ABSTRACT
The experimental trophic chain is an excellent model by which to quantify bioaccumulation and transfer processes between prey and predator. Ecotoxicological models — experimental trophic chains and experimental ecosystems — appealed to us because they represent an intermediate degree of complexity. Only experimental ecosystems on the laboratory scale have an interactive biological structure and their degree of complexity is closely dependent on the number of species present and the importance of the alimentary transfers. The experimental trophic chain is an excellent model by which to quantify bioaccumulation and transfer processes between prey and predator. An analysis of bioaccumulation results expressed as concentrations reveals a decrease in the gaps between the two abiotic conditions studied, and even inversions, compared with the readings for the corresponding mercury contents. Transfers represent the flux of contaminants between the different abiotic and biotic compartments and accumulation represents the quantities stored in each of these compartments.
