Metals concentration and bioaccumulation in the marine-coastal trophic web from Buenos Aires province southern coast, Argentina

ABSTRACT

Metals accumulated in the tissues of organisms inhabiting marine ecosystems generally reflect their bioavailable levels within that environment. The aim of this work was to study the presence and concentration of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) and its bioaccumulation in liver-ink sac (n = 12) and muscle (n = 12) tissues of loliginid squids, Loligo sanpaulensis, in liver (n = 15) and muscle (n = 15) tissues of white croakers, Micropogonias furnieri, and in muscle (n = 12) tissues of franciscana dolphins, Pontoporia blainvillei, as representatives of different trophic levels of an estuarial ecosystem from the southern coast of Buenos Aires. Except for Pb, all metals were detectable in the hepatic tissues. Bioaccumulation was observed for Fe, Cr and Ni in muscle of squids. Zn levels in muscle samples increased with the trophic level of the species analysed. Necochea-Quequén presents relatively high levels of Ni and Cr in the tissue samples of squids and fishes given other locations of southern hemisphere, indicating a possible anthropic enrichment. These outcomes provide the necessary basis for the environmental monitoring of an area with relevance for fishing and high anthropic activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Loligo sanpaulensis
• Micropogonias furnieri
• Pontoporia blainvillei
• metals
• bioaccumulation
• Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Acknowledgements

We are sincerely grateful to all artisanal fishermen who made this project a reality. The authors would like to thank S. E. Botté and F. García (IADO-CONICET) for technical assistance and logistical support. We are indebted to M.F. Negri for her collaboration. M. C. Gariboldi and A.D. Vitullo (CEBBAD-Universidad Maimónides), I. Cáceres-Sáez and D.L. Del Castillo (LECyMM, MACN-CONICET), thanks for their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Florencia Ornela Vilches graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Florencia Ornela Vilches is a Right whale photoidentification researcher and science communicator with the Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas in Argentina (Whale Conservation Institute); and Teaching Assistant in Environmental Management at the Argentine University of Enterprise.

M. A. Bobinac holds a Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; and is a Specialist in Oceanography and Marine Resources from the European University Miguel de Cervantes, and Professional and Researcher in the Prefectura Naval Argentina (coast guard). A. C. Labudía graduated in Biological Science from the National University of South, Argentina.

A. C. Labudía is a PhD candidate at the Chemical Oceanography Lab (National Institute of Oceanography -IADO /CONICET-UNS); Teacher at the School of Agriculture and educator at the Educational Innovation Center "Infinito Por Descubrir" (Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Dr M. N. Paso Viola holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paso Viola is a Researcher at the Laboratory of Ecology and Wildlife Conservation in Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADICCONICET). Paso Viola is General Coordinator at Museo Acatushún (Estancia Harberton, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina). Paso Viola is the member of the extension department in Museo del Fin del Mundo, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.

Dr J. E. Marcovecchio is Doctor in Biological Sciences (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata); Post-Doctoral Researcher, Environmental Chemistry oriented (Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan); Superior Researcher at CONICET (National Council of Scientific and Technological Researches, Argentina); Corresponding Academic (Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales –ANCEFN – de Argentina); Main Professor at Universidad FASTA (Mar del Plata) and Technological National University – UTN (Bahía Blanca); and Head of Chemical Oceanography Lab (National Institute of Oceanography – IADO /CONICET-UNS).

Dr H. L. Cappozzo holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; and a PhD in Biology from the University of Barcelona, Spain. Cappozzo is Senior Researcher at CONICET (National Council of Research and Science, Argentina); Director of the Ecology, Behavior and Marine Mammals Laboratory at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Marine Biology specialist and Science Communicator.

Dr M. V. Panebianco holds PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; and is Professor in Maimonides University (Ecology orientation); Ecotoxicology specialist and Science Communicator.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Cetacean Society International, Society for Marine Mammalogy, Idea Wild and Grant-in-Aids of research from Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia.