Copper, lead and cadmium monitoring via the Small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula; Linnaeus, 1758): space-time driven variability in Western Mediterranean populations

Abstract The philopatric and sedentary nature of female Scyliorhinus canicula, its high abundance as a bycatch and resilience to regular exploitation by bottom trawl fisheries and its widespread distribution, make it a potentially good candidate as a biomonitor species. To evaluate this potential, Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) were used to analyse Pb, Cd and Cu in muscle tissue of individuals captured in the Western Mediterranean (Alicante, Spain). A monthly assessment of the concentration of these three analytes was conducted from November 2019 to November 2020 with 300 individuals. Results showed the existence of slightly higher mean concentrations during warmer seasons for Pb and Cd with mean concentrations for Pb and Cu peaking in Autumn 2019 and during Spring 2020 in the case of Cd. Significant differences in analyte concentrations found between non-consecutive months suggested gradual variability in time. Although space-wise, time-persistent concentration hotspots were observed throughout the sample area, the magnitude of these appeared to be variable in time and should be evaluated in future studies.