Interrogating pollution sources in a mangrove food web using multiple stable isotopes

Author(s)

Souza, Iara da C. ^[1] ; Arrivabene, Hiulana P. ^[2] ; Craig, Carol-Ann ^[3] ; Midwood, Andrew J. ^{[3, 4]} ; Thornton, Barry ^[3] ; Matsumoto, Silvia T. ^[5] ; Elliott, Michael ^[6] ; Wunderlinf, Daniel A. ^{[7, 8]} ; Monferran, Magdalena V. ^{[7, 8]} ; Fernandes, Marisa N. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, Dept Ciencias Fisiol, POB 676, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho UN, Inst Biociencias Botucatu, Dept Bot, POB 510, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] James Hutton Inst, Aberdeen AB15 8QH - Scotland

^[4] Univ British Columbia, Dept Biol, Okanagan Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7 - Canada

^[5] Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Ctr Ciencias Humanas & Nat, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-29075910 Vitoria, ES - Brazil

^[6] Univ Hull, Inst Estuarine & Coastal Studies, Kingston Upon Hull HU6 7RX, N Humberside - England

^[7] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, RA-5000 Cordoba - Argentina

^[8] Univ Nacl Cordoba, Inst Ciencia & Tecnol Alimentos Cordoba, Fac Ciencias Quim, RA-5000 Cordoba - Argentina

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 640, p. 501-511, NOV 1 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities including metal contamination create well-known problems in coastal mangrove ecosystems but understanding and linking specific pollution sources to distinct trophic levels within these environments is challenging. This study evaluated anthropogenic impacts on two contrasting mangrove food webs, by using stable isotopes (delta C-13, delta N-15, Sr-87/Sr-86, Pb-206/Pb-207 and Pb-208/Pb-207) measured in sediments, mangrove trees (Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia schaueriana), plankton, shrimps (Macrobranchium sp.), crabs (Aratus sp.), oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae) and fish (Centropomus parallelus) from both areas. Strontium and Pb isotopes were also analysed in water and atmospheric particulate matter (PM). delta N-15 indicated that crab, shrimp and oyster are at intermediate levels within the local food web and fish, in this case C. parallelus, was confirmed at the highest trophic level. delta N-15 also indicates different anthropogenic pressures between both estuaries; Vitoria Bay, close to intensive human activities, showed higher delta N-15 across the food web, apparently influenced by sewage. The ratio(87)Sr/Sr-86 showed the primary influence of marine water throughout the entire food web. Pb isotope ratios suggest that PM is primarily influenced by metallurgical activities, with some secondary influence on mangrove plants and crabs sampled in the area adjacent to the smelting works. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the effect of anthropogenic pollution (probable sewage pollution) on the isotopic fingerprint of estuarine-mangrove systems located close to a city compared to less impacted estuarine mangroves. The influence of industrial metallurgical activity detected using Pb isotopic analysis of PM and mangrove plants close to such an impacted area is also notable and illustrates the value of isotopic analysis in tracing the impact and species affected by atmospheric pollution. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/05701-0 - Integrated responses of curimbatá, Prochilodus lineatus (Teleostei) to titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and biomarkers identification for environmental monitoring
• Grantee: Marisa Narciso Fernandes
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/04832-3 - Study of the origin and metal transference in mangrove areas through isotopic analysis in the trophic chain and biochemical and morphological effects in Centropomus parallelus
• Grantee: Iara da Costa Souza
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/05258-1 - DETERMINTION OF THE ORIGIN AND THE TRANSFER OF METAL AND METALLOIDS IN THE TROPHIC CHAIN IN MANGROVE AREAS USING STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS
• Grantee: Iara da Costa Souza
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate