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Schaafsma FL, Flores H, David CL, Castellani G, Sakinan S, Meijboom A, Niehoff B, Cornils A, Hildebrandt N, Schmidt K, Snoeijs-Leijonmalm P, Ehrlich J, Ashjian CJ. Insights into the diet and feeding behavior of immature polar cod (Boreogadus saida) from the under-ice habitat of the central Arctic Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024; 105:907-930. [PMID: 38922867 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Polar cod (Boreogadus saida) is an endemic key species of the Arctic Ocean ecosystem. The ecology of this forage fish is well studied in Arctic shelf habitats where a large part of its population lives. However, knowledge about its ecology in the central Arctic Ocean (CAO), including its use of the sea-ice habitat, is hitherto very limited. To increase this knowledge, samples were collected at the under-ice surface during several expeditions to the CAO between 2012 and 2020, including the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. The diet of immature B. saida and the taxonomic composition of their potential prey were analysed, showing that both sympagic and pelagic species were important prey items. Stomach contents included expected prey such as copepods and amphipods. Surprisingly, more rarely observed prey such as appendicularians, chaetognaths, and euphausiids were also found to be important. Comparisons of the fish stomach contents with prey distribution data suggests opportunistic feeding. However, relative prey density and catchability are important factors that determine which type of prey is ingested. Prey that ensures limited energy expenditure on hunting and feeding is often found in the stomach contents even though it is not the dominant species present in the environment. To investigate the importance of prey quality and quantity for the growth of B. saida in this area, we measured energy content of dominant prey species and used a bioenergetic model to quantify the effect of variations in diet on growth rate potential. The modeling results suggest that diet variability was largely explained by stomach fullness and, to a lesser degree, the energetic content of the prey. Our results suggest that under climate change, immature B. saida may be at least equally sensitive to a loss in the number of efficiently hunted prey than to a reduction in the prey's energy content. Consequences for the growth and survival of B. saida will not depend on prey presence alone, but also on prey catchability, digestibility, and energy content.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hauke Flores
- Department of Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Carmen L David
- Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Giulia Castellani
- Department of Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | | | | | - Barbara Niehoff
- Department of Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Astrid Cornils
- Department of Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Nicole Hildebrandt
- Department of Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Katrin Schmidt
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Julia Ehrlich
- Department of Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Centre for Natural History (CeNak), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carin J Ashjian
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Vacquié-Garcia J, Spitz J, Hammill M, Stenson GB, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Chimienti M, Renaud M, Méndez Fernandez P, Jeanniard du Dot T. Foraging habits of Northwest Atlantic hooded seals over the past 30 years: Future habitat suitability under global warming. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17186. [PMID: 38450925 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The Arctic is a global warming 'hot-spot' that is experiencing rapid increases in air and ocean temperatures and concomitant decreases in sea ice cover. These environmental changes are having major consequences on Arctic ecosystems. All Arctic endemic marine mammals are highly dependent on ice-associated ecosystems for at least part of their life cycle and thus are sensitive to the changes occurring in their habitats. Understanding the biological consequences of changes in these environments is essential for ecosystem management and conservation. However, our ability to study climate change impacts on Arctic marine mammals is generally limited by the lack of sufficiently long data time series. In this study, we took advantage of a unique dataset on hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) movements (and serum samples) that spans more than 30 years in the Northwest Atlantic to (i) investigate foraging (distribution and habitat use) and dietary (trophic level of prey and location) habits over the last three decades and (ii) predict future locations of suitable habitat given a projected global warming scenario. We found that, despite a change in isotopic signatures that might suggest prey changes over the 30-year period, hooded seals from the Northwest Atlantic appeared to target similar oceanographic characteristics throughout the study period. However, over decades, they have moved northward to find food. Somewhat surprisingly, foraging habits differed between seals breeding in the Gulf of St Lawrence vs those breeding at the "Front" (off Newfoundland). Seals from the Gulf favoured colder waters while Front seals favoured warmer waters. We predict that foraging habitats for hooded seals will continue to shift northwards and that Front seals are likely to have the greatest resilience. This study shows how hooded seals are responding to rapid environmental change and provides an indication of future trends for the species-information essential for effective ecosystem management and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Vacquié-Garcia
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 La Rochelle Université - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
| | - Mike Hammill
- Institut Maurice Lamontagne, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada
| | - Garry B Stenson
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Marianna Chimienti
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Mathylde Renaud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Tiphaine Jeanniard du Dot
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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3
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Cusset F, Charrier J, Massé G, Mallory M, Braune B, Provencher J, Guillou G, Massicotte P, Fort J. The consumption of ice-derived resources is associated with higher mercury contamination in an Arctic seabird. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117066. [PMID: 37660878 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Sea ice plays a fundamental role in Arctic marine environments, by driving primary productivity and sustaining ice-associated ecosystems. Simultaneously, sea ice influences the contamination of Arctic marine organisms, by modifying contaminant cycles or their bioavailability. Changes in sea ice conditions could therefore profoundly impact the functioning of Arctic marine food webs and their contamination. Top predators such as seabirds, which are subject to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants, are particularly exposed. In this context, the present study aims to investigate the influence of sea ice and of the use of ice-derived resources on the contamination of seabirds by mercury (Hg). To this end, eggs of thick-billed murres (Brünnich's guillemots, Uria lomvia; n = 60) were collected on Prince Leopold Island (Canadian High Arctic) during four years of varying ice conditions (2010-2013). Trophic tracers (i.e., Highly Branched Isoprenoids, HBIs - an indicator of the use of ice-derived resources; carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes - indicators of foraging habitats and trophic status), as well as total Hg concentrations were quantified. Results showed that feeding on ice-derived resources (as indicated by HBI concentrations) was positively correlated to sea ice cover, and both positively influenced Hg concentrations in murre eggs. However, when testing for the best predictor with model selection, sea ice concentration only drove Hg contamination in murres. This work provides new insights into the role of sea ice and ice-derived resources in the contamination by Hg of Arctic wildlife. Further research is now needed to better understand the relationship between sea ice and Hg contamination in Arctic biota and its underlying mechanisms, but also to identify Hg sources in rapidly changing environmental conditions in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Cusset
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory (IRL 3376) ULaval-CNRS, Biolgy Department, Laval University, 1045 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada; LIENSs, UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
| | - Julie Charrier
- LIENSs, UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
| | - Guillaume Massé
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory (IRL 3376) ULaval-CNRS, Biolgy Department, Laval University, 1045 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada; LOCEAN, UMR 7159, CNRS, MNHN, IRD, Sorbonne-Université, Station Marine de Concarneau, BP225, 29900, Concarneau, France
| | - Mark Mallory
- Biology Department, Acadia University, 15 University Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Birgit Braune
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Raven Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Jennifer Provencher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Raven Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Gaël Guillou
- LIENSs, UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Philippe Massicotte
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory (IRL 3376) ULaval-CNRS, Biolgy Department, Laval University, 1045 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jérôme Fort
- LIENSs, UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
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Barratclough A, Ferguson SH, Lydersen C, Thomas PO, Kovacs KM. A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Health-A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change. Pathogens 2023; 12:937. [PMID: 37513784 PMCID: PMC10385039 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The impacts of climate change on the health of marine mammals are increasingly being recognised. Given the rapid rate of environmental change in the Arctic, the potential ramifications on the health of marine mammals in this region are a particular concern. There are eleven endemic Arctic marine mammal species (AMMs) comprising three cetaceans, seven pinnipeds, and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). All of these species are dependent on sea ice for survival, particularly those requiring ice for breeding. As air and water temperatures increase, additional species previously non-resident in Arctic waters are extending their ranges northward, leading to greater species overlaps and a concomitant increased risk of disease transmission. In this study, we review the literature documenting disease presence in Arctic marine mammals to understand the current causes of morbidity and mortality in these species and forecast future disease issues. Our review highlights potential pathogen occurrence in a changing Arctic environment, discussing surveillance methods for 35 specific pathogens, identifying risk factors associated with these diseases, as well as making recommendations for future monitoring for emerging pathogens. Several of the pathogens discussed have the potential to cause unusual mortality events in AMMs. Brucella, morbillivirus, influenza A virus, and Toxoplasma gondii are all of concern, particularly with the relative naivety of the immune systems of endemic Arctic species. There is a clear need for increased surveillance to understand baseline disease levels and address the gravity of the predicted impacts of climate change on marine mammal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Barratclough
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Steven H. Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada;
| | - Christian Lydersen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; (C.L.); (K.M.K.)
| | - Peter O. Thomas
- Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 700, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Kit M. Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; (C.L.); (K.M.K.)
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Under-ice observations by trawls and multi-frequency acoustics in the Central Arctic Ocean reveals abundance and composition of pelagic fauna. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1000. [PMID: 36653387 PMCID: PMC9849409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid ongoing changes in the Central Arctic Ocean call for baseline information on the pelagic fauna. However, sampling for motile organisms which easily escape vertically towed nets is challenging. Here, we report the species composition and catch weight of pelagic fishes and larger zooplankton from 12 trawl hauls conducted in ice covered waters in the Central Arctic Ocean beyond the continental slopes in late summer. Combined trawl catches with acoustics data revealed low amounts of fish and zooplankton from the advective influenced slope region in the Nansen Basin in the south to the ice-covered deep Amundsen Basin in the north. Both arctic and subarctic-boreal species, including the ones considered as Atlantic expatriate species were found all the way to 87.5o N. We found three fish species (Boreogadus saida, Benthosema glaciale and Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), but the catch was limited to only seven individuals. Euphausiids, amphipods and gelatinous zooplankton dominated the catch weight in the Nansen Basin in the mesopelagic communities. Euphausiids were almost absent in the Amundsen Basin with copepods, amphipods, chaetognaths and gelatinous zooplankton dominating. We postulate asymmetric conditions in the pelagic ecosystems of the western and eastern Eurasian Basin caused by ice and ocean circulation regimes.
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6
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Snoeijs-Leijonmalm P, Flores H, Sakinan S, Hildebrandt N, Svenson A, Castellani G, Vane K, Mark FC, Heuzé C, Tippenhauer S, Niehoff B, Hjelm J, Hentati Sundberg J, Schaafsma FL, Engelmann R. Unexpected fish and squid in the central Arctic deep scattering layer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj7536. [PMID: 35179965 PMCID: PMC8856623 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The retreating ice cover of the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) fuels speculations on future fisheries. However, very little is known about the existence of harvestable fish stocks in this 3.3 million-square kilometer ecosystem around the North Pole. Crossing the Eurasian Basin, we documented an uninterrupted 3170-kilometer-long deep scattering layer (DSL) with zooplankton and small fish in the Atlantic water layer at 100- to 500-meter depth. Diel vertical migration of this central Arctic DSL was lacking most of the year when daily light variation was absent. Unexpectedly, the DSL also contained low abundances of Atlantic cod, along with lanternfish, armhook squid, and Arctic endemic ice cod. The Atlantic cod originated from Norwegian spawning grounds and had lived in Arctic water temperature for up to 6 years. The potential fish abundance was far below commercially sustainable levels and is expected to remain so because of the low productivity of the CAO.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hauke Flores
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Serdar Sakinan
- Wageningen Marine Research, 1970 AB IJmuiden, Netherlands
| | - Nicole Hildebrandt
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Anders Svenson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 45330 Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Giulia Castellani
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Kim Vane
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Felix C. Mark
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Céline Heuzé
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sandra Tippenhauer
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Barbara Niehoff
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Joakim Hjelm
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 45330 Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Jonas Hentati Sundberg
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 45330 Lysekil, Sweden
| | | | - Ronny Engelmann
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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7
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Schaafsma FL, David CL, Kohlbach D, Ehrlich J, Castellani G, Lange BA, Vortkamp M, Meijboom A, Fortuna-Wünsch A, Immerz A, Cantzler H, Klasmeier A, Zakharova N, Schmidt K, Van de Putte AP, van Franeker JA, Flores H. Allometric relationships of ecologically important Antarctic and Arctic zooplankton and fish species. Polar Biol 2022; 45:203-224. [PMID: 35210695 PMCID: PMC8827386 DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02984-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Allometric relationships between body properties of animals are useful for a wide variety of purposes, such as estimation of biomass, growth, population structure, bioenergetic modelling and carbon flux studies. This study summarizes allometric relationships of zooplankton and nekton species that play major roles in polar marine food webs. Measurements were performed on 639 individuals of 15 species sampled during three expeditions in the Southern Ocean (winter and summer) and 2374 individuals of 14 species sampled during three expeditions in the Arctic Ocean (spring and summer). The information provided by this study fills current knowledge gaps on relationships between length and wet/dry mass of understudied animals, such as various gelatinous zooplankton, and of animals from understudied seasons and maturity stages, for example, for the krill Thysanoessa macrura and larval Euphausia superba caught in winter. Comparisons show that there is intra-specific variation in length–mass relationships of several species depending on season, e.g. for the amphipod Themisto libellula. To investigate the potential use of generalized regression models, comparisons between sexes, maturity stages or age classes were performed and are discussed, such as for the several krill species and T. libellula. Regression model comparisons on age classes of the fish E. antarctica were inconclusive about their general use. Other allometric measurements performed on carapaces, eyes, heads, telsons, tails and otoliths provided models that proved to be useful for estimating length or mass in, e.g. diet studies. In some cases, the suitability of these models may depend on species or developmental stages.
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8
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Zhuang X, Cheng CHC. Propagation of a De Novo Gene under Natural Selection: Antifreeze Glycoprotein Genes and Their Evolutionary History in Codfishes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111777. [PMID: 34828383 PMCID: PMC8622921 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The de novo birth of functional genes from non-coding DNA as an important contributor to new gene formation is increasingly supported by evidence from diverse eukaryotic lineages. However, many uncertainties remain, including how the incipient de novo genes would continue to evolve and the molecular mechanisms underlying their evolutionary trajectory. Here we address these questions by investigating evolutionary history of the de novo antifreeze glycoprotein (AFGP) gene and gene family in gadid (codfish) lineages. We examined AFGP phenotype on a phylogenetic framework encompassing a broad sampling of gadids from freezing and non-freezing habitats. In three select species representing different AFGP-bearing clades, we analyzed all AFGP gene family members and the broader scale AFGP genomic regions in detail. Codon usage analyses suggest that motif duplication produced the intragenic AFGP tripeptide coding repeats, and rapid sequence divergence post-duplication stabilized the recombination-prone long repetitive coding region. Genomic loci analyses support AFGP originated once from a single ancestral genomic origin, and shed light on how the de novo gene proliferated into a gene family. Results also show the processes of gene duplication and gene loss are distinctive in separate clades, and both genotype and phenotype are commensurate with differential local selective pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhuang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (C.-H.C.C.)
| | - C.-H. Christina Cheng
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (C.-H.C.C.)
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9
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Florko KRN, Tai TC, Cheung WWL, Ferguson SH, Sumaila UR, Yurkowski DJ, Auger-Méthé M. Predicting how climate change threatens the prey base of Arctic marine predators. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2563-2575. [PMID: 34469020 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Arctic sea ice loss has direct consequences for predators. Climate-driven distribution shifts of native and invasive prey species may exacerbate these consequences. We assessed potential changes by modelling the prey base of a widely distributed Arctic predator (ringed seal; Pusa hispida) in a sentinel area for change (Hudson Bay) under high- and low-greenhouse gas emission scenarios from 1950 to 2100. All changes were relatively negligible under the low-emission scenario, but under the high-emission scenario, we projected a 50% decline in the abundance of the well-distributed, ice-adapted and energy-rich Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and an increase in the abundance of smaller temperate-associated fish in southern and coastal areas. Furthermore, our model predicted that all fish species declined in mean body size, but a 29% increase in total prey biomass. Declines in energy-rich prey and restrictions in their spatial range are likely to have cascading effects on Arctic predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie R N Florko
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Travis C Tai
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - William W L Cheung
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - U Rashid Sumaila
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David J Yurkowski
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Marie Auger-Méthé
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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10
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Distinct genetic clustering in the weakly differentiated polar cod, Boreogadus saida Lepechin, 1774 from East Siberian Sea to Svalbard. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02911-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe cold-adapted polar cod Boreogadus saida, a key species in Arctic ecosystems, is vulnerable to global warming and ice retreat. In this study, 1257 individuals sampled in 17 locations within the latitudinal range of 75–81°N from Svalbard to East Siberian Sea were genotyped with a dedicated suite of 116 single-nucleotide polymorphic loci (SNP). The overall pattern of isolation by distance (IBD) found was driven by the two easternmost samples (East Siberian Sea and Laptev Sea), whereas no differentiation was registered in the area between the Kara Sea and Svalbard. Eleven SNP under strong linkage disequilibrium, nine of which could be annotated to chromosome 2 in Atlantic cod, defined two genetic groups of distinct size, with the major cluster containing seven-fold larger number of individuals than the minor. No underlying geographic basis was evident, as both clusters were detected throughout all sampling sites in relatively similar proportions (i.e. individuals in the minor cluster ranging between 4 and 19% on the location basis). Similarly, females and males were also evenly distributed between clusters and age groups. A differentiation was, however, found regarding size at age: individuals belonging to the major cluster were significantly longer in the second year. This study contributes to increasing the population genetic knowledge of this species and suggests that an appropriate management should be ensured to safeguard its diversity.
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11
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Maes SM, Christiansen H, Mark FC, Lucassen M, Van de Putte A, Volckaert FAM, Flores H. High gene flow in polar cod (Boreogadus saida) from West-Svalbard and the Eurasian Basin. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:49-60. [PMID: 33559136 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The current and projected environmental change of the Arctic Ocean contrasts sharply with the limited knowledge of its genetic biodiversity. Polar cod Boreogadus saida (Lepechin, 1774) is an abundant circumpolar marine fish and ecological key species. The central role of polar cod in the Arctic marine food web warrants a better understanding of its population structure and connectivity. In this study, the genetic population structure of 171 juveniles, collected from several fjords off West-Svalbard (Billefjorden, Hornsund and Kongsfjorden), the northern Sophia Basin and the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean, was analysed using nine DNA microsatellite loci. Genetic analyses indicated moderate to high genetic diversity, but absence of spatial population structure and isolation-by-distance, suggesting ongoing gene flow between the studied sampling regions. High levels of connectivity may be key for polar cod to maintain populations across wide spatial scales. The adaptive capacity of the species will be increasingly important to face challenges such as habitat fragmentation, ocean warming and changes in prey composition. In view of a limited understanding of the population dynamics and evolution of polar cod, a valuable next step to predict future developments should be an integrated biological evaluation, including population genomics, a life-history approach, and habitat and biophysical dispersal modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Maes
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Henrik Christiansen
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Felix C Mark
- Alfred-Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Magnus Lucassen
- Alfred-Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Anton Van de Putte
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Filip A M Volckaert
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hauke Flores
- Alfred-Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
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12
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Contrast of warm and cold phases in the Bering Sea to understand spatial distributions of Arctic and sub-Arctic gadids. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02856-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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13
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Aune M, Raskhozheva E, Andrade H, Augustine S, Bambulyak A, Camus L, Carroll J, Dolgov AV, Hop H, Moiseev D, Renaud PE, Varpe Ø. Distribution and ecology of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) in the eastern Barents Sea: A review of historical literature. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 166:105262. [PMID: 33513484 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105262] [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: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The polar cod (Boreogadus saida) has a circumpolar distribution and is the most abundant planktivorous fish in the Arctic. Declining sea-ice coverage impacts polar cod directly and also facilitates expansion of human activities in the region leading to increasing anthropogenic pressures on biota. Here we summarize current data and knowledge on polar cod from the Russian sector of the Barents Sea and discuss knowledge needs for the management of polar cod under changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts. We review 36 Russian historical (1935 - 2020) sources of data and knowledge largely unknown to western researchers, in addition to sources already published in the English language. This effort allowed for digitalization and visualization of 69 separate datasets on polar cod ecology, including maturation, fertility, feeding intensity, diet, lipid content, length-weight relationships and seasonal variation in larval size. Our review suggests that polar cod abundances are particularly large in the eastern Barents Sea and adjacent waters. Here, we identify and discuss key knowledge gaps. The review of polar cod in the eastern Barents Sea revealed 1) major variation in the timing and area of polar cod spawning, 2) uncertainty as to what degree the polar cod is dependent on sea ice, 3) deficient knowledge of juvenile (e.g., 0-group) distributions, particularly in the north-eastern Barents Sea, 4) deficient knowledge of the species' genetic structure and spatio-temporal distributions, and 5) insufficient understanding as to whether ongoing environmental change may induce phenological changes affecting the availability of potential food items for polar cod larvae and their match in space and time. Filling these knowledge gaps would provide an important step towards the reliable knowledge base needed in order to perform well-founded management and impact assessment under environmental changes and increasing anthropogenic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Aune
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, 9007, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Evgeniia Raskhozheva
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Vladimirskaya St. 17, 183010, Murmansk, Russian Federation
| | | | | | | | - Lionel Camus
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Andrey V Dolgov
- Polar Branch of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution "Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography" ("PINRO" named after N. M. Knipovich), 6 Knipovich Street, 183038, Murmansk, Russian Federation; Federal State Educational Institution of Higher Education "Murmansk State Technical University",13, Sportivnaya Street, Murmansk, 183010, Russia; Tomsk State University, 36, Lenin Avenue, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Haakon Hop
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Denis Moiseev
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Vladimirskaya St. 17, 183010, Murmansk, Russian Federation
| | - Paul E Renaud
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, 9007, Tromsø, Norway; University Centre in Svalbard; 9071, Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Øystein Varpe
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, 9007, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgt. 53 A/B, 5020, Bergen, Norway
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14
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Reduced seasonal sea ice and increased sea surface temperature change prey and foraging behaviour in an ice-obligate Arctic seabird, Mandt’s black guillemot (Cepphus grylle mandtii). Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02826-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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15
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Tarroux A, Cherel Y, Fauchald P, Kato A, Love OP, Ropert‐Coudert Y, Spreen G, Varpe Ø, Weimerskirch H, Yoccoz NG, Zahn S, Descamps S. Foraging tactics in dynamic sea‐ice habitats affect individual state in a long‐ranging seabird. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Tarroux
- Department of Arctic Ecology ‐ Tromsø Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Tromsø Norway
- Biodiversity Section Norwegian Polar Institute Tromsø Norway
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) UMR 7372 du CNRS‐La Rochelle Université Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Per Fauchald
- Department of Arctic Ecology ‐ Tromsø Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Tromsø Norway
| | - Akiko Kato
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) UMR 7372 du CNRS‐La Rochelle Université Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Oliver P. Love
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | - Yan Ropert‐Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) UMR 7372 du CNRS‐La Rochelle Université Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Gunnar Spreen
- Biodiversity Section Norwegian Polar Institute Tromsø Norway
- Institute of Environmental Physics University of Bremen Bremen Germany
| | - Øystein Varpe
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Bergen & Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Bergen Norway
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) UMR 7372 du CNRS‐La Rochelle Université Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Nigel G. Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology University of Tromsø ‐ The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien Université de StrasbourgUMR7178 CNRS Strasbourg France
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16
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Von Duyke AL, Douglas DC, Herreman JK, Crawford JA. Ringed seal ( Pusa hispida) seasonal movements, diving, and haul-out behavior in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas (2011-2017). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5595-5616. [PMID: 32607177 PMCID: PMC7319173 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Continued Arctic warming and sea-ice loss will have important implications for the conservation of ringed seals, a highly ice-dependent species. A better understanding of their spatial ecology will help characterize emerging ecological trends and inform management decisions. We deployed satellite transmitters on ringed seals in the summers of 2011, 2014, and 2016 near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, to monitor their movements, diving, and haul-out behavior. We present analyses of tracking and dive data provided by 17 seals that were tracked until at least January of the following year. Seals mostly ranged north of Utqiaġvik in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas during summer before moving into the southern Chukchi and Bering Seas during winter. In all seasons, ringed seals occupied a diversity of habitats and spatial distributions, from near shore and localized, to far offshore and wide-ranging in drifting sea ice. Continental shelf waters were occupied for >96% of tracking days, during which repetitive diving (suggestive of foraging) primarily to the seafloor was the most frequent activity. From mid-summer to early fall, 12 seals made ~1-week forays off-shelf to the deep Arctic Basin, most reaching the retreating pack-ice, where they spent most of their time hauled out. Diel activity patterns suggested greater allocation of foraging efforts to midday hours. Haul-out patterns were complementary, occurring mostly at night until April-May when midday hours were preferred. Ringed seals captured in 2011-concurrent with an unusual mortality event that affected all ice-seal species-differed morphologically and behaviorally from seals captured in other years. Speculations about the physiology of molting and its role in energetics, habitat use, and behavior are discussed; along with possible evidence of purported ringed seal ecotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jason K. Herreman
- Department of Wildlife ManagementNorth Slope BoroughBarrowAKUSA
- Present address:
Alaska Department of Fish and GameHomerAKUSA
| | - Justin A. Crawford
- Alaska Department of Fish and GameArctic Marine Mammal ProgramFairbanksAKUSA
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17
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18
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Spatial patterns, environmental correlates, and potential seasonal migration triangle of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) distribution in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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19
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Huserbråten MBO, Eriksen E, Gjøsæter H, Vikebø F. Polar cod in jeopardy under the retreating Arctic sea ice. Commun Biol 2019; 2:407. [PMID: 31728418 PMCID: PMC6838109 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0649-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Arctic amplification of global warming is causing the Arctic-Atlantic ice edge to retreat at unprecedented rates. Here we show how variability and change in sea ice cover in the Barents Sea, the largest shelf sea of the Arctic, affect the population dynamics of a keystone species of the ice-associated food web, the polar cod (Boreogadus saida). The data-driven biophysical model of polar cod early life stages assembled here predicts a strong mechanistic link between survival and variation in ice cover and temperature, suggesting imminent recruitment collapse should the observed ice-reduction and heating continue. Backtracking of drifting eggs and larvae from observations also demonstrates a northward retreat of one of two clearly defined spawning assemblages, possibly in response to warming. With annual to decadal ice-predictions under development the mechanistic physical-biological links presented here represent a powerful tool for making long-term predictions for the propagation of polar cod stocks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Eriksen
- Institute of Marine Research, Box 1870, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Frode Vikebø
- Institute of Marine Research, Box 1870, 5817 Bergen, Norway
- Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research, Box 7810, 5020 Bergen, Norway
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20
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LeBlanc M, Geoffroy M, Bouchard C, Gauthier S, Majewski A, Reist JD, Fortier L. Pelagic production and the recruitment of juvenile polar cod Boreogadus saida in Canadian Arctic seas. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02565-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPrevious work found that an earlier ice breakup favors the recruitment of juvenile polar cod (Boreogadus saida) by enabling early hatchers to survive and reach a large size by late summer thanks to a long growth season. We tested the hypothesis that, in addition to a long growth season, an earlier ice breakup provides superior feeding conditions for young polar cod by enhancing microalgal and zooplankton production over the summer months. Ice cover and surface chlorophyll a were derived from satellite observations, and zooplankton and juvenile cod biomass were estimated by hydroacoustics in ten regions of the Canadian Arctic over a period of 11 years. Earlier breakups resulted in earlier phytoplankton blooms. Zooplankton backscatter in August increased with earlier breakup and bloom, and plateaued at chlorophyll a > 1 mg m−3. Juvenile cod biomass in August increased with an earlier breakup, and plateaued at a zooplankton backscatter > 5 m2 nmi−2, supporting the hypothesis that higher food availability promotes the growth and survival of age-0 fish in years of early ice melt. However, there was little evidence that late summer biomass of either zooplankton or age-0 polar cod benefitted from ice breakup occurring prior to June. On average, zooplankton standing stock was similar in the Southern Beaufort Sea and the North Water-Lancaster Sound polynya complex, but juvenile cod biomass was higher in the Beaufort Sea. Intense avian predation could explain the lower biomass of juvenile cod in the polynya complex, confirming its reputation as a biological hotspot for energy transfer to higher trophic levels.
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21
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Randall JR, Busby MS, Spear AH, Mier KL. Spatial and temporal variation of late summer ichthyoplankton assemblage structure in the eastern Chukchi Sea: 2010–2015. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02555-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Sea-ice properties and nutrient concentration as drivers of the taxonomic and trophic structure of high-Arctic protist and metazoan communities. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02526-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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23
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Fahd F, Veitch B, Khan F. Arctic marine fish 'biotransformation toxicity' model for ecological risk assessment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 142:408-418. [PMID: 31232318 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Oil and gas exploration and marine transport in the Arctic region have put the focus on the ecological risk of the possibly exposed organisms. In the present study, the impacts of sea ice, extreme light regime, various polar region-specific physiological characteristics in polar cod (Boreogadus saida) and their effects on xenobiotic distribution and metabolism are studied. A Bayesian belief network is used to model individual fish toxicity. The enzyme activity in the fish liver and other pertinent organs is used as a proxy for cellular damage and repair and is subsequently linked to toxicity in polar cod. Seasonal baseline variation in enzyme production is also taken into consideration. The model estimates the probability of exposure concentration to cause cytotoxicity and circumvents the need to use the traditionally obtained No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC). Instead, it uses biotransformation enzyme activity as a basis to estimate the probability of individual cell damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Fahd
- Centre for Risk, Integrity and Safety Engineering (C-RISE), Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Brian Veitch
- Centre for Risk, Integrity and Safety Engineering (C-RISE), Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Faisal Khan
- Centre for Risk, Integrity and Safety Engineering (C-RISE), Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada.
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24
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Arctic warming interrupts the Transpolar Drift and affects long-range transport of sea ice and ice-rafted matter. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5459. [PMID: 30940829 PMCID: PMC6445075 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41456-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea ice is an important transport vehicle for gaseous, dissolved and particulate matter in the Arctic Ocean. Due to the recently observed acceleration in sea ice drift, it has been assumed that more matter is advected by the Transpolar Drift from shallow shelf waters to the central Arctic Ocean and beyond. However, this study provides first evidence that intensified melt in the marginal zones of the Arctic Ocean interrupts the transarctic conveyor belt and has led to a reduction of the survival rates of sea ice exported from the shallow Siberian shelves (−15% per decade). As a consequence, less and less ice formed in shallow water areas (<30 m) has reached Fram Strait (−17% per decade), and more ice and ice-rafted material is released in the northern Laptev Sea and central Arctic Ocean. Decreasing survival rates of first-year ice are visible all along the Russian shelves, but significant only in the Kara Sea, East Siberian Sea and western Laptev Sea. Identified changes affect biogeochemical fluxes and ecological processes in the central Arctic: A reduced long-range transport of sea ice alters transport and redistribution of climate relevant gases, and increases accumulation of sediments and contaminates in the central Arctic Ocean, with consequences for primary production, and the biodiversity of the Arctic Ocean.
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25
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Fernández-Gómez B, Díez B, Polz MF, Arroyo JI, Alfaro FD, Marchandon G, Sanhueza C, Farías L, Trefault N, Marquet PA, Molina-Montenegro MA, Sylvander P, Snoeijs-Leijonmalm P. Bacterial community structure in a sympagic habitat expanding with global warming: brackish ice brine at 85-90 °N. THE ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:316-333. [PMID: 30228379 PMCID: PMC6331608 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0268-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Larger volumes of sea ice have been thawing in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) during the last decades than during the past 800,000 years. Brackish brine (fed by meltwater inside the ice) is an expanding sympagic habitat in summer all over the CAO. We report for the first time the structure of bacterial communities in this brine. They are composed of psychrophilic extremophiles, many of them related to phylotypes known from Arctic and Antarctic regions. Community structure displayed strong habitat segregation between brackish ice brine (IB; salinity 2.4-9.6) and immediate sub-ice seawater (SW; salinity 33.3-34.9), expressed at all taxonomic levels (class to genus), by dominant phylotypes as well as by the rare biosphere, and with specialists dominating IB and generalists SW. The dominant phylotypes in IB were related to Candidatus Aquiluna and Flavobacterium, those in SW to Balneatrix and ZD0405, and those shared between the habitats to Halomonas, Polaribacter and Shewanella. A meta-analysis for the oligotrophic CAO showed a pattern with Flavobacteriia dominating in melt ponds, Flavobacteriia and Gammaproteobacteria in solid ice cores, Flavobacteriia, Gamma- and Betaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria in brine, and Alphaproteobacteria in SW. Based on our results, we expect that the roles of Actinobacteria and Betaproteobacteria in the CAO will increase with global warming owing to the increased production of meltwater in summer. IB contained three times more phylotypes than SW and may act as an insurance reservoir for bacterial diversity that can act as a recruitment base when environmental conditions change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Gómez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical University Catholic of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- INTA-Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Beatriz Díez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical University Catholic of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Martin F Polz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
| | - José Ignacio Arroyo
- Department of Ecology, Pontifical University Catholic of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando D Alfaro
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Germán Marchandon
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical University Catholic of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cynthia Sanhueza
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical University Catholic of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Laura Farías
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research, Concepción, Chile
- Department of Oceanography, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Nicole Trefault
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo A Marquet
- Department of Ecology, Pontifical University Catholic of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marco A Molina-Montenegro
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Peter Sylvander
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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26
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Regional and temporal variation in fatty acid profiles of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) in Alaska. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2386-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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27
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Wilson RE, Menning DM, Wedemeyer K, Talbot SL. A transcriptome resource for the Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida). Mar Genomics 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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28
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Aune M, Aniceto AS, Biuw M, Daase M, Falk-Petersen S, Leu E, Ottesen CAM, Sagerup K, Camus L. Seasonal ecology in ice-covered Arctic seas - Considerations for spill response decision making. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 141:275-288. [PMID: 30249455 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to retreating sea ice and predictions of undiscovered oil and gas resources, increased activity in Arctic shelf sea areas associated with shipping and oil and gas exploration is expected. Such activities may accidentally lead to oil spills in partly ice-covered ocean areas, which raises issues related to oil spill response. Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) is the process that the response community uses to identify which combination of response strategies minimises the impact to environment and people. The vulnerability of Valued Ecosystem Components (VEC's) to oil pollution depends on their sensitivity to oil and the likelihood that they will be exposed to oil. As such, NEBA requires a good ecological knowledge base on biodiversity, species' distributions in time and space, and timing of ecological events. Biological resources found at interfaces (e.g., air/water, ice/water or water/coastline) are in general vulnerable because that is where oil can accumulate. Here, we summarize recent information about the seasonal, physical and ecological processes in Arctic waters and evaluate the importance these processes when considering in oil spill response decision making through NEBA. In spring-time, many boreal species conduct a lateral migration northwards in response to sea ice retraction and increased production associated with the spring bloom. However, many Arctic species, including fish, seabirds and marine mammals, are present in upper water layers in the Arctic throughout the year, and recent research has demonstrated that bioactivity during the Arctic winter is higher than previously assumed. Information on the seasonal presence/absence of less resilient VEC's such as marine mammals and sea birds in combination with the presence/absence of sea ice seems to be especially crucial to consider in a NEBA. In addition, quantification of the potential impact of different, realistic spill sizes on the energy cascade following the spring bloom at the ice-edge would provide important information for assessing ecosystem effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Aune
- Akvaplan-niva AS, The Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Ana Sofia Aniceto
- Akvaplan-niva AS, The Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway; ARCEx (Research Centre of Arctic Petroleum Exploration), UiT The Arctic University of Tromsø, Department of Geology, Dramsveien 201, Postboks 6050 Langnes, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Martin Biuw
- Institute of Marine Research, 9294, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Malin Daase
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Stig Falk-Petersen
- Akvaplan-niva AS, The Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eva Leu
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Camilla A M Ottesen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kjetil Sagerup
- Akvaplan-niva AS, The Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lionel Camus
- Akvaplan-niva AS, The Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
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29
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Drost HE, Lo M, Carmack EC, Farrell AP. Acclimation potential of Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) from the rapidly warming Arctic Ocean. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:3114-3125. [PMID: 27471275 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.140194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
As a consequence of the growing concern about warming of the Arctic Ocean, this study quantified the thermal acclimation responses of Boreogadus saida, a key Arctic food web fish. Physiological rates for cardio-respiratory functions as well as critical maximum temperature (Tc,max) for loss of equilibrium (LOE) were measured. The transition temperatures for these events (LOE, the rate of oxygen uptake and maximum heart rate) during acute warming were used to gauge phenotypic plasticity after thermal acclimation from 0.5°C up to 6.5°C for 1 month (respiratory and Tc,max measurements) and 6 months (cardiac measurements). Tc,max increased significantly by 2.3°C from 14.9°C to 17.1°C with thermal acclimation, while the optimum temperature for absolute aerobic scope increased by 4.5°C over the same range of thermal acclimation. Warm acclimation reset the maximum heart rate to a statistically lower rate, but the first Arrhenius breakpoint temperature during acute warming was unchanged. The hierarchy of transition temperatures was quantified at three acclimation temperatures and was fitted inside a Fry temperature tolerance polygon to better define ecologically relevant thermal limits to performance of B. saida We conclude that B. saida can acclimate to 6.5°C water temperatures in the laboratory. However, at this acclimation temperature 50% of the fish were unable to recover from maximum swimming at the 8.5°C test temperature and their cardio-respiratory performance started to decline at water temperatures greater than 5.4°C. Such costs in performance may limit the ecological significance of B. saida acclimation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Drost
- Zoology Department, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - M Lo
- Zoology Department, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - E C Carmack
- Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada V8L 4B2
| | - A P Farrell
- Zoology Department, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4 Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
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30
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The ecology of gadid fishes in the circumpolar Arctic with a special emphasis on the polar cod (Boreogadus saida). Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-1965-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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31
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32
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Vertical segregation of age-0 and age-1+ polar cod (Boreogadus saida) over the annual cycle in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1811-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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