Snakes as Novel Biomarkers of Mercury Contamination: A Review

Haskins, David L.; Gogal, Robert M.; Tuberville, Tracey D.

doi:10.1007/398_2019_26

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 69 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Generally, body size is correlated with age in snakes (Halliday & Verrell, 1988); thus, age may also be a factor determining THg as older individuals have had more time to accumulate Hg (B. C. Hopkins et al, 2013). Overall, tail THg burdens in N. floridana from former nuclear cooling reservoirs of the Savannah River Site are relatively low compared with concentrations reported from other Hg contaminated locations around the globe (see Drewett et al, 2013; Haskins et al, 2019), and similar to those documented in brown watersnakes ( N. taxispilota ) inhabiting the Savannah River just outside the Savannah River Site (Haskins, Brown, Bringolf, et al, 2021). However, due to the scarcity of information on sublethal effects of Hg in reptiles, specifically snakes, more research is warranted to determine thresholds at which chronic, low‐dose THg could pose problems for snakes at the individual and population level.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

“…Despite possessing attributes that make them ideal candidates for environmental monitoring, reptiles are understudied relative to other vertebrates regarding ecotoxicology (Haskins et al, 2017; W. A. Hopkins, 2000). Snakes are strictly carnivorous, have relatively long life spans, and exhibit smaller home ranges compared with other vertebrate taxa (Burger, 1992; Campbell & Campbell, 2001; Haskins et al, 2019; W. A. Hopkins et al, 1999). Thus, they are suitable candidates for studying local contamination, bioaccumulation (Bauerle et al, 1975; Beaupre & Douglas, 2009; Drewett et al, 2013), and potential impacts of chronic exposure to contaminants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mercury and Radiocesium Accumulation and Associations With Sublethal Endpoints in the Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana)

Brown

Haskins

Russell

et al. 2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mercury (Hg) and radiocesium (137Cs) are well‐known environmental contaminants with the potential to impact the health of humans and wildlife. Snakes have several characteristics conducive to studying environmental contamination but have rarely been included in the monitoring of polluted sites. We investigated the bioaccumulation of Hg and 137Cs and associations with sublethal effects (standard metabolic rate [SMR] and hemoparasite infections) in Florida green watersnakes (Nerodia floridana). We captured 78 snakes from three former nuclear cooling reservoirs on the US Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina (USA). For captured snakes, we (1) determined whole‐body 137Cs, (2) quantified total Hg (THg) using snake tail clips, (3) conducted hemoparasite counts, and (4) measured the SMR. We used multiple regression models to determine associations among snake body size, capture location, sex, tail THg, whole‐body 137Cs, Hepatozoon spp. prevalence and parasitemia, and SMR. Average whole‐body 137Cs (0.23 ± 0.08 Becquerels [Bq]/g; range: 0.00–1.02 Bq/g) was correlated with snake body size and differed significantly by capture site (Pond B: 0.67 ± 0.05 Bq/g; Par Pond: 0.10 ± 0.02 Bq/g; Pond 2: 0.03 ± 0.02 Bq/g). Tail THg (0.33 ± 0.03 mg/kg dry wt; range: 0.16–2.10 mg/kg) was significantly correlated with snake body size but did not differ by capture site. We found no clear relationship between SMR and contaminant burdens. However, models indicated that the prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. in snakes was inversely related to increasing whole‐body 137Cs burdens. Our results indicate the bioaccumulation of Hg and 137Cs in N. floridana and further demonstrate the utility of aquatic snakes as bioindicators. Our results also suggest a decrease in Hepatozoon spp. prevalence related to increased burdens of 137Cs. Although the results are intriguing, further research is needed to understand the dynamics between 137Cs and Hepatozoon spp. infections in semiaquatic snakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:758–770. © 2022 SETAC

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and Radiocesium Accumulation and Associations With Sublethal Endpoints in the Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana)

Brown

Haskins

Russell

et al. 2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Aquatic and wetland reptiles are becoming globally recognised as reliable indicators of environmental contamination (Campbell et al 2005;Haskins et al 2019;Lemaire et al 2021;Quintela et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snake scales record environmental metal(loid) contamination

Lettoof

Rankenburg

McDonald

et al. 2021

Environmental Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Exposure to Hg in vivo or in vitro leads to potent immunosuppression and/or modulation across broad range of vertebrate taxa (Batista‐Duharte et al, 2018; Desforges et al, 2016; Lewis et al, 2013; Sun et al, 2018). The few data available for reptiles support these trends (Day et al, 2007), but overall, there is a paucity of data regarding the effects of Hg on the reptile immune response (Haskins et al, 2019; Schneider et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury immunotoxicity in the brown watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota): An in vitro study

Haskins

Brown

Meichner

et al. 2021

J of Applied Toxicology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal that enters the environment through natural and anthropogenic means. Once in the environment, Hg can biomagnify in food webs and is known to cause immunotoxic effects to wildlife. Compared with other vertebrates, knowledge of the reptilian immune system is lacking, especially in snakes. Further, even less is known about the impact of environmental contaminants on snake immunity. This gap in knowledge is largely due to an absence of established immune‐based assays or specific reagents for these species. In this study, brown watersnakes (Nerodia taxispilota; n = 23) were captured on the Savannah River (Augusta, Georgia, USA), weighed, measured, bled, and released. Peripheral blood leukocytes (24 h old) were enriched and evaluated with an established mammalian in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay. Enriched leukocytes were then exposed to mercury chloride (HgCl2) at 3.75, 37.5, and 75 μM. Total mercury (THg) in whole blood was also quantified. Snake peripheral blood leukocyte enrichment yielded >90% lymphocytes with viabilities averaging >70%. Exposure to HgCl2 resulted in significant dose‐dependent suppression of proliferative responses relative to spontaneous proliferation at 37.5 and 75 μM (both p ≤ 0.01) but not 3.75 μM (p = 0.99). Mean ± 1 SE concentration of THg in whole blood was 0.127 ± 0.027 mg/kg (wet weight). Based on the in vitro findings with HgCl2, snakes in systems with heavy Hg pollution may be at risk of immunosuppression, but N. taxispilota at the site in this study appear to be at low risk.

show abstract

Snakes as Novel Biomarkers of Mercury Contamination: A Review

Cited by 12 publications

References 69 publications

Mercury and Radiocesium Accumulation and Associations With Sublethal Endpoints in the Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana)

Mercury and Radiocesium Accumulation and Associations With Sublethal Endpoints in the Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana)

Snake scales record environmental metal(loid) contamination

Mercury immunotoxicity in the brown watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota): An in vitro study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About