Publication Abstract

Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from western European seas: geographical trends, causal factors and effects on reproduction and mortality

Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from western European seas: consequences for reproduction, geographical trends and effects of age, maturation and diet

G.J. Pierce, M.B. Santos, S. Murphy, J.A. Learmonth, A.F. Zuur, E. Rogan, P. Bustamante, F. Caurant, V. Lahaye, V. Ridoux, B.N. Zegers, A. Mets, M. Addink, C. Smeenk, T. Jauniaux, R.J. Law , W. Dabin, A. López, A.F. González, A. Guerra, M. García-Hartmann,R.J. Reid, C.F. Moffat, C. Lockyer and J.P. Boon

 Concentrations of PCBs in the blubber of female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from five regions along the Atlantic coast of Europe, sampled from stranded animals during 2001-03 were frequently above the level at which effects on reproduction might be expected, particularly in harbour porpoises from the southern North Sea and common dolphins from the French Atlantic coast. High PCB concentrations were also measured in fish from the southern North Sea. The highest levels of HBCDs were seen Irish animals. These trends remained apparent after correcting for the age and maturity profile of the sampled animals. Despite higher PCB concentrations in their blubber, the pregnancy rate in common dolphins from the French Atlantic coast appeared to be no lower than off Ireland. In contrast, the pregnancy rate in porpoise from the southern North Sea was unusually low.

POP concentrations in common dolphins were clearly related to individual feeding history as proxied by the fatty acid composition of the inner blubber layer. Pregnant females of both species tended to have lower POP burdens than other mature females. Mature common dolphins that were not pregnant tended to have high numbers of corpora albicantia in their ovaries as well as high POP burdens, suggesting that some females ovulate repeatedly without conceiving, which may be due either to social exclusion or POP-mediated reproductive failure.

Reference

G.J. Pierce, M.B. Santos, S. Murphy, J.A. Learmonth, A.F. Zuur, E. Rogan, P. Bustamante, F. Caurant, V. Lahaye, V. Ridoux, B.N. Zegers, A. Mets, M. Addink, C. Smeenk, T. Jauniaux, R.J. Law *, W. Dabin, A. López, A.F. González, A. Guerra, M. García-Hartmann,R.J. Reid, C.F. Moffat, C. Lockyer and J.P. Boon (not yet published). Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from western European seas: consequences for reproduction, geographical trends and effects of age, maturation and diet.  Environmental Pollution

G.J. Pierce, M.B. Santos, S. Murphy, J.A. Learmonth, A.F. Zuur, E. Rogan, P. Bustamante, F. Caurant, V. Lahaye, V. Ridoux, B.N. Zegers, A. Mets, M. Addink, C. Smeenk, T. Jauniaux, R.J. Law * et al

Environmental Pollution 153; 401-415