Metal accumulation in arthropods near a lead/zinc smelter in Arnoldstein, Austria. III. Arachnida.

The present paper completes a comprehensive survey of metal accumulation in terrestrial arthropods in the vicinity of a lead/zinc smelter in Arnoldstein, Austria, focusing on Opiliones and Araneae. Both groups are abundant and diverse non-selective predators, yet exhibit different ecophysiological characteristics. Cadmium, copper and zinc levels adjust at relatively similar levels, regardless of species or even site, whereas lead accumulation was both species- and site-specific. Higher metal concentrations in males contradict the sex-specific metal accumulation patterns found in most other arthropod species. No phenological alterations could be detected from capture data. A negative relationship was found in most species between metal concentration and dry weight. Regulation of two essential elements, copper and zinc, seemed to occur, whereas evidence pointed to a high accumulation potential for the non-essential elements lead and cadmium. Interpretations and implications are discussed in the light of ecophysiological literature.