Distribution of trace elements in organs of six species of cetaceans from the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean), and the relationship with stable carbon and nitrogen ratios
Capelli, R.; Das, Krishna; De Pellegrini, R.et al.
2008 • In Science of the Total Environment, 390, p. 569-578
[en] Mercury (total and organic), cadmium, lead, copper, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc
concentrations were measured in different organs of 6 different cetacean species stranded
in an area of extraordinary ecological interest (Cetaceans’ Sanctuary of the Mediterranean
Sea) along the coast of the Ligurian Sea (North-West Mediterranean). Stable-isotopes ratios
of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) were also measured in the muscle. A significant
relationship exists between 15N/14N, mercury concentration and the trophic level. The
distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements was studied on several organs,
and a significant relationship between selenium and mercury, with a molar ratio close to 1,
was found in the cetaceans’ kidney, liver and spleen, regardless of their species. High
selenium concentrations are generally associated with a low organic to total mercury ratio.
While narrow ranges of concentrations were observed for essential elements in most
organs, mercury and selenium concentrations are characterised by a wide range of
variation. Bio-accumulation and bio-amplification processes in cetaceans can be better
understood by comparing trace element concentrations with the stable-isotopes data.
Research Center/Unit :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Capelli, R.; aDipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche ed Alimentari - Università degli Studi di Genova - Via Brigata Salerno, 13 I-16147 Genova, Italy
Das, Krishna ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
De Pellegrini, R.; aDipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche ed Alimentari - Università degli Studi di Genova - Via Brigata Salerno, 13 I-16147 Genova, Italy
Drava, G.; aDipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche ed Alimentari - Università degli Studi di Genova - Via Brigata Salerno, 13 I-16147 Genova, Italy
Lepoint, Gilles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Miglio, Cristiana; aDipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche ed Alimentari - Università degli Studi di Genova - Via Brigata Salerno, 13 I-16147 Genova, Italy
Minganti, V.; aDipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche ed Alimentari - Università degli Studi di Genova - Via Brigata Salerno, 13 I-16147 Genova, Italy
Poggi, R.; Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “Giacomo Doria” - Via Brigata Liguria, 9 I-16121 Genova, Italy
Language :
English
Title :
Distribution of trace elements in organs of six species of cetaceans from the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean), and the relationship with stable carbon and nitrogen ratios
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