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Unusual occurrence of a mixed pod of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Beagle Channel (Argentina)

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Abstract

Nonaggressive mixed species groups of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are frequently observed at many locations around the world, but they are not commonly seen in Tierra del Fuego. This work reports the first sighting of a mixed pod of false killer whales and common bottlenose dolphins and its live mass-stranding event in the inner Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) in February 2022. The mixed pod was confirmed to be composed of ~ 50 false killer whales (including calves) and four common bottlenose dolphins, but only false killer whales were involved in the mass-stranding event which occurred at the inner and western sector of Ushuaia Bay next to urban settings. The interaction of natural and human-related factors appears to have caused the mass-stranding in this case; however, the reasons why the pod was inside the channel are still unknown. Although all animals were rescued alive, two animals were found dead days after the event. These sightings and stranding may be considered extralimital records for Tursiops truncatus and add new records in their southernmost (summer) range for Pseudorca crassidens. The handling of the situation during these events also suggest that a better marine mammal-stranding network response program is needed in this southern region.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to all the people that tried to help during the stranding event and in particular to Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) and Secretaría de Ambiente de Tierra del Fuego to activate the marine mammal-stranding response program as soon as possible. We are grateful to all divers from the PNA, the Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), the Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, and the “Let’s Dive” diving operator for performing the rescue of several trapped false killer whale individuals. We also thank A Ferlito, pilot of the CADIC boat, for his assistance during boat surveys and CADIC-CONICET for logistic support. We especially thank AG. Rodriguez, T. Ditmar, and Dra. Harris who helped revise the English text.

Funding

This study was funded by CONICET (PUE 2016, PIP-2023), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, Sofar Trident OpenROV), and the AMP Namuncurá-Burdwood Bank Administration (hydrophone). ASM was funded by postdoctoral fellowships from CONICET.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    A. A. San Martín, M. B. Tartaglia Gamarra, C. Ordoñez, N. Asplanato, M. Torres, Y. A. Becker, L. Bergagna, N. A. Dellabianca & L. Riccialdelli

  2. Fundación R. Natalie P. Goodall, Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Ea. Harberton, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    A. A. San Martín & N. A. Dellabianca

  3. Investigaciones en Mamíferos Marinos Australes, IMMA Project, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    A. A. San Martín, M. N. Paso Viola, M. B. Tartaglia Gamarra, C. Ordoñez, N. Asplanato, M. Torres, A. Dellabianca, Y. A. Becker, L. Bergagna, N. A. Dellabianca & L. Riccialdelli

  4. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    M. N. Paso Viola & A. Dellabianca

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  1. A. A. San Martín
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Contributions

ASM, MNPV, ND, and LR designed the study and wrote the original manuscript. All authors contributed to fieldwork: CO made the acoustic recording with a hydrophone; BT and LR made the film recording with Sofar Trident OpenROV; MT and ASM made the film recording with GoPro; and AD, ND, and NA made sightings and took photographs. All authors read, revised, and approved the manuscript. ND and LR obtained funding for this study.

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Correspondence to A. A. San Martín.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was performed under Provincial permit Res.SA Nº 0279/2021 granted by Ministerio de Producción y Ambiente, Secretaría de Ambiente, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.

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San Martín, A.A., Paso Viola, M.N., Tartaglia Gamarra, M.B. et al. Unusual occurrence of a mixed pod of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Beagle Channel (Argentina). Polar Biol 46, 589–595 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-023-03145-5

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