1
|
Piot E, Hippauf L, Charlanne L, Picard B, Badaut J, Gilbert C, Guinet C. From land to ocean: One month for southern elephant seal pups to acquire aquatic skills prior to their first departure to sea. Physiol Behav 2024; 279:114525. [PMID: 38531424 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Weaned southern elephant seals (SES) quickly transition from terrestrial to aquatic life after a 5- to 6-week post-weaning period. At sea, juveniles and adult elephant seals present extreme, continuous diving behaviour. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of the post-weaning period for weanlings to prepare for the physiological challenges of their future sea life. However, very little is known about how their body condition during this period may influence the development of their behaviour and brain activities. To characterise changes in the behavioural and brain activity of weanlings prior to ocean departure, we implemented a multi-logger approach combining measurements of movements (related to behaviour), pressure (related to diving), and brain electrical activity. As pups age, the amount of time allocated to resting decreases in favour of physical activity. Most resting (9.6 ± 1.2 h/day) takes place during daytime, with periods of slow-wave sleep representing 4.9 ± 0.9 h/day during the first 2 weeks. Furthermore, an increasing proportion of physical activity transitions from land to shore. Additionally, pups in poorer condition (lean group) are more active earlier than those in better condition (corpulent group). Finally, at weaning, clear circadian activity with two peaks at dawn and dusk is observed, and this pattern remains unchanged during the 4 weeks on land. This circadian pattern matches the one observed in adults at sea, with more prey catches at dawn and dusk, raising the question of whether it is endogenous or triggered by the mother during lactation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erwan Piot
- Laboratoire MECADEV, UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France; CNRS UMR 5536, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Lea Hippauf
- CNRS UMR 5536, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Laura Charlanne
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, Département d'Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Baptiste Picard
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CEBC-CNRS), UMR 7372 CNRS/Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Jérôme Badaut
- CNRS UMR 5536, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Caroline Gilbert
- Laboratoire MECADEV, UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France; École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort cedex, France
| | - Christophe Guinet
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CEBC-CNRS), UMR 7372 CNRS/Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Casey C, Fregosi S, Oswald JN, Janik VM, Visser F, Southall B. Common dolphin whistle responses to experimental mid-frequency sonar. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302035. [PMID: 38669257 PMCID: PMC11051594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Oceanic delphinids that occur in and around Navy operational areas are regularly exposed to intense military sonar broadcast within the frequency range of their hearing. However, empirically measuring the impact of sonar on the behavior of highly social, free-ranging dolphins is challenging. Additionally, baseline variability or the frequency of vocal state-switching among social oceanic dolphins during undisturbed conditions is lacking, making it difficult to attribute changes in vocal behavior to anthropogenic disturbance. Using a network of drifting acoustic buoys in controlled exposure experiments, we investigated the effects of mid-frequency (3-4 kHz) active sonar (MFAS) on whistle production in short-beaked (Delphinus delphis delphis) and long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis bairdii) in southern California. Given the complexity of acoustic behavior exhibited by these group-living animals, we conducted our response analysis over varying temporal windows (10 min- 5 s) to describe both longer-term and instantaneous changes in sound production. We found that common dolphins exhibited acute and pronounced changes in whistle rate in the 5 s following exposure to simulated Navy MFAS. This response was sustained throughout sequential MFAS exposures within experiments simulating operational conditions, suggesting that dolphins may not habituate to this disturbance. These results indicate that common dolphins exhibit brief yet clearly detectable acoustic responses to MFAS. They also highlight how variable temporal analysis windows-tuned to key aspects of baseline vocal behavior as well as experimental parameters related to MFAS exposure-enable the detection of behavioral responses. We suggest future work with oceanic delphinids explore baseline vocal rates a-priori and use information on the rate of change in vocal behavior to inform the analysis time window over which behavioral responses are measured.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Casey
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, California, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Selene Fregosi
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, California, United States of America
| | - Julie N. Oswald
- Scottish Oceans Institute, Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent M. Janik
- Scottish Oceans Institute, Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Fleur Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn, The Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Brandon Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, California, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Costa DP, Favilla AB. Field physiology in the aquatic realm: ecological energetics and diving behavior provide context for elucidating patterns and deviations. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245832. [PMID: 37843467 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Comparative physiology has developed a rich understanding of the physiological adaptations of organisms, from microbes to megafauna. Despite extreme differences in size and a diversity of habitats, general patterns are observed in their physiological adaptations. Yet, many organisms deviate from the general patterns, providing an opportunity to understand the importance of ecology in determining the evolution of unusual adaptations. Aquatic air-breathing vertebrates provide unique study systems in which the interplay between ecology, physiology and behavior is most evident. They must perform breath-hold dives to obtain food underwater, which imposes a physiological constraint on their foraging time as they must resurface to breathe. This separation of two critical resources has led researchers to investigate these organisms' physiological adaptations and trade-offs. Addressing such questions on large marine animals is best done in the field, given the difficulty of replicating the environment of these animals in the lab. This Review examines the long history of research on diving physiology and behavior. We show how innovative technology and the careful selection of research animals have provided a holistic understanding of diving mammals' physiology, behavior and ecology. We explore the role of the aerobic diving limit, body size, oxygen stores, prey distribution and metabolism. We then identify gaps in our knowledge and suggest areas for future research, pointing out how this research will help conserve these unique animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Arina B Favilla
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kok ACM, Hildebrand MJ, MacArdle M, Martinez A, Garrison LP, Soldevilla MS, Hildebrand JA. Kinematics and energetics of foraging behavior in Rice's whales of the Gulf of Mexico. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8996. [PMID: 37268677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35049-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Rorqual foraging behavior varies with species, prey type and foraging conditions, and can be a determining factor for their fitness. Little is known about the foraging ecology of Rice's whales (Balaenoptera ricei), an endangered species with a population of fewer than 100 individuals. Suction cup tags were attached to two Rice's whales to collect information on their diving kinematics and foraging behavior. The tagged whales primarily exhibited lunge-feeding near the sea bottom and to a lesser extent in the water-column and at the sea surface. During 6-10 min foraging dives, the whales typically circled their prey before executing one or two feeding lunges. Longer duration dives and dives with more feeding-lunges were followed by an increase in their breathing rate. The median lunge rate of one lunge per dive of both animals was much lower than expected based on comparative research on other lunge-feeding baleen whales, and may be associated with foraging on fish instead of krill or may be an indication of different foraging conditions. Both animals spent extended periods of the night near the sea surface, increasing the risk for ship strike. Furthermore, their circling before lunging may increase the risk for entanglement in bottom-longline fishing gear. Overall, these data show that Rice's whale foraging behavior differs from other lunge feeding rorqual species and may be a significant factor in shaping our understanding of their foraging ecology. Efforts to mitigate threats to Rice's whales will benefit from improved understanding of patterns in their habitat use and fine-scale ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annebelle C M Kok
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Maya J Hildebrand
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Maria MacArdle
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Anthony Martinez
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lance P Garrison
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Melissa S Soldevilla
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John A Hildebrand
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Booth CG, Guilpin M, Darias-O’Hara AK, Ransijn JM, Ryder M, Rosen D, Pirotta E, Smout S, McHuron EA, Nabe-Nielsen J, Costa DP. Estimating energetic intake for marine mammal bioenergetic models. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac083. [PMID: 36756464 PMCID: PMC9900471 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergetics is the study of how animals achieve energetic balance. Energetic balance results from the energetic expenditure of an individual and the energy they extract from their environment. Ingested energy depends on several extrinsic (e.g prey species, nutritional value and composition, prey density and availability) and intrinsic factors (e.g. foraging effort, success at catching prey, digestive processes and associated energy losses, and digestive capacity). While the focus in bioenergetic modelling is often on the energetic costs an animal incurs, the robust estimation of an individual's energy intake is equally critical for producing meaningful predictions. Here, we review the components and processes that affect energy intake from ingested gross energy to biologically useful net energy (NE). The current state of knowledge of each parameter is reviewed, shedding light on research gaps to advance this field. The review highlighted that the foraging behaviour of many marine mammals is relatively well studied via biologging tags, with estimates of success rate typically assumed for most species. However, actual prey capture success rates are often only assumed, although we note studies that provide approaches for its estimation using current techniques. A comprehensive collation of the nutritional content of marine mammal prey species revealed a robust foundation from which prey quality (comprising prey species, size and energy density) can be assessed, though data remain unavailable for many prey species. Empirical information on various energy losses following ingestion of prey was unbalanced among marine mammal species, with considerably more literature available for pinnipeds. An increased understanding and accurate estimate of each of the components that comprise a species NE intake are an integral part of bioenergetics. Such models provide a key tool to investigate the effects of disturbance on marine mammals at an individual and population level and to support effective conservation and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G Booth
- Corresponding author: SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | | | - Aimee-Kate Darias-O’Hara
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Janneke M Ransijn
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Megan Ryder
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Dave Rosen
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling,
The Observatory, Buchanan
Gardens, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews,
KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Sophie Smout
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Elizabeth A McHuron
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-4000
Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 130
McAlister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Optimal diving and oxygen use. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
7
|
Romagosa M, Pérez-Jorge S, Cascão I, Mouriño H, Lehodey P, Pereira A, Marques TA, Matias L, Silva MA. Food talk: 40-Hz fin whale calls are associated with prey biomass. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211156. [PMID: 34229495 PMCID: PMC8261222 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals use varied acoustic signals that play critical roles in their lives. Understanding the function of these signals may inform about key life-history processes relevant for conservation. In the case of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), that produce different call types associated with different behaviours, several hypotheses have emerged regarding call function, but the topic still remains in its infancy. Here, we investigate the potential function of two fin whale vocalizations, the song-forming 20-Hz call and the 40-Hz call, by examining their production in relation to season, year and prey biomass. Our results showed that the production of 20-Hz calls was strongly influenced by season, with a clear peak during the breeding months, and secondarily by year, likely due to changes in whale abundance. These results support the reproductive function of the 20-Hz song used as an acoustic display. Conversely, season and year had no effect on variation in 40-Hz calling rates, but prey biomass did. This is the first study linking 40-Hz call activity to prey biomass, supporting the previously suggested food-associated function of this call. Understanding the functions of animal signals can help identifying functional habitats and predict the negative effects of human activities with important implications for conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Romagosa
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| | - Sergi Pérez-Jorge
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| | - Irma Cascão
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| | - Helena Mouriño
- Centro de Matemática, Aplicações Fundamentais e Investigação Operacional, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Patrick Lehodey
- Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS), Ramonville St Agne, France
| | - Andreia Pereira
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago A. Marques
- Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Luís Matias
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica A. Silva
- Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar, Universidade dos Açores & IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Routti H, Harju M, Lühmann K, Aars J, Ask A, Goksøyr A, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C. Concentrations and endocrine disruptive potential of phthalates in marine mammals from the Norwegian Arctic. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 152:106458. [PMID: 33677245 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated concentrations of phthalates (diesters of phthalic acids) in blubber/adipose tissue of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) sampled in the Svalbard Archipelago (extending westward in the case of bowhead whales). Additionally, total concentrations (free and conjugated forms) of eight phthalate monoester metabolites were analysed in plasma of polar bears. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the only phthalate quantified among the 12 phthalates investigated. This compound was present in 6/7 fin whale samples, 4/7 blue whale samples, 2/5 bowhead whale samples and 1/12 polar bear samples. DEHP concentrations ranged from <20-398 ng/g wet weight. Phthalate metabolites, mono-n-butyl phthalate and monoisobutyl phthalate, were found in low concentrations (<1.2 ng/mL) in some of the polar bear samples. In vitro reporter gene assays were used to assess transcriptional activity of fin whale peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) by DEHP and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP). Due to the high degree of similarity of the ligand binding domain in the THRB and PPARG among whales, polar bears and humans, the transactivation results also apply for these species. DEHP showed both agonistic and antagonistic effects towards whale THRB at considerably higher concentrations than measured in the study animals; DiNP was a weak agonist of whale THRB. No significant agonistic or antagonistic effects were detected for DEHP or DiNP for whale PPARG, whereas DEHP and DiNP decreased basal luciferase activity mediated by whale GR at several test concentrations. In conclusion, DEHP was detected in the blubber of marine mammals from the Norwegian Arctic and it appears to have potential to modulate the transcriptional activity of whale THRB, but current DEHP concentrations do not modulate the function of the studied nuclear receptors in adipose tissue of blue whales, fin whales, bowhead whales or polar bears sampled from the Norwegian Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Mikael Harju
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Jon Aars
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Amalie Ask
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- University of Bergen, Department of Biological Sciences, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bouffaut L, Landrø M, Potter JR. Source level and vocalizing depth estimation of two blue whale subspecies in the western Indian Ocean from single sensor observations. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:4422. [PMID: 34241450 DOI: 10.1121/10.0005281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The source level (SL) and vocalizing source depth (SD) of individuals from two blue whale (BW) subspecies, an Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia; ABW) and a Madagascar pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda; MPBW) are estimated from a single bottom-mounted hydrophone in the western Indian Ocean. Stereotyped units (male) are automatically detected and the range is estimated from the time delay between the direct and lowest-order multiply-reflected acoustic paths (multipath-ranging). Allowing for geometric spreading and the Lloyd's mirror effect (range-, depth-, and frequency-dependent) SL and SD are estimated by minimizing the SL variance over a series of units from the same individual over time (and hence also range). The average estimated SL of 188.5 ± 2.1 dB re 1μPa measured between [25-30] Hz for the ABW and 176.8 ± 1.8 dB re. 1μPa measured between [22-27] Hz for the MPBW agree with values published for other geographical areas. Units were vocalized at estimated depths of 25.0 ± 3.7 and 32.7 ± 5.7 m for the ABW Unit A and C and, ≃20 m for the MPBW. The measurements show that these BW calls series are stereotyped in frequency, amplitude, and depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Léa Bouffaut
- Department of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Martin Landrø
- Department of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - John R Potter
- Department of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chebii VJ, Mpolya EA, Muchadeyi FC, Domelevo Entfellner JB. Genomics of Adaptations in Ungulates. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1617. [PMID: 34072591 PMCID: PMC8230064 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ungulates are a group of hoofed animals that have long interacted with humans as essential sources of food, labor, clothing, and transportation. These consist of domesticated, feral, and wild species raised in a wide range of habitats and biomes. Given the diverse and extreme environments inhabited by ungulates, unique adaptive traits are fundamental for fitness. The documentation of genes that underlie their genomic signatures of selection is crucial in this regard. The increasing availability of advanced sequencing technologies has seen the rapid growth of ungulate genomic resources, which offers an exceptional opportunity to understand their adaptive evolution. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on evolutionary genetic signatures underlying the adaptations of ungulates to different habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vivien J. Chebii
- School of Life Science and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela Africa Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania;
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya;
| | - Emmanuel A. Mpolya
- School of Life Science and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela Africa Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania;
| | - Farai C. Muchadeyi
- Agricultural Research Council Biotechnology Platform (ARC-BTP), Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa;
| | - Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya;
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Solvang HK, Haug T, Knutsen T, Gjøsæter H, Bogstad B, Hartvedt S, Øien N, Lindstrøm U. Distribution of rorquals and Atlantic cod in relation to their prey in the Norwegian high Arctic. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02835-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractRecent warming in the Barents Sea has led to changes in the spatial distribution of both zooplankton and fish, with boreal communities expanding northwards. A similar northward expansion has been observed in several rorqual species that migrate into northern waters to take advantage of high summer productivity, hence feeding opportunities. Based on ecosystem surveys conducted during August–September in 2014–2017, we investigated the spatial associations among the three rorqual species of blue, fin, and common minke whales, the predatory fish Atlantic cod, and their main prey groups (zooplankton, 0-group fish, Atlantic cod, and capelin) in Arctic Ocean waters to the west and north of Svalbard. During the surveys, whale sightings were recorded by dedicated whale observers on the bridge of the vessel, whereas the distribution and abundance of cod and prey species were assessed using trawling and acoustic methods. Based on existing knowledge on the dive habits of these rorquals, we divided our analyses into two depth regions: the upper 200 m of the water column and waters below 200 m. Since humpback whales were absent in the area in 2016 and 2017, they were not included in the subsequent analyses of spatial association. No association or spatial overlap between fin and blue whales and any of the prey species investigated was found, while associations and overlaps were found between minke whales and zooplankton/0-group fish in the upper 200 m and between minke whales and Atlantic cod at depths below 200 m. A prey detection range of more than 10 km was suggested for minke whales in the upper water layers.
Collapse
|
12
|
Otero-Sabio C, Centelleghe C, Corain L, Graïc JM, Cozzi B, Rivero M, Consoli F, Peruffo A. Microscopic anatomical, immunohistochemical, and morphometric characterization of the terminal airways of the lung in cetaceans. J Morphol 2020; 282:291-308. [PMID: 33338275 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The lungs of cetaceans undergo anatomical and physiological adaptations that facilitate extended breath-holding during dives. Here, we present new insights on the ontogeny of the microscopic anatomy of the terminal portion of the airways of the lungs in five cetacean species: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus); the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), the Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris); the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); and the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). We (a) studied the histology of the terminal portion of the airways; (b) used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to characterize the muscle fibers with antibodies against smooth muscle (sm-) actin, sm-myosin, and desmin; (c) the innervation of myoelastic sphincters (MESs) with an antibody against neurofilament protein; and (d) defined the diameter of the terminal bronchioles, the diameter and length of the alveoli, the thickness of the septa, the major and minor axis, perimeter and section area of the cartilaginous rings by quantitative morphometric analyses in partially inflated lung tissue. As already reported in the literature, in bottlenose and striped dolphins, a system of MESs was observed in the terminal bronchioles. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of smooth muscle in the terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar septa in all the examined species. Some neurofilaments were observed close to the MESs in both bottlenose and striped dolphins. In fin, sperm, and Cuvier's beaked whales, we noted a layer of longitudinal smooth muscle going from the terminal bronchioles to the alveolar sacs. The morphometric analysis allowed to quantify the structural differences among cetacean species by ranking them into groups according to the adjusted mean values of the morphometric parameters measured. Our results contribute to the current understanding of the anatomy of the terminal airways of the cetacean lung and the role of the smooth muscle in the alveolar collapse reflex, crucial for prolonged breath-holding diving.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Otero-Sabio
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Livio Corain
- Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padova, Vicenza, Padova, Italy
| | - Jean-Marie Graïc
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Bruno Cozzi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Miguel Rivero
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Francesco Consoli
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Antonella Peruffo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pereira A, Harris D, Tyack P, Matias L. On the use of the Lloyd's Mirror effect to infer the depth of vocalizing fin whales. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 148:3086. [PMID: 33261404 DOI: 10.1121/10.0002426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The interference between the direct path and the sea surface reflection of a signal as measured by a receiver is called Lloyd's Mirror effect (LME). It results in a frequency-dependent interference pattern that can be observed in a spectrogram. LME depends on the receiver depth, signal source depth, signal frequency, and slant range between source and receiver. Knowing three of these parameters a priori, LME can be used to estimate the third parameter, such as source depth. Here, the work in Pereira et al. (2016) was expanded to estimate the depth of a vocalizing fin whale recorded by an ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS). In Pereira et al. (2016), the depth of a vocalizing fin whale was inferred by manually comparing spectrograms of LME transmission loss models with observed LME. This study developed an automated procedure to perform the same task using the LME interference pattern observed in the spectrograms of the hydrophone and the vertical channel of the OBS. The results show that the joint use of the two channels was the best approach to estimate a source depth using LME. LME provides a non-intrusive approach for estimating the depth at which a fin whale was vocalizing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Pereira
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Danielle Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom
| | - Luis Matias
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Werth AJ, Sformo TL, Lysiak NS, Rita D, George JC. Baleen turnover and gut transit in mysticete whales and its environmental implications. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02673-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
15
|
Torres LG, Barlow DR, Chandler TE, Burnett JD. Insight into the kinematics of blue whale surface foraging through drone observations and prey data. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8906. [PMID: 32351781 PMCID: PMC7183305 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand how predators optimize foraging strategies, extensive knowledge of predator behavior and prey distribution is needed. Blue whales employ an energetically demanding lunge feeding method that requires the whales to selectively feed where energetic gain exceeds energetic loss, while also balancing oxygen consumption, breath holding capacity, and surface recuperation time. Hence, blue whale foraging behavior is primarily driven by krill patch density and depth, but many studies have not fully considered surface feeding as a significant foraging strategy in energetic models. We collected predator and prey data on a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) foraging ground in New Zealand in February 2017 to assess the distributional and behavioral response of blue whales to the distribution and density of krill prey aggregations. Krill density across the study region was greater toward the surface (upper 20 m), and blue whales were encountered where prey was relatively shallow and more dense. This relationship was particularly evident where foraging and surface lunge feeding were observed. Furthermore, New Zealand blue whales also had relatively short dive times (2.83 ± 0.27 SE min) as compared to other blue whale populations, which became even shorter at foraging sightings and where surface lunge feeding was observed. Using an unmanned aerial system (UAS; drone) we also captured unique video of a New Zealand blue whale's surface feeding behavior on well-illuminated krill patches. Video analysis illustrates the whale's potential use of vision to target prey, make foraging decisions, and orient body mechanics relative to prey patch characteristics. Kinematic analysis of a surface lunge feeding event revealed biomechanical coordination through speed, acceleration, head inclination, roll, and distance from krill patch to maximize prey engulfment. We compared these lunge kinematics to data previously reported from tagged blue whale lunges at depth to demonstrate strong similarities, and provide rare measurements of gape size, and krill response distance and time. These findings elucidate the predator-prey relationship between blue whales and krill, and provide support for the hypothesis that surface feeding by New Zealand blue whales is an important component to their foraging ecology used to optimize their energetic efficiency. Understanding how blue whales make foraging decisions presents logistical challenges, which may cause incomplete sampling and biased ecological knowledge if portions of their foraging behavior are undocumented. We conclude that surface foraging could be an important strategy for blue whales, and integration of UAS with tag-based studies may expand our understanding of their foraging ecology by examining surface feeding events in conjunction with behaviors at depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leigh G. Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United States of America
| | - Dawn R. Barlow
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United States of America
| | - Todd E. Chandler
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United States of America
| | - Jonathan D. Burnett
- Aerial Information Systems Laboratory, Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Derville S, Torres LG, Zerbini AN, Oremus M, Garrigue C. Horizontal and vertical movements of humpback whales inform the use of critical pelagic habitats in the western South Pacific. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4871. [PMID: 32184421 PMCID: PMC7078318 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61771-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known for their nearshore distribution during the breeding season, but their pelagic habitat use patterns remain mostly unexplored. From 2016 to 2018, 18 humpback whales were equipped with depth-recording satellite tags (SPLASH10) to shed light on environmental and social drivers of seamount association around New Caledonia in the western South Pacific. Movement paths were spatially structured around shallow seamounts (<200 m). Indeed, two males stopped over the Lord Howe seamount chain during the first-ever recorded longitudinal transit between New Caledonia and the east coast of Australia. Residence time significantly increased with proximity to shallow seamounts, while dive depth increased in the vicinity of seafloor ridges. Most of the 7,986 recorded dives occurred above 80 m (88.5%), but deep dives (>80 m, max 616 m) were also recorded (11.5%), including by maternal females. Deep dives often occurred in series and were characterized by U-shapes suggesting high energy expenditure. This study provides new insights into the formerly overlooked use of pelagic habitats by humpback whales during the breeding season. Given increasing anthropogenic threats on deep sea habitats worldwide, this work has implications for the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solène Derville
- UMR ENTROPIE, IRD, 101 promenade Roger Laroque, 98848, Nouméa, New Caledonia. .,Operation Cétacés, BP12827, 98802, Nouméa, New Caledonia. .,Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 6, IFD-ED129, 4 Place Jussieu, Paris, 75252, France. .,Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, 97365, OR, USA.
| | - Leigh G Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, 97365, OR, USA
| | - Alexandre N Zerbini
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, 98112, WA, USA
| | - Marc Oremus
- WWF France, Parc Forestier Michel Corbasson, BP692, 98845, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Claire Garrigue
- UMR ENTROPIE, IRD, 101 promenade Roger Laroque, 98848, Nouméa, New Caledonia.,Operation Cétacés, BP12827, 98802, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gil KN, Lillie MA, Vogl AW, Shadwick RE. Rorqual whale nasal plugs: protecting the respiratory tract against water entry and barotrauma. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb219691. [PMID: 31974219 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.219691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The upper respiratory tract of rorquals, lunge-feeding baleen whales, must be protected against water incursion and the risk of barotrauma at depth, where air-filled spaces like the bony nasal cavities may experience high adverse pressure gradients. We hypothesize these two disparate tasks are accomplished by paired cylindrical nasal plugs that attach on the rostrum and deep inside the nasal cavity. Here, we present evidence that the large size and deep attachment of the plugs is a compromise, allowing them to block the nasal cavities to prevent water entry while also facilitating pressure equilibration between the nasal cavities and ambient hydrostatic pressure (Pamb) at depth. We investigated nasal plug behaviour using videos of rorquals surfacing, plug morphology from dissections, histology and MRI scans, and plug function by mathematically modelling nasal pressures at depth. We found each nasal plug has three structurally distinct regions: a muscular rostral region, a predominantly fatty mid-section and an elastic tendon that attaches the plug caudally. We propose muscle contraction while surfacing pulls the fatty sections rostrally, opening the nasal cavities to air, while the elastic tendons snap the plugs back into place, sealing the cavities after breathing. At depth, we propose Pamb pushes the fatty region deeper into the nasal cavities, decreasing air volume by about half and equilibrating nasal cavity to Pamb, preventing barotrauma. The nasal plugs are a unique innovation in rorquals, which demonstrate their importance and novelty during diving, where pressure becomes as important an issue as the danger of water entry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey N Gil
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Margo A Lillie
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - A Wayne Vogl
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Robert E Shadwick
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
The retinal pigments of the whale shark ( Rhincodon typus) and their role in visual foraging ecology. Vis Neurosci 2019; 36:E011. [PMID: 31718726 DOI: 10.1017/s0952523819000105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The spectral tuning properties of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) rod (rhodopsin or Rh1) and long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) cone visual pigments were examined to determine whether these retinal pigments have adapted to the broadband light spectrum available for surface foraging or to the narrowband blue-shifted light spectrum available at depth. Recently published whale shark genomes have identified orthologous genes for both the whale shark Rh1 and LWS cone opsins suggesting a duplex retina. Here, the whale shark Rh1 and LWS cone opsin sequences were examined to identify amino acid residues critical for spectral tuning. Surprisingly, the predicted absorbance maximum (λmax) for both the whale shark Rh1 and LWS visual pigments is near 500 nm. Although Rh1 λmax values near 500 nm are typical of terrestrial vertebrates, as well as surface foraging fish, it is uncommon for a vertebrate LWS cone pigment to be so greatly blue-shifted. We propose that the spectral tuning properties of both the whale shark Rh1 and LWS cone pigments are most likely adaptations to the broadband light spectrum available at the surface. Whale shark melanopsin (Opn4) deactivation kinetics was examined to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of the pupillary light reflex. Results show that the deactivation rate of whale shark Opn4 is similar to the Opn4 deactivation rate from vertebrates possessing duplex retinae and is significantly faster than the Opn4 deactivation rate from an aquatic rod monochromat lacking functional cone photoreceptors. The rapid deactivation rate of whale shark Opn4 is consistent with a functional cone class and would provide the animal with an exponential increase in the number of photons required for photoreceptor signaling when transitioning from photopic to scotopic light conditions, as is the case when diving.
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
The largest animals are baleen filter feeders that exploit large aggregations of small-bodied plankton. Although this feeding mechanism has evolved multiple times in marine vertebrates, rorqual whales exhibit a distinct lunge filter feeding mode that requires extreme physiological adaptations-most of which remain poorly understood. Here, we review the biomechanics of the lunge feeding mechanism in rorqual whales that underlies their extraordinary foraging performance and gigantic body size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Shadwick
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kosma MM, Werth AJ, Szabo AR, Straley JM. Pectoral herding: an innovative tactic for humpback whale foraging. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:191104. [PMID: 31824717 PMCID: PMC6837203 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have exceptionally long pectorals (i.e. flippers) that aid in shallow water navigation, rapid acceleration and increased manoeuvrability. The use of pectorals to herd or manipulate prey has been hypothesized since the 1930s. We combined new technology and a unique viewing platform to document the additional use of pectorals to aggregate prey during foraging events. Here, we provide a description of 'pectoral herding' and explore the conditions that may promote this innovative foraging behaviour. Specifically, we analysed aerial videos and photographic sequences to assess the function of pectorals during feeding events near salmon hatchery release sites in Southeast Alaska (2016-2018). We observed the use of solo bubble-nets to initially corral prey, followed by calculated movements to establish a secondary boundary with the pectorals-further condensing prey and increasing foraging efficiency. We found three ways in which humpback whales use pectorals to herd prey: (i) create a physical barrier to prevent evasion, (ii) cause water motion to guide prey towards the mouth, and (iii) position the ventral side to reflect light and alter prey movement. Our findings suggest that behavioural plasticity may aid foraging in changing environments and shifts in prey availability. Further study would clarify if 'pectoral herding' is used as a principal foraging tool by the broader humpback whale population and the conditions that promote its use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madison M. Kosma
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
| | - Alexander J. Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA
| | | | - Janice M. Straley
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka, AK 99835, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Helminth Load in Feces of Free-Ranging Blue and Fin Whales from the Gulf of California. Acta Parasitol 2019; 64:625-637. [PMID: 31165986 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00069-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This is the first worldwide systematic and quantitative study to count and identify helminth parasites from 100 blue and 44 fin whale fecal samples collected in the Gulf of California during winter (1993-2014). RESULTS Blue and fin whale feces had similar prevalence of adult acanthocephalans (Bolbosoma sp.) in feces (18.2% and 14.6%, respectively), but blue whales had significantly higher helminth egg prevalence in feces (100%) and mean intensity (443 ± 318 eggs/g) compared to fin whales (61%, 252 ± 327 eggs/g). Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs were identified in blue whale feces and Diphyllobothridae, Ogmogaster sp. and Crassicauda sp. eggs were identified in fin whale feces. We tested the hypothesis that egg intensity in blue whale's feces varies as a function of age class, reproductive status, sex, preservation and sampling years using a Generalized Linear Model. This model explained 61% of the variance in the helminth egg intensity, but it was not significant. Eighteen blue whale individuals were resampled over time without significant difference between consecutive samples. CONCLUSIONS Thus, all individual blue whales that migrate to the Gulf of California during winter are permanently parasitized with helminths, while the resident fin whales showed lower prevalence and intensity. This helminth load difference is likely due to their different diets duringsummer-fall, when blue whales feed on other krill species in the California Current System and fin whales shift to school fish prey types in the Gulf of California.
Collapse
|
22
|
Arranz P, Benoit-Bird KJ, Friedlaender AS, Hazen EL, Goldbogen JA, Stimpert AK, DeRuiter SL, Calambokidis J, Southall BL, Fahlman A, Tyack PL. Diving Behavior and Fine-Scale Kinematics of Free-Ranging Risso's Dolphins Foraging in Shallow and Deep-Water Habitats. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
|
23
|
Montuelle SJ, Kane EA. Food Capture in Vertebrates: A Complex Integrative Performance of the Cranial and Postcranial Systems. FEEDING IN VERTEBRATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13739-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
24
|
Lewis LA, Calambokidis J, Stimpert AK, Fahlbusch J, Friedlaender AS, McKenna MF, Mesnick SL, Oleson EM, Southall BL, Szesciorka AR, Širović A. Context-dependent variability in blue whale acoustic behaviour. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:180241. [PMID: 30225013 PMCID: PMC6124089 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic communication is an important aspect of reproductive, foraging and social behaviours for many marine species. Northeast Pacific blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) produce three different call types-A, B and D calls. All may be produced as singular calls, but A and B calls also occur in phrases to form songs. To evaluate the behavioural context of singular call and phrase production in blue whales, the acoustic and dive profile data from tags deployed on individuals off southern California were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Only 22% of all deployments contained sounds attributed to the tagged animal. A larger proportion of tagged animals were female (47%) than male (13%), with 40% of unknown sex. Fifty per cent of tags deployed on males contained sounds attributed to the tagged whale, while only a few (5%) deployed on females did. Most calls were produced at shallow depths (less than 30 m). Repetitive phrasing (singing) and production of singular calls were most common during shallow, non-lunging dives, with the latter also common during surface behaviour. Higher sound production rates occurred during autumn than summer and they varied with time-of-day: singular call rates were higher at dawn and dusk, while phrase production rates were highest at dusk and night.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leah A. Lewis
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - John Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 ½ W 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - Alison K. Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - James Fahlbusch
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 ½ W 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - Ari S. Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 95003, USA
| | - Megan F. McKenna
- Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
| | - Sarah L. Mesnick
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Erin M. Oleson
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - Brandon L. Southall
- Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 95003, USA
| | - Angela R. Szesciorka
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 ½ W 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - Ana Širović
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Texas A&M University Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77554, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Rivero JLL. Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.177758. [PMID: 29691309 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.177758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
From a terrestrial ancestry, the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is one of the largest animals on Earth with a sprinter anti-predator strategy, and a characteristic feeding mode, lunge feeding, which involves bouts of high-intensity muscle activity demanding high metabolic output. We investigated the locomotor muscle morphology and metabolism of this cetacean to determine whether its muscle profile (1) explains this unique swimming performance and feeding behaviour, (2) is or is not homogeneous within the muscle, and (3) predicts allometric variations inherent to an extreme body size. A predominantly fast-glycolytic phenotype characterized the fin whale locomotor muscle, composed of abundant fast-twitch (type IIA) fibres with high glycolytic potential, low oxidative capacity, relatively small size, and reduced number of capillaries. Compared with superficial areas, deep regions of this muscle exhibited a slower and more oxidative profile, suggesting a division of labour between muscle strata. As expected, the fin whale locomotor muscle only expressed the two slowest myosin heavy chain isoforms (I and IIA). However, it displayed anaerobic (glycolytic) and aerobic (lipid-based metabolism) capabilities higher than would be predicted from the allometric perspective of its extreme body size. Relationships between muscle metabolism and body mass were fibre-type specific. The 'sprinter' profile of the fin whale swimming muscle, particularly of its superficial compartment, supports physiological demands during both high-speed swimming and the lunge, when energy expenditure reaches maximal or supramaximal levels. Comparatively, the slower and more oxidative profile of the deep compartment of this muscle seems to be well designed for sustained, low-intensity muscle activity during routine swimming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José-Luis L Rivero
- Laboratory of Muscular Biopathology, Department of Comparative Anatomy and Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Cordoba, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, 14014 Cordoba, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Goldbogen JA, Madsen PT. The evolution of foraging capacity and gigantism in cetaceans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/11/jeb166033. [PMID: 29895582 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.166033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The extant diversity and rich fossil record of cetaceans provides an extraordinary evolutionary context for investigating the relationship between form, function and ecology. The transition from terrestrial to marine ecosystems is associated with a complex suite of morphological and physiological adaptations that were required for a fully aquatic mammalian life history. Two specific functional innovations that characterize the two great clades of cetaceans, echolocation in toothed whales (Odontoceti) and filter feeding in baleen whales (Mysticeti), provide a powerful comparative framework for integrative studies. Both clades exhibit gigantism in multiple species, but we posit that large body size may have evolved for different reasons and in response to different ecosystem conditions. Although these foraging adaptations have been studied using a combination of experimental and tagging studies, the precise functional drivers and consequences of morphological change within and among these lineages remain less understood. Future studies that focus at the interface of physiology, ecology and paleontology will help elucidate how cetaceans became the largest predators in aquatic ecosystems worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bi J, Hu B, Wang J, Liu X, Zheng J, Wang D, Xiao W. Beluga whale pVHL enhances HIF-2α activity via inducing HIF-2α proteasomal degradation under hypoxia. Oncotarget 2018; 8:42272-42287. [PMID: 28178687 PMCID: PMC5522066 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquatic mammals, such as cetaceans experience various depths, with accordingly diverse oxygenation, thus, cetaceans have developed adaptations for hypoxia, but mechanisms underlying this tolerance to low oxygen are unclear. Here we analyzed VHL and HIF-2α, in the hypoxia signaling pathway. Variations in VHL are greater than HIF-2α between cetaceans and terrestrial mammals, and beluga whale VHL (BW-VHL) promotes HIF-2α degradation under hypoxia. BW-VHL catalyzes BW-HIF-2α to form K48-linked poly-ubiquitin chains mainly at the lysine 429 of BW-HIF-2α (K429) and induces BW-HIF-2α for proteasomal degradation. W100 within BW-VHL is a key site for BW-VHL functionally and BW-VHL enhances transcriptional activity of BW-HIF-2α under hypoxia. Our data therefore reveal that BW-VHL has a unique function that may contribute to hypoxic adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianling Bi
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Bo Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Xing Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Jinsong Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Ding Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Respiratory behaviors in sympatric rorqual whales: the influence of prey depth and implications for temporal access to prey. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
|
29
|
Ishii M, Murase H, Fukuda Y, Sawada K, Sasakura T, Tamura T, Bando T, Matsuoka K, Shinohara A, Nakatsuka S, Katsumata N, Okazaki M, Miyashita K, Mitani Y. Diving Behavior of Sei WhalesBalaenoptera borealisRelative to the Vertical Distribution of Their Potential Prey. MAMMAL STUDY 2017. [DOI: 10.3106/041.042.0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Midori Ishii
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| | - Hiroto Murase
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Fukuda
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 7620-7 Hasaki, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0408, Japan
| | - Kouichi Sawada
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 7620-7 Hasaki, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0408, Japan
| | - Toyoki Sasakura
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Tamura
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Takeharu Bando
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Koji Matsuoka
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Akira Shinohara
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| | - Sayaka Nakatsuka
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Katsumata
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan
| | - Makoto Okazaki
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Kazushi Miyashita
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| | - Yoko Mitani
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Fossette S, Abrahms B, Hazen EL, Bograd SJ, Zilliacus KM, Calambokidis J, Burrows JA, Goldbogen JA, Harvey JT, Marinovic B, Tershy B, Croll DA. Resource partitioning facilitates coexistence in sympatric cetaceans in the California Current. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:9085-9097. [PMID: 29152200 PMCID: PMC5677487 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Resource partitioning is an important process driving habitat use and foraging strategies in sympatric species that potentially compete. Differences in foraging behavior are hypothesized to contribute to species coexistence by facilitating resource partitioning, but little is known on the multiple mechanisms for partitioning that may occur simultaneously. Studies are further limited in the marine environment, where the spatial and temporal distribution of resources is highly dynamic and subsequently difficult to quantify. We investigated potential pathways by which foraging behavior may facilitate resource partitioning in two of the largest co-occurring and closely related species on Earth, blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales. We integrated multiple long-term datasets (line-transect surveys, whale-watching records, net sampling, stable isotope analysis, and remote-sensing of oceanographic parameters) to compare the diet, phenology, and distribution of the two species during their foraging periods in the highly productive waters of Monterey Bay, California, USA within the California Current Ecosystem. Our long-term study reveals that blue and humpback whales likely facilitate sympatry by partitioning their foraging along three axes: trophic, temporal, and spatial. Blue whales were specialists foraging on krill, predictably targeting a seasonal peak in krill abundance, were present in the bay for an average of 4.7 months, and were spatially restricted at the continental shelf break. In contrast, humpback whales were generalists apparently feeding on a mixed diet of krill and fishes depending on relative abundances, were present in the bay for a more extended period (average of 6.6 months), and had a broader spatial distribution at the shelf break and inshore. Ultimately, competition for common resources can lead to behavioral, morphological, and physiological character displacement between sympatric species. Understanding the mechanisms for species coexistence is both fundamental to maintaining biodiverse ecosystems, and provides insight into the evolutionary drivers of morphological differences in closely related species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Fossette
- Environmental Research Division NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Monterey CA USA.,Present address: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 17 Dick Perry Av Kensington WA 6151 Australia
| | - Briana Abrahms
- Environmental Research Division NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Monterey CA USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- Environmental Research Division NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Monterey CA USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- Environmental Research Division NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Monterey CA USA
| | - Kelly M Zilliacus
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | | | - Julia A Burrows
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation Duke University Marine Laboratory Beaufort NC USA.,Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Moss Landing CA USA
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | | | - Baldo Marinovic
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Bernie Tershy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Donald A Croll
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Lesage V, Omrane A, Doniol-Valcroze T, Mosnier A. Increased proximity of vessels reduces feeding opportunities of blue whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
32
|
Keen EM. Aggregative and feeding thresholds of sympatric rorqual whales within a fjord system. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Keen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography; UC: San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla California 92093 USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Mate BR, Irvine LM, Palacios DM. The development of an intermediate-duration tag to characterize the diving behavior of large whales. Ecol Evol 2016; 7:585-595. [PMID: 28116055 PMCID: PMC5243192 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of high-resolution archival tag technologies has revolutionized our understanding of diving behavior in marine taxa such as sharks, turtles, and seals during their wide-ranging movements. However, similar applications for large whales have lagged behind due to the difficulty of keeping tags on the animals for extended periods of time. Here, we present a novel configuration of a transdermally attached biologging device called the Advanced Dive Behavior (ADB) tag. The ADB tag contains sensors that record hydrostatic pressure, three-axis accelerometers, magnetometers, water temperature, and light level, all sampled at 1 Hz. The ADB tag also collects Fastloc GPS locations and can send dive summary data through Service Argos, while staying attached to a whale for typical periods of 3-7 weeks before releasing for recovery and subsequent data download. ADB tags were deployed on sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus; N = 46), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus; N = 8), and fin whales (B. physalus; N = 5) from 2007 to 2015, resulting in attachment durations from 0 to 49.6 days, and recording 31 to 2,539 GPS locations and 27 to 2,918 dives per deployment. Archived dive profiles matched well with published dive shapes of each species from short-term records. For blue and fin whales, feeding lunges were detected using peaks in accelerometer data and matched corresponding vertical excursions in the depth record. In sperm whales, rapid orientation changes in the accelerometer data, often during the bottom phase of dives, were likely related to prey pursuit, representing a relative measure of foraging effort. Sperm whales were documented repeatedly diving to, and likely foraging along, the seafloor. Data from the temperature sensor described the vertical structure of the water column in all three species, extending from the surface to depths >1,600 m. In addition to providing information needed to construct multiweek time budgets, the ADB tag is well suited to studying the effects of anthropogenic sound on whales by allowing for pre- and post-exposure monitoring of the whale's dive behavior. This tag begins to bridge the gap between existing long-duration but low-data throughput tags, and short-duration, high-resolution data loggers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce R Mate
- Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Newport OR USA
| | - Ladd M Irvine
- Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Newport OR USA
| | - Daniel M Palacios
- Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Newport OR USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Tyson R, Friedlaender A, Nowacek D. Does optimal foraging theory predict the foraging performance of a large air-breathing marine predator? Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
35
|
Owen K, Kavanagh AS, Warren JD, Noad MJ, Donnelly D, Goldizen AW, Dunlop RA. Potential energy gain by whales outside of the Antarctic: prey preferences and consumption rates of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-1951-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
|
36
|
Cartwright R, Newton C, West KM, Rice J, Niemeyer M, Burek K, Wilson A, Wall AN, Remonida-Bennett J, Tejeda A, Messi S, Marcial-Hernandez L. Tracking the Development of Muscular Myoglobin Stores in Mysticete Calves. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0145893. [PMID: 26788728 PMCID: PMC4720374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
For marine mammals, the ability to tolerate apnea and make extended dives is a defining adaptive trait, facilitating the exploitation of marine food resources. Elevated levels of myoglobin within the muscles are a consistent hallmark of this trait, allowing oxygen collected at the surface to be stored in the muscles and subsequently used to support extended dives. In mysticetes, the largest of marine predators, details on muscular myoglobin levels are limited. The developmental trajectory of muscular myoglobin stores has yet to be documented and any physiological links between early behavior and the development of muscular myoglobin stores remain unknown. In this study, we used muscle tissue samples from stranded mysticetes to investigate these issues. Samples from three different age cohorts and three species of mysticetes were included (total sample size = 18). Results indicate that in mysticete calves, muscle myoglobin stores comprise only a small percentage (17–23%) of conspecific adult myoglobin complements. Development of elevated myoglobin levels is protracted over the course of extended maturation in mysticetes. Additionally, comparisons of myoglobin levels between and within muscles, along with details of interspecific differences in rates of accumulation of myoglobin in very young mysticetes, suggest that levels of exercise may influence the rate of development of myoglobin stores in young mysticetes. This new information infers a close interplay between the physiology, ontogeny and early life history of young mysticetes and provides new insight into the pressures that may shape adaptive strategies in migratory mysticetes. Furthermore, the study highlights the vulnerability of specific age cohorts to impending changes in the availability of foraging habitat and marine resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Cartwright
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
- The Keiki Kohola Project, Lahaina, Hawaii, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Cori Newton
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| | - Kristi M. West
- Hawaii Pacific University Stranding Program, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Kaneohe, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Jim Rice
- Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Misty Niemeyer
- International Fund for Animal Welfare, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Burek
- Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, Eagle River, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Andrew Wilson
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| | - Alison N. Wall
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| | - Jean Remonida-Bennett
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| | - Areli Tejeda
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah Messi
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| | - Lila Marcial-Hernandez
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
A preliminary model of iron fertilisation by baleen whales and Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean: Sensitivity of primary productivity estimates to parameter uncertainty. Ecol Modell 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
38
|
Shero MR, Costa DP, Burns JM. Scaling matters: incorporating body composition into Weddell seal seasonal oxygen store comparisons reveals maintenance of aerobic capacities. J Comp Physiol B 2015; 185:811-24. [PMID: 26164426 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-015-0922-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Adult Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) haul-out on the ice in October/November (austral spring) for the breeding season and reduce foraging activities for ~4 months until their molt in the austral fall (January/February). After these periods, animals are at their leanest and resume actively foraging for the austral winter. In mammals, decreased exercise and hypoxia exposure typically lead to decreased production of O2-carrying proteins and muscle wasting, while endurance training increases aerobic potential. To test whether similar effects were present in marine mammals, this study compared the physiology of 53 post-molt female Weddell seals in the austral fall to 47 pre-breeding females during the spring in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Once body mass and condition (lipid) were controlled for, there were no seasonal changes in total body oxygen (TBO2) stores. Within each season, hematocrit and hemoglobin values were negatively correlated with animal size, and larger animals had lower mass-specific TBO2 stores. But because larger seals had lower mass-specific metabolic rates, their calculated aerobic dive limit was similar to smaller seals. Indicators of muscular efficiency, myosin heavy chain composition, myoglobin concentrations, and aerobic enzyme activities (citrate synthase and β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase) were likewise maintained across the year. The preservation of aerobic capacity is likely critical to foraging capabilities, so that following the molt Weddell seals can rapidly regain body mass at the start of winter foraging. In contrast, muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity, a marker of anaerobic metabolism, exhibited seasonal plasticity in this diving top predator and was lowest after the summer period of reduced activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle R Shero
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA. .,School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA.
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Jennifer M Burns
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Christiansen F, Lynas NM, Lusseau D, Tscherter U. Structure and dynamics of minke whale surfacing patterns in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126396. [PMID: 25970425 PMCID: PMC4430536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behavioral patterns can help us understand physiological and ecological constraints on animals and its influence on fitness. The surfacing patterns of aquatic air-breathing mammals constitute a behavioral pattern that has evolved as a trade-off between the need to replenish oxygen stores at the surface and the need to conduct other activities underwater. This study aims to better understand the surfacing pattern of a marine top predator, the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), by investigating how their dive duration and surfacing pattern changes across their activity range. Activities were classified into resting, traveling, surface feeding and foraging at depth. For each activity, we classified dives into short and long dives and then estimated the temporal dependence between dive types. We found that minke whales modified their surfacing pattern in an activity-specific manner, both by changing the expression of their dives (i.e. density distribution) and the temporal dependence (transition probability) between dive types. As the depth of the prey layer increased between activities, the surfacing pattern of foraging whales became increasingly structured, going from a pattern dominated by long dives, when feeding at the surface, to a pattern where isolated long dives were followed by an increasing number of breaths (i.e. short dives), when the whale was foraging at depth. A similar shift in surfacing pattern occurred when prey handling time (inferred from surface corralling maneuvers) increased for surface feeding whales. The surfacing pattern also differed between feeding and non-feeding whales. Resting whales did not structure their surfacing pattern, while traveling whales did, possibly as a way to minimize cost of transport. Our results also suggest that minke whales might balance their oxygen level over multiple, rather than single, dive cycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Christiansen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
- Foundation for Marine Environment Research (ORES), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ned M. Lynas
- Foundation for Marine Environment Research (ORES), Basel, Switzerland
- Ocean Research and Education Society (ORES), Les Bergeronnes, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Lusseau
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Institute of Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ursula Tscherter
- Foundation for Marine Environment Research (ORES), Basel, Switzerland
- Ocean Research and Education Society (ORES), Les Bergeronnes, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Martinez-Levasseur LM, Birch-Machin MA, Bowman A, Gendron D, Weatherhead E, Knell RJ, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Whales use distinct strategies to counteract solar ultraviolet radiation. Sci Rep 2014; 3:2386. [PMID: 23989080 PMCID: PMC3757271 DOI: 10.1038/srep02386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A current threat to the marine ecosystem is the high level of solar ultraviolet radiation (UV). Large whales have recently been shown to suffer sun-induced skin damage from continuous UV exposure. Genotoxic consequences of such exposure remain unknown for these long-lived marine species, as does their capacity to counteract UV-induced insults. We show that UV exposure induces mitochondrial DNA damage in the skin of seasonally sympatric fin, sperm, and blue whales and that this damage accumulates with age. However, counteractive molecular mechanisms are markedly different between species. For example, sperm whales, a species that remains for long periods at the sea surface, activate genotoxic stress pathways in response to UV exposure whereas the paler blue whale relies on increased pigmentation as the season progresses. Our study also shows that whales can modulate their responses to fluctuating levels of UV, and that different evolutionary constraints may have shaped their response strategies.
Collapse
|
41
|
Payne NL, Taylor MD, Watanabe YY, Semmens JM. From physiology to physics: are we recognizing the flexibility of biologging tools? J Exp Biol 2014; 217:317-22. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.093922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The remote measurement of data from free-ranging animals has been termed ‘biologging’ and in recent years this relatively small set of tools has been instrumental in addressing remarkably diverse questions – from ‘how will tuna respond to climate change?’ to ‘why are whales big?’. While a single biologging dataset can have the potential to test hypotheses spanning physiology, ecology, evolution and theoretical physics, explicit illustrations of this flexibility are scarce and this has arguably hindered the full realization of the power of biologging tools. Here we present a small set of examples from studies that have collected data on two parameters widespread in biologging research (depth and acceleration), but that have interpreted their data in the context of extremely diverse phenomena: from tests of biomechanical and diving-optimality models to identifications of feeding events, Lévy flight foraging strategies and expanding oxygen minimum zones. We use these examples to highlight the remarkable flexibility of biologging tools, and identify several mechanisms that may enhance the scope and dissemination of future biologging research programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas L. Payne
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Matthew D. Taylor
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Nelson Bay, NSW 2315, Australia
| | - Yuuki Y. Watanabe
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Jayson M. Semmens
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Bernasconi M, Patel R, Nøttestad L, Pedersen G, Brierley AS. The effect of depth on the target strength of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2013; 134:4316. [PMID: 25669243 DOI: 10.1121/1.4826178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals are very seldom detected and tracked acoustically at different depths. The air contained in body cavities, such as lungs or swimbladders, has a significant effect on the acoustic energy backscattered from whale and fish species. Target strength data were obtained while a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) swam at the surface and dove underneath a research vessel, providing valuable multi-frequency echosounder recordings of its scattering characteristics from near surface to a depth of about 240 m. Increasing depth dramatically influenced the backscattered energy coming from the large cetacean. This study is tightly linked to the ultimate goal of developing an automated whale detection system for mitigation purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Bernasconi
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - R Patel
- CodeLab Bergen, Klostergaten 26, 5005 Bergen, Norway
| | - L Nøttestad
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - G Pedersen
- Christian Michelsen Research AS, P.O. Box 6031, NO-5892, Bergen, Norway
| | - A S Brierley
- Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, Scotland, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Christiansen F, Rasmussen MH, Lusseau D. Inferring activity budgets in wild animals to estimate the consequences of disturbances. Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Christiansen
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ Aberdeen, UK,
| | - Marianne H. Rasmussen
- Húsavik Research Center, University of Iceland, Hafnarstett 3, 640 Húsavik, Iceland, and
| | - David Lusseau
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ Aberdeen, UK,
- Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ Aberdeen, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sun YB, Zhou WP, Liu HQ, Irwin DM, Shen YY, Zhang YP. Genome-wide scans for candidate genes involved in the aquatic adaptation of dolphins. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 5:130-9. [PMID: 23246795 PMCID: PMC3595024 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evs123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since their divergence from the terrestrial artiodactyls, cetaceans have fully adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, which represents one of the most dramatic transformations in mammalian evolutionary history. Numerous morphological and physiological characters of cetaceans have been acquired in response to this drastic habitat transition, such as thickened blubber, echolocation, and ability to hold their breath for a long period of time. However, knowledge about the molecular basis underlying these adaptations is still limited. The sequence of the genome of Tursiops truncates provides an opportunity for a comparative genomic analyses to examine the molecular adaptation of this species. Here, we constructed 11,838 high-quality orthologous gene alignments culled from the dolphin and four other terrestrial mammalian genomes and screened for positive selection occurring in the dolphin lineage. In total, 368 (3.1%) of the genes were identified as having undergone positive selection by the branch-site model. Functional characterization of these genes showed that they are significantly enriched in the categories of lipid transport and localization, ATPase activity, sense perception of sound, and muscle contraction, areas that are potentially related to cetacean adaptations. In contrast, we did not find a similar pattern in the cow, a closely related species. We resequenced some of the positively selected sites (PSSs), within the positively selected genes, and showed that most of our identified PSSs (50/52) could be replicated. The results from this study should have important implications for our understanding of cetacean evolution and their adaptations to the aquatic environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Bo Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Dasmeh P, Serohijos AWR, Kepp KP, Shakhnovich EI. Positively selected sites in cetacean myoglobins contribute to protein stability. PLoS Comput Biol 2013; 9:e1002929. [PMID: 23505347 PMCID: PMC3591298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 01/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Since divergence ∼50 Ma ago from their terrestrial ancestors, cetaceans underwent a series of adaptations such as a ∼10-20 fold increase in myoglobin (Mb) concentration in skeletal muscle, critical for increasing oxygen storage capacity and prolonging dive time. Whereas the O2-binding affinity of Mbs is not significantly different among mammals (with typical oxygenation constants of ∼0.8-1.2 µM(-1)), folding stabilities of cetacean Mbs are ∼2-4 kcal/mol higher than for terrestrial Mbs. Using ancestral sequence reconstruction, maximum likelihood and bayesian tests to describe the evolution of cetacean Mbs, and experimentally calibrated computation of stability effects of mutations, we observe accelerated evolution in cetaceans and identify seven positively selected sites in Mb. Overall, these sites contribute to Mb stabilization with a conditional probability of 0.8. We observe a correlation between Mb folding stability and protein abundance, suggesting that a selection pressure for stability acts proportionally to higher expression. We also identify a major divergence event leading to the common ancestor of whales, during which major stabilization occurred. Most of the positively selected sites that occur later act against other destabilizing mutations to maintain stability across the clade, except for the shallow divers, where late stability relaxation occurs, probably due to the shorter aerobic dive limits of these species. The three main positively selected sites 66, 5, and 35 undergo changes that favor hydrophobic folding, structural integrity, and intra-helical hydrogen bonds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Dasmeh
- Technical University of Denmark, DTU Chemistry, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Adrian W. R. Serohijos
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kasper P. Kepp
- Technical University of Denmark, DTU Chemistry, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Eugene I. Shakhnovich
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Soule DC, Wilcock WSD. Fin whale tracks recorded by a seismic network on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Northeast Pacific Ocean. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2013; 133:1751-1761. [PMID: 23464044 DOI: 10.1121/1.4774275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Fin whale calls recorded from 2003 to 2004 by a seafloor seismic network on the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge were analyzed to determine tracks and calling patterns. Over 150 tracks were obtained with a total duration of ~800 h and swimming speeds from 1 to 12 km/h. The dominant inter-pulse interval (IPI) is 24 s and the IPI patterns define 4 categories: a 25 s single IPI and 24/30 s dual IPI produced by single calling whales, a 24/13 s dual IPI interpreted as two calling whales, and an irregular IPI interpreted as groups of calling whales. There are also tracks in which the IPI switches between categories. Call rates vary seasonally with all the tracks between August and April. From August to October tracks are dominated by the irregular IPI and are predominantly headed to the northwest, suggesting that a portion of the fin whale population does not migrate south in the fall. The other IPI categories occur primarily from November to March. These tracks have slower swimming speeds, tend to meander, and are predominantly to the south. The distribution of fin whales around the network is non-random with more calls near the network and to the east and north.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dax C Soule
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, P.O. Box 357940, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Integrative Approaches to the Study of Baleen Whale Diving Behavior, Feeding Performance, and Foraging Ecology. Bioscience 2013. [DOI: 10.1525/bio.2013.63.2.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
|
48
|
Širović A, Williams LN, Kerosky SM, Wiggins SM, Hildebrand JA. Temporal separation of two fin whale call types across the eastern North Pacific. MARINE BIOLOGY 2013; 160:47-57. [PMID: 24391281 PMCID: PMC3873066 DOI: 10.1007/s00227-012-2061-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) produce a variety of low-frequency, short-duration, frequency-modulated calls. The differences in temporal patterns between two fin whale call types are described from long-term passive acoustic data collected intermittently between 2005 and 2011 at three locations across the eastern North Pacific: the Bering Sea, off Southern California, and in Canal de Ballenas in the northern Gulf of California. Fin whale calls were detected at all sites year-round, during all periods with recordings. At all three locations, 40-Hz calls peaked in June, preceding a peak in 20-Hz calls by 3-5 months. Monitoring both call types may provide a more accurate insight into the seasonal presence of fin whales across the eastern North Pacific than can be obtained from a single call type. The 40-Hz call may be associated with a foraging function, and temporal separation between 40- and 20-Hz calls may indicate the separation between predominately feeding behavior and other social interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Širović
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0205 USA
| | - Lauren N. Williams
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0205 USA
| | - Sara M. Kerosky
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0205 USA
| | - Sean M. Wiggins
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0205 USA
| | - John A. Hildebrand
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0205 USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Simon M, Johnson M, Madsen PT. Keeping momentum with a mouthful of water: behavior and kinematics of humpback whale lunge feeding. J Exp Biol 2012; 215:3786-98. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.071092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Rorqual baleen whales lunge feed by engulfment of tons of prey-laden water in a large and expandable buccal pouch. According to prior interpretations, feeding rorquals are brought to a near-halt at the end of each lunge by drag forces primarily generated by the open mouth. Accelerating the body from a standstill is energetically costly and is purported to be the key factor determining oxygen consumption in lunge-feeding rorquals, explaining the shorter dive times than expected given their sizes. Here, we use multi-sensor archival tags (DTAGs) sampling at high rates in a fine-scale kinematic study of lunge feeding to examine the sequence of events within lunges and how energy may be expended and conserved in the process of prey capture. Analysis of 479 lunges from five humpback whales reveals that the whales accelerate as they acquire prey, opening their gape in synchrony with strong fluke strokes. The high forward speed (mean depth rate: 2.0±0.32 m s−1) during engulfment serves both to corral active prey and to expand the ventral margin of the buccal pouch and so maximize the engulfed water volume. Deceleration begins after mouth opening when the pouch nears full expansion and momentum starts to be transferred to the engulfed water. Lunge-feeding humpback whales time fluke strokes throughout the lunge to impart momentum to the engulfed water mass and so avoid a near or complete stop, but instead continue to glide at ~1–1.5 m s−1 after the lunge has ended. Subsequent filtration and prey handling appear to take an average of 46 s and are performed in parallel with re-positioning for the next lunge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malene Simon
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé, Building 1131, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, Kivioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Mark Johnson
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé, Building 1131, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Peter T. Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé, Building 1131, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Potvin J, Goldbogen JA, Shadwick RE. Metabolic expenditures of lunge feeding rorquals across scale: implications for the evolution of filter feeding and the limits to maximum body size. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44854. [PMID: 23024769 PMCID: PMC3443106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bulk-filter feeding is an energetically efficient strategy for resource acquisition and assimilation, and facilitates the maintenance of extreme body size as exemplified by baleen whales (Mysticeti) and multiple lineages of bony and cartilaginous fishes. Among mysticetes, rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) exhibit an intermittent ram filter feeding mode, lunge feeding, which requires the abandonment of body-streamlining in favor of a high-drag, mouth-open configuration aimed at engulfing a very large amount of prey-laden water. Particularly while lunge feeding on krill (the most widespread prey preference among rorquals), the effort required during engulfment involve short bouts of high-intensity muscle activity that demand high metabolic output. We used computational modeling together with morphological and kinematic data on humpback (Megaptera noveaangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whales to estimate engulfment power output in comparison with standard metrics of metabolic rate. The simulations reveal that engulfment metabolism increases across the full body size of the larger rorqual species to nearly 50 times the basal metabolic rate of terrestrial mammals of the same body mass. Moreover, they suggest that the metabolism of the largest body sizes runs with significant oxygen deficits during mouth opening, namely, 20% over maximum at the size of the largest blue whales, thus requiring significant contributions from anaerobic catabolism during a lunge and significant recovery after a lunge. Our analyses show that engulfment metabolism is also significantly lower for smaller adults, typically one-tenth to one-half . These results not only point to a physiological limit on maximum body size in this lineage, but also have major implications for the ontogeny of extant rorquals as well as the evolutionary pathways used by ancestral toothed whales to transition from hunting individual prey items to filter feeding on prey aggregations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|