Persistent organic pollutants and stable isotopes in biopsy samples (2004/2006) from Southern Resident killer whales.
"Southern Resident" killer whales include three "pods" (J, K and L) that reside primarily in Puget Sound/Georgia Basin during the spring, summer and fall. This population was listed as "endangered" in the US and Canada following a 20% decline between 1996 and 2001. The current study, using blubber/epidermis biopsy samples, contributes contemporary information about potential factors (i.e., levels of pollutants or changes in diet) that could adversely affect Southern Residents. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes indicated J- and L-pod consumed prey from similar trophic levels in 2004/2006 and also showed no evidence for a large shift in the trophic level of prey consumed by L-pod between 1996 and 2004/2006. Sigma PCBs decreased for Southern Residents biopsied in 2004/2006 compared to 1993-1995. Surprisingly, however, a three-year-old male whale (J39) had the highest concentrations of Sigma PBDEs, Sigma HCHs and HCB. POP ratio differences between J- and L-pod suggested that they occupy different ranges in winter.
Krahn
Margaret M
MM
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA. peggy.krahn@noaa.gov
Hanson
M Bradley
MB
Baird
Robin W
RW
Boyer
Richard H
RH
Burrows
Douglas G
DG
Emmons
Candice K
CK
Ford
John K B
JK
Jones
Linda L
LL
Noren
Dawn P
DP
Ross
Peter S
PS
Schorr
Gregory S
GS
Collier
Tracy K
TK
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D050685:Whale, Killer / Q000502:physiology*
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D008055:Lipids; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls