Uptake of copper and lead by a metaltolerant isopod <i>Asellus meridianus</i> Rac.

Abstract

SUMMARY. Asellus meridianus from sites on the rivers Hayle and Gannel accumulates both copper and lead from experimental solutions: tolerant animals also accumulate copper and lead from metal‐enriched food. Copper‐tolerant animals accumulated up to 6.8 μg mg −1 copper after feeding on a copper‐enriched diet for 12 days whereas non‐tolerant animals showed no evidence of copper accumulation from food and no survivors remained after 8 days. Lead‐tolerant animals accumulated up to 28 μg mg −1 lead during a 14‐day exposure to a lead diet: non‐tolerant animals showed no accumulation of lead from food and no live animals remained after 10 days. A marked difference in the storage forms of copper is observed in the hepatopancreas of copper‐tolerant isopods, as compared with non‐tolerant animals, when samples are taken from natural populations.