Differences in blood haptoglobin and length-mass relationships in river otters (Lutra canadensis) from oiled and nonoiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Significant differences in levels of blood haptoglobin occurred between river otters (Lutra canadensis) inhabiting oiled (mean = 361 mg/100 ml, SD = 38, n = 6) and nonoiled (mean = 306 mg/100 ml, SD = 87, n = 8) areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA) following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Additionally, male river otters from oiled areas had significantly lower body mass (1.13 kg) than male otters from nonoiled areas. We propose oil-related causes for these differences.
Duffy
L K
LK
Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks 99775.
Bowyer
R T
RT
Testa
J W
JW
Faro
J B
JB
D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010041:Otters / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000097:blood*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D006242:Haptoglobins; D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical