Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
15th Edition
ISBN: 9781337408332
Author: Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher: Cengage Learning
bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 48, Problem 1DAA

Bioaccumlation in tuna Bluefin tuna are among the fishes that were exposed to radioactive material released into the sea by the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant (Section 47.1). These tuna breed in the western Pacific, and some migrate to the Eastern Pacific when they are 1 to 2 years old. Daniel Madigan suspected that migrating tuna would transport radioactive material to the waters off the coast of California. To test this hypothesis, he and his collaborators analyzed the concentration of cesium radioisotopes (137Cs and 134Cs) in bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna caught near San Diego in August 2011. Yellowfin tuna do not cross the Pacific; they spend their lives in California's coastal waters. The scientists compared these data with the radioisotope content of bluefin tuna that had been caught near San Diego in 2008. FIGURE 48.9 shows their results.

Chapter 48, Problem 1DAA, Bioaccumlation in tuna Bluefin tuna are among the fishes that were exposed to radioactive material

FIGURE 48.9 Radioactive cesium (Cs) concentration in two species of tuna caught along the coast of California.

137Cs has a half-life of 30 years and some persists in the Pacific from weapons testing. 134Cs has a half-life of 2 years and was undetectable in the Pacific prior to the accident at Fukushima. Becquerels (Bq) is a measure of radioactivity.

How did the radioisotope content of the bluefin tuna caught in August of 2011 compare to that of bluefins caught in 2008 (before the Fukushima accident)?

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

To determine: How the radioactive content of the bluefin tuna caught in August of 2011 compare to that of bluefins caught in 2008 (before the Fukushima accident).

Concept introduction: Bioaccumulation is the concentration of a pollutant inside an organism’s tissues causing the amount of the pollutants to increase over time. Trophic level also affects the pollutant concentration by the process of biological magnification The concentration of the chemical increases as the pollutant moves up the food chain. Bioaccumulation and biological magnification even in low concentrations (depending on toxic potential) can have detrimental effects on a species.

Explanation of Solution

The powerful earthquake occurred in the northeast coast of Japan in March 2011 caused tsunami that killed 15,000 people. During this time, the nuclear power plant on the shore of the city Fukushima became damaged and released some radioactive materials into the air and sea. The water was polluted with cesium 137 (137Cs), a radioactive material having a half-life of 30 years.

The bluefin tuna are among the fishes that were exposed to radioactive materials released into the sea. These tuna fishes breed in the western Pacific and some migrate to the Eastern Pacific when they are 1 to 2 years old. Researcher D suspected that the tuna might have transported the radioactive material off the coast of California. To test this hypothesis, the concentration of cesium radioisotopes (137Cs and 134Cs) in bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna caught near the San Diego in August 2011were analyzed for the presence of cesium.

The yellowfin tuna reside in the California’s coastal water and they do not cross the Pacific. Therefore, the presence of cesium in yellowfin tuna was compared with bluefin tuna.

Refer to Fig. 48.9, “Radioactive (Cs) concentration in two species of tuna caught along the coast of California” in the question. From the figure, the bluefin tuna caught in 2011 have 6.3 Bq and 4 Bq of 137Cs and 134Cs, respectively; whereas the bluefin tuna caught in 2008 have 1.4 Bq and 0 Bq of 137Cs and 134Cs, respectively.

Therefore, the bluefin tuna caught after the Fukushima nuclear plant incident (2011) have a higher level of cesium radioactivity than the bluefin tuna caught before the incident (2008).

Conclusion

134Cs radioisotope and a lower level of 137Cs were found in the bluefin tuna caught in 2008; however, the tuna caught after the accident in 2011 contained a higher level of both radioisotopes.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Marine biology question 6) Just before the beginning of the fishing season you capture, tag, and release 4500 adult cod (Gadus morhua) from the Barents Sea. At the end of the season you learn from the United Kingdom Trawler Fleet working these waters that a total 195,500 fish were taken in the season, of which 1,950 fish were found bearing your tag. From these data calculate the “fishing ratio”, also known as the rate of exploitation, of this fishery. What was the size of the cod population actually available to this fishery at the beginning of the season?
Every day, Sulfur surface coverage doubles in a pond On Day 30, the surface of the pond is completly covered.  What was the first day that greater than 30% of the pond was covered?
1) dissolved inorganic carbon such as bicarbonate, is plentiful in the surface ocean. a- In one sentence, what is the biological pump? b- What must happen for dissolved organic carbon to get exported to the deep ocean via the biological pump? Describe at least 2 steps
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...
Biology
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305389892
Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:9781947172517
Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:OpenStax
MARINE ECOSYSTEM (Animation); Author: EarthPen;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wrUr0esoI0;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY