Abstract
Due to their natural history and ecological attributes, turtles are excellent organisms for studies of heavy metal contamination. Turtles have a large geographical distribution, occupy different aquatic habitats, and occupy various trophic levels. The present study investigated mercury bioaccumulation in the carnivorous chelonian Chelus fimbriata (Matamata turtle) and Hg biomagnification in relation to its aquatic food chain in the middle Rio Negro, AM-Brazil. Tissue samples of muscle, carapace and claws were collected from 26 C. fimbriata individuals, as well as collections of autotrophic energy sources found in the turtle’s aquatic habitat area. The samples were collected in February-March/2014 and analyzed for THg concentrations and carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes. The highest THg levels were found in claws (3780 ng.g−1), carapace (3622 ng.g−1) and muscle (403 ng.g−1), which were found to be significantly different [F(2.73) = 49.02 p < 0.01]. However, THg concentrations in muscle tissue were below the consumption threshold indicated by the WHO and Brazilian Health Ministry. The average δ13C and δ15N values in Matamata samples were −31.7‰ and 11.9‰, respectively. The principal energy source sustaining the food chain of C. fimbriata was found to be terrestrial shrubs, with smaller contributions from emergent aquatic herbaceous plants and algae, while δ15N values showed its trophic position to be two levels above the autotrophic energy sources. There was a positive correlation between THg and turtle size, while a significant relationship was found between THg and δ15N, showing strong biomagnification in the food chain of C. fimbriata: y = 0.21x + 0.46; r2 = 0.45; p < 0.001, for which the slope presented a value of 0.21.
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Acknowledgements
This study is part of the doctoral thesis of the first author (FAGC) at the Graduate Program on Aquatic Ecology and Fishing, Federal University of Pará, and was funded in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (Capes) – Finance Code 001, with additional support from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), of the Ministério de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI). MÂ CNPq (#310522/2023-4). We would like to thank the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Água Doce e Pesca Interior (BADPI) at Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM) for all the logistical and intellectual support provided by PPG researchers and professors. By name, I want to thank Mr. Anízio from Barcelos and his sons Beto, Ruse and Sandro. The crew of the boat Mário, Luiz and Astro, especially Dr. Richard Vogt. To BADPI and INPA for their intellectual and logistical contribution to this research. To the Amazonian Ecosystems Laboratory (INPA, Manaus, AM) for all the logistical and intellectual support. To the Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM Manaus, AM) for the partnership in the Hg analyses, on behalf of Raimundo Gato, Bruno Calvo and Ceel. To the Laboratory of Geochronology and Stable Isotopes of the University of Brasília (UnB, Brasília, DF) on behalf of Eduardo Carvalho and Luis Mancini. To the Fish Nutrition Laboratory (INPA, Manaus, AM) for lyophilizing the plankton samples. To the Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, on behalf of Dr. Rafael “Sussu” (INPA, Manaus, AM) for the COD analyses. To the Mauá Group, on behalf of Dr. Maria Tereza Piedade and Dr. Aline Lopes for identifying the plants.
Funding
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (Capes) – Finance Code 001. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), of the Ministério de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação. Projeto CNPq Dr. Bruce R. Forsberg Processo n° 458036/2013-7. Projeto Tartarugas da Amazônia: Conservando para o futuro, coordenador Dr. Richard C. Vogt.
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FAG, Cunha: hypothesis, conceptualization, sampling, chemical analysis, data analysis, writing, discussion and submission; BC, Brito: conceptualization, sampling, data analysis, writing; B.R. Forsberg: conceptualization, data analysis, writing, funding acquisition and advisor; RC, Vogt: conceptualization and advisor; D, Kasper: conceptualization, writing; Bruce Marshall: conceptualization, writing, translation; O, Peleja: conceptualization; ALP, Santos: data analysis; FVX, Domingos-Moreira: conceptualization; MC, Andrade: conceptualization, data analysis, writing and map.
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This study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of National Institute for Research of Amazonian (May 2014, N°003).
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Cunha, F.A.G., Forsberg, B.R., Vogt, R.C. et al. Mercury biomagnification in the food chain of a piscivorous turtle species (Testudines: Chelidae: Chelus fimbriata) in the Central Amazon, Brazil. Ecotoxicology (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-024-02756-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-024-02756-w