Postcranial axial skeletal pathology in Commerson?s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus c. commersonii) from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Commerson’s dolphins Cephalorhynchus c. commersonii are the small cetacean most frequently found stranded along the coast of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, but little is known about their pathologies. We examined the postcranial axial skeleton of 425 Commerson’s dolphins collected in the period 1974−2011 for the presence of pathologies. Miscellaneous lesions were detected in 107 (25.2%) of the specimens. Among them, idiopathic hyperostosis was the most frequent pathology (73.8%), followed by spondyloarthropathy (40.2%). Traumata (25.2%), spondylitis (10.3%) and osteoarthritis (11.2%) occurred less frequently. The type of lesion was statistically associated with the region of the vertebral column. Idiopathic hyperostosis occurred significantly more frequently in the lumbar vertebrae than in other parts of the vertebral column, while spondyloarthropathy was more frequent in the thoracic and caudal vertebrae. Both conditions were predominantly seen in mature dolphins. Osteoarthritis affected the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae of 6 males, 3 females and 3 individuals of undetermined sex, all mature. Healed and unhealed fractures were observed in the ribs of 27 specimens and in the transverse processes of 3 others. Spondylitis of various degrees of severity affected the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and caudal regions of 11 individuals. Together these data indicate that bone lesions and traumata commonly occur in Commerson’s dolphins, likely causing pain and morbidity in severe cases.Fil: San Martín, Analía Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Dellabianca, Natalia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Gimeno, Eduardo Juan. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Van Bressem, Marie-Francoise. No especifíca

Pathology in skeletons of Peale's dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis from southern South America

Peale's dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis is frequently seen off the coast of southern South America, where it feeds among coastal kelp beds and occasionally strands. We searched for macroscopic evidence of skeletal lesions in 78 specimens of Peale's dolphin from 2 museum collections, which contain almost all of the species' skeletons known in collections worldwide. Thirtytwo specimens (41%) had some type of osteological abnormalities. In 21 cases (66%), congenital deformations were the most predominant abnormality found. Acquired lesions included (1) induced trauma: abnormal curvature (n = 5 specimens) and fractures (n = 2); (2) infectious diseases: spondylo-osteomyelitis (n = 3); and (3) degenerative diseases: exostoses (n = 8) and spondylosis deformans (n = 4). It is noteworthy that all of these animals died incidentally in gillnet entanglement and were presumably healthy at the time of death. The effect that different osseous lesions may have on an animal's quality of life may depend on the area of the spine affected and the number of vertebrae involved.Fil: San Martín, Analía Anahí. Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Macnie, Silvina V.. Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes; ArgentinaFil: Prosser Goodall, Rae Natalie. Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes; ArgentinaFil: Boy, Claudia Clementina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

First confirmed stranding of a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can be found worldwide, in oceanic waters, though are rarely found in coastal areas of wide and shallow continental platforms such as those in the western South Atlantic Ocean. Here we report the first confirmed stranding of a B. physalus off the Atlantic coast of Tierra del Fuego (TDF), in July (austral winter) of 2016. In addition, a bibliographic review of the strandings of this species was carried out on the Argentinian coasts and especially on TDF. The animal was fresh when it was found and may have been alive at the moment of the stranding. The specimen was a physically immature female with a total length 15.8 m. No injuries or fishing gear were observed to suggest accidental entanglement or vessel collision. The specimen’s stomachs were empty except for a low-grade infestation with the trematode Ogmogaster antarcticus, but without any associated macroscopic gastric pathology. Although the necropsy was carried out within a few hours of death, we could not make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of death. However, the insufficient fat deposits indicate a bad physical condition and may have contributed to its stranding and subsequent death. This specimen represents the first confirmed stranding of this species in TDF.Fil: San Martín, Analía Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Paso Viola, María Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Riccialdelli, Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Torres, M.A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Dellabianca, Natalia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

Uso de vertederos, mortalidad y exposición a microplásticos en rapaces de Ushuaia, provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Sur de Argentina

Los desechos orgánicos en los basureros sirven como un subsidio alimenticio de fácil obtención para muchas especies en todo el mundo, con una variedad de efectos tanto positivos como negativos en los parámetros reproductivos y de salud de los animales. Sin embargo, en algunas regiones, como el sur de la Patagonia, este fenómeno permanece sin estudiar. En Ushuaia, provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, se han registrado siete especies de rapaces carroñeras facultativas y obligadas utilizando el basurero. Durante noviembre de 2018 a septiembre de 2019, evaluamos el uso de basureros estacionales por rapaces carroñeros obligados y facultativos en Ushuaia, Argentina, y registramos abundancia, eventos de mortalidad e ingestión de microplásticos. Observamos hasta 225 rapaces de cinco especies alimentándose en la zona de depósito del basurero, con un aumento general cuatro veces mayor a principios del invierno en comparación con las otras temporadas. Registramos 17 aves rapaces muertas de tres especies e identificamos disparos, enredos, ingestión de plástico y electrocución como las causas de mortalidad. Incluso en las muestras recolectadas de aves de control no asociadas con el basurero, el 80-90% de las muestras de excretas contenían microplásticos. Sugerimos que las aves rapaces en el basurero de Ushuaia pueden servir como especies centinelas para los programas de monitoreo ambiental, lo que puede facilitar la gestión de la conservación basada en la evidencia.Organic waste in garbage dumps serves as an easily obtained food subsidy for many species globally, with a variety of both positive and negative effects on animals' reproductive and health parameters. However, in some regions, such as southern Patagonia, this phenomenon remains unstudied. In Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina, seven species of facultative and obligate scavenging raptors have been recorded using the garbage dump. During November 2018 to September 2019, we assessed seasonal garbage dump use by facultative and obligate scavenging raptors in Ushuaia, Argentina, and recorded abundance, mortality events, and microplastic ingestion. We observed up to 225 raptors of five species foraging in the deposit zone of the garbage dump, with a fourfold overall increase in early winter compared to the other seasons. We recorded 17 dead raptors of three species, and we identified shooting, entanglement, plastic ingestion, and electrocution as the causes of mortality. Even in samples collected from control birds not associated with the garbage dump, 80-90% of the excreta samples contained microplastics. We suggest that raptors at the Ushuaia garbage dump may serve as sentinel species for environmental monitoring programs, which can facilitate evidence-based conservation management.Fil: Bouker, Grace. College Of Wooster,; Estados UnidosFil: Tyree, Arden. School For International Training; Estados UnidosFil: San Martín, Analía Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Salom, Amira. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Dodino, Samanta Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Balza, Ulises. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

Marine Megafauna Sea Turtles, Seabirds and Marine Mammals

Seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles are assembled within the Amniota group. The term non-fish vertebrates is not a taxonomically defined group, and comprise vertebrates strongly associated to the marine environment during the whole or a significant portion of their life-cycles. The biological features of each group are very different although their ecological roles and life history traits are similar. Consequently seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles are exposed to nearly the same threats. While many organisms share their time in land and water (e.g. seabirds, sea turtles, pinnipeds), others live only in the oceans (e.g. cetaceans and sirenians). Non-fish vertebrates are distributed in all over the seas from the poles to the Equator and from shallow to deep waters. Oceans are heterogeneous environments characterized by patchy prey distribution over space and time; hence predators are concentrated in areas of high prey abundance. These hot spots are the result of physical processes, such as upwellings, eddies, gyres or sea-ice edges, and their interaction favouring productivity and prey concentration. Not only abundance can be affected by these physical drivers but also diversity (or species richness) which is particularly high in the Southern Oceans and central Pacific Ocean. This chapter is aimed to provide a broad overview of the life-history patterns of sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals, their functional roles in their ecosystems and conservation issues that different populations are nowadays facingFil: Mariano y Jelicich, Rocío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Beron, Maria Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Copello, Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Dellabianca, Natalia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: García, Germán Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Labrada Montagon, Vanessa. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí; MéxicoFil: Paso Viola, María Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Paz, Jesica Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Riccialdelli, Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: San Martín, Analía Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Seco Pon, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Monica Analia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Favero, Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin