Unpublished conference/Abstract (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Exploitation of coastal fish communities by harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena during nursing periods in German Baltic waters.
Pinzone, Marianna; Michel, Loïc; Gallus, Anja et al.
2016Benelux Zoology Conference
 

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Keywords :
harbour porpoise; Baltic Sea; food web; stable isotopes; diet
Abstract :
[en] Baltic sub-populations of harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena meet in in Southwestern waters in Spring when females reach the coastal areas for calving and nursing. In Autumn they separate again for reproduction : the Belt sea populations westwards in the Kattegat/Skarregat region, the Baltic proper population northwards in the central basin. The increased number of juvenile and newborn strandings along the German Baltic coasts give evidence for a possible existence of local calving grounds in this area. Calving and nursing habitats are the most important areas for management purposes. This project aimed to describe inhabitancy and diet of females and calves along the German Baltic coast, in order to achieve effective conservation measures. Nitrogen, carbon and, for the first time, sulphur stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S) were analysed in coastal species of fish and invertebrates in spring, autumn and winter 2015/2016 and in four different areas, to assess for seasonal and geographical variation of porpoises habitat use. The structure of ecological niches was inferred within and between communities using the SIBER model, and was compared to results from stomach content analysis. N, C and S values of fish and invertebrates strongly varied, seasonally and geographically, as a consequence of environmental factors characteristic of each sampling area. Additionally, each species presented large isotopic variability, suggesting possible intraspecific dietary specialisations. Females δ13C and δ34S signatures integrated both open-waters and coastal feeding, while juveniles presented a more coastal distribution. The absence of difference in δ15N values between age classes confirmed persistence of milk assimilation from the mothers. Niches structures and overlaps and stomach content analysis suggested gobies (Potamoschistus spp and Neogobius spp in particular), crabs and small coastal fish (ex. three-spined stickleback) as the main preys of juveniles. The integration of all three stable isotopes together permitted to well delineate even the highly dynamic food web of the Baltic German waters, confirming the use of sulphur isotopes in marine ecological studies.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Pinzone, Marianna  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Michel, Loïc  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Gallus, Anja;  German Oceanographic museum of Stralsund, Germany
Brundiers, Katharina;  German Oceanographic Museum of Stralsund, Germany
Sturaro, Nicolas ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Adreasen, Heidi;  DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen Denmark
Dähne, Michael;  German Oceanographic Museum of Stralsund, Germany
Lepoint, Gilles  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Siebert, Ursula;  Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Büsum, Germany
Das, Krishna  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Benke, Harald;  German Oceanographic Museum of Stralsund, Germany
Language :
English
Title :
Exploitation of coastal fish communities by harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena during nursing periods in German Baltic waters.
Publication date :
11 December 2016
Number of pages :
179, 83
Event name :
Benelux Zoology Conference
Event organizer :
Belgian and Dutch Zoology Societies
Event place :
Antwerp, Belgium
Event date :
from 11-12-2016 to 12-12-2016
Audience :
International
Commentary :
This presentation was awarded as "Best PhD student Oral Presentation" by the Royal Belgian and Dutch Zoology Society during the Zoology Conference held in Antwerp between 11.12.2016 and 12.12.2016.
Available on ORBi :
since 09 February 2017

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