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The Broad-Scale Analysis of Metals, Trace Elements, Organochlorine Pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Wetlands Along an Urban Gradient, and the Use of a High Trophic Snake as a Bioindicator

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Abstract

Wetlands and their biodiversity are constantly threatened by contaminant pollution from urbanisation. Despite evidence suggesting that snakes are good bioindicators of environmental health, the bioaccumulation of contaminants in reptiles is poorly researched in Australia. We conducted the first broad-scale analysis of 17 metals and trace elements, 21 organochlorine pesticides, and 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments (4 samples per site, December 2018) from four wetlands along an urban gradient in Perth, Western Australia, and from the livers (5 livers per site, February–April 2019) of western tiger snakes Notechis scutatus occidentalis captured at those sites. All 17 metals and trace elements were detected in the sediments of wetlands as well as 16 in the livers of tiger snakes. Arsenic, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se, and Zn were at concentrations exceeding government trigger values in at least one sediment sample. Two organochlorine pesticides and six of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in the sediments of a single wetland, all exceeding government trigger values, but were not detected in tiger snakes. Metals and trace elements were generally in higher concentration in sediments and snake livers from more heavily urbanised wetlands. The least urbanised site had some higher concentrations of metals and trace elements, possibly due to agriculture contaminated groundwater. Concentrations of nine metals and trace elements in snake livers were statistically different between sites. Arsenic, Cd, Co, Hg, Mo, Sb, and Se near paralleled the pattern of contamination measured in the wetland sediments; this supports the use of high trophic wetland snakes, such as tiger snakes, as bioindicators of wetland contamination. Contamination sources and impacts on these wetland ecosystems and tiger snakes are discussed herein.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment for providing funding support for this study. They also thank Kady Grosser, Ross McGibbon, Serin Subaraj, and Jordan Vos for field assistance in locating and catching tiger snakes. Snakes were collected under Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Permit No. 08-002624-1. Curtin University’s Animal Research Ethics Committee approved the use of snakes for this research under Approval No. ARE2018-23.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioural Ecology Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Brand Drive, Bentley, WA, Australia

    D. C. Lettoof, P. W. Bateman & F. Aubret

  2. CNRS, Station d’Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321 CNRS – Université Paul Sabatier, 09200, Moulis, France

    F. Aubret

  3. School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Brand Drive, Bentley, WA, Australia

    M. M. Gagnon

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  1. D. C. Lettoof
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  2. P. W. Bateman
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  3. F. Aubret
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  4. M. M. Gagnon
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Correspondence to D. C. Lettoof.

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Lettoof, D.C., Bateman, P.W., Aubret, F. et al. The Broad-Scale Analysis of Metals, Trace Elements, Organochlorine Pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Wetlands Along an Urban Gradient, and the Use of a High Trophic Snake as a Bioindicator. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 78, 631–645 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-020-00724-z

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