Potentially toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species in plankton and fecal samples of Eubalaena australis from Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina

D'agostino, Valeria Carina; Hoffmeyer, Mónica S.; Almandoz, Gastón O.; Sastre, Viviana; Degrati, Mariana

doi:10.1016/j.seares.2015.09.004

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…densities were low, with abundances between 4.40 Â 10 2 to 8.80 Â 10 2 cell l À1 . Cell abundances observed in this study were much lower than those reported by, Cadaillón et al (2012) andD'Agostino et al (2015) for GSJ, where these authors have reported that this genus was more numerous and in some cases reached bloom densities (>100,000 cells l À1 ).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 81%

“…In addition, recent studies have documented the presence of frustule fragments of Pseudonitzschia spp. potentially producing DA as well as microcrustacean remains, mainly copepodite 5 mandibular gnatobases of Calanus australis (a common species in Argentine Sea), in fecal samples of living and dead whales from the Nuevo (GN) and San José gulfs (GSJ) respectively (D'Agostino et al, 2015(D'Agostino et al, , 2016. These findings indicate that southern right whales could be exposed to DA while feeding in the area and copepods could have act as a primary vector of this neurotoxin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Domoic acid in a marine pelagic food web: Exposure of southern right whales Eubalaena australis to domoic acid on the Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina

et al. 2017

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The gulfs that surround Península Valdés (PV), Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José in Argentina, are important calving grounds for the southern right whale Eubalaena australis. However, high calf mortality events in recent years could be associated with phycotoxin exposure. The present study evaluated the transfer of domoic acid (DA) from Pseudo-nitzschia spp., potential producers of DA, to living and dead right whales via zooplanktonic vectors, while the whales are on their calving ground at PV. Phytoplankton and mesozooplankton (primary prey of the right whales at PV and potential grazers of Pseudo-nitzschia cells) were collected during the 2015 whale season and analyzed for species composition and abundance. DA was measured in plankton and fecal whale samples (collected during whale seasons 2013, 2014 and 2015) using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The genus Pseudo-nitzschia was present in both gulfs with abundances ranging from 4.4×10 and 4.56×10 cell l. Pseudo-nitzschia australis had the highest abundance with up to 4.56×10 cell l. DA in phytoplankton was generally low, with the exception of samples collected during a P. australis bloom. No clear correlation was found between DA in phytoplankton and mesozooplankton samples. The predominance of copepods in mesozooplankton samples indicates that they were the primary vector for the transfer of DA from Pseudo-nitzschia spp. to higher trophic levels. High levels of DA were detected in four whale fecal samples (ranging from 0.30 to 710μgg dry weight of fecal sample or from 0.05 and 113.6μgg wet weight assuming a mean water content of 84%). The maximum level of DA detected in fecal samples (710μg DA g dry weight of fecal sample) is the highest reported in southern right whales to date. The current findings demonstrate for the first time that southern right whales, E. australis, are exposed to DA via copepods as vectors during their calving season in the gulfs of PV.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Domoic acid in a marine pelagic food web: Exposure of southern right whales Eubalaena australis to domoic acid on the Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina

et al. 2017

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“…The largest of those involved 14 humpback whales, which died around Cape Cod during five weeks in Nov 1987 ( Geraci et al, 1989 ) ( Table 1 ). The causes of most MMEs have not been conclusively identified ( Anonymous, 2015 ; Coughran, Gales & Smith, 2013 ; Gulland et al, 2005 ); however, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) during harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been argued as one of the main likely causes (and this is also the case for other marine vertebrate mass mortalities; Geraci et al, 1989 ; Durbin et al, 2002 ; Doucette et al, 2006 ; Rowntree et al, 2013 ; Cook et al, 2015 ; D’Agostino et al, 2015 ; Wilson et al, 2015 ; Lefebvre et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

Häussermann

Gutstein

Bedington

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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While large mass mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behavior. Although in most cases the cause of mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean–atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported mass mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in Southern Chile. Here, we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the Northeast Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.

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“…The causes of most MMEs have not been conclusively identified (e.g. Anonymous, 2015;Coughran et al, 2013;Gulland et al, 2005); however, paralytic shellfish poisoning during harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been argued as one of the main likely causes (and this is also the case for other marine vertebrate mass mortalities ;Geraci et al, 1989;Durbin et al, 2002;Doucette et al, 2006;Rowntree et al, 2013;Cook et al, 2015;D'Agostino et al, 2015;Wilson et al, 2015;Lefebre et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

Häussermann

Beddington

Cassis

et al. 2017

Preprint

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While large mass mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behaviour. Although in most cases the cause of mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported mass mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in southern Chile. Here we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei, whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the north-east Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.

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Potentially toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species in plankton and fecal samples of Eubalaena australis from Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina

Cited by 15 publications

References 17 publications

Domoic acid in a marine pelagic food web: Exposure of southern right whales Eubalaena australis to domoic acid on the Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina

Domoic acid in a marine pelagic food web: Exposure of southern right whales Eubalaena australis to domoic acid on the Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina

Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

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