Project Information

Title: Long Term Monitoring Program - Evaluating Chronic Exposure of Harlequin Ducks and Sea Otters to Lingering EVO in Western PWS 13120114-Q

Project Year and Number: 2013: 13120114-Q

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2014: 14120114-Q, 2012: 12120114-Q

Principal Investigator (PI): Dan Esler (USGS)

Managing Agency: USGS

Assisting Personnel: None

Project Website: https://gulfwatchalaska.org/monitoring/completed-projects/lingering-oil/harlequin-ducks-and-sea-otters/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Monitoring, Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Harlequin Ducks, Sea Otters

Abstract:

This study was implemented to evaluate recovery status of harlequin ducks and sea otters in PWS using biomarker assays to assess continuing exposure to lingering oil, and potential health consequences of contemporary or previous exposure. Sea otters were captured and sampled in western PWS in summer 2012, and blood samples from those otters were analyzed for biomarker and health assays using gene transcription analyses. A final report on the gene transcription results recently was completed, and is provided as an attachment to this report; highlights of associated sea otter studies through 2013 are included in the Nearshore Benthic Annual Report (Project component 12120114-R). Harlequin ducks were captured in PWS in March 2013 and liver biopsies collected for assays of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), a biomarker of exposure to oil.


Proposal: View (716 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY13: View (9,357 KB)
Final Report: See Project 14120114-Q

Publications from this Project: None Available