First Report on the Elemental Composition of the Bigeye Thresher Shark Alopias superciliosus Lowe, 1841 from the Mediterranean Sea

Cartilaginous fish species have ecological importance. Besides, the ecotoxicological studies on these are pretty insufficient. In this study, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cd, and Sr levels were determined in muscle, liver, gill, kidney, spleen, stomach, gonad tissues of Alopias superciliosus (Female, 240 cm TL) caught from Mersin Bay. Tissue metal analysis was by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). A statistical difference found among terms metals. Fe to be highest level all (pGill>Spleen>Gonad>Kidney>Stomach>Muscle. Zn detected at higher liver stomach As other after Fe. Al has mainly gills. The tissue Cu same order lowest as Liver>Gonad>Kidney>Spleen≥ Stomach>Gill>Muscle. gonad, kidney than tissues. Cd Pb examined Liver 57.37 µg g-1 dw. Except for Mn low Cr distinction between investigated elements changed depending functional differences metabolisms.