title: Trace elements in skin of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) from the northern waters of Japan: an evaluation for utilization as non-lethal tracers.
abstract: Concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Mo, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ag, Pb, Sr and V were determined in skins of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dali) of the Pacific coast truei-type population (PT population) (N = 45), and the Sea of Japan-Okhotsk dalli-type population (JD population) (N = 31) from the northern waters of Japan. Cutaneous Hg concentrations in both PT and JD populations were significantly correlated with age, indicating a possible alternative method of age estimation. A significant correlation was also noted between Hg concentrations in skin and liver, suggesting that biopsy samples of skin can provide a non-lethal surrogate for monitoring Hg contamination in this species. Trace element accumulation patterns differed strongly between PT and JD populations, when analyzed by principal component analysis, suggesting these patterns could be utilized as non-lethal tracers of population identification.
authors.affiliation: Otsuchi Marine Research Center, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Iwate, Japan. yang@wakame.ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunito
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007564:Japan; D019576:Porpoises; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014131:Trace Elements; D014873:Water Pollutants