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Metals and Trace Elements in Giant Garter Snakes (Thamnophis gigas) from the Sacramento Valley, California, USA

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Abstract

The giant garter snake (GGS; Thamnophis gigas) is a federally listed threatened species endemic to wetlands of the Central Valley of California. Habitat destruction has been the main factor in the decline of GGS populations, but the effects of contaminants on this species are unknown. To contribute to the recovery of these snakes, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began studies of the life history and habitat use of GGSs in 1995. During a series of investigations conducted from 1995 to the present, specimens of dead GGSs were opportunistically collected from the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR), the Natomas Basin, and other sites in northern California. Whole snakes were stored frozen for potential future analysis. As funding became available, we analyzed tissues of 23 GGSs to determine the concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and other trace elements in livers and concentrations of Hg in brains and tail clips. Mercury concentrations (μg/g, wet weight) ranged from 0.08 to 1.64 in livers, 0.01 to 0.18 in brains, and 0.02 to 0.32 in tail clips. In livers, geometric mean concentrations (μg/g, dry weight) of arsenic (25.7) and chromium (1.02) were higher than most values from studies of other snakes. Mercury concentrations in tail clips were positively correlated with concentrations in livers and brains, with the most significant correlations occurring at the Natomas Basin and when Natomas and CNWR were combined. Results indicate the value of using tail clips as a nonlethal bioindicator of contaminant concentrations.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and the Sacramento Office of Ecological Services. Funding was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Specimens were collected in accordance with our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Permit TE-020548-5. Numerous U.S. Geological Survey biological technicians and biologists assisted with field collections. Kate DeClercq assisted with snake dissection and prepared snakes for shipment to the contract laboratory, and Melissa Farinha prepared the figure. Tom Suchanek, Julie Yee, Melissa Farinha, and an anonymous reviewer provided many helpful comments on the manuscript. Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 6924 Tremont Road, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA

    Glenn D. Wylie, Roger L. Hothem, Darrin R. Bergen, Lisa L. Martin & Brianne E. Brussee

  2. Trace Element Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Robert J. Taylor

Authors
  1. Glenn D. Wylie
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  2. Roger L. Hothem
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  3. Darrin R. Bergen
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  4. Lisa L. Martin
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  5. Robert J. Taylor
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  6. Brianne E. Brussee
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Correspondence to Roger L. Hothem.

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Wylie, G.D., Hothem, R.L., Bergen, D.R. et al. Metals and Trace Elements in Giant Garter Snakes (Thamnophis gigas) from the Sacramento Valley, California, USA. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 56, 577–587 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9265-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9265-8

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