Bryan Colleen E, Christopher Steven J, Balmer Brian C, Wells Randall S
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States.
Sci Total Environ. 2007 Dec 15;388(1-3):325-42. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.046. Epub 2007 Sep 17.
Several major unusual mortality events occurring in recent years have increased the level of concern for the health of bottlenose dolphin populations along the United States Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Trace element concentrations were examined in a population of free-ranging dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, in order to develop a benchmark for future comparisons within and between populations. Whole blood (n=51) and skin (n=40) samples were collected through capture and release health assessment events during 2002-2004. Samples were analyzed for Al, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, and Pb by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and Hg via atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Trace element concentrations (wet mass) in skin were 2 to 45 times greater than blood, except Cu was approximately 1.5 times higher in blood. Statistically strong correlations (p<0.05) were found for V, As, Se, Rb, Sr, and Hg between blood and skin demonstrating that these tissues can be used as effective non-lethal monitoring tools. The strongest correlation was established for Hg (r=0.9689) and concentrations in both blood and skin were above the threshold at which detrimental effects are observed in other vertebrate species. Female dolphins had significantly greater Hg concentrations in blood and skin and Pb concentrations in skin, relative to males. Calves exhibited significantly lower V, As, and Hg concentrations in blood and V and Hg concentrations in skin, relative to other age classes. Rubidium and Cu concentrations in skin were greatest in subadults and calves, respectively. In blood, V, Zn, and As concentrations were significantly greater in winter, relative to summer, and the opposite trend was observed for Rb and Sr concentrations. In skin, Cu and Zn concentrations were significantly greater in winter, relative to summer, and the opposite trend was observed for Mn, Rb, Cd, and Pb concentrations. The baseline concentrations and trends established in this study will serve as a benchmark for comparison and aid in sampling design for future monitoring of this population and other coastal bottlenose dolphin populations.
近年来发生的几起重大异常死亡事件，增加了人们对美国大西洋沿岸和墨西哥湾沿岸宽吻海豚种群健康状况的担忧程度。为了建立一个可供未来在种群内部和种群之间进行比较的基准，对佛罗里达州萨拉索塔湾自由放养的海豚种群中的微量元素浓度进行了检测。在2002年至2004年期间，通过捕获和放归健康评估活动采集了全血样本（n = 51）和皮肤样本（n = 40）。通过电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICPMS）分析样本中的铝（Al）、钒（V）、铬（Cr）、锰（Mn）、铜（Cu）、锌（Zn）、砷（As）、硒（Se）、铷（Rb）、锶（Sr）、钼（Mo）、镉（Cd）和铅（Pb），并通过原子荧光光谱法（AFS）分析汞（Hg）。皮肤中的微量元素浓度（湿重）比血液中的高2至45倍，但铜在血液中的含量约高1.5倍。在血液和皮肤之间发现钒、砷、硒、铷、锶和汞存在统计学上的强相关性（p < 0.05），这表明这些组织可作为有效的非致死性监测工具。汞的相关性最强（r = 0.9689），血液和皮肤中的汞浓度均高于在其他脊椎动物物种中观察到有害影响的阈值。相对于雄性海豚，雌性海豚血液和皮肤中的汞浓度以及皮肤中的铅浓度显著更高。相对于其他年龄组，幼崽血液中的钒、砷和汞浓度以及皮肤中的钒和汞浓度显著更低。皮肤中的铷和铜浓度分别在亚成体和幼崽中最高。在血液中，相对于夏季，冬季的钒、锌和砷浓度显著更高，而铷和锶浓度则呈现相反的趋势。在皮肤中，相对于夏季，冬季的铜和锌浓度显著更高，而锰、铷、镉和铅浓度则呈现相反的趋势。本研究中确定的基线浓度和趋势将作为比较的基准，并有助于未来对该种群和其他沿海宽吻海豚种群进行监测的采样设计。
