title: Assessment of trace elements, POPs, (210)Po and stable isotopes ((15)N and (13)C) in a rare filter-feeding shark: The megamouth.
abstract: With less than 60 records being reported worldwide, the megamouth (Megachasma pelagios) is today one of the least known shark species inhabiting our oceans. Therefore, information concerning the biology and ecology of this enigmatic organism is very scarce and limited to feeding behaviour and preferred habitat. The present work reports new data on the concentrations of trace elements, organic mercury, POPs and (210)Po in hepatic and muscular tissues of a specimen found stranded in the southeastern coast of Brazil. Additionally, we provide new evidence based on stable isotope analysis (δ(15)N and δ(13)C) confirming the preference for the pelagic habitat and the zooplanktivorous feeding behaviour of the megamouth. These results are consistent with the low concentrations of organic pollutant compounds and other elements measured in our samples.
authors: Systems Ecology, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Fahrenheitstrasse 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: jfu@zmt-bremen.de.
authors: Jailson Fulgencio de
authors: JF
authors: Moura
authors: Systems Ecology, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Fahrenheitstrasse 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany; School of Engineer and Science, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany.
authors: Agostino
authors: A
authors: Merico
authors: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IO-USP), Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Rosalinda Carmela
authors: RC
authors: Montone
authors: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IO-USP), Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Josilene
authors: J
authors: Silva
authors: Dep. de Quı́mica, Pontifı́cia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Tércia Guedes
authors: TG
authors: Seixas
authors: Dep. de Quı́mica, Pontifı́cia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria (IRD), Caixa Postal 37750, Barra da Tijuca, 22642-970 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: José Marcus de Oliveira
authors: JM
authors: Godoy
authors: Dep. de Quı́mica, Pontifı́cia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Tatiana Dillenburg
authors: TD
authors: Saint'Pierre
authors: Dep. de Quı́mica, Pontifı́cia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Rachel Ann
authors: RA
authors: Hauser-Davis
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2.000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil.
authors: Ana Paula Madeira
authors: AP
authors: Di Beneditto
authors: Laboratório de Genética Marinha (LGMar), Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20550-013, Brazil.
authors: Estéfane Cardinot
authors: EC
authors: Reis
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2.000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil; Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ, Departamento de Endemias, Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210, Brazil.
authors: Davi Castro
authors: DC
authors: Tavares
authors: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ, Departamento de Endemias, Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210, Brazil.
authors: Leila Soledade
authors: LS
authors: Lemos
authors: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ, Departamento de Endemias, Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210, Brazil.
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Siciliano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D011059:Polonium / Q000032:analysis*; D012754:Sharks / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011059:Polonium; D008628:Mercury
keywords: (210)Polonium; Marine pollution; Megachasma pelagios; Organic contaminants; Stable isotopes; Trace metals