BGS Hosted Metadata
Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) grey seal pup contaminants
The data set comprises measurements of contaminant concentrations in the blubber of grey seal pups. Samples were collected on the Isle of May, Firth of Forth, East Scotland between 13 November and 02 December 2002. Sixty suckling pups were selected at random from the island's population, weighed, measured and tagged. Pups were recaptured repeatedly before and after weaning, with weight, length and axillary girth being re-measured each time. These measurements were used to estimate blubber reserves based on mass/length, as detailed in Hall et al. (2009). Linear regression was used to derive estimates of pup mass at weaning. Blubber biopsy samples were collected from 57 of the pups when they were first recaptured after weaning. Samples were stored at -20 °C, then extracted using the Soxhlet method. Lipid content was determined gravimetrically while Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine wet weight concentrations of contaminants per lipid proportion of the sample. A linear back calculation based on the known rate of contaminant concentration in blubber post-weaning was used to correct values to the concentration at weaning. The data were collected by researchers from the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St Andrews and the University of Lancaster Department of Environmental Science. The data are held at the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC).
Simple
- Alternate title
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British Oceanographic Data Centre record 1048SMRU_GREYSEAL
- Date (Publication)
- 2017-10-03
- Date (Creation)
- 2011-05-17
- Date (Revision)
- 2015-09-14
- Citation identifier
- http://www.bodc.ac.uk/ / EDMED4849
- Point of contact
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role Sea Mammal Research Unit
Unknown
Originator Lancaster University, Department of Environmental Science
Unknown
Originator British Oceanographic Data Centre
Custodian
- Maintenance and update frequency
- As needed
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MEDIN metadata record availability
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Vertical Coverages
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SeaDataNet PDV
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INSPIRE themes
- Use limitation
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Usage restrictions are specified in the terms of the licence
- Access constraints
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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Data are freely available to all following agreement to the terms and conditions of a Data Licence
- Language
- English
- Topic category
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- Biota
- Environment
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- Begin date
- 2002-11-13
- End date
- 2002-12-02
- Supplemental Information
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Publication year: 2003-04-02
Publication title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in grey seals during their first year of life—are they thyroid hormone endocrine disrupters? Environmental Pollution, 126
Publication authors: Hall, A.J., Kalantzi, O.I. & Thomas, G.O.
Publication editors: Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
Publication year: 2009-07-14
Publication title: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants and first-year survival probability in gray seal pups. Environmental Science and Technology, 43.
Publication authors: Hall, A.J., Thomas, G.O. & McConnell, B.J.
Publication editors: Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
- Reference system identifier
- OGP / urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
- Distribution format
-
- Distributor contact
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role British Oceanographic Data Centre
Distributor
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
- Statement
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Blubber samples were collected from grey seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) pups on the Isle of May (Firth of Forth, east Scotland). Sixty suckling pups were selected at random from the island's population, weighed, measured and tagged. Five of these tags malfunctioned but two of the affected pups were still included in the study, leading to a total of 57 pups in the final dataset. The pups were recaptured repeatedly before and after weaning, with weight, length and axillary girth being re-measured each time. These measurements were used to estimate blubber reserves based on mass/length, as detailed in Hall et al. (2009), and linear regression was used to derive estimates of pup mass at weaning. All animal capture was undertaken during the breeding season while the pups were still on land. Blubber biopsy samples were collected from the pups when they were first recaptured after weaning. Samples were stored at -20°C, then extracted using the Soxhlet method. Lipid content was determined gravimetrically while Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine wet weight concentrations of contaminants per lipid proportion of the sample. A linear back calculation based on the known rate of contaminant concentration in blubber post-weaning was used to correct values to the concentration at weaning. Methods and analyses are detailed in Hall et al. (2009) and references therein. The data were submitted to BODC in .xls files containing sample metadata and concentrations of individual contaminants in blubber samples taken from each animal. Concentrations of standard combinations of congeners were also included. Data received by BODC were transferred into a template whose form had been agreed between BODC and the data originator. The data were then loaded to the BODC database using established BODC data banking procedures. No changes were made to the data during loading. Each contaminant concentration was mapped to an appropriate parameter code with exception of standard combinations of congeners. All values are wet weight concentrations per lipid proportion in the blubber of live, post-weaned pups with a correction to weaning, as described above. Note that the number of decimal places for a particular contaminant may vary between individuals. The originator has stated that, given the magnitude and biological significance of the concentrations, it is valid to round all values to one decimal place for the sake of consistency, should data users wish to do so.
Instrument(s) used to collect data: gas chromatograph mass spectrometers.
Metadata
- File identifier
- 26dc736252c65f41ab1899c61f7b9b42 XML
- Metadata language
- English
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
- Date stamp
- 2018-02-06T15:16:39
- Metadata standard name
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MEDIN Discovery Metadata Standard
- Metadata standard version
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Version 2.3.8
- Metadata author
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role British Oceanographic Data Centre
Polly Hadžiabdic
Point of contact
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