title: Biological variables and health status affecting inorganic element concentrations in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Portugal (western Iberian Peninsula).
abstract: The coastal preferences of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) intensify their exposure to human activities. The harbour porpoise Iberian population is presently very small and information about the threats it endures is vital for the conservation efforts that are being implemented to avoid local extinction. The present study explored the possible relation between the accumulation of trace elements by porpoises and their sex, body length, nutritional state, presence of parasites and gross pathologies. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) were evaluated in 42 porpoises stranded in Portugal between 2005 and 2013. Considering European waters, porpoises stranded in Portugal present the highest Hg concentrations and the lowest Cd concentrations, which may reflect dietary preferences and the geographic availability of these pollutants. While no effect of sex on trace element concentrations was detected, there was a positive relationship between porpoise body length and the concentration of Cd, Hg and Pb. Animals in worse nutritional condition showed higher levels of Zn. Harbour porpoises with high parasite burdens showed lower levels of Zn and As in all analysed tissues and also lower levels of renal Ni, while those showing gross pathologies presented higher Zn and Hg levels. This is the first data on the relationship between trace elements and health-related variables in porpoises from southern European Atlantic waters, providing valuable baseline information about the contamination status of this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CBMA, Universidade de Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-047 Braga, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade de Minho, Departamento de Biologia, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-047 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade de Minho, Departamento de Biologia, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-047 Braga, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: s.monteiro@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Silvia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF), Avenida da República 16, 1050-191 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños, Camiño do Ceán, 2, 36350 Nigrán Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade de Minho, Departamento de Biologia, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-047 Braga, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-047 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vingada
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade de Minho, Departamento de Biologia, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-047 Braga, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eira
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D050741:Phocoena / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011174:Portugal; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Body condition; Cetaceans; Heavy metals; North Atlantic; Trace elements