Determination of brevetoxins and anthropogenic contaminants in marine mammal tissues. State of Florida manatee research conducted by Mote Marine Laboratory 1999-2000.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the loading of brevetoxins in dolphins along the Florida Gulf coast, including offshore and near-shore populations, both during and in the absence of red tide blooms. Samples for toxin analysis were acquired through tissues archived by the Mote Marine Laboratory stranding network and through a biopsy project carried out by the Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program and Mote's Offshore Cetacean Ecology Program. In addition to the dolphin samples, samples of blubber and lung tissue were analyzed from nine manatees that died as a result of red tide exposure and from three manatees that died from other causes. Data was gathered and results described.