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Title: Differences in blood haptoglobin and length-mass relationships in river otters (Lutra canadensis) from oiled and nonoiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska

Journal Article · · Journal of Wildlife Diseases; (United States)
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks (United States)

Significant differences in levels of blood haptoglobin occurred between river otters (Lutra canadensis) inhabiting oiled (mean = 361 mg/100 ml, SD = 38, n = 6) and nonoiled (mean = 306 mg/100 ml, SD = 87, n = 8) areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA) following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Additionally, male river otters from oiled areas had significantly lower body mass (1.13 kg) than male otters from nonoiled areas. We propose oil-related causes for these differences.

OSTI ID:
6524551
Journal Information:
Journal of Wildlife Diseases; (United States), Vol. 29:2; ISSN 0090-3558
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English