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Gose MA, Humble E, Brownlow A, Wall D, Rogan E, Sigurðsson GM, Kiszka JJ, Thøstesen CB, IJsseldijk LL, Ten Doeschate M, Davison NJ, Øien N, Deaville R, Siebert U, Ogden R. Population genomics of the white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris): Implications for conservation amid climate-driven range shifts. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:192-201. [PMID: 38302666 PMCID: PMC10997624 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00672-7] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is rapidly affecting species distributions across the globe, particularly in the North Atlantic. For highly mobile and elusive cetaceans, the genetic data needed to understand population dynamics are often scarce. Cold-water obligate species such as the white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) face pressures from habitat shifts due to rising sea surface temperatures in addition to other direct anthropogenic threats. Unravelling the genetic connectivity between white-beaked dolphins across their range is needed to understand the extent to which climate change and anthropogenic pressures may impact species-wide genetic diversity and identify ways to protect remaining habitat. We address this by performing a population genomic assessment of white-beaked dolphins using samples from much of their contemporary range. We show that the species displays significant population structure across the North Atlantic at multiple scales. Analysis of contemporary migration rates suggests a remarkably high connectivity between populations in the western North Atlantic, Iceland and the Barents Sea, while two regional populations in the North Sea and adjacent UK and Irish waters are highly differentiated from all other clades. Our results have important implications for the conservation of white-beaked dolphins by providing guidance for the delineation of more appropriate management units and highlighting the risk that local extirpation may have on species-wide genetic diversity. In a broader context, this study highlights the importance of understanding genetic structure of all species threatened with climate change-driven range shifts to assess the risk of loss of species-wide genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Alexander Gose
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Emily Humble
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Dave Wall
- Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), Kilrush, Ireland
| | - Emer Rogan
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Lonneke L IJsseldijk
- Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mariel Ten Doeschate
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicholas J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nils Øien
- Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Bergen, Norway
| | - Rob Deaville
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rob Ogden
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Alstrup AKO, Thøstesen CB, Hansen KA, Sonne C, Kinze CC, Mikkelsen L, Thomsen A, Povlsen P, Larsen HL, Linder AC, Pagh S. The Self-Stranding Behavior of a Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) in Inner Danish Waters and Considerations concerning Human Interference in Live Strandings. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1948. [PMID: 37370458 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121948] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rescue attempts of stranded whales and euthanasia considerations must include condition assessments of the individual involved, but this is challenged by our insufficient knowledge about the health statuses of these whales. Here, we describe three separate strandings of a young male killer whale (Orcinus orca) in shallow Danish waters during 2021-2022. During the first two stranding events, the whale exhibited remarkable behavior and, after refloating attempts and several kilometers of swimming, it returned to shallow water. This suggests that it actively chose to be in this shallow water, perhaps to ensure free airways and respiration. During the last stranding, it stayed in shallow water for 30 days, during which, euthanasia was considered due to its seemingly worsened condition, including a collapsed dorsal fin. However, suddenly, the whale swam away and, a year later, he was seen alive, confirming that euthanasia would have been the wrong decision. This case raises an important question as to when and under what circumstances active human interventions, such as refloating attempts, should be launched and when euthanasia should be carried out. Every stranding is unique and decisions should be based on thorough considerations of the animal's health and the chance of a successful rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Kirstin Anderson Hansen
- Fjord & Bælt, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Peter Povlsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Hanne Lyngholm Larsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anne Cathrine Linder
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sussie Pagh
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
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Baier-Stegmaier S, Gundlach C, Chriél M, Hansen MS, Vedel-Smith C, Hansen CV, Johansson DK, Henriksen LB, Wahlberg M, Thøstesen CB, Alstrup AKO, Gregersen KM, Pertoldi C, Pagh S. Computed Tomography as a Method for Age Determination of Carnivora and Odontocetes with Validation from Individuals with Known Age. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1783. [PMID: 37889740 PMCID: PMC10251996 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111783] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional methods for age determination of wildlife include either slicing thin sections off or grinding a tooth, both of which are laborious and invasive. Especially when it comes to ancient and valuable museum samples of rare or extinct species, non-invasive methods are preferable. In this study, X-ray micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) was verified as an alternative non-invasive method for age determination of three species within the order of Carnivora and suborders Odontoceti. Teeth from 13 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 2 American mink (Neogale vison), and 2 harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) of known age were studied using µ-CT. The number of visible dental growth layers in the µ-CT were highly correlated with true age for all three species (R2 = 96%, p < 0.001). In addition, the Bland-Altman plot showed high agreement between the age of individuals and visible dental layers represented in 2D slices of the 3D µ-CT images. The true age of individuals was on average 0.3 (±0.6 SD) years higher than the age interpreted by the µ-CT image, and there was a 95% agreement between the true age and the age interpreted from visible dental layers in the µ-CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Baier-Stegmaier
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (S.B.-S.)
| | - Carsten Gundlach
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (S.B.-S.)
| | - Mariann Chriél
- Department of Health Technology Center for Diagnostics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mette Sif Hansen
- Department of Health Technology Center for Diagnostics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Christina Vedel-Smith
- Department of Research and Collections, Natural History Museum Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; (C.V.-S.)
| | - Charlotte Vikkelsø Hansen
- Department of Research and Collections, Natural History Museum Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; (C.V.-S.)
| | | | | | - Magnus Wahlberg
- Marine Biological Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
| | | | - Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department for Nuclear Medicine & PET, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience—Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Sussie Pagh
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience—Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
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Lauridsen H, Bie Thøstesen C, Pedersen CCE, Ringgaard S, Elstrup M, Møller PR, Johansson DK, Alstrup AKO. Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae). R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220459. [PMID: 36533195 PMCID: PMC9748495 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220459] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Recently, a unique mechanism for protecting the airway during lunge feeding was discovered in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae). This mechanism is based on an oral plug structure in the soft palate with similarities in musculo-fatty composition to the nasal plugs protecting the respiratory tract of rorquals from water entry and barotrauma during diving. As a follow-up, we present here a developmental series on fetal, prenatal, juvenile and adult specimens across five species of rorquals, showing differential maturation of the nasal and oral respiratory protection plugs. Nasal plugs are fully formed to serve an immediate crucial function at birth. By contrast, the soft palate remains muscular until the onset of solid food intake, where a musculo-fatty oral plug is developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Lauridsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | | | | | - Steffen Ringgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Mette Elstrup
- Department of Natural History, Museumof Southern Jutland, 6510 Gram, Denmark
| | - Peter Rask Møller
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark
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Alstrup AKO, Sonne C, Brauckhoff M, Hansen JH, Thøstesen CB. Skull and Neck Lesions in a Long-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas): A Result of Ship Collision? Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182362. [PMID: 36139222 PMCID: PMC9495128 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We performed a routine necropsy on an adult male pilot whale stranded in a heavy boat traffic area of Denmark. On its outside, there was no visible damage or alterations, and similarly, the internal organs of the thorax and the abdomen also showed no significant changes that could explain the death of the whale. But to our surprise, we found extensive internal injuries after incisions in the head and neck regions: There were multiple fractured bones, muscle trauma and extensive bleeding including a fractured occipital bone with several fragments and bone pieces deeply embedded into the whale brain—injuries that very well, but not with certainty, could be caused by a ship collision. This case demonstrates the importance of performing full necropsies of whales to rule out other causes of death. Otherwise, ship collisions may be an overlooked issue with implications for population health. Abstract Necropsy on an adult male pilot whale stranded in Denmark in an area with heavy boat traffic revealed internal lesions in the head and neck region, while the exterior did not show any visible lesions. We found multiple fractured bones, muscle trauma and extensive hemorrhage including a fractured occipital bone with several fragments and bone pieces deeply embedded into the cerebrum of the brain. The brain was literally smashed while the third and partially fourth cervical vertebrae were almost pulverized surrounded by large amounts of blood and muscle contusion. The whale was likely killed due to a ship collision, and this particular case substantiates the value of always performing full necropsies including incisions in head and neck regions on all stranded whales—especially in areas with heavy boat traffic. This case demonstrates the importance of veterinarians performing full necropsies of whales to rule out other causes of death. Otherwise, ship collisions may be an overlooked issue having implications for population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45–2289-9285
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Melanie Brauckhoff
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
- Fisheries and Maritime Museum, DK-6710 Esbjerg, Denmark
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Stokholm I, Fischer N, Baechlein C, Postel A, Galatius A, Kyhn LA, Thøstesen CB, Persson S, Siebert U, Olsen MT, Becher P. In the Search of Marine Pestiviruses: First Case of Phocoena Pestivirus in a Belt Sea Harbour Porpoise. Viruses 2022; 14:v14010161. [PMID: 35062365 PMCID: PMC8780987 DOI: 10.3390/v14010161] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pestiviruses are widespread pathogens causing severe acute and chronic diseases among terrestrial mammals. Recently, Phocoena pestivirus (PhoPeV) was described in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) of the North Sea, expanding the host range to marine mammals. While the role of the virus is unknown, intrauterine infections with the most closely related pestiviruses— Bungowannah pestivirus (BuPV) and Linda virus (LindaV)—can cause increased rates of abortions and deaths in young piglets. Such diseases could severely impact already vulnerable harbour porpoise populations. Here, we investigated the presence of PhoPeV in 77 harbour porpoises, 277 harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) collected in the Baltic Sea region between 2002 and 2019. The full genome sequence of a pestivirus was obtained from a juvenile female porpoise collected along the coast of Zealand in Denmark in 2011. The comparative Bayesian phylogenetic analyses revealed a close relationship between the new PhoPeV sequence and previously published North Sea sequences with a recent divergence from genotype 1 sequences between 2005 and 2009. Our findings provide further insight into the circulation of PhoPeV and expand the distribution from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea region with possible implications for the vulnerable Belt Sea and endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iben Stokholm
- Evolutionary Genomics Section, GLOBE, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark; (I.S.); (M.T.O.)
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany;
| | - Nicole Fischer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Christine Baechlein
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (C.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Alexander Postel
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (C.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Anders Galatius
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (A.G.); (L.A.K.)
| | - Line Anker Kyhn
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (A.G.); (L.A.K.)
| | | | - Sara Persson
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany;
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Evolutionary Genomics Section, GLOBE, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark; (I.S.); (M.T.O.)
| | - Paul Becher
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (C.B.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence:
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