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Brewer AM, Castellote M, Van Cise AM, Gage T, Berdahl AM. Communication in Cook Inlet beluga whales: Describing the vocal repertoire and masking of calls by commercial ship noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:3487-3505. [PMID: 38032263 DOI: 10.1121/10.0022516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Many species rely on acoustic communication to coordinate activities and communicate to conspecifics. Cataloging vocal behavior is a first step towards understanding how individuals communicate information and how communication may be degraded by anthropogenic noise. The Cook Inlet beluga population is endangered with an estimated 331 individuals. Anthropogenic noise is considered a threat for this population and can negatively impact communication. To characterize this population's vocal behavior, vocalizations were measured and classified into three categories: whistles (n = 1264, 77%), pulsed calls (n = 354, 22%), and combined calls (n = 15, 1%), resulting in 41 call types. Two quantitative analyses were conducted to compare with the manual classification. A classification and regression tree and Random Forest had a 95% and 85% agreement with the manual classification, respectively. The most common call types per category were then used to investigate masking by commercial ship noise. Results indicate that these call types were partially masked by distant ship noise and completely masked by close ship noise in the frequency range of 0-12 kHz. Understanding vocal behavior and the effects of masking in Cook Inlet belugas provides important information supporting the management of this endangered population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arial M Brewer
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Manuel Castellote
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Amy M Van Cise
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Tom Gage
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Anchorage, Alaska 99518, USA
| | - Andrew M Berdahl
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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Adamantopoulou S, Karamanlidis AA, Dendrinos P, Gimenez O. Citizen science indicates significant range recovery and defines new conservation priorities for Earth's most endangered pinniped in Greece. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Adamantopoulou
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal Athens Greece
| | - A. A. Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal Athens Greece
| | - P. Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal Athens Greece
| | - O. Gimenez
- CEFE University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
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Castellote M, Mooney A, Andrews R, Deruiter S, Lee WJ, Ferguson M, Wade P. Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) acoustic foraging behavior and applications for long term monitoring. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260485. [PMID: 34847192 PMCID: PMC8631677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260485] [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: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Cook Inlet, Alaska, is home to an endangered and declining population of 279 belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Recovery efforts highlight a paucity of basic ecological knowledge, impeding the correct assessment of threats and the development of recovery actions. In particular, information on diet and foraging habitat is very limited for this population. Passive acoustic monitoring has proven to be an efficient approach to monitor beluga distribution and seasonal occurrence. Identifying acoustic foraging behavior could help address the current gap in information on diet and foraging habitat. To address this conservation challenge, eight belugas from a comparative, healthy population in Bristol Bay, Alaska, were instrumented with a multi-sensor tag (DTAG), a satellite tag, and a stomach temperature transmitter in August 2014 and May 2016. DTAG deployments provided 129.6 hours of data including foraging and social behavioral states. A total of 68 echolocation click trains ending in terminal buzzes were identified during successful prey chasing and capture, as well as during social interactions. Of these, 37 click trains were successfully processed to measure inter-click intervals (ICI) and ICI trend in their buzzing section. Terminal buzzes with short ICI (minimum ICI <8.98 ms) and consistently decreasing ICI trend (ICI increment range <1.49 ms) were exclusively associated with feeding behavior. This dual metric was applied to acoustic data from one acoustic mooring within the Cook Inlet beluga critical habitat as an example of the application of detecting feeding in long-term passive acoustic monitoring data. This approach allowed description of the relationship between beluga presence, feeding occurrence, and the timing of spawning runs by different species of anadromous fish. Results reflected a clear preference for the Susitna River delta during eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus), Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), and coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) salmon spawning run periods, with increased feeding occurrence at the peak of the Chinook and pink salmon runs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Castellote
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Aran Mooney
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States of America
| | - Russel Andrews
- Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK, United States of America
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Stacy Deruiter
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States of America
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America
| | - Wu-Jung Lee
- Applied Physics laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Megan Ferguson
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Paul Wade
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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McGuire TL, Stephens AD, McClung JR, Garner CD, Shelden KEW, Boor GKH, Wright B. Reproductive natural history of endangered Cook Inlet Beluga whales: insights from a long-term photo-identification study. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02750-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Castellote M, Small RJ, Lammers MO, Jenniges J, Mondragon J, Garner CD, Atkinson S, Delevaux JMS, Graham R, Westerholt D. Seasonal distribution and foraging occurrence of Cook Inlet beluga whales based on passive acoustic monitoring. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A paucity of information on the basic biology and ecology of Cook Inlet beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas remains a decade after the species was listed as endangered in 2008. The causes of its continued decline remain unclear. This lack of knowledge limits our understanding of, and ability to manage, potential threats impeding the recovery of this endangered population. Seasonal distribution and foraging ecology, particularly during winter, are currently among the most basic gaps in knowledge. Therefore, we conducted a year-round passive acoustic monitoring program from 2008-2013, monitoring 13 locations within the belugas’ critical habitat. We identified seasonal occurrence patterns across years at most locations. Detections were higher in the upper inlet during summer, peaking in known concentration areas. The occurrence of whales in the upper inlet when ice coverage peaked during winter was more prevalent than previously suggested. We documented seasonal differences in foraging habitat preference, with foraging behavior more prevalent during summer, particularly near upper inlet rivers, than during winter. Foraging peaks coincided with the presence of different anadromous fish runs from spring to fall. Low levels of feeding activity in winter suggest a lack of feeding aggregation areas, feeding in non-monitored offshore waters, or increased effort on benthic prey. These results represent a substantial contribution to our knowledge of Cook Inlet beluga seasonal distribution and foraging ecology, which will strengthen conservation and management strategies and thus more effectively promote recovery of this endangered population.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Castellote
- Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - RJ Small
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, AK 99811, USA
| | - MO Lammers
- Oceanwide Science Institute, Honolulu, HI 96839, USA
| | - J Jenniges
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Douglas, AK 99824, USA
| | - J Mondragon
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, AK 99811, USA
| | - CD Garner
- Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, US Air Force Conservation Department, 673 CES CEIEC, JBER, Anchorage, AK 99506, USA
| | - S Atkinson
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
| | - JMS Delevaux
- Oceanwide Science Institute, Honolulu, HI 96839, USA
| | - R Graham
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1490, USA
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Brownell Jr RL, Reeves RR, Read AJ, Smith BD, Thomas PO, Ralls K, Amano M, Berggren P, Chit AM, Collins T, Currey R, Dolar MLL, Genov T, Hobbs RC, Kreb D, Marsh H, Zhigang M, Perrin WF, Phay S, Rojas-Bracho L, Ryan GE, Shelden KEW, Slooten E, Taylor BL, Vidal O, Ding W, Whitty TS, Wang JY. Bycatch in gillnet fisheries threatens Critically Endangered small cetaceans and other aquatic megafauna. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2019. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Wolf N, Harris BP, Richárd N, Sethi SA, Lomac-Macnair K, Parker L. High-frequency aerial surveys inform the seasonal distribution of Cook Inlet beluga whales. WILDLIFE SOC B 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Wolf
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology (FAST) Laboratory; Alaska Pacific University; Anchorage, 4101 University Drive Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Bradley P. Harris
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology (FAST) Laboratory; Alaska Pacific University; Anchorage, 4101 University Drive Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Natalie Richárd
- Department of Geography; Memorial University of Newfoundland; P.O. Box 4200, St. John's Newfoundland NL A1C 5S7 Canada
| | - Suresh A. Sethi
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology (FAST) Laboratory; Alaska Pacific University; Anchorage, 4101 University Drive Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | | | - Lisa Parker
- Parker Horn Company; P.O. Box 1234 Soldotna AK 99669 USA
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Nelson MA, Quakenbush LT, Mahoney BA, Taras BD, Wooller MJ. Fifty years of Cook Inlet beluga whale feeding ecology from isotopes in bone and teeth. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Castellote M, Small RJ, Lammers MO, Jenniges JJ, Mondragon J, Atkinson S. Dual instrument passive acoustic monitoring of belugas in Cook Inlet, Alaska. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 139:2697. [PMID: 27250163 DOI: 10.1121/1.4947427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
As part of a long-term research program, Cook Inlet beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) presence was acoustically monitored with two types of acoustic sensors utilized in tandem in moorings deployed year-round: an ecological acoustic recorder (EAR) and a cetacean and porpoise detector (C-POD). The EAR was used primarily to record the calls, whistles, and buzzes produced by belugas and killer whales (Orcinus orca). The C-POD was used to log and classify echolocation clicks from belugas, killer whales, and porpoises. This paper describes mooring packages that maximized the chances of successful long-term data collection in the particularly challenging Cook Inlet environment, and presents an analytical comparison of odontocete detections obtained by the collocated EAR and C-POD instruments from two mooring locations in the upper inlet. Results from this study illustrate a significant improvement in detecting beluga and killer whale presence when the different acoustic signals detected by EARs and C-PODs are considered together. Further, results from concurrent porpoise detections indicating prey competition and feeding interference with beluga, and porpoise displacement due to ice formation are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Castellote
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way Northeast, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA
| | - Robert J Small
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99811, USA
| | - Marc O Lammers
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Justin J Jenniges
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99811, USA
| | - Jeff Mondragon
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99811, USA
| | - Shannon Atkinson
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, Alaska 99801, USA
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Summer distribution of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the Sea of Okhotsk. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF THERIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.14.2.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Jansen JK, Brady GM, Ver Hoef JM, Boveng PL. Spatially Estimating Disturbance of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129798. [PMID: 26132083 PMCID: PMC4488586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tidewater glacial fjords in Alaska provide habitat for some of the largest aggregations of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), with calved ice serving as platforms for birthing and nursing pups, molting, and resting. These fjords have also been popular destinations for tour ships for more than a century, with dramatic increases in vessel traffic since the 1980s. Seals on ice are known to flush into the water when approached by tour ships, but estimating the exposure to disturbance across populations is difficult. Using aerial transect sampling while simultaneously tracking vessel movements, we estimated the spatial overlap between seals on ice and cruise ships in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska, USA. By integrating previously estimated rates of disturbance as a function of distance with an ‘intensity surface’ modeled spatially from seal locations in the surveys, we calculated probabilities of seals flushing during three separate ship visits. By combining our estimate of seals flushed with a modeled estimate of the total fjord population, we predict that up to 14% of the seals (up to 11% of pups) hauled out would have flushed into the water, depending on the route taken by ships relative to seal aggregations. Such high potential for broad-scale disturbance by single vessels (when up to 4 ships visit per day) was unexpected and underscores the need to 1) better understand long-term effects of disturbance; 2) regularly monitor populations exposed to high vessel traffic; and 3) develop conservation measures to reduce seal-ship overlap.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K. Jansen
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Gavin M. Brady
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jay M. Ver Hoef
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Peter L. Boveng
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Lammers MO, Castellote M, Small RJ, Atkinson S, Jenniges J, Rosinski A, Oswald JN, Garner C. Passive acoustic monitoring of Cook Inlet beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2013; 134:2497-2504. [PMID: 23968047 DOI: 10.1121/1.4816575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The endangered beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population in Cook Inlet, AK faces threats from a variety of anthropogenic factors, including coastal development, oil and gas exploration, vessel traffic, and military activities. To address existing gaps in understanding about the occurrence of belugas in Cook Inlet, a project was developed to use passive acoustic monitoring to document the year-round distribution of belugas, as well as killer whales (Orcinus orca), which prey on belugas. Beginning in June 2009, ten moorings were deployed throughout the Inlet and refurbished every two to eight months. Despite challenging conditions consisting of strong tidal currents carrying debris and seasonal ice cover, 83% of mooring deployments were successfully recovered. Noise from water flow, vessel traffic, and/or industrial activities was present at several sites, potentially masking some signals. However, belugas were successfully detected at multiple locations. Detections were relatively common in the upper inlet and less common or absent at middle and lower inlet locations. Killer whale signals were also recorded. Some seasonal variability in the occurrence of both belugas and killer whales was evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc O Lammers
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA.
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Baird RW, Hanson MB, Schorr GS, Webster DL, McSweeney DJ, Gorgone AM, Mahaffy SD, Holzer DM, Oleson EM, Andrews RD. Range and primary habitats of Hawaiian insular false killer whales: informing determination of critical habitat. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2012. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Goetz KT, Montgomery RA, Ver Hoef JM, Hobbs RC, Johnson DS. Identifying essential summer habitat of the endangered beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas in Cook Inlet, Alaska. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2012. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Grigg EK, Allen SG, Craven-Green DE, Klimley AP, Markowitz H, Elliott-Fisk DL. Foraging distribution of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in a highly impacted estuary. J Mammal 2012. [DOI: 10.1644/11-mamm-a-128.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Abstract
Large reductions in the abundance of exploited land predators have led to significant range contractions for those species. This pattern can be formalized as the range-abundance relationship, a general macroecological pattern that has important implications for the conservation of threatened species. Here we ask whether similar responses may have occurred in highly mobile pelagic predators, specifically 13 species of tuna and billfish. We analyzed two multidecadal global data sets on the spatial distribution of catches and fishing effort targeting these species and compared these with available abundance time series from stock assessments. We calculated the effort needed to reliably detect the presence of a species and then computed observed range sizes in each decade from 1960 to 2000. Results suggest significant range contractions in 9 of the 13 species considered here (between 2% and 46% loss of observed range) and significant range expansions in two species (11-29% increase). Species that have undergone the largest declines in abundance and are of particular conservation concern tended to show the largest range contractions. These include all three species of bluefin tuna and several marlin species. In contrast, skipjack tuna, which may have increased its abundance in the Pacific, has also expanded its range size. These results mirror patterns described for many land predators, despite considerable differences in habitat, mobility, and dispersal, and imply ecological extirpation of heavily exploited species across parts of their range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Worm
- Biology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2.
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