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Gilbert L, Jeanniard-du-Dot T, Authier M, Chouvelon T, Spitz J. Composition of cetacean communities worldwide shapes their contribution to ocean nutrient cycling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5823. [PMID: 37726276 PMCID: PMC10509247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41532-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Defecation by large whales is known to fertilise oceans with nutrients, stimulating phytoplankton and ecosystem productivity. However, our current understanding of these processes is limited to a few species, nutrients and ecosystems. Here, we investigate the role of cetacean communities in the worldwide biological cycling of two major nutrients and six trace nutrients. We show that cetaceans release more nutrients in mesotrophic to eutrophic temperate waters than in oligotrophic tropical waters, mirroring patterns of ecosystem productivity. The released nutrient cocktails also vary geographically, driven by the composition of cetacean communities. The roles of small cetaceans, deep diving cetaceans and baleen whales differ quantitatively and functionally, with contributions of small cetaceans and deep divers exceeding those of large whales in some areas. The functional diversity of cetacean communities expands beyond their role as top predators to include their role as active nutrient vectors, which might be equally important to local ecosystem dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Gilbert
- Centre for Biological Studies of Chizé, UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Matthieu Authier
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
| | - Tiphaine Chouvelon
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France
- Ifremer, Chemical Contamination of Marine Ecosystems Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Centre for Biological Studies of Chizé, UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France.
- Pelagis Observatory, UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS, La Rochelle, France.
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Herr H, Viquerat S, Devas F, Lees A, Wells L, Gregory B, Giffords T, Beecham D, Meyer B. Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9458. [PMID: 35798799 PMCID: PMC9262878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi) of the Southern Hemisphere were brought to near extinction by twentieth century industrial whaling. For decades, they had all but disappeared from previously highly frequented feeding grounds in Antarctic waters. Our dedicated surveys now confirm their return to ancestral feeding grounds, gathering at the Antarctic Peninsula in large aggregations to feed. We report on the results of an abundance survey and present the first scientific documentation of large fin whale feeding aggregations at Elephant Island, Antarctica, including the first ever video documentation. We interpret high densities, re-establishment of historical behaviours and the return to ancestral feeding grounds as signs for a recovering population. Recovery of a large whale population has the potential to augment primary productivity at their feeding grounds through the effects of nutrient recycling, known as 'the whale pump'. The recovery of fin whales in that area could thus restore ecosystem functions crucial for atmospheric carbon regulation in the world's most important ocean region for the uptake of anthropogenic CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Herr
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, University of Hamburg, Große Elbstraße 133, 22767, Hamburg, Germany. .,Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany.
| | - Sacha Viquerat
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, University of Hamburg, Große Elbstraße 133, 22767, Hamburg, Germany.,Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Fredi Devas
- BBC Studios, Natural History Unit, Bridgewaterhouse, Counterslip, Bristol, UK
| | - Abigail Lees
- BBC Studios, Natural History Unit, Bridgewaterhouse, Counterslip, Bristol, UK
| | - Lucy Wells
- BBC Studios, Natural History Unit, Bridgewaterhouse, Counterslip, Bristol, UK
| | - Bertie Gregory
- BBC Studios, Natural History Unit, Bridgewaterhouse, Counterslip, Bristol, UK
| | - Ted Giffords
- BBC Studios, Natural History Unit, Bridgewaterhouse, Counterslip, Bristol, UK
| | - Dan Beecham
- BBC Studios, Natural History Unit, Bridgewaterhouse, Counterslip, Bristol, UK
| | - Bettina Meyer
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany.,Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.,Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Ammerländer Heerstraße 231, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
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Rodríguez-Martínez M, Nielsen J, Dupont S, Vamathevan J, Glover BJ, Crosswell LC, Rouse B, Luisi BF, Bowler C, Gasser SM, Arendt D, Erb TJ, de Lorenzo V, Heard E, Patil KR. Molecular biology for green recovery-A call for action. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001623. [PMID: 35452449 PMCID: PMC9067641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular biology holds a vast potential for tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Yet, it is largely absent from the current strategies. We call for a community-wide action to bring molecular biology to the forefront of climate change solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sam Dupont
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Infrastructure, Kristineberg, Sweden
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | | | - Beverley J. Glover
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsey C. Crosswell
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan Rouse
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ben F. Luisi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Bowler
- Institut de Biologie de l’École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Recherche Paris Sciences et Lettres (Université PSL), Paris, France
| | - Susan M. Gasser
- ISREC Foundation Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Detlev Arendt
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias J. Erb
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Victor de Lorenzo
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Department, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Edith Heard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
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