Evaluation of the use of Leptodactylus ocellatus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) frog tissues as bioindicator of metal contamination in Contas River, Northeastern Brazil.

Lívia O Correia,Sérgio Siqueira Júnior,Paulo L.S Carneiro,Marcos A Bezerra

doi:10.1590/0001-3765201420130357

Lívia O Correia, Sérgio Siqueira Júnior + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201420130357

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Abstract

This paper presents a study on the viability of the use of tissues of the Leptodactylus ocellatus species (Anura Leptodactylidae) as a bioindicator of metal pollution. The study is based on the determination and correlation of the concentrations of manganese, chromium, zinc, nickel, copper and iron in sediments and tissues (skin, muscles and viscera) of the frog Leptodactylus ocellatus collected in the middle region of the Contas River in Bahia, Brazil. The highest levels of the metals studied were found in the viscera of this animal. In this tissue, a higher correlation of the concentration of these metals with those found in sediments was also observed. The concentrations of elements found in the skin and muscles of these amphibians have revealed no correlation with the sediment where they were collected. According to the results obtained, the viscera of the L. ocellatus species presents itself as a good bioindicator of contamination by the metals studied.

Highlights

IntroductionSoils and atmosphere are constantly exchanging matter and energy
Aquatic environments, soils and atmosphere are constantly exchanging matter and energy
This paper evaluates the efficiency of the use of L. ocellatus as an organism bioindicator of contamination by metals

Summary

Introduction

Soils and atmosphere are constantly exchanging matter and energy. Contaminants can pass from one ecosystem com partment to another very quickly (Domingos 1998) As part of these environments, living beings are subject to the effects of these pollutants, which can be mutagenic, teratogenic or toxic, damaging the survival of populations (Bulbovas et al 2008) and accumulating in food chains, when they are passed from one trophic level to another (Odum and Barret 2008). Analysis of water and sediments is important for environmental monitoring, but does not provide adequate information on the amount of metal incorporated into the biomass (Baraj et al 2009). This evaluation requires the use of vegetable or animal organisms as bioindicators. An organism must present certain characteristics in order to be classified as a good bioindicator: it must be taxonomically well-defined and recognizable by non-specialists, provide wide geographical distribution (being abundant or easy to collect); have low genetic and ecological variability, low mobility and a long life cycle, present well known ecological characteristics and be viable for laboratory studies. (Johnson et al.1993)

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