scholarly journals Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in New Zealand cetaceans

1999 ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Jones ◽  
Donald J. Hannah ◽  
Simon J. Buckland ◽  
Tania Van Maanen ◽  
Scott V. Lea Ihem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Halogenated Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Dusky Dolphins ◽  
Toxic Equivalents

Limited information is available on the concentrations of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) in cetaceans from the Southern Hemisphere. This paper presents data on blubber concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Hector's dolphins, dusky dolphins, southern right whale dolphins, blue whales, minke whales, Gray's beaked whales, Cuvier's beaked whales and pygmy right whales stranded in New Zealand. Both HAH concentrations and toxic equivalents (TEQs) are found to be higher in Hector's dolphins, a species with an inshore distribution, than in other odontocetes, which are more oceanic. Baleen whales, which are oceanic and feed at lower trophic levels, present the lowest levels of pollutants, with PCDD and PCDF concentrations usually below detection limits. The PCB profiles of the various species suggest that they are exposed to different PCB sources. Overall, HAH levels detected are lower than those reported for comparable species in the Northern Hemisphere. The relative abundance of low chlorinated PCB congeners in New Zealand cetaceans, as compared to those from northern waters, suggests that the origin of these compounds is mostly atmospheric deposition.

Exposure to mixtures and congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 1409-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Skerfving ◽  
B G Svensson ◽  
L Asplund ◽  
L Hagmar
Keyword(s):  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Biological Samples ◽  
Total Pcbs ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Biomarkers Of Exposure ◽  
Equivalency Factors ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
Toxic Equivalency Factors ◽  
Toxic Equivalents ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract There are 209 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the metabolism and toxicity of which vary by congeners. Use of PCBs is now restricted, but environmental contamination and human exposure persist. Analysis for "total PCBs" in biological samples gives limited information; congener-specific analysis is far more informative, but more complicated. Concentrations of congeners in serum/plasma, adipose tissue, or milk are useful biomarkers of exposure. Lipids may contain similar concentrations and congener patterns, but these vary between exposures and are different from those of the corresponding exposure mixtures; hence, analysis of lipids cannot be used to identify the original exposure. Some non- and mono-ortho congeners may attain a coplanar conformation, which renders them capable of a dioxin-like action. Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) have been used to sum that risk as toxic equivalents (TEQs), which are considerably different from congener concentrations. No reliable data have been developed on the relationship between concentrations of "total PCBs" or congeners in biological samples and effects of PCBs on human health, mainly because of the various analytical procedures involved and confounding exposures.

scholarly journals Birds and mammals off the northern coast of Argentina: first report of an association between birds and a feeding Pygmy Right Whale Caprea marginata

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (3–4) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Henrik Kylin
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Feeding Groups ◽  
La Plata ◽  
Lagenorhynchus Obscurus ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Pachyptila Belcheri ◽  
Dusky Dolphins ◽  
Oceanites Oceanicus ◽  
Eleven Species

When the icebreaker Oden passed between 39°36'S, 57°46'W and 39°59'S, 58°11'W on 20 November 2007, an extraordinary observation was made. A feeding Pygmy Right Whale Caprea marginata, a species rarely seen, was attended by eight Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius, two Slender-billed Prions Pachyptila belcheri, and four Wilson’s Storm Petrels Oceanites oceanicus. The birds returned to feed around the head of the whale every time it surfaced, presumably copepod plankton straining out between the baleen. The site is off Rio de la Plata estuary where nutrient rich freshwater meets cold water of the Malvinas (Falkland) Current, creating a hotspot with high levels of plankton food. The conditions were extraordinarily favourable for observation with a calm sea, no wind and only a very weak swell. Six multispecies feeding groups were seen with a total of 42 species of birds, eleven species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, and three species of seals. Dusky Dolphins Lagenorhynchus obscurus and Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis were predominant in the groups.

scholarly journals A new genus and species of eomysticetid (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and a reinterpretation of ‘Mauicetus’ lophocephalus Marples, 1956: transitional baleen whales from the upper Oligocene of New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Boessenecker ◽  
R. Ewan Fordyce
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Temporomandibular Joint ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Thoracic Vertebrae ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Upper Oligocene ◽  
Lunge Feeding

The early evolution of toothless baleen whales (Chaeomysticeti) remains elusive despite a robust record of Eocene-Oligocene archaeocetes and toothed mysticetes. Eomysticetids, a group of archaic longirostrine and putatively toothless baleen whales fill in a crucial morphological gap between well-known toothed mysticetes and more crownward Neogene Mysticeti. A historically important but perplexing cetacean is “Mauicetus” lophocephalus (upper Oligocene South Island, New Zealand). The discovery of new skulls and skeletons of eomysticetids from the Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand and Otekaike Limestone permit a redescription and modern reinterpretation of “Mauicetus” lophocephalus, and indicating that this species may have retained adult teeth. A new genus and species, Tokarahia kauaeroa, is erected on the basis of a well-preserved subadult to adult skull with mandibles, tympanoperiotics, and cervical and thoracic vertebrae, ribs, sternum, and forelimbs from the Otekaike Limestone (>25.2 Ma). “Mauicetus” lophocephalus is relatively similar and recombined as Tokarahia lophocephalus. Phylogenetic analysis supports inclusion of Tokarahia within the Eomysticetidae alongside Eomysticetus, Micromysticetus, Yamatocetus, and Tohoraata, and strongly supports monophyly of Eomysticetidae. Tokarahia lacked extreme rostral kinesis of extant Mysticeti and primitively retained a delicate archaeocete-like posterior mandible and synovial temporomandibular joint, suggesting that Tokarahia was capable of at most, limited lunge feeding in contrast to extant Balaenopteridae, and utilized an alternative as-yet unspecified feeding strategy.

scholarly journals Ancestor–descendant relationships in evolution: origin of the extant pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 20140875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Hsiu Tsai ◽  
R. Ewan Fordyce
Keyword(s):  
Punctuated Equilibrium ◽  
Fundamental Concept ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Morphological Stasis

Ancestor–descendant relationships (ADRs), involving descent with modification, are the fundamental concept in evolution, but are usually difficult to recognize. We examined the cladistic relationship between the only reported fossil pygmy right whale, †Miocaperea pulchra , and its sole living relative, the enigmatic pygmy right whale Caperea marginata , the latter represented by both adult and juvenile specimens. †Miocaperea is phylogenetically bracketed between juvenile and adult Caperea marginata in morphologically based analyses, thus suggesting a possible ADR—the first so far identified within baleen whales (Cetacea: Mysticeti). The †Miocaperea–Caperea lineage may show long-term morphological stasis and, in turn, punctuated equilibrium.

Great Whales

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bannister
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Blue Whale ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Toothed Whale ◽  
History Of ◽  
Storey Building

Whales are mysterious and fascinating creatures. Despite modern technology, their world is still largely unexplored and unknown. They can only be seen, or rather glimpsed, when they are near the sea surface, either from boats, or perhaps from shore, or underwater by divers. They also reach astonishing sizes – the blue whale, for example, can grow to 30 metres in length, equivalent to the height of a six-storey building, and can weigh more than 130 tonnes. Seven ‘Great Whales’ are found in the coastal waters surrounding Australia. These include six of the largest baleen whales – blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, sei whale, Bryde’s whale and southern right whale – and the sperm whale, the largest toothed whale. This book provides a detailed account of these extraordinary mammals. As well as the seven Great Whales, a smaller species – the minke whale – is included because of its special interest to Australians. The book describes whales’ highly specialised mammalian structure and biology, and the history of people’s association with them, at first through legend and wonder, then whaling, and more recently whale watching. It also looks at their past and current status, and the conservation initiatives that are in place to protect them from existing or potential threats. With both historical and recent photographs, as well as an extensive glossary, Great Whales will be enjoyed by natural history enthusiasts, zoologists and students alike.

The ecotoxicology of coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls

1995 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Metcalfe ◽  
G. Douglas Haffner
Keyword(s):  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Molecular Configuration ◽  
Coplanar Pcbs ◽  
Toxic Activity ◽  
Pcb Congeners ◽  
Coplanar Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Toxic Equivalents

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been recognized for over 25 years as global environmental contaminants. However, many PCB congeners may be relatively harmless, while a small group of PCB congeners are highly toxic to biota. The toxic coplanar PCB congeners are chlorinated at meta positions and at one or none of the ortho positions on the biphenyl ring, thus resembling 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in molecular configuration. In vitro and in vivo toxicity tests with rodents, fish, and birds have shown that the coplanar PCB congener 126 is almost as toxic as TCDD. Several coplanar PCBs (e.g., 77, 126, 105, 118) are present in biota at parts per billion concentrations, which is orders of magnitude higher than concentrations of TCDD. Thus, coplanar PCBs may account for over 95% of the dioxinlike toxic activity affecting biota, such as fish-eating birds in the Great Lakes. There is some evidence that the toxicokinetics of coplanar PCBs in organisms differs from that of other PCB homologues. If coplanar PCBs are more persistent than their homologues, they could become enriched in biota as they pass up through the food chain (i.e., trophic enrichment), or as overall PCB levels decline with time (i.e., temporal enrichment). Overall, the available data do not support the concept of trophic or temporal enrichment in the environment.Key words: polychlorinated biphenyls, coplanar, toxic equivalents, kinetics, mixed function oxidase, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase.

Estimated calving interval for the New Zealand southern right whale (Eubalaena australis)

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Raphael Davidson ◽  
William Rayment ◽  
Steve M Dawson ◽  
Trudi Webster ◽  
Elisabeth Slooten
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis

scholarly journals Copulation rate declines with mating group size in dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 503-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.N. Orbach ◽  
G.G. Rosenthal ◽  
B. Würsig
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Indirect Benefits ◽  
Lagenorhynchus Obscurus ◽  
Mating Group ◽  
Copulation Rate ◽  
Mating Opportunities ◽  
Dusky Dolphins ◽  
Time And Energy

Males in polygamous species often engage in intrasexual competition for mates. If females actively evade mating attempts, it may benefit males to cooperate to restrict female movement, as has been found in some mammals. We tested if male dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus (Gray, 1828)) cooperate or compete during group mating chases. If they cooperate, then the per-male probability of copulating should increase with group size; if they compete, then the probability should decrease. We followed mating groups by boat during the breeding season (October 2013 – January 2014) off Kaikoura, New Zealand. The copulation rate per male decreased with increasing group size and with the number of noncopulating males in proximity to a copulating female. Male dusky dolphins have multiple mates and appear to use sperm and exploitative scramble competition. Males may remain in mating groups despite competition because there are alliances within the groups, they are unable to exclude rivals from joining a group, the time and energy costs of searching for unescorted females exceed the costs of reduced mating opportunities in a group, they receive other direct or indirect benefits that offset the costs of reduced mating opportunities, or they are in the group largely for social learning rather than procreation.

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