1991 Volume 57 Issue 6 Pages 1095-1102
As one of serial studies on the variation of elemental concentrations in marine organisms, major elements (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P) and trace elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn) in 263 specimens of gonad of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
The differences of the elemental concentrations in gonad were not significant among three sampling years of 1984, 1985 and 1986, although annual differences of gonad indexes were observed. Seasonal variation in the elemental concentrations was observed on magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and zinc. Furthermore, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc indicated clear differences by sex. For example, the concentration of zinc in ovary was several times higher than that in testis. On the contrary, the concentrations of magnesium and phosphorus in testis were higher than those in ovary.
