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Persistent Organic Contaminants and Steroid Hormones Levels in Morelet’s Crocodiles From the Southern Gulf of Mexico

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Abstract

Effects of endocrine disruptors on reproductive variables of top predators, such as alligators and crocodiles, have long been cited. Due to their long life span, these predators provide us with historic contaminant annals. In this study we tried to test whether lifestyle (free-ranging vs. farm animals) and reproductive age of Morelet’s crocodiles in Campeche, Mexico, affect the bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Subsequently, we tested to see whether their concentration was related to steroid hormones (testosterone and estradiol-17β) levels once normal cyclic hormone variation and reproductive age had been taken into account. From the group of contaminants considered (analyzed as families), only frequency of hexachlorocyclohexanes (∑HCH) and ∑PCB permitted analyses. Whereas there was a greater concentration of ∑HCH bioaccumulated by free-ranging crocodiles, ∑PCB was found in equal quantities in free-ranging and farm animals. No difference was observed in relation to reproductive age for any of the contaminants. However, ∑PCB concentrations were related to testosterone levels among female crocodiles. This androgenic effect of ∑PCB has not been reported previously. Because testosterone promotes aggressive behavior in vertebrates, excessive aggression during the estrous season, or when female crocodiles should be caring for their young, could result in reproductive failure in Morelet’s crocodiles and potential long-term decline of the population.

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Acknowledgments

M. G.-J. held a CONACyT scholarship for master’s studies (no. 190352) during the period of this investigation. We are extremely thankful to Javier Omar Gomez, Sergio Padilla, and Ernesto Perera for their invaluable help with manipulating the animals. We also thank the personnel from the Centro de Estudios Tecnológicos del Mar 02 (CETMar 02), at Campeche, Mexico, for permission to use their animals in this study. Caroline Karlaske improved the language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche, Mexico

    Mauricio Gonzalez-Jauregui & Jaime Rendón-vonOsten

  2. Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, Veracruz, 91500, Mexico

    Carolina Valdespino & Gustavo Aguirre-León

  3. Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, UAM-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico

    Arturo Salame-Méndez

Authors
  1. Mauricio Gonzalez-Jauregui
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  2. Carolina Valdespino
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  3. Arturo Salame-Méndez
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  4. Gustavo Aguirre-León
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  5. Jaime Rendón-vonOsten
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolina Valdespino.

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Gonzalez-Jauregui, M., Valdespino, C., Salame-Méndez, A. et al. Persistent Organic Contaminants and Steroid Hormones Levels in Morelet’s Crocodiles From the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62, 445–454 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-011-9716-5

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