1
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Andvik C, Jourdain E, Borgen A, Lyche JL, Karoliussen R, Haug T, Borgå K. Intercorrelations of Chlorinated Paraffins, Dechloranes, and Legacy Persistent Organic Pollutants in 10 Species of Marine Mammals from Norway, in Light of Dietary Niche. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:14797-14811. [PMID: 39120259 PMCID: PMC11339914 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Short-, medium-, and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (CPs) (SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs) and dechloranes are chemicals of emerging concern; however, little is known of their bioaccumulative potential compared to legacy contaminants in marine mammals. Here, we analyzed SCCPs, MCCPs, LCCPs, 7 dechloranes, 4 emerging brominated flame retardants, and 64 legacy contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in the blubber of 46 individual marine mammals, representing 10 species, from Norway. Dietary niche was modeled based on stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon in the skin/muscle to assess the contaminant accumulation in relation to diet. SCCPs and dechlorane-602 were strongly positively correlated with legacy contaminants and highest in killer (Orcinus orca) and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales (median SCCPs: 160 ng/g lw; 230 ng/g lw and median dechlorane-602: 3.8 ng/g lw; 2.0 ng/g lw, respectively). In contrast, MCCPs and LCCPs were only weakly correlated to recalcitrant legacy contaminants and were highest in common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata; median MCCPs: 480 ng/g lw and LCCPs: 240 ng/g lw). The total contaminant load in all species was dominated by PCBs and legacy chlorinated pesticides (63-98%), and MCCPs dominated the total CP load (42-68%, except 11% in the long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas). Surprisingly, we found no relation between contaminant concentrations and dietary niche, suggesting that other large species differences may be masking effects of diet such as lifespan or biotransformation and elimination capacities. CP and dechlorane concentrations were higher than in other marine mammals from the (sub)Arctic, and they were present in a killer whale neonate, indicating bioaccumulative properties and a potential for maternal transfer in these predominantly unregulated chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Andvik
- Department
of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Pb 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
| | - Eve Jourdain
- Department
of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Pb 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
- Norwegian
Orca Survey, Breivikveien 10, Andenes NO-8480, Norway
| | - Anders Borgen
- Department
of Environmental Chemistry, NILU: The Climate
and Environmental Research Institute, Pb 100, Kjeller NO-2027, Norway
| | - Jan Ludvig Lyche
- Department
of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian
University of Life Sciences, Pb 5003, Ås NO-1432, Norway
| | | | - Tore Haug
- Institute
of Marine Research, Fram Centre, Pb 6606 Stakkevollan, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Department
of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Pb 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
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2
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Garroway CJ, de Greef E, Lefort KJ, Thorstensen MJ, Foote AD, Matthews CJD, Higdon JW, Kucheravy CE, Petersen SD, Rosing-Asvid A, Ugarte F, Dietz R, Ferguson SH. Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17352. [PMID: 38822670 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The Arctic is the fastest-warming region on the planet, and the lengthening ice-free season is opening Arctic waters to sub-Arctic species such as the killer whale (Orcinus orca). As apex predators, killer whales can cause significant ecosystem-scale changes. Setting conservation priorities for killer whales and their Arctic prey species requires knowledge of their evolutionary history and demographic trajectory. Using whole-genome resequencing of 24 killer whales sampled in the northwest Atlantic, we first explored the population structure and demographic history of Arctic killer whales. To better understand the broader geographic relationship of these Arctic killer whales to other populations, we compared them to a globally sampled dataset. Finally, we assessed threats to Arctic killer whales due to anthropogenic harvest by reviewing the peer-reviewed and gray literature. We found that there are two highly genetically distinct, non-interbreeding populations of killer whales using the eastern Canadian Arctic. These populations appear to be as genetically different from each other as are ecotypes described elsewhere in the killer whale range; however, our data cannot speak to ecological differences between these populations. One population is newly identified as globally genetically distinct, and the second is genetically similar to individuals sampled from Greenland. The effective sizes of both populations recently declined, and both appear vulnerable to inbreeding and reduced adaptive potential. Our survey of human-caused mortalities suggests that harvest poses an ongoing threat to both populations. The dynamic Arctic environment complicates conservation and management efforts, with killer whales adding top-down pressure on Arctic food webs crucial to northern communities' social and economic well-being. While killer whales represent a conservation priority, they also complicate decisions surrounding wildlife conservation and resource management in the Arctic amid the effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Garroway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Evelien de Greef
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kyle J Lefort
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Matt J Thorstensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Andrew D Foote
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jeff W Higdon
- Higdon Wildlife Consulting, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Caila E Kucheravy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Stephen D Petersen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Conservation and Research Department, Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | | | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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3
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Andvik C, Bories P, Harju M, Borgå K, Jourdain E, Karoliussen R, Rikardsen A, Routti H, Blévin P. Phthalate contamination in marine mammals off the Norwegian coast. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115936. [PMID: 38154171 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are used in plastics, found throughout the marine environment and have the potential to cause adverse health effects. In the present study, we quantified blubber concentrations of 11 phthalates in 16 samples from stranded and/or free-living marine mammals from the Norwegian coast: the killer whale (Orcinus orca), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Five compounds were detected across all samples: benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP; in 50 % of samples), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP; 33 %), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP; 33 %), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP; 19 %), and dioctyl phthalate (DOP; 13 %). Overall, the most contaminated individual was the white-beaked dolphin, whilst the lowest concentrations were measured in the killer whale, sperm whale and long-finned pilot whale. We found no phthalates in the neonate killer whale. The present study is important for future monitoring and management of these toxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Andvik
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Pierre Bories
- INRS, Eau Terre Environnement center, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Mikael Harju
- The Climate and Environmental Research Institute NILU, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Eve Jourdain
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Orca Survey, Andenes, Norway
| | | | - Audun Rikardsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT -The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
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4
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Remili A, Dietz R, Sonne C, Samarra FIP, Letcher RJ, Rikardsen AH, Ferguson SH, Watt CA, Matthews CJD, Kiszka JJ, Rosing-Asvid A, McKinney MA. Varying Diet Composition Causes Striking Differences in Legacy and Emerging Contaminant Concentrations in Killer Whales across the North Atlantic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:16109-16120. [PMID: 37818957 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) tend to biomagnify in food chains, resulting in higher concentrations in species such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) feeding on marine mammals compared to those consuming fish. Advancements in dietary studies include the use of quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and differentiation of feeding habits within and between populations of North Atlantic (NA) killer whales. This comprehensive study assessed the concentrations of legacy and emerging POPs in 162 killer whales from across the NA. We report significantly higher mean levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and flame retardants in Western NA killer whales compared to those of Eastern NA conspecifics. Mean ∑PCBs ranged from ∼100 mg/kg lipid weight (lw) in the Western NA (Canadian Arctic, Eastern Canada) to ∼50 mg/kg lw in the mid-NA (Greenland, Iceland) to ∼10 mg/kg lw in the Eastern NA (Norway, Faroe Islands). The observed variations in contaminant levels were strongly correlated with diet composition across locations (inferred from QFASA), emphasizing that diet and not environmental variation in contaminant concentrations among locations is crucial in assessing contaminant-associated health risks in killer whales. These findings highlight the urgency for implementing enhanced measures to safely dispose of POP-contaminated waste, prevent further environmental contamination, and mitigate the release of newer and potentially harmful contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Remili
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark
| | - Filipa I P Samarra
- University of Iceland, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Reykjavík 600169-2039, Iceland
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Audun H Rikardsen
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), N-9296 Tromso, Norway
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida 33181, United States
| | | | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
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5
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Alstrup AKO, Thøstesen CB, Hansen KA, Sonne C, Kinze CC, Mikkelsen L, Thomsen A, Povlsen P, Larsen HL, Linder AC, Pagh S. The Self-Stranding Behavior of a Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) in Inner Danish Waters and Considerations concerning Human Interference in Live Strandings. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1948. [PMID: 37370458 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rescue attempts of stranded whales and euthanasia considerations must include condition assessments of the individual involved, but this is challenged by our insufficient knowledge about the health statuses of these whales. Here, we describe three separate strandings of a young male killer whale (Orcinus orca) in shallow Danish waters during 2021-2022. During the first two stranding events, the whale exhibited remarkable behavior and, after refloating attempts and several kilometers of swimming, it returned to shallow water. This suggests that it actively chose to be in this shallow water, perhaps to ensure free airways and respiration. During the last stranding, it stayed in shallow water for 30 days, during which, euthanasia was considered due to its seemingly worsened condition, including a collapsed dorsal fin. However, suddenly, the whale swam away and, a year later, he was seen alive, confirming that euthanasia would have been the wrong decision. This case raises an important question as to when and under what circumstances active human interventions, such as refloating attempts, should be launched and when euthanasia should be carried out. Every stranding is unique and decisions should be based on thorough considerations of the animal's health and the chance of a successful rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Kirstin Anderson Hansen
- Fjord & Bælt, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Peter Povlsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Hanne Lyngholm Larsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anne Cathrine Linder
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sussie Pagh
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
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6
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Wilder AP, Supple MA, Subramanian A, Mudide A, Swofford R, Serres-Armero A, Steiner C, Koepfli KP, Genereux DP, Karlsson EK, Lindblad-Toh K, Marques-Bonet T, Munoz Fuentes V, Foley K, Meyer WK, Consortium Z, Ryder OA, Shapiro B. The contribution of historical processes to contemporary extinction risk in placental mammals. Science 2023; 380:eabn5856. [PMID: 37104572 PMCID: PMC10184782 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn5856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Species persistence can be influenced by the amount, type, and distribution of diversity across the genome, suggesting a potential relationship between historical demography and resilience. In this study, we surveyed genetic variation across single genomes of 240 mammals that compose the Zoonomia alignment to evaluate how historical effective population size (Ne) affects heterozygosity and deleterious genetic load and how these factors may contribute to extinction risk. We find that species with smaller historical Ne carry a proportionally larger burden of deleterious alleles owing to long-term accumulation and fixation of genetic load and have a higher risk of extinction. This suggests that historical demography can inform contemporary resilience. Models that included genomic data were predictive of species' conservation status, suggesting that, in the absence of adequate census or ecological data, genomic information may provide an initial risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryn P. Wilder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Megan A Supple
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | | | - Ross Swofford
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Aitor Serres-Armero
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Cynthia Steiner
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University; Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park; Washington, DC, 30008, USA
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University; St. Petersburg, 197101, Russia
| | | | - Elinor K. Karlsson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University; Uppsala, 751 32, Sweden
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; Barcelona, 08003, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies; Barcelona, 08010, Spain
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology; Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Barcelona, 08193, Spain
| | - Violeta Munoz Fuentes
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus; Hinxton, UK
| | - Kathleen Foley
- College of Law, University of Iowa; Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Lehigh University, Biological Sciences; Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Wynn K. Meyer
- Lehigh University, Biological Sciences; Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | | | - Oliver A. Ryder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; Escondido, CA 92027, USA
- Department of Evolution, Behavior and Ecology, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA 92039 USA
| | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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7
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Bjørneset J, Blévin P, Bjørnstad PM, Dalmo RA, Goksøyr A, Harju M, Limonta G, Panti C, Rikardsen AH, Sundaram AYM, Yadetie F, Routti H. Establishment of killer whale (Orcinus orca) primary fibroblast cell cultures and their transcriptomic responses to pollutant exposure. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107915. [PMID: 37031518 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Populations of killer whale (Orcinus orca) contain some of the most polluted animals on Earth. Yet, the knowledge on effects of chemical pollutants is limited in this species. Cell cultures and in vitro exposure experiments are pertinent tools to study effects of pollutants in free-ranging marine mammals. To investigate transcriptional responses to pollutants in killer whale cells, we collected skin biopsies of killer whales from the Northern Norwegian fjords and successfully established primary fibroblast cell cultures from the dermis of 4 out of 5 of them. Cells from the individual with the highest cell yield were exposed to three different concentrations of a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that reflects the composition of the 10 most abundant POPs found in Norwegian killer whales (p,p'-DDE, trans-nonachlor, PCB52, 99, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 187). Transcriptional responses of 13 selected target genes were studied using digital droplet PCR, and whole transcriptome responses were investigated utilizing RNA sequencing. Among the target genes analysed, CYP1A1 was significantly downregulated in the cells exposed to medium (11.6 µM) and high (116 µM) concentrations of the pollutant mixture, while seven genes involved in endocrine functions showed a non-significant tendency to be upregulated at the highest exposure concentration. Bioinformatic analyses of RNA-seq data indicated that 13 and 43 genes were differentially expressed in the cells exposed to low and high concentrations of the mixture, respectively, in comparison to solvent control. Subsequent pathway and functional analyses of the differentially expressed genes indicated that the enriched pathways were mainly related to lipid metabolism, myogenesis and glucocorticoid receptor regulation. The current study results support previous correlative studies and provide cause-effect relationships, which is highly relevant for chemical and environmental management.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bjørneset
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - P Blévin
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - R A Dalmo
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - A Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - M Harju
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - C Panti
- University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - A H Rikardsen
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - F Yadetie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - H Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway.
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8
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Andvik C, Haug T, Lyche JL, Borgå K. Emerging and legacy contaminants in common minke whale from the Barents sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 319:121001. [PMID: 36610650 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including brominated flame retardants (BFRs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals, can accumulate in marine mammals and be transferred to offspring. In this study, we analyzed 64 lipophilic POPs, including four emerging BFRs, in the blubber, liver and muscle of 17 adult common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from the Barents Sea to investigate occurrence and tissue partitioning. In addition, the placental transfer concentration ratios of 14 PFAS and 17 metals were quantified in the muscle of nine female-fetus pairs to investigate placental transfer. Legacy lipophilic POPs were the dominating compound group in every tissue, and we observed generally lower levels compared to previous studies from 1992 to 2001. We detected the emerging BFRs hexabromobenzene (HBB) and pentabromotoluene (PBT), but in low levels compared to the legacy POPs. We detected nine PFAS, and levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were higher than detected from the same population in 2011, whilst levels of Hg were comparable to 2011. Levels of lipophilic contaminants were higher in blubber compared to muscle and liver on both a wet weight and lipid adjusted basis, but tissue partitioning of the emerging BFRs could not be determined due to the high number of samples below the limit of detection. The highest muscle ΣPFAS levels were quantified in fetuses (23 ± 8.7 ng/g ww), followed by adult males (7.2 ± 2.0 ng/gg ww) and adult females (4.5 ± 1.1 ng/g ww), showing substantial placental transfer from mother to fetus. In contrast, Hg levels in the fetus were lower than the mother. Levels were under thresholds for risk of health effects in the whales. This study is the first to report occurrence and placental transfer of emerging contaminants in common minke whales from the Barents Sea, contributing valuable new data on pollutant levels in Arctic wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Andvik
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tore Haug
- Institute of Marine Research, Fram Centre, PO Box 6606, Stakkevollan, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jan L Lyche
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.
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9
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Remili A, Letcher RJ, Samarra FIP, Dietz R, Sonne C, Desforges JP, Víkingsson G, Blair D, McKinney MA. Individual Prey Specialization Drives PCBs in Icelandic Killer Whales. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:4923-4931. [PMID: 33760582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Interindividual variation in prey specialization is an essential yet overlooked aspect of wildlife feeding ecology, especially as it relates to intrapopulation variation in exposure to toxic contaminants. Here, we assessed blubber concentrations of an extensive suite of persistent organic pollutants in Icelandic killer whales (Orcinus orca). Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in blubber were >300-fold higher in the most contaminated individual relative to the least contaminated, ranging from 1.3 to 428.6 mg·kg-1 lw. Mean PCB concentrations were 6-to-9-fold greater in individuals with a mixed diet including marine mammals than in fish specialist individuals, whereas males showed PCB concentrations 4-fold higher than females. Given PCBs have been identified as potentially impacting killer whale population growth, and levels in mixed feeders specifically exceeded known thresholds, the ecology of individuals must be recognized to accurately forecast how contaminants may threaten the long-term persistence of the world's ultimate marine predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Remili
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3 V9, Canada
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Filipa I P Samarra
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 202 Hafnarfjörđur, Iceland
- University of Iceland, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3 V9, Canada
| | - Gislí Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 202 Hafnarfjörđur, Iceland
| | - David Blair
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3 V9, Canada
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Distributions of Arctic and Northwest Atlantic killer whales inferred from oxygen isotopes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6739. [PMID: 33762671 PMCID: PMC7990931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86272-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are distributed widely in all oceans, although they are most common in coastal waters of temperate and high-latitude regions. The species' distribution has not been fully described in the northwest Atlantic (NWA), where killer whales move into seasonally ice-free waters of the eastern Canadian Arctic (ECA) and occur year-round off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador farther south. We measured stable oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in dentine phosphate (δ18OP) and structural carbonate (δ18OSC, δ13CSC) of whole teeth and annual growth layers from killer whales that stranded in the ECA (n = 11) and NWA (n = 7). Source δ18O of marine water (δ18Omarine) at location of origin was estimated from dentine δ18OP values, and then compared with predicted isoscape values to assign individual distributions. Dentine δ18OP values were also assessed against those of other known-origin North Atlantic odontocetes for spatial reference. Most ECA and NWA killer whales had mean δ18OP and estimated δ18Omarine values consistent with 18O-depleted, high-latitude waters north of the Gulf Stream, above which a marked decrease in baseline δ18O values occurs. Several individuals, however, had relatively high values that reflected origins in 18O-enriched, low-latitude waters below this boundary. Within-tooth δ18OSC ranges on the order of 1-2‰ indicated interannual variation in distribution. Different distributions inferred from oxygen isotopes suggest there is not a single killer whale population distributed across the northwest Atlantic, and corroborate dietary and morphological differences of purported ecotypes in the region.
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Jourdain E, Andvik C, Karoliussen R, Ruus A, Vongraven D, Borgå K. Isotopic niche differs between seal and fish-eating killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in northern Norway. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4115-4127. [PMID: 32489635 PMCID: PMC7244801 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecological diversity has been reported for killer whales (Orcinus orca) throughout the North Atlantic but patterns of prey specialization have remained poorly understood. We quantify interindividual dietary variations in killer whales (n = 38) sampled throughout the year in 2017-2018 in northern Norway using stable isotopic nitrogen (δ15N: 15N/14N) and carbon (δ13C: 13C/12C) ratios. A Gaussian mixture model assigned sampled individuals to three differentiated clusters, characterized by disparate nonoverlapping isotopic niches, that were consistent with predatory field observations: seal-eaters, herring-eaters, and lumpfish-eaters. Seal-eaters showed higher δ15N values (mean ± SD: 12.6 ± 0.3‰, range = 12.3-13.2‰, n = 10) compared to herring-eaters (mean ± SD: 11.7 ± 0.2‰, range = 11.4-11.9‰, n = 19) and lumpfish-eaters (mean ± SD: 11.6 ± 0.2‰, range = 11.3-11.9, n = 9). Elevated δ15N values for seal-eaters, regardless of sampling season, confirmed feeding at high trophic levels throughout the year. However, a wide isotopic niche and low measured δ15N values in the seal-eaters, compared to that of whales that would eat solely seals (δN-measured = 12.6 vs. δN-expected = 15.5), indicated a diverse diet that includes both fish and mammal prey. A narrow niche for killer whales sampled at herring and lumpfish seasonal grounds supported seasonal prey specialization reflective of local peaks in prey abundance for the two fish-eating groups. Our results, thus, show differences in prey specialization within this killer whale population in Norway and that the episodic observations of killer whales feeding on prey other than fish are a consistent behavior, as reflected in different isotopic niches between seal and fish-eating individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clare Andvik
- Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Anders Ruus
- Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Institute for Water ResearchOsloNorway
| | | | - Katrine Borgå
- Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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