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Walker, L.A.; Lawlor, A.J.; Chadwick, E.A.; Potter, E.D.; Pereira, M.G.; Shore, R.F.; Chaplow, J.S.

Metal and metalloid concentrations in the livers of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales

https://doi.org/10.5285/2effc7c4-82c8-4000-af8d-fdf82b1c3192
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© UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

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Dataset includes dry weight concentrations of 18 toxic, essential and trace elements quantified in the livers of otters that have been found dead in England and Wales between 2007 and 2009 inclusive. For each otter the month and year found, age, sex, body condition coefficient and location where the otter was found are given. Most elements were measured in 157 samples that came from the years 2007 to 2009. Residues of Pb were only measured in 107 samples from 2007 and 2008. 17 livers from 2009 were analysed for Ag. The data are used to quantify the magnitude of exposure to these elements in otters in relation to studies from across Europe and the likely toxicological significance of the residues found. This work has been carried out within the monitoring programme of the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) (https://pbms.ceh.ac.uk ), a long-term, national monitoring scheme that quantifies the concentrations of contaminants in the livers and eggs of selected species of predatory and fish-eating birds in Britain. The PBMS monitors the levels of contaminants to determine how and why they vary between species and regions, how they are changing over time, and the effects that they may have on individual birds and on their populations. The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme is run by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). This work was carried out in collaboration with the Cardiff University Otter Project.
Publication date: 2015-10-25
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Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent
1960-01-01    to    …

Provenance & quality

Carcasses were stored frozen at -18 degrees C prior to examination by the Cardiff University Otter Project (http://www.otterproject.cf.ac.uk/ ). During a post mortem examination the age (classified as adult, sub-adult and juvenile) and sex of the animal were determined. In addition a range of biometric observations were recorded including body length and weight which were used to determine the body condition coefficient (K) according to Kruuk and Conroy (1991). A sub-sample of the liver was taken and stored at -18 degrees C prior to analysis by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. A 1g wet weight sample of each liver was microwave-digested in 10ml of 70% J.T.Baker ULTREX II grade nitric acid (Avantor Performance Materials, London, UK) in a microwave digestion system (200 degrees C for 15 minutes). Digested samples were then made up to 25ml using de-ionized water (grade), then further diluted ten-fold, using de-ionized water, immediately prior to analysis by inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The ICPMS was pre-conditioned with 10% (v/v) nitric acid until the background signal stabilised and a correction factor was applied to resultant Ag concentration to account for signal interferences from zirconium oxide. Moisture content of the sample was determined by drying a 0.5g sub-sample at 70 degrees C for 48 hours. Dry weight concentrations were calculated based upon the wet weight of the analysed sample and the moisture content of the sub-sample.

Licensing and constraints

This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

Cite this dataset as:
Walker, L.A.; Lawlor, A.J.; Chadwick, E.A.; Potter, E.D.; Pereira, M.G.; Shore, R.F.; Chaplow, J.S. (2015). Metal and metalloid concentrations in the livers of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/2effc7c4-82c8-4000-af8d-fdf82b1c3192

© UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Related

This dataset is included in the following collections

The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS)

Supplemental information

Correspondence/contact details

Walker, L.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg
Lancaster
Lancashire
LA1 4AP
UNITED KINGDOM
 enquiries@ceh.ac.uk

Authors

Walker, L.A.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Lawlor, A.J.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Chadwick, E.A.
Cardiff University Otter Project
Potter, E.D.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Pereira, M.G.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Shore, R.F.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Chaplow, J.S.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Other contacts

Rights holder
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk
Owner
Natural Environment Research Council
 enquiries@ceh.ac.uk

Additional metadata

Topic categories
biota
environment
farming
INSPIRE theme
Environmental Monitoring Facilities
Keywords
England , liver , livers , lutra lutra , metalloids , metals , otter , Pollution , Wales
Last updated
21 March 2025 13:35