Microlophus atacamensis as a biomonitor of coastal contamination in the Atacama Desert, Chile: An evaluation through a non-lethal technique.

摘要: Abstract In this report, we investigated the accumulation of heavy metals in lizard Microlophus atacamensis, three coastal areas Atacama Desert, northern Chile. We captured reptiles a non-intervened area (Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar, PAZ), an mining impact (Caleta Palitos, PAL) and active industrial zone (Puerto Caldera, CAL). Our methods included non-lethal sampling reptiles' tails obtained by autotomy few sacrificed animals to perform stomach contents analysis. The concentrations lead, copper, nickel, zinc cadmium were measured atomic absorption spectrophotometry both soil prey compared those recorded lizards' tails. Data from PAL showed significantly high Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn other two sites PAZ CAL. did not find statistically significant differences among PAZ, CAL soils, probably due similar geological composition sites. However, regional background values for Pb indicate contamination or at least metal enrichment soils sites, Cu global Cd backgroud show values. analysis content food sources lizards studied. concentration tissues versus delivered Trophic Transfer Factor higher than one (1), suggesting that may be primary source M. atacamensis. Calculations Bioaccumulation (BAF) Ecological Risk (IR) resulted (1) indicating relevance process article, report relationships between environmental contaminants, mainly putative preys, found tails, which is more substantial with historical such as where technique developed research suggests bioaccumulation