Bones of Free-Living Ungulates as Indicators of Environmental Contamination by Mercury: A Comparative Study between the Western Carpathians and Zhongar Alatau
Zábojníková L. Feješ S. Oxikbayev B. Kasymkhanova T. Janiga M. Ballova Z.K.
1 June 2025Sciendo
Ekologia Bratislava
2025#44Issue 11 - 7 pp.
We monitored the variability of mercury concentration in bones from naturally deceased or predator-caught ungulates from the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) and Zhongar Alatau (Kazakhstan), including red deer, roe deer, Tatra chamois, horse, Asiatic ibex, Marco Polo sheep, and other Bovidae. These species, as herbivores, have the advantage of a low trophic level, which implies a lower degree of mercury accumulation in the food chain. We compared the extent to which concentrations differed by location and habitat type. Mercury concentrations were determined by a DMA-80 analyzer. Lower mean concentrations observed in bones from Kazakhstan (0.0024 mg kg-1 dry weight) than from Slovakia (0.0063 mg kg-1 dry weight) suggest a lower level of ecosystem contamination from anthropogenic sources. The influence of habitat proved to be nonsignificant. Although bones are not a target organ for mercury accumulation, they reflect the state of environmental pollution and can be used in noninvasive retrospective environmental monitoring methods.
alpine habitat , forest habitat , herbivores , red deer , roe deer , Tatra chamois
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Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Zilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, 05956, Slovakia
Zhetysu University Named after Ilyas Zhansugurov, Zhansugurov st. 187 A, Taldykorgan, 040009, Kazakhstan
Zhongar-Alatau State National Park, Arychnaya st. 74, Zhetysu region, Sarkand, 041500, Kazakhstan
Institute of High Mountain Biology
Zhetysu University Named after Ilyas Zhansugurov
Zhongar-Alatau State National Park
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
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