Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes
Abstract Killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) are highly mobile, large marine apex predators that inhabit all oceans. Despite being the most conspicuous top predator, little is known about their ecology along Patagonia, Argentina. Here, we used carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope analysis of bon...
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crwiley:10.1111/mms.13048 2024-09-15T17:47:46+00:00 Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes Loizaga, Rocio García, Nestor A. Durante, Cristian A. Vales, Damián G. Crespo, Enrique A. 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.13048 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.13048 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Marine Mammal Science volume 39, issue 4, page 1121-1135 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 journal-article 2023 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13048 2024-07-25T04:22:58Z Abstract Killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) are highly mobile, large marine apex predators that inhabit all oceans. Despite being the most conspicuous top predator, little is known about their ecology along Patagonia, Argentina. Here, we used carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope analysis of bone and dentine collagen from killer whales ( n = 13) stranded in northern Patagonia during the period 1970–2014 to assess their trophic ecology. A model‐based clustering analysis identified three distinct groups related with three large marine ecosystems: the Patagonia (P), Subtropical (ST), and Antarctica (A) groups. Group P ( n = 8) is characterized by individuals with high δ 13 C and δ 15 N values fitting within the isotopic ratios observed over the Patagonian shelf. Group ST ( n = 3) is composed of individuals with high δ 13 C and low δ 15 N values, similar to those reported for conspecifics in southern Brazil. Group A ( n = 2) is composed of individuals with low δ 13 C and δ 15 N values, typical from high latitude areas like sub‐Antarctic/Antarctic waters. The finding of different killer whales' isotopic groups over the Patagonian shelf suggests the existence of individuals or groups exploiting different habitats. Our results expand the limited ecological knowledge for the species while presenting the basis to infer more complex ecological hypotheses. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Orca Orcinus orca Wiley Online Library Marine Mammal Science 39 4 1121 1135 |
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English |
description |
Abstract Killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) are highly mobile, large marine apex predators that inhabit all oceans. Despite being the most conspicuous top predator, little is known about their ecology along Patagonia, Argentina. Here, we used carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope analysis of bone and dentine collagen from killer whales ( n = 13) stranded in northern Patagonia during the period 1970–2014 to assess their trophic ecology. A model‐based clustering analysis identified three distinct groups related with three large marine ecosystems: the Patagonia (P), Subtropical (ST), and Antarctica (A) groups. Group P ( n = 8) is characterized by individuals with high δ 13 C and δ 15 N values fitting within the isotopic ratios observed over the Patagonian shelf. Group ST ( n = 3) is composed of individuals with high δ 13 C and low δ 15 N values, similar to those reported for conspecifics in southern Brazil. Group A ( n = 2) is composed of individuals with low δ 13 C and δ 15 N values, typical from high latitude areas like sub‐Antarctic/Antarctic waters. The finding of different killer whales' isotopic groups over the Patagonian shelf suggests the existence of individuals or groups exploiting different habitats. Our results expand the limited ecological knowledge for the species while presenting the basis to infer more complex ecological hypotheses. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Loizaga, Rocio García, Nestor A. Durante, Cristian A. Vales, Damián G. Crespo, Enrique A. |
spellingShingle |
Loizaga, Rocio García, Nestor A. Durante, Cristian A. Vales, Damián G. Crespo, Enrique A. Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
author_facet |
Loizaga, Rocio García, Nestor A. Durante, Cristian A. Vales, Damián G. Crespo, Enrique A. |
author_sort |
Loizaga, Rocio |
title |
Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
title_short |
Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
title_full |
Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
title_fullStr |
Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Killer whales at northern Patagonia, Argentina: Evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
title_sort |
killer whales at northern patagonia, argentina: evidence of different foraging groups from stable isotopes |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.13048 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.13048 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Orca Orcinus orca |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Orca Orcinus orca |
op_source |
Marine Mammal Science volume 39, issue 4, page 1121-1135 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13048 |
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Marine Mammal Science |
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39 |
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4 |
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1121 |
op_container_end_page |
1135 |
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1810497309229711360 |