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Griffin ML, Bryan CE, Cox TM, Balmer BC, Day RD, Garcia Barcia L, Gorgone AM, Kiszka JJ, Litz JA, Perrtree RM, Rowles TK, Schwacke LH, Wells RS, Zolman E. Spatial Variation in Mercury Accumulation in Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops spp.) in Southeastern U.S.A. TOXICS 2024; 12:327. [PMID: 38787106 PMCID: PMC11125612 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) inhabit bays, sounds, and estuaries (BSEs) throughout the southeast region of the U.S.A. and are sentinel species for human and ecosystem-level health. Dolphins are vulnerable to the bioaccumulation of contaminants through the coastal food chain because they are high-level predators. Currently, there is limited information on the spatial dynamics of mercury accumulation in these dolphins. Total mercury (THg) was measured in dolphin skin from multiple populations across the U.S. Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and the influence of geographic origin, sex, and age class was investigated. Mercury varied significantly among sampling sites and was greatest in dolphins in St. Joseph Bay, Florida Everglades, and Choctawhatchee Bay (14,193 ng/g ± 2196 ng/g, 10,916 ng/g ± 1532 ng/g, and 7333 ng/g ± 1405 ng/g wet mass (wm), respectively) and lowest in dolphins in Charleston and Skidaway River Estuary (509 ng/g ± 32.1 ng/g and 530 ng/g ± 58.4 ng/g wm, respectively). Spatial mercury patterns were consistent regardless of sex or age class. Bottlenose dolphin mercury exposure can effectively represent regional trends and reflect large-scale atmospheric mercury input and local biogeochemical processes. As a sentinel species, the bottlenose dolphin data presented here can direct future studies to evaluate mercury exposure to human residents in St. Joseph Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay, and Florida Coastal Everglades, as well as additional sites with similar geographical, oceanographic, or anthropogenic parameters. These data may also inform state and federal authorities that establish fish consumption advisories to determine if residents in these locales are at heightened risk for mercury toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie L. Griffin
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA; (M.L.G.); (T.M.C.); (R.M.P.)
| | - Colleen E. Bryan
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Charleston, SC 29412, USA;
| | - Tara M. Cox
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA; (M.L.G.); (T.M.C.); (R.M.P.)
| | - Brian C. Balmer
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, Charleston, SC 29405, USA; (B.C.B.); (L.H.S.); (E.Z.)
| | - Russell D. Day
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Charleston, SC 29412, USA;
- Marine Science and Nautical Training Academy, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Laura Garcia Barcia
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA (J.J.K.)
| | - Antoinette M. Gorgone
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (A.M.G.); (J.A.L.)
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA (J.J.K.)
| | - Jenny A. Litz
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (A.M.G.); (J.A.L.)
| | - Robin M. Perrtree
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA; (M.L.G.); (T.M.C.); (R.M.P.)
| | - Teri K. Rowles
- Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
| | - Lori H. Schwacke
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, Charleston, SC 29405, USA; (B.C.B.); (L.H.S.); (E.Z.)
- Marine Mammal Commission, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Randall S. Wells
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA;
| | - Eric Zolman
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, Charleston, SC 29405, USA; (B.C.B.); (L.H.S.); (E.Z.)
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Wang Q, Ruan Y, Jin L, Kot BCW, Leung KMY, Lam PKS. Temporal Trends and Suspect Screening of Halogenated Flame Retardants and Their Metabolites in Blubbers of Cetaceans Stranded in Hong Kong Waters during 2013-2020. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37295780 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are a large class of chemical additives intended to meet flammability safety requirements, and at present, they are ubiquitous in the environment. Herein, we conducted the target analysis and suspect screening of legacy and novel HFRs and their metabolites in the blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides; n = 70) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis; n = 35) stranded in Hong Kong, a coastal city in the South China Sea, between 2013 and 2020. The average concentrations of total target HFRs (ΣHFRs) were 6.48 × 103 ± 1.01 × 104 and 1.40 × 104 ± 1.51 × 104 ng/g lipid weight in porpoises and dolphins, respectively. Significant decreasing temporal trends were observed in the concentrations of tetra-/penta-/hexa-bromodiphenyl ethers (tetra-/penta-/hexa-BDEs) in adult porpoises stranded from 2013-2015 to 2016-2020 (p < 0.05), probably because of their phasing out in China. No significant difference was found for the concentrations of decabromodiphenyl ether and hexabromocyclododecane, possibly due to their exemption from the ban in China until 2025 and 2021, respectively. Eight brominated compounds were additionally identified via suspect screening. A positive correlation was found between the concentrations of tetra-BDE and methyl-methoxy-tetra-BDE (Me-MeO-tetra-BDE) (p < 0.05), indicating that the metabolism of tetra-BDE may be a potential source of Me-MeO-tetra-BDE in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Linjie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Brian C W Kot
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Kenneth Mei Yee Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Paul K S Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Department of Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
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Malcolm EG, Coleman SE, Smith EM, Cooke ME, Rice Jeff H, Ellick RM, Volker KM. The potential use of skin and liver as biomarkers to estimate mercury in the brain, kidney, and muscle of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114903. [PMID: 37062130 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
For marine cetaceans, Hg biomagnification can negatively affect neurological, hepatic, renal, and immune functions. To evaluate the use of biomarkers for Hg in dolphins, multiple tissues were analyzed from 127 stranded common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the estuarine and oceanic waters of Virginia, USA. Twenty-two percent of liver Hg concentrations exceeded the published observed effect level for liver abnormalities, and 26 % of cerebrum samples exceeded the published threshold for neurochemical changes, suggesting that Hg may have impacted dolphin health. Mercury tissue levels were similar to or lower than those reported from other locations (liver range: 1.4-943 μg/g-dw). Significant correlations were found between tissue types, indicating that skin or liver can be used as a biomarker to estimate the total Hg concentrations in the other tissue types (kidney, liver, cerebrum, cerebellum, pons). This is the first study to measure Hg concentrations in multiple brain regions of T. truncatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Malcolm
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.
| | - Sherie E Coleman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Erin M Smith
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Matthew E Cooke
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Hannah Rice Jeff
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Rachel M Ellick
- Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Kristen M Volker
- Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
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Nzau Matondo B, Delrez N, Bardonnet A, Vanderplasschen A, Joaquim-Justo C, Rives J, Benitez JP, Dierckx A, Séleck E, Rollin X, Ovidio M. A complete check-up of European eel after eight years of restocking in an upland river: Trends in growth, lipid content, sex ratio and health status. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:151020. [PMID: 34662625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151020] [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: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
By combining field research and careful laboratory analysis of samples over the course of an eight-year study, we met the challenge of assessing the life history traits and health status of eels restocked in freshwater ecosystems. We found that restocked eels exhibited good growth performance; moreover, the stocks were female-dominated, showed a good Fulton's condition factor (K) and lipid stores and had high survival probability estimated using the best model of Jolly-Seber stock assessment method for open populations. A necropsy revealed the absence of internal lesions. A swim bladder examination revealed the absence of the parasite Anguillicola crassus. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed an increase of Anguillid herpesvirus-1 (AngHV-1) prevalence throughout the study. Most positive subjects expressed viral loads compatible with a latent infection and correlated positively with K. All restocked eels were contaminated by at least one of the organic pollutant congeners studied, but the pollution loads corresponded to the lowest range of pollutant concentrations reported in the available literature for European eels and did not exceed the maximum residue and contaminant limits in food and feed of several national and international regulations. Pollutant loads were negatively correlated with K, lipid content and eel density for polychlorinated biphenyls PCB 138, 153 and 180 and K for pesticides p.p'-DDE, p.p'-DDD, p.p'-DDT and PBDE47. This study highlights the potential role played by upland aquatic ecosystems in enhancing riverine silver eel production from the perspective of species conservation. To be successful, restocking must be accompanied by improved ecosystem quality and migration routes for eels in inland freshwaters. We also provide some recommendations for future research to improve the management of restocking programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billy Nzau Matondo
- Laboratory of Fish Demography and Hydroecology, Management of Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Unit, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of Research-FOCUS, University of Liège, 22 Quai E. Van Beneden, B-4020 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Natacha Delrez
- Immunology-Vaccinology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| | - Agnès Bardonnet
- Behavioural Ecology and Fish Population Biology-ECOBIOP (French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment-INRAE, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, France).
| | - Alain Vanderplasschen
- Immunology-Vaccinology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| | - Célia Joaquim-Justo
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of Research-FOCUS, University of Liège, Belgium.
| | - Jacques Rives
- Immunology-Vaccinology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| | - Jean-Philippe Benitez
- Laboratory of Fish Demography and Hydroecology, Management of Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Unit, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of Research-FOCUS, University of Liège, 22 Quai E. Van Beneden, B-4020 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Arnaud Dierckx
- Laboratory of Fish Demography and Hydroecology, Management of Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Unit, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of Research-FOCUS, University of Liège, 22 Quai E. Van Beneden, B-4020 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Emilie Séleck
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of Research-FOCUS, University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Xavier Rollin
- SPWARNE-DNF-Public Service of Wallonia - Agriculture, Natural Ressources & Environnement, Wildlife & Forestry Department, 15 Avenue Prince de Liège, B-5100 Jambes, Belgium.
| | - Michaël Ovidio
- Laboratory of Fish Demography and Hydroecology, Management of Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Unit, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of Research-FOCUS, University of Liège, 22 Quai E. Van Beneden, B-4020 Liège, Belgium.
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Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP. Differences in marine megafauna in vitro sensitivity highlights the need for species-specific chemical risk assessments. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 239:105939. [PMID: 34455206 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs can be exposed to large mixtures of contaminants due to the proximity of foraging locations to anthropogenic inputs. Differences in accumulation and effect result in differences of chemical risk to these species. However, little is known about the effect of contaminants in marine wildlife. Cell-based, or in vitro, exposure experiments offer an ethical alternative to investigate the effect of contaminants in wildlife. Data from in vitro studies can then be placed in an environmental context, by using screening risk assessments, comparing effect data with accumulation data from the literature, to identify risk to populations of marine wildlife. Cytotoxicity of Cr6+, Cd2+, Hg2+, 4,4'-DDE, and PFNA were investigated in primary skin fibroblasts of green turtles, loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, dugongs, Burrunan dolphins, and common bottlenose dolphins. The general order of toxicity for all species was Hg2+> Cr6+ > Cd2+> 4,4'-DDE > PFNA, and significant differences in cytotoxicity were found between species for Cr6+, Cd2+ and PFNA. For Cd2+, in particular, cells from turtle species were less sensitive than mammalian species, and dugong cells were by far the most sensitive. The results from the cytotoxicity assay were then used in combination with published data on tissue contaminant concentrations to calculate risk quotients for identifying populations of each species most at risk from these chemicals. Cr, Cd and Hg were identified as posing risk in all six species. Dugongs were particularly at risk from Cd accumulation and dolphin species were particularly at risk from Hg accumulation. These results demonstrate the importance of using species-specific effect and accumulation data for developing chemical risk assessments and can be used to inform managers of priority contaminants, species, or populations. Development of additional in vitro endpoints, and improving links between in vitro and in vivo effects, would further improve this approach to understanding chemical risk in marine megafauna.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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Barbosa MS, Carvalho DP, Gravena W, de Almeida R, Mussy MH, Sousa EA, Holanda IBB, de Sousa-Filho IF, Bastos WR. Total mercury and methylmercury in river dolphins (Cetacea: Iniidae: Inia spp.) in the Madeira River Basin, Western Amazon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:45121-45133. [PMID: 33861423 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13953-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In the Amazon, mercury (Hg) contamination comes from ASGM operations along with soil remobilization processes associated with deforestation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg) in 88 samples of skin and blubber tissue obtained from live captured river dolphins (Inia boliviensis, Inia geoffrensis, and Inia spp.) in the Madeira River Basin. THg and MeHg measurements were performed by CV-AAS and GC-AFS, respectively. We also calculated the daily intake rate (DIR) of THg (wet weight) by Inia spp. THg levels in blubber tissue of adult river dolphins (Inia spp.) ranged from 0.015 to 3.804 mg kg-1, while MeHg concentrations in blubber tissue varied from 0.04 to 2.65 mg kg-1 and in skin tissue from 0.09 to 0.66 mg kg-1. There were no significant differences in MeHg concentration in blubber (p = 0.616) and skin (p = 0.498) tissue samples between adult males and females in the different sampling locations. The adult animals showed differences in THg and MeHg concentrations significantly higher than in the calves. The estimate of the DIR of the genus Inia ranged from 1.17 to 12.35 μg kg-1 day-1 (bw), from the consumption of fish species with herbivorous to piscivorous habits, respectively. More biological and ecological data, such as the precise determination of age, mediated length, weight, and diet of river dolphins, are necessary to verify the Hg biomagnification. However, our data indicate that bioaccumulation is an active process in the dolphins of the Madeira River Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa S Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Dario P Carvalho
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Santo Antônio Energia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Waleska Gravena
- Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo de Almeida
- Departamento de Ciências Sociais e Ambientais, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Marília H Mussy
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A Sousa
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Igor B B Holanda
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Izidro F de Sousa-Filho
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Wanderley R Bastos
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil.
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Damseaux F, Siebert U, Pomeroy P, Lepoint G, Das K. Habitat and resource segregation of two sympatric seals in the North Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142842. [PMID: 33342563 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142842] [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: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The study of ecological niche segregation in sympatric species is essential to understand ecosystem functioning and its response to potential changes. In the North Sea, sympatric grey and harbour seals may present competition for food resources sustained by intense fishing activities and recent increase of seal populations. In order to coexist and reduce inter-specific competition, sympatric species must segregate at least one aspect of their ecological niches: temporal, spatial or resource segregation. We aim to study the foraging resources and foraging distributions of grey seals and harbour seals and the potential competition between these species in the North Sea. Therefore, we analysed stable isotopic composition of C, N and S (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values), and the concentrations of Hg and Se in blood of harbour and grey seals from the North Sea. Blood samples were collected on 45 grey seals and 37 harbour seals sampled along German and Scottish coasts. Stable isotope ratios were performed with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled to an N-C-S elemental analyser for automated analyses. Total mercury concentrations (T-Hg) were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and Se concentrations by ICP-MS. The multi-tracer approach shown spatial and resource partitioning within grey and harbour seal living along German and Scottish coasts. Data indicate 1) the offshore foraging distribution of grey seals as reflected by the lower δ15N values and T-Hg concentrations and higher Se concentrations and 2) the inshore foraging distribution of harbour seals because of higher δ15N values and T-Hg concentrations and lower Se concentrations. The SIAR mixing model revealed 3) a more selective diet of grey seals compared to harbour seals and 4) the importance of sandeels in grey seal diet reflected by their high δ34S values. Lastly, diet ellipse overlaps between grey seals and harbour seals sampled along the German coasts suggested 5) a potential sharing of food resources, possibly due to the increase number of grey seals number in this area during the foraging season - all year except breeding and moulting periods. The multi-tracer approach of this study provides a more robust discrimination among diet resources and spatial foraging distributions of grey seals and harbour seals in the North Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- France Damseaux
- Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Patrick Pomeroy
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Gilles Lepoint
- Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Krishna Das
- Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
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8
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Gismondi E, Daneels L, Damseaux F, Lehnert K, Siebert U, Das K. Preliminary study of oxidative stress biomarkers and trace elements in North Sea Harbour Seals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 163:111905. [PMID: 33360729 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111905] [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: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This preliminary study investigated the potential correlations between trace elements (mercury, zinc, cadmium, copper, selenium, lead, nickel, chromium, lithium and vanadium) concentrations, measured in red blood cells, and oxidative stress biomarkers (total thiols, total glutathione, total and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidases, triglycerides, malondialdehyde) assessed in the respective serum, in males and females P. vitulina, sampled in the Wadden Sea in spring and autumn 2015. Only concentrations of total mercury and zinc showed significant differences by sex, and only lipid peroxidation was different by season. Moreover, significant positive and negative correlations were observed between biomarkers (triglycerides, thiols, malondialdehyde, glutathione) and trace element concentrations (copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc). These findings suggest that the studied biomarkers could be useful for the assessment of oxidative stress in harbour seals exposed to trace elements, but further research with larger sample sizes is needed to better understand their specific associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Gismondi
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology (LEAE), Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), University of Liège B6c, 11 allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Lucienne Daneels
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology (LEAE), Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), University of Liège B6c, 11 allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - France Damseaux
- Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Kristina Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Krishna Das
- Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of ReSearch (FOCUS), University of Liège B6c, 11 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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McCormack MA, Jackson BP, Dutton J. Relationship between mercury and selenium concentrations in tissues from stranded odontocetes in the northern Gulf of Mexico. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141350. [PMID: 33370896 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Odontocetes are apex predators that, despite accumulating mercury (Hg) to high concentrations in their tissues, show few signs of Hg toxicity. One method of Hg detoxification in odontocetes includes the sequestering of Hg in toxicologically inert mercury selenide (HgSe) compounds. To explore the tissue-specific accumulation of Hg and Se and the potential protective role of Se against Hg toxicity, we measured the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se) in multiple tissues from 11 species of odontocetes that stranded along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast [Florida (FL) and Louisiana (LA)]. Tissues were collected primarily from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus; n = 93); however, individuals from species in the following 8 genera were also sampled: Feresa (n = 1), Globicephala (n = 1), Grampus (n = 2), Kogia (n = 5), Mesoplodon (n = 1), Peponocephala (n = 4), Stenella (n = 9), and Steno (n = 1). In all species, mean THg concentrations were greatest in the liver and lowest in the blubber, lung, or skin. In contrast, in most species, mean Se concentrations were greatest in the liver, lung, or skin, and lowest in the blubber. For all species combined, Se:Hg molar ratios decreased with increasing THg concentration in the blubber, kidney, liver, lung, and skin following an exponential decay relationship. In bottlenose dolphins, THg concentrations in the kidney, liver, and lung were significantly greater in FL dolphins compared to LA dolphins. On average, in bottlenose dolphins, Se:Hg molar ratios were approximately 1:1 in the liver and >1:1 in blubber, kidney, lung, and skin, suggesting that Se likely protects against Hg toxicity. However, more research is necessary to understand the variation in Hg accumulation within and among species and to assess how Hg, in combination with other environmental stressors, influences odontocete population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan A McCormack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Jessica Dutton
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
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10
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Ochiai M, Kurihara N, Hirano M, Nakata A, Iwata H. In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Risk Assessments of Environmental Pollutants Using Fibroblasts of a Stranded Finless Porpoise ( Neophocaena asiaeorientalis). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6832-6841. [PMID: 32337981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cetaceans accumulate high levels of environmental pollutants, yet their toxicological studies have been difficult due to technical and ethical issues. It is essential to identify and fill the current knowledge gaps in the in vitro assays available for cetaceans. The present study establishes a novel in vitro assay that uses the fibroblasts of a finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) (FF) stranded in the Seto Inland Sea (SIS) to answer questions about the cytotoxicity and risks of environmental pollutants. FF were treated with 17 compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and their metabolites (DDTs) and evaluated for cytotoxicity, viability, and apoptosis. The results of FF were compared with those of human fibroblasts (HF). The relative potencies of the test compounds were comparable between the two species, as EC50 of these compounds significantly correlated for FF and HF. Exposure-activity ratios (EARs) revealed that accumulation of PCBs and DDTs are likely to pose adverse effects at the cellular level in the SIS finless porpoises, as their tissue concentrations exceeded EC50 values obtained in this study. This study successfully evaluated the risks of environmental pollutants using cetacean fibroblasts isolated by a non-invasive method that may be applied to various cetacean species and compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Ochiai
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577 Japan
| | - Nozomi Kurihara
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan
| | - Masashi Hirano
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577 Japan
| | - Akifumi Nakata
- Hokkaido University of Science, 7-Jo 15-4-1 Maeda, Teine, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-8585, Japan
| | - Hisato Iwata
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577 Japan
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11
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Jeong Y, Lee Y, Park KJ, An YR, Moon HB. Accumulation and time trends (2003-2015) of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) from Korean coastal waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 385:121598. [PMID: 31732341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine mammals is of great concern and is associated with declining populations. The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) collected from Korean coastal waters in 2010 and 2015, to assess the concentrations, time trends, and ecotoxicological effects. Among the POPs measured, DDTs were detected at the highest concentrations, followed by PCBs and PBDEs. Significant age- and sex-dependent accumulation of POPs was evident for porpoises collected in 2010, but not for those collected in 2015. This finding may be a function of stabilization of POP concentrations over time. In our study, accumulation patterns of POPs were dependent on consumption patterns and physico-chemical properties of the contaminants, and on the metabolism in the porpoises. Significant reductions of POPs were found between 2003 and 2010, likely reflecting the impact of domestic and global regulation of POPs. However, no changes in most POPs were found between 2010 and 2015, suggesting a trend toward stabilization. Approximately 10 % and 27 % of porpoises exceeded previously proposed threshold levels for PCBs and DDTs, respectively, implying a potential health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunsun Jeong
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsun Lee
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyum Joon Park
- Cetacean Research Institute (CRI), National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Ulsan 44780, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Rock An
- National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK), Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Bang Moon
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea.
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Li R, Ding H, Guo M, Shen X, Zan Q. Do pyrene and Kandelia obovata improve removal of BDE-209 in mangrove soils? CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 240:124873. [PMID: 31574439 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124873] [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: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Combined pollution caused by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mangrove wetlands is serious, with their remediation to be been paid more and more attention. However, little is known about the combined impact of PAHs and mangrove species on removal of PBDEs in contaminated soils. In this study, BDE-209 and pyrene were selected and a 9 months experiment was conducted to explore how BDE-209 removal in contaminated soil varied with pyrene addition and Kandelia obovata planting, and to clarify corresponding microbial responses. Results showed that BDE-209 removals in soil induced by pyrene addition or K. obovata planting were significant and stable after 6 months, with the lowest levels of BDE-209 in combined pyrene addition with K. obovata planting. Unexpected, root uptake of BDE-209 in K. obovata was limited for BDE-209 removal in soil, which was verified by lower total amount of BDE-209 bioaccumulated in K. obovata's root. In soil without K. obovata planting, BDE-209 removal caused by pyrene addition coexisted with changed bacterial abundance at phylum Planctomycetes and Chloroflexi, class Planctomycetacia, and genus Blastopirellula. K. obovata-induced removal of BDE-209 in soil may be related to bacterial enrichment in phylum Proteobacteria, class Gammaproteobacteria and genus Ilumatobacter, Gaiella. Thus, in BDE-209 contaminated soil, microbial community responses induced by pyrene addition and K. obovata planting were different at phylum, class and genus levels. This is the first study demonstrating that pyrene addition and K. obovata planting could improve BDE-209 removal, and differently affected the corresponding responses of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruili Li
- School of Environment and Energy, Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| | - Huan Ding
- School of Environment and Energy, Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Meixian Guo
- Nanshan Second Experimental School, Shenzhen, 518053, China
| | - Xiaoxue Shen
- School of Environment and Energy, Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Qijie Zan
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China; Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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McCormack MA, Fielding R, Kiszka JJ, Paz V, Jackson BP, Bergfelt DR, Dutton J. Mercury and selenium concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios in small cetaceans taken off St. Vincent, West Indies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 181:108908. [PMID: 31759648 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study measured the concentration of total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se), and calculated the Se:Hg molar ratios in the muscle, blubber, liver, and kidney of small cetaceans (false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens; killer whale, Orcinus orca; Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus; short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus; and dolphins of the genus Stenella) taken for human consumption off St. Vincent, West Indies. Overall, 122 samples were analyzed; mean THg concentrations (μg/g dry weight) were highest in the liver (730), followed by the kidney (274), muscle (76.4), and blubber (4.57). To explain variability in muscle THg concentrations, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios were analyzed to explore differences in dietary carbon source and relative trophic position, respectively, among species. There was no relationship between δ15N and THg concentration, but there was a positive relationship between δ13C and THg concentration. On average for each species, the Se:Hg molar ratios were >1 in blubber and <1 in muscle. All liver samples and the majority of kidney, muscle, and blubber samples exceeded the FAO/WHO human consumption advisory level of 1 μg/g wet weight. Based on our estimations, consuming only 6.6 g of muscle a week would exceed the MeHg provisional tolerable weekly intake of 1.6 μg MeHg/kg body weight/week for a 60 kg person. Given the high THg concentration in these cetaceans and the frequency at which these tissues are consumed, this is a potential human health issue that warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan A McCormack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Russell Fielding
- Department of Earth and Environmental Systems, University of the South, Sewanee, TN, 37383, USA.
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Coastal Oceans Research, Institute of Water and the Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA.
| | - Valeria Paz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Coastal Oceans Research, Institute of Water and the Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA.
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA.
| | - Don R Bergfelt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies.
| | - Jessica Dutton
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
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14
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McCormack MA, Battaglia F, McFee WE, Dutton J. Mercury concentrations in blubber and skin from stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the Florida and Louisiana coasts (Gulf of Mexico, USA) in relation to biological variables. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 180:108886. [PMID: 31708171 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to their long life-span and top trophic position, odontocetes can accumulate high concentrations of mercury (Hg) in their tissues. This study measured the concentration of total Hg (THg) in the blubber and skin of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that stranded along the Florida (FL) panhandle and Louisiana (LA) coasts and investigated the relationship between total Hg (THg) concentration and sex, body length, age, stranding location, diet/trophic position (δ13C and δ15N, respectively), and foraging habitat (δ34S). Additionally, we compared models using body length and age as explanatory variables to determine which was a better predictor of THg concentration. In both tissues, sex was not an influential predictor of THg concentration and there was a positive relationship between body length/age and THg concentration (p < 0.001). Florida dolphins had greater mean blubber and skin THg concentrations compared to LA dolphins (p < 0.001). There was a modest improvement in model fit when age was used in place of body length. δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S differed between stranding locations and together with age were significant predictors of THg concentrations (R2 = 0.52, P < 0.001). Florida dolphins were δ13C enriched compared to LA dolphins (p < 0.001) and THg concentrations were positively correlated with δ13C (R2 = 0.22, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate spatial variability in THg concentrations from stranded bottlenose dolphins from the northern Gulf of Mexico; however, future research is required to understand how fine-scale population structuring of dolphins within FL and LA impacts THg concentrations, particularly among inshore (bay, sound, and estuary) stocks and between inshore and offshore stocks, as variations in biotic and abiotic conditions can influence both stable isotope ratios and THg concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan A McCormack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Francesca Battaglia
- Department of Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, 29528, USA.
| | - Wayne E McFee
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA.
| | - Jessica Dutton
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, Aquatic Station, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
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HAIR, WHOLE BLOOD, AND BLOOD-SOAKED CELLULOSE PAPER-BASED RISK ASSESSMENT OF MERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN STRANDED CALIFORNIA PINNIPEDS. J Wildl Dis 2019. [DOI: 10.7589/2018-11-276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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16
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Zanuttini C, Gally F, Scholl G, Thomé JP, Eppe G, Das K. High pollutant exposure level of the largest European community of bottlenose dolphins in the English Channel. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12521. [PMID: 31515499 PMCID: PMC6742642 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48485-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (T-Hg) in the blubber and skin, respectively, of the free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, from the Normanno-Breton Gulf, one of the largest identified coastal population in Europe. Among all the POPs analysed in this study, the ∑NDL-PCBs were the most abundant compounds found in the blubber (mean: 1.33 × 105-0.65 × 105 ng.g-1 lipid weight (lw) for males and females respectively), followed by ∑DDX (1.11 × 104-4.67 × 103 ng.g-1 lw) > ∑DL-PCBs (8.06 × 103-2.62 × 103ng.g-1 lw) > ∑PBDEs (1.95 × 103-0.64 × 103ng.g-1 lw) > dieldrin (1.86 × 103-0.18 × 103 ng.g-1 lw) > ∑endosulfan (405-62 ng.g-1 lw) > HCB (86-52 ng.g-1 lw) > ∑HCHs (47-60 ng.g-1 lw) > ∑chlordane (24-0.97 ng.g-1 lw) > ∑PCDFs (0.3-0.1 ng.g-1 lw) > ∑PCDDs (0.06-0.05 ng.g-1 lw). The T-Hg concentrations were highly variable between individuals (2.45 × 103 ng.g-1 to 21.3 × 103 ng.g-1 dry weight, dw). The reported concentrations are among the highest reported for cetaceans. We strongly recommend that the Normanno-Breton Gulf be a special area of conservation (cSAC) candidate because it contains the last large European population of bottlenose dolphins (rare or threatened within a European context) designated under the EC Habitats Directive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrielle Zanuttini
- Groupe d'Etude des Cétacés du Cotentin (GECC), Place des Justes, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - François Gally
- Groupe d'Etude des Cétacés du Cotentin (GECC), Place des Justes, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Georges Scholl
- CART, UR MolSys B6c, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Thomé
- CART-LEAE, Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS- CART-LEAE), B6C, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gauthier Eppe
- CART, UR MolSys B6c, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Krishna Das
- Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS-Oceanology), B6C, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
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Barragán-Barrera DC, Luna-Acosta A, May-Collado LJ, Polo-Silva CJ, Riet-Sapriza FG, Bustamante P, Hernández-Ávila MP, Vélez N, Farías-Curtidor N, Caballero S. Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 145:343-356. [PMID: 31590796 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A small and genetically isolated bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population resides year-round in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago-Panama (BDT). Photo-identification and genetic data showed that this dolphin population is highly phylopatric and is formed exclusively by individuals of the "inshore form". This study aimed to investigate the trophic ecology and mercury concentrations of bottlenose dolphins in BDT to assess their coastal habits. We collected muscle samples (n = 175) of 11 potential fish prey species, and skin samples from free-ranging dolphins in BDT (n = 37) and La Guajira-Colombia (n = 7) to compare isotopic niche width. Results showed that BDT dolphins have a coastal feeding habit, belong to the "inshore form" (δ13C = -13.05 ± 1.89‰), and have low mercury concentrations (mean = 1637 ± 1387 ng g-1dw). However, this element is biomagnified in the BDT food chain, showing a marginal dolphins health risk (RQ = 1.00). We call for a monitoring pollutant program and conservation strategies aimed to protect the dolphin population at BDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia C Barragán-Barrera
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos-LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 # 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia; Fundación Macuáticos Colombia, Calle 27 # 79-167, Medellín, Colombia; Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences-CEMarin, Carrera 21 # 35-53, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Andrea Luna-Acosta
- Departamento de Ecología y Territorio, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Transversal 4 # 42-00, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura J May-Collado
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos J Polo-Silva
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Ingeniería, Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Federico G Riet-Sapriza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos-LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 # 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs) UMR 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - María Paula Hernández-Ávila
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos-LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 # 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Natalia Vélez
- Departamento de Ecología y Territorio, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Transversal 4 # 42-00, Bogotá, Colombia; Fundación Malpelo y Otros Ecosistemas Marinos, Carrera 11 # 87-51, Local 4 - Piso 2, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Susana Caballero
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos-LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 # 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia
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Rumbold DG, Lienhardt CT, Parsons ML. Mercury Biomagnification Through a Coral Reef Ecosystem. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 75:121-133. [PMID: 29675668 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-018-0523-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (Hg) and stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon were determined in the muscle tissue of 50 species of fishes and invertebrates collected at two sites along the Florida reef tract from April 2012 to December 2013. The objective was to test the hypothesis that high biodiversity in coral reefs leading to complex food webs with increased lateral links reduces biomagnification. However, Hg levels ranged as high 6.84 mg/kg. Interestingly, it was not highest in great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), considered the top predatory fish, but instead in small porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus), possibly due to their role as a cleaner fish. Trophic magnification slopes (TMS; from regression of log Hg on δ15N) as a measure of biomagnification did not differ between sites, ranging from 0.155 ± 0.04 (± 95% CI) to 0.201 ± 0.07. These TMS also were within the ranges of slopes reported for food webs in other ecosystems; thus, biomagnification of Hg in muscle tissue was not reduced in the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren G Rumbold
- Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers, FL, 33965, USA.
| | | | - Michael L Parsons
- Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers, FL, 33965, USA
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