Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems
Mangrove forest is one of the productive ecosystems that provide essential habitats for various fauna as breeding and feeding drives. However, heavy metal pollution in the mangrove forest has led to severe health problems for several aquatic species. Biomonitoring of metals using a nondestructive me...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/2/173 |
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| author | Thirupati Lakshmi Harika Khalid A. Al-Ghanim Mian Nadeem Riaz Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa Jeganathan Pandiyan Marimuthu Govindarajan |
| author_facet | Thirupati Lakshmi Harika Khalid A. Al-Ghanim Mian Nadeem Riaz Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa Jeganathan Pandiyan Marimuthu Govindarajan |
| author_sort | Thirupati Lakshmi Harika |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mangrove forest is one of the productive ecosystems that provide essential habitats for various fauna as breeding and feeding drives. However, heavy metal pollution in the mangrove forest has led to severe health problems for several aquatic species. Biomonitoring of metals using a nondestructive method is an emerging technique. Scats of the fishing cat (<i>Prionailurus viverrinus</i>) were collected from five locations in the Godavari estuary mangrove habitats, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India, to determine the level of various metals. An opportunistic method was applied to collect scats in the mangrove forest. Six scat samples were collected from each of the sampling sites. The following prey species, such as crabs, fishes, birds, rodents, plants, plastics, and unidentifiable prey matters, were found in the scats. Select metals, such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) were analyzed from the scats of the fishing cat since they intensively influence the physiology and behavior of top predators. The concentration of Cu in fishing cat scats was higher than the other two metals assessed. Metals showed statistically substantial variation across locations (<i>p</i> < 0.05). According to the current study, heavy metals may significantly threaten the fishing cat in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary. The fishing cat is a vulnerable species in accordance with the ICUN categories. Due to pollution and other human pressures, the fishing cat may soon be categorized as a threatened or endangered species; the research advises that authorities should prioritize the protection of the vulnerable species of the fishing cat from the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:04:09Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:04:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b679075e0722495fbbc40e2fba007cb32023-11-16T23:37:57ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042023-02-0111217310.3390/toxics11020173Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic EcosystemsThirupati Lakshmi Harika0Khalid A. Al-Ghanim1Mian Nadeem Riaz2Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa3Jeganathan Pandiyan4Marimuthu Govindarajan5Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia2476 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, Tamil Nadu, IndiaUnit of Mycology and Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, IndiaMangrove forest is one of the productive ecosystems that provide essential habitats for various fauna as breeding and feeding drives. However, heavy metal pollution in the mangrove forest has led to severe health problems for several aquatic species. Biomonitoring of metals using a nondestructive method is an emerging technique. Scats of the fishing cat (<i>Prionailurus viverrinus</i>) were collected from five locations in the Godavari estuary mangrove habitats, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India, to determine the level of various metals. An opportunistic method was applied to collect scats in the mangrove forest. Six scat samples were collected from each of the sampling sites. The following prey species, such as crabs, fishes, birds, rodents, plants, plastics, and unidentifiable prey matters, were found in the scats. Select metals, such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) were analyzed from the scats of the fishing cat since they intensively influence the physiology and behavior of top predators. The concentration of Cu in fishing cat scats was higher than the other two metals assessed. Metals showed statistically substantial variation across locations (<i>p</i> < 0.05). According to the current study, heavy metals may significantly threaten the fishing cat in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary. The fishing cat is a vulnerable species in accordance with the ICUN categories. Due to pollution and other human pressures, the fishing cat may soon be categorized as a threatened or endangered species; the research advises that authorities should prioritize the protection of the vulnerable species of the fishing cat from the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/2/173heavy metaltoxicityscatsprey speciesmangrove forestscarnivores |
| spellingShingle | Thirupati Lakshmi Harika Khalid A. Al-Ghanim Mian Nadeem Riaz Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa Jeganathan Pandiyan Marimuthu Govindarajan Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems Toxics heavy metal toxicity scats prey species mangrove forests carnivores |
| title | Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_full | Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_short | Fishing Cat Scats as a Biomonitoring Tool for Toxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_sort | fishing cat scats as a biomonitoring tool for toxic heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems |
| topic | heavy metal toxicity scats prey species mangrove forests carnivores |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/2/173 |
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