DIFFERENCES IN FECAL PROFILES OF PORPHYRINS AMONG RIVER OTTERS EXPOSED TO THE EXXON-VALDEZ OIL-SPILL

River otters (Lutra canadensis) living in marine environments of Princ e William Sound, Alaska, exposed to crude oil from the Exxon Valdez sp ill in March 1989, showed significantly elevated levels of faecal porp hyrin over those of otters from non-oiled areas (oiled mean = 48.2, an d non-oiled mean = 34.5 nmol g(-1) dry faeces). Profiles of uro-, hept a-, hexa-, penta-, copro-, and protoporphyrin profiles were qualitativ ely characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography. These fin dings suggest that river otters may serve as a suitable indicator spec ies in which porphyrin profiles can be used to monitor the effects of marine and freshwater crude oil exposure. Also, this is the first mode l showing the effects of an oil spill on porphyrins on a free-ranging mammal using a non-lethal methodology. These effects were detectable 1 year after the spill and following a major effort to clean oil from t he shorelines of Prince William Sound.