Behavior of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in biota of Yangtze Estuary

The contents of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium were measured in the dominant species (plants: Scripus triquetor and Phrgrmites australis, macrobenthos: llyoplax deschampsin, Helice tridens tientsinensis, Bullacta exarata and Corbicula fluminea, and migrating waders: Calidris ruficollis and C. alpina) of the ecosystem of Yangtze Estuary, China, from 1995-1998. Results show that:     

Distribution of Cd and Pb in a wetland ecosystem

Cadmium and lead contents in sediments, dominant species of plants (Phargmites aus-tralis and Scripus mariquter), benthos (Helice tridens tientsinensis, llyoplax deschampsi, and Bul-lacta exarata), and waders (Calidris ruficollis) on the Eastern End of Chongming Island were measured. The results showed that, for cadmium, there are clear stratification in the sediment of reclaimed area and bio-amplification in food chain. However, for lead, a phenomenon was different. The amplification factors (AFs) for cadmium of primary producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers were 2.59-12.38, 0.09-8.44, and 51.1, respectively. For lead, AFs of primary producers, primary consumers and the top trophic layer were 0.29-2.62, 0.06-5.62, and 7.31, respectively. Each species of macrobenthos showed different strategies to cadmium and lead. Large-sized crabs accumulated more lead, while small-sized crabs and snails accumulated more cadmium. Waders had significantly highest AFs for cadmium and lead in the study. Tha