1
|
Hardin EE, Cullen JA, Fuentes MMPB. Comparing acoustic and satellite telemetry: an analysis quantifying the space use of Chelonia mydas in Bimini, Bahamas. R Soc Open Sci 2024; 11:231152. [PMID: 38204794 PMCID: PMC10776224 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Passive acoustic and Argos satellite telemetry are common methods for tracking marine species and are often used similarly to quantify space use. However, data-driven comparisons of these methods and their associated ecological inferences are limited. To address this, we compared temporal durations, spatial resolutions, financial costs and estimates of occurrence and range distributions for each tracking approach using nine juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Bimini, Bahamas. Tracking durations were similar, although acoustic tracking provided higher spatiotemporal resolution than satellite tracking. Occurrence distributions (95%) estimated from satellite telemetry were 12 times larger than those from acoustic telemetry, while satellite range distributions (95%) were 89 times larger. While individuals generally remained within the extent of the acoustic receiver array, gaps in coverage were identified. These gaps, combined with the lower accuracy of satellite telemetry, were likely drivers for the larger satellite distributions. Costs differed between telemetry methods, with acoustic telemetry being less expensive at larger sample sizes with a previously established array. Our results suggest that acoustic and satellite telemetry may not provide similar inferences of individual space use. As such, we provide recommendations to identify telemetry methods appropriate for specific study objectives and provide discussion on the biases of each.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Hardin
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Joshua A. Cullen
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pu Z, Guo Y. Autumn migration of black-necked crane ( Grus nigricollis) on the Qinghai-Tibetan and Yunnan-Guizhou plateaus. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10492. [PMID: 37693936 PMCID: PMC10485337 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite previous research efforts, the majority migration routes of the black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) have remained veiled. In this study, we utilized satellite telemetry data from 45 cranes between 2015 and 2021 to unveil critical insights. Our results revealed 11 distinct autumn migration routes and one sedentary flock, of which eight routes and the sedentary flock were previously undocumented. Our findings highlighted the remarkable diversity in the migration routes of black-necked cranes, especially in terms of migration orientations, spatial-temporal patterns, and altitudinal movement patterns. Cranes breeding on the eastern, northern, and central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau migrated southward, while those on the northern slopes of the Himalayas migrated eastward, westward, northward, or opted to remain sedentary. Moreover, we expanded the known range of migration distances to 84-1520 km at both ends (excluding sedentary individuals) and identified two long-term (Da Qaidam and Chaka) and one short-term (Gyatong grassland) stopover sites. Furthermore, our study revealed that the breeding colonies in the Qilian Mountains on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau utilized long-term stopover sites before embarking on significant altitude ascent, while other flocks displayed more urgent migration patterns, preferring to roost only at night. By unveiling the near-complete autumn migration routes of black-necked cranes, our research has contributed to discovering the critical habitats and connectivity among various breeding colonies, which is instrumental in developing effective seasonal conservation plans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Pu
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yumin Guo
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Erdenechimeg B, Purev-Ochir G, Gungaa A, Terbish O, Zhao Y, Guo Y. Migration Pattern, Habitat Use, and Conservation Status of the Eastern Common Crane ( Grus grus lilfordi) from Eastern Mongolia. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2287. [PMID: 37508062 PMCID: PMC10375961 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on the subspecies Eastern common crane Grus grus lilfordi are still scarce, especially in Southeastern Siberia, the far east of Russia, Eastern Mongolia, and Northeastern China. This study explores the migration pattern, habitat use, and conservation status of the Eastern common crane. Using GPS/GSM tracking data, 36 complete migrations of 11 individuals were obtained from 2017 to 2021. The cranes migrated an average of 1581.5 km (±476.5 SD) in autumn and 1446.5 (±742.8 SD) in spring between their breeding site in Eastern Mongolia and the following wintering sites: the Xar Moron River, Chifeng; the Bohai Bay; the Yellow River Delta; Tangshan, Hebei; and Tianjin. During the autumn and spring migrations, the cranes used three critical stopover sites. The subspecies spent 60.3% of their time in rangeland, 18.1% in cropland, and 14.2% in water. The tracking data determined that, of the areas used by cranes, 97-98% of the summering sites were in Russia, 96% of the breeding sites were in Mongolia, and over 70% of the stopover sites and 90% of the wintering sites in China lay outside the current protected area boundaries. Consequently, establishing and expanding protected areas in summering, breeding, stopover, and wintering sites should be a central component of future conservation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baasansuren Erdenechimeg
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Mongolian Bird Conservation Center, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Gankhuyag Purev-Ochir
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Mongolian Bird Conservation Center, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Amarkhuu Gungaa
- Mongolian Bird Conservation Center, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Oyunchimeg Terbish
- Eastern Mongolian Protected Areas Administration, Choibalsan 21060, Mongolia
| | - Yajie Zhao
- Shandong Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve Management Committee, Dongying 257091, China
- Technology Innovation Center for Ocean Telemetry, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Yumin Guo
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang G, Li B, Raghwani J, Vrancken B, Jia R, Hill SC, Fournié G, Cheng Y, Yang Q, Wang Y, Wang Z, Dong L, Pybus OG, Tian H. Bidirectional Movement of Emerging H5N8 Avian Influenza Viruses Between Europe and Asia via Migratory Birds Since Early 2020. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad019. [PMID: 36703230 PMCID: PMC9922686 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Migratory birds play a critical role in the rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus clade 2.3.4.4 across Eurasia. Elucidating the timing and pattern of virus transmission is essential therefore for understanding the spatial dissemination of these viruses. In this study, we surveyed >27,000 wild birds in China, tracked the year-round migration patterns of 20 bird species across China since 2006, and generated new HPAI H5N8 virus genomic data. Using this new data set, we investigated the seasonal transmission dynamics of HPAI H5N8 viruses across Eurasia. We found that introductions of HPAI H5N8 viruses to different Eurasian regions were associated with the seasonal migration of wild birds. Moreover, we report a backflow of HPAI H5N8 virus lineages from Europe to Asia, suggesting that Europe acts as both a source and a sink in the global HPAI virus transmission network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guogang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, National Bird Banding Center of China, Beijing, China
| | - Bingying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Center for Global Change and Public Health, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jayna Raghwani
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bram Vrancken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Evolutionary and Computational Virology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Ru Jia
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, National Bird Banding Center of China, Beijing, China
| | - Sarah C Hill
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Guillaume Fournié
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yanchao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Center for Global Change and Public Health, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiqi Yang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Yuxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Center for Global Change and Public Health, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zengmiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Center for Global Change and Public Health, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Dong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Oliver G Pybus
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Huaiyu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Center for Global Change and Public Health, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu Z, Ye X, Kuang Z, Ye H, Zhao X. Positive Effects of Land Use Change on Wintering Bar-Headed Geese between 2010 and 2021. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 36428370 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced land use change often drives species losses, yet some species can derive benefits from particular land use changes. Thus, case studies of how specific land use changes affect population size for species of interest are essential to their conservation. In this study, wintering bar-headed geese in Caohai, in Guizhou Province in China, were fitted with satellite trackers to assess their use of different land types and the impact of land use changes occurring between 2010 and 2021. We found that bar-headed geese preferentially spent time in arable lands, grasslands, and open water; most foraging occurred in cropland (59.5%) and grasslands (26.4%), while resting occurred in open water (68.3%) and in grasslands (43.5%). The population of wintering bar-headed geese in Caohai increased in size from 1366 to 2803 between 2010 and 2021. A concomitant decrease in cropland area (10.7%) and increase in open water (5.52%) and grasslands (48.45%) positively affected population growth. The use of abandoned croplands reduced human disturbance of goose foraging, while larger water and grassland areas provided more foraging and resting opportunities for bar-headed geese. Our study reveals a positive impact of recent land use changes on waterbird populations and provides a case study for managing human-wildlife relationships and protecting waterbirds and other wildlife.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kim IH, Park IK, Han DJ, Kim MS, Park D, Moon DY, Cho IY, Im JE, Park J, An YR. Movement Patterns of Juvenile Loggerhead Turtles ( Caretta caretta L. 1758) and Green Turtles ( Chelonia mydas L. 1758) Hatched in Captivity and Released in the Korean Waters. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162157. [PMID: 36009748 PMCID: PMC9405475 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
With most sea turtle populations declining, activities to conserve their habitat and nesting grounds and restore their populations are being implemented worldwide. To preserve the Northwestern Pacific populations, the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea has been releasing artificially propagated sea turtles, but whether these individuals join the wild population remains unknown. The present study aimed to determine the movement patterns of artificially propagated juvenile loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles fitted with satellite transmitters on their carapaces and released in the waters of Jeju or Yeosu, Republic of Korea, between August 2018 and April 2022. Loggerheads traveled northward to the East Sea, whereas green turtles moved west or southwest. Two 36-month-old and two 48-month-old loggerheads moved toward their potential nursery grounds and toward their feeding grounds, respectively. Three green turtles with a curved carapace length (CCL) of <40 cm moved toward their nursery or feeding grounds, while three individuals (CCL > 45 cm) moved toward their inshore foraging areas. The travel paths were closely related to the direction of local sea currents. Our results implied that releasing artificially propagated sea turtles, considering their age and CCL, can positively contribute to the conservation of Northwestern Pacific populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Il-Hun Kim
- Department of Ecology and Conservation, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Korea
| | - Il-Kook Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Dong-Jin Han
- Aqua Team, Aqua Planet Yeosu, Yeosu 59744, Korea
| | - Min-Seop Kim
- National Marine Bio-Resources and Information Center, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Korea
| | - Daesik Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | | | - In-Young Cho
- Department of Ecology and Conservation, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Korea
| | - Ji-En Im
- Aqua Team, Aqua Planet Yeosu, Yeosu 59744, Korea
| | - Jaejin Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Yong-Rock An
- National Marine Bio-Resources and Information Center, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-41-950-0750
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
King DT, Wang G, Cunningham FL. Seasonal climatic niche and migration movements of Double-crested Cormorants. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9153. [PMID: 36016816 PMCID: PMC9396706 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian migrants are challenged by seasonal adverse climatic conditions and energetic costs of long-distance flying. Migratory birds may track or switch seasonal climatic niche between the breeding and non-breeding grounds. Satellite tracking enables avian ecologists to investigate seasonal climatic niche and circannual movement patterns of migratory birds. The Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum, hereafter cormorant) wintering in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) migrates to the Northern Great Plains and Great Lakes and is of economic importance because of its impacts on aquaculture. We tested the climatic niche switching hypothesis that cormorants would switch climatic niche between summer and winter because of substantial differences in climate between the non-breeding grounds in the subtropical region and breeding grounds in the northern temperate region. The ordination analysis of climatic niche overlap indicated that cormorants had separate seasonal climatic niche consisting of seasonal mean monthly minimum and maximum temperature, seasonal mean monthly precipitation, and seasonal mean wind speed. Despite non-overlapping summer and winter climatic niches, cormorants appeared to be subjected to similar wind speed between winter and summer habitats and were consistent with similar hourly flying speed between winter and summer. Therefore, substantial differences in temperature and precipitation may lead to the climatic niche switching of fish-eating cormorants, a dietary specialist, between the breeding and non-breeding grounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Tommy King
- U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Mississippi State Mississippi USA
| | - Guiming Wang
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Mississippi State University Mississippi State Mississippi USA
| | - Fred L Cunningham
- U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Mississippi State Mississippi USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hurtado R, Egert L, Santos AP, do Nascimento Silva RR, Aragão do Amaral IN, Thijl Vanstreels RE. Successful Treatment of Capture Myopathy and Satellite Transmitter Injury in an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross ( Thalassarche chlororhynchos). J Avian Med Surg 2021; 35:210-216. [PMID: 34256552 DOI: 10.1647/20-00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
An Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) was found on shore 3 days after having been captured at sea by researchers. It presented very lethargic, moderately dehydrated, and in poor body condition. It was mildly hypothermic, with moderate pediculosis, and dark malodorous feces with yellow urates. The bird had a 48-g satellite transmitter attached with a backpack-style chest harness, which caused an ulcerative lesion on the interscapular area. The bird was severely anemic (packed cell volume, 18%), and plasma chemistry results were suggestive of a severe rhabdomyolysis (aspartate transaminase, 3620 U/L; creatine kinase, 100 400 U/L). We hypothesized that capture myopathy occurred because of a combination of capture stress and prolonged physical restraint by researchers, stress associated with repeated attempts by the bird to remove the satellite-transmitter harness, and a lengthy road transport to the rehabilitation center. A treatment protocol, which relied on a combination of aggressive fluid therapy, selenium, vitamins E and B12, and multivitamin supplementation, was administered after the initial physical assessment of the albatross. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia was used to minimize stress associated with the performed medical procedures (eg, physical examination, removal of the satellite transmitter harness, blood collection, and wound management). Measures were adopted while the bird was hospitalized to reduce stress (eg, quiet and comfortable environment with visual barriers and restricting handling of the patient to experienced staff). Clinical and hematological monitoring was used to assess the patient's condition as the bird gradually recovered while hospitalized. The albatross was successfully released 28 days after the initial presentation, suggesting that the medical protocol employed in this case may be useful for the treatment of capture myopathy in albatrosses and other birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renata Hurtado
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil,
| | - Leandro Egert
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil
| | - Allan Poltronieri Santos
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hays GC, Laloë J, Rattray A, Esteban N. Why do Argos satellite tags stop relaying data? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:7093-7101. [PMID: 34141278 PMCID: PMC8207149 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7558] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Satellite tracking of animals is very widespread across a range of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial taxa. Despite the high cost of tags and the advantages of long deployments, the reasons why tracking data from tags stop being received are rarely considered, but possibilities include shedding of the tag, damage to the tag (e.g., the aerial), biofouling, battery exhaustion, or animal mortality.We show how information relayed via satellite tags can be used to assess why tracking data stop being received. As a case study to illustrate general approaches that are broadly applicable across taxa, we examined data from Fastloc-GPS Argos tags deployed between 2012 and 2019 on 78 sea turtles of two species, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).Tags transmitted for a mean of 267 days (SD = 113 days, range: 26-687 days, median = 251 days). In 68 of 78 (87%) cases, battery failure was implicated as the reason why tracking data stopped being received. Some biofouling of the saltwater switches, which synchronize transmissions with surfacing, was evident in a few tags but never appeared to be the reason that data reception ceased.Objectively assessing why tags fail will direct improvements to tag design, setup, and deployment regardless of the study taxa. Assessing why satellite tags stop transmitting will also inform on the fate of tagged animals, for example, whether they are alive or dead at the end of the study, which may allow improved estimates of survival rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Graeme C. Hays
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
| | | | - Alex Rattray
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
| | - Nicole Esteban
- Faculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hays GC, Cerritelli G, Esteban N, Rattray A, Luschi P. Open Ocean Reorientation and Challenges of Island Finding by Sea Turtles during Long-Distance Migration. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3236-3242.e3. [PMID: 32679095 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In 1873, Charles Darwin marveled at the ability of sea turtles to find isolated island breeding sites [1], but the details of how sea turtles and other taxa navigate during these migrations remains an open question [2]. Exploring this question using free-living individuals is difficult because, despite thousands of sea turtles being satellite tracked across hundreds of studies [3], most are tracked to mainland coasts where the navigational challenges are easiest. We overcame this problem by recording unique tracks of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) migrating long distances in the Indian Ocean to small oceanic islands. Our work provides some of the best evidence to date, from naturally migrating sea turtles, for an ability to reorient in the open ocean, but only at a crude level. Using individual-based models that incorporated ocean currents, we compared actual migration tracks against candidate navigational models to show that turtles do not reorient at fine scales (e.g., daily), but rather can travel several 100 km off the direct routes to their goal before reorienting, often in the open ocean. Frequently, turtles did not home to small islands with pinpoint accuracy, but rather overshot and/or searched for the target in the final stages of migration. These results from naturally migrating individuals support the suggestion from previous laboratory work [4-6] that turtles use a true navigation system in the open ocean, but their map sense is coarse scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Cerritelli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, Pisa I-56126, Italy
| | - Nicole Esteban
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | | | - Paolo Luschi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, Pisa I-56126, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chimienti M, Blasi MF, Hochscheid S. Movement patterns of large juvenile loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: Ontogenetic space use in a small ocean basin. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6978-6992. [PMID: 32760506 PMCID: PMC7391346 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms that determine how, where, and when ontogenetic habitat shifts occur are mostly unknown in wild populations. Differences in size and environmental characteristics of ontogenetic habitats can lead to differences in movement patterns, behavior, habitat use, and spatial distributions across individuals of the same species. Knowledge of juvenile loggerhead turtles' dispersal, movements, and habitat use is largely unknown, especially in the Mediterranean Sea. Satellite relay data loggers were used to monitor movements, diving behavior, and water temperature of eleven large juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) deliberately caught in an oceanic habitat in the Mediterranean Sea. Hidden Markov models were used over 4,430 spatial locations to quantify the different activities performed by each individual: transit, low-, and high-intensity diving. Model results were then analyzed in relation to water temperature, bathymetry, and distance to the coast. The hidden Markov model differentiated between bouts of area-restricted search as low- and high-intensity diving, and transit movements. The turtles foraged in deep oceanic waters within 60 km from the coast as well as above 140 km from the coast. They used an average area of 194,802 km2, where most individuals used the deepest part of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea with the highest seamounts, while only two switched to neritic foraging showing plasticity in foraging strategies among turtles of similar age classes. The foraging distribution of large juvenile loggerhead turtles, including some which were of the minimum size of adults, in the Tyrrhenian Sea is mainly concentrated in a relatively small oceanic area with predictable mesoscale oceanographic features, despite the proximity of suitable neritic foraging habitats. Our study highlights the importance of collecting high-resolution data about species distribution and behavior across different spatio-temporal scales and life stages for implementing conservation and dynamic ocean management actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Chimienti
- Department of Bioscience - Arctic Ecosystem EcologyAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
| | - Monica F. Blasi
- Filicudi WildLife ConservationStimpagnato FilicudiLipariItaliaItaly
| | - Sandra Hochscheid
- Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnMarine Turtle Research CenterPorticiItaly
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tedeschi A, Sorrenti M, Bottazzo M, Spagnesi M, Telletxea I, Ibàñez R, Tormen N, De Pascalis F, Guidolin L, Rubolini D. Interindividual variation and consistency of migratory behavior in the Eurasian woodcock. Curr Zool 2020; 66:155-163. [PMID: 32440275 PMCID: PMC7233613 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse spatio-temporal aspects of avian migration rely on relatively rigid endogenous programs. However, flexibility in migratory behavior may allow effective coping with unpredictable variation in ecological conditions that can occur during migration. We aimed at characterizing inter- and intraindividual variation of migratory behavior in a forest-dwelling wader species, the Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola, focusing on spatio-temporal consistency across repeated migration episodes. By satellite-tracking birds from their wintering sites along the Italian peninsula to their breeding areas, we disclosed a remarkable variability in migration distances, with some birds flying more than 6,000 km to Central Asian breeding grounds (up to 101°E). Prebreeding migration was faster and of shorter duration than postbreeding migration. Birds moving over longer distances migrated faster during prebreeding migration, and those breeding at northernmost latitudes left their wintering areas earlier. Moreover, birds making longer migrations departed earlier from their breeding sites. Breeding site fidelity was very high, whereas fidelity to wintering areas increased with age. Migration routes were significantly consistent, both among repeated migration episodes and between pre- and postbreeding migration. Prebreeding migration departure date was not significantly repeatable, whereas arrival date to the breeding areas was highly repeatable. Hence, interindividual variation in migratory behavior of woodcocks was mostly explained by the location of the breeding areas, and spatial consistency was relatively large through the entire annual cycle. Flexibility in prebreeding migration departure date may suggest that environmental effects have a larger influence on temporal than on spatial aspects of migratory behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Tedeschi
- Associazione "Amici di Scolopax", Via Roma, 57, Mugnano del Cardinale, AV, I-83027, Italy
| | - Michele Sorrenti
- Federazione Italiana della Caccia, Ufficio Avifauna Migratoria, Via Salaria 298/A, Roma, I-00199, Italy
| | - Michele Bottazzo
- Veneto Agricoltura, Viale dell'Università 14, Legnaro, PD, I-35020, Italy
| | - Mario Spagnesi
- Ekoclub International, Via per Volano 45, Volano di Codigoro, FE, I-44020, Italy
| | - Ibon Telletxea
- Club de Cazadores de Becada, Avda. Schulz 8, 4 dcha, Gijón, E-33208, Spain
| | - Ruben Ibàñez
- Club de Cazadores de Becada, Avda. Schulz 8, 4 dcha, Gijón, E-33208, Spain
| | - Nicola Tormen
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, Padova, I-35131, Italy
| | - Federico De Pascalis
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, Milano, I-20133, Italy
| | - Laura Guidolin
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, Padova, I-35131, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, Milano, I-20133, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
March D, Boehme L, Tintoré J, Vélez‐Belchi PJ, Godley BJ. Towards the integration of animal-borne instruments into global ocean observing systems. Glob Chang Biol 2020; 26:586-596. [PMID: 31675456 PMCID: PMC7027834 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Marine animals are increasingly instrumented with environmental sensors that provide large volumes of oceanographic data. Here, we conduct an innovative and comprehensive global analysis to determine the potential contribution of animal-borne instruments (ABI) into ocean observing systems (OOSs) and provide a foundation to establish future integrated ocean monitoring programmes. We analyse the current gaps of the long-term Argo observing system (>1.5 million profiles) and assess its spatial overlap with the distribution of marine animals across eight major species groups (tuna and billfishes, sharks and rays, marine turtles, pinnipeds, cetaceans, sirenians, flying seabirds and penguins). We combine distribution ranges of 183 species and satellite tracking observations from >3,000 animals. Our analyses identify potential areas where ABI could complement OOS. Specifically, ABI have the potential to fill gaps in marginal seas, upwelling areas, the upper 10 m of the water column, shelf regions and polewards of 60° latitude. Our approach provides the global baseline required to plan the integration of ABI into global and regional OOS while integrating conservation and ocean monitoring priorities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David March
- Marine Turtle Research GroupCentre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- ICTS SOCIB – Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting SystemParc BitPalma de MallorcaSpain
| | - Lars Boehme
- Sea Mammal Research UnitScottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Joaquín Tintoré
- ICTS SOCIB – Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting SystemParc BitPalma de MallorcaSpain
- IMEDEA (CSIC‐UIB)Mediterranean Institute of Advanced StudiesEsporlesSpain
| | | | - Brendan J. Godley
- Marine Turtle Research GroupCentre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Individual consistency in migration can shine light on the mechanisms of migration. Most studies have reported that birds are more consistent in the timing than in the routes or stopover sites during migration, but some specialist species showed the opposite patterns, being more consistent in spatial than temporal aspects of migration. One possible explanation for this contrast is that specialists rely on particular food or habitat resources, which restrict the migratory routes they can take, leading to high spatial consistency. If this is the case, the effect of specialist foraging should become apparent only when birds forage, instead of fasting and flying continuously. To test this effect, we analysed individual consistency in migration of the oriental honey buzzard ( Pernis ptilorhynchus), a specialist raptor that feeds on honeybees and wasps, using a long-term tracking dataset. As honey buzzards make extended stopovers during which they forage in spring but not in autumn, the spatial consistency should be higher in spring than in autumn. Honey buzzards were highly consistent in both their migratory routes and stopover sites in Southeast Asia, but only during spring migration. Our results highlight an important link between species' migratory consistency and foraging ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Sugasawa
- 1 Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews , Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY16 9TH , UK
| | - Hiroyoshi Higuchi
- 2 Research and Education Centre for Natural Sciences, Keio University , Raio-sha 206, Hiyoshi 4-1-1, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8521 , Japan
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hays GC, Bailey H, Bograd SJ, Bowen WD, Campagna C, Carmichael RH, Casale P, Chiaradia A, Costa DP, Cuevas E, Nico de Bruyn PJ, Dias MP, Duarte CM, Dunn DC, Dutton PH, Esteban N, Friedlaender A, Goetz KT, Godley BJ, Halpin PN, Hamann M, Hammerschlag N, Harcourt R, Harrison AL, Hazen EL, Heupel MR, Hoyt E, Humphries NE, Kot CY, Lea JSE, Marsh H, Maxwell SM, McMahon CR, Notarbartolo di Sciara G, Palacios DM, Phillips RA, Righton D, Schofield G, Seminoff JA, Simpfendorfer CA, Sims DW, Takahashi A, Tetley MJ, Thums M, Trathan PN, Villegas-Amtmann S, Wells RS, Whiting SD, Wildermann NE, Sequeira AMM. Translating Marine Animal Tracking Data into Conservation Policy and Management. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:459-473. [PMID: 30879872 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
There have been efforts around the globe to track individuals of many marine species and assess their movements and distribution, with the putative goal of supporting their conservation and management. Determining whether, and how, tracking data have been successfully applied to address real-world conservation issues is, however, difficult. Here, we compile a broad range of case studies from diverse marine taxa to show how tracking data have helped inform conservation policy and management, including reductions in fisheries bycatch and vessel strikes, and the design and administration of marine protected areas and important habitats. Using these examples, we highlight pathways through which the past and future investment in collecting animal tracking data might be better used to achieve tangible conservation benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Bailey
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, MD 20688, USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - W Don Bowen
- Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Claudio Campagna
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, Buenos Aires, 1414 Argentina
| | - Ruth H Carmichael
- University Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Paolo Casale
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island, Nature Parks, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Eduardo Cuevas
- CONACYT - Research Center of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad Autonoma del Carmen, Campeche 24180, Mexico; Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan, Yucatan 97205, Mexico
| | - P J Nico de Bruyn
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Maria P Dias
- BirdLife International, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Center, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniel C Dunn
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter H Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nicole Esteban
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Ari Friedlaender
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA; Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 965060, USA
| | - Kimberly T Goetz
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA),Greta Point, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Patrick N Halpin
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mark Hamann
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Robert Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Autumn-Lynn Harrison
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - Michelle R Heupel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Erich Hoyt
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Bridport, Dorset, UK; IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas E Humphries
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Connie Y Kot
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James S E Lea
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Helene Marsh
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Sara M Maxwell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Bothell Campus, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
| | - Clive R McMahon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Ecology and Biodiversity Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
- Tethys Research Institute, 20121 Milano, Italy; IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Daniel M Palacios
- Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - David Righton
- Cefas Laboratory, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK; School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Gail Schofield
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, E14NS, London, UK
| | - Jeffrey A Seminoff
- Marine Turtle Ecology and Assessment Program, NOAA-Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David W Sims
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK; Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK; Centre for Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Michael J Tetley
- IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Michele Thums
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (M096), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Philip N Trathan
- IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Stella Villegas-Amtmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Randall S Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
| | - Scott D Whiting
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia
| | - Natalie E Wildermann
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric, Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4320, USA
| | - Ana M M Sequeira
- IOMRC and The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hart KM, Iverson AR, Fujisaki I, Lamont MM, Bucklin D, Shaver DJ. Sympatry or syntopy? Investigating drivers of distribution and co-occurrence for two imperiled sea turtle species in Gulf of Mexico neritic waters. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12656-12669. [PMID: 30619571 PMCID: PMC6308884 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals co-occurring in a region (sympatry) may use the same habitat (syntopy) within that region. A central aim in ecology is determining what factors drive species distributions (i.e., abiotic conditions, dispersal limitations, and/or biotic interactions). Assessing the degree of biotic interactions can be difficult for species with wide ranges at sea. This study investigated the spatial ecology of two sea turtle species that forage on benthic invertebrates in neritic GoM waters: Kemp's ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii) and loggerheads (Caretta caretta). We used satellite tracking and modeled behavioral modes, then calculated individual home ranges, compared foraging areas, and determined extent of co-occurrence. Using six environmental variables and principal component analysis, we assessed similarity of chosen foraging sites. We predicted foraging location (eco-region) based on species, nesting site, and turtle size. For 127 turtles (64 Kemp's ridleys, 63 loggerheads) tracked from 1989 to 2013, foraging home ranges were nine to ten times larger for Kemp's ridleys than for loggerheads. Species intersected off all U.S. coasts and the Yucatán Peninsula, but co-occurrence areas were small compared to species' distributions. Kemp's ridley foraging home ranges were concentrated in the northern GoM, whereas those for loggerheads were concentrated in the eastern GoM. The two species were different in all habitat variables compared (latitude, longitude, distance to shore, net primary production, mean sea surface temperature, and bathymetry). Nesting site was the single dominant variable that dictated foraging ecoregion. Although Kemp's ridleys and loggerheads may compete for resources, the separation in foraging areas, significant differences in environmental conditions, and importance of nesting location on ecoregion selection (i.e., dispersal ability) indicate that adult females of these species do not interact greatly during foraging and that dispersal and environmental factors more strongly determine their distributions. These species show sympatry in this region but evidence for syntopy was rare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Hart
- Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDavieFlorida
| | - Autumn R. Iverson
- Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterCNT, Contracted to U.S. Geological SurveyDavieFlorida
| | - Ikuko Fujisaki
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaDavieFlorida
| | - Margaret M. Lamont
- Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyGainesvilleFlorida
| | - David Bucklin
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaDavieFlorida
| | - Donna J. Shaver
- Padre Island National SeashoreNational Park ServiceCorpus ChristiTexas
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hellerschmied A, McCallum L, McCallum J, Sun J, Böhm J, Cao J. Observing APOD with the AuScope VLBI Array. Sensors (Basel) 2018; 18:E1587. [PMID: 29772732 PMCID: PMC5982220 DOI: 10.3390/s18051587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The possibility to observe satellites with the geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) technique is vividly discussed in the geodetic community, particularly with regard to future co-location satellite missions. The Chinese APOD-A nano satellite can be considered as a first prototype-suitable for practical observation tests-combining the techniques Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and VLBI on a single platform in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Unfortunately, it has hardly been observed by VLBI, so major studies towards actual frame ties could not be performed. The main reason for the lack of observations was that VLBI observations of satellites are non-standard, and suitable observing strategies were not in place for this mission. This work now presents the first serious attempt to observe the satellite with a VLBI network over multiple passes. We introduce a series of experiments with the AuScope geodetic VLBI array which were carried out in November 2016, and describe all steps integrated in the established process chain: the experiment design and observation planning, the antenna tracking and control scheme, correlation and derivation of baseline-delays, and the data analysis yielding delay residuals on the level of 10 ns. The developed procedure chain can now serve as reference for future experiments, hopefully enabling the global VLBI network to be prepared for the next co-location satellite mission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hellerschmied
- Department of Geodesy and Geoinformation, Technische Universität Wien, Gußhausstraße 27⁻29/E120.4, A-1040 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Lucia McCallum
- School of Physical Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 25, Hobart TAS 7001, Australia.
| | - Jamie McCallum
- School of Physical Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 25, Hobart TAS 7001, Australia.
| | - Jing Sun
- National Astronomic Observatory, 20A Datun Road, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Johannes Böhm
- Department of Geodesy and Geoinformation, Technische Universität Wien, Gußhausstraße 27⁻29/E120.4, A-1040 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jianfeng Cao
- Beijing Aerospace Control Center, 26 Beiqing Road, Beijing 100094, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gilg O, Istomina L, Heygster G, Strøm H, Gavrilo MV, Mallory ML, Gilchrist G, Aebischer A, Sabard B, Huntemann M, Mosbech A, Yannic G. Living on the edge of a shrinking habitat: the ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea, an endangered sea-ice specialist. Biol Lett 2017; 12:rsbl.2016.0277. [PMID: 27807248 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing decline of sea ice threatens many Arctic taxa, including the ivory gull. Understanding how ice-edges and ice concentrations influence the distribution of the endangered ivory gulls is a prerequisite to the implementation of adequate conservation strategies. From 2007 to 2013, we used satellite transmitters to monitor the movements of 104 ivory gulls originating from Canada, Greenland, Svalbard-Norway and Russia. Although half of the positions were within 41 km of the ice-edge (75% within 100 km), approximately 80% were on relatively highly concentrated sea ice. Ivory gulls used more concentrated sea ice in summer, when close to their high-Arctic breeding ground, than in winter. The best model to explain the distance of the birds from the ice-edge included the ice concentration within approximately 10 km, the month and the distance to the colony. Given the strong links between ivory gull, ice-edge and ice concentration, its conservation status is unlikely to improve in the current context of sea-ice decline which, in turn, will allow anthropogenic activities to develop in regions that are particularly important for the species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Gilg
- Université de Bourgogne Franche Comté, UMR 6282 Biogéosciences, 21000 Dijon, France .,Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 21440 Francheville, France
| | - Larysa Istomina
- Institute of Environmental Physics (IUP), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Georg Heygster
- Institute of Environmental Physics (IUP), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Mark L Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 2R6
| | - Grant Gilchrist
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adrian Aebischer
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 21440 Francheville, France
| | - Brigitte Sabard
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 21440 Francheville, France
| | - Marcus Huntemann
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Anders Mosbech
- Department of Bioscience and Arctic Research Center, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Glenn Yannic
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 21440 Francheville, France.,Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 73376 Le Bourget-Du-Lac, France
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Mate BR, Ilyashenko VY, Bradford AL, Vertyankin VV, Tsidulko GA, Rozhnov VV, Irvine LM. Critically endangered western gray whales migrate to the eastern North Pacific. Biol Lett 2016; 11:20150071. [PMID: 25878049 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Western North Pacific gray whales (WGWs), once considered extinct, are critically endangered with unknown migratory routes and reproductive areas. We attached satellite-monitored tags to seven WGWs on their primary feeding ground off Sakhalin Island, Russia, three of which subsequently migrated to regions occupied by non-endangered eastern gray whales (EGWs). A female with the longest-lasting tag visited all three major EGW reproductive areas off Baja California, Mexico, before returning to Sakhalin Island the following spring. Her 22 511 km round-trip is the longest documented mammal migration and strongly suggests that some presumed WGWs are actually EGWs foraging in areas historically attributed to WGWs. The observed migration routes provide evidence of navigational skills across open water that break the near-shore north-south migratory paradigm of EGWs. Despite evidence of genetic differentiation, these tagging data indicate that the population identity of whales off Sakhalin Island needs further evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce R Mate
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Valentin Yu Ilyashenko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Amanda L Bradford
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington DC 98195-5020, USA
| | | | - Grigory A Tsidulko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav V Rozhnov
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Ladd M Irvine
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Garrigue C, Clapham PJ, Geyer Y, Kennedy AS, Zerbini AN. Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales. R Soc Open Sci 2015; 2:150489. [PMID: 26716006 PMCID: PMC4680621 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The humpback whale population of New Caledonia appears to display a novel migratory pattern characterized by multiple directions, long migratory paths and frequent pauses over seamounts and other shallow geographical features. Using satellite-monitored radio tags, we tracked 34 whales for between 5 and 110 days, travelling between 270 and 8540 km on their southward migration from a breeding ground in southern New Caledonia. Mean migration speed was 3.53±2.22 km h(-1), while movements within the breeding ground averaged 2.01±1.63 km h(-1). The tag data demonstrate that seamounts play an important role as offshore habitats for this species. Whales displayed an intensive use of oceanic seamounts both in the breeding season and on migration. Seamounts probably serve multiple and important roles as breeding locations, resting areas, navigational landmarks or even supplemental feeding grounds for this species, which can be viewed as a transient component of the seamount communities. Satellite telemetry suggests that seamounts represent an overlooked cryptic habitat for the species. The frequent use by humpback whales of such remote locations has important implications for conservation and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Garrigue
- Opération Cétacés, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement UMR ENTROPIE, IRD, Perpignan, France
- Author for correspondence: Claire Garrigue e-mail:
| | - Phillip J. Clapham
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ygor Geyer
- Instituto Aqualie, Projeto Monitoramento de Baleias por Satélite, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amy S. Kennedy
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandre N. Zerbini
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Instituto Aqualie, Projeto Monitoramento de Baleias por Satélite, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Castle KT, Weller TJ, Cryan PM, Hein CD, Schirmacher MR. Using sutures to attach miniature tracking tags to small bats for multimonth movement and behavioral studies. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:2980-9. [PMID: 26306181 PMCID: PMC4542000 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2015] [Revised: 06/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the detailed movements of individual animals often requires them to carry tracking devices, but tracking broad-scale movement of small bats (<30 g) has been limited by transmitter technology and long-term attachment methods. This limitation inhibits our understanding of bat dispersal and migration, particularly in the context of emerging conservation issues such as fatalities at wind turbines and diseases. We tested a novel method of attaching lightweight global positioning system (GPS) tags and geolocating data loggers to small bats. We used monofilament, synthetic, absorbable sutures to secure GPS tags and data loggers to the skin of anesthetized big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in Colorado and hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) in California. GPS tags and data loggers were sutured to 17 bats in this study. Three tagged bats were recaptured 7 months after initial deployment, with tags still attached; none of these bats showed ill effects from the tag. No severe injuries were apparent upon recapture of 6 additional bats that carried tags up to 26 days after attachment; however, one of the bats exhibited skin chafing. Use of absorbable sutures to affix small tracking devices seems to be a safe, effective method for studying movements of bats over multiple months, although additional testing is warranted. This new attachment method has the potential to quickly advance our understanding of small bats, particularly as more sophisticated miniature tracking devices (e.g., satellite tags) become available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Theodore J Weller
- Pacific Southwest Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Arcata, California
| | - Paul M Cryan
- Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Cris D Hein
- Bat Conservation International Austin, Texas
| | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) travel thousands of kilometres between temperate feeding and tropical breeding/over-wintering grounds, with adult turtles able to pinpoint specific nesting beaches after multi-year absences. Their extensive migrations often occur in oceanic habitat where limited known sensory information is available to aid in orientation. Here, we examined the migratory orientation of adult male, adult female and subadult leatherbacks during their open-ocean movements within the North Atlantic subtropical gyre by analysing satellite-derived tracks from fifteen individuals over a 2-year period. To determine the turtles' true headings, we corrected the reconstructed tracks for current drift and found negligible differences between current-corrected and observed tracks within the gyre. Individual leatherback headings were remarkably consistent throughout the subtropical gyre, with turtles significantly oriented to the south-southeast. Adult leatherbacks of both sexes maintained similar mean headings and showed greater orientation precision overall. The consistent headings maintained by adult and subadult leatherbacks within the gyre suggest use of a common compass sense.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kara L Dodge
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA Large Pelagics Research Centre, UMass-Amherst, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA Integrated Statistics, 16 Sumner Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Benjamin Galuardi
- Large Pelagics Research Centre, UMass-Amherst, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA
| | - Molly E Lutcavage
- Large Pelagics Research Centre, UMass-Amherst, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Tian H, Zhou S, Dong L, Van Boeckel TP, Cui Y, Newman SH, Takekawa JY, Prosser DJ, Xiao X, Wu Y, Cazelles B, Huang S, Yang R, Grenfell BT, Xu B. Avian influenza H5N1 viral and bird migration networks in Asia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:172-7. [PMID: 25535385 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1405216112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 and its long-term persistence in Asia have resulted in avian influenza panzootics and enormous economic losses in the poultry sector. However, an understanding of the regional long-distance transmission and seasonal patterns of the virus is still lacking. In this study, we present a phylogeographic approach to reconstruct the viral migration network. We show that within each wild fowl migratory flyway, the timing of H5N1 outbreaks and viral migrations are closely associated, but little viral transmission was observed between the flyways. The bird migration network is shown to better reflect the observed viral gene sequence data than other networks and contributes to seasonal H5N1 epidemics in local regions and its large-scale transmission along flyways. These findings have potentially far-reaching consequences, improving our understanding of how bird migration drives the periodic reemergence of H5N1 in Asia.
Collapse
|
26
|
Fossette S, Witt MJ, Miller P, Nalovic MA, Albareda D, Almeida AP, Broderick AC, Chacón-Chaverri D, Coyne MS, Domingo A, Eckert S, Evans D, Fallabrino A, Ferraroli S, Formia A, Giffoni B, Hays GC, Hughes G, Kelle L, Leslie A, López-Mendilaharsu M, Luschi P, Prosdocimi L, Rodriguez-Heredia S, Turny A, Verhage S, Godley BJ. Pan-atlantic analysis of the overlap of a highly migratory species, the leatherback turtle, with pelagic longline fisheries. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20133065. [PMID: 24523271 PMCID: PMC4027393 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Large oceanic migrants play important roles in ecosystems, yet many species are of conservation concern as a result of anthropogenic threats, of which incidental capture by fisheries is frequently identified. The last large populations of the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, occur in the Atlantic Ocean, but interactions with industrial fisheries could jeopardize recent positive population trends, making bycatch mitigation a priority. Here, we perform the first pan-Atlantic analysis of spatio-temporal distribution of the leatherback turtle and ascertain overlap with longline fishing effort. Data suggest that the Atlantic probably consists of two regional management units: northern and southern (the latter including turtles breeding in South Africa). Although turtles and fisheries show highly diverse distributions, we highlight nine areas of high susceptibility to potential bycatch (four in the northern Atlantic and five in the southern/equatorial Atlantic) that are worthy of further targeted investigation and mitigation. These are reinforced by reports of leatherback bycatch at eight of these sites. International collaborative efforts are needed, especially from nations hosting regions where susceptibility to bycatch is likely to be high within their exclusive economic zone (northern Atlantic: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Spain, USA and Western Sahara; southern Atlantic: Angola, Brazil, Namibia and UK) and from nations fishing in these high-susceptibility areas, including those located in international waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Fossette
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, , Swansea SA2 8PP, UK, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, , Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, , Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK, Centro de Investigación y Conservación Marina, , El Pinar, Canelones 15008, Uruguay, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, , 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA, Comité Régional des Pêches et Elevages Marins de Guyane, Port de Pêche du Larivot, , Matoury 97351, French Guiana, Aquamarina, , Del Besugo 1525, Pinamar, Buenos Aires 7167, Argentina, Jardín Zoológico de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Republica de la India 3000, , Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina, Regional Program for Sea Turtles Research and Conservation of Argentina (PRICTMA) Smith 37, , 1876-Bernal, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, ICMBio-Reserva Biológica de Comboios, , Linhares, ES 29900-970, Brazil, Asociación LAST, , Apdo 496-1100, Tibás, Costa Rica, SEATURTLE.org, , 1 Southampton Place, Durham, NC 27705, USA, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, , Constituyente 1497, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay, WIDECAST, , 1348 Rusticview Drive, Ballwin, MO 63011, USA, Biology and Natural Resources Department, Principia College, , 1 Maybeck Place, Elsah, IL 62028, USA, Sea Turtle Conservancy, , 4424 NW 13th St., Suite B11, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA, Karumbé - Av. Rivera 3245 (Zoo Villa Dolores), Montevideo 11600, Uruguay, Rue Victor Hugo, 25120 Maiche, France, Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, , 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA, Fundação Pró-TAMAR, , Postal 2219, Rio Vermelho, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, , Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia, 183 Amber Valley, P/Bag X30, Howick 3290, South Africa, WWF Guianas, , Henck Arronstraat 63 Suriname and 5 lot Katoury, Cayenne 9
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Trierweiler C, Klaassen RHG, Drent RH, Exo KM, Komdeur J, Bairlein F, Koks BJ. Migratory connectivity and population-specific migration routes in a long-distance migratory bird. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20132897. [PMID: 24430850 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about migratory connectivity, the degree to which individuals from the same breeding site migrate to the same wintering site, is essential to understand processes affecting populations of migrants throughout the annual cycle. Here, we study the migration system of a long-distance migratory bird, the Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus, by tracking individuals from different breeding populations throughout northern Europe. We identified three main migration routes towards wintering areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Wintering areas and migration routes of different breeding populations overlapped, a pattern best described by 'weak (diffuse) connectivity'. Migratory performance, i.e. timing, duration, distance and speed of migration, was surprisingly similar for the three routes despite differences in habitat characteristics. This study provides, to our knowledge, a first comprehensive overview of the migration system of a Palaearctic-African long-distance migrant. We emphasize the importance of spatial scale (e.g. distances between breeding populations) in defining patterns of connectivity and suggest that knowledge about fundamental aspects determining distribution patterns, such as the among-individual variation in mean migration directions, is required to ultimately understand migratory connectivity. Furthermore, we stress that for conservation purposes it is pivotal to consider wintering areas as well as migration routes and in particular stopover sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Trierweiler
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation, , PO Box 46, Scheemda 9679 ZG, The Netherlands, Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands, Behavioural Ecology and Self-organization, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands, Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', , An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Roe JH, Morreale SJ, Paladino FV, Shillinger GL, Benson SR, Eckert SA, Bailey H, Tomillo PS, Bograd SJ, Eguchi T, Dutton PH, Seminoff JA, Block BA, Spotila JR. Predicting bycatch hotspots for endangered leatherback turtles on longlines in the Pacific Ocean. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20132559. [PMID: 24403331 PMCID: PMC3896015 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Fisheries bycatch is a critical source of mortality for rapidly declining populations of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea. We integrated use-intensity distributions for 135 satellite-tracked adult turtles with longline fishing effort to estimate predicted bycatch risk over space and time in the Pacific Ocean. Areas of predicted bycatch risk did not overlap for eastern and western Pacific nesting populations, warranting their consideration as distinct management units with respect to fisheries bycatch. For western Pacific nesting populations, we identified several areas of high risk in the north and central Pacific, but greatest risk was adjacent to primary nesting beaches in tropical seas of Indo-Pacific islands, largely confined to several exclusive economic zones under the jurisdiction of national authorities. For eastern Pacific nesting populations, we identified moderate risk associated with migrations to nesting beaches, but the greatest risk was in the South Pacific Gyre, a broad pelagic zone outside national waters where management is currently lacking and may prove difficult to implement. Efforts should focus on these predicted hotspots to develop more targeted management approaches to alleviate leatherback bycatch.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John H Roe
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, , Pembroke, NC 28372, USA, Department of Biology, Indiana-Purdue University, , Fort Wayne, IN 46805, USA, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, , Ithaca, NY 14853, USA, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, , Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC/Protected Resources Division, , Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA, Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, Duke University Marine Laboratory, , Beaufort, NC 28516, USA, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, , Solomons, MD 20688, USA, Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, , Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, The Leatherback Trust, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station, , Playa Grande, Costa Rica, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC/Environmental Research Division, , Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC/ Protected Resources Division, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Shaver DJ, Hart KM, Fujisaki I, Rubio C, Sartain AR, Peña J, Burchfield PM, Gamez DG, Ortiz J. Foraging area fidelity for Kemp's ridleys in the Gulf of Mexico. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:2002-12. [PMID: 23919146 PMCID: PMC3728941 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Revised: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
For many marine species, locations of key foraging areas are not well defined. We used satellite telemetry and switching state-space modeling (SSM) to identify distinct foraging areas used by Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) tagged after nesting during 1998–2011 at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, USA (PAIS; N = 22), and Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (RN; N = 9). Overall, turtles traveled a mean distance of 793.1 km (±347.8 SD) to foraging sites, where 24 of 31 turtles showed foraging area fidelity (FAF) over time (N = 22 in USA, N = 2 in Mexico). Multiple turtles foraged along their migratory route, prior to arrival at their “final” foraging sites. We identified new foraging “hotspots” where adult female Kemp's ridley turtles spent 44% of their time during tracking (i.e., 2641/6009 tracking days in foraging mode). Nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters served as foraging habitat for all turtles tracked in this study; final foraging sites were located in water <68 m deep and a mean distance of 33.2 km (±25.3 SD) from the nearest mainland coast. Distance to release site, distance to mainland shore, annual mean sea surface temperature, bathymetry, and net primary production were significant predictors of sites where turtles spent large numbers of days in foraging mode. Spatial similarity of particular foraging sites selected by different turtles over the 13-year tracking period indicates that these areas represent critical foraging habitat, particularly in waters off Louisiana. Furthermore, the wide distribution of foraging sites indicates that a foraging corridor exists for Kemp's ridleys in the Gulf. Our results highlight the need for further study of environmental and bathymetric components of foraging sites and prey resources contained therein, as well as international cooperation to protect essential at-sea foraging habitats for this imperiled species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donna J Shaver
- National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX, 78480-1300
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Bourouiba L, Wu J, Newman S, Takekawa J, Natdorj T, Batbayar N, Bishop CM, Hawkes LA, Butler PJ, Wikelski M. Spatial dynamics of bar-headed geese migration in the context of H5N1. J R Soc Interface 2010; 7:1627-39. [PMID: 20472636 PMCID: PMC2988256 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2010.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 04/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Virulent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since 2005 have raised the question about the roles of migratory and wild birds in the transmission of HPAI. Despite increased monitoring, the role of wild waterfowl as the primary source of the highly pathogenic H5N1 has not been clearly established. The impact of outbreaks of HPAI among species of wild birds which are already endangered can nevertheless have devastating consequences for the local and non-local ecology where migratory species are established. Understanding the entangled dynamics of migration and the disease dynamics will be key to prevention and control measures for humans, migratory birds and poultry. Here, we present a spatial dynamic model of seasonal migration derived from first principles and linking the local dynamics during migratory stopovers to the larger scale migratory routes. We discuss the effect of repeated epizootic at specific migratory stopovers for bar-headed geese (Anser indicus). We find that repeated deadly outbreaks of H5N1 on stopovers during the autumn migration of bar-headed geese could lead to a larger reduction in the size of the equilibrium bird population compared with that obtained after repeated outbreaks during the spring migration. However, the opposite is true during the first few years of transition to such an equilibrium. The age-maturation process of juvenile birds which are more susceptible to H5N1 reinforces this result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Bourouiba
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|