Post-mortem Findings in Harbour Porpoises ( ) from the German North and Baltic Seas

Siebert, Ursula; Wünschmann, Arno; Weiß, R.; Frank, Herman Conrad; Benke, Harald; Frese, K.

doi:10.1053/jcpa.2000.0436

Cited by 184 publications

(247 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The very high concentrations found in serum of the two porpoises (one from a rehabilitation centre, one found stranded), both suffering from emaciation and lung pneumonia, were considered to be a reflection of the depletion of the blubber. These conditions, however, are more exceptional than general (Siebert et al, 2001) and can be seen relatively easy for harbour porpoises as these animals develop a 'neck' after a few days without feeding (Kastelein et al, 1997). So far, biomonitoring of PCBs and PBDEs was mainly done in blubber of marine mammals.…”

Section: Blood As Biomonitoring Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations of chlorinated and brominated contaminants and their metabolites in serum of harbour seals and harbour porpoises

Weijs

Das

Siebert³

et al. 2009

Environment International

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Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are top predators in the North Sea and consequently accumulate a variety of pollutants in their tissues. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their hydroxylated metabolites (HO-PCBs and HO-PBDEs) were measured in serum of wild harbour seals (n = 47) and captive harbour porpoises (n = 21). Both species exhibit long life spans and do not have extreme situations, such as complete fasting during periods of lactation, in their annual cycles. For PCBs, concentrations in adult males were slightly higher than in juveniles and lowest in juvenile females. For PBDEs, juveniles have higher levels than adult males and females, probably as a consequence of lactational transfer. However, differences between these age-gender groups were not statistical significant, indicating that individual variation was limited within each species, even without knowing the feeding status of the animals. Body condition, particularly emaciation, has a major influence on the levels of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in serum. Profiles of PCBs were CB 153 N CB 138 N CB 187 N CB 180 and CB 153 N CB 138 N CB 149 N CB 187 N CB 180 for harbour seals and porpoises respectively. For PBDEs, BDE 47 was the predominant congener followed by BDE 100 and 99 in both species. In harbour seals, concentrations of sum PCBs (median: 39,200 pg/ml) were more than 200 times higher than levels of sum PBDEs (median: 130 pg/ml) and almost 10 times higher than concentrations of sum HO-PCBs (4350 pg/ml). In harbour porpoises, concentrations of sum PCBs (median: 24,300 pg/ml) were about 20 times higher than concentrations of PBDEs (median: 1300 pg/ml). HO-PCBs were detected in only 4 harbour porpoises and this at very low concentrations. Naturally-produced MeOPBDEs were only found in harbour porpoises at concentrations ranging from 120 to 810 pg/ml. HO-PBDEs were not found in any species. In general, harbour seals accumulate less compounds and have mostly lower concentrations than harbour porpoises possibly as a result of a better developed metabolism.

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Section: Blood As Biomonitoring Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations of chlorinated and brominated contaminants and their metabolites in serum of harbour seals and harbour porpoises

Weijs

Das

Siebert³

et al. 2009

Environment International

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“…Any attempt to swallow a food item too large to pass around the larynx could result in the larynx becoming dislodged and/or the food item becoming wedged in the throat. Either of these scenarios would be lethal, probably due to asphyxiation resulting from the dislodged larynx, and such fatalities are occasionally recorded in wild odontocete cetaceans (e.g., Siebert et al, 2001). As a result, odontocetes have evolved an asymmetrically placed larynx and unequal-sized piriform sinuses, thereby allowing them to swallow larger prey along the larger lateral food channel and reducing the risk of prey becoming lodged around the larynx with fatal consequences for the cetacean (Reidenberg and Laitman, 1994).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Breaking symmetry: The marine environment, prey size, and the evolution of asymmetry in cetacean skulls

MacLeod

Reidenberg

Weller

et al. 2007

The Anatomical Record

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Skulls of odontocetes (toothed whales, including dolphins and porpoises) are typified by directional asymmetry, particularly in elements associated with the airway. Generally, it is assumed this asymmetry is related to biosonar production. However, skull asymmetry may actually be a by-product of selection pressure for an asymmetrically positioned larynx. The odontocete larynx traverses the pharynx and is held permanently in place by a ring of muscle. This allows prey swallowing while remaining underwater without risking water entering the lungs and causing injury or death. However, protrusion of the larynx through the pharynx causes a restriction around which prey must pass to reach the stomach. The larynx and associated hyoid apparatus has, therefore, been shifted to the left to provide a larger right piriform sinus (lateral pharyngeal food channel) for swallowing larger prey items. This asymmetry is reflected in the skull, particularly the dorsal openings of the nares. It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between prey size and skull asymmetry. This relationship was examined in 13 species of odontocete cetaceans from the northeast Atlantic, including four narrow-gaped genera (Mesoplodon, Ziphius, Hyperoodon, and Kogia) and eight wide-gaped genera (Phocoena, Delphinus, Stenella, Lagenorhynchus, Tursiops, Grampus, Globicephala, and Orcinus). Skulls were examined from 183 specimens to assess asymmetry of the anterior choanae. Stomach contents were examined from 294 specimens to assess prey size. Results show there is a significant positive relationship between maximum relative prey size consumed and average asymmetry relative to skull size in odontocete species (wide-gape species: R 2 ¼ 0.642, P ¼ 0.006; narrow-gape species: R 2 ¼ 0.909, P ¼ 0.031).

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“…Post-mortem investigations were done according to a standard protocol (Kuiken and Hartmann, 1993). Details concerning necropsy, body condition and lesions of the respiratory tract and parasite load have been published previously (Siebert et al, 1999(Siebert et al, , 2001). Samples were stored at )20°C until further analyses.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Baseline study of perfluorochemicals in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Northern Europe

Vijver

Hoff

Das

et al. 2004

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Post-mortem Findings in Harbour Porpoises ( ) from the German North and Baltic Seas

Cited by 184 publications

References 26 publications

Concentrations of chlorinated and brominated contaminants and their metabolites in serum of harbour seals and harbour porpoises

Concentrations of chlorinated and brominated contaminants and their metabolites in serum of harbour seals and harbour porpoises

Breaking symmetry: The marine environment, prey size, and the evolution of asymmetry in cetacean skulls

Baseline study of perfluorochemicals in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Northern Europe

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