Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in the Anemone Paraphelliactis pabista Dunn, 1982 (Actiniaria: Hormathiidae) from the Hydrothermal System of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California

A single specimen of the anemone Paraphelliactis pabista was recovered from the Southern Trough of Guaymas Basin during the deep-sea expedition Extreme 2008 conducted onboard the R/V Atlantis/DSRV-2 ALVIN. We studied the bioaccumulation capacity of heavy metals in various tissues of the anemone (oral disk-columella-pedal disk), and retention or adhesion of mineral particles in the epidermis, mesoglea, and gastrodermis. The digested tissues were analyzed for As, Ba, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This analysis revealed the capacity of P. pabista for accumulating heavy metals. The predominant mineral particles identified in tissue samples was barite followed by Fe, aluminum-silicates, Sr, and with less presence Cr, Ti, and pyrite. Of the three body compartments analyzed of this anemone, the oral and pedal disks show a greater capacity of bioaccumulation of heavy metals than the columella.