Comparison Between Mean Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Male and Female Cane Rats (thryonomys Swinderianus) in Gyawana Ecosystem, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Many terrestrial ecosystems which include wild populations of small mammals are usually contaminated with potentially toxic trace elements from the accumulation of agricultural pesticide, fertilizers, industrial effluents and wastes disposal. This study was carried out in Gyawana ecosystem, Adamawa State, Nigeria, for a period of twelve months (December 2017 to November, 2018). A total of four hundred and eighty (480) male and female adult cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) were used, to compare the concentration of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in male and female T. swinderianus. The T. swinderianus were dissected separately to obtain the organs and flesh. The samples were dried at 105oC and digested with tri-acid mixture (HNO3: HCO4: H2SO4). Determination of the heavy metals was done using a Buck Scientific 200A Model, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The result shows that, the mean concentrations of As (0.032±0.000mg/g) and Cd (0.306±0.004mg/g) was the same in both male and female T. swinderianus respectively, but higher mean concentration of Co, Cu, Pb and Zn was found in female (0.282±0.004mg/g, 18.827±0.050mg/g, 0.493±0.007mg/g and 8.395±0.098mg/g)Respectively, than male rats (0.0281±0.004mg/g, 17.757±0.049Mg/g, 0.364±0.004mg/g and 8.377±0.098mg/g) respectively, even though there was no significant difference since (p < 0.05). Ni was significantly higher in male rats (0.040±0.001mg/g) than the females (0.036±0.0001mg/g), p ˃0.05. In conclusion the heavy metal concentrations in male and female T. swinderianus sampled, female had higher concentrations level of most of the heavy metals studied with exception of arsenic which has the same mean concentration in male and female. The concentration level of nickel was higher in male than female, while chromium was not dictated in both sexes. Both male and female cane rats (T. swinderianus) of Gyawana Ecosystem are safe for consumption since the concentration level were within the permissible limit. Regular monitoring of heavy metals in Gyawana ecosystem should be carried out to ascertain the level of toxicants in wild populations of small mammals.