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Groß J, Franco-Santos RM, Virtue P, Nichols PD, Totterdell J, Marcondes MCC, Garrigue C, Botero-Acosta N, Christiansen F, Castrillon J, Caballero SJ, Friedlaender AS, Kawaguchi S, Double MC, Bell EM, Makabe R, Moteki M, Hoem N, Fry B, Burford M, Bengtson Nash S. No distinct local cuisines among humpback whales: A population diet comparison in the Southern Hemisphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172939. [PMID: 38701928 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172939] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Southern hemisphere humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae, SHHW) breeding populations follow a high-fidelity Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) diet while feeding in distinct sectors of the Southern Ocean. Their capital breeding life history requires predictable ecosystem productivity to fuel migration and migration-related behaviours. It is therefore postulated that populations feeding in areas subject to the strongest climate change impacts are more likely to show the first signs of a departure from a high-fidelity krill diet. We tested this hypothesis by investigating blubber fatty acid profiles and skin stable isotopes obtained from five SHHW populations in 2019, and comparing them to Antarctic krill stable isotopes sampled in three SHHW feeding areas in the Southern Ocean in 2019. Fatty acid profiles and δ13C and δ15N varied significantly among all five populations, however, calculated trophic positions did not (2.7 to 3.1). Similarly, fatty acid ratios, 16:1ω7c/16:0 and 20:5ω3/22:6ω3 were above 1, showing that whales from all five populations are secondary heterotrophs following an omnivorous diet with a diatom-origin. Thus, evidence for a potential departure from a high-fidelity Antarctic krill diet was not seen in any population. δ13C of all populations were similar to δ13C of krill sampled in productive upwelling areas or the marginal sea-ice zone. Consistency in trophic position and diet origin but significant fatty acid and stable isotope differences demonstrate that the observed variability arises at lower trophic levels. Our results indicate that, at present, there is no evidence of a divergence from a high-fidelity krill diet. Nevertheless, the characteristic isotopic signal of whales feeding in productive upwelling areas, or in the marginal sea-ice zone, implies that future cryosphere reductions could impact their feeding ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Groß
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, QLD, Australia; Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Rita M Franco-Santos
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 7004 Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Patti Virtue
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 7004 Hobart, TAS, Australia; CSIRO Environment, 7004 Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Peter D Nichols
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 7004 Hobart, TAS, Australia; CSIRO Environment, 7004 Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | | | | | - Claire Garrigue
- UMR 250/9220 ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de La Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, CNRS, Ifremer, Laboratoired'Excellence-CORAIL, BPA5 Nouméa, New Caledonia; Opération Cétacés, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | | | - Fredrik Christiansen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Juliana Castrillon
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Susana J Caballero
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos (LEMVA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, 18A-10 Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - So Kawaguchi
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS, Australia
| | | | - Elanor M Bell
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS, Australia
| | - Ryosuke Makabe
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan; Department of Ocean Sciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan; Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 10-3, Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-851, Japan
| | - Masato Moteki
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan; Department of Ocean Sciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Nils Hoem
- Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS, NO-1327 Lysaker, Norway
| | - Brian Fry
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Michele Burford
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Susan Bengtson Nash
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, QLD, Australia
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Bestley S, Ropert-Coudert Y, Bengtson Nash S, Brooks CM, Cotté C, Dewar M, Friedlaender AS, Jackson JA, Labrousse S, Lowther AD, McMahon CR, Phillips RA, Pistorius P, Puskic PS, Reis AODA, Reisinger RR, Santos M, Tarszisz E, Tixier P, Trathan PN, Wege M, Wienecke B. Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean: Birds and Marine Mammals in a Changing Climate. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Guillaumot C, Fabri‐Ruiz S, Martin A, Eléaume M, Danis B, Féral J, Saucède T. Benthic species of the Kerguelen Plateau show contrasting distribution shifts in response to environmental changes. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:6210-6225. [PMID: 29988407 PMCID: PMC6024116 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine life of the Southern Ocean has been facing environmental changes and the direct impact of human activities during the past decades. Benthic communities have particularly been affected by such changes although we only slowly understand the effect of environmental changes on species physiology, biogeography, and distribution. Species distribution models (SDM) can help explore species geographic responses to main environmental changes. In this work, we modeled the distribution of four echinoid species with contrasting ecological niches. Models developed for [2005-2012] were projected to different time periods, and the magnitude of distribution range shifts was assessed for recent-past conditions [1955-1974] and for the future, under scenario RCP 8.5 for [2050-2099]. Our results suggest that species distribution shifts are expected to be more important in a near future compared to the past. The geographic response of species may vary between poleward shift, latitudinal reduction, and local extinction. Species with broad ecological niches and not limited by biogeographic barriers would be the least affected by environmental changes, in contrast to endemic species, restricted to coastal areas, which are predicted to be more sensitive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Guillaumot
- Marine Biology LabCP160/15 Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)BrusselsBelgium
| | - Salomé Fabri‐Ruiz
- UMR CNRS 6282 BiogéosciencesUniversité de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté (UBFC)DijonFrance
| | - Alexis Martin
- Département Adaptation du VivantMuseum National d'Histoire NaturelleUMR BOREA 7208ParisFrance
| | - Marc Eléaume
- Département Origine et ÉvolutionMuseum National d'Histoire NaturelleUMR ISYEB 7205ParisFrance
| | - Bruno Danis
- Marine Biology LabCP160/15 Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)BrusselsBelgium
| | | | - Thomas Saucède
- UMR CNRS 6282 BiogéosciencesUniversité de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté (UBFC)DijonFrance
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Bestley S, Jonsen I, Harcourt RG, Hindell MA, Gales NJ. Putting the behavior into animal movement modeling: Improved activity budgets from use of ancillary tag information. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8243-8255. [PMID: 27878092 PMCID: PMC5108274 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal movement research relies on biotelemetry, and telemetry-based locations are increasingly augmented with ancillary information. This presents an underutilized opportunity to enhance movement process models. Given tags designed to record specific behaviors, efforts are increasing to update movement models beyond reliance solely upon horizontal movement information to improve inference of space use and activity budgets. We present two state-space models adapted to incorporate ancillary data to inform three discrete movement states: directed, resident, and an activity state. These were developed for two case studies: (1) a "haulout" model for Weddell seals, and (2) an "activity" model for Antarctic fur seals which intersperse periods of diving activity and inactivity. The methodology is easily implementable with any ancillary data that can be expressed as a proportion (or binary) indicator. A comparison of the models augmented with ancillary information and unaugmented models confirmed that many behavioral states appeared mischaracterized in the latter. Important changes in subsequent activity budgets occurred. Haulout accounted for 0.17 of the overall Weddell seal time budget, with the estimated proportion of time spent in a resident state reduced from a posterior median of 0.69 (0.65-0.73; 95% HPDI) to 0.54 (0.50-0.58 HPDI). The drop was more dramatic in the Antarctic fur seal case, from 0.57 (0.52-0.63 HPDI) to 0.22 (0.20-0.25 HPDI), with 0.35 (0.31-0.39 HPDI) of time spent in the inactive (nondiving) state. These findings reinforce previously raised contentions about the drawbacks of behavioral states inferred solely from horizontal movements. Our findings have implications for assessing habitat requirements; estimating energetics and consumption; and management efforts such as mitigating fisheries interactions. Combining multiple sources of information within integrated frameworks should improve inference of relationships between movement decisions and fitness, the interplay between resource and habitat dependencies, and their changes at the population and landscape level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bestley
- Australian Antarctic Division Department of Environment Kingston Tas. Australia; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre Hobart Tas. Australia
| | - Ian Jonsen
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Robert G Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre Hobart Tas. Australia
| | - Nicholas J Gales
- Australian Antarctic Division Department of Environment Kingston Tas. Australia
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Yen JDL, Cabral RB, Cantor M, Hatton I, Kortsch S, Patrício J, Yamamichi M. Linking structure and function in food webs: maximization of different ecological functions generates distinct food web structures. J Anim Ecol 2016; 85:537-47. [PMID: 26749320 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Trophic interactions are central to ecosystem functioning, but the link between food web structure and ecosystem functioning remains obscure. Regularities (i.e. consistent patterns) in food web structure suggest the possibility of regularities in ecosystem functioning, which might be used to relate structure to function. We introduce a novel, genetic algorithm approach to simulate food webs with maximized throughput (a proxy for ecosystem functioning) and compare the structure of these simulated food webs to real empirical food webs using common metrics of food web structure. We repeat this analysis using robustness to secondary extinctions (a proxy for ecosystem resilience) instead of throughput to determine the relative contributions of ecosystem functioning and ecosystem resilience to food web structure. Simulated food webs that maximized robustness were similar to real food webs when connectance (i.e. levels of interaction across the food web) was high, but this result did not extend to food webs with low connectance. Simulated food webs that maximized throughput or a combination of throughput and robustness were not similar to any real food webs. Simulated maximum-throughput food webs differed markedly from maximum-robustness food webs, which suggests that maximizing different ecological functions can generate distinct food web structures. Based on our results, food web structure would appear to have a stronger relationship with ecosystem resilience than with ecosystem throughput. Our genetic algorithm approach is general and is well suited to large, realistically complex food webs. Genetic algorithms can incorporate constraints on structure and can generate outputs that can be compared directly to empirical data. Our method can be used to explore a range of maximization or minimization hypotheses, providing new perspectives on the links between structure and function in ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian D L Yen
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Reniel B Cabral
- National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines
| | - Mauricio Cantor
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, Canada
| | - Ian Hatton
- Department of Biology, McGill University, H3A 1B1, Montreal, Canada
| | - Susanne Kortsch
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UIT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Joana Patrício
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, 21027, Ispra, Italy
| | - Masato Yamamichi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-2701, USA
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