Sediment Processing
With their widespread abundance and survival capacities, coupled with sediment processing capabilities, L. medusa and other benthic-macrofauna constantly influence the cycling of sediment-associated organic contaminates (i.e. 2-chlorobiphenyl, pyrene, 2,2'5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, and benzo(a)pyrene) in the benthic boundary layer of both estuarine and coastal systems(R. Seitz & L. Schaffner, 1995). L. medusa plays a particularly important role in the nutrient and organic matter cycling and replenishment of the ecosystems in which it resides. It’s been observed to both accumulate and metabolise specific sediment-associated organic contaminants. The high bioaccumulation factors observed within L. medusa individuals reveal the rapid uptake of organic contaminants from the sediments in which they live. Furthermore this species is documented to obtain a large aqueous soluble metabolite body burden which suggest a rapid metabolism coupled with a slow elimination of sediment-associated organic contaminants by L. medusa (R. Seitz & L. Schaffner, 1995). The impacts that these toxic compounds have upon the organism is still under investigation, as to are the mechanisms of bioaccumulation and metabolism. |