Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins
Abstract The concurrent pressures of climate change and chemical pollution, often studied in isolation, have been linked to increases in infectious disease that threaten biodiversity. Understanding their interconnected nature is vital, as the impacts of climate-mediated environmental changes can be...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07858-7 |
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| author | Rosie S. Williams David J. Curnick Andrew Baillie Jonathan L. Barber James Barnett Andrew Brownlow Robert Deaville Nicholas J. Davison Mariel ten Doeschate Paul D. Jepson Sinéad Murphy Rod Penrose Matthew Perkins Simon Spiro Ruth Williams Michael J. Williamson Andrew A. Cunningham Andrew C. Johnson |
| author_facet | Rosie S. Williams David J. Curnick Andrew Baillie Jonathan L. Barber James Barnett Andrew Brownlow Robert Deaville Nicholas J. Davison Mariel ten Doeschate Paul D. Jepson Sinéad Murphy Rod Penrose Matthew Perkins Simon Spiro Ruth Williams Michael J. Williamson Andrew A. Cunningham Andrew C. Johnson |
| author_sort | Rosie S. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The concurrent pressures of climate change and chemical pollution, often studied in isolation, have been linked to increases in infectious disease that threaten biodiversity. Understanding their interconnected nature is vital, as the impacts of climate-mediated environmental changes can be exacerbated by chemical pollution and vice versa. Using data from 836 UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) (n = 153 (analysed for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) blubber concentrations)) necropsied between 1990 and 2020, we show that PCB concentrations and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are associated with an increased risk of infectious disease mortality. Specifically, a 1 mg/kg lipid increase in PCB concentration correlates with a 1.6% increase in disease mortality risk, while a 1 °C rise in SST corresponds to a 14% increase. Additionally, we derived a novel PCB threshold concentration (22 mg/kg lipid), defined as the level where PCB blubber concentrations are significantly associated with infectious disease mortality risk. International efforts to reduce carbon emissions have mostly failed, and despite regulatory efforts, PCBs remain a significant threat. We demonstrate the urgent need for conservation strategies that address both risk factors simultaneously to protect marine biodiversity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e65004041c8d4e7b9de4c9dc23951bd6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e65004041c8d4e7b9de4c9dc23951bd62025-08-20T02:17:10ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-04-018111210.1038/s42003-025-07858-7Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphinsRosie S. Williams0David J. Curnick1Andrew Baillie2Jonathan L. Barber3James Barnett4Andrew Brownlow5Robert Deaville6Nicholas J. Davison7Mariel ten Doeschate8Paul D. JepsonSinéad Murphy9Rod Penrose10Matthew Perkins11Simon Spiro12Ruth Williams13Michael J. Williamson14Andrew A. Cunningham15Andrew C. Johnson16Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonThe Natural History MuseumCentre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)Cornwall Marine Pathology Team, Fishers Well, Higher Brill, ConstantineSchool of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences University of GlasgowInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonSchool of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences University of GlasgowSchool of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences University of GlasgowMarine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and Computing, Atlantic Technological UniversityMarine Environmental Monitoring, Penwalk, LlechrydInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonCornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, AlletInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonUK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyAbstract The concurrent pressures of climate change and chemical pollution, often studied in isolation, have been linked to increases in infectious disease that threaten biodiversity. Understanding their interconnected nature is vital, as the impacts of climate-mediated environmental changes can be exacerbated by chemical pollution and vice versa. Using data from 836 UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) (n = 153 (analysed for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) blubber concentrations)) necropsied between 1990 and 2020, we show that PCB concentrations and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are associated with an increased risk of infectious disease mortality. Specifically, a 1 mg/kg lipid increase in PCB concentration correlates with a 1.6% increase in disease mortality risk, while a 1 °C rise in SST corresponds to a 14% increase. Additionally, we derived a novel PCB threshold concentration (22 mg/kg lipid), defined as the level where PCB blubber concentrations are significantly associated with infectious disease mortality risk. International efforts to reduce carbon emissions have mostly failed, and despite regulatory efforts, PCBs remain a significant threat. We demonstrate the urgent need for conservation strategies that address both risk factors simultaneously to protect marine biodiversity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07858-7 |
| spellingShingle | Rosie S. Williams David J. Curnick Andrew Baillie Jonathan L. Barber James Barnett Andrew Brownlow Robert Deaville Nicholas J. Davison Mariel ten Doeschate Paul D. Jepson Sinéad Murphy Rod Penrose Matthew Perkins Simon Spiro Ruth Williams Michael J. Williamson Andrew A. Cunningham Andrew C. Johnson Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins Communications Biology |
| title | Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins |
| title_full | Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins |
| title_fullStr | Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins |
| title_short | Sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short-beaked common dolphins |
| title_sort | sea temperature and pollution are associated with infectious disease mortality in short beaked common dolphins |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07858-7 |
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