Abstract

RACERO-CASARRUBIA, Javier; PINEDO-HERNANDEZ, José; BALLESTEROS-CORREA, Jesús  and  MARRUGO-NEGRETE, José. Heavy metals in bat (Chiroptera) species associated with a farm under silvopastoral management in the department of Cordoba, Colombia. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2017, vol.33, n.1, pp.45-54. ISSN 2448-8445.

In this paper evaluated for the first time in the department of Córdoba, levels of trace elements (Zn, Cu, Pb and Hg) in muscle and liver of eight bats species of the families Phyllostomidae and Emballonuridae, present in a farm with silvopastoral management. The concentration of heavy metals was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with graphite furnace (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu) and cold vapor (Hg). Heavy metals were found in 24 bats of eight species. The heavy metal content in different tissues followed the order Zn> Cu> Pb> Hg for most species. The concentration of heavy metals in liver and muscle showed statistically significant differences. Contamination by heavy metals in bats associated with a silvopastoral system may be related to the use of agrochemicals, pesticides and phosphate compounds for this agro-ecosystem management..

Keywords : agroecosystem; disturbance; quiroptera; traces; tropical dry forest.