Stable Isotopes Provide Insight into Population Structure and Segregation in Eastern North Atlantic Sperm Whales

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082398
• Publication Date: 2013-12-06T21:29:00Z
• Authors: Asunción Borrell; Adriana Velásquez...; Ana M. Pinela; Carl Kinze; Christina H. Lockyer; Morgana Vighi; Alex Aguilar
• Keywords: Sperm whale; δ15N; Isotope Analysis

In pelagic species inhabiting large oceans, genetic differentiation tends to be mild and populations devoid of structure. However, cetaceans have provided many examples structuring. Here we investigate whether the sperm whale, a with population sizes reputedly highly mobile, shows indication structuring in eastern North Atlantic, an ocean basin which single is believed occur. To do so, examined stable isotope values sequential growth layer groups teeth from individuals sampled Denmark NW Spain. each measured oxygen- ratios (δ18O) inorganic component (hydroxyapatite), nitrogen carbon (δ15N: δ13C) organic (primarily collagenous). We found significant differences between Spain δ15N δ18O deposited at age 3, considered one best representing baseline breeding ground, δ15N, δ13C period up 20, ontogenetic variation values. These evidence that diet composition, use habitat and/or migratory destinations are dissimilar whales two regions suggest Atlantic more structured than traditionally accepted.