Biomaterial Database

Mercury in muscle tissue of lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus caniculus L.) from the north-east Irish Sea. 1991

R Leah, and S Evans, and M Johnson

Department of Environmental & Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

This paper reports concentrations of mercury in muscle tissue of lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus caniculus L.) from various locations within Liverpool Bay and the north-east Irish Sea. Concentrations of mercury in fish muscle showed distinct spatial variation, with values from the northern sectors of the Irish Sea significantly lower than those for the southern area, particularly sites in Liverpool Bay and around the mouth of the Mersey Estuary. The data support the hypothesis that there are several major populations of lesser-spotted dogfish within the study area, each of which remains quite distinct during seasonal movements. Consequently, exposure to environmental mercury is reflected in muscle concentrations of mercury. Regressions of mercury concentration against fish length showed significant relationships for the majority of sites, with the slope relating to distance from known sources of mercury contamination. Mean mercury concentrations were higher than in corresponding populations of flatfish from the same areas.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008628	Mercury	A silver metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature. It has the atomic symbol Hg (from hydrargyrum, liquid silver), atomic number 80, and atomic weight 200.59. Mercury is used in many industrial applications and its salts have been employed therapeutically as purgatives, antisyphilitics, disinfectants, and astringents. It can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes which leads to MERCURY POISONING. Because of its toxicity, the clinical use of mercury and mercurials is diminishing.
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D012044	Regression Analysis	Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable.	Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D001824	Body Constitution	The physical characteristics of the body, including the mode of performance of functions, the activity of metabolic processes, the manner and degree of reactions to stimuli, and power of resistance to the attack of pathogenic organisms.	Body Constitutions,Constitution, Body,Constitutions, Body
D004284	Dogfish	Sharks of the family Squalidae, also called dogfish sharks. They comprise at least eight genera and 44 species. Their LIVER is valued for its oil and its flesh is often made into fertilizer.	Squalidae,Dogfishes
D006113	United Kingdom	Country in northwestern Europe including Great Britain and the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland, located between the North Sea and north Atlantic Ocean. The capital is London.	Great Britain,Isle of Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012623	Seawater	The salinated water of OCEANS AND SEAS that provides habitat for marine organisms.	Sea Water,Sea Waters,Seawaters,Water, Sea,Waters, Sea