Life history and social structure as drivers of persistent organic pollutant levels and stable isotopes in Hawaiian false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). Kratofil, M.A., Yitalo, G.M., Mahaffy, S.D., West, K.L., and Baird, R.W.. Science of the Total Environment. 2020. Volume 733
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Date Published:
  • September 1, 2020

False killer whales are long-lived, slow to mature, apex predators, and therefore susceptible to bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Hawaiian waters are home to three distinct populations: pelagic; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) insular; and main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular. Following a precipitous decline over recent decades, the MHI population was listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act in 2012. This study assesses the risk of POP exposure to these populations by examining pollutant concentrations and ratios from blubber samples (n = 56) related to life history characteristics and MHI social clusters.

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