Otter Lutra lutra L. mortality and marine oil pollution
Abstract
Following an oil spill at Sullom Voe Oil Terminal, Shetland, at least 13 otters died. Post-mortems on five corpses showed that they had died of haemorrhagic gastroenteropathy, associated with ingested oil. The primary cause of oil ingestion seems to have been grooming of the fur. A survey of the polluted coasts revealed that otters were still present throughout most of the area.
- Publication:
-
Biological Conservation
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0006-3207(81)90017-3
- Bibcode:
- 1981BCons..20..311B