Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama

Dalia C. Barragán-Barrera; Andrea Luna-Acosta; Laura J. May-Collado; Carlos J. Polo-Silva; Federico G. Riet-Sapriza; Paco Bustamante; María Paula Hernández-Ávila; Natalia Vélez; Nohelia Farías-Curtidor; Susana Caballero

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076

Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama

Dalia C. Barragán-Barrera
, Andrea Luna-Acosta
, Laura J. May-Collado
, Carlos J. Polo-Silva
, Federico G. Riet-Sapriza
, Paco Bustamante
, María Paula Hernández-Ávila
, Natalia Vélez
, Nohelia Farías-Curtidor
, Susana Caballero

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A small and genetically isolated bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population resides year-round in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago-Panama (BDT). Photo-identification and genetic data showed that this dolphin population is highly phylopatric and is formed exclusively by individuals of the “inshore form”. This study aimed to investigate the trophic ecology and mercury concentrations of bottlenose dolphins in BDT to assess their coastal habits. We collected muscle samples (n = 175) of 11 potential fish prey species, and skin samples from free-ranging dolphins in BDT (n = 37) and La Guajira-Colombia (n = 7) to compare isotopic niche width. Results showed that BDT dolphins have a coastal feeding habit, belong to the “inshore form” (δ¹³C = −13.05 ± 1.89‰), and have low mercury concentrations (mean = 1637 ± 1387 ng g⁻¹dw). However, this element is biomagnified in the BDT food chain, showing a marginal dolphins health risk (RQ = 1.00). We call for a monitoring pollutant program and conservation strategies aimed to protect the dolphin population at BDT.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	343-356
Number of pages	14
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	145
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076
State	Published - Aug 2019
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

Keywords

Bioaccumulation
Bocas del Toro
Inshore form
Stable isotopes
Tursiops truncatus
Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
Mercury/analysis
Male
Caribbean Region
Bottle-Nosed Dolphin/physiology
Pregnancy
Animals
Fishes
Panama
Female

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076

Cite this

Barragán-Barrera, D. C., Luna-Acosta, A., May-Collado, L. J., Polo-Silva, C. J., Riet-Sapriza, F. G., Bustamante, P., Hernández-Ávila, M. P., Vélez, N., Farías-Curtidor, N., & Caballero, S. (2019). Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 145, 343-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076

Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama. / Barragán-Barrera, Dalia C.; Luna-Acosta, Andrea; May-Collado, Laura J. et al.
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 145, 08.2019, p. 343-356.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Barragán-Barrera, DC, Luna-Acosta, A, May-Collado, LJ, Polo-Silva, CJ, Riet-Sapriza, FG, Bustamante, P, Hernández-Ávila, MP, Vélez, N, Farías-Curtidor, N & Caballero, S 2019, 'Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 145, pp. 343-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076

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title = "Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama",

abstract = "A small and genetically isolated bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population resides year-round in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago-Panama (BDT). Photo-identification and genetic data showed that this dolphin population is highly phylopatric and is formed exclusively by individuals of the “inshore form”. This study aimed to investigate the trophic ecology and mercury concentrations of bottlenose dolphins in BDT to assess their coastal habits. We collected muscle samples (n = 175) of 11 potential fish prey species, and skin samples from free-ranging dolphins in BDT (n = 37) and La Guajira-Colombia (n = 7) to compare isotopic niche width. Results showed that BDT dolphins have a coastal feeding habit, belong to the “inshore form” (δ13C = −13.05 ± 1.89‰), and have low mercury concentrations (mean = 1637 ± 1387 ng g−1dw). However, this element is biomagnified in the BDT food chain, showing a marginal dolphins health risk (RQ = 1.00). We call for a monitoring pollutant program and conservation strategies aimed to protect the dolphin population at BDT.",

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author = "Barrag{\'a}n-Barrera, \{Dalia C.\} and Andrea Luna-Acosta and May-Collado, \{Laura J.\} and Polo-Silva, \{Carlos J.\} and Riet-Sapriza, \{Federico G.\} and Paco Bustamante and Hern{\'a}ndez-{\'A}vila, \{Mar{\'i}a Paula\} and Natalia V{\'e}lez and Nohelia Far{\'i}as-Curtidor and Susana Caballero",

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AU - Barragán-Barrera, Dalia C.

AU - Luna-Acosta, Andrea

AU - May-Collado, Laura J.

AU - Polo-Silva, Carlos J.

AU - Riet-Sapriza, Federico G.

AU - Bustamante, Paco

AU - Hernández-Ávila, María Paula

AU - Vélez, Natalia

AU - Farías-Curtidor, Nohelia

AU - Caballero, Susana

PY - 2019/8

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KW - Mercury/analysis

KW - Male

KW - Caribbean Region

KW - Bottle-Nosed Dolphin/physiology

KW - Pregnancy

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KW - Fishes

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JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

ER -

Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

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