Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting
Southern hemisphere humpback whales undertake the longest migrations and associated periods of fasting of any mammal. Fluctuations in lipid energy stores are known to profoundly affect the toxicokinetics of lipophilic organochlorine compound (OC) burdens. Results from blubber biopsy sampling of adul...
Published in: | Environmental Science & Technology |
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Language: | English |
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American Chemical Society
2013
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Online Access: | https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:310733 |
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ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:310733 2023-05-15T13:49:28+02:00 Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting Nash, Susan M. Bengtson Waugh, Courtney A. Schlabach, Martin 2013-08-01 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:310733 eng eng American Chemical Society doi:10.1021/es401441n issn:0013-936X issn:1520-5851 orcid:0000-0001-5234-4137 Not set Metabolic concentration Lipid soluble organochlorine Humpback whales 1600 Chemistry 2304 Environmental Chemistry Journal Article 2013 ftunivqespace https://doi.org/10.1021/es401441n 2020-12-15T00:28:01Z Southern hemisphere humpback whales undertake the longest migrations and associated periods of fasting of any mammal. Fluctuations in lipid energy stores are known to profoundly affect the toxicokinetics of lipophilic organochlorine compound (OC) burdens. Results from blubber biopsy sampling of adult, male humpback whales at two time points of the annual migration journey revealed dramatic concentration effects for the majority of OC compounds. The observed concentration effect was, however, not linear with measured average blubber lipid loss indicating significant redistribution of OCs and hence the importance of alternate lipid depots for meeting the energetic demands of the migration journey. Applying lipophilic OC burdens as novel tracers of whole-body lipid dynamics, the observed average concentration index suggests an average individual weight loss of 13% over 4 months of the migration journey. This value is based upon lipid derived energy and is in good agreement with previous weight prediction formulas. Notably, however, these estimates may greatly underestimate individual weight loss if significant protein catabolism occurs. Biomagnification factors between migrating southern hemisphere humpback whales and their principal prey item, Antarctic krill, closely resembled those of baleen whales feeding on herbivorous zooplankton in the Arctic. This study emphasizes the importance of considering prolonged periods of food deprivation when assessing chemical risks posed to wildlife. This is of particular importance for Polar biota adapted to extremes in ecosystem productivity. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Arctic baleen whales Zooplankton The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace Antarctic Arctic Environmental Science & Technology 47 16 9404 9413 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftunivqespace |
language |
English |
topic |
Metabolic concentration Lipid soluble organochlorine Humpback whales 1600 Chemistry 2304 Environmental Chemistry |
spellingShingle |
Metabolic concentration Lipid soluble organochlorine Humpback whales 1600 Chemistry 2304 Environmental Chemistry Nash, Susan M. Bengtson Waugh, Courtney A. Schlabach, Martin Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
topic_facet |
Metabolic concentration Lipid soluble organochlorine Humpback whales 1600 Chemistry 2304 Environmental Chemistry |
description |
Southern hemisphere humpback whales undertake the longest migrations and associated periods of fasting of any mammal. Fluctuations in lipid energy stores are known to profoundly affect the toxicokinetics of lipophilic organochlorine compound (OC) burdens. Results from blubber biopsy sampling of adult, male humpback whales at two time points of the annual migration journey revealed dramatic concentration effects for the majority of OC compounds. The observed concentration effect was, however, not linear with measured average blubber lipid loss indicating significant redistribution of OCs and hence the importance of alternate lipid depots for meeting the energetic demands of the migration journey. Applying lipophilic OC burdens as novel tracers of whole-body lipid dynamics, the observed average concentration index suggests an average individual weight loss of 13% over 4 months of the migration journey. This value is based upon lipid derived energy and is in good agreement with previous weight prediction formulas. Notably, however, these estimates may greatly underestimate individual weight loss if significant protein catabolism occurs. Biomagnification factors between migrating southern hemisphere humpback whales and their principal prey item, Antarctic krill, closely resembled those of baleen whales feeding on herbivorous zooplankton in the Arctic. This study emphasizes the importance of considering prolonged periods of food deprivation when assessing chemical risks posed to wildlife. This is of particular importance for Polar biota adapted to extremes in ecosystem productivity. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nash, Susan M. Bengtson Waugh, Courtney A. Schlabach, Martin |
author_facet |
Nash, Susan M. Bengtson Waugh, Courtney A. Schlabach, Martin |
author_sort |
Nash, Susan M. Bengtson |
title |
Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
title_short |
Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
title_full |
Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
title_fullStr |
Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
title_full_unstemmed |
Metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
title_sort |
metabolic concentration of lipid soluble organochlorine burdens in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales through migration and fasting |
publisher |
American Chemical Society |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:310733 |
geographic |
Antarctic Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Arctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Arctic baleen whales Zooplankton |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Arctic baleen whales Zooplankton |
op_relation |
doi:10.1021/es401441n issn:0013-936X issn:1520-5851 orcid:0000-0001-5234-4137 Not set |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1021/es401441n |
container_title |
Environmental Science & Technology |
container_volume |
47 |
container_issue |
16 |
container_start_page |
9404 |
op_container_end_page |
9413 |
_version_ |
1766251417321865216 |