Leonard Falkowski

Accumulation of 210Po in Baltic invertebrates

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the 210Po contents of Baltic marine invertebrates. The 210Po concentrations fall within the range 11·3–78·9 Bq kg−1 (dry wt), the higher values relating to polychaeta, priapulida and malacostraca and the lower levels to bivalvia. It is demonstrated that 10Po is non-uniformly distributed within the isopod Mesidotea entomon and the bivalve Mya arenaria. The 210Po contents of the internal organs decreasing in the order-hepatopancreas > alimentary tract > gill > muscle. Moreover, the results indicate the dominant role of the digestive organs of these invertebrates in controlling absorption and elimination of 210Po.

Effect of amino acids on the toxicity of heavy metals to phytoplankton

Heavy metals distribution in the sea water can be indispensable or delitorious for the organisms living in that environment depending on their concentration and speciation. The bioavailability as well as toxicity of the elements are strongly influenced by the organic matter dissolved in water. The effect of a number of organic compounds, including amino acids, on the toxicity of heavy metals was tested, but there were no reports elucidating compounds representing various types of structure. This paper deals with the effect of amino acids representing various structure groups on the toxicity of copper, cadmium and mercury against to Chlorella vulgaris and Anabeana variabilis.

Seasonal changes in condition and lipids composition of the bivalve Macoma balthica L. from the Gulf of Gdańsk (Southern Baltic)

Abstract 1. 1. The total lipids content and composition of lipid classes, their per cent in dry wt of soft tissues and level in standard animal, as well as composition of fatty acids and sterols were studied in Macoma balthica collected from three sites in the Gulf of Gdansk, in the years, 1983–1984. 2. 2. The increase in the content of total lipids, triacylglycerols, oleopalmitic, 16:1 and eicosapentaenoic acids, 20:5, C27 sterols (mainly cholest-5en-3β-ol), in spring and early summer and their decrease in autumn and winter were observed. 3. 3. Content of phospholipids, sterols and hydrocarbons in the tissue dry wt of Macoma balthica remained nearly constant.

Microgeographic differentiation in the lipid composition of the bivalve Macoma balthica from the gulf of Gdańsk (Southern Baltic)

Differentiation in lipid content, composition of lipid classes, fatty acids and sterols of Macoma balthica (L.) collected from various parts of the Gulf of Gdańsk was observed. The clams taken from the Inner Puck Bay contained significantly lower amounts of lipids, particularly of triglycerides, oleopalmitic acid and 24-methylenecholesterol. It is suggested that this differentiation is related to variability of trophic conditions in the Gulf of Gdańsk.

Sterol composition of Mesidothea entomon L. (Isopoda, Crustacea)

Abstract 1. 1. The sterol composition of Mesidothea entomon (Isopoda, Crustacea) was investigated by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 2. 2. As the major components of the sterol fraction from M. entomon the following compounds were identified: 24-norcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 5α-cholestan-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol and 24-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol.