The Experts below are selected from a list of 303 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Mcconnell, Kaitlin M. - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Largest baleen whale Mass Mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom
'PeerJ', 2017Co-Authors: Haussermann Verena, Simon Gutstein Carolina, Bedington Michael, Cassis David, Olavarría Carlos, Dale, Andrew C., Valenzuela Toro, Ana M., Pérez Álvarez, María José, Sepúlveda, Héctor H., Mcconnell, Kaitlin M.Abstract:While large Mass Mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behavior. Although in most cases the cause of Mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale Mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported Mass Mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in Southern Chile. Here, we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the Northeast Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.Fondecyt 1131039 1161699 1150843 National Geographic Society/Waitt W380-15 U-REDES (Universidad de Chile) Domeyko II UR-C12/1 Consultora Paleosuchus LTDA CONICYT Postdoctoral FONDECYT 3140513 ICM P05-002 PFB 023 3160710 Blue Marine Foundation Paulsen Editions Foundation Consejo de Monumentos Nacionale
Maria Jose Perezalvarez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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largest baleen whale Mass Mortality during strong el nino event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom
PeerJ, 2017Co-Authors: Verena Haussermann, Carolina S Gutstein, Michael Bedington, David Cassis, Carlos Olavarria, Andrew C Dale, Ana M Valenzuelatoro, Maria Jose PerezalvarezAbstract:While large Mass Mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behavior. Although in most cases the cause of Mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale Mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Nino. The frequency of the strongest El Nino events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported Mass Mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in Southern Chile. Here, we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Nino. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the Northeast Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.
Carolina S Gutstein - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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largest baleen whale Mass Mortality during strong el nino event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom
PeerJ, 2017Co-Authors: Verena Haussermann, Carolina S Gutstein, Michael Bedington, David Cassis, Carlos Olavarria, Andrew C Dale, Ana M Valenzuelatoro, Maria Jose PerezalvarezAbstract:While large Mass Mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behavior. Although in most cases the cause of Mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale Mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Nino. The frequency of the strongest El Nino events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported Mass Mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in Southern Chile. Here, we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Nino. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the Northeast Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.
Ana M Valenzuelatoro - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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largest baleen whale Mass Mortality during strong el nino event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom
PeerJ, 2017Co-Authors: Verena Haussermann, Carolina S Gutstein, Michael Bedington, David Cassis, Carlos Olavarria, Andrew C Dale, Ana M Valenzuelatoro, Maria Jose PerezalvarezAbstract:While large Mass Mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behavior. Although in most cases the cause of Mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale Mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Nino. The frequency of the strongest El Nino events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported Mass Mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in Southern Chile. Here, we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Nino. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the Northeast Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.
Nadia Ménard - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Multispecies Mass Mortality of marine fauna linked to a toxic dinoflagellate bloom.
PloS one, 2017Co-Authors: Michel Starr, Stéphane Lair, Sonia Michaud, Michael Scarratt, Michael A. Quilliam, Denis Lefaivre, Michel Robert, Andrew Wotherspoon, Robert Michaud, Nadia MénardAbstract:Following heavy precipitation, we observed an intense algal bloom in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) that coincided with an unusually high Mortality of several species of marine fish, birds and mammals, including species designated at risk. The algal species was identified as Alexandrium tamarense and was determined to contain a potent mixture of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST). Significant levels of PST were found in the liver and/or gastrointestinal contents of several carcasses tested as well as in live planktivorous fish, molluscs and plankton samples collected during the bloom. This provided strong evidence for the trophic transfer of PST resulting in mortalities of multiple wildlife species. This conclusion was strengthened by the sequence of mortalities, which followed the drift of the bloom along the coast of the St. Lawrence Estuary. No other cause of Mortality was identified in the majority of animals examined at necropsy. Reports of marine fauna presenting signs of neurological dysfunction were also supportive of exposure to these neurotoxins. The event reported here represents the first well-documented case of multispecies Mass Mortality of marine fish, birds and mammals linked to a PST-producing algal bloom.