Frick, Faculty Advisor, Jeffrey

Harper, Faculty Advisor, R. Given

Hoffmann, Faculty Advisor, Stephen

Hynes, \u2707, Stacy

Misek, \u2707, Ryan

Rueth, \u2708, Sarah

English

Digital Commons @ Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan UniversityDigital Commons @ IWUJohn Wesley Powell Student ResearchConference 2007, 18th Annual JWP ConferenceApr 14th, 2:35 PM - 3:35 PMOrganochlorine Compounds and Heavy Metals inNorth American Grey Wolves (Canis Lupus)Stacy Hynes, '07Illinois Wesleyan UniversityRyan Misek, '07Illinois Wesleyan UniversitySarah Rueth, '08Illinois Wesleyan UniversityStephen Hoffmann, Faculty AdvisorIllinois Wesleyan UniversityJeffrey Frick, Faculty AdvisorIllinois Wesleyan UniversitySee next page for additional authorsFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprcThis Event is brought to you for free and open access by The Ames Library, the Andrew W. Mellon Center for Curricular and FacultyDevelopment, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President. It has been accepted for inclusion in Digital Commons @ IWU bythe faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@iwu.edu.©Copyright is owned by the author of this document.Hynes, '07, Stacy; Misek, '07, Ryan; Rueth, '08, Sarah; Hoffmann, Faculty Advisor, Stephen; Frick, Faculty Advisor,Jeffrey; and Harper, Faculty Advisor, R. Given, "Organochlorine Compounds and Heavy Metals in North American GreyWolves (Canis Lupus)" (2007). John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference. 37.http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprc/2007/posters2/37Presenter InformationStacy Hynes, '07; Ryan Misek, '07; Sarah Rueth, '08; Stephen Hoffmann, Faculty Advisor; Jeffrey Frick,Faculty Advisor; and R. Given Harper, Faculty AdvisorThis event is available at Digital Commons @ IWU: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprc/2007/posters2/37THE JOHN WESLEY POWELL STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE - APRIL 2007 Poster Presentation P42 ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS AND HEAVY METALS IN NORTH AMERICAN GREY WOLVES (CANIS LUPUS) Stacy Hynes, Ryan Misek, Sarah Rueth, and Stephen Hoffmann*, Jeffrey Frick*, and R. Given Harper* Chemistry and Biology Departments, Illinois Wesleyan University S izeable grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations i n  North America are currently found in Alaska, Canada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Since the grey wolf is at the top of its food chain, this species may contain high levels of organochlorine (OC) pesticides (e.g., DDT) and metabolites due to biomagnification. Wolves may be exposed to heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead, mercury and zinc), which can reach toxic concentrations in areas where minerals have been extracted. However, no studies have documented OC pesticide or heavy metal contamination i n  grey wolves throughout their North American range, which is the purpose of this collaborative study with the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service and with state and Canadian wildlife agencies. Wolves were either found dead or were collected via lethal control methods and the presence of OC compounds in  wolf kidneys was determined via gas chromatography. The most frequently detected compounds included beta-BHC (present in 43/60 wolves; minimum-maximum levels = 0 - 897.9 ppb), alpha-BHC (present in 40/60 wolves; 0 -1 147.5 ppb) and heptachlor epoxide (present in 35/60 wolves; 0 - 252.5 ppb). There were no significant differences in beta-BHC levels among wolves collected from Alaska (Median (M) = 92.3 ppb, n = 1 7), Montana (M = 46.5 ppb, n = 24) and Idaho (M = 1 6.2 ppb, n = 1 6, X2= 2.68 , P = 0.26). Likewise, there was no significant difference in beta-BHC levels between adult (Median (M) = 54.9 ppb, n=36) and juvenile « 1 year old) wolves (M = 50.8 ppb, n = 1 1 , U = 1 97.0, P = 0.99), or between males (M = 52.0 ppb, n = 20) and females ( M = 77.5 ppb, n = 32, U = 306.0, p = 0.79). We are currently working on extraction techniques for heavy metals, which will be analyzed via I nductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry. The knowledge gained from this study may have implications for managing other top endangered predators in North America [e.g., red wolves (Canis rufus), Mexican grey wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus)] .  

Organochlorine Compounds and Heavy Metals in North American Grey Wolves (\u3cem\u3eCanis Lupus\u3c/em\u3e)

https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2298&amp;context=jwprc

Organochlorine Compounds and Heavy Metals in North American Grey Wolves (\u3cem\u3eCanis Lupus\u3c/em\u3e)

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