Pb in otoliths and opercula of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from oligotrophic lakes

We investigated the concentrations of Pb ([Pb]) in calcified tissues (opercula and otoliths) of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from oligotrophic lakes. Fish were collected from 5 Alpine lakes in Northern Tyrol, Austria, spanning wide ranges in altitude and physicochemical water characteristics. In both opercula and otoliths [Pb] correlated significantly positive with the age of fish. In the opercula [Pb] correlated negatively with alkalinity, Ca concentration and pH of the lakes, thereby reflecting an increased uptake of the metal in low-alkalinity waters. However, [Pb] in otoliths did not correlate with any of these water characteristics. The tissue-specific differences in the accumulation of Pb indicate different metabolic pathways for Pb incorporation into otoliths and opercula in Arctic char.