A modelling-based perspective on the past, present, and future polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of the St. Lawrence beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population

Individual- and population-based models were used to assess accumulation of PCBs in beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River from 1950 to the present and to predict future trends. Dietary PCB exposure histories are reconstructed from reported data and sediment core PCB profiles. Model results for age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 2000, Vol.57 (S1), p.101-112
Main Authors: HICKIE, B. E, KINGSLEY, M. C. S, HODSON, P. V, MUIR, D. C. G, BELAND, P, MACKAY, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anguilla rostrata
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Canada
Cetacea
Delphinapterus leucas
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Mammalia
Marine
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Water pollution
Whales & whaling
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Description
Summary:Individual- and population-based models were used to assess accumulation of PCBs in beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River from 1950 to the present and to predict future trends. Dietary PCB exposure histories are reconstructed from reported data and sediment core PCB profiles. Model results for age, growth, sex, and reproductive activity influences on PCB levels in belugas are in good agreement with observed patterns when migrating American eels are included as 3% of the annual beluga diet in the models. Beluga PCB levels peaked between 1967 and 1972, and have been declining slowly since then.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/cjfas-57-S1-101