Relation Between Total Body Weight and Concentrations of Manganese, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Mercury in White Muscle of Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and a Bathyl-Demersal Fish Antimora rostrata

Abstract

Concentrations of mercury (Hg) increased significantly with size (P < 0.001) in white muscle of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and a bathyl-demersal fish Antimora rostrata but concentrations of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) either remained constant or decreased. These results indicate that fish residing in two different ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean may be in a steady state with their environment with respect to Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn but not Hg. The observed variations in accumulation patterns of trace metals in muscle of these two species as a function of size are discussed.