Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals
Abstract The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a high‐Arctic species inhabiting areas that are experiencing increases in sea temperatures, which together with reduction in sea ice are expected to modify the niches of several Arctic marine apex predators. The Scoresby Sound fjord complex in East Greenla...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:aaeb443d613f42c1a29bbb0591dd467e 2023-05-15T14:56:44+02:00 Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals Mads Peter Heide‐Jørgensen Susanna B. Blackwell Terrie M. Williams Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mikkel Skovrind Outi M. Tervo Eva Garde Rikke G. Hansen Nynne H. Nielsen Mạnh Cường Ngô Susanne Ditlevsen 2020-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6464 https://doaj.org/article/aaeb443d613f42c1a29bbb0591dd467e EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6464 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.6464 https://doaj.org/article/aaeb443d613f42c1a29bbb0591dd467e Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10, Iss 15, Pp 8073-8090 (2020) buzzing deep diving East Greenland high Arctic oceanography satellite tracking Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6464 2022-12-31T05:01:49Z Abstract The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a high‐Arctic species inhabiting areas that are experiencing increases in sea temperatures, which together with reduction in sea ice are expected to modify the niches of several Arctic marine apex predators. The Scoresby Sound fjord complex in East Greenland is the summer residence for an isolated population of narwhals. The movements of 12 whales instrumented with Fastloc‐GPS transmitters were studied during summer in Scoresby Sound and at their offshore winter ground in 2017–2019. An additional four narwhals provided detailed hydrographic profiles on both summer and winter grounds. Data on diving of the whales were obtained from 20 satellite‐linked time‐depth recorders and 16 Acousonde™ recorders that also provided information on the temperature and depth of buzzes. In summer, the foraging whales targeted depths between 300 and 850 m where the preferred areas visited by the whales had temperatures ranging between 0.6 and 1.5°C (mean = 1.1°C, SD = 0.22). The highest probability of buzzing activity during summer was at a temperature of 0.7°C and at depths > 300 m. The whales targeted similar depths at their offshore winter ground where the temperature was slightly higher (range: 0.7–1.7°C, mean = 1.3°C, SD = 0.29). Both the probability of buzzing events and the spatial distribution of the whales in both seasons demonstrated a preferential selection of cold water. This was particularly pronounced in winter where cold coastal water was selected and warm Atlantic water farther offshore was avoided. It is unknown if the small temperature niche of whales while feeding is because prey is concentrated at these temperature gradients and is easier to capture at low temperatures, or because there are limitations in the thermoregulation of the whales. In any case, the small niche requirements together with their strong site fidelity emphasize the sensitivity of narwhals to changes in the thermal characteristics of their habitats. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic East Greenland Greenland Monodon monoceros narwhal* Scoresby Sound Sea ice Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Greenland Scoresby ENVELOPE(162.750,162.750,-66.567,-66.567) Ecology and Evolution 10 15 8073 8090 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
buzzing deep diving East Greenland high Arctic oceanography satellite tracking Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
buzzing deep diving East Greenland high Arctic oceanography satellite tracking Ecology QH540-549.5 Mads Peter Heide‐Jørgensen Susanna B. Blackwell Terrie M. Williams Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mikkel Skovrind Outi M. Tervo Eva Garde Rikke G. Hansen Nynne H. Nielsen Mạnh Cường Ngô Susanne Ditlevsen Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
topic_facet |
buzzing deep diving East Greenland high Arctic oceanography satellite tracking Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a high‐Arctic species inhabiting areas that are experiencing increases in sea temperatures, which together with reduction in sea ice are expected to modify the niches of several Arctic marine apex predators. The Scoresby Sound fjord complex in East Greenland is the summer residence for an isolated population of narwhals. The movements of 12 whales instrumented with Fastloc‐GPS transmitters were studied during summer in Scoresby Sound and at their offshore winter ground in 2017–2019. An additional four narwhals provided detailed hydrographic profiles on both summer and winter grounds. Data on diving of the whales were obtained from 20 satellite‐linked time‐depth recorders and 16 Acousonde™ recorders that also provided information on the temperature and depth of buzzes. In summer, the foraging whales targeted depths between 300 and 850 m where the preferred areas visited by the whales had temperatures ranging between 0.6 and 1.5°C (mean = 1.1°C, SD = 0.22). The highest probability of buzzing activity during summer was at a temperature of 0.7°C and at depths > 300 m. The whales targeted similar depths at their offshore winter ground where the temperature was slightly higher (range: 0.7–1.7°C, mean = 1.3°C, SD = 0.29). Both the probability of buzzing events and the spatial distribution of the whales in both seasons demonstrated a preferential selection of cold water. This was particularly pronounced in winter where cold coastal water was selected and warm Atlantic water farther offshore was avoided. It is unknown if the small temperature niche of whales while feeding is because prey is concentrated at these temperature gradients and is easier to capture at low temperatures, or because there are limitations in the thermoregulation of the whales. In any case, the small niche requirements together with their strong site fidelity emphasize the sensitivity of narwhals to changes in the thermal characteristics of their habitats. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mads Peter Heide‐Jørgensen Susanna B. Blackwell Terrie M. Williams Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mikkel Skovrind Outi M. Tervo Eva Garde Rikke G. Hansen Nynne H. Nielsen Mạnh Cường Ngô Susanne Ditlevsen |
author_facet |
Mads Peter Heide‐Jørgensen Susanna B. Blackwell Terrie M. Williams Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mikkel Skovrind Outi M. Tervo Eva Garde Rikke G. Hansen Nynne H. Nielsen Mạnh Cường Ngô Susanne Ditlevsen |
author_sort |
Mads Peter Heide‐Jørgensen |
title |
Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
title_short |
Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
title_full |
Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
title_fullStr |
Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Some like it cold: Temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
title_sort |
some like it cold: temperature‐dependent habitat selection by narwhals |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6464 https://doaj.org/article/aaeb443d613f42c1a29bbb0591dd467e |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(162.750,162.750,-66.567,-66.567) |
geographic |
Arctic Greenland Scoresby |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Greenland Scoresby |
genre |
Arctic East Greenland Greenland Monodon monoceros narwhal* Scoresby Sound Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic East Greenland Greenland Monodon monoceros narwhal* Scoresby Sound Sea ice |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10, Iss 15, Pp 8073-8090 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6464 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.6464 https://doaj.org/article/aaeb443d613f42c1a29bbb0591dd467e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6464 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
15 |
container_start_page |
8073 |
op_container_end_page |
8090 |
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1766328821388148736 |