Mendez-Fernandez P. auteur aut IRD Taniguchi S. auteur aut IRD Santos M. C. O. auteur aut IRD Cascao I. auteur aut IRD Quérouil Sophie auteur aut IRD Martin V. auteur aut IRD Tejedor M. auteur aut IRD Carrillo M. auteur aut IRD Rinaldi C. auteur aut IRD Rinaldi R. auteur aut IRD Montone R. C. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) is an endemic species of the tropical-temperate Atlantic Ocean with widespread distribution. Although this species has been the subject of a large number of studies throughout its range, it remains in the "data deficient" category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Chemical pollution by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been listed as one of the major threats to this species, however, there is no information on a wide scale. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the contamination status of spotted dolphins on the metapopulation level as well as determine spatial and temporal variations in POP concentrations and bioaccumulation. A total of 115 blubber samples collected from a large part of the Atlantic basin were analysed for PCBs, DDTs, PBDEs, chlordanes, HCB and mirex. Although PCBs and DDTs were the predominant compounds in all areas, inter-location differences in POP concentrations were observed. Dolphins found at Sao Paulo, southeastern coast of Brazil, had the highest PCB concentrations (median: 10.5 mu g/g lw) and Canary Islands dolphins had the highest DDT concentrations (median: 5.13 mu g/g lw). Differences in PCB patterns among locations were also observed. Dolphins from the Azores and Sao Paulo demonstrated a similar pattern, with relatively highly contributions of tetra- (6.8 and 5.2%, respectively) and penta-CBs (25.6 and 23.8%, respectively) and lower contributions of hepta-CBs (20.8 and 23.5%, respectively) in comparison to other areas. Moreover, the sex of the animals and the year in which sampling or capture occurred exerted an important influence on the majority of the POPs analysed. Comparisons with toxicity thresholds available in the literature reveal that the Sao Paulo and Canary Island dolphins are the most vulnerable populations and should be considered in future conservation and management programs for the Atlantic spotted dolphin. specialized Bioaccumulation Contamination assessment Persistent organic pollutants Stenella frontalis Atlantic ocean ATLANTIQUE 038 034 236 785-794 2018 0269-7491 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072703 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.009 0269-7491 [F B010072703] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072703 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2018/04/010072703.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-05-04 2018-05-04 fdi:010072703 fre