title: Spatial variation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in coastal British Columbia.
abstract: Barrow's goldeneyes are sea ducks that winter throughout coastal British Columbia (BC). Their diet consists primarily of intertidal blue mussels, which can accumulate PAHs; accordingly, goldeneyes may be susceptible to exposure through contaminated prey. In 2014/15, we examined total PAH concentrations in mussels from undeveloped and developed coastal areas of BC. At those same sites, we used EROD to measure hepatic CYP1A induction in goldeneyes. We found higher mussel PAH concentrations at developed coastal sites. Regionally, goldeneyes from southern BC, which has relatively higher coastal development, had higher EROD activity compared to birds from northern BC. Our results suggest goldeneyes wintering in coastal BC were exposed to PAHs through diet, with higher exposure among birds wintering in coastal areas with greater anthropogenic influence. These results suggest the mussel-goldeneye system is suitable as a natural, multi-trophic-level indicator of contemporary hydrocarbon contamination occurrence and exposure useful for establishing oil spill recovery endpoints.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: megan.willie@stantec.com.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willie
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. Electronic address: desler@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Esler
authors.affiliation: Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada. Electronic address: sean.boyd@canada.ca.
authors.forename: W Sean
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Stantec Consulting Ltd., 2042 Mills Rd W, Sidney, BC V8L 5X4, Canada. Electronic address: philip.molloy@stantec.com.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: ydenberg@sfu.ca.
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ydenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001955:British Columbia; D004032:Diet; D004372:Ducks; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D020387:Food Chain; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D062206:Spatial Analysis
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Biomarker; British Columbia; Bucephala islandica; CYP1A; Hydrocarbon; Mussel