐Cohen, Naomi

The purpose of this study was to obtain data for trace metals in the sponge, Ircinia felix, and sediments found in coastal areas of north‐western Trinidad, and to determine whether this sponge could be useful as a biomonitor for selected metals. Three sets of sediment and tissue samples were collected from four stations representing a range of anthropogenic input over a 12‐month period. Samples were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Extractable metal concentrations in sediments ranged from 0.01–0.28 μg g⁻¹‐cadmium, 0.02–16.2 μg g⁻¹‐chromium, 0.19–68.5 μg g⁻¹‐copper, <0.05–4.12 μg g⁻¹ ‐nickel, <0.03–37.0 μg g⁻¹ –lead and 4.08–148 μg g⁻¹‐zinc. Total metal concentrations in I. felix tissue (dry weight) ranged from 0.03–1.04 μg g⁻¹‐cadmium, 2.51–24.9 μg g⁻¹ ‐chromium, 15.2–49.9 μg g⁻¹‐copper, 6.30–53.9 μg g⁻¹ ‐nickel, 0.27–35.4 μg g⁻¹ ‐lead and 29.7–127 μg g⁻¹‐ zinc. The results of the study suggest that I. felix could potentially have use as a biomonitor for Ni, Cd, Cu, and possibly Cr and Zn but may be less useful for monitoring Pb. Further work on temporal trends and intra‐species variation of trace metals in the sponge is recommended.