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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

The shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) is considered a suitable sentinel species for marine pollution in the Arctic due to its ecology and stationary habits. To evaluate its role as a bioindicator for potential natural and anthropic impacts on the marine ecosystem of the Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic), 33 female and male specimens of shorthorn sculpins were collected in July 2018 in proximity of the Ny-Ålesund international research facility and analyzed for the content of 25 major and trace elements and methylmercury (MeHg) in the muscle, liver, gonads, and gills by using spectroscopic techniques. Most elements had their maximum average concentrations in the gills (Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sr, and V), while the livers featured higher contents of some toxic and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Mo, and Zn). The muscle was characterized by high contents of Ca, K, and Mg, while Ba, Co, and P were mostly concentrated in the gonads. The gonads presented higher concentrations of Cr, K, Mg, Ni, P, and V for the males and Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Se for the females. Both the total Hg and MeHg concentrations in the muscle correlated with the fish size, indicating bioaccumulation, although high Se/Hg molar ratios (11.0 ± 2.2) suggested a low toxic potential of mercury.

Details

Title
Elemental Distribution in Tissues of Shorthorn Sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius) from Kongsfjorden in Svalbard
Author
Ardini, Francisco 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Moggia, Federico 1 ; Davide Di Blasi 2 ; Rivaro, Paola 1 ; Grotti, Marco 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ghigliotti, Laura 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genoa, Italy; [email protected] (F.A.); [email protected] (M.G.) 
 National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Institute of Marine Engineering (INM), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genoa, Italy; National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Institute for the Study of the Anthropic Impacts and the Sustainability of the Marine Environment (IAS), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genoa, Italy; [email protected] 
 National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Institute for the Study of the Anthropic Impacts and the Sustainability of the Marine Environment (IAS), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genoa, Italy; [email protected] 
First page
2245
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20771312
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3149660618
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.