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Freshwater shrimps (Macrobrachium depressimanum and Macrobrachium jelskii) as biomonitors of Hg availability in the Madeira River Basin, Western Amazon

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Abstract

Total mercury (THg) concentrations measured in two freshwater shrimp species (Macrobrachium depressimanum and Macrobrachium jelskii) showed a relationship with the location of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) from the Madeira River Basin, Western Amazon. Between August 2009 and May 2010, 212 shrimp samples were collected in the confluence of the Madeira River with three of its tributaries (Western Amazon). THg concentration was quantified in the exoskeleton, hepatopancreas and muscle tissue of the shrimps by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There were no significant differences between the two shrimp species when samples came from the Madeira River, but Hg concentrations were significantly lower in a tributary outside the influence of the gold mining area. Average THg concentrations were higher in the hepatopancreas (up to 160.0 ng g−1) and lower in the exoskeleton and muscle tissue (10.0–35.0 ng g−1 and < 0.9–42.0 ng g−1, respectively). Freshwater shrimps from the Madeira River respond to local environmental levels of Hg and can be considered as biomonitors for environmental Hg at this spatial scale. These organisms are important for moving Hg up food webs including those that harbor economic significant fish species and thus enhancing human exposure.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the sampling team of UNIR and its Graduate Program in Regional Development and Environment. We thank in particular Dr. Célio Magalhães (INPA-Manaus), for the identification of shrimps.

Funding

Financial support came from CNPq/CT-Biotec (No 553269/2005-4); CNPq/CT-Amazo (N° 575920/2008-4 and N° 552331/2011-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia de Rondônia-IFRO, Rodovia BR-435 Km 63 Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 51, Colorado do Oeste, RO, 76993-000, Brazil

    R. C. F. Galvão

  2. Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-364 Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil

    R. C. F. Galvão, I. B. B. Holanda, D. P. De Carvalho, R. Almeida & W. R. Bastos

  3. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratório Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil

    D. P. De Carvalho

  4. Departamento de Ciências Sociais e Ambientais, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-425 Km 2.5 - Jardim das Esmeraldas, Guajará-Mirim, RO, 76850-000, Brazil

    R. Almeida

  5. Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque California, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil

    C. M. M. Souza

  6. Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Costeira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Meireles, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil

    L. D. Lacerda

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  1. R. C. F. Galvão
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  2. I. B. B. Holanda
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  5. C. M. M. Souza
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  6. L. D. Lacerda
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  7. W. R. Bastos
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Correspondence to W. R. Bastos.

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Galvão, R.C.F., Holanda, I.B.B., De Carvalho, D.P. et al. Freshwater shrimps (Macrobrachium depressimanum and Macrobrachium jelskii) as biomonitors of Hg availability in the Madeira River Basin, Western Amazon. Environ Monit Assess 190, 77 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6460-6

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