Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae )
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as toxic lipophilic organochlorine (OC) compounds, accumulate in the blubber tissue of marine mammals. Toxicological sampling methods most frequently target only the superficial blubber layer. Vertical distribution of these contaminants through the blubber...
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2014
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24315760 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118613 |
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:118613 2023-05-15T16:36:05+02:00 Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Schlabach, M Noad, M Nash, SB 2014 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24315760 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118613 en eng Elsevier Sci Ltd http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 Waugh, CA and Nichols, PD and Schlabach, M and Noad, M and Nash, SB, Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), Marine Environmental Research, 94 pp. 24-31. ISSN 0141-1136 (2014) [Refereed Article] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24315760 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118613 Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2014 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 2019-12-13T22:17:57Z Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as toxic lipophilic organochlorine (OC) compounds, accumulate in the blubber tissue of marine mammals. Toxicological sampling methods most frequently target only the superficial blubber layer. Vertical distribution of these contaminants through the blubber mantle may, however, not be homogenous and could reflect any dissemination of lipids and fatty acids (FAs). It is therefore critical to assess stratification patterns in a species of interest as a quality control measure for interpretation of toxicological data. Here, we analysed and compared the distribution of lipids, FAs, and OCs in the outermost and innermost blubber layer of southern hemisphere humpback whales. FA stratification was evident for short-chain (≤18) monounsaturated fatty acids (SC-MUFA), which were concentrated in the outer layer, consistent with the thermoregulatory role of this blubber layer. This stratification was, however, not reflected in OC distribution, which was similar in the inner and outer blubber layers of male humpback whales. By comparison, a noticeable gradient in total blubber lipid from the outer to the inner layer was observed in two lactating females, which coincided with higher lipid normalised contaminant levels in the inner layer. This study contains the most comprehensive assessment of humpback whale blubber stratification to date, however, further investigation of biological and ecological influencing factors is required. Article in Journal/Newspaper Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Marine Environmental Research 94 24 31 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems |
spellingShingle |
Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Schlabach, M Noad, M Nash, SB Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
topic_facet |
Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems |
description |
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as toxic lipophilic organochlorine (OC) compounds, accumulate in the blubber tissue of marine mammals. Toxicological sampling methods most frequently target only the superficial blubber layer. Vertical distribution of these contaminants through the blubber mantle may, however, not be homogenous and could reflect any dissemination of lipids and fatty acids (FAs). It is therefore critical to assess stratification patterns in a species of interest as a quality control measure for interpretation of toxicological data. Here, we analysed and compared the distribution of lipids, FAs, and OCs in the outermost and innermost blubber layer of southern hemisphere humpback whales. FA stratification was evident for short-chain (≤18) monounsaturated fatty acids (SC-MUFA), which were concentrated in the outer layer, consistent with the thermoregulatory role of this blubber layer. This stratification was, however, not reflected in OC distribution, which was similar in the inner and outer blubber layers of male humpback whales. By comparison, a noticeable gradient in total blubber lipid from the outer to the inner layer was observed in two lactating females, which coincided with higher lipid normalised contaminant levels in the inner layer. This study contains the most comprehensive assessment of humpback whale blubber stratification to date, however, further investigation of biological and ecological influencing factors is required. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Schlabach, M Noad, M Nash, SB |
author_facet |
Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Schlabach, M Noad, M Nash, SB |
author_sort |
Waugh, CA |
title |
Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_short |
Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_full |
Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_fullStr |
Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_sort |
vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( megaptera novaeangliae ) |
publisher |
Elsevier Sci Ltd |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24315760 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118613 |
genre |
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 Waugh, CA and Nichols, PD and Schlabach, M and Noad, M and Nash, SB, Vertical distribution of lipids, fatty acids and organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of southern hemisphere humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), Marine Environmental Research, 94 pp. 24-31. ISSN 0141-1136 (2014) [Refereed Article] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24315760 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118613 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.11.004 |
container_title |
Marine Environmental Research |
container_volume |
94 |
container_start_page |
24 |
op_container_end_page |
31 |
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1766026390364225536 |