• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • UAF Graduate School
    • Biological Sciences
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • UAF Graduate School
    • Biological Sciences
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of Scholarworks@UACommunitiesPublication DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypeThis CollectionPublication DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsType

    My Account

    Login

    First Time Submitters, Register Here

    Register

    Statistics

    Display statistics

    Trophic relationships in an Arctic marine foodweb and implications for trace element dynamics

    • CSV
    • RefMan
    • EndNote
    • BibTex
    • RefWorks
    Thumbnail
    Name:
    Dehn.Larissa.2005a.pdf
    Size:
    4.860Mb
    Format:
    PDF
    Download
    Author
    Dehn, Larissa-A
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11122/5136
    Abstract
    Tissues of subsistence-harvested Arctic marine and terrestrial mammals and potential prey species were analyzed for isotopes of carbon and nitrogen and selected trace elements describing contaminant pathways in the food web. Feeding habits of ice seals were characterized using stable isotopes and gastric contents analysis. Bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) relied on the benthic food chain. Zooplankton and fishes were significant prey for ringed seals (Phoca hispida), while fishes were the principal prey in spotted seals (Phoca largha). Gastric prey composition and isotope ratios varied with age and sex. Effects of age, trophic level, and prey prevalence on trace element concentrations in seal tissues were investigated. Most trace elements differed significantly in phocid tissues. Bearded seals had the highest cadmium (Cd) concentrations and spotted seals the lowest. This indicates a connection of Cd with invertebrate prey, while mercury (Hg), in particular the proportion of organic to total Hg (THg), accumulated in the piscivorous food web. Silver (Ag) showed possible association to benthic feeding habits. Altered trace element accumulation patterns were observed in compromised seals. Stable isotopes illustrated belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) occupied a higher trophic level than bowheads (Balaena mysticetus) and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Trace element concentrations also differed significantly among these cetaceans. Observed relationships with age or length in species analyzed were complex and nonlinear rather than previously reported continuous bioaccumulation with age. Cd was similar in belugas and bowheads but lowest in gray whales. THg was highest in belugas and near detection limit in mysticetes, supporting the connection of Hg with fish and Cd with invertebrates. The hepatic selenium (Se ):THg ratio exceeded the frequently described equimolarity in all species. Se:THg molar ratios and tissue concentrations of zinc (Zn) may show promise as indicators of immune status and animal health. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) feed on the highest trophic level, though Cd concentrations were either similar to, or significantly lower than those in belugas or ice seals. Conversely, THg increased significantly from seal to bear. Generally, trace elements in Alaska-harvested animals were lower than for other Arctic regions, and trace metal magnification in the Arctic food web was not significant.
    Description
    Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2005
    Table of Contents
    Feeding ecology of phocid seals in the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic -- Trace elements in tissues of phocid seals harvested in the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic : influence of age and feeding ecology -- Stable isotope and trace element status of subsistence hunted bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Chukotka -- Trophic ecology of Arctic marine biota and implications for trace dynamics -- General conclusions -- References.
    Date
    2005-08
    Type
    Dissertation
    Collections
    Biological Sciences

    entitlement

     
    ABOUT US|HELP|BROWSE|ADVANCED SEARCH

    The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution and is a part of the University of Alaska system.

    ©UAF 2013 - 2023 | Questions? ua-scholarworks@alaska.edu | Last modified: September 25, 2019

    Open Repository is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV
     

    Export search results

    The export option will allow you to export the current search results of the entered query to a file. Different formats are available for download. To export the items, click on the button corresponding with the preferred download format.

    By default, clicking on the export buttons will result in a download of the allowed maximum amount of items.

    To select a subset of the search results, click "Selective Export" button and make a selection of the items you want to export. The amount of items that can be exported at once is similarly restricted as the full export.

    After making a selection, click one of the export format buttons. The amount of items that will be exported is indicated in the bubble next to export format.