Marine Toxicology
A Pod of Sperm Whales Photo courtesy of Chris Johnson
Background
Sperm whales are an endangered species (1). They are top predators in the marine food chain feeding primarily on squid and fish (2), much as humans are the top predator in their food chain. Sperm whales inhabit all oceans and they have a long life span (2). Thus they are an ideal 'canary in the ocean' for studying the threat of marine pollution.
In 2000, the research vessel Odyssey set sail from California embarking on a 5 year voyage circumnavigating the globe seeking sperm whales from around the world. The goal of the voyage was simple: Try to collect a global data set of ocean pollution using the sperm whale as an indicator species in an effort to see how badly polluted our oceans are. In 2004, we met Ocean Alliance and joined this effort as a close partner. Their goal is to measure levels in sperm whales from around the world and ours is to extend those data and determine how toxic these chemicals are to whale cells and how the effects on whale cells compare to human cells. The voyage is now complete and the lab work is underway. Exciting results from this unprecedented effort are expected soon.
Experimental Studies
Sperm Whale Skin Cells
We are measuring the levels of environmental contaminants in Sperm whale tissue collected during the Voyage of the Odyssey. We are also investigating the effects of these contaminants on cell death, and chromosome and DNA damage in cell lines developed from sperm whale skin. With the data obtained from these efforts, we will be able to determine: 1) which classes of pollutants are elevated around the world; 2) which pollutants pose the largest risk to whales; 3) which pollutants the whales respond to in a manner similar to humans; and 4) where the most polluted areas around the world are and return there to study the source and extent of the pollution.
References
- Carretta, J., Forney, K.A., Muto, M.M., Barlow, J., Baker, J., Hanson, B., and Lowry, M.S. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 2004. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 1-322, 2005.
- Marine Fisheries Review. The Sperm Whale. 61(1):59-74, 1999.
Collaborators and Cooperators
The Wise Laboratory is assisted in this work by an important number of collaborators and cooperators. In particular, the following prominent scientists and their teams provide significant support and input:
Dr. AbouEl-Makarim Aboueissa is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Southern Maine (USM). He provides statistical expertise particularly in the area of handling samples with measurements at or below detection limits.
Dr. Iain Kerr is the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of The Ocean Alliance. He provides access to the research vessel Odyssey and access to Southern Right whale samples.
Dr. Roger Payne is the Founder and President of The Ocean Alliance in Lincoln, Massachusetts. He provides expert advice and guidance on identification and geographic distribution of whales and other marine mammals.
Dr. Yawei Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University. She provides expert advice and guidance on the statistical analysis and epidemiological design of marine mammal studies.
Dr. Tongzhang Zheng is Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health and Head of the Environmental Health Sciences Division at Yale University. He provides expert advice and guidance on the statistical analysis and epidemiological design of marine mammal studies.
Funding
This work is generously supported by the Ocean Alliance and the Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health.
