Metals and Metalloids in Tissues of American Alligators in Three Florida Lakes

Burger, J.; Gochfeld, Michael; Rooney, Andrew A.; Orlando, Edward F.; Woodward, Allan R.; Guillette, Louis J.

doi:10.1007/s002440010066

Cited by 35 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In the present study, in accordance with other studies on aquatic snakes (Burger et al 2007;Hopkins et al 1999;Campbell et al 2005) higher concentrations of cadmium were found in the liver than in the muscle. Likewise, higher concentrations of lead and chromium were found in the muscle than the liver, which is consistent with other studies on aquatic snakes and other reptiles (Burger et al 2000;Burger et al 2007;Campbell et al 2005). The diversity of results in the literature shows that it is di cult to predict the tissue where each type of metal will accumulate.…”

Section: Comparison Between Tissuessupporting

confidence: 92%

“…This is especially true for lead, which was found in higher concentrations in the skin than in other body tissues (Burger 1992). In contrast, in alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) the liver had the highest concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, manganese, mercury, and selenium, while the muscle had the highest concentrations of lead and chromium (Burger et al 2000). The highest concentrations of cadmium in liver were found in aquatic snakes (Nerodia fasciata) fed with contaminated and uncontaminated prey (Hopkins et al 1999), as in Nerodia spp., where chromium and lead were higher in the skin (Burger et al 2007), which is consistent with other studies involving Nerodia sipedon (Campbell et al 2005).…”

Section: Comparison Between Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 94%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops Pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Hurtado-Morales

Rodríguez²,

Amézquita³

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of the present study was to test the potential role of the aquatic snake Helicops pastazae as indicators of water pollution caused by heavy metals. In particular, we tested whether the total heavy metal concentration is related to (1) the position (upstream vs downstream) of the sampling point and its distance from the point where wastewater is discharged; (2) the taxonomic group studied and its place in the trophic chain: piscivorous snakes vs characid fish that co-occur with them; and (3) the organ or tissue examined: snake liver versus muscle. We quantified cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry with electrothermal atomization. Significant differences were found between some of the sampling points, particularly high metal concentrations were detected upstream at point 1, but no clear spatial pattern was found. There were no significant differences in the concentration of any of the metals between fish and snake muscle, suggesting potential mechanisms of metal excretion in snakes. With regard to interactions, the snake liver had the highest concentrations of cadmium and the muscle of lead and chromium, which may indicate tissue affinity differences for certain metals. Altogether, our results indicate that H. pastazae accumulates contaminants differentially, depending on the tissue and location, which render them useful bioindicators of water contamination.

show abstract

Section: Comparison Between Tissuessupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Comparison Between Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 94%

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops Pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Hurtado-Morales

Rodríguez²,

Amézquita³

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the present study, higher concentrations of cadmium were found in the liver compared to muscle, in accordance with other studies in aquatic snakes (Burger et al 2007;Hopkins et al 1999;Campbell et al 2005). Likewise, higher concentrations of lead and chromium were found in the muscle compared to the liver, which is consistent with other studies in aquatic snakes and other reptiles (Burger et al 2000;Burger et al 2007;Campbell et al 2005). The diversity of results in the literature shows that it is di cult to predict the tissue where each type of metal will accumulate.…”

Section: Comparison Between Tissuessupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Regarding studies in snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus), it has been found that metals have a greater a nity with the skin, especially lead, because higher concentrations were found with respect to other body tissues (Burger 1992). In contrast, in alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) the liver had the highest concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, manganese, mercury and selenium, and muscle the highest concentrations of lead and chromium (Burger et al 2000). The highest concentrations of cadmium in liver were found in aquatic snakes (Nerodia fasciata) fed with contaminated and uncontaminated prey (Hopkins et al 1999), as in Nerodia spp., where chromium and lead were higher in the skin (Burger et al 2007), which is consistent with other studies conducted in Nerodia sipedon (Campbell et al 2005).…”

Section: Comparison Between Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Hurtado-Morales

Susa

Amézquita

2022

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present study aimed at testing the potential role of the aquatic snake Helicops pastazae as indicators of water pollution by heavy metals. In particular, we tested whether the total heavy metal concentration is related to (1) the distance and position (upstream vs downstream) of the sampling point with the discharge of wastewater; (2) the taxonomic group studied and its place in the trophic chain: piscivorous snakes vs characid sh that co-occur with them; and (3) the organ or tissue examined: snake liver versus muscle. We quanti ed cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry with electrothermal atomization. Signi cant differences were found between some of the sampling points, particularly high metal concentrations were detected upstream on point 1, but no clear spatial pattern was found. There were no signi cant differences in the concentration of any metal between sh and snake muscle, suggesting potential mechanisms of metal excretion in snakes. With regard to interactions, the snake liver had the highest concentrations of cadmium and the muscle of lead and chromium, which may indicate tissue a nity differences for certain metals. Altogether, our results indicate that H. pastazae differentially accumulates contaminants, depending on the tissue and location, which render them useful bioindicators of water contamination.

show abstract

“…1 Wild birds as bioindicators for terrestrial and aquatic contamination, especially heavy metals, have often been emphasized. [2][3][4] In wild birds, many studies have focused on raptors, 5-7 seabirds [8][9][10][11] and herons and egrets 4,[12][13][14] due to their position at the top of the food chain and the spatial integration of their extended home ranges. However, only a modest amount of recent information is available for shore-birds 15,16 in spite of their being good bioindicators for monitoring of the estuarine environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of heavy metal contaminants using feathers of shorebirds, Korea

Kim

2012

J. Environ. Monit.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study presents concentrations of iron, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in the feathers of 3 shorebird species (n = 29) from Okgu Mudflat, Korea in the East Asian-Australian Migration Flyways. Lead concentrations (ANOVA, p < 0.001) in Red-necked Stints (geomean = 9.61 μg g(-1) dry weight) were higher than in Terek Sandpipers (geomean = 5.56 μg g(-1) dry weight) which in turn were higher than in Great Knots (geomean = 2.78 μg g(-1) wet weight). Cadmium concentrations (ANOVA, p < 0.001) were higher in Great Knots (geomean = 2.97 μg g(-1) wet weight) and in Red-necked Stints (geomean = 2.70 μg g(-1) dry weight) than in Terek Sandpipers (geomean = 0.33 μg g(-1) dry weight). Lead (r = 0.574, p < 0.01) and cadmium (r = 0.380, p < 0.05) concentrations between feathers and livers of shorebirds were significantly correlated. Lead concentrations in 65.5% (19 individuals) of shorebirds exceeded a toxicity threshold for feathers (4 μg g(-1) dry weight). Iron, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium concentrations in feathers were within the range of earlier studies for wild birds, but lead concentrations in Red-necked Stints were higher than those reported in other studies. Because lead concentrations in feathers and livers of Red-necked Stints were markedly higher than in other shorebirds, we suggest that Red-necked Stints were exposed to higher lead concentrations than the other shorebirds on their breeding or wintering grounds.

show abstract

Metals and Metalloids in Tissues of American Alligators in Three Florida Lakes

Cited by 35 publications

References 0 publications

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops Pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops Pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Monitoring of heavy metal contaminants using feathers of shorebirds, Korea

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About