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Pallin LJ, Botero-Acosta N, Steel D, Baker CS, Casey C, Costa DP, Goldbogen JA, Johnston DW, Kellar NM, Modest M, Nichols R, Roberts D, Roberts M, Savenko O, Friedlaender AS. Variation in blubber cortisol levels in a recovering humpback whale population inhabiting a rapidly changing environment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20250. [PMID: 36424421 PMCID: PMC9686265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24704-6] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are regularly used as biomarkers of relative health for individuals and populations. Around the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), baleen whales have and continue to experience threats, including commercial harvest, prey limitations and habitat change driven by rapid warming, and increased human presence via ecotourism. Here, we measured demographic variation and differences across the foraging season in blubber cortisol levels of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) over two years around the WAP. Cortisol concentrations were determined from 305 biopsy samples of unique individuals. We found no significant difference in the cortisol concentration between male and female whales. However, we observed significant differences across demographic groups of females and a significant decrease in the population across the feeding season. We also assessed whether COVID-19-related reductions in tourism in 2021 along the WAP correlated with lower cortisol levels across the population. The decline in vessel presence in 2021 was associated with a significant decrease in humpback whale blubber cortisol concentrations at the population level. Our findings provide critical contextual data on how these hormones vary naturally in a population over time, show direct associations between cortisol levels and human presence, and will enable comparisons among species experiencing different levels of human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. J. Pallin
- grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917Present Address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
| | - N. Botero-Acosta
- Fundación Macuáticos Colombia, Calle 27 # 79-167, Medellín, Colombia ,Programa Antártico Colombiano, Avenida Ciudad de Cali #51 - 66, Oficina 306, Edificio World Business Center – WBC, Bogotá, D.C. Colombia
| | - D. Steel
- grid.4391.f0000 0001 2112 1969Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365 USA
| | - C. S. Baker
- grid.4391.f0000 0001 2112 1969Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365 USA
| | - C. Casey
- grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA ,California Ocean Alliance, 9099 Soquel Ave, Aptos, CA 95003 USA
| | - D. P. Costa
- grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917Present Address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
| | - J. A. Goldbogen
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 USA
| | - D. W. Johnston
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516 USA
| | - N. M. Kellar
- grid.422702.10000 0001 1356 4495Marine Mammal Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
| | - M. Modest
- grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917Present Address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
| | - R. Nichols
- grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
| | - D. Roberts
- California Ocean Alliance, 9099 Soquel Ave, Aptos, CA 95003 USA
| | - M. Roberts
- California Ocean Alliance, 9099 Soquel Ave, Aptos, CA 95003 USA
| | - O. Savenko
- National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, 16 Taras Shevchenko Blvd., Kyiv, 01601 Ukraine ,grid.438834.0Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea, 89 Frantsuzsky Blvd., Odesa, 65009 Ukraine
| | - A. S. Friedlaender
- California Ocean Alliance, 9099 Soquel Ave, Aptos, CA 95003 USA ,grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
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Pallin L, Bierlich KC, Durban J, Fearnbach H, Savenko O, Baker CS, Bell E, Double MC, de la Mare W, Goldbogen J, Johnston D, Kellar N, Nichols R, Nowacek D, Read AJ, Steel D, Friedlaender A. Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220724. [PMID: 36397972 PMCID: PMC9626259 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis, AMW) are an abundant, ice-dependent species susceptible to rapid climatic changes occurring in parts of the Antarctic. Here, we used remote biopsy samples and estimates of length derived from unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) to characterize for the first time the sex ratio, maturity, and pregnancy rates of AMWs around the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). DNA profiling of 82 biopsy samples (2013-2020) identified 29 individual males and 40 individual females. Blubber progesterone levels indicated 59% of all sampled females were pregnant, irrespective of maturity. When corrected for sexual maturity, the median pregnancy rate was 92.3%, indicating that most mature females become pregnant each year. We measured 68 individuals by UAS (mean = 8.04 m) and estimated that 66.5% of females were mature. This study provides the first data on the demography of AMWs along the WAP and represents the first use of non-lethal approaches to studying this species. Furthermore, these results provide baselines against which future changes in population status can be assessed in this rapidly changing marine ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Pallin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - J. Durban
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
- SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - H. Fearnbach
- SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - O. Savenko
- National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, 16 Taras Shevchenko Blvd, 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea, 89 Frantsuzsky Blvd, 65009, Odesa, Ukraine
| | - C. S. Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - E. Bell
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - M. C. Double
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - W. de la Mare
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - J. Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - D. Johnston
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - N. Kellar
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - R. Nichols
- Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - D. Nowacek
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - A. J. Read
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - D. Steel
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - A. Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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González-Fernández D, Hanke G, Pogojeva M, Machitadze N, Kotelnikova Y, Tretiak I, Savenko O, Bilashvili K, Gelashvili N, Fedorov A, Kulagin D, Terentiev A, Slobodnik J. Floating marine macro litter in the Black Sea: Toward baselines for large scale assessment. Environ Pollut 2022; 309:119816. [PMID: 35872285 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Black Sea is a semi-enclosed basin subject to major anthropogenic pressures, including marine litter and plastic pollution. Due to numerous large rivers draining into the basin and a population settled along the coast, the region could accumulate significant amounts of floating litter over time. Until now, only limited field data were available, and litter quantities and distribution remained unknown. In this study, floating marine macro litter (FMML) was assessed at the regional Black Sea scale for the first time, showing relatively high litter densities across the basin that reached a weighted mean of 81.5 items/km2. Monitoring data revealed an accumulation of floating items offshore in the eastern part of the basin, resembling on a small scale a 'garbage patch', where litter items were trapped, showing elevated densities in comparison to their surrounding areas. Most of these items were made of plastic materials (ca. 96%) and included large numbers of plastic and polystyrene fragments of small size ranges (2.5-10 cm). Harmonised field data collection through consistent and regular monitoring programmes across the region is essential to establish baselines and thresholds for large scale assessment at international level.
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Affiliation(s)
- D González-Fernández
- Department of Biology, University Marine Research Institute INMAR, University of Cádiz and European University of the Seas, Puerto Real, Spain.
| | - G Hanke
- EC Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - M Pogojeva
- N. N. Zubov's State Oceanographic Institute, Roshydromet, Moscow, Russia; Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - N Machitadze
- Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Y Kotelnikova
- Ukrainian Center of Ecology of the Sea, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - I Tretiak
- Ukrainian Center of Ecology of the Sea, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - O Savenko
- Ukrainian Center of Ecology of the Sea, Odessa, Ukraine; National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - K Bilashvili
- Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - N Gelashvili
- Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - A Fedorov
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - D Kulagin
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Terentiev
- N. N. Zubov's State Oceanographic Institute, Roshydromet, Moscow, Russia
| | - J Slobodnik
- Environmental Institute, Kos, Slovak Republic
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Savenko O, Filippovych S, Islam Z. P6.022 Results of the Global Fund Programmes Implementation on STI Diagnostics and Treatment Within Most-At-Risk Populations in Ukraine. Br J Vener Dis 2013. [DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Savenko O, Filippovych S, Islam Z. P6.046 Integration of STI Diagnostics and Treatment Programmes and HIV Prevention Programmes For Vulnerable Groups. Br J Vener Dis 2013. [DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.1199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Leon D, Borinskaya S, Gil A, Kiryanov N, McKee M, Oralov A, Saburova L, Savenko O, Shkolnikov V, Vasilev M, Watkins H. O1-4.6 Alcohol-induced damage to heart muscle rather than atherosclerosis may drive the association of circulatory disease with hazardous drinking in Russia. Br J Soc Med 2011. [DOI: 10.1136/jech.2011.142976a.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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