Trace element concentrations in the Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) in central and northern California

Brookens, Tiffini; O’Hara, Todd M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.10.006

Cited by 69 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 118 publications

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“…This suggests that a high Hg transfer through the placenta occurred. As reported in previous studies (Brookens et al, 2007;Dorea, 2004), the placenta plays a greater role in Hg transfer to offspring than does milk. This high Hg transfer during gestation raises the question of how Hg exposure affects the offspring during its most sensitive period of development.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Accessible samples from free-ranging marine mammals are generally limited to blood, fur/hair, skin biopsies, saliva, and feces (Andrade et al, 2007;Fossi and Marsili, 1997;Griesel et al, 2008;Stavros et al, 2008a). Blood from free-ranging marine mammals has become increasingly used in determining baseline levels of trace elements (Brookens et al, 2007;Bryan et al, 2007;Das et al, 2008;Gray et al, 2008;Griesel et al, 2008;Kakuschke et al, 2005;Nielsen et al, 2000;Stavros et al, 2008a;Woshner et al, 2008). Their concentrations found in blood may be useful in comparing contaminant exposure to humans and other mammals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blood dynamics of mercury and selenium in northern elephant seals during the lactation period

Habran

Debier

Crocker

et al. 2011

Environmental Pollution

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a b s t r a c tThe effects of reproduction and maternal investment (i.e., milk transfer) on trace element levels remain poorly understood in marine mammals. We examined the blood dynamics of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) during lactation in the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), a top predator from the North Pacific Ocean. Total Hg and Se levels were measured in whole blood and milk of 10 motherepup pairs on days 5 and 22 of lactation. Both Hg and Se were transferred to offspring through the milk. Results suggested that the maternal transfer of Se was prominent during lactation, whereas the Hg transfer was larger during gestation. The lactation period affected Hg and Se levels in the blood of elephant seal mothers and pups. Physiological processes and their relationship to body condition should be considered carefully when interpreting trace element levels in the framework of biomonitoring.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood dynamics of mercury and selenium in northern elephant seals during the lactation period

Habran

Debier

Crocker

et al. 2011

Environmental Pollution

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“…As previously stated, California sea lion excrement has ∼0.80 μg·g −1 HgT dry wt. (8), a substantial percentage of which is assumed to be MeHg (22). Presumably, there was also a considerable input of Hg to nearshore waters from the degradation of molted lanugo, or natal coat, shed by newborn elephant seal The even greater (∼17-fold) enrichment of MeHg in seawater at Año Nuevo during the M. angustirostris molting season (0.28-9.5 pM) was remarkable and exceeded the range of surface water MeHg concentrations observed in the highly urbanized San Francisco Bay estuary (<0.05-2.3 pM) (18).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury offloaded in Northern elephant seal hair affects coastal seawater surrounding rookery

Cossaboon

Ganguli

Flegal

2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that is biomagnified approximately 1-10 million-fold in aquatic carnivores such as the Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), whose excreta and molted pelage, in turn, constitute a source of environmental MeHg contamination at the base of marine food chains. The potential for this top-down contamination is greatest in coastal areas with productive marine ecosystems that provide ideal habitats for large marine mammal colonies that can number in the thousands. This recycling of MeHg was evidenced by comparing total mercury (HgT) and MeHg concentrations in seawater, and HgT in molted pelage of M. angustirostris, at the Año Nuevo State Reserve pinniped rookery with concentrations at neighboring coastal sites in Central California. Seawater MeHg concentrations around the rookery (average = 2.5 pM) were markedly higher than those at the comparison coastal sites (average = 0.30 pM), and were as high as 9.5 pM during the M. angustirostris molting season. As a consequence, excreta and molts from this marine mammal colony, and presumably other marine predator populations, constitute a major source of MeHg at the base of the local marine food chain. mercury | biogeochemistry | marine mammals | biomagnification | environmental toxicology

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“…For comparison, Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) living in the polluted waters of San Francisco Bay had blood mercury concentrations that increased with age in pups (0.09360.023 ppm), juveniles (0.2846 0.026 ppm), and adults (0.30260.023 ppm; Brookens et al, 2007). Blood concentrations of mercury reflect both dietary intake and long-term accumulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Health Assessment of Western Pacific Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea) Foraging Off the Coast of California, 2005–2007

Harris

Benson

Gilardi

et al. 2011

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Trace element concentrations in the Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) in central and northern California

Cited by 69 publications

References 118 publications

Blood dynamics of mercury and selenium in northern elephant seals during the lactation period

Blood dynamics of mercury and selenium in northern elephant seals during the lactation period

Mercury offloaded in Northern elephant seal hair affects coastal seawater surrounding rookery

Comparative Health Assessment of Western Pacific Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea) Foraging Off the Coast of California, 2005–2007

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