The use of the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, Girard) as indicator of the bioavailability of heavy metals in environmental monitoring in the River Guadiamar (SW, Spain).

A translocation experiment of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) to different sites located in the River Guadiamar was performed in order to assess the ability of this species as bioindicator of heavy metal and metalloid contamination. Crayfish were placed in cages and exposed to polluted environment during either 6 or 12days in the three sites with different concentration of contaminants. Their tissues (exoskeleton+gills, hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle) were dissected and analysed by ICP-MS to assess for concentration of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and As.