title: Alaskan marine mammal tissue archival project.
abstract: A project to establish an archive of Alaskan marine mammal tissues was conceived in 1987 to be a part of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (NBSB). Protocols and field collection of marine mammals, long-term storage, and analysis are summarized in this paper. Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used for an initial evaluation of trace element content in samples of northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) from the Pribilof Islands. The findings agree with previously observed trace element levels in northern fur seals. The archived specimens can be used in future studies when comparison of past and present pollution levels are needed.
authors.affiliation: Ocean Assessments Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Anchorage, Alaska 99513.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeisler
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D008322:Mammals; D008386:Marine Biology; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D046048:Seals, Earless; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements