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Reynolds SD, Franklin CE, Norman BM, Richardson AJ, Everett JD, Schoeman DS, White CR, Lawson CL, Pierce SJ, Rohner CA, Bach SS, Comezzi FG, Diamant S, Jaidah MY, Robinson DP, Dwyer RG. Effects of climate warming on energetics and habitat of the world's largest marine ectotherm. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175832. [PMID: 39197762 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Responses of organisms to climate warming are variable and complex. Effects on species distributions are already evident and mean global surface ocean temperatures are likely to warm by up to 4.1 °C by 2100, substantially impacting the physiology and distributions of ectotherms. The largest marine ectotherm, the whale shark Rhincodon typus, broadly prefers sea surface temperatures (SST) ranging from 23 to 30 °C. Whole-species distribution models have projected a poleward range shift under future scenarios of climate change, but these models do not consider intraspecific variation or phenotypic plasticity in thermal limits when modelling species responses, and the impact of climate warming on the energetic requirements of whale sharks is unknown. Using a dataset of 111 whale shark movement tracks from aggregation sites in five countries across the Indian Ocean and the latest Earth-system modelling produced from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we examined how SST and total zooplankton biomass, their main food source, may change in the future, and what this means for the energetic balance and extent of suitable habitat for whale sharks. Earth System Models, under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs; SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5), project that by 2100 mean SST in four regions where whale shark aggregations are found will increase by up to 4.9 °C relative to the present, while zooplankton biomass will decrease. This reduction in zooplankton is projected to be accompanied by an increase in the energetic requirements of whale sharks because warmer water temperatures will increase their metabolic rate. We found marked differences in projected changes in the extent of suitable habitat when comparing a whole-species distribution model to one including regional variation. This suggests that the conventional approach of combining data from different regions within a species' distribution could underestimate the amount of local adaptation in populations, although parameterising local models could also suffer from having insufficient data and lead to model mis-specification or highly uncertain estimates. Our study highlights the need for further research into whale shark thermal tolerances and energetics, the complexities involved in projecting species responses to climate change, and the potential importance of considering intraspecific variation when building species distribution models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha D Reynolds
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; ECOCEAN Inc., 162/3 Powell Rd, Coogee, WA, Australia; Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Bradley M Norman
- ECOCEAN Inc., 162/3 Powell Rd, Coogee, WA, Australia; Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Anthony J Richardson
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; CSIRO Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, St Lucia, QLD, AUSTRALIA
| | - Jason D Everett
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; CSIRO Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, St Lucia, QLD, AUSTRALIA; Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David S Schoeman
- Ocean Futures Research Cluster, School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia; Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Craig R White
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Geometric Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher L Lawson
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon J Pierce
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL, USA; School of Science, Technology and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Steffen S Bach
- Ramboll, Copenhagen, Denmark; Qatar Whale Shark Research Project, Doha, Qatar
| | - Francesco G Comezzi
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, Marine Resources, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Stella Diamant
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Madagascar Whale Shark Project, Nosy Be, Madagascar
| | | | - David P Robinson
- Qatar Whale Shark Research Project, Doha, Qatar; Sundive Research, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ross G Dwyer
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
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2
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Young HS, McCauley FO, Micheli F, Dunbar RB, McCauley DJ. Shortened food chain length in a fished versus unfished coral reef. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e3002. [PMID: 38840322 DOI: 10.1002/eap.3002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Direct exploitation through fishing is driving dramatic declines of wildlife populations in ocean environments, particularly for predatory and large-bodied taxa. Despite wide recognition of this pattern and well-established consequences of such trophic downgrading on ecosystem function, there have been few empirical studies examining the effects of fishing on whole system trophic architecture. Understanding these kinds of structural impacts is especially important in coral reef ecosystems-often heavily fished and facing multiple stressors. Given the often high dietary flexibility and numerous functional redundancies in diverse ecosystems such as coral reefs, it is important to establish whether web architecture is strongly impacted by fishing pressure or whether it might be resilient, at least to moderate-intensity pressure. To examine this question, we used a combination of bulk and compound-specific stable isotope analyses measured across a range of predatory and low-trophic-level consumers between two coral reef ecosystems that differed with respect to fishing pressure but otherwise remained largely similar. We found that even in a high-diversity system with relatively modest fishing pressure, there were strong reductions in the trophic position (TP) of the three highest TP consumers examined in the fished system but no effects on the TP of lower-level consumers. We saw no evidence that this shortening of the affected food webs was being driven by changes in basal resource consumption, for example, through changes in the spatial location of foraging by consumers. Instead, this likely reflected internal changes in food web architecture, suggesting that even in diverse systems and with relatively modest pressure, human harvest causes significant compressions in food chain length. This observed shortening of these food webs may have many important emergent ecological consequences for the functioning of ecosystems impacted by fishing or hunting. Such important structural shifts may be widespread but unnoticed by traditional surveys. This insight may also be useful for applied ecosystem managers grappling with choices about the relative importance of protection for remote and pristine areas and the value of strict no-take areas to protect not just the raw constituents of systems affected by fishing and hunting but also the health and functionality of whole systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary S Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | | | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Oceans Department, Hopkins Marine Station, and Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, USA
| | - Robert B Dunbar
- Oceans Department and Earth Systems Science, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, USA
| | - Douglas J McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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3
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Reis-Santos P, Gillanders BM, Sturrock AM, Izzo C, Oxman DS, Lueders-Dumont JA, Hüssy K, Tanner SE, Rogers T, Doubleday ZA, Andrews AH, Trueman C, Brophy D, Thiem JD, Baumgartner LJ, Willmes M, Chung MT, Charapata P, Johnson RC, Trumble S, Heimbrand Y, Limburg KE, Walther BD. Reading the biomineralized book of life: expanding otolith biogeochemical research and applications for fisheries and ecosystem-based management. REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES 2023; 33:411-449. [PMID: 0 DOI: 10.1007/s11160-022-09720-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
AbstractChemical analysis of calcified structures continues to flourish, as analytical and technological advances enable researchers to tap into trace elements and isotopes taken up in otoliths and other archival tissues at ever greater resolution. Increasingly, these tracers are applied to refine age estimation and interpretation, and to chronicle responses to environmental stressors, linking these to ecological, physiological, and life-history processes. Here, we review emerging approaches and innovative research directions in otolith chemistry, as well as in the chemistry of other archival tissues, outlining their value for fisheries and ecosystem-based management, turning the spotlight on areas where such biomarkers can support decision making. We summarise recent milestones and the challenges that lie ahead to using otoliths and archival tissues as biomarkers, grouped into seven, rapidly expanding and application-oriented research areas that apply chemical analysis in a variety of contexts, namely: (1) supporting fish age estimation; (2) evaluating environmental stress, ecophysiology and individual performance; (3) confirming seafood provenance; (4) resolving connectivity and movement pathways; (5) characterising food webs and trophic interactions; (6) reconstructing reproductive life histories; and (7) tracing stock enhancement efforts. Emerging research directions that apply hard part chemistry to combat seafood fraud, quantify past food webs, as well as to reconcile growth, movement, thermal, metabolic, stress and reproductive life-histories provide opportunities to examine how harvesting and global change impact fish health and fisheries productivity. Ultimately, improved appreciation of the many practical benefits of archival tissue chemistry to fisheries and ecosystem-based management will support their increased implementation into routine monitoring.
Graphical abstract
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4
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Skinner C, Pei YD, Morimoto N, Miyajima T, Wyatt ASJ. Stable isotopes elucidate body-size and seasonal fluctuations in the feeding strategies of planktivorous fishes across a semi-enclosed tropical embayment. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.942968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef fish may switch feeding strategies due to fluctuations in resource availability or through ontogeny. A number of studies have explored these trophodynamics using carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes, but additional tracers such as sulfur isotopes (δ34S) show strong potential in systems, where δ13C and δ15N results are ambiguous. We tested the utility of adding δ34S to conventional δ13C and δ15N analysis to detect seasonal and body size changes in resource use of two planktivorous damselfish, Dascyllus reticulatus and Dascyllus trimaculatus across the Puerto Galera embayment in the Philippines. We analyzed stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) in multiple fish tissues (liver, eye, and muscle) to represent different dietary time frames. We then compared fish tissue isotopes against particulate organic matter (POM) (δ13C and δ15N) and POM suspension feeder (the tunicate Polycarpa aurata: δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) across the same sites. There were size-based and seasonal differences in damselfish resource use, the latter of which was most pronounced in the fast-turnover liver. Small fish (<70 mm) demonstrated significant seasonality, appearing to switch their resource use between the rainy season and the dry season, while there was no seasonal variation in larger fish (>70 mm). This suggests that smaller fish across the embayment employ an opportunistic feeding strategy to take advantage of fluctuating resource availability, while larger fish exhibits more consistent resource use. Isotope ratios of tunicates and POM further confirmed strong seasonality in this system and a lack of a spatial isotopic gradient. δ15N did not seem to contribute to consumer resource use patterns, while by contrast, δ34S fluctuated significantly between sampling periods and was crucial for demonstrating seasonality in resource use. We recommend including δ34S when attempting to disentangle seasonal differences in resource use in aquatic food webs using stable isotopes.
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Energetic consequences of resource use diversity in a marine carnivore. Oecologia 2022; 200:65-78. [PMID: 36165921 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05241-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how intraspecific variation in the use of prey resources impacts energy metabolism has strong implications for predicting long-term fitness and is critical for predicting population-to-community level responses to environmental change. Here, we examine the energetic consequences of variable prey resource use in a widely distributed marine carnivore, juvenile sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus). We used carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to identify three primary prey resource pools-demersal omnivores, pelagic forage, and benthic detritivores and estimated the proportional assimilation of each resource using Bayesian mixing models. We then quantified how the utilization of these resource pools impacted the concentrations of six plasma lipids and how this varied by ontogeny. Sharks exhibited variable reliance on two of three predominant prey resource pools: demersal omnivores and pelagic forage. Resource use variation was a strong predictor of energetic condition, whereby individuals more reliant upon pelagic forage exhibited higher blood plasma concentrations of very low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, and triglycerides. These findings underscore how intraspecific variation in resource use may impact the energy metabolism of animals, and more broadly, that natural and anthropogenically driven fluctuations in prey resources could have longer term energetic consequences.
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6
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Cybulski JD, Skinner C, Wan Z, Wong CKM, Toonen RJ, Gaither MR, Soong K, Wyatt ASJ, Baker DM. Improving stable isotope assessments of inter- and intra-species variation in coral reef fish trophic strategies. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9221. [PMID: 36172294 PMCID: PMC9468908 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish have one of the highest occurrences of individual specialization in trophic strategies among Eukaryotes. Yet, few studies characterize this variation during trophic niche analysis, limiting our understanding of aquatic food web dynamics. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) with advanced Bayesian statistics is one way to incorporate this individual trophic variation when quantifying niche size. However, studies using SIA to investigate trophodynamics have mostly focused on species- or guild-level (i.e., assumed similar trophic strategy) analyses in settings where source isotopes are well-resolved. These parameters are uncommon in an ecological context. Here, we use Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) to investigate cross-guild trophodynamics of 11 reef fish species within an oceanic atoll. We compared two- (δ 15N and δ 13C) versus three-dimensional (δ 15N, δ 13C, and δ 34S) reconstructions of isotopic niche space for interpreting guild-, species-, and individual-level trophic strategies. Reef fish isotope compositions varied significantly among, but also within, guilds. Individuals of the same species did not cluster together based on their isotope values, suggesting within-species specializations. Furthermore, while two-dimensional isotopic niches helped differentiate reef fish resource use, niche overlap among species was exceptionally high. The addition of δ 34S and the generation of three-dimensional isotopic niches were needed to further characterize their isotopic niches and better evaluate potential trophic strategies. These data suggest that δ 34S may reveal fluctuations in resource availability, which are not detectable using only δ 15N and δ 13C. We recommend that researchers include δ 34S in future aquatic food web studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Cybulski
- The Swire Institute of Marine ScienceThe University of Hong KongShek OHong Kong SAR
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongPok Fu LamHong Kong SAR
| | - Christina Skinner
- Department of Ocean ScienceThe Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water BayHong Kong SAR
| | - Zhongyue Wan
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongPok Fu LamHong Kong SAR
| | - Carmen K. M. Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Marine PollutionCity University of Hong KongKowloonHong Kong SAR
| | - Robert J. Toonen
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & TechnologyUniversity of Hawai‘i at MānoaKaneoheHawaiiUSA
| | | | - Keryea Soong
- Department of OceanographyNational Sun Yat‐sen UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
| | - Alex S. J. Wyatt
- Department of Ocean ScienceThe Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water BayHong Kong SAR
| | - David M. Baker
- The Swire Institute of Marine ScienceThe University of Hong KongShek OHong Kong SAR
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongPok Fu LamHong Kong SAR
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7
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Hoopes LA, Clauss T, Wetherbee BM, Fox DA. Baseline Health and Nutritional Parameters of Wild Sand Tigers Sampled in Delaware Bay. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2022; 34:101-115. [PMID: 35437805 PMCID: PMC9796768 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Species-specific hematological reference values are essential for diagnosis and treatment of disease and maintaining overall health of animals. This information is lacking for many species of elasmobranchs maintained in zoos and aquaria, thus reducing the effectiveness of care for these animals. Descriptive statistics and reference intervals were calculated for hematocrit and complete blood cell counts, biochemistry and protein electrophoresis parameters, trace minerals, vitamins, heavy metals, reproductive hormones, and fatty acids in the blood of 153 wild Sand Tigers Carcharias taurus of both sexes and a range of sizes caught in Delaware Bay (Delaware, USA). Mean hematocrit, total white blood cell counts, lymphocyte differentials, glucose, phosphorus, amylase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in juveniles than in adults. Levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and differences in selenium and eicosapentaenoic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid) between males and females suggest that they are important parameters for improving Sand Tiger breeding success in managed care. Finally, blood metal levels for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury suggest low levels of contaminant exposure for Sand Tigers during their summer residence in Delaware Bay. The results of this study provide baseline health parameters for wild Sand Tigers that will aid in effective maintenance of aquarium animals and contribute to a greater understanding of the biology of these sharks and efforts to accomplish sustainable management of their populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A. Hoopes
- Georgia Aquarium, Department of Research and Conservation225 Baker Street NorthwestAtlantaGeorgia30313USA
| | - Tonya Clauss
- Georgia Aquarium, Department of Animal and Environmental Health225 Baker Street NorthwestAtlantaGeorgia30313USA
| | - Bradley M. Wetherbee
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Rhode Island9 East Alumni RoadKingstonRhode Island02881USA
- Guy Harvey Research InstituteNova Southeastern UniversityDania BeachFlorida33004USA
| | - Dewayne A. Fox
- Department of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesDelaware State University1200 North Dupont HighwayDoverDelaware19901USA
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8
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Meekan MG, Virtue P, Marcus L, Clements KD, Nichols PD, Revill AT. The world's largest omnivore is a fish. Ecology 2022; 103:e3818. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. G. Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, c/o UWA Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (MO96) 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley WA Australia
| | - P. Virtue
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Private Bag 129 Hobart Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7000 Australia
| | - L. Marcus
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Private Bag 129 Hobart Australia
| | - K. D. Clements
- School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - P. D. Nichols
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Private Bag 129 Hobart Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7000 Australia
| | - A. T. Revill
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7000 Australia
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9
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Pratte ZA, Perry C, Dove ADM, Hoopes LA, Ritchie KB, Hueter RE, Fischer C, Newton AL, Stewart FJ. Microbiome structure in large pelagic sharks with distinct feeding ecologies. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:17. [PMID: 35246276 PMCID: PMC8895868 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00168-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sharks play essential roles in ocean food webs and human culture, but also face population declines worldwide due to human activity. The relationship between sharks and the microbes on and in the shark body is unclear, despite research on other animals showing the microbiome as intertwined with host physiology, immunity, and ecology. Research on shark-microbe interactions faces the significant challenge of sampling the largest and most elusive shark species. We leveraged a unique sampling infrastructure to compare the microbiomes of two apex predators, the white (Carcharodon carcharias) and tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), to those of the filter-feeding whale shark (Rhincodon typus), allowing us to explore the effects of feeding mode on intestinal microbiome diversity and metabolic function, and environmental exposure on the diversity of microbes external to the body (on the skin, gill). Results The fecal microbiomes of white and whale sharks were highly similar in taxonomic and gene category composition despite differences in host feeding mode and diet. Fecal microbiomes from these species were also taxon-poor compared to those of many other vertebrates and were more similar to those of predatory teleost fishes and toothed whales than to those of filter-feeding baleen whales. In contrast, microbiomes of external body niches were taxon-rich and significantly influenced by diversity in the water column microbiome. Conclusions These results suggest complex roles for host identity, diet, and environmental exposure in structuring the shark microbiome and identify a small, but conserved, number of intestinal microbial taxa as potential contributors to shark physiology. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-022-00168-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe A Pratte
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montanta State University, 621 Leon Johnson Hall, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| | - Cameron Perry
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Kim B Ritchie
- University of South Carolina Beaufort, Beaufort, SC, USA
| | - Robert E Hueter
- OCEARCH, 1790 Bonanza Drive, Park City, UT, USA.,Center for Shark Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | | | - Alisa L Newton
- Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, 1200 N. Savannah Circle East, Bay Lake, FL, USA
| | - Frank J Stewart
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montanta State University, 621 Leon Johnson Hall, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Abstract
Stable isotope analysis of teeth and bones is regularly applied by archeologists and paleoanthropologists seeking to reconstruct diets, ecologies, and environments of past hominin populations. Moving beyond the now prevalent study of stable isotope ratios from bulk materials, researchers are increasingly turning to stable isotope ratios of individual amino acids to obtain more detailed and robust insights into trophic level and resource use. In the present article, we provide a guide on how to best use amino acid stable isotope ratios to determine hominin dietary behaviors and ecologies, past and present. We highlight existing uncertainties of interpretation and the methodological developments required to ensure good practice. In doing so, we hope to make this promising approach more broadly accessible to researchers at a variety of career stages and from a variety of methodological and academic backgrounds who seek to delve into new depths in the study of dietary composition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ricardo Fernandes
- University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom, and with the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University, Czech Republic
| | - Yiming V Wang
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Patrick Roberts
- School of Social Sciences, University of Queensland, in St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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11
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Bezerra MF, Seminoff JA, Lemons GE, Slotton DG, Watanabe K, Lai CT. Trophic ecology of sympatric batoid species (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea) assessed by multiple biogeochemical tracers (δ 13C, δ 15N and total Hg). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 199:111398. [PMID: 34052247 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic pollution is known to reduce biodiversity and disrupt wildlife populations. Mercury (Hg) pollution is pervasive worldwide, contributing to the degradation of ecosystems, and causing deleterious effects to exposed organisms and populations. Batoids have a life history linked to the benthic substrate of coastal areas and occupy upper trophic levels. These combined with large bodies, long lifespan, and slow growth rates contributes to increased uptake and accumulation of Hg. However, mechanisms governing these associations are not well understood. Using multiple biogeochemical tracers (δ13C, δ15N and total Hg), we describe trophic interactions of three sympatric batoid species inhabiting an urbanized estuary and identify diet sources that contribute to Hg accumulation and trophic position among these mesopredators. We also use the Bat-ray (Myliobatis californica) as a model species, to compare diet composition, trophic position, and isotopic niche between two populations in two Californian bays. Trophic plasticity in M. californica was characterized by isotopic niche, diet proportions, and trophic position estimates using Bayesian statistics. We found diet and local contamination background strongly associated with Hg accumulation, and Hg levels that exceed EPA water quality criterion (<0.3 μg.g-1 w.w.) in all studied species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Bezerra
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - J A Seminoff
- NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - G E Lemons
- NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - D G Slotton
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - K Watanabe
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - C T Lai
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Souza IDC, Arrivabene HP, Azevedo VC, Duarte ID, Rocha LD, Matsumoto ST, Franco A, Elliott M, Wunderlin DA, Monferrán MV, Fernandes MN. Different trophodynamics between two proximate estuaries with differing degrees of pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:144651. [PMID: 33736395 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mangroves are complex ecosystems with widely varying abiotic factors such as salinity, pH, redox potential, substratum particle size, dissolved organic matter and xenobiotic concentrations, and a high biodiversity. This paper presents the trophodynamic pathways of accumulation and transfer of metals and metalloids (B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Pb and Hg), in three trophic chains (plant-crab-fish, plankton-shrimp-fish and plankton-oyster) of similar food webs, corresponding to two mangrove estuaries (Santa Cruz and Vitória Bay, separated by 70 km) in the Espírito Santo State (Brazil). Although the trophic transfer patterns are affected by physical variables, metal and metalloids were found in all trophic levels. We observed similar trophodynamics between both estuaries with some elements, but unequal transfer patterns in other cases, thus questioning the effectiveness of 15N to determine the food chain when the aquatic biota is affected by anthropogenic contaminants. Thus, in the Santa Cruz estuary, most metals were biomagnified through the food web. Conversely, Vitória Bay presented mostly biodilution, suggesting that metal/metalloid transference patterns in mangrove ecosystems may be affected by different anthropogenic contamination inputs. These results indicate the importance of knowing the complete food web when evaluating the trophic transfer of elements, including an evaluation of the differential impact of pollution on diverse components of the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iara da C Souza
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Hiulana P Arrivabene
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
| | - Vinicius C Azevedo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Ian D Duarte
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
| | - Livia D Rocha
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
| | - Silvia T Matsumoto
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
| | - Anita Franco
- Estuarine and Marine Ecological Consultant, Hull HU5 3SF, UK.
| | - Michael Elliott
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK; International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists Ltd., Leven HU17 5LQ, UK.
| | - Daniel A Wunderlin
- ICYTAC: Institute of Food Science and Technology Córdoba, CONICET and Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Faculty, National University of Cordoba, University Campus, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Magdalena V Monferrán
- ICYTAC: Institute of Food Science and Technology Córdoba, CONICET and Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Faculty, National University of Cordoba, University Campus, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Marisa N Fernandes
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Seasonal patterns in stable isotope and fatty acid profiles of southern stingrays (Hypanus americana) at Stingray City Sandbar, Grand Cayman. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19753. [PMID: 33184444 PMCID: PMC7661509 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76858-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecotourism opportunities in the marine environment often rely heavily on provisioning to ensure the viewing of cryptic species by the public. However, intentional feeding of wildlife can impact numerous aspects of an animals’ behavior and ecology. Southern stingrays (Hypanus americana) provisioned at Stingray City Sandbar (SCS) in Grand Cayman have altered diel activity patterns and decreased measures of health. This study looked at seasonal changes in stable isotope (SI) and fatty acid (FA) profiles of provisioned stingrays at SCS. Plasma δ15N was higher in male stingrays (11.86 ± 1.71‰) compared to females (10.70 ± 1.71‰). Lower values for δ15N in males and females were measured in October during low tourist season, suggesting stingrays may be forced to rely on native prey items to supplement the decreased amount of provisioned squid available during this time. Plasma FA profiles were significantly different between sexes and across sampling time points, with FAs 22:6n3, 16:0, 20:5n3, 18:1n3C, 18:0 and 18:1n9T contributing to dissimilarity scores between groups. Dietary FAs primarily contributed to differences between males and females lending further evidence to differences in foraging patterns at SCS, likely due to intraspecific competition. Further, canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) analysis of FA profiles suggest similar diets during peak tourist season and differences in diet between males and females during the low season. This study demonstrates alterations in feeding ecology in stingrays at SCS which is of critical importance for effective management of the SCS aggregation.
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Burgess KB, Broadhurst MK, Raoult V, Laglbauer BJL, Coleman MA, Bennett MB. Short- and long-term diets of the threatened longhorned pygmy devil ray, Mobula eregoodoo determined using stable isotopes. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2020; 97:424-434. [PMID: 32415778 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Most mobulids are listed as near threatened to endangered. Nonetheless, effective conservation measures are hindered by knowledge gaps in their ecology and behaviour. In particular, few studies have assessed diets and trophic ecologies that could inform methods to avoid fishing mortality. Here, a shortfall in data for the longhorned pygmy devil ray, Mobula eregoodoo was addressed by describing temporal variability in dietary preferences using stable isotope analysis. During summer and autumn in 2017, five bather-protection gillnets were deployed off eastern Australia (29° S, 153.5° E). From the catches of these gillnets, 35 adult M. eregoodoo had liver, muscle and stomach contents sampled to determine δ13 C and δ15 N profiles. Analyses revealed that surface zooplankton and zooplanktivorous teleosts were important dietary components across short- and long-term temporal scales. Large quantities of undigested sandy sprat, Hyperlophus vittatus, in the stomachs of some specimens unequivocally confirm feeding on teleosts. A narrow isotopic niche and minimal isotopic overlap with reef manta rays, Mobula alfredi from the same geographic region in eastern Australia implies M. eregoodoo has unique and highly specialised resource use relative to other mobulids in the area. The species is clearly vulnerable to capture during inshore migrations, presumably where they feed on shallow-water shoaling teleosts. Female M. eregoodoo likely have a low annual reproductive output, so population recoveries from fishing-induced declines are likely to be slow. Measures to reduce the by catch of M. eregoodoo in local bather-protection gillnets, and artisanal fisheries more broadly, should be given priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine B Burgess
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Matt K Broadhurst
- New South Wales Government Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Conservation Technology Unit, 2 Bay Drive, Charlesworth Bay, Coffs Harbour, Australia, Australia
- Marine and Estuarine Ecology Unit, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vincent Raoult
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Betty J L Laglbauer
- Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales Fisheries, National Marine Science Centre, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Michael B Bennett
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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15
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Nishida K, Chew YC, Miyairi Y, Hirabayashi S, Suzuki A, Hayashi M, Yamamoto Y, Sato M, Nojiri Y, Yokoyama Y. Novel reverse radioisotope labelling experiment reveals carbon assimilation of marine calcifiers under ocean acidification conditions. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kozue Nishida
- Department of Chemistry and Material Engineering National Institute of TechnologyIbaraki College Hitachinaka Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Tokyo Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan
| | - Yue Chin Chew
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
- Graduate Program on Environmental Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Yosuke Miyairi
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
| | - Shoko Hirabayashi
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science Graduate School of Science The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Atsushi Suzuki
- Geological Survey of Japan National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Tsukuba Japan
| | - Masahiro Hayashi
- The Demonstration Laboratory Marine Ecology Research Institute Kashiwazaki Japan
| | - Yuzo Yamamoto
- The Demonstration Laboratory Marine Ecology Research Institute Kashiwazaki Japan
| | - Mizuho Sato
- Geological Survey of Japan National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Tsukuba Japan
- Asahi Geo‐Survey Co. Ltd Tokyo Japan
| | - Yukihiro Nojiri
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Hirosaki University Hirosaki Japan
- Center for Global Environmental Research National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba Japan
| | - Yusuke Yokoyama
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
- Graduate Program on Environmental Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science Graduate School of Science The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Biogeochemistry Program Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology Yokosuka Japan
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16
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Peel LR, Daly R, Keating Daly CA, Stevens GMW, Collin SP, Meekan MG. Stable isotope analyses reveal unique trophic role of reef manta rays ( Mobula alfredi) at a remote coral reef. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190599. [PMID: 31598296 PMCID: PMC6774984 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Stable isotope analyses provide the means to examine the trophic role of animals in complex food webs. Here, we used stable isotope analyses to characterize the feeding ecology of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) at a remote coral reef in the Western Indian Ocean. Muscle samples of M. alfredi were collected from D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, in November 2016 and 2017. Prior to analysis, lipid and urea extraction procedures were tested on freeze-dried muscle tissue in order to standardize sample treatment protocols for M. alfredi. The lipid extraction procedure was effective at removing both lipids and urea from samples and should be used in future studies of the trophic ecology of this species. The isotopic signatures of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) for M. alfredi differed by year, but did not vary by sex or life stage, suggesting that all individuals occupy the same trophic niche at this coral reef. Furthermore, the isotopic signatures for M. alfredi differed to those for co-occurring planktivorous fish species also sampled at D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, suggesting that the ecological niche of M. alfredi is unique. Pelagic zooplankton were the main contributor (45%) to the diet of M. alfredi, combined with emergent zooplankton (38%) and mesopelagic prey items (17%). Given the extent of movement that would be required to undertake this foraging strategy, individual M. alfredi are implicated as important vectors of nutrient supply around and to the coral reefs surrounding D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, particularly where substantial site fidelity is displayed by these large elasmobranchs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Peel
- School of Biological Sciences, The Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Save Our Seas Foundation – D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Corscombe, Dorset DT2 0NT, UK
| | - Ryan Daly
- Save Our Seas Foundation – D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Clare A. Keating Daly
- Save Our Seas Foundation – D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
| | - Guy M. W. Stevens
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Corscombe, Dorset DT2 0NT, UK
| | - Shaun P. Collin
- School of Biological Sciences, The Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Mark G. Meekan
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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