An evaluation of the use of reptile dermal scutes as a non-invasive method to monitor mercury concentrations in the environment

Schneider, Larissa; Eggins, Sam; Maher, William A.; Vogt, Richard C.; Krikowa, Frank; Kinsley, Les; Eggins, Stephen; Silveira, Ronis Da

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.05.065

Cited by 37 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Previous studies have reported a significant positive correlation between Hg concentration in scute and size in A. mississipiensis, M. niger and C. crocodilus (Yanochko et al, 1997;Burger et al, 2000;Schneider et al, 2015) but not in C. moreletii and C. acutus (Rainwater et al, 2002). This discrepancy can be explained by the variability of many crocodiles feeding behavior and life history (Schneider et al, 2012).…”

Section: Relationship Of Hg Concentrations In Tissues To Animal Size mentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Some previous studies have reported the use of dermal scutes as a non-invasive sample for the determination of Hg in Alligatoridae (Schneider et al, 2015), but to the best of our knowledge this is the first to use claws to monitor Hg concentrations in crocodilians.…”

Section: Evaluation Of Tissues As the Better Indicator Of Hg Concentrmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are relatively simple to collect and should contain high concentrations of Hg due to their high keratin content (Alibardi, 2003). These tissues are also devoid of bones or muscles, which could act as sources of varying concentrations of Hg (Richardson et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2015).…”

Section: Sample Capture and Collections Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since there are differences between sizes of caimans captured in the study areas, we use a size ratio to include the data in the ANCOVA model, eliminating the effect of size. The size ratio for each animal was calculated by dividing the sampled SVL by the maximum SVL reported for the animals of each area (Schneider et al, 2015).…”

Section: Total Length Weight Size Ratio and Thg In Relation To Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are several works showing that Hg in crocodilians muscles increases linearly with time of exposure (Yanochko et al, 1997;Burger et al, 2000;Rumbold et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2012) but few have examined the relationship between size and Hg concentration in keratinized tissues (Schneider et al, 2015). Previous studies have reported a significant positive correlation between Hg concentration in scute and size in A. mississipiensis, M. niger and C. crocodilus (Yanochko et al, 1997;Burger et al, 2000;Schneider et al, 2015) but not in C. moreletii and C. acutus (Rainwater et al, 2002).…”

Section: Relationship Of Hg Concentrations In Tissues To Animal Size mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-lethal sampling for mercury evaluation in crocodilians

et al. 2015

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Section: Relationship Of Hg Concentrations In Tissues To Animal Size mentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Evaluation Of Tissues As the Better Indicator Of Hg Concentrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Capture and Collections Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Total Length Weight Size Ratio and Thg In Relation To Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relationship Of Hg Concentrations In Tissues To Animal Size mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Non-lethal sampling for mercury evaluation in crocodilians

et al. 2015

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Mercury concentrations in different tissues of turtle and caiman species from the Rio Purus, Amazonas, Brazil

Eggins

Schneider

Krikowa

et al. 2015

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Total mercury (Hg) concentrations of muscle, liver, blood, and epidermal keratin were measured in typically consumed, economically and culturally important species of turtle (Podocnemis unifilis and Podocnemis expansa) and caiman (Melanosuchus niger and Caiman crocodilus) from the Rio Purus in the Amazon basin, Brazil. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were also measured in muscle tissue, representing the first analysis of MeHg concentrations in Amazonian reptile species. In muscle tissues Hg was mostly MeHg (79-96%) for all species. No correlations existed between animal size and total Hg or MeHg concentrations for any species other than M. niger, possibly as a result of growth dilution or the evolution of efficient Hg elimination mechanisms. Significant linear correlations were found between total Hg concentrations in all pairs of nonlethally sampled tissues (keratin and blood) and internal tissues (muscle and liver) for M. niger and between keratin and internal tissues for P. expansa, indicating that nonlethally sampled tissues can be analyzed to achieve more widespread and representative monitoring of Hg bioaccumulation in Amazonian reptiles. Although mean Hg concentrations in muscle for all species were below the World Health Organization guideline for safe consumption (500 µg kg(-1)), mean concentrations in caiman liver were above the safe limit for pregnant women and children (200 µg kg(-1)). No significant differences were found between total Hg and MeHg concentrations in tissues from wild-caught and farm-raised P. expansa, suggesting that farming may not reduce Hg exposure to humans.

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Using Non-destructive Techniques to Measure Mercury (Hg) Concentrations in Gravid Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Northeastern Illinois

Benjamin

Brasso

Midway

et al. 2018

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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Aquatic turtles are suitable biomonitors of wetland ecosystem health because they are long-lived and occupy elevated trophic positions in wetland food webs. This study aimed to determine Hg exposure in adult Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), an imperiled prairie-wetland species endemic to the northern U.S. and southern Canada. Claw samples were collected from gravid females from four wetland sites in northeast Illinois. Claw Hg concentrations ranged from 654 to 3132 ng/g and we found no effect of body size (carapace length, CL) and some evidence for an effect of wetland site (WS) on mean Hg (i.e. weak effect of site on Hg, detected between WS1 and WS3). Claw Hg concentrations reported in this study were lower than claw concentrations published for other freshwater turtles (e.g. Chelydra serpentina, Sternotherus oderatus). This is the first Hg-related study on Blanding's turtles and can serve as a reference for other Hg studies in Illinois wetlands.

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An evaluation of the use of reptile dermal scutes as a non-invasive method to monitor mercury concentrations in the environment

Cited by 37 publications

References 29 publications

Non-lethal sampling for mercury evaluation in crocodilians

Non-lethal sampling for mercury evaluation in crocodilians

Mercury concentrations in different tissues of turtle and caiman species from the Rio Purus, Amazonas, Brazil

Using Non-destructive Techniques to Measure Mercury (Hg) Concentrations in Gravid Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Northeastern Illinois

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