Marine mammals from Northeast Atlantic: relationship between their trophic status as determined by delta C-13 and delta N-15 measurements and their trace metal concentrations
[en] The relationship between trophic position through delta(13)C and delta(15)N and trace metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Cu and Hg) was investigated in the tissues of six marine mammal species from the Northeast Atlantic: striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphin, Delphinus delphis. Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus, harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena, white beaked-dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris, grey seal Halichoerus grypus stranded on French Channel and Irish coasts. White-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, white-sided dolphins, common and striped dolphins display the same relative and decreasing trophic position, as measured by delta(15)N values, along both the Irish and French channel coasts, reflecting conservative trophic habits between these two places. Hepatic and renal Cd concentrations were significantly correlated to muscle delta(13)C and delta(15)N values while Hg, Zn and Cu did not. These results suggest that Cd accumulation is partly linked to the diet while other factors Such as age or body condition might explain Hg, Zn or Cu variability in marine mammals. Combined stable isotope and trace metal analyses appear to be useful tools for the study of marine mammal ecology. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Research Center/Unit :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Mauger, Gérard; Groupe d’Etude des Cétacés du Cotentin(GECC)
Berrow, Simon D; University College Cork > Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology
Rogan, Emer; University College Cork > Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology
Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie - Doyen de la Faculté des Sciences
Language :
English
Title :
Marine mammals from Northeast Atlantic: relationship between their trophic status as determined by delta C-13 and delta N-15 measurements and their trace metal concentrations
Publication date :
2003
Journal title :
Marine Environmental Research
ISSN :
0141-1136
Publisher :
Elsevier Sci Ltd, Oxford, United Kingdom
Volume :
56
Issue :
3
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture BELSPO - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique MAEUEC - Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación CGRI - Commissariat général aux Relations internationales
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