Fe and Mn in Antarctic bivales: Indicators of change in near-shore biogeochemistry?

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We test the hypothesis that trace element (Fe, Mn) concentrations in both tissues and shell matrix of the Antarctic soft shell clam Laternula elliptica reflect melt water driven trace element load in the environment. The tissue should reflect the acute concentrations, whereas the shell archives signals of glacial development and melt-ing in space and over time. Trace element uptake, incorporation and release by the bivalve L. elliptica will be investigated in experiments, by exposing bivalves to par-ticulate and dissolved iron (Fe). Fe uptake into different tissues and the pathways of incorporation into shell will be analyzed. Further, animals will be collected from sites with fast and slow glacier melt rates at King-George Island and incorporation of Fe and Mn into yearly growth bands measured with LA-ICP-MS.