INTERPHASE AND TROPHIC RELATIONSHIPS OF METALS IN A SOUTHERN BALTIC ECOSYSTEM

On the basis of earlier experiments, the concentration factor (CF) and the discrimination factor (DF) for Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, U and Th in representative biota in the southern Baltic biosphere were computed. These factors showed that organisms accumulated Fe and Pb to a high extent and discriminated against U. Plankton are important for translocating certain trace metals, especially Fe, Pb and Cu from surficial waters to bottom sediments. The transfer factor (TF) indicates that, in principle, there is no biomagnification of the trace metals analyzed along the successive trophic levels from potential prey to predators of the southern Baltic.