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Head shape disparity impacts pollutant accumulation in European eel
De Meyer, J.; Belpaire, C.; Boeckx, P.; Bervoets, L.; Covaci, A.; Malarvannan, G.; De Kegel, B.; Adriaens, D. (2018). Head shape disparity impacts pollutant accumulation in European eel. Environ. Pollut. 240: 378-386. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.128
In: Environmental Pollution. Elsevier: Barking. ISSN 0269-7491; e-ISSN 1873-6424
Peer reviewed article  
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Author keywords
    Pollution; Biomagnification; Dimorphism; POPs; Trace metals
Authors  Top 
  • De Meyer, J.
  • Belpaire, C.
  • Boeckx, P.
  • Bervoets, L.
  • Covaci, A.
  • Malarvannan, G.
  • De Kegel, B.
  • Adriaens, D.
Abstract
    Several aspects of the life cycle of the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) remain poorly understood. One such aspect is the broad-versus narrow-head dimorphism, and how this impacts their overall performance at different stages of their life cycle. At the yellow eel stage, the phenotypes show a trophic divergence. We investigated whether pollutant accumulation is affected by this disparity. We show that broad-headed eels contained higher concentrations of mercury and several lipophilic organic pollutants, compared to narrow-headed ones, irrespective of their fat content. The hereby confirmed link between the phenotypic disparity, its associated feeding ecology and its impact on pollutant accumulation thus raises further concerns about their migratory and reproductive success. Considering that pollution is an important contributor to the European eel's decline, our results demonstrate that broad-headed eels are more vulnerable to detrimental pollutant accumulation. This compromises their successful contribution to their population's reproduction and its restoration.
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