Heavy metals and metallothionein in vespertilionid bats foraging over aquatic habitats in the Czech Republic

• Published in: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Main Authors: Pikula, J., Zukal, J. (Jan), Adam, V., Banďouchová, H., Beklová, M., Hájková, P., Horáková, J., Kizek, R., Valentíková, L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Microchiroptera; insect foraging; metallic elements; bioaccumulation; Myotis nattereri; Pipistrellus nathusii; Pipistrellus pipistrellus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.80; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0195039

There has been growing interest in the study and conservation of bats throughout the world. Declines in their absolute numbers in recent decades are due, in part, to the fact that insectivorous bats may bioaccumulate toxic pollutants. The purpose of the present study was to quantify heavy metal concentrations in kidney, liver, and pectoral muscle samples in relation to metallothionein (MT) levels. In total, 106 bats belonging to 11 European species (i.e., Myotis myotis, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis brandtii, Myotis nattereri, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis mystacinus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus noctulla, Eptesicus serotinus) were used for the study. The highest MT levels were found in Pipistrellus pipistrellus. High MT levels were also found in juvenile bats and aquatic-insect-foraging species.