Residues of DDT and Dieldrin in Snakes from Two Texas Agro-Systems

Fleet, Robert R.; Clark, Donald R.; Plapp, Frederick W.

doi:10.2307/1296269

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Mean p,pЈ-DDE concentrations in cottonmouths collected from the site in 1971 and 1974 through 1975 are 662-and 252-fold higher, respectively, than the mean concentration detected in cottonmouths at the LHAAP [15,16]. Additionally, the mean p,pЈ-DDE concentration in nine other snake species collected from Navasota River in 1971 was twofold higher than that found in the LHAAP cottonmouths [15]. These data suggest exposure of cottonmouths to OC pesticides on the LHAAP is relatively low and concentrations detected in cottonmouths sampled in this study may be considered background concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of samples analyzed in a group. Fleet et al [15] found high OC (including DDE) concentrations (396 g/g [ppm]) in fat bodies of cottonmouth embryos from southeast Texas, and these concentrations were similar to those detected in the fat of the maternal female (432 g/g). Interestingly, in the only other study to have examined sex-and size-related differences in contaminant concentrations in snakes, the same pattern was observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…In addition, egg-laying species were common at Navasota River but essentially absent from Old River Slough. During these studies, diamondback water snakes (Nerodia rhombifer) (live bearers) also were common at Navasota River but consistently absent from Old River Slough [15][16][17]. During these studies, diamondback water snakes (Nerodia rhombifer) (live bearers) also were common at Navasota River but consistently absent from Old River Slough [15][16][17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Organochlorine pesticides and mercury in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) from northeastern Texas, USA

Rainwater¹,

Reynolds²,

Cañas³

et al. 2005

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Despite their ecological importance and global decline, snakes remain poorly studied in ecotoxicology. In this study, we examined organochlorine (OC) pesticide and mercury accumulation in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) living on a contaminated site in northeastern Texas (USA). Mercury and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were detected in all snakes examined. Other OCs, including p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), methoxychlor, aldrin, and heptachlor, also were detected, but less frequently. Concentrations of p,p'-DDE were higher in fat than in liver, while mercury concentrations were highest in liver, followed by kidney and tail clips. One animal contained the highest mercury concentration yet reported for a snake (8,610 ng/g). Mercury concentrations in liver and kidney were higher in males than females, while no intersex differences in p,p'-DDE concentrations were observed. Concentrations of p,p'-DDE in fat were correlated positively with body size in male cottonmouths but not females, suggesting a slower rate of accumulation in females. Body size strongly predicted mercury concentrations in liver, kidney, and tail clips of both sexes. Tail clips were strong predictors of mercury in liver and kidney in males but not females, suggesting possible sex-dependent differences in mercury toxicokinetics. Both long-term field studies and controlled laboratory investigations are needed to adequately assess the response of cottonmouths to chronic contaminant exposure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Organochlorine pesticides and mercury in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) from northeastern Texas, USA

Rainwater¹,

Reynolds²,

Cañas³

et al. 2005

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Snakes are strictly carnivorous animals that can become contaminated with relatively high concentrations of trace metals (Hopkins et al 1999) and chlorinated hydrocarbons, including organochlorine pesticides (Fleet et al 1972;Meeks 1968), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (Bishop and Gendron 1998), and polychlorinated dioxins and furans (Sabourin et al 1984) from the environment. Water snakes exposed to high levels of arsenic, selenium, and cadmium experience elevated standard metabolic rates, which may reduce the fitness of the animals by significantly altering energy resource allocation (Hopkins et al 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water snakes exposed to high levels of arsenic, selenium, and cadmium experience elevated standard metabolic rates, which may reduce the fitness of the animals by significantly altering energy resource allocation (Hopkins et al 1999). Organochlorine pesticides have been implicated in deaths (Koeman et al 1978;George and Stickel 1949) and declines in snake populations in the southern United States (Fleet et al 1972;Fleet and Plapp 1978). The effects of PCBs have not been measured in snakes, although anecdotal reports indicate captive snakes exposed to PCB contamination in their water supply have been poisoned and died (Wojcik et al 1995).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Concentrations in Plasma of the Lake Erie Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) and Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) from the Great Lakes Basin in 1998

Bishop

Rouse

2000

Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.

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From the Great Lakes basin, concentrations of 59 congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 14 organochlorine pesticides were measured in blood plasma of northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) and Lake Erie water snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum), which is endangered in Canada. In 1998, four male adult Lake Erie water snakes were sampled from Pelee Island, western Lake Erie; four male northern water snakes were sampled at Little Lake, about 20 km north of Parry Sound in central Ontario; and four adult gravid female northern water snakes were sampled from Garden Island, eastern Lake Ontario. The blood plasma was pooled by site for a total of three samples analyzed. The Pelee Island sample from male Lake Erie water snakes contained less than half the lipid concentration (0.349%) than samples from the other sites, but it was the most contaminated with PCBs, even on a wet weight basis. Summed concentration of individual PCBs in the Pelee Island sample was 167 ng/g (wet weight), which was 14-fold higher than the next most contaminated sample, which was from Little Lake. The plasma sample from Little Lake contained 12 ng/g (WW) and was four times more contaminated with PCBs than the sample from female snakes from Garden Island, Lake Ontario. Organochlorine pesticide concentrations in plasma were relatively similar among sites. None of the pesticides was found above trace concentrations (0.1-0.9 ng/g) except pp'-DDE, which occurred at 2-5 ng/g among sites. PCB congener patterns in the Lake Erie water snakes were compared to PCB patterns in plasma of common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) from Lake Ontario, herring gull eggs (Larus argentatus) from western Lake Erie, and mudpuppy eggs (Necturus maculosus) from the Detroit River. The PCB patterns in water snake and herring gull sample were most similar, followed by the pattern in snapping turtle plasma. The presence of more lower-chlorinated chlorobiphenyls in the mudpuppy eggs relative to the other species made this sample distinct from the water snake, gull, and turtle.

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Elevated trace element concentrations and standard metabolic rate in banded water snakes (Nerodia fasciata) exposed to coal combustion wastes

Hopkins

Rowe

Congdon

1999

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

108

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Abstract-Trace element concentrations in banded water snakes, Nerodia fasciata, and representative prey items from a site polluted by coal combustion wastes were compared with concentrations in conspecifics from a nearby reference site. Water snakes accumulated high concentrations of trace elements, especially arsenic (As) and selenium (Se), in the polluted habitat. In addition to being exposed to contaminants in water and sediments, snakes in the polluted site are exposed to contaminants by ingesting prey items that have elevated whole-body concentrations of trace elements, including As, cadmium (Cd), and Se. Snakes from the polluted site exhibited mean standard metabolic rates (SMR) 32% higher than snakes from the reference site. As a result, snakes from the polluted site appear to have elevated allocation of energy to maintenance and theoretically should have less energy available for growth, reproduction, and storage. Our findings are consistent with physiological responses recently documented in other organisms from the polluted site. We hypothesize that long-term exposure to coal ash-derived trace elements and the resultant accumulation of some elements are responsible for observed increases in SMR.

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Residues of DDT and Dieldrin in Snakes from Two Texas Agro-Systems

Cited by 19 publications

References 4 publications

Organochlorine pesticides and mercury in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) from northeastern Texas, USA

Organochlorine pesticides and mercury in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) from northeastern Texas, USA

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Concentrations in Plasma of the Lake Erie Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) and Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) from the Great Lakes Basin in 1998

Elevated trace element concentrations and standard metabolic rate in banded water snakes (Nerodia fasciata) exposed to coal combustion wastes

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