Trace elements in fish species: Schizothorax richardsonii, Salmo trutta and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis in relation to sizes and tissues of Punatsang Chhu

Three fish species (Schizothorax richardsonii, Salmo trutta and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis) were collected from Punatsang Chhu river and sample tissues of muscles and gills were analyzed for Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr and Zn using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for each species grouped elements with higher concentration in gills compared to muscle tissues. The Man-Whitney test revealed significant difference between tissues sources and concentrations of Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr and Zn in S. richardsonii, Al, Ba, Co, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn in S. trutta and Al, Ba, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mn, Sr and Zn in N. hexagonolepis. The Kruskal-Wallis test for inter-species variation revealed significant difference in concentration of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn in muscle tissues and Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Sr and Zn concentrations in gills of three species. Spearman correlation between levels of elements and fish size (weight and length) revealed positive and negative relationships for concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn and concentrations of Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr and Zn respectively, both at p < 0.001 and p < 0.005.