Hg, Zn and Cu levels in the muscle and liver of tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan: Relationship between metal concentrations and body length

We analyzed Hg, Zn and Cu concentrations in the liver and muscle of tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan. The Hg concentration in the muscle increased proportionally with body length in the tiger sharks, whereas that in the liver increased rapidly after maturity...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2008-10, Vol.56 (10), p.1774-1780
Main Authors: Endo, Tetsuya, Hisamichi, Yohsuke, Haraguchi, Koichi, Kato, Yoshihisa, Ohta, Chiho, Koga, Nobuyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Body length
Body Size
Cadmium
Copper
Copper - analysis
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Galeocerdo cuvier
Japan
Liver - chemistry
Marine
Marine and brackish environment
Mercury
Mercury - analysis
Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry
Sharks - metabolism
Silvertip sharks ( Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier)
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Zinc
Zinc - analysis
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Summary:We analyzed Hg, Zn and Cu concentrations in the liver and muscle of tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan. The Hg concentration in the muscle increased proportionally with body length in the tiger sharks, whereas that in the liver increased rapidly after maturity (defined by a length of over 2.7 m). Muscle Hg levels were higher than liver concentrations in immature sharks, with the inverse trend observed in mature sharks. Notably, the Zn and Cu concentrations in the liver tended to decrease with increasing body length. This rapid increase in hepatic Hg concentration concurrent with the onset of maturity in sharks may result from the continuous intake of Hg via food and the slower growth of mature sharks. The high concentrations of the essential metals Zn and Cu in immature sharks may be explained by the physiological demands related to rapid growth.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.06.003