1
|
Fiorucci L, Grande F, Macrelli R, Saviano P. Preliminary Ultrasonographic Study of Healthy California Sea Lion ( Zalophus californianus) Pregnancy and Fetal Development. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1384. [PMID: 38731388 PMCID: PMC11083598 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproductive success is an important aspect of marine mammals' population health, as it is an indicator of the trajectory for the population into the future. The aim of this study is to provide additional relevant data on fetus-maternal ultrasonographic monitoring in sea lion species, in order to evaluate possible fetal distress or abnormalities. From 2018 to 2023, serial ultrasonographic scans of two healthy California sea lion females (16 ± 4 years old), kept under human care, were performed over the course of two pregnancies for each female. Animals were monitored from the ovulation to the delivery. Ultrasonography was performed weekly, and, during the last month, daily images were recorded using Logiq Versana Active, General Electric, with a 2-5 MHz curvilinear transducer, and Logiq V2, General Electric, with a 2-5 MHz curvilinear transducer. Right and left lateral recumbencies have been used during the examination. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study describing in detail the sea lion organogenesis and their correlation with the stage of pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Fiorucci
- Jungle Park, Urb. Las Aguilas del Teide s/n, 38640 Arona, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Francesco Grande
- Loro Parque Fundación, Av. Loro Parque, s/n, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Roberto Macrelli
- DISPeA Department, University of Urbino, C. Bo, Via Piazza della Repubblica, 13, 61029 Urbino, Italy;
| | - Pietro Saviano
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Saviano-Larocca, 41042 Spezzano, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Crawford SG, Coker RH, O’Hara TM, Breed GA, Gelatt T, Fadely B, Burkanov V, Rivera PM, Rea LD. Fasting durations of Steller sea lion pups vary among subpopulations-evidence from two plasma metabolites. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad084. [PMID: 38026798 PMCID: PMC10673819 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Geographic differences in population growth trends are well-documented in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), a species of North Pacific pinniped listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1990 following a marked decline in population abundance that began during the 1970s. As population growth is intrinsically linked to pup production and survival, examining factors related to pup physiological condition provides useful information to management authorities regarding potential drivers of regional differences. During dam foraging trips, pups predictably transition among three fasting phases, distinguished by the changes in the predominant metabolic byproduct. We used standardized ranges of two plasma metabolites (blood urea nitrogen and β-hydroxybutyrate) to assign pups to fasting categories (n = 1528, 1990-2016, 12 subpopulations): Recently Fed-Phase I (digestion/assimilation-expected hepatic/muscle glycogen usage), Phase II (expected lipid utilization), transitioning between Phases II-III (expected lipid utilization with increased protein reliance), or Phase III (expected protein catabolism). As anticipated, the majority of pups were classified as Recently Fed-Phase I (overall mean proportion = 0.72) and few pups as Phase III (overall mean proportion = 0.04). By further comparing pups in Short (Recently Fed-Phase II) and Long (all other pups) duration fasts, we identified three subpopulations with significantly (P < 0.03) greater proportions of pups dependent upon endogenous sources of energy for extended periods, during a life stage of somatic growth and development: the 1) central (0.27 ± 0.09) and 2) western (0.36 ± 0.13) Aleutian Island (declining population trend) and 3) southern Southeast Alaska (0.32 ± 0.06; increasing population trend) subpopulations had greater Long fast proportions than the eastern Aleutian Islands (0.10 ± 0.05; stabilized population). Due to contrasting population growth trends among these highlighted subpopulations over the past 50+ years, both density-independent and density-dependent factors likely influence the dam foraging trip duration, contributing to longer fasting durations for pups at some rookeries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie G Crawford
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| | - Robert H Coker
- Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA
| | - Todd M O’Hara
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 402 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, Bldg 2, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Greg A Breed
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| | - Tom Gelatt
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Bldg. 4, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA
| | - Brian Fadely
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Bldg. 4, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA
| | - Vladimir Burkanov
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Bldg. 4, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA
| | - Patricia M Rivera
- Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2141 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| | - Lorrie D Rea
- Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Maniscalco JM. Changes in the overwintering diet of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in relation to the 2014 – 2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
|
4
|
Cerini F, Childs DZ, Clements CF. A predictive timeline of wildlife population collapse. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:320-331. [PMID: 36702859 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-01985-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Contemporary rates of biodiversity decline emphasize the need for reliable ecological forecasting, but current methods vary in their ability to predict the declines of real-world populations. Acknowledging that stressor effects start at the individual level, and that it is the sum of these individual-level effects that drives populations to collapse, shifts the focus of predictive ecology away from using predominantly abundance data. Doing so opens new opportunities to develop predictive frameworks that utilize increasingly available multi-dimensional data, which have previously been overlooked for ecological forecasting. Here, we propose that stressed populations will exhibit a predictable sequence of observable changes through time: changes in individuals' behaviour will occur as the first sign of increasing stress, followed by changes in fitness-related morphological traits, shifts in the dynamics (for example, birth rates) of populations and finally abundance declines. We discuss how monitoring the sequential appearance of these signals may allow us to discern whether a population is increasingly at risk of collapse, or is adapting in the face of environmental change, providing a conceptual framework to develop new forecasting methods that combine multi-dimensional (for example, behaviour, morphology, life history and abundance) data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Cerini
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Dylan Z Childs
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Booth CG, Guilpin M, Darias-O’Hara AK, Ransijn JM, Ryder M, Rosen D, Pirotta E, Smout S, McHuron EA, Nabe-Nielsen J, Costa DP. Estimating energetic intake for marine mammal bioenergetic models. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac083. [PMID: 36756464 PMCID: PMC9900471 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergetics is the study of how animals achieve energetic balance. Energetic balance results from the energetic expenditure of an individual and the energy they extract from their environment. Ingested energy depends on several extrinsic (e.g prey species, nutritional value and composition, prey density and availability) and intrinsic factors (e.g. foraging effort, success at catching prey, digestive processes and associated energy losses, and digestive capacity). While the focus in bioenergetic modelling is often on the energetic costs an animal incurs, the robust estimation of an individual's energy intake is equally critical for producing meaningful predictions. Here, we review the components and processes that affect energy intake from ingested gross energy to biologically useful net energy (NE). The current state of knowledge of each parameter is reviewed, shedding light on research gaps to advance this field. The review highlighted that the foraging behaviour of many marine mammals is relatively well studied via biologging tags, with estimates of success rate typically assumed for most species. However, actual prey capture success rates are often only assumed, although we note studies that provide approaches for its estimation using current techniques. A comprehensive collation of the nutritional content of marine mammal prey species revealed a robust foundation from which prey quality (comprising prey species, size and energy density) can be assessed, though data remain unavailable for many prey species. Empirical information on various energy losses following ingestion of prey was unbalanced among marine mammal species, with considerably more literature available for pinnipeds. An increased understanding and accurate estimate of each of the components that comprise a species NE intake are an integral part of bioenergetics. Such models provide a key tool to investigate the effects of disturbance on marine mammals at an individual and population level and to support effective conservation and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G Booth
- Corresponding author: SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | | | - Aimee-Kate Darias-O’Hara
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Janneke M Ransijn
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Megan Ryder
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Dave Rosen
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling,
The Observatory, Buchanan
Gardens, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews,
KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Sophie Smout
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Elizabeth A McHuron
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-4000
Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 130
McAlister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Babic NL, Johnstone CP, Reljić S, Sergiel A, Huber Đ, Reina RD. Evaluation of physiological stress in free-ranging bears: current knowledge and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:168-190. [PMID: 36176191 PMCID: PMC10086944 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Stress responses, which are mediated by the neurogenic system (NS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis help vertebrates maintain physiological homeostasis. Fight-or-flight responses are activated by the NS, which releases norepinephrine/noradrenaline and epinephrine/adrenaline in response to immediate stressors, whilst the HPA axis releases glucocorticoid hormones (e.g. cortisol and corticosterone) to help mitigate allostatic load. There have been many studies on stress responses of captive animals, but they are not truly reflective of typical ranges or the types of stressors encountered by free-ranging wildlife, such as responses and adaptation to environmental change, which are particularly important from a conservation perspective. As stress can influence the composition of age and sex classes of free-ranging populations both directly and indirectly, ecological research must be prioritised towards more vulnerable taxa. Generally, large predators tend to be particularly at risk of anthropogenically driven population declines because they exhibit reduced behavioural plasticity required to adapt to changing landscapes and exist in reduced geographic ranges, have small population sizes, low fecundity rates, large spatial requirements and occupy high trophic positions. As a keystone species with a long history of coexistence with humans in highly anthropogenic landscapes, there has been growing concern about how humans influence bear behaviour and physiology, via numerous short- and long-term stressors. In this review, we synthesise research on the stress response in free-ranging bear populations and evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of current methodology in measuring stress in bears to identify the most effective metrics for future research. Particularly, we integrate research that utilised haematological variables, cardiac monitors and Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, serum/plasma and faecal glucocorticoid concentrations, hair cortisol levels, and morphological metrics (primarily skulls) to investigate the stress response in ursids in both short- and long-term contexts. We found that in free-ranging bears, food availability and consumption have the greatest influence on individual stress, with mixed responses to anthropogenic influences. Effects of sex and age on stress are also mixed, likely attributable to inconsistent methods. We recommend that methodology across all stress indicators used in free-ranging bears should be standardised to improve interpretation of results and that a wider range of species should be incorporated in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natarsha L Babic
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher P Johnstone
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, Krakow, 31120, Poland
| | - Đuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.,Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, Krakow, 31120, Poland
| | - Richard D Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang X, Luo D, Yu RQ, Wu Y. Multilocus DNA metabarcoding diet analyses of small cetaceans: a case study on highly vulnerable humpback dolphins and finless porpoises from the Pearl River Estuary, China. Integr Zool 2023; 18:183-198. [PMID: 35279952 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Accurate diet identification of top predators is crucial to fully understand their ecological roles. Compared to terrestrial animals, gathering dietary information from cetaceans is notoriously difficult. Here, we applied a multilocus metabarcoding approach to investigate the diet of vulnerable Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and Indo-Pacific finless porpoises from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), China. Our analyses identified 21 prey fish species from the 42 humpback dolphin stomachs, as well as 10 species of fish and 1 species of cephalopod from the 13 finless porpoise stomachs. All of the taxa were assigned to the species level, highlighting that the multimarker approach could facilitate species identification. Most of the prey species were small- and medium-sized fishes that primarily fed on zooplankton. The calculated similarity index revealed a moderated dietary overlap between the 2 cetaceans, presumably due to the feeding of the 2 predators in association with fishing vessels in the PRE. A more diverse diet was observed in humpback dolphins in the closed fishing season compared to the fishing season, implying the influence on the dolphin diet due to the availability of commercial fishery resources. However, according to the results of species rarefaction curves, our findings on the feeding habits of the 2 cetaceans are still limited by insufficient sample size and therefore should be interpreted with caution. This study represents a first attempt to apply the multilocus DNA metabarcoding technique in the diet analysis of small cetaceans, although more efforts are needed to improve this type of analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiyang Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
| | - Dingyu Luo
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ri-Qing Yu
- Department of Biology, Center for Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | - Yuping Wu
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Warlick AJ, Johnson DS, Gelatt TS, Converse SJ. Environmental drivers of demography and potential factors limiting the recovery of an endangered marine top predator. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J. Warlick
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Devin S. Johnson
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Tom S. Gelatt
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service Seattle Washington USA
| | - Sarah J. Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences & School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chouvelon T, Gilbert L, Caurant F, Méndez‐Fernandez P, Bustamante P, Brault‐Favrou M, Spitz J. Nutritional grouping of marine forage species reveals contrasted exposure of high trophic levels to essential micro‐nutrients. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiphaine Chouvelon
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS La Rochelle France
- Ifremer, Unité Contamination Chimique des Écosystèmes Marins (CCEM) Nantes Cedex France
| | - Lola Gilbert
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS La Rochelle France
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Florence Caurant
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS La Rochelle France
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | | | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS La Rochelle France
- Inst. Univ. de France (IUF) Paris France
| | - Maud Brault‐Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS La Rochelle France
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS La Rochelle France
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 La Rochelle Univ./CNRS Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Macro-elements K, Na, Cl, Mg, and Ca in body tissues of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) from the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03012-9] [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]
|
11
|
Pirotta E. A review of bioenergetic modelling for marine mammal populations. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac036. [PMID: 35754757 PMCID: PMC9215292 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergetic models describe the processes through which animals acquire energy from resources in the environment and allocate it to different life history functions. They capture some of the fundamental mechanisms regulating individuals, populations and ecosystems and have thus been used in a wide variety of theoretical and applied contexts. Here, I review the development of bioenergetic models for marine mammals and their application to management and conservation. For these long-lived, wide-ranging species, bioenergetic approaches were initially used to assess the energy requirements and prey consumption of individuals and populations. Increasingly, models are developed to describe the dynamics of energy intake and allocation and predict how resulting body reserves, vital rates and population dynamics might change as external conditions vary. The building blocks required to develop such models include estimates of intake rate, maintenance costs, growth patterns, energy storage and the dynamics of gestation and lactation, as well as rules for prioritizing allocation. I describe how these components have been parameterized for marine mammals and highlight critical research gaps. Large variation exists among available analytical approaches, reflecting the large range of life histories, management needs and data availability across studies. Flexibility in modelling strategy has supported tailored applications to specific case studies but has resulted in limited generality. Despite the many empirical and theoretical uncertainties that remain, bioenergetic models can be used to predict individual and population responses to environmental change and other anthropogenic impacts, thus providing powerful tools to inform effective management and conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LZ, UK. Tel: (+44) (0)1334 461 842.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Nutritional status and prey energy density govern reproductive success in a small cetacean. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19201. [PMID: 34725464 PMCID: PMC8560860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98629-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of mammals suppress reproduction when they experience poor physical condition or environmental harshness. In many marine mammal species, reproductive impairment has been correlated to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the most frequently measured chemical pollutants, while the relative importance of other factors remains understudied. We investigate whether reproductively active females abandon investment in their foetus when conditions are poor, exemplified using an extensively studied cetacean species; the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Data on disease, fat and muscle mass and diet obtained from necropsies in The Netherlands were used as proxies of health and nutritional status and related to pregnancy and foetal growth. This was combined with published life history parameters for 16 other areas to correlate to parameters reflecting environmental condition: mean energy density of prey constituting diets (MEDD), cumulative human impact and PCB contamination. Maternal nutritional status had significant effects on foetal size and females in poor health had lower probabilities of being pregnant and generally did not sustain pregnancy throughout gestation. Pregnancy rates across the Northern Hemisphere were best explained by MEDD. We demonstrate the importance of having undisturbed access to prey with high energy densities in determining reproductive success and ultimately population size for small cetaceans.
Collapse
|
13
|
Rode KD, Robbins CT, Stricker CA, Taras BD, Tollefson TN. Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15309. [PMID: 34321600 PMCID: PMC8319126 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94917-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding can affect energetics and health. We estimated the protein:fat ratio of diets consumed by wild polar bears using a novel isotope-based approach, measured protein:fat ratios selected by zoo polar bears offered dietary choice and examined potential energetic and health consequences of overconsuming protein. Dietary protein levels selected by wild and zoo polar bears were low and similar to selection observed in omnivorous brown bears, which reduced energy intake requirements by 70% compared with lean meat diets. Higher-protein diets fed to zoo polar bears during normal care were concurrent with high rates of mortality from kidney disease and liver cancer. Our results suggest that polar bears have low protein requirements and that limitations on selective consumption of marine mammal blubber consequent to climate change could meaningfully increase their energetic costs. Although bear protein requirements appear lower than those of other carnivores, the energetic and health consequences of protein overconsumption identified in this study have the potential to affect a wide range of taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karyn D Rode
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA.
| | - Charles T Robbins
- School of the Environment and School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Craig A Stricker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Brian D Taras
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
| | - Troy N Tollefson
- Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition, Land O'Lakes, Inc., St. Louis, MO, 63166, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hecht L. The importance of considering age when quantifying wild animals' welfare. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2602-2616. [PMID: 34155749 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals experience different challenges and opportunities as they mature, and this variety of experiences can lead to different levels of welfare characterizing the day-to-day lives of individuals of different ages. At the same time, most wild animals who are born do not survive to adulthood. Individuals who die as juveniles do not simply experience a homogeneous fraction of the lifetimes of older members of their species; rather, their truncated lives may be characterized by very different levels of welfare. Here, I propose the concept of welfare expectancy as a framework for quantifying wild animal welfare at a population level, given individual-level data on average welfare with respect to age. This concept fits conveniently alongside methods of analysis already used in population ecology, such as demographic sensitivity analysis, and is applicable to evaluating the welfare consequences of human interventions and natural pressures that disproportionately affect individuals of different ages. In order to understand better and improve the state of wild animal welfare, more attention should be directed towards young animals and the particular challenges they face.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Hecht
- Wild Animal Initiative, 115 Elm Street, Suite I, PMB 2321, Farmington, MN, 55024, U.S.A.,Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Williams RS, Curnick DJ, Brownlow A, Barber JL, Barnett J, Davison NJ, Deaville R, Ten Doeschate M, Perkins M, Jepson PD, Jobling S. Polychlorinated biphenyls are associated with reduced testes weights in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 150:106303. [PMID: 33454091 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly toxic and persistent aquatic pollutants that are known to bioaccumulate in a variety of marine mammals. They have been associated with reduced recruitment rates and population declines in multiple species. Evidence to date documents effects of PCB exposures on female reproduction, but few studies have investigated whether PCB exposure impacts male fertility. Using blubber tissue samples of 99 adult and 168 juvenile UK-stranded harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) collected between 1991 and 2017, here we show that PCBs exposures are associated with reduced testes weights in adults with good body condition. In animals with poor body condition, however, the impact of PCBs on testes weights was reduced, conceivably due to testes weights being limited by nutritional stress. This is the first study to investigate the relationship between PCB contaminant burden and testes weights in cetaceans and represents a substantial advance in our understanding of the relationship between PCB exposures and male reproductive biology in cetaceans. As testes weight is a strong indicator of male fertility in seasonally breeding mammals, we suggest the inclusion of such effects in population level impact assessments involving PCB exposures. Given the re-emergent PCB threat our findings are globally significant, with potentially serious implications for long-lived mammals. We show that more effective PCB controls could have a substantial impact on the reproductive health of coastal cetacean species and that management actions may need to be escalated to ensure adequate protection of the most vulnerable cetacean populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosie S Williams
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - David J Curnick
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness IV2 4JZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Jonathan L Barber
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK
| | - James Barnett
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Falmouth, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Nicholas J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness IV2 4JZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Robert Deaville
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Mariel Ten Doeschate
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness IV2 4JZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Matthew Perkins
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Paul D Jepson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Susan Jobling
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hanson MB, Emmons CK, Ford MJ, Everett M, Parsons K, Park LK, Hempelmann J, Van Doornik DM, Schorr GS, Jacobsen JK, Sears MF, Sears MS, Sneva JG, Baird RW, Barre L. Endangered predators and endangered prey: Seasonal diet of Southern Resident killer whales. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247031. [PMID: 33657188 PMCID: PMC7928517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding diet is critical for conservation of endangered predators. Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) (Orcinus orca) are an endangered population occurring primarily along the outer coast and inland waters of Washington and British Columbia. Insufficient prey has been identified as a factor limiting their recovery, so a clear understanding of their seasonal diet is a high conservation priority. Previous studies have shown that their summer diet in inland waters consists primarily of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), despite that species' rarity compared to some other salmonids. During other times of the year, when occurrence patterns include other portions of their range, their diet remains largely unknown. To address this data gap, we collected feces and prey remains from October to May 2004-2017 in both the Salish Sea and outer coast waters. Using visual and genetic species identification for prey remains and genetic approaches for fecal samples, we characterized the diet of the SRKWs in fall, winter, and spring. Chinook salmon were identified as an important prey item year-round, averaging ~50% of their diet in the fall, increasing to 70-80% in the mid-winter/early spring, and increasing to nearly 100% in the spring. Other salmon species and non-salmonid fishes, also made substantial dietary contributions. The relatively high species diversity in winter suggested a possible lack of Chinook salmon, probably due to seasonally lower densities, based on SRKW's proclivity to selectively consume this species in other seasons. A wide diversity of Chinook salmon stocks were consumed, many of which are also at risk. Although outer coast Chinook samples included 14 stocks, four rivers systems accounted for over 90% of samples, predominantly the Columbia River. Increasing the abundance of Chinook salmon stocks that inhabit the whales' winter range may be an effective conservation strategy for this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Bradley Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Candice K. Emmons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Ford
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Meredith Everett
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kim Parsons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Linda K. Park
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Hempelmann
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Donald M. Van Doornik
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Manchester Research Station, Manchester, Washington, United States of America
| | - Gregory S. Schorr
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research, Seabeck, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Mark F. Sears
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Maya S. Sears
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - John G. Sneva
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, United States of America
| | - Robin W. Baird
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lynne Barre
- Protected Resources Division, West Coast Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Casey FF, Stannard HJ, Old JM. A review of wombat diet and nutrition. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am20009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In this review we investigated the diet and nutrition of wombats and highlight areas for future research. The low energy requirements of wombats, conservative foraging behaviours and burrowing lifestyle allow them to subsist on low-quality food. Furthermore, their digestive anatomy and physiology is well adapted for digesting the resources available in their habitats. All species feed predominantly on native grasses; however, the nutritional requirements of juvenile and aged wombats are largely unknown. Changes to food availability and grass species in wombat habitats may alter their diet and nutritional intake. Also, despite evidence suggesting that wombats can satisfy their water requirements via the food they eat, the minimum threshold of water content at which wombats will cease feeding is unknown. Other areas for future research include investigating factors that affect digesta retention times (such as age or lactation), and the development of a method to determine age, because unlike most other mammals, wombat teeth grow continuously, hence teeth cannot be used as a reliable predictor of age in wombats.
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhou W, Gao K, Ma Y, Wang L, Wang M, Wei F, Nie Y. Seasonal dynamics of parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa085. [PMID: 33014375 PMCID: PMC7521442 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many factors, including the inner status of the individuals and external environment, can influence the parasite infections and stress physiology in mammals. Here, we explored the influence of the sex, age, reproductive season and seasonal food availability on the parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) through nutrient and steroid hormone analysis and parasitic infection measurement. Diet composition had significant influences on the faecal cortisol levels and parasite load of wild giant pandas. The seasonal dynamic of the cortisol levels and parasite load in faeces co-vary with the seasonal nutrient intake levels of the pandas, which concurrently arrived the peaks at the wood bamboo shoot-eating period in May (parasite infection intensity, 41.47 ± 12.11 eggs/g of wet faeces; cortisol levels, 619.34 ± 70.55 ng/g dry faeces) that the nutrition intake by wild pandas was the highest (protein/fibre, 69.23 ± 9.93). Meanwhile, age class is also as an important factor to affect the parasite load and stress physiology of wild giant pandas. Cubs and sub-adults suffered more helminth burden and stress physiology than adults and old individuals. This is the first study to evaluate the inner and external factors influence on parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas. The findings facilitate a better understanding of how environmental factors might influence the physiology, behaviour and health of pandas and other species and have implications for the conservation and management of the endangered species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenliang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Kai Gao
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yingjie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Le Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fuwen Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Yonggang Nie
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Tkaczynski PJ, Behringer V, Ackermann CY, Fedurek P, Fruth B, Girard-Buttoz C, Hobaiter C, Lee SM, Löhrich T, Preis A, Samuni L, Zommers Z, Zuberbühler K, Deschner T, Wittig RM, Hohmann G, Crockford C. Patterns of urinary cortisol levels during ontogeny appear population specific rather than species specific in wild chimpanzees and bonobos. J Hum Evol 2020; 147:102869. [PMID: 32866765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Compared with most mammals, postnatal development in great apes is protracted, presenting both an extended period of phenotypic plasticity to environmental conditions and the potential for sustained mother-offspring and/or sibling conflict over resources. Comparisons of cortisol levels during ontogeny can reveal physiological plasticity to species or population specific socioecological factors and in turn how these factors might ameliorate or exaggerate mother-offspring and sibling conflict. Here, we examine developmental patterns of cortisol levels in two wild chimpanzee populations (Budongo and Taï), with two and three communities each, and one wild bonobo population (LuiKotale), with two communities. Both species have similar juvenile life histories. Nonetheless, we predicted that key differences in socioecological factors, such as feeding competition, would lead to interspecific variation in mother-offspring and sibling conflict and thus variation in ontogenetic cortisol patterns. We measured urinary cortisol levels in 1394 samples collected from 37 bonobos and 100 chimpanzees aged up to 12 years. The significant differences in age-related variation in cortisol levels appeared population specific rather than species specific. Both bonobos and Taï chimpanzees had comparatively stable and gradually increasing cortisol levels throughout development; Budongo chimpanzees experienced declining cortisol levels before increases in later ontogeny. These age-related population differences in cortisol patterns were not explained by mother-offspring or sibling conflict specifically; instead, the comparatively stable cortisol patterns of bonobos and Taï chimpanzees likely reflect a consistency in experience of competition and the social environment compared with Budongo chimpanzees, where mothers may adopt more variable strategies related to infanticide risk and resource availability. The clear population-level differences within chimpanzees highlight potential intraspecific flexibility in developmental processes in apes, suggesting the flexibility and diversity in rearing strategies seen in humans may have a deep evolutionary history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Tkaczynski
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
| | - Verena Behringer
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Corinne Y Ackermann
- Université de Neuchâtel, Institut de Biologie, Cognition Comparée, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Pawel Fedurek
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Barbara Fruth
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 3AF, Liverpool, UK; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Cédric Girard-Buttoz
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
| | - Catherine Hobaiter
- Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Sean M Lee
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Therese Löhrich
- World Wide Fund for Nature, Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas, BP 1053, Bangui Central African Republic; Robert Koch Institute, Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Preis
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
| | - Liran Samuni
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Havard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Zinta Zommers
- United Nations Environment Programme, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Klaus Zuberbühler
- Université de Neuchâtel, Institut de Biologie, Cognition Comparée, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
| | - Gottfried Hohmann
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Catherine Crockford
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rode KD, Atwood TC, Thiemann GW, St. Martin M, Wilson RR, Durner GM, Regehr EV, Talbot SL, Sage GK, Pagano AM, Simac KS. Identifying reliable indicators of fitness in polar bears. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237444. [PMID: 32813753 PMCID: PMC7437918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal structural body size and condition are often measured to evaluate individual health, identify responses to environmental change and food availability, and relate food availability to effects on reproduction and survival. A variety of condition metrics have been developed but relationships between these metrics and vital rates are rarely validated. Identifying an optimal approach to estimate the body condition of polar bears is needed to improve monitoring of their response to decline in sea ice habitat. Therefore, we examined relationships between several commonly used condition indices (CI), body mass, and size with female reproductive success and cub survival among polar bears (Ursus maritimus) measured in two subpopulations over three decades. To improve measurement and application of morphometrics and CIs, we also examined whether CIs are independent of age and structural size–an important assumption for monitoring temporal trends—and factors affecting measurement precision and accuracy. Maternal CIs and mass measured the fall prior to denning were related to cub production. Similarly, maternal CIs, mass, and length were related to the mass of cubs or yearlings that accompanied her. However, maternal body mass, but not CIs, measured in the spring was related to cub production and only maternal mass and length were related to the probability of cub survival. These results suggest that CIs may not be better indicators of fitness than body mass in part because CIs remove variation associated with body size that is important in affecting fitness. Further, CIs exhibited variable relationships with age for growing bears and were lower for longer bears despite body length being related to cub survival and female reproductive success. These results are consistent with findings from other species indicating that body mass is a useful metric to link environmental conditions and population dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karyn D. Rode
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Todd C. Atwood
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | | | - Michelle St. Martin
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Ryan R. Wilson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - George M. Durner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Eric V. Regehr
- University of Washington, Polar Science Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sandra L. Talbot
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - George K. Sage
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Anthony M. Pagano
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Kristin S. Simac
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Adame K, Elorriaga-Verplancken FR, Beier E, Acevedo-Whitehouse K, Pardo MA. The demographic decline of a sea lion population followed multi-decadal sea surface warming. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10499. [PMID: 32591624 PMCID: PMC7320179 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67534-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The population growth of top predators depends largely on environmental conditions suitable for aggregating sufficient and high-quality prey. We reconstructed numerically the size of a resident population of California sea lions in the Gulf of California during 1978-2019 and its relation with multi-decadal sea surface temperature anomalies. This is the first multi-decadal examination of the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of California and of one of its major predators. A three-decade sustained warming explained the population's trend accounting for 92% of the variance, including a 65% decline between 1991 and 2019. Long-term warming conditions started in the late 80s, followed by the population's decline from 43,834 animals (range 34,080-58,274) in 1991 to only 15,291 (range 11,861-20,316) in 2019. The models suggested a century-scale optimum sea surface habitat occurring in mildly temperate waters, from 0.18 to 0.39 °C above the 100-year mean. The mechanistic links of this relation are still untested, but apparent diversification of pelagic fish catches suggests a reduction of high quality prey. We propose this population should be considered vulnerable to any disturbance that could add to the negative effects of the current warm sea surface conditions in the Gulf of California.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Adame
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Unidad La Paz, Laboratorio de Macroecología Marina, 23050, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, 23096, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | | | - Emilio Beier
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Unidad La Paz, Laboratorio de Macroecología Marina, 23050, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse
- Autonomous University of Queretaro, School of Natural Sciences, Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Mario A Pardo
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) - CICESE, Unidad La Paz, Laboratorio de Macroecología Marina, 23050, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
|
23
|
Wild S, Krützen M, Rankin RW, Hoppitt WJE, Gerber L, Allen SJ. Long-term decline in survival and reproduction of dolphins following a marine heatwave. Curr Biol 2020; 29:R239-R240. [PMID: 30939303 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
One of many challenges in the conservation of biodiversity is the recent trend in the frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events [1]. The Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Western Australia, endured an unprecedented marine heatwave in 2011. Catastrophic losses of habitat-forming seagrass meadows followed [2], along with mass mortalities of invertebrate and fish communities [3]. Our long-term demographic data on Shark Bay's resident Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) population revealed a significant decline in female reproductive rates following the heatwave. Moreover, capture-recapture analyses indicated 5.9% and 12.2% post-heatwave declines in the survival of dolphins that use tools to forage and those that do not, respectively. This implies that the tool-using dolphins may have been somewhat buffered against the cascading effects of habitat loss following the heatwave by having access to a less severely affected foraging niche [4]. Overall, however, lower survival has persisted post-heatwave, suggesting that habitat loss following extreme weather events may have prolonged, negative impacts on even behaviourally flexible, higher-trophic level predators. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Wild
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Krützen
- Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robert W Rankin
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA; National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | | | - Livia Gerber
- Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simon J Allen
- Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Whitlock SL, Womble JN, Peterson JT. Modelling pinniped abundance and distribution by combining counts at terrestrial sites and in-water sightings. Ecol Modell 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.108965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
25
|
Lander ME, Fadely BS, Gelatt TS, Sterling JT, Johnson DS, Pelland NA. Mixing it up in Alaska: Habitat use of adult female Steller sea lions reveals a variety of foraging strategies. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. Lander
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Brian S. Fadely
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Thomas S. Gelatt
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Jeremy T. Sterling
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Devin S. Johnson
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Noel A. Pelland
- Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Karlson AML, Gorokhova E, Gårdmark A, Pekcan-Hekim Z, Casini M, Albertsson J, Sundelin B, Karlsson O, Bergström L. Linking consumer physiological status to food-web structure and prey food value in the Baltic Sea. AMBIO 2020; 49:391-406. [PMID: 31168701 PMCID: PMC6965491 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01201-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Declining physiological status in marine top consumers has been observed worldwide. We investigate changes in the physiological status and population/community traits of six consumer species/groups in the Baltic Sea (1993-2014), spanning four trophic levels and using metrics currently operational or proposed as indicators of food-web status. We ask whether the physiological status of consumers can be explained by food-web structure and prey food value. This was tested using partial least square regressions with status metrics for gray seal, cod, herring, sprat and the benthic predatory isopod Saduria as response variables, and abundance and food value of their prey, abundance of competitors and predators as predictors. We find evidence that the physiological status of cod, herring and sprat is influenced by competition, predation, and prey availability; herring and sprat status also by prey size. Our study highlights the need for management approaches that account for species interactions across multiple trophic levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnes M. L. Karlson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 21 A, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elena Gorokhova
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Gårdmark
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Zeynep Pekcan-Hekim
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Michele Casini
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Turistgatan 5, 453 30 Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Jan Albertsson
- Umeå Marine Science Centre, Umeå University, Norrbyn 557, 905 71 Hörnefors, Sweden
| | - Brita Sundelin
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olle Karlsson
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Esquible JA, Burek-Huntington K, Atkinson S, Klink AC, Bortz E, Goldstein TA, Beckmen K, Pabilonia K, Tiller R. Pathological findings and survey for pathogens associated with reproductive failure in perinatal Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 137:131-144. [PMID: 31854331 DOI: 10.3354/dao03421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Steller sea lions (SSLs) Eumetopias jubatus experienced a population decline in the 1960s, leading to the listing of the western stock as endangered and the eastern stock as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. A decrease of births in the western stock beginning in the late 1960s indicates that reproductive failure may have contributed to the decline. We evaluated the role pathogens play in spontaneous abortions, premature births and neonatal deaths in SSLs. Archived tissues from carcasses (n = 19) collected in Alaska from 2002 to 2015 were tested by PCR for Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., Chlamydia and morbilliviruses. Animals examined included 47% premature pups, 32% aborted fetuses, 11% neonates and 11% intrauterine fetuses. Gross necropsy and histology findings were summarized in the context of the PCR findings. Tissues were negative for Chlamydia and C. burnetii. Brucella spp. were detected in the lung tissues of 3 animals, including 1 positive for the ST27 strain, the first detection of Brucella spp. DNA in SSLs. Phocine distemper virus was detected in 3 animals in 2 skin lesions and 1 placenta by hemi-nested diagnostic qRT-PCR. Both skin and the placental lesions had vesiculoulcerative changes, and 1 skin lesion contained inclusion bodies in syncytia and upon histologic examination, suggesting that the lesions may be associated with an infection reminiscent of phocine distemper virus, the first in SSLs. We highlight the continuing need for disease surveillance programs to improve our understanding of the prevalence and potential population impacts of these infectious disease agents for pinnipeds in Alaskan waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J A Esquible
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 107 Alex Hately, Bethel, AK 99559, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Fritz L, Brost B, Laman E, Luxa K, Sweeney K, Thomason J, Tollit D, Walker W, Zeppelin T. A re-examination of the relationship between Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) diet and population trend using data from the Aleutian Islands. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Prey diversity and energy density have been linked to each other and to population trends in many studies of bird and mammal diets. We re-examined these relationships in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776)) using data collected from the Aleutian Islands, where there has been a strong longitudinal gradient in population trend. Diet diversity and energy density metrics were similar in the western Aleutians, where sea lion counts declined consistently, and in the easternmost Aleutian area, where population trends improved significantly. We compared traditional deterministic diet diversity metrics with diversity scores based on an occupancy model that accounts for differences in sample size and uncertainty in prey group detection. This analysis indicated that there was no significant change in diet diversity over the 23-year study period or any significant differences across the Aleutian Islands. These results are consistent with prey abundance data from nine groundfish bottom trawl surveys conducted over the same period. While diet studies detail what Steller sea lions eat and provide an estimate of their energy intake, they provide only limited information on the energy expended to obtain their food or the consequences of their diet and foraging ecology on individual or population fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L. Fritz
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - B. Brost
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - E. Laman
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - K. Luxa
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - K. Sweeney
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - J. Thomason
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - D. Tollit
- SMRU Consulting North America, 55 Water Street, Suite 604, Vancouver, BC V6V 1A1, Canada
| | - W. Walker
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - T. Zeppelin
- NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Toft S, Cuende E, Olesen AL, Mathiesen A, Meisner Larsen M, Jensen K. Food and specific macronutrient limitation in an assemblage of predatory beetles. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Søren Toft
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Aarhus Univ Ny Munkegade 116 DK‐8000 Århus C Denmark
| | - Elsa Cuende
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Aarhus Univ Ny Munkegade 116 DK‐8000 Århus C Denmark
| | - Astrid Louise Olesen
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Aarhus Univ Ny Munkegade 116 DK‐8000 Århus C Denmark
- Dept of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus Univ Århus Denmark
| | - Anne Mathiesen
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Aarhus Univ Ny Munkegade 116 DK‐8000 Århus C Denmark
- Dept of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus Univ Århus Denmark
| | - Maria Meisner Larsen
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Aarhus Univ Ny Munkegade 116 DK‐8000 Århus C Denmark
- Dept of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus Univ Århus Denmark
| | - Kim Jensen
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Aarhus Univ Ny Munkegade 116 DK‐8000 Århus C Denmark
- Dept of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Aarhus Univ Silkeborg Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ferguson SH, Yurkowski DJ, Young BG, Willing C, Zhu X, Muir DCG, Fisk AT, Thiemann GW. Do intraspecific life history patterns follow interspecific predictions? A test using latitudinal variation in ringed seals. POPUL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven H. Ferguson
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - David J. Yurkowski
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Brent G. Young
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Cornelia Willing
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
- Centre for Earth Observation Science University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Xinhua Zhu
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research University of Windsor Windsor Ontario Canada
| | - Derek C. G. Muir
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Aquatic Contaminants Research Division Burlington Ontario Canada
| | - Aaron T. Fisk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research University of Windsor Windsor Ontario Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Esquible J, Atkinson S. Stranding trends of Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus 1990-2015. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2019. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Distinct population segments of Steller sea lion (SSL) Eumetopias jubatus have experienced different population trends over the last 5 decades, rendering the need for retrospective study. By identifying long-term stranding trends of SSLs we can develop a better understanding of factors contributing to mortality that may affect SSL population dynamics. We characterized spatial and temporal trends of SSL strandings (n = 1507) in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, USA, over a 25 yr period. Stranding reports were obtained from the Alaska and Northwest Region’s Marine Mammal Stranding Networks. Temporal trends were assessed by identifying seasonal patterns across all years (1990-2015), analyzing sex, age class, body length, and characterizing signs of human interaction including factors contributing to mortality. An apparent increase in strandings occurred after 2000, likely due to increased stranding response effort resulting from increased federal grant awards. Adult males were the most frequently stranded sex and age class in the Alaska (AK) and Northwest (NW) Regions. Clear seasonality trends were evident, with the greatest reported stranding occurrences during the spring and summer. Gunshot wounds and fishery interactions accounted for a large proportion (90%) of human interaction cases. In Alaska, the southeast region had the highest number of strandings. In the NW Region, Oregon had the highest documented strandings. Despite caveats associated with stranding data, our findings suggest rapid timing of continued stranding response is imperative for a better understanding of cause-specific mortality trends and other factors contributing to stranding events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Esquible
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fisheries Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, Alaska 99801, USA
| | - S Atkinson
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fisheries Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, Alaska 99801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Cammen KM, Rasher DB, Steneck RS. Predator recovery, shifting baselines, and the adaptive management challenges they create. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
|
33
|
Renaud L, Agarwal N, Richards DJ, Falcinelli S, Hazard ES, Carnevali O, Hyde J, Hardiman G. Transcriptomic analysis of short-term 17α-ethynylestradiol exposure in two Californian sentinel fish species sardine (Sardinops sagax) and mackerel (Scomber japonicus). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 244:926-937. [PMID: 30469287 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances which disrupt normal functioning of the endocrine system by interfering with hormone regulated physiological pathways. Aquatic environments provide the ultimate reservoir for many EDCs as they enter rivers and the ocean via effluent discharges and accumulate in sediments. One EDC widely dispersed in municipal wastewater effluent discharges is 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), which is one of the most widely prescribed medicines. EE2 is a bio-active estrogen employed in the majority of oral contraceptive pill formulations. As evidence of the health risks posed by EDCs mount, there is an urgent need to improve diagnostic tools for monitoring the effects of pollutants. As the cost of high throughput sequencing (HTS) diminishes, transcriptional profiling of an organism in response to EDC perturbation presents a cost-effective way of screening a wide range of endocrine responses. Coastal pelagic filter feeding fish species analyzed using HTS provide an excellent tool for EDC risk assessment in the marine environment. Unfortunately, there are limited genome sequence data and annotation for many of these species including Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) and chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), which limits the utility of molecular tools such as HTS to interrogate the effects of endocrine disruption. In this study, we carried out RNA sequencing (RNAseq) of liver RNA harvested from wild sardine and mackerel exposed for 5 h under laboratory conditions to a concentration of 12.5 pM EE2 in the tank water. We developed an analytical framework for transcriptomic analyses of species with limited genomic information. EE2 exposure altered expression patterns of key genes involved in important metabolic and physiological processes. The systems approach presented here provides a powerful tool for obtaining a comprehensive picture of endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludivine Renaud
- Department of Medicine, Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Nisha Agarwal
- Biomedical Informatics Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Silvia Falcinelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica della Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - E Starr Hazard
- MUSC Bioinformatics, Center for Genomics Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Academic Affairs Faculty & Computational Biology Resource Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Oliana Carnevali
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica della Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - John Hyde
- NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gary Hardiman
- Department of Medicine, Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Biomedical Informatics Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA; MUSC Bioinformatics, Center for Genomics Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Laboratory for Marine Systems Biology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USA; School of Biological Sciences & Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Pugliares-Bonner K, McKenna K, Sette L, Niemeyer M, Tlusty M. Prevalence of alopecia in gray seals Halichoerus grypus atlantica in Massachusetts, USA, 2004-2013. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 131:167-176. [PMID: 30459289 DOI: 10.3354/dao03295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
There has been an increase in the presence of alopecia among gray seals Halichoerus grypus atlantica in Massachusetts, USA. To understand the prevalence and describe the presentation of this condition, data records and photographs of 10070 gray seals from 2004-2013 were reviewed; there were sufficient data to confidently assess the presence or absence of alopecia in 2134 seals. Mild hair loss presented in multifocal patches with minimal to no skin lesions or erythema. In severe cases, alopecia was concentrated over the dorsal head, neck, and shoulders and extended down the ventrum, affecting >50% of the body. Associated skin lesions and erythema were often present. Alopecia was documented in 7.1% of the surveyed seals, and was centered in Nantucket. Alopecia was more prevalent in stranded/sighted animals in spring and summer, with 81% of cases documented from April to July. There was no sex bias, and weanlings were the most affected age class (38%). The etiology for alopecia in Massachusetts gray seals is unknown. Possible causes of alopecia in wildlife are infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies, endocrinopathies, or chronic physiologic stress. High population density around Nantucket may escalate intraspecific competition for resources, which may indirectly lead to stress-induced immunosuppression or nutritional deficiencies. Crowded haul-out sites increase the opportunity for disease transmission. The weanling age class may be prone to alopecia due to naïve immune systems and inexperienced foraging capabilities. Diagnostic sample collection from gray seals will be required to characterize the etiology, pathogenesis, and significance of alopecia in this population.
Collapse
|
35
|
Characterizing estrus by trans-abdominal ultrasounds, fecal estrone-3-glucuronide, and vaginal cytology in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). Theriogenology 2018; 120:25-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
36
|
Maniscalco JM, Parker P. Maternal and offspring effects on the timing of parturition in western Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Identifying factors that affect the timing of parturition among annual breeders is important to aid our understanding of how variations may adversely affect population trends over both short and long temporal scales. We investigated the effect of several parameters on the timing of parturition among individual Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776)) over 6 years between 2005 and 2016 using an information–theoretic approach. In addition to the random effect of year, birth and care of a pup in the previous year had the largest effect on parturition, causing a 2.4 day delay. Maternal age was negatively correlated with timing of parturition and male pups were born nearly a day earlier than female pups, on average. There was limited support for effects of sex and mass, with heavier pups born marginally earlier than lighter ones. This study illustrates some of the complexity of variables that can influence the timing of birth in this species and which should be considered in models that attempt to identify long-term trends in changing marine ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John M. Maniscalco
- Alaska Sealife Center, 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA
- Alaska Sealife Center, 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA
| | - Pamela Parker
- Alaska Sealife Center, 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA
- Alaska Sealife Center, 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Fearnbach H, Durban JW, Ellifrit DK, Balcomb KC. Using aerial photogrammetry to detect changes in body condition of endangered southern resident killer whales. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
38
|
Yeakel JD, Kempes CP, Redner S. Dynamics of starvation and recovery predict extinction risk and both Damuth's law and Cope's rule. Nat Commun 2018; 9:657. [PMID: 29440734 PMCID: PMC5811595 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02822-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The eco-evolutionary dynamics of species are fundamentally linked to the energetic constraints of their constituent individuals. Of particular importance is the interplay between reproduction and the dynamics of starvation and recovery. To elucidate this interplay, here we introduce a nutritional state-structured model that incorporates two classes of consumers: nutritionally replete, reproducing consumers, and undernourished, nonreproducing consumers. We obtain strong constraints on starvation and recovery rates by deriving allometric scaling relationships and find that population dynamics are typically driven to a steady state. Moreover, these rates fall within a "refuge" in parameter space, where the probability of population extinction is minimized. We also show that our model provides a natural framework to predict steady state population abundances known as Damuth's law, and maximum mammalian body size. By determining the relative stability of an otherwise homogeneous population to a competing population with altered percent body fat, this framework provides a principled mechanism for a selective driver of Cope's rule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Yeakel
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, 95340, USA. .,The Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA.
| | | | - Sidney Redner
- The Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Sattler R, Polasek L. Serum estradiol and progesterone profiles during estrus, pseudopregnancy, and active gestation in Steller sea lions. Zoo Biol 2017; 36:323-331. [PMID: 28901587 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
While the proximate driver behind the decline of the Western stock of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus, >80% since 1970s) is likely multifactorial, the population reduction may have been powered by a decrease in fecundity. A harvest of Steller sea lions in the 1970s and 80s revealed a 30% reduction in the proportion of pregnant females from early (October-November) to late gestation (April-May). Identification and quantification of these reproductive failures are difficult when we lack species-specific data on endocrinology associated with discrete stages of the reproductive cycle (i.e., estrus, implantation, and gestation). We tracked changes in serum estradiol and progesterone in three adult female Steller sea lions from 2011 to 2015. In all years and most females, a discrete increase in estradiol was observed during the breeding season (June-August), indicative of estrus. Estradiol concentrations from October to May in a pregnant female compared to her corresponding values when non-pregnant did not consistently differ through gestation. An elevation in progesterone was observed in all females and all years beginning approximately in June and lasting through November. This likely results from progesterone production by the corpus luteum in both pregnant and pseudopregnant females. Serum progesterone shows promise as a diagnostic tool to identify pregnancy during months 3-5 (December-February) of the 8-month active gestation following embryonic implantation. This study provides ranges of key hormones during estrus, embryonic diapause/pseudopregnancy, and gestation in pregnant and non-pregnant females for studying reproduction in Steller sea lions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lori Polasek
- Alaska Sea Life Center, Seward, Alaska.,Institute of Marine Science, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Wright BE, Brown RF, DeLong RL, Gearin PJ, Riemer SD, Laake JL, Scordino JJ. Survival rates of Steller sea lions from Oregon and California. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
41
|
Breed GA, Matthews CJD, Marcoux M, Higdon JW, LeBlanc B, Petersen SD, Orr J, Reinhart NR, Ferguson SH. Sustained disruption of narwhal habitat use and behavior in the presence of Arctic killer whales. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:2628-2633. [PMID: 28223481 PMCID: PMC5347589 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1611707114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although predators influence behavior of prey, analyses of electronic tracking data in marine environments rarely consider how predators affect the behavior of tracked animals. We collected an unprecedented dataset by synchronously tracking predator (killer whales, [Formula: see text] = 1; representing a family group) and prey (narwhal, [Formula: see text] = 7) via satellite telemetry in Admiralty Inlet, a large fjord in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Analyzing the movement data with a switching-state space model and a series of mixed effects models, we show that the presence of killer whales strongly alters the behavior and distribution of narwhal. When killer whales were present (within about 100 km), narwhal moved closer to shore, where they were presumably less vulnerable. Under predation threat, narwhal movement patterns were more likely to be transiting, whereas in the absence of threat, more likely resident. Effects extended beyond discrete predatory events and persisted steadily for 10 d, the duration that killer whales remained in Admiralty Inlet. Our findings have two key consequences. First, given current reductions in sea ice and increases in Arctic killer whale sightings, killer whales have the potential to reshape Arctic marine mammal distributions and behavior. Second and of more general importance, predators have the potential to strongly affect movement behavior of tracked marine animals. Understanding predator effects may be as or more important than relating movement behavior to resource distribution or bottom-up drivers traditionally included in analyses of marine animal tracking data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greg A Breed
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775;
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N6
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N6
| | - Jeff W Higdon
- Higdon Wildlife Consulting, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3G 3C9
| | - Bernard LeBlanc
- Fisheries Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec, QC, Canada G1K 7Y7
| | | | - Jack Orr
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N6
| | - Natalie R Reinhart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N6
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Romero MB, Polizzi P, Chiodi L, Robles A, Das K, Gerpe M. Metals as chemical tracers to discriminate ecological populations of threatened Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Argentina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:3940-3950. [PMID: 27909926 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7970-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Franciscana dolphins are the most impacted small cetacean in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, classified as Vulnerable A3d by IUCN. Essential (Fe, Mo, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co) and non-essential (Ag, Pb, Sn) trace elements (TEs) were measured in liver, kidney, and brain samples of by-catch Franciscana dolphins that were living in estuarine (n = 21) and marine (n = 21) habitats (1) to assess whether TEs posed a threat and (2) to evaluate the suitability of TEs for discriminating ecological populations of this species in Argentinean waters. Essential TEs showed little variation in tissues from both groups in agreement with levels reported for other cetaceans and suggesting that these concentrations correspond to normal physiological levels. Non-essential TEs were higher in estuarine juveniles and adults dolphins than in marine specimens. These results suggest anthropogenic sources associated with estuarine area and that Franciscana dolphins are good sentinels of the impact of the environment. The difference in the concentrations of TEs beetwen ecological populations appeared to be related to distinct exposures in both geographical areas, and it is suggested that Ag and Sn concentrations in adults are good chemical tracers of anthropogenic input of TEs. These results provide additional information for improved management and regulatory policy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M B Romero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - P Polizzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - L Chiodi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - A Robles
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - K Das
- Laboratory for Oceanology - MARE Center B6c, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - M Gerpe
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Riofrío-Lazo M, Arreguín-Sánchez F, Páez-Rosas D. Population Abundance of the Endangered Galapagos Sea Lion Zalophus wollebaeki in the Southeastern Galapagos Archipelago. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0168829. [PMID: 28052081 PMCID: PMC5215494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is great concern regarding the population status of the endangered Galapagos sea lion (GSL) because it has drastically decreased over the last 30 years. We determined the population size and growth trend of the GSL in the Galapagos southeastern region (SER) at three population levels based on the available census data: 1) SER (2011-2015), including 13 rookeries on the four islands San Cristóbal (SC), Española, Floreana, and Santa Fe, comprising 58% of the archipelago's population; 2) SC (2011-2015), including five rookeries, comprising 52% of the SER population; and 3) El Malecón (2005-2015), the largest rookery on SC and in the SER (43% of the population on SC and 22% in the SER). We also analyzed the influence of environmental variability on pup abundance in these rookeries. The current GSL population size in the SER, after applying correction factors to the counts, is estimated at approximately 2300-4100 individuals and has declined at an average annual rate (ʎ) of 8.7% over the last five years. A similar trend was determined for SC but at ʎ = 1.4% during the same period. For El Malecón, a count-based population viability analysis using a diffusion approximation approach showed that the population increased from 2005 to 2015 at ʎ = 2%. The interannual variability in pup abundance was associated with anomalies in sea surface temperature linked to oceanographic-atmospheric events, which impact the abundance and availability of prey, and ultimately may determine the population's reproductive success. Since rookeries in the SER had different population trends, management actions should be implemented based on their specific conditions, giving priority to rookeries such as El Malecón, which, despite showing a slightly increasing population trend, still faces a high risk of extinction due to anthropogenic disturbances and environmental variability that may affect its growth and survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Riofrío-Lazo
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Francisco Arreguín-Sánchez
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Diego Páez-Rosas
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
- Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Unidad Técnica Operativa San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Rosales SM, Vega Thurber RL. Brain transcriptomes of harbor seals demonstrate gene expression patterns of animals undergoing a metabolic disease and a viral infection. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2819. [PMID: 28028481 PMCID: PMC5182994 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases of marine mammals can be difficult to diagnose because of their life history and protected status. Stranded marine mammals have been a particularly useful resource to discover and comprehend the diseases that plague these top predators. Additionally, advancements in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) has contributed to the discovery of novel pathogens in marine mammals. In this study, we use a combination of HTS and stranded harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) to better understand a known and unknown brain disease. To do this, we used transcriptomics to evaluate brain tissues from seven neonatal harbor seals that expired from an unknown cause of death (UCD) and compared them to four neonatal harbor seals that had confirmed phocine herpesvirus (PhV-1) infections in the brain. Comparing the two disease states we found that UCD animals showed a significant abundance of fatty acid metabolic transcripts in their brain tissue, thus we speculate that a fatty acid metabolic dysregulation contributed to the death of these animals. Furthermore, we were able to describe the response of four young harbor seals with PhV-1 infections in the brain. PhV-1 infected animals showed a significant ability to mount an innate and adaptive immune response, especially to combat viral infections. Our data also suggests that PhV-1 can hijack host pathways for DNA packaging and exocytosis. This is the first study to use transcriptomics in marine mammals to understand host and viral interactions and assess the death of stranded marine mammals with an unknown disease. Furthermore, we show the value of applying transcriptomics on stranded marine mammals for disease characterization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Rosales
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University , Corvallis , OR , United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Polizzi PS, Boudet LNC, de León AP, Quiroga M, Rodríguez DH, Atkinson S, Gerpe MS. Reference Intervals of Mineral Elements in Plasma of Anesthetized Free-Ranging Adult Females of South American Sea Lion, Otaria flavescens. Biol Trace Elem Res 2016; 174:325-327. [PMID: 27156112 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-016-0734-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) in plasma of Otaria flavescens females (n = 29) were evaluated. Reference intervals were established for each element, being the first report for this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula S Polizzi
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC-CONICET), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CP 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - L N Chiodi Boudet
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC-CONICET), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CP 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - A Ponce de León
- Departamento Mamíferos Marinos, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos (DI.NA.R.A.), Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (M.G.A.P.), CP 11200, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - M Quiroga
- Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, CP 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - D H Rodríguez
- Biología, Ecología y Conservación de Mamíferos Marinos, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC-CONICET), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CP 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - S Atkinson
- Fisheries Division, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, AK, CP 99801, USA
| | - M S Gerpe
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC-CONICET), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CP 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Taipale SJ, Galloway AWE, Aalto SL, Kahilainen KK, Strandberg U, Kankaala P. Terrestrial carbohydrates support freshwater zooplankton during phytoplankton deficiency. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30897. [PMID: 27510848 PMCID: PMC4980614 DOI: 10.1038/srep30897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshwater food webs can be partly supported by terrestrial primary production, often deriving from plant litter of surrounding catchment vegetation. Although consisting mainly of poorly bioavailable lignin, with low protein and lipid content, the carbohydrates from fallen tree leaves and shoreline vegetation may be utilized by aquatic consumers. Here we show that during phytoplankton deficiency, zooplankton (Daphnia magna) can benefit from terrestrial particulate organic matter by using terrestrial-origin carbohydrates for energy and sparing essential fatty acids and amino acids for somatic growth and reproduction. Assimilated terrestrial-origin fatty acids from shoreline reed particles exceeded available diet, indicating that Daphnia may convert a part of their dietary carbohydrates to saturated fatty acids. This conversion was not observed with birch leaf diets, which had lower carbohydrate content. Subsequent analysis of 21 boreal and subarctic lakes showed that diet of herbivorous zooplankton is mainly based on high-quality phytoplankton rich in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. The proportion of low-quality diets (bacteria and terrestrial particulate organic matter) was <28% of the assimilated carbon. Taken collectively, the incorporation of terrestrial carbon into zooplankton was not directly related to the concentration of terrestrial organic matter in experiments or lakes, but rather to the low availability of phytoplankton.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sami J Taipale
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FIN-16900 Lammi, Finland.,Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Aaron W E Galloway
- Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon, P.O. Box 5389, Charleston, Oregon, USA
| | - Sanni L Aalto
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (YA), 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kimmo K Kahilainen
- Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Käsivarrentie 14622, FIN-99490 Kilpisjärvi, Finland.,Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ursula Strandberg
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Paula Kankaala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
The canalized parental roles of a Eudyptes penguin constrain provisioning and growth of chicks during nutritional stress. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2060-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
48
|
Diaz Gomez M, Rosen DA, Trites AW. Net energy gained by northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) is impacted more by diet quality than by diet diversity. CAN J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Understanding whether northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus (L., 1758)) are negatively affected by changes in prey quality or diversity could provide insights into their on-going population decline in the central Bering Sea. We investigated how six captive female fur seals assimilated energy from eight different diets consisting of four prey species (walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus Pallas, 1814, formerly Theragra chalcogrammus (Pallas, 1814)), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1847), capelin (Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776)), and magister armhook squid (Berryteuthis magister (Berry, 1913))) fed alone or in combination. Net energy was quantified by measuring fecal energy loss, urinary energy loss, and heat increment of feeding. Digestible energy (95.9%–96.7%) was high (reflecting low fecal energy loss) and was negatively affected by ingested mass and dietary protein content. Urinary energy loss (9.3%–26.7%) increased significantly for high-protein diets. Heat increment of feeding (4.3%–12.4%) was significantly lower for high-lipid diets. Overall, net energy gain (57.9%–83.0%) was affected by lipid content and varied significantly across diets. Mixed-species diets did not provide any energetic benefit over single-species diets. Our study demonstrates that diet quality was more important in terms of energy gain than diet diversity. These findings suggest that fur seals consuming low-quality prey in the Bering Sea would be more challenged to obtain sufficient energy to satisfy energetic and metabolic demands, independent of high prey abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Diaz Gomez
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Room 247, 2202 Main Mall, AERL, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Room 247, 2202 Main Mall, AERL, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - David A.S. Rosen
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Room 247, 2202 Main Mall, AERL, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Room 247, 2202 Main Mall, AERL, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Andrew W. Trites
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Room 247, 2202 Main Mall, AERL, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Room 247, 2202 Main Mall, AERL, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ford MJ, Hempelmann J, Hanson MB, Ayres KL, Baird RW, Emmons CK, Lundin JI, Schorr GS, Wasser SK, Park LK. Estimation of a Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Population's Diet Using Sequencing Analysis of DNA from Feces. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0144956. [PMID: 26735849 PMCID: PMC4703337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Estimating diet composition is important for understanding interactions between predators and prey and thus illuminating ecosystem function. The diet of many species, however, is difficult to observe directly. Genetic analysis of fecal material collected in the field is therefore a useful tool for gaining insight into wild animal diets. In this study, we used high-throughput DNA sequencing to quantitatively estimate the diet composition of an endangered population of wild killer whales (Orcinus orca) in their summer range in the Salish Sea. We combined 175 fecal samples collected between May and September from five years between 2006 and 2011 into 13 sample groups. Two known DNA composition control groups were also created. Each group was sequenced at a ~330bp segment of the 16s gene in the mitochondrial genome using an Illumina MiSeq sequencing system. After several quality controls steps, 4,987,107 individual sequences were aligned to a custom sequence database containing 19 potential fish prey species and the most likely species of each fecal-derived sequence was determined. Based on these alignments, salmonids made up >98.6% of the total sequences and thus of the inferred diet. Of the six salmonid species, Chinook salmon made up 79.5% of the sequences, followed by coho salmon (15%). Over all years, a clear pattern emerged with Chinook salmon dominating the estimated diet early in the summer, and coho salmon contributing an average of >40% of the diet in late summer. Sockeye salmon appeared to be occasionally important, at >18% in some sample groups. Non-salmonids were rarely observed. Our results are consistent with earlier results based on surface prey remains, and confirm the importance of Chinook salmon in this population’s summer diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ford
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Hempelmann
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States of America
| | - M Bradley Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States of America
| | - Katherine L Ayres
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States of America
| | - Robin W Baird
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington, 98501, United States of America
| | - Candice K Emmons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States of America
| | - Jessica I Lundin
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States of America
| | - Gregory S Schorr
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington, 98501, United States of America
| | - Samuel K Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States of America
| | - Linda K Park
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Goundie ET, Rosen DAS, Trites AW. Dive behaviour can predict metabolic expenditure in Steller sea lions. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 3:cov052. [PMID: 27293736 PMCID: PMC4778462 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Quantification of costs associated with foraging contributes to understanding the energetic impact that changes in prey availability have on the energy balance of an animal and the fitness of populations. However, estimating the costs of foraging is difficult for breath-hold divers, such as Steller sea lions, that feed underwater. We developed models parameterized with data from free-diving captive Steller sea lions to estimate the costs incurred by wild animals while foraging. We measured diving metabolic rate of trained sea lions performing four types of dives to 10 and 40 m in the open ocean and estimated the separate costs of different dive components: surface time; bottom time; and transiting to and from depth. We found that the sea lions' diving metabolic rates were higher while transiting (20.5 ± 13.0 ml O2 min(-1) kg(-1)) than while swimming at depth (13.5 ± 4.1 ml O2 min(-1) kg(-1)), and both were higher than metabolism at the surface (9.2 ± 1.6 ml O2 min(-1) kg(-1)). These values were incorporated into an energetic model that accurately predicted oxygen consumption for dives only (within 9.5%) and dive cycles (within 7.7%), although it consistently overestimated costs by 5.9% for dives and 21.8% for dive cycles. Differences in the costs of individual components of dives also explained differences in the efficiency of different dive strategies. Single dives were energetically less costly than bout dives; however, sea lions were more efficient at replenishing oxygen stores after bout dives and could therefore spend a greater portion of their time foraging than when undertaking single dives. The metabolic rates we measured for the different behavioural components of diving can be applied to time-depth recordings from wild Steller sea lions to estimate the energy expended while foraging. In turn, this can be used to understand how changes in prey availability affect energy balance and the health of individuals in declining populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T Goundie
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - David A S Rosen
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Andrew W Trites
- Department of Zoology and Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| |
Collapse
|