Stable isotopes provide insight into population structure and segregation in eastern North Atlantic sperm whales

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 6;8(12):e82398. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082398. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

In pelagic species inhabiting large oceans, genetic differentiation tends to be mild and populations devoid of structure. However, large cetaceans have provided many examples of structuring. Here we investigate whether the sperm whale, a pelagic species with large population sizes and reputedly highly mobile, shows indication of structuring in the eastern North Atlantic, an ocean basin in which a single population is believed to occur. To do so, we examined stable isotope values in sequential growth layer groups of teeth from individuals sampled in Denmark and NW Spain. In each layer we measured oxygen- isotope ratios (δ(18)O) in the inorganic component (hydroxyapatite), and nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios (δ(15)N: δ(13)C) in the organic component (primarily collagenous). We found significant differences between Denmark and NW Spain in δ(15)N and δ(18)O values in the layer deposited at age 3, considered to be the one best representing the baseline of the breeding ground, in δ(15)N, δ(13)C and δ(18)O values in the period up to age 20, and in the ontogenetic variation of δ(15)N and δ(18)O values. These differences evidence that diet composition, use of habitat and/or migratory destinations are dissimilar between whales from the two regions and suggest that the North Atlantic population of sperm whales is more structured than traditionally accepted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Denmark
  • Ecosystem*
  • Female
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Isotope Labeling
  • Male
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Oxygen Isotopes
  • Population Density
  • Population Dynamics
  • Spain
  • Sperm Whale*

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Oxygen Isotopes

Grants and funding

The economic costs of publication of this article have been funded by the University of Barcelona. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.