Gastropods as potential biomonitors of contamination caused by heavy metals in South Ural lakes, Russia

Gastropods have long been used as biomonitors of the contamination caused by heavy metals (HMs) in aquatic environments. The main aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using three species of gastropods (Contectiana listen, Lymnaea stagnalis and Bithynia tentaculata) to monitor HMs (Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) concentration in the lakes of South Ural. Samples were taken from two lakes (in June-July 2015): (1) Lake Ilmenskoe (a reference area), and (2) Lake Tabankul (considered disturbed). Heavy metal concentration in the three species of gastropods was measured using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The highest values of bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were found for Cu and Zn in the gastropods' soft tissues. A significant correlation coefficient of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe concentration in the soft tissues and shells and HM concentration in water was found for all the studied species.