Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) calf mortality at Península Valdés, Argentina: Are harmful algal blooms to blame?

Authors

Cara Wilson, Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS, Monterey, CaliforniaFollow
A. Viviana Sastre, Laboratorio de Hidrobiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales (FCN), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
Monica Hoffmeyer, Instituto ArgentUniversidad Tecnologica Nacional (UTN)
Victoria J. Rowntree, Argentina and Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Spencer E. Fire, NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, South Carolina
Norma H. Santinelli, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco
Soledad Diaz Ovejero, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco
Valeria D'Agostino, Centro Nacional Patagonico (CENPAT)
Carina F. Maron, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Gregory J. Doucette, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, South Carolina
Margaret H. Broadwater, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, South Carolina
Zhihong Wang, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, South Carolina
Nora Montoya, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP)
Jon Seger, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Frederick R. Alder, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mariano Sironi, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba
Marcela M. Uhart, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, DOI: 10.1111/mms.12263

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Península Valdés (PV) in Argentina is an important calving ground for southern right whales (SRWs, Eubalaena australis). Since 2005, right whale mortality has increased at PV, with most of the deaths (~90%) being calves <3mo old. We investigated the potential involvement of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in these deaths by examining data that include: timing of the SRW deaths, biotoxins in samples from dead SRWs, abundances of the diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and the dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense, shellfish harvesting closure dates, seasonal availability of whale prey at PV and satellite chlorophyll data. Evidence of the whales’ exposure to HAB toxins includes trace levels of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and domoic acid (DA) in tissues of some dead whales, and fragments of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. frustules in whale feces. Additionally, whales are present at PV during both closures of the shellfish industry (due to high levels of PSTs) and periods with high levels of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and A. tamarense. There is a positive statistical relationship between monthly Pseudo-nitzschia densities (but not A. tamarense) and calf deaths in both gulfs of PV.