Heavy Metal Accumulation (Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Cr) in Hair and Bones of Small Mammal Prey of the Sentinel Species Common Genet () in an Anthropogenic Environment of Edough Mountain Forest, Northeastern Algeria.

Heavy metal pollution has complex impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, affecting biodiversity, trophic relationships, species health, and the quality of natural resources. This study aims to validate a non-invasive method for detecting heavy metals (Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Cr) in micromammalian prey, which constitute the primary diet of the common genet (), a mesocarnivore sensitive to habitat degradation. By focusing on prey remains (hair and bones) rather than entire fecal samples, this approach leverages the genet's selective feeding habits to assess the bioaccumulation of contaminants in its preferred prey. Conducted in the Edough forest massif during the winter of 2021, the study analyzed 39 fecal samples, collected from the following two contrasting environments: a natural habitat and an area impacted by an open landfill. Results revealed significant levels of heavy metals, with higher concentrations in bones compared to hair, and increased accumulation in prey from the anthropized environment. Monitoring these contaminants in selective predators, such as the genet, offers a promising approach to better understanding environmental contamination and implementing measures to protect ecosystems and the species that depend on them.