scholarly journals From Chilean Patagonia to Galapagos, Ecuador: novel insights on blue whale migratory pathways along the Eastern South Pacific

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete ◽  
Luis Bedriñana-Romano ◽  
Francisco A. Viddi ◽  
Jorge E. Ruiz ◽  
Juan Pablo Torres-Florez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
First Record ◽  
Movement Direction ◽  
Blue Whale ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Blue Whales ◽  
Feeding Grounds

Background The most traditional scheme for migration among baleen whales comprises yearly migrations between productive waters at high latitude summer feeding grounds and warmer waters at lower latitudes where whales calve and mate, but rarely feed. Evidence indicates, however, that large departures from this scheme exist among populations and individuals. Furthermore, for some populations there is virtually no information on migratory pathways and destinations. Such is the case of Chilean blue whales throughout the Eastern South Pacific; hence, the goal of this study was to assess its migratory behavior. Methods Dedicated marine surveys and satellite tagging efforts were undertaken during the austral summer and early autumn on blue whale feeding grounds off Chilean Northern Patagonia (CNP) during 2013, 2015 and 2016. Positional data derived from satellite tags regarding movement patterns and behavior were analyzed using Bayesian switching first-difference correlated random walk models. Results We instrumented 10 CNP blue whales with satellite transmitters and documented individual variation in departure time, northbound migratory routes and potential wintering grounds. The onset of migration occurred from mid/late austral autumn to well into the austral winter. Blue whales moved in various directions, but ultimately converged toward a general NW movement direction along a wide corridor exceeding 2,000 km. Area-Restricted Search behavior was exhibited within fjords and channels of CNP and also South of Galapagos Archipelago (GA) and northern Peru, but never during migration. Interestingly, dive profiles for one whale that reached GA showed a sharp and consistent increase in depth north of 5°S and extreme deep dives of up to 330 m. Discussion Information derived from satellite tagged blue whales in this study is the first of its kind off the Eastern Southern Pacific. Our results provide valuable information on their migratory timing, routes and behavior on their northbound migration, particularly regarding the varied migratory plasticity for this particular population. Our results also highlight the first record of two complete migratory paths between CNP and GA and strengthen the hypothesis that GA waters correspond to a potential wintering destination for CNP blue whales. We further hypothesize that this area might be selected because of its biological productivity, which could provide feeding opportunities during the breeding season. Our results suggest that special efforts should be put forward to identify blue whale critical areas and understand key behavioral aspects in order to provide the basis for their conservation on a regional context (i.e., reducing potential ship strike and promote Marine Protected Area (MPA) implementation in Chile, Ecuador and Peru). Indeed, we suggest joint blue whale conservation efforts at the regional level in order to identify and determine potential threats and impacts and, most importantly, implement prospective management actions.

scholarly journals First direct evidence of reproductive behaviour of the white grouper, Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817)

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 326
Author(s):  
ELENA DESIDERÀ ◽  
LUANA MAGNANI ◽  
AUGUSTO NAVONE ◽  
PAOLO GUIDETTI ◽  
CARLOTTA MAZZOLDI
Keyword(s):  
Direct Observation ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
First Record ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
The Body ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Colour Patterns

This study describes the first ever reported direct observation of a pair spawning event and the reproductive liveries of the white grouper, Epinephelus aeneus. Spawning took place on a rocky bank located in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo (NE Sardinia, Italy), in the Western Mediterranean Sea. In the evening of August 4th, 2018, the spawning of two large-sized individuals (~90 cm total length), displaying distinct colour patterns, was observed using SCUBA diving. This direct observation is the first record of E. aeneus male reproductive livery, characterized by a darker coloration on the head, the dorsal part of the body and the caudal fin. In addition, information on the environmental conditions in which reproduction occurred was collected. At the study site, relatively high seawater temperatures were recorded at the time of the E. aeneus spawning (24 °C at 24.7 m), as well as over the 2018 summer months (July-September), even in deep waters (>35 m), compared to previous summers. The spawning event occurred in a coralligenous-dominated seascape where fishing is prohibited, while diving activities are allowed. The site hosts abundant populations of ecologically and commercially valuable fish species (e.g., groupers, sparid fishes), with significant proportions of large-sized individuals (i.e. reproducers). Further studies are needed to advance our knowledge of the white grouper, with a particular emphasis on reproduction and the importance of implementing effective protection measures. Prioritizing management actions at key reproductive sites, such as rocky banks, is essential for ensuring the protection and/or recovery of over-exploited species. 

scholarly journals Cell Cycle, Division Rate, and Feeding of the Heterotroph Phalacroma rotundatum in a Chilean Fjord

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Patricio A. Díaz ◽  
Iván Pérez-Santos ◽  
Gonzalo Álvarez ◽  
Michael Araya ◽  
Francisco Álvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Local Characteristic ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Shellfish Poisoning ◽  
Division Rate ◽  
Bottom Waters ◽  
Harmful Microalgae ◽  
And Behavior

Phalacroma rotundatum is a rare cosmopolitan heterotrophic dinoflagellate. This species, included in the IOC-UNESCO Taxonomic Reference List of Harmful Microalgae, may be a diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxin vector, but little is known about its ecophysiology and behavior. A vertical net haul collected during the austral summer of 2018 in Reloncaví Sound (Chilean Patagonia) revealed an unusually abundant population of P. rotundatum and prompted intensive 24 h sampling on 16–17 January to study the cell cycle and feeding behavior of this species. Hydrographic measurements from a buoy revealed the local characteristic estuarine circulation, with a brackish surface layer (salinity 26–28) separated from saltier, colder bottom waters by a pycnocline at a depth modulated by the tidal regime. A high proportion of P. rotundatum cells were packed with digestive vacuoles (peak of 70% at 14:00), and phased cell division (µ = 0.46 d−1) occurred 3 h after sunrise. The division time (TD) was 2 h. This is the first cell cycle study of P. rotundatum. The results here disagree with those of previous field studies that considered asynchronous division in some Dinophysis species to be related to heterotrophic feeding. They also question the very specific prey requirements, Tiarina fusus, reported for P. rotundatum in northern Europe.

scholarly journals Diversity of Epibionts Associated with Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz 1829) Sea Turtles Nesting in the Mexican South Pacific

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1734
Author(s):  
Brenda Sarahí Ramos-Rivera ◽  
Himmer Castro-Mondragon ◽  
José Gabriel Kuk-Dzul ◽  
Pedro Flores-Rodríguez ◽  
Rafael Flores-Garza
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
First Record ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Interspecific Relationships ◽  
Lepidochelys Olivacea ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Head Neck

The present study contributes to the knowledge of epibionts recorded on sea turtles that nested on a beach in the South Pacific of Mexico. A total of 125 Lepidochelys olivacea turtles nested on Llano Real beach, Guerrero, Mexico, were examined. We collected 450 conspicuous organisms from 8 species from 43 turtles. The corresponding data analysis was carried out to obtain the relative abundance, the relationship between turtle sizes and the presence of organisms, the similarity of species between the sampling months, and the interspecific relationships between the epibionts and the turtles observed. Chelonibia testudinaria was the most abundant species, while Remora remora was the least abundant species. The turtles were divided into six body sections, with the greatest abundance of these organisms located in the head–neck section of turtles, and there was a significant difference in the size of the turtles that presented epibionts and those that did not. C. testudinaria showed greater similarity between sampling months, and the interspecific relationships recorded were commensalism, parasitism, amensalism, and protocooperation. This research contributes the first record of epibionts in L. olivacea nesting in Guerrero, Mexico.

scholarly journals Preface: The Oligotrophy to the UlTra-oligotrophy PACific Experiment (OUTPACE cruise, 18 February to 3 April 2015)

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3207-3220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Moutin ◽  
Andrea Michelangelo Doglioli ◽  
Alain de Verneil ◽  
Sophie Bonnet
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
Adaptive Strategy ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Biogenic Elements ◽  
General Context ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
South Pacific Ocean

Abstract. The overall goal of OUTPACE (Oligotrophy to UlTra-oligotrophy PACific Experiment) was to obtain a successful representation of the interactions between planktonic organisms and the cycle of biogenic elements in the western tropical South Pacific Ocean across trophic and N2 fixation gradients. Within the context of climate change, it is necessary to better quantify the ability of the oligotrophic ocean to sequester carbon through biological processes. OUTPACE was organized around three main objectives, which were (1) to perform a zonal characterization of the biogeochemistry and biological diversity of the western tropical South Pacific during austral summer conditions, (2) to study the production and fate of organic matter (including carbon export) in three contrasting trophic regimes (increasing oligotrophy) with a particular emphasis on the role of dinitrogen fixation, and (3) to obtain a representation of the main biogeochemical fluxes and dynamics of the planktonic trophic network. The international OUTPACE cruise took place between 18 February and 3 April 2015 aboard the RV L'Atalante and involved 60 scientists (30 onboard). The west–east transect covered  ∼  4000 km from the western part of the Melanesian archipelago (New Caledonia) to the western boundary of the South Pacific gyre (French Polynesia). Following an adaptive strategy, the transect initially designed along the 19° S parallel was adapted along-route to incorporate information coming from satellite measurements of sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, currents, and diazotroph quantification. After providing a general context and describing previous work done in this area, this introductory paper elucidates the objectives of OUTPACE, the implementation plan of the cruise and water mass and climatological characteristics and concludes with a general overview of the other papers that will be published in this special issue.

scholarly journals From conservation genetics to conservation genomics: a genome-wide assessment of blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus ) in Australian feeding aggregations

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 170925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine R. M. Attard ◽  
Luciano B. Beheregaray ◽  
Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo ◽  
K. Curt S. Jenner ◽  
Peter C. Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Adaptive Divergence ◽  
Balaenoptera Musculus ◽  
Blue Whale ◽  
Conservation Genomics ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Technology ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Blue Whales

Genetic datasets of tens of markers have been superseded through next-generation sequencing technology with genome-wide datasets of thousands of markers. Genomic datasets improve our power to detect low population structure and identify adaptive divergence. The increased population-level knowledge can inform the conservation management of endangered species, such as the blue whale ( Balaenoptera musculus ). In Australia, there are two known feeding aggregations of the pygmy blue whale ( B. m. brevicauda ) which have shown no evidence of genetic structure based on a small dataset of 10 microsatellites and mtDNA. Here, we develop and implement a high-resolution dataset of 8294 genome-wide filtered single nucleotide polymorphisms, the first of its kind for blue whales. We use these data to assess whether the Australian feeding aggregations constitute one population and to test for the first time whether there is adaptive divergence between the feeding aggregations. We found no evidence of neutral population structure and negligible evidence of adaptive divergence. We propose that individuals likely travel widely between feeding areas and to breeding areas, which would require them to be adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. This has important implications for their conservation as this blue whale population is likely vulnerable to a range of anthropogenic threats both off Australia and elsewhere.

Description of the mature larva and pupa of Ora semibrunnea Pic (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) with notes on its biology

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4551 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
GABRIELLE JORGE ◽  
MARÍA LAURA LIBONATTI ◽  
CESAR JOÃO BENETTI ◽  
NEUSA HAMADA
Keyword(s):  
Water Surface ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
First Record ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Mature Larva ◽  
Natural Lakes ◽  
Morphological Adaptations ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
First Time

In this paper we describe and illustrate for the first time the immature forms (larva and pupa) of Ora semibrunnea Pic, 1922, including biological information and behavior observed in the laboratory. This is the first record of the occurrence of this species in the Brazilian Amazon region. Larvae and pupae were found in natural lakes associated with macrophyte banks. Pupae are aquatic and have morphological adaptations (well-developed pronotal siphons) to obtain atmospheric O2 at the water surface. 

scholarly journals Fishers' ecological knowledge of smalleye hammerhead, Sphyrna tudes , in a tropical estuary

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinicius J. Giglio ◽  
Hugo Bornatowski
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Reproductive Season ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Gill Nets ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Trawl Fisheries

ABSTRACT Coastal hammerheads have suffered from overexploitation and environmental degradation. We interviewed 79 artisanal fishers to verify fishery aspects, temporal changes in catches and biological aspects of the smalleye hammerhead, Sphyrna tudes , in a marine protected area on Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. Data were compared between three generations of fishers: young, middle-aged and old. Fishers' age varied between 17 and 88 years. We verified significant reductions in the weight of individuals caught by younger fishers. The main types of fishing gear used to catch S. tudes were gill nets and longlines. Overfishing through gill nets and trawl fisheries were mentioned as the cause of S. tudes population collapse in the region. The shark's diet as reported by fishers consisted of fish, crab and shrimp; austral summer was the reproductive season. A strong similarity was verified between fishers' knowledge and biological data. We suggest as plausible strategies to conserve the local population of S. tudes the reduction of net fisheries impact through zoning and establishment of no take areas. These steps can help to initiate the recovery of this depleted species.

First record of Bonnemaisonia hamifera (Bonnemaisoniales, Rhodophyta) in the South Pacific, from the South Island of New Zealand

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176
Author(s):  
David J. Garbary ◽  
Roberta D’Archino ◽  
Brendan Flack ◽  
Christopher D. Hepburn ◽  
Wendy A. Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
First Record ◽  
The South

Review of approaches to reducing adverse impacts of road deicing on groundwater in Finland

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jani M. Salminen ◽  
Taina H. Nystén ◽  
Sirkku M. Tuominen
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Road Salt ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Groundwater Aquifers ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Fate And Behavior ◽  
Annual Amount ◽  
Chloride Concentrations ◽  
Deicing Agents

An increase in groundwater chloride concentrations was first reported 20 years ago in Finland. This discovery coincided with a sharp rise in the rate of road-salt application – the annual amount of NaCl consumed had increased from 50 t a−1 in the late 1970s to 140 t a−1 10 years later. To reverse these trends, research and development projects aimed at the reduced application of sodium chloride and improved protection of valuable groundwater resources were initiated. Several innovations, methods and practices, including the use of brine and pre-wetting, preventive anti-icing, advanced devices for salt spreading, utilization of meteorological online data and rewarding the private contractors for accurate, timely and scarce anti- and deicing, has resulted in a decline of 35% in the amount of salt applied since the early 1990s. Research on the fate and behavior of road salt in groundwater aquifers, predictions of future chloride concentrations and risk assessment have guided the risk management actions taken. Campaigns with reduced salting, use of geomembranes and recent progress on alternative deicing agents provide attractive options for further work towards sound deicing at valuable groundwater areas.

scholarly journals Ocean Warming Effect on Surface Gravity Wave Climate Change for the End of the Twenty-First Century

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (16) ◽  
pp. 6046-6066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yalin Fan ◽  
Isaac M. Held ◽  
Shian-Jiann Lin ◽  
Xiaolan L. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
First Century ◽  
The South ◽  
Coupled Models ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Twenty First Century

Abstract Surface wind (U10) and significant wave height (Hs) response to global warming are investigated using a coupled atmosphere–wave model by perturbing the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) with anomalies generated by the Working Group on Coupled Modeling (WGCM) phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3) coupled models that use the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4)/Special Report on Emissions Scenarios A1B (SRES A1B) scenario late in the twenty-first century. Several consistent changes were observed across all four realizations for the seasonal means: robust increase of U10 and Hs in the Southern Ocean for both the austral summer and winter due to the poleward shift of the jet stream; a dipole pattern of the U10 and Hs with increases in the northeast sector and decreases at the midlatitude during boreal winter in the North Atlantic due to the more frequent occurrence of the positive phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO); and strong decrease of U10 and Hs in the tropical western Pacific Ocean during austral summer, which might be caused by the joint effect of the weakening of the Walker circulation and the large hurricane frequency decrease in the South Pacific. Changes of the 99th percentile U10 and Hs are twice as strong as changes in the seasonal means, and the maximum changes are mainly dominated by the changes in hurricanes. Robust strong decreases of U10 and Hs in the South Pacific are obtained because of the large hurricane frequency decrease, while the results in the Northern Hemisphere basins differ among the models. An additional sensitivity experiment suggests that the qualitative response of U10 and Hs is not affected by using SST anomalies only and maintaining the radiative forcing unchanged (using 1980 values), as in this study.

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