Effects of oiling on exercise physiology and diving behavior of river otters: a captive study

被引:39
作者
Ben-David, M [1 ]
Williams, TM
Ormseth, OA
机构
[1] Univ Alaska, Inst Arctic Biol, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA
[2] Univ Calif Santa Cruz, Dept Biol, Santa Cruz, CA 95604 USA
来源
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE | 2000年 / 78卷 / 08期
关键词
D O I
10.1139/cjz-78-8-1380
中图分类号
Q95 [动物学];
学科分类号
071002 ;
摘要
Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS), river otters (Lontra canadensis) on oiled shores had lower body mass, selected different habitat characters, and had larger home ranges and less diverse diets than did otters living in non-oiled areas. We explored the possibility that these changes were due to the effect of crude oil contamination on physiological and behavioral processes in otters. Fifteen otters were exposed to two levels of oil contamination under captive controlled conditions at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, Alaska, U.S.A. We collected blood samples for hematological examinations and measured oxygen consumption in otters exercising on a motorized treadmill. We also observed diving and foraging behavior of otters offered live fish. Otters exposed to oil became anemic relative to controls. While oxygen consumption of resting river otters was not related to changes in hemoglobin concentration, exercising river otters with decreased hemoglobin levels displayed significantly increased oxygen consumption (P = 0.042). Oiled otters also performed fewer dives when chasing fish (P = 0.04), representing a potential decrease of 64% in the capture rate of prey. Our data strongly support the hypothesis that changes in prey types and home-range utilization by oiled river otters following EVOS were influenced by hematological changes, associated increases in energetic costs, and reduced diving ability.
引用
收藏
页码:1380 / 1390
页数:11
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