Age, Region, and Temporal Patterns of Trace Elements Measured in Stranded Harbor Seals (<i>Phoca vitulina richardii</i>) from Washington Inland Waters

Akmajian, Adrianne M.; Calambokidis, John; Uggins, Jessica Lh; Lambourn, Dyanna M.

doi:10.1898/nwn13-26.1

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…While our whisker analyses described THg accumulation in harbour seal pups over time (in utero and postnatally), hair samples from pup, juvenile, and adult age groups help to pinpoint the major factors affecting THg accumulation at different life stages. THg levels in harbour seal pup and juvenile hair were lower (5.3 ± 0.3 lg/g, p = 0.007; 4.5 ± 0.5 lg/g, p = 0.001, respectively) than those reported in adults (8.3 ± 0.8 lg/g), consistent with previous studies (Akmajian et al 2014;Aubail et al 2011;Brookens et al 2007;Skaare et al 1994). An increase of Hg concentrations with age has been attributed to bioaccumulation as well as changes in diet over time.…”

Section: Age Versus Thg In Harbour Seal Hairsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Developing pups may be at particular risk of adverse effects, and they usually have a higher percentage of the toxic MeHg than adults (Akmajian et al 2014;Dehn et al 2005). Previous studies have reported limited ability of young animals to detoxify and demethylate MeHg as demonstrated by 100 % MeHg in the liver of a 4-month-old harbour seal fetus, 65 % in a full-term fetus, and only 5-10 % in adults (Brookens et al 2007).…”

Section: Age Versus Thg In Harbour Seal Hairmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury Accumulation in Harbour Seals from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: The Role of Transplacental Transfer, Lactation, Age and Location

Noël

Jeffries

Lambourn

et al. 2015

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulates in the aquatic food chain in the form of methylmercury, a compound well known for its neurotoxicity. We analyzed total mercury (THg) in hair collected from 209 harbour seals captured at 10 sites in British Columbia (Canada) and Washington State (USA) between 2003 and 2010. In addition, laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) allowed for a highly refined analysis of THg accumulation over time by examining nine whiskers taken from 4- to 6-week-old pups. We estimate that THg concentrations in pups increased sharply at a point corresponding to mid- to late gestation of their time in utero (4.7 ± 0.8 and 6.6 ± 1.3 µg/g dry weight (dw), respectively), and then again at the onset of nursing (8.1 ± 1.3 µg/g dw). These abrupt changes highlight the importance of both pre- and post-natal THg transfer from the mother to the growing fetus and the newborn pup. While THg levels varied among sites, hair analyses from seals collected at the same site demonstrated the influence of age in THg accumulation with pups (5.3 ± 0.3 µg/g) and juveniles (4.5 ± 0.5 µg/g) having lower levels than those in adults (8.3 ± 0.8 µg/g). Our results revealed that 33 % of the pups sampled (n = 167) had THg levels that surpassed a mammalian hair threshold for neurochemical alterations. This study suggests that Hg could represent a health concern to marine wildlife, especially as atmospheric emissions of this toxic element from human activities in the Pacific Rim and worldwide continue.

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Section: Age Versus Thg In Harbour Seal Hairsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Age Versus Thg In Harbour Seal Hairmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Accumulation in Harbour Seals from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: The Role of Transplacental Transfer, Lactation, Age and Location

Noël

Jeffries

Lambourn

et al. 2015

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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“…Heavy metals in the environment may serve as co-selecting agents for antibiotic resistance in human pathogens in reservoirs such as aquatic ecosystems. Heavy metals are not yet quantified in Salish Sea harbor porpoises, but recent studies in regional harbor seals detected significant differences in trace element concentrations among age classes, regions within the Salish Sea, and years sampled [55], and elevated cadmium, copper, and zinc in non-pup seals from the northern vs. southern Salish Sea [56]. Efforts are ongoing to characterize metals in Salish Sea porpoises to inform future antibiotic resistance studies in porpoises.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria in Two Marine Mammal Species, Harbor Seals and Harbor Porpoises, Living in an Urban Marine Ecosystem, the Salish Sea, Washington State, USA

Norman

Lambourn

Huggins

et al. 2021

Oceans

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The pervasive use of antibiotics in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture can result in a significant increase in the spread and environmental persistence of antibiotic resistance in marine ecosystems. This study describes the presence and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Salish Sea harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and evaluates species, age class, and geographic differences in resistance patterns. Isolates from 95 dead-stranded animals (74 seals/21 porpoises) were tested for resistance to a suite of 15 antibiotics. Of the 95 sampled, 85 (89%) (67 seals/18 porpoises) successfully yielded 144 isolates, with 37% resistant to at least one antibiotic and 26% multi-drug resistant (24% and 39% of seal and porpoise isolates, respectively). Overall, and by study region, porpoises were significantly more likely to harbor resistant organisms compared to seals. Significant differences between age classes were noted for the antibiotics amoxicillin, cephalexin, and cefovecin. Overall isolate resistance was significantly greater in porpoises than seals for several individual antibiotics. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices greater than 0.2 were observed in 55% of multi-drug resistant isolates, suggesting seal and porpoise exposure to anthropogenic pollution. The relatively high and disparate prevalence of antibiotic resistance in these common, but ecologically dissimilar, marine mammals reflects a potentially large environmental pool of antibiotic resistant organisms in the Salish Sea or inherently different resistance gene patterns between the two species.

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“…Other contaminants, including metals and trace minerals, have been detected in above normal levels of some stranded harbor porpoises (e.g., calcium, copper, mercury, manganese, selenium, and zinc), though none were considered clinically significant (Huggins et al, 2015). However, trace elements have been identified in Salish Sea harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) and regionally specific contaminant exposure levels were found (Akmajian et al, 2014). Thus, different regions of the Salish Sea likely have varying contaminant loads that could have differential effects on individuals and local marine mammal communities/populations.…”

Section: Knowledge Gaps and Threatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Return of the Salish Sea Harbor Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena: Knowledge Gaps, Current Research, and What We Need to Do to Protect Their Future

Elliser¹,

Hall

2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is one of the most abundant coastal cetacean species in the Northern Hemisphere with differential levels of regional knowledge. Gaps are particularly evident for the Pacific subspecies Phocoena phocoena vomerina. In the Salish Sea (a transboundary body of water spanning between Washington, United States and British Columbia (BC), Canada), there is a dearth of information on many aspects of the biology, ecology, behavior, sociality, and regionally specific threats. Here we present a case study of the Salish Sea harbor porpoise, combining historical and current research, from both BC and Washington, to provide a more holistic view of this species’ status, the knowledge continuum and gaps, risks from identified threats and what current research and collaborations are revealing about this enigmatic species. The Salish Sea harbor porpoise was abundant to the 1940s and 1950s, but by the 1990s their numbers were greatly reduced, and all but absent in some areas. By the early 2000s, numbers had resurged, and harbor porpoise are now once again found throughout much of the Salish Sea. Despite this, studies focused on Salish Sea harbor porpoises have been limited until recently. Current long-term research has been conducted from vessels and land in both Canada and the United States. Multi-faceted work using techniques including photo-identification (photo-ID), behavioral visual observations, acoustics, commercial fishery surveys, sighting reports, citizen science and other ecological data have provided insight into the seasonal variation in density and abundance, site fidelity, reproduction, by-catch rates, foraging and the identification of important habitats that are used intra- and inter-annually in this region. These may represent culturally and biologically significant habitats for Salish Sea harbor porpoise. Collaborations within and outside of the Salish Sea have revealed consistencies and dissimilarities between different communities or populations; indicating that some aspects are more uniform for the species, while others may be community or population specific. The importance of long-term broad and fine-scale research is highlighted, as well as recommendations to further close the knowledge gaps and reduce the known human threats within the Salish Sea.

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Age, Region, and Temporal Patterns of Trace Elements Measured in Stranded Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) from Washington Inland Waters

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

Mercury Accumulation in Harbour Seals from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: The Role of Transplacental Transfer, Lactation, Age and Location

Mercury Accumulation in Harbour Seals from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: The Role of Transplacental Transfer, Lactation, Age and Location

Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria in Two Marine Mammal Species, Harbor Seals and Harbor Porpoises, Living in an Urban Marine Ecosystem, the Salish Sea, Washington State, USA

Return of the Salish Sea Harbor Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena: Knowledge Gaps, Current Research, and What We Need to Do to Protect Their Future

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