Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline
Over the past 15 years or so, several Scottish harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) populations have declined in abundance and several factors have been considered as possible causes, including toxins from harmful algae. Here we explore whether a link could be established between two groups of toxins, do...
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2015
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Online Access: | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/detection-and-effects-of-harmful-algal-toxins-in-scottish-harbour-seals-and-potential-links-to-population-decline(6cee0030-0a5b-4cbc-8f48-0dabb4dfa219).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/6cee0030-0a5b-4cbc-8f48-0dabb4dfa219 2024-06-23T07:53:31+00:00 Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline Jensen, Silje-Kristin Lacaze, Jean-Pierre Hermann, Guillaume Kershaw, Joanna Brownlow, Andrew Turner, Andrew Hall, Ailsa Jane 2015-04 https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/detection-and-effects-of-harmful-algal-toxins-in-scottish-harbour-seals-and-potential-links-to-population-decline(6cee0030-0a5b-4cbc-8f48-0dabb4dfa219).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/detection-and-effects-of-harmful-algal-toxins-in-scottish-harbour-seals-and-potential-links-to-population-decline(6cee0030-0a5b-4cbc-8f48-0dabb4dfa219).html info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Jensen , S-K , Lacaze , J-P , Hermann , G , Kershaw , J , Brownlow , A , Turner , A & Hall , A J 2015 , ' Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline ' , Toxicon , vol. 97 , pp. 1-14 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 Domoic acid (DA) Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins HABs Phoca vitulina Marine mammal Scotland article 2015 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 2024-06-13T00:46:22Z Over the past 15 years or so, several Scottish harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) populations have declined in abundance and several factors have been considered as possible causes, including toxins from harmful algae. Here we explore whether a link could be established between two groups of toxins, domoic acid (DA) and saxitoxins (STXs), and the decline in the harbour seal populations in Scotland. We document the first evidence that harbour seals are exposed to both DA and STXs from consuming contaminated fish. Both groups of toxins were found in urine and faeces sampled from live captured (n = 162) and stranded animals (n = 23) and in faecal samples collected from seal haul-out sites (n = 214) between 2008 and 2013. The proportion of positive samples and the toxins levels measured in the excreta were significantly higher in areas where harbour seal abundance is in decline. There is also evidence that DA has immunomodulatory effects in harbour seals, including lymphocytopenia and monocytosis. Scottish harbour seals are exposed to DA and STXs through contaminated prey at potentially lethal levels and with this evidence we suggest that exposure to these toxins are likely to be important factors driving the harbour seal decline in some regions of Scotland. Article in Journal/Newspaper harbour seal Phoca vitulina University of St Andrews: Research Portal Toxicon 97 1 14 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Domoic acid (DA) Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins HABs Phoca vitulina Marine mammal Scotland |
spellingShingle |
Domoic acid (DA) Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins HABs Phoca vitulina Marine mammal Scotland Jensen, Silje-Kristin Lacaze, Jean-Pierre Hermann, Guillaume Kershaw, Joanna Brownlow, Andrew Turner, Andrew Hall, Ailsa Jane Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
topic_facet |
Domoic acid (DA) Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins HABs Phoca vitulina Marine mammal Scotland |
description |
Over the past 15 years or so, several Scottish harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) populations have declined in abundance and several factors have been considered as possible causes, including toxins from harmful algae. Here we explore whether a link could be established between two groups of toxins, domoic acid (DA) and saxitoxins (STXs), and the decline in the harbour seal populations in Scotland. We document the first evidence that harbour seals are exposed to both DA and STXs from consuming contaminated fish. Both groups of toxins were found in urine and faeces sampled from live captured (n = 162) and stranded animals (n = 23) and in faecal samples collected from seal haul-out sites (n = 214) between 2008 and 2013. The proportion of positive samples and the toxins levels measured in the excreta were significantly higher in areas where harbour seal abundance is in decline. There is also evidence that DA has immunomodulatory effects in harbour seals, including lymphocytopenia and monocytosis. Scottish harbour seals are exposed to DA and STXs through contaminated prey at potentially lethal levels and with this evidence we suggest that exposure to these toxins are likely to be important factors driving the harbour seal decline in some regions of Scotland. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jensen, Silje-Kristin Lacaze, Jean-Pierre Hermann, Guillaume Kershaw, Joanna Brownlow, Andrew Turner, Andrew Hall, Ailsa Jane |
author_facet |
Jensen, Silje-Kristin Lacaze, Jean-Pierre Hermann, Guillaume Kershaw, Joanna Brownlow, Andrew Turner, Andrew Hall, Ailsa Jane |
author_sort |
Jensen, Silje-Kristin |
title |
Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
title_short |
Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
title_full |
Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
title_fullStr |
Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
title_full_unstemmed |
Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
title_sort |
detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/detection-and-effects-of-harmful-algal-toxins-in-scottish-harbour-seals-and-potential-links-to-population-decline(6cee0030-0a5b-4cbc-8f48-0dabb4dfa219).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 |
genre |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Jensen , S-K , Lacaze , J-P , Hermann , G , Kershaw , J , Brownlow , A , Turner , A & Hall , A J 2015 , ' Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline ' , Toxicon , vol. 97 , pp. 1-14 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 |
op_relation |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/detection-and-effects-of-harmful-algal-toxins-in-scottish-harbour-seals-and-potential-links-to-population-decline(6cee0030-0a5b-4cbc-8f48-0dabb4dfa219).html |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002 |
container_title |
Toxicon |
container_volume |
97 |
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1 |
op_container_end_page |
14 |
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1802645221431836672 |