Abstract
The transfer of heavy metals through the water-aquatic plant-aquatic insect system was studied using the plant, Eichhornia crassipes Solms, and their specific feeders, Neochetina eichhornae. Plants exposed to known cadmium, zinc, mercury, and manganese conentrations for one week were fed to insects. Metal accumulation in plant roots was higher than bioaccumulation in aerial plant parts. The biotransfer of metals is represented by a simple food chain model representing transfer of metals from polluted waters to insects via aquatic plants.