221
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.R. Rossi-Santos, C.W. Finkl (eds.), Advances in Marine Vertebrate Research
in Latin America, Coastal Research Library 22,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56985-7_9
Chapter 9
Using Chemical Elements to the Study
of Trophic and Spatial Ecology in Marine
Mammals of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
Elisa Seyboth, Silvina Botta, and Eduardo Secchi
Abstract The ecology of marine mammals has been largely benefited from the use
of biogeochemical markers. In this chapter we compiled information about studies
using these tracers, with the aim of highlighting their relevance to understand some
aspects of the trophic and spatial ecology of cetaceans, pinnipeds and sirenians from
southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SAO). Stable isotope analysis is currently the mostly
applied technique for such studies and its use increased considerably in the last few
years. It is based on the premise that stable isotope composition in the tissues of the
consumers reflects the composition of their diet that is effectively assimilated.
Depending on the element being analyzed, information about habitat use patterns,
diet composition and trophic position of the organisms can be inferred. Trace element analysis is underexplored as ecological tracers for marine mammals. There is
only one study that analyzed Ba/Ca ratios in teeth of marine and freshwater
dolphins to describe their patterns of habitat use in Brazil. Despite the known limitations of these chemical tracers, their use have shed light into different aspects of
marine mammals’ ecology that would be difficult or impossible to obtain with alternative approaches.
Keywords Chemical tracer • Stable isotope • Ba/Ca • Cetacean • Pinnipeds •
Sirenians
E. Seyboth (*)
Programa de Pós Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande CEP 96201-900, Brazil
Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande CEP 96201-900, Brazil
e-mail: elisaseyboth@gmail.com
S. Botta • E. Secchi
Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande CEP 96201-900, Brazil
e-mail: silbotta@gmail.com; edu.secchi@furg.br
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.R. Rossi-Santos, C.W. Finkl (eds.), Advances in Marine Vertebrate Research
in Latin America, Coastal Research Library 22,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56985-7_9
Chapter 9
Using Chemical Elements to the Study
of Trophic and Spatial Ecology in Marine
Mammals of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
Elisa Seyboth, Silvina Botta, and Eduardo Secchi
Abstract The ecology of marine mammals has been largely benefited from the use
of biogeochemical markers. In this chapter we compiled information about studies
using these tracers, with the aim of highlighting their relevance to understand some
aspects of the trophic and spatial ecology of cetaceans, pinnipeds and sirenians from
southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SAO). Stable isotope analysis is currently the mostly
applied technique for such studies and its use increased considerably in the last few
years. It is based on the premise that stable isotope composition in the tissues of the
consumers reflects the composition of their diet that is effectively assimilated.
Depending on the element being analyzed, information about habitat use patterns,
diet composition and trophic position of the organisms can be inferred. Trace element analysis is underexplored as ecological tracers for marine mammals. There is
only one study that analyzed Ba/Ca ratios in teeth of marine and freshwater
dolphins to describe their patterns of habitat use in Brazil. Despite the known limitations of these chemical tracers, their use have shed light into different aspects of
marine mammals’ ecology that would be difficult or impossible to obtain with alternative approaches.
Keywords Chemical tracer • Stable isotope • Ba/Ca • Cetacean • Pinnipeds •
Sirenians
E. Seyboth (*)
Programa de Pós Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande CEP 96201-900, Brazil
Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande CEP 96201-900, Brazil
e-mail: elisaseyboth@gmail.com
S. Botta • E. Secchi
Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande CEP 96201-900, Brazil
e-mail: silbotta@gmail.com; edu.secchi@furg.br