Mineral and essential element measurements in dolphin bones using two analytical approaches

IRIS CÁCERES-SÁEZ; M. VICTORIA PANEBIANCO; SOLEDAD PEREZ-CATAN; NATALIA A. DELLABIANCA; M. FERNANDA NEGRI; CAROLINA N. AYALA; R. NATALIE P. GOODALL; H. LUIS CAPPOZZO

CHEMISTRY AND ECOLOGY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 p. 1 - 15

0275-7540

We explored the potential of using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis(EDX), a non-destructive technique, to assess elemental contents indolphin bones. Specimens were deposited in museum collections,and prepared by different methodologies. Fifty eight Commerson?sdolphins (Cephalorhynchus c. commersonii) chevron bones and 24Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) were analysed. The EDXallowed us to detect the following elements: Ca, P, Na, Mg, Fe, K,Zn, S, Cl and Al; and quantify their proportion (weight percent ofelement). Principal components analysis differentiates two groupsaccording to the cleaning procedures applied, supporting thatcleaning methods could influence the chemical integrity of bone.No significant age-dependent increase was found for elementsanalysed in species, and no significant differences were foundbetween sex and physical maturity stages. Alternative assessmentwas made through atomic absorption spectrophotometry,providing quantitative information on the principal elements inbones (Ca, P, Mg, Na, Fe and Zn) and allowing comparisons withother studies. A standard protocol for bone cleaning andconditioning is needed to exclude any effect on the mineralintegrity of calcified tissue. This would enable future comparativestudies on the bone mineral matrix over time housed in naturalhistory museums or other scientific collections.