Toxic contaminants and other chemical tracers in Pacific herring and Pacific salmon provide insights into prey preferences and foraging habitat of southern resident killer whales
Presentation Abstract
Knowledge of the foraging habitats and diets of endangered marine species is necessary to define and protect their critical habitat, but such information is often lacking, especially for highly mobile species. Stable isotopes and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can be used as chemical tracers to infer foraging habitats and diet preferences of marine species. Stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon are often used to infer trophic levels and inshore/offshore foraging habitats of marine species, while the relative concentrations classes of POPs can reflect time foraging in marine regions with distinct chemical inputs. In this study we used a combination of POPs and stable isotopes as chemical tracers to compare foraging habitats and marine distribution of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) along the west coast of North America, and to infer diet preferences of southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). The relative abundance of four POP classes in herring and salmon populations provided unique chemical fingerprints associated with their marine distribution and exposure to contaminated prey. For example, we observed relatively high levels of DDTs in Pacific herring and Chinook salmon populations originating from California that migrate and feed northward off the coast of California and Oregon, reflecting greater use of DDT pesticide in that region. We used an analysis of the POP and stable isotope patterns among herring, salmon, and whale populations to describe the relative distribution of these species in their foraging habitats and to evaluate prey preferences of three pods of southern resident killer whales.
Session Title
General contaminant toxicology in aquatic and terrestrial species
Conference Track
Fate and Effects of Pollutants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Tracers (Chemistry); Marine animals--Food--Effect of pollution on--Pacific Coast (America)
Geographic Coverage
Pacific Coast (America); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Toxic contaminants and other chemical tracers in Pacific herring and Pacific salmon provide insights into prey preferences and foraging habitat of southern resident killer whales
2016SSEC
Knowledge of the foraging habitats and diets of endangered marine species is necessary to define and protect their critical habitat, but such information is often lacking, especially for highly mobile species. Stable isotopes and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can be used as chemical tracers to infer foraging habitats and diet preferences of marine species. Stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon are often used to infer trophic levels and inshore/offshore foraging habitats of marine species, while the relative concentrations classes of POPs can reflect time foraging in marine regions with distinct chemical inputs. In this study we used a combination of POPs and stable isotopes as chemical tracers to compare foraging habitats and marine distribution of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) along the west coast of North America, and to infer diet preferences of southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). The relative abundance of four POP classes in herring and salmon populations provided unique chemical fingerprints associated with their marine distribution and exposure to contaminated prey. For example, we observed relatively high levels of DDTs in Pacific herring and Chinook salmon populations originating from California that migrate and feed northward off the coast of California and Oregon, reflecting greater use of DDT pesticide in that region. We used an analysis of the POP and stable isotope patterns among herring, salmon, and whale populations to describe the relative distribution of these species in their foraging habitats and to evaluate prey preferences of three pods of southern resident killer whales.
