10 research outputs found
Inter-colony isotopic niche dynamics and the effects of cumulative stressors on incubation phenology and behaviour in an Arctic seabird
No full textHuman activity has resulted in global environmental shifts that are altering Arctic marine systems through rising air and ocean temperatures, and a dramatic reduction of sea ice. These changes influence food web dynamics through changes in primary producer abundance and distribution, such as ice algae and phytoplankton, as well as wildlife at higher trophic levels. Mercury is an endocrine-disrupting metal elevated in the environment due to human industrial activity. Mercury accumulation is influenced by prey choice, and therefore is affected by altered food web dynamics. Elevated mercury has been shown to impact incubation behaviour and decrease reproductive success in birds. Worse yet, this effect may be amplified by concurrent exposure to elevated air temperatures, however, these relationships have not been empirically researched to date. We first examined the impact of foraging behaviour on mercury exposure by examining the multidimensional isotopic niche of ten common eider (Somateria mollissima, Mitiq) colonies. Results suggest a wide degree of variation in their foraging strategies determined via stable isotope analysis, potentially impacted by changes in primary production, sea ice presence and migratory status. We then examined whether variation in the multiple stressors, mercury and environmental conditions, affected incubation phenology and behaviour. We found that exposure to higher temperatures during incubation, both individually and simultaneously with elevated mercury, predicted an increase in movement during incubation. Shorter incubation durations also occurred in birds exposed to high air temperatures, resulting in a decreased likelihood of nest success. For the first time, our results suggest that eider colonies across the Arctic have a wide degree of variation in their foraging strategies which influence mercury levels. Individuals with elevated mercury, when combined with elevated air temperatures, were shown to have potential implications on incubation behaviour. Thus, exploring multiple stressor effects on seabird physiology and behaviour is important to contribute to our knowledge of anthropogenic effects on ecosystems, and potential means of effective conservation of impacted seabird populations
Corrigendum to “Environmental and life-history factors influence inter-colony multidimensional niche metrics of a breeding Arctic marine bird” [Sci. Total Environ. 796 (2021) 148935] (Science of the Total Environment (2021) 796, (S0048969721040079), (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148935))
No full textThe authors regret that the printed version of the above article contained an omission of an individual deserving of co-authorship. The correct and final version follows. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. < Reyd A. Smith1⁎, David J. Yurkowski2, Kyle J.L. Parkinson1, Jérôme Fort3, Holly L. Hennin4, H. Grant Gilchrist4, Keith A. Hobson5, Mark L. Mallory6, Paco Bustamante3, Jóhannis Danielsen7, Svend E. Garbus8, Sveinn A. Hanssen9, Jón Einar Jónsson10, Christopher J. Latty11, Ellen Magnúsdóttir10, Børge Moe9, Glen J. Parsons12, Christian Sonne8, Grigori Tertitski13, and Oliver P. Love1> Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N9B 3P4 2 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N6 3 Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS – La Rochelle University, La Rochelle, France, FR-17000 4 Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1H0. 5 Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7 6Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, B4P 2R6 7 Faroe Marine Research Institute, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, FO-110 8 Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark, DK-4000 9 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tromsø, Norway, N-9296 10 University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340, Stykkishólmur, Iceland 11 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, 99701 12 Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada, B4N 4E5 13 Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 119017>
Exposure to cumulative stressors affects the laying phenology and incubation behaviour of an Arctic-breeding marine bird
No full textInternational audienceWildlife are exposed to multiple stressors across life-history stages, the effects of which can be amplified as human activity surges globally. In Arctic regions, increasing air and ocean temperatures, more severe weather systems, and exposure to environmental contaminants all represent stressors occurring simultaneously. While Arctic vertebrates, including marine birds, are expected to be at risk of adverse effects from these individual stressors, few studies have researched their combined impacts on breeding behaviour and reproductive success. The interactive effects of environmental conditions and mercury (Hg) contamination on laying phenology and incubation behaviour were examined in female common eiders (Somateria mollissima, mitiq, ᒥᑎᖅ ᐊᒪᐅᓕᒡᔪᐊᖅ) nesting at Canada’s largest Arctic breeding colony. Conditions with higher pre-breeding air temperatures were linked to females with higher egg Hg concentrations laying earlier than those with lower Hg values. Furthermore, examination of a total of 190 days of incubation behaviour from 61 eiders across two years revealed a negative relationship between wind speed and the frequency of incubation interruptions. Importantly, exposure to higher air temperatures combined with lower Hg concentrations was significantly correlated with increased incubation interruptions. Although previous research has shown that warmer spring temperatures could afford lower quality females more time to improve body condition to successfully lay, results suggest these females may face stronger cumulative fitness costs during incubation in warmer years, potentially in combination with the effects of Hg on physiological stress and hormone secretion. This study highlights how multiple stressors exposure, driven by human-induced environmental changes, can have a complex influence on reproduction
Epigenetic Responses to Anthropogenic Versus Natural Sources of Oil Exposure Differ in Wild Arctic Seabird Populations
No full textABSTRACT Anthropogenic pollution can have detrimental effects on organismal physiology, behavior, and fitness, but the underlying genomic mechanisms mediating these effects are not well understood. Epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, has been proposed as a potential mechanism mediating these effects, but currently, there are few studies in wild populations. Here, we examined the methylation patterns of liver tissues from black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) in regions of the Canadian Arctic with different histories of exposure to polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs)—contaminants associated with hydrocarbons and petrochemicals. As compared to a reference site with minimal PAC exposure, the two sites with exposure to anthropogenic sources of PACs (shipping and spills) shared more differentially methylated regions (DMRs) than they did with the site experiencing chronic exposure to natural PACs (a hydrocarbon seep). Furthermore, we found that guillemots that have been exposed to anthropogenic PACs are characterized by having DMRs with significantly greater ratios of hypermethylated to hypomethylated DNA versus the population experiencing chronic exposure to natural PACs. However, birds from all three sites with elevated PAC exposure shared a core set of DMRs, implying that there are some consistent methylation responses to this family of compounds. Taken together, these results imply that the specific composition and exposure length of PACs can influence the direction of the epigenetic response. The identified DMRs serve as a genomic resource for further research investigating the functional role of DNA methylation in response to anthropogenic oil pollution
Do foraging ecology and contaminants interactively predict parenting hormone levels in common eider?
No full textGlobal climate change is causing abiotic shifts such as higher air and ocean temperatures, and disappearing sea ice in Arctic ecosystems. These changes influence Arctic-breeding seabird foraging ecology by altering prey availability and selection, affecting individual body condition, reproductive success, and exposure to contaminants such as mercury (Hg). The cumulative effects of alterations to foraging ecology and Hg exposure may interactively alter the secretion of key reproductive hormones such as prolactin (PRL), important for parental attachment to eggs and offspring and overall reproductive success. However, more research is needed to investigate the relationships between these potential links. Using data collected from 106 incubating female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) at six Arctic and sub-Arctic colonies, we examined whether the relationship between individual foraging ecology (assessed using δ13C, δ15N) and total Hg (THg) exposure predicted PRL levels. We found a significant, complex interaction between δ13C, δ15N and THg on PRL, suggesting that individuals cumulatively foraging at lower trophic levels, in phytoplankton-dominant environments, and with the highest THg levels had the most constant significant relationship PRL levels. Cumulatively, these three interactive variables resulted in lowered PRL. Overall, results demonstrate the potential downstream and cumulative implications of environmentally induced changes in foraging ecology, in combination with THg exposure, on hormones known to influence reproductive success in seabirds. These findings are notable in the context of continuing environmental and food web changes in Arctic systems, which may make seabird populations more susceptible to ongoing stressors. Stable isotopes Carbon-13 Nitrogen-15 Mercury Seabird ArcticacceptedVersio
Environmental and life-history factors influence inter-colony multidimensional niche metrics of a breeding Arctic marine bird
No full textInternational audienc
Freemartinismo en ganado bovino
No full textEl síndrome de Freemartin es una de las anormalidades reproductivas, cuya consecuencia es la disminución en la eficiencia reproductiva de las hembras producidas por partos heterosexuales gemelos, que generan una esterilidad irreversible y la implantación de problemas en el desempeño económico del hato bovino. La frecuencia de esta aberración genética depende del hermanamiento heterosexual en la población, la causa más común de esta patología es la anastomosis fetal que se produce en las primeras etapas del embarazo, de difícil interpretación temprana y altos costos si no se identifica el recién nacido freemartin. El objetivo de la presente revisión es recopilar información actualizada sobre el síndrome, su frecuencia de presentación, fisiopatología y consecuencias.The Freemartin syndrome is one of the reproductive abnormalities, whose consequence is the decrease in the reproductive efficiency of the females produced by twin heterosexual births, which generate an irreversible sterility and the implantation of problems in the economic performance of the bovine herd. The frequency of this genetic aberration depends on heterosexual twinning in the population, the most common cause of this pathology is the fetal anastomosis that occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, of difficult early interpretation and high costs if the newborn freemartin is not identified. The objective of the present review is to compile updated information on the syndrome, its frequency of presentation, pathophysiology and [email protected]
Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at‐sea anthropogenic threats
No full textMarine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species’ vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at-sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate-change-related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation
Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at‐sea anthropogenic threats
No full textMarine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species’ vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at‐sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate‐change‐related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation
Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at-sea anthropogenic threats
No full textMarine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species' vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at-sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate-change-related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation
