1
|
Munno K, Hoopes L, Lyons K, Drymon M, Frazier B, Rochman CM. High microplastic and anthropogenic particle contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) caught in the western North Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123185. [PMID: 38147950 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have documented microplastics (<5 mm) in shark gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. Here, we report microplastic contamination in the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), an apex predator and generalist feeder, at several different life stages. We examined seven stomachs and one spiral valve from eight individuals captured off the United States Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts (eastern US) and conducted a literature review of publications reporting anthropogenic debris ingestion in elasmobranchs. Specimens were chemically digested in potassium hydroxide (KOH) and density separated using calcium chloride (CaCl2) before quantifying and categorizing suspected anthropogenic particles (>45 μm) by size, morphology, and colour. Anthropogenic particles were found in the stomachs and spiral valve of all sharks. A total of 3151 anthropogenic particles were observed across all stomachs with 1603 anthropogenic particles observed in a single specimen. A subset of suspected anthropogenic particles (14%) were chemically identified using Raman spectroscopy and μ-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy to confirm anthropogenic origin. Overall, ≥95% of particles analyzed via spectroscopy were confirmed anthropogenic, with 45% confirmed as microplastics. Of the microplastics, polypropylene (32%) was the most common polymer. Diverse microparticle morphologies were found, with fragments (57%) and fibers (41%) most frequently observed. The high occurrence and abundance of anthropogenic particle contamination in tiger sharks is likely due to their generalist feeding strategy and high trophic position compared to other marine species. The literature review resulted in 32 studies published through 2022. Several methodologies were employed, and varying amounts of contamination were reported, but none reported contamination as high as detected in our study. Anthropogenic particle ingestion studies should continue in the tiger shark, in addition to other elasmobranch species, to further understand the effects of anthropogenic activities and associated pollution on these predators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keenan Munno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Lisa Hoopes
- Georgia Aquarium, IUCN Center for Species Survival, 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA
| | - Kady Lyons
- Georgia Aquarium, IUCN Center for Species Survival, 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA
| | - Marcus Drymon
- Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, USA; Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA
| | - Bryan Frazier
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Ft. Johnson Rd. Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Starostinetsky-Malonek T, Scheinin A, Aroch I, Davidovich N, Bigal E, Livne L, Hauser-Davis RA, Wosnick N, Tchernov D, Morick D. First report on the serum chemistry and haematology of free-ranging dusky ( Carcharhinus obscurus) and sandbar ( Carcharhinus plumbeus) sharks in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad037. [PMID: 37266517 PMCID: PMC10230282 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad037] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Shark assessments in the Mediterranean Sea are still scarce, and serum chemistry and haematological data have yet to be reported for wild dusky (Carcharhinus obscurus) or sandbar (Carcharhinus plumbeus) shark populations in the Mediterranean Sea. Herein, blood samples were obtained from adult dusky (n = 23) and sandbar (n = 14) sharks from an aggregation site near the Hadera power and desalination plants in Israel in the winters of 2016-20. Several serum chemistry analytes were characterized with relation to stress, body size and environmental conditions. Glucose concentrations were higher, while total cholesterol concentrations were lower in dusky sharks than in sandbar sharks, potentially due to distinct metabolic pathways utilized during the capture-related activity by both species. However, differences in sex and size are noted and should be considered. The blood cell morphology of both species was consistent with previous findings for sandbar sharks. Atypical monocytes were noted in one dusky shark. Preliminary and exploratory reference intervals for female dusky sharks were calculated for glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, total protein and creatine kinase. These data must be viewed with caution due to the potential influence of capture-related stress on analyte concentrations and activities and the fact that only females were employed in the calculations. Moreover, the sampling site is adjacent to coastal power and desalination plants, which may significantly affect shark physiology. Although limited, this novel database on dusky and sandbar shark serum chemistry and haematology aspects is essential as a first attempt to obtain data on these species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and for future conservation and long-term biomonitoring efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Itamar Aroch
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO Box 12, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Nadav Davidovich
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Leon H Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam 3780400, Israel
- Israeli Veterinary Services, Bet Dagan 5025001, Israel
| | - Eyal Bigal
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Leon H Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam 3780400, Israel
| | - Leigh Livne
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Leon H Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam 3780400, Israel
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4.365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Natascha Wosnick
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, Curitiba, Paraná 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Dan Tchernov
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Leon H Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam 3780400, Israel
| | - Danny Morick
- Corresponding author: Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Leon H Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam 3780400, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Balanin S, Hauser-Davis RA, Giareta E, Charvet P, Wosnick N. Almost nothing is known about the tiger shark in South Atlantic waters. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14750. [PMID: 36700003 PMCID: PMC9869778 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) has been relatively well assessed concerning biology and ecology aspects in both Atlantic and Pacific North America and in Caribbean waters. The amount of data in these regions has led to the species protection under capture quotas and with the creation of sanctuaries. The reality in developing countries, however, is the exact opposite, with scarce information on the species in the southern hemisphere, namely South American and African waters. In these regions, protection measures are insufficient, and studies on tiger shark biology and ecology are scarce, significantly hindering conservation and management efforts. Thus, the aim of this study was to compile scientific literature on the tiger shark in the South Atlantic and discuss the impact of these data (or lack thereof) distributed within a total of ten research categories for guiding management plans. In total, 41 scientific publications on different G. cuvier biology and ecology aspects were obtained. The most studied topics were Feeding Ecology (n = 12), followed by Human Interactions (n = 8), and Movements and Migration (n = 7). Northeastern Brazil (Southwest Atlantic) was the most researched area, probably due to the higher coastal abundance of tiger sharks in this area, alongside a high number of recorded attacks, justifying funding for studies in the region. No studies carried out in other South American or African countries were found. It is important to mention that even though some research topics are relatively well covered, a severe knowledge gap is noted for risk assessments and fisheries management, with a proposition for the implementation of sanctuaries noted. This is, however, particularly worrisome, as the South Atlantic is mostly unexplored in this regard for tiger sharks. It is also important to note how different the attention given to this species is in the North Atlantic when compared to the South region. Lastly, we highlight that the existence of sub-populations, the lack of migratory corridors geographically connecting distinct areas used by the species, and the lack of fisheries statistics on tiger shark landings, all increase the vulnerability of this species in the South Atlantic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Balanin
- Projeto Tintureira—Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil,Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia—Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção a Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eloísa Giareta
- Projeto Tintureira—Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil,Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia—Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná
| | - Patricia Charvet
- Projeto Tintureira—Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil,Programa de Pós-graduação em Sistemática, Uso e Conservação da Biodiversidade—Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Natascha Wosnick
- Projeto Tintureira—Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil,Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia—Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Morón-Elorza P, Rojo-Solis C, Steyrer C, Álvaro-Álvarez T, Valls-Torres M, Encinas T, García-Párraga D. Hematology and Plasma Chemistry Reference Values in Nursehound Shark (Scyliorhinus Stellaris) Maintained Under Human Care. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:909834. [PMID: 35898538 PMCID: PMC9310093 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.909834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies determining baseline hematological reference intervals (RI) in elasmobranchs are very limited. In this study, blood samples were collected from 94 clinically healthy Nursehound Shark (Scyliorhinus stellaris) maintained under human care. Median (RI) in major leukocyte types were similar to other Carcharhinid sharks as lymphocytes were the predominant leukocyte with 38.0 (28.2–53.5)%, followed by coarse eosinophilic granulocytes with 20.0 (12.2–31.7)%, fine eosinophilic granulocytes with 6.0 (1.2–12.8) %, monocytes with 2.0 (0.0–6.0)%, and neutrophils with 2.0 (0.0–6.0)%. Nursehound Shark produced granulated thrombocytes, which were classified as granulocytes and represented 28.5 (12.4–39.7)% of all leukocytes. Median (RI) manual red blood cell and white blood cell counts were 177.50 (132.50–210.00) x 109 cells/l and 8.26 (5.24–14.23) x 109 cells/l, respectively. Median (RI) plasma chemistry values showed alkaline phosphatase 7.7 (4.2–13.0) U/l, aspartate aminotransferase 7.6 (3.3–17.1) U/l, blood urea nitrogen 281.6 (261.2–305.0) mmol/l, calcium 3.97 (3.59–4.47) mmol/l, total cholesterol 2.04 (1.02–3.91) mmol/l, chloride 233.0 (215.2–259.0) mmol/l, iron 3.79 (1.74–6.93) μmol/l, glucose 0.87 (0.47–1.44 mmol/l), potassium 3.8 (2.9–4.6) mmol/l, sodium 243.0 (227.7–271.0) mmol/l, phosphorus 1.58 (1.13–2.10) mmol/l, total protein 24.0 (20.0–35.0) g/l, and triglycerides 0.97 (0.49–3.35) mmol/l. Creatine kinase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were below the instrument reading range.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Morón-Elorza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Pablo Morón-Elorza
| | - Carlos Rojo-Solis
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Teresa Álvaro-Álvarez
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Valls-Torres
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Encinas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wosnick N, Niella Y, Hammerschlag N, Chaves AP, Hauser-Davis RA, da Rocha RCC, Jorge MB, de Oliveira RWS, Nunes JLS. Negative metal bioaccumulation impacts on systemic shark health and homeostatic balance. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112398. [PMID: 33906010 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Contamination by metals is among the most pervasive anthropogenic threats to the environment. Despite the ecological importance of marine apex predators, the potential negative impacts of metal bioaccumulation and biomagnification on the health of higher trophic level species remains unclear. To date, most toxicology studies in sharks have focused on measuring metal concentrations in muscle tissues associating human consumption and food safety, without further investigating potential impacts on shark health. To help address this knowledge gap, the present study evaluated metal concentrations in the gills, muscle, liver and rectal gland of coastal sharks opportunistically sampled from Brazilian waters and tested for potential relationships between metal bioaccumulation and general shark health and homeostatic balance metrics. Results revealed high metal concentrations in all four tissue types, with levels varying in relation to size, sex, and life-stage. Metal concentrations were also associated with serum biomarkers (urea, lactate, ALT, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, and phosphorus) and body condition, suggesting potential negative impacts on organismal health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Wosnick
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Yuri Niella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Ana Paula Chaves
- Analytical and System Toxicology Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (USP), SP, Brazil
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|