Biological and ecological factors related to trace element levels in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from European waters

Virginie Lahaye (1, 2) , Paco Bustamante (1, 3) , Robin Law (4) , J. Learmonth (2) , Maria Begoña Santos (2) , Jan P. Boon (5) , Emer Rogan (6) , Willy Dabin (7) , Marian Addink (8) , Alfredo Lopez (9) , Alan F. Zuur (10) , Graham J. Pierce (2) , Florence Caurant (1, 3)

1 CRELA - Centre de Recherche sur les Ecosystèmes Littoraux Anthropisés
2 Department of Zoology
3 LIENSs - LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés
4 The Centre for Environment
5 NIOZ - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
6 Aquaculture Development Centre
7 CRMM - Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins
8 Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum
9 CEMMA - Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños
10 Highland Statistics

Selected trace elements (Cd, Cu, Hg, Se, Zn) were measured in the kidneys and the liver of 104 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded along the coasts of France, Galicia (Spain), Ireland, Scotland (UK), and the Netherlands. Generally, relatively low concentrations of toxic elements were encountered in the tissues of European porpoises, except for two individuals, which displayed high hepatic Hg concentrations. Also, elevated Cd levels obtained in Scottish porpoises could be related to their feeding preferences and this result suggests an increase of the proportion of cephalopods in their diet with latitude. Moreover, significant geographical differences were seen in hepatic Zn concentrations; the elevated Zn concentrations displayed by porpoises from the Netherlands may relate their poor health status. Variation in metal concentrations within porpoises from the North Sea is likely to reflect a long-term segregation between animals from northern (Scotland) and southern areas (the Netherlands), making trace elements powerful ecological tracers.

Mots clés: heavy metals; mercury; cadmium; zinc; marine mammals; age; diet; multivariate analysis; tracers

Domaines: Ecotoxicologie

Virginie Lahaye, Paco Bustamante, Robin Law, J. Learmonth, Maria Begoña Santos, et al.. Biological and ecological factors related to trace element levels in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from European waters. Marine Environmental Research, 2007, 64 (3), pp.247-266. ⟨10.1016/j.marenvres.2007.01.005⟩. ⟨hal-00501906v1⟩