Spatial Variation of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum from Some Selected Intertidal Flats of Korea

Abstract

Spatial variation of heavy metal accumulation was investigated in Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum collected from several tidal flats. Sediment metal levels varied highly among the sites, which was attributed primarily to differences in Fe and organic carbon contents and in part to grain size. Significant differences in metal concentrations also were found in the clam tissue among the different sampling sites. However, except for a few metals (Mn, Zn, Pb), which showed some elevation, the variations in the clam tissue were not related to the variations in the sediment. This is likely because most metals in filter-feeding herbivores such as R. philippinarum accumulated as a result of feeding on suspended particles such as phytoplankton and organic detritus in the water column, not in bottom sediment. In addition, tissue weight for a specific shell size varied significantly among the sites, and increased tissue mass indicating a good nutritive condition likely caused a subsequent dilution of body metals leading to reduced weight-specific concentrations of some metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Co).