Assessing effects of chronic heavy metal exposure through a multibiomarker approach: the case of Liomys irroratus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

De la Cruz-Guarneros, Natalia; Tovar-Sánchez, Efraín; Mussali-Galante, Patricia

Assessing effects of chronic heavy metal exposure through a multibiomarker approach: the case of Liomys irroratus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

2021

De la Cruz-Guarneros, Natalia | Tovar-Sánchez, Efraín | Mussali-Galante, Patricia

Wild animals that inhabit inside mine tailings which contain heavy metals are an excellent study model to conduct ecotoxicological studies that analyze chronic metal exposures at low doses (realistic exposures). This study was conducted in Huautla, Morelos, Mexico, in a mining district where 780,000 tons of wastes were deposited in open air. Liomys irroratus is a small mammal species that lives inside these mine tailings. A multibiomarker approach study was performed to analyze metal bioaccumulation levels (biomarker of exposure) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, DNA damage levels (biomarker of early effects) through the alkaline comet assay, and population genetic structure and diversity (biomarker of permanent effects), using seven microsatellite loci, in 75 L. irroratus individuals, from two mine tailings and one reference site. Concentrations of aluminum, copper, iron, nickel, lead, and zinc were statistically higher in the liver of exposed individuals. Significant DNA damage levels were registered in the mine tailings groups. Aluminum, lead, and nickel had the highest contribution to the genetic damage levels observed, while aluminum and nickel had the highest contribution to genetic diversity effects. A positive and significant relationship was detected between individual genetic diversity (internal relatedness) and genetic damage (DNA single-strand breaks). Genetic structure of L. irroratus populations revealed that the main source of genetic variation was located within populations. We consider that multibiomarker studies in environmental settings using sentinel species are valuable for environmental risk assessment and ecological responses in chronic exposed populations.

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