No full text
Unpublished conference/Abstract (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Trace metals in the harbour porpoise from the North Sea and adjacent areas: relationship with stable isotope measurements, the nutritional status, lesions of the respiratory system and parasitism.
Das, Krishna; Siebert, Ursula; Fontaine, Michaël et al.
200317th conference of the European Cetacean Society
 

Files


Full Text
No document available.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
Phocoena phocoena; trace elements; marine mammals
Abstract :
[en] Growing concern has been raised about the status and the long-term viability of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the North Sea and adjacent areas. Sources of trace metal variations were investigated using a multidisciplinary approach. Porpoises from the Belgian coasts were compared to individuals from the German North Sea and Baltic coasts, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Toxicological results (Hg, Zn, Cu, Cd and Se) were confronted to most common pathological findings, namely emaciation, lesions of the respiratory system or parasitism. Influence of diet through stable carbon and nitrogen analysis (d13C and d15N), age and sex have also been considered. As expected, the nutritional status of stranded harbour porpoise from the Southern North Sea is poor compared to by-caught individuals from Norway and Iceland, as reflected by their blubber thickness, weight to length ratio and hepatic to total body mass ratio. The porpoises collected along the Southern North Sea coast display higher Zn and Hg concentrations compared to individuals collected in more preserved areas from the North Atlantic. Moreover, significant Zn, Hg and Se levels were observed with increasing emaciation severity. Porpoises displaying severe bronchopneumonia also have higher Zn concentrations probably due to the association previously described of emaciation and bronchopneumonia. Hg is clearly linked to parasitism. These increasing concentrations are not related to a shrinking of liver mass as it remains unchanged during the emaciation. As a result, hepatic trace metal load increases also. These observations tend to indicate a general redistribution of heavy metals within the organs (muscles to livers), which results from protein catabolism. Such a re-distribution could well be an additional stress for porpoises already experiencing stressful conditions (organochlorines, etc…). In contrast, Cu and Cd were never associated to emaciation. Other parameters such as age class or diet are more likely to be involved.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Das, Krishna  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Siebert, Ursula
Fontaine, Michaël
Jauniaux, Thierry ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Département de morphologie et pathologie
Holsbeek, Ludo
Tolley, K.
Vikingsson, G.
Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Language :
English
Title :
Trace metals in the harbour porpoise from the North Sea and adjacent areas: relationship with stable isotope measurements, the nutritional status, lesions of the respiratory system and parasitism.
Publication date :
2003
Event name :
17th conference of the European Cetacean Society
Event organizer :
European Cetacean Society
Event place :
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Event date :
9-12 mars 2003
Audience :
International
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
BELSPO - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique [BE]
Marie-Curie Fellowships
Available on ORBi :
since 21 September 2010

Statistics


Number of views
80 (4 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
0 (0 by ULiège)

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi