Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury in Southern Sea Lions (<I>Otaria flavescens</I>) from Argentina

Records of Southern Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Otariidae) and Total Mercury (THg) Levels in Muscle Tissue of a Specimen on the East Coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil

“…According to [12], [13] and [14] [48]. The levels of these metals in each species are related to their eating habits and geographical distribution [3]. According to the authors, coastal species usually present higher levels than oceanic species.…”

“…It is known that cephalopods and fish are natural accumulators of mercury [49] [50]. As a Open Access Library Journal consequence, when feeding on these animals, marine mammals are exposed to these heavy metals [3]. According to the authors, this characteristic, associated with the longevity and diversified foraging ecology of these animals, places them as an interesting group to study heavy metals.…”

“…The southern sea lion (Otaria flavescens Shaw, 1800) is a marine mammal that belongs to the Order Carnivora, Suborder Pinnipedia, and to the Family Otariidae (fur seals and sea lions, also known as otariids) [1] [2]. The species occurs in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, on the coast of South America [1] [2] [3]. On the coast of Argentina, Otaria flavescens is the most common pinniped [3] and the most abundant otariid, widely distributed from Mar del Plata, in the province of Buenos Aires (38˚12'S, 57˚33'W), to the province of Tierra del Fuego (52˚27'S, 69˚25'W) [4].…”

“…The species occurs in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, on the coast of South America [1] [2] [3]. On the coast of Argentina, Otaria flavescens is the most common pinniped [3] and the most abundant otariid, widely distributed from Mar del Plata, in the province of Buenos Aires (38˚12'S, 57˚33'W), to the province of Tierra del Fuego (52˚27'S, 69˚25'W) [4]. The species also occurs on the coast of Peru, on the west side (margin) of South America, southern Brazil, and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas Islands) [1] and reproduces on islands of Uruguay, Argentina, Falkland Islands, Peru, and Chile [5].…”

Sharp accumulation of heavy metals after weaning in the South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis

“…They are also a main prey of South American fur seals in northern Argentina and Uruguay (Vaz Ferreira & Ponce de León 1987, Naya et al 2002, Bastida et al 2007, particularly the Argentine short-fin squid Illex argentinus. Stomach content analysis of the studied WP revealed a frequency of occurrence (FO) of 100% of Argentine shortfin squid, followed by unidentified fish (FO = 62.5%), Argentine anchovies Engraulis anchoita (FO = 25.0%), striped weakfish Cynoscion guatucupa (FO = 23.0%) and toadfish Porichthys porossissimus (FO = 12.5%) American fur seal pups.…”