Time series histogram for annual Caspian seal mortality 1971–2008, along the 10 km Apsheron monitoring zone (40.523 N, 50.119 E and 40.501 N, 50.226 E).

<p>Time series histogram for annual Caspian seal mortality 1971–2008, along the 10 km Apsheron monitoring zone (40.523 N, 50.119 E and 40.501 N, 50.226 E).</p

Relative frequency histograms showing distribution of ∑PCB and ∑DDT levels for necropsied seals (n = 67).

<p>Relative frequency histograms showing distribution of ∑PCB and ∑DDT levels for necropsied seals (n = 67).</p

Anova tables for highest ranked PCB and DDT models containing the 3 main terms Age, log10(Blubber+1), and Sex.

<p>*P<0.05, ***P<0.001.</p

Comparison of Total TEQs in Caspian seals dying in 2000 with seals in the Netherlands feeding experiment (experimental data from Ross et al., 1995; Caspian data from Kajiwara et al. 2002; Kuiken et al. 2006).

<p>Comparison of Total TEQs in Caspian seals dying in 2000 with seals in the Netherlands feeding experiment (experimental data from Ross et al., 1995; Caspian data from Kajiwara et al. 2002; Kuiken et al. 2006).</p

Histogram of age structure among Caspian seal carcases stranded 1999–2002.

<p>Histogram of age structure among Caspian seal carcases stranded 1999–2002.</p

Comparison of PCBs, DDTs and Blubber thickness in CDV+ and CDV− animals (Welch 2 sample <i>t</i>-test).

<p>Comparison of PCBs, DDTs and Blubber thickness in CDV+ and CDV− animals (Welch 2 sample <i>t</i>-test).</p

Boxplot of blubber thickness (cm) for Caspian seal carcases stranded 1997–2009, showing seasonal variation in body condition.

<p>Boxplot of blubber thickness (cm) for Caspian seal carcases stranded 1997–2009, showing seasonal variation in body condition.</p

Boxplot for number of Caspian seal carcases recorded monthly (1971–2008) in the 10 km Apsheron monitoring zone.

<p>Central line of boxes gives median carcases per month. Red line gives mean carcase number.</p

Boxplots of contaminant burdens by sex-age class (top) and CDV status (bottom).

<p>Red dashed line indicates proposed threshold for potential toxic effects for ∑TEQ levels (196−220 pg/g lipid weight) derived from experimental studies in harbour seals (De Swart et al. 1994, 1995a, 1995b, 1996, Ross et al. 1995). y axis is plotted on log10 scale.</p

Anova comparison for log10(PCBs), log10(DDTs) and log10(Blubber+1) versus, Sex-age class, Country, Year and Season.

<p>Anova comparison for log10(PCBs), log10(DDTs) and log10(Blubber+1) versus, Sex-age class, Country, Year and Season.</p