How adaptable are narwhal? A comparison of foraging patterns among the world's three narwhal populations

摘要: How organisms will fare in the face of climate change depends on their behavioral adaptability to changing conditions. Adaptability foraging behavior be particularly critical as food web changes are already occurring Arctic regions. Stomach contents from narwhals (Monodon monoceros) Baffin Bay (BB) population have suggested that dietary specialists with little flexibility, but there two other narwhal populations world, Northern Hudson (NHB) and East Greenland (EG) populations, which very is known about diet. We investigated whether plasticity behaviors existed among world's between sexes by comparing stable isotope values niches, running mixing models determine primary prey. Stable analysis was conducted skin collected Inuit hunters during subsistent hunt Canada Greenland. carbon (δ13C) nitrogen (δ15N) revealed three distinct not expected based geographic differences males all had significantly higher δ13C. EG forage more pelagic prey, capelin, while those NHB typically benthos. Males, probably because size enhanced diving ability, likely feed intensively benthic organisms, resulting isotopic niches were similar females each population, BB, a larger niche, suggesting they either across geographical expanse, or whales within employ individual specialization. This first study use isotopes evaluate compare diet vital for understanding how climate. discuss adaptable preferred prey potential adjust dramatic ecosystem shifts warming.