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Mercury bioaccumulation in tropical bats from a region of active artisanal and small-scale gold mining

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Abstract

Mercury negatively affects human and animal health. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining can be a major local source of mercury contamination, especially into aquatic systems in tropical areas. Animals associated with mercury-contaminated aquatic systems are at high risk of experiencing effects of this heavy metal, but it is not clear how far the effects may extend into nearby terrestrial systems. We report mercury contamination levels in bats in agricultural areas at increasing distances from gold mining (~3–89 km of distance). We hypothesized that bat mercury concentrations would differ between feeding guilds, land use types, and be higher at sites closer to gold mining areas. We collected 112 fur samples from 30 bat species and eight guilds, and provide the first reports of concentrations in 12 species. All mercury concentrations were below the level at which health is likely to be affected (10 ppm). We found guild-influenced differences among mercury concentration levels, with the highest concentrations in aerial insectivores and carnivores, and the lowest in canopy frugivores. Our results suggest insectivorous and carnivorous bats may still be at some risk even at sites distant from aquatic mercury contamination. We did not find an effect of agricultural land-use type on mercury concentrations within species or guilds, suggesting mercury contamination did not extend to agricultural sites from areas of gold mining activities, and that these agricultural activities themselves were not an important source of mercury. We conclude bats did not demonstrate a signature of mercury risk either as a result of proximity of gold mining, or as a result of agricultural activities.

RESUMEN

Mercurio afecta negativamente la salud de humanos y animales. La minería aurífera artesanal o de pequeña escala puede ser una gran fuente local de contaminación por mercurio, especialmente en sistemas acuáticos de áreas tropicales. Los animales asociados a sistemas acuáticos contaminados por mercurio se encuentran en alto riesgo de experimentar efectos de este metal pesado, pero no es claro que tan lejos pueden extenderse los efectos en los sistemas terrestres cercanos. Reportamos niveles de contaminación por mercurio en murciélagos en áreas agrícolas a distancias cada vez mayores de la minería aurífera (~3–89 km). Hipotetizamos que las concentraciones de mercurio en murciélagos diferiran entre gremios alimenticios, tipos de uso de tierra y serán mayores en sitios cercanos a las áreas de minería aurífera. Colectamos 112 muestras de 30 especies de murciélagos y ocho gremios y brindamos los primeros reportes de las concentraciones de mercurio en 12 especies. Todas las concentraciones de mercurio se encontraron por debajo del nivel al cual la salud podría verse afectada (10 ppm). Encontramos que los gremios influyeron en las diferencias entre los niveles de concentración de mercurio, con las mayores concentraciones en insectívoros aéreos y carnívoros, y los menores niveles en frugívoros de dosel. Nuestros resultados murciélagos insectívoros y carnívoros aún pueden encontrarse bajo riesgo incluso en los sitios más alejados de las zonas de contaminación acuática por mercurio. No encontramos efecto del tipo de uso agrícola en las concentraciones de mercurio entre especies o gremios, sugiriendo que la contaminación por mercurio no se extendió a sitios agrícolas desde las áreas de actividad minera aurífera y que las actividades agrícolas por sí mismas no son fuentes importantes de mercurio. Concluímos que los murciélagos como indicadores no desmostraron signos de riesgo por mercurio como resultado de la proximidad con la minería aurífera, ni como resultado de las actividades agrícolas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Juan Carlos Suaña, Brian Málaga, Yolanda Alcarraz, Diego Zavala, Luiggi Carrasco, Katherin Mares, Werner Pinero, and Diego Juarez–Sanchez for their invaluable support during field work. We also thank Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research Grant by the American Philosophical Society, Cleveland Zoological Society and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo conservation grant program, and Bat Conservation International for funding the fieldwork and laboratory analysis for this study. We thank Dr. Samantha Wisely, Courtney Pylant, and Diego Juarez-Sanchez for their support to undertake the decontamination of samples. We thank Lindsey Garner, Jabi Zabala for their support during the mercury-content analysis. This study was undertaken under the following permits: University of Florida IACUC Study #201708351, Resolución Directoral Regional No. 948-2016-GOREMAD-GRRNYGA/DRFFS, exportation permit No. 03211-SERFOR, importation permit: CDC PHS Permit NO. 2017-12-017.

Funding

This study was funded by Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research Grant by the American Philosophical Society, Cleveland Zoological Society and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo conservation grant program, and Bat Conservation International.

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Author notes

  1. Farah Carrasco-Rueda

    Present address: Keller Science Action Center, The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60603, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Farah Carrasco-Rueda

  2. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Bette A. Loiselle & Peter C. Frederick

  3. Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, 319 Grinter Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Bette A. Loiselle

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Correspondence to Farah Carrasco-Rueda.

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All procedures performed in this study involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of University of Florida IACUC Study #201708351. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Carrasco-Rueda, F., Loiselle, B.A. & Frederick, P.C. Mercury bioaccumulation in tropical bats from a region of active artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Ecotoxicology 29, 1032–1042 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-020-02195-3

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