Environmental exposure to non-essential trace elements in two bat species from urbanised (Tadarida teniotis) and open land (Miniopterus schreibersii) areas in Italy. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andreani, Giulia; Cannavacciuolo, Annunziata; Menotta, Simonetta; Spallucci, Valentina; Fedrizzi, Giorgio; Carpenè, Emilio; Isani, Gloria
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 254(2019)Part B
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Non-essential trace elements -- Bat -- Italy -- Tadarida teniotis -- Miniopterus schreibersii; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Bats are particularly suited as bioindicators of trace element pollution due to their longevity and their position in the trophic chain. In this study, the concentrations of ten non-essential trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sr, Th, Tl) were determined in the tissues (whole body, skin-fur, skinned body, liver, kidney and bone) of lactant Tadarida teniotis from a nursery colony in Rome. A large number of bats from this nursery died before fledging and had bone deformities and fractures. The concentrations of non-essential trace elements in bone and whole body were also analysed in adult specimens of Miniopterus schreibersii from a colony located in a natural park in Northern Italy. In lactant T. teniotis, the Pb concentration decreased in the following order: bone>liver>skinned body>whole body>skin-fur>kidney, and exceeded the toxic threshold associated with negative effects reported for different mammalian species. The levels of the other non-essential trace elements were within a range indicative of low environmental contamination in both species. Significant interspecies differences ( P < 0.05 ) were observed for concentrations of Pb and Ba, higher in the bones of T. teniotis, and of Cd, Hg and Sr, higher in the bones of M. schreibersii . In lactant T. teniotis, the different sources of Pb exposure, through inhalation and/or food, may represent a potential threat to the colony of this synanthropic European bat. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Metal concentrations were determined in tissues of T. teniotis and M. schreibersii. Lactant T. teniotis presented the highest Pb concentrations in all tissues analysed. Significant interspecific differences were observed in bone for Pb, Ba, Hg and Sr. Bats can be considered useful monitors of environmental metal pollution.