Nineteen trace elements in marine copepods collected from the coastal waters off northeastern Taiwan

• This study analyzed 19 elements in copepods from the coastal waters off NE Taiwan.
• The trace elements between inter and intra-species copepods varied substantially.
• Trace elements can be divided into five groups based on their contents in copepods.
• The trace element content quantity in copepods in each group was nearly ten folds.
• The log BCF values for 19 trace elements in copepods ranged from 1.32 to 5.66.

This study analyzed nineteen trace elements in marine copepods collected from the coastal waters off Northeastern Taiwan. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) of the analyzed elements in copepods are discussed. Owing to the upwelling intrusion of Kuroshio Water, the study area presented an enriched copepod community and the copepod abundance ranged within 106–4890 ind. m−3. The trace elements content in the analyzed copepods varied substantially, ranging from 0.01 to 780 mg kg−1. and the average concentration followed the sequence: Sr>Fe>Zn>Cr>Li>Ni>Mn>Ba>Cu>Se>As>V>Pb>Rb>Cd>Co>Ga>Ag>Cs. The trace elements can be divided into five groups according to the concentration quantity in copepods: (1) Sr; (2) Fe, Zn, Cr, Li and Ni; (3) Mn, Cu, Ba, Se, As, V, Pb and Rb; (4) Cd, Co and Ga; (5) Ag and Cs. The concentration difference in each group is nearly one order of magnitude. The trace element concentrations in copepods seem to be in proportion to the dissolved concentrations in seawater. The trace element log BCF values ranged within 1.32–5.66. Transition metals generally have a higher BCF value than the associated minor elements, such as Ba, Sr, Li and Rb. The trace element BCF value in copepods is in inverse proportion to the dissolved concentrations in seawater.