Metal bioaccumulation by the cold-water octocoral Dentomuricea aff. meteor during an ex-situ experiment testing the effects of mining-generated sediment plumes

We report the results of an aquaria-based experiment testing the effects of suspended particles generated during potential mining activities, on a common habitat-building coral species in the Azores, Dentomuricea aff. meteor. Coral fragments were maintained in 10-L aquaria and exposed to three experimental treatments for a period of four weeks at the DeepSeaLab aquaria facilities (Okeanos-University of the Azores): (1) control conditions (no added sediments); (2) suspended polymetallic sulphide (PMS) particles; (3) suspended quartz particles. Trace elements in the tissues and skeletons of corals at the end of the experiment were quantified by a quadrupole ICPMS (Thermo Elemental, X-Series). The metal concentrations in coral tissues are given in microgram per gram of dry weight tissue (μg g-1; dw).