Ecotype Variation in Trace Element Content of Hard Tissues in the European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Abstract

Animals living in anthropogenic habitats bear a multitude of costs, which are directly or indirectly associated with human activities. Among others, an elevated exposure to environmental pollution can have negative consequences for wildlife populations. We examined the differences in the concentrations of trace elements between the field and forest ecotype of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Naturally, roe deer inhabited various types of woodlands (forest ecotype), but within the last century, they adapted to life in a human-transformed agricultural areas (field ecotype), which could be associated with an increased exposure to pollution. In this study, we measured concentrations of seven trace metals (barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, zinc) and fluoride in skull bones and permanent teeth of more than 230 roe deer from 8 study plots in East-Central Europe. We found that field roe deer had higher concentrations of four trace metals (copper, iron, lead, strontium) and fluoride compared with forest roe deer. These differences were consistent with variations in the general level of environmental contamination within the study plots, as assessed with trace element content in wild plants. Our study indicates that bone and teeth of the European roe deer can be used as a valid indicator of environmental pollution. Also, we expect that elevated exposure of field roe deer to environmental pollution can have negative consequences for wild populations of this species, as well as for the consumers of venison.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00244-018-0580-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Accumulation of Toxic Elements in Bone and Bone Marrow of Deer Living in Various Ecosystems. A Case Study of Farmed and Wild-Living Deer

“…However, the concentration of this metal in the bones was higher in the samples from the wild deer and lower in the farmed deer in comparison with levels determined in samples from caribou living near a mine in Northern Alaska [ 39 ]. The bone Ba concentration was higher in the wild red deer and lower in the farmed animal group than the levels determined in roe deer from forest and field habitats of central Europe [ 20 , 40 ]. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the bones of reindeer living in Karelia (Russia) were much higher than those reported in the present study [ 13 ].…”

“…Large herbivores, e.g., roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ), and moose ( Alces alces ) have been shown to be good bioindicator species in monitoring programs, which have been developed since 1980 in different countries in Central Europe and Scandinavia [ 19 ]. Furthermore, it has been shown that deer bone tissues can serve as environmental bioindicators [ 20 , 21 ], especially bones and teeth, which unlike antlers are not replaced every year and accumulate trace elements over years or decades [ 22 ]. In humans, for instance, the biological half-life of trace elements in bone tissue lasts up to 30 years, and their content in bones is up to 90% [ 23 ].…”

The Levels of Mineral Elements and Toxic Metals in the Longissimus lumborum Muscle, Hair and Selected Organs of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in Poland

“…Both xenobiotics, Pb and Cd, enter living organisms via two major routes: enteral and respiratory [ 3 ], and due to their high mobility in the natural environment and strong tendency to accumulate, they undergo biomagnification in the food chain [ 4 ]. Game species spend their whole life in their natural habitats, and therefore, their tissues can be used as excellent indicators for the measurement of local pollution levels [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The transfer of elements from soil to plants and animals also depends on soil conditions, i.e., redox potential, pH or the content, of organic matter and plant physiology [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Some plants tend to accumulate more pollutants [ 10 ] of which the consumption by an animal is a source of direct exposure to these compounds and their increased accumulation in animal tissues [ 7 ]. Toxic elements can accumulate in hard tissues, such as bones, teeth [ 7 , 8 ] and antlers [ 9 ], in hair [ 3 , 5 , 13 , 14 ] and in the parenchymal organs, such as the liver [ 4 , 15 , 16 ], muscles [ 6 , 17 ] and kidneys [ 4 , 18 ]. Red deer living in a given area have different access to essential trace elements and toxic elements, which is reflected in their different concentration in animal tissues [ 11 ].…”

Health-Promoting Properties of the Wild-Harvested Meat of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.)

“…Analysis of meat harvested in forests and fields can be a bioindicator of the level of environmental contamination. By monitoring the existence of animals, the place of harvesting and many other factors, the level of environmental pollution can be assessed [25][26][27][28]. Evaluation of the degree of bioaccumulation of lead and cadmium in the muscle tissue of animals, including roe and red deer, is a criterion for assessing the safety of such products for consumption.…”