Abstract

The purpose of this study was to monitor zinc (Zn) concentrations in Cherax tenuimanus, and then assess if the marron regulated the tissue concentrations of this essential trace metal. This was achieved via the determination of Zn accumulated concentrations in the hepatopancreas, gill and abdominal muscle from both a cross-sectional and longitudinal sampling regime. At each sampling time, marron were randomly selected from each representative group and tissue samples taken from the hepatopancreas (metabolism), gills (point of entry) and abdominal muscle (edible portion). The tissue was analysed for Zn concentrations in each tissue (mg Zn g^-1 dry tissue weight) over the different age classes. Younger marron (7 months) had significantly higher concentrations of Zn in their hepatopancreas, gills and abdominal muscle than all other age groups. There were no significant differences in the Zn levels of all other age groups. However, an increase of age was associated with an increase body weight, which meant the actual Zn content was greater in the older larger animals, accompanied by a growth dilution of actual Zn concentrations within the various tissues. Consequently, it appeared that marron regulate Zn, and the higher levels found in the younger, smaller marron might reflect the higher weight-specific metabolic rate inherent in smaller animals and be a function of their larger surface area to volume size ratio, resulting in a faster uptake of Zn.

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