TOXAPHENE IN AMPHIPODS AND ZOOPLANKTON FROM THE ARCTIC-OCEAN

Lysianassid amphipods (Eurythenes gryllus) trapped at abyssal depths in the Arctic Ocean over the Alpha Ridge contained higher concentrations of toxaphene (polychlorinated camphenes, PCCs) (mean +/- S.D. = 2300 +/- 960 ng g-1 wet weight, 16500 +/- 7900 ng g-1 lipid) than smaller species (Anonyx, Tmetonyx, Onisimus) (143 +/- 135 ng g-1 wet weight, 1730 +/- 1240 ng g-1 lipid) captured on the continental shelf adjacent to Axel Heiburg and Ellef Ringnes Islands. Zooplankton collected over the shelf contained PCC concentrations more than an order-of-magnitude lower than amphipods (3.6 +/- 2.0 ng g-1 wet weight, 67 +/- 45 ng g-1 lipid). Heavier PCCs containing eight and nine chlorines were selectively accumulated by both amphipods and zooplankton. The data are combined with previously published observations to construct a hypothetical food web and to calculate bio-magnification factors for PCCs between probably predator-prey links.