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Toxicology of Marine Mammals

Edited by Joseph G. Vos, Gregory Bossart, Michel Fournier, Thomas O'Shea

Series Editor: Donald E. Gardner, A. Wallace Hayes, John A. Thomas

Contributors: Kimberlee B. Bechmen, Michael J. Carvan III

Published December 5th 2002 by CRC Press – 658 pages

Series: New Perspectives: Toxicology and the Environment

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Description

The activities of modern society have unleashed a range of toxic chemicals into the global environment. Many of these toxicants are now being detected in increasing quantities in the tissues of marine mammals, most notably in top predators who acquire relatively large amounts of toxic chemicals by ingesting contaminated prey.

Toxicology of Marine Mammals focuses on the effects of natural and introduced toxicants on organs and systems in marine mammals. It provides overviews on health status and contamination, with subsequent chapters devoted to whales, pinnipeds, dolphins, polar bears, manatees, and sea otters. Internationally renowned researchers assess the mounting evidence for adverse effects on reproduction and the chemically-induced increased susceptibility to death from infectious diseases. The concluding chapter addresses perspectives and issues for the future.

This compelling book features research from a vast geographic landscape ranging from the tropics to the Arctic, with case studies on intriguing areas of contamination such as the St. Lawrence River and the Baltic Sea. It identifies the severe threats that environmental contaminants pose to the health and future of marine mammals. It also makes an urgent call for legislation to regulate the incessant pollution ravaging our seas and devastating the marine mammal population worldwide. Toxicologists working in marine biology and veterinary medicine, conservation scientists, fisheries scientists, environmental scientists, and wildlife managers will all benefit from this comprehensive resource.

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Reviews

"Toxicology of Marine Mammals serves to … provide an initial introduction to both historical and recent progress and publications for researchers investigating topics outside their field of study. … [The reader] will gain inspiration for future studies . … [W]ell-suited for graduate-level courses …. ."

- Aquatic Mammals, 2004

Contents

PART I IMPLICATIONS OF CONTAMINANTS FOR MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH

Pathology of Marine Mammals with Special Reference to Infectious Diseases, Robert B. Moeller, Jr.

Contaminants and Marine Mammal Immunotoxicology and Pathology, Sylvain De Guise, Kimberlee B. Beckmen, and Steven D. Holladay

Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Environmental Organochlorines on Marine Mammals, Peter J.H. Reijnders

Effects of Environmental Contaminants on the Endocrine System of Marine Mammals, Mary Gregory and Daniel G. Cyr

Opportunities for Environmental Contaminant Research: What Can We Learn from Marine Mammals Under Human Care, Michelle L. Reddy and Sam H. Ridgway

PART II AN OVERVIEW OF CONTAMINATION OF MARINE MAMMALS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT

Persistent Ocean Contaminants and Marine Mammals: A Retrospective Overview, Thomas J. O"Shea and Shinsuke Tanabe

Heavy Metals in Marine Mammals, Krishna Das, Virginie Debacker, Stéphane Pillet and Jean-Marie Bouquegneau

Persistent Organic Contaminants in Arctic Marine Mammals, Todd M. O'Hara and Paul R. Becker

Inorganic Pollutants in Arctic Marine Mammals, Todd M. O'Hara, Victoria Woshner, and Gerald Bratton

Impacts of Algal Toxins on Marine Mammals, Frances M. Van Dolah, Gregory J. Doucette, Frances M.D. Gulland, Teri L. Rowles, and Gregory D. Bossart

Toxicology in Sirenians, Thomas J. O'Shea

PART III CETACEANS

Cetaceans and Contaminants, Theo Colborn and Michelle J. Smolen

Pathology of Cetaceans. A Case Study: Beluga from the St. Lawrence Estuary, Daniel Martineau, Igor Mikaelian, Jean-Martin Lapointe, Phillippe Labelle, and Robert Higgins

Immune Status of St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga Whale, Pauline Brousseau, Sylvain De Guise, Isabelle Voccia, S. Ruby, and Michel Fournier

Evaluation of Genotoxic Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Cells of Marine Mammals, with Particular Emphasis on Beluga Whales, J.M. Gauthier, H. Dubeau, and E. Rassart

Mechanisms of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Toxicity: Implications for Cetacean Morbidity and Mortality, Michael J. Carvan III and David L. Busbee

Ecotoxicologic Investigations of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatas) Strandings: Accumulation of Persistent Organic Chemicals and Metals, John E. Stein, Karen L. Tilbury, James P. Meador, Jay Gorzelany, Graham A.J. Worthy, and Margaret M. Krahn

PART IV PINNIPEDS

Global Temporal Trends of Organochlorines and Heavy Metals in Pinnipeds, Peter J.H. Reijnders and Mark P. Simmonds

Pathology in Baltic Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in Relation to Environmental Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors, A. Bergman, A, Bignert, and M. Olsson

The Immune System, Chemical Contaminants and Virus-Associated Mass Mortalities Among Pinnipeds, Peter S. Ross, Joseph G. Vos, and Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus

The Effects of Chemical Contaminants on Immune Function in Harbour Seals: Results of a Semi-Field Study, Joseph G. Vos, Peter S. Ross, Rik L. Swart, Henk Van Loveren, and Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus

Immunotoxicology of Free-Ranging Pinnipeds: Approaches to Study Design, Peter S. Ross, Kimberlee B. Beckmen, and Stéphane Pillet

PART V PERSPECTIVES FOR THE FUTURE

Conclusions and Perspectives for the Future, Thomas J. O'Shea, Gregory D. Bossart, Michael Fournier, and Joseph G. Vos

Name: Toxicology of Marine Mammals (Hardback) – CRC Press 
Description: Edited by Joseph G. Vos, Gregory Bossart, Michel Fournier, Thomas O'SheaSeries Editor: Donald E. Gardner, A. Wallace Hayes, John A. ThomasContributors: Kimberlee B. Bechmen, Michael J. Carvan III. The activities of modern society have unleashed a range of toxic chemicals into the global environment. Many of these toxicants are now being detected in increasing quantities in the tissues of marine mammals, most notably in top predators who acquire...
Categories: Marine & Aquatic Science, Zoology, Environmental & Ecological Toxicology