Minerals and essential elements in bones of Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus c. commersonii) from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

CÁCERES SAEZ, I.; DELLABIANCA, N.; PÉREZ CATÁN, S; AYALA, C.; OSUNA, C. ; GOODALL, R.N.P.; CAPPOZZO, L.

Jalisco, México

Congreso; XXXIII Reunión Internacional para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Marinos; 2012

SOMEMMA

Knowledge of the chemical components in bone of cetaceans is limited. It is accepted that a measurement of bone mineral content is an appropriate estimate of bone quality. The objective of this study was to analyze the principal minerals (Ca and P) and other essential elements (Mg, Fe, Zn and K) in prepared museum and dry bone tissue of Commerson’s dolphin to evaluate their integrity over the time. All specimens were derived from bycatch events in Tierra del Fuego during 1977-2011. The skeletons are preserved by the Goodall Collection at the Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Estancia Harberton, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. A total of 24 males and 18 females ranging between 0-15 years were studied. We utilized two analytical procedures: in the first step, a semi-quantitative and non-destructive technique, the Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to describe the principal elements (42 samples); and in the second instance a quantitative practice, the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) (16 samples). Statistical analysis of variance was carried out by the Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Mann-Whitney U-test; and a P