Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abbo van Neer, Stephanie Gross, Tina Kesselring, Miguel L. Grilo, Eva Ludes-Wehrmeister, Giulia Roncon, Ursula Siebert
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the potential ecological effects of grey seal predation on marine mammals through a retrospective analysis of stranding and necropsy data. The results show specific wound characteristics on carcasses potentially subjected to grey seal predation, suggesting the use of parameters and decision trees for assessment.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauri Leach, Mitch Simpson, Justin R. Stevens, Kristina Cammen
Summary: Seal populations in the Gulf of Maine have been recovering since receiving federal protection in 1972. However, the conflict between seals and endangered Atlantic salmon has become a concern. A study in the Penobscot River in Maine analyzed data from 2012 to 2019 and found that seal-induced injury rate on salmon declined, possibly due to increasing river herring returns and estuary fish biomass. Multiple injuries on an individual salmon were associated with a higher probability of seal-induced injury. This study highlights how restoration activities can influence predator-prey interactions and benefit multiple species.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David G. Watson, Patrick P. Pomeroy, Malcolm W. Kennedy
Summary: Mothers of the Atlantic grey seal lactate for about 20 days, leaving their pups unattended and unfed for up to another 40 days after weaning. Metabolomic analysis of the seals' milk reveals continuous changes in key metabolites from birth to weaning, indicating a transition from carbohydrate to fat-based energy metabolism in pups and establishment of gut microbiomes for post-weaning development and fasting.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Krista Van der Linde, Ingrid N. Visser, Rick Bout, Chris Lalas, Lara Shepherd, David Hocking, Brittany Finucci, Jim Fyfe, Matthew Pinkerton
Summary: Leopard seals in New Zealand have been found to prey on chondrichthyans, including elephantfish, ghost sharks, and spiny dogfish, with certain individuals targeting this type of prey. This indicates that chondrichthyans could be a substantial part of some leopard seals' diet in the region, highlighting their role in the wider marine ecosystem.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Linda Westphal, Lisa Klemens, Farina Reif, Abbo van Neer, Michael Daehne
Summary: Grey seals, which were once on the brink of extinction in the Baltic Sea, have increased in numbers and are now frequently observed in the southern and western parts. A carcass of a harbour seal with typical grey seal predation lesions was found in Germany, indicating that this behavior may not be isolated and could become more common. The overlapping habitats of grey seals, harbour porpoise, and harbour seals in this region may contribute to the increased predation cases.
JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aaron Frenette, Marije Booman, Kazuhiro Fujiki, Stephen Kales, Collen Ryan, A. Kurt Gamperl, Brian Dixon
Summary: The immune system of Atlantic cod and haddock differs from other vertebrates in antigen presentation processes, with a lack of essential genes for exogenous antigen presentation but an expanded MHC-I gene repertoire. This suggests their reliance on cross-presentation of exogenous antigens to combat extracellular threats.
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gwyneth A. MacMillan, Marc Amyot, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Melanie Lemire
Summary: In this study, we measured trace elements and mercury distribution in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, and found a bioaccumulation pattern in different age groups. The concentrations of elements were lower in the muscles and livers of young-of-the-year seals compared to older ones feeding at sea. There were no significant sex-specific differences, but some elements showed higher concentrations in male seals.
Article
Fisheries
George Nardi, Richard Prickett, Terje Meeren, Danny Boyce, Jonathan Moir
Summary: The commercialization of a new species through aquaculture is a complex process involving technical and marketing challenges. Different locations in the world face varying obstacles in terms of access to capital, social acceptance, and global market sales when attempting to commercialize farmed cod. Additionally, species substitution from both farmed and wild catch can have a significant impact on the long-term success of commercialization efforts.
JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinkui Wang, Zengchuan Dong, Wenzhuo Wang, Yun Luo, Yaogeng Tan
Summary: By developing a stochastic GWF model based on probability theory and the maximum entropy principle, this study successfully addresses the uncertainties induced by background information that conventional GWF cannot handle. Results from evaluating COD in Ningxia province show that the stochastic GWF outperforms the conventional GWF in grade identification, pollution ranking, and risk recognition. Additionally, water pollution risk is influenced not only by pollution load but also by climate change and hydrological rhythm.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hao Zou, Jinlong Zhao, Zhihui Qin, Zhenxing Li, Ziye Zhang, Hong Lin, Hao Wang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of fermentation with three different strains of Lactobacillus helveticus on the immunoreactivity of Atlantic cod allergens. The fermentation by strain Lh191404 led to decreased protein composition and band intensity, confirmed by Western blotting and ELISA analysis. Analyses using nLC-MS/MS and immunoinformatics tools demonstrated alterations in the protein polypeptide and allergen composition of Atlantic cod after fermentation, with exposed and destroyed epitopes of the main fish allergens.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karyn D. Rode, Eric V. Regehr, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Ryan R. Wilson, Michelle St. Martin, Justin A. Crawford, Lori T. Quakenbush
Summary: Polar bears in the Chukchi Sea are not currently limited by sea ice availability, but the body condition, recruitment, and feeding probability of polar bears are significantly influenced by the condition of ice seals and seal prey. In the long term, neither polar bears nor their prey are likely robust to limitless loss of their sea ice habitat.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Marion Daniela Marchetti, Paula Luisina Gomez, Maria Isabel Yeannes, Analia Belen Garcia Loredo
Summary: The study analyzed the influence of salting on hake fillets mass transfer kinetics, finding that brining had the highest process yield and the Weibull model best described the kinetics curves.
JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Esa Lehtonen, Roope Lehmonen, Joel Kostensalo, Mika Kurkilahti, Petri Suuronen
Summary: Testing the feasibility and effectiveness of acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) in Baltic salmon trap-net fisheries, this study found that using ADDs can significantly reduce seal-induced catch losses, with an average increase of 64% in salmon catches over a two-year period. The research suggests that ADD is a useful and economically viable tool for reducing seal-induced catch losses in trap-net fisheries.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Frank Asche, Julia Bronnmann, Geir Sogn-Grundvag, Hans-Martin Straume
Summary: Capture-based aquaculture (CBA) is a branch of aquaculture that uses captured wild fish or aquatic organisms as stocking material. It aims to test market advantages such as high quality and consistent supply, but the price premium may not be sufficient to incentivize further development of CBA. A study on CBA of Atlantic cod in Norway found an average price premium of 26%, but declining quantities indicate the need for larger incentives.
Article
Limnology
Xupeng Chi, Jan Dierking, Henk-Jan Hoving, Florian Luskow, Anneke Denda, Bernd Christiansen, Ulrich Sommer, Thomas Hansen, Jamileh Javidpour
Summary: The study reveals that gelatinous zooplankton in the eastern tropical Atlantic have a wide trophic niche, showcasing diverse functional roles and potential food web relevance. Differentiation and resource partitioning exist among gelatinous zooplankton groups, with potential competition as well. Spatial and depth complexities, as well as vertical coupling differences among taxonomic groups, highlight the need for careful consideration of gelatinous zooplankton in oceanic food web models.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)