scholarly journals Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Häussermann ◽  
Carolina S. Gutstein ◽  
Michael Beddington ◽  
David Cassis ◽  
Carlos Olavarria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
Mass Mortality ◽  
Southern Chile ◽  
Baleen Whale ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Gregarious Behavior

While large mass mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behavior. Although in most cases the cause of mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean–atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported mass mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in Southern Chile. Here, we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the Northeast Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.

scholarly journals Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Häussermann ◽  
Carolina S Gutstein ◽  
Michael Beddington ◽  
David Cassis ◽  
Carlos Olavarria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
Mass Mortality ◽  
Southern Chile ◽  
Baleen Whale ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
North East

While large mass mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behaviour. Although in most cases the cause of mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs).In southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported mass mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in southern Chile. Here we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei, whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years.Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the north-east Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.

scholarly journals Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Häussermann ◽  
Carolina S Gutstein ◽  
Michael Beddington ◽  
David Cassis ◽  
Carlos Olavarria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
Mass Mortality ◽  
Southern Chile ◽  
Baleen Whale ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
North East

While large mass mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behaviour. Although in most cases the cause of mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs).In southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported mass mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in southern Chile. Here we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei, whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years.Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the north-east Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.

scholarly journals Potentially Toxic Dinoflagellates Associated to Seagrass on Isla de Barú, Colombian Caribbean, During El Niño

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Ruiz Gòmez ◽  
Jose Ernesto Mancera Pineda
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Shellfish Poisoning ◽  
High Positive Correlation ◽  
Average Cell ◽  
The Caribbean

In the last decades, harmful algal blooms (HAB) and toxic events such as ciguatera seem to have increased in frequency and intensity, negatively impacting human health, economy, and marine ecosystems. In Colombia, these events have caused a series of consequences ranging from the death of fish and birds to toxic effects on humans. Although some toxin-producing dinoflagellate species are common in the Caribbean, their dynamics are poorly understood, making the adoption of any regulations difficult. To determine the composition and abundance of dinoflagellates associated with seagrasses we collected 18 samples on Isla de Barú, during 2015. We found ten diatom genera and three dinoflagellate genera, Prorocentrum, Ostreopsis, and Gambierdiscus, that include toxigenic species related to ciguatera and diarrheic shellfish poisoning. Prorocentrum lima was the most abundant dinoflagellate, with average cell densities of 52±48 cells/g substrate wet weight. The temperature hypothesis gains strength as one of the main modulators of dinoflagellate abundance observed in the Caribbean, especially regarding Prorocentrum species and some diatoms such as Mastogloia corsicana and Actinocyclus normanii. This assumption is supported by the Since high positive correlation between El Niño Southern Oscillation and the sea surface temperature in the Caribbean during 2015.

Mass mortality of coral reef ascidians following the 1997/1998 El NiñO event

2007 ◽  
pp. 231-240
Author(s):  
Francisco Kelmo ◽  
Martin J. Attrill ◽  
Malcolm B. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Mass Mortality ◽  
El Niño Event

scholarly journals CHRONOLOGY AND CAUSE OF MASS MORTALITY EVENT ON FISH IN THE LOWER PART OF YAMAIMA RIVER, MIMIKA REGENCY, PAPUA

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Husnah Husnah ◽  
Chairulwan Umar ◽  
Aroef Hukmanan Rais
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Mass Mortality ◽  
Wild Fish ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Water Quality Parameter ◽  
Mortality Event ◽  
Mass Mortality Event ◽  
Fish Samples

Mass mortality events (MMEs) on fish tend to increase recently both for cultured and wild fish both in coastal and inland waters. The MMEs on wild fish are mostly unknown. Mass mortality events on wild fishes of Mimika estuary, Papua have been recorded since long time ago and limited information was provided due to its remote area. A rapid appraisal study of mass mortality event (MME) of wild fishes chronology and cause was conducted in Yamaima river to Tifuka Estuary, Papua Province a week after the MME in April 2016. Seven sampling sites were selected. Two activities were conducted during the field survey: interview with the local people to get information on the chronology of the MME and collecting primary data on aquatic environment quality and fish samples. The occurance of goldstripe sardine inYamaima river and Tifuka estuary were triggered by the present of strong El Nino with ONI value more than 0.5oC in the ocean and atmosphere above Equator Pasific. Water quality at MME site was similar with remaining schooling fish and Tifuka estuary sites. Concentration of heavy metals in the sediment tend to decreased along with the distance from the MME site. Mass mortality of goldstripe sardinella could relate to oxygen suffocation as a result of disorentation movement of the fish shoals inaccordance with low tide and new moon phase. The number of the death goldstripe sardinella was estimated 200,000 fish with the weight of 18 tons. To mitigate MMEs in the future, efforts should be done such as: routine early detection of El Nino pattern and its effect on salinity and water temperature raising by placing key water quality parameter buoy in the mouth river of Papua and to set net or stack of logs in the cape area of west tailing levee Yamaima river to prevent the entrapment of migrating small pelagic fish specialy in the closed water area. 

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