Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos-LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 # 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia; Fundación Macuáticos Colombia, Calle 27 # 79-167, Medellín, Colombia; Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences-CEMarin, Carrera 21 # 35-53, Bogotá, Colombia.
Departamento de Ecología y Territorio, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Transversal 4 # 42-00, Bogotá, Colombia.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2019 Aug;145:343-356. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076. Epub 2019 Jun 18.
A small and genetically isolated bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population resides year-round in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago-Panama (BDT). Photo-identification and genetic data showed that this dolphin population is highly phylopatric and is formed exclusively by individuals of the "inshore form". This study aimed to investigate the trophic ecology and mercury concentrations of bottlenose dolphins in BDT to assess their coastal habits. We collected muscle samples (n = 175) of 11 potential fish prey species, and skin samples from free-ranging dolphins in BDT (n = 37) and La Guajira-Colombia (n = 7) to compare isotopic niche width. Results showed that BDT dolphins have a coastal feeding habit, belong to the "inshore form" (δC = -13.05 ± 1.89‰), and have low mercury concentrations (mean = 1637 ± 1387 ng gdw). However, this element is biomagnified in the BDT food chain, showing a marginal dolphins health risk (RQ = 1.00). We call for a monitoring pollutant program and conservation strategies aimed to protect the dolphin population at BDT.
在巴拿马博卡斯德尔托罗群岛（BDT）常年生活着一个小型且遗传上孤立的宽吻海豚（Tursiops truncatus）种群。照片识别和遗传数据表明，该海豚种群具有高度的亲缘地理性，完全由“近岸型”个体组成。本研究旨在调查 BDT 宽吻海豚的营养生态和汞浓度，以评估其沿海习性。我们收集了 11 种潜在鱼类猎物的肌肉样本（n=175），以及 BDT（n=37）和哥伦比亚拉瓜希拉（n=7）自由放养海豚的皮肤样本，以比较同位素生态位宽度。结果表明，BDT 海豚具有沿海觅食习性，属于“近岸型”（δC=-13.05±1.89‰），且汞浓度较低（平均值=1637±1387ng gdw）。然而，这种元素在 BDT 食物链中生物放大，对海豚健康构成边缘风险（RQ=1.00）。我们呼吁制定污染物监测计划和保护策略，以保护 BDT 的海豚种群。
