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Use of chemical tracers to assess diet and persistent organic pollutants in Antarctic Type C killer whales
Margaret M. Krahn,
Robert L. Pitman,
Douglas G. Burrows,
David P. Herman,
Ronald W. Pearce,
Margaret M. Krahn
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRobert L. Pitman
NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorDouglas G. Burrows
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorDavid P. Herman
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorRonald W. Pearce
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorMargaret M. Krahn,
Robert L. Pitman,
Douglas G. Burrows,
David P. Herman,
Ronald W. Pearce,
Margaret M. Krahn
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRobert L. Pitman
NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorDouglas G. Burrows
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorDavid P. Herman
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorRonald W. Pearce
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washington 98112, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Measuring chemical tracers in tissues of marine predators provides insight into the prey consumed and the predator's contaminant exposure. In this study, samples from Type C killer whales (Orcinus orca) biopsied in Antarctica were analyzed for chemical tracers (i.e., stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, fatty acids, and persistent organic pollutants [POPs]). Profiles of these individual tracers were very different from those of killer whale populations that have been studied in the eastern North and eastern Tropical Pacific. For example, δ13C and δ15N stable isotope values and most POP concentrations were significantly lower in the Antarctic population. In addition, multivariate statistical analyses of both fatty acid and POP profiles found distinctly different patterns for Antarctic Type C whales compared to those from whales in the other populations. Similar assays were conducted on four species of Antarctic marine fish considered potential prey for Type C killer whales. Results were consistent with a diet of fish for Type C whales, but other species (e.g., low trophic-level marine mammals or penguins) could not be eliminated as supplemental prey.
Supporting Information
Appendix S1. Fatty acid compositionsa,b (weight percent) of individual Antarctic Type C killer whales and selected Antarctic putative prey analyzed as part of this study.
Appendix S2. Persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrationsa,b for Antarctic Type C killer whale biopsy and possible prey samples.
Please note: Blackwell Publishing are not responsible for the content or functionality of any supplementary materials supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing material) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| MMS_213_sm_AppendixS1.xls89 KB | Supporting info item |
| MMS_213_sm_AppendixS2.xls70 KB | Supporting info item |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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