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García-Vernet R, Rita D, Bérubé M, Elgueta-Serra J, Pascual Guasch M, Víkingsson G, Ruiz-Sagalés M, Borrell A, Aguilar A. Order within chaos: potential migratory strategies and individual associations in fin whales feeding off Iceland. Mov Ecol 2024; 12:36. [PMID: 38725038 PMCID: PMC11080271 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00474-w] [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: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The life cycle of most baleen whales involves annual migrations from low-latitude breeding grounds to high latitude feeding grounds. In most species, these migrations are traditionally considered to be carried out according to information acquired through vertical social learning during the first months of life and made individually. However, some recent studies have suggested a more complex scenario, particularly for the species of the Balaenoptera genus. METHODS Here, we studied the variation of δ15N and δ13C values along the growth axis of the baleen plate from 24 fin whales feeding off western Iceland to delve into their pattern of movements and to identify potential associations between individuals. The segment of baleen plate analyzed informed about at least two complete migratory cycles. We performed cluster analyses through two different methodologies and, whenever possible, we genotyped 20 microsatellite loci to determine potential existence of kinship. RESULTS Results of the of δ15N and δ13C values agree with a dispersion strategy in the winter breeding grounds. However, and despite the overall large variability, several pairs or groups of individuals with no kinship showed highly similar isotopic patterns for two consecutive years for both δ15N and δ13C values. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that, notably, some whales without kinship share the same migratory regime and destinations. We hypothesize that this could reflect either: (i) the sharing of particularly beneficial migratory regimes, and/or (ii) long-term association between individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel García-Vernet
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Diego Rita
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Martine Bérubé
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
- Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
| | - Julia Elgueta-Serra
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Marina Pascual Guasch
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Gísli Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, PO Box 1390, Fornubúðum 5, 220, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | - Marc Ruiz-Sagalés
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- Reial Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona (RACAB), La Rambla 115, Barcelona, 08001, Spain.
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Stukonytė L, Borrell A, Drago M, Lockyer C, Víkingsson G, Aguilar A. Effect of formic acid treatment on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in sperm whale teeth dentine. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2023; 37:e9500. [PMID: 36876865 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9500] [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] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Stable isotope analysis of growth layers in sperm whale teeth dentine can provide valuable insight into individual long-distance displacements and diet. Although treating teeth half-sections with formic acid and rubbing their surface with a graphite pencil improves growth layer visibility and reduces sampling error, previous studies mostly used untreated half-sections as the effect that this treatment may have on stable isotope ratios in dentine is unknown. The present study investigates the treatment effect on stable C and N isotope ratios in sperm whale teeth dentine. METHODS In the teeth of 30 sperm whales, we analysed and compared samples of powdered dentine obtained from (a) untreated half-sections, (b) half-sections etched with formic acid and rubbed with a graphite pencil and (c) half-sections etched with formic acid from which the graphite pencil rubbing had been cleansed off. δ 13 $$ {\delta}^{13} $$ C and δ 15 $$ {\delta}^{15} $$ N values were compared between the three sample groups. RESULTS We found significant differences in values of both elements between untreated and etched samples, with a mean increase of 0.2% in δ13 C and δ15 N values in the etched samples. No significant differences were found between etched samples with graphite rubbing versus those without it. Significant linear regression models were calculated to predict untreated δ13 C and δ15 N values from the values obtained in the etched half-sections with limited precision. CONCLUSIONS We show for the first time that formic acid etching has a clear effect on δ 13 $$ {\delta}^{13} $$ C and δ 15 $$ {\delta}^{15} $$ N values in sperm whale teeth dentine. The developed models permit the estimation of untreated values from etched half-sections, thus enabling the use of the latter in stable isotope analysis. However, as treatment procedures may vary between studies, it is advisable that similar predictive models are developed case-by-case to ensure comparability of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stukonytė
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Massimiliano Drago
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Gísli Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Barcelona, Spain
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Heide‐Jørgensen MP, Chambault P, Jansen T, Gjelstrup CVB, Rosing‐Asvid A, Macrander A, Víkingsson G, Zhang X, Andresen CS, MacKenzie BR. A regime shift in the Southeast Greenland marine ecosystem. Glob Chang Biol 2023; 29:668-685. [PMID: 36408667 PMCID: PMC10099497 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16494] [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] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Two major oceanographic changes have recently propagated through several trophic levels in coastal areas of Southeast Greenland (SEG). Firstly, the amount of drift-ice exported from the Fram Strait and transported with the East Greenland Current (EGC) has decreased significantly over the past two decades, and a main tipping element (summer sea ice) has virtually disappeared since 2003 leading to a regime shift in oceanographic and ecological conditions in the region. The following 20-year period with low or no coastal sea ice is unique in the 200-year history of ice observations in the region, and the regime shift is also obvious in the volume of ice export through the Fram Strait after 2013. In the same period, the temperature of the EGC south of 73.5 N has increased significantly (>2°C) since 1980. Secondly, the warm Irminger Current, which advects warm, saline Atlantic Water into the region, has become warmer since 1990. The lack of pack ice in summer together with a warming ocean generated cascading effects on the ecosystem in SEG that are manifested in a changed fish fauna with an influx of boreal species in the south and the subarctic capelin further north. At higher trophic levels there has been an increase in the abundance of several boreal cetaceans (humpback, fin, killer, and pilot whales and dolphins) that are either new to this area or occur in historically large numbers. It is estimated that the new cetacean species in SEG are responsible for an annual predation level of 700,000 tons of fish. In addition, predation on krill species is estimated at >1,500,000 tons mainly consumed by fin whales. Simultaneously, there has been a reduction in the abundance and catches of narwhals and walruses in SEG and it is suggested that these species have been impacted by the habitat changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippine Chambault
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesCopenhagen KDenmark
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyThe University of CaliforniaSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Teunis Jansen
- DTU AquaInstitute of Aquatic ResourcesLyngbyDenmark
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesNuukGreenland
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiangdong Zhang
- International Arctic Research Center, Department of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of Alaska FairbanksFairbanksAlaskaUSA
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Cabrera AA, Schall E, Bérubé M, Anderwald P, Bachmann L, Berrow S, Best PB, Clapham PJ, Cunha H, Dalla Rosa L, Dias C, Findlay K, Haug T, Heide‐Jørgensen MP, Hoelzel A, Kovacs KM, Landry S, Larsen F, Lopes XM, Lydersen C, Mattila DK, Oosting T, Pace RM, Papetti C, Paspati A, Pastene LA, Prieto R, Ramp C, Robbins J, Sears R, Secchi ER, Silva MA, Simon M, Víkingsson G, Wiig Ø, Øien N, Palsbøll PJ. Strong and lasting impacts of past global warming on baleen whales and their prey. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:2657-2677. [PMID: 35106859 PMCID: PMC9305191 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is affecting the population dynamics and trophic interactions across a wide range of ecosystems and habitats. Translating these real-time effects into their long-term consequences remains a challenge. The rapid and extreme warming period that occurred after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition (7-12 thousand years ago) provides an opportunity to gain insights into the long-term responses of natural populations to periods with global warming. The effects of this post-LGM warming period have been assessed in many terrestrial taxa, whereas insights into the impacts of rapid global warming on marine taxa remain limited, especially for megafauna. In order to understand how large-scale climate fluctuations during the post-LGM affected baleen whales and their prey, we conducted an extensive, large-scale analysis of the long-term effects of the post-LGM warming on abundance and inter-ocean connectivity in eight baleen whale and seven prey (fish and invertebrates) species across the Southern and the North Atlantic Ocean; two ocean basins that differ in key oceanographic features. The analysis was based upon 7032 mitochondrial DNA sequences as well as genome-wide DNA sequence variation in 100 individuals. The estimated temporal changes in genetic diversity during the last 30,000 years indicated that most baleen whale populations underwent post-LGM expansions in both ocean basins. The increase in baleen whale abundance during the Holocene was associated with simultaneous changes in their prey and climate. Highly correlated, synchronized and exponential increases in abundance in both baleen whales and their prey in the Southern Ocean were indicative of a dramatic increase in ocean productivity. In contrast, the demographic fluctuations observed in baleen whales and their prey in the North Atlantic Ocean were subtle, varying across taxa and time. Perhaps most important was the observation that the ocean-wide expansions and decreases in abundance that were initiated by the post-LGM global warming, continued for millennia after global temperatures stabilized, reflecting persistent, long-lasting impacts of global warming on marine fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea A. Cabrera
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- GLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Elena Schall
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Martine Bérubé
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Pia Anderwald
- Swiss National ParkChastè Planta‐WildenbergZernezSwitzerland
| | | | - Simon Berrow
- Marine and Freshwater Research CentreGalway‐Mayo Institute of TechnologyGalwayIreland
- Irish Whale and Dolphin GroupMerchants QuayKilrushCounty ClareIreland
| | - Peter B. Best
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyMammal Research InstituteUniversity of PretoriaHatfieldSouth Africa
| | | | - Haydée A. Cunha
- Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators Laboratory (MAQUA)Faculty of OceanographyState University of Rio de Janeiro ‐ UERJMaracanãRio de JaneiroBrazil
- Genetics Department of the Biology InstituteState University of Rio de Janeiro ‐ UERJMaracanãRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Luciano Dalla Rosa
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Marine MegafaunaInstitute of OceanographyFederal University of Rio Grande‐FURGRio GrandeRio Grande do SulBrazil
| | - Carolina Dias
- Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators Laboratory (MAQUA)Faculty of OceanographyState University of Rio de Janeiro ‐ UERJMaracanãRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Kenneth P. Findlay
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyMammal Research InstituteUniversity of PretoriaHatfieldSouth Africa
- Department Conservation and Marine SciencesCentre for Sustainable Oceans EconomyCape Peninsula University of TechnologyCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Tore Haug
- Research Group Marine MammalsInstitute of Marine ResearchTromsøNorway
| | | | | | | | - Scott Landry
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Finn Larsen
- Section for Ecosystem based Marine ManagementNational Institute of Aquatic ResourcesTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Xênia M. Lopes
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Tom Oosting
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Richard M. Pace
- Northeast Fisheries Science CenterNational Marine Fisheries ServiceWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Angeliki Paspati
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Hellenic Agricultural Organisation‐“DIMITRA”HerakleionCreteGreece
| | | | - Rui Prieto
- Institute of Marine Sciences – Okeanos & Institute of Marine Research ‐ IMARUniversity of the AzoresHortaPortugal
| | - Christian Ramp
- Sea Mammal Research UnitScottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St. AndrewsScotlandUK
- Mingan Island Cetacean StudySaint LambertQuébecCanada
| | - Jooke Robbins
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Richard Sears
- Greenland Climate Research CentreGreenland Institute of Natural ResourcesNuukGreenland
| | - Eduardo R. Secchi
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Marine MegafaunaInstitute of OceanographyFederal University of Rio Grande‐FURGRio GrandeRio Grande do SulBrazil
| | - Mónica A. Silva
- Institute of Marine Sciences – Okeanos & Institute of Marine Research ‐ IMARUniversity of the AzoresHortaPortugal
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research CentreGreenland Institute of Natural ResourcesNuukGreenland
| | | | - Øystein Wiig
- Natural History MuseumUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Nils Øien
- Marine Mammal DivisionInstitute of Marine ResearchBergenNorway
| | - Per J. Palsbøll
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetownMassachusettsUSA
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Punt AE, Siple MC, Francis TB, Hammond PS, Heinemann D, Long KJ, Moore J, Sepúlveda M, Reeves RR, Sigurðsson GM, Víkingsson G, Wade PR, Williams R, Zerbini AN. Can we manage marine mammal bycatch effectively in low‐data environments? J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- André E. Punt
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Margaret C. Siple
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Tessa B. Francis
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
- Puget Sound Institute University of Washington Tacoma Tacoma WA USA
| | - Philip S. Hammond
- Sea Mammal Research Unit Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews Fife UK
| | | | - Kristy J. Long
- Office of Protected Resources NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Silver Spring MD USA
| | - Jeff Moore
- Protected Resources Division NOAA SWFSC La Jolla CA USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul R. Wade
- Marine Mammal Laboratory NOAA AFSC Seattle WA USA
| | | | - Alexandre N. Zerbini
- Marine Mammal Laboratory NOAA AFSC Seattle WA USA
- Cascadia Research Collective Olympia WA USA
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research Seabeck WA USA
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Pike DG, Gunnlaugsson T, Mikkelsen B, Víkingsson G, Desportes G. Distribution and Abundance of Killer Whales in the Central North Atlantic, 1987-2015. NAMMCOSP 2020. [DOI: 10.7557/3.5579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The North Atlantic Sightings Surveys (NASS), covering a large but variable portion of the Central and Eastern North Atlantic, were conducted in 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2015. Sightings of killer whales (Orcinus orca), a non-target species, were relatively rare in the Central Atlantic (Icelandic and Faroese) portions of the survey area. In cases where sighting numbers were insufficient, we pooled sightings over several surveys to derive a distance detection function and used this to estimate abundance using standard Distance Sampling methodology. Uncorrected estimates were produced for all surveys, and estimates corrected for perception bias were produced for the 2001 and 2015 surveys. Killer whales were sighted in all areas but were most common in the eastern part of the survey area. Uncorrected abundance in the NASS core area ranged from a low of 4,736 (95% CI: 1,842–12,176) in 1995 to a maximum of 15,142 (95% CI: 6,003–38,190) in 2001. The low precision of the estimates makes the detection of temporal trends unlikely. In 2007 an extension survey revealed relatively high numbers of killer whales to the east of the survey area, in conformity with Norwegian survey estimates in this area. The NASS and other surveys conducted over the period indicate that killer whales number in the low tens of thousands in the Central and Eastern North Atlantic.
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Pike DG, Gunnlaugsson T, Mikkelsen B, Halldórsson SD, Víkingsson G, Acquarone M, Desportes G. Estimates of the Abundance of Cetaceans in the Central North Atlantic from the T-NASS Icelandic and Faroese Ship Surveys Conducted in 2007. NAMMCOSP 2020. [DOI: 10.7557/3.5269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The Trans-North Atlantic Sightings Survey (T-NASS) carried out in June-July 2007 was the fifth in a series of large-scale cetacean surveys conducted previously in 1987, 1989, 1995 and 2001. The core survey area covered an area of about 1.8 million nm² spanning from the Eastern Barents Sea at 34°E to the east coast of Canada, and between 52°N and 78°N in the east and south to 42°N in the west. We present design-based abundance estimates from the Faroese and Icelandic vessel survey components of T-NASS, as well as results from ancillary vessels which covered adjoining areas. The 4 dedicated survey vessels used a Buckland-Turnock (B-T) mode with a tracker platform searching an area ahead of the primary platform and tracking sightings to provide data for bias correction. Both uncorrected estimates, using the combined non-duplicate sightings from both platforms, and mark-recapture estimates, correcting estimates from the primary platform for bias due to perception and availability, are presented for those species with a sufficient number of sightings. Corrected estimates for the core survey area are as follows: fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus): 30,777 (CV=0.19); humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): 18,105 (CV=0.43); sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus): 12,268 (CV=0.33); long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas): 87,417 (CV=0.38); white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris): 91,277 (CV=0.53); and white-sided dolphins (L. acutus): 81,008 (CV=0.54). Uncorrected estimates only were possible for common minke whales (B. acutorstrata): 12,427 (CV=0.27); and sei whales (B. borealis): 5,159 (CV=0.47). Sighting rates from the ancillary vessels, which used a single platform, were lower than those from the dedicated vessels in areas where they overlapped. No evidence of responsive movement by any species was detected, but there was some indication that distance measurements by the primary platform may have been negatively biased. The significance of this for the abundance estimates is discussed. The relative merits of B-T over other survey modes are discussed and recommendations for future surveys are provided.
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Houghton L, Ramirez-Martinez N, Mikkelsen B, Víkingsson G, Gunnlaugsson T, Øien N, Hammond P. Oceanic Drivers of Sei Whale Distribution in the North Atlantic. NAMMCOSP 2020. [DOI: 10.7557/3.5211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the oceanic drivers of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) distribution in the central and eastern North Atlantic, and explored how distribution may have changed over almost three decades. Cetacean sightings data were available from Icelandic, Faroese and Norwegian surveys conducted throughout the central and eastern North Atlantic during summer between 1987 and 2015. Effective strip half width was estimated from the data to take account of variation in detection probability. Spatially-referenced environmental variables used as predictors in generalised additive models of sei whale relative density included: relief-related variables seabed depth, slope and aspect; monthly-varying physical oceanographic variables sea surface temperature (SST), mixed layer depth, bottom temperature, salinity, and sea surface height anomaly (SSH); and monthly-varying biological oceanographic variables chlorophyll-a concentration and primary productivity. Preliminary analysis considered which month (March-August) in the dynamic oceanographic variables explained most variability in sei whale density. Models including all variables (“full models”) could only be run for 1998-2015 because data for several variables were missing in earlier years. “Simple models" including only relief-related variables and SST were therefore run for 1987-89, and also for 1998-2015 for comparison. The best-fitting full model for 1998-2015 retained the covariates depth, May SST, May bottom temperature, July salinity, July SSH and July primary productivity. Of these, depth, May SST and July SSH were the strongest predictors of sei whale density. In the simple models for both 1987-89 and 1998-2015, depth (especially), May SST and seabed slope were the strongest predictors of sei whale density. The highest densities of sei whales were predicted in the Irminger Sea and over the Charles-Gibbs Fracture Zone; a pattern driven by large negative SSH, deep water (>1500m) and polar-temperate SST (5-12oC). There was some inter-annual variability in predicted distribution and there appears to be a northward expansion in distribution consistent with prey species responding to ocean warming. The models could be used to predict future distribution of sei whales based on future environmental conditions predicted by climate models.
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Pike D, Gunnlaugsson T, Mikkelsen B, Halldórsson SD, Víkingsson G. Estimates of the abundance of cetaceans in the central North Atlantic based on the NASS Icelandic and Faroese shipboard surveys conducted in 2015. NAMMCOSP 2019. [DOI: 10.7557/3.4941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The North Atlantic Sightings Survey (NASS), the sixth in a series of surveys conducted between 1987 and 2015, was conducted in June/July 2015 and covered a large area of the northern North Atlantic. The Icelandic and Faroese ship survey component of the NASS covered the area between the Faroe Islands and East Greenland from latitude 52° to 72° N. The survey used 3 vessels and an independent double-platform configuration with each platform staffed by a minimum of 2 observers. Here we present both uncorrected abundance estimates derived using Multiple Covariates Distance Sampling, and corrected abundance estimates derived using Mark-Recapture Distance Sampling, for the following species: fin (Balaenoptera physalus), common minke (B. acutorstrata), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), blue (B. musculus), sei (B. borealis), sperm (Physeter macrocephalus), long-finned pilot (Globicephala melas) and northern bottlenose (Hyperoodon ampullatus) whales as well as white-beaked (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and white-sided (L. acutus) dolphins. We then compare these estimates to those from previous NASS and put them into context with estimates from adjoining areas of the North Atlantic.
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Vighi M, Borrell A, Víkingsson G, Gunnlaugsson T, Aguilar A. Strontium in fin whale baleen: A potential tracer of mysticete movements across the oceans? Sci Total Environ 2019; 650:1224-1230. [PMID: 30308810 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Strontium is a metal broadly distributed in oceanic waters, where its concentrations follow gradients mainly driven by oceanographic and biological factors. Studies on terrestrial vertebrates show that Sr can accumulate in mammalian hair in amounts mainly related to the external environment, a property that has been scarcely investigated in aquatic mammals. Cetaceans are marine mammals whose skin is generally hairless, but the species belonging to the mysticete group feed through a filtering apparatus made of keratinous baleen plates that, like hair, grow continuously. During their annual latitudinal migrations, mysticetes cross water masses with variable chemo-physical characteristics that may be reflected in these tissues. In the present study, baleen plates were sampled from 10 fin whales obtained from NW Spain (N = 5) and SW Iceland (N = 5) to investigate Sr concentrations along the plates growth axis. Samples were taken longitudinally at regular 1 cm-intervals on each plate. Sr concentrations, determined through mass spectrometry, ranged from 5 to 40 mg kg-1 and increased from proximal to distal positions along plates. These results suggest a progressive adsorption of Sr on the plate surface, a process that also occurs in mammalian hair. Increasing trends were similar in the two regions but overall concentrations were significantly higher in NW Spain, reflecting different Sr baseline concentrations in the two areas and indicating isolation between the two whale populations. Some oscillations in Sr longitudinal trends were also detected, likely indicating that whales migrate across water masses with different Sr baselines. These results suggest that Sr concentrations in keratinous tissues of marine mammals can be used as ecological tracers of their migrations and habitat use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgana Vighi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences; IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - A Borrell
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences; IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 121 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Th Gunnlaugsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 121 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - A Aguilar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences; IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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García-Vernet R, Sant P, Víkingsson G, Borrell A, Aguilar A. Are stable isotope ratios and oscillations consistent in all baleen plates along the filtering apparatus? Validation of an increasingly used methodology. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2018; 32:1257-1262. [PMID: 29777557 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Baleen plates are anatomical structures composed of inert tissue that hang from the upper jaw in mysticetes. Baleen plates may differ in size and in coloration between different segments of the filtering row or between sides of the mouth. Concern has been raised that variation in baleen plate characteristics may reflect dissimilar structural composition and growth rates liable to affect stable isotope ratios and their oscillation patterns. METHODS We measured stable carbon (δ13 C values) and nitrogen (δ15 N values) isotope ratios at intervals of 1 cm along the longitudinal axis of six baleen plates collected from different positions along the mouth of a fin whale. All samples were analysed using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Generalized additive models were fitted to the data from each baleen plate and the results of the models were compared visually. RESULTS A total of 206 samples were analysed. Visually, all baleen plates presented nearly identical oscillations, independent of the position or the coloration of the baleen plate. However, the variation in δ13 C and δ15 N values occurring between the different baleen plates was higher in the segments of oscillations exhibiting steeper slopes. CONCLUSIONS Differences in size between plates in an individual are due to differential erosion rates according to their position in the mouth. Therefore, the position of sampling along the baleen plate row should not be a reason for concern when conducting stable isotope studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel García-Vernet
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pol Sant
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gísli Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, PO Box 1390, Skúlagata 4, 121, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Lah L, Trense D, Benke H, Berggren P, Gunnlaugsson Þ, Lockyer C, Öztürk A, Öztürk B, Pawliczka I, Roos A, Siebert U, Skóra K, Víkingsson G, Tiedemann R. Spatially Explicit Analysis of Genome-Wide SNPs Detects Subtle Population Structure in a Mobile Marine Mammal, the Harbor Porpoise. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162792. [PMID: 27783621 PMCID: PMC5082642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The population structure of the highly mobile marine mammal, the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), in the Atlantic shelf waters follows a pattern of significant isolation-by-distance. The population structure of harbor porpoises from the Baltic Sea, which is connected with the North Sea through a series of basins separated by shallow underwater ridges, however, is more complex. Here, we investigated the population differentiation of harbor porpoises in European Seas with a special focus on the Baltic Sea and adjacent waters, using a population genomics approach. We used 2872 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), derived from double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq), as well as 13 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial haplotypes for the same set of individuals. Spatial principal components analysis (sPCA), and Bayesian clustering on a subset of SNPs suggest three main groupings at the level of all studied regions: the Black Sea, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, we observed a distinct separation of the North Sea harbor porpoises from the Baltic Sea populations, and identified splits between porpoise populations within the Baltic Sea. We observed a notable distinction between the Belt Sea and the Inner Baltic Sea sub-regions. Improved delineation of harbor porpoise population assignments for the Baltic based on genomic evidence is important for conservation management of this endangered cetacean in threatened habitats, particularly in the Baltic Sea proper. In addition, we show that SNPs outperform microsatellite markers and demonstrate the utility of RAD-tags from a relatively small, opportunistically sampled cetacean sample set for population diversity and divergence analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljerka Lah
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Daronja Trense
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Per Berggren
- Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Cullercoats, North Shields, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ayaka Öztürk
- Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Fisheries, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bayram Öztürk
- Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Fisheries, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Anna Roos
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Büsum, Germany
| | | | | | - Ralph Tiedemann
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail:
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13
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Rotander A, van Bavel B, Rigét F, Auðunsson GA, Polder A, Gabrielsen GW, Víkingsson G, Mikkelsen B, Dam M. Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in sub-Arctic and Arctic marine mammals, 1986-2009. Environ Pollut 2012; 164:118-124. [PMID: 22356752 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2011] [Revised: 01/22/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A selection of PCN congeners was analyzed in pooled blubber samples of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) and Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), covering a time period of more than 20 years (1986-2009). A large geographical area of the North Atlantic and Arctic areas was covered. PCN congeners 48, 52, 53, 66 and 69 were found in the blubber samples between 0.03 and 5.9 ng/g lw. Also PCBs were analyzed in minke whales and fin whales from Iceland and the total PCN content accounted for 0.2% or less of the total non-planar PCB content. No statistically significant trend in contaminant levels could be established for the studied areas. However, in all species except minke whales caught off Norway the lowest ∑PCN concentrations were found in samples from the latest sampling period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rotander
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
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14
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Rotander A, van Bavel B, Polder A, Rigét F, Auðunsson GA, Gabrielsen GW, Víkingsson G, Bloch D, Dam M. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals from Arctic and North Atlantic regions, 1986-2009. Environ Int 2012; 40:102-109. [PMID: 21802148 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2011] [Revised: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 07/01/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A selection of PBDE congeners was analyzed in pooled blubber samples of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) and Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), covering a time period of more than 20 years (1986-2009). The analytes were extracted and cleaned-up using open column extraction and multi-layer silica gel column chromatography, and the analysis was performed on a GC-MS system operating in the NCI mode. The highest PBDE levels were found in the toothed whale species pilot whale and white-sided dolphin, and the lowest levels in fin whales and ringed seals. One-sided analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey comparisons of means were applied to test for differences between years and sampling areas. Due to inter-year sampling variability, only general comparisons of PBDE concentrations between different sampling areas could be made. Differences in PBDE concentrations between three sampling periods, from 1986 to 2007, were evaluated in samples of pilot whales, ringed seals, white-sided dolphins and hooded seals. The highest PBDE levels were found in samples from the late 1990s or beginning of 2000, possibly reflecting the increase in the global production of technical PBDE mixtures in the 1990s. The levels of BDE #153 and #154 increased relative to the total PBDE concentration in some of the species in recent years, which may indicate an increased relative exposure to higher brominated congeners. In order to assess the effect of measures taken in legally binding international agreements, it is important to continuously monitor POPs such as PBDEs in sub-Arctic and Arctic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rotander
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Bert van Bavel
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anuschka Polder
- Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Food Safety and Environment, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway
| | - Frank Rigét
- Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Box 358 DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Guðjón Atli Auðunsson
- Innovation Center Iceland, Dept. of Analytical Chemistry, Keldnaholti, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | - Dorete Bloch
- Faroese Musum of Natural History, Fútalág 40, FO-100 Torshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Maria Dam
- Environment Agency, Pob, 2048, FO-165 Argir, Faroe Islands
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15
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Rotander A, van Bavel B, Rigét F, Auðunsson GA, Polder A, Gabrielsen GW, Víkingsson G, Mikkelsen B, Dam M. Methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) are major contributors to the persistent organobromine load in sub-Arctic and Arctic marine mammals, 1986-2009. Sci Total Environ 2012; 416:482-489. [PMID: 22225820 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2011] [Revised: 11/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A selection of MeO-BDE and BDE congeners were analyzed in pooled blubber samples of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), and Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), covering a time period of more than 20 years (1986-2009). The analytes were extracted and cleaned-up using open column extraction and multi-layer silica gel column chromatography. The analysis was performed using both low resolution and high resolution GC-MS. MeO-PBDE concentrations relative to total PBDE concentrations varied greatly between sampling periods and species. The highest MeO-PBDE levels were found in the toothed whale species pilot whale and white-sided dolphin, often exceeding the concentration of the most abundant PBDE, BDE-47. The lowest MeO-PBDE levels were found in fin whales and ringed seals. The main MeO-BDE congeners were 6-MeO-BDE47 and 2'-MeO-BDE68. A weak correlation only between BDE47 and its methoxylated analog 6-MeO-BDE47 was found and is indicative of a natural source for MeO-PBDEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rotander
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
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Rotander A, Kärrman A, van Bavel B, Polder A, Rigét F, Auðunsson GA, Víkingsson G, Gabrielsen GW, Bloch D, Dam M. Increasing levels of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in Arctic and North Atlantic marine mammals, 1984-2009. Chemosphere 2012; 86:278-285. [PMID: 22051347 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Revised: 09/22/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Temporal variations in concentrations of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and sulfonic acids (PFSAs), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) structural isomers, were examined in livers of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hisida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) and in muscle tissue of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). The sampling spanned over 20 years (1984-2009) and covered a large geographical area of the North Atlantic and West Greenland. Liver and muscle samples were homogenized, extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up using hexane and solid phase extraction (SPE), and analyzed by liquid chromatography with negative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In general, the levels of the long-chained PFCAs (C9-C12) increased whereas the levels of PFOS remained steady over the studied period. The PFOS isomer pattern in pilot whale liver was relatively constant over the sampling years. However, in ringed seals there seemed to be a decrease in linear PFOS (L-PFOS) with time, going from 91% in 1984 to 83% in 2006.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rotander
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
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Sigurjónsson J, Víkingsson G. Seasonal Abundance of and Estimated Food Consumption by Cetaceans in Icelandic and Adjacent Waters. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.2960/j.v22.a20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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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