Organochlorine accumulation and stable isotope ratios in an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) population from the Baltic Sea.
We investigated the organochlorine accumulation (p,p'-DDE and sigmaPCB) and stable isotope ratios (N and C) in a migrating salmon (Salmo salar) population in the Baltic Sea. delta15N in the entire population ranged from 11.7 to 13.7 per thousand and delta13C ranged from -22.0 to - 19.6 per thousand. In the entire population, delta15N were weakly related to p,p'-DDE and sigmaPCB concentrations (r2 = 0.20 and 0.14, respectively). However, lipid content was a better predictor of organochlorine (OC) concentrations (r2 = 0.48 and 0.50, respectively). Lipid adjusted sigmaPCB concentrations were not related to delta15N, and lipid adjusted p,p'-DDE concentrations were only weakly related (r2 = 0.12). We divided the salmon population into three groups representing reproductive strategies: small males < 5 kg (SM); large males > 5 kg (LM); and females (F). delta15N varied between the three reproductive strategies. The mean delta15N for SM was 12.7+/-0.3 per thousand, for F was 12.9+/-0.3 per thousand, and for LM equalled 13.2+/-0.3 per thousand. Lipid adjusted OC concentrations differed between the three reproductive strategies, with the females having the highest concentrations. We conclude that the delta15N varied between reproductive strategies indicating differences in prey choice, but the lipid content was better able to predict OC concentrations than the trophic position of the salmon.
Berglund
O
O
Chemical Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Ecology, Lund University, Sweden. Olof.Berglund@ecotox.lu.se
Larsson
P
P
Broman
D
D
D000818:Animals; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004032:Diet; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007554:Isotopes; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012098:Reproduction; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D007554:Isotopes; D008055:Lipids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls