Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Hale Creek Field Station, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 182 Steele Avenue Extension, Gloversville, NY 12078, USA.
Environ Monit Assess. 2012 Apr;184(4):2497-516. doi: 10.1007/s10661-011-2134-3. Epub 2011 Jul 9.
Many non-linear processes link atmospheric emissions to the bioavailability of metals; consequently, the monitoring of metals in ecosystem components is required to model their ecodynamics. American mink (Neovison vison) and river otter (Lontra canadensis) have the potential to serve as an upper-level-consumer component in monitoring metals bioavailability. However, the relationship of bioaccumulated metals to various environmental factors has not been explored nor have the effects of demographic factors been resolved. To address these limitations, mink and otter, collected throughout New York State during 1998-2002, were analyzed for hepatic concentrations of total mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb). Relationships were investigated between metals concentrations and landscape-level factors (physiographic zone, hydrologic unit, and elevation) and demographic factors (gender and age). Considerable variation in Hg and Cd concentrations was observed relative to both physiographic zone and hydrologic unit for both species. In contrast with Hg, Cd concentration increased predictably with increasing elevation. Mercury concentrations were greater, but for Cd less, in otter than mink. Lead concentrations showed little landscape heterogeneity and were independent of elevation. Age-related bioaccumulation was evident for Hg and Cd, but not for Pb, in both species. Mercury and Cd concentrations were greater in female than male mink; however, Pb concentrations were greater in males than females. Inverse relationships of relative growth (weight/length) to metals concentrations explained gender differences in Hg and Cd in mink. For otter, no gender-related differences in metals concentrations were apparent. The suitability of mink and otter for monitoring programs is discussed.
许多非线性过程将大气排放与金属的生物利用度联系起来；因此，需要监测生态系统成分中的金属，以模拟它们的生态动力学。美洲水貂（Neovison vison）和水獭（Lontra canadensis）有可能作为监测金属生物利用度的上层消费者成分。然而，生物积累的金属与各种环境因素的关系尚未得到探索，也未解决人口因素的影响。为了解决这些限制，在 1998-2002 年期间，在整个纽约州收集了水貂和水獭，并分析了它们肝脏中总汞（Hg）、镉（Cd）和铅（Pb）的浓度。研究了金属浓度与景观水平因素（地貌区、水文单位和海拔）和人口因素（性别和年龄）之间的关系。与两种物种的地貌区和水文单位相比，Hg 和 Cd 浓度都存在相当大的差异。与 Hg 相反，Cd 浓度随着海拔的升高而可预测地增加。与水獭相比，水貂的 Hg 浓度更高，但 Cd 浓度较低。Pb 浓度显示出很少的景观异质性，并且与海拔无关。两种物种的 Hg 和 Cd 都表现出与年龄相关的生物积累，但 Pb 则不然。Hg 和 Cd 浓度在雌性水貂中大于雄性水貂；然而，Pb 浓度在雄性水貂中大于雌性水貂。两种物种的 Hg 和 Cd 浓度与相对生长（体重/长度）呈负相关，这解释了水貂中性别差异。对于水獭，金属浓度没有明显的性别差异。讨论了水貂和水獭在监测计划中的适用性。
