Abstract
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.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the staff of the State Forests of TANAP (Tatra National Park) and rangers from State Nature Conservancy for provision of the samples of Tatra chamois. We thank Milan Ballo for valuable comments on ecology and ethology of Tatra chamois. We would like to thank our colleague and students for their assistance in the laboratory, especially Andrej Tkáč, Katarína Pazerová, Filip Korec, Ľudmila Janigová, and Katarína Pinterová. For English proofreading and improving, we are indebted to native English-speaking editor Amanda Clarahan.
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This research was funded by European Structural Funds (ITMS: 26210120016).
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ZKB gave basic ideas for the study, was responsible for statistical evaluation, interpretation of the results, and writing the manuscript. MJ was responsible for statistical analyses and interpretation of the results and made comments on the improvement of the manuscript. MH was responsible for laboratory analyses. GCH provided most of the carcasses of chamois, made comments and improvements regarding the manuscript.
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Naturally deceased carcasses of Tatra chamois were used in the study. Their collection and subsequent manipulation took place according to ethical principles and with permission no. 999212018-6.3, Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, Department of State Nature and Landscape Protection, from date 21.11.2018.
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Ballová, Z.K., Janiga, M., Holub, M. et al. Temporal and seasonal changes in mercury accumulation in Tatra chamois from West Carpathians. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 52133–52146 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14380-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14380-w