Specimens of opportunity provide vital information for research and conservation regarding elusive whale species

Smith, Kerri J.; Mead, James G.; Peterson, Markus J.

doi:10.1017/s0376892920000521

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The results of this study provide the first stable isotope evidence for spatial structuring in Sowerby's beaked whale. Coupled with previously identified morphological differences in skull measurements (Smith et al, 2021), our results suggest that Sowerby's beaked whale exhibits a metapopulation structure of two or more populations with limited movement of individuals between regions. However, genetic analysis is also needed to further explore whether these are distinct population segments or if this is a panmictic species with habitat preference among individuals and regional mixing for mating.…”

Section: Spatial Population Structuringsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Site fidelity has been recorded in other beaked whales, such as Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (M. densirostris), but this has not been investigated or documented in Sowerby's beaked whale (McSweeney et al, 2007). Analysis of seven cranial elements from 112 Sowerby's beaked whale museum specimens identified significant morphological differences between specimens collected in the east and west Atlantic Ocean, suggesting there may be distinct populations of Sowerby's beaked whale (Smith et al, 2021). However, mitochondrial DNA analysis of 14 individuals identified both regionally distinct and shared haplotypes between animals collected from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (COSEWIC, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stable Isotope Analysis of Specimens of Opportunity Reveals Ocean-Scale Site Fidelity in an Elusive Whale Species

Smith

Trueman

Sparks

et al. 2021

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Elusive wildlife are challenging to study, manage, or conserve, as the difficulty of obtaining specimens or conducting direct observations leads to major data deficiencies. Specimens of opportunity, such as salvaged carcasses or museum specimens, are a valuable source of fundamental biological and ecological information on data-deficient, elusive species, increasing knowledge of biodiversity, habitat and range, and population structure. Stable isotope analysis is a powerful indirect tool that can be used to infer foraging behavior and habitat use retrospectively from archived specimens. Beaked whales are a speciose group of cetaceans that are challenging to study in situ, and although Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was discovered >200 years ago, little is known about its biology. We measured δ13C and δ15N stable isotope composition in bone, muscle, and skin tissue from 102 Sowerby's beaked whale specimens of opportunity collected throughout the North Atlantic Ocean to infer movement ecology and spatial population structure. Median δ13C and δ15N values in Sowerby's beaked whale bone, muscle, and skin tissues significantly differed between whales sampled from the east and west North Atlantic Ocean. Quadratic discriminant analysis that simultaneously considered δ13C and δ15N values correctly assigned >85% of the specimens to their collection region for all tissue types. These findings demonstrate Sowerby's beaked whale exhibits both short- and long-term site fidelity to the region from which the specimens were collected, suggest that this species is composed of two or more populations or exhibits a metapopulation structure, and have implications for conservation and management policy. Stable isotope analysis of specimens of opportunity proved a highly successful means of generating new spatial ecology data for this elusive species and is a method that can be effectively applied to other elusive species.

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Section: Spatial Population Structuringsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable Isotope Analysis of Specimens of Opportunity Reveals Ocean-Scale Site Fidelity in an Elusive Whale Species

Smith

Trueman

Sparks

et al. 2021

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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“…MacLeod et al (2006) identified the value of stranded carcasses and museum collections of ziphiid specimens as an important source of data for research. Smith et al (2021) collated information from museum skeletal collections of Sowerby's Beaked Whales worldwide (including specimens reported here) to reveal new findings about the species. Unfortunately, only a minority (34.5%) of dead eastern Canadian ziphiids have had skeletons, tissue, parasites, stomach contents, or anatomical parts deposited in publicly accessible museum collections.…”

Section: Ziphiid Strandings In Eastern Canada and Conservation Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of beaked whale (Ziphiidae) stranding incidents from the inshore waters of eastern Canada

McAlpine,

Wimmer,

Ledwell

et al. 2024

Can Field Nat

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Cetaceans of the family Ziphiidae (beaked whales) include some of the least known whale species. We review 78 ziphiid stranding incidents from the inshore waters of eastern Canada (defined as the Atlantic provinces north to central Labrador, including the Gulf coast of Quebec, from ~latitude 43.5°N to 55.0°W), with outcomes that involve 84 individual whales. This includes all eastern Canadian ziphiid stranding incidents known to us from the first report of 24 February 1934 to 31 December 2021 for the five species documented from eastern Canada: Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus), Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens), Blainville’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), True’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon mirus), and Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris). Northern Bottlenose Whale (41.0% of incidents, 40.4% of individuals) and Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (46.1% of incidents, 46.4% of individuals) have stranded most frequently, with the remaining three species stranding very rarely in the region. An average of 0.55 individual ziphiids/year were reported stranded from 1934 to 1999 in eastern Canada, but since 2000 this has increased to an average of 2.2 stranded individuals/year. Much of this increase is undoubtedly due to improved reporting, but other factors may also be involved. We emphasize the importance of the ongoing documentation of cetacean stranding incidents, but especially the need to better understand causes of ziphiid mortality, particularly for those species that reach the edge of their range in the western North Atlantic or are of conservation concern.

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“…Important summer areas have been identified using bottom-mounted autonomous acoustic recorders. Possible calving areas have been described off Western Ireland [11,55,56] and stabile isotope analysis suggests that there may be several populations of SBWs [3,4]. Efforts to study live and dead SBWs in proximity to the Skagerrak basin would provide additional insights into SBWs in the Northeastern Atlantic.…”

Section: Historical Records Of Sbwsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sowerby's beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens (Sowerby, 1804), SBW) have the most northerly range of Mesoplodon beaked whale species in the Atlantic Ocean, but their distribution, biology and threats are not fully understood [1,2]. Recent studies have found morphological differences between SBWs from the western and eastern North Atlantic, suggesting a metapopulation structure or several populations within the species [3,4]. Thus, intra-species differences regarding their ecology, behaviour or migrations may exist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon bidens) in the Skagerrak and Adjacent Waters: Historical Records and Recent Post-Mortem Findings

Stavenow

Roos

Ågren

et al. 2022

Oceans

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In contrast to sparse historical observational records, five Sowerby’s beaked whales (SBW) stranded and died in Swedish waters between 2015 and 2020. Here we summarize historical records of SBWs in the Skagerrak basin and adjacent waters. The three recent stranding events from Sweden are described, and the post-mortem findings, including diet analysis, from the five SBWs are presented. Of 30 historical records of SBWs observations since 1869, 13 (43%) were documented between 2010 and 2021, and records between July and November were the most frequent. The recent stranding events occurred in October 2015 (n = 1), August 2019 (n = 3) and July 2020 (n = 1). Four of the SBWs were examined through necropsy, and one was sampled in the field. They were all sub-adults and included a single female and four males. The causes of death were emaciation, euthanasia due to traumatic injury, and live stranding of undetermined cause. Two SBWs each had a focal bone lesion consistent with osteomyelitis. Other findings included pox-like dermatitis, trauma, focal granulomas in a lymph node and intestine, and ulceration of the stomach. CT scans were performed on the heads of two animals, with inconclusive results. Three SBWs had hard parts in the gastrointestinal tract that mainly consisted of otoliths from several fish species. An eDNA-analysis confirmed and supplemented the diet analysis, revealing 17 fish species in total, including species not previously described as prey for SBW, such as Pleuronectidae spp. The apparent increase in observational records since 2010 may indicate a shift in SBW distribution or changing threats to these animals. Our results support and expand theories on SBW movements and provide data on the biology and health of this poorly known species, which are valuable for conservation and legislation efforts.

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Specimens of opportunity provide vital information for research and conservation regarding elusive whale species

Cited by 5 publications

References 48 publications

Stable Isotope Analysis of Specimens of Opportunity Reveals Ocean-Scale Site Fidelity in an Elusive Whale Species

Stable Isotope Analysis of Specimens of Opportunity Reveals Ocean-Scale Site Fidelity in an Elusive Whale Species

A review of beaked whale (Ziphiidae) stranding incidents from the inshore waters of eastern Canada

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon bidens) in the Skagerrak and Adjacent Waters: Historical Records and Recent Post-Mortem Findings

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