Brown Marty Kyle, Haskins David Lee, Russell Amelia L, Lambert Michaela L, Quick Caleigh E, Pilgrim Melissa A, Tuberville Tracey D
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Environ Toxicol Chem. 2022 Mar;41(3):758-770. doi: 10.1002/etc.5281. Epub 2022 Feb 3.
Mercury (Hg) and radiocesium ( Cs) are well-known environmental contaminants with the potential to impact the health of humans and wildlife. Snakes have several characteristics conducive to studying environmental contamination but have rarely been included in the monitoring of polluted sites. We investigated the bioaccumulation of Hg and Cs and associations with sublethal effects (standard metabolic rate [SMR] and hemoparasite infections) in Florida green watersnakes (Nerodia floridana). We captured 78 snakes from three former nuclear cooling reservoirs on the US Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina (USA). For captured snakes, we (1) determined whole-body Cs, (2) quantified total Hg (THg) using snake tail clips, (3) conducted hemoparasite counts, and (4) measured the SMR. We used multiple regression models to determine associations among snake body size, capture location, sex, tail THg, whole-body Cs, Hepatozoon spp. prevalence and parasitemia, and SMR. Average whole-body Cs (0.23 ± 0.08 Becquerels [Bq]/g; range: 0.00-1.02 Bq/g) was correlated with snake body size and differed significantly by capture site (Pond B: 0.67 ± 0.05 Bq/g; Par Pond: 0.10 ± 0.02 Bq/g; Pond 2: 0.03 ± 0.02 Bq/g). Tail THg (0.33 ± 0.03 mg/kg dry wt; range: 0.16-2.10 mg/kg) was significantly correlated with snake body size but did not differ by capture site. We found no clear relationship between SMR and contaminant burdens. However, models indicated that the prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. in snakes was inversely related to increasing whole-body Cs burdens. Our results indicate the bioaccumulation of Hg and Cs in N. floridana and further demonstrate the utility of aquatic snakes as bioindicators. Our results also suggest a decrease in Hepatozoon spp. prevalence related to increased burdens of Cs. Although the results are intriguing, further research is needed to understand the dynamics between Cs and Hepatozoon spp. infections in semiaquatic snakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:758-770. © 2022 SETAC.
汞（Hg）和放射性铯（Cs）是众所周知的环境污染物，有可能影响人类和野生动物的健康。蛇具有几个有利于研究环境污染的特征，但在污染场地监测中很少被纳入。我们研究了佛罗里达绿水蛇（Nerodia floridana）体内汞和铯的生物累积情况以及与亚致死效应（标准代谢率[SMR]和血液寄生虫感染）的关联。我们从美国南卡罗来纳州能源部萨凡纳河场地的三个 former nuclear cooling reservoirs 捕获了78条蛇。对于捕获的蛇，我们（1）测定全身铯含量，（2）使用蛇尾夹定量总汞（THg），（3）进行血液寄生虫计数，（4）测量标准代谢率。我们使用多元回归模型来确定蛇的体型、捕获地点、性别、尾部总汞、全身铯、肝簇虫属物种的患病率和虫血症以及标准代谢率之间的关联。平均全身铯含量（0.23±0.08贝克勒尔[Bq]/克；范围：0.00 - 1.02 Bq/克）与蛇的体型相关，并且在捕获地点之间存在显著差异（池塘B：0.67±0.05 Bq/克；帕尔池塘：0.10±0.02 Bq/克；池塘2：0.03±0.02 Bq/克）。尾部总汞（0.33±0.03毫克/千克干重；范围：0.16 - 2.10毫克/千克）与蛇的体型显著相关，但在捕获地点之间没有差异。我们发现标准代谢率与污染物负荷之间没有明显关系。然而，模型表明蛇体内肝簇虫属物种的患病率与全身铯负荷增加呈负相关。我们的结果表明佛罗里达绿水蛇体内汞和铯的生物累积情况，并进一步证明了水蛇作为生物指示物的效用。我们的结果还表明肝簇虫属物种的患病率与铯负荷增加有关。尽管结果很有趣，但需要进一步研究以了解半水生蛇体内铯与肝簇虫属物种感染之间的动态关系。《环境毒理学与化学》2022年；41：758 - 770。©2022 SETAC。
“former nuclear cooling reservoirs”不太明确准确意思，暂保留英文。
