Appropriateness of Aufwuchs as a monitor of bioaccumulation

Aufwuchs, procedurally defined as material accumulating on submerged surfaces, is being used increasingly to monitor trace element bioaccumulation in aquatic biota. Procedurally-defined aufwuchs is a complex mixture of biotic and abiotic components. Both biotic and abiotic components can be avid concentrators of trace elements. Consequently, bioaccumulation data generated from poorly-characterized, procedurally-defined aufwuchs may not accurately reflect accumulation by biota. Further, total concentrations of trace elements in procedurally-defined aufwuchs may not be indicative fo the amount of contaminant available for trophic transfer. Methods of minimizing abiotic component contribution to trace element accumulation and means of assessing the bioavailability of associated trace elements are discussed in this review.