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Effects of decomposition and storage conditions on the δ 13 C and δ 15 N isotope values of killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) skin and blubber tissues
Author(s) -
Burrows Douglas G.,
Reichert William L.,
Bradley Hanson M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/mms.12076
Subject(s) - blubber , whale , stable isotope ratio , isotope , δ13c , isotopes of nitrogen , chemistry , isotope analysis , decomposition , isotopes of carbon , zoology , biology , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , ecology , organic chemistry , total organic carbon , physics , quantum mechanics
Several different factors in the collection and preservation of whale skin and blubber samples were examined to determine their effect on the results obtained by stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ( δ 15 N and δ 13 C) analysis. Samples of wet killer whale skin retained their original stable isotope values for up to 14 d at 4°C or lower. However, decomposition significantly changed the δ 15 N value within 3 d at 20°C. Storage at −20°C was as effective as −80°C for the preservation of skin and blubber samples for stable isotope analysis for at least a year. By contrast, once a skin sample had been freeze‐dried and lipid extracted, the stable isotope values did not change significantly when it was stored dry at room temperature for at least 12 mo. Preservation of whale skin samples for a month in DMSO ‐salt solution, frozen or at room temperature, did not significantly change the δ 15 N and δ 13 C values of lipid extracted tissues, although the slight changes seen could influence results of a study if only small changes are expected.

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