Metal and metalloid accumulation in shrews (Soricomorpha, Mammalia) from two protected Mediterranean coastal sites |
| |
Authors: | Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi María José López-Fuster |
| |
Institution: | a Servei de Microscopia, Facultat de Ciències, Edifici C, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra, Spain b Departament de Biologia Animal (Vertebrats), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, 08028-Barcelona, Spain |
| |
Abstract: | Although ecotoxicological data on heavy metals are abundant, information on other potentially toxic elements with attributed deficiency and/or toxic disturbances is scarce. Here we quantify zinc, copper, iron, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, strontium, barium, and boron in bones of greater white-toothed shrews, Crocidura russula, inhabiting two protected Mediterranean coastal sites: the Ebro Delta, a wetland impacted by human activities, and the Medas Islands, a reference site. Natural and anthropogenic inputs significantly increase Fe, Mn, Mo, Sr, Ba, and B in specimens from the Ebro Delta, whereas Cu and Cr were higher in Medas' shrews. Principal component analysis allowed complete separation between sites along the first two axes in particular due to B, Sr, and Cu. This study provides metal reference values in bones of insectivores, explores their variability and bioaccumulation patterns in depth, and assesses the potential environmental risk and toxicity for biota exposed to the above elements. |
| |
Keywords: | Crocidura russula Metals Age Sex Protected Mediterranean sites Ebro Delta |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|