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Lead concentrations and lead and strontium stable-isotope ratios in teeth of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

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Abstract

The study reports lead concentrations and lead and strontium stable-isotope ratios in mandibular molars of roe deer from three different areas in western Germany. Lead concentrations in third molars ranged between 0.23 and 36.61 µg/g (dry weight). Comparing lead concentrations in first molars and third molars in a group of ca. 1.5- or ca. 2.5-year-old individuals from the same area revealed an effect of tooth age on tooth lead content. The higher lead concentrations in the first molars were attributed to the longer period of lead accumulation by the dentin of these teeth compared with the later-forming third molars. Differences in lead isotopic signatures of the teeth were observed between the three areas, presumably reflecting variation in exposure to different sources of environmental lead. We also found marked variation in the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of the teeth, with only a small overlap in values between two of the areas. Strontium isotope analysis alone or in combination with lead isotope analyses can be a useful means of assessing the provenance of deer teeth of unknown geographical origin.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of the Environment of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, as part of the research program “Wildlife species as bioindicators of environmental pollution in North Rhine-Westphalia. We thank Walburga Lutz (Institute of Wildlife Research, Bonn) for providing access to the specimens used in the study.

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  1. Göran Åberg

    Present address: Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, 80333, München, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Hildesheim, Marienburger Platz 22, 31141, Hildesheim, Germany

    Horst Kierdorf & Uwe Kierdorf

  2. Institute for Energy Technology, P.O. Box 40, 2027, Kjeller, Norway

    Göran Åberg

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  1. Horst Kierdorf
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  2. Göran Åberg
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Correspondence to Horst Kierdorf.

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Communicated by: W. Lutz

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Kierdorf, H., Åberg, G. & Kierdorf, U. Lead concentrations and lead and strontium stable-isotope ratios in teeth of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) . Eur J Wildl Res 54, 313–319 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-007-0152-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-007-0152-9

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