Assigning stranded bottlenose dolphins to source stocks using stable isotope ratios following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Endangered species research

T. R. Speakman^10¹  L. Thomas^2²  R. H. Carmichael^3,4³  S. F. Shippee^7⁴  E. S. Zolman^10⁵  C. Sinclair^8⁶  A. A. Hohn^1⁷  C. Clemons-Chevis^6⁸  S. Smith^9,12⁹  M. C. Tumlin^11^1,10  J. Litz^5^1,12 

[1] Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA^9;Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM), University of St Andrews, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, KY16 9LZ, UK^2;Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA^3;Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, PO Box 207, Gulfport, MS 39502, USA^6;Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898, USA^11;Marine Wildlife Response, 1557 Highway 98 West, Mary Esther, FL 32569, USA^7;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 101 Pivers Island Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516, USA^1;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Key Dr., Miami, FL 33149, USA^5;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories, 3209 Frederic St., Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA^8;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC 29412, USA^10;Present address: Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Foundation, 805 Hidalgo Street, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA^12;University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA^4

关键词: Carbon;    Nitrogen;    Sulfur;    Tursiops truncatus;    Stock structure;    Gulf of Mexico;   

DOI  :  10.3354/esr00783

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

The potential for stranded dolphins to serve as a tool for monitoring free-ranging populations would be enhanced if their stocks of origin were known. We used stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur from skin to assign stranded bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to different habitats, as a proxy for stocks (demographically independent populations), following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Model results from biopsy samples collected from dolphins from known habitats (n = 205) resulted in an 80.5% probability of correct assignment. These results were applied to data from stranded dolphins (n = 217), resulting in predicted assignment probabilities of 0.473, 0.172, and 0.355 to Estuarine, Barrier Island (BI), and Coastal stocks, respectively. Differences were found west and east of the Mississippi River, with more Coastal dolphins stranding in western Louisiana and more Estuarine dolphins stranding in Mississippi. Within the Estuarine East Stock, 2 groups were identified, one predominantly associated with Mississippi and Alabama estuaries and another with western Florida. δ15N values were higher in stranded samples for both Estuarine and BI stocks, potentially indicating nutritional stress. High probabilities of correct assignment of the biopsy samples indicate predictable variation in stable isotopes and fidelity to habitat. The power of δ34S to discriminate habitats relative to salinity was essential. Stable isotopes may provide guidance regarding where additional testing is warranted to confirm demographic independence and aid in determining the source habitat of stranded dolphins, thus increasing the value of biological data collected from stranded individuals.

【 授权许可】

Unknown