Polluted porpoises: Generational transfer of organic contaminants in harbour porpoises from the southern North Sea

Heuvel-Greve, M.J. van den; Brink, A.M. van den; Kotterman, M.J.J.; Kwadijk, Christiaan; Geelhoed, S.C.V.; Murphy, Sinéad; Broek, J. van den; Heesterbeek, J.A.P.; Gröne, Andrea; IJsseldijk, Lonneke L.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148936

Cited by 19 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Twelve corpora scars, including one corpus luteum, were counted in the left ovary and none were observed in the right. Tooth examination revealed a 6-year-old female (results taken from van den Heuvel-Greve and colleagues [ 34 ]).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ∑17PCB in blubber was 5.1 mg/kg lipid weight (lw) and 16.8 mg/kg lw in milk, indicative of active offloading through lactation (for details, see van den Heuvel-Greve and colleagues [ 34 ]).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ovaries were fixed and assessed for corpora scars (following Murphy and colleagues [ 32 , 33 ]) with results presented by van den Heuvel-Greve and colleagues [ 34 ]. In short, ovaries were initially examined macroscopically, then serially sectioned at 0.5–2 mm slices and examined under a binocular microscope.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blubber and milk samples were analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as part of a separate study [ 34 ]. Air-exposed parts of the blubber sample were removed and the remaining sample was homogenised.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…∑17PCB is given, based on the most relevant PCB congeners (congener # 47, 49, 52, 101, 105, 118, 128, 138, 149, 151, 153, 156, 170, 180, 187, 194 and 202). For full details, see van den Heuvel-Greve and colleagues [ 34 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

IJsseldijk

Berends

Gröne

et al. 2021

Animals

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Evidence of hearing impairment was identified in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) on the basis of scanning electron microscopy. In addition, based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry, there were signs of unrelated cerebral toxoplasmosis. The six-year old individual live stranded on the Dutch coast at Domburg in 2016 and died a few hours later. The most significant gross lesion was multifocal necrosis and haemorrhage of the cerebrum. Histopathology of the brain revealed extensive necrosis and haemorrhage in the cerebrum with multifocal accumulations of degenerated neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, and perivascular lymphocytic cuffing. The diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis was confirmed by positive staining of protozoa with anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Tachyzoites were not observed histologically in any of the examined tissues. Ultrastructural evaluation of the inner ear revealed evidence of scattered loss of outer hair cells in a 290 µm long segment of the apical turn of the cochlea, and in a focal region of ~ 1.5 mm from the apex of the cochlea, which was compatible with noise-induced hearing loss. This is the first case of concurrent presumptive noise-induced hearing loss and toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging harbour porpoise from the North Sea.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

IJsseldijk

Berends

Gröne

et al. 2021

Animals

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Current species protection does not serve its porpoise—Knowledge gaps on the impact of pressures on the Critically Endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population, and future recommendations for its protection

Koschinski,

Owen,

Lehnert

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Successful management requires information on pressures that threaten a species and areas where conservation actions are needed. The Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population was first listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 2008. Now, 16 years later, there is no change in conservation status despite ample conservation policy calling for its protection and an urgent need for management action to protect this population. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of the population, highlight knowledge gaps on the impact of pressures, and make recommendations for management of anthropogenic activities. Based on an exceeded limit for anthropogenic mortality, the high concentrations of contaminants in the Baltic Sea, combined with reductions in prey availability and increases in underwater noise, it is inferred that this population is likely still decreasing in size and conservation action becomes more urgent. As bycatch and unprotected underwater explosions result in direct mortality, they must be reduced to zero. Inputs of contaminants, waste, and existing and emerging noise sources should be minimised and regulated. Additionally, ecosystem‐based sustainable management of fisheries is paramount in order to ensure prey availability, and maintain a healthy Baltic Sea. Stranding networks to routinely assess individuals for genetic population assignment and health need to be expanded, to identify rare samples from this population. Knowledge is still scarce on the population‐level impact of each threat, along with the cumulative impact of multiple pressures on the population. However, the current knowledge and management instruments are sufficient to apply effective protection for the population now. While bycatch is the main pressure impacting this population, urgent conservation action is needed across all anthropogenic activities. Extinction of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population is a choice: decision‐makers have the fate of this genetically and biologically distinct marine mammal population in their hands.

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Habitat use by iberian harbour porpoises: ecological and human factors

Díaz López,

Methion

2024

Mar Biol

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Polluted porpoises: Generational transfer of organic contaminants in harbour porpoises from the southern North Sea

Cited by 19 publications

References 67 publications

Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Current species protection does not serve its porpoise—Knowledge gaps on the impact of pressures on the Critically Endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population, and future recommendations for its protection

Habitat use by iberian harbour porpoises: ecological and human factors

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