Assessment of trace element concentrations in sediment and vegetation of mesic and arid African savannahs as indicators of ecosystem health

Webster, Andrea B.; Rossouw, Riana; Callealta, F. Javier; Bennett, Nigel C.; Ganswindt, André

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143358

Cited by 8 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Mercury is an agricultural, industrial, mining and wasterelated pollutant and is classified as one of the top 10 contaminants of health concern (FAO and UNEP, 2021). Hg was found in concentrations above the TKR mean in environmental matrices (Webster et al, 2021a) and in carnivores (this study) and may be related to anthropogenic activities associated with the landing strip. Although contamination at the TKR site was localised, highest levels of Hg at the MNR site were measured in herbivores and may result from water-transport of mercury-containing fertilizers and antiparasitic veterinary drugs used in substance farming by communities in close proximity to the reserve.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…Chromium (Cr) the most abundant element measured in environmental matrices (Webster et al, 2021a) at the MNR site was reflected across animal groups. In part, concentrations could be attributed to the geochemical signature of the region however, in mesic environments, interactions between sulphate and iron carriers in plants facilitate high rates of Cr uptake in vegetation (Shankar et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Protected areas are considered the cornerstone of biodiversity and conservation. As regional and global environmental processes influence local conditions to differing degrees, specific environments contain unique combinations of PTEs and other chemicals resulting from geogenic processes and surrounding activities (Webster et al, 2021a). It is reasonable to assume that all organisms within a specific environment are exposed to highly complex, ill-defined mixtures of PTEs and other synthetic compounds (Thrupp et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, information related to PTE presence within specific protected areas and the various wildlife species that occur there has been restricted to pollution events and mass die offs (Ferreira and Pienaar, 2011;Woodborne et al, 2012). A broad assessment of environmental matrices within the two protected areas of interest in this study (Webster et al, 2021a) identify unique geological signatures within each reserve, but also highlight some PTE concentrations above acceptable limits outside of geological influence. Given these previously established concerns in environmental matrices, the need for further assessment in biological components of these systems became evident (Webster et al, 2021b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-Lethal Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Across Mammalian Trophic Levels in African Savannahs

Webster

Callealta

Bennett

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in the world but the increase in agricultural, industrial and technological development to meet the needs of the growing human population has led to increased amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and other chemicals in the environment. As regional and global environmental processes influence local conditions to differing degrees, all organisms within a specific environment are exposed to highly complex, ill-defined PTE and chemical mixtures. Differences in feeding strategies within and between vertebrate trophic levels are likely to influence the degree to which individuals may be exposed to and affected by PTE presence. Using vertebrate faeces as a biological matrix, we investigate and compare quantitative differences in PTE concentrations in herbivorous, omnivorous and carnivorous terrestrial vertebrates from two protected areas in South African savannah. Of the eleven PTEs assessed [aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr), and vanadium (V)], the highest concentrations of Al, As, Cr, Pb, Sn, and V were found in carnivores. General patterns were evident between groups at each site for specific elements, but absolute values for the same elements were site-specific. This is the first study to non-invasively examine and compare PTE concentrations in a variety of free-ranging mammalian wildlife occupying different trophic levels within South African protected areas. Our results confirm that all individuals across trophic levels within these sites are exposed to multiple and varied PTE mixtures on a continuous basis. Whether PTEs at these concentrations cause synergistic or antagonistic disruption of physiological and biological systems alone or in combination in free-ranging African wildlife species is still unclear and requires further investigation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Non-Lethal Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Across Mammalian Trophic Levels in African Savannahs

Webster

Callealta

Bennett

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…This highlights the need for further investigation of the complex relationships between trace elements in abiotic and biotic components within terrestrial ecosystems. The value of this study lies in its non-invasive approach to sample collection and the application of an optimised method allowing for the simultaneous detection of multiple trace elements in a variety of environmental matrices [58] Webster et al. 2021 and [59] Webster et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimised ICP-MS quantification method for using animal faeces as a measure of protected area ecosystem health

et al. 2021

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Pollution is a key threat to biodiversity and ecosystem health within protected areas. Using a non-invasive, multi-matrix approach, sediment, vegetation and faecal material from lion ( Panthera leo ) and giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis) were collected and assessed for the simultaneous quantification of 20 trace elements using an optimised method for Inductively Coupled Plasma-–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Method Linearity was confirmed over an analytical range of 0.1–50 mg/kg for aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe); 0.4–400 µg/kg for vanadium (V), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), and cadmium (Cd); 0.5–5 µg/kg for mercury (Hg); and 1–1 000 µg/kg for elements arsenic (As), boron (B), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn). Coefficient of determination (R 2 ) was above 0.99 for all elements. Accuracy (% recovery) and precision (% RSD) of replicate measurements for certified reference material controls fell within 20% of expected value at lower concentrations and 15% at higher concentrations for all elements except Al. Results for instrument and method limit of detections (LOD), method limit of quantification (LOQ) and expanded uncertainty were satisfactory. Preliminary data indicate As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn were present in all matrices evaluated. This raises concerns regarding the combined action of multiple elements at concentrations that can adversely affect ecosystem and wildlife integrity. Sample quantity is reduced due to the power and sensitivity of ICP-MS. The optimised method is capable of detecting differences in trace element concentrations over large orders of magnitude in animal faeces containing different amounts of organic content. The method can be applied to the quantification of essential and potentially toxic elements in faeces across a wide range of terrestrial species.

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Ecological disturbances and abundance of anthropogenic pollutants in the aquatic ecosystem: Critical review of impact assessment on the aquatic animals

et al. 2023

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Assessment of trace element concentrations in sediment and vegetation of mesic and arid African savannahs as indicators of ecosystem health

Cited by 8 publications

References 78 publications

Non-Lethal Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Across Mammalian Trophic Levels in African Savannahs

Non-Lethal Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Across Mammalian Trophic Levels in African Savannahs

Optimised ICP-MS quantification method for using animal faeces as a measure of protected area ecosystem health

Ecological disturbances and abundance of anthropogenic pollutants in the aquatic ecosystem: Critical review of impact assessment on the aquatic animals

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