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Contaminant Exposure in Marine Foraging River Otters

Contaminant Exposure in Marine Foraging River Otters. Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference 2011 Cait Nelson, Dan Guertin, Kim Cheng, John Elliott. Background. To investigate the effects of persistent organic pollutants on top predator wildlife species. Why is this important? Bioaccumulation

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Contaminant Exposure in Marine Foraging River Otters

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  1. Contaminant Exposure in Marine Foraging River Otters Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference 2011 Cait Nelson, Dan Guertin, Kim Cheng, John Elliott

  2. Background To investigate the effects of persistent organic pollutants on top predator wildlife species Why is this important? Bioaccumulation Physiological Effects Population Declines...

  3. Coastal River Otters Lontra canadensis

  4. Why study river otters? • Relatively small home ranges • Do not hibernate or migrate • Exposed to pollutants year round • Finer scale contamination

  5. Biological Monitor • Top Predator of Marine Based Food WebBioaccumulation of Toxins • Sentinel Species for Ecosystem HealthMaintain System Stability • Mustelids are sensitive to pollution Mink sensitivity to PCBs

  6. How To Study River Otters? Non-Invasive Scat Sampling Jared Hobbs Communal Latrine Site

  7. Previous Research Elliott et al. 2008

  8. Latrine = sampling unit Pooled sample for analysis Fresh feces at latrine

  9. RESULTS: PCBs in feces (geomean & range) 67.6 108.4 22.2 38.2 14.9 14 12 10 Critical Level (9 mg/kg lw) 8 ΣPCB concentration (mg/kg lw) 6 No Effect Level (4 mg/kg lw) 4 2 0 Vic Esq Non-hb Esq Nan Vic Vic Pow R. Cow Clay Cmx Van (4) (4) (5) (5) (2) (5) (7) (7) (7) (18) (9) (35) (1998) (2006) (2004)

  10. Guertin Thesis Individual-based Approach • Fecal DNA Genotyping Molecular fingerprints 2. Track Contaminant levels 3. Basic Spatial Data Jared Hobbs

  11. Study Area Victoria, BC

  12. Fecal DNA Genotyping • 49 individuals identified • 28 resampled • Population Estimate: 57 OttersBased on Mark-Recapture modeling Jared Hobbs Guertin et al. 2010

  13. ΣPCBs in otter faeces Critical level: > 9 mg/kg lw No effect level: < 4 mg/kg lw Victoria, BC 7.1 Vic Hb 0.2 6 weeks Guertin et al. 2010

  14. ΣPCBs in otter faeces Critical level: > 9 mg/kg lw No effect level: < 4 mg/kg lw 6.8 Victoria, BC 13.4 6 weeks Guertin et al. 2010

  15. Population Structuring 12, 13, 14 09 26, 29 22 22 Oak Bay 25, 26, 27, 27, 28, 46 42 25 22 22 15, 19, 20 09, 27, 45 Harbours 17 08, 35 Esq Hb 22 05 08, 08, 36, 37 36 01, 25, 36 17, 17, 21, 23 34 08 Esq Lgn Cluster 2 (OB) 21 otters (2 visited Vic Hb) Cluster 1 (CW/HB) 28 otters (20 visited Vic Hb) 07 Vic Hb 10, 11, 11, 11, 19 06 24 02, 08, 08, 16, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20, 20, 20, 20, 21, 23, 23, 23, 23, 38, 39, 40, 41 Colwood 01, 05, 06, 07, 30 24 08 02 24, 24, 35 04, 10 25, 43, 44 02, 03 47, 49 47 34, 21 33 47, 48 33 31, 31 33 32 32, 32 Guertin et al. JWM (Accepted) 48

  16. Guertin Thesis Summary • High individual exposure to PCBs throughout Vic Hb system. • Fecal PCB levels can vary with movement & landscape use. • Impact of PCB contamination extends beyond Vic Hb boundaries

  17. Current Research in Victoria Evaluate Reliability of Scat Data • Spatial Patterns, Radio Tracking • Population Genetics • [PCB] in fat, blood, feces and prey Effects of Contaminant Exposure • Hormones

  18. Radio Telemetry • 12 Adult Otters (5F, 7M)20 % of Population • Tagged with VHF transmitters • Track for 12+ months • Home Range: 5 km of Coastline

  19. 12 ADULT RIVER OTTERS 5 FEMALES, 7 MALES AVERAGE RANGE: 5.0 km of Coastline (Male: 5.3, Female 4.5)

  20. Potential Physiological Effects Hormones • Blood • Feces Stress Thyroid Reproduction

  21. Non-invasive Techniques Management Implications • We can learn so much from scat • Can apply to other species • Biological monitors

  22. Thank You! Co-Supervisors: John Elliott Kim Cheng Dr. Helen Schwantje Daniel Guertin

  23. Questions ??? Email: cait.nelson@gov.bc.ca

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