Multi-tissue δ13C and δ15N analysis reveals pre-stranding ecological patterns in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) mass stranding event
Abstract
Marine mammal mass stranding events (MSEs) are complex phenomena that require detailed investigation into their causes and behavioural precursors. In July 2023, Scotland experienced a large MSE involving 55 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), offering a rare opportunity to examine their pre-stranding feeding ecology and, by extension, habitat use using stable isotopes. We analysed carbon (d 13 C) and nitrogen (d 15 N) stable isotopes in matched samples of liver, skin, and muscle from 39 individuals to assess resource use patterns across different tissue integration timescales, as recent changes in feeding might indicate a change in habitat. Liver, representing the most recent dietary integration, showed lower d 13 C values than skin and muscle. While d 15 N values were higher in liver, TEF-corrected d 15 N values did not differ across tissues, providing no detectable bulk-isotope evidence for major trophic level shifts across the sampled dietary integration windows represented by the different tissues. We applied the Stable Isotope Trajectory Analysis (SITA) framework in R for the first time to multi-tissue data from marine mammals. Trajectories revealed minimal net change across and between individuals, and the direction and magnitude of isotopic changes were consistent with shared temporal patterns in resource use. We found no consistent detectable bulk-isotope evidence of recent dietary or Frontiers in Marine Science frontiersin.
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BibTeX
@article{kebke2026multitissue,
title = {{Multi-tissue δ13C and δ15N analysis reveals pre-stranding ecological patterns in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) mass stranding event}},
author = {Anna Sophie Kebke and Sarah Magozzi and José Antonio Canseco and Kieran M Tierney and Rona a R Mcgill and Jason Newton and Mariel T I ten Doeschate and Nicholas J Davison and Anthony Sturbois and Sascha K Hooker and Clayton R. Magill and Tessa Plint and Andrew Brownlow},
journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.3389/fmars.2026.1875890},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05748839v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multi-tissue δ13C and δ15N analysis reveals pre-stranding ecological patterns in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) mass stranding event
AU - Anna Sophie Kebke
AU - Sarah Magozzi
AU - José Antonio Canseco
AU - Kieran M Tierney
AU - Rona a R Mcgill
AU - Jason Newton
AU - Mariel T I ten Doeschate
AU - Nicholas J Davison
AU - Anthony Sturbois
AU - Sascha K Hooker
AU - Clayton R. Magill
AU - Tessa Plint
AU - Andrew Brownlow
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/21
JO - Frontiers in Marine Science
DO - 10.3389/fmars.2026.1875890
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05748839v1
AB - Marine mammal mass stranding events (MSEs) are complex phenomena that require detailed investigation into their causes and behavioural precursors. In July 2023, Scotland experienced a large MSE involving 55 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), offering a rare opportunity to examine their pre-stranding feeding ecology and, by extension, habitat use using stable isotopes. We analysed carbon (d 13 C) and nitrogen (d 15 N) stable isotopes in matched samples of liver, skin, and muscle from 39 individuals to assess resource use patterns across different tissue integration timescales, as recent changes in feeding might indicate a change in habitat. Liver, representing the most recent dietary integration, showed lower d 13 C values than skin and muscle. While d 15 N values were higher in liver, TEF-corrected d 15 N values did not differ across tissues, providing no detectable bulk-isotope evidence for major trophic level shifts across the sampled dietary integration windows represented by the different tissues. We applied the Stable Isotope Trajectory Analysis (SITA) framework in R for the first time to multi-tissue data from marine mammals. Trajectories revealed minimal net change across and between individuals, and the direction and magnitude of isotopic changes were consistent with shared temporal patterns in resource use. We found no consistent detectable bulk-isotope evidence of recent dietary or Frontiers in Marine Science frontiersin.
SN - 2296-7745
ER -