Environmental Toxicology

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Natural exposure of coastal river otters to mercury: Relation to age, diet, and survival

  1. Merav Ben-David1,*,
  2. Lawrence K. Duffy1,2,
  3. Gail M. Blundell3,4,
  4. R. Terry Bowyer1,3

Article first published online: 3 NOV 2009

DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620200917

Issue

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Volume 20, Issue 9, pages 1986–1992, September 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ben-David, M., Duffy, L. K., Blundell, G. M. and Bowyer, R. T. (2001), Natural exposure of coastal river otters to mercury: Relation to age, diet, and survival. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20: 1986–1992. doi: 10.1002/etc.5620200917

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775–7000, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775–7000, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775–7000, USA

  4. 4

    Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775–7000, USA

*Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775–7000, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 NOV 2009
  2. Article first published online: 3 NOV 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 19 JAN 2001
  4. Manuscript Received: 6 JUL 2000

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Keywords:

  • Alaska;
  • Freshwater;
  • Intertidal fishes;
  • Lontra canadensis;
  • Stable isotopes

Abstract

We evaluated effects of location (i.e., Jackpot Bay, a naturally contaminated site, and Herring Bay, reference site), diet as determined by stable isotopes, and age on mercury concentrations in individual river otters (Lontra canadensis) from Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. We also investigated the effects of mercury accumulation on survival of river otters from these two locations. Our results indicated that mercury concentrations in fishes from Jackpot Bay were significantly higher than those in fishes from Herring Bay and those in pelagic fishes. In addition, a predominant intertidal fish diet in both areas influenced the accumulation of mercury concentrations in otters. Concentrations of mercury in fur of river otters from Jackpot Bay were significantly higher than those of animals from Herring Bay. Nonetheless, we did not detect significant differences in survival between otters inhabiting the two areas, suggesting that this natural contamination was not high enough to impair survival. Our ability to investigate the effects of various factors such as location, diet composition, and age on mercury accumulation and subsequent survival of individuals offers an example for a link between individual-based captive studies and population-level field investigations.

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