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Awender S, Wackerbauer R, Breed GA. How realistic features affect the stability of an Arctic marine food web model. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2024; 34:013122. [PMID: 38242104 DOI: 10.1063/5.0176718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Rapid sea-ice decline and warmer waters are threatening the stability of Arctic ecosystems and potentially forcing their restructuring. Mathematical models that support observational evidence are becoming increasingly important. We develop a food web model for the Southern Beaufort Sea based on species with high ecological significance. Generalized modeling is applied to study the impact of realistic characteristics on food web stability; a powerful method that provides a linear stability analysis for systems with uncertainty in data and underlying physical processes. We find that including predator-specific foraging traits, weighted predator-prey interactions, and habitat constraints increase food-web stability. The absence of a fierce top predator (killer whale, polar bear, etc.) also significantly increases the portion of stable webs. Adding ecosystem background noise in terms of a collective impact of latent, minor ecosystem members shows a peak in stability at an optimum, relatively small background pressure. These results indicate that refining models with more realistic detail to account for the complexity of the ecological system may be key to bridge the gap between empirical observations and model predictions in ecosystem stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Awender
- Department of Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| | - Renate Wackerbauer
- Department of Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| | - Greg A Breed
- Department of Biology & Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
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2
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Tremblay-Gagnon F, Brown-Vuillemin S, Skanes K, Polaczek H, Walkusz W, Robert D, Deslauriers D. Spatiotemporal variability in diet composition of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) from the eastern Canadian Arctic. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 103:1430-1444. [PMID: 37563757 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15519] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) sustain one of the most lucrative fisheries in the eastern Canadian Arctic and Labrador Sea. This species also plays an important role in food web connectivity and benthic-pelagic coupling. Despite the relatively rich knowledge of this species, R. hippoglossoides ecology in these specific areas remains poorly understood. The main aim of this study was to characterize the diet of this deepwater fish in the Labrador Sea and Davis and Hudson Straits and characterize the predator-prey relationship with northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis), another commercially important species in the region. Stomach contents analyses were conducted on 1199 fish captured from 2018 to 2020. Small specimens (<20 cm) fed on invertebrates, whereas larger individuals (>60 cm) fed primarily on fish, indicative of size-related changes in diet composition. The relative abundance of Pandalus shrimp species in the environment was reflected in the diet. Location appeared to be the most influential variable on feeding patterns. Distinct oceanographic conditions among areas, resulting in differences in prey availability, could explain these results. Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and redfish (Sebastes sp.) were selected in locations where fish prey were the most abundant. These results shed light on the opportunistic nature of R. hippoglossoides and its preference for fish at large size. With the rapidly changing oceanographic conditions of Arctic waters, a distributional change in the biomass of shrimp is expected. Results suggest that an increase in abundance of predatory groundfish species in the system (e.g., Sebastes sp.) could lead to acute predation on shrimp and competition with R. hippoglossoides. By revealing key trophic links within the demersal ecosystem, this work provides valuable information on the development of ecosystem approaches to fisheries management for the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Tremblay-Gagnon
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sarah Brown-Vuillemin
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Katherine Skanes
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Hannah Polaczek
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Wojciech Walkusz
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Dominique Robert
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Deslauriers
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
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3
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Hilgendag IR, Swanson HK, Lewis CW, Ehrman AD, Power M. Mercury biomagnification in benthic, pelagic, and benthopelagic food webs in an Arctic marine ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156424. [PMID: 35662606 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous toxic metal that biomagnifies in food webs, and can reach high concentrations in top predators. Evaluating Hg biomagnification in Arctic marine food webs is critical for understanding Hg dynamics and estimating exposure to understudied fish and wildlife consumed by humans. The majority of studies conducted on Hg biomagnification in the Arctic have focused on pelagic food webs. Benthic and benthopelagic food webs in Arctic marine ecosystems also support many species of subsistence and commercial importance, and data are lacking for these systems. In this study, we investigated food web structure and Hg biomagnification for the benthic, pelagic, and benthopelagic marine food webs of inner Frobisher Bay in Nunavut. Stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), as well as total (THg) and methyl (MeHg) mercury concentrations were measured in fish, invertebrates, and zooplankton. Biomagnification in each food web was quantified with Trophic Magnification Slopes (TMS) and Trophic Magnification Factors (TMF). The highest TMS and TMF values were exhibited by the benthopelagic food web (TMS = 0.201; TMF = 1.59), followed by the pelagic food web (TMS = 0.183; TMF = 1.52), and lastly the benthic food web (TMS = 0.079; TMF = 1.20), with δ15N explaining 88%, 79%, and 9% of variation in Hg concentrations, respectively. TMS and TMF values were generally low compared to other Arctic marine food webs. Results from food web structure analyses indicated that the benthic food web had the greatest trophic diversity, trophic redundancy, and largest isotopic niche area of all food webs studied. Greater food web complexity may thus result in reduced MeHg biomagnification, but further study is required. Acquiring Hg and food web structure data is critical for predicting the effects of climate-induced environmental change on Hg dynamics, especially in the context of Arctic marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel R Hilgendag
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Heidi K Swanson
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | | | - Ashley D Ehrman
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Michael Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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4
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Botterell ZLR, Bergmann M, Hildebrandt N, Krumpen T, Steinke M, Thompson RC, Lindeque PK. Microplastic ingestion in zooplankton from the Fram Strait in the Arctic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 831:154886. [PMID: 35364160 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Some of the highest microplastic concentrations in marine environments have been reported from the Fram Strait in the Arctic. This region supports a diverse ecosystem dependent on high concentrations of zooplankton at the base of the food web. Zooplankton samples were collected during research cruises using Bongo and MOCNESS nets in the boreal summers of 2018 and 2019. Using FTIR scanning spectroscopy in combination with an automated polymer identification approach, we show that all five species of Arctic zooplankton investigated had ingested microplastics. Amphipod species, found in surface waters or closely associated with sea ice, had ingested significantly more microplastic per individual (Themisto libellula: 1.8, Themisto abyssorrum: 1, Apherusa glacialis: 1) than copepod species (Calanus hyperboreus: 0.21, Calanus glacialis/finmarchicus: 0.01). The majority of microplastics ingested were below 50 μm in size, all were fragments and several different polymer types were present. We quantified microplastics in water samples collected at six of the same stations as the Calanus using an underway sampling system (inlet at 6.5 m water depth). Fragments of several polymer types and anthropogenic cellulosic fibres were present, with an average concentration of 7 microplastic particles (MP) L-1 (0-18.5 MP L-1). In comparison to the water samples, those microplastics found ingested by zooplankton were significantly smaller, highlighting that the smaller-sized microplastics were being selected for by the zooplankton. High levels of microplastic ingestion in zooplankton have been associated with negative effects on growth, development, and fecundity. As Arctic zooplankton only have a short window of biological productivity, any negative effect could have broad consequences. As global plastic consumption continues to increase and climate change continues to reduce sea ice cover, releasing ice-bound microplastics and leaving ice free areas open to exploitation, the Arctic could be exposed to further plastic pollution which could place additional strain on this fragile ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zara L R Botterell
- Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK; School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Melanie Bergmann
- HGF-MPG Joint Research Group for Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar - und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Nicole Hildebrandt
- HGF-MPG Joint Research Group for Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar - und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Thomas Krumpen
- Climate Sciences, Sea Ice Physics, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar - und Meeresforschung, Bussestraße 24, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Michael Steinke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Richard C Thompson
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC), School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Penelope K Lindeque
- Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK.
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5
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Effects of environmental variables on a nearshore arctic fish community, 2001–2018. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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6
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Ross TR, Thiemann GW, Young BG, Ferguson SH. Complimentary diet analyses reveal intraspecific and temporal variation in ringed seal (Pusa hispida) foraging in the Canadian high arctic. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02999-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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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: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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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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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9
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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: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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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10
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11
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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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12
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Cusa M, Berge J, Varpe Ø. Seasonal shifts in feeding patterns: Individual and population realized specialization in a high Arctic fish. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11112-11121. [PMID: 31641459 PMCID: PMC6802042 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Species with a broad and flexible diet may be at an advantage in a rapidly changing environment such as in today's Arctic ecosystems. Polar cod (Boreogadus saida), an abundant and ecologically important circumpolar Arctic fish, is often described as a zooplankton generalist feeder, which suggests that it may cope successfully with changes in prey composition. This description is justified based on the relatively broad diet of polar cod across sites and seasons. In this case study, we used polar cod dietary data from fall and winter and from two distinct environments, dominated either by Arctic or Atlantic water masses in Svalbard. Our results point to the importance of time and space when drawing conclusions on dietary plasticity and degree of specialization. Polar cod diet differed significantly between fall and the winter and between Arctic and Atlantic domains. Polar cod from Arctic domains displayed a strong realized population specialization on Themisto libellula in fall, and the larger dietary niche width observed in the winter was the product of realized individual specialization, with increased feeding on fish prey. Overall, we did not observe a generalized feeding behavior. If dietary niche width is to inform conservation management, we argue it must be recognized that populations from a single species may adopt seasonally contrasting degrees of dietary specialization and that these populations may differ in their vulnerability to climate-induced changes in prey community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Cusa
- Department of Arctic BiologyThe University Centre in SvalbardLongyearbyenNorway
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT ‐ The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Jørgen Berge
- Department of Arctic BiologyThe University Centre in SvalbardLongyearbyenNorway
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT ‐ The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Øystein Varpe
- Department of Arctic BiologyThe University Centre in SvalbardLongyearbyenNorway
- Akvaplan‐nivaFram CentreTromsøNorway
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13
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Choy ES, Campbell KL, Berenbrink M, Roth JD, Loseto LL. Body condition impacts blood and muscle oxygen storage capacity of free-living beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.191916. [PMID: 31097602 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.191916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Arctic marine ecosystems are currently undergoing rapid environmental changes. Over the past 20 years, individual growth rates of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) have declined, which may be a response to climate change; however, the scarcity of physiological data makes it difficult to gauge the adaptive capacity and resilience of the species. We explored relationships between body condition and physiological parameters pertaining to oxygen (O2) storage capacity in 77 beluga whales in the eastern Beaufort Sea. Muscle myoglobin concentrations averaged 77.9 mg g-1, one of the highest values reported among mammals. Importantly, blood haematocrit, haemoglobin and muscle myoglobin concentrations correlated positively to indices of body condition, including maximum half-girth to length ratios. Thus, a whale with the lowest body condition index would have ∼27% lower blood (26.0 versus 35.7 ml kg-1) and 12% lower muscle (15.6 versus 17.7 ml kg-1) O2 stores than a whale of equivalent mass with the highest body condition index; with the conservative assumption that underwater O2 consumption rates are unaffected by body condition, this equates to a >3 min difference in maximal aerobic dive time between the two extremes (14.3 versus 17.4 min). Consequently, environmental changes that negatively impact body condition may hinder the ability of whales to reach preferred prey sources, evade predators and escape ice entrapments. The relationship between body condition and O2 storage capacity may represent a vicious cycle, in which environmental changes resulting in decreased body condition impair foraging, leading to further reductions in condition through diminished prey acquisition and/or increased foraging efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Choy
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Kevin L Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Michael Berenbrink
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - James D Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Lisa L Loseto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.,Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
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14
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Yurkowski DJ, Auger-Méthé M, Mallory ML, Wong SNP, Gilchrist G, Derocher AE, Richardson E, Lunn NJ, Hussey NE, Marcoux M, Togunov RR, Fisk AT, Harwood LA, Dietz R, Rosing-Asvid A, Born EW, Mosbech A, Fort J, Grémillet D, Loseto L, Richard PR, Iacozza J, Jean-Gagnon F, Brown TM, Westdal KH, Orr J, LeBlanc B, Hedges KJ, Treble MA, Kessel ST, Blanchfield PJ, Davis S, Maftei M, Spencer N, McFarlane-Tranquilla L, Montevecchi WA, Bartzen B, Dickson L, Anderson C, Ferguson SH. Abundance and species diversity hotspots of tracked marine predators across the North American Arctic. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | | | - Evan Richardson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | | | | | - Ron R. Togunov
- University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | | | - Lois A. Harwood
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
| | | | | | - Erik W. Born
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources; Nuuk Greenland
| | | | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs); UMR7266 CNRS-University of La Rochelle; La Rochelle France
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive; UMR 5175, CNRS; Montpellier France
| | - Lisa Loseto
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | - John Iacozza
- University of Manitoba; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | | | | | - Jack Orr
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | | | | | - Steven T. Kessel
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research; John G. Shedd Aquarium; Chicago Illinois
| | | | - Shanti Davis
- High Arctic Gull Research Group; Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Mark Maftei
- High Arctic Gull Research Group; Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Nora Spencer
- High Arctic Gull Research Group; Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | | | | | - Blake Bartzen
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
| | - Lynne Dickson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Edmonton Alberta Canada
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15
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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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16
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Wang K, Munson KM, Beaupré-Laperrière A, Mucci A, Macdonald RW, Wang F. Subsurface seawater methylmercury maximum explains biotic mercury concentrations in the Canadian Arctic. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14465. [PMID: 30262886 PMCID: PMC6160454 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32760-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of major concern in Arctic marine ecosystems. Decades of Hg observations in marine biota from across the Canadian Arctic show generally higher concentrations in the west than in the east. Various hypotheses have attributed this longitudinal biotic Hg gradient to regional differences in atmospheric or terrestrial inputs of inorganic Hg, but it is methylmercury (MeHg) that accumulates and biomagnifies in marine biota. Here, we present high-resolution vertical profiles of total Hg and MeHg in seawater along a transect from the Canada Basin, across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) and Baffin Bay, and into the Labrador Sea. Total Hg concentrations are lower in the western Arctic, opposing the biotic Hg distributions. In contrast, MeHg exhibits a distinctive subsurface maximum at shallow depths of 100–300 m, with its peak concentration decreasing eastwards. As this subsurface MeHg maximum lies within the habitat of zooplankton and other lower trophic-level biota, biological uptake of subsurface MeHg and subsequent biomagnification readily explains the biotic Hg concentration gradient. Understanding the risk of MeHg to the Arctic marine ecosystem and Indigenous Peoples will thus require an elucidation of the processes that generate and maintain this subsurface MeHg maximum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Kathleen M Munson
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Alexis Beaupré-Laperrière
- GEOTOP, and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0E8, Canada
| | - Alfonso Mucci
- GEOTOP, and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0E8, Canada
| | - Robie W Macdonald
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada.,Institute of Ocean Sciences, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Sidney, British Columbia, V8L 4B2, Canada
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada.
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17
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A comparison of the trophic ecology of Beaufort Sea Gadidae using fatty acids and stable isotopes. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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18
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McNicholl DG, Davoren GK, Majewski AR, Reist JD. Isotopic niche overlap between co-occurring capelin (Mallotus villosus) and polar cod (Boreogadus saida) and the effect of lipid extraction on stable isotope ratios. Polar Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2199-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Hauser DDW, Laidre KL, Stern HL, Moore SE, Suydam RS, Richard PR. Habitat selection by two beluga whale populations in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172755. [PMID: 28235041 PMCID: PMC5325469 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been extensive sea ice loss in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas where two beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) populations occur between July-November. Our goal was to develop population-specific beluga habitat selection models that quantify relative use of sea ice and bathymetric features related to oceanographic processes, which can provide context to the importance of changing sea ice conditions. We established habitat selection models that incorporated daily sea ice measures (sea ice concentration, proximity to ice edge and dense ice) and bathymetric features (slope, depth, proximity to the continental slope, Barrow Canyon, and shore) to establish quantitative estimates of habitat use for the Eastern Chukchi Sea ('Chukchi') and Eastern Beaufort Sea ('Beaufort') populations. We applied 'used v. available' resource selection functions to locations of 65 whales tagged from 1993-2012, revealing large variations in seasonal habitat selection that were distinct between sex and population groups. Chukchi whales of both sexes were predicted to use areas in close proximity to Barrow Canyon (typically <200 km) as well as the continental slope in summer, although deeper water and denser ice were stronger predictors for males than females. Habitat selection differed more between sexes for Beaufort belugas. Beaufort males selected higher ice concentrations (≥40%) than females (0-40%) in July-August. Proximity to shore (<200 km) strongly predicted summer habitat of Beaufort females, while distance to the ice edge was important for male habitat selection, especially during westward migration in September. Overall, our results indicate that sea ice variables were rarely the primary drivers of beluga summer-fall habitat selection. While diminished sea ice may indirectly affect belugas through changes in the ecosystem, associations with bathymetric features that affect prey availability seemed key to habitat selection during summer and fall. These results provide a benchmark by which to assess future changes in beluga habitat use of the Pacific Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna D. W. Hauser
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kristin L. Laidre
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Harry L. Stern
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Sue E. Moore
- Office of Science & Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Robert S. Suydam
- North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management, Barrow, AK, United States of America
| | - Pierre R. Richard
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Canada
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20
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Watt CA, Orr J, Ferguson SH. A shift in foraging behaviour of beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas from the threatened Cumberland Sound population may reflect a changing Arctic food web. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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21
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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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22
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McNicholl DG, Walkusz W, Davoren GK, Majewski AR, Reist JD. Dietary characteristics of co-occurring polar cod (Boreogadus saida) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) in the Canadian Arctic, Darnley Bay. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1834-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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