EcologyEcologyЭкология0367-05973034-6142The Russian Academy of Sciences69705210.31857/S0367059725040057ArticlesСтатьиResearch ArticleTotal Mercury and Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Content in Polar Bear Hair in the Russian ArcticСодержание общей ртути и стабильных изотопов азота и углерода в шерсти белых медведей Российской АрктикиGremyachikhV. A.ГремячихВ. А.KomovV. T.КомовВ. Т.IvanovE. A.ИвановЕ. А.MordvintsevI. N.МордвинцевИ. Н.NaidenkoS. V.НайденкоС. В.PlatonovN. G.ПлатоновН. Г.MizinI. A.МизинИ. А.IsachenkoA. I.ИсаченкоА. И.LazarevaR. E.ЛазареваР. Е.IvanovaE. S.ИвановаЕ. С.EltsovaL. S.ЕльцоваЛ. С.RozhnovV. V.РожновВ. В.rozhnov-v-2015@yandex.ruPapanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters of the Russian Academy of SciencesИнститут биологии внутренних вод им. И.Д. Папанина РАНCherepovets State UniversityЧереповецкий государственный университетA.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of SciencesИнститут проблем экологии и эволюции им. А.Н. Северцова РАНN.P. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesФедеральный исследовательский центр комплексного изучения Арктики им. академика Н.П. Лаверова УрО РАН“Arctic Research Center”ООО «Арктический Научный Центр»150820254NO4 (2025)№4 (2025)31832626112025Copyright ©; 2025, Russian Academy of SciencesCopyright ©; 2025, Российская академия наук2025Russian Academy of SciencesРоссийская академия наукhttps://transsyst.ru/0367-0597/article/view/697052

The results of studies of the mercury concentrations and stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) in the hair of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) inhabiting the islands of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, Novaya Zemlya archipelago, as well as the Yamal and Taymyr peninsulas are presented. It is shown that the levels of mercury accumulation in the hair of polar bears from the Franz Josef Land archipelago are characterized by values lower (about 2.0 mg/kg) than those in polar bears from the Canadian sector of the Arctic and commensurate with those of animals from Spitsbergen. A significant positive correlation was found between the mercury concentration and stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) values. The minimum concentrations of mercury and isotope values (δ15N and δ13C) in the hair of bears from Yuzhny Island (Novaya Zemlya) may be a consequence of increased content of non-marine food in their diet rather than a result of climate change. The recorded mercury concentrations in the hair of bears indicate the absence of a threat to animal health.

Приведены результаты исследований содержания ртути и стабильных изотопов азота и углерода (δ15Nи δ13C) в шерсти белых медведей (Ursusmaritimus), обитающих в районе островов архипелага Земля Франца-Иосифа, архипелага Новая Земля, а также полуостровов Ямал и Таймыр. Показано, что уровни накопления ртути в шерсти белого медведя с архипелага Земля Франца-Иосифа меньшие (около 2.0 мг/кг), чем у белых медведей из канадского сектора Арктики, и соизмеримы с показателями животных с архипелага Шпицберген. Установлена значимая положительная корреляция между содержанием ртути и стабильных изотопов. Минимальное содержание ртути и изотопов (δ15Nи δ13C) в шерсти медведей с о-ва Южный (Новая Земля) может быть результатом не изменений климата, а следствием повышенного содержания в их рационе пищи неморского происхождения.Концентрации ртути, зарегистрированные в шерсти белых медведей, свидетельствуют об отсутствии угрозы здоровью животных.

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