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Roselli-Laclau A, García-Alonso J, Valdés-Goméz A, Freitas-Souza M, de Rezende CE, Franco-Trecu V. Unveiling mercury levels: Trophic habits influence on bioaccumulation in two Otariid species. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124804. [PMID: 39181301 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Mercury, a toxic metal released by various human activities, exerts environmental stress through its bioaccumulation and biomagnification, particularly in marine habitats. South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and sea lions (Otaria flavescens) reproduce on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay. As top predators, they can accumulate toxic levels of mercury and are often used as sentinel species for monitoring ecosystem health. Fur seals prey on pelagic species, such as fish and squid, while sea lions consume coastal-benthic prey. We analyzed the total mercury concentration (THg) in hair and the trophic habits (δ13C and δ15N) of females from both species. The average THg concentration in adult female sea lions (30.5 ± 9.3 μg/g dry weight) was significantly higher than in fur seals (6.3 ± 2.5 μg/g dry weight). Additionally, the mean δ15N and δ13C values were significantly higher in sea lion (δ15N: 19.2 ± 0.6‰, δ13C: -13.8 ± 0.2‰) compared to fur seals (δ15N: 16.5 ± 0.5‰, δ13C: -15.5 ± 0.6‰). Our results suggest that different trophic levels and feedings areas affect the THg concentration in Uruguayan Otariids. Notably, at the intraspecific level, the THg concentration in sea lions increased with δ13C values, suggesting a link to coastal feeding habits. This indicates that coastal feeding behaviors, compared to feeding in pelagic environments, enhance mercury bioaccumulation in Otariids along the Uruguayan coast, with the discharge of freshwater from the Río de la Plata (one of the largest estuaries in South America) basin identified as a potential mercury source. THg concentrations found in female sea lion hair are the highest reported in Otariids globally. Mercury levels exceeded toxic thresholds observed in other mammals and could pose significant health risks. Our findings may explain why sea lions were particularly affected by the avian influenza outbreak in Uruguay compared to fur seals. Monitoring the declining sea lion population is crucial, making our results significant for integrated conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaclara Roselli-Laclau
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo Uruguay; Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Región Este, Universidad de la República, Cachimba del Rey y Aparicio Saravia, 20000, Maldonado, Uruguay.
| | - Javier García-Alonso
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Región Este, Universidad de la República, Cachimba del Rey y Aparicio Saravia, 20000, Maldonado, Uruguay.
| | - Alex Valdés-Goméz
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo Uruguay; Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Región Este, Universidad de la República, Cachimba del Rey y Aparicio Saravia, 20000, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Mariana Freitas-Souza
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28.013-602, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28.013-602, Brazil.
| | - Valentina Franco-Trecu
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo Uruguay.
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2
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Rohonczy J, Chételat J, Robinson SA, Arragutainaq L, Heath JP, McClelland C, Mickpegak R, Forbes MR. Contrasting trophic transfer patterns of cadmium and mercury in the Arctic marine food web of east Hudson Bay, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:20586-20600. [PMID: 38374506 PMCID: PMC10927903 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32268-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
We investigated trophic transfer of cadmium (Cd) through an Arctic marine food web in Hudson Bay and compared it with mercury (Hg), a metal known to strongly biomagnify. We evaluated blue mussel, sea urchin, common eider, sculpin, Arctic cod, and ringed seal for the influence of dietary and biological variables on variation in Cd and Hg concentrations. Age and size influenced metal concentrations among individuals within a vertebrate species. Consumer carbon and sulfur isotope values were correlated with their Cd and Hg concentrations, indicating habitat-specific feeding influenced metal bioaccumulation. Trophic transfer patterns for Cd depended on the vertebrate tissue, with food web biodilution observed for the muscle but not the liver. Liver Cd concentrations were higher in ringed seal and some common eider relative to prey. In contrast, we observed mercury biomagnification for both tissues. Tissue- and species-specific physiology can explain discrepancies of Cd trophic transfer in this Arctic marine food web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Rohonczy
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Stacey A Robinson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | | | - Joel P Heath
- Arctic Eider Society, Sanikiluaq, NU, X0A 0W0, Canada
| | - Christine McClelland
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | | | - Mark R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
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Polizzi P, Romero MB, Chiodi Boudet L, Dolagaratz Carricavur A, Gerpe M. What do small cetaceans tell us about trace elements pollution on the Argentinean coast? Franciscana dolphin as a biomonitor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167428. [PMID: 37793446 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements (TEs) constitute the oldest emerging pollutants globally, most occur from natural sources, but a few are derived from anthropogenic sources. Marine mammals are considered bioindicators of ecosystem contamination. The aims of this review is compile reports on essential and nonessential TEs occurrence in small cetaceans from Argentinean waters; and to review the existing information on the concentration of TEs in the Franciscana dolphin, a biomonitor species of the Argentine coastal marine ecosystem. We searched reports where levels of TEs were present in small cetaceans from and eight species were analysed: Pontoporia blainvillei, Tursiops truncatus gephyreus, Kogia breviceps, Delphinus delphis, Lagenorhynchus obscurus, Lagenodelphis hasei, Cephaloryhchus commersonii and Ziphius cavirostris. Essential TEs like Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, Se, As, Au, Ag, Sn, and nonessential TE as Pb, Cd, Hg, As was considered. The reports compiled in this article analysed kidney, liver, muscle and occasionally brain, skin, lung and spleen, covering a temporal range of 30 years, from 1982 to 2016. Of data analysis, we identify knowledge gaps, species of small cetaceans for which the concentration of trace metals is not yet known and areas on the Argentine coast where there are no reports that analyse them. The most recent information corresponds to the 2010 decade, and in those subsequent publications, the samples were taken at that time. This emphasizes the importance of reviewing this data, in order to compare old and new datasets, create contamination timelines and evaluate possible increases or decreases of contaminants in different study areas. The information recopilated will serve as valuable baselines to detect the future impact of increasing human, even natural, activities on marine ecosystems in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Polizzi
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - M B Romero
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - L Chiodi Boudet
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - A Dolagaratz Carricavur
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - M Gerpe
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, CC1260, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
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4
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Toro-Valdivieso C, Jugdaohsingh R, Powell JJ, Hoffman JI, Forcada J, Moore C, Blacklaws B. Heavy metal contamination in pristine environments: lessons from the Juan Fernandez fur seal ( Arctocephalus philippii philippii). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221237. [PMID: 36998770 PMCID: PMC10049756 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals, including mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd), occur naturally or anthropogenically and are considered toxic to the environment and human health. However, studies on heavy metal contamination focus on locations close to industrialized settlements, while isolated environments with little human activity are often ignored due to perceived low risk. This study reports heavy metal exposure in Juan Fernandez fur seals (JFFS), a marine mammal endemic to an isolated and relatively pristine archipelago off the coast of Chile. We found exceptionally high concentrations of Cd and Hg in JFFS faeces. Indeed, they are among the highest reported for any mammalian species. Following analysis of their prey, we concluded that diet is the most likely source of Cd contamination in JFFS. Furthermore, Cd appears to be absorbed and incorporated into JFFS bones. However, it was not associated with mineral changes observed in other species, suggesting Cd tolerance/adaptations in JFFS bones. The high levels of silicon found in JFFS bones may counteract the effects of Cd. These findings are relevant to biomedical research, food security and the treatment of heavy metal contamination. It also contributes to understanding the ecological role of JFFS and highlights the need for surveillance of apparently pristine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ravin Jugdaohsingh
- Biominerals Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Jonathan J. Powell
- Biominerals Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Joseph I. Hoffman
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld 33501, Germany
| | - Jaume Forcada
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Charles Moore
- Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148N Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803, USA
| | - Barbara Blacklaws
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
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Charapata P, Clark CT, Miller N, Kienle SS, Costa DP, Goebel ME, Gunn H, Sperou ES, Kanatous SB, Crocker DE, Borras-Chavez R, Trumble SJ. Whiskers provide time-series of toxic and essential trace elements, Se:Hg molar ratios, and stable isotope values of an apex Antarctic predator, the leopard seal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 854:158651. [PMID: 36096211 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In an era of rapid environmental change and increasing human presence, researchers need efficient tools for tracking contaminants to monitor the health of Antarctic flora and fauna. Here, we examined the utility of leopard seal whiskers as a biomonitoring tool that reconstructs time-series of significant ecological and physiological biomarkers. Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are a sentinel species in the Western Antarctic Peninsula due to their apex predator status and top-down effects on several Antarctic species. However, there are few data on their contaminant loads. We analyzed leopard seal whiskers (n = 18 individuals, n = 981 segments) collected during 2018-2019 field seasons to acquire longitudinal profiles of non-essential (Hg, Pb, and Cd) and essential (Se, Cu, and Zn) trace elements, stable isotope (ẟ15N and ẟ13C) values and to assess Hg risk with Se:Hg molar ratios. Whiskers provided between 46 and 286 cumulative days of growth with a mean ~ 125 days per whisker (n = 18). Adult whiskers showed variability in non-essential trace elements over time that could partly be explained by changes in diet. Whisker Hg levels were insufficient (<20 ppm) to consider most seals being at "high" risk for Hg toxicity. Nevertheless, maximum Hg concentrations observed in this study were greater than that of leopard seal hair measured two decades ago. However, variation in the Se:Hg molar ratios over time suggest that Se may detoxify Hg burden in leopard seals. Overall, we provide evidence that the analysis of leopard seal whiskers allows for the reconstruction of time-series ecological and physiological data and can be valuable for opportunistically monitoring the health of the leopard seal population and their Antarctic ecosystem during climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Charapata
- Baylor University, Biology Department, Waco, TX, United States of America.
| | - Casey T Clark
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Research Division, Olympia, WA, United States of America
| | - Nathan Miller
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Sarah S Kienle
- Baylor University, Biology Department, Waco, TX, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael E Goebel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America; Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Heather Gunn
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Emily S Sperou
- Baylor University, Biology Department, Waco, TX, United States of America
| | - Shane B Kanatous
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
| | - Daniel E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, United States of America
| | - Renato Borras-Chavez
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Stephen J Trumble
- Baylor University, Biology Department, Waco, TX, United States of America
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6
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Fernández-Robledo A, Lares ML, Schramm-Urrutia Y. Trace metal concentrations in California sea lions from rookeries exposed to different levels of coastal urbanization in Baja California, Mexico. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114163. [PMID: 36182783 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of total mercury, total selenium, and cadmium ([THg], [TSe], [Cd]) were determined in hair of California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups from four islands of the Gulf of California and the Baja California Pacific coast (NG, CG, NP, and CP) to identify geographical differences and the effect of Se against Hg toxicity (TSe:THg molar ratio). THg displayed a strong north-south trend for both ecoregions, while TSe presented a significantly high concentration only for CG. TSe:THg molar ratios decreased when [THg] increased, with the lowest ratios presenting in NG pups, in which [THg] exceeded toxicological thresholds of concern. [Cd] presented similar values at all study sites except CG, which presented the lowest level. The present study shows that proximity to urbanized coastal areas has a strong influence on [THg] in pups, while [TSe] and [Cd] are probably more related to the physiological requirements of the species, and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fernández-Robledo
- Departamento de Oceanografía Biológica, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada 22860, Baja California, Mexico
| | - M L Lares
- Departamento de Oceanografía Biológica, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada 22860, Baja California, Mexico.
| | - Y Schramm-Urrutia
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Carretera Transpeninsular Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3917, Fraccionamiento Playitas, 22860 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
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7
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McCormack MA, McFee WE, Whitehead HR, Piwetz S, Dutton J. Exploring the Use of SEM-EDS Analysis to Measure the Distribution of Major, Minor, and Trace Elements in Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Teeth. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:2147-2159. [PMID: 34273061 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02809-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Dolphin teeth contain enamel, dentin, and cementum. In dentin, growth layer groups (GLGs), deposited at incremental rates (e.g., annually), are used for aging. Major, minor, and trace elements are incorporated within teeth; their distribution within teeth varies, reflecting tooth function and temporal changes in an individual's exposure. This study used a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to determine the distribution of major (e.g., Ca, P), minor (e.g., Cl, Mg, Na), and trace elements (e.g., Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn) in teeth from 12 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The objective was to compare elemental distributions between enamel and dentin and across GLGs. Across all dolphins and point analyses, the following elements were detected in descending weight percentage (wt %; mean ± SE): O (40.8 ± 0.236), Ca (24.3 ± 0.182), C (14.3 ± 0.409), P (14.0 ± 0.095), Al (4.28 ± 0.295), Mg (1.89 ± 0.047), Na (0.666 ± 0.008), Cl (0.083 ± 0.003). Chlorine and Mg differed between enamel and dentin; Mg increased from the enamel towards the dentin while Cl decreased. The wt % of elements did not vary significantly across the approximate location of the GLGs. Except for Al, which may be due to backscatter from the SEM stub, we did not detect trace elements. Other trace elements, if present, are below the detection limit. Technologies with lower detection limits (e.g., laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)) would be required to confirm the presence and distribution of trace elements in bottlenose dolphin teeth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan A McCormack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Wayne E McFee
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | | | - Sarah Piwetz
- Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Galveston, TX, 77551, USA
| | - Jessica Dutton
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
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Tian J, Gan Z, Sanganyado E, Lu Z, Wu J, Han J, Liu W. Tissue distribution and health risk of trace elements in East Asian finless porpoises. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:118007. [PMID: 34461413 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the tissue distribution, trophic transfer, and ecological risk of 13 trace elements in 26 East Asian finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), an endangered species found in the Liaodong Bay and the north Yellow Sea. All the investigated trace elements were detected in the tissue and food web of the East Asian finless porpoises. The concentrations of the potentially toxic elements were 2.37 × 10-5 - 754 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw) in stranded porpoises and 0.01-159 mg kg-1 dw in their food web. Tissue-specific distribution of the trace elements generally ranked as: liver > kidney > heart > lung > muscle. Zn was the dominant contaminant in the five investigated tissues. Significant positive correlations were found between body length or age and some trace elements, especially Cd. Adults (≥2 years old) presented higher concentrations of most of the trace elements than juveniles (<2 years old). Sex-dependent distribution of the trace elements was insignificant except for Mn, Ni, and Zn in muscle and renal tissue. As, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and V biodiluted across the East Asian finless porpoise food web while Zn biomagnified. However, Hg, Cd, Co, Cr, Se, and Sn did not exhibit apparent trophic transfer trends. Overall, ecological risk assessment of trace elements in East Asian finless porpoises suggested that greater attention should be given to Hg, As, Cd, and Se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashen Tian
- Institute of Marine Science, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, 243 Daxue Road, Shantou City, 515063, China; Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50 Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhiwei Gan
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Institute of Marine Science, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, 243 Daxue Road, Shantou City, 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 511458, China
| | - Zhichuang Lu
- Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50 Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning, China
| | - Jinhao Wu
- Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50 Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiabo Han
- Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50 Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- Institute of Marine Science, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, 243 Daxue Road, Shantou City, 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 511458, China.
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9
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Garcia-Garin O, Borrell A, Vighi M, Aguilar A, Valdivia M, González EM, Drago M. Long-term assessment of trace elements in franciscana dolphins from the Río de la Plata estuary and adjacent Atlantic waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147797. [PMID: 34134375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The estuary of Río de la Plata, in the eastern coast of South America, is a highly anthropized area that brings a high load of contaminants to the surrounding waters, which may have detrimental effects on the local marine fauna. The franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small cetacean species endemic of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN red list. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of 13 trace elements in bone samples from 100 franciscana dolphins that were found stranded dead or incidentally bycaught in the Río de la Plata and adjacent coast between 1953 and 2015. Elements were, in decreasing order of mean concentrations: Zn > Sr > Fe > Al > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > As > Hg > Cd > Se. The concentrations of Al, Cr and Fe were slightly higher in females than in males. The concentrations of As, Ni, and Pb significantly decreased with body length. Throughout the study period, the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni significantly increased, while the concentrations of As, Pb and Sr significantly decreased. The increasing trends may be due to increased inputs from river discharges, the leather industry and petroleum refineries, while the decrease in Pb may be due to the ban in the use of this element as an additive in gasoline and as component of car batteries. This investigation supports the validity of analysing trace element in bone, a tissue available in scientific collections and museums, to retrospectively examine variation over long temporal scales and thus assess long-term trends in pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odei Garcia-Garin
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Morgana Vighi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meica Valdivia
- National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Massimiliano Drago
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Clark CT, Horstmann L, Misarti N. Walrus teeth as biomonitors of trace elements in Arctic marine ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:145500. [PMID: 33571762 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Effective biomonitoring requires an understanding of the factors driving concentrations of the substances or compounds of interest in the tissues of studied organisms. Biomonitoring of trace elements, and heavy metals in particular, has been the focus of much research; however, the complex roles many trace elements play in animal and plant tissues can make it difficult to disentangle environmental signals from physiology. This study examined the concentrations of 15 trace elements in the teeth of 122 Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) to investigate the potential for walrus teeth as biomonitors of trace elements in Arctic ecosystems. Elemental concentrations were measured across cementum growth layer groups (GLGs), thereby reconstructing a lifetime history of element concentrations for each walrus. The locations of GLGs were used to divide trace element time series into individual years, allowing each GLG to be associated with an animal age and a calendar year. The elements studied exhibited a great deal of complexity, reflecting the numerous factors responsible for generating tooth trace element concentrations. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the importance of age and sex in explaining observed variation in trace element concentrations. Some elements exhibited clear physiological signals (particularly zinc, strontium, barium, and lead), and all elements except arsenic varied by age and/or sex. Pearson's correlations revealed that elements were more strongly correlated among calendar years than among individual walruses, and correlations of trace elements within individual walruses were generally inconsistent or weak. Plots of average elemental concentrations through time from 1945 to 2014 further supported the correlation analyses, with many elements exhibiting similar patterns across the ~70-year period. Together, these results indicate the importance of physiology in modulating tooth trace element concentrations in walrus tooth cementum, but suggest that many trace elements reflect a record of environmental exposure and dietary intake/uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey T Clark
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
| | - Lara Horstmann
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2150 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA.
| | - Nicole Misarti
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.
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