Geographic Differences in Organic Contaminants and Stable Isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) in Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia) Eggs from Alaska

Published

March 9, 2011

Author(s)

Stacy S. Schuur, Russell D. Day, Paul R. Becker, Rebecca S. Pugh, Michael B. Ellisor, Keith A. Hobson, David G. Roseneau

Abstract

Thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) eggs were collected from four Alaskan colonies in 2002. The contents were analyzed for organic contaminants and carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes. Contaminant concentrations in eggs varied from below detection limits to 230 ng g-1 wet mass for 4,4’-DDE in one egg from St. Lazaria Island in the Gulf of Alaska. Eggs from this colony generally contained higher levels of contaminants and had significantly different patterns compared to Bering and Chukchi seas eggs. Stable isotope values also varied geographically; however, these differences appeared to be related to differences in C and N baselines in the food webs instead of differences in prey. Correlations between egg 15N values and contaminant concentrations produced only a few positive slopes, while oxychlordane and mirex displayed significantly negative slopes in eggs from the Chukchi Sea.

Citation

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Volume

13

Issue

3

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1039/C0EM00347F

Keywords

Alaska, Carbon-13, Contaminants, Nitrogen-15, Stable Isotopes, Uria lomvia

Citation

Schuur, S. , Day, R. , Becker, P. , Pugh, R. , Ellisor, M. , Hobson, K. and Roseneau, D. (2011), Geographic Differences in Organic Contaminants and Stable Isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) in Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia) Eggs from Alaska, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, [online], https://doi.org/10.1039/C0EM00347F (Accessed October 11, 2025)