Predicting aqueous copper and zinc accumulation in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea maremetens through the use of biokinetic models

Jellyfish have a demonstrated capability to accumulate metals within their tissues, but to date, there have been no quantitative assessments of accumulation and retention rates and patterns. Bioconcentration patterns of copper and zinc in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea maremetens were modelled over a 28-day study (14 days exposure followed by 14 days clearance). C. maremetens accumulated copper over 14 days with the maximum calculated copper concentrations at 33.78 μg g−1 dry weight and bioconcentrated to 99 times water concentrations. Zinc was also accumulated during the exposure period and retained for longer. The maximum theoretical zinc concentration was 125.1 μg g−1 dry weight with a kinetic bioconcentration factor of 104. The patterns of uptake and retention were different between the elements. The use of kinetic models provided adequate predictions of aqueous metal uptake and retention in C. maremetens. This species has the capacity to very rapidly absorb measurable metals from short-term water–metal exposure.