US EPA

1337582 

Journal Article 

Evidence of population genetic effects in Peromyscus melanophrys chronically exposed to mine tailings in Morelos, Mexico 

Mussali-Galante, P; Tovar-Sánchez, E; Valverde, M; Valencia-Cuevas, L; Rojas, E 

2013 

Yes 

Environmental Science and Pollution Research
ISSN: 0944-1344
EISSN: 1614-7499 

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG 

HEIDELBERG 

20 

11 

7666-7679 

English 

23108757 

10.1007/s11356-012-1263-8 

WOS:000325811600016 

http://://BCI:BCI201300757955
Exit
 

Effects of environmental chemical pollution can be observed at all levels of biological organization. At the population level, genetic structure and diversity may be affected by exposure to metal contamination. This study was conducted in Huautla, Morelos, Mexico in a mining district where the main contaminants are lead and arsenic. Peromyscus melanophrys is a small mammal species that inhabits Huautla mine tailings and has been considered as a sentinel species. Metal bioaccumulation levels were examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and genetic analyses were performed using eight microsatellite loci in 100 P. melanophrys individuals from 3 mine tailings and 2 control sites. The effect of metal bioaccumulation levels on genetic parameters (population and individual genetic diversity, genetic structure) was analyzed. We found a tissue concentration gradient for each metal and for the bioaccumulation index. The highest values of genetic differentiation (Fst and Rst) and the lowest number of migrants per generation (Nm) were registered among the exposed populations. Genetic distance analyses showed that the most polluted population was the most genetically distant among the five populations examined. Moreover, a negative and significant relationship was detected between genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity and internal relatedness) and each metal concentration and for the bioaccumulation index in P. melanophrys. This study highlights that metal stress is a major factor affecting the distribution and genetic diversity levels of P. melanophrys populations living inside mine tailings. We suggest the use of genetic population changes at micro-geographical scales as a population level biomarker. 

Small mammals; Peromyscus melanophrys; Metals; Mine tailings; Genetic diversity; Genetic structure; Bioaccumulation