79
POTASSIUM AND CESIUM-137 IN BIRGUS LATRO
les
on
vet
at
“as
id.
he
res
is
mm
57)
im
rer
im
gh
lly
roportional amounts under changing conditions of precipitation andfertilization
(Cole et al., 1959). However, at the second or higher trophic level, represented by
Birgus, if any such relationship exists between the uptake of cesium andpotassium,
it is masked by several unknown variables in the ecosystem.
SUMMARY
Radiocesium and stable potassium levels were determined in samples of muscle
tissue of Birgus latro, the coconutcrab,collected at Rongelap Atoll, Marshall Islands,
. during March and August, 1958, and March 1959, and at Utirik Atoll in March 1959.
Levels of cesium-137 ranged between 731 d/m/g dry weight at Kabelle Island,
Rongelap Atoll, and 28 d/m/g dry weight at Utirik Island, Utirik Atoll.
deviation of 3.66.
levels was found.
No significant correlation between cesium-137 and potassium
There was nosignificant difference in the average levels of cesium-
137 in crabs collected at different times at the sameisland.
TaBLe I
Potassium and cesium-137 in Birgus latro (coconut crab) muscle collected at
Rongelap Atoll and Utirik Island, Utirik Atoll
Kabelle Island
1
:
*
| Sample
,
Vin
.
(340
March 1958
(dry season)
35
36°
37
38
.
ee
els
}
ity
August 1958
(wet season)
lap
‘els
nd
ich
ely
7
8
9
10
:
12
|
March 1959
(dry season)
1
1;
;
exive
nts
ap,
Potassium
dry weight
dry weight
d/m/g
me/g
604
1
2
|
5
3
|
S.D.= 85
/eK
|
|
'
:
20489
au
|
18594
13789
10447
15092
4.212
3.794
3.591
4.082
3.743
i
17.25
14.68
11.99
15.03
11.92
13.87
—-
|
|
17258
13440
17056
9741
24564
10519
|
|
|
|
|
4.930
3.480
3.807
4.308
3.946
3.660
Av. = 14.12. Av. = 15430 Av. = 4.022
S.D.= 2.02 SD.= 5474 S.D. = 0.424
619
Av. = 630
|
Wet/dry
—-
524s:
731
.
| pmuec cst?»
Av. = 13.14 Av. = 15682 Av. = 3.884
S.D.= 281 S.D.= 3966 S.D. = 0.252
324
645
| Cesium Unit
10.32
11.40
17.68
13.04
650
Av. = 475
S.D.= 150
|
:
|
661
438
454
325
i
13.28
426
349
* 410
437
Av. = 445
$.D.= 9
he
:0n
It
Cesium-137
oo
ore
IS
The
average potassium value for all samples was 13.05 mg/g dry weight with a standard
°
i
18546
4.470
12.64
22065
4.330
12.00
24217
5.140
11.76
27993
4.840
Av. = 12.28 Av. = 23205 Av. = 4,695
SD.= 047 S.D.= 3956 S.D. = 0,366