First Record and Trace Element Concentration in Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae) Stranding on the Coast of Algeria (Southwestern Mediterranean Sea)

Authors

  • Yahia bouslah University of Oran-1- Ahmed Ben Bella , Faculty of the Sciences of the Nature and Life, The Environmental Monitoring Network Laboratory -31000- Oran, Algeria
  • Kamal LARBI doukara University of Blida-1, Faculty of the Sciences of the Nature and Life, Blida, Algeria
  • Mohamed bouderbala University of Oran-1- Ahmed Ben Bella , Faculty of the Sciences of the Nature and Life, The Environmental Monitoring Network Laboratory -31000- Oran, Algeria
  • Dounia merzoug University of Oran-1- Ahmed Ben Bella , Faculty of the Sciences of the Nature and Life, The Environmental Monitoring Network Laboratory -31000- Oran, Algeria
  • Zitouni boutiba University of Oran-1- Ahmed Ben Bella , Faculty of the Sciences of the Nature and Life, The Environmental Monitoring Network Laboratory -31000- Oran, Algeria

Keywords:

Cetacean, Stranding, Megaptera novaeangliae, Coast of Algeria, Traces Elements.

Abstract

This data suggests that the whale had been in good health with a good nutrition. Additionally, traces elements concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr) and Manganese (Mn), were measured in the blubber and muscle of this humpback and found generally lower than those reported in other marine mammals in difference area. In conclusion, the most likely cause of mortality for this juvenile whale is attributed to the lost of the mother.

Humpback whale distribution is widespread over all the oceans, and this species embarks on extensive seasonal migrations, there are a few reported occurrences of humpback whales in the Mediterranean. Cetacean species are indeed present in Algerian waters, ten species of cetaceans have been listed in these waters, nine of them are in a regular way, and one is considered as accidental species. The present paper provides information on the stranding of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the coast of Algeria, these stranding were considered 'rare' in this area. On October 31, 2012, a humpback whale, measured 9.30m long, is found dead on the Algerian coast (AinTemouchent). The present study constitutes the first confirmed record of whale stranding on the coast of Algeria. The animal was identified as a juvenile male with no external fractures of the body. Internal dissection revealed a normal blubber thickness of 8cm.

References

Aguilar, A. (1989). A record of two humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae, in the western Mediterranean Sea. Mar . Mamm. Sci., 5 (3), 306-309.

Frantzis, A., O. Nikolaou, J.-M. Bompar & A . Cammedda (2004). humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea. J. Cetacean Res. Manage., 6 (1), 25-28.

Clapham, P. J. (2009). Megaptera novaeangliae . Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (Second Edition). P. 582

Boutiba Z., 1992. Les Mammif

Boutiba Z., 1994. Etudes comparatives des

Boutiba Z., 2003. Dauphins et Baleines d

Boutiba Z., 2011. Peuplement des C

Bouderbala M., 2007. Etat actuel des connaissances des peuplements herp

Larbi doukara K., 2015. Etat de la conservation et

Norris K. S., 1961. Standardized methods for measuring and recording data on the smaller cetaceans. Journal of Mammalogy 42.

Amiard-Triquet C., Pinneau A., Boiteau H. L., Metayer C. & Amiard-Triquet C., 1987. Application de la

Spectrophotometrie d

Chittleborough, R. G. (1965). Dynamics of two populations of the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski). Aust. J. Mar. Freshw. Res., 16, 33-128.

Ridgway and Harrison (1985). Eds Handbook of marine mammals vol3 the sirenians and baleen whales, Academic Press London.

Chu, K. & S. Nieukrik (1988). Dorsal fin scars as indicators of sex, age and social status in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Can. J. Zoo., 66 , 416-420.

IUCN, 2012. Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain: IUCN. 32 pages.

Larbi Doukara K., Bouslah Y., Bouderbala M., Boutiba Z.,. 2014. Heavy Metals in Soft Tissues of Short-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) Stranded along the Algerian West Coast. Open Journal of Marine Science, 4, 110-117. Published Online April 2014 in Sci. Res. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojms http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojms.2014.42012

Law R. J., Jones B.R., Baker J.R., Kennedy S., Milnes R., Morris R.J., 1992. Trace metals in the livers of marine mammals from the Welsh coast and the Irish sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 24 (6): 296-304.

Das K., Debacker V., Pillet S., Bouquegneau J. M., 2003. Heavy metals in marine mammals. Toxicology of Marine Mammals (eds: Vos, J.V., Bossart, G.D., Fournier, M., O

Law R. J., Stringer R. L., Allchin C. R., Jones B. R., 1996. Metals and organochlorines in sperm whales (Physeter catodon) stranded around the North Sea during the 1994/1995 winter.Mar. Pollut. Bull.1996; 32: 72-7.

Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Birkun, A, Jr (2010). Conserving whales dolphins and porpoises in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, An ACCOBAMS status report, 2010, 212p.

Chakroun, F. (1994). Status of cetaceans in Tunisian marine waters. Eur. Res. Cetaceans, 8, pp. 107.

Bompar, J.-M. (2000). Les c

Affronte, M., L. A. Stanzani & G. Stanzani (2003). First record of humpbackbwhale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) in the Adriatic Sea. Annales, Ser. Hist. Nat., 13 (1), 51-54.

Saad, A. (2004). First record of a humpback whale stranding on the coast of Syria (Eastern Mediterranean). FINS, 1 (1), pp. 10.

Centro studi Cetacei (2006). Cetacei spiaggiati lungo le coste italiane. XIX. Rendicanto 2004. Atti Soc. Ital. Sci. Nat., Atti Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Milano, 147 (1), 145-157.

Genov, T ., Kotnjek, P ., Lipej, L (2009). New record of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Adriatic Sea. Annales 19 (1) : 25-30.

Downloads

Published

2016-04-04

How to Cite

bouslah, Y., doukara, K. L., bouderbala, M., merzoug, D., & boutiba, Z. (2016). First Record and Trace Element Concentration in Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae) Stranding on the Coast of Algeria (Southwestern Mediterranean Sea). International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 26(1), 405–414. Retrieved from https://www.gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/5494

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who submit papers with this journal agree to the following terms.