Trace Element Contamination in Top Predatory Elasmobranchs From the Southern Black Sea: Implications for Ecosystem...

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Toxicology

Background:

• Environmental pollution from human activities is increasing, impacting marine ecosystems.
• Trace elements, both essential and non-essential metals, pose significant pollution risks.
• Metals can disrupt physiological events, accumulate in tissues, and biomagnify through the food chain, causing health problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the concentrations of specific trace elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in marine top predators.
• To assess the ecological risks associated with metal pollution in the southern Black Sea.
• To inform regional environmental management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of trace element concentrations in the muscle tissues of three fish species: Squalus acanthias, Raja clavata, and Dasyatis pastinaca.
• Sampling conducted in the southern Black Sea region.
• Focus on non-commercial, ecologically significant top predator species.

Main Results:

• Quantified concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb in the studied fish species.
• Identified varying levels of these trace elements in the muscle tissues.
• Provided data on metal accumulation in top predators from the southern Black Sea.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the presence of significant trace element contamination in southern Black Sea top predators.
• Findings contribute to understanding ecological risks and support the development of management strategies for the region.
• Monitoring these top predators is crucial for assessing the health of the marine environment.