Pacific Marine Mammal Health Assessments (PMMHA)

Summary

Marine mammals have been protected in the United States since 1972 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).  The U.S. Pacific Islands and surrounding waters are critical habit for many marine mammal species including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and northern Pacific humpback whales, which migrate to the waters around Hawaii during the winter to calf and breed.  Pacific Marine Mammal Health Assessments (PMMHA) allow monitoring and   sample collection and biobanking from individual living animals in U.S. Pacific Islands marine mammal populations.  PMMHA collaborations are diverse including field health evaluations and rehabilitation of endangered Hawaiian monk seals; free swimming cetacean population monitoring through dart biopsy sampling; and following long-term personalized health in bottlenose dolphins under human care.

Description

Pacific Marine Mammal Health Assessments (PMMHA), which began in Fall 2010, are an expansion of NIST marine mammal health assessment collaborations that began in 2002 with bottlenose dolphin wild populations.  NIST has a history of involvement in marine mammal health assessment related work collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s, National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS), Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, and Dolphin Quest including, (1) support for the banking of marine mammal tissues in the NIST Biorepository, (2) designing standardized sample collection protocols, (3) providing technical assistance in the field, (4) development of standard reference and control materials (SRMs), (5) implementation of inter-laboratory comparison exercises using marine mammal tissues, and (6) analyzing samples for chemical analytes.  PMMHA samples that are archived in the NIST Biorepository are collected and processed according to detailed standardized protocols, which makes NIST Biorepository samples specifically useful for analytical analysis of organic contaminants, trace elements, and other chemical analytes.  Since the NIST Biorepository is a long-term cryogenic storage repository, PMMHA samples are available for research questions involving emerging contaminants or health concerns that arise in the future.

 

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Goals of PMMHA

• Develop standardized methods and protocols for collecting, processing, and archiving samples obtained from live animals and teach collaborating researchers protocols.
• Assess environmental and anthropogenic stressors along with metabolic changes that may impact health of individuals and U.S. Pacific Islands marine mammal populations.  

PMMHA COLLECTIONS

• Bottlenose Dolphins Under Human Care Health Assessment
• Hawaiian Monk Seal Health and Disease Studies
• Hawaiian Cetacean Dart Biopsy Archival and Chemical Analysis
• Hawaiian Monk Seal Rehabilitation

Associated Publications

1. Boggs, A. S. P., Ragland, J. M., Zolman, E. S., Schock, T. B., Morey, J. S., Galligan, T. M., Luche, G. D., Balmer, B. C., Wells, R. S., Kucklick, J. R., and Schwacke, L. H., "Remote blubber sampling paired with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for steroidal endocrinology in free -ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus),"  General and Comparative Endocrinology, 281, 164-172 (2019). 

2. Dietz, R., Letcher, R. J., Desforges, J. P., Eulaers, I., Sonne, C., Wilson, S., Andersen-Ranberg, E., Basu, N., Barst, B. D., Bustnes, J. O., Bytingsvik, J., Ciesielski, T. M., Drevnick, P. E., Gabrielsen, G., Haarr, A., Hylland, K., Jenssen, B. M., Levin, M., McKinney, M. A., Norregaard, R. D., Pedersen, K. E., Provencher, J., Styrishave, B., Tartu, S., Aars, J., Ackerman, J. T., Rosing-Asvid, A., Barrett, R., Bignert, A., Borns, E. W., Branigan, M., Braune, B., Bryan, C. E., Dam, M., Eagles-Smith, C. A., Evans, M., Evans, T. J., Fisk, A. T., Gamberg, M., Gustavson, K., Hartman, C. A., Helander, B., Herzog, M. P., Hoekstra, P. F., Houde, M., Hoydal, K., Jackson, A. K., Kucklick, J., Lie, E., Loseto, L., Mallory, M. L., Miljeteig, C., Mosbech, A., Muir, D. C. G., Nielsen, S. T., Peacock, E., Pedro, S., Peterson, S. H., Polder, A., Riget, F. F., Roach, P., Saunes, H., Sinding, M. H. S., Skaare, J. U., Sondergaard, J., Stenson, G., Stern, G., Treu, G., Schuur, S. S., and Vikingsson, G., "Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish," Science of the Total Environment, 696, (2019). 

3. Kurtz, A. E., Reiner, J. L., West, K. L., and Jensen, B. A., "Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids in Hawaiian Cetaceans and Potential Biomarkers of Effect: Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha and Cytochrome P450 4A," Environ. Sci. Technol., 53, 2830-2839 (2019). 

4. Luche, G. D., Nash, S. B., Kucklick, J. R., Mingramm, F. J., and Boggs, A. S. P., "Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the quantification of steroid hormone profiles in blubber from stranded humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)," Conservation Physiology, 7, (2019). 

5. Hart, L. B., Beckingham, B., Wells, R. S., Flagg, M. A., Wischusen, K., Moors, A., Kucklick, J., Pisarski, E., and Wirth, E., "Urinary Phthalate Metabolites in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) From Sarasota Bay, FL, USA," Geohealth,  2, 313-326 (2018). 

6. Lynch, J. M., Ragland, J. M., Reagen, W. K., Wolf, S. T., Malinsky, M. D., Ellisor, M. B., Moors, A. J., Pugh, R. S., and Reiner, J. L., "Feasibility of using the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank for retrospective exploratory studies of perfluorinated alkyl acids," Science of the Total Environment, 624, 781-789 (2018). 

7. Neely, B. A., Prager, K. C., Bland, A. M., Fontaine, C., Gulland, F. M., and Janech, M. G., "Proteomic Analysis of Urine from California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus): A Resource for Urinary Biomarker Discovery," Journal of Proteome Research, 17, 3281-3291 (2018). 

8. Boggs, A. S. P., Schock, T. B., Schwacke, L. H., Galligan, T. M., Morey, J. S., Mcfee, W. E., and Kucklick, J. R., "Rapid and reliable steroid hormone profiling in Tursiops truncatus blubber using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)," Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 409, 5019-5029 (2017). 

9. Vander Pol, S. S., Kucklick, J. R., Lynch, J. M., Pugh, R. S., Ragland, J. M., Reiner, J. L., Trevillian, J., and Schantz, M. M., "Lessons Learned from Monitoring Organic Contaminants in Three Decades of Marine Samples from the Pacific Basin Archived at the USA's Marine Environmental Specimen Bank," Persistent Organic Chemicals in the Environment: Status and Trends in the Pacific Basin Countries Ii: Temporal Trends, 1244, 1-19 (2016). 

10. Ellisor, D., McLellan, W., Koopman, H., Schwacke, L., Mcfee, W., and Kucklick, J., "The distribution and stratification of persistent organic pollutants and fatty acids in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) blubber," Science of the Total Environment, 463, 581-588 (2013). 

11. Schwacke, L. H., Zolman, E. S., Balmer, B. C., De Guise, S., George, R. C., Hoguet, J., Hohn, A. A., Kucklick, J. R., Lamb, S., Levin, M., Litz, J. A., Mcfee, W. E., Place, N. J., Townsend, F. I., Wells, R. S., and Rowles, T. K., "Anaemia, hypothyroidism and immune suppression associated with polychlorinated biphenyl exposure in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)," Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 279, 48-57 (2012). 

12. Balmer, B. C., Schwacke, L. H., Wells, R. S., George, R. C., Hoguet, J., Kucklick, J. R., Lane, S. M., Martinez, A., McLellan, W. A., Rosel, P. E., Rowles, T. K., Sparks, K., Speakman, T., Zolman, E. S., and Pabst, D. A., "Relationship between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and ranging patterns in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from coastal Georgia, USA," Science of the Total Environment, 409, 2094-2101 (2011). 

13. Kucklick, J. R., Schantz, M. M., Pugh, R. S., Porter, B. J., Poster, D. L., Becker, P. R., Rowles, T. K., Leigh, S., and Wise, S. A., "Marine mammal blubber reference and control materials for use in the determination of halogenated organic compounds and fatty acids," Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 397, 423-432 (2010). 

14. Peck, A. M., Pugh, R. S., Moors, A., Ellisor, M. B., Porter, B. J., Becker, P. R., and Kucklick, J. R., "Hexabromocyclododecane in white-sided dolphins: Temporal trend and stereoisomer distribution in tissues," Environ. Sci. Technol., 42, 2650-2655 (2008). 

15. Pugh, R. S., Becker, P. R., Porter, B. J., Ellisor, M. B., Moors, A. J., and Wise, S. A., "Design and applications of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) environmental specimen banking programs," Cell Preservation Technology, 6, 59-72 (2008). 

16. Christopher, S. J., Pugh, R. S., Ellisor, M. B., Mackey, E. A., Spatz, R. O., Porter, B. J., Bealer, K. J., Kucklick, J. R., Rowles, T. K., and Becker, P. R., "Description and results of the NIST/NOAA 2005 interlaboratory comparison exercise for trace elements in marine mammals," Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 12, 175-187 (2007). 

17. Becker, P. R. and Wise, S. A., "The US National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank and the Marine Environmental Specimen Bank," Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 8, 795-799 (2006). 

18. Kucklick, J. R., Krahn, M. M., Becker, P. R., Porter, B. J., Schantz, M. M., York, G. S., O'Hara, T. M., and Wise, S. A., "Persistent organic pollutants in Alaskan ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) blubber," Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 8, 848-854 (2006). 

19. Stapleton, H. M., Dodder, N. G., Kucklick, J. R., Reddy, C. M., Schantz, M. M., Becker, P. R., Gulland, F., Porter, B. J., and Wise, S. A., "Determination of HBCD, PBDEs and MeO-BDEs in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) stranded between 1993 and 2003," Marine Pollution Bulletin, 52, 522-531 (2006). 

20. Tuerk, K. J. S., Kucklick, J. R., Mcfee, W. E., Pugh, R. S., and Becker, P. R., "Factors influencing persistent organic pollutant concentrations in the atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)," Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24, 1079-1087 (2005). 

21. Tuerk, K. J. S., Kucklick, J. R., Becker, P. R., Stapleton, H. M., and Baker, J. E., "Persistent organic pollutants in two dolphin species with focus on toxaphene and polybrominated diphenyl ethers," Environ. Sci. Technol., 39, 692-698 (2005). 

22. Keller, J. M., Kucklick, J. R., and McClellan-Green, P. D., "Organochlorine contaminants in loggerhead sea turtle blood: Extraction techniques and distribution among plasma and red blood cells," Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 46, 254-264 (2004). 

23. Mackey, E. A., Oflaz, R. D., Epstein, M. S., Buehler, B., Porter, B. J., Rowles, T., Wise, S. A., and Becker, P. R., "Elemental composition of liver and kidney tissues of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis)," Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 44, 523-532 (2003). 

24. Kucklick, J. R., Struntz, W. D. J., Becker, P. R., York, G. W., O'Hara, T. M., and Bohonowych, J. E., "Persistent organochlorine pollutants in ringed seals and polar bears collected from northern Alaska," Science of the Total Environment, 287, 45-59 (2002). 

25. Mackey, E. A., Oflaz, R. D., and Wise, S. A., "Neutron activation analysis of marine mammal liver tissues for the national biomonitoring specimen bank," Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 224, U534 (2002). 

26. Becker, P. R., Mackey, E. A., Demiralp, R., Koster, B. J., and Wise, S. A., "Establishing baseline levels of elements in marine mammals through analysis of banked liver tissues," Environmental Biomonitoring: Exposure Assessment and Specimen Banking, 654, 261-270 (1997). 

27. Becker, P. R., Mackey, E. A., Demiralp, R., Schantz, M. M., Koster, B. J., and Wise, S. A., "Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons and trace elements in marine mammal tissues archived in the US National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank," Chemosphere, 34, 2067-2098 (1997). 

28. Becker, P. R., Wise, S. A., Thorsteinson, L., Koster, B. J., and Rowles, T., "Specimen banking of marine organisms in the United States: Current status and long-term prospective," Chemosphere, 34, 1889-1906 (1997). 

29. Becker, P. R., Mackey, E. A., Demiralp, R., Suydam, R., Early, G., Koster, B. J., and Wise, S. A., "Relationship of Silver with Selenium and Mercury in the Liver of 2 Species of Toothed Whales (Odontocetes)," Marine Pollution Bulletin, 30, 262-271 (1995). 

30. Mackey, E. A., Demiralp, R., Becker, P. R., Greenberg, R. R., Koster, B. J., and Wise, S. A., "Trace element concentrations in cetacean liver tissues archived in the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank," Science of the Total Environment, 175, 25-41 (1995). 

31. Wise, S. A. and Koster, B. J., "Considerations in the Design of An Environmental Specimen Bank - Experiences of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank Program," Environmental Health Perspectives, 103, 61-67 (1995). 

32. Becker, P. R., Koster, B. J., Wise, S. A., and Zeisler, R., "Biological Specimen Banking in Arctic Research - An Alaska Perspective," Science of the Total Environment, 140, 69-95 (1993). 

33. Lillestolen, T. I., Foster, N., and Wise, S. A., "Development of the National-Marine-Mammal-Tissue-Bank," Science of the Total Environment, 140, 97-107 (1993). 

34. Schantz, M. M., Koster, B. J., Wise, S. A., and Becker, P. R., "Determination of Pcbs and Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Marine Mammal Tissues," Science of the Total Environment, 140, 323-345 (1993). 

35. Wise, S. A., Koster, B. J., Langland, J. K., and Zeisler, R., "Current Activities Within the National-Biomonitoring-Specimen-Bank," Science of the Total Environment, 140, 1-12 (1993). 

36. Wise, S. A., Schantz, M. M., Koster, B. J., Demiralp, R., Mackey, E. A., Greenberg, R. R., Burow, M., Ostapczuk, P., and Lillestolen, T. I., "Development of Frozen Whale Blubber and Liver Reference Materials for the Measurement of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants," Fresenius Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 345, 270-277 (1993). 

37. Zeisler, R., Demiralp, R., Koster, B. J., Becker, P. R., Burow, M., Ostapczuk, P., and Wise, S. A., "Determination of Inorganic Constituents in Marine Mammal Tissues," Science of the Total Environment, 140, 365-386 (1993). 

38. Schantz, M. M., Koster, B. J., Wise, S. A., Becker, P. R., and Lillestolen, T. I., "Organic-Analysis of Marine Mammal Tissue Specimens," Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 204, 62-ANYL (1992). 

39. Becker, P. R., Koster, B. J., Wise, S. A., and Zeisler, R., "Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project," Biological Trace Element Research, 26-7, 329-334 (1990).