Muscle mercury and selenium in fishes and semiaquatic mammals from a selenium-deficient area.
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare total mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), and Se:Hg molar ratios in fish muscles (phytophages n=3; benthophages n=32; predators n=5) and semiaquatic carnivores, including piscivores (the European otter n=8, the feral American mink n=7) and the omnivorous raccoon (n=37) from a riverine European ecosystem in a Se-deficient area. The Hg concentration in fish reached 0.337μg/g dry weight, dw (0.084μg/g wet weight, ww). We found significant differences among Hg levels in tested vertebrate groups (predators vs benthophages: 0.893 vs 0.281μg/g; piscivores vs omnivores: 6.085 vs 0.566μg/g dw). Fish groups did not differ in Se concentrations, with a mean value of 0.653μg/g dw. Significant differences were revealed between Se levels in piscivorous and omnivorous carnivores (0.360 vs 0.786μg/g dw, respectively). Fish Se:Hg molar ratio values were >2.2. Benthophages had higher the ratio than predators but similar to phytophages. Among carnivores, piscivores had much lower the ratio than raccoon (0.14 vs 3.75) but raccoon and fish medians did not significantly differ. We found almost two times higher Se levels in fish and raccoons compared to piscivores, possibly resulting from lower fish Se digestibility by piscivores in contrast to higher absorption of plant Se by many fish and omnivorous raccoons. Considering that a tissue Se:Hg molar ratio <1 may be connected with a Hg toxicity potential increase, we assume that piscivores in Se-deficient area are in worse situation and more exposed to Hg than fish and omnivores.
Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, in Szczecin, Poland.
Elzbieta
E
Kalisinska
Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, in Szczecin, Poland.
Natalia
N
Lanocha-Arendarczyk
Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, in Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: kodan@pum.edu.pl.
Danuta
D
Kosik-Bogacka
Department of Health Education, University of Szczecin, Poland.
Halina
H
Budis
Chair of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland.
Bogumila
B
Pilarczyk
Chair of Animal Reproduction Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Tomza-Marciniak
Department of Environmental Management and Protection, Western Pomeranian University of Technology,in Szczecin, Poland.
Joanna
J
Podlasinska
Warta Mouth National Park, Poland.
Lukasz
L
Cieslik
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Poland.
Marcin
M
Popiolek
Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology, Institute of Biology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Pirog
Ecoexpert Sp. z o.o., Poland.
Ewa
E
Jedrzejewska
D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D018036:Selenium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
Fish; Piscivorous mammals; Riverine ecosystem; Selenium/mercury molar ratio