Spatially Explicit Analysis of Metal Transfer to Biota: Influence of Soil Contamination and Landscape

Concepts and developments for a new field in ecotoxicology, referred to as “landscape ecotoxicology,” were proposed in the 1990s; however, to date, few studies have been developed in this emergent field. In fact, there is a strong interest in developing this area, both for renewing the concepts and tools used in ecotoxicology as well as for responding to practical issues, such as risk assessment. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial heterogeneity of metal bioaccumulation in animals in order to identify the role of spatially explicit factors, such as landscape as well as total and extractable metal concentrations in soils. Over a smelter-impacted area, we studied the accumulation of trace metals (TMs: Cd, Pb and Zn) in invertebrates (the grove snail Cepaea sp and the glass snail Oxychilus draparnaudi) and vertebrates (the bank vole Myodes glareolus and the greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula). Total and CaCl2-extractable concentrations of TMs were measured in soils from woody patches where the animals were captured. TM concentrations in animals exhibited a high spatial heterogeneity. They increased with soil pollution and were better explained by total rather than CaCl2-extractable TM concentrations, except in Cepaea sp. TM levels in animals and their variations along the pollution gradient were modulated by the landscape, and this influence was species and metal specific. Median soil metal concentrations (predicted by universal kriging) were calculated in buffers of increasing size and were related to bioaccumulation. The spatial scale at which TM concentrations in animals and soils showed the strongest correlations varied between metals, species and landscapes. The potential underlying mechanisms of landscape influence (community functioning, behaviour, etc.) are discussed. Present results highlight the need for the further development of landscape ecotoxicology and multi-scale approaches, which would enhance our understanding of pollutant transfer and effects in ecosystems

Utilisation de mollusques gastéropodes pulmonés terrestres (Helix aspersa) et aquatiques (Lymnaea stagnalis et Lymnaea palustris) comme indicateurs de pollution par les éléments métalliques et les xénobiotiques organiques

Nous avons étudié l'accumulation de contaminants et leurs effets sublétaux sur des gastéropodes terrestres et aquatiques. La première partie est consacrée au développement de méthodes de biosurveillance en exposant des escargots (Helix aspersa) d'élevage à des métaux (Cr6+ et Cd2+) et pesticides (diméthoate) en conditions contrôlées. Après 4 semaines, la bioaccumulation des métaux et l'inhibition de croissance sont dose-dépendantes. Le Cd est plus toxique par l'aliment. Le diméthoate, peu accumulé, induit une inhibition dose-dépendante des AChE dès le premier jour. Il inhibe aussi les carboxylestérases, la fécondité et la croissance. Ces inhibitions sont plus fortes depuis le substrat. Un modèle démographique est utilisé pour montrer que la sensibilité d'un THV au contaminant et son élasticité déterminent sa contribution dans les variations de la population. Dans la deuxième partie, on montre que l'inhibition de la croissance de L. stagnalis et L. palustris exposés 4 semaines au Cd au laboratoire est dose-dépendante. La reproduction de L. palustris est réduite. Ces essais sont utilisés pour évaluer la toxicité d'un effluent industriel (Cr, Zn, et Fe) sur la reproduction de L. palustris. L'accumulation du Cr et du Zn est dose-dépendante. Les effets toxiques sur la fécondité ne sont pas corrélés avec les concentrations internes en métaux. Parallèlement, des limnées introduites dans le cours d'eau récepteur de l'effluent ont des concentrations internes qui reflètent la contamination du milieu. En conclusion, ces bioessais permettent de caractériser la toxicité des polluants par leurs effets sublétaux sur des gastéropodes. Chez H. aspersa, la bioaccumulation des métaux et l'inhibition des AChE apparaissent comme des points finaux utilisables en biosurveillance. Les relations établies doivent être validées in situ. Les méthodes élaborées avec les limnées ouvrent des perspectives en évaluation des risques (bioessais) et en biosurveillance (bioindication active).BESANCON-BU Sciences Staps (250562103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Urbanization, trace metal pollution, and malaria prevalence in the house sparrow.

Anthropogenic pollution poses a threat for the environment and wildlife. Trace metals (TMs) are known to have negative effects on haematological status, oxidative balance, and reproductive success in birds. These pollutants particularly increase in concentration in industrialized, urbanized and intensive agricultural areas. Pollutants can also interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system and, as such, alter the dynamics of host-parasite interactions. Nevertheless, the impact of pollution on infectious diseases has been largely neglected in natural populations of vertebrates. Here, we used a large spatial scale monitoring of 16 house sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations to identify environmental variables likely to explain variation in TMs (lead, cadmium, zinc) concentrations in the feathers. In five of these populations, we also studied the potential link between TMs, prevalence of infection with one species of avian malaria, Plasmodium relictum, and body condition. Our results show that lead concentration is associated with heavily urbanized habitats and that areas with large woodland coverage have higher cadmium and zinc feather concentrations. Our results suggest that lead concentration in the feathers positively correlates with P. relictum prevalence, and that a complex relationship links TM concentrations, infection status, and body condition. This is one of the first studies showing that environmental pollutants are associated with prevalence of an infectious disease in wildlife. The mechanisms underlying this effect are still unknown even though it is tempting to suggest that lead could interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system, as shown in other species. We suggest that more effort should be devoted to elucidate the link between pollution and the dynamics of infectious diseases

Zinc Phosphide Analysis in Voles: Revisiting an Old Technique

Zinc phosphide has been recently approved in Europe as a vole control product. Currently, only one formulation (lentils/pellets) is marketed with 0.8% Zn3P2. It is applied with a delivery device for burrow baiting. In many instances, zinc phosphide poisoning has been confirmed in non-target species (primary poisoning). In order to be prepared for potential non-target poisoning incidents in wildlife, the SAGIR network, FREDON Franche-Comté, and University of Franche-Comté conducted a field study on common voles to test the sampling method and storage impact under realistic field conditions on the detection of zinc phosphide. The toxicology laboratory of Vetagro Sup, member of SAGIR, worked on the improvement of the World Health Organization WHO technique in order to lower the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) and to validate the technique for the correct identification of field cases. The specificity was tested on 20 gastric content samples (100%), and the LOQ was established at 0.01 g/l (i.e., a 100-fold decrease as compared with the 1995 WHO technique). Zinc content was measured by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and non-poisoned animals were tested to check baseline values and to estimate recovery of spiked samples (94-102%). Quantification of zinc in the liver of poisoned versus control animals was also performed. A total of 30 voles were collected in treated and control fields and submitted for analysis. Technicians were not aware of the poisoning status of the animals when performing analytical investigations. Twenty-one individuals were trapped in the control area and nine in the treated fields. Phosphine and high levels of Zn could be detected in eight of the nine intoxicated individuals. Phosphine was not detected in the control voles. Zinc concentrations in the gastric content were significantly different between negative control and exposed animals, but liver concentrations of zinc were similar

Geographical localization of the 16 house sparrow populations sampled in this study.

<p>I - Paris (Jardin des Plantes), II - Cachan, III - Wissous, IV - Cosne-Cours sur Loire, V - Rully, 6 - Paris (Cité internationale universitaire), 7 - Gennevilliers, 8 - Le Mans, 9 - Crégy les Meaux, 10 - Berck, 11 - Thieux, 12 - Seninghem, 13 - Ceffonds, 14 - Crennes, 15 - Réaup-Lisse and 16 - Arles. The five populations in roman numbers were sampled for parasite prevalence and intensity. The zoomed region, in the upper right corner, corresponds to the region Ile de France. Scale bar, 100 km for France and 30 km for the region Ile de France.</p

(a) Negative correlation between Pb concentration in feathers and the axis 1 of the principal component analysis on environmental variables (see materials and methods for more details).

<p>(b) Positive correlation between Cd concentration in feathers and the axis 3 of the principal component analysis. Each point represents a house sparrow population.</p

Pearson’s correlation coefficient matrix among the environmental variables used to characterize 16 house sparrow populations in France. * and ** indicates P values ≤0.05 and ≤0.01, respectively.

<p>Pearson’s correlation coefficient matrix among the environmental variables used to characterize 16 house sparrow populations in France. * and ** indicates P values ≤0.05 and ≤0.01, respectively.</p