Elevated trace element concentrations and standard metabolic rate in banded water snakes (Nerodia fasciata) exposed to coal combustion wastes

Trace element concentrations in banded water snakes, Nerodia fasciata, and representative prey items from a site polluted by coal combustion wastes we re compared with concentrations in conspecifics from a nearby reference sit e. Water snakes accumulated high concentrations of trace elements, especial ly arsenic (As) and selenium (Se), in the polluted habitat. In addition to being exposed to contaminants in water and sediments, snakes in the pollute d site are exposed to contaminants by ingesting prey items that have elevat ed whole-body concentrations of trace elements, including As, cadmium (Cd), and Se. Snakes from the polluted site exhibited mean standard metabolic ra tes (SMR) 32% higher than snakes from the reference site. As a result, snak es from the polluted site appear to have elevated allocation of energy to m aintenance and theoretically should have less energy available for growth, reproduction, and storage. Our findings are consistent with physiological r esponses recently documented in other organisms from the polluted site. We hypothesize that long-term exposure to coal ash-derived trace elements and the resultant accumulation of some elements are responsible for observed in creases in SMR.