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Borrell A, Garcia-Garin O, Aguilar A, Vighi M, Valdivia M, González EM, Páez-Rosas D, Drago M. High aluminum content in bone of marine mammals and its relation with source levels and origin. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121936. [PMID: 37263563 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Although aluminum is widely distributed in the earth's crust, its environmental availability and wildlife assimilation rates are only partially known. Here we analyze aluminum concentrations in bone from 10 species of marine mammals inhabiting 3 geographic areas subject to different aluminum inputs: the Río de la Plata estuary (Uruguay), the coastal waters of Mauritania and the Galapagos archipelago (Ecuador). Overall, concentrations were unusually high as compared to those of terrestrial animals, with lowest concentrations in the Galapagos archipelago, then the Río de la Plata estuary and finally Mauritania. The aluminum source varied between regions, prevailing anthropogenic sources in the Río de la Plata Estuary and natural sources (wind-blown dust) in Mauritanian waters. The type of source determined contamination levels: anthropogenic sources were most significant for coastal species and showed a decline with distance of habitat from shoreline, while natural sources had a higher influence on open waters because of the dearth of biogenic silica that eliminates aluminum from the water column. Since aluminum remains in bone for several decades, marine mammal bone reflects historical levels of aluminum and therefore is a good bioindicator of the aluminum concentration of the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Borrell
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
| | - O Garcia-Garin
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - A Aguilar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - M Vighi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - M Valdivia
- National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - E M González
- National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - D Páez-Rosas
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Galapagos Science Center, Isla San Cristóbal, EC200150, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador; Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Unidad Técnica Operativa San Cristóbal, Isla San Cristóbal, EC200150, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - M Drago
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
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Arregui M, Josa M, Aguilar A, Borrell A. Isotopic homogeneity throughout the skin in small cetaceans. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2017; 31:1551-1557. [PMID: 28700111 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Isotope ratios from skin samples have been widely used to study cetacean trophic ecology. Usually, isotopic skin uniformity has been assumed, despite the heterogeneity of this tissue. This study aims to investigate (1) regional isotopic variation within the skin in cetaceans, and (2) isotopic variation among internal tissues. METHODS Stable carbon (δ13 C values) and nitrogen (δ15 N values) isotope ratios were measured in 11 skin positions in 10 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and 9 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). In addition, the isotope ratios in the muscle, liver and kidney of both species were determined and compared with those from the skin and from all tissues combined. The signatures were determined by means of elemental analyser/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS). RESULTS In both species, no differences between isotope ratios of the skin positions were found. Moreover, the isotope ratios of skin were similar to those of muscle. In contrast, liver and kidney showed higher isotope ratios than muscle and skin. CONCLUSIONS Isotopic homogeneity within the skin suggests that the isotope ratios of a sample from a specific skin position can be considered representative of the ratios from the entire skin tissue in dolphins. This conclusion validates the results of previous stable isotope analyses in dolphins that used skin samples as representative of the whole skin tissue. Isotopic similarities or dissimilarities among tissues should be considered when analysing different tissues and comparing results from the same or different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Arregui
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Josa
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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Loizaga de Castro R, Saporiti F, Vales DG, García NA, Cardona L, Crespo EA. What are you eating? A stable isotope insight into the trophic ecology of short-beaked common dolphins in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Mamm Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Tatsch ACC, Secchi ER, Botta S. Effects of acidification, lipid removal and mathematical normalization on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions in beaked whale (Ziphiidae) bone. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2016; 30:460-466. [PMID: 26754138 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The analysis of stable isotopes in tissues such as teeth and bones has been used to study long-term trophic ecology and habitat use in marine mammals. However, carbon isotope ratios (δ(13) C values) can be altered by the presence of (12) C-rich lipids and carbonates. Lipid extraction and acidification are common treatments used to remove these compounds. The impact of lipids and carbonates on carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ(15) N values), however, varies among tissues and/or species, requiring taxon-specific protocols to be developed. METHODS The effects of lipid extraction and acidification and their interaction on carbon and nitrogen isotope values were studied for beaked whale (Ziphiidae) bone samples. δ(13) C and δ(15) N values were determined in quadruplicate samples: control, lipid-extracted, acidified and lipid-extracted followed by acidification. Samples were analyzed by means of elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the efficiency of five mathematical models developed for estimating lipid-normalized δ(13) C values from untreated δ(13) C values was tested. RESULTS Significant increases in δ(13) C values were observed after lipid extraction. No significant changes in δ(13) C values were found in acidified samples. An interaction between both treatments was demonstrated for δ(13) C but not for δ(15) N values. No change was observed in δ(15) N values for lipid-extracted and/or acidified samples. Although all tested models presented good predictive power to estimate lipid-free δ(13) C values, linear models performed best. CONCLUSIONS Given the observed changes in δ(13) C values after lipid extraction, we recommend a priori lipid extraction or a posteriori lipid normalization, through simple linear models, for beaked whale bones. Furthermore, acidification seems to be an unnecessary step before stable isotope analysis, at least for bone samples of ziphiids. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina C Tatsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha - ECOMEGA, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha - ECOMEGA, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha - ECOMEGA, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
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