Energy requirements of Pacific white-sided dolphins (<i>Lagenorhynchus obliquidens</i>) as predicted by a bioenergetic model

Rechsteiner, Erin U.; Rosen, David A. S.; Trites, Andrew W.

doi:10.1644/12-mamm-a-206.1

Cited by 36 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…This implies that wild dolphins would consume more food than the dolphins used in our study due to their increased activity levels. Wild dolphins are believed to consume ~65 to 70 MJ day -1 (Sigurjónsson & Vikingsson, 1997;Rechsteiner et al, 2013), which is about 35% higher than the ~43 MJ day -1 our study animals consumed. This has important conservation implications as the apparent relatively high energetic requirement of Pacific white-sided dolphins may make them more susceptible to changes in fish availability or quality.…”

Section: Ecological Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Seasonal Resting Metabolic Rate and Food Intake of Captive Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

Rechsteiner

Rosen²,

Trites³

2013

Aquat Mamm

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Like many marine mammals, Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) consume prey that change seasonally in numbers, distribution, and energy density. However, it is not known whether these ecological factors are associated with underlying seasonal changes in energy requirements. We investigated these potential seasonal shifts in physiology by measuring resting metabolic rate (a conserved physiological trait) and recording associated daily food energy intake of three captive adult Pacific white-sided dolphins over 12 consecutive months. Two dolphins that met the criteria for measuring resting metabolism had a mean (± SE) massspecific rate of 0.31 ± 0.0047 MJ kg -1 day -1 (~34 MJ day -1 ), which was higher than that of other species of small cetaceans. Resting metabolic rates of Pacific white-sided dolphins did not vary seasonally and, hence, were not related to observed seasonal changes in water or air temperature, total energy intake, or body mass. Overall, resting metabolism accounted for ~70% of total energy intake. However, total food energy intake changed seasonally and was highest during the fall (October to December). While levels of food intake were not predicted by resting metabolic rate, body mass, or water and air temperatures, the increased intake in the fall resulted in the seasonal increase in body mass exhibited by all three dolphins. Our estimates of resting metabolic rates and relative changes in total energy intake can be used to parameterize bioenergetic models needed to estimate the ecological impacts and energetic requirements of Pacific white-sided dolphins in the wild, which will have conservation implications.

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Section: Ecological Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Seasonal Resting Metabolic Rate and Food Intake of Captive Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

Rechsteiner

Rosen²,

Trites³

2013

Aquat Mamm

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“…For example, energy needs for lactating captive bottlenose dolphins were between 1.5 and 3 times higher than baseline levels (Kastelein et al., ; Reddy, Kamolnick, Curry, Skaar, & Ridgway, ). Model‐based estimates for energy requirements for a lactating Pacific white‐sided dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ) were about 1.4 times higher than total energy requirements for adults in MJ/day (Rechsteiner, Rosen, & Trites, ). For model purposes, we assumed doubling of DER for the LD, amounting to 7,000 kcal/day.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…km to find a suitable “food” cell with water depths > 400 m. One female 70 kg dusky dolphin in captivity consumed roughly 10% of her body weight (Kastelein, van der Elst, Tennant, & Wiepkema, ). In contrast, a 78 kg Pacific white‐sided dolphin was estimated to consume between 16% and 20% of its body weight (Rechsteiner et al., ). Food consumption is likely to be higher in the wild, but food intake per unit of body weight is generally smaller with increasing animal size (Kleiber, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

To feed or not to feed? Bioenergetic impacts of fear‐driven behaviors in lactating dolphins

Srinivasan

Swannack

Grant³

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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In mammals, lactation can be the most energetically expensive part of the reproductive cycle. Thus, when energy needs are compromised due to predation risk, environmental disturbance, or resource scarcity, future reproductive success can be impacted. In marine and terrestrial environments, foraging behavior is inextricably linked to predation risk. But quantification of foraging energetics for lactating animals under predation risk is less understood. In this study, we used a spatially explicit individual‐based model to study how changes in physiology (lactating or not) and the environment (predation risk) affect optimal behavior in dolphins. Specifically, we predicted that an adult dolphin without calf would incur lower relative energetic costs compared to a lactating dolphin with calf regardless of predation risk severity, antipredator behavior, or prey quality consumed. Under this state‐dependent analysis of risk approach, we found predation risk to be a stronger driver in affecting total energetic costs (foraging plus locomotor costs) than food quality for both dolphin types. Further, contrary to our hypothesis, after accounting for raised energy demands, a lactating dolphin with calf does not necessarily have higher relative‐to‐baseline costs than a dolphin without calf. Our results indicate that both a lactating (with calf) and non‐lactating dolphin incur lowered energetic costs under a risk‐averse behavioral scheme, but consequently suffer from lost foraging calories. A lactating dolphin with calf could be particularly worse off in lost foraging calories under elevated predation risk, heightened vigilance, and increased hiding time relative to an adult dolphin without calf. Further, hiding time in refuge could be more consequential than detection distance for both dolphin types in estimated costs and losses incurred. In conclusion, our study found that reproductive status is an important consideration in analyzing risk effects in mammals, especially in animals with lengthy lactation periods and those exposed to both biological and nonbiological stressors.

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“…As prey abundance decrease, time and, therefore, energy spent to search for sparse food likely increases. Hence, synchronizing time of birth with high food abundance and warmer temperatures is probably favoring infant survival by minimizing thermoregulation-related stress and maximizing the opportunity of mothers to explore the optimal levels of resources during early-mid lactation, the most energetically expensive time of reproduction (e.g., Rutberg 1987;Gaillard et al 1993;Rechsteiner et al 2013). In addition, as lower energetic demand of thermoregulation is need for the mother in warmer waters (Williams et al 1992), calving during this period may improve quality of maternal milk and promote a rapid calf growth, thus potentially enhancing calf survival (see Whitehead and Mann 2000 for review).…”

Section: Birth Seasonalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Using mark-recapture and stranding data to estimate reproductive traits in female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

et al. 2015

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3 years (mode = 2), and fecundity was 0.11. A clear change in the δ 13 C and δ 15 N profiles in teeth from stranded carcasses near age 2 indicated the most probable weaning age. First and second year annual calf survival estimates were 0.84 (95 % CI 0.72-0.90) and 0.86 (95 % CI 0.74-0.94), respectively. No evidence was found to support that timing of birth plays a role in calf survival, suggesting that variability in water temperature and food resources within the year is unlikely to impact upon survival of calves. Older females reproduced at lower rates, suggesting an age-related decrease in reproductive fitness. At an individual level, marked variation in reproductive success was observed. Our findings highlight the importance of long-term studies for long-lived mammals to yield individual-and population-level parameters for demographic and viability analyses that are useful for conservation and management.

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Energy requirements of Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) as predicted by a bioenergetic model

Cited by 36 publications

References 46 publications

Seasonal Resting Metabolic Rate and Food Intake of Captive Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

Seasonal Resting Metabolic Rate and Food Intake of Captive Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

To feed or not to feed? Bioenergetic impacts of fear‐driven behaviors in lactating dolphins

Using mark-recapture and stranding data to estimate reproductive traits in female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

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