Essential and non-essential trace element concentrations in muscle and liver of a pregnant Munk’s pygmy devil ray (Mobula munkiana) and its embryo

7 pages, 1 table

During gestation, essential and non-essential trace elements are transferred from the pregnant females to embryos. This study aimed to determine and compare the concentrations of seven essential trace elements (Fe, Zn, Se, Cu, Mn, Cr, Co) and six non-essential trace elements (As, Cd, V, U, Tl, Ag) in the muscle and the liver of a Munk’s pygmy devil ray pregnant female, Mobula munkiana, and its embryo. Transfer evidence of essential and non-essential trace elements was detected in M. munkiana tissues. Arsenic was found in elevated concentrations in the pregnant female and the embryo tissues. Elevated levels of Cd, V, U, and Ag were found in the pregnant female liver, but were minimal in the embryo tissue. This is the first study to investigate maternal transfer of essential and non-essential trace elements in these species and their reproductive strategy

This study received financial support from the project “Ecología trófica de las rayas en la costa occidental del Golfo de California” Grant number SIP 20201266 and Grant number SIP 20210215, the project “Biogeoquímica de elementos traza en sistemas costeros influencidos por minería de cobre” Grant number SIP 20200709, the project “Biogeoquímica de elementos mayores y traza en sistemas costeros” Grant number SIP 20211002, and the project “Modelación ecogeoquímica de sistemas costeros hacia una salud integral” Grant number SIP 2152