Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations
We assessed long-term changes in the feeding ecology and mercury (Hg) accumulation in Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) using total Hg and stable isotope (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) assays in teeth samples from historical (1854–1905) and modern (1985–2000) populations. Mean δ 13 C v...
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ftsmithonian:oai:figshare.com:article/17231336 2023-05-15T14:33:37+02:00 Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations Jean-Pierre Desforges (4456840) Peter Outridge (11847227) Keith A. Hobson (109372) Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen (7869812) Rune Dietz (13028) 1753-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05389.s001 unknown https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Anthropogenic_and_Climatic_Drivers_of_Long-Term_Changes_of_Mercury_and_Feeding_Ecology_in_Arctic_Beluga_Delphinapterus_leucas_Populations/17231336 doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c05389.s001 CC BY-NC 4.0 CC-BY-NC Evolutionary Biology Ecology Sociology Inorganic Chemistry Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified lost sea ice assign relative importance 41 ± 0 1854 – 1905 01 ± 0 teeth declined significantly ecosystem wide change 55 ‰ historically eastern high arctic arctic marine predators 15 </ sup baffin bay beluga using total hg feeding ecology reported 1985 – 2000 13 </ sup modern beluga teeth feeding ecology teeth samples arctic beluga − 13 climate change 28 ‰ arctic soils arctic animals − 14 two processes terrestrial hg term trends term changes temporal shift stable isotope species indicate recent decades recent advances range sources natural origin isotopic niche isotope profiles hg concentrations direct inputs delphinapterus leucas climatic drivers climate warming attributed solely Text Journal contribution 1753 ftsmithonian https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05389.s001 2021-12-19T19:17:02Z We assessed long-term changes in the feeding ecology and mercury (Hg) accumulation in Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) using total Hg and stable isotope (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) assays in teeth samples from historical (1854–1905) and modern (1985–2000) populations. Mean δ 13 C values in teeth declined significantly over time, from −13.01 ± 0.55‰ historically to −14.41 ± 0.28‰ in 2000, while no consistent pattern was evident for δ 15 N due to high individual variability within each period. The temporal shift in isotopic niche is consistent with beluga feeding ecology changing in recent decades to a more pelagic and less isotopically diverse diet or an ecosystem wide change in isotope profiles. Mercury concentrations in modern beluga teeth were 3–5 times higher on average than those in historical beluga. These results are similar to the long-term trends of Hg and feeding ecology reported in other beluga populations and in other Arctic marine predators. Similar feeding ecology shifts across regions and species indicate a consistent increased pelagic diet response to climate change as the Arctic Ocean progressively warmed and lost sea ice. Previously, significant temporal Hg increase in beluga and other Arctic animals was attributed solely to direct inputs of anthropogenic Hg from long-range sources. Recent advances in understanding the Arctic marine Hg cycle suggest an additional, complementary possibilityincreased inputs of terrestrial Hg of mixed anthropogenic-natural origin, mobilized from permafrost and other Arctic soils by climate warming. At present, it is not possible to assign relative importance to the two processes in explaining the rise of Hg concentrations in modern Arctic marine predators. Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Beluga Beluga* Climate change Delphinapterus leucas Ice permafrost Sea ice Unknown Arctic Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Unknown |
op_collection_id |
ftsmithonian |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Evolutionary Biology Ecology Sociology Inorganic Chemistry Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified lost sea ice assign relative importance 41 ± 0 1854 – 1905 01 ± 0 teeth declined significantly ecosystem wide change 55 ‰ historically eastern high arctic arctic marine predators 15 </ sup baffin bay beluga using total hg feeding ecology reported 1985 – 2000 13 </ sup modern beluga teeth feeding ecology teeth samples arctic beluga − 13 climate change 28 ‰ arctic soils arctic animals − 14 two processes terrestrial hg term trends term changes temporal shift stable isotope species indicate recent decades recent advances range sources natural origin isotopic niche isotope profiles hg concentrations direct inputs delphinapterus leucas climatic drivers climate warming attributed solely |
spellingShingle |
Evolutionary Biology Ecology Sociology Inorganic Chemistry Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified lost sea ice assign relative importance 41 ± 0 1854 – 1905 01 ± 0 teeth declined significantly ecosystem wide change 55 ‰ historically eastern high arctic arctic marine predators 15 </ sup baffin bay beluga using total hg feeding ecology reported 1985 – 2000 13 </ sup modern beluga teeth feeding ecology teeth samples arctic beluga − 13 climate change 28 ‰ arctic soils arctic animals − 14 two processes terrestrial hg term trends term changes temporal shift stable isotope species indicate recent decades recent advances range sources natural origin isotopic niche isotope profiles hg concentrations direct inputs delphinapterus leucas climatic drivers climate warming attributed solely Jean-Pierre Desforges (4456840) Peter Outridge (11847227) Keith A. Hobson (109372) Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen (7869812) Rune Dietz (13028) Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations |
topic_facet |
Evolutionary Biology Ecology Sociology Inorganic Chemistry Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified lost sea ice assign relative importance 41 ± 0 1854 – 1905 01 ± 0 teeth declined significantly ecosystem wide change 55 ‰ historically eastern high arctic arctic marine predators 15 </ sup baffin bay beluga using total hg feeding ecology reported 1985 – 2000 13 </ sup modern beluga teeth feeding ecology teeth samples arctic beluga − 13 climate change 28 ‰ arctic soils arctic animals − 14 two processes terrestrial hg term trends term changes temporal shift stable isotope species indicate recent decades recent advances range sources natural origin isotopic niche isotope profiles hg concentrations direct inputs delphinapterus leucas climatic drivers climate warming attributed solely |
description |
We assessed long-term changes in the feeding ecology and mercury (Hg) accumulation in Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) using total Hg and stable isotope (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) assays in teeth samples from historical (1854–1905) and modern (1985–2000) populations. Mean δ 13 C values in teeth declined significantly over time, from −13.01 ± 0.55‰ historically to −14.41 ± 0.28‰ in 2000, while no consistent pattern was evident for δ 15 N due to high individual variability within each period. The temporal shift in isotopic niche is consistent with beluga feeding ecology changing in recent decades to a more pelagic and less isotopically diverse diet or an ecosystem wide change in isotope profiles. Mercury concentrations in modern beluga teeth were 3–5 times higher on average than those in historical beluga. These results are similar to the long-term trends of Hg and feeding ecology reported in other beluga populations and in other Arctic marine predators. Similar feeding ecology shifts across regions and species indicate a consistent increased pelagic diet response to climate change as the Arctic Ocean progressively warmed and lost sea ice. Previously, significant temporal Hg increase in beluga and other Arctic animals was attributed solely to direct inputs of anthropogenic Hg from long-range sources. Recent advances in understanding the Arctic marine Hg cycle suggest an additional, complementary possibilityincreased inputs of terrestrial Hg of mixed anthropogenic-natural origin, mobilized from permafrost and other Arctic soils by climate warming. At present, it is not possible to assign relative importance to the two processes in explaining the rise of Hg concentrations in modern Arctic marine predators. |
format |
Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jean-Pierre Desforges (4456840) Peter Outridge (11847227) Keith A. Hobson (109372) Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen (7869812) Rune Dietz (13028) |
author_facet |
Jean-Pierre Desforges (4456840) Peter Outridge (11847227) Keith A. Hobson (109372) Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen (7869812) Rune Dietz (13028) |
author_sort |
Jean-Pierre Desforges (4456840) |
title |
Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations |
title_short |
Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations |
title_full |
Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations |
title_fullStr |
Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Anthropogenic and Climatic Drivers of Long-Term Changes of Mercury and Feeding Ecology in Arctic Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Populations |
title_sort |
anthropogenic and climatic drivers of long-term changes of mercury and feeding ecology in arctic beluga (delphinapterus leucas) populations |
publishDate |
1753 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05389.s001 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Beluga Beluga* Climate change Delphinapterus leucas Ice permafrost Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Beluga Beluga* Climate change Delphinapterus leucas Ice permafrost Sea ice |
op_relation |
https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Anthropogenic_and_Climatic_Drivers_of_Long-Term_Changes_of_Mercury_and_Feeding_Ecology_in_Arctic_Beluga_Delphinapterus_leucas_Populations/17231336 doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c05389.s001 |
op_rights |
CC BY-NC 4.0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY-NC |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05389.s001 |
_version_ |
1766306821220335616 |