Cytochrome P-45 1A1 expression in cetacean skin biopsies from a tropical lagoon (Mayotte, Mozambique Channel)

in workshop proceeding (2009)

Bluetongue in European lynx (Lynx lynx)

in Emerging Infectious Diseases (2008)

Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from western European seas: geographical trends, causal factors and effects on reproduction and mortality

in Environmental Pollution (2008), 153(2), 401-415

female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively ... [more ▼]

female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively. This rose to 74% for porpoises from the southern North Sea. PCB concentrations were also high in southern North Sea fish. The average pregnancy rate recorded in porpoises (42%) in the study area was lower than in the western Atlantic but that in common dolphins (25%) was similar to that of the western Atlantic population. Porpoises that died from disease or parasitic infection had higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) than animals dying from other causes. Few of the common dolphins sampled had died from disease or parasitic infection. POP profiles in common dolphin blubber were related to individual feeding history while those in porpoises were more strongly related to condition. High PCB levels were recorded in porpoises and common dolphins from European coasts. [less ▲]

Causes of death of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the Dutch coast

in proceeding of the annual conference (2008)

Causes of death of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the on the continental coastline of the southern North Sea (Belgium, France, and Dutch coasts) between 1990 and 2007

in proceeding of the annual conference (2008)

Causes of death of harbor porpoises on the on the continental coastline of the southern North Sea

(2008)

Rise of oceanographic barriers in continuous populations of a cetacean: the genetic structure of harbour porpoises in Old World waters

in BMC Biology (2007), 5

BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of seascape in shaping genetic and demographic population structure is highly challenging for marine pelagic species such as cetaceans for which there is generally ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of seascape in shaping genetic and demographic population structure is highly challenging for marine pelagic species such as cetaceans for which there is generally little evidence of what could effectively restrict their dispersal. In the present work, we applied a combination of recent individual-based landscape genetic approaches to investigate the population genetic structure of a highly mobile extensive range cetacean, the harbour porpoise in the eastern North Atlantic, with regards to oceanographic characteristics that could constrain its dispersal. RESULTS: Analyses of 10 microsatellite loci for 752 individuals revealed that most of the sampled range in the eastern North Atlantic behaves as a 'continuous' population that widely extends over thousands of kilometres with significant isolation by distance (IBD). However, strong barriers to gene flow were detected in the south-eastern part of the range. These barriers coincided with profound changes in environmental characteristics and isolated, on a relatively small scale, porpoises from Iberian waters and on a larger scale porpoises from the Black Sea. CONCLUSION: The presence of these barriers to gene flow that coincide with profound changes in oceanographic features, together with the spatial variation in IBD strength, provide for the first time strong evidence that physical processes have a major impact on the demographic and genetic structure of a cetacean. This genetic pattern further suggests habitat-related fragmentation of the porpoise range that is likely to intensify with predicted surface ocean warming. [less ▲]

Fatty acids and stable isotopes in fish and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the North Sea: further insights in their trophic relationships

Poster (2007)

Recent observations revealed an increased abundance of the harbour porpoise in the southern part of the North Sea. Concomitant to sightings of living individuals, the number of stranded porpoises ... [more ▼]

Recent observations revealed an increased abundance of the harbour porpoise in the southern part of the North Sea. Concomitant to sightings of living individuals, the number of stranded porpoises displaying lesions linked to fishing nets has also increased this last decade. The increased abundance of porpoises together with the increase in numbers of bycaught animals raised the question of possible competition between porpoises and fishermen in the North Sea. Therefore, a detailed view on harbour porpoise trophic ecology in this region is crucial for their conservation. Stomachs of the washed ashore porpoises were often empty and provided limited information on their recent diet. Another way of looking into the diet of marine mammals is the analysis of blubber. Stable isotopes ratio (d13C and d15N, SI) and fatty acid composition (20 fatty acids, FA) were analyzed in muscle and blubber of 10 freshly stranded harbour porpoises and in 60 potential prey fish from 10 species collected in the North Sea. The SI ratio and FA composition of these fish enabled a clear classification in different trophic levels and different trophic niches. The FA composition was very similar between harbour porpoise blubber and demersal fish, underlining a preferential predation on that resource for the porpoises investigated. A bias might exist for the porpoises: most of the animals were juveniles, and washed ashore during spring. Porpoises might display other feeding habits in other life stages, other periods of the year. These preliminary results however indicate the enhanced accuracy of crossing these biomarker approaches. [less ▲]

Lesions observed on harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the Dutch coast in 2006

(2007)

Evolution des échouages et des causes de mortalité des mammifères marins dans le nord de la France (1995-2005)

in annual proceeding (2006)