1
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Rosing-Asvid A, Löytynoja A, Momigliano P, Hansen RG, Scharff-Olsen CH, Valtonen M, Kammonen J, Dietz R, Rigét FF, Ferguson SH, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM, Holland DM, Jernvall J, Auvinen P, Tange Olsen M. An evolutionarily distinct ringed seal in the Ilulissat Icefjord. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5932-5943. [PMID: 37855154 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The Earth's polar regions are low rates of inter- and intraspecific diversification. An extreme mammalian example is the Arctic ringed seal (Pusa hispida hispida), which is assumed to be panmictic across its circumpolar Arctic range. Yet, local Inuit communities in Greenland and Canada recognize several regional variants; a finding supported by scientific studies of body size variation. It is however unclear whether this phenotypic variation reflects plasticity, morphs or distinct ecotypes. Here, we combine genomic, biologging and survey data, to document the existence of a unique ringed seal ecotype in the Ilulissat Icefjord (locally 'Kangia'), Greenland; a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is home to the most productive marine-terminating glacier in the Arctic. Genomic analyses reveal a divergence of Kangia ringed seals from other Arctic ringed seals about 240 kya, followed by secondary contact since the Last Glacial Maximum. Despite ongoing gene flow, multiple genomic regions appear under strong selection in Kangia ringed seals, including candidate genes associated with pelage coloration, growth and osmoregulation, potentially explaining the Kangia seal's phenotypic and behavioural uniqueness. The description of 'hidden' diversity and adaptations in yet another Arctic species merits a reassessment of the evolutionary processes that have shaped Arctic diversity and the traditional view of this region as an evolutionary freezer. Our study highlights the value of indigenous knowledge in guiding science and calls for efforts to identify distinct populations or ecotypes to understand how these might respond differently to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ari Löytynoja
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paolo Momigliano
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - Mia Valtonen
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juhana Kammonen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - David M Holland
- Mathematics and Atmosphere/Ocean Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Jukka Jernvall
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petri Auvinen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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2
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Remili A, Dietz R, Sonne C, Samarra FIP, Letcher RJ, Rikardsen AH, Ferguson SH, Watt CA, Matthews CJD, Kiszka JJ, Rosing-Asvid A, McKinney MA. Varying Diet Composition Causes Striking Differences in Legacy and Emerging Contaminant Concentrations in Killer Whales across the North Atlantic. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:16109-16120. [PMID: 37818957 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) tend to biomagnify in food chains, resulting in higher concentrations in species such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) feeding on marine mammals compared to those consuming fish. Advancements in dietary studies include the use of quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and differentiation of feeding habits within and between populations of North Atlantic (NA) killer whales. This comprehensive study assessed the concentrations of legacy and emerging POPs in 162 killer whales from across the NA. We report significantly higher mean levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and flame retardants in Western NA killer whales compared to those of Eastern NA conspecifics. Mean ∑PCBs ranged from ∼100 mg/kg lipid weight (lw) in the Western NA (Canadian Arctic, Eastern Canada) to ∼50 mg/kg lw in the mid-NA (Greenland, Iceland) to ∼10 mg/kg lw in the Eastern NA (Norway, Faroe Islands). The observed variations in contaminant levels were strongly correlated with diet composition across locations (inferred from QFASA), emphasizing that diet and not environmental variation in contaminant concentrations among locations is crucial in assessing contaminant-associated health risks in killer whales. These findings highlight the urgency for implementing enhanced measures to safely dispose of POP-contaminated waste, prevent further environmental contamination, and mitigate the release of newer and potentially harmful contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Remili
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark
| | - Filipa I P Samarra
- University of Iceland, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Reykjavík 600169-2039, Iceland
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Audun H Rikardsen
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), N-9296 Tromso, Norway
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida 33181, United States
| | | | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
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3
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Berger ML, Shaw SD, Rolsky CB, Chen D, Sun J, Rosing-Asvid A, Granquist SM, Simon M, Bäcklin BM, Roos AM. Alternative and legacy flame retardants in marine mammals from three northern ocean regions. Environ Pollut 2023; 335:122255. [PMID: 37517638 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Flame retardants are globally distributed contaminants that have been linked to negative health effects in humans and wildlife. As top predators, marine mammals bioaccumulate flame retardants and other contaminants in their tissues which is one of many human-imposed factors threatening population health. While some flame retardants, such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), have been banned because of known toxicity and environmental persistence, limited data exist on the presence and distribution of current-use alternative flame retardants in marine mammals from many industrialized and remote regions of the world. Therefore, this study measured 44 legacy and alternative flame retardants in nine marine mammal species from three ocean regions: the Northwest Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic allowing for regional, species, age, body condition, temporal, and tissue comparisons to help understand global patterns. PBDE concentrations were 100-1000 times higher than the alternative brominated flame retardants (altBFRs) and Dechloranes. 2,2',4,5,5'-pentabromobiphenyl (BB-101) and hexabromobenzene (HBBZ) were the predominant altBFRs, while Dechlorane-602 was the predominant Dechlorane. This manuscript also reports only the second detection of hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO) in marine mammals. The NW Atlantic had the highest PBDE concentrations followed by the Baltic and Arctic which reflects greater historical use of PBDEs in North America compared to Europe and greater industrialization of North America and Baltic countries compared to the Arctic. Regional patterns for other compounds were more complicated, and there were significant interactions among species, regions, body condition and age class. Lipid-normalized PBDE concentrations in harbor seal liver and blubber were similar, but HBBZ and many Dechloranes had higher concentrations in liver, indicating factors other than lipid dynamics affect the distribution of these compounds. The health implications of contamination by this mixture of compounds are of concern and require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Berger
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA.
| | - Susan D Shaw
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA
| | - Charles B Rolsky
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China; Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Jiachen Sun
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China; College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, CN-266003, Qingdao, China
| | - Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Sandra Magdalena Granquist
- Seal Research Department, The Icelandic Seal Center, Höfðabraut 6, 530 Hvammstangi, Iceland; Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Fornubúðir 5, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Britt-Marie Bäcklin
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Maria Roos
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Remili A, Dietz R, Sonne C, Samarra FIP, Rikardsen AH, Kettemer LE, Ferguson SH, Watt CA, Matthews CJD, Kiszka JJ, Jourdain E, Borgå K, Ruus A, Granquist SM, Rosing-Asvid A, McKinney MA. Quantitative fatty acid signature analysis reveals a high level of dietary specialization in killer whales across the North Atlantic. J Anim Ecol 2023. [PMID: 37055915 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the diet composition of apex marine predators such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) is critical to assessing their food web impacts. Yet, with few exceptions, the feeding ecology of these apex predators remains poorly understood. Here, we use our newly validated quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) approach on nearly 200 killer whales and over 900 potential prey to model their diets across the 5000 km span of the North Atlantic. Diet estimates show that killer whales mainly consume other whales in the western North Atlantic (Canadian Arctic, Eastern Canada), seals in the mid-North Atlantic (Greenland), and fish in the eastern North Atlantic (Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway). Nonetheless, diet estimates also varied widely among individuals within most regions. This level of inter-individual feeding variation should be considered for future ecological studies focusing on killer whales in the North Atlantic and other oceans. These estimates reveal remarkable population- and individual-level variation in the trophic ecology of these killer whales, which can help to assess how their predation impacts community and ecosystem dynamics in changing North Atlantic marine ecosystems. This new approach provides researchers with an invaluable tool to study the feeding ecology of oceanic top predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Remili
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | | | - Audun H Rikardsen
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lisa E Kettemer
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida, 33181, USA
| | - Eve Jourdain
- Norwegian Orca Survey, Andenes, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders Ruus
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sandra M Granquist
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 220, Hafnarfjörđur, Iceland
- The Icelandic Seal center, Hvammstangi, 530, Iceland
| | | | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada
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5
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Pedersen AF, Dietz R, Sonne C, Liu L, Rosing-Asvid A, McKinney MA. Development and validation of a modified QuEChERS method for extracting polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides from marine mammal blubber. Chemosphere 2023; 312:137245. [PMID: 36395894 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The monitoring of legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of key sentinel marine mammal species has been conducted using established techniques for decades. Although these methods for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and organochlorine (OC) pesticide determination provide accurate and reproducible results, they possess some drawbacks in terms of cost, time, and a need for large volumes of toxic solvents. QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extractions may help address these issues, but have not been applied to marine mammal blubber/adipose. As such, our aim was to develop, validate, and apply a QuEChERS method for the extraction of PCB and OC contaminants in marine mammal blubber. First, we tested multiple solid-phase extraction and clean-up steps to find the approach that provided the cleanest extracts along with consistent and acceptable analyte recovery, accuracy, and precision. QuEChERS extractions followed by two enhanced matrix removal-lipid (EMR-lipid), one primary-secondary amine (PSA), and one silica gel clean-up showed the highest matrix removal and acceptable recoveries of spiked internal (62-97%) and external standards (61-94%). Solvent usage was reduced by ∼393% and extraction time was reduced by ∼25% (from 16 to 12 h). Next, the method was validated using standard reference material (SRM) NIST 1945. Recovery experiments on SRM (n = 5) showed acceptable recovery for 76% and 77% of PCBs and OC pesticides, respectively, and high precision for 73% and 69% of PCBs and OCs, respectively. Finally, the method was used on a set of southeast Greenland killer whales (n = 13), with previously published PCB and OC data. Bland-Altman plots indicated good agreement between QuEChERS and current-use methods for ΣPCBs and some OCs with no significant constant or proportional bias. These results demonstrate that this QuEChERS extraction method represents an effective, lower cost alternative to current-use extractions for PCBs and OCs in blubber, and likely other high-lipid samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Pedersen
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Lan Liu
- Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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6
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Dietz R, Letcher RJ, Aars J, Andersen M, Boltunov A, Born EW, Ciesielski TM, Das K, Dastnai S, Derocher AE, Desforges JP, Eulaers I, Ferguson S, Hallanger IG, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Hoekstra PF, Jenssen BM, Kohler SG, Larsen MM, Lindstrøm U, Lippold A, Morris A, Nabe-Nielsen J, Nielsen NH, Peacock E, Pinzone M, Rigét FF, Rosing-Asvid A, Routti H, Siebert U, Stenson G, Stern G, Strand J, Søndergaard J, Treu G, Víkingsson GA, Wang F, Welker JM, Wiig Ø, Wilson SJ, Sonne C. A risk assessment review of mercury exposure in Arctic marine and terrestrial mammals. Sci Total Environ 2022; 829:154445. [PMID: 35304145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There has been a considerable number of reports on Hg concentrations in Arctic mammals since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to mercury (Hg) in Arctic biota in 2010 and 2018. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of health risk associated with Hg concentrations in Arctic marine and terrestrial mammal species. Using available population-specific data post-2000, our ultimate goal is to provide an updated evidence-based estimate of the risk for adverse health effects from Hg exposure in Arctic mammal species at the individual and population level. Tissue residues of Hg in 13 species across the Arctic were classified into five risk categories (from No risk to Severe risk) based on critical tissue concentrations derived from experimental studies on harp seals and mink. Exposure to Hg lead to low or no risk for health effects in most populations of marine and terrestrial mammals, however, subpopulations of polar bears, pilot whales, narwhals, beluga and hooded seals are highly exposed in geographic hotspots raising concern for Hg-induced toxicological effects. About 6% of a total of 3500 individuals, across different marine mammal species, age groups and regions, are at high or severe risk of health effects from Hg exposure. The corresponding figure for the 12 terrestrial species, regions and age groups was as low as 0.3% of a total of 731 individuals analyzed for their Hg loads. Temporal analyses indicated that the proportion of polar bears at low or moderate risk has increased in East/West Greenland and Western Hudson Bay, respectively. However, there remain numerous knowledge gaps to improve risk assessments of Hg exposure in Arctic mammalian species, including the establishment of improved concentration thresholds and upscaling to the assessment of population-level effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Jon Aars
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | | | - Andrei Boltunov
- Marine Mammal Research and Expedition Centre, 36 Nahimovskiy pr., Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Erik W Born
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Tomasz M Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Krishna Das
- Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Sam Dastnai
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Andrew E Derocher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Environmental Studies and Science, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Steve Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | | | | | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France; Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France
| | | | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stephen Gustav Kohler
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Realfagbygget, E2-128, Gløshaugen, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Martin M Larsen
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ulf Lindstrøm
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Arctic Technology, Institute of Marine Research, FRAM Centre, NO-9007 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna Lippold
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Adam Morris
- Northern Contaminants Program, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 15 Eddy Street, 14th floor, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H4, Canada
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Nynne H Nielsen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Elizabeth Peacock
- USGS Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4626, USA
| | - Marianna Pinzone
- Department of Environmental Studies and Science, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, DE-25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Garry Stenson
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Department DFO-MPO, 80 EastWhite Hills vie, St John's A1C 5X1, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Gary Stern
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, 586Wallace Bld, 125 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T, 2N2, Canada
| | - Jakob Strand
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Gabriele Treu
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gisli A Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, 586Wallace Bld, 125 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T, 2N2, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M Welker
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage 99508, United States; University of Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland; University of the Arctic, Rovaniemi 96460, Finland
| | - Øystein Wiig
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Simon J Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, Box 6606 Stakkevollan, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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7
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Grecian WJ, Stenson GB, Biuw M, Boehme L, Folkow LP, Goulet PJ, Jonsen ID, Malde A, Nordøy ES, Rosing-Asvid A, Smout S. Environmental drivers of population-level variation in the migratory and diving ontogeny of an Arctic top predator. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:211042. [PMID: 35316952 PMCID: PMC8889203 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The development of migratory strategies that enable juveniles to survive to sexual maturity is critical for species that exploit seasonal niches. For animals that forage via breath-hold diving, this requires a combination of both physiological and foraging skill development. Here, we assess how migratory and dive behaviour develop over the first year of life for a migratory Arctic top predator, the harp seal Pagophilus groenlandicus, tracked using animal-borne satellite relay data loggers. We reveal similarities in migratory movements and differences in diving behaviour between 38 juveniles tracked from the Greenland Sea and Northwest Atlantic breeding populations. In both regions, periods of resident and transitory behaviour during migration were associated with proxies for food availability: sea ice concentration and bathymetric depth. However, while ontogenetic development of dive behaviour was similar for both populations of juveniles over the first 25 days, after this time Greenland Sea animals performed shorter and shallower dives and were more closely associated with sea ice than Northwest Atlantic animals. Together, these results highlight the role of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in shaping early life behaviour. Variation in the environmental conditions experienced during early life may shape how different populations respond to the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic ocean ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. James Grecian
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Garry B. Stenson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Martin Biuw
- Institute of Marine Research, FRAM—High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lars Boehme
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Lars P. Folkow
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø—the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pierre J. Goulet
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Ian D. Jonsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aleksander Malde
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø—the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Erling S. Nordøy
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø—the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Sophie Smout
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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8
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Liu X, Schjøtt SR, Granquist SM, Rosing-Asvid A, Dietz R, Teilmann J, Galatius A, Cammen K, O Corry-Crowe G, Harding K, Härkönen T, Hall A, Carroll EL, Kobayashi Y, Hammill M, Stenson G, Frie AK, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM, Andersen LW, Hoffman JI, Goodman SJ, Vieira FG, Heller R, Moltke I, Tange Olsen M. Origin and expansion of the world's most widespread pinniped: range-wide population genomics of the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:1682-1699. [PMID: 35068013 PMCID: PMC9306526 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) is the most widely distributed pinniped, occupying a wide variety of habitats and climatic zones across the Northern Hemisphere. Intriguingly, the harbour seal is also one of the most philopatric seals, raising questions as to how it colonised virtually the whole of the Northern Hemisphere. To shed light on the origin, remarkable range expansion, population structure and genetic diversity of this species, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to analyse ~13,500 biallelic SNPs from 286 individuals sampled from 22 localities across the species' range. Our results point to a Northeast Pacific origin, colonisation of the North Atlantic via the Canadian Arctic, and subsequent stepping-stone range expansions across the North Atlantic from North America to Europe, accompanied by a successive loss of genetic diversity. Our analyses further revealed a deep divergence between modern North Pacific and North Atlantic harbour seals, with finer-scale genetic structure at regional and local scales consistent with strong philopatry. The study provides new insights into the harbour seal's remarkable ability to colonise and adapt to a wide range of habitats. Furthermore, it has implications for current harbour seal subspecies delineations and highlights the need for international and national red lists and management plans to ensure the protection of genetically and demographically isolated populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sandra M Granquist
- Icelandic Seal Centre, Höfðabraut 6, 530, Hvammstangi, Iceland.,Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Fornubúðir 5, 220, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anders Galatius
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Greg O Corry-Crowe
- Wildlife Evolution and Behavior Program, Florida Atlantic University, USA
| | - Karin Harding
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Ailsa Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, UK, KY16 8LB
| | - Emma L Carroll
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Yumi Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Mike Hammill
- Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 1000, Mont-Joli, QC, Canada
| | - Garry Stenson
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 5667, St. John's NL, Canada
| | | | | | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Joseph I Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.,British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
| | - Simon J Goodman
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Filipe G Vieira
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitalet, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Moltke
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Smout S, Murray K, Aarts G, Biuw M, Brasseur S, Buren A, Empacher F, Frie AK, Grecian J, Hammill M, Mikkelsen B, Mosnier A, Rosing-Asvid A, Russell D, Skaug H, Stenson G, Thomas L, Ver Hoef J, Witting L, Zabavnikov V, Øigård TA, Fernandez R, Wickson F. Report of the NAMMCO-ICES Workshop on Seal Modelling (WKSEALS 2020). NAMMCOSP 2021. [DOI: 10.7557/3.5794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To support sustainable management of apex predator populations, it is important to estimate population size and understand the drivers of population trends to anticipate the consequences of human decisions. Robust population models are needed, which must be based on realistic biological principles and validated with the best available data. A team of international experts reviewed age-structured models of North Atlantic pinniped populations, including Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). Statistical methods used to fit such models to data were compared and contrasted. Differences in biological assumptions and model equations were driven by the data available from separate studies, including observation methodology and pre-processing. Counts of pups during the breeding season were used in all models, with additional counts of adults and juveniles available in some. The regularity and frequency of data collection, including survey counts and vital rate estimates, varied. Important differences between the models concerned the nature and causes of variation in vital rates (age-dependent survival and fecundity). Parameterisation of age at maturity was detailed and time-dependent in some models and simplified in others. Methods for estimation of model parameters were reviewed and compared. They included Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) approaches, implemented via bespoke coding in C, C++, TMB or JAGS. Comparative model runs suggested that as expected, ML-based implementations were rapid and computationally efficient, while Bayesian approaches, which used MCMC or sequential importance sampling, required longer for inference. For grey seal populations in the Netherlands, where preliminary ML-based TMB results were compared with the outputs of a Bayesian JAGS implementation, some differences in parameter estimates were apparent. For these seal populations, further investigations are recommended to explore differences that might result from the modelling framework and model-fitting methodology, and their importance for inference and management advice. The group recommended building on the success of this workshop via continued collaboration with ICES and NAMMCO assessment groups, as well as other experts in the marine mammal modelling community. Specifically, for Northeast Atlantic harp and hooded seal populations, the workshop represents the initial step towards a full ICES benchmark process aimed at revising and evaluating new assessment models.
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10
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Spaan KM, van Noordenburg C, Plassmann MM, Schultes L, Shaw S, Berger M, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Rosing-Asvid A, Granquist SM, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rigét F, Roos A, Benskin JP. Correction to Fluorine Mass Balance and Suspect Screening in Marine Mammals from the Northern Hemisphere. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:6518-6520. [PMID: 33825462 PMCID: PMC8504799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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11
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Spaan KM, van Noordenburg C, Plassmann MM, Schultes L, Shaw S, Berger M, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Rosing-Asvid A, Granquist SM, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rigét F, Roos A, Benskin JP. Fluorine Mass Balance and Suspect Screening in Marine Mammals from the Northern Hemisphere. Environ Sci Technol 2020. [PMID: 32160740 DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.10128653.v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that the ∼20 routinely monitored perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) account for only a fraction of extractable organofluorine (EOF) occurring in the environment. To assess whether PFAS exposure is being underestimated in marine mammals from the Northern Hemisphere, we performed a fluorine mass balance on liver tissues from 11 different species using a combination of targeted PFAS analysis, EOF and total fluorine determination, and suspect screening. Samples were obtained from the east coast United States (US), west and east coast of Greenland, Iceland, and Sweden from 2000 to 2017. Of the 36 target PFASs, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) dominated in all but one Icelandic and three US samples, where the 7:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (7:3 FTCA) was prevalent. This is the first report of 7:3 FTCA in polar bears (∼1000 ng/g, ww) and cetaceans (<6-190 ng/g, ww). In 18 out of 25 samples, EOF was not significantly greater than fluorine concentrations derived from sum target PFASs. For the remaining 7 samples (mostly from the US east coast), 30-75% of the EOF was unidentified. Suspect screening revealed an additional 37 PFASs (not included in the targeted analysis) bringing the total to 63 detected PFASs from 12 different classes. Overall, these results highlight the importance of a multiplatform approach for accurately characterizing PFAS exposure in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra M Spaan
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmen van Noordenburg
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Merle M Plassmann
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lara Schultes
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susan Shaw
- Shaw Institute, P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, Maine 04614 United States
| | - Michelle Berger
- Shaw Institute, P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, Maine 04614 United States
| | | | | | - Sandra M Granquist
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 101 Reykjavı́k, Reykjavík, Iceland
- The Icelandic Seal Center, Brekkugata 2, 530 Hvammstangi, Iceland
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Frank Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anna Roos
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P Benskin
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Spaan KM, van Noordenburg C, Plassmann MM, Schultes L, Shaw S, Berger M, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Rosing-Asvid A, Granquist SM, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rigét F, Roos A, Benskin JP. Fluorine Mass Balance and Suspect Screening in Marine Mammals from the Northern Hemisphere. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54:4046-4058. [PMID: 32160740 PMCID: PMC7309329 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that the ∼20 routinely monitored perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) account for only a fraction of extractable organofluorine (EOF) occurring in the environment. To assess whether PFAS exposure is being underestimated in marine mammals from the Northern Hemisphere, we performed a fluorine mass balance on liver tissues from 11 different species using a combination of targeted PFAS analysis, EOF and total fluorine determination, and suspect screening. Samples were obtained from the east coast United States (US), west and east coast of Greenland, Iceland, and Sweden from 2000 to 2017. Of the 36 target PFASs, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) dominated in all but one Icelandic and three US samples, where the 7:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (7:3 FTCA) was prevalent. This is the first report of 7:3 FTCA in polar bears (∼1000 ng/g, ww) and cetaceans (<6-190 ng/g, ww). In 18 out of 25 samples, EOF was not significantly greater than fluorine concentrations derived from sum target PFASs. For the remaining 7 samples (mostly from the US east coast), 30-75% of the EOF was unidentified. Suspect screening revealed an additional 37 PFASs (not included in the targeted analysis) bringing the total to 63 detected PFASs from 12 different classes. Overall, these results highlight the importance of a multiplatform approach for accurately characterizing PFAS exposure in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra M. Spaan
- Department of Environmental
Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmen van Noordenburg
- Department of Environmental
Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Merle M. Plassmann
- Department of Environmental
Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lara Schultes
- Department of Environmental
Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susan Shaw
- Shaw Institute, P.O. Box
1652, Blue Hill, Maine 04614 United States
| | - Michelle Berger
- Shaw Institute, P.O. Box
1652, Blue Hill, Maine 04614 United States
| | | | | | - Sandra M. Granquist
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 101 Reykjavík, Reykjavík, Iceland
- The Icelandic Seal
Center, Brekkugata 2, 530 Hvammstangi, Iceland
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Frank Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anna Roos
- Greenland
Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O.
Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P. Benskin
- Department of Environmental
Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Pedro S, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rosing-Asvid A, Hansen M, McKinney MA. Are vitamins A and E associated with persistent organic pollutants and fatty acids in the blubber of highly contaminated killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Greenland? Environ Res 2019; 177:108602. [PMID: 31398560 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We quantified blubber concentrations of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) and evaluated associations with persistent organic pollutants (ΣPOPs) in 14 highly-contaminated killer whales (Orcinus orca) sampled in Greenland from 2012 to 2014. We considered the influence of blubber depth, sex/age class and diet (based on biomass % of major fatty acids) in these relationships. Blubber concentrations of vitamin A averaged 34.1 ± 4.7 μg g-1 wet weight (ww) and vitamin E averaged 35.6 ± 4.4 μg g-1 ww. Although overall vitamin A concentrations did not vary between inner (closer to the muscle) and outer (closer to the skin) blubber layer or between sub-adults and adult females, concentrations in the outer layer of sub-adults were lower compared to the outer layer of adult females (p = 0.03). Outer layer may therefore reflect age accumulation of vitamin A, while in the more active inner layer, age effects might be masked by metabolic needs such as lactation. Neither diet nor ΣPOPs affected vitamin A variation, suggesting this vitamin is highly regulated in the body. Given the high exposures in these killer whales, vitamin A might not be a sensitive biomarker for POPs adverse effects. Vitamin E concentrations were significantly higher in inner compared to outer layer (p < 0.001), likely associated with blubber composition, suggesting that biopsies may not fully represent vitamin E concentrations in blubber. Age-accumulation of vitamin E also occurred with higher concentrations in adult females compared to sub-adults, independent of blubber depth (p < 0.01). Diet, ΣPOPs, and an interaction between these two variables significantly affected vitamin E variation in inner blubber, explaining 91% of this variation. The negative relationship between ΣPOPs (especially Σdichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Σchlordanes in outer layers) and vitamin E was observed only in killer whales with a diet poorer in polyunsaturated fatty acids, suggested that killer whales feeding more consistently on marine mammals in Arctic environments over a fish-based diet, may be at higher risk of POP-induced disruption in vitamin E homeostasis. Considering diet is therefore important to understand the potential effects of elevated contaminant exposures on levels of certain essential nutrients, i.e., vitamin E, in killer whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pedro
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - R Dietz
- Department of Biosciences, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - C Sonne
- Department of Biosciences, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - A Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, DK-3900, Greenland
| | - M Hansen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - M A McKinney
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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14
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Yurkowski DJ, Auger-Méthé M, Mallory ML, Wong SNP, Gilchrist G, Derocher AE, Richardson E, Lunn NJ, Hussey NE, Marcoux M, Togunov RR, Fisk AT, Harwood LA, Dietz R, Rosing-Asvid A, Born EW, Mosbech A, Fort J, Grémillet D, Loseto L, Richard PR, Iacozza J, Jean-Gagnon F, Brown TM, Westdal KH, Orr J, LeBlanc B, Hedges KJ, Treble MA, Kessel ST, Blanchfield PJ, Davis S, Maftei M, Spencer N, McFarlane-Tranquilla L, Montevecchi WA, Bartzen B, Dickson L, Anderson C, Ferguson SH. Abundance and species diversity hotspots of tracked marine predators across the North American Arctic. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | | | - Evan Richardson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | | | | | - Ron R. Togunov
- University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | | | - Lois A. Harwood
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
| | | | | | - Erik W. Born
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources; Nuuk Greenland
| | | | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs); UMR7266 CNRS-University of La Rochelle; La Rochelle France
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive; UMR 5175, CNRS; Montpellier France
| | - Lisa Loseto
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | - John Iacozza
- University of Manitoba; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | | | | | - Jack Orr
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | | | | | | | - Steven T. Kessel
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research; John G. Shedd Aquarium; Chicago Illinois
| | | | - Shanti Davis
- High Arctic Gull Research Group; Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Mark Maftei
- High Arctic Gull Research Group; Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Nora Spencer
- High Arctic Gull Research Group; Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | | | | | - Blake Bartzen
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
| | - Lynne Dickson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada; Edmonton Alberta Canada
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15
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Desforges JP, Hall A, McConnell B, Rosing-Asvid A, Barber JL, Brownlow A, De Guise S, Eulaers I, Jepson PD, Letcher RJ, Levin M, Ross PS, Samarra F, Víkingson G, Sonne C, Dietz R. Predicting global killer whale population collapse from PCB pollution. Science 2018; 361:1373-1376. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aat1953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are among the most highly polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)–contaminated mammals in the world, raising concern about the health consequences of current PCB exposures. Using an individual-based model framework and globally available data on PCB concentrations in killer whale tissues, we show that PCB-mediated effects on reproduction and immune function threaten the long-term viability of >50% of the world’s killer whale populations. PCB-mediated effects over the coming 100 years predicted that killer whale populations near industrialized regions, and those feeding at high trophic levels regardless of location, are at high risk of population collapse. Despite a near-global ban of PCBs more than 30 years ago, the world’s killer whales illustrate the troubling persistence of this chemical class.
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16
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Sonne C, Andersen-Ranberg E, Rajala EL, Agerholm JS, Bonefeld-Jørgensen E, Desforges JP, Eulaers I, Jenssen BM, Koch A, Rosing-Asvid A, Siebert U, Tryland M, Mulvad G, Härkönen T, Acquarone M, Nordøy ES, Dietz R, Magnusson U. Seroprevalence for Brucella spp. in Baltic ringed seals ( Phoca hispida ) and East Greenland harp ( Pagophilus groenlandicus ) and hooded ( Cystophora cristata ) seals. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2018; 198:14-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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17
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Pedro S, Boba C, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rosing-Asvid A, Hansen M, Provatas A, McKinney MA. Blubber-depth distribution and bioaccumulation of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Arctic-invading killer whales. Sci Total Environ 2017; 601-602:237-246. [PMID: 28554115 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sightings of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Greenland have increased in recent years, coincident with sea ice loss. These killer whales are likely from fish-feeding North Atlantic populations, but may have access to marine mammal prey in Greenlandic waters, which could lead to increased exposures to biomagnifying contaminants. Most studies on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and organochlorine (OC) contaminants in killer whales have used biopsies which may not be representative of contaminant concentrations through the entire blubber depth. Here, we measured PCB and OC concentrations in 10 equal-length blubber sections of 18 killer whales harvested in southeast Greenland (2012-2014), and 3 stranded in the Faroe Islands (2008) and Denmark (2005). Overall, very high concentrations of ΣPCB, Σchlordanes (ΣCHL), and Σdichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (ΣDDT) were found in the southeast Greenland and Denmark individuals (means of ~40 to 70mgkg-1 lipid weight). These concentrations were higher than in the Faroe Island individuals (means of ~2 to 5mgkg-1 lipid weight) and above those previously reported for other fish-feeding killer whales in the North Atlantic, likely in part due to additional feeding on marine mammals. On a wet weight basis, concentrations of all contaminants were significantly lower in the outermost blubber layer (0.15-0.65cm) compared to all other layers (p<0.01), except for Σhexachlorocyclohexanes. However, after lipid correction, no variation was found for ΣCHL and Σchlorobenzene concentrations, while the outermost layer(s) still showed significantly lower ΣPCB, ΣDDT, Σmirex, Σendosulfan, and dieldrin concentrations than one or more of the inner layers. Yet, the magnitude of these differences was low (up to 2-fold) suggesting that a typical biopsy may be a reasonable representation of the PCB and OC concentrations reported in killer whales, at least on a lipid weight basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pedro
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
| | - Conor Boba
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | | | - Martin Hansen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anthony Provatas
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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Gebbink WA, Bossi R, Rigét FF, Rosing-Asvid A, Sonne C, Dietz R. Observation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Greenland marine mammals. Chemosphere 2016; 144:2384-91. [PMID: 26610298 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.10.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The present pilot study examined emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), i.e., a suite of short chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), PFAA precursors and replacement chemicals, and legacy PFASs (long chain length PFAAs) in livers from ringed seals, polar bears and, for the first time, killer whales from East Greenland collected in 2012-2013. Among the emerging PFASs, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and F-53B (a chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid) were detected in Arctic wildlife, albeit at concentrations approximately four orders of magnitude lower compared to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOS was positively correlated with F-53B, but not PFBS in all three species. A total of 17 PFASs were detected in killer whales, including in a mother-fetus pair, demonstrating maternal transfer. ∑PFAS concentrations in killer whales (269 ± 90 ng/g) were comparable to concentrations found in ringed seals (138 ± 7 ng/g), however, an order of magnitude lower compared to concentrations found in polar bear livers (2336 ± 263 ng/g). Patterns of long chain PFAAs in killer whales differed from the pattern in ringed seals and polar bears. Of the monitored PFAA precursors, only perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA) was detected in all three species, and FOSA/PFOS ratios and isomer patterns indicated that killer whales have a potential lower metabolic capacity to degrade FOSA compared to polar bears and ringed seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter A Gebbink
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, SE 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Rossana Bossi
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
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Heide-Jørgensen MP, Sinding MHS, Nielsen NH, Rosing-Asvid A, Hansen RG. Large numbers of marine mammals winter in the North Water polynya. Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1885-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Foote AD, Newton J, Ávila-Arcos MC, Kampmann ML, Samaniego JA, Post K, Rosing-Asvid A, Sinding MHS, Gilbert MTP. Tracking niche variation over millennial timescales in sympatric killer whale lineages. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20131481. [PMID: 23945688 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Niche variation owing to individual differences in ecology has been hypothesized to be an early stage of sympatric speciation. Yet to date, no study has tracked niche width over more than a few generations. In this study, we show the presence of isotopic niche variation over millennial timescales and investigate the evolutionary outcomes. Isotopic ratios were measured from tissue samples of sympatric killer whale Orcinus orca lineages from the North Sea, spanning over 10 000 years. Isotopic ratios spanned a range similar to the difference in isotopic values of two known prey items, herring Clupea harengus and harbour seal Phoca vitulina. Two proxies of the stage of speciation, lineage sorting of mitogenomes and genotypic clustering, were both weak to intermediate indicating that speciation has made little progress. Thus, our study confirms that even with the necessary ecological conditions, i.e. among-individual variation in ecology, it is difficult for sympatric speciation to progress in the face of gene flow. In contrast to some theoretical models, our empirical results suggest that sympatric speciation driven by among-individual differences in ecological niche is a slow process and may not reach completion. We argue that sympatric speciation is constrained in this system owing to the plastic nature of the behavioural traits under selection when hunting either mammals or fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Foote
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Volgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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McKinney MA, Iverson SJ, Fisk AT, Sonne C, Rigét FF, Letcher RJ, Arts MT, Born EW, Rosing-Asvid A, Dietz R. Global change effects on the long-term feeding ecology and contaminant exposures of East Greenland polar bears. Glob Chang Biol 2013; 19:2360-72. [PMID: 23640921 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Rapid climate changes are occurring in the Arctic, with substantial repercussions for arctic ecosystems. It is challenging to assess ecosystem changes in remote polar environments, but one successful approach has entailed monitoring the diets of upper trophic level consumers. Quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and fatty acid carbon isotope (δ(13) C-FA) patterns were used to assess diets of East Greenland (EG) polar bears (Ursus maritimus) (n = 310) over the past three decades. QFASA-generated diet estimates indicated that, on average, EG bears mainly consumed arctic ringed seals (47.5 ± 2.1%), migratory subarctic harp (30.6 ± 1.5%) and hooded (16.7 ± 1.3%) seals and rarely, if ever, consumed bearded seals, narwhals or walruses. Ringed seal consumption declined by 14%/decade over 28 years (90.1 ± 2.5% in 1984 to 33.9 ± 11.1% in 2011). Hooded seal consumption increased by 9.5%/decade (0.0 ± 0.0% in 1984 to 25.9 ± 9.1% in 2011). This increase may include harp seal, since hooded and harp seal FA signatures were not as well differentiated relative to other prey species. Declining δ(13) C-FA ratios supported shifts from more nearshore/benthic/ice-associated prey to more offshore/pelagic/open-water-associated prey, consistent with diet estimates. Increased hooded seal and decreased ringed seal consumption occurred during years when the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was lower. Thus, periods with warmer temperatures and less sea ice were associated with more subarctic and less arctic seal species consumption. These changes in the relative abundance, accessibility, or distribution of arctic and subarctic marine mammals may have health consequences for EG polar bears. For example, the diet change resulted in consistently slower temporal declines in adipose levels of legacy persistent organic pollutants, as the subarctic seals have higher contaminant burdens than arctic seals. Overall, considerable changes are occurring in the EG marine ecosystem, with consequences for contaminant dynamics.
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Bjørge A, Desportes G, Waring GT, Rosing-Asvid A. Introduction: The harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina) - a global perspective. NAMMCOSP 2010. [DOI: 10.7557/3.2668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Introduction to Volume 8: Harbour seals in the North Atlantic and the Baltic
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Andersen JM, Wierma YF, Stenson G, Hammill MO, Rosing-Asvid A. Movement Patterns of Hooded Seals (Cystophora cristata) in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean During the Post-Moult and Pre-Breed Seasons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.2960/j.v42.m649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Rosing-Asvid A. The influence of climate variability on polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and ringed seal (Pusa hispida) population dynamics. CAN J ZOOL 2006. [DOI: 10.1139/z06-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Unusually high polar bear (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) predation on ringed seal (Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775)) pups and increased survival of polar bear cubs during mild springs is documented in published articles. Strong predation on newborn ringed seal pups in early spring, however, is likely to lower the overall energy intake of polar bears if ringed seal pups are their main food, because the energetic value of ringed seal pups increases 7–8 times during the 6 week lactation period. So although hunting success in early spring increases cub survival during the period after den emergence,when they are most vulnerable, it is likely to increase the number of starving bears later in the season. This negative-feedback effect of strong spring predation will not occur in areas where other seal species are abundant during summer, and polar bears in such areas are likely to exhibit population growth during periods with milder springs, at least until the ringed seal population has been depleted. Long time series of population estimates that can be used to test this hypothesis do not exist, but it is strongly supported by catch statistics for polar bears and ringed seals from east Greenland.
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Rosing-Asvid A, Born E, Kingsley M. Age at sexual maturity of males and timing of the mating season of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Greenland. Polar Biol 2002. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-002-0430-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Abstract
Information and statistics including trade statistics on catches of white whales or belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in West Greenland since 1862 are presented. The period before 1952 was dominated by large catches south of 66o N that peaked with 1,380 reported kills in 1922. Catch levels in the past five decades are evaluated on the basis of official catch statistics, trade in mattak (whale skin), sampling of jaws and reports from local residents and other observers. Options are given for corrections of catch statistics based upon auxiliary statistics on trade of mattak, catches in previous decades for areas without reporting and on likely levels of loss rates in different hunting operations. The fractions of the reported catches that are caused by ice entrapments of whales are estimated. During 1954-1999 total reported catches ranged from 216 to 1,874 and they peaked around 1970. Correcting for underreporting and killed-but-lost whales increases the catch reports by 42% on average for 1954-1998. If the whales killed in ice entrapments are removed then the corrected catch estimate is on average 28% larger than the reported catches.
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Taylor MK, Akeeagok S, Andriashek D, Barbour W, Born EW, Calvert W, Cluff HD, Ferguson S, Laake J, Rosing-Asvid A, Stirling I, Messier F. Delineating Canadian and Greenland polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations by cluster analysis of movements. CAN J ZOOL 2001. [DOI: 10.1139/z01-028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Within their circumpolar range, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are not subject to absolute barriers. However, physiographic features do cause discontinuities in their movements. These discontinuities in distribution can be used to delineate population units. Based on satellite telemetry of the movements of female polar bears carried out in 19891998, we used cluster analysis to identify 6 regions within the Canadian and western Greenland Arctic in which movements appear to be restricted enough to identify distinct populations. These regions generally correspond to management units that have been previously identified as Viscount Melville Sound, Lancaster Sound, Norwegian Bay, Kane Basin, Baffin Bay, and Davis Strait. A northsouth substructure was identified for the Baffin Bay population, but it was weaker than the structure identified for the 6 primary units. The 6 units were consistent with genetic information, except for the Baffin Bay Kane Basin separation, and with markrecapture observations and the traditional knowledge of Inuit hunters. Only 2 of 65 bears that provided telemetry information for more than 1 year were classified in different populations in different years. However, annual rates of exchange, measured as the percentage of locations outside the population boundary, ranged from 0.4 to 8.9%. Analysis of markrecapture movements indicated no difference in large-scale movements between the sexes or long-term movements with age. Although our validation criteria for demographic closure were satisfied, the observed rates of exchange between adjacent populations suggest that population dynamics in adjacent populations may not be completely independent.
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Taylor MK, Akeeagok S, Andriashek D, Barbour W, Born EW, Calvert W, Cluff HD, Ferguson S, Laake J, Rosing-Asvid A, Stirling I, Messier F. Delineating Canadian and Greenland polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) populations by cluster analysis of movements. CAN J ZOOL 2001. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-79-4-690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Fullard KJ, Early G, Heide-Jorgensen MP, Bloch D, Rosing-Asvid A, Amos W. Population structure of long-finned pilot whales in the North Atlantic: a correlation with sea surface temperature? Mol Ecol 2000; 9:949-58. [PMID: 10886657 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00957.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, is a social, pelagic odontocete distributed widely in the cold temperate waters of the North Atlantic. Despite genetic, morphometric, physiological and observational studies, it remains unclear whether any population substructure exists. We have used eight highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to analyse samples from four disparate sampling sites: USA East Coast (Cape Cod), West Greenland, the Faeroe Islands and the UK. Our results indicate that substructure does exist, and is particularly pronounced between West Greenland and other sites. The magnitudes of the various pairwise comparisons do not support a simple isolation-by-distance model. Instead, the patterns of genetic differentiation suggest that population isolation occurs between areas of the ocean which differ in sea surface temperature. Such a mechanism is supported by the observation that temperature is a primary factor determining the relative distributions of two short-finned pilot whale (G. macrorhynchus) populations off the Pacific coast of Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Fullard
- Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
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