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Can a sponge fractionate isotopes?

B Patel, S Patel, M C Balani

    Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
    |March 22, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Two sponge species, Spirastrella cuspidifera and Prostylyssa foetida, selectively bioaccumulate heavy metals and radionuclides from nuclear power station discharges. They exhibit species-specific uptake, demonstrating unique heavy metal and radioisotope accumulation patterns.

    Area of Science:

    • Marine Biology
    • Environmental Science
    • Biogeochemistry

    Background:

    • Siliceous sponges inhabit diverse marine environments, including those affected by anthropogenic activities.
    • Nuclear power stations release low-level radioactive waste, introducing radionuclides into marine ecosystems.
    • Understanding heavy metal and radionuclide bioaccumulation in marine organisms is crucial for assessing environmental pollution.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the species-specific bioaccumulation of heavy metals and radionuclides by two sponge species, Spirastrella cuspidifera and Prostylyssa foetida.
    • To determine the differential uptake of specific isotopes by these sponges from controlled low-level waste discharges.
    • To explore potential mechanisms behind the observed selective bioaccumulation and isotopic discrimination.

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    Main Methods:

    • Collection of sponge samples (Spirastrella cuspidifera and Prostylyssa foetida) from a shared microecological niche.
    • Analysis of heavy metal ion concentrations within the sponge tissues.
    • Measurement of radionuclide concentrations (60Co, 63Ni, 137Cs, 131I) and specific activities in sponges and ambient seawater.
    • Comparison of bioaccumulation factors and specific activities between sponge species and abiotic matrices.

    Main Results:

    • Both sponge species exhibited high species specificity in accumulating heavy metal ions (Ni, Cr, Cd, Sn, Ti, Mo, Zr).
    • Spirastrella cuspidifera selectively accumulated 60Co and 63Ni, while discriminating against 137Cs and 131I.
    • Prostylyssa foetida selectively accumulated 131I, discriminating against other radionuclides including 60Co.
    • Specific activities of accumulated radionuclides in sponges were significantly higher than in ambient seawater, indicating preferential uptake.

    Conclusions:

    • Sponges demonstrate remarkable species-specific bioaccumulation and preferential uptake of specific elemental isotopes, even when available in the same chemical form.
    • Differential uptake mechanisms, potentially involving physicochemical form or mass-based isotopic fractionation, explain the observed selectivity.
    • Monitoring of coastal and estuarine sponges is recommended for detecting anthropogenic pollution levels due to their bioaccumulation capabilities.