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Tyler J, Hocking DP, Younger JL. Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of shape variation in the albatross compound bill. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230751. [PMID: 37593712 PMCID: PMC10427816 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Albatross are the largest seabirds on Earth and have a suite of adaptations for their pelagic lifestyle. Rather than having a bill made of a single piece of keratin, Procellariiformes have a compound rhamphotheca, made of several joined plates. Drivers of the shape of the albatross bill have not been explored. Here we use three-dimensional scans of 61 upper bills from 12 species of albatross to understand whether intrinsic (species assignment & size) or extrinsic (diet) factors predict bill shape. Diet is a significant predictor of bill shape with coarse dietary categories providing higher R2 values than dietary proportion data. We also find that of the intrinsic factors, species assignment accounts for ten times more of the variation than size (72% versus 6.8%) and that there is a common allometric vector of shape change between all species. When considering species averages in a phylogenetic framework, there are significant Blomberg's K results for both shape and size (K = 0.29 & 1.10) with the first axis of variation having a much higher K value (K = 1.9), reflecting the split in shape at the root of the tree. The influence of size on bill shape is limited, with species assignment and diet predicting far more of the variation. The results show that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are needed to understand morphological evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Tyler
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - David P. Hocking
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Zoology, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jane L. Younger
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia
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2
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Xavier JC, Golikov AV, Queirós JP, Perales-Raya C, Rosas-Luis R, Abreu J, Bello G, Bustamante P, Capaz JC, Dimkovikj VH, González AF, Guímaro H, Guerra-Marrero A, Gomes-Pereira JN, Hernández-Urcera J, Kubodera T, Laptikhovsky V, Lefkaditou E, Lishchenko F, Luna A, Liu B, Pierce GJ, Pissarra V, Reveillac E, Romanov EV, Rosa R, Roscian M, Rose-Mann L, Rouget I, Sánchez P, Sánchez-Márquez A, Seixas S, Souquet L, Varela J, Vidal EAG, Cherel Y. The significance of cephalopod beaks as a research tool: An update. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1038064. [PMID: 36467695 PMCID: PMC9716703 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1038064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of cephalopod beaks in ecological and population dynamics studies has allowed major advances of our knowledge on the role of cephalopods in marine ecosystems in the last 60 years. Since the 1960's, with the pioneering research by Malcolm Clarke and colleagues, cephalopod beaks (also named jaws or mandibles) have been described to species level and their measurements have been shown to be related to cephalopod body size and mass, which permitted important information to be obtained on numerous biological and ecological aspects of cephalopods in marine ecosystems. In the last decade, a range of new techniques has been applied to cephalopod beaks, permitting new kinds of insight into cephalopod biology and ecology. The workshop on cephalopod beaks of the Cephalopod International Advisory Council Conference (Sesimbra, Portugal) in 2022 aimed to review the most recent scientific developments in this field and to identify future challenges, particularly in relation to taxonomy, age, growth, chemical composition (i.e., DNA, proteomics, stable isotopes, trace elements) and physical (i.e., structural) analyses. In terms of taxonomy, new techniques (e.g., 3D geometric morphometrics) for identifying cephalopods from their beaks are being developed with promising results, although the need for experts and reference collections of cephalopod beaks will continue. The use of beak microstructure for age and growth studies has been validated. Stable isotope analyses on beaks have proven to be an excellent technique to get valuable information on the ecology of cephalopods (namely habitat and trophic position). Trace element analyses is also possible using beaks, where concentrations are significantly lower than in other tissues (e.g., muscle, digestive gland, gills). Extracting DNA from beaks was only possible in one study so far. Protein analyses can also be made using cephalopod beaks. Future challenges in research using cephalopod beaks are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José C. Xavier
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - José P. Queirós
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - José Abreu
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Juan C. Capaz
- Center of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Valerie H. Dimkovikj
- Department of Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, United States
| | | | - Hugo Guímaro
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Airam Guerra-Marrero
- IU-ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Edf. Ciencias Básicas, Campus de Tafira, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Vladimir Laptikhovsky
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Lowestoft, United Kingdom
| | | | - Fedor Lishchenko
- Laboratory for Ecology and Morphology of Marine Invertebrates, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Amanda Luna
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Bilin Liu
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Vasco Pissarra
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Elodie Reveillac
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Evgeny V. Romanov
- Centre Technique de Recherche et de Valorisation des Milieux Aquatiques (CITEB), Le Port, Île de la Réunion, France
| | - Rui Rosa
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Marjorie Roscian
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie-Paris (CR2P), CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Lisa Rose-Mann
- University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Isabelle Rouget
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie-Paris (CR2P), CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Pilar Sánchez
- Institut de Ciènces del Mar, CSIC, Psg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sónia Seixas
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Universidade Aberta, Rua Escola Politécnica, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Louise Souquet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaquelino Varela
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Erica A. G. Vidal
- Center for Marine Studies—Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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3
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Lischka A, Bustamante P, Braid H, Piatkowski U, Lacoue-Labarthe T. Trophic ecology drives trace element concentrations in the Antarctic octopod community. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 768:144373. [PMID: 33454479 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the Antarctic Ocean being considered a pristine environment, elevated trace element concentrations have been reported in many marine organisms. The Antarctic Ocean is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which can also affect the bioaccumulation of trace element concentrations in biota. While Antarctic octopods are key components of the regional food webs as prey for a variety of predators (e.g., seals, fish, and seabirds), their contamination state by trace elements remains largely unknown. This study investigated the trace element concentrations in relation to the trophic ecology in Antarctic octopods. Stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) and trace element concentrations (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn) were measured in eight different species (Adelieledone polymorpha, Pareledone aequipapillae, P. albimaculata, P. aurata, P. charcoti, P. cornuta, P. felix, and P. turqueti) sampled near Elephant Island, close to the Antarctic Peninsula. Stable isotopes of δ15N varied among species, with significant differences between A. polymorpha and P. aurata suggesting potential niche segregation. Trace element concentrations also differed among species and with sampling depth, which likely reflects their trophic ecology. The data presented in this study provides the first insight into the trace element concentrations for these endemic octopods in this vulnerable habitat and their stable isotope values.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lischka
- AUT Lab for Cephalopod Ecology & Systematics, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - P Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - H Braid
- AUT Lab for Cephalopod Ecology & Systematics, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - U Piatkowski
- GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - T Lacoue-Labarthe
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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4
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Cephalopods habitat and trophic ecology: historical data using snares penguin as biological sampler. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02776-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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5
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Andrades R, Dos Santos RA, Martins AS, Teles D, Santos RG. Scavenging as a pathway for plastic ingestion by marine animals. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 248:159-165. [PMID: 30784834 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is prevalent worldwide and affects marine wildlife from urbanized beaches to pristine oceanic islands. However, the ecological basis and mechanisms that result in marine animal ingestion of plastic debris are still relatively unknown, despite recent advances. We investigated the relationship between scavenging behavior and plastic ingestion using green turtles, Chelonia mydas, as a model. Diet analysis of C. mydas showed that sea turtles engaging in scavenging behavior ingested significantly more plastic debris than individuals that did not engage in this foraging strategy. We argue that opportunistic scavenging behavior, an adaptive behavior in most marine ecosystems, may now pose a threat to a variety of marine animals due to the current widespread plastic pollution found in oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Andrades
- Laboratório de Ictiologia, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, Espírito Santo, 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Roberta Aguiar Dos Santos
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Centro de Pesquisa e Gestão dos Recursos Pesqueiros do Litoral Sudeste e Sul, Itajaí, SC, Brazil
| | - Agnaldo Silva Martins
- Laboratório de Nectologia, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Davi Teles
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Robson Guimarães Santos
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
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Squadrone S, Brizio P, Favaro L, Todino G, Florio D, Da Rugna C, Abete MC. Humboldt penguins' feathers as bioindicators of metal exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:1734-1739. [PMID: 30273732 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Avian feathers have the potential to accumulate trace elements originating from contaminated food and polluted environments. In fact, in feathers, metals bind to keratin, a sulphur-containing protein for which several metals have a strong affinity. Here, the concentrations of 18 essential and non-essential elements were investigated in a Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) colony housed at the Acquario di Cattolica (Italy). This species is listed as vulnerable in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the literature, there is usually a link between metal levels in the diet of birds and levels detected in their feathers. Thus, metals were also determined in the penguins' food (capelin, Mallotus villosus). We hypothesize that the controlled conditions in which birds are kept in captivity, and the homogeneous diet that they follow could allow a better understanding of metal bioaccumulation (such as mercury) or bio-dilution (such as arsenic) in the marine food chain, indicated by penguins' feathers. Moreover, comparisons with our previous investigations performed on an ex-situ African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) colony suggest that penguins living indoors have lower body burden of metals than those living outdoors. Indeed, environmental contaminants usually found in areas subjected to anthropogenic impact, where zoos and aquaria are often located, are not accumulated to levels of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Squadrone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria, e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
| | - Paola Brizio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria, e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
| | - Livio Favaro
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
| | - Gilda Todino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
| | - Daniela Florio
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cesarina Abete
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria, e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
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7
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Biology and ecology of the world’s largest invertebrate, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni): a short review. Polar Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2104-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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8
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Becker PH, Goutner V, Ryan PG, González-Solís J. Feather mercury concentrations in Southern Ocean seabirds: Variation by species, site and time. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 216:253-263. [PMID: 27267741 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We studied mercury contamination in 25 seabird species breeding along a latitudinal gradient across the Southern Ocean, from Gough Island (40°S) through Marion Island (47°S) to Byers Peninsula (63°S). Total mercury concentrations in body feather samples of adults caught at breeding colonies from 2008 to 2011 were determined. Krill (Euphausia spp.) and other zooplankton consumers had low mercury concentrations (gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua, chinstrap penguin Pseudomonas Antarctica, common diving petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix, broad-billed prion Pachyptila vittata; mean levels 308-753 ng g(-1)), whereas seabirds consuming squid or carrion had high mercury concentrations (ascending order: Kerguelen petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris, southern giant petrel Macronectes giganteus, soft-plumaged petrel Pterodroma mollis, sooty albatross Phoebetria fusca, Atlantic petrel Pterodroma incerta, northern giant petrel Macronectes halli, great-winged petrel Pterodroma macroptera; 10,720-28038 ng g(-1)). The two species with the highest mercury concentrations, northern giant petrels and great-winged petrels, bred at Marion Island. Among species investigated at multiple sites, southern giant petrels had higher mercury levels at Marion than at Gough Island and Byers Peninsula. Mercury levels among Byers Peninsula seabirds were low, in two species even lower than levels measured 10 years before at Bird Island, South Georgia. Replicate measurements after about 25 years at Gough Island showed much higher mercury levels in feathers of sooty albatrosses (by 187%), soft-plumaged petrels (53%) and Atlantic petrels (49%). Concentrations similar to the past were detected in southern giant petrels at Gough and Marion islands, and in northern giant petrels at Marion. There were no clear indications that timing of moult or migratory behavior affected mercury contamination patterns among species. Causes of inter-site or temporal differences in mercury contamination could not be verified due to a lack of long-term data related to species' diet and trophic levels, which should be collected in future together with data on mercury contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Becker
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, D 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Vassilis Goutner
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Peter G Ryan
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.
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9
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Xavier JC, Ferreira S, Tavares S, Santos N, Mieiro CL, Trathan PN, Lourenço S, Martinho F, Steinke D, Seco J, Pereira E, Pardal M, Cherel Y. The significance of cephalopod beaks in marine ecology studies: Can we use beaks for DNA analyses and mercury contamination assessment? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 103:220-226. [PMID: 26723473 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Revised: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cephalopod beaks found in the diet of predators have been a major source of scientific information. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of DNA and contaminants analysis (total mercury - T-Hg) in cephalopod beaks in order to assess their applicability as tools in marine ecology studies. We concluded that, when applying DNA techniques to cephalopod beaks from Antarctic squid species, when using flesh attached to those beaks, it was possible to obtain DNA and to successfully identify cephalopod species; DNA was not found on the beaks themselves. This study also showed that it is possible to obtain information on T-Hg concentrations in beaks: the T-Hg concentrations found in the beaks were 6 to 46 times lower than in the flesh of the same cephalopod species. More research on the relationships of mercury concentrations in cephalopod beaks (and other tissues), intra- and inter-specifically, are needed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Carlos Xavier
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Departamento das Ciências da Vida, Universidade de Coimbra, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal; British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, CB3 0ET Cambridge, UK.
| | - Sónia Ferreira
- Department of Health and Education, Institute of Education and Citizenship, 3770-033 Mamarrosa, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Tavares
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- Department of Health and Education, Institute of Education and Citizenship, 3770-033 Mamarrosa, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Leopoldina Mieiro
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Phil N Trathan
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, CB3 0ET Cambridge, UK
| | - Sílvia Lourenço
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Departamento das Ciências da Vida, Universidade de Coimbra, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipe Martinho
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Dirk Steinke
- Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada
| | - José Seco
- CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Miguel Pardal
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
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10
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Edwards AE, Fitzgerald SM, Parrish JK, Klavitter JL, Romano MD. Foraging Strategies of Laysan Albatross Inferred from Stable Isotopes: Implications for Association with Fisheries. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133471. [PMID: 26230731 PMCID: PMC4521920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatal entanglement in fishing gear is the leading cause of population decline for albatross globally, a consequence of attraction to bait and fishery discards of commercial fishing operations. We investigated foraging strategies of Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), as inferred from nitrogen and carbon isotope values of primary feathers, to determine breeding-related, seasonal, and historic factors that may affect the likelihood of association with Alaskan or Hawaiian longline fisheries. Feather samples were collected from live birds monitored for breeding status and breeding success on Midway Atoll in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, birds salvaged as fisheries-bycatch, and birds added to museum collections before 1924. During the chick-rearing season (sampled April-May), means and variances of stable isotope values of birds with the highest, most consistent reproductive success were distinct from less productive conspecifics and completely different from birds caught in Hawaiian or Alaskan longline fisheries, suggesting birds with higher multi-annual reproductive success were less likely to associate with these fisheries. Contemporary birds with the highest reproductive success had mean values most similar to historic birds. Values of colony-bound, courting prebreeders were similar to active breeders but distinct from prebreeders caught in Alaskan longline fisheries. During the breeding season, δ15N values were highly variable for both contemporary and historic birds. Although some historic birds exhibited extremely low δ15N values unmatched by contemporary birds (< 11.2‰), others had values as high as the highest fishery-associated contemporary birds. During the non-breeding season (sampled July-September), isotopic variability coalesced into a more narrow set of values for both contemporary and historic birds. Our results suggest that foraging strategies of Laysan albatross are a complex function of season, breeding status, and multi-annual breeding success, factors that likely affect the probability of association with fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E. Edwards
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Shannon M. Fitzgerald
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Julia K. Parrish
- School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - John L. Klavitter
- Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, United States of America
| | - Marc D. Romano
- Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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11
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Cephalopods in the diet of nonbreeding black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses from South Georgia. Polar Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-014-1626-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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12
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Tavares S, Xavier JC, Phillips RA, Pereira ME, Pardal MA. Influence of age, sex and breeding status on mercury accumulation patterns in the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2013; 181:315-320. [PMID: 23859845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Revised: 06/21/2013] [Accepted: 06/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Although mercury bio-amplifies through the food chain and accumulates in top predators, mercury concentrations in tissues of the wandering albatross are greater than in any other vertebrate, including closely related species. In order to explore the alternative explanations for this pattern, we measured total mercury concentrations in feathers, plasma and blood cells of wandering albatrosses of known age, sex and breeding status sampled at South Georgia. Mercury concentrations were low in feathers and blood components of chicks, and higher in the feathers of young pre-breeders than in feathers or blood of older pre-breeders and breeding adults. There was no effect of sex on mercury concentrations in the feathers of pre-breeders or breeding adults, whereas levels were significantly higher in blood cells of breeding females than males. The high feather mercury concentrations of young pre-breeders compared with older birds suggest an increase in moult frequency as birds approach maturity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tavares
- CFE (Centre for Functional Ecology), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PO Box 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
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