Determination of the Origin and the Transfer of Metal and Metalloids in the Trophic Chain in Mangrove Areas Using Stable Isotope Analysis.

SOUZA I.C.; MIDWOOD A.; ELLIOT M.; FERNANDES, M.N.; CRAIG C.A.; THORNTON B.; MONFERRÁN, M. V.; ARRIVABENE H.P; WEIDLE I; WUNDERLIN D.A.

Paraná

Congreso; XIV Congresso Brasileiro de Ecotoxicologia ? ECOTOX 2016; 2016

Sociedad Brasilera de Ecotoxicología

The metal concentrations in organisms that are the top of the trophic chain, such as fish, which have been exposed to contamination, can be high. As the contamination can originate from several pollution sources, it is important to understanding the origin (source) of metals and metalloids in the food chain. The isotopic composition of a material (abiotic and biotic), can be used as a tool to identify its source and, consequently, assist in the identification the contribution of each source of environmental  contamination. Using different isotopic approaches, this work provides new data of the trophic relationship in neotropical mangrove ecosystems.This study investigates the sources of anthropogenic pollution affecting two estuarine ecosystems in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Using different isotopic approaches (carbon, nitrogen, strontium and lead), this work provides intriguing and new data of the trophic relationship in neotropical mangrove ecosystems. Isotopic data are historically rare, and this work, in the better of our knowledge, it is the first to analyze various levels of the food web (trees, plankton, shrimp, crab, oyster and fish) integrating data of contamination (water and sediment) and species biology in neotropical estuaries. The measurement of N isotopes and their correlation with the levels of C, Sr and Pb isotopes in a single body have been used in clarifying the trophic position of organisms; determining the geological origin and estimating the transfer of contaminants along the food chain (Peterson and Fry, 1987; Ikemoto et al., 2008). Strontium isotope data can be used to study location, marine vs. terrestrial vs. freshwater foraging. It may also bepossible to study diet if there are persistent strontium isotope differences among local plant types.