Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales
Body size is key to many life-history processes, including reproduction. Across species, climate change and other stressors have caused reductions in the body size to which animals can grow, called asymptotic size, with consequences for demography. A reduction in mean asymptotic length was documente...
Published in: | Royal Society Open Science |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
The Royal Society
2024
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240050 https://doaj.org/article/7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a 2024-09-15T18:05:10+00:00 Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales Enrico Pirotta Peter L. Tyack John W. Durban Holly Fearnbach Philip K. Hamilton Catriona M. Harris Amy R. Knowlton Scott D. Kraus Carolyn A. Miller Michael J. Moore Heather M. Pettis Theoni Photopoulou Rosalind M. Rolland Robert S. Schick Len Thomas 2024-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240050 https://doaj.org/article/7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a EN eng The Royal Society https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240050 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.240050 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a Royal Society Open Science, Vol 11, Iss 2 (2024) Bayesian state-space model body size capital breeding Eubalaena glacialis health length Science Q article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240050 2024-08-05T17:49:57Z Body size is key to many life-history processes, including reproduction. Across species, climate change and other stressors have caused reductions in the body size to which animals can grow, called asymptotic size, with consequences for demography. A reduction in mean asymptotic length was documented for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, in parallel with declines in health and vital rates resulting from human activities and environmental changes. Here, we tested whether smaller body size was associated with lower reproductive output, using a state-space model for individual health, survival and reproduction that quantifies the mechanistic links between these processes. Body size (as represented by the cube of length) was strongly associated with a female's calving probability at each reproductive opportunity. This relationship explained 62% of the variation in calving among reproductive females, along with their decreasing health (20%). The effects of decreasing mean body size on reproductive performance are another concerning indication of the worsening prospects for this species and many others affected by environmental change, requiring a focus of conservation and management interventions on improving conditions that affect reproduction as well as reducing mortality. Article in Journal/Newspaper Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Royal Society Open Science 11 2 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Bayesian state-space model body size capital breeding Eubalaena glacialis health length Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Bayesian state-space model body size capital breeding Eubalaena glacialis health length Science Q Enrico Pirotta Peter L. Tyack John W. Durban Holly Fearnbach Philip K. Hamilton Catriona M. Harris Amy R. Knowlton Scott D. Kraus Carolyn A. Miller Michael J. Moore Heather M. Pettis Theoni Photopoulou Rosalind M. Rolland Robert S. Schick Len Thomas Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales |
topic_facet |
Bayesian state-space model body size capital breeding Eubalaena glacialis health length Science Q |
description |
Body size is key to many life-history processes, including reproduction. Across species, climate change and other stressors have caused reductions in the body size to which animals can grow, called asymptotic size, with consequences for demography. A reduction in mean asymptotic length was documented for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, in parallel with declines in health and vital rates resulting from human activities and environmental changes. Here, we tested whether smaller body size was associated with lower reproductive output, using a state-space model for individual health, survival and reproduction that quantifies the mechanistic links between these processes. Body size (as represented by the cube of length) was strongly associated with a female's calving probability at each reproductive opportunity. This relationship explained 62% of the variation in calving among reproductive females, along with their decreasing health (20%). The effects of decreasing mean body size on reproductive performance are another concerning indication of the worsening prospects for this species and many others affected by environmental change, requiring a focus of conservation and management interventions on improving conditions that affect reproduction as well as reducing mortality. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Enrico Pirotta Peter L. Tyack John W. Durban Holly Fearnbach Philip K. Hamilton Catriona M. Harris Amy R. Knowlton Scott D. Kraus Carolyn A. Miller Michael J. Moore Heather M. Pettis Theoni Photopoulou Rosalind M. Rolland Robert S. Schick Len Thomas |
author_facet |
Enrico Pirotta Peter L. Tyack John W. Durban Holly Fearnbach Philip K. Hamilton Catriona M. Harris Amy R. Knowlton Scott D. Kraus Carolyn A. Miller Michael J. Moore Heather M. Pettis Theoni Photopoulou Rosalind M. Rolland Robert S. Schick Len Thomas |
author_sort |
Enrico Pirotta |
title |
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_short |
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_full |
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_fullStr |
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales |
title_sort |
decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered north atlantic right whales |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240050 https://doaj.org/article/7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a |
genre |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic |
op_source |
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 11, Iss 2 (2024) |
op_relation |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240050 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.240050 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/7076eaed4b5e45ffb846074e2369324a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240050 |
container_title |
Royal Society Open Science |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
2 |
_version_ |
1810442744439504896 |