Temporal Baseline of Essential and Non-essential Elements Recorded in Baleen of Western Arctic Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Authors

Samantha Shore, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Dimitri Giarikos, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Lawrence K. Duffy, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Mickie Rae Edwards, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Amy Hirons, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-12-2021

Publication Title

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Keywords

Elements, Metals, Bowhead whale, Baleen, Arctic, SECLER

ISSN

0007-4861

Abstract

This study established the first baseline of changing elemental concentrations in bowhead whale baleen over time (1958–1999). From previously published stable isotope data, year, season (summer or winter), and location (Beaufort or Bering/Chukchi seas) were attributed to each sample. Thirteen elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn) in baleen from nine subsistence-harvested bowhead whales (n = 138) were detected. Al, Cu, and Fe were the highest concentrations while Cd and V were among the lowest. Our data supports absorption as the main route of exposure to environmental elements rather than biomagnification due to bowhead whales’ low trophic position. A linear mixed-effects model confirmed most elements’ concentrations increased with time, while location and sex were insignificant explanatory factors. These temporal fluctuations were most likely a product of environmental changes due to a warming climate and human activities.

Comments

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (PDF 413 kb)

Additional Comments

This project was supported by Nova Southeastern University’s President’s Faculty Research and Development Grant to the authors. We thank Dr. Matthew Wooller, Norma Haubenstock, and Tim Howe at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Stable Isotope Facility for access to Schell’s samples and sub-sampling assistance. Additional thanks are extended to Dr. Alan Shiller and Melissa Gilbert at the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Trace Analysis.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

NSUWorks Citation

Samantha Shore, Dimitri Giarikos, Lawrence K. Duffy, Mickie Rae Edwards, and Amy Hirons. 2021. Temporal Baseline of Essential and Non-essential Elements Recorded in Baleen of Western Arctic Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) .Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology . https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/1230.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-4383-7076

DOI

10.1007/s00128-021-03394-2