title: Linking pollutant exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean to their feeding habits and feeding areas off Antarctica.
abstract: Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, breeding off la Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) undergo large-scale seasonal migrations between summer feeding grounds near Antarctica and their reproductive winter grounds in the Indian Ocean. The main scope of the current study was to investigate chemical exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean by providing the first published data on this breeding stock concerning persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). Analyses of stable isotopes δ13C and δ15N in skin resulted in further insight in their feeding ecology, which was in agreement with a diet focused mainly on low trophic level prey species, such as krill from Antarctica. POPs were measured in all humpback whales in the order of HCB > DDTs > CHLs > HCHs > PCBs > PBDEs > MeO-BDEs. HCB (median: 24 ng g-1lw) and DDTs (median: 7.7 ng g-1lw) were the predominant compounds in all whale biopsies. Among DDT compounds, p,p'-DDE was the major organohalogenated pollutant, reflecting its long-term accumulation in humpback whales. Significantly lower concentrations of HCB and DDTs were found in females than in males (p < 0.001). Other compounds were similar between the two genders (p > 0.05). Differences in the HCB and DDTs suggested gender-specific transfer of some compounds to the offspring. POP concentrations were lower than previously reported results for humpback whales sampled near the Antarctic Peninsula, suggesting potential influence of their nutritional status and may indicate different exposures of the whales according to their feeding zones. Further investigations are required to assess exposure of southern humpback whales throughout their feeding zones.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Oceanology-MARE, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium. Electronic address: krishna.das@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Govindan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malarvannan
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Alin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirtu
authors.affiliation: Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 30 Chemin Parc Cabris, Grand Bois, 97 410 Saint Pierre, Reunion.
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dulau
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Oceanology-MARE, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Oceanology-MARE, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lepoint
authors.affiliation: BNOI-ONCFS, Parc de la Providence, 97400 Saint-Denis, Reunion.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mongin
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D050640:Humpback Whale; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Baleen whale; Indian Ocean; Persistent organic pollutants; Reunion Island; Stable isotopes