TY - JOUR
T1 - Trace metal concentrations in the hair of zalophus californianus pups and their relation to feeding habits
AU - Elorriaga-Verplancken, Fernando
AU - Aurioles-Gamboa, David
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - The levels of six trace metals (Hg, Se, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Zn) were measured in the hair of California sea lion pups from eight rookeries in the Gulf of California, with the aim of relating these levels with the animals feeding habits, trophic level, and δ15N signatures at each locality. Trace metal levels were seen to vary significantly between sample sites as were tendencies associated with feeding habits. Mercury concentrations showed a clear positive correlation with trophic level (r∈=∈0.73, p∈=∈0.06) as well as the δ15N values of the rookeries (r∈=∈0.79, p∈=∈0.033). This was explainable via the process of biomagnification, although other elements did not follow the same tendency. High Cu concentrations in the hair (18 and 47 μg g-1; ANOVA, p∈<∈0.05) were observed at San Pedro Mártir and San Esteban, where the consumption of squid is higher than at other localities (~17% and ~27% of the diet, respectively). Se and Hg concentrations correlated positively (r∈=∈0.73, p∈=∈0.038), probably the result of detoxification processes, a phenomenon previously reported in marine mammals. In light of the high degree of philopatry among sea lions in the Gulf and their pups' dependence exclusively upon their mother's milk during the first months of life, the analysis of trace metals in the easily sampled hair of the pups, offers an indirect way of monitoring the toxicology of the sea lion populations.
AB - The levels of six trace metals (Hg, Se, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Zn) were measured in the hair of California sea lion pups from eight rookeries in the Gulf of California, with the aim of relating these levels with the animals feeding habits, trophic level, and δ15N signatures at each locality. Trace metal levels were seen to vary significantly between sample sites as were tendencies associated with feeding habits. Mercury concentrations showed a clear positive correlation with trophic level (r∈=∈0.73, p∈=∈0.06) as well as the δ15N values of the rookeries (r∈=∈0.79, p∈=∈0.033). This was explainable via the process of biomagnification, although other elements did not follow the same tendency. High Cu concentrations in the hair (18 and 47 μg g-1; ANOVA, p∈<∈0.05) were observed at San Pedro Mártir and San Esteban, where the consumption of squid is higher than at other localities (~17% and ~27% of the diet, respectively). Se and Hg concentrations correlated positively (r∈=∈0.73, p∈=∈0.038), probably the result of detoxification processes, a phenomenon previously reported in marine mammals. In light of the high degree of philopatry among sea lions in the Gulf and their pups' dependence exclusively upon their mother's milk during the first months of life, the analysis of trace metals in the easily sampled hair of the pups, offers an indirect way of monitoring the toxicology of the sea lion populations.
KW - California sea lion pups
KW - Feeding habits
KW - Hair
KW - Trace metals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=64849093373&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12011-008-8186-8
DO - 10.1007/s12011-008-8186-8
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 18679589
SN - 0163-4984
VL - 126
SP - 148
EP - 164
JO - Biological Trace Element Research
JF - Biological Trace Element Research
IS - 1-3
ER -