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 (489Kb)
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35,041,000 Yen (FY1994 6,460,000 Yen)
To examine the biological effect and bioaccumulation process of pollutants on marine animals, pollution status of northern fur seals and sea turtles by heavy metal and of sea birds by plastic pellets were examined. Analytical method of heavy metal for fur seals and sea turtles were developed, and tissues collected from fur seals off Sanriku and Alaska were analyzed to know body burden of heavy metals, change of heavy metal concentration by age, and its transfer from mother to baby etc. Furthermore, concentration and its seasonal change of heavy metals in hair and of steroid hormone on fur seals were examined. From these results, the possibility of monitoring the biological effects of pollutants on fur seal were discussed. Tissues collected from sea turtles entangled in fishing nets were analyzed to examine the body burden of heavy metal and change of heavy metal concentration by growth etc. Number and occurrence of plastic pellets in stomachs of sea birds collected in the North Pacific Ocean were examined to understand the biological effects by plastic debris on sea birds. We developed the neuston net and examined the distribution of plastic pellets in an ocean by using it, Furthermore, we conducted the beach survey at Ogasawara Islands and discussed the possibility of monitoring the plastic pellets drifted in an open sea. Bioaccumulation process of pollutants were not enough examined, but biological effects by pollutants on fur seals, sea turtles, and sea birds were cleared and found out the possibility of monitoring the biological effects by pollutants on wild animals without killing were found throughout five year's studies.
Heavy metal, Plastic pellets, Fur seal, Sea bird, Sea turtle