Mercury contamination of aquatic environments is a global concern and is considered a serious threat to wildlife and human health. Due to their high trophic status, broad diet, long life span, and occurrence in a variety of aquatic habitats, crocodilians (crocodiles, alligators, caiman, gharials) are susceptible to exposure and accumulation of numerous persistent environmental contaminants, including mercury. American crocodiles and other reptiles bioaccumulate contaminants due to low metabolic rate, lower energy demands, lower dietary exposure, and poor enzymatic detoxification as compared to birds and mammals. Previous studies have documented mercury in caudal (tail) scutes of crocodiles from remote areas of mainland Belize; however, no such data are available for crocodiles living on the country's offshore islands (cays). In this study, we examine mercury and transition metal concentrations in caudal scutes from American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) sampled from various localities on Ambergris Cay, Belize as part of a long-term population study of crocodiles in the Belize coastal zone. Scutes (n=39) are currently being digested using an acid digestion method (EPA 3050B). Mercury will be quantified using cold vapor atomic fluorescence and other metal determination will utilize inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results will be compared to data previously obtained for crocodile scutes from mainland Belize, the R�o Grande de T�rcoles River in west-central Costa Rica, and other crocodilian species worldwide. In addition, we will examine the relationship between scute mercury concentrations and crocodile gender, body size.

Mercury and transition metal accumulation in caudal scutes of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) from Belize

247th National Meeting (2014)

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