Adaptation of the polychaete<i>Nereis diversicolor</i>to estuarine sediments containing high concentrations of heavy metals. I. General observations and adaptation to copper

Abstract

The concentration of copper in Nereis diversicolor O. F. Miiller is roughly related to the total concentration in the sediment and particularly high concentrations are found where mining pollution occurs. In contrast, the concentration ofzinc in Nereis remains remarkably constant despite wide variations in the environment and appears to be accurately regulated.