The impact of several factors on the assimilation efficiency (AE) of Cd and Zn from food in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was studied. Tested prey species were midge larvae (Chironomus riparius), zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and oligochaetes (Tubifex tubifex). The Cd load of the larvae did not affect the Cd AE in the carp. The Zn AE however, was negatively related to the Zn load of the prey. Food quantity and starvation of the carp did not significantly affect the Cd AE. For Zn, a significant decrease in AE was found when carp were fed ad libitum. Decreasing the temperature from 25 °C to 15 °C did not influence the Cd AE, while for Zn a significant decrease of the AE was measured. Carp assimilated Cd from both zebra mussels and oligochaetes with a significantly lower efficiency in comparison to the midge larvae, although Zn AEs was prey independent.

Assimilation efficiency of Cd and Zn in food of carp is affected by metal load, prey type and temperature.

Keywords: Cyprinus carpio; Assimilation efficiency (AE); Heavy metals; Temperature; Food type


Auteur: Environmental Pollution, Volume 145, Issue 3, February 2007, Pages 905-914
Herkomst: K. Van Campenhout, L. Bervoets, R. Blust