Download or read book Assessing Seasonal Trends in Harbor Seal Phoca Vitulina Diet Using Stable Isotope Analysis Along the Whisker written by Justin Arthur Smith and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) that use tidewater glaciers in the summers to molt, pup, and breed have declined in recent years, which could be attributed to reduced prey availability caused by regime shifts in the coastal marine environment. Recording seasonal dietary trends of harbor seals in different years could improve our ability to test if regime shifts caused these declines. However, such analysis has not been possible, because wild harbor seals are difficult to recapture. Stable isotope analysis of serial sections of growing whiskers (mystacial vibrissae) can be used as a tool to assess diet over different seasons, but uncertainty about whisker growth status and shed dates have prevented accurate estimates of stable isotope deposition date in the past. In Chapter 1, I characterized harbor seal whisker morphology to improve estimates of stable isotope deposition date. First, I measured 567 whiskers collected from wild harbor seals in the Gulf of Alaska from 2003 to 2012. Measurements included the length of a smooth root section (SRS), the length of the bumpy section, and the distance between each bump (inter-bump length; IBL). I found that the SRS was longer for spring-collected whiskers than fall-collected whiskers and matched the length of fully-grown, shed whiskers. These results suggest that the SRS can be used to differentiate whisker shed and growth status, and can be used to determine the sequence of whisker shedding by cohort in summer-captured seals. I also found that the mean IBL was correlated with whisker length and provides a proxy for whisker growth rate. I compared stable carbon isotope ratios along the three longest whiskers from 10 harbor seals and found that intra-individual patterns of whisker stable carbon isotope ratios became more synchronous when expressed by deposition date rather than by position along the whisker. In Chapter 1, I proposed a method to improve deposition date estimates by applying individually adjusted growth rates and better estimates of shed date to wild harbor seal whiskers. In Chapter 2, I analyzed stable isotope ratios from serial sections of whiskers of 32 harbor seals from a population that uses tidewater glacial habitats in southeast Alaska. I used a mixed-effects repeated-measures model to determine the characteristics that influence stable isotope ratios over time. Mean stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios differed significantly among size classes (p 0.005), with no effect of sex. Seals were then grouped by size to describe isotopic differences between different demographic groups using Standard Ellipse Corrected Area (SEAc). Larger seals (1.4 m) exhibited a broader isotopic niche in the fall, winter, and spring relative to smaller seals (

Download or read book Marine Mammal Ecotoxicology written by Maria Cristina Fossi and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-08-06 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Marine Mammal Ecotoxicology: Impacts of Multiple Stressors on Population Health provides tactics on how to develop a comprehensive methodology for the study of existing threats to marine mammals. By presenting a conservation-biology approach and new and emerging technologies, this work helps provide crucial knowledge on the status of marine mammal populations that not only helps readers understand the ecosystem's health, but also instigate mitigation measures. This volume provides information that helps investigators unravel the relationships between exposure to environmental stressors (e.g., climate change, pollutants, marine litter, pathogens and biotoxins) and a range of endpoints in marine mammal species. The application of robust examination procedures and biochemical, immunological, and molecular techniques, combined with pathological examination and feeding ecology, has led to the development of health assessment methods at the individual and population levels in wild marine mammals. - Provides a comprehensive, worldwide update and state of knowledge on current research and topics on marine mammal ecotoxicology - Includes coverage of both new and emerging technologies - Features a multidisciplinary approach that gives readers a broad, updated overview of the threats facing marine mammals and related conservation measures

Download or read book Trophic Dynamics of Pinniped Populations in Alaska Using Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios written by Amy Christia Hirons and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Trophic changes in populations of Stellar sea lions (Eumetorias jubatus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the eastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska were studied using stable isotope analysis. Declining populations of all three species of pinnipeds prompted this study to determine if changes in diet, likely resulting from food limitation, contributed to the declines. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed in the vibrissae (whiskers) and body tissues of pinnipeds from 1993-1998 and compared with muscle tissue from prey species during the same time period to determine pinniped trophic dynamics. Vibrissae growth rate studies revealed harbor seal vibrissae are only retained for one year and then replaced, while Steller sea lions maintain their vibrissae for several years. Isotopic data from all three species are consistent with diets composed of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) at various times and locations throughout the year. Steller sea lion and northern fur seal vibrissae revealed regular oscillations along their lengths in both carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios that likely corresponded to regional isotopic differences. As these animals moved or migrated from one region to another during the year, they metabolically incorporated the different regional isotope ratios through their prey. Because these animals return to their rookery to pup, breed and molt each year, the isotope ratios in the vibrissae showed a regular pattern of enrichment and deplection. Harbor seals, which tend to stay in one geographic location, have relatively static isotope ratios in their vibrissae, while seals that moved into offshore waters had fluctuating isotope ratios that corresponded to regional difference. No trophic shifts, as evidenced by major changes in nitrogen isotope ratios, were present in any tissues from the three species over the period 1975-1998. Stable isotope ratios of bone collagen for all three species from 1950-1997 indicated no change in trophic level but did reveal that the seasonal primary production in the North Pacific Ocean has declined and may have contributed to a decreased carrying capacity impacting these top trophic organisms"--Leaves iii-iv.

Download or read book Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation written by Susan C. Underkoffler and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-06-26 with total page 485 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses the multidisciplinary challenges in biodiversity conservation with a focus on wildlife crime and how forensic tools can be applied to protect species and preserve ecosystems. Illustrated by numerous case studies covering different geographical regions and species the book introduces to the fundamentals of biodiversity conflicts, outlines the unique challenges of wildlife crime scenes and reviews latest techniques in environmental forensics, such as DNA metagenomics. In addition, the volume explores the socio-economic perspective of biodiversity protection and provides an overview of national and international conservation laws. The field of conservation medicine stresses the importance of recognizing that human health, animal health, and ecosystem health are inextricably interdependent and the book serves as important contribution towards achieving the UN Sustainable Developmental Goals, in particular SDG 15, Life on Land. The book addresses graduate students, scientists and veterinary professionals working in wildlife research and conservation biology.

Download or read book Watching the Seasons Change written by Tom Hugo Brookman and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Biological Fractionation of Isotopes written by Eric Galimov and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Biological Fractionation of Isotopes focuses on the biological fractionation of isotopes and presents calculations of the thermodynamic isotopic beta factor for polyatomic carbon compounds. This book provides experimental and theoretical evidence of the phenomenon of thermodynamically ordered distribution of isotopes in biological systems. This book consists of 12 chapters and opens with an overview of the causes of fractionation of isotopes, along with concepts such as isotopic composition and isotopic effects. The discussion then turns to the isotopic composition of the carbon of organisms; a method of calculating the thermodynamic isotopic factors of polyatomic compounds; and results of experimental investigations of intermolecular and intramolecular isotopic effects. A theoretical model of biological fractionation of isotopes is also described. The following chapters explore the regularities of the biological distribution of isotopes and present the results of some biochemical experiments, including the enzymatic decarboxylation of pyruvate and microbiological oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid. In addition, the geologic aspects of thermodynamically ordered isotopic distributions in biological products are analyzed. This monograph will be of interest to biologists, geochemists, analytical chemists, and geologists.

Download or read book Primates and Cetaceans written by Juichi Yamagiwa and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-11-20 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, the editors present a view of the socioecology of primates and cetaceans in a comparative perspective to elucidate the social evolution of highly intellectual mammals in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Despite obvious differences in morphology and eco-physiology, there are many cases of comparable, sometimes strikingly similar patterns of sociobehavioral complexity. A number of long-term field studies have accumulated a substantial amount of data on the life history of various taxa, foraging ecology, social and sexual relationships, demography, and various patterns of behavior: from dynamic fission–fusion to long-term stable societies; from male-bonded to bisexually bonded to matrilineal groups. Primatologists and cetologists have come together to provide four evolutionary themes: (1) social complexity and behavioral plasticity, (2) life history strategies and social evolution, (3) the interface between behavior, demography, and conservation, and (4) selected topics in comparative behavior. These comparisons of taxa that are evolutionarily distant but live in comparable complex sociocognitive environments boost our appreciation of their sophisticated mammalian societies and can advance our understanding of the ecological factors that have shaped their social evolution. This knowledge also facilitates a better understanding of the day-to-day challenges these animals face in the human-dominated world and may improve the capacity and effectiveness of our conservation efforts.

Download or read book Active Touch Sensing written by Robyn Grant and published by Frontiers E-books. This book was released on 2014-07-14 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Active touch can be described as the control of the position and movement of tactile sensing systems to facilitate information gain. In other words, it is finding out about the world by reaching out and exploring—sensing by ‘touching’ as opposed to ‘being touched’. In this Research Topic (with cross-posting in both Behavioural Neuroscience and Neurorobotics) we welcomed articles from junior researchers on any aspect of active touch. We were especially interested in articles on the behavioral, physiological and neuronal underpinnings of active touch in a range of species (including humans) for submission to Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience. We also welcomed articles describing robotic systems with biomimetic or bio-inspired tactile sensing systems for publication in Frontiers in Neurorobotics.

Download or read book Isoscapes written by Jason B. West and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-11-25 with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stable isotope ratio variation in natural systems reflects the dynamics of Earth systems processes and imparts isotope labels to Earth materials. Carbon isotope ratios of atmospheric CO2 record exchange of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere; the incredible journeys of migrating monarchs is documented by hydrogen isotopes in their wings; and water carries an isotopic record of its source and history as it traverses the atmosphere and land surface. Through these and many other examples, improved understanding of spatio-temporal isotopic variation in Earth systems is leading to innovative new approaches to scientific problem-solving. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the theory, methods, and applications that are enabling new disciplinary and cross-disciplinary advances through the study of "isoscapes": isotopic landscapes. "This impressive new volume shows scientists deciphering and using the natural isotope landscapes that subtly adorn our spaceship Earth.", Brian Fry, Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University, USA "An excellent timely must read and must-have reference book for anybody interested or engaged in applying stable isotope signatures to questions in e.g. Anthropology, Biogeochemistry, Ecology, or Forensic Science regarding chronological and spatial movement, changes, or distribution relating to animals, humans, plants, or water.", Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification, University of Dundee, UK "Natural resources are being affected by global change, but exactly where, how, and at what pace? Isoscapes provide new and remarkably precise answers.", John Hayes, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA "This exciting volume is shaping a new landscape in environmental sciences that is utilizing the remarkable advances in isotope research to enhance and extend the capabilities of the field.", Dan Yakir, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Download or read book Pinnipeds and El Ni o written by Fritz Trillmich and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: El Niño is a meteorological and oceanographic phenomenon, which occurs at irregular intervals in the eastern tropical Pacific. Its most obvious characteristic is the warming of surface waters, which causes enormous disturbances of the marine environment. A severe Niño may also affect continental systems worldwide. This book gathers in a comprehensive way the information available on the effects of the exceptionally strong 1982-83 Niño on a group of marine mammals, the pinnipeds. It presents an analysis of the effects of environmental stress on the populations of top predators. Data and interpretations are based on a most unusual collection of long-term studies of pinniped population dynamics, behavior and ecology which spanned the El Niño event. The responses of pinniped populations to the El Niño disturbance of the marine ecosystem also has important implications for the management and conservation of marine mammal populations.

Download or read book Assessment of Stable Isotope Analysis as a Method to Track Changes in Diet of European Whitefish Larvae Coregonus Lavaretus written by Horstmeyer Lena and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Final recovery plan for the steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus written by and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Tropical Pinnipeds written by Juan J. Alava and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-07-12 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pinnipeds are a fascinating group of marine mammals that play a crucial role as apex predators and sentinels of the functioning and health of marine ecosystems. They are found in the most extreme environments from the Polar regions to the tropics. Pinnipeds are comprised of about 34 species, and of those at least 25% live permanently in tropical zones. This book reviews and updates current research on the biology, marine ecology, bio-monitoring, and conservation of tropical pinniped populations, including their behavior, anthropogenic stressors, and health. It also looks at challenges to be faced for the conservation of tropical pinnipeds, many of which are threatened species.

Download or read book Principles of Perinatal Neonatal Metabolism written by Richard M. Cowett and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 792 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the last quarter century or so, specialization within obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics has resulted in the development of the disciplines of maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology, respectively. A primary focus of maternal-fetal medicine has been to understand the mechanism(s) of premature delivery and develop treatment modalities for improving the length of gestation. A primary focus of neonatology has been to under stand the causes of respiratory distress in the neonate. Success has resulted, not only in the lengthening of gestation, but an improved understanding of the causes and treatment of neonatal respiratory disease. With increasing success has come the necessity to under stand the metabolic principles of the parturient, the fetal/placenta unit, and the neonate. These principles are clearly very important from multiple aspects. Increased understand ing of metabolism of the pregnant woman would explain the aberrations occurring in normal and abnormal pregnancy and improve nutritional support for the parturient. A prime example of altered metabolism is the parturient with diabetes. Understanding metabolism ofthe fetal/placenta unit is necessary to increase the probability that the fetus will be born appropriate for size irrespective of the gestational age. The various compo nents of neonatal metabolism are important, not only for understanding the changes in physiology and biochemistry occurring in the developing neonate, but the principles by which nutritional support should be provided.

Download or read book The Antarctic Silverfish a Keystone Species in a Changing Ecosystem written by Marino Vacchi and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-05-03 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book encompasses the body of available scientific information on the notothenioid fish Pleuragramma antarctica commonly known as Antarctic silverfish. This plankton-feeder of the intermediate trophic level is the most abundant fish in the coastal regions of high Antarctica, and plays a pivotal ecological role as the main prey of top predators like seals, penguins, whales and Antarctic toothfish. Broad circum-polar distribution, a key role in the Antarctic shelf pelagic ecosystem, and adaptations makes understanding the species’ likely response to environmental change relevant to foresee the potential responses at the local ecosystem level. Additionally, a detailed understanding of the abundance and trophic interactions of such a dominant keystone species is a vital element of informing the development of marine spatial planning and marine protected areas in the Antarctic continental shelf region. Experts in the field provide here unique insights into the evolutionary adaptation, eco-physiology, trophic ecology, reproductive and population ecology of the Antarctic silverfish and provide new clues about its vulnerability in facing the challenges of the ongoing environmental changes.

Download or read book Otoliths of Common Australian Temperate Fish written by Dianne Furlani and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2007-08-20 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The accurate identification of fish ‘ear-bones’, known as otoliths, is essential to determine the fish prey of marine and terrestrial predators. Fish otoliths are species-specific when combining size, shape and surface features, and can remain undigested for long periods. As a result, they can indicate which fish make up the diet of various predators, including cephalopod, seabird, marine mammal and fish species. Such studies are crucial for understanding marine ecosystems, and trophodynamics in particular. Increasingly, these methods are being used to understand the diet of some terrestrial predators, also extending to that of humans in archaelogical studies. Otoliths of Common Australian Temperate Fish offers users a verified reference collection to assist in the accurate identification of species and size of fish using otoliths. It covers 141 fish species from a broad geographic range of the Australian temperate region and includes commercial and non-commercial fish species. A standardised written description of the otolith structure, size and surface features is provided for each species. Included are brief distribution and ecology notes, and regression for both otolith and fish lengths, together with high-quality SEM photographs of the otolith described. This guide will be an essential reference for marine scientists and marine mammal researchers; ornithologists, fisheries researchers and fish biologists studying age and growth or comparative anatomy; and archaeologists. Winner of the 2008 Whitley Award for Zoological Manual.

Download or read book Marine Mammals Fisheries Tourism and Management Issues written by Nicholas Gales and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2003-10-22 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues brings together contributions from 68 leading scientists from 12 countries to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date review on the way we manage our interactions with whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs. The book examines how we have fared conserving the world’s marine mammal populations, with a focus on the key issues of fisheries and tourism. From a unique southern hemisphere perspective, the authors consider how science informs the culling debate, how wild fisheries and aquaculture interact with marine mammal populations and how we might manage the effects of whale, dolphin and seal watching industries. The authors also address other issues such as the way in which ethics, genetics, acoustics, ecosystem models and pollution influence the management and conservation of marine mammals. Marine Mammals is an invaluable and accessible resource for all those involved with marine mammals, including scientists, managers, policy makers, industry representatives and students. Winner of a 2004 Whitley Award.