Dataset Information

More of the same: allopatric humpback whale populations share acoustic repertoire.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a widespread, vocal baleen whale best known for producing song, a complex, repetitive, geographically distinct acoustic signal sung by males, predominantly in a breeding context. Humpback whales worldwide also produce non-song vocalizations ("calls") throughout their migratory range, some of which are stable across generations.

Methods

We looked for evidence that temporally stable call types are shared by two allopatric humpback whale populations while on their northern hemisphere foraging grounds in order to test the hypothesis that some calls, in strong contrast to song, are innate within the humpback whale acoustic repertoire.

Results

Despite being geographically and genetically distinct populations, humpback whales in Southeast Alaska (North Pacific Ocean) share at least five call types with conspecifics in Massachusetts Bay (North Atlantic Ocean).

Discussion

This study is the first to identify call types shared by allopatric populations, and provides evidence that some call types may be innate.

SUBMITTER: Fournet MEH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6071617 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

More of the same: allopatric humpback whale populations share acoustic repertoire.

Fournet Michelle E H MEH Jacobsen Lauren L Gabriele Christine M CM Mellinger David K DK Klinck Holger H

PeerJ 20180730

<h4>Background</h4>Humpback whales (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>) are a widespread, vocal baleen whale best known for producing song, a complex, repetitive, geographically distinct acoustic signal sung by males, predominantly in a breeding context. Humpback whales worldwide also produce non-song vocalizations ("calls") throughout their migratory range, some of which are stable across generations.<h4>Methods</h4>We looked for evidence that temporally stable call types are shared by two allopatri ...[more]

PMID: 30083470

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Project description:Microbes are now well regarded for their important role in mammalian health. The microbiology of skin--a unique interface between the host and environment--is a major research focus in human health and skin disorders, but is less explored in other mammals. Here, we report on a cross-population study of the skin-associated bacterial community of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and examine the potential for a core bacterial community and its variability with host (endogenous) or geographic/environmental (exogenous) specific factors. Skin biopsies or freshly sloughed skin from 56 individuals were sampled from populations in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and South Pacific oceans and bacteria were characterized using 454 pyrosequencing of SSU rRNA genes. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses revealed the ubiquity and abundance of bacteria belonging to the Flavobacteria genus Tenacibaculum and the Gammaproteobacteria genus Psychrobacter across the whale populations. Scanning electron microscopy of skin indicated that microbial cells colonize the skin surface. Despite the ubiquity of Tenacibaculum and Psychrobater spp., the relative composition of the skin-bacterial community differed significantly by geographic area as well as metabolic state of the animals (feeding versus starving during migration and breeding), suggesting that both exogenous and endogenous factors may play a role in influencing the skin-bacteria. Further, characteristics of the skin bacterial community from these free-swimming individuals were assembled and compared to two entangled and three dead individuals, revealing a decrease in the central or core bacterial community members (Tenacibaculum and Psychrobater spp.), as well as the emergence of potential pathogens in the latter cases. This is the first discovery of a cross-population, shared skin bacterial community. This research suggests that the skin bacteria may be connected to humpback health and immunity and could possibly serve as a useful index for health and skin disorder monitoring of threatened and endangered marine mammals.

Dataset Information

More of the same: allopatric humpback whale populations share acoustic repertoire.

Background

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

More of the same: allopatric humpback whale populations share acoustic repertoire.

Similar Datasets

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