The main aim of this study was to determine the concentration of total mercury (T-Hg) in different tissues, hair, and faeces from a long-lived animal that actively lives in the subalpine and alpine zone within temperate climate zone throughout the year. Levels of T-Hg in samples from naturally deceased Tatra chamois (n = 72) from the Tatra Mountains (Slovakia) were determined using direct mercury analyses on the basis of dry weight. The mercury concentrations in hair samples were compared over the last three decades. Seasonal changes in mercury concentration and differences in the amounts of mercury in various tissues, hairs, and faeces between age and sex groups were also studied. The highest mercury concentrations in organs were found in the kidneys of Tatra chamois, with mean values of 0.45 ± 0.07 μg/g (dry weight) for adults (n = 18) and 0.39 ± 0.12 μg/g (dry weight) for juveniles (n = 6). These values are considerably high compared to expected Hg levels in wild ungulates from foothill and mountain areas in the temperate zone. Juveniles had higher levels of T-Hg in their muscles (0.011 ± 0.001 μg/g dry weight, n = 10) and faeces (0.189 ± 0.025 μg/g dry weight, n = 7) when compared to adults that had 0.007 ± 0.001 μg/g dry weight of T-Hg in muscles (n = 29) and 0.113 ± 0.015 μg/g dry of T-Hg weight in faeces (n = 19). T-Hg concentrations in individual tissues (heart, kidney, liver, lungs, spleen, tongue, muscle, bone), hairs, and faeces were not significantly different between males and females. Mercury levels in the hair of Tatra chamois have increased significantly since the 1990s (median value of T-Hg: 0.025 μg/g dry weight) with the highest values presenting during the 2000s (0.029 μg/g dry weight). Since 2010 (0.016 μg/g dry weight), levels have declined when compared to those observed during the 1990s and 2000s. Therefore, we can conclude that T-Hg deposition in alpine areas of the Tatra Mountains shows a declining trend since the 2010s. T-Hg concentrations in the heart, muscle, and hair were higher in summer compared to winter. Seasonal changes in mercury concentrations are likely most related to the seasonal availability of food, but may also be related to moulting periods, and this correlation must be explored further.

本研究的主要目的是确定常年活跃在温带气候区的亚高山和高山地区的长寿动物的不同组织、毛发和粪便中的总汞 (T-Hg) 浓度。来自塔特拉山脉（斯洛伐克）的自然死亡的塔特拉羚羊（n = 72）样本中的 T-Hg 水平是使用基于干重的直接汞分析来确定的。比较了过去三十年头发样本中的汞浓度。还研究了汞浓度的季节性变化以及不同年龄和性别组之间各种组织、毛发和粪便中汞含量的差异。在 Tatra 羚羊的肾脏中发现器官中最高的汞浓度，成人（n = 18）和 0 的平均值为 0.45 ± 0.07 μg/g（干重）。幼鱼 (n = 6) 为 39 ± 0.12 μg/g（干重）。与来自温带山麓和山区的野生有蹄类动物的预期汞水平相比，这些值相当高。与具有 0.007 ± 0.001 的成年人相比，青少年肌肉（0.011 ± 0.001 微克/克干重，n = 10）和粪便（0.189 ± 0.025 微克/克干重，n = 7）中的 T-Hg 水平更高μg/g 肌肉中 T-Hg 的干重（n = 29）和 0.113 ± 0.015 μg/g 粪便中 T-Hg 的干重（n = 19）。男性和女性的个体组织（心脏、肾脏、肝脏、肺、脾脏、舌头、肌肉、骨骼）、毛发和粪便中的 T-Hg 浓度没有显着差异。自 1990 年代以来，Tatra 麂皮中的汞含量显着增加（T-Hg 的中值：0.025 μg/g 干重），最高值出现在 2000 年代（0. 029 μg/g 干重）。自 2010 年以来（0.016 微克/克干重），与 1990 年代和 2000 年代观察到的水平相比，水平有所下降。因此，我们可以得出结论，塔特拉山脉高山地区的 T-Hg 沉积量自 2010 年代以来呈下降趋势。与冬季相比，夏季心脏、肌肉和头发中的 T-Hg 浓度更高。汞浓度的季节性变化可能与食物的季节性供应最相关，但也可能与换羽期有关，必须进一步探索这种相关性。与冬季相比，夏季肌肉和头发更高。汞浓度的季节性变化可能与食物的季节性供应最相关，但也可能与换羽期有关，必须进一步探索这种相关性。与冬季相比，夏季肌肉和头发更高。汞浓度的季节性变化可能与食物的季节性供应最相关，但也可能与换羽期有关，必须进一步探索这种相关性。