Isotopic niches of Fin Whales from the Mediterranean Sea and the Celtic sea (North Atlantic)

[en] The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is the most abundant and widespread mysticete species in the Mediterranean Sea, found mostly over deep, offshore waters of the western and central portion of the region. In the Mediterranean, this species is known to feed mainly on krill, in contrast to its Atlantic counterpart, which displays a more diversified diet. The International Whaling Commission recognizes several managements units in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea and the connectivity between these populations is still being debated. Questions remain about inter-individual feeding strategies and trophic ecology. The goal of this study was to compare isotopic niches of fin whales from the Mediterranean Sea and the Celtic Sea (North Atlantic). δ13C and δ15N values were analysed in 136 skin biopsies from free-ranging Mediterranean fin whales sampled in 2010 and 2011 during campaigns at sea. δ13C and δ15N values ranged from -20.4 to -17.1 ‰ and from 5.9 to 8.9 ‰, respectively. These values are in good agreement with those estimated previously from baleen plates from Mediterranean and North Atlantic fin whales. The narrow isotopic niche width of the Mediterranean fin whale (Standard Ellipses area SEAc) compared to the North Atlantic fin whale raises many concerns in the context of global changes and long-term consequences. One could indeed expect that species displaying narrow niches would be more susceptible to ecosystem fragmentation and other anthropogenic impacts.

Research center :

MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology

Author, co-author :

Das, Krishna ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique

Holleville, Ophélie

Ryan, Conor

Berrow, Simon

Gilles, Anita

Ody, Denis

Michel, Loïc ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique

Language :

English

Title :

Isotopic niches of Fin Whales from the Mediterranean Sea and the Celtic sea (North Atlantic)

Publication date :

2017

Journal title :

Marine Environmental Research

ISSN :

0141-1136

Publisher :

Elsevier, Kidlington, United Kingdom

Volume :

127

Pages :

75-83

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.03.009

Funders :

WWF France - Fonds mondial pour la nature [FR]
Agence de l'eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse [FR]

Available on ORBi :

since 22 March 2017

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