Annual variability of heavy metal content in Svalbard reindeer faeces as a result of dietary preferences

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3479-8
• Publication Date: 2018-10-30T13:19:38Z
• Authors: Michał Hubert Węg...; Paulina Wietrzyk; Sara Lehmann-Konera; Stanisław Chmiel; Beata Cykowska-Ma...; Żaneta Polkowska
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; Dietary Exposure; Svalbard; Feces; contamination; vegetation; Metals, Heavy; pollution; Animals; Environmental Pollutants; Seasons; Research Article; Environmental Monitoring; Reindeer; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

During both winter and summer, Svalbard reindeer selectively feed on different types of vegetation that are not only a source nutritional value, but also place heavy metal accumulation. In the present study, content cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel, manganese, zinc in excrement was measured. The main aims were to determine seasonal several metals faeces, compare their values terms dietary preferences during year. Summer gathered along designated linear transect running through Bolterdalen described 1 m2 plots. All analysed detected faeces this fact seems be connected with incomplete these elements an animal's tissue after forage digestion. Analysis showed differences between summer concentrations no found for other four (manganese, zinc, copper). However, rather low comparison levels may grazed by tissue.