Trace Element Concentrations in the Tissues of Proteus Anguinus (Amphibia, Caudata) and the Surrounding Environment

Bulog, B; Mihajl, K; Jeran, Z; Toman, MJ

Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, VeCna pot 111, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia,

mailto:boris.bulog@uni-lj.si

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution [Water, Air, Soil Pollut.]. Vol. 136, no. 1-4, pp. 147-163. May 2002. ISSN 0049-6979

The concentrations of some essential (Cu, Zn, Se) and some toxic elements (Hg, As) were determined in tissues (liver, kidneys, integument, and muscle) of the endemic cave salamander, Proteus anguinus Laurenti 1768 and Proteus anguinus parkelj ssp.n. captured in the Planina Cave, Kompolje Cave, and Jelsevnik, all situated within the Dinaric Karst in Slovenia. The highest amounts of selenium and mercury were found in the liver of Proteus anguinus specimens from all three localities. Some of the animals from the Planina Cave showed higher concentrations of copper in the liver and muscle. Pigmented subspecies of Proteus from Jelsevnik showed increased values of arsenic in the integument and of zinc in the liver and integument. The liver of the animals contained the highest amounts of the metals analysed and therefore may be considered as a target organ. Metal levels were also measured in the cave water and sediments. The waters were not polluted with metals. However, the metals were relatively high in the sediments, but not to levels considered contaminated. In addition to our study of metal concentrations in Proteus tissues and habitats, several water quality parameters were measured in the water of each locality. The main differences between the three localities concerned dissolved oxygen concentration and saturation, while all other physical and chemical parameters were characteristic of the aquatic environment in the calcareous Karst region.