Biomaterial Database

Impact of organochlorine pesticide residues and PCBs on otters (Lutra lutra) in eastern England. 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 faeces (spraints) was made on rivers in East Anglia, England. Population and contaminant levels are compared against target values. It is thought that the native otter population was almost extirpated during the study period. The current population must derive largely, if not entirely, from captive-bred animals introduced since 1983. Its range has expanded little and population levels, measured as an index, were generally low. Concentrations of OC pesticides and PCBs were similar to those of lowland stretches of western rivers; however, samples had a smaller proportion of dieldrin and a greater proportion of PCBs. Overall 44% of samples had concentrations of contaminants exceeding the 'level of concern'. It is considered that contamination, especially by PCBs, remains a factor influencing otter populations, which may not be viable in East Anglia without repeated releases of captive-bred animals.

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
D008297	Male		Males
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
D003247	Conservation of Natural Resources	The protection, preservation, restoration, and rational use of all resources in the total environment.	Carrying Capacity,Deforestation,Desertification,Environmental Protection,Natural Resources Conservation,Protection, Environmental,Capacities, Carrying,Capacity, Carrying,Carrying Capacities,Conservation, Natural Resources
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.
D005260	Female		Females
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