Biomaterial Database

Impact of organochlorine pesticide residues and PCBs on otters (Lutra lutra): a study from western Britain. 1993

C F Mason, and S M Macdonald

Department of Biology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom.

A study of otter (Lutra lutra) populations and levels of organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues and PCBs in otter droppings (spraints) was made on eight stretches of river in three catchments in Wales and West Midland England. Population and contaminant levels were compared against target values. The otter populations (as measured by an index) remained stable on one stretch over 11 years, while they increased rapidly to equilibrium on four other stretches. The three lower stretches of rivers showed more erratic trends and on only one stretch did the index exceed, occasionally, the target value. Marking intensity at spraint sites was also lower at the three lowland sites. Concentrations of dieldrin, DDE and PCBs were significantly greater in spraint samples from the three lowland stretches. Over 50% of samples from the three lowland stretches had OC concentrations above the maximum allowable concentration, whereas most samples from the upland stretches had concentrations below the 'no effects level'. It is suggested that the colonization, by otters, of their former lowland range is inhibited by OC contamination of their food chain but, if contaminant levels can be reduced, spread will occur rapidly.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007306	Insecticides	Pesticides designed to control insects that are harmful to man. The insects may be directly harmful, as those acting as disease vectors, or indirectly harmful, as destroyers of crops, food products, or textile fabrics.	Insecticide
D010041	Otters	Fish-eating carnivores of the family MUSTELIDAE, found on both hemispheres.	Aonyx,Clawless Otters,Giant Otters,Lontra,Lutra,Pteronura,Sea Otters,Enhydra lutris,Lontra canadensis,North American River Otter,Clawless Otter,Giant Otter,Otter,Otter, Clawless,Otter, Giant,Otter, Sea,Otters, Clawless,Otters, Giant,Otters, Sea,Sea Otter
D011078	Polychlorinated Biphenyls	Industrial products consisting of a mixture of chlorinated biphenyl congeners and isomers. These compounds are highly lipophilic and tend to accumulate in fat stores of animals. Many of these compounds are considered toxic and potential environmental pollutants.	PCBs,Polychlorinated Biphenyl,Polychlorobiphenyl Compounds,Biphenyl, Polychlorinated,Biphenyls, Polychlorinated,Compounds, Polychlorobiphenyl
D003710	Demography	Statistical interpretation and description of a population with reference to distribution, composition, or structure.	Demographer,Demographic,Demographic and Health Survey,Population Distribution,Accounting, Demographic,Analyses, Demographic,Analyses, Multiregional,Analysis, Period,Brass Technic,Brass Technique,Demographers,Demographic Accounting,Demographic Analysis,Demographic Factor,Demographic Factors,Demographic Impact,Demographic Impacts,Demographic Survey,Demographic Surveys,Demographic and Health Surveys,Demographics,Demography, Historical,Demography, Prehistoric,Factor, Demographic,Factors, Demographic,Family Reconstitution,Historical Demography,Impact, Demographic,Impacts, Demographic,Multiregional Analysis,Period Analysis,Population Spatial Distribution,Prehistoric Demography,Reverse Survival Method,Stable Population Method,Survey, Demographic,Surveys, Demographic,Analyses, Period,Analysis, Demographic,Analysis, Multiregional,Demographic Analyses,Demographies, Historical,Demographies, Prehistoric,Distribution, Population,Distribution, Population Spatial,Distributions, Population,Distributions, Population Spatial,Family Reconstitutions,Historical Demographies,Method, Reverse Survival,Method, Stable Population,Methods, Reverse Survival,Methods, Stable Population,Multiregional Analyses,Period Analyses,Population Distributions,Population Methods, Stable,Population Spatial Distributions,Prehistoric Demographies,Reconstitution, Family,Reconstitutions, Family,Reverse Survival Methods,Spatial Distribution, Population,Spatial Distributions, Population,Stable Population Methods,Technic, Brass,Technique, Brass
D004739	England	A part of Great Britain within the United Kingdom.
D005243	Feces	Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D005618	Fresh Water	Water containing no significant amounts of salts, such as water from RIVERS and LAKES.	Freshwater,Fresh Waters,Freshwaters,Water, Fresh,Waters, Fresh
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014852	Wales	A region of the United Kingdom, in the southwestern area of Great Britain.