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Panigada V, Bodey TW, Friedlaender A, Druon JN, Huckstädt LA, Pierantonio N, Degollada E, Tort B, Panigada S. Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231783. [PMID: 38455994 PMCID: PMC10915541 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Biologging and habitat modelling are key tools supporting the development of conservation measures and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic pressures on marine species. Here, we analysed satellite telemetry data and foraging habitat preferences in relation to chlorophyll-a productivity fronts to understand the movements and behaviour of endangered Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) during their spring-summer feeding aggregation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Eleven individuals were equipped with Argos satellite transmitters across 3 years, with transmissions averaging 23.5 ± 11.3 days. Hidden Markov Models were used to identify foraging behaviour, revealing how individuals showed consistency in their use of seasonal core feeding grounds; this was supported by the distribution of potential foraging habitat. Importantly, tracked whales spent most of their time in areas with no explicit protected status within the study region. This highlights the need for enhanced time- and place-based conservation actions to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts for this species, notably ship strike risk and noise disturbance in an area of exceptionally high maritime traffic levels. These findings strengthen the need to further assess critical habitats and Important Marine Mammal Areas that are crucial for focused conservation, management and mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Panigada
- Tethys Research Institute, c/o Acquario Civico, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
| | - Thomas W. Bodey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
| | - Ari Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Noël Druon
- Joint Research Centre, (JRC), European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Luis A. Huckstädt
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Nino Pierantonio
- Tethys Research Institute, c/o Acquario Civico, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Beatriu Tort
- Associació EDMAKTUB, 08393 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Simone Panigada
- Tethys Research Institute, c/o Acquario Civico, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
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Romagosa M, Nieukirk S, Cascão I, Marques TA, Dziak R, Royer JY, O'Brien J, Mellinger DK, Pereira A, Ugalde A, Papale E, Aniceto S, Buscaino G, Rasmussen M, Matias L, Prieto R, Silva MA. Fin whale song evolution in the North Atlantic. eLife 2024; 13:e83750. [PMID: 38192202 PMCID: PMC10776088 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83750] [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: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal songs can change within and between populations as the result of different evolutionary processes. When these processes include cultural transmission, the social learning of information or behaviours from conspecifics, songs can undergo rapid evolutions because cultural novelties can emerge more frequently than genetic mutations. Understanding these song variations over large temporal and spatial scales can provide insights into the patterns, drivers and limits of song evolution that can ultimately inform on the species' capacity to adapt to rapidly changing acoustic environments. Here, we analysed changes in fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) songs recorded over two decades across the central and eastern North Atlantic Ocean. We document a rapid replacement of song INIs (inter-note intervals) over just four singing seasons, that co-occurred with hybrid songs (with both INIs), and a clear geographic gradient in the occurrence of different song INIs during the transition period. We also found gradual changes in INIs and note frequencies over more than a decade with fin whales adopting song changes. These results provide evidence of vocal learning in fin whales and reveal patterns of song evolution that raise questions on the limits of song variation in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Romagosa
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS & Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, University of the AzoresHortaPortugal
| | - Sharon Nieukirk
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies, Oregon State UniversityCorvallisUnited States
| | - Irma Cascão
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS & Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, University of the AzoresHortaPortugal
| | - Tiago A Marques
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUnited Kingdom
- Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Robert Dziak
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Hatfield Marine Science CenterCorvallisUnited States
| | - Jean-Yves Royer
- CNRS - UBO - UBS - Ifremer, IUEM - Lab. Geo-OceanPlouzaneFrance
| | - Joanne O'Brien
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological UniversityGalwayIreland
| | - David K Mellinger
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies, Oregon State UniversityCorvallisUnited States
| | - Andreia Pereira
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | | | - Elena Papale
- Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IAS)Torretta GranitolaItaly
| | | | - Giuseppa Buscaino
- Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IAS)Torretta GranitolaItaly
| | | | - Luis Matias
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Rui Prieto
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS & Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, University of the AzoresHortaPortugal
| | - Mónica A Silva
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS & Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, University of the AzoresHortaPortugal
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