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Tervo OM, Blackwell SB, Ditlevsen S, Garde E, Hansen RG, Samson AL, Conrad AS, Heide-Jørgensen MP. Stuck in a corner: Anthropogenic noise threatens narwhals in their once pristine Arctic habitat. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade0440. [PMID: 37494430 PMCID: PMC10371008 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Niche-conservative species are especially susceptible to changes in their environment, and detecting the negative effects of new stressors in their habitats is vital for safeguarding of these species. In the Arctic, human disturbance including marine traffic and exploration of resources is increasing rapidly due to climate change-induced reduction of sea ice. Here, we show that the narwhal, Monodon monoceros, is extremely sensitive to human-made noise. Narwhals avoided deep diving (> 350 m) with simultaneous reduction of foraging and increased shallow diving activity as a response to either ship sound alone or ship sound with concurrent seismic airgun pulses. Normal behavior decreased by 50 to 75% at distances where received sound levels were below background noise. Narwhals were equally responsive to both disturbance types, hence demonstrating their acute sensitivity to ship sound. This sensitivity coupled with their special behavioral-ecological strategy including a narrow ecological niche and high site fidelity makes them thus especially vulnerable to human impacts in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Outi M. Tervo
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91,2, DK-1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Susanna B. Blackwell
- Greeneridge Sciences Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Susanne Ditlevsen
- Data Science Laboratory, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva Garde
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91,2, DK-1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Rikke G. Hansen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91,2, DK-1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Adeline L. Samson
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble Institute of Engineering, LJK, 38000 Grenoble, France
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2
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Shuert CR, Hussey NE, Marcoux M, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Dietz R, Auger-Méthé M. Divergent migration routes reveal contrasting energy-minimization strategies to deal with differing resource predictability. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:31. [PMID: 37280701 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00397-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seasonal long-distance movements are a common feature in many taxa allowing animals to deal with seasonal habitats and life-history demands. Many species use different strategies to prioritize time- or energy-minimization, sometimes employing stop-over behaviours to offset the physiological burden of the directed movement associated with migratory behaviour. Migratory strategies are often limited by life-history and environmental constraints, but can also be modulated by the predictability of resources en route. While theory on population-wide strategies (e.g. energy-minimization) are well studied, there are increasing evidence for individual-level variation in movement patterns indicative of finer scale differences in migration strategies. METHODS We aimed to explore sources of individual variation in migration strategies for long-distance migrators using satellite telemetry location data from 41 narwhal spanning a 21-year period. Specifically, we aimed to determine and define the long-distance movement strategies adopted and how environmental variables may modulate these movements. Fine-scale movement behaviours were characterized using move-persistence models, where changes in move-persistence, highlighting autocorrelation in a movement trajectory, were evaluated against potential modulating environmental covariates. Areas of low move-persistence, indicative of area-restricted search-type behaviours, were deemed to indicate evidence of stop-overs along the migratory route. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate two divergent migratory tactics to maintain a similar overall energy-minimization strategy within a single population of narwhal. Narwhal migrating offshore exhibited more tortuous movement trajectories overall with no evidence of spatially-consistent stop-over locations across individuals. Nearshore migrating narwhal undertook more directed routes, contrasted by spatially-explicit stop-over behaviour in highly-productive fjord and canyon systems along the coast of Baffin Island for periods of several days to several weeks. CONCLUSIONS Within a single population, divergent migratory tactics can achieve a similar overall energy-minimizing strategy within a species as a response to differing trade-offs between predictable and unpredictable resources. Our methodological approach, which revealed the modulators of fine-scale migratory movements and predicted regional stop-over sites, is widely applicable to a variety of other aquatic and terrestrial species. Quantifying marine migration strategies will be key for adaptive conservation in the face of climate change and ever increasing human pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R Shuert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada.
| | - Nigel E Hussey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Marie Auger-Méthé
- Institute for the Oceans & Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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3
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Decadal migration phenology of a long-lived Arctic icon keeps pace with climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2121092119. [PMID: 36279424 PMCID: PMC9659343 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121092119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals migrate in response to seasonal environments, to reproduce, to benefit from resource pulses, or to avoid fluctuating hazards. Although climate change is predicted to modify migration, only a few studies to date have demonstrated phenological shifts in marine mammals. In the Arctic, marine mammals are considered among the most sensitive to ongoing climate change due to their narrow habitat preferences and long life spans. Longevity may prove an obstacle for species to evolutionarily respond. For species that exhibit high site fidelity and strong associations with migration routes, adjusting the timing of migration is one of the few recourses available to respond to a changing climate. Here, we demonstrate evidence of significant delays in the timing of narwhal autumn migrations with satellite tracking data spanning 21 y from the Canadian Arctic. Measures of migration phenology varied annually and were explained by sex and climate drivers associated with ice conditions, suggesting that narwhals are adopting strategic migration tactics. Male narwhals were found to lead the migration out of the summering areas, while females, potentially with dependent young, departed later. Narwhals are remaining longer in their summer areas at a rate of 10 d per decade, a similar rate to that observed for climate-driven sea ice loss across the region. The consequences of altered space use and timing have yet to be evaluated but will expose individuals to increasing natural changes and anthropogenic activities on the summering areas.
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4
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Charry B, Tissier E, Iacozza J, Marcoux M, Watt CA. Mapping Arctic cetaceans from space: A case study for beluga and narwhal. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254380. [PMID: 34347780 PMCID: PMC8336832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergence of new technologies in remote sensing give scientists a new way to detect and monitor wildlife populations. In this study we assess the ability to detect and classify two emblematic Arctic cetaceans, the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), using very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery. We analyzed 12 VHR images acquired in August 2017 and 2019, collected by the WorldView-3 satellite, which has a maximum resolution of 0.31 m per pixel. The images covered Clearwater Fiord (138.8 km2), an area on eastern Baffin Island, Canada where belugas spend a large part of the summer, and Tremblay Sound (127.0 km2), a narrow water body located on the north shore of Baffin Island that is used by narwhals during the open water season. A total of 292 beluga whales and 109 narwhals were detected in the images. This study contributes to our understanding of Arctic cetacean distribution and highlights the capabilities of using satellite imagery to detect marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Iacozza
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Cortney A. Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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5
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Louis M, Skovrind M, Garde E, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Szpak P, Lorenzen ED. Population-specific sex and size variation in long-term foraging ecology of belugas and narwhals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202226. [PMID: 33972883 PMCID: PMC8074634 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Intraspecific variation in resource use by individuals of different age, sex or size may reflect differing energetic requirements and physiological constraints. Males and females often show differences in diet owing to sexual size dimorphism, different life histories and/or habitat use. Here, we investigate how sex and size influence the long-term foraging ecology of belugas and narwhals in Greenland, using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen from bone collagen. We show that males have a higher trophic level and a larger ecological niche than females in West Greenland belugas and in East Greenland narwhals. In addition, for these two populations, we find that δ 15N increases with size, particularly in males. We hypothesize that sexual size dimorphism together with strong maternal investment drive these differences. By contrast, we find no differences in foraging ecology between sexes in West Greenland narwhals and observe no influence of size on trophic level. This may reflect the influence of interspecific competition in West Greenland, where the distributions of belugas and narwhals overlap, and/or geographical resource partitioning among different summer aggregations of narwhals. Our results suggest that sex and size variations in diet are population dependent, and probably the result of varying ecological interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Louis
- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Eva Garde
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Paul Szpak
- Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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Shuert CR, Marcoux M, Hussey NE, Watt CA, Auger-Méthé M. Assessing the post-release effects of capture, handling and placement of satellite telemetry devices on narwhal (Monodon monoceros) movement behaviour. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coaa128. [PMID: 33659061 PMCID: PMC7905160 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Animal-borne telemetry devices have become a popular and valuable means for studying the cryptic lives of cetaceans. Evaluating the effect of capture, handling and tagging procedures remains largely unassessed across species. Here, we examine the effect of capture, handling and tagging activities on an iconic Arctic cetacean, the narwhal (Monodon monoceros), which has previously been shown to exhibit an extreme response to extended capture and handling. Using accelerometry-derived metrics of behaviour, including activity level, energy expenditure and swimming activity, we quantify the post-release responses and time to recovery of 19 individuals following capture and tagging activities considering the intrinsic covariates of sex and individual size and the extrinsic covariates of handling time and presence of a 'bolt-on' satellite telemetry device. From accelerometer-derived behaviour, most narwhals appeared to return to mean baseline behaviour (recovery) within 24 hours after release, which was supported by longer-term measures of diving data. None of the covariates measured, however, had an effect on the time individuals took to recover following release. Using generalized additive models to describe changes in behaviour over time, we found handling time to be a significant predictor of activity levels, energy expenditure and swimming behaviour following release. Individuals held for the longest period (>40 min) were found to display the largest effect in behaviour immediately following release with respect to swimming behaviour and activity levels. We also found some support for relationships between activity levels, energy expenditure and swimming activity and two other covariates: sex and the attachment of a bolt-on configuration satellite tags. Our results indicate that narwhals recover relatively quickly following capture, handling and tagging procedures, but we suggest that researchers should minimize handling time and further investigation is needed on how to mitigate potential effects of bolt-on satellite tags in these sensitive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R Shuert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Nigel E Hussey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Marie Auger-Méthé
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Institute for the Oceans & Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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7
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Chambault P, Tervo OM, Garde E, Hansen RG, Blackwell SB, Williams TM, Dietz R, Albertsen CM, Laidre KL, Nielsen NH, Richard P, Sinding MHS, Schmidt HC, Heide-Jørgensen MP. The impact of rising sea temperatures on an Arctic top predator, the narwhal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18678. [PMID: 33122802 PMCID: PMC7596713 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75658-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Arctic top predators are expected to be impacted by increasing temperatures associated with climate change, but the relationship between increasing sea temperatures and population dynamics of Arctic cetaceans remains largely unexplored. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are considered to be among the most sensitive of Arctic endemic marine mammals to climate change due to their limited prey selection, strict migratory patterns and high site fidelity. In the context of climate change, we assume that the population dynamics of narwhals are partly influenced by changes in environmental conditions, with warm areas of increasing sea temperatures having lower abundance of narwhals. Using a unique large dataset of 144 satellite tracked narwhals, sea surface temperature (SST) data spanning 25 years (1993–2018) and narwhal abundance estimates from 17 localities, we (1) assessed the thermal exposure of this species, (2) investigated the SST trends at the summer foraging grounds, and (3) assessed the relationship between SST and abundance of narwhals. We showed a sharp SST increase in Northwest, Mideast and Southeast Greenland, whereas no change could be detected in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) and in the Greenland Sea. The rising sea temperatures were correlated with the smallest narwhal abundance observed in the Mideast and Southeast Greenland (< 2000 individuals), where the mean summer sea temperatures were the highest (6.3 °C) compared to the cold waters of the CAA (0.7 °C) that were associated with the largest narwhal populations (> 40,000 individuals). These results support the hypothesis that warming ocean waters will restrict the habitat range of the narwhal, further suggesting that narwhals from Mideast and Southeast Greenland may be under pressure to abandon their traditional habitats due to ocean warming, and consequently either migrate further North or locally go extinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chambault
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - O M Tervo
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - E Garde
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R G Hansen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S B Blackwell
- Greeneridge Sciences, Inc, 5266 Hollister Avenue, Suite 107, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111, USA
| | | | - R Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - C M Albertsen
- DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, DK, Denmark
| | - K L Laidre
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Polar Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105-6698, USA
| | - N H Nielsen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - P Richard
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - M H S Sinding
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - H C Schmidt
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M P Heide-Jørgensen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
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8
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Heide‐Jørgensen MP, Blackwell SB, Williams TM, Sinding MHS, Skovrind M, Tervo OM, Garde E, Hansen RG, Nielsen NH, Ngô MC, Ditlevsen S. Some like it cold: Temperature-dependent habitat selection by narwhals. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8073-8090. [PMID: 32788962 PMCID: PMC7417212 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a high-Arctic species inhabiting areas that are experiencing increases in sea temperatures, which together with reduction in sea ice are expected to modify the niches of several Arctic marine apex predators. The Scoresby Sound fjord complex in East Greenland is the summer residence for an isolated population of narwhals. The movements of 12 whales instrumented with Fastloc-GPS transmitters were studied during summer in Scoresby Sound and at their offshore winter ground in 2017-2019. An additional four narwhals provided detailed hydrographic profiles on both summer and winter grounds. Data on diving of the whales were obtained from 20 satellite-linked time-depth recorders and 16 Acousonde™ recorders that also provided information on the temperature and depth of buzzes. In summer, the foraging whales targeted depths between 300 and 850 m where the preferred areas visited by the whales had temperatures ranging between 0.6 and 1.5°C (mean = 1.1°C, SD = 0.22). The highest probability of buzzing activity during summer was at a temperature of 0.7°C and at depths > 300 m. The whales targeted similar depths at their offshore winter ground where the temperature was slightly higher (range: 0.7-1.7°C, mean = 1.3°C, SD = 0.29). Both the probability of buzzing events and the spatial distribution of the whales in both seasons demonstrated a preferential selection of cold water. This was particularly pronounced in winter where cold coastal water was selected and warm Atlantic water farther offshore was avoided. It is unknown if the small temperature niche of whales while feeding is because prey is concentrated at these temperature gradients and is easier to capture at low temperatures, or because there are limitations in the thermoregulation of the whales. In any case, the small niche requirements together with their strong site fidelity emphasize the sensitivity of narwhals to changes in the thermal characteristics of their habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Terrie M. Williams
- Center for Ocean Health – Long Marine LaboratoryUniversity of California‐Santa CruzSanta CruzCAUSA
| | - Mikkel Holger S. Sinding
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesCopenhagenDenmark
- Smurfit Institute of GeneticsTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | | | - Outi M. Tervo
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Eva Garde
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | | | - Mạnh Cường Ngô
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Susanne Ditlevsen
- Data Science LaboratoryDepartment of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
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9
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Louis M, Skovrind M, Samaniego Castruita JA, Garilao C, Kaschner K, Gopalakrishnan S, Haile JS, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM, Garde E, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Postma L, Ferguson SH, Willerslev E, Lorenzen ED. Influence of past climate change on phylogeography and demographic history of narwhals, Monodon monoceros. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192964. [PMID: 32315590 PMCID: PMC7211449 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Arctic is warming at an unprecedented rate, with unknown consequences for endemic fauna. However, Earth has experienced severe climatic oscillations in the past, and understanding how species responded to them might provide insight into their resilience to near-future climatic predictions. Little is known about the responses of Arctic marine mammals to past climatic shifts, but narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are considered one of the endemic Arctic species most vulnerable to environmental change. Here, we analyse 121 complete mitochondrial genomes from narwhals sampled across their range and use them in combination with species distribution models to elucidate the influence of past and ongoing climatic shifts on their population structure and demographic history. We find low levels of genetic diversity and limited geographic structuring of genetic clades. We show that narwhals experienced a long-term low effective population size, which increased after the Last Glacial Maximum, when the amount of suitable habitat expanded. Similar post-glacial habitat release has been a key driver of population size expansion of other polar marine predators. Our analyses indicate that habitat availability has been critical to the success of narwhals, raising concerns for their fate in an increasingly warming Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Louis
- Globe Institute, Universityof Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Skovrind
- Globe Institute, Universityof Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Cristina Garilao
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Kristin Kaschner
- Department of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Shyam Gopalakrishnan
- Globe Institute, Universityof Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - James S. Haile
- Globe Institute, Universityof Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Kit M. Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eva Garde
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91,2, DK-1401 CopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Lianne Postma
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Steven H. Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Eske Willerslev
- Globe Institute, Universityof Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- D-IAS, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Eline D. Lorenzen
- Globe Institute, Universityof Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Charry B, Marcoux M, Cardille JA, Giroux‐Bougard X, Humphries MM. Hierarchical Classification of Narwhal Subpopulations Using Social Distance. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Charry
- Natural Resource Sciences, Macdonald CampusMcGill University 21 111 Lakeshore Drive Ste‐Anne‐de‐Bellevue QC H9X 3V9 Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Fisheries & Oceans CanadaArctic Aquatic Research Division 501 University Crescent Winnipeg MB R3T 2N6 Canada
| | - Jeffrey A. Cardille
- Natural Resource Sciences, Macdonald CampusMcGill University 21 111 Lakeshore Drive Ste‐Anne‐de‐Bellevue QC H9X 3V9 Canada
| | - Xavier Giroux‐Bougard
- Natural Resource Sciences, Macdonald CampusMcGill University 21 111 Lakeshore Drive Ste‐Anne‐de‐Bellevue QC H9X 3V9 Canada
| | - Murray M. Humphries
- Natural Resource Sciences, Macdonald CampusMcGill University 21 111 Lakeshore Drive Ste‐Anne‐de‐Bellevue QC H9X 3V9 Canada
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11
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Watt CA, Hornby C, Ferguson SH. Trace element and stable isotope analysis elucidate stock structure in a narwhal (Monodon monoceros) population with no genetic substructure. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chemical composition of tissues can act as a biological tag to discriminate among groups of animals that inhabit different areas. In Canada, subsistence hunting of the Baffin Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758) population is managed as stocks represented by summer aggregations. However, narwhals are highly mobile and are hunted during the migration while stocks mix. Thus, information that can help managers decipher the stock origin of hunted individuals to prevent overexploitation of animals adapted to particular summering grounds is needed. Stable isotope and trace element analyses were conducted on narwhal skin tissues from five stocks in the eastern Canadian Arctic from 1990 to 2015. Discriminant analysis showed a significant difference between Admiralty Inlet and Eclipse Sound stocks in the summer residency period and both differed from Jones Sound and Somerset Island. During the migration season, there was more overlap and less distinction among stocks, but 75% of animals were classified correctly to their defined stocks in both periods. Together stable isotope and trace element analyses are useful for delineating stocks and could be used to complement other stock discrimination approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cortney A. Watt
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Claire Hornby
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Steven H. Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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12
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Kenyon KA, Yurkowski DJ, Orr J, Barber D, Ferguson SH. Baffin Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros) select bathymetry over sea ice during winter. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2345-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Chambault P, Albertsen CM, Patterson TA, Hansen RG, Tervo O, Laidre KL, Heide-Jørgensen MP. Sea surface temperature predicts the movements of an Arctic cetacean: the bowhead whale. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9658. [PMID: 29942009 PMCID: PMC6018504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27966-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of climate change constitute a major concern in Arctic waters due to the rapid decline of sea ice, which may strongly alter the movements and habitat availability of Arctic marine mammals. We tracked 98 bowhead whales by satellite over an 11-year period (2001-2011) in Baffin Bay - West Greenland to investigate the environmental drivers (specifically sea surface temperature and sea ice) involved in bowhead whale's movements. Movement patterns differed according to season, with aggregations of whales found at higher latitudes during spring and summer likely in response to sea-ice retreat and increasing sea temperature (SST) facilitated by the warm West Greenland Current. In contrast, the whales moved further south in response to sea temperature decrease during autumn and winter. Statistical models indicated that the whales targeted a narrow range of SSTs from -0.5 to 2 °C. Sea surface temperatures are predicted to undergo a marked increase in the Arctic, which could expose bowhead whales to both thermal stress and altered stratification and vertical transport of water masses. With such profound changes, bowhead whales may face extensive habitat loss. Our results highlight the need for closer investigation and monitoring in order to predict the extent of future distribution changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippine Chambault
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 2, DK-1401, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Toby A Patterson
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS-7000, Australia
| | - Rikke G Hansen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 2, DK-1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Outi Tervo
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Strandgade 91, 2, DK-1401, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristin L Laidre
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 1013 NE, 40th Street, Seattle, WA-98105-6698, United States of America
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Laidre KL, Moon T, Hauser DDW, McGovern R, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Dietz R, Hudson B. Use of glacial fronts by narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in West Greenland. Biol Lett 2017; 12:rsbl.2016.0457. [PMID: 27784729 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glacial fronts are important summer habitat for narwhals (Monodon monoceros); however, no studies have quantified which glacial properties attract whales. We investigated the importance of glacial habitats using telemetry data from n = 15 whales tagged in September of 1993, 1994, 2006 and 2007 in Melville Bay, West Greenland. For 41 marine-terminating glaciers, we estimated (i) narwhal presence/absence, (ii) number of 24 h periods spent at glaciers and (iii) the fraction of narwhals that visited each glacier (at 5, 7 and 10 km) in autumn. We also compiled data on glacier width, ice thickness, ice velocity, front advance/retreat, area and extent of iceberg discharge, bathymetry, subglacial freshwater run-off and sediment flux. Narwhal use of glacial habitats expanded in the 2000s probably due to reduced summer fast ice and later autumn freeze-up. Using a generalized multivariate framework, glacier ice front thickness (vertical height in the water column) was a significant covariate in all models. A negative relationship with glacier velocity was included in several models and glacier front width was a significant predictor in the 2000s. Results suggest narwhals prefer glaciers with potential for higher ambient freshwater melt over glaciers with silt-laden discharge. This may represent a preference for summer freshwater habitat, similar to other Arctic monodontids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L Laidre
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Twila Moon
- Geographical Sciences and Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Donna D W Hauser
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Richard McGovern
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ben Hudson
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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15
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Watt C, Orr J, Ferguson S. Spatial distribution of narwhal ( Monodon monoceros) diving for Canadian populations helps identify important seasonal foraging areas. CAN J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In Canada, narwhals (Monodon monoceros L., 1758) are divided into the Baffin Bay (BB) and northern Hudson Bay (NHB) populations. Satellite tracking of 21 narwhals from BB and NHB provided information on their diving behaviour and was used to identify foraging regions. Previous research from hunted narwhals indicated that narwhals in both populations depend on benthic prey to meet their dietary needs. To evaluate home ranges and define areas important for benthic foraging, we conducted kernel density analysis on narwhal locations and focused on areas where deep diving occurs, as a proxy for foraging, in the winter, spring, and migratory periods. These analyses revealed important areas for foraging for BB narwhals on the summer grounds in Eclipse Sound, and the winter grounds in Davis Strait, as well as on the migratory pathway between regions. Similarly, important areas were identified for the NHB narwhal population in northwestern Hudson Bay in summer, in NHB and Hudson Strait on the migration, and to the east of the entrance to Hudson Strait in the winter. This, along with an analysis of the absolute dive depths, provides information on seasons and regions important for foraging, which is particularly relevant with increasing industrial activities in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- C.A. Watt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - J.R. Orr
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - S.H. Ferguson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
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16
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Fullerton AH, Anzalone S, Moran P, Van Doornik DM, Copeland T, Zabel RW. Setting spatial conservation priorities despite incomplete data for characterizing metapopulations. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 26:2558-2578. [PMID: 27865061 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Management of spatially structured species poses unique challenges. Despite a strong theoretical foundation, practitioners rarely have sufficient empirical data to evaluate how populations interact. Rather, assumptions about connectivity and source-sink dynamics are often based on incomplete, extrapolated, or modeled data, if such interactions are even considered at all. Therefore, it has been difficult to evaluate whether spatially structured species are meeting conservation goals. We evaluated how estimated metapopulation structure responded to estimates of population sizes and dispersal probabilities and to the set of populations included. We then compared outcomes of alternative management strategies that target conservation of metapopulation processes. We illustrated these concepts for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Snake River, USA. Our description of spatial structure for this metapopulation was consistent with previous characterizations. We found substantial differences in estimated metapopulation structure when we had incomplete information about all populations and when we used different sources of data (three empirical, two modeled) to estimate dispersal, whereas responses to population size estimates were more consistent. Together, these findings suggest that monitoring efforts should target all populations occasionally and populations that play key roles frequently and that multiple types of data should be collected when feasible. When empirical data are incomplete or of uneven quality, analyses using estimates produced from an ensemble of available datasets can help conservation planners and managers weigh near-term options. Doing so, we found trade-offs in connectivity and source dominance in metapopulation-level responses to alternative management strategies that suggest which types of approaches may be inherently less risky.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Fullerton
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Biology Divisions, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard E, Seattle, Washington, 98125, USA
| | - S Anzalone
- University of Western Washington, 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
| | - P Moran
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Biology Divisions, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard E, Seattle, Washington, 98125, USA
| | - D M Van Doornik
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Biology Divisions, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard E, Seattle, Washington, 98125, USA
| | - T Copeland
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Southwest Region, 1414 E Locust Lane, Nampa, Idaho, 83686, USA
| | - R W Zabel
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Biology Divisions, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard E, Seattle, Washington, 98125, USA
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17
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Seasonal marine mammal occurrence detected from passive acoustic monitoring in Scott Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-2040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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Heide-Jørgensen MP, Sinding MHS, Nielsen NH, Rosing-Asvid A, Hansen RG. Large numbers of marine mammals winter in the North Water polynya. Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1885-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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19
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Garde E, Hansen SH, Ditlevsen S, Tvermosegaard KB, Hansen J, Harding KC, Heide-Jørgensen MP. Life history parameters of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from Greenland. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Heide-Jørgensen MP, Burt LM, Hansen RG, Nielsen NH, Rasmussen M, Fossette S, Stern H. The significance of the north water polynya to arctic top predators. AMBIO 2013; 42:596-610. [PMID: 23271401 PMCID: PMC3698320 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-012-0357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2012] [Revised: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The North Water polynya (~76°N to 79°N and 70°W to 80°W) is known to be an important habitat for several species of marine mammals and sea birds. For millennia, it has provided the basis for subsistence hunting and human presence in the northernmost part of Baffin Bay. The abundance of air-breathing top predators also represents a potential source of nutrient cycling that maintains primary production. In this study, aerial surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010 were used for the first time to map the distribution and estimate the abundance of top predators during spring in the North Water. Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) were not detected north of 77°20'N but were found along the coast of West Greenland and offshore in the middle of the North Water with an abundance estimated at 2245 (95 % CI 1811-2783). Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) were widely distributed on the eastern side of the North Water with an estimate of abundance of 7726 (3761-15 870). Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) were found across the North Water over both shallow and deep (>500 m) water with an estimated abundance of 1499 (1077-2087). Bearded (Erignathus barbatus) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) used the large floes of ice in the southeastern part of the North Water for hauling out. Most polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were detected in the southern part of the polynya. The abundances of bearded and ringed seals were 6016 (3322-10 893) and 9529 (5460-16 632), respectively, and that of polar bears was 60 (12-292). Three sea bird species were distributed along the Greenland coast (eiders, Somateria spp.), in leads and cracks close to the Greenland coast (little auks, Alle alle) or widely in open water (thick-billed guillemots, Uria lomvia).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise M. Burt
- />RUWPA, The Observatory, University of St Andrews, Buchanan Gardens, Fife, KY16 9LZ UK
| | | | | | - Marianne Rasmussen
- />Húsavik Research Center, University of Iceland, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavik, Iceland
| | - Sabrina Fossette
- />Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP UK
| | - Harry Stern
- />Polar Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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