Towards new ecologically relevant markers of health for cetaceans

Davina Derous; Mariel ten Doeschate; Andrew C. Brownlow; Nicholas J. Davison; David Lusseau

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00367

Towards new ecologically relevant markers of health for cetaceans

Davina Derous^*, Mariel ten Doeschate, Andrew C. Brownlow, Nicholas J. Davison, David Lusseau^* (Corresponding Author)

^*Corresponding author for this work

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Multiple stressors caused by human-induced disturbances can affect the foraging opportunities of cetaceans, potentially depleting their energy stores, and ultimately impact survival and reproductive success. Currently, blubber thickness and lipid composition is used as measure of health and nutritional status in cetaceans. This assumes that blubber functions in the same manner as adipose tissue in terrestrial mammals. However, cetaceans have evolved to have thickened blubber which serves as thermoregulation, buoyancy and energy store. In addition, blubber is composed of several layers and regions that have different physiological functions. We currently lack a clear understanding of how blubber biology contributes to maintaining energy status in cetaceans and several studies show blubber thickness, and composition in some body regions, is an inappropriate measure of health. Before new markers of health can be identified, we need to understand how environmental stressors influence blubber biology and particularly unravel its complex signaling roles with other organs. Currently, we do not understand how changes in energy status drive changes in health in cetaceans, and eventually population dynamics. This review synthesizes recent developments in cetacean blubber biology to propose potential directions to develop novel cetacean health markers.

Original language	English
Article number	367
Number of pages	8
Journal	Frontiers in Marine Science
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00367
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2020

Keywords

PCOD
PCOMS
Health
blubber thickness
Cetaceans
PHOCOENA-PHOCOENA
BODY CONDITION
PCoMS
LIPID-CONTENT
BLUBBER THICKNESS
health
TURSIOPS-TRUNCATUS
PCoD
BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS
NORTH-ATLANTIC FIN
SPERM-WHALES
FAT
HARBOR PORPOISES
cetaceans

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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© 2020 Derous, ten Doeschate, Brownlow, Davison and Lusseau. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Final published version, 719 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Towards new ecologically relevant markers of health for cetaceans",

abstract = "Multiple stressors caused by human-induced disturbances can affect the foraging opportunities of cetaceans, potentially depleting their energy stores, and ultimately impact survival and reproductive success. Currently, blubber thickness and lipid composition is used as measure of health and nutritional status in cetaceans. This assumes that blubber functions in the same manner as adipose tissue in terrestrial mammals. However, cetaceans have evolved to have thickened blubber which serves as thermoregulation, buoyancy and energy store. In addition, blubber is composed of several layers and regions that have different physiological functions. We currently lack a clear understanding of how blubber biology contributes to maintaining energy status in cetaceans and several studies show blubber thickness, and composition in some body regions, is an inappropriate measure of health. Before new markers of health can be identified, we need to understand how environmental stressors influence blubber biology and particularly unravel its complex signaling roles with other organs. Currently, we do not understand how changes in energy status drive changes in health in cetaceans, and eventually population dynamics. This review synthesizes recent developments in cetacean blubber biology to propose potential directions to develop novel cetacean health markers.",

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author = "Davina Derous and {ten Doeschate}, Mariel and Brownlow, {Andrew C.} and Davison, {Nicholas J.} and David Lusseau",

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doi = "10.3389/fmars.2020.00367",

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AU - Derous, Davina

AU - ten Doeschate, Mariel

AU - Brownlow, Andrew C.

AU - Davison, Nicholas J.

AU - Lusseau, David

PY - 2020/5/28

Y1 - 2020/5/28

N2 - Multiple stressors caused by human-induced disturbances can affect the foraging opportunities of cetaceans, potentially depleting their energy stores, and ultimately impact survival and reproductive success. Currently, blubber thickness and lipid composition is used as measure of health and nutritional status in cetaceans. This assumes that blubber functions in the same manner as adipose tissue in terrestrial mammals. However, cetaceans have evolved to have thickened blubber which serves as thermoregulation, buoyancy and energy store. In addition, blubber is composed of several layers and regions that have different physiological functions. We currently lack a clear understanding of how blubber biology contributes to maintaining energy status in cetaceans and several studies show blubber thickness, and composition in some body regions, is an inappropriate measure of health. Before new markers of health can be identified, we need to understand how environmental stressors influence blubber biology and particularly unravel its complex signaling roles with other organs. Currently, we do not understand how changes in energy status drive changes in health in cetaceans, and eventually population dynamics. This review synthesizes recent developments in cetacean blubber biology to propose potential directions to develop novel cetacean health markers.

AB - Multiple stressors caused by human-induced disturbances can affect the foraging opportunities of cetaceans, potentially depleting their energy stores, and ultimately impact survival and reproductive success. Currently, blubber thickness and lipid composition is used as measure of health and nutritional status in cetaceans. This assumes that blubber functions in the same manner as adipose tissue in terrestrial mammals. However, cetaceans have evolved to have thickened blubber which serves as thermoregulation, buoyancy and energy store. In addition, blubber is composed of several layers and regions that have different physiological functions. We currently lack a clear understanding of how blubber biology contributes to maintaining energy status in cetaceans and several studies show blubber thickness, and composition in some body regions, is an inappropriate measure of health. Before new markers of health can be identified, we need to understand how environmental stressors influence blubber biology and particularly unravel its complex signaling roles with other organs. Currently, we do not understand how changes in energy status drive changes in health in cetaceans, and eventually population dynamics. This review synthesizes recent developments in cetacean blubber biology to propose potential directions to develop novel cetacean health markers.

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Towards new ecologically relevant markers of health for cetaceans

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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