Concentrations of mercury and other trace elements in two offshore skates: sandy ray Leucoraja circularis and shagreen ray L. fullonica

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2017-10, Vol.123 (1-2), p.387-394
• Main Authors: Nicolaus, E.E. Manuel, Barry, Jon, Bolam, Thi P.C., Lorance, Pascal, Marandel, Florianne, McCully Phillips, Sophy R., Neville, Suzanna, Ellis, Jim R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arsenic - analysis; Bay of Biscay; Celtic Sea; Contaminants; Contamination; Elasmobranchii; Length; Leucoraja circularis; Leucoraja fullonica; Life Sciences; Liver; Liver - chemistry; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mercury - analysis; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals - analysis; Muscles; Muscles - chemistry; Oceans and Seas; Offshore; Sandy ray; Shagreen ray; Skates (Fish) - metabolism; Tissues; Trace elements; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace metals; Water depth; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.054

Trace metal concentrations in muscle and liver tissues from two offshore species of skate were examined. Concentrations of mercury in muscle of Leucoraja circularis (n=20; 23–110.5cm total length, 157–490m water depth) and L. fullonica (n=24; 28.5–100cm total length, 130–426m water depth) were 0.02–1.8 and 0.04–0.61mgkg−1, respectively. Concentrations of both As and Hg increased with total length. Only the largest specimen had a concentration of Hg in muscle >1.0mgkg−1. Data were limited for specimens>90cm long, and further studies on contaminants in larger-bodied skates could usefully be undertaken. •Analysed 11 trace elements in two tissues from two offshore skate species.•Concentrations of mercury in muscle of Leucoraja circularis were 0.02–1.8mgkg−1.•Concentrations of mercury in muscle of L. fullonica were 0.04–0.61mgkg−1.•Concentrations of both As and Hg increased with total length.•Only the largest specimen had a concentration of Hg in muscle>1.0mg kg−1.