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Domoic Acid Poisoning as a Possible Cause of Seasonal Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Tasmania, Australia

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Abstract

The periodic trend to cetacean mass stranding events in the Australian island state of Tasmania remains unexplained. This article introduces the hypothesis that domoic acid poisoning may be a causative agent in these events. The hypothesis arises from the previously evidenced role of aeolian dust as a vector of iron input to the Southern Ocean; the role of iron enrichment in Pseudo-nitzschia bloom proliferation and domoic acid production; and importantly, the characteristic toxicosis of domoic acid poisoning in mammalian subjects leading to spatial navigation deficits. As a pre-requisite for quantitative evaluation, the plausibility of this hypothesis was considered through correlation analyses between historical monthly stranding event numbers, mean monthly chlorophyll concentration and average monthly atmospheric dust loading. Correlation of these variables, which under the domoic acid stranding scenario would be linked, revealed strong agreement (r = 0.80–0.87). We therefore advocate implementation of strategic quantitative investigation of the role of domoic acid in Tasmanian cetacean mass stranding events.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Princess Melikoff Trust Marine Mammal Conservation Program of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) for sharing of stranding record data for the production of this manuscript. Authors also acknowledge Frances Gulland for various discussions relating to DA poisoning in marine mammals and Robert Warneke and Rosemary Gales for early guidance on stranding events in the region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP), Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI), School of Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    S. M. Bengtson Nash & A. Dawson

  2. Department of Geography, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

    M. C. Baddock

  3. Department of Science, Information, Technology and Innovation (DSITI), Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    E. Takahashi

  4. School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    R. Cropp

Authors
  1. S. M. Bengtson Nash
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  2. M. C. Baddock
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  3. E. Takahashi
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  4. A. Dawson
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  5. R. Cropp
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. M. Bengtson Nash.

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Bengtson Nash, S.M., Baddock, M.C., Takahashi, E. et al. Domoic Acid Poisoning as a Possible Cause of Seasonal Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Tasmania, Australia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 98, 8–13 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1906-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1906-4

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