Mercury concentrations in the fur of Steller sea lions and northern fur seals from Alaska

Abstract

We compared total mercury (THg) concentrations in the fur of northern fur seals ( Callorhinus ursinus) from the depleted Pribilof Islands population with those of both declining and thriving populations of Steller sea lions ( Eumetopias jubatus) from Prince William Sound (PWS) and Southeast Alaska (SEA), respectively. Relatively low wet weight concentrations (ranges) of THg were detected in the fur of Steller sea lion (SSL) pups (0.90–3.14 μg/g) and juveniles (0.56–6.75 μg/g) from both areas in 1998 and 2000 compared to northern fur seal (NFS) pups (3.15–8.14 μg/g) in 2000. The mean concentration ± SD for SSLs sampled were 1.46±0.64 μg/g for pups ( n=22) and 2.74±2.89 μg/g for juveniles ( n=6). Analyses indicated higher THg concentrations from SSL pups from PWS compared to the SEA. Mean ± SD. THg in the NFS pups was 4.90±1.42 μg/g ( n=34) and for post-partum dams was 7.84±1.78 μg/g ( n=12).