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Stable isotope analysis of baleen reveals resource partitioning among sympatric rorquals and population structure in fin whales

Stable isotope analysis of baleen reveals resource partitioning among sympatric rorquals and population structure in fin whales
Stable isotope analysis of baleen reveals resource partitioning among sympatric rorquals and population structure in fin whales
Stable isotope analysis is a useful tool for investigating diet, migrations and niche in ecological communities by tracing energy through food-webs. In this study, the stable isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in keratin was measured at growth increments of baleen plates from 3 sympatric species of rorquals (Balaenoptera acutrostrata, B. physalus and Megaptera novaeangliae), which died between 1985 and 2010 in Irish and contiguous waters. Bivariate ellipses were used to plot isotopic niches and standard ellipse area parameters were estimated via Bayesian inference using the SIBER routine in the SIAR package in R. Evidence of resource partitioning was thus found among fin, humpback and minke whales using isotopic niches. Highest ?15N values were found in minke whales followed by humpback, and fin whales. Comparison between Northeast Atlantic (Irish/UK and Biscayan) and Mediterranean fin whale isotopic niches support the current International Whaling Commission stock assessment of an isolated Mediterranean population. Significantly larger niche area and higher overall ?15N and ?13C values found in fin whales from Irish/UK waters compared to those sampled in adjacent regions (Bay of Biscay and Mediterranean) suggest inshore foraging that may be unique to fin whales in Ireland and the UK. Isotopic profiles support spatial overlap but different foraging strategies between fin whales sampled in Ireland/UK and the Bay of Biscay. Stable isotope analysis of baleen could provide an additional means for identifying ecological units, thus supporting more effective management for the conservation of baleen whales.
Diet, Isotopic niche, Foraging, Stock discrimination, Northeast Atlantic, Bayesian analysis
251-261
Ryan, C.
affa16e6-adfb-4339-9d69-9acedbbc140e
McHugh, B.
7023369e-ad29-4f50-a457-d9a7a467b2b4
Trueman, C.N.
d00d3bd6-a47b-4d47-89ae-841c3d506205
Sabin, R.
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Deaville, R.
5af7c220-7121-4d75-976b-fbaf2407977b
Harrod, C.
b5757872-ae8a-4f32-b8ba-a79853c2c7e1
Berrow, S.D.
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O’Connor, I.
7b7f24a8-ca0a-42f5-8862-79db8388caf5
Ryan, C.
affa16e6-adfb-4339-9d69-9acedbbc140e
McHugh, B.
7023369e-ad29-4f50-a457-d9a7a467b2b4
Trueman, C.N.
d00d3bd6-a47b-4d47-89ae-841c3d506205
Sabin, R.
a61cb2c2-7bf3-4330-8765-ad0eda8845a7
Deaville, R.
5af7c220-7121-4d75-976b-fbaf2407977b
Harrod, C.
b5757872-ae8a-4f32-b8ba-a79853c2c7e1
Berrow, S.D.
8bdb8981-4e2a-49f9-978f-df1c9fda62d5
O’Connor, I.
7b7f24a8-ca0a-42f5-8862-79db8388caf5

Ryan, C., McHugh, B., Trueman, C.N., Sabin, R., Deaville, R., Harrod, C., Berrow, S.D. and O’Connor, I. (2013) Stable isotope analysis of baleen reveals resource partitioning among sympatric rorquals and population structure in fin whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 479, 251-261. (doi:10.3354/meps10231).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Stable isotope analysis is a useful tool for investigating diet, migrations and niche in ecological communities by tracing energy through food-webs. In this study, the stable isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in keratin was measured at growth increments of baleen plates from 3 sympatric species of rorquals (Balaenoptera acutrostrata, B. physalus and Megaptera novaeangliae), which died between 1985 and 2010 in Irish and contiguous waters. Bivariate ellipses were used to plot isotopic niches and standard ellipse area parameters were estimated via Bayesian inference using the SIBER routine in the SIAR package in R. Evidence of resource partitioning was thus found among fin, humpback and minke whales using isotopic niches. Highest ?15N values were found in minke whales followed by humpback, and fin whales. Comparison between Northeast Atlantic (Irish/UK and Biscayan) and Mediterranean fin whale isotopic niches support the current International Whaling Commission stock assessment of an isolated Mediterranean population. Significantly larger niche area and higher overall ?15N and ?13C values found in fin whales from Irish/UK waters compared to those sampled in adjacent regions (Bay of Biscay and Mediterranean) suggest inshore foraging that may be unique to fin whales in Ireland and the UK. Isotopic profiles support spatial overlap but different foraging strategies between fin whales sampled in Ireland/UK and the Bay of Biscay. Stable isotope analysis of baleen could provide an additional means for identifying ecological units, thus supporting more effective management for the conservation of baleen whales.

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More information

Published date: 2013
Keywords: Diet, Isotopic niche, Foraging, Stock discrimination, Northeast Atlantic, Bayesian analysis
Organisations: Geochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 353520
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/353520
PURE UUID: 49c82b25-bba1-444c-8eae-9d0f1576d07e
ORCID for C.N. Trueman: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4995-736X

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Date deposited: 07 Jun 2013 12:29
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:17

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Contributors

Author: C. Ryan
Author: B. McHugh
Author: C.N. Trueman ORCID iD
Author: R. Sabin
Author: R. Deaville
Author: C. Harrod
Author: S.D. Berrow
Author: I. O’Connor

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