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Interannual variability in the lipid and fatty acid profiles of east Australia-migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) across a 10-year timeline
Citation
Gross, J and Virtue, P and Nichols, PD and Eisenmann, P and Waugh, CA and Nash, SB, Interannual variability in the lipid and fatty acid profiles of east Australia-migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) across a 10-year timeline, Scientific Reports, 10, (1) Article 18274. ISSN 2045-2322 (2020) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75370-5
Abstract
Southern hemisphere humpback whales are classified as high-fidelity Antarctic krill consumers and as such are vulnerable to variability and long-term changes in krill biomass. Evidence of heterogeneous feeding patterns of east coast of Australia migrating humpback whales has been observed, warranting a comprehensive assessment of interannual variability in their diet. We examined the lipid and fatty acid profiles of individuals of the east coast of Australia migrating stock sampled between 2008 and 2018. The use of live-sampled blubber biopsies showed that fatty acid profiles varied significantly among all years. The two trophic indicator fatty acids for Antarctic krill, 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 remained largely unchanged across the 10-year period, suggesting that Antarctic krill is the principal prey item. A distance-based linear model showed that 33% of the total variation in fatty acid profiles was explained by environmental variables and climate indices. Most of the variation was explained by the Southern Annular Mode (23.7%). The high degree of variability observed in this study was unexpected for a species that is thought to feed primarily on one prey item. We propose that the observed variability likely arises from changes in the diet of Antarctic krill rather than changes in the whale’s diet.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | fatty acid profile, humpback whale, krill, diet |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Virtue, P (Associate Professor Patti Virtue) |
UTAS Author: | Nichols, PD (Dr Peter Nichols) |
ID Code: | 141981 |
Year Published: | 2020 |
Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
Deposited On: | 2020-12-07 |
Last Modified: | 2021-02-22 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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