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Rule JP, Duncan RJ, Marx FG, Pollock TI, Evans AR, Fitzgerald EM. Giant baleen whales emerged from a cold southern cradle. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20232177. [PMID: 38113937 PMCID: PMC10730287 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Baleen whales (mysticetes) include the largest animals on the Earth. How they achieved such gigantic sizes remains debated, with previous research focusing primarily on when mysticetes became large, rather than where. Here, we describe an edentulous baleen whale fossil (21.12-16.39 mega annum (Ma)) from South Australia. With an estimated body length of 9 m, it is the largest mysticete from the Early Miocene. Analysing body size through time shows that ancient baleen whales from the Southern Hemisphere were larger than their northern counterparts. This pattern seemingly persists for much of the Cenozoic, even though southern specimens contribute only 19% to the global mysticete fossil record. Our findings contrast with previous ideas of a single abrupt shift towards larger size during the Plio-Pleistocene, which we here interpret as a glacially driven Northern Hemisphere phenomenon. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating Southern Hemisphere fossils into macroevolutionary patterns, especially in light of the high productivity of Southern Ocean environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Rule
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Sciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Ruairidh J. Duncan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Sciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Felix G. Marx
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
- Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Tahlia I. Pollock
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alistair R. Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Sciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Erich M.G. Fitzgerald
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Sciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA
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2
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Gilbert L, Jeanniard-du-Dot T, Authier M, Chouvelon T, Spitz J. Composition of cetacean communities worldwide shapes their contribution to ocean nutrient cycling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5823. [PMID: 37726276 PMCID: PMC10509247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41532-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Defecation by large whales is known to fertilise oceans with nutrients, stimulating phytoplankton and ecosystem productivity. However, our current understanding of these processes is limited to a few species, nutrients and ecosystems. Here, we investigate the role of cetacean communities in the worldwide biological cycling of two major nutrients and six trace nutrients. We show that cetaceans release more nutrients in mesotrophic to eutrophic temperate waters than in oligotrophic tropical waters, mirroring patterns of ecosystem productivity. The released nutrient cocktails also vary geographically, driven by the composition of cetacean communities. The roles of small cetaceans, deep diving cetaceans and baleen whales differ quantitatively and functionally, with contributions of small cetaceans and deep divers exceeding those of large whales in some areas. The functional diversity of cetacean communities expands beyond their role as top predators to include their role as active nutrient vectors, which might be equally important to local ecosystem dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Gilbert
- Centre for Biological Studies of Chizé, UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Matthieu Authier
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
| | - Tiphaine Chouvelon
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
- Ifremer, Chemical Contamination of Marine Ecosystems Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Centre for Biological Studies of Chizé, UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France.
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France.
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3
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Belyaev O, Sparaventi E, Navarro G, Rodríguez-Romero A, Tovar-Sánchez A. The contribution of penguin guano to the Southern Ocean iron pool. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1781. [PMID: 37041162 PMCID: PMC10090129 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37132-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron plays a crucial role in the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll Southern Ocean regions, promoting phytoplankton growth and enhancing atmospheric carbon sequestration. In this area, iron-rich Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and baleen whale species, which are among their main predators, play a large role in the recycling of iron. However, penguins have received limited attention despite their representing the largest seabird biomass in the southern polar region. Here, we use breeding site guano volumes estimated from drone images, deep learning-powered penguin census, and guano chemical composition to assess the iron export to the Antarctic waters from one of the most abundant penguin species, the Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus). Our results show that these seabirds are a relevant contributor to the iron remobilization pool in the Southern Ocean. With an average guano concentration of 3 mg iron g-1, we estimate that the Chinstrap penguin population is recycling 521 tonnes iron yr-1, representing the current iron contribution half of the amount these penguins were able to recycle four decades ago, as they have declined by more than 50% since then.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Belyaev
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Erica Sparaventi
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Gabriel Navarro
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Araceli Rodríguez-Romero
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Marine Research Institute (INMAR), University of Cádiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Tovar-Sánchez
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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4
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Pearson HC, Savoca MS, Costa DP, Lomas MW, Molina R, Pershing AJ, Smith CR, Villaseñor-Derbez JC, Wing SR, Roman J. Whales in the carbon cycle: can recovery remove carbon dioxide? Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:238-249. [PMID: 36528413 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The great whales (baleen and sperm whales), through their massive size and wide distribution, influence ecosystem and carbon dynamics. Whales directly store carbon in their biomass and contribute to carbon export through sinking carcasses. Whale excreta may stimulate phytoplankton growth and capture atmospheric CO2; such indirect pathways represent the greatest potential for whale-carbon sequestration but are poorly understood. We quantify the carbon values of whales while recognizing the numerous ecosystem, cultural, and moral motivations to protect them. We also propose a framework to quantify the economic value of whale carbon as populations change over time. Finally, we suggest research to address key unknowns (e.g., bioavailability of whale-derived nutrients to phytoplankton, species- and region-specific variability in whale carbon contributions).
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi C Pearson
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK, USA.
| | - Matthew S Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Michael W Lomas
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Renato Molina
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Craig R Smith
- Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA; Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Stephen R Wing
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Joe Roman
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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5
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Savoca MS, Czapanskiy MF, Kahane-Rapport SR, Gough WT, Fahlbusch JA, Bierlich KC, Segre PS, Di Clemente J, Penry GS, Wiley DN, Calambokidis J, Nowacek DP, Johnston DW, Pyenson ND, Friedlaender AS, Hazen EL, Goldbogen JA. Baleen whale prey consumption based on high-resolution foraging measurements. Nature 2021; 599:85-90. [PMID: 34732868 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03991-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Baleen whales influence their ecosystems through immense prey consumption and nutrient recycling1-3. It is difficult to accurately gauge the magnitude of their current or historic ecosystem role without measuring feeding rates and prey consumed. To date, prey consumption of the largest species has been estimated using metabolic models3-9 based on extrapolations that lack empirical validation. Here, we used tags deployed on seven baleen whale (Mysticeti) species (n = 321 tag deployments) in conjunction with acoustic measurements of prey density to calculate prey consumption at daily to annual scales from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Our results suggest that previous studies3-9 have underestimated baleen whale prey consumption by threefold or more in some ecosystems. In the Southern Ocean alone, we calculate that pre-whaling populations of mysticetes annually consumed 430 million tonnes of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), twice the current estimated total biomass of E. superba10, and more than twice the global catch of marine fisheries today11. Larger whale populations may have supported higher productivity in large marine regions through enhanced nutrient recycling: our findings suggest mysticetes recycled 1.2 × 104 tonnes iron yr-1 in the Southern Ocean before whaling compared to 1.2 × 103 tonnes iron yr-1 recycled by whales today. The recovery of baleen whales and their nutrient recycling services2,3,7 could augment productivity and restore ecosystem function lost during 20th century whaling12,13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
| | - Max F Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | | | - William T Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - James A Fahlbusch
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.,Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, USA
| | - K C Bierlich
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA.,Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Paolo S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Jacopo Di Clemente
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gwenith S Penry
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - David N Wiley
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA National Ocean Service, Scituate, MA, USA
| | | | - Douglas P Nowacek
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - David W Johnston
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas D Pyenson
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Paleontology and Geology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.,Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.,Environmental Research Division, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA
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6
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McCormack SA, Melbourne-Thomas J, Trebilco R, Griffith G, Hill SL, Hoover C, Johnston NM, Marina TI, Murphy EJ, Pakhomov EA, Pinkerton M, Plagányi É, Saravia LA, Subramaniam RC, Van de Putte AP, Constable AJ. Southern Ocean Food Web Modelling: Progress, Prognoses, and Future Priorities for Research and Policy Makers. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.624763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Graphical AbstractGraphical summary of multiple aspects of Southern Ocean food web structure and function including alternative energy pathways through pelagic food webs, climate change and fisheries impacts and the importance of microbial networks and benthic systems.
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7
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Wing SR, Wing LC, O’Connell-Milne SA, Barr D, Stokes D, Genovese S, Leichter JJ. Penguins and Seals Transport Limiting Nutrients Between Offshore Pelagic and Coastal Regions of Antarctica Under Changing Sea Ice. Ecosystems 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-020-00578-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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8
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Fulton EA, Blanchard JL, Melbourne-Thomas J, Plagányi ÉE, Tulloch VJD. Where the Ecological Gaps Remain, a Modelers' Perspective. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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9
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Tulloch VJD, Plagányi ÉE, Brown C, Richardson AJ, Matear R. Future recovery of baleen whales is imperiled by climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1263-1281. [PMID: 30807685 PMCID: PMC6850638 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Historical harvesting pushed many whale species to the brink of extinction. Although most Southern Hemisphere populations are slowly recovering, the influence of future climate change on their recovery remains unknown. We investigate the impacts of two anthropogenic pressures-historical commercial whaling and future climate change-on populations of baleen whales (blue, fin, humpback, Antarctic minke, southern right) and their prey (krill and copepods) in the Southern Ocean. We use a climate-biological coupled "Model of Intermediate Complexity for Ecosystem Assessments" (MICE) that links krill and whale population dynamics with climate change drivers, including changes in ocean temperature, primary productivity and sea ice. Models predict negative future impacts of climate change on krill and all whale species, although the magnitude of impacts on whales differs among populations. Despite initial recovery from historical whaling, models predict concerning declines under climate change, even local extinctions by 2100, for Pacific populations of blue, fin and southern right whales, and Atlantic/Indian fin and humpback whales. Predicted declines were a consequence of reduced prey (copepods/krill) from warming and increasing interspecific competition between whale species. We model whale population recovery under an alternative scenario whereby whales adapt their migratory patterns to accommodate changing sea ice in the Antarctic and a shifting prey base. Plasticity in range size and migration was predicted to improve recovery for ice-associated blue and minke whales. Our study highlights the need for ongoing protection to help depleted whale populations recover, as well as local management to ensure the krill prey base remains viable, but this may have limited success without immediate action to reduce emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivitskaia J. D. Tulloch
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Environmental DecisionsUniversity of QueenslandSt Lucia, BrisbaneQLDAustralia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland BioSciences Precinct (QBP)St Lucia, BrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Éva E. Plagányi
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland BioSciences Precinct (QBP)St Lucia, BrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | | | - Anthony J. Richardson
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland BioSciences Precinct (QBP)St Lucia, BrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics, School of Mathematics and PhysicsThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLDAustralia
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10
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Goedegebuure M, Melbourne-Thomas J, Corney SP, Hindell MA, Constable AJ. Beyond big fish: The case for more detailed representations of top predators in marine ecosystem models. Ecol Modell 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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11
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Maldonado MT, Surma S, Pakhomov EA. Southern Ocean biological iron cycling in the pre-whaling and present ecosystems. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2016; 374:rsta.2015.0292. [PMID: 29035257 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to create the first model of biological iron (Fe) cycling in the Southern Ocean food web. Two biomass mass-balanced Ecopath models were built to represent pre- and post-whaling ecosystem states (1900 and 2008). Functional group biomasses (tonnes wet weight km-2) were converted to biogenic Fe pools (kg Fe km-2) using published Fe content ranges. In both models, biogenic Fe pools and consumption in the pelagic Southern Ocean were highest for plankton and small nektonic groups. The production of plankton biomass, particularly unicellular groups, accounted for the highest annual Fe demand. Microzooplankton contributed most to biological Fe recycling, followed by carnivorous zooplankton and krill. Biological Fe recycling matched previous estimates, and, under most conditions, could entirely meet the Fe demand of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton. Iron recycling by large baleen whales was reduced 10-fold by whaling between 1900 and 2008. However, even under the 1900 scenario, the contribution of whales to biological Fe recycling was negligible compared with that of planktonic consumers. These models are a first step in examining oceanic-scale biological Fe cycling, highlighting gaps in our present knowledge and key questions for future research on the role of marine food webs in the cycling of trace elements in the sea.This article is part of the themed issue 'Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace element chemistry'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria T Maldonado
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Szymon Surma
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Evgeny A Pakhomov
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
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12
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Ratnarajah L, Bowie AR. Nutrient Cycling: Are Antarctic Krill a Previously Overlooked Source in the Marine Iron Cycle? Curr Biol 2016; 26:R884-R887. [PMID: 27728790 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Iron limits phytoplankton growth in large areas of the Southern Ocean. A new study shows that Antarctic krill play a crucial role in the recycling of iron in the iron-limited waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavenia Ratnarajah
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew R Bowie
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
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