Heavy-metal concentrations in small mammals from a diffusely polluted floodplain : importance of species- and location-specific characteristics.

Wijnhoven, S. and Leuven, R. and Van der Velde, G. and Jungheim, G. and Koelemij, E. I. and De Vries, Franciska T. and Eijsackers, H. P. J. and Smits, A. J. M. (2007) Heavy-metal concentrations in small mammals from a diffusely polluted floodplain : importance of species- and location-specific characteristics. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 52 (4). pp. 603-613. ISSN 0090-4341

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

The soil of several floodplain areas along large European rivers shows increased levels of heavy metals as a relict from past sedimentation of contaminants. These levels may pose risks of accumulation in food webs and toxicologic effects on flora and fauna. However, for floodplains, data on heavy-metal concentrations in vertebrates are scarce. Moreover, these environments are characterised by periodical flooding cycles influencing ecologic processes and patterns. To investigate whether the suggested differences in accumulation risks for insectivores and carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores are reflected in the actual heavy-metal concentrations in the species, we measured the current levels of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in 199 specimens of 7 small mammal species (voles, mice, and shrews) and in their habitats in a diffusely polluted floodplain. The highest metal concentrations were found in the insectivorous and carnivorous shrew, Sorex araneus. Significant differences between the other shrew species, Crocidura russula, and the vole and mouse species was only found for Cd. The Cu concentration in Clethrionomys glareolus, however, was significantly higher than in several other vole and mouse species. To explain the metal concentrations found in the specimens, we related them to environmental variables at the trapping locations and to certain characteristics of the mammals. Variables taken into account were soil total and CaCl2-extractable metal concentrations at the trapping locations; whether locations were flooded or nonflooded; the trapping season; and the life stage; sex; and fresh weight of the specimens. Correlations between body and soil concentrations and location or specimen characteristics were weak. Therefore; we assumed that exposure of small mammals to heavy-metal contamination in floodplains is significantly influenced by exposure time, which is age related, as well as by dispersal and changes in foraging and feeding patterns under influence of periodic flooding.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/ge
Subjects:
?? POLLUTIONHEALTH, TOXICOLOGY AND MUTAGENESISTOXICOLOGYGE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ??
ID Code:
27285
Deposited On:
15 Oct 2009 08:15
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Sep 2023 03:52