Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact
Abstract The occurrence of protozoan parasite, bacterial communities, organic pollutants and heavy metals was investigated in free-ranging species of fin ( Balaenoptera physalus, n. 2) and sperm ( Physeter macrocephalus, n. 2) whales from the Pelagos Sanctuary, Corsican-Ligurian Provencal Basin (Nor...
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crspringernat:10.1038/s41598-021-84966-4 2023-05-15T15:36:39+02:00 Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact Marangi, Marianna Airoldi, Sabina Beneduce, Luciano Zaccone, Claudio 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84966-4 http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84966-4.pdf http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84966-4 en eng Springer Science and Business Media LLC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 CC-BY Scientific Reports volume 11, issue 1 ISSN 2045-2322 Multidisciplinary journal-article 2021 crspringernat https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84966-4 2022-01-04T16:59:38Z Abstract The occurrence of protozoan parasite, bacterial communities, organic pollutants and heavy metals was investigated in free-ranging species of fin ( Balaenoptera physalus, n. 2) and sperm ( Physeter macrocephalus, n. 2) whales from the Pelagos Sanctuary, Corsican-Ligurian Provencal Basin (Northern-Western Mediterranean Sea). Out of four faecal samples investigated, two from fin whales and one from sperm whale were found positive to Blastocystis sp. A higher number of sequences related to Synergistetes and Spirochaetae were found in sperm whales if compared with fin whales. Moreover, As, Co and Hg were found exclusively in sperm whale faecal samples, while Pb was found only in fin whale faecal samples. The concentration of both PAH and PCB was always below the limit of detection. This is the first report in which the presence of these opportunistic pathogens, bacteria and chemical pollutants have been investigated in faecal samples of free-ranging whale species and the first record of Blastocystis in fin and sperm whales. Thus, this study may provide baseline data on new anthropozoonotic parasite, bacterial records and heavy metals in free-ranging fin and sperm whales, probably as a result of an increasing anthropogenic activity. This survey calls for more integrated research to perform regular monitoring programs supported by national and/or international authorities responsible for preservation of these still vulnerable and threatened whale species in the Mediterranean Sea. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale Springer Nature (via Crossref) Scientific Reports 11 1 |
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Multidisciplinary Marangi, Marianna Airoldi, Sabina Beneduce, Luciano Zaccone, Claudio Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
topic_facet |
Multidisciplinary |
description |
Abstract The occurrence of protozoan parasite, bacterial communities, organic pollutants and heavy metals was investigated in free-ranging species of fin ( Balaenoptera physalus, n. 2) and sperm ( Physeter macrocephalus, n. 2) whales from the Pelagos Sanctuary, Corsican-Ligurian Provencal Basin (Northern-Western Mediterranean Sea). Out of four faecal samples investigated, two from fin whales and one from sperm whale were found positive to Blastocystis sp. A higher number of sequences related to Synergistetes and Spirochaetae were found in sperm whales if compared with fin whales. Moreover, As, Co and Hg were found exclusively in sperm whale faecal samples, while Pb was found only in fin whale faecal samples. The concentration of both PAH and PCB was always below the limit of detection. This is the first report in which the presence of these opportunistic pathogens, bacteria and chemical pollutants have been investigated in faecal samples of free-ranging whale species and the first record of Blastocystis in fin and sperm whales. Thus, this study may provide baseline data on new anthropozoonotic parasite, bacterial records and heavy metals in free-ranging fin and sperm whales, probably as a result of an increasing anthropogenic activity. This survey calls for more integrated research to perform regular monitoring programs supported by national and/or international authorities responsible for preservation of these still vulnerable and threatened whale species in the Mediterranean Sea. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marangi, Marianna Airoldi, Sabina Beneduce, Luciano Zaccone, Claudio |
author_facet |
Marangi, Marianna Airoldi, Sabina Beneduce, Luciano Zaccone, Claudio |
author_sort |
Marangi, Marianna |
title |
Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
title_short |
Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
title_full |
Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
title_fullStr |
Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
title_full_unstemmed |
Wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
title_sort |
wild whale faecal samples as a proxy of anthropogenic impact |
publisher |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84966-4 http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84966-4.pdf http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84966-4 |
genre |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale |
op_source |
Scientific Reports volume 11, issue 1 ISSN 2045-2322 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84966-4 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1766367023766437888 |