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(42-07) Heavy metal and organochlorine concentrations in arctic fox from the Alaskan and western Canadian Arctic. Hoekstra, Paul*,1, Braune, Brigit2, Dehn, Larissa3, O'Hara, Todd4, Solomon, Keith1, Muir, Derek1,5, 1 University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario2 Canadian Wildlife Service, Hull, Quebec3 University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska4 North Slope Borough, Barrow, Alaska5 National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario ABSTRACT- The arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) is a circumpolar species that is widely distributed across northern Canada and Alaska. This study was designed to elucidate the trophic ecology of this species and relate these findings to the accumulation of organochlorine contaminants (OC) and heavy metals (total Hg, Cd, Se, As). Arctic fox liver, muscle, and abdominal fat samples were obtained from Native trappers from Holman, NT, Canada and Barrow, AK, USA. Analysis of stable C and N isotopes in arctic fox muscle show that trophic position (inferred from stable N values) was positively correlated with stable C isotope values, suggesting that arctic fox that feed from the marine environment occupy a higher trophic level. The comparison of stable isotope data with OC concentrations indicates that trophic position may not influence OC accumulation. Total OC concentrations in arctic fox tissue from Holman and Barrow were not significantly different (p>0.05). The order of OCs in arctic fox adipose tissues was PCBs (1600 ± 425, l.w.) followed by CHLOR (1050 ± 220), TOX (195 ± 42), HCHs (153 ± 29) and DDTs (65 ± 12). Data suggest that, while OC concentrations are highly variable, arctic fox may accumulate OCs above the lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels for adverse effects on mammalian reproduction under laboratory conditions. Further research is required to elucidate the potential health impacts from OC and heavy metal exposure to this species. Key words: arctic fox, heavy metals, stable isotopes, organochlorines |
