Many pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are persistent, bio-accumulative, and
toxic. These semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs) can undergo atmospheric
transport and deposition in cold, remote ecosystems. A better understanding of their
accumulation in the fish of these ecosystems is important to better predict...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significant pollutants in aquatic environments. Many are carcinogenic and lead to DNA fragmentation and adduct formation in marine and freshwater organisms. Previous research demonstrates that rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) compensate to long-term PAH dietary exposures and reduce the DNA damage.
The aim of this study...
A large number of river otter (Lontra canadensis) males were collected
from areas of high and low contaminant concentrations throughout western
Oregon and Washington during the fall and winter of 1994-99. Few significant
non-reproductive organ morphometric differences were found in the large series
of male otters collected, except for adrenal...
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) eggs and prey items were collected from six colonies on the Columbia and Willamette rivers and Puget Sound during 1994-95. Contaminant concentrations, reproductive success, and biomagnification factors (BMFs) were determined and effects of residue levels were measured by H4IIE rat hepatoma and ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) bioassays....
This study was undertaken to determine if strontium chloride could be used to create a trans-generational otolith mark in steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). I completed two strontium injection trials and a survey of juvenile steelhead from various steelhead hatcheries. The two trials measured Sr:Ca ratios in otoliths in response to injections...
Fluorinated chemicals (FCs) have been used since the 1950s in many industrial and commercial applications because of their unique properties such as chemical inertness, resistance to heat and their ability to repel water and oils. Concerns regarding potential environmental or human health risk from FCs exposure have emerged due to...
The atmospheric transport and deposition of semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs), including current and historic use pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to mountain ecosystems may result in the exposure of tadpoles to these SOCs. This exposure has been implicated in amphibian population declines in California. Tadpoles encounter...
The potential impact of chemical contaminants and conservation practices on amphibians in agricultural landscapes is a key research topic globally. Amphibians represent a common group in many freshwater systems and are currently experiencing worldwide population declines. Global amphibian declines may be attributed to a number of causes, including habitat loss,...
Natural and synthetic estrogenic compounds detected in surface waters have
been linked to endocrine signaling disruption in several species. Endogenous
estrogen contributes to cartilage and bone deposition during development in
vertebrates, and is susceptible to perturbation from xenoestrogens. The goals of
this work were to develop a teleost model to...
A large number of river otter (Lontra canadensis) males were collected
from areas of high and low contaminant concentrations throughout western
Oregon and Washington during the fall and winter of 1994-99. Few significant
non-reproductive organ morphometric differences were found in the large series
of male otters collected, except for adrenal...