TY - JOUR
T1 - Foraging habits and levels of mercury in a resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Sea, Panama
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
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/8
Y1 - 2019/8
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Bioaccumulation
KW - Bocas del Toro
KW - Inshore form
KW - Stable isotopes
KW - Tursiops truncatus
KW - Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
KW - Mercury/analysis
KW - Male
KW - Caribbean Region
KW - Bottle-Nosed Dolphin/physiology
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Animals
KW - Fishes
KW - Panama
KW - Female
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85067789293
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85067789293#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.076
M3 - Article
C2 - 31590796
AN - SCOPUS:85067789293
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 145
SP - 343
EP - 356
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
ER -