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Villanova-Solano C, Pereira JM, Hernández-Sánchez C, Hernández-Borges J, Pham CK. Anthropogenic particles determination in northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) from the Azores region: A keystone species for marine food webs. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 477:135324. [PMID: 39068890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135324] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Microfibres from fabrics have become the most prevalent shape of microplastic found in the marine environment. The northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) is the most abundant euphausiid species in the northern hemisphere, playing a crucial role in various pelagic ecosystems. Anthropogenic microparticles in northern krill was assessed for the first time in samples collected in the Azores on two occasions - April 2019 (n = 480) and April 2023 (n = 480). Analysis of all individuals revealed 533 anthropogenic particles, with an average abundance of 0.56 ± 0.14 items per individual and, no significant differences between years. Microfibres were the most common shape (94.8 %), with the remaining items being fragments (5.2 %), and blue and black were the predominant colours. MicroFourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (μFTIR) of 22.1 % of the total number of particles, showed that they were mainly cellulosic (65.3 %) - either natural or semisynthetic - followed by polyester (7.6 %). Our finding of microplastics in the northern krill raises important questions due to its crucial role in marine food webs. The intake of anthropogenic particles, particularly those that are 100 % synthetic, suggests that the northern krill may act as a transfer vector of these pollutants to higher trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Villanova-Solano
- Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - João M Pereira
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
| | - Cintia Hernández-Sánchez
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Forense y Legal y Parasitología, Área de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Vía Auxiliar Paso Alto, 2. 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Javier Hernández-Borges
- Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Christopher K Pham
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal.
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2
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Konishi K, Minamikawa S, Kleivane L, Takahashi M. Annual phenology and migration routes to breeding grounds in western-central North Pacific sei whales. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11212. [PMID: 38755300 PMCID: PMC11098811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61831-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is an important species among baleen whales in the North Pacific and plays a significant role in the ecosystem. Despite the importance of this species, information regarding its migration patterns and breeding locations remains limited. To enhance the understanding of the phenology of North Pacific sei whales, we deployed satellite-monitored tags on these whales in the western and central North Pacific from 2017 to 2023. We fitted 55 sei whale tracks to a state-space model to describe the whales' seasonal movements at feeding grounds and their migratory behavior. The whales typically leave their feeding grounds between November and December, with migration pathways extending from off Japan to the west of the Hawaiian Islands. These southward transits converge in the waters of the Marshall Islands and north of Micronesia between 20° N and 7° N, which appear to be breeding grounds. After a brief stay at these breeding grounds, the whales migrate northward from January to February, reaching their feeding grounds around 30°N by March. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to present the phenology of feeding and breeding seasons and the migration pattern of North Pacific sei whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Konishi
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan.
| | - Shingo Minamikawa
- Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4, Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 236-8648, Japan
| | - Lars Kleivane
- LKARTS-Norway, Skutvik Landhandel, 8290, Skutvik, Norway
| | - Megumi Takahashi
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan
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3
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Papale E, Pelagatti M, Pedrazzi G, Buscaino G. Occurrence and patterns of fin whale songs reveal alternative migration strategies in Svalbard Islands, Norway. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4436. [PMID: 36932235 PMCID: PMC10023778 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31665-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Arctic marine environment is highly affected by global warming with notable changes in habitat conditions, which have great consequences on migrating species. For example, the timing of their migration can be altered leading to changes in their occurrence in suitable areas, which are critical for their survival. In this study, seven years of acoustic data were analysed in Svalbard Islands from 2014 to 2020, revealing that the occurrence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) happened all year-round. The sea surface temperature recorded reveals conditions which could be favorable for these species to persist until the Polar Night. The occurrence of songs indicated that certain individuals did not undertake the migratory journey through the southern breeding grounds, possibly using the area for mating purposes. The analyses of the Inter-Note-Interval (INI) demonstrated that over the years songs with different patterns were found. This suggests that either the fin whales are able to switch their INI patterns or that populations with different INIs are visiting during the Winter. Therefore, this study unveils the undertaking of an alternative strategy to migration movements, and the possible potential origin of the fin whales overwintering in Svalbard.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Papale
- Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (IAS), Unit of Capo Granitola, National Research Council, Via del Mare 3, 91021, Torretta Granitola, TP, Italy.
- Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy.
| | - M Pelagatti
- Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (IAS), Unit of Capo Granitola, National Research Council, Via del Mare 3, 91021, Torretta Granitola, TP, Italy
| | - G Pedrazzi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - G Buscaino
- Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (IAS), Unit of Capo Granitola, National Research Council, Via del Mare 3, 91021, Torretta Granitola, TP, Italy
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4
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Alabia ID, García Molinos J, Hirata T, Mueter FJ, David CL. Pan-Arctic marine biodiversity and species co-occurrence patterns under recent climate. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4076. [PMID: 36906705 PMCID: PMC10008629 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30943-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Arctic region is experiencing drastic climatic changes bringing about potential ecological shifts. Here, we explored marine biodiversity and potential species associations across eight Arctic marine areas between 2000 and 2019. We compiled species occurrences for a subset of 69 marine taxa (i.e., 26 apex predators and 43 mesopredators) and environmental factors to predict taxon-specific distributions using a multi-model ensemble approach. Arctic-wide temporal trends of species richness increased in the last 20 years and highlighted potential emerging areas of species accrual due to climate-driven species redistribution. Further, regional species associations were dominated by positive co-occurrences among species pairs with high frequencies in the Pacific and Atlantic Arctic areas. Comparative analyses of species richness, community composition, and co-occurrence between high and low summer sea ice concentrations revealed contrasting impacts of and detected areas vulnerable to sea ice changes. In particular, low (high) summer sea ice generally resulted in species gains (loss) in the inflow and loss (gains) in the outflow shelves, accompanied by substantial changes in community composition and therefore potential species associations. Overall, the recent changes in biodiversity and species co-occurrences in the Arctic were driven by pervasive poleward range shifts, especially for wide-ranging apex predators. Our findings highlight the varying regional impacts of warming and sea ice loss on Arctic marine communities and provide important insights into the vulnerability of Arctic marine areas to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene D Alabia
- Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University, N21 W11, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0021, Japan.
| | - Jorge García Molinos
- Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University, N21 W11, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Takafumi Hirata
- Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University, N21 W11, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Franz J Mueter
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 17101 Point Lena Loop Rd, 315 Lena Point Bldg, Juneau, AK, 99801-8344, USA
| | - Carmen L David
- Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
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5
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Nishan K, Neupane B, Belbase B, Dhami B, Bist BS, Basyal CR, Bhattarai S. Factors influencing the habitat selection of Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and its conservation threats in the Rapti River of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
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6
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Dale JJ, Brodie S, Carlisle AB, Castleton M, Hazen EL, Bograd SJ, Block BA. Global habitat loss of a highly migratory predator, the blue marlin (
Makaira nigricans
). DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J. Dale
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University Pacific Grove California USA
| | - Stephanie Brodie
- Institute of Marine Science, Fisheries Collaborative Program University of California Santa Cruz Monterey California USA
- Environmental Research Division Southwest Fisheries Science Centre, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Monterey California USA
| | - Aaron B. Carlisle
- School of Marine Science and Policy University of Delaware Lewes Delaware USA
| | - Michael Castleton
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University Pacific Grove California USA
| | - Elliott L. Hazen
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University Pacific Grove California USA
- Institute of Marine Science, Fisheries Collaborative Program University of California Santa Cruz Monterey California USA
- Environmental Research Division Southwest Fisheries Science Centre, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Monterey California USA
| | - Steven J. Bograd
- Institute of Marine Science, Fisheries Collaborative Program University of California Santa Cruz Monterey California USA
- Environmental Research Division Southwest Fisheries Science Centre, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Monterey California USA
| | - Barbara A. Block
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University Pacific Grove California USA
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7
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Using Satellite-Based Data to Facilitate Consistent Monitoring of the Marine Environment around Ireland. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14071749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As an island nation, Ireland needs to ensure effective management measures to protect marine ecosystems and their services, such as the provision of fishery resources. The characterization of marine waters using satellite data can contribute to a better understanding of variations in the upper ocean and, consequently, the effect of their changes on species populations. In this study, nineteen years (1998–2016) of monthly data of essential climate variables (ECVs), chlorophyll (Chl-a), and the diffuse attenuation coefficient (K490) were used, together with previous analyses of sea surface temperature (SST), to investigate the temporal and spatial variability of surface waters around Ireland. The study area was restricted to specific geographically delineated divisions, as defined by the International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The results showed that SST and Chl-a were positively and significantly correlated in ICES divisions corresponding to oceanic waters, while in coastal divisions, SST and Chl-a showed a significant negative correlation. Chl-a and K490 were positively correlated in all cases, suggesting an important role of phytoplankton in light attenuation. Chl-a and K490 had significant trends in most of the divisions, reaching maximum values of 1.45% and 0.08% per year, respectively. The strongest seasonal Chl-a trends were observed in divisions VIId and VIIe (the English Channel), primarily in the summer months, followed by northern divisions VIa (west of Scotland) and VIb (Rockall) in the winter months.
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Receveur A, Allain V, Menard F, Lebourges Dhaussy A, Laran S, Ravache A, Bourgeois K, Vidal E, Hare SR, Weimerskirch H, Borsa P, Menkes C. Modelling Marine Predator Habitat Using the Abundance of Its Pelagic Prey in the Tropical South-Western Pacific. Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00685-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding the ecological mechanisms underpinning distribution patterns is vital in managing populations of mobile marine species. This study is a first step towards an integrated description of the habitats and spatial distributions of marine predators in the Natural Park of the Coral Sea, one of the world’s largest marine-protected areas at about 1.3 million km2, covering the entirety of New Caledonia’s pelagic waters. The study aims to quantify the benefit of including a proxy for prey abundance in predator niche modelling, relative to other marine physical variables. Spatial distributions and relationships with environmental data were analysed using catch per unit of effort data for three fish species (albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna and dolphinfish), sightings collected from aerial surveys for three cetacean guilds (Delphininae, Globicephalinae and Ziphiidae) and foraging locations identified from bio-tracking for three seabird species (wedge-tailed shearwater, Tahiti petrel and red-footed booby). Predator distributions were modelled as a function of a static covariate (bathymetry), oceanographic covariates (sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration and 20 °C-isotherm depth) and an acoustically derived micronekton preyscape covariate. While distributions were mostly linked to bathymetry for seabirds, and chlorophyll and temperature for fish and cetaceans, acoustically derived prey abundance proxies slightly improved distribution models for all fishes and seabirds except the Tahiti petrel, but not for the cetaceans. Predicted spatial distributions showed that pelagic habitats occupied by predator fishes did not spatially overlap. Finally, predicted habitats and the use of the preyscapes in predator habitat modelling were discussed.
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9
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Virgili A, Hedon L, Authier M, Calmettes B, Claridge D, Cole T, Corkeron P, Dorémus G, Dunn C, Dunn TE, Laran S, Lehodey P, Lewis M, Louzao M, Mannocci L, Martínez-Cedeira J, Monestiez P, Palka D, Pettex E, Roberts JJ, Ruiz L, Saavedra C, Santos MB, Van Canneyt O, Bonales JAV, Ridoux V. Towards a better characterisation of deep-diving whales' distributions by using prey distribution model outputs? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255667. [PMID: 34347854 PMCID: PMC8336804 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In habitat modelling, environmental variables are assumed to be proxies of lower trophic levels distribution and by extension, of marine top predator distributions. More proximal variables, such as potential prey fields, could refine relationships between top predator distributions and their environment. In situ data on prey distributions are not available over large spatial scales but, a numerical model, the Spatial Ecosystem And POpulation DYnamics Model (SEAPODYM), provides simulations of the biomass and production of zooplankton and six functional groups of micronekton at the global scale. Here, we explored whether generalised additive models fitted to simulated prey distribution data better predicted deep-diver densities (here beaked whales Ziphiidae and sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus) than models fitted to environmental variables. We assessed whether the combination of environmental and prey distribution data would further improve model fit by comparing their explanatory power. For both taxa, results were suggestive of a preference for habitats associated with topographic features and thermal fronts but also for habitats with an extended euphotic zone and with large prey of the lower mesopelagic layer. For beaked whales, no SEAPODYM variable was selected in the best model that combined the two types of variables, possibly because SEAPODYM does not accurately simulate the organisms on which beaked whales feed on. For sperm whales, the increase model performance was only marginal. SEAPODYM outputs were at best weakly correlated with sightings of deep-diving cetaceans, suggesting SEAPODYM may not accurately predict the prey fields of these taxa. This study was a first investigation and mostly highlighted the importance of the physiographic variables to understand mechanisms that influence the distribution of deep-diving cetaceans. A more systematic use of SEAPODYM could allow to better define the limits of its use and a development of the model that would simulate larger prey beyond 1,000 m would probably better characterise the prey of deep-diving cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Auriane Virgili
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Laura Hedon
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Matthieu Authier
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- ADERA, Pessac Cedex, Pessac, France
| | | | - Diane Claridge
- Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas
| | - Tim Cole
- Protected Species Branch, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peter Corkeron
- Protected Species Branch, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ghislain Dorémus
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Charlotte Dunn
- Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas
| | - Tim E. Dunn
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Inverdee House, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Laran
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Mark Lewis
- Protected Species Branch, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Maite Louzao
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Laura Mannocci
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
| | | | - Pascal Monestiez
- BioSP, INRA, Avignon, France
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé - La Rochelle, UMR 7372 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Debra Palka
- Protected Species Branch, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Emeline Pettex
- ADERA, Pessac Cedex, Pessac, France
- Cohabys—ADERA, La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Jason J. Roberts
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Leire Ruiz
- AMBAR Elkartea Organisation, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Camilo Saavedra
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - M. Begoña Santos
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Olivier Van Canneyt
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Vincent Ridoux
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé - La Rochelle, UMR 7372 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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10
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Ahonen H, Stafford KM, Lydersen C, Berchok CL, Moore SE, Kovacs KM. Interannual variability in acoustic detection of blue and fin whale calls in the Northeast Atlantic High Arctic between 2008 and 2018. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Northern Hemisphere blue and fin whales are regular summer migrants to Arctic waters. Given the profound changes the Arctic is currently undergoing due to global warming, changes in habitat use and distribution of these migratory species are predicted. In this study, 3 passive acoustic recorders, 2 in Fram Strait about 95 km apart and 1 north of the Svalbard Archipelago (Atwain), were used to investigate the spatial and temporal vocal occurrence of these species in the Northeast Atlantic High Arctic. Acoustic data were available for 7 years for western Fram Strait (WFS), 2.5 years for central Fram Strait (CFS) and 3 years for Atwain. At both Fram Strait locations, most blue whale call detections occurred from August through October, though recently (2015-2018) in WFS a clear increase in blue whale call rates was detected in June/July, suggesting an expansion of the seasonal occurrence of blue whales. In WFS, fin whale calls were detected intermittently, at low levels, almost year-round. In CFS, fin whale calls were more frequent but occurred mainly from July through December. At Atwain, blue whale detections commenced in July, both species were recorded in September/October and fin whale calls extended into November. Results from this study provide novel long-term baseline information about the occurrence of blue and fin whales at extreme northerly locations, where traditional ship-based survey methods are seasonally limited. Continued sampling will support investigation of how environmental change influences cetacean distribution and habitat use.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ahonen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - KM Stafford
- Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - C Lydersen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - CL Berchok
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA/AFSC, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - SE Moore
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98105, USA
| | - KM Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
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11
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Romagosa M, Pérez-Jorge S, Cascão I, Mouriño H, Lehodey P, Pereira A, Marques TA, Matias L, Silva MA. Food talk: 40-Hz fin whale calls are associated with prey biomass. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211156. [PMID: 34229495 PMCID: PMC8261222 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals use varied acoustic signals that play critical roles in their lives. Understanding the function of these signals may inform about key life-history processes relevant for conservation. In the case of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), that produce different call types associated with different behaviours, several hypotheses have emerged regarding call function, but the topic still remains in its infancy. Here, we investigate the potential function of two fin whale vocalizations, the song-forming 20-Hz call and the 40-Hz call, by examining their production in relation to season, year and prey biomass. Our results showed that the production of 20-Hz calls was strongly influenced by season, with a clear peak during the breeding months, and secondarily by year, likely due to changes in whale abundance. These results support the reproductive function of the 20-Hz song used as an acoustic display. Conversely, season and year had no effect on variation in 40-Hz calling rates, but prey biomass did. This is the first study linking 40-Hz call activity to prey biomass, supporting the previously suggested food-associated function of this call. Understanding the functions of animal signals can help identifying functional habitats and predict the negative effects of human activities with important implications for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Romagosa
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| | - Sergi Pérez-Jorge
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| | - Irma Cascão
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| | - Helena Mouriño
- Centro de Matemática, Aplicações Fundamentais e Investigação Operacional, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Patrick Lehodey
- Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS), Ramonville St Agne, France
| | - Andreia Pereira
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago A. Marques
- Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Luís Matias
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica A. Silva
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
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12
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Routti H, Harju M, Lühmann K, Aars J, Ask A, Goksøyr A, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C. Concentrations and endocrine disruptive potential of phthalates in marine mammals from the Norwegian Arctic. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 152:106458. [PMID: 33677245 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated concentrations of phthalates (diesters of phthalic acids) in blubber/adipose tissue of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) sampled in the Svalbard Archipelago (extending westward in the case of bowhead whales). Additionally, total concentrations (free and conjugated forms) of eight phthalate monoester metabolites were analysed in plasma of polar bears. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the only phthalate quantified among the 12 phthalates investigated. This compound was present in 6/7 fin whale samples, 4/7 blue whale samples, 2/5 bowhead whale samples and 1/12 polar bear samples. DEHP concentrations ranged from <20-398 ng/g wet weight. Phthalate metabolites, mono-n-butyl phthalate and monoisobutyl phthalate, were found in low concentrations (<1.2 ng/mL) in some of the polar bear samples. In vitro reporter gene assays were used to assess transcriptional activity of fin whale peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) by DEHP and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP). Due to the high degree of similarity of the ligand binding domain in the THRB and PPARG among whales, polar bears and humans, the transactivation results also apply for these species. DEHP showed both agonistic and antagonistic effects towards whale THRB at considerably higher concentrations than measured in the study animals; DiNP was a weak agonist of whale THRB. No significant agonistic or antagonistic effects were detected for DEHP or DiNP for whale PPARG, whereas DEHP and DiNP decreased basal luciferase activity mediated by whale GR at several test concentrations. In conclusion, DEHP was detected in the blubber of marine mammals from the Norwegian Arctic and it appears to have potential to modulate the transcriptional activity of whale THRB, but current DEHP concentrations do not modulate the function of the studied nuclear receptors in adipose tissue of blue whales, fin whales, bowhead whales or polar bears sampled from the Norwegian Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Mikael Harju
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Jon Aars
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Amalie Ask
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- University of Bergen, Department of Biological Sciences, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
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Hazen EL, Abrahms B, Brodie S, Carroll G, Welch H, Bograd SJ. Where did they not go? Considerations for generating pseudo-absences for telemetry-based habitat models. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:5. [PMID: 33596991 PMCID: PMC7888118 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00240-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habitat suitability models give insight into the ecological drivers of species distributions and are increasingly common in management and conservation planning. Telemetry data can be used in habitat models to describe where animals were present, however this requires the use of presence-only modeling approaches or the generation of 'pseudo-absences' to simulate locations where animals did not go. To highlight considerations for generating pseudo-absences for telemetry-based habitat models, we explored how different methods of pseudo-absence generation affect model performance across species' movement strategies, model types, and environments. METHODS We built habitat models for marine and terrestrial case studies, Northeast Pacific blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana). We tested four pseudo-absence generation methods commonly used in telemetry-based habitat models: (1) background sampling; (2) sampling within a buffer zone around presence locations; (3) correlated random walks beginning at the tag release location; (4) reverse correlated random walks beginning at the last tag location. Habitat models were built using generalised linear mixed models, generalised additive mixed models, and boosted regression trees. RESULTS We found that the separation in environmental niche space between presences and pseudo-absences was the single most important driver of model explanatory power and predictive skill. This result was consistent across marine and terrestrial habitats, two species with vastly different movement syndromes, and three different model types. The best-performing pseudo-absence method depended on which created the greatest environmental separation: background sampling for blue whales and reverse correlated random walks for elephants. However, despite the fact that models with greater environmental separation performed better according to traditional predictive skill metrics, they did not always produce biologically realistic spatial predictions relative to known distributions. CONCLUSIONS Habitat model performance may be positively biased in cases where pseudo-absences are sampled from environments that are dissimilar to presences. This emphasizes the need to carefully consider spatial extent of the sampling domain and environmental heterogeneity of pseudo-absence samples when developing habitat models, and highlights the importance of scrutinizing spatial predictions to ensure that habitat models are biologically realistic and fit for modeling objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott L Hazen
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
| | - Briana Abrahms
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, USA
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie Brodie
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, USA
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Gemma Carroll
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, USA
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Heather Welch
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, USA
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, USA
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Lydersen C, Vacquié-Garcia J, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Øien N, Guinet C, Kovacs KM. Autumn movements of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) from Svalbard, Norway, revealed by satellite tracking. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16966. [PMID: 33046805 PMCID: PMC7550606 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73996-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Insight into animal movements is essential for understanding habitat use by individuals as well as population processes and species life-history strategies. In this study, we instrumented 25 fin whales with ARGOS satellite-transmitters in Svalbard, Norway, to study their movement patterns and behaviour (Area Restricted Search (ARS), transiting or unknown) during boreal autumn/early winter. Ten of the whales stayed in the tagging area (most northerly location: 81.68°N) for their entire tracking periods (max 45 days). The other 15 whales moved in a south-westerly direction; the longest track ended off the coast of northern Africa (> 5000 km from the tagging location) after 96 days. The whales engaged in ARS behaviour intermittently throughout their southward migrations. During transit phases the whales moved quickly; one individual maintained an average horizontal speed of 9.3 km/h (travelling 223 km per day) for a period of a week. This study documents that: (1) some fin whales might remain at high latitudes during winter; (2) the whales that do migrate probably feed along the way; (3) they can maintain high transiting speed for long periods and; (4) one breeding area for this species is likely located in deep, warm water some 100 km west of Morocco.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jade Vacquié-Garcia
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsö, Norway
- CNRS, UMR CNRS - La Rochelle University, 7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Nils Øien
- Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, P.O. Box 1870, 5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Christophe Guinet
- CNRS, UMR CNRS - La Rochelle University, 7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsö, Norway
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