November 2008 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publications week 37
by Jan Herrmann 16 Nov '08

16 Nov '08

Dear all, here are some new publications of week 37/ 2008, which haven't been announced on MARMAM earlier AFAIK. By clicking the following link you are guided to a website, where the following references are linked to their according journal homepages. There you can find abstracts and contact information: <http://www.mmbib.com/news.php> Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Thank you. Thanks to all of you who sent in reprints to be included in the weekly announcements. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann CETACEA Benjamins, S., J. Lawson, and G. Stenson (2007): Recent harbour porpoise bycatch in gillnet fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 189-199. Branch, T.A. (2007): Abundance of Antarctic blue whales south of 60°S from three complete circumpolar sets of surveys. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 253-262. Gonzalvo, J. et al. (2008): Factors determining the interaction between common bottlenose dolphins and bottom trawlers off the Balearic Archipelago (western Mediterranean Sea). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 367(1): 47-52. Hamer, D.J., T.M. Ward, and R. McGarvey (2008): Measurement, management and mitigation of operational interactions between the South Australian Sardine Fishery and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Biological Conservation 141(11): 2865-2878. Heide-Jørgensen, M.-P. and M. Simon (2007): A note on cue rates for common minke, fin and humpback whales off West Greenland. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 211-214. Jayasankar, P. et al. (2007): A note on observations on cetaceans in the western Indian sector of the Southern Ocean (20-56°S and 45-57°30'E), January to March 2004. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 263-267. Langer, P. (2008): S.D. Kraus and R.M. Rolland, Editors, The Urban Whale. North Atlantic Right Whales at the Crossroads, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA and London (2007) 543pp., (numerous black and white illustrations and 34 colour plates), Hardback, ¤46.80, £35.95, $55.00, ISBN-13:978-0-674-02327-7, ISBN-10:0-674-02327-7. Mammalian Biology: Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 73(6): 483-484. Leaper, R. and D. Lavigne (2007): How much do large whales eat? Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 179-188. Morete, M.E., T.L. Bisi, and S. Rosso (2007): Mother and calf humpback whale responses to vessels around Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia, Brazil. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 241-248. Riesch, R., J.K.B. Ford, and F. Thomsen (2008): Whistle sequences in wild killer whales (Orcinus orca). The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 124(3): 1822-1829. Santos, M.C.O. and S. Rosso (2007): Ecological aspects of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) based on group size and composition in the Cananéia estuary, southeastern Brazil. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 6(1): 71-82. Skaug, H.J. et al. (2007): Genetic analyses reveal promiscuous mating in female common minke whales, Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 249-251. Teilmann, J., F. Larsen, and G. Desportes (2007): Time allocation and diving behaviour of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Danish and adjacent waters. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 201-210. Urbán R., J. et al. (2007): Mass stranding of Baird's beaked whales at San Jose Island, Gulf of California, Mexico. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 6(1): 83-88. Van Waerebeek, K. et al. (2007): Vessel collisions with small cetaceans worldwide and with large whales in the Southern Hemisphere, an initial assessment. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 6(1): 43-69. ver Yates, O., A.D. Black, and P. Palavecino (2007): Site fidelity and behaviour of killer whales (Orcinus orca) at Sea Lion Island in the Southwest Atlantic. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 6(1): 89-95. Weir, C.R. (2007): Occurrence and distribution of cetaceans off northern Angola, 2004/05. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 225-239. Windsland, K. et al. (2007): Relative abundance and size composition of prey in the common minke whale diet in selected areas of the northeastern Atlantic during 2000-04. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 167-178. PINNIPEDIA Call, K.A. et al. (2008): Foraging route tactics and site fidelity of adult female northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) around the Pribilof Islands. Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 55(16-17): 1883-1896. Fahlman, A. et al. (2008): Metabolic costs of foraging and the management of O2 and CO2 stores in Steller sea lions. Journal of Experimental Biology 211(22): 3573-3580. Maquart, M. et al. (2008): Identification of novel DNA fragments and partial sequence of a genomic island specific of Brucella pinnipedialis. Veterinary Microbiology 132(1-2): 181-189. de Moura, J.F. and S. Siciliano (2007): Straggler subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis) on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state,Brazil. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 6(1): 103-108. Powley, C.R. et al. (2008): Polyfluorinated chemicals in a spatially and temporally integrated food web in the Western Arctic. Chemosphere 70(4): 664-672. Quakenbush, L.T. and J.J. Citta (2008): Perfluorinated contaminants in ringed, bearded, spotted, and ribbon seals from the Alaskan Bering and Chukchi Seas. Marine Pollution Bulletin 56(10): 1809-1814. Sinclair, E.H. et al. (2008): Patterns in prey use among fur seals and seabirds in the Pribilof Islands. Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 55(16-17): 1897-1918. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Bentzen, T.W. et al. (2008): Organohalogen concentrations in blood and adipose tissue of Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears. Science of the Total Environment 406(1-2): 352-367. Crompton, A.E. et al. (2008): Population genetic structure in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Hudson Bay, Canada: Implications of future climate change. Biological Conservation 141(10): 2528-2539. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

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Bottlenose Dolphin Skull Development - request for information
by Cara Crawford 16 Nov '08

16 Nov '08

Hello all, I am in the process of writing up a study on fluctuating asymmetry in bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) skulls. I would like to include information about the stages of skull development (i.e. timing and speed of growth, age at which sutures are completely fused etc.), but I have been unable to find any relevant information in the literature. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Cara Crawford Department of Biology American University Cara.Crawford(a)gmail.com

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Publication of memoir on Soviet whaling
by Phillip.Clapham＠noaa.gov 15 Nov '08

15 Nov '08

The USSR's massive campaign of illegal whaling began in 1948 and continued into the 1970's. During this time, the Soviets killed well over 200,000 more whales than they reported to the IWC, resulting in the devastation of many populations. Although much has been published about this topic since the initial revelations about Soviet whaling by Professor Alexei Yablokov and other former Soviet biologists, almost all of the published papers to date have concerned correction of the catch record. Alfred A. Berzin was chief of the marine mammal lab in Vladivostok, and as such was a witness to the major period of Soviet illegal whaling. Berzin died in 1996, but he left behind an extensive memoir entitled "The Truth About Soviet Whaling". This has now been translated into English from the original Russian, and was published this week as a special issue of the journal Marine Fisheries Review. Berzin's memoir is available online, free of charge, at this URL: http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/mfr702/mfr702.html The memoir is a very personal account of Soviet whaling, including its political, social and economic context. It is often grim reading, but also fascinating. The memoir also includes many unique photographs taken by Berzin during his years aboard Soviet factory ships. Phil Clapham and Yulia Ivashchenko National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle phillip.clapham(a)noaa.gov, yulia.ivashchenko(a)noaa.gov

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Paper: function of multi-pod aggregations in killer whales
by Olga Filatova 15 Nov '08

15 Nov '08

Hello, this paper was recently published in the Journal of Ethology: Filatova O.A., Fedutin I.D., Ivkovich T.V., Nagaylik M.M., Burdin A.M., Hoyt E. 2008. The function of multi-pod aggregations of fish-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Kamchatka, Far East Russia. Journal of Ethology, online first, doi 10.1007/s10164-008-0124-x http://www.springerlink.com/content/3l6g66042535643l/ Abstract In fish-eating North Pacific killer whales, large multi-pod aggregations of up to 100 animals often occur. These aggregations are thought to be reproductive gatherings where mating between members of different pods takes place. However, killer whales are social animals, and the role of these aggregations might also be establishing and maintaining social bonds between pods. Alternatively, it is also possible that multi-pod aggregations are in some way connected with foraging or searching for fish. In this study of killer whales in the western North Pacific, we describe multi-pod aggregations quantitatively and suggest their functional role in the life of fish-eating killer whales. We show that foraging is rare in multi-pod aggregations, whether inter-clan or intra-clan, and thus they are unlikely to play an important role in cooperative foraging. Socialising occurs more frequently in inter-clan rather than in intra-clan aggregations, which suggests the higher arousal level and possible mating during inter-clan aggregations. In summary, multi-pod aggregations of Kamchatka killer whales might be both reproductive assemblages and "clubs" of some kind in which whales gather to establish and maintain social bonds. please contact me (alazor(a)mail.ru) for pdfs if interested. Olga Filatova Department of Vertebrate Zoology Faculty of Biology Moscow State University Moscow, Russia

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US Supreme Court decision on Navy sonar and whales
by Alison Rieser 14 Nov '08

14 Nov '08

Here's a link to the opinion the US Supreme Court handed down on Wed in the Navy sonar case for those of you interested in how science, law and politics intersect: http://www.eswr.com/cts/supct/winterop_supremecourt_111208.pdf The Court overturned the lower court's injunction that had required the US Navy to apply mitigation measures in using sonar when whales were present on grounds that the court had not adequately weighed the Navy's need for readiness training for national security in balancing the interests. ************************************** Alison Rieser Director, Graduate Ocean Policy Program Professor, Department of Geography University of Hawai'i at Manoa 440 Saunders Hall, 2424 Maile Way Honolulu, HI 96822 rieser(a)hawaii.edu (808) 956-8467 GOPC web site: http://www.geography.hawaii.edu/projects/gopc/ **************************************

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Announcement of the EAAM's 2009 Symposium
by Gili Claudia 14 Nov '08

14 Nov '08

Dear Colleagues around the world, The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (E.A.A.M.), was funded in 1972 to congregate professionals and individuals interested in aquatic mammals, both in zoological environments and in the wild. EAAM stimulates people who devote a significant amount of time to maintenance and welfare of aquatic mammals through research, husbandry, training, education, conservation and related activities. One of the best opportunities to join our efforts is the Annual Conference and as President Elect of the EAAM, it is my great honour to announce the: 37th Symposium of the European Association of Aquatic Mammals Hosted by Mediterraneo Marine Park in Malta March 13-16, 2009 We strongly encourage everybody with an interest in this field, to participate with knowledge and share their experience with a presentation. Malta is a fantastic country and we'll certainly be spoiled by our hosts. Please check for general information and deadlines in January 2009 on the website of EAAM http://www.eaam.org/conference-2009/ <http://www.eaam.org/conference-2009/> and of our host http://www.mediterraneo.com.mt/eaamconference <http://www.mediterraneo.com.mt/eaamconference> . I look forward to receiving your paper soon and to meeting you all again in the next EAAM conference in 2009 Sincerely, Claudia Gili, President-Elect of EAAM General Curator/Chief Veterinarian (Acquario di Genova - Italy)

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Information needed on Beaked whale sightings for Organisation Cetacea
by Rebecca Brendell 11 Nov '08

11 Nov '08

I work for a charity called ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) on a project called the 'Beaked Whale Resource'.http://www.beakedwhaleresource.com/ The aim of the project to to try and promote public awareness and conservation of Beaked whales through research and education. I am trying to write a monthly news update on recent sightings and strandings of beaked whales from around the globe and was wondering if anyone would be interested in contacting me whenever a beaked whale is spotted anywhere, dead or alive? This would really help me to provide great, up to date, diverse information on present beaked whale populations and their whereabouts from around the world.Please let me know if you would be interested. If so, maybe we could provide a direct link to a web page, and vice versa?I shall look forward to hearing from you,Many thanks,Rebecca _________________________________________________________________ See the most popular videos on the web http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/115454061/direct/01/

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Archipelagos - Greek marine mammal strandings info
by Amy Worman 11 Nov '08

11 Nov '08

Archipelagos, the Institute of Marine and Environmental Research of the Aegean Sea, are looking to develop an interactive DVD on marine mammals and turtles found in the area. One DVD will be for the general public, and will contain information on how to identify the species and sex of an individual, and also the general threats that the species faces. It will also contain details on who to contact if they encounter an animal in distress. There will be a separate DVD for the authorities (such as port police), scientists and veterinarians containing the above (in greater detail), as well as how to assess the health of an animal, what to include in a general first aid kit, how to perform first aid, how to manage a situation with a stranded/injured animal and members of the public and how to take samples of the animal’s tissues should it be necessary. The DVD will be similar to the British Divers Marine Mammal Medic Handbook, but specific to the following species – Stenella coeruleoalba Delphinus delphis Tursiops truncatus Grampus griseus Physeter macrocephalus Zaphius cavirostris Monachus monachus Phocoena phocoena Balaenoptera physalus Caretta caretta Chelonia mydas Dermochelys coriacea which are all native to the Aegean. Any information on marine mammal and sea turtle first aid and the legislature surrounding reporting a stranding in the Aegean would be very gratefully received. - Amy Worman and Bradley Keyes wormana(a)hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ See the most popular videos on the web http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/115454061/direct/01/

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New publications week 36
by Jan Herrmann 09 Nov '08

09 Nov '08

Dear all, here are some new publications of week 36/ 2008, which haven't been announced on MARMAM earlier AFAIK. By clicking the following link you are guided to a website, where the following references are linked to their according journal homepages. There you can find abstracts and contact information: <http://www.mmbib.com/news.php> Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Thank you. Thanks to all of you who sent in reprints to be included in the weekly announcements. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann CETACEA Andrews, R.D., R.L. Pitman, and L.T. Ballance (2008): Satellite tracking reveals distinct movement patterns for Type B and Type C killer whales in the southern Ross Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biology 31(12): 1461-1468. Anonymous (2008): Palaeontology: Whale of a tail. Nature 455(7212): 435. Dietz, R. et al. (2008): Movements of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from Admiralty Inlet monitored by satellite telemetry. Polar Biology 31(11): 1295-1306. Hart, K. et al. (2008): Time Trends and Transplacental Transfer of Perfluorinated Compounds in Melon-Headed Whales Stranded Along the Japanese Coast in 1982, 2001/2002, and 2006. Environmental Science & Technology 42(19): 7132-7137. Huggenberger, S., M.A. Rauschmann, and H.A. Oelschläger (2008): Functional Morphology of the Hyolaryngeal Complex of the Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): Implications for its Role in Sound Production and Respiration. The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology 291(10): 1262-1270. Iglesias, R. et al. (2008): Molecular and morphological evidence for the occurrence of Anisakis sp. A (Nematoda, Anisakidae) in the Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris. Journal of Helminthology 82(4): 305-308. Konishi, K. et al. (2008): Decline in energy storage in the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in the Southern Ocean. Polar Biology 31(12): 1509-1520. Maggi, R.G. et al. (2008): Bartonella henselae in captive and hunter-harvested beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(4): 871-877. Morick, D. et al. (2008): Isolation of Mycobacterium mageritense from the Lung of a Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) with Severe Granulomatous Lesions. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(4): 999-1001. Nelson, A.E. et al. (2008): Age, geographical distribution and taphonomy of an unusual occurrence of mummified crabeater seals on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic Science 20(5): 485-493. Reidenberg, J.S. and J.T. Laitman (2008): Sisters of the Sinuses: Cetacean Air Sacs. The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology 291(11): 1389-1396 . Seto, Y. et al. (2008): Properties of corynephage attachment site and molecular epidemiology of Corynebacterium ulcerans isolated from humans and animals in Japan. Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases 61(2): 116-122. Tyack, P.L. (2008): Convergence of calls as animals form social bonds, active compensation for noisy communication channels, and the evolution of vocal learning in mammals. Journal of Comparative Psychology 122(3): 319-331. Peckarsky, B.L. et al. (2008): Revisiting the classics: considering nonconsumptive effects in textbook examples of predator-prey interactions. Ecology 89(9): 2416-2425. PINNIPEDIA Daneri, G.A. et al. (2008): Interannual variation in the diet of non-breeding male Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, at Isla 25 de Mayo/King George Island. Polar Biology 31(11): 1365-1372. Norman, S.A. et al. (2008): Risk factors for an outbreak of leptospirosis in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in California, 2004. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(4): 837-844. Siniff, D.B. et al. (2008): Opinion: Projecting the effects of environmental change on Antarctic seals. Antarctic Science 20(5): 425-435. Yochem, P.K. et al. (2008): Hematologic and serum biochemical profile of the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris): variation with age, sex, and season. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(4): 911-921. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Anthony, R.G. et al. (2008): Bald eagles and sea otters in the aleutian archipelago: indirect effects of trophic cascades. Ecology 89(10): 2725-2735. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

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New textbook announcement: Principles of Marine Bioacoustics
by Alison K Stimpert 07 Nov '08

07 Nov '08

Dear MARMAM subscribers, We are pleased to announce the publication of a new textbook on marine bioacoustics. The book can be ordered online. Please contact Whitlow Au (wau(a)hawaii.edu) with any questions or for further detail. ---- Principles of Marine Bioacoustics Series: Modern Acoustics and Signal Processing Au, Whitlow W.L., Hastings, Mardi C. 2009, Approx. 695 p. 407 illus., Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-387-78364-2 Principles of Marine Bioacoustics is about studying the acoustics of marine animals using underwater acoustic techniques. The book discusses and unites the various areas of marine bioacoustics in a single comprehensive text. It covers important subjects associated with marine bioacoustics such as the measurement and generation of underwater sounds, the propagation of acoustic signals in the marine environment and in small tanks, signal processing techniques, and advanced devices used in the field. Also covered are topics relating to marine animals, such as methods to record and acquire acoustic signals from animals, their auditory systems and vocalizations, psychological and physiological testing procedures, and echolocation in marine mammals. This book is aimed at researchers studying dolphins and whales and other marine mammals, marine biologists, fishery acoustics and biological oceanographers. It is also relevant for professionals working with government agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service or organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

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