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Heavy Metal Transfers Between Trophic Compartments in Different Ecosystems in Galicia (Northwest Spain): Essential Elements

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Abstract

In the present study, we determined the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in soil and several trophic compartments at a total of 16 sampling stations. The trophic compartments studied were primary producers, represented by two species of terrestrial mosses (Pseudoescleropodium purum and Hypnum cupressiforme) and oak trees (Quercus robur or Q. pyrenaica); primary consumers, represented by the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the yellow necked mouse (A. flavicollis); secondary consumers, represented by the shrew (Sorex granarius); and finally, detritivores, represented by slugs (Arion ater). Thirteen of the sampling stations were located in mature oak woodlands (Quercus sp.); two of the sampling stations were located in the area surrounding a restored lignite mine dump, and the other in an ultrabasic area. The analytical determinations revealed a lack of significant correlations among trophic compartments, possibly caused by effective regulation of metals by organisms and/or spatial variation in availability of metals from soil or food. Furthermore, the only element that showed a clear pattern of biomagnification was Cu; as for the other elements, there was always some divergence from such a pattern. Finally, the patterns of bioaccumulation in contaminated and woodland sampling stations were very similar, although there was enrichment of the concentrations of Cu, Mn, and Zn in the mice viscera, which, except for Mn, were related to higher edaphic concentrations.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was funded by the Xunta de Galicia (Project “Banco de Especímenes Ambientales de Galicia. 3ª Fase”) and the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Programa Nacional FPU). Thanks are due to Luís Brandón, Montserrat Bravo, Paloma Chouciño, Sandra González, Mercedes Noya, and Alfonso Puñal for carrying out the chemical analyses.

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  1. Área de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    X. I. González, J. R. Aboal, J. A. Fernández & A. Carballeira

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  1. X. I. González
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  2. J. R. Aboal
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  3. J. A. Fernández
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  4. A. Carballeira
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Correspondence to J. R. Aboal.

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González, X.I., Aboal, J.R., Fernández, J.A. et al. Heavy Metal Transfers Between Trophic Compartments in Different Ecosystems in Galicia (Northwest Spain): Essential Elements. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 55, 691–700 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9157-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9157-y

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