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Dreyer S, Marcu D, Keyser S, Bennett M, Maree L, Koeppel K, Abernethy D, Petrik L. Factors in the decline of the African penguin: Are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) a potential new age stressor? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116688. [PMID: 39029148 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116688] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
The African penguin is currently experiencing a significant decline, with just over 10,000 breeding pairs left. A substantial body of research reflects the impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the marine environment, with wastewater treatment plants reported as one of the main sources of CEC release. In South Africa, CECs were identified contaminating the marine environment and bioaccumulating in several marine species. Approximately 70 % of all African penguin colonies breed in close proximity to cities and/or harbors in South Africa. Currently, the impact of CECs as a stressor upon the viability of African penguin populations is unknown. Based on the search results there was a clear lack of information on CECs' bioaccumulation and impact on the African penguin. This narrative review will thus focus on the prevalent sources and types of CECs and examine the reported consequences of constant exposure in seabirds, particularly African penguins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Dreyer
- Animal Production Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
| | - Daniel Marcu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Shannen Keyser
- Comparative Spermatology Laboratory, Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Monique Bennett
- Comparative Spermatology Laboratory, Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Liana Maree
- Comparative Spermatology Laboratory, Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Katja Koeppel
- Animal Production Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Darrell Abernethy
- Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion SY23 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Leslie Petrik
- Environmental and Nano Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
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2
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Olmastroni S, Simonetti S, Fattorini N, D'Amico V, Cusset F, Bustamante P, Cherel Y, Corsi I. Living in a challenging environment: Monitoring stress ecology by non-destructive methods in an Antarctic seabird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171249. [PMID: 38431169 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171249] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
How Antarctic species are facing historical and new stressors remains under-surveyed and risks to wildlife are still largely unknown. Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae are well-known bioindicators and sentinels of Antarctic ecosystem changes, a true canary in the coal mine. Immuno-haematological parameters have been proved to detect stress in wild animals, given their rapid physiological response that allows them tracking environmental changes and thus inferring habitat quality. Here, we investigated variation in Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormalities (ENAs) and White Blood Cells (WBCs) in penguins from three clustered colonies in the Ross Sea, evaluating immuno-haematological parameters according to geography, breeding stage, and individual penguin characteristics such as sex, body condition and nest quality. Concentrations of mercury (Hg) and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (as proxies of the penguin's trophic ecology) were analysed in feathers to investigate the association between stress biomarkers and Hg contamination in Adélie penguins. Colony and breeding stage were not supported as predictors of immuno-haematological parameters. ENAs and WBCs were respectively ∼30 % and ∼20 % higher in male than in female penguins. Body condition influenced WBCs, with penguins in the best condition having a ∼22 % higher level of WBCs than those in the worst condition. Nest position affected the proportion of micronuclei (MNs), with inner-nesting penguins having more than three times the proportion of MNs than penguins nesting in peripheral positions. Heterophils:Lymphocytes (H:L) ratio was not affected by any of the above predictors. Multiple factors acting as stressors are expected to increase prominently in Antarctic wildlife in the near future, therefore extensive monitoring aimed to assess the health status of penguin populations is mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Olmastroni
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Silvia Simonetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Niccolò Fattorini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Verónica D'Amico
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), (CCT Centro Nacional Patagónico -CONICET), Brown 2915, U9120ACF, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Fanny Cusset
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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3
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Gutiérrez J, González-Acuña D, Fuentes-Castillo D, Fierro K, Hernández C, Zapata L, Verdugo C. Antibiotic resistance in wildlife from Antarctic Peninsula. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170340. [PMID: 38278249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170340] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Although considered one of the most pristine ecosystems, Antarctica has been largely influenced by human activities during the last 50 years, affecting its unique biodiversity. One of the major global threats to health is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may be actively transferred to wildlife. We cultured and tested for antibiotic resistance in 137 cloacal and fresh fecal samples of several avian and marine mammal species from the Antarctic Peninsula, the most impacted area in Antarctica. Alarmingly, 80 % of the isolates showed antibiotic resistance, either phenotypically or genotypically. Most of the resistant bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus species, are part of local gastrointestinal microbiota. Penguins and pinnipeds harbored a great diversity of antibiotic resistance and must be eligible as sentinels for future studies. These results show that antibiotic resistance has rapidly transferred to bacteria in Antarctic wildlife, which is a global matter of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Center of Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | - Danny Fuentes-Castillo
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Karina Fierro
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carlos Hernández
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Loreto Zapata
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Claudio Verdugo
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Center of Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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4
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McLatchie MJ, Emmerson L, Wotherspoon S, Southwell C. Delay in Adélie penguin nest occupation restricts parental investment in nest construction and reduces reproductive output. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10988. [PMID: 38476703 PMCID: PMC10928351 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproductive success is an important demographic parameter that can be driven by environmental and behavioural factors operating on various spatio-temporal scales. As seabirds breed on land and forage in the ocean, processes occurring in both environments can influence their reproductive success. At various locations around East Antarctica, Adélie penguins' (Pygoscelis adeliae) reproductive success has been negatively linked to extensive sea-ice. In contrast, our study site in the Windmill Islands has limited fast ice present during the breeding season, allowing us to examine drivers of reproductive success under vastly different marine environmental conditions. Here, we examined the reproductive success of 450 Adélie penguin nests over a 10-year period using images obtained from remotely operated cameras. We analysed nest survival in relation to marine and climatic factors, environmental conditions at the camera site and immediately around the nest, and behavioural attributes reflecting parental investment and phenological timing. Our key result was a strong positive association between nest structure and chick survival, particularly when ground moisture and snow cover around the nest were high. Earlier nesting birds were more likely to build bigger nests, although it is unclear whether this is due to more time available to build nests or whether early arrival and high-quality nests are complementary traits. This intrinsic activity is likely to become more important if future predictions of increased snowfall in this region manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madi J. McLatchie
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTasmaniaAustralia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Louise Emmerson
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Simon Wotherspoon
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTasmaniaAustralia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Colin Southwell
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTasmaniaAustralia
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5
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McMullen K, Vargas FH, Calle P, Alavarado-Cadena O, Pakhomov EA, Alava JJ. Modelling microplastic bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential in the Galápagos penguin ecosystem using Ecopath and Ecosim (EwE) with Ecotracer. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296788. [PMID: 38265981 PMCID: PMC10807758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of anthropogenic particles are crucial factors in assessing microplastic impacts to marine ecosystems. Microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to iconic and often endangered species but examining their tissues and gut contents for contaminant analysis via lethal sampling is challenging due to ethical concerns and animal care restrictions. Incorporating empirical data from prey items and fecal matter into models can help trace microplastic movement through food webs. In this study, the Galápagos penguin food web served as an indicator species to assess microplastic bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential using trophodynamic Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) modelling with Ecotracer. Empirical data collected from surface seawater near Galápagos penguin colonies, zooplankton, penguin prey, and penguin scat in October 2021 were used to inform the ecosystem model. Multiple scenarios, including a 99% elimination rate, were employed to assess model sensitivity. Model predictions revealed that microplastics can bioaccumulate in all predator-prey relationships, but biomagnification is highly dependent on the elimination rate. It establishes the need for more research into elimination rates of different plastics, which is a critical missing gap in current microplastic ecotoxicological and bioaccumulation science. Compared to empirical data, modelling efforts underpredicted microplastic concentrations in zooplankton and over-predicted concentrations in fish. Ultimately, the ecosystem modelling provides novel insights into potential microplastics' bioaccumulation and biomagnification risks. These findings can support regional marine plastic pollution management efforts to conserve native and endemic species of the Galápagos Islands and the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karly McMullen
- Ocean Pollution Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Paola Calle
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Omar Alavarado-Cadena
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Evgeny A. Pakhomov
- Ocean Pollution Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Juan José Alava
- Ocean Pollution Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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6
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Gimeno M, Giménez J, Chiaradia A, Davis LS, Seddon PJ, Ropert-Coudert Y, Reisinger RR, Coll M, Ramírez F. Climate and human stressors on global penguin hotspots: Current assessments for future conservation. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17143. [PMID: 38273518 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
As charismatic and iconic species, penguins can act as "ambassadors" or flagship species to promote the conservation of marine habitats in the Southern Hemisphere. Unfortunately, there is a lack of reliable, comprehensive, and systematic analysis aimed at compiling spatially explicit assessments of the multiple impacts that the world's 18 species of penguin are facing. We provide such an assessment by combining the available penguin occurrence information from Global Biodiversity Information Facility (>800,000 occurrences) with three main stressors: climate-driven environmental changes at sea, industrial fisheries, and human disturbances on land. Our analyses provide a quantitative assessment of how these impacts are unevenly distributed spatially within species' distribution ranges. Consequently, contrasting pressures are expected among species, and populations within species. The areas coinciding with the greatest impacts for penguins are the coast of Perú, the Patagonian Shelf, the Benguela upwelling region, and the Australian and New Zealand coasts. When weighting these potential stressors with species-specific vulnerabilities, Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti), African (Spheniscus demersus), and Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) emerge as the species under the most pressure. Our approach explicitly differentiates between climate and human stressors, since the more achievable management of local anthropogenic stressors (e.g., fisheries and land-based threats) may provide a suitable means for facilitating cumulative impacts on penguins, especially where they may remain resilient to global processes such as climate change. Moreover, our study highlights some poorly represented species such as the Northern Rockhopper (Eudyptes moseleyi), Snares (Eudyptes robustus), and Erect-crested penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) that need internationally coordinated efforts for data acquisition and data sharing to understand their spatial distribution properly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Míriam Gimeno
- Institut de Ciencies del Mar, Recursos Marins Renovables, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Giménez
- Institut de Ciencies del Mar, Recursos Marins Renovables, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga (COMA), Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Spain
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Ryan R Reisinger
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Marta Coll
- Institut de Ciencies del Mar, Recursos Marins Renovables, Barcelona, Spain
- Ecopath International Initiative (EII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Ramírez
- Institut de Ciencies del Mar, Recursos Marins Renovables, Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Ochoa-Sánchez M, Acuña Gomez EP, Moreno L, Moraga CA, Gaete K, Eguiarte LE, Souza V. Body site microbiota of Magellanic and king penguins inhabiting the Strait of Magellan follow species-specific patterns. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16290. [PMID: 37933257 PMCID: PMC10625763 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal hosts live in continuous interaction with bacterial partners, yet we still lack a clear understanding of the ecological drivers of animal-associated bacteria, particularly in seabirds. Here, we investigated the effect of body site in the structure and diversity of bacterial communities of two seabirds in the Strait of Magellan: the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile bacterial communities associated with body sites (chest, back, foot) of both penguins and the nest soil of Magellanic penguin. Taxonomic composition showed that Moraxellaceae family (specifically Psychrobacter) had the highest relative abundance across body sites in both penguin species, whereas Micrococacceae had the highest relative abundance in nest soil. We were able to detect a bacterial core among 90% of all samples, which consisted of Clostridium sensu stricto and Micrococcacea taxa. Further, the king penguin had its own bacterial core across its body sites, where Psychrobacter and Corynebacterium were the most prevalent taxa. Microbial alpha diversity across penguin body sites was similar in most comparisons, yet we found subtle differences between foot and chest body sites of king penguins. Body site microbiota composition differed across king penguin body sites, whereas it remained similar across Magellanic penguin body sites. Interestingly, all Magellanic penguin body site microbiota composition differed from nest soil microbiota. Finally, bacterial abundance in penguin body sites fit well under a neutral community model, particularly in the king penguin, highlighting the role of stochastic process and ecological drift in microbiota assembly of penguin body sites. Our results represent the first report of body site bacterial communities in seabirds specialized in subaquatic foraging. Thus, we believe it represents useful baseline information that could serve for long-term comparisons that use marine host microbiota to survey ocean health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Ochoa-Sánchez
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego, Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Lucila Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Claudio A. Moraga
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego, Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Katherine Gaete
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego, Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Luis E. Eguiarte
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Valeria Souza
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego, Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
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8
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Labrousse S, Nerini D, Fraser AD, Salas L, Sumner M, Le Manach F, Jenouvrier S, Iles D, LaRue M. Where to live? Landfast sea ice shapes emperor penguin habitat around Antarctica. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg8340. [PMID: 37756400 PMCID: PMC10530227 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Predicting species survival in the face of climate change requires understanding the drivers that influence their distribution. Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) incubate and rear chicks on landfast sea ice, whose extent, dynamics, and quality are expected to vary substantially due to climate change. Until recently, this species' continent-wide observations were scarce, and knowledge on their distribution and habitat limited. Advances in satellite imagery now allow their observation and characterization of habitats across Antarctica at high resolution. Using circumpolar high-resolution satellite images, unique fast ice metrics, and geographic and biological factors, we identified diverse penguin habitats across the continent, with no significant difference between areas with penguins or not. There is a clear geographic partitioning of colonies with respect to their defining habitat characteristics, indicating possible behavioral plasticity among different metapopulations. This coincides with geographic structures found in previous genetic studies. Given projections of quasi-extinction for this species in 2100, this study provides essential information for conservation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Labrousse
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et approches numériques (LOCEAN), UMR 7159 Sorbonne-Université, CNRS, MNHN, IRD, IPSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - David Nerini
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, MIO, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Alexander D. Fraser
- Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania
| | | | - Michael Sumner
- Integrated Digital East Antarctica, Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia
| | | | - Stephanie Jenouvrier
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - David Iles
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michelle LaRue
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
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9
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Wagner EL, Frere E, Boersma PD. Changing course: Relocating commercial tanker lanes significantly reduces threat of chronic oiling for a top marine predator. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115195. [PMID: 37356128 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
A goal for conservation biologists is to show that policies enacted on behalf of an imperiled species results in direct benefits for it. In Argentina, tens of thousands of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were estimated to have died from chronic oil pollution each year through the early 1980s. From 1982 to 1990, surveys at sites along approximately 900 km of Chubut Province coastline found that >60 % of penguin carcasses had evidence of oiling in some years. In response to these findings, as well as pressure from non-governmental organizations and the public, provincial and federal authorities in Chubut moved the commercial tanker lanes 20 nautical miles farther offshore in 1997 and required oil tankers to have double hulls. During a second round of surveys in 2001, using most of the same sites as the first survey period, the number of dead and oiled penguins dropped effectively to zero. A policy change not only led to fewer oiled penguins, but also likely increased the survival of adult Magellanic penguins near some of their most significant breeding colonies in Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Wagner
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
| | - Esteban Frere
- Centro de Investigaciones Puerto Deseado, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral, Rio Gallegos, Argentina; CONICET, Santa Cruz, Argentina; Wildlife Conservation Society, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P Dee Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA; Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, USA
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10
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Celis JE, Espejo W, Chiang G, Kitamura D, Kashiwada S, O'Driscoll NJ. Concentration of fifty-six elements in excreta of penguins from the Antarctic Peninsula area. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115133. [PMID: 37276708 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Seabird feces as indicators of the exposure to environmental contaminants have been studied worldwide. Penguins are indicator species for marine pollution, but their role as biovectors of rare earth elements (REEs) to ecosystems have been little studied. The present study quantified the concentration of REEs and trace elements (TEs) in feces of gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua). Adult penguin excreta from Fildes Bay (King George Island) and Yelcho Base (Palmer Archipelago) were collected and then analyzed by ICP-MS. Among REEs, levels ranged from 0.0038 to 1.02 μg g-1 d.w. for Lu and Ce, respectively. For TEs, the levels varied widely through the sample set, with Al, Fe, Sr, Zn and Ti as the highest mean levels, particularly at Fildes Bay. The data show that gentoo penguins act as a biovector organism by transporting TEs and REEs from the sea to land via excreta, reaffirming that this species acts as an important biovector organism in Antarctic ecosystems. The potential impacts of this process on Antarctic ecosystems needs further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- José E Celis
- Department of Animal Science, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile
| | - Winfred Espejo
- Soils & Natural Resources Department, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile.
| | - Gustavo Chiang
- Sustainability Research Centre-Ecology & Biodiversity Department, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daiki Kitamura
- Research Center for Life and Environmental Sciences, Toyo University, Oura 374-0193, Japan
| | - Shosaku Kashiwada
- Research Center for Life and Environmental Sciences, Toyo University, Oura 374-0193, Japan
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
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11
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Cumplido M, D'Amico V, Bertellotti M, Atencio M, Dinsmore SJ, Palacios MG. Integrative assessment of immunity, health-state, growth and survival of Magellanic penguin chicks in a colony exposed to ecotourism. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161915. [PMID: 36736413 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161915] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating reports of negative impacts of tourist activities on wildlife emphasize the importance of closely monitoring focal populations. Although some effects are readily noticed, more subtle ones such as changes in physiological functions of individuals might go overlooked. Based on evidence of altered physiology associated with ecotourism on Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus, here we performed an integrated assessment using a diverse physiological toolkit together with more traditional fitness-related measures to better understand mechanisms and potential consequences. Chicks exposed to tourism showed altered immune parameters and elevated flea prevalence, reinforcing previous findings. Tourism-exposed female, but not male, chicks also showed relatively lower hematocrit and plasma protein levels, providing evidence consistent with a sex-specific response to tourist visitation. Physiological alterations detected in tourism-exposed young chicks (week 1-2) were maintained and the effect on flea infestation increased during the study period (week 4-5 of post-hatch). Despite the effects on physiology, these did not seem to translate into immediate fitness costs. No detectable tourism effects were found on brood sex ratios, chick growth and body condition, and survival until week 5-6 post-hatch. We detected no effects on reproductive output and only a marginal effect on nest survival during incubation despite previous reports of tourism-associated alterations in stress indices of adults. This disconnection could result if the physiological changes are not strong enough to impact fitness, if effects balance each other out, or if changes are part of a copying strategy. Alternatively, the physiological alterations might only show impacts later in the brooding cycle or even after chick emancipation from their parents. Our results suggest that integrative monitoring of potential anthropogenic impacts on wildlife should include evaluation of physiological mechanisms and individual-level responses in populations exposed to human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cumplido
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CONICET-CENPAT, Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - V D'Amico
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CONICET-CENPAT, Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - M Bertellotti
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CONICET-CENPAT, Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; Universidad del Chubut, Leandro N. Alem 1573, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - M Atencio
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, IEGEBA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S J Dinsmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 339 Science II, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - M G Palacios
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CONICET-CENPAT, Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
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12
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Gao Y, Yang L, Liu H, Xie Z. Positive Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation has driven poleward redistribution of the West Antarctic Peninsula biota through a food-chain mechanism. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163373. [PMID: 37044333 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has recorded a significant poleward range shift in marine biota, including Adélie penguins, Antarctic krill and phytoplankton. The ecological changes have been widely attributed to Pacific/Southern Hemisphere variabilities. However, the teleconnection from the North Atlantic Ocean, which also could induce changes in the WAP physical environments, has been overlooked. Here we combine state-of-the-art observational/modelling databases to quantify the poleward redistribution since the 1980s of three key members of the WAP biota and explored their response to several climatic oscillations. The abundance of Adélie penguins, Antarctic krill and phytoplankton in the WAP all show a decrease in the north and an increase in the south, leading to a poleward shift of their distribution centers by ~0.8-2.3°. A more positive Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) has contributed to the poleward redistribution of phytoplankton/krill/penguin with a time lag of 0/1/5 yr, indicating a food-chain related mechanism. +AMO in spring resulted in reduced sea ice, earlier ice retreat and enhanced winds in the northern WAP, which constrained phytoplankton blooms and krill reproduction, thereby decreasing the krill recruitment 1 yr later and consequently the penguin recruitment 5 yr later. In the southern WAP, where the sea ice cover was nearly permanent in the 1980s, reduced sea ice and earlier ice retreat promoted phytoplankton growth and krill/penguin reproduction. Our results emphasize the global nature of climate-ecological coupling; the influence of the Northern Hemisphere climate system on Antarctic/Southern Ocean biota is a non-negligible factor for the ecosystem management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuesong Gao
- Institute of Polar Environment, Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Lianjiao Yang
- Institute of Polar Environment, Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Hongwei Liu
- Institute of Polar Environment, Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Zhouqing Xie
- Institute of Polar Environment, Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China.
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13
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Recabarren-Villalón T, Ronda AC, La Sala L, Sanhueza C, Díaz L, Rodríguez Pirani LS, Picone AL, Romano RM, Petracci P, Arias AH. First assessment of debris pollution in the gastrointestinal content of juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) stranded on the west south Atlantic coasts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114628. [PMID: 36701975 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides the first evidence of debris pollution, including plastic, in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found stranded on the Atlantic coast of southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Macro-, meso- and microparticles of anthropogenic origin were observed in 100 % of the studied birds, with debris abundance ranging between 33 and 200 items/bird. Microparticles represented 91 % of the total debris and 97 % of them were fibers. Black particles were the most abundant (30 %), followed by transparent (26 %), blue (14 %), yellow (10.3 %), and red (10 %). Infrared and Raman spectroscopy identified 62.7 % of the total particles as plastics, with polypropylene (27.8 %) and polyester (21.6 %) being the most abundant polymers. Semi-synthetic cellulosic fibers, metallic particles, and pigments were also found. The presence of metallic microparticles was suggested for the first time in penguins. Stranded juvenile Magellanic penguins are proposed as promising bioindicators of plastic pollution in the South Atlantic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Recabarren-Villalón
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana C Ronda
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Luciano La Sala
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur, CONICET/UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cristina Sanhueza
- Grupo de Estudio en Conservación y Manejo (Gekko), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia Díaz
- Grupo de Investigación y Rehabilitación de Tortugas Marinas (Quelona), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Lucas S Rodríguez Pirani
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - A Lorena Picone
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Rosana M Romano
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Pablo Petracci
- Grupo de Estudio en Conservación y Manejo (Gekko), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Estación de Rescate de Fauna Marina Guillermo "Indio" Fidalgo, Sitio 11, Puerto Galván Bahía Blanca Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés H Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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14
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Espejo W, Chiang G, Kitamura D, Kashiwada S, O'Driscoll NJ, Celis JE. Occurrence of rare earth elements (REEs) and trace elements (TEs) in feathers of adult and young Gentoo penguins from King George Island, Antarctica. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114575. [PMID: 36640502 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Penguins are sentinel species for marine pollution, but their role as potential biovectors of REEs or TEs to ecosystems has been poorly studied. The present study analyzed (ICP-MS) feathers of young and adult Gentoo penguins from Fildes Bay, for 63 elements (including 15 REEs). Most of the REEs were present at very low levels, ranging from 0.002 (Lu) to 0.452 (Sm) μg g-1 d.w., several orders of magnitude lower than TEs. The content of TEs varied widely, with Al, Fe, Zn, Sr, Ba, Ti and Mn as the seven having the highest concentrations in the feathers of both age groups. The results show that P. papua deposits REEs and TEs through the feathers on the penguin rockery, whose potential actual impacts and long-term fate in remote regions need deeper research. This work presents essential baseline data that will be useful for further studies on Antarctic penguins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winfred Espejo
- Soils and Natural Resources Department, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile
| | - Gustavo Chiang
- Sustainability Research Centre-Ecology & Biodiversity Department, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daiki Kitamura
- Research Center for Life and Environmental Sciences, Toyo University, Oura 374-0193, Japan
| | - Shosaku Kashiwada
- Research Center for Life and Environmental Sciences, Toyo University, Oura 374-0193, Japan
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - José E Celis
- Department of Animal Science, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile.
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15
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Doig-Alba L, Bussalleu A, Cárdenas-Alayza S, Cardeña-Mormontoy M, Valdés-Velásquez A. Have we achieved a sustainable balance? Evaluating the effects of regulated guano extraction on an important penguin breeding colony (2008–2019). Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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16
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Handley JM, Harte E, Stanworth A, Poncet S, Catry P, Cleminson S, Crofts S, Dias M. Progressing delineations of key biodiversity areas for seabirds, and their application to management of coastal seas. DIVERS DISTRIB 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Harte
- Falklands Conservation Stanley Falkland (Malvinas) Islands UK
| | | | - Sally Poncet
- The Antarctic Research Trust Stanley Falkland (Malvinas) Islands UK
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre ISPA – Instituto Universitário Lisbon Portugal
| | - Sacha Cleminson
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Sandy UK
| | - Sarah Crofts
- Falklands Conservation Stanley Falkland (Malvinas) Islands UK
| | - Maria Dias
- BirdLife International Cambridge UK
- MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre ISPA – Instituto Universitário Lisbon Portugal
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
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17
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Zhang Y, Zhang B, Ahmed I, Zhang H, He Y. Profiles and natural drivers of antibiotic resistome in multiple environmental media in penguin-colonized area in Antarctica. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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18
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Raya Rey A, Balza U, Domato I, Zunino F. New Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus colony in a subantarctic island. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03093-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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19
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Wagner EL, Cappello CD, Boersma PD. Should I stay or should I go: factors influencing mate retention and divorce in a colonial seabird. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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20
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Dall'Osto M, Sotomayor-Garcia A, Cabrera-Brufau M, Berdalet E, Vaqué D, Zeppenfeld S, van Pinxteren M, Herrmann H, Wex H, Rinaldi M, Paglione M, Beddows D, Harrison R, Avila C, Martin-Martin RP, Park J, Barbosa A. Leaching material from Antarctic seaweeds and penguin guano affects cloud-relevant aerosol production. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 831:154772. [PMID: 35364145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154772] [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: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Within the Southern Ocean, the greatest warming is occurring on the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) where clear cryospheric and biological consequences are being observed. Antarctic coastal systems harbour a high diversity of marine and terrestrial ecosystems heavily influenced by Antarctic seaweeds (benthonic macroalgae) and bird colonies (mainly penguins). Primary sea spray aerosols (SSA) formed by the outburst of bubbles via the sea-surface microlayer depend on the organic composition of the sea water surface. In order to gain insight into the influence of ocean biology and biogeochemistry on atmospheric aerosol, we performed in situ laboratory aerosol bubble chamber experiments to study the effect of different leachates of biogenic material - obtained from common Antarctic seaweeds as well as penguin guano - on primary SSA. The addition of different leachate materials on a seawater sample showed a dichotomous effect depending on the leachate material added - either suppressing (up to 52%) or enhancing (22-88%) aerosol particle production. We found high ice nucleating particle number concentrations resulting from addition of guano leachate material. Given the evolution of upper marine polar coastal ecosystems in the AP, further studies on ocean-atmosphere coupling are needed in order to represent the currently poorly understood climate feedback processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Dall'Osto
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Ana Sotomayor-Garcia
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Miguel Cabrera-Brufau
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elisa Berdalet
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Dolors Vaqué
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sebastian Zeppenfeld
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manuela van Pinxteren
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hartmut Herrmann
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heike Wex
- Experimental Aerosol and Cloud Microphysics Department, Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matteo Rinaldi
- National Research Council, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Paglione
- National Research Council, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna, Italy
| | - David Beddows
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science Division of Environmental Health & Risk Management School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Roy Harrison
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science Division of Environmental Health & Risk Management School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Conxita Avila
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rafael P Martin-Martin
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jiyeon Park
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26 Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea
| | - Andrés Barbosa
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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21
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Genomic insights into the secondary aquatic transition of penguins. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3912. [PMID: 35853876 PMCID: PMC9296559 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31508-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Penguins lost the ability to fly more than 60 million years ago, subsequently evolving a hyper-specialized marine body plan. Within the framework of a genome-scale, fossil-inclusive phylogeny, we identify key geological events that shaped penguin diversification and genomic signatures consistent with widespread refugia/recolonization during major climate oscillations. We further identify a suite of genes potentially underpinning adaptations related to thermoregulation, oxygenation, diving, vision, diet, immunity and body size, which might have facilitated their remarkable secondary transition to an aquatic ecology. Our analyses indicate that penguins and their sister group (Procellariiformes) have the lowest evolutionary rates yet detected in birds. Together, these findings help improve our understanding of how penguins have transitioned to the marine environment, successfully colonizing some of the most extreme environments on Earth. This study examines the tempo and drivers of penguin diversification by combining genomes from all extant and recently extinct penguin lineages, stratigraphic data from fossil penguins and morphological and biogeographic data from all extant and extinct species. Together, these datasets provide new insights into the genetic basis and evolution of adaptations in penguins.
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22
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Abstract
Understanding the degree to which animals are shifting their phenology to track optimal conditions as the climate changes is essential to predicting ecological responses to global change. Species at low latitudes or high trophic levels are theoretically expected to exhibit weaker phenological responses than other species, but limited research on tropical systems or on top predators impedes insight into the contexts in which these predictions are upheld. Moreover, a lack of phenological studies on top predators limits understanding of how climate change impacts propagate through entire ecosystems. Using a 30-y dataset on endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), we examined changes in reproductive phenology and temperatures during birthing and denning over time, as well as potential fitness consequences of these changes. We hypothesized that their phenology would shift to track a stable thermal range over time. Data from 60 packs and 141 unique pack-years revealed that wild dogs have delayed parturition by 7 days per decade on average in response to long-term warming. This shift has led to temperatures on birthing dates remaining relatively stable but, contrary to expectation, has led to increased temperatures during denning periods. Increased denning temperatures were associated with reduced reproductive success, suggesting that a continued phenological shift in the species may become maladaptive. Such results indicate that climate-driven shifts could be more widespread in upper trophic levels than previously appreciated, and they extend theoretical understanding of the species traits and environmental contexts in which large phenological shifts can be expected to occur as the climate changes.
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23
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FONZO CARLADI, ANSALDO MARTIN. Blood biochemistry and antioxidant status altered by anthropogenic impact in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20210579. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- CARLA DI FONZO
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología y Ecotoxicología, Argentina
| | - MARTIN ANSALDO
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología y Ecotoxicología, Argentina
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24
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Sparaventi E, Rodríguez-Romero A, Barbosa A, Ramajo L, Tovar-Sánchez A. Trace elements in Antarctic penguins and the potential role of guano as source of recycled metals in the Southern Ocean. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 285:131423. [PMID: 34329144 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Penguins dominate the Antarctic avifauna. As key animals in the Antarctic ecosystem, they are monitored to evaluate the ecological status of this pristine and remote region and specifically, they have been used as effective bioindicators suitable for long-term monitoring of metals in the Antarctic environment. However, studies about the role of this emblematic organism could play in the recycling of trace metals (TMs) in the Antarctic ecosystem are very limited. In this study we evaluate, using the peer review research articles already published and our own findings, the distribution of metals (i.e., Ca, Fe, Al, Na, Zn, Mg, Cu, K, Cd, Mn, Sr, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, V, Ba, Co, La, Ag, Rb, Hf, Sc, Au and Cs) and metalloids (As and Sb), measured in different biotic matrices, with emphasis on guano, of the Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus), Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins. Regarding bioactive metals, the high concentrations (μg g-1 dry weight) of Cu (2.0 ± 1.4) x 102, Fe (4.1 ± 2.9) x 102, Mn (30 ± 34) and Zn (210 ± 90) reported in the guano from all the penguin species studied including our data, are of the same order of magnitude as those reported for whale feces (μg g-1 dry weight): Cu (2.9 ± 2.4) x 102, Fe (1.5 ± 1.4) x 102, Mn (28 ± 17) and Zn (6.2 ± 4.3) x 102, and one order of magnitude higher than the metal contents in krill (μg g-1 dry weight) of Cu (10.2 ± 5.5), Fe (24 ± 29) and Zn (13.5 ± 1.7). This suggest that penguin's excretion products could be an important source of these essential elements in the surface water, with an estimated annual release on a breeding season for Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn respectively of 28, 56, 4 and 29 tons, for the Chinstrap, Adélie and Gentoo penguins. The results provide evidence on the potential influence of penguins recycling TMs in the surface layer of the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Sparaventi
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia, ICMAN (CSIC), Campus Río San Pedro, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Araceli Rodríguez-Romero
- Department of Analytical Chemistry. Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11510, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Andrés Barbosa
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/Jose Gutierrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Ramajo
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Avenida Ossandón 877, Coquimbo, Chile; Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN), Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia (CR)(2), Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Antonio Tovar-Sánchez
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia, ICMAN (CSIC), Campus Río San Pedro, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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Jenouvrier S, Che‐Castaldo J, Wolf S, Holland M, Labrousse S, LaRue M, Wienecke B, Fretwell P, Barbraud C, Greenwald N, Stroeve J, Trathan PN. The call of the emperor penguin: Legal responses to species threatened by climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5008-5029. [PMID: 34342929 PMCID: PMC9291047 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Species extinction risk is accelerating due to anthropogenic climate change, making it urgent to protect vulnerable species through legal frameworks in order to facilitate conservation actions that help mitigate risk. Here, we discuss fundamental concepts for assessing climate change risks to species using the example of the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), currently being considered for protection under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). This species forms colonies on Antarctic sea ice, which is projected to significantly decline due to ongoing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We project the dynamics of all known emperor penguin colonies under different GHG emission scenarios using a climate-dependent meta-population model including the effects of extreme climate events based on the observational satellite record of colonies. Assessments for listing species under the ESA require information about how species resiliency, redundancy and representation (3Rs) will be affected by threats within the foreseeable future. Our results show that if sea ice declines at the rate projected by climate models under current energy system trends and policies, the 3Rs would be dramatically reduced and almost all colonies would become quasi-extinct by 2100. We conclude that the species should be listed as threatened under the ESA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Jenouvrier
- Biology DepartmentWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
| | - Judy Che‐Castaldo
- Conservation & Science DepartmentAlexander Center for Applied Population BiologyLincoln Park ZooChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Shaye Wolf
- Climate Law InstituteCenter for Biological DiversityOaklandCaliforniaUSA
| | - Marika Holland
- National Center for Atmospheric ResearchBoulderColoradoUSA
| | | | - Michelle LaRue
- School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
- Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | | | | | | | - Noah Greenwald
- Endangered Species ProgramCenter for Biological DiversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Julienne Stroeve
- Centre for Earth Observation ScienceUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
- National Snow and Ice Data CenterUSA Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental SciencesUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
- Earth Sciences DepartmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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26
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Scheun J, Miller RJ, Ganswindt A, Waller LJ, Pichegru L, Sherley RB, Maneveldt GW. Urofaecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in African penguin ( Spheniscus demersus) chick populations experiencing different levels of human disturbance. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab078. [PMID: 34532057 PMCID: PMC8439262 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of ecotourism in species conservation, little is known about the industry's effects on wildlife. In South Africa, some African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) colonies have become tourist attractions. The species is globally endangered, with population sizes decreasing over the past 40 years. As African penguin chicks are altricial and unable to move away from anthropogenic stressors, it is important to evaluate the effect of tourist activities on baseline glucocorticoid levels as a measure of potential disturbance. Chicks at three study sites within two breeding colonies (Robben Island, Stony Point), with varying levels of exposure to tourism (low/moderate/high) were monitored. Urofaecal samples were collected to determine urofaecal glucocorticoid metabolite (ufGCM) concentrations as an indication of baseline stress physiology. Morphometric measurements were taken to compare body condition between sites. Penguin chicks experiencing low, infrequent human presence had significantly higher mean (± standard deviation) ufGCM levels [1.34 ± 1.70 μg/g dry weight (DW)] compared to chicks experiencing both medium (0.50 ± 0.40 μg/g DW, P = 0.001) and high levels of human presence (0.57 ± 0.47 μg/g DW, P = 0.003). There was no difference in chick body condition across sites. These results suggest that exposure to frequent human activity may induce habituation/desensitization in African penguin chicks. Acute, infrequent human presence was likely an important driver for comparatively higher ufGCM levels in chicks, though several other environmental stressors may also play an important role in driving adrenocortical activity. Nevertheless, as unhabituated chicks experiencing infrequent anthropogenic presence showed significantly higher ufGCM levels, managers and legislation should attempt to minimize all forms of activity around important breeding colonies that are not already exposed to regular tourism. Although the results of this study are crucial for developing enhanced conservation and management protocols, additional research on the long-term effect of anthropogenic activities on African penguin physiology is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Scheun
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1724, South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Rebecca J Miller
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa
| | - Lauren J Waller
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Table View, 7441, South Africa
| | - Lorien Pichegru
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology and Institute for Coastal and Marine Research at the Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa
| | - Richard B Sherley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penry Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Gavin W Maneveldt
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa
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27
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Freire R, Massaro M, McDonald S, Trathan P, Nicol CJ. A Citizen Science Trial to Assess Perception of Wild Penguin Welfare. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:698685. [PMID: 34386538 PMCID: PMC8353176 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild penguins are facing increased threats to their populations and their welfare as a consequence of human activities. Understanding the perception of animal welfare is essential to identify ethical concerns related to the negative impact of anthropogenic factors on wild species and to guide conservation efforts that reflect societal values. Since penguin conservation is of general interest, we examined the human dimension of welfare assessment across a range of interest groups concerned with penguins, seabird biology and wildlife conservation. We provided participants with a Penguin Welfare Assessment Tool (PWAT) based on the five domains model. The PWAT supports consideration of the impact of four physical aspects on welfare-relevant mental states. Bibliometric analysis of keywords from 347 scientific articles indicated that penguins around the world face five main types (themes) of anthropogenic factors and we then developed five hypothetical scenarios, each related to one theme. Seventy-five participants scored the overall impact of the events described in the scenarios on penguin welfare as negative using the PWAT. Participants rated short-duration, high-intensity events (i.e., being trapped in a ghost fishing net) as having a significantly more severe impact on penguin welfare than low-intensity, long-duration events (P < 0.0001). Scores provided by participants for each domain for each scenario were largely as expected and we found good correlation (all P < 0.0001) between the physical domains and “mental state” for all scenarios, indicating that the tool was facilitating the participants' assessment of welfare. No evidence was found that experience of working or studying penguins, or indeed any other demographic factor investigated, influenced the assessments of welfare. We found little agreement between participants in the scores provided (unalike scores mostly between 0.7 and 0.8), and agreement between participants with experience of working with penguins was no better than between participants without such experience. We discuss the possibility that low agreement within different interest groups may be improved by providing more scientific information to support the evaluation of penguin welfare. We conclude that scientific knowledge of penguin biological responses to anthropogenic factors is vital to support the evaluation of wild penguin welfare by the public and other stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Freire
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
| | - Melanie Massaro
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
| | - Simon McDonald
- Spatial Data Analysis Unit, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Christine J Nicol
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Cappello CD, Boersma PD. Consequences of phenological shifts and a compressed breeding period in Magellanic penguins. Ecology 2021; 102:e03443. [PMID: 34143432 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Phenological shifts may ameliorate negative effects of climate change or create carryover effects and mismatches that decrease fitness. Identifying how phenological shifts affect performance is critical for understanding how individuals and populations will respond to climate change, but requires long-term, longitudinal data. Using 34 yr of data from the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) colony at Punta Tombo, Argentina, we examined the consequences of the delayed onset of breeding (i.e., arrival and egg-laying dates) that has occurred at the colony since 1983. To understand how the delay propagates through the rest of the reproductive cycle, we identified phenological trends in hatch and fledge dates. Median hatch dates were 0.29 d later each year, amounting to a 10-d shift over the course of the study. Median fledge dates did not shift over the 34-yr period, however, thus shortening the median nestling period duration by 14%. We tested several predictions regarding performance outcomes of the compressed nestling period, finding that later-hatched chicks fledged significantly younger than earlier-hatched chicks, and that younger fledglings left the colony with smaller bills and with more chick down. Interestingly, although younger chicks fledged significantly lighter and in worse body condition than older fledglings early in the study, this trend reversed over time, with younger chicks actually fledging heavier and in better body condition in more recent years. Smaller and lighter fledglings were less likely to recruit to the colony as adults. We find that delayed breeding has significantly compressed nestling periods at Punta Tombo, influencing chick growth and fledgling condition. These findings highlight the importance of studying phenology across multiple life events to understand the consequences of phenological shifts for organismal fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline D Cappello
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
| | - P Dee Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
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29
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Labrousse S, Fraser AD, Sumner M, Le Manach F, Sauser C, Horstmann I, Devane E, Delord K, Jenouvrier S, Barbraud C. Landfast ice: a major driver of reproductive success in a polar seabird. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210097. [PMID: 34129795 PMCID: PMC8205520 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In a fast-changing world, polar ecosystems are threatened by climate variability. Understanding the roles of fine-scale processes, and linear and nonlinear effects of climate factors on the demography of polar species is crucial for anticipating the future state of these fragile ecosystems. While the effects of sea ice on polar marine top predators are increasingly being studied, little is known about the impacts of landfast ice (LFI) on this species community. Based on a unique 39-year time series of satellite imagery and in situ meteorological conditions and on the world's longest dataset of emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) breeding parameters, we studied the effects of fine-scale variability of LFI and weather conditions on this species' reproductive success. We found that longer distances to the LFI edge (i.e. foraging areas) negatively affected the overall breeding success but also the fledging success. Climate window analyses suggested that chick mortality was particularly sensitive to LFI variability between August and November. Snowfall in May also affected hatching success. Given the sensitivity of LFI to storms and changes in wind direction, important future repercussions on the breeding habitat of emperor penguins are to be expected in the context of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Labrousse
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université, Paris 06, UMR 7159, LOCEAN-IPSL, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Alexander D. Fraser
- Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Michael Sumner
- Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia
| | | | - Christophe Sauser
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), CNRS UMR 7372, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Isabella Horstmann
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Eileen Devane
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Karine Delord
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), CNRS UMR 7372, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Stéphanie Jenouvrier
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), CNRS UMR 7372, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
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30
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Gallo Neto H, Gomes Bantel C, Browning J, Della Fina N, Albuquerque Ballabio T, Teles de Santana F, de Karam E Britto M, Beatriz Barbosa C. Mortality of a juvenile Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus, Spheniscidae) associated with the ingestion of a PFF-2 protective mask during the Covid-19 pandemic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 166:112232. [PMID: 33725563 PMCID: PMC7954659 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
We report the discovery of a dead Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) found on Juquehy Beach (23°46'S 45°44'W), municipality of São Sebastião, Brazil, on September 9th 2020. Following necropsy, we noted the presence of an adult size PFF-2 protective mask within the stomach of the penguin which we inferred as the cause of death. As far as we are aware, this is the first recorded instance of marine animal mortality by protective face mask ingestion. Whilst concerns have been raised relating microplastic contamination in marine environments from Covid-19 related waste, there has been relatively less attention paid to the potential risk of macro-scale contaminants, such as protective face coverings. We suggest that Covid-19 related macro contaminants be considered in coastal marine risk assessments and urge further research on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Gallo Neto
- Argonauta Institute for Coastal and Marine Conservation, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Carla Gomes Bantel
- Argonauta Institute for Coastal and Marine Conservation, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - John Browning
- Faculty of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia Della Fina
- Argonauta Institute for Coastal and Marine Conservation, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
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31
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Gownaris NJ, Boersma PD. Feet first: Adaptive growth in magellanic penguin chicks. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4339-4352. [PMID: 33976814 PMCID: PMC8093740 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing animals should allocate their limited resources in ways that maximize survival. Seabird chicks must balance the growth of features and fat reserves needed to survive on land with those needed to successfully fledge and survive at sea. We used a large, 34-year dataset to examine energy allocation in Magellanic penguin chicks. Based on the temporal trends in the selective pressures that chicks faced, we developed predictions relating to the timing of skeletal feature growth (Prediction 1), variation in skeletal feature size and shape (Prediction 2), and responses to periods of high energetic constraint (Prediction 3). We tested our predictions using descriptive statistics, generalized additive models, and principal component analysis. Nearly all of our predictions were supported. Chicks grew their feet first, then their flippers. They continued to grow their bill after fledging (Prediction 1). Variance in feature size increased in young chicks but declined before fledging; this variance was largely driven by overall size rather than by shape (Prediction 2). Chicks that died grew slower and varied more in feature size than those that fledged (Prediction 2). Skeletal features grew rapidly prior to thermoregulation and feet and flippers were 90% grown prior to juvenile feather growth; both thermoregulation and feather growth are energetically expensive (Prediction 3). To avoid starvation, chicks prioritized storing mass during the first 10 days after hatching; then, the body condition of chicks began to decline (Prediction 3). In contrast to our prediction of mass prioritization in young chicks, chicks that were relatively light for their age had high skeletal size to mass ratios. Chicks did not show evidence of reaching physiological growth limits (Prediction 3). By examining energy allocation patterns at fine temporal scales and in the context of detailed natural history data, we provide insight into the trade-offs faced by growing animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha J. Gownaris
- Environmental StudiesGettysburg CollegeGettysburgPAUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- Center for Ecosystem SentinelsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - P. Dee Boersma
- Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- Center for Ecosystem SentinelsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
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32
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Lundbäck IC, McDougall FK, Dann P, Slip DJ, Gray R, Power ML. Into the sea: Antimicrobial resistance determinants in the microbiota of little penguins (Eudyptula minor). INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 88:104697. [PMID: 33370595 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Terrestrial and aquatic birds have been proposed as sentinels for the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, but few species have been investigated specifically in the context of AMR in the marine ecosystem. This study contrasts the occurrence of class 1 integrons and associated antimicrobial resistance genes in wild and captive little penguins (Eudyptula minor), an Australian seabird with local population declines. PCR screening of faecal samples (n = 448) revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of class 1 integrons in wild and captive groups, 3.2% and 44.7% respectively, with genes that confer resistance to streptomycin, spectinomycin, trimethoprim and multidrug efflux pumps detected. Class 1 integrons were not detected in two clinically relevant bacterial species, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli, isolated from penguin faeces. The presence of class 1 integrons in the little penguin supports the use of marine birds as sentinels of AMR in marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida C Lundbäck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fiona K McDougall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Dann
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Slip
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Taronga Conservation Society, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Michelle L Power
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
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33
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Quinete N, Hauser-Davis RA, Lemos LS, Moura JF, Siciliano S, Gardinali PR. Occurrence and tissue distribution of organochlorinated compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from the southeastern coast of Brazil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141473. [PMID: 32836122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Seabirds are suitable biomonitors for several persistent organic pollutants (POP), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), although scarce studies of PAHs in seabirds are available, especially in South American populations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess OCPs, PCBs and PAHs, through gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses, in liver (n = 9) and muscle tissue (n = 13) from juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found stranded on the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. DDT-related compounds were the most frequently detected OCP, and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), the main DDT metabolite found in penguin tissues. OCP concentrations in liver were two-fold higher than in muscle tissues. Compound specific ratios identified recent exposure of penguins to some OCPs as well as evidence of legacy pollution associated with industrial sources. The predominant PCB congeners were PCB 8/5, PCB 138/160 and PCB 153/132, with concentrations ranging from <LOQ and 1500 ng g-1 dry weight. This study comprises one of the few PAHs reports in penguin tissues, and, although most compounds were detected at very low levels or below the limit of quantitation (LOQ), the concentrations reported herein were up to 100-fold higher than in previous studies in penguins. Therefore, considering penguin vulnerability to marine oil spills during migration routes, further assessments are required in different tissues in order to assess potential environmental health risks to these sentinel species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Quinete
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Institute of Environment and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua São José 1.260, Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ 28970-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Av. Brazil, 4.365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Leila S Lemos
- Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua São José 1.260, Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ 28970-000, Brazil; Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Jailson F Moura
- Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua São José 1.260, Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ 28970-000, Brazil; Systems Ecology Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Salvatore Siciliano
- Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua São José 1.260, Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ 28970-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Biodiversidade, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Pavilhão Mourisco sala 217, Av. Brasil, 4.365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Piero R Gardinali
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Institute of Environment and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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34
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Souza JS, Kasper D, da Cunha LST, Soares TA, de Lira Pessoa AR, de Carvalho GO, Costa ES, Niedzielski P, Torres JPM. Biological factors affecting total mercury and methylmercury levels in Antarctic penguins. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 261:127713. [PMID: 32738710 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Penguins in Antarctica occupy high trophic levels, thus accumulating high amounts of mercury (Hg) through bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Blood reflects the current levels of contaminants circulating in the body, while feathers are known as the main route of Hg elimination in birds. Studies sampling chicks and adults can provide a comprehensive picture of bioaccumulation and local contamination. Three pygoscelid species (Pygoscelis adeliae, Pygoscelis antarcticus and Pygoscelis papua) have circumpolar distributions being the ideal sentinels of Antarctic environmental pollution. This study aimed to assess Hg contamination of the pristine Antarctic region using non-destructive penguin samples. Fieldwork was carried out during the austral summer of 2013/2014 in the South Shetland Islands, off the north-west Antarctic Peninsula. Concentrations of total Hg (ng.g-1 dw) in blood ranged from 39 to 182 in chicks and 45 to 581 in adults, while concentrations in feathers ranged from 73 to 598 in chicks and 156 to 1648 in adults. Most Hg in feathers (about 70%) is accumulated in the form of methylmercury. Differences were demonstrated in mercury bioaccumulation were related to species and age, but not to sex. To our knowledge this is the first study to report MeHg levels in both juvenile and adult pygoscelid penguins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Silva Souza
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Daniele Kasper
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Larissa Schmauder Teixeira da Cunha
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tuany Alves Soares
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adriana Rodrigues de Lira Pessoa
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Oliveira de Carvalho
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erli Schneider Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul, Unidade Universitária Hortênsias, Rua Assis Brasil 842, 95400-000, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Przemysław Niedzielski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - João Paulo Machado Torres
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Mays HL, Oehler DA, Morrison KW, Morales AE, Lycans A, Perdue J, Battley PF, Cherel Y, Chilvers BL, Crofts S, Demongin L, Fry WR, Hiscock J, Kusch A, Marin M, Poisbleau M, Quillfeldt P, Raya Rey A, Steinfurth A, Thompson DR, Weakley LA. Phylogeography, Population Structure, and Species Delimitation in Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome and Eudyptes moseleyi). J Hered 2020; 110:801-817. [PMID: 31737899 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esz051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rockhopper penguins are delimited as 2 species, the northern rockhopper (Eudyptes moseleyi) and the southern rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome), with the latter comprising 2 subspecies, the western rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) and the eastern rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome filholi). We conducted a phylogeographic study using multilocus data from 114 individuals sampled across 12 colonies from the entire range of the northern/southern rockhopper complex to assess potential population structure, gene flow, and species limits. Bayesian and likelihood methods with nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, including model testing and heuristic approaches, support E. moseleyi and E. chrysocome as distinct species lineages with a divergence time of 0.97 Ma. However, these analyses also indicated the presence of gene flow between these species. Among southern rockhopper subspecies, we found evidence of significant gene flow and heuristic approaches to species delimitation based on the genealogical diversity index failed to delimit them as species. The best-supported population models for the southern rockhoppers were those where E. c. chrysocome and E. c. filholi were combined into a single lineage or 2 lineages with bidirectional gene flow. Additionally, we found that E. c. filholi has the highest effective population size while E. c. chrysocome showed similar effective population size to that of the endangered E. moseleyi. We suggest that the current taxonomic definitions within rockhopper penguins be upheld and that E. chrysocome populations, all found south of the subtropical front, should be treated as a single taxon with distinct management units for E. c. chrysocome and E. c. filholi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herman L Mays
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV
| | - David A Oehler
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY.,Feather Link, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
| | | | - Ariadna E Morales
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
| | - Alyssa Lycans
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV
| | - Justin Perdue
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV
| | - Phil F Battley
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - B Louise Chilvers
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Crofts
- Falklands Conservation, Stanley, Falkland Islands
| | | | | | - Jo Hiscock
- Department of Conservation, Invercargill, New Zealand
| | - Alejandro Kusch
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY.,Feather Link, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
| | - Manuel Marin
- Feather Link, Inc., Cincinnati, OH.,Section of Ornithology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Maud Poisbleau
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp (Wilrijk), Belgium
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andrea Raya Rey
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Austral Center for Scientific Investigation, Ushuaia, Argentina.,Institute of Polar Science, National University of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Argentina.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antje Steinfurth
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.,RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Cambridge, UK
| | - David R Thompson
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
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Iles DT, Lynch H, Ji R, Barbraud C, Delord K, Jenouvrier S. Sea ice predicts long-term trends in Adélie penguin population growth, but not annual fluctuations: Results from a range-wide multiscale analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:3788-3798. [PMID: 32190944 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the scales at which environmental variability affects populations is critical for projecting population dynamics and species distributions in rapidly changing environments. Here we used a multilevel Bayesian analysis of range-wide survey data for Adélie penguins to characterize multidecadal and annual effects of sea ice on population growth. We found that mean sea ice concentration at breeding colonies (i.e., "prevailing" environmental conditions) had robust nonlinear effects on multidecadal population trends and explained over 85% of the variance in mean population growth rates among sites. In contrast, despite considerable year-to-year fluctuations in abundance at most breeding colonies, annual sea ice fluctuations often explained less than 10% of the temporal variance in population growth rates. Our study provides an understanding of the spatially and temporally dynamic environmental factors that define the range limits of Adélie penguins, further establishing this iconic marine predator as a true sea ice obligate and providing a firm basis for projection under scenarios of future climate change. Yet, given the weak effects of annual sea ice relative to the large unexplained variance in year-to-year growth rates, the ability to generate useful short-term forecasts of Adélie penguin breeding abundance will be extremely limited. Our approach provides a powerful framework for linking short- and longer term population processes to environmental conditions that can be applied to any species, facilitating a richer understanding of ecological predictability and sensitivity to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Iles
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | | | - Rubao Ji
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Karine Delord
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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Handley JM, Pearmain EJ, Oppel S, Carneiro APB, Hazin C, Phillips RA, Ratcliffe N, Staniland IJ, Clay TA, Hall J, Scheffer A, Fedak M, Boehme L, Pütz K, Belchier M, Boyd IL, Trathan PN, Dias MP. Evaluating the effectiveness of a large multi‐use MPA in protecting Key Biodiversity Areas for marine predators. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Sandy UK
| | | | | | | | - Norman Ratcliffe
- British Antarctic Survey Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge UK
| | - Iain J. Staniland
- British Antarctic Survey Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge UK
| | - Thomas A. Clay
- School of Environmental Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Jonathan Hall
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Sandy UK
| | - Annette Scheffer
- AS, Marine Stewardship Council London UK
- Okeanos Centre University of the Azores 9901‐862 Horta Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Mark Belchier
- British Antarctic Survey Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge UK
| | | | - Phil N. Trathan
- School of Environmental Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
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Pan H, Cole TL, Bi X, Fang M, Zhou C, Yang Z, Ksepka DT, Hart T, Bouzat JL, Argilla LS, Bertelsen MF, Boersma PD, Bost CA, Cherel Y, Dann P, Fiddaman SR, Howard P, Labuschagne K, Mattern T, Miller G, Parker P, Phillips RA, Quillfeldt P, Ryan PG, Taylor H, Thompson DR, Young MJ, Ellegaard MR, Gilbert MTP, Sinding MHS, Pacheco G, Shepherd LD, Tennyson AJD, Grosser S, Kay E, Nupen LJ, Ellenberg U, Houston DM, Reeve AH, Johnson K, Masello JF, Stracke T, McKinlay B, Borboroglu PG, Zhang DX, Zhang G. High-coverage genomes to elucidate the evolution of penguins. Gigascience 2020; 8:5571031. [PMID: 31531675 PMCID: PMC6904868 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are a remarkable order of flightless wing-propelled diving seabirds distributed widely across the southern hemisphere. They share a volant common ancestor with Procellariiformes close to the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (66 million years ago) and subsequently lost the ability to fly but enhanced their diving capabilities. With ∼20 species among 6 genera, penguins range from the tropical Galápagos Islands to the oceanic temperate forests of New Zealand, the rocky coastlines of the sub-Antarctic islands, and the sea ice around Antarctica. To inhabit such diverse and extreme environments, penguins evolved many physiological and morphological adaptations. However, they are also highly sensitive to climate change. Therefore, penguins provide an exciting target system for understanding the evolutionary processes of speciation, adaptation, and demography. Genomic data are an emerging resource for addressing questions about such processes. RESULTS Here we present a novel dataset of 19 high-coverage genomes that, together with 2 previously published genomes, encompass all extant penguin species. We also present a well-supported phylogeny to clarify the relationships among penguins. In contrast to recent studies, our results demonstrate that the genus Aptenodytes is basal and sister to all other extant penguin genera, providing intriguing new insights into the adaptation of penguins to Antarctica. As such, our dataset provides a novel resource for understanding the evolutionary history of penguins as a clade, as well as the fine-scale relationships of individual penguin lineages. Against this background, we introduce a major consortium of international scientists dedicated to studying these genomes. Moreover, we highlight emerging issues regarding ensuring legal and respectful indigenous consultation, particularly for genomic data originating from New Zealand Taonga species. CONCLUSIONS We believe that our dataset and project will be important for understanding evolution, increasing cultural heritage and guiding the conservation of this iconic southern hemisphere species assemblage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailin Pan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Theresa L Cole
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, Canterbury 7640, New Zealand.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
| | - Xupeng Bi
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China.,China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Miaoquan Fang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China.,China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Chengran Zhou
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China.,China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China.,China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Tom Hart
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Juan L Bouzat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
| | - Lisa S Argilla
- The Wildlife Hospital Dunedin, School of Veterinary Nursing, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, Otago 9016, New Zealand
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 38, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark.,Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P Dee Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Charles-André Bost
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Peter Dann
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, 3922, Australia
| | - Steven R Fiddaman
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Pauline Howard
- Hornby Veterinary Centre, 7 Tower Street, Hornby, Christchurch, Canterbury 8042, New Zealand.,South Island Wildlife Hospital, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Kim Labuschagne
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Thomas Mattern
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
| | - Gary Miller
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Patricia Parker
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri St. Louis, St Louis, MO 63121, USA
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge, UK
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Helen Taylor
- Vet Services Hawkes Bay Ltd, 801 Heretaunga Street, Hastings, New Zealand.,Wairoa Farm Vets, 77 Queen Street, Wairoa 4108, New Zealand
| | - David R Thompson
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., Private Bag 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand
| | - Melanie J Young
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
| | - Martin R Ellegaard
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark.,NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - George Pacheco
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lara D Shepherd
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Alan J D Tennyson
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Stefanie Grosser
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand.,Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Emily Kay
- Wildbase, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.,Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell St, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Lisa J Nupen
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ursula Ellenberg
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Global Penguin Society, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David M Houston
- Biodiversity Group, Department of Conservation, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Hart Reeve
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kathryn Johnson
- Wildbase, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.,Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell St, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Juan F Masello
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Stracke
- South Island Wildlife Hospital, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Bruce McKinlay
- Biodiversity Group, Department of Conservation, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Pablo García Borboroglu
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Global Penguin Society, Puerto Madryn 9120, Argentina.,CESIMAR CCT Cenpat-CONICET, Puerto Madryn 9120, Chubut, Argentina
| | - De-Xing Zhang
- Center for Computational and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guojie Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
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HEMATOLOGY AND PLASMA CHEMISTRY VALUES IN BEACHED MAGELLANIC PENGUIN ( SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS) IN NORTHERN ARGENTINA DURING THE NONBREEDING SEASON. J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 50:927-936. [PMID: 31926525 DOI: 10.1638/2019-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Seabirds have been widely used for monitoring the health of the oceans in diverse marine regions. Among low-cost survey strategies, systematic surveys of seabirds beached on coasts have been developed since the 20th century. However, these studies do not always address blood aspects. The assessment of the health status of birds based on the analysis of hematological and plasma chemistry is crucial to evaluate the overall health status profile of live organisms. Here, the authors study the variability of blood parameters by sex, age class, and year of beached Magellanic Penguin during the nonreproductive period in northern Argentina. Of 44 penguins, 77% were categorized as younger juveniles and the rest as older juveniles, and were captured and studied in coastal areas of Buenos Aires Province during the summers of 2017 and 2018. The mean body weight of beached penguins was affected by the age class of the individuals; most of the younger juveniles showed poor condition in terms of body mass (1,761 ± 235 g). No significant differences were observed in body weight between years and sex. Still, there were significant differences between years for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values. Twelve of the 20 blood parameters analyzed differ significantly with the age class of the beached penguins; younger juveniles were in a state of inanition. Our results may serve as a necessary first step in improving the conservation status of the Magellanic Penguin in nonbreeding grounds of Argentina, and call for a better knowledge of the health status of the species along its annual cycle.
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Boersma P, Borboroglu PG, Gownaris N, Bost C, Chiaradia A, Ellis S, Schneider T, Seddon P, Simeone A, Trathan P, Waller L, Wienecke B. Applying science to pressing conservation needs for penguins. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:103-112. [PMID: 31257646 PMCID: PMC7027562 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
More than half of the world's 18 penguin species are declining. We, the Steering Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Penguin Specialist Group, determined that the penguin species in most critical need of conservation action are African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). Due to small or rapidly declining populations, these species require immediate scientific collaboration and policy intervention. We also used a pairwise-ranking approach to prioritize research and conservation needs for all penguins. Among the 12 cross-taxa research areas we identified, we ranked quantifying population trends, estimating demographic rates, forecasting environmental patterns of change, and improving the knowledge of fisheries interactions as the highest priorities. The highest ranked conservation needs were to enhance marine spatial planning, improve stakeholder engagement, and develop disaster-management and species-specific action plans. We concurred that, to improve the translation of science into effective conservation for penguins, the scientific community and funding bodies must recognize the importance of and support long-term research; research on and conservation of penguins must expand its focus to include the nonbreeding season and juvenile stage; marine reserves must be designed at ecologically appropriate spatial and temporal scales; and communication between scientists and decision makers must be improved with the help of individual scientists and interdisciplinary working groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.D. Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98103U.S.A.
- Global Penguin SocietyPuerto Madryn9120Argentina
| | - P. García Borboroglu
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98103U.S.A.
- Global Penguin SocietyPuerto Madryn9120Argentina
- CESIMAR CCT Cenpat‐CONICET9120Puerto MadrynChubutArgentina
| | - N.J. Gownaris
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98103U.S.A.
| | - C.A. Bost
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé79360Villiers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - A. Chiaradia
- Conservation DepartmentPhillip Island Nature ParksCowesVIC3922Australia
| | - S. Ellis
- International Rhino FoundationStrasburgVA22657U.S.A.
| | - T. Schneider
- Detroit Zoological SocietyRoyal OakMI48067U.S.A.
| | - P.J. Seddon
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedin9016New Zealand
| | - A. Simeone
- Facultad de Ciencias de la VidaUniversidad Andres BelloSantiago8370146Chile
| | | | - L.J. Waller
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)Cape Town7441South Africa
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation BiologyUniversity of the Western CapeBellvilleCape Town7535South Africa
| | - B. Wienecke
- Australian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTAS7050Australia
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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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McDowall PS, Lynch HJ. When the "selfish herd" becomes the "frozen herd": spatial dynamics and population persistence in a colonial seabird. Ecology 2019; 100:e02823. [PMID: 31310664 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Aggregations are common in ecological systems at a range of scales and may be driven by exogenous constraints such as environmental heterogeneity and resource availability or by "self-organizing" interactions among individuals. One mechanism leading to self-organized animal aggregations is captured by Hamilton's "selfish herd" hypothesis, which suggests that aggregations may be driven by an individual's effort to minimize their risk of predation by surrounding themselves with conspecifics. We demonstrate that aggregations observed in Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies are a convolution of both self-organized dynamics and external forcing arising from landscape terrain. In fluid, highly mobile aggregations, individuals are constantly moving in response to changing environmental conditions, the locations of predators, or the movements of conspecifics. However, when the ability to rearrange is limited and spatial reconfiguration occurs on slower time scales than changes in population size, systems may become trapped in suboptimal arrangements. We use simulated annealing to demonstrate that Adélie Penguin colonies are frozen in suboptimal spatial arrangements, and employ an individual-based modeling approach to demonstrate that this suboptimal spatial configuration is driven by a convolution of nest site fidelity and stochastic events at the level of individual nests. The resulting spatial dynamics are responsible for a hysteretic response to long-term changes in abundance. We find that declining abundance leads to fragmentation even in a homogeneous environment, which has population-level consequences for reproductive success because predation is biased towards colony edges. Strong edge effects from heterogeneous predation coupled with fragmentation in response to population declines create a positive feedback cycle that can accelerate population decline. This work provides a mechanistic understanding of complex spatial structuring in penguin colonies, provides a link between current spatial patterning and past dynamics, and suggests the possibility of critical collapse in seabird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip S McDowall
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, 610 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, USA
| | - Heather J Lynch
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, 610 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, USA
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Morais J, Volpato J, Costa A, Kolesnikovas C, Souza M, Saito M. Clinical biochemistry of rescued Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus): serum or heparinized plasma? ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2019. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-9984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT In the last few years, an increasing number of debilitated Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) has been rescued and taken to rehabilitation centers on Brazil’s southern coast to be clinically treated and evaluated for re-introduction. This work aims to compare the viability of heparinized plasma with the viability of serum for biochemistry analyses under rehabilitation conditions. Blood sampled from 31 physically healthy rescued penguins was processed into serum/plasma-paired samples and analyzed for 12 biochemical parameters: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol (CHOL), creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), glucose, (GLU) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total proteins (TP), triglycerides (TG), urea (UR), and uric acid (UA).The results showed that six paired samples presented visual signs of hemolysis (visual hemolytic score≥1), four of which occurred exclusively in the serum counterpart. Significant differences (P≤ 0.5) between sample types were found for CHOL (3%), GLU (6%) and TG (52%). Only TG was considered clinically relevant (>10%). All mean/median results fell within the available reference intervals by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Penguin, 2014). In conclusion, we verified that heparinized plasma is a viable sample for the clinical biochemistry of rescued Magellanic penguins as it yields compatible results with serum, while providing practical benefits. The adoption of this practice favors a faster bird recovery, by minimizing blood sampling volume, and optimizes material resources, allowing use of the same collector tube as for hematology.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Morais
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - J. Volpato
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - A. Costa
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | | | - M. Saito
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Kim BM, Jeong J, Jo E, Ahn DH, Kim JH, Rhee JS, Park H. Blood transcriptome resources of chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins from the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Genomics Inform 2019; 17:e5. [PMID: 30929406 PMCID: PMC6459169 DOI: 10.5808/gi.2019.17.1.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (P. papua) penguins are distributed throughout Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. In this study, high-quality de novo assemblies of blood transcriptomes from these penguins were generated using the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 22.2 and 21.8 raw reads were obtained from chinstrap and gentoo penguins, respectively. These reads were assembled using the Oases assembly platform and resulted in 26,036 and 21,854 contigs with N50 values of 929 and 933 base pairs, respectively. Functional gene annotations through pathway analyses of the Gene Ontology, EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases were performed for each blood transcriptome, resulting in a similar compositional order between the two transcriptomes. Ortholog comparisons with previously published transcriptomes from the Adélie (P. adeliae) and emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri) penguins revealed that a high proportion of the four penguins’ transcriptomes had significant sequence homology. Because blood and tissues of penguins have been used to monitor pollution in Antarctica, immune parameters in blood could be important indicators for understanding the health status of penguins and other Antarctic animals. In the blood transcriptomes, KEGG analyses detected many essential genes involved in the major innate immunity pathways, which are key metabolic pathways for maintaining homeostasis against exogenous infections or toxins. Blood transcriptome studies such as this may be useful for checking the immune and health status of penguins without sacrifice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Mi Kim
- Unit of Polar Genomics, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Jihye Jeong
- Unit of Polar Genomics, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Euna Jo
- Unit of Polar Genomics, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Do-Hwan Ahn
- Unit of Polar Genomics, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Jeong-Hoon Kim
- Department of Polar Life Science, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Jae-Sung Rhee
- Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea.,Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Unit of Polar Genomics, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea.,Polar Sciences, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
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Gallo L, Vanstreels RET, Cook RA, Karesh WB, Uhart M. Hematology, plasma biochemistry, and trace element reference values for free-ranging adult Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02467-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Food allocation and feeding behaviours of Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, adults and chicks. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Gownaris NJ, Boersma PD. Sex-biased survival contributes to population decline in a long-lived seabird, the Magellanic Penguin. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01826. [PMID: 30601594 PMCID: PMC6849821 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We developed a Hidden Markov mark-recapture model (R package marked) to examine sex-specific demography in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Our model was based on 33 yr of resightings at Punta Tombo, Argentina, where we banded ~44,000 chicks from 1983 to 2010. Because we sexed only 57% of individuals over their lifetime, we treated sex as an uncertain state in our model. Our goals were to provide insight into the population dynamics of this declining colony, to inform conservation of this species, and to highlight the importance of considering sex-specific vital rates in demographic seabird studies. Like many other seabirds, Magellanic Penguins are long-lived, serially monogamous, and exhibit obligate biparental care. We found that the non-breeding-season survival of females was lower than that of males and that the magnitude of this bias was highest for juveniles. Biases in survival accumulated as cohorts aged, leading to increasingly skewed sex ratios. The survival bias was greatest in years when overall survival was low, that is, females fared disproportionality worse when conditions were unfavorable. Our model-estimated survival patterns are consistent with independent data on carcasses from the species' non-breeding grounds, showing that mortality is higher for juveniles than for adults and higher for females than for males. Juveniles may be less efficient foragers than adults are and, because of their smaller size, females may show less resilience to food scarcity than males. We used perturbation analysis of a population matrix model to determine the impact of sex-biased survival on adult sex ratio and population growth rate at Punta Tombo. We found that adult sex ratio and population growth rate have the greatest proportional response, that is, elasticity, to female pre-breeder and adult survival. Sex bias in juvenile survival (i.e., lower survival of females) made the greatest contribution to population declines from 1990 to 2009. Because starvation is a leading cause of morality in juveniles and adults, precautionary fisheries and spatial management in the region could help to slow population decline. Our data add to growing evidence that knowledge of sex-specific demography and sex ratios are necessary for accurate assessment of seabird population trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. J. Gownaris
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecosystem SentinelsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashington98103USA
| | - P. D. Boersma
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecosystem SentinelsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashington98103USA
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Palacios MG, D'Amico VL, Bertellotti M. Ecotourism effects on health and immunity of Magellanic penguins at two reproductive colonies with disparate touristic regimes and population trends. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy060. [PMID: 30464841 PMCID: PMC6233856 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Negative effects of ecotourism on wildlife are rising worldwide. Conservation physiology can play a major role in protecting wildlife by providing early alerts on changes in the status of individuals exposed to tourist activities. We measured an integrated set of immune and health-state indices to evaluate the effects of ecotourism on Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). We studied two reproductive colonies that differed in the intensity of tourism and population trends: Punta Tombo (higher tourism intensity, declining population) and San Lorenzo (lower tourism intensity, growing population). Within each colony, we compared individuals from an area that was exposed to tourists and a control area where tourism was excluded. Adult penguins exposed to tourism at Punta Tombo, but not at San Lorenzo, showed physiological alterations indicative of chronic stress (higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratios) and parasitic infection (elevated heterophil and eosinophil counts). Penguin chicks exposed to tourism at Punta Tombo, but not at San Lorenzo, also showed physiological alterations indicative of poor immune and general-health condition: lower humoral innate immunity, haematocrit, and glucose levels and higher inflammatory responses likely due to increased prevalence of fleas. Our results indicate that individuals of a declining population exposed to high levels of tourism express physiological indicators of chronic stress and poor health that could make adults and juveniles vulnerable to disease. These effects are expressed despite a long history of exposure and behavioural habituation to human visitation. In contrast, individuals of a growing population exposed to more recent and lower levels of tourism showed no effect. Our study demonstrates how a diverse physiological toolkit within a conservation physiology approach can provide important information for a better comprehension of anthropogenic effects on wild animals in our changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Palacios
- Applied Ecophysiology Group, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Boulevard 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Verónica L D'Amico
- Applied Ecophysiology Group, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Boulevard 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Bertellotti
- Applied Ecophysiology Group, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Boulevard 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Department of Production, Environment and Sustainable Development, University of Chubut, Alem 1573 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
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Predicting the future is hard and other lessons from a population time series data science competition. ECOL INFORM 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2018.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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