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West EH, Jones HH. Human food subsidies drive individual specialization and intrapopulation dietary differences in a generalist predator. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elena H. West
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota Twin Cities Saint Paul Minnesota USA
| | - Harrison H. Jones
- Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History Gainesville Florida USA
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2
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Kuzmina TA, Salganskij OO, Dykyy IV, Lisitsyna OI, Korol EM, Faltýnková A, Kuzmin YI. Helminths of the Antarctic dragonfish, Parachaenichthys charcoti (Perciformes, Notothenioidei, Bathydraconidae) Studied near Galindez Island (Argentine Islands, West Antarctica). Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:1424-1430. [PMID: 34021877 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00417-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Antarctic dragonfish, Parachaenichthys charcoti is a notothenioid teleost fish endemic to the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. It is a relatively rare fish species; therefore, published data on the parasite communities of P. charcoti are limited. The present study was performed on the Ukrainian Antarctic Station "Akademik Vernadsky", Argentine Islands, West Antarctica and the purpose was to examine the species diversity of the parasites of P. charcoti and to identify the parameters of helminth infection and helminth component community. METHODS Fifteen specimens of P. charcoti were caught at a depth of 10-30 m and examined using standard parasitological techniques. All helminths (6251 specimens) were collected manually, fixed in 70% ethanol and identified based on their morphology. RESULTS All examined specimens of P. charcoti were found to be infected with helminths; each fish harboured 10-20 helminth species (mean 13.2; median 13) and 237-804 helminth specimens (mean 417; median 401). Twenty-seven helminth species were found, including nine species of trematodes, 4 of cestodes, 4 of nematodes and 10 of acanthocephalans. P. charcoti is the definitive host for 11 out of 27 helminth species recorded. In the helminth component community, the diversity indices were 2.03 (Shannon's index) and 0.79 (Simpson's index); Pielou evenness index was 0.61, and Berger-Parker dominance index was 0.38. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate a high species diversity and complex structure of the helminth community in Antarctic dragonfish P. charcoti in the Argentine Islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetiana A Kuzmina
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, 15, Bogdan Khmelnytsky Street, Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine.
- State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd, 16, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine.
| | - Oleksander O Salganskij
- State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd, 16, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
| | - Ihor V Dykyy
- Department of Zoology, Lviv National University, 4, Grushevsky Street, Lviv, 79005, Ukraine
| | - Olga I Lisitsyna
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, 15, Bogdan Khmelnytsky Street, Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine
| | - Eleonora M Korol
- National Museum of Natural History NAS of Ukraine, 15, Bogdan Khmelnytsky Street, Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine
| | - Anna Faltýnková
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yuriy I Kuzmin
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, 15, Bogdan Khmelnytsky Street, Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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Fragão J, Bessa F, Otero V, Barbosa A, Sobral P, Waluda CM, Guímaro HR, Xavier JC. Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147698. [PMID: 34134362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (< 5 mm in size) are known to be widespread in the marine environment but are still poorly studied in Polar Regions, particularly in the Antarctic. As penguins have a wide distribution around Antarctica, three congeneric species: Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) were selected to evaluate the occurrence of microplastics across the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea. Scat samples (used as a proxy of ingestion), were collected from breeding colonies over seven seasons between 2006 and 2016. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), present in scat samples, contributed 85%, 66% and 54% of the diet in terms of frequency of occurrence to the diet of Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, respectively. Microplastics were found in 15%, 28% and 29% scats of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguin respectively. A total of 92 particles were extracted from the scats (n = 317) and 32% (n = 29) were chemically identified via micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). From all the particles extracted, 35% were identified as microplastics, particularly polyethylene (80%) and polyester (10%). It was not possible to ascertain the identification of the remaining 10% of samples. Other anthropogenic particles were identified in 55% of samples, identified as cellulose fibres. The results show a similar frequency of occurrence of particles across all colonies, suggesting there is no particular point source for microplastic pollution in the Scotia Sea. Additionally, no clear temporal variation in the number of microplastics in penguins was observed. Overall, this study reveals the presence of microplastics across Antarctica, in three penguin species and offers evidence of other anthropogenic particles in high numbers. Further research is needed to better understand the spatio-temporal dynamics, fate and effect of microplastics on these ecosystems, and improve plastic pollution policies in Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Fragão
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Filipa Bessa
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Otero
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Conservation and Restoration, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Monte da Caparica, Portugal; VICARTE, Department of Conservation and Restoration, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Monte da Caparica, Portugal
| | - Andrés Barbosa
- Departamento de Ecologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Sobral
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Monte da Caparica, Portugal
| | - Claire M Waluda
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Hugo R Guímaro
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José C Xavier
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
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4
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Padilha JA, Carvalho GO, Espejo W, Souza JS, Pizzochero AC, Cunha LST, Costa ES, Pessôa ARL, Almeida AP, Torres JPM, Lepoint G, Michel LN, Das K, Dorneles PR. Factors that influence trace element levels in blood and feathers of Pygoscelis penguins from South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 284:117209. [PMID: 33932832 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Contaminant levels are lower in Antarctica than elsewhere in the world because of its low anthropogenic activities. However, the northern region of the Antarctic Peninsula, is close to South America and experiences the greatest anthropogenic pressure in Antarctica. Here, we investigated, in two Antarctic Peninsula islands, intra and interspecific factors that influence the concentrations of 17 trace elements (TEs) in blood and feathers of three penguin species breeding sympatrically in relation to their trophic ecology assessed via a stable isotopic approach (C, N and S). Geographical location, foraging zone (δ13C and δ34S) and diet influences the interspecific difference, and sex and maturity stage diet influence the intraspecific difference of Pygoscelis penguins. Penguins from Livingston showed higher values (mean, ng. g-1, dry weight - dw) of Zn (103), Mn (0.3), and Fe (95) than those from King George Island (Zn: 80, Mn: 1.9, and Fe: 11). Gender-related differences were observed, as males showed significantly higher values (mean, ng. g-1, dw) of Rb (3.4) and δ15N in blood of gentoo, and Ca (1344) in Adélie feathers. Chicks of gentoo and Adélie presented higher Zn, Mg, Ca, and Sr and lower 13C values in blood than adults. The highest concentrations (mean, ng. g-1, dw) of Cd (0.2) and Cu (26), and the lowest δ15N values were found in chinstrap. Geographical, intraspecific (i.e., ontogenetic and gender-related) and interspecific differences in feeding seemed to have influenced TE and stable isotope values in these animals. The TE bioaccumulation by penguins may have also been influenced by natural enrichment in environmental levels of these elements, which seems to be the case for Fe, Zn, and Mn. However, the high level of some of the TEs (Mn, Cd, and Cr) may reflect the increase of local and global human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Padilha
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - G O Carvalho
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - W Espejo
- Department of Animal Science, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 537, Chillán, Chile
| | - J S Souza
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - A C Pizzochero
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L S T Cunha
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - E S Costa
- Mestrado Profissional Em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Estadual Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Assis Brasil, 842, Centro, São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - A R L Pessôa
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A P Almeida
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J P M Torres
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G Lepoint
- Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liege, Belgium
| | - L N Michel
- Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liege, Belgium
| | - K Das
- Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liege, Belgium
| | - P R Dorneles
- Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liege, Belgium
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5
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Lan B, Dong Y, Niklas KJ, Sun S. Dietary differences between grasshoppers are associated with life history tradeoffs in an alpine meadow. Ecol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lan
- Department of Ecology School of Life Science, Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Yuran Dong
- Department of Ecology School of Life Science, Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Karl J. Niklas
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
| | - Shucun Sun
- Department of Ecology School of Life Science, Nanjing University Nanjing China
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6
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Caccavo JA, Christiansen H, Constable AJ, Ghigliotti L, Trebilco R, Brooks CM, Cotte C, Desvignes T, Dornan T, Jones CD, Koubbi P, Saunders RA, Strobel A, Vacchi M, van de Putte AP, Walters A, Waluda CM, Woods BL, Xavier JC. Productivity and Change in Fish and Squid in the Southern Ocean. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.624918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Southern Ocean ecosystems are globally important and vulnerable to global drivers of change, yet they remain challenging to study. Fish and squid make up a significant portion of the biomass within the Southern Ocean, filling key roles in food webs from forage to mid-trophic species and top predators. They comprise a diverse array of species uniquely adapted to the extreme habitats of the region. Adaptations such as antifreeze glycoproteins, lipid-retention, extended larval phases, delayed senescence, and energy-conserving life strategies equip Antarctic fish and squid to withstand the dark winters and yearlong subzero temperatures experienced in much of the Southern Ocean. In addition to krill exploitation, the comparatively high commercial value of Antarctic fish, particularly the lucrative toothfish, drives fisheries interests, which has included illegal fishing. Uncertainty about the population dynamics of target species and ecosystem structure and function more broadly has necessitated a precautionary, ecosystem approach to managing these stocks and enabling the recovery of depleted species. Fisheries currently remain the major local driver of change in Southern Ocean fish productivity, but global climate change presents an even greater challenge to assessing future changes. Parts of the Southern Ocean are experiencing ocean-warming, such as the West Antarctic Peninsula, while other areas, such as the Ross Sea shelf, have undergone cooling in recent years. These trends are expected to result in a redistribution of species based on their tolerances to different temperature regimes. Climate variability may impair the migratory response of these species to environmental change, while imposing increased pressures on recruitment. Fisheries and climate change, coupled with related local and global drivers such as pollution and sea ice change, have the potential to produce synergistic impacts that compound the risks to Antarctic fish and squid species. The uncertainty surrounding how different species will respond to these challenges, given their varying life histories, environmental dependencies, and resiliencies, necessitates regular assessment to inform conservation and management decisions. Urgent attention is needed to determine whether the current management strategies are suitably precautionary to achieve conservation objectives in light of the impending changes to the ecosystem.
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Seco J, Aparício S, Brierley AS, Bustamante P, Ceia FR, Coelho JP, Philips RA, Saunders RA, Fielding S, Gregory S, Matias R, Pardal MA, Pereira E, Stowasser G, Tarling GA, Xavier JC. Mercury biomagnification in a Southern Ocean food web. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 275:116620. [PMID: 33581632 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biomagnification of mercury (Hg) in the Scotia Sea food web of the Southern Ocean was examined using the stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) as proxies for trophic level and feeding habitat, respectively. Total Hg and stable isotopes were measured in samples of particulate organic matter (POM), zooplankton, squid, myctophid fish, notothenioid fish and seabird tissues collected in two years (austral summers 2007/08 and 2016/17). Overall, there was extensive overlap in δ13C values across taxonomic groups suggesting similarities in habitats, with the exception of the seabirds, which showed some differences, possibly due to the type of tissue analysed (feathers instead of muscle). δ15N showed increasing enrichment across groups in the order POM to zooplankton to squid to myctophid fish to notothenioid fish to seabirds. There were significant differences in δ15N and δ13C values among species within taxonomic groups, reflecting inter-specific variation in diet. Hg concentrations increased with trophic level, with the lowest values in POM (0.0005 ± 0.0002 μg g-1 dw) and highest values in seabirds (3.88 ± 2.41 μg g-1 in chicks of brown skuas Stercorarius antarcticus). Hg concentrations tended to be lower in 2016/17 than in 2007/08 for mid-trophic level species (squid and fish), but the opposite was found for top predators (i.e. seabirds), which had higher levels in the 2016/17 samples. This may reflect an interannual shift in the Scotia Sea marine food web, caused by the reduced availability of a key prey species, Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. In 2016/17, seabirds would have been forced to feed on higher trophic-level prey, such as myctophids, that have higher Hg burdens. These results suggest that changes in the food web are likely to affect the pathway of mercury to Southern Ocean top predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Seco
- Department of Chemistry and CESAM/REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK.
| | - Sara Aparício
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Andrew S Brierley
- Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Filipe R Ceia
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João P Coelho
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Richard A Philips
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Ryan A Saunders
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Sophie Fielding
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Susan Gregory
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK; Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, Stanley, Falkland Islands
| | - Ricardo Matias
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Department of Chemistry and CESAM/REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Stowasser
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Geraint A Tarling
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José C Xavier
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
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Ratcliffe N, Deagle B, Love K, Polanowski A, Fielding S, Wood AG, Hill S, Grant S, Belchier M, Fleming A, Hall J. Changes in prey fields increase the potential for spatial overlap between gentoo penguins and a krill fishery within a marine protected area. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruce Deagle
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston Tasmania Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark Belchier
- South Georgia and South Sandwich Island Government Stanley Falkland Islands South Atlantic
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Inter-Specific and Intra-Specific Competition of Two Sympatrically Breeding Seabirds, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins, at Two Neighboring Colonies. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020482. [PMID: 33670422 PMCID: PMC7918894 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020482] [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: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Theory predicts that sympatric predators compete for food under conditions of limited resources. Competition would occur even within the same species, between neighboring populations, because of overlapping foraging habits. Thus, neighboring populations of the same species are hypothesized to face strong competition. To test the hypothesis that intra-specific competition is more intense than inter-specific competition owing to a lack of niche partitioning, we estimated the foraging area and diving depths of two colonial seabird species at two neighboring colonies. Using GPS and time-depth recorders, we tracked foraging space use of sympatric breeding Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins at Ardley Island (AI) and Narębski Point (NP) at King George Island, Antarctica. GPS tracks showed that there was a larger overlap in the foraging areas between the two species than within each species. In dive parameters, Gentoo penguins performed deeper and longer dives than Chinstrap penguins at the same colonies. At the colony level, Gentoo penguins from NP undertook deeper and longer dives than those at AI, whereas Chinstrap penguins did not show such intra-specific differences in dives. Stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N isotopes in blood demonstrated both inter- and intra-specific differences. Both species of penguin at AI exhibited higher δ13C and δ15N values than those at NP, and in both locations, Gentoo penguins had higher δ13C and lower δ15N values than Chinstrap penguins. Isotopic niches showed that there were lower inter-specific overlaps than intra-specific overlaps. This suggests that, despite the low intra-specific spatial overlap, diets of conspecifics from different colonies remained more similar, resulting in the higher isotopic niche overlaps. Collectively, our results support the hypothesis that intra-specific competition is higher than inter-specific competition, leading to spatial segregation of the neighboring populations of the same species.
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10
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Differences in the fecal microbiota due to the sexual niche segregation of captive Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02812-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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11
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Cephalopods habitat and trophic ecology: historical data using snares penguin as biological sampler. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02776-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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12
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González-Medina E, Castillo-Guerrero JA, Masero JA, Fernández G. Mate selection based on labile traits affects short-term fitness in a long-lived seabird. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192578. [PMID: 32126956 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In long-lived monogamous social species, partner compatibility can play a crucial role in reproductive success. We evaluated assortative mating based on body condition (plasma triglyceride concentration), diet (δ15N), and foraging habitat (δ13C) in the blue-footed booby Sula nebouxii, a long-lived monogamous seabird. We investigated the effects of assortative mating (sum of triglycerides in a pair) and asymmetry within pairs (residuals from regression of female-male triglycerides) on reproductive performance and offspring growth (alkaline phosphatase, ALP). We found that strong assortative mating determined by body condition and diet seemed to be related to a signalling mechanism (nutritional state). This mating pattern had a substantial effect on the breeding parameters and influenced offspring ALP. Within-pair asymmetry did not influence any reproductive parameters, but the ALP of offspring was related to the within-pair relative female condition. Overall, our results indicate that individuals seek the best possible match to maximize their breeding investment and/or individuals are limited in their mate options by their current body condition, which has consequences for offspring fitness in the short term. Our findings show that assortative mating based on body condition produces notable variation in the joint condition of the pair, which determines their breeding success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick González-Medina
- Posgrado de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Conservation Biology Research Group, Área de Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06006, Spain
| | - José Alfredo Castillo-Guerrero
- Departamento de Estudios para el Desarrollo Sustentable de la Zona Costera, Centro Universitario de la Costa Sur, Universidad de Guadalajara, San Patricio-Melaque, Municipio de Cihuatlán, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - José A Masero
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Área de Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06006, Spain
| | - Guillermo Fernández
- Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mazatlán, Mexico
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Abstract
There is growing evidence that microplastic pollution (<5 mm in size) is now present in virtually all marine ecosystems, even in remote areas, such as the Arctic and the Antarctic. Microplastics have been found in water and sediments of the Antarctic but little is known of their ingestion by higher predators and mechanisms of their entry into Antarctic marine food webs. The goal of this study was to assess the occurrence of microplastics in a top predator, the gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua from the Antarctic region (Bird Island, South Georgia and Signy Island, South Orkney Islands) and hence assess the potential for microplastic transfer through Antarctic marine food webs. To achieve this, the presence of microplastics in scats (as a proof of ingestion) was investigated to assess the viability of a non-invasive approach for microplastic analyses in Antarctic penguins. A total of 80 penguin scats were collected and any microplastics they contained were extracted. A total of 20% of penguin scats from both islands contained microplastics, consisting mainly of fibers and fragments with different sizes and polymer composition (mean abundance of microplastics: 0.23 ± 0.53 items individual-1 scat, comprising seven different polymers), which were lower values than those found for seabirds in other regions worldwide. No significant differences in microplastic numbers in penguin scats between the two regions were detected. These data highlight the need for further assessment of the levels of microplastics in this sensitive region of the planet, specifically studies on temporal trends and potential effects on penguins and other organisms in the Antarctic marine food web.
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14
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Seasonal prey switching in non-breeding gentoo penguins related to a wintertime environmental anomaly around South Georgia. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2372-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Xavier JC, Cherel Y, Medeiros R, Velez N, Dewar M, Ratcliffe N, Carreiro AR, Trathan PN. Conventional and molecular analysis of the diet of gentoo penguins: contributions to assess scats for non-invasive penguin diet monitoring. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2364-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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16
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Carravieri A, Fort J, Tarroux A, Cherel Y, Love OP, Prieur S, Brault-Favrou M, Bustamante P, Descamps S. Mercury exposure and short-term consequences on physiology and reproduction in Antarctic petrels. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 237:824-831. [PMID: 29146204 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive contaminant reaching Antarctic environments through atmospheric transport and deposition. Seabirds as meso to top predators can accumulate high quantities of Hg through diet. Reproduction is one of the most sensitive endpoints of Hg toxicity in marine birds. Yet, few studies have explored Hg exposure and effects in Antarctic seabirds, where increasing environmental perturbations challenge animal populations. This study focuses on the Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica from Svarthamaren, Antarctica, where the world's largest breeding population is thought to be in decline. Hg and the stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C, proxy of feeding habitat) and nitrogen (δ15N, trophic position/diet) were measured in red blood cells from 266 individuals over two breeding years (2012-13, 2013-14). Our aims were to 1) quantify the influence of individual traits (size and sex) and feeding ecology (foraging location, δ13C and δ15N values) on Hg exposure, and 2) test the relationship between Hg concentrations with body condition and breeding output (hatching success and chick survival). Hg concentrations in Antarctic petrels (mean ± SD, 0.84 ± 0.25, min-max, 0.42-2.71 μg g-1 dw) were relatively low when compared to other Antarctic seabirds. Hg concentrations increased significantly with δ15N values, indicating that individuals with a higher trophic level (i.e. feeding more on fish) had higher Hg exposure. By contrast, Hg exposure was not driven by feeding habitat (inferred from both foraging location and δ13C values), suggesting that Hg transfer to predators in Antarctic waters is relatively homogeneous over a large geographical scale. Hg concentrations were not related to body condition, hatching date and short-term breeding output. At present, Hg exposure is likely not of concern for this population. Nevertheless, further studies on other fitness parameters and long-term breeding output are warranted because Hg can have long-term population-level effects without consequences on current breeding success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Arnaud Tarroux
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Solène Prieur
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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Connan M, Bonnevie B, McQuaid C. Ontogeny, tissue, and species but not sex influence stable isotopic values of three albatross species. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2276-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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18
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Dietary divergence is associated with increased intra-specific competition in a marine predator. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6827. [PMID: 29717229 PMCID: PMC5931528 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25318-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimal foraging theory predicts that when food is plentiful all individuals should take a small range of preferred prey types, but as competition increases less preferred prey will be included in the diet. This dietary switching may not be uniform among individuals, which produces discrete dietary clusters. We tested this hypothesis for gentoo penguins at Bird Island, South Georgia, using stable isotope analysis and biologging. Competition, in the form of the density of foraging dives, increased markedly from incubation to chick-rearing owing to increased foraging effort. Birds responded behaviourally by exploiting a greater portion of the available foraging radius and increasing dive depths. Dietary niche width doubled and two discrete dietary clusters appeared; one comprising birds that consumed mostly krill and another that ate a greater proportion of demersal fish. There were no differences in morphology between the dietary classes, but birds in the fish class had a tendency to dive deeper, which suggests a behavioural basis for specialization. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that intra-specific competition expands the population’s dietary niche width and drives divergence in diets among individuals.
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Plasticity in the foraging behavior of male Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) during incubation in the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2320-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Booth JM, Steinfurth A, Fusi M, Cuthbert RJ, McQuaid CD. Foraging plasticity of breeding Northern Rockhopper Penguins, Eudyptes moseleyi, in response to changing energy requirements. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2321-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Isotopic niches of sympatric Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins: evidence of competition for Antarctic krill? Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2306-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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22
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Cherel Y, Parenteau C, Bustamante P, Bost C. Stable isotopes document the winter foraging ecology of king penguins and highlight connectivity between subantarctic and Antarctic ecosystems. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2752-2765. [PMID: 29531692 PMCID: PMC5838085 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The poorly known winter foraging ecology of the king penguin, a major Southern Ocean consumer, was investigated at the subantarctic Crozet Islands where the largest global population breeds. Blood δ13C and δ15N values were used as proxies of the birds' foraging habitat and diet, respectively, and circulating prolactin levels helped in determining the birds' reproductive status. Plasma prolactin concentrations showed that king penguin adults of unknown breeding status (n = 52) that were present at the colony in winter were in fact breeders and failed breeders, but were not non -breeders. Circulating prolactin was neither related to δ13C nor δ15N values, thus suggesting that both breeders and failed breeders used the same foraging habitats and fed on the same prey. Plasma and blood cell isotopic values depicted four new relevant biological features on the feeding strategies of king penguins during the critical winter period: (1) 42% of the birds foraged in the distant Antarctic Zone, but 58% fed primarily in subantarctic waters (δ13C), (2) they preyed upon myctophids in both zones (δ15N), (3) individuals were consistent in their foraging strategies over the winter months (δ13C and δ15N), and (4) a higher proportion of females (77%-80%) than males (27%-31%) favored feeding in distant Antarctic waters (δ13C). This study highlights trophic connectivity between subantarctic and Antarctic ecosystems and hence the key role of energy export from Antarctic waters to sustain breeding populations of subantarctic predators, including during the Austral winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 du CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 du CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs)UMR 7266 du CNRS‐Université de la RochelleLa RochelleFrance
| | - Charles‐André Bost
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 du CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
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Ciancio JE, Yorio P, Wilson R, Frere E. Food provisioning in Magellanic penguins as inferred from stable isotope ratios. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2018; 32:489-494. [PMID: 29361198 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Food provisioning is considered one of the main traits affecting offspring fitness. Differences in food provisioning between sexes, particularly in dimorphic species, could affect the amount and type of food provided, due to differences in the amount of food carried to the nest as a result of differential resources exploitation. Quantitative evidence for sexual differences in food provisioning by parents in penguins is scarce. The Magellanic penguin is moderately sexually dimorphic and breeds along a broad latitudinal range, with birds north and south of this range being essentially dietary specialists while those at intermediate latitudes consuming a more diverse diet. METHODS We used stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen to examine if there was a differential parental contribution to chicks in ten Magellanic penguin colonies throughout its latitudinal breeding distribution. We used the heuristic Euclidean isotopic distance (ED) and individual isotope distances between the chicks and their parents as a proxy for diet similarity (the smaller the distance, the more similar the diet). RESULTS The analysis showed that chicks tended to have a more similar diet to that of their male parent and that this pattern was more evident at colonies and in seasons where penguins had a more diverse diet, which could be explained by differences in diet between parents. Distance in δ15 N values, but not in δ13 C values, differed between both sexes and their chicks in all the pairs sampled, suggesting that δ15 N values drive the differences found in ED between chicks and their parents. CONCLUSIONS We have developed an approach that provides the first assessment of the extent of differential food provisioning between male and female Magellanic penguins. Results suggest chicks have a diet more similar to that of their male parent, probably related to the higher trophic level of male penguin prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier E Ciancio
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, CCT CENPAT-CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2915, 9120, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Pablo Yorio
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, CCT CENPAT-CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2915, 9120, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Wildlife Conservation Society Argentina, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rory Wilson
- Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Esteban Frere
- Centro de investigaciones Puerto Deseado UNPA CP 9050, CONICET. WCS Argentina, Argentina
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Male group size, female distribution and changes in sexual segregation by Roosevelt elk. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187829. [PMID: 29121076 PMCID: PMC5679572 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual segregation, or the differential use of space by males and females, is hypothesized to be a function of body size dimorphism. Sexual segregation can also manifest at small (social segregation) and large (habitat segregation) spatial scales for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, the connection between small- and large-scale sexual segregation has rarely been addressed. We studied a population of Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) across 21 years in north coastal California, USA, to assess small- and large-scale sexual segregation in winter. We hypothesized that male group size would associate with small-scale segregation and that a change in female distribution would associate with large-scale segregation. Variation in forage biomass might also be coupled to small and large-scale sexual segregation. Our findings were consistent with male group size associating with small-scale segregation and a change in female distribution associating with large-scale segregation. Females appeared to avoid large groups comprised of socially dominant males. Males appeared to occupy a habitat vacated by females because of a wider forage niche, greater tolerance to lethal risks, and, perhaps, to reduce encounters with other elk. Sexual segregation at both spatial scales was a poor predictor of forage biomass. Size dimorphism was coupled to change in sexual segregation at small and large spatial scales. Small scale segregation can seemingly manifest when all forage habitat is occupied by females and large scale segregation might happen when some forage habitat is not occupied by females.
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