Dataset Information

Reconstructing the diet, trophic level and migration pattern of mysticete whales based on baleen isotopic composition.

ABSTRACT: Baleen from mysticete whales is a well-preserved proteinaceous material that can be used to identify migrations and feeding habits for species whose migration pathways are unknown. Analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values from bulk baleen have been used to infer migration patterns for individuals. However, this approach has fallen short of identifying migrations between regions as it is difficult to determine variations in isotopic shifts without temporal sampling of prey items. Here, we apply analysis of δ¹⁵N values of amino acids to five baleen plates belonging to three species, revealing novel insights on trophic position, metabolic state and migration between regions. Humpback and minke whales had higher reconstructed trophic levels than fin whales (3.7-3.8 versus 3-3.2, respectively) as expected due to different feeding specialization. Isotopic niche areas between baleen minima and maxima were well separated, indicating regional resource use for individuals during migration that aligned with isotopic gradients in Atlantic Ocean particulate organic matter. Phenylanine δ¹⁵N values confirmed regional separation between the niche areas for two fin whales as migrations occurred and elevated glycine and threonine δ¹⁵N values suggested physiological changes due to fasting. Simultaneous resolution of trophic level and physiological changes allow for identification of regional migrations in mysticetes.

SUBMITTER: Riekenberg PM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8652277 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Reconstructing the diet, trophic level and migration pattern of mysticete whales based on baleen isotopic composition.

Riekenberg Philip M PM Camalich Jaime J Svensson Elisabeth E IJsseldijk Lonneke L LL Brasseur Sophie M J M SMJM Witbaard Rob R Leopold Mardik F MF Rebolledo Elisa Bravo EB Middelburg Jack J JJ van der Meer Marcel T J MTJ Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S JS Schouten Stefan S

Royal Society open science 20211208 12

Baleen from mysticete whales is a well-preserved proteinaceous material that can be used to identify migrations and feeding habits for species whose migration pathways are unknown. Analysis of δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N values from bulk baleen have been used to infer migration patterns for individuals. However, this approach has fallen short of identifying migrations between regions as it is difficult to determine variations in isotopic shifts without temporal sampling of prey items. He ...[more]

PMID: 34909214

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Project description:BackgroundFamily Cetotheriidae sensu stricto and several closely related taxa comprise the Cetotherioidea and represent a lineage of Neogene baleen whales that includes the smallest edentulous baleen whales in Earth history. Most of known cetotheriids came from the Late Miocene to Quaternary, and the earliest records from the latest Middle Miocene. The Paratethys region shows a great diversity of Middle to Late Miocene cetotheriids. That includes nominative taxon of the family, Cetotherium rathkii, and this suggests that the earliest cetotheriids may have lived in that region.Materials and methodsHere, Ciuciulea davidi, a new genus and species from the Middle Miocene of southeastern Europe, is described as the chronologically earliest and earliest diverging member of Cetotheriidae. Also, a new specimen of Otradnocetus, a basal Cetotherioidea sensu Gol'din & Steeman, 2015 is identified from the Late Miocene deposits of Caucasus and compared with Otradnocetus virodovi from the Middle Miocene of the same region.Results and discussionCiuciulea davidi is a dwarf whale displaying primitive traits: posterior ends of facial bones forming a single transverse line, a narrow occipital shield, and a relatively long interparietal region. Meanwhile, it shares some cetotheriid apomorphies: posteriorly telescoped wedge-shaped facial bones and an ovoid tympanic bulla with shallow lateral and medial furrows, a short anterior lobe and a short sigmoid process. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Parietobalaena and Otradnocetus are branches diverging before the clade Cetotheriidae + Neobalaenidae. This is confirmed by the stepwise evolution of the anatomy of the squamosal, mandible, and ear bones across these groups. The re-described juvenile specimen of Otradnocetus differs from O. virodovi in the more primitive anatomy of the mandible and the autapomorphic anatomy of the humerus. Records of the earliest cetotheriids and related taxa in the Paratethys support the idea that this could be the region where Cetotheriidae evolved before their worldwide dispersal and radiation.

Dataset Information

Reconstructing the diet, trophic level and migration pattern of mysticete whales based on baleen isotopic composition.

Publications

Reconstructing the diet, trophic level and migration pattern of mysticete whales based on baleen isotopic composition.

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