title: Bioaccumulation of PCBs in a Wild North American Felid.
abstract: Organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are of global concern due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulative potential, and adverse effects on humans and wildlife. We investigated the concentrations of PCBs in the liver tissues of bobcats (Lynx rufus) sampled in Illinois during 2013. Concentrations of ∑PCBs ranged from 76.4 to 3782 ng/g lw (median 562.97 ng/g lw). Male bobcats had significantly greater concentrations of PCBs than females (p = 0.04). Ours is one of the first studies to report PCBs in a wild North American felid. We suggest that bobcats can be used as a suitable bioindicator species to monitor organohalogen contamination in terrestrial ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA. esmarie.boyles@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Esmarie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3492-3933
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boyles
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Forestry, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
authors.forename: Clayton K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D046008:Lynx / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009656:North America; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Bioindicator; Bobcat; Carnivore; Organohalogen; Polychlorinated biphenyl; Terrestrial