scholarly journals First assessment of POPs and cytochrome P450 expression in Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) skin biopsies from the Mediterranean Sea

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Baini ◽  
Cristina Panti ◽  
Maria Cristina Fossi ◽  
Paola Tepsich ◽  
Begoña Jiménez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Skin Biopsies ◽  
Ziphius Cavirostris ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale

AbstractThe Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is one of the least known cetacean species worldwide. The decreasing population trend and associated threats has led to the IUCN categorising the Mediterranean subpopulation as Vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the ecotoxicological status of Cuvier's beaked whale in the NW Mediterranean Sea. The study sampled around the 20% of the individuals belonging to the Ligurian subpopulation, collecting skin biopsies from free-ranging specimens. The levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and induction of cytochrome's P450 (CYP1A1 and CYP2B isoforms) were evaluated. Results highlighted that the pattern of concentration for the target contaminants was PCBs > PBDEs and the accumulation values were linked to age and sex, with adult males showing significantly higher levels than juvenile. Concerns raised by the fact that 80% of the individuals had PCB levels above the toxicity threshold for negative physiological effects in marine mammals. Therefore, these findings shed light on this silent and serious threat never assessed in the Mediterranean Cuvier’s beaked whale population, indicating that anthropogenic pressures, including chemical pollution, may represent menaces for the conservation of this species in the Mediterranean Sea.

Cuvier's beaked whale distribution in the Mediterranean Sea: results from small boat surveys 1996–2007

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 1245-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Gannier ◽  
Justine Epinat
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Grampus Griseus ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale ◽  
Insight Into

A total of 17,651 km of sailboat survey effort obtained with very good sighting conditions was pooled over the period 1995 to 2007 to provide an insight into Cuvier's beaked whales' (Ziphius cavirostris) distribution in the western and central Mediterranean Sea. Although only six confirmed sightings were obtained under such conditions, complementary sightings made a total of eleven confirmed records. Their distribution showed that only slope habitat, and its close proximity, was favourable to the species. In contrast to regions pointed out in the recent literature, such as the Alboran, Ligurian and Ionian Seas, it appeared that the Tyrrhenian Sea was likely to be an important area for Cuvier's beaked whales in the Mediterranean. Sighting rates of 0.1–0.25 sighting/100 km and sighting rates for individuals of 0.2–0.5 individual/100 km were obtained in favourable regions. When compared to sighting rates obtained on Risso's dolphins Grampus griseus during the same surveys, the Cuvier's beaked whale appeared to be quite a frequent species in its favoured habitats. The present study contributes a better knowledge of this poorly-known species, in the context of increasing and threatening anthropogenic noises.

scholarly journals First records of Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris, G. Cuvier 1823) strandings along the Tunisian coast

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Karaa ◽  
Hassen Jerbi ◽  
Sondes Marouani ◽  
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai ◽  
Massimiliano Rosso
Keyword(s):  
Previous Knowledge ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Northern Tunisia ◽  
Tunisian Coast ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Ziphius Cavirostris ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin ◽  
South Tunisia

AbstractThe Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is the only member of the Ziphiidae family with a regular occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea. Much of the knowledge of this species in the Mediterranean has come from stranding data. This note reports the first records of strandings of Cuvier’s beaked whales along the Tunisian coast. The two strandings described are about two specimens, likely adult animals. The first specimens was 530 cm long and beached at El Hicha (Gulf of Gabès, south Tunisia) on March 5th, 2019. The second specimens was 630 cm long and it was reported in Ras Angla (Bizerte, north Tunisia) on June 6th, 2019. Since this species faces multiple threats in the Mediterranean basin, this contribution is intended to extend previous knowledge of this species in the region and to push towards major efforts to be undertaken to fill the knowledge gaps regarding occurrence of Cuvier’s beaked whale along northern Tunisia.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Isolated from a Stranded Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris) against Gram-Positive and -Negative Bacteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
Akihiko Suzuki ◽  
Miwa Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Marine Organism ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Carbohydrate Utilization ◽  
Nisin Z ◽  
Ziphius Cavirostris ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale ◽  
Subtilis Subsp

In the present study, we isolated and characterized Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) subsp. lactis from a female Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) stranded in Shizuoka, Japan. Only five isolates (CBW1-5), grown on Lactobacilli de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar plates prepared using 50% artificial seawater, were positive in L. lactis species-specific primer PCR. Their 16S rRNA sequences were highly similar to those of L. lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805T. The Gram reaction, motility, gas production from glucose, catalase production, and growth conditions were consistent with those of the type strain. Additionally, carbohydrate utilization of the strains was consistent with previously reported marine organism-derived strains. The pH-neutralized cell-free culture supernatant of strain CBW2 inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis ATCC 6051 and Vibrio alginolyticus ATCC 17749, whereas protease treatment eliminated or diminished its inhibitory activity. The strain possesses a precursor of the nisin structural gene (nisA), which showed 100% homology with nisin Z, and nisin biosynthesis-related genes (nisB, nisC, nisT, nisP, nisF, nisI, and nisRK), suggesting that the strain produces a nisin-like substance. This study provides fundamental information on whale-derived L. lactis subsp. lactis which may be useful for reducing the carriage of B. subtilis subsp. subtilis and V. alginolyticus.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic impact on a pregnant Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) stranded in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Augusto Bortolotto ◽  
Igor Oliveira Braga Morais ◽  
Paulo Roberto Bahiano Ferreira ◽  
Maria do Socorro Santos dos Reis ◽  
Luciano Raimundo Alardo Souto
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Ziphius Cavirostris ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale

Two live sightings of Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) from the western Mediterranean (Tyrrhenian Sea)

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1003-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Bittau ◽  
Mattia Leone ◽  
Adrien Gannier ◽  
Alexandre Gannier ◽  
Renata Manconi
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
The North ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
The Mediterranean

Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was previously known in the Mediterranean Sea from a single live stranding of two individuals in the French Riviera. We report here on two live sightings in the western Mediterranean, central-western Tyrrhenian Sea off eastern Corsica (Montecristo Trough) and off eastern Sardinia (Caprera Canyon) in 2010 and 2012, respectively. In both cases single individuals, possibly the same individual, occurred within groups of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) suggesting inter-specific interactions. Based on our close observations of mixed-species groups of Sowerby's and Cuvier's beaked whales, we hypothesize that some previous long-distance sightings of beaked whales in the Mediterranean may not be reliably attributed to Z. cavirostris. The present sightings and previous live stranding indicate that the western Mediterranean Sea is the easternmost marginal area of M. bidens within the North Atlantic geographic range. Notes on behaviour are also provided.

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