Elemental Composition and Freezing Tolerance in High Arctic Fishes and Invertebrates

Abstract

The elemental composition in different Arctic fishes and invertebrates was investigated using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICPMS). Nineteen elements such as Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Bismuth (Bi), Cadmium (Cd), Cesium (Cs), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Rubidium (Rb), Selinium (Se), Silver (Ag), Strontium (Sr), Uranium (U), Vanadium (V), and Zinc (Zn) were analyzed in six species of fishes (Anarhichas lupus, Gadus ogac, Gadus morhu, Gymnocanthus tricuspis, Liparis sp., Myoxocephalus scorpius) and four benthic invertebrates (Ophiura albida, O. Sarsii, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, Polychaete). Elemental data revealed that the invertebrates accumulate higher concentrations of elements than the fishes. The high concentration of elements including Sr, As, and Zn indicated anthropogenic contribution and may affect the fish community in the fragile ecosystem of the High Arctic. The movement of tourists and logistics must be regulated to prevent serious change in Svalbard. Most of the fishes have shown strong antifreeze protein (AFP) activity, and this potential helps fishes to survive in the cold Arctic environment. This is the first study of elemental concentrations and AFPs in fishes and benthic invertebrates filling the knowledge gap from the High Arctic. © 2022 by the authors.