Symon, T.E., D.A., Murillo-Cisneros, C.J., Hernández-Camacho, R.J., Taylor, J.P., Vázquez-Medina, T., Zenteno-Savín & T.M., ÓHara (2025). Drivers of essential and non-essential element concentrations in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) lanugo at Los Islotes, Mexico: One Health implications. Environmental Research. 287: 123121. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123121.
Taryn Elizabeth Symon, Daniela A. Murillo-Cisneros, Claudia J. Hernández-Camacho 1, Robert J. Taylor, José Pablo Vázquez-Medina, Tania Zenteno-Savín y Todd M. ÓHara
Exposure to and resulting concentrations of essential and non-essential elements is influenced by factors, including sex, year, trophic ecology, health and physiological status. Relatively high and low element concentrations ([X]) can impact California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Lanugo was collected from pups in 2021 (n = 35), 2022 (n = 43), and 2023 (n = 48) from Los Islotes, Mexico. Essential and non-essential elements concentrations were determined. Potential elements concentration relationships and the influence of year, sex, length, trophic ecology (?13C, ?15N), and interaction of year with each variable were assessed. Two consistent groupings of positively correlated elements were observed. The first included manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) with similar chemical properties, absorption and transport mechanisms. The second included calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), magnesium (Mg), and strontium (Sr). Calcium, Sr, and Mg help maintain cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health, while antagonistic interactions of Cd with Ca and Mg can result in adverse effects. The significant (p < 0.05) influence of ecological variables (year, ?13C, the interaction between ?13C and year) on some elements, such as Cd, mercury (Hg), Mg, Pb, S, selenium (Se), Sr, and zinc (Zn)) indicate that variables, including changing oceanographic conditions and anthropogenic element inputs can impact top predators. The significant influence of biological variables (sex and length) on some elements, such as Ca, Cd, Hg, Mg, Mn, S, Se, Sr, and Zn may be driven by sex-specific physiological processes, physiological requirements, and/or element accumulation patterns. The physiological impacts of these interactions on pup health and survival during a vulnerable ontogenetic stage are unknown. These results provide regional baseline values, allowing future studies to analyze temporal-spatial trends that may arise within a changing environment. As a sentinel species, under the One Health perspective, these findings reflect environmental concentrations and exposure pathways in humans depending on similar resources.
Palabras clave: C and N stable isotopes; California sea lion pups; Elements; Fetal hair; Gulf of California; Sentinel species; One health
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