First health and pollution study on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) living in the German Elbe estuary |
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Authors: | Antje Kakuschke,Elizabeth Valentine-Thon,Juergen Gandrass,Luis Dominguez Boada,Maira Almeida Gonzá lez,Daniel Prö frock,Katharina Kramer,Andreas Prange |
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Affiliation: | a GKSS Research Center Geesthacht, Marine Bioanalytical Chemistry, Institute for Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany b Laboratory Center Bremen, Department of Immunology, Friedrich-Karl-Strasse 22, 28205 Bremen, Germany c University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Instituto Canario de Investigación del Cáncer, P.O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain d Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, United Kingdom |
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Abstract: | The Elbe is one of the major rivers releasing pollutants into the coastal areas of the German North Sea. Its estuary represents the habitat of a small population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Only little is known about the health status and contamination levels of these seals. Therefore, a first-ever seal catch was organized next to the islands of Neuwerk and Scharhörn in the region of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park. The investigations included a broad set of health parameters and the analysis of metals and organic pollutants in blood samples. Compared to animals of other Wadden Sea areas, the seals showed higher γ-globulin levels, suggesting higher concentrations of pathogens in this near-urban area, elevated concentrations for several metals in particular for V, Sn, Pb, and Sr, and comparable ranges for chlorinated organic contaminants, except for elevated levels of hexachlorobenzene, which indicates characteristic inputs from the Elbe. |
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Keywords: | Harbor seal Phoca vitulina Elbe estuary North Sea Health Pollution |
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