Methylmercury Concentrations More Strongly Associated With Trait Variation Than Food Web Position in Plethodontid Salamanders

IF 3.6 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Pub Date : 2024-07-19 DOI:10.1002/etc.5947

Jeremiah H. Tennant, Bradley J. Cosentino, Lisa B. Cleckner, Kristen M. Brubaker, N. Roxanna Razavi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Salamanders serve as bioindicators of mercury (Hg) in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and are an important link in the food web between low-trophic prey and higher-trophic predators. We investigated the drivers of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in three common plethodontid salamander species in New York State, USA, including comparisons among regions, habitat types (terrestrial and semiaquatic), and color morphs of Plethodon cinereus (striped and unstriped). Nonlethal tail samples were collected from one terrestrial species (P. cinereus) and two semiaquatic species (Eurycea bislineata and Desmognathus spp.) in the Adirondack Mountains (ADK) and the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) regions. Samples were analyzed for MeHg and stable isotopes, including δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C which are proxies of trophic position and diet, respectively. Despite elevated biota Hg concentrations typically found in the ADK, salamander MeHg concentrations did not differ by region in the terrestrial species and one of the semiaquatic species. In addition, diet and trophic level did not explain MeHg exposure in salamanders. Semiaquatic salamanders exhibited higher MeHg concentrations than terrestrial salamanders in the FLNF only. Within species, only snout–vent length predicted MeHg concentrations in E. bislineata with few other variables significant as predictors of MeHg concentrations in path models. Among P. cinereus individuals in the FLNF, the striped morph had greater MeHg concentrations than the unstriped morph, and food web tracers were not different between morphs. Overall, New York State salamander Hg concentrations were elevated compared to other locations where these species are present. The present study establishes baseline Hg data in salamanders for future assessments of changes in Hg bioavailability to forests of New York State. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2045–2057. © 2024 SETAC

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甲基汞浓度与蝾螈性状变异的关系比与食物网位置的关系更密切

蝾螈是陆生和水生生境中汞（Hg）的生物指标，也是低营养级猎物和高营养级捕食者之间食物网的重要环节。我们研究了美国纽约州三种常见褶纹蝾螈接触甲基汞（MeHg）的驱动因素，包括不同地区、栖息地类型（陆生和半水生）以及褶纹蝾螈颜色形态（条纹和非条纹）之间的比较。在阿迪朗达克山脉（ADK）和五指湖国家森林（FLNF）地区收集了一种陆生物种（P. cinereus）和两种半水生物种（Eurycea bislineata 和 Desmognathus spp.）的非致命性尾部样本。对样本进行了甲基汞和稳定同位素分析，包括δ15N和δ13C，它们分别是营养位置和食性的代用指标。尽管ADK地区生物群汞浓度通常较高，但在陆生物种和一种半水生物种中，蝾螈的甲基汞浓度在不同地区并无差异。此外，食性和营养级也不能解释蝾螈的甲基汞暴露量。仅在 FLNF，半水栖蝾螈的甲基汞浓度高于陆栖蝾螈。在物种内部，只有吻端长度可以预测双线螈的甲基汞浓度，其他变量在路径模型中对甲基汞浓度的预测作用不大。在 FLNF 中的 P. cinereus 个体中，有条纹形态的甲基汞浓度高于无条纹形态，不同形态之间的食物网示踪剂没有差异。总体而言，纽约州的蝾螈汞浓度高于其他存在这些物种的地区。本研究为今后评估纽约州森林中汞生物利用率的变化提供了蝾螈体内汞的基准数据。环境毒物化学 2024;00:1-13。© 2024 SETAC.

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来源期刊

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 环境科学-毒理学

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

9.80%

发文量

265

审稿时长

3.4 months

期刊介绍： The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) publishes two journals: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (ET&C) and Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry is dedicated to furthering scientific knowledge and disseminating information on environmental toxicology and chemistry, including the application of these sciences to risk assessment.[...] Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry is interdisciplinary in scope and integrates the fields of environmental toxicology; environmental, analytical, and molecular chemistry; ecology; physiology; biochemistry; microbiology; genetics; genomics; environmental engineering; chemical, environmental, and biological modeling; epidemiology; and earth sciences. ET&C seeks to publish papers describing original experimental or theoretical work that significantly advances understanding in the area of environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry and hazard/risk assessment. Emphasis is given to papers that enhance capabilities for the prediction, measurement, and assessment of the fate and effects of chemicals in the environment, rather than simply providing additional data. The scientific impact of papers is judged in terms of the breadth and depth of the findings and the expected influence on existing or future scientific practice. Methodological papers must make clear not only how the work differs from existing practice, but the significance of these differences to the field. Site-based research or monitoring must have regional or global implications beyond the particular site, such as evaluating processes, mechanisms, or theory under a natural environmental setting.