Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge
Investigating the feeding ecology of marine predators is critical for understanding their roles and functional importance in ecosystems. However, assessing the diet of large and wide-ranging predators can be challenging, particularly in the case of rare and elusive species. Killer whales (Orcinus or...
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2021
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:60e50627df674eba8dc4711f11414c7e 2023-05-15T17:54:01+02:00 Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge Jeremy J. Kiszka Michelle Caputo Paula Méndez-Fernandez Russell Fielding 2021-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.648421 https://doaj.org/article/60e50627df674eba8dc4711f11414c7e EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.648421/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.648421 https://doaj.org/article/60e50627df674eba8dc4711f11414c7e Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 8 (2021) diet mixing models cetaceans interview surveys Lesser Antilles δ15N and δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.648421 2022-12-31T06:04:36Z Investigating the feeding ecology of marine predators is critical for understanding their roles and functional importance in ecosystems. However, assessing the diet of large and wide-ranging predators can be challenging, particularly in the case of rare and elusive species. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are large apex predators in global oceans, but very little is known about their feeding ecology in tropical ecosystems, particularly in the Caribbean Sea. Killer whales are distributed throughout the Caribbean, and are a regular target of artisanal whalers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (West Indies). Here we investigate the feeding ecology of Caribbean killer whales using a combination of stable isotope analysis (δ15N, δ13C) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) data from whalers operating from St. Vincent. Potential prey data from the Caribbean region included large pelagic teleosts, sea turtles, oceanic sharks, cetaceans, and oceanic cephalopods. Mixing models suggest that the contribution of odontocete cetaceans to the diet of killer whales is the most important (overall mean contribution: 60.4%), particularly mesopelagic delphinids (Lagenodelphis hosei; 26.4%, SD = 0.14), large teuthophageous odontocetes (Physeter macrocephalus, Globicephala macrorhynchus; 20.0%, SD = 0.14), and epipelagic delphinids (Stenella attenuata; 14%, SD = 0.14). Oceanic sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) had a contribution of 17.0% of the diet of killer whales (SD = 0.13), and other potential prey had a relatively marginal contribution. TEK data suggest that whalers believe killer whales feed almost exclusively on cetaceans, particularly odontocete species that they hunt (e.g., G. macrorhynchus). Stable isotope and TEK data were consistent to some extent, although TEK data are qualitative and based on a limited number of observations. Despite some limitations (including sample size for both methods), this study highlights the value of combining independent data sources and methodologies to investigate the ecological roles of ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Orca Orcinus orca Physeter macrocephalus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Marine Science 8 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
diet mixing models cetaceans interview surveys Lesser Antilles δ15N and δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
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diet mixing models cetaceans interview surveys Lesser Antilles δ15N and δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 Jeremy J. Kiszka Michelle Caputo Paula Méndez-Fernandez Russell Fielding Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge |
topic_facet |
diet mixing models cetaceans interview surveys Lesser Antilles δ15N and δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
description |
Investigating the feeding ecology of marine predators is critical for understanding their roles and functional importance in ecosystems. However, assessing the diet of large and wide-ranging predators can be challenging, particularly in the case of rare and elusive species. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are large apex predators in global oceans, but very little is known about their feeding ecology in tropical ecosystems, particularly in the Caribbean Sea. Killer whales are distributed throughout the Caribbean, and are a regular target of artisanal whalers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (West Indies). Here we investigate the feeding ecology of Caribbean killer whales using a combination of stable isotope analysis (δ15N, δ13C) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) data from whalers operating from St. Vincent. Potential prey data from the Caribbean region included large pelagic teleosts, sea turtles, oceanic sharks, cetaceans, and oceanic cephalopods. Mixing models suggest that the contribution of odontocete cetaceans to the diet of killer whales is the most important (overall mean contribution: 60.4%), particularly mesopelagic delphinids (Lagenodelphis hosei; 26.4%, SD = 0.14), large teuthophageous odontocetes (Physeter macrocephalus, Globicephala macrorhynchus; 20.0%, SD = 0.14), and epipelagic delphinids (Stenella attenuata; 14%, SD = 0.14). Oceanic sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) had a contribution of 17.0% of the diet of killer whales (SD = 0.13), and other potential prey had a relatively marginal contribution. TEK data suggest that whalers believe killer whales feed almost exclusively on cetaceans, particularly odontocete species that they hunt (e.g., G. macrorhynchus). Stable isotope and TEK data were consistent to some extent, although TEK data are qualitative and based on a limited number of observations. Despite some limitations (including sample size for both methods), this study highlights the value of combining independent data sources and methodologies to investigate the ecological roles of ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jeremy J. Kiszka Michelle Caputo Paula Méndez-Fernandez Russell Fielding |
author_facet |
Jeremy J. Kiszka Michelle Caputo Paula Méndez-Fernandez Russell Fielding |
author_sort |
Jeremy J. Kiszka |
title |
Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge |
title_short |
Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge |
title_full |
Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge |
title_fullStr |
Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge |
title_full_unstemmed |
Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge |
title_sort |
feeding ecology of elusive caribbean killer whales inferred from bayesian stable isotope mixing models and whalers’ ecological knowledge |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.648421 https://doaj.org/article/60e50627df674eba8dc4711f11414c7e |
genre |
Orca Orcinus orca Physeter macrocephalus |
genre_facet |
Orca Orcinus orca Physeter macrocephalus |
op_source |
Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 8 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.648421/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.648421 https://doaj.org/article/60e50627df674eba8dc4711f11414c7e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.648421 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Marine Science |
container_volume |
8 |
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1766161727544623104 |