Mercury maternal transfer in two placental sharks and a yolk-sac ray from Baja California Sur, Mexico

Baró-Camarasa, Isis; Marmolejo-Rodríguez, Ana J.; O'Hara, Todd M.; Castellini, J Margaret; Murillo-Cisneros, Daniela A.; Martínez-Rincón, Raúl O.; Elorriaga-Verplancken, Fernando R.; Galván-Magaña, Felipe

Mercury maternal transfer in two placental sharks and a yolk-sac ray from Baja California Sur, Mexico

2022

Total mercury (THg) concentrations were measured in muscle and liver of two placental viviparous sharks, the Pacific sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon longurio) and the brown smooth-hound (Mustelus henlei); as well as in the muscle, liver, and yolk of the yolk-sac viviparous speckled guitarfish (Pseudobatos glaucostigmus) in Baja California Sur. The aim was to determine which factors could be involved in maternal transfer and resultant maternal and embryonic THg concentration. Higher THg concentrations were found in pregnant females compared to embryos paired tissues. THg concentrations of embryo tissues decreased with total length (TL), except for the muscle of the Pacific sharpnose shark. THg concentrations of embryo muscle was positively related to THg concentration in the muscle of pregnant females. Embryos TL, muscle THg concentration of pregnant females, percentage of THg concentration in embryos, along with the reproductive strategy are relevant factors required to improve our understanding of THg concentration in embryo tissues.

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