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Garcia-Cegarra AM, Jung JL, Orrego R, Padilha JDA, Malm O, Ferreira-Braz B, Santelli RE, Pozo K, Pribylova P, Alvarado-Rybak M, Azat C, Kidd KA, Espejo W, Chiang G, Bahamonde P. Persistence, bioaccumulation and vertical transfer of pollutants in long-finned pilot whales stranded in Chilean Patagonia. Sci Total Environ 2021; 770:145259. [PMID: 33517007 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Long-finned pilot whales (LFPW) are cetaceans with strong social groups often involved in mass strandings worldwide. However, these beachings occur for reasons that are not fully understood. In 2016, 124 LFPW were stranded on the Chilean Patagonian islands, offering a unique opportunity to obtain crucial information on the ecology, biology, and genetics of this population. In addition, we examined whether persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and trace elements (TEs) were responsible for this mass mortality. Stable isotopes (δ13C & δ15N) and genetic analyses were used to reconstruct the trophic ecology, social structure, and kinship of LFPW and compared to POPs and TEs levels found in LFPW. Mitochondrial DNA analyses on 71 individuals identified four maternal lineages within the stranded LFPW. Of these animals, 32 individuals were analyzed for a suite of POPs, TEs, and lipid content in blubber. The highest levels were found for ΣDDXs (6 isomers) (542.46 ± 433.46 ng/g, lw) and for total Hg (2.79 ± 1.91 mg/kg, dw). However, concentrations found in these LFPW were lower than toxicity thresholds and those reported for LFPW stranded in other regions. Evidence was found of ΣDDX, Σ7PCBs, and Cd bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of POPs in mother/offspring groups. Nevertheless, no clear relationship between contaminant concentrations and LFPW mortality was established. Further research is still needed to assess LFPW populations including conservations status and exposure to chemicals in remote areas such as Patagonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Garcia-Cegarra
- Centro de Investigación de Fauna Marina y Avistamiento de Cetáceos (CIFAMAC), Mejillones, Chile; Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Jean-Luc Jung
- Université de Brest, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle,CNRS, Sorbonne Université, ISYEB, F-29200 Brest, France
| | - Rodrigo Orrego
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory (AQUATOX), University of Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Janeide de A Padilha
- Radiositopes Lab, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Olaf Malm
- Radiositopes Lab, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Ferreira-Braz
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo E Santelli
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karla Pozo
- Recetox (Research Center for Toxic Compounds in the Environment), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Czech Republic; Faculty of Engineering and Technology, San Sebastián University, Concepción, Chile
| | - Petra Pribylova
- Recetox (Research Center for Toxic Compounds in the Environment), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
| | - Mario Alvarado-Rybak
- Sustainability Research Center & PhD Program in Conservation Medicine, Life Science Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio Azat
- Sustainability Research Center & PhD Program in Conservation Medicine, Life Science Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology & School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Winfred Espejo
- Department of Animal Science, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 537, Chillán, Chile
| | - Gustavo Chiang
- Sustainability Research Center & PhD Program in Conservation Medicine, Life Science Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; MaREA, Laboratorio de Ecologia y Salud Acuática, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulina Bahamonde
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environmental Research, Centro de Estudios Avanzados - HUB Ambiental UPLA, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile..
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Abstract
Little is known about the social structure of male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) after they leave their natal units. While previous studies found no evidence for preferred associations among males, the observation of mass-strandings consisting exclusively of males, suggest that they have strong social bonds. To investigate the social associations among male sperm whales, we used half weight index of association, permutation tests and standardized lagged association rate models on a large photo-identification database collected between 2006 and 2017 in Nemuro Strait, Japan. Our results suggest that while male sperm whales are not as social as females, they do form long term associations, have preferred companionship, and forage in social proximity to each other. The best-fitting model to the standardized lagged association rate showed that associations among males last for at least 2.7 years and as most males leave the area after 2 years, associations may last for longer. Twenty dyads were observed associating over more than 2 years, for a maximum 5 years. One dyad was observed associating on 19 different days and clustered on 7 different days. Male associations may function to enhance foraging or to fend off predators. Such relationships seem to be adapted to a pelagic habitat with uncertain resource availability and predation pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayao Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Science, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Hal Whitehead
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Masao Amano
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Science, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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Kratofil MA, Ylitalo GM, Mahaffy SD, West KL, Baird RW. Life history and social structure as drivers of persistent organic pollutant levels and stable isotopes in Hawaiian false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). Sci Total Environ 2020; 733:138880. [PMID: 32446048 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
False killer whales are long-lived, slow to mature, apex predators, and therefore susceptible to bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Hawaiian waters are home to three distinct populations: pelagic; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) insular; and main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular. Following a precipitous decline over recent decades, the MHI population was listed as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act in 2012. This study assesses the risk of POP exposure to these populations by examining pollutant concentrations and ratios from blubber samples (n = 56) related to life history characteristics and MHI social clusters. Samples were analyzed for PCBs, DDTs, PBDEs, and some organochlorine pesticides. Skin samples (n = 52) were analyzed for stable isotopes δ13C and δ15N to gain insight into MHI false killer whale foraging ecology. Pollutant levels were similar among populations, although MHI whales had a significantly higher mean ratio of DDTs/PCBs than NWHI whales. The ∑PCB concentrations of 28 MHI individuals (68%) sampled were equal to or greater than suggested thresholds for deleterious health effects in marine mammals. The highest POP values among our samples were found in four stranded MHI animals. Eight of 24 MHI adult females have not been documented to have given birth; whether they have yet to reproduce, are reproductive senescent, or are experiencing reproductive dysfunction related to high POP exposure is unknown. Juvenile/sub-adults had significantly higher concentrations of certain contaminants than those measured in adults, and may be at greater risk of negative health effects during development. Multivariate analyses, POP ratios, and stable isotope ratios indicate varying risk of POP exposure, foraging locations and potentially prey items among MHI social clusters. Our findings provide invaluable insight into the ongoing risk POPs pose to the MHI population's viability, as well as consideration of risk for the NWHI and pelagic stocks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA.
| | - Sabre D Mahaffy
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218½ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA.
| | - Kristi L West
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, PO Box 1346, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA; Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, 1955 East West Road, Ag Sci 216, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Robin W Baird
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218½ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA; Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, PO Box 1346, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA.
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IJsseldijk LL, van Neer A, Deaville R, Begeman L, van de Bildt M, van den Brand JMA, Brownlow A, Czeck R, Dabin W, Ten Doeschate M, Herder V, Herr H, IJzer J, Jauniaux T, Jensen LF, Jepson PD, Jo WK, Lakemeyer J, Lehnert K, Leopold MF, Osterhaus A, Perkins MW, Piatkowski U, Prenger-Berninghoff E, Pund R, Wohlsein P, Gröne A, Siebert U. Beached bachelors: An extensive study on the largest recorded sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality event in the North Sea. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201221. [PMID: 30086178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Between the 8th January and the 25th February 2016, the largest sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality event ever recorded in the North Sea occurred with 30 sperm whales stranding in five countries within six weeks. All sperm whales were immature males. Groups were stratified by size, with the smaller animals stranding in the Netherlands, and the largest in England. The majority (n = 27) of the stranded animals were necropsied and/or sampled, allowing for an international and comprehensive investigation into this mortality event. The animals were in fair to good nutritional condition and, aside from the pathologies caused by stranding, did not exhibit significant evidence of disease or trauma. Infectious agents were found, including various parasite species, several bacterial and fungal pathogens and a novel alphaherpesvirus. In nine of the sperm whales a variety of marine litter was found. However, none of these findings were considered to have been the primary cause of the stranding event. Potential anthropogenic and environmental factors that may have caused the sperm whales to enter the North Sea were assessed. Once sperm whales enter the North Sea and head south, the water becomes progressively shallower (<40 m), making this region a global hotspot for sperm whale strandings. We conclude that the reasons for sperm whales to enter the southern North Sea are the result of complex interactions of extrinsic environmental factors. As such, these large mortality events seldom have a single ultimate cause and it is only through multidisciplinary, collaborative approaches that potentially multifactorial large-scale stranding events can be effectively investigated.
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