Age, Region, and Temporal Patterns of Trace Elements Measured in Stranded Harbor Seals (phoca Vitulina Richardii) from Washington Inland Waters
نویسندگان
چکیده
We measured concentrations of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), and zinc (Zn) in liver from Harbor Seals (n 5 31) stranded dead in the inland waters of Washington State between 2004 and 2007. Results were compared by age class and region, and to results from past studies. Significant differences in concentration were detected among age classes, regions, and years. Adult seals (.3 y old) from this study had significantly higher concentrations of As, Cd, THg, MeHg, Ni, Se, and Ag than neonate pups. Seals from the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (SJF) had significantly higher concentrations of As, MeHg, Se, and Ag than seals from the southern Puget Sound (SPS). When pooled with past studies, significant age and regional differences were detected for Zn and Cu, respectively, where Zn decreased with age and Cu was higher in SJF than SPS seals. Lead was significantly lower in seals from the present study compared to past studies. Examining the concentrations of both essential and non-essential trace elements indicates that Harbor Seal tissues can be useful in detecting regional and temporal trends in contaminants.
منابع مشابه
Heavy Metals and Trace Elements in Northwest Atlantic Harbor Seals In 2000, MERI launched Seals As Sentinels: Assessing the Impacts of Toxic Contaminants in Northwest Atlantic Seals
MERI began collaborating with the Northeast Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network in 2001 to respond to stranded marine mammals in the downeast and mid-coast Maine area and to collect tissues for contaminants research. Through this collaboration, MERI initially collected tissues from 34 stranded harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) and 3 gray seals (Halichoerus gryphus), primarily pups and y...
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