Article
Microbiology
Snorre Gulla, Duncan J. Colquhoun, Anne Berit Olsen, Bjorn Spilsberg, Karin Lagesen, Caroline P. Akesson, Sverri Strom, Farah Manji, Thomas H. Birkbeck, Hanne K. Nilsen
Summary: The study investigated recent outbreaks of pasteurellosis in sea-farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway and Scotland, as well as sporadic disease episodes in lumpfish used for delousing in salmon farms. The bacterial isolates from diseased fish were confirmed to be members of the Pasteurellaceae family and were divided into two distinct branches, constituting two separate species, Pasteurella skyensis and Pasteurella atlantica. These species further stratify into multiple discrete genomovars and/or lineages, each exclusive to a particular host, geographic region, and/or time period. The study also raised the question of marine mammals as possible reservoirs for these bacteria, based on the detection of closely related sequences in cetacean species worldwide.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Odei Garcia-Garin, Wissam Sahyoun, Sopheak Net, Morgana Vighi, Alex Aguilar, Baghdad Ouddane, Gisli A. Vikingsson, Valerie Chosson, Asuncion Borrell
Summary: In this study, the concentration of phthalates in the muscle tissue of fin whales from the feeding grounds off western Iceland was assessed. Five out of the 13 investigated phthalates were detected, with di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), diethylphthalate (DEP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) being the most abundant. The study found no significant relationship between phthalate concentrations and biological variables or changes over the 29-year period studied.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Laura Gomez Dacal, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, Jan Inge Faleide, Mohamed Mansour Abdelmalak, Judith Bott, Denis Anikiev
Summary: Plumes are regions of hotter material rising through Earth's mantle, affecting the lithosphere. The Iceland plume in the NE Atlantic played a role in the breakup between Europe and Laurentia. This study provides a 3D density model showing the impact of the Iceland plume on the NE Atlantic crust and uppermost mantle.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camille de la Vega, Joanna Kershaw, Garry B. Stenson, Anne Kirstine Frie, Martin Biuw, Tore Haug, Louisa Norman, Claire Mahaffey, Sophie Smout, Rachel M. Jeffreys
Summary: By measuring stable nitrogen isotopes in harp seal teeth from the North Atlantic, we found that the trophic position of harp seals has long-term variations related to prey availability, and the changes in local ecosystems differ between different regions. These results provide invaluable data for population dynamic and ecotoxicology studies.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Lucia Pineau-Guillou, Jean-Marc Delouis, Bertrand Chapron
Summary: This study proposes a novel statistical method, called ECHAR, to characterize the full dynamics of storm surge events. An analysis of 20 tide gauges in the North-East Atlantic reveals two distinct components of storm surges – a slow-time background Gaussian structure and a fast-time Laplace structure. The proposed method can be applied to study tropical storm surges or in any other location in the global ocean.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joaquim Parrinha, Sonia Seixas
Summary: Global changes have resulted in the discovery and introduction of new species in unexpected locations. A notable case is the observation of the Indo-Pacific species Pseudechidna brummeri during a nocturnal dive in Portugal. The origins of this species in the area and whether there are multiple individuals present are questions that arise.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Anais Remili, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Filipa I. P. Samarra, Audun H. Rikardsen, Lisa E. Kettemer, Steven H. Ferguson, Cortney A. Watt, Cory J. D. Matthews, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Eve Jourdain, Katrine Borga, Anders Ruus, Sandra M. Granquist, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: This study used a new quantitative fatty acid signature analysis approach to model the diet of nearly 200 killer whales and over 900 potential prey across the North Atlantic. The results showed that killer whales mainly consume other whales in the western North Atlantic, seals in the mid-North Atlantic, and fish in the eastern North Atlantic, with significant variation among individuals within each region. These findings provide valuable insights into the trophic ecology of killer whales and their impacts on marine ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana M. Correia, Diana Sousa-Guedes, Agatha Gil, Raul Valente, Massimiliano Rosso, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Neftali Sillero, Graham J. Pierce, Neftali Sillero, Graham J. Pierce
Summary: Understanding the distribution and habitat requirements of species, such as cetaceans, is crucial for conservation and management planning. The use of modeling techniques can help predict suitable habitats and guide the development of appropriate management plans based on occurrence data collected from various sources.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Harry West, Nevil Quinn, Michael Horswell
Summary: Drought events in Great Britain are influenced by the combined influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and East Atlantic Pattern (EA). The NAO and EA have different spatial influences on drought conditions in different regions during winter, while in summer, the influences are less distinctive. There is spatio-temporal variability in the propagation of meteorological to hydrological drought.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James R. Robbins, Phil J. Bouchet, David L. Miller, Peter G. H. Evans, James Waggitt, Alex T. Ford, Sarah A. Marley
Summary: Maritime traffic is increasing globally, and this study provides a detailed analysis of shipping in the north-east Atlantic region. The study reveals a significant increase in vessel density, with Western Scotland and the Bay of Biscay experiencing the largest increases.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Tristan L. Guttridge, Lukas Mueller, Bryan Keller, Mark Bond, Dean R. Grubbs, William Winram, Lucy Howey, Bryan Frazier, Samuel Gruber
Summary: The great hammerhead shark is primarily found in coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic waters across a circumtropical range and is critically endangered globally. Research shows that they predominantly use shallow depths and exhibit a strong diel cycle with significant vertical variation. These findings can aid in developing conservation and management efforts to reduce by-catch and mortality of this species.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna K. Miesner, Sebastian Brune, Patrick Pieper, Vimal Koul, Johanna Baehr, Corinna Schrum
Summary: This study explores the use of a dynamic Earth System Model (ESM) to forecast the suitable spawning habitat of blue whiting and finds that retrospective forecasts based on predicted salinity outperform persistence forecasts. Retrospective forecasts with the ESM show a better ability to differentiate between suitable and unsuitable habitat compared to persistence forecasts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adam Ayouche, Guillaume Charria, Xavier Carton, Nadia Ayoub, Sebastien Theetten
Summary: The study investigates instability and mixing processes in the Gironde river plume, finding different forms of instabilities existing in the bulge and coastal current areas. Energy conversion terms reveal the coexistence of barotropic and baroclinic instabilities, intensified in August and over the inner-shelf in March. Symmetric instability is found to exist in most parts of the plume during both periods, with a transition observed between baroclinic and symmetric instabilities. Mixing at the ocean surface is analyzed via Potential Vorticity (PV) fluxes, showing net injection of PV at submesoscale buoyant fronts and vertical mixing having similar magnitude as wind-driven and surface buoyancy fluxes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vanessa Brito Bettcher, Ana Clara Sampaio Franco, Luciano Neves dos Santos
Summary: Human activities have resulted in the loss of critical habitats for aquatic species, posing a major threat to biodiversity. Sharks and rays, especially those found in nursery grounds and reefs, are the second most threatened group of vertebrates affected by habitat loss. Urgent measures are needed to conserve these critical habitats for species survival.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jeong-Hun Kim, Seong-Joong Kim, Daeok Youn, Maeng-Ki Kim, Joo-Hong Kim, Joowan Kim, El Noh
Summary: This study found that the strength of the East Asian winter monsoon influenced the daily variability of PM10 concentrations in Korea in January, whereas extremely high concentrations were more strongly influenced by the anticyclonic anomaly over the eastern North Atlantic and Northern Europe.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ari S. Friedlaender, Matthew T. Bowers, David Cade, Elliott L. Hazen, Alison K. Stimpert, Ann N. Allen, John Calambokidis, James Fahlbusch, Paolo Segre, Fleur Visser, Brandon L. Southall, Jeremy A. Goldbogen
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Frants H. Jensen, Onno A. Keller, Peter L. Tyack, Fleur Visser
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Natacha Aguilar de Soto, Fleur Visser, Peter L. Tyack, Jesus Alcazar, Graeme Ruxton, Patricia Arranz, Peter T. Madsen, Mark Johnson
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Biology
Annebelle C. M. Kok, Lisette van Kolfshoten, James A. Campbell, Alexander M. von Benda-Beckmann, Patrick J. O. Miller, Hans Slabbekoorn, Fleur Visser
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Annebelle C. M. Kok, Dennis van Hulten, Kirsten H. Timmerman, Jan Lankhorst, Fleur Visser, Hans Slabbekoorn
Summary: Anthropogenic noise in marine habitats affects aquatic animal communities, with long-term noise pollution leading to differences in short-term responses. Prey species alter their antipredator behavior, potentially increasing individual mortality and impacting the food web.
Correction
Biology
Annebelle C. M. Kok, Lisette van Kolfshoten, James A. Campbell, Alexander M. von Benda-Beckmann, Patrick J. O. Miller, Hans Slabbekoorn, Fleur Visser
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
F. Visser, V. J. Merten, T. Bayer, M. G. Oudejans, D. S. W. de Jonge, O. Puebla, T. B. H. Reusch, J. Fuss, H. J. T. Hoving
Summary: Insights into predator-prey dynamics in the deep sea are hindered by a lack of comprehensive data on hunting behavior and prey spectra. Risso's dolphin and Cuvier's beaked whale selectively target different cephalopod communities in deep-sea foraging habitats, with predator niche segregation not solely driven by prey community composition but potentially by intraspecific differences in prey spectra and habitat selection. The novel combination of eDNA metabarcoding and biologging shows promise in revealing elusive deep-sea predator-prey systems and aiding in their conservation efforts.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Lucie Barluet de Beauchesne, Mathilde Massenet, Machiel G. Oudejans, Annebelle C. M. Kok, Fleur Visser, Charlotte Cure
Summary: Research shows that dolphins can gather biologically relevant information by acoustically eavesdropping on conspecific sounds, enabling them to differentiate between different social and behavioral contexts. Dolphins are able to anticipate potential threats or benefits based on the acoustic cues from other dolphins.
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. W. Durban, B. L. Southall, J. Calambokidis, C. Casey, H. Fearnbach, T. W. Joyce, J. A. Fahlbusch, M. G. Oudejans, S. Fregosi, A. S. Friedlaender, N. M. Kellar, F. Visser
Summary: Research has shown that human noise can be harmful to sound-centric marine mammals, particularly protected cetacean species exposed to navy mid-frequency active sonar. Novel approaches have been proposed to fill key data gaps on group responses of social delphinids exposed to navy sonar in large numbers, involving coordinated collection and integrated analysis of multiple remotely-sensed datasets during controlled exposure experiments. By using quantitative metrics derived from these approaches, behavioral changes and noise exposure-response relationships can be estimated.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fleur Visser, Onno A. Keller, Machiel G. Oudejans, Douglas P. Nowacek, Annebelle C. M. Kok, Jef Huisman, Elisabeth H. M. Sterck
Summary: Risso's dolphins exhibit a unique foraging behavior termed spin dives, which target deep-dwelling prey. By tracking their fine-scale foraging behavior, it was found that these spin dives are faster, steeper and deeper than non-spin dives, effectively minimizing transit time to bountiful mesopelagic prey. Their hunting strategy shifts from deep spin dives to shallow non-spin dives around dusk, showcasing a balance between daytime foraging on deep prey and nocturnal foraging on shallow prey.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Paolo S. Segre, William T. Gough, Edward A. Roualdes, David E. Cade, Max F. Czapanskiy, James Fahlbusch, Shirel R. Kahane-Rapport, William K. Oestreich, Lars Bejder, K. C. Bierlich, Julia A. Burrows, John Calambokidis, Ellen M. Chenoweth, Jacopo di Clemente, John W. Durban, Holly Fearnbach, Frank E. Fish, Ari S. Friedlaender, Peter Hegelund, David W. Johnston, Douglas P. Nowacek, Machiel G. Oudejans, Gwenith S. Penry, Jean Potvin, Malene Simon, Andrew Stanworth, Janice M. Straley, Andrew Szabo, Simone K. A. Videsen, Fleur Visser, Caroline R. Weir, David N. Wiley, Jeremy A. Goldbogen
Summary: This study quantified the maneuvering performance of seven species of free-swimming baleen whale using bio-logging data, aerial photogrammetry, and a high-throughput approach. The results showed that larger whales have lower absolute maneuvering performance compared to smaller species, but exhibit positive allometry of maneuvering performance relative to their body size. Larger whales compensate for their decreased agility by using turns that they can perform more effectively.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Fleur Visser, Machiel G. Oudejans, Onno A. Keller, Peter T. Madsen, Mark Johnson
Summary: Closely related beaked whale species, such as Sowerby's and Blainville's beaked whales, show significant differences in foraging strategies, with Sowerby's whales exhibiting a higher-speed foraging style compared to the low-energy strategist Blainville's whales. This highlights their ability to access different prey populations by utilizing distinct deep-sea foraging and energetic niches.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Maria Pachiadaki, Felix Janssen, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Telmo Morato, Gilberto P. Carreira, Helena C. Frazao, Patrick Heimbach, Isabel Iglesias, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Miguel M. Santos, Leslie M. Smith, Michael F. Vardaro, Fleur Visser, Joanna J. Waniek, Ann-Christine Zinkann, Ana Colaco
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Veronique J. Merten, Fleur Visser, Henk-Jan T. Hoving
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Patricia Arranz, Fredrik Christiansen, Maria Glarou, Shane Gero, Fleur Visser, Machiel G. Oudejans, Natacha Aguilar de Soto, Kate Sprogis
Summary: This study examined the body shape, allometric relationships, and body condition of short-finned pilot whales in the North Atlantic. The researchers used unmanned aerial vehicles to measure the body length, width, and height of the whales. They found that there was no difference in body condition among reproductive classes or locations.