pops in the galapagos islands-juan jose alava-fall2012-ensc100
TRANSCRIPT
Juan José AlavaJuan José Alava PhDPhD School of Resource & Environmental School of Resource & Environmental ManagementManagementFaculty of EnvironmentFaculty of Environment, Simon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University
Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Galapagos: The DDT caseGalapagos: The DDT case
2012 Photo Credit: JJ Alava
Source:Source: http://earth.google.com
Galapagos: Natural HistoryGalapagos: Natural History
• 13 Oceanic volcanic Islands (Galapagos 13 Oceanic volcanic Islands (Galapagos Archipelago)Archipelago)
• Active volcanic islandsActive volcanic islands
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/4000/4514/galapagos_ast_2003_lrg.jpg
•Volcanic origin (2.8–5.6 millions and 60 -300 Volcanic origin (2.8–5.6 millions and 60 -300 thousands years ago).thousands years ago).
(Image: MODIS NASA GSFC).
(Photo- M. Hall, 23 Oct.2005)
Sierra Negra Volcano Sierra Negra Volcano eruptioneruption
Volcanic ActivityVolcanic Activity
Galapagos Islands (Galapagos Archipelago)Galapagos Islands (Galapagos Archipelago)
San CristóbalSan Cristóbal
FloreanFloreanaa EspañolEspañol
aa
IsabelaIsabela
Santa Santa CruzCruz
FernandinFernandinaa
SantiagSantiagoo
MerchenaMerchena
Santa Santa FeFe
PintaPinta
GenovesaGenovesa
Galapagos Galapagos Archipelago*Archipelago*
*Galapagos Islands were discovered in March 10th 1535 by Fray Thomas de Berlanga by accident.
• Complex oceanographic featuresComplex oceanographic features
• Variable Sea Surface TemperatureVariable Sea Surface Temperature
• High Primary ProductivityHigh Primary Productivity
Galapagos: Natural HistoryGalapagos: Natural History
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
Oceanographic currentsOceanographic currents
Source: Satellite Photo: NASA-GSFC 2001. November 5, 1999. (Banks, 2002)
PRYMARY PRODUCTIVITYPRYMARY PRODUCTIVITY
(Banks, 2002)
Primary productivity distributional Primary productivity distributional patternspatterns
(Banks, 2002)
Sea Surface Temperature Sea Surface Temperature (SST)(SST)
Charles DarwinCharles DarwinBritish British
NaturalistNaturalist1809 -18821809 -1882
H.M.S. Beagle (1831–1835)
“I I have called this principle, by whichhave called this principle, by whicheach slight variation, if useful, is each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural Selection.”preserved, by the term Natural Selection.”
—Charles Darwin from “On The Origin of Species” (1859)
Evolution and Evolution and BiodiversityBiodiversity
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/science/darwin.htm
BiodiversityBiodiversity
• Native and endemic species• 2,909 marine species (18.2% endemics)• 174 fish species• 47 macro-invertebrate species• 88 marine/shore bird species (5 endemics)• 26 terrestrial birds (84% endemics-13 Darwin’s
finches)• 1 endemic species of marine iguana• 2 endemic species of terrestrial iguanas• 12-14? endemic species of Galapagos tortoises• 23 cetacean species• 2 endemic pinniped species • 23 endemic genera of insects• 560-600 vascular plants (175-180 endemics)
Photos’ Credits: JJ Alava
Photos’ Credits: JJ Alava
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
Photos’ Credits: JJ Alava
((Amblyrhynchus cristatus)Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Marine Iguanas
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
Galapagos Land Iguana Galapagos Land Iguana ((Conolophus subcristatusConolophus subcristatus))
““Galapagos Galapagos dragons”dragons”
Photos’ Credits: JJ Alava
Giant Terrestrial TortoiseGiant Terrestrial Tortoise ((GeocheloneGeochelone elephantopuselephantopus)) Photos’ Credits: JJ Alava
Killer whale observed at Fernandina Island (west Galapagos Islands, Ecuador) by Ben Haase in 2005. (Picture Credit: Ben Haase).
Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki)
Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis)
Marine Mammals: Galapagos Marine Mammals: Galapagos Pinnipeds (Otariids)Pinnipeds (Otariids)
Photos’ Credits: JJ Alava
Galapagos: Conservation and Management
• National Park (1959) = 97% terrestrial area (7900 km2)
• Worldwide Natural Heritage Site (UNESCO–1979)
• Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO–1984)
• Whale Sanctuary (1990)
• Special Law of Galapagos (1998)
• Galapagos Marine Reserve (1998):133,000km2
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
Pictures: J.J. Alava
Galapagos Biodiversity in Peril
Invasive species
Growing human population
Burgeoning tourism
Demographic Growth the Galapagos: 1979-2005Demographic Growth the Galapagos: 1979-2005
Source: INEC (Censuses:1974, 1982, 1990, 1998)/INGALA 2005 (cited by Taylor et al., 2006)Source: INEC (Censuses:1974, 1982, 1990, 1998)/INGALA 2005 (cited by Taylor et al., 2006)
Source: Charles Darwin Foundation, Annual Report 2010
Geographic Opening of the Islands-Continentalization of Galapagos Islands’ ecosystems
Galapagos Geographic Index (GGI):
Pervasive ecological and social
transformations caused in the
Galapagos Islands due to a
massive influx of human beings,
materials, and fuel and energy
inputs......
Coastal and Marine PollutionCoastal and Marine Pollution
• Chronic leaking of hydrocarbons (oil and
gasoline) from tourism, fishery boats and tankers
(transport/delivering operations)
• Oil Spills (e.g., Jessica oil spill-2001)
• Release of solid waste (e.g., plastic) from tourism
and fishery vessels
Photo CreditPhoto Credit : : Heidi SnellHeidi Snell
Jessica Oil Jessica Oil spillspill
Photo Credit : Heidi Snell
Wikelski et al., 2001 (Wikelski et al., 2001 (ScienceScience))
Wikelski et al., 2002 (Wikelski et al., 2002 (NatureNature))
0
5
10
15
20
25
Hooks Nylon Propeller Net Plastic Others Rope
% i
nte
ract
ion
s w
ith
sea
lio
ns
tourism 47%
fisheries 53%
Solid Waste PollutionSolid Waste Pollution
Alava and Salazar (2006)
Percent frequency of interaction between Galápagos sea Percent frequency of interaction between Galápagos sea lions and objects related to both fisheries and tourism lions and objects related to both fisheries and tourism
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
1977-1978 2001Survey periods
Sea
lio
n p
op
ula
tio
n
Z. wollebaeki
A. galapagoensis
40%
15-20%
Galapagos pinniped population trendGalapagos pinniped population trend
Alava (2004). Sea Lions of the World: Conservation and Research in the 21st Century. 22nd Wakefield Fisheries Symposium. September 30–October 3, 2004. Anchorage, Alaska, USA. Alaska Sea Grant/NOAA.
Coastal and Marine PollutionCoastal and Marine Pollution
• Sewage system from urbanized islands
• Overflow of septic tanks
• Biological pollution (diseases)
• Non-point sources: Run-off from agriculture field
(use of pesticides and fertilizers)
• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
PCBs from electric transformer and facilities?
Organochlorine pesticides: DDT?
Rachel Carson (May 1907 — April 1964)
Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT):
“A Double-Edged Sword”
(Woodwell 1967, Scientic American)
Pic
ture
: Jo
hn
Sta
nm
eyer
; N
atio
nal
Geo
gra
ph
ic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Carson
Reproductive impairments (e.g. eggshell thinning) in raptors (Hickey and Anderson 1968; Blus 2003 )
Pic
ture
: V
lad
imir
Jan
Toxic Effects
Historical use of DDT in USA
Permission and courtesy from Dr. Russell Nicholson (Dept. Biological Sciences)
BY DDT
Chemicals can cause effects
Egg shell thinning
Early life stage mortality
Reproductive/ Sexual abnormalities
Immune suppression
Central nervous system
cognitive skills
respiratory decease
Tumors
Cancer….
Chemicals can cause effects
Egg shell thinning
Early life stage mortality
Reproductive/ Sexual abnormalities
Immune suppression
Central nervous system
cognitive skills
respiratory decease
Tumors
Cancer….
Chemicals can cause effects
Egg shell thinning
Early life stage mortality
Reproductive/ Sexual abnormalities
Immune suppression
Central nervous system
cognitive skills
respiratory decease
Tumors
Cancer….
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
150,000−310,000 tonnes/year150,000−310,000 tonnes/year::
used as additives for
electronic devices, plastic,
textiles, furniture and paints.
Legacy PCBs versus emerging PBDEs
(Nylund et al., 1992; WHO 1994; de Boer et al., 1998; de Wit 2002; Alaee et al., 2003; de Boer et al. 2009)
(Source: Great Lakes Program Office, U.S. EPA, Chicago, Illinois.)http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/atlas/glat-ch4.html
PBDEs are POPs:
(treta, penta, hexa and
heptabromodiphenyl
mixtures)
Expeditions and Sampling sites:
Sample size (n)
GSL pups = 41
Mullets = 6
Thread herrings = 4
2005 = 21pups
2008 = 20 pups
Animal captures and biopsy sampling
Selection of site rookery Animal capture
Biopsy sampling Sample labeling/preservationBiopsy collection
Alava et al. (2011, MPB); Alava et al. (2011, Ambio)
DDT strikes back: Galapagos sea lions at risk
n = 13 n = 10n = 8 n = 10
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
2005 2008
Mea
n L
og
DD
T (
ug
/kg
lip
id)
Female
Male
*
n = 13 n = 10n = 8 n = 10
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
2005 2008
Mea
n L
og
DD
T (
ug
/kg
lip
id)
Female
Male
*
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
Southernelephant seal,
ElephantIsland,
Antarctica (a)
Galapagossea lion,
GalapagosIslands,
Ecuador (b)
Galapagossea lion,
GalapagosIslands,
Ecuador (b)
Hawaiianmonk seal,Hawaii, HI,
USA (c)
Harbor seal,NortheasternPacific Ocean,
BC, Canadaand WA, USA
(d)
California sealion-Baja
California,Mexico (e)
Northernelephant seal,
CA, USA (f)
Pacific harborseal, CA, USA
(f)
California sealion, CA, USA
(f)
Lo
g ∑
DD
T (
ug
/kg
lip
id)
Legend: (a) Miranda-Filho et al., 2007; (b) Alava et al., (2011); (c) Ylitalo et al., 2008; (d) Mos et al., 2010; (e) Del
Toro et al., 2006; (f) Blasius and Goodmanlowe 2008. Except for California sea lions from Baja California
(Mexico), used here as reference, all the individuals are pups. Error bars are standard errors (SE).
DDT Global comparisons
280 μg/kg lipid
525 μg/kg lipid
Alava et al. (2011, MPB)
-2.00
-1.50
-1.00
-0.50
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
Mullet Thread herring Galapagos sea lion
Lo
g P
OP
s
(μg
/kg
lip
id)
mirex dieldrin β-HCH ∑Chlordanes ∑PCB p,p'-DDE ∑DDT
*
* *
* *
*
*
*Significant differences (ANOVA/Welch ANOVA, Tukey-Kramer-HSD, p < 0.05)
POPs readily bioaccumulate in Galapagos sea lions
(TL = 4.1)
(TL = 3.1)
(TL = 4.2)
Alava et al. (2012, in press)
Galapagos sea lions are exposed to Pollutants
Alava et al. (2011)
Jessica oil spill impact in Galapagos sea lions (Salazar 2001)
Looming and potential threat of POPs in Galapagos sea lions (Alava & Salazar 2006)
Evidence of levels of PCBs, PBDEs and DDTs in Galapagos sea lions (Alava et al. 2009, ET&C;
Alava et al. 2011, MPB)
Global pollution by POPs-an issue of concernGlobal pollution by POPs-an issue of concern
Galapagos, Ecuador
Jurado et al., (2005)
British Columbia, Canada
http://brooklynbeforenow.blogspot.ca/2010_09_01_archive.html
American presence in the 1940s in the Galapagos1941-1946: Occupation by American military forces…….
…and DDT was used by Americans to eliminate introduced rats in the Galapagos (but, was it successful?)…….
Source: Woram, J. 2005, Charles Darwin Slept Here© Rockville Press, Inc. ISBN 0-9769336-0-8
Policy, Management & Control of POPsPolicy, Management & Control of POPs
REACH REACH (European Union)(European Union)
CEPACEPA(Canada)(Canada)
TSCA TSCA (USA)(USA)
Stockholm ConventionStockholm Convention(focused on Arctic Regions)(focused on Arctic Regions)
POPs
Persistence (P)
Bioaccumulation (B)
Toxicity (T)
PBT criteriaPBT criteria
“to protect human health and the environment from the harmful impacts of persistent organic pollutants…
ConclusionsConclusions
• POPs readily biomagnify in Galapagos sea lions (first evidence of tropical biomagnification in oceanic-equatorial islands)
• Conservation implications for endangered/endemic wildlife and Management of POPs in tropical marine regions
• Health Risks by POPs is low (< PCB immunotoxicity/endocrine disruption thresholds), but some concerns due to DDT
• This study provides a timely warning signal of the dangers of an increased reliance of DDT for malaria control in tropical countries
• Concentrations of DDT and associated health risks in wildlife are generally believed to be declining but this may no longer be the case in tropical countries where DDT is increasingly used.
Future generations: the hope of our blue Future generations: the hope of our blue planetplanet
Photo credit: J.J .Alava P. (my late Dad), November, 1991Photo credit: J.J .Alava P. (my late Dad), November, 1991
GRACIAS!!!
Photo Credit: JJ Alava
““We cannot let anyone forget that above all, We cannot let anyone forget that above all,
Galapagos is a place of conservation, which may Galapagos is a place of conservation, which may
have tourism and fisheries determined not upon have tourism and fisheries determined not upon
the convenience of anyone, but on Galapagos the convenience of anyone, but on Galapagos
sustainability. It is overall and foremost a sustainability. It is overall and foremost a
protected area, a National Park and Marine protected area, a National Park and Marine
Reserve, which means that in order to live in Reserve, which means that in order to live in
such a privileged and unique place, it implies such a privileged and unique place, it implies
accepting the restrictions as well as the accepting the restrictions as well as the
responsibilities. If the restrictions and responsibilities. If the restrictions and
responsibilities are not convenient, anyone can responsibilities are not convenient, anyone can
choose to leave. Not everyone has the choose to leave. Not everyone has the
right to live there, but everyone has the right to right to live there, but everyone has the right to
leave.” leave.”
Deborah Chiriboga Deborah Chiriboga H.H.
Ecuadorian Ecuadorian EnvironmentalistEnvironmentalist