First data on uranium uptake in three nototheniid fishes from Antarctica (James Ross Island)

Recent studies have confirmed historic atmospheric deposition of uranium in Antarctica, with a steep and significant increase in levels deposited since the 1980s in Antarctic Peninsula ice core samples. To date, however, there has been little or no attention paid to uranium in the Antarctic food web. Here, we present results for uranium content in scales of three common nototheniid species (Trematomus bernacchii, Gobionotothen gibberifrons, Notothenia coriiceps) from coastal waters off James Ross Island (Antarctic Peninsula). While mean total uranium levels (mean ± SD) were low and similar between species (N. coriiceps 0.08 μg g−1 ± 0.01, T. bernacchii 0.17 μg g−1 ± 0.10; G. gibberifrons 0.11 μg g−1 ± 0.04), linear regressions against standard length indicated bioaccumulation in T. bernacchii (ANOVA, F = 7.8349, P = 0.0076). We suggest this may be the result of dietary specialisation on prey with calcareous shells that accumulate uranium. To the best of our knowledge, this paper provides the first quantitative baseline data on uranium levels in coastal Antarctic nototheniids. While the low levels recorded are unlikely to represent a threat within the food chain, we suggest that further long-term trophic studies (including stable isotope analysis) are needed, recognising that the feeding ecology of individual species (and even individuals) can have a strong effect on overall trends.