Abstract
The trace elements concentration in the muscle of the Atlantic seabob shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) caught in coastal fishing highlighted copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), both related to antifouling systems, as the main elements related to the intensity of port activities of southeast Brazil (~20—to 22ºS). The aim of this study is to analyze if the behavior of Cu and Zn in the muscle of this shrimp species is constant among different sampling sites, verifying if the species is suitable as biomonitor for these elements. The shrimps came from fisheries done in 2017 in Vitória, Anchieta, and Farol de São Tomé, southeast Brazil. After sampling, each individual was categorized for gender and maturity stage, measured, and weighted. Bulk muscle samples were freeze-dried for determination of Cu, Zn, and ratios of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N). The data analysis verified if the concentration of Cu and Zn in male and female shrimps vary among maturity stages and sampling sites, and how the concentration of Cu and Zn is related to shrimps foraging area and/or trophic position. Both bioaccumulation and growth dilution occurred, but not in the same way for genders and sampling sites, with Cu showing more variability. Relationships between elements and shrimps foraging area and trophic position did not show a clear trend among the sampling sites. Regression models indicated moderate relationships, explaining 51% (Cu) and 60% (Zn) of the association with the foraging area in Anchieta, but up to 8% in Vitória and Farol de São Thomé. For the trophic position, the models explained 33% (Cu) and 34% (Zn) in Anchieta and up to 14% in Vitória and Farol de São Thomé. The results showed that the utilization of this shrimp species as biomonitor of marine coastal environments near port activities to monitoring the levels of Cu and Zn is not a suitable choice, at least in the spatial scale considered by this study.
Highlights
The Atlantic seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller 1862), is a penaeid from Western Atlantic Ocean (36°N to 30°S) widely caught in coastal commercial fisheries along its distribution range (FAO, 2018)
The study raised two questions to understand the presence of constituent of hemocyanin (Cu) and Zn in the shrimps, considering its population structure and habitat: Does the concentration of Cu and Zn in male and female shrimps vary among maturity stages and sampling sites? and How is the concentration of Cu and Zn related to shrimps foraging area and/or trophic position? This study may contribute for future decisions on environmental quality monitoring near port activities, since the Atlantic seabob shrimp is widely distributed in marine coastal waters along the Western Atlantic Ocean, and both Cu and Zn are elements present in most antifouling systems applied in vessels and boats
To answer the second question (How is the concentration of Cu and Zn related to shrimps foraging area (δ13C) and/or trophic position (δ15N)?), a linear regression between each trace element and stable isotopes values was done considering all shrimps sampled in a given sampling site (R2 and p values are in Table 1)
Summary
The Atlantic seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller 1862), is a penaeid from Western Atlantic Ocean (36°N to 30°S) widely caught in coastal commercial fisheries along its distribution range (FAO, 2018). The species is an omnivorous consumer that spends its entire life cycle in marine coastal waters feeding on a broad spectrum of food items, such as primary sources (phytoplankton and macroalgae) and small animals from both seabed and water column. In this species, males and females have similar diets, whereas juveniles feed on smaller prey when compared to adults, which are in a higher trophic position (Branco and Moritz-Júnior, 2001; Willems et al, 2016). Crustaceans accumulate trace elements from the environment, mainly from water and diet, whether they are essential or not to their body functions. Δ 13C values indicate the food source origin, being more depleted (more negatives values) in pelagic than benthic areas; and δ 15N values are usually more enriched at higher trophic levels (Fry, 2008)
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