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De Giorgi R, Bardelli R, Cilenti L, Falco S, Fanizzi FP, Guerra MT, Katselis G, Kevrekidis K, Mancini F, Doria L, Marchini A, Migoni D, Papadia P, Vizzini S, Mancinelli G. Opportunistic omnivory impairs the use of the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus as a trace metal biomonitor in invaded Mediterranean coastal waters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116715. [PMID: 39024910 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The contribution of non-indigenous species to the transfer of contaminants in invaded food webs represents an active research area. Here we measured trace metals and CN stable isotopes in five populations of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus and in baseline bivalve species from Spain, Italy and Greece. They were used to estimate trophic transfer effects and the trophic position and isotopic niche of C. sapidus. Maximum trophic transfer effects occurred where the crab showed the largest isotopic niches and highest trophic positions; furthermore, the consistency of trace metal profiles between bivalves and crabs co-varied with the trophic position of the latters. Omnivory may influence the success of an invasive species, but also limit its effectiveness for biomonitoring. However, our results indicated that stable isotopes analysis provides a clarifying background where to cast patterns of contamination of the blue crab as well as of other omnivorous biomonitor species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele De Giorgi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberta Bardelli
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Cilenti
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Silvia Falco
- Institut d'Investigació per a la Gestió Integrada de zones Costaneres (IGIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, Grau de Gandia, 46730 València, Spain
| | - Francesco Paolo Fanizzi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Guerra
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - George Katselis
- Department of Animal production, Fishery & Aquaculture, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
| | - Kosmas Kevrekidis
- Decentralized Administration of Macedonia-Thrace, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Kalamaria, GR-551 31 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Francesco Mancini
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Lorenzo Doria
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Agnese Marchini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Danilo Migoni
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paride Papadia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatrice Vizzini
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy; CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196 Roma, Italy
| | - Giorgio Mancinelli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy; CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196 Roma, Italy.
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Guiry E, Kennedy JR, Malcom C, Miller M, Hall O, Buckley M, Szpak P. Archaeological evidence for long-term human impacts on sea turtle foraging behaviour. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240120. [PMID: 39021767 PMCID: PMC11253035 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Early conservation efforts to prevent the loss of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Caribbean Sea jumpstarted marine habitat and biodiversity protection. However, even there, limitations on historical observations of turtle ecology have hampered efforts to contextualize foraging behaviours for conservation management. We integrate isotopic and zooarchaeological evidence from green sea turtles harvested at the Miskito Cays (Nicaragua) to assess foraging behaviour before and after a step change in harvesting intensity. Highly structured isotopic evidence shows greater foraging adaptability in earlier populations. This provides a counterpoint to recent synthesis, suggesting the ecological non-exchangeability of sea turtles, which complicates conservation planning focused on genetic-stock-based repopulation. In contrast, our results suggest future populations would have a capacity for higher degrees of ecological exchangeability than current perspectives allow. This highlights a need to consider the kinds of longer term perspectives, such as those offered by archaeological materials, when planning for future sea turtle recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Guiry
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, OntarioK9L 0G2, Canada
- School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, Mayor’s Walk, LeicesterLE1 7RH, UK
| | - J. Ryan Kennedy
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University Bloomington, 701 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN47405, USA
| | - Corey Malcom
- Florida Keys History Center, 700 Fleming Street, Key West, FL33040, USA
| | - Mariah Miller
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, OntarioK9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Olivia Hall
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, OntarioK9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Michael Buckley
- School of Natural Sciences, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, ManchesterM17 DN, UK
| | - Paul Szpak
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, OntarioK9L 0G2, Canada
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Bezerra MF, Barrios-Rodriguez CA, Rezende CE, López-Castro MC, Lacerda LD. Trophic ecology of sympatric sea turtles in the tropical Atlantic coast of Brazil. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106406. [PMID: 38377937 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The Tropical Atlantic coast of Brazil is a hotspot area for multiple sea turtle species at all life stages. The multiple nearshore reefs and beaches, oceanic islands, and the only atoll in the south Atlantic Ocean, are suitable for year-round foraging, migration corridors, and nesting activities of five sea turtle species. Still, relatively few studies have assessed trophic niche among sympatric sea turtles which can provide a better understanding of how closely related species compete/partition the available resources. Using multiple biogeochemical tracers (i.e., nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) stable isotopes, and mercury (Hg)), we disentangled the trophic niches of four sea turtle species - the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the loggerhead turtle (Caretta), the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) - co-occurring in nesting and foraging habitats along the northeastern coast of Brazil. We found interspecific differences in isotopic and contamination niches, as well as intraspecific niche variation associated with life stage. Differences in the estimation niche models associated to life-stage in C. caretta support the notion of ontogenetic shift in habitat and diet composition previously reported for this species. Oceanic habitat signatures were observed in juvenile green turtles and adult olive turtles, while nearshore habitat signatures were observed in adult hawksbill turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moises F Bezerra
- Universidade Federal Do Ceará - Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR-UFC). Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - Cesar A Barrios-Rodriguez
- Universidade Federal Do Ceará - Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR-UFC). Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Carlos E Rezende
- Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro Campos Dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz D Lacerda
- Universidade Federal Do Ceará - Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR-UFC). Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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Barrios-Rodriguez CA, Bezerra MF, Ristau N, Mendonça DM, Pires TT, de Souza Paulino LR, Lacerda LDD. Biological and ecological traits rather than geography control mercury (Hg) in scutes of marine turtles from the Southwest Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116085. [PMID: 38325203 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The use of sentinel species in monitoring programs for toxic metals such as mercury (Hg) is essential to understand these pollutants' impact on the environment. For this purpose, it is essential to use organisms that have a lifespan compatible with the residence time of Hg in the oceans, and preferably with a wide geographical distribution, such as sea turtles. Here, we assess the regional variability of Hg concentrations using carapace scutes of four sea turtle species along the foraging and spawning area in the northeast coastline of Brazil. Mercury concentrations in samples showed no relationship with the environmental Hg levels (obtained from literature). Rather, Hg concentrations varied according to species-specific biological, and ecological traits. Characteristics such as the ontogenetic shift in the diet of Chelonia mydas, capital breeding in females, depth of foraging in oceanic waters, and selectivity of food items, such as in Eretmochelys imbricata, significantly influenced Hg concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Augusto Barrios-Rodriguez
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Costeira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - Moises Fernandes Bezerra
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Costeira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Luiz Drude de Lacerda
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Costeira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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Weber S, Cullen JA, Fuentes MMPB. Isotopic niche overlap among foraging marine turtle species in the Gulf of Mexico. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10741. [PMID: 38034330 PMCID: PMC10682896 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sympatric species may overlap in their use of habitat and dietary resources, which can increase competition. Comparing the ecological niches and quantifying the degree of niche overlap among these species can provide insights into the extent of resource overlap. This information can be used to guide multispecies management approaches tailored to protect priority habitats that offer the most resources for multiple species. Stable isotope analysis is a valuable tool used to investigate spatial and trophic niches, though few studies have employed this method for comparisons among sympatric marine turtle species. For this study, stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope values from epidermis tissue were used to quantify isotopic overlap and compare isotopic niche size in loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) turtles sampled from a shared foraging area located offshore of Crystal River, Florida, USA. Overall, the results revealed high degrees of isotopic overlap (>68%) among species, particularly between loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles (85 to 91%), which indicates there may be interspecific competition for resources. Samples from green turtles had the widest range of isotopic values, indicating they exhibit higher variability in diet and habitat type. Samples from loggerhead turtles had the most enriched mean δ34S, suggesting they may forage in slightly different micro-environments compared with the other species. Finally, samples from Kemp's ridley turtles exhibited the smallest niche size, which is indicative of a narrower use of resources. This is one of the first studies to investigate resource use in a multispecies foraging aggregation of marine turtles using three isotopic tracers. These findings provide a foundation for future research into the foraging ecology of sympatric marine turtle species and can be used to inform effective multispecies management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah Weber
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Joshua A. Cullen
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
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Silver-Gorges I, Ceriani SA, Fuentes MMPB. Fine-scale intraspecific niche partitioning in a highly mobile, marine megafauna species: implications for ecology and conservation. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221529. [PMID: 37388320 PMCID: PMC10300683 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
A species may partition its realized ecological niche along bionomic and scenopoetic axes due to intraspecific competition for limited resources. How partitioning manifests depends on resource needs and availability by and for the partitioning groups. Here we demonstrate the utility of analysing short- and long-term stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios from imperiled marine megafauna to characterize realized niche partitioning in these species. We captured 113 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) at a high-use area in the eastern Big Bend, Florida, between 2016 and 2022, comprising 53 subadults, 10 adult males and 50 adult females. We calculated trophic niche metrics using established and novel methods, and constructed Bayesian ellipses and hulls, to characterize loggerhead isotopic niches. These analyses indicated that loggerheads partition their realized ecological niche by lifestage, potentially along both bionomic (e.g. trophic) and/or scenopoetic (e.g. habitat, latitude or longitude) axes, and display different characteristics of resource use within their niches. Analysis of stable isotopes from tissues with different turnover rates enabled this first characterization of intraspecific niche partitioning between and within neritic lifestages in loggerhead turtles, which has direct implications for ongoing research and conservation efforts for this and other imperiled marine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Silver-Gorges
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Simona A. Ceriani
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
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Chandelier G, Kiszka JJ, Dulau-Drouot V, Jean C, Poirout T, Estrade V, Barret M, Fayan J, Jaquemet S. Isotopic niche partitioning of co-occurring large marine vertebrates around an Indian ocean tropical oceanic island. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105835. [PMID: 36527765 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Tropical oceans host a high diversity of species, including large marine consumers. In these oligotrophic ecosystems, oceanic islands often favour the aggregation of species and biomass as they provide feeding opportunities related to the mechanisms of island mass effect. As such, the waters surrounding La Reunion (Southwest Indian Ocean) host seabirds, large pelagic teleosts, elasmobranchs, delphinids and sea turtles. Isotopic niche partitioning and comparison of trophic levels among these species (n = 21) were investigated using stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis. Overall, δ13C values were highly variable among taxa, indicating that the species exploit multiple foraging habitats along a coast-open ocean gradient. Overlap in δ15N values was limited, except for teleost species, the two species of sea turtles and two species of delphinids, the Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) and the Spinner dolphin (Stellena longirostris). Stable isotope analyses of samples collected over a 9-years period on different tissues with different integration times provide a consistent picture of the structure of the community of large marine vertebrates species around La Reunion and highlight the underlying mechanisms to limit the competition between species. The wide range of isotopic values confirms that large marine vertebrates have different trophic roles in coastal marine food webs around this oceanic island, which limits their potential of competitive interactions for resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Chandelier
- UMR Entropie, Université de la Réunion, 15 avenue René Cassin, 97744, Saint Denis Cédex 9, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151th Street, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA
| | - Violaine Dulau-Drouot
- Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 97432, Ravine des Cabris, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Claire Jean
- Kelonia, l'observatoire des tortues marines, 46 rue du Général de Gaulle, 97436, Saint Leu, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Thomas Poirout
- UMR Entropie, Université de la Réunion, 15 avenue René Cassin, 97744, Saint Denis Cédex 9, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Vanessa Estrade
- Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 97432, Ravine des Cabris, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Mathieu Barret
- Kelonia, l'observatoire des tortues marines, 46 rue du Général de Gaulle, 97436, Saint Leu, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Jacques Fayan
- Brigade Nature Océan Indien (BNOI), 12 All de la forêt parc de la providence, 97400, Saint-Denis, Ile de La Réunion, France
| | - Sébastien Jaquemet
- UMR Entropie, Université de la Réunion, 15 avenue René Cassin, 97744, Saint Denis Cédex 9, Ile de La Réunion, France.
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Figgener C, Bernardo J, Plotkin PT. Delineating and characterizing critical habitat for the Eastern Pacific olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea): Individual differences in migratory routes present challenges for conservation measures. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.933424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The effective conservation of highly migratory marine species is only possible if core areas of activity and critical habitat can be identified within the vast and dynamic oceanic environment and later on used to delineate marine protected areas (MPAs). However, gathering population-level data and identifying universal patterns within a species or population can be difficult when only a small sample size exists and individuals are not ecologically interchangeable. In addition, the open ocean beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of a country is considered the high-seas and is not part of any jurisdiction and therefore challenging to govern by laws. Granting protection to species using these waters is sometimes virtually impossible. Another challenge is the dynamic nature of the oceanic environment. MPAs are usually based on spatially explicit and static areas, but migratory routes can shift following available food, currents, and temperatures or else, potentially rendering designated areas useless. The red-listed olive ridley turtle is known for its nomadic migratory and feeding behavior and a divergent nesting strategy among females. Our study used two approaches to identify critical habitats for the population nesting in Costa Rica and feeding in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. One was based on a static Kernel Density Approach to identify core areas. The other was a habitat preference model that took into account changing environmental variables such as sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentrations. We were able to identify core areas at the population level by pooling two datasets and increasing our sample size. Our habitat preference model showed a high correlation of olive ridley presence with all tested environmental variables, except chlorophyll-a concentration. Our results reveal that olive ridleys use mainly regions that fall within EEZs and, therefore, the jurisdiction of six countries in Central America and provide an essential conservation tool.
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Figgener C, Bernardo J, Plotkin PT. Marine turtles are only minimally sexually size dimorphic, a pattern that is distinct from most nonmarine aquatic turtles. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8963. [PMID: 35784046 PMCID: PMC9163671 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Turtles have been prominent subjects of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) analyses due to their compact taxonomy, mating systems, and habitat diversity. In prior studies, marine turtles were grouped with fully aquatic non‐marine turtles (NMATs). This is interesting because it is well‐established that the marine environment imposes a distinct selective milieu on body form of vagile vertebrates, driven by convergent adaptations for energy‐efficient propulsion and drag reduction. We generated a comprehensive database of adult marine turtle body sizes (38,569 observations across all species), which we then used to evaluate the magnitude of SSD in marine turtles and how it compares to SSD in NMAT. We find that marine turtles are only minimally sexually size dimorphic, whereas NMAT typically exhibit female‐biased SSD. We argue that the reason for this difference is the sustained long‐distance swimming that characterizes marine turtle ecology, which entails significant energetic costs incurred by both sexes. Hence, the ability of either sex to allocate proportionately more to growth than the other is likely constrained, meaning that sexual differences in growth and resultant body size are not possible. Consequently, grouping marine turtles with NMAT dilutes the statistical signature of different kinds of selection on SSD and should be avoided in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Figgener
- Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Program Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Department of Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Department of Oceanography Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Costa Rican Alliance for Sea Turtle Conservation & Science (COASTS) Gandoca Costa Rica
| | - Joseph Bernardo
- Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Program Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Department of Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
| | - Pamela T. Plotkin
- Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Program Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Department of Oceanography Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
- Texas Sea Grant Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
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Chatterji RM, Hipsley CA, Sherratt E, Hutchinson MN, Jones MEH. Ontogenetic allometry underlies trophic diversity in sea turtles (Chelonioidea). Evol Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10162-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AbstractDespite only comprising seven species, extant sea turtles (Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae) display great ecological diversity, with most species inhabiting a unique dietary niche as adults. This adult diversity is remarkable given that all species share the same dietary niche as juveniles. These ontogenetic shifts in diet, as well as a dramatic increase in body size, make sea turtles an excellent group to examine how morphological diversity arises by allometric processes and life habit specialisation. Using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics, we characterise ontogenetic allometry in the skulls of all seven species and evaluate variation in the context of phylogenetic history and diet. Among the sample, the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) has a seemingly average sea turtle skull shape and generalised diet, whereas the green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) show different extremes of snout shape associated with their modes of food gathering (grazing vs. grasping, respectively). Our ontogenetic findings corroborate previous suggestions that the skull of the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) is paedomorphic, having similar skull proportions to hatchlings of other sea turtle species and retaining a hatchling-like diet of relatively soft bodied organisms. The flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) shows a similar but less extreme pattern. By contrast, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) shows a peramorphic signal associated with increased jaw muscle volumes that allow predation on hard shelled prey. The Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) has a peramorphic skull shape compared to its sister species the olive ridley, and a diet that includes harder prey items such as crabs. We suggest that diet may be a significant factor in driving skull shape differences among species. Although the small number of species limits statistical power, differences among skull shape, size, and diet are consistent with the hypothesis that shifts in allometric trajectory facilitated diversification in skull shape as observed in an increasing number of vertebrate groups.
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Drane K, Huerlimann R, Power M, Whelan A, Ariel E, Sheehan M, Kinobe R. Testudines as Sentinels for Monitoring the Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance in Marine Environments: An Integrative Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10070775. [PMID: 34202175 PMCID: PMC8300651 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10070775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissemination of antibiotic resistance (AR) in marine environments is a global concern with a propensity to affect public health and many ecosystems worldwide. We evaluated the use of sea turtles as sentinel species for monitoring AR in marine environments. In this field, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been commonly identified by using standard culture and sensitivity tests, leading to an overrepresentation of specific, culturable bacterial classes in the available literature. AR was detected against all major antibiotic classes, but the highest cumulative global frequency of resistance in all represented geographical sites was against the beta-lactam class by a two-fold difference compared to all other antibiotics. Wastewater facilities and turtle rehabilitation centres were associated with higher incidences of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) accounting for an average of 58% and 49% of resistant isolates, respectively. Furthermore, a relatively similar prevalence of MDRB was seen in all studied locations. These data suggest that anthropogenically driven selection pressures for the development of AR in sea turtles and marine environments are relatively similar worldwide. There is a need, however, to establish direct demonstrable associations between AR in sea turtles in their respective marine environments with wastewater facilities and other anthropogenic activities worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kezia Drane
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
- Correspondence: (K.D.); (R.K.); Tel.: +61-0747814061 (R.K.)
| | - Roger Huerlimann
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
| | - Michelle Power
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia;
| | - Anna Whelan
- Townsville Water and Waste, Wastewater Operations, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia;
| | - Ellen Ariel
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
| | - Madoc Sheehan
- College of Science, Technology and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
| | - Robert Kinobe
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
- Correspondence: (K.D.); (R.K.); Tel.: +61-0747814061 (R.K.)
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Liang D, Yang S, Pagani-Núñez E, He C, Liu Y, Goodale E, Liao WB, Hu J. How to Become a Generalist Species? Individual Niche Variation Across Habitat Transformation Gradients. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.597450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Species in transformed habitats, frequently labeled as environmental generalists, tend to show broader niches than species in natural habitats. However, how population niche expansion translates into changes in the niches of individual organisms remains unclear, particularly in the context of habitat transformation. Niche expansion could be a product of individuals having broader niches, greater distances among individuals’ niches, or a combination of both processes. This would challenge the traditional conceptions on niche dynamics, which emphasize the role played by individual specialization (IS). Here, using stable isotopes, we computed total niche width (TNW), its within- and between-individual components (WIC and BIC), and IS (the ratio WIC/TNW), in 13 populations of 6 bird species and 8 populations of 3 frog species in natural and transformed habitats. We confirmed that species had broader niche width in transformed than in natural habitats, yet population niche expansion across habitats was mainly a product of increased distance between individuals. Within each habitat type, increases in TNW were linked to increases in WIC for all habitat types, while relationships between TNW and BIC were found in transformed but not in natural habitats. Hence, both increased individual niche width and increased distance among individuals were apparent within habitats, particularly in transformed ones, where increases in WIC dominated. Neither across or within habitats was niche expansion associated with increasing IS. Therefore, our results overturn traditional conceptions associated with the niche variation hypothesis and illustrate that niche expansion is not invariably associated with increased IS, because the distance between individual’s niches (BIC) can increase, as well as the breadth of those niches (WIC).
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Hatase H, Omuta K. Trophically polymorphic loggerhead sea turtles show similar interannual variability in clutch frequencies: implications for estimating population size of iteroparous animals. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Hatase
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - K. Omuta
- Yakushima Sea Turtle Research Group Yakushima Kagoshima Japan
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Ortega A, Geraldi NR, Díaz-Rúa R, Ørberg SB, Wesselmann M, Krause-Jensen D, Duarte CM. A DNA mini-barcode for marine macrophytes. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:920-935. [PMID: 32279439 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Studies focusing on marine macrophyte metabarcoding from environmental samples are scarce, due to the lack of a universal barcode for these taxa, and to their poor representation in DNA databases. Here, we searched for a short barcode able to identify marine macrophytes from tissue samples; then, we created a DNA reference library which was used to identify macrophytes in eDNA from coastal sediments. Barcoding of seagrasses, mangroves and marine macroalgae (Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae) was tested using 18 primer pairs from six barcoding genes: the plant barcodes rbcL, matK and trnL, plus the genes ITS2, COI and 18S. The 18S gene showed the highest universality among marine macrophytes, amplifying 95%-100% of samples; amplification performance of the other barcodes was limited. Taxonomy was assigned using a phylogeny-based approach to create an 18S DNA reference library. Macrophyte tissue sequences were accurately identified within their phyla (88%), order (76%), genus (71%) and species (23%). Nevertheless, out of 86 macrophytes tested, only 48% and 15% had a reference sequence at genus and at species level, respectively. Identification at these levels can be improved by more inclusive reference libraries. Using the 18S mini-barcode and the reference library, we recovered eDNA from 21 marine macrophytes in sediments, demonstrating the barcode's ability to trace primary producers that contribute to blue carbon. We expect this barcode to also be useful for other ecological questions, such as tracing macro primary producers in marine food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Ortega
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nathan R Geraldi
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rubén Díaz-Rúa
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah B Ørberg
- Department of Bioscience, and Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Marlene Wesselmann
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | - Dorte Krause-Jensen
- Department of Bioscience, and Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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15
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Haywood JC, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, Margaritoulis D, Shutler JD, Snape RTE, Widdicombe S, Zbinden JA, Broderick AC. Spatial ecology of loggerhead turtles: Insights from stable isotope markers and satellite telemetry. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julia C. Haywood
- Marine Turtle Research Group Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Cornwall UK
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory Plymouth UK
| | - Wayne J. Fuller
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Near East University North Cyprus
| | - Brendan J. Godley
- Marine Turtle Research Group Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Cornwall UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Cornwall UK
| | | | - Jamie D. Shutler
- Centre for Geography and Environmental Science University of Exeter Cornwall UK
| | - Robin TE. Snape
- Marine Turtle Research Group Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Cornwall UK
- Society for the Protection of Turtles North Cyprus
| | | | | | - Annette C. Broderick
- Marine Turtle Research Group Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Cornwall UK
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