Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales
Abstract Bulk stable isotope analysis provides information regarding food web interactions, and has been applied to several cetacean species for the study of migration ecology. One limitation in bulk stable isotope analysis arises when a species, such as Southern hemisphere humpback whales, utilises...
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2017-06-01
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doaj-3ab97d69d2c44a1eb2733ae187eb83b12020-12-08T01:43:24ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222017-06-01711910.1038/s41598-017-04698-2Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback WhalesPascale Eisenmann0Brian Fry1Debashish Mazumder2Geraldine Jacobsen3Carlysle Sian Holyoake4Douglas Coughran5Susan Bengtson Nash6Griffith University, Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI), Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants (SOPOPP)Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute (ARI)Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)Murdoch UniversityDepartment of Parks and WildlifeGriffith University, Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI), Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants (SOPOPP)Abstract Bulk stable isotope analysis provides information regarding food web interactions, and has been applied to several cetacean species for the study of migration ecology. One limitation in bulk stable isotope analysis arises when a species, such as Southern hemisphere humpback whales, utilises geographically distinct food webs with differing isotopic baselines. Migrations to areas with different baselines can result in isotopic changes that mimic changes in feeding relations, leading to ambiguous food web interpretations. Here, we demonstrate the novel application of radiocarbon measurement for the resolution of such ambiguities. Radiocarbon was measured in baleen plates from humpback whales stranded in Australia between 2007 and 2013, and in skin samples collected in Australia and Antarctica from stranded and free-ranging animals. Radiocarbon measurements showed lower values for Southern Ocean feeding than for extra-Antarctic feeding in Australian waters. While the whales mostly relied on Antarctic-derived energy stores during their annual migration, there was some evidence of feeding within temperate zone waters in some individuals. This work, to our knowledge, provides the first definitive biochemical evidence for supplementary feeding by southern hemisphere humpback whales within temperate waters during migration. Further, the work contributes a powerful new tool (radiocarbon) for tracing source regions and geographical feeding.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04698-2 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Pascale Eisenmann Brian Fry Debashish Mazumder Geraldine Jacobsen Carlysle Sian Holyoake Douglas Coughran Susan Bengtson Nash |
spellingShingle |
Pascale Eisenmann Brian Fry Debashish Mazumder Geraldine Jacobsen Carlysle Sian Holyoake Douglas Coughran Susan Bengtson Nash Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Pascale Eisenmann Brian Fry Debashish Mazumder Geraldine Jacobsen Carlysle Sian Holyoake Douglas Coughran Susan Bengtson Nash |
author_sort |
Pascale Eisenmann |
title |
Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales |
title_short |
Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales |
title_full |
Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales |
title_fullStr |
Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Radiocarbon as a Novel Tracer of Extra-Antarctic Feeding in Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales |
title_sort |
radiocarbon as a novel tracer of extra-antarctic feeding in southern hemisphere humpback whales |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2017-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Bulk stable isotope analysis provides information regarding food web interactions, and has been applied to several cetacean species for the study of migration ecology. One limitation in bulk stable isotope analysis arises when a species, such as Southern hemisphere humpback whales, utilises geographically distinct food webs with differing isotopic baselines. Migrations to areas with different baselines can result in isotopic changes that mimic changes in feeding relations, leading to ambiguous food web interpretations. Here, we demonstrate the novel application of radiocarbon measurement for the resolution of such ambiguities. Radiocarbon was measured in baleen plates from humpback whales stranded in Australia between 2007 and 2013, and in skin samples collected in Australia and Antarctica from stranded and free-ranging animals. Radiocarbon measurements showed lower values for Southern Ocean feeding than for extra-Antarctic feeding in Australian waters. While the whales mostly relied on Antarctic-derived energy stores during their annual migration, there was some evidence of feeding within temperate zone waters in some individuals. This work, to our knowledge, provides the first definitive biochemical evidence for supplementary feeding by southern hemisphere humpback whales within temperate waters during migration. Further, the work contributes a powerful new tool (radiocarbon) for tracing source regions and geographical feeding. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04698-2 |
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