February 2008 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Book on Lone Orcas Announcement
by Judy McVeigh 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

This message is to announce the publication of a new book by Daniel Francis and Gil Hewlett, entitled "Operation Orca: Springer, Luna and the Struggle to Save West Coast Killer Whales" (Harbour Publishing). The book provides comprehensive accounts of two attempts-one successful and one not-to rescue young orcas that had became separated from their family groups in British Columbia and Washington State. It describes how the whales were discovered and identified, their condition and behaviour, the formulation of rescue strategies, issues associated with permitting and funding, collaborative agreements between governments and NGOs, and, in the case of the successful rescue, the long process of social re-integration after the whale was returned to its family group. Destined to become a textbook for such operations in the future, the authors set their accounts against the backdrop of 35 years of collaborative research on killer whales in the Pacific Northwest. Additional details about the book can be found on the publisher's website at http://www.harbourpublishing.com/title/OperationOrca. The BC Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program has signed copies available for $31.45 (Canadian), 10% below the publisher's price. Please contact me for details Judy McVeigh Marine Mammal Research Administrator Vancouver Aquarium Phone: 604-659-3430 Fax: 604-659-3599 judy.mcveigh(a)vanaqua.org<mailto:judy.mcveigh@vanaqua.org>

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CYP1A1 Expression in Wild Bottlenose Dolphins
by Eric Montie 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

Dear Interested Colleagues, I would like to bring to your attention the following paper that was published in Aquatic Toxicology: Eric W. Montie, Patricia A. Fair, Gregory D. Bossart, Greg B. Mitchum, Magali Houde, Derek C.G. Muir, Robert J. Letcher, Wayne E. McFee, Victoria R. Starczak, John J. Stegeman, Mark E. Hahn. 2008. Cytochrome P4501A1 expression, polychlorinated biphenyls and hydroxylated metabolites, and adipocyte size of bottlenose dolphins from the Southeast United States. Aquatic Toxicology 86: 397-412. Abstract Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) bioaccumulate in blubber of marine mammals. Therefore, it is important to understand the structure and dynamics of blubber layers and how they affect the accumulation of POPs and subsequent biochemical responses. We used established histological and immunohistochemical methods to document the structure of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) blubber and to assess the expression of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) in skin-blubber biopsies of dolphins sampled in the waters off Charleston, SC (CHS) (N = 38), and Indian River Lagoon, FL (IRL) (N = 36). CYP1A1 expression was strongest and most frequent in capillary endothelial cells and was stratified in blubber; the greatest CYP1A1 staining was in the deepest layer. CYP1A1 expression in deep blubber and 2,3,7,8-TCDD Toxic Equivalents measured in the entire blubber were significantly higher in dolphins from CHS as compared to those from IRL. Adipocyte size was associated with the extent of CYP1A1 expression. Male dolphins with smaller adipocytes from CHS and IRL had higher levels of CYP1A1 expression in deep blubber. In CHS females, CYP1A1 expression in vascular endothelial cells varied with reproductive status. CYP1A1 expression in the deep layer was highest in simultaneously pregnant-lactating dolphins, and these dolphins had the smallest adipocytes in deep blubber. In all dolphins, CYP1A1 expression in the deep blubber layer was positively related to concentrations of hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs) in plasma. In summary, redistribution of AHR agonists from blubber into the circulatory system may enhance PCB metabolism and production of OH-PCBs by induction of CYP1A1 in hepatocytes and, possibly, by induction of CYP1A1 in endothelial cells of the deep blubber. The OH-PCBs thus formed have the potential to interfere with thyroid hormone homeostasis. If you would like a reprint of this paper, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Eric Montie -- Eric W. Montie (Please reply using my USF email: emontie(a)marine.usf.edu) Postdoctoral Fellow College of Marine Science University of South Florida (USF) 140 Seventh Avenue, South; Room 2121 St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5016 Lab Phone: (727) 553-1237 Fax: (727) 553-1189 E-mail: emontie(a)marine.usf.edu Guest Investigator Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Department of Biology; MS#32 Woods Hole, MA 02543 E-mail: emontie(a)whoi.edu

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Paper on blubber morphology in wild bottlenose dolphins
by Eric Montie 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

Dear Interested Colleagues, I would like to bring to your attention the following paper that was published in the Journal of Morphology: Eric W. Montie, Scott R. Garvin, Patricia A. Fair, Gregory D. Bossart, Greg B. Mitchum, Wayne E. McFee, Todd Speakman, Victoria R. Starczak, and Mark E. Hahn. Blubber Morphology in Wild Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Southeastern United States: Influence of Geographic Location, Age Class, and Reproductive State. Journal of Morphology. DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10602. Abstract This study investigated blubber morphology and correlations of histological measurements with ontogeny, geography, and reproductive state in live, wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the southeastern United States. Surgical skin-blubber biopsies (N = 74) were collected from dolphins during capture-release studies conducted in two geographic locations: Charleston, SC (N = 38) and Indian River Lagoon, FL (N = 36). Histological analysis of blubber revealed stratification into superficial, middle, and deep layers. Adipocytes of the middle blubber were 1.6× larger in Charleston subadults than in Indian River Lagoon subadults (4,590 ± 340 compared to 2,833 ± 335 m2 per cell). Charleston subadult dolphins contained higher levels of total blubber lipids than Charleston adult animals (49.3% ± 1.9% compared to 34.2% ± 1.7%), and this difference was manifested in more adipocytes in the middle blubber layer (19.2 ± 0.9 compared to 14.9 ± 0.5 cells per field). However, dolphins from Indian River Lagoon did not exhibit this pattern, and the adipocyte cell counts of subadults were approximately equal to those of the adults (16.0 ± 1.4 compared to 13.4 ± 0.8 cells per field). The colder year-round water temperatures in Charleston compared to Indian River Lagoon may explain these differences. Adipocytes in the deep blubber layer were significantly smaller in lactating and simultaneously pregnant and lactating animals compared to pregnant dolphins (840 ± 179, 627 ± 333, and 2,776 ± 586 m2 per cell, respectively). Total blubber lipid content and adipocyte size in the deep blubber of mothers with calves decreased linearly with calf length. Lactating females may utilize lipids from the deep blubber during periods of increased energetic demands associated with offspring care. This study demonstrates that ontogeny, geography, and reproductive state may influence morphological parameters such as structural fiber densities and adipocyte numbers and sizes, measured in bottlenose dolphin blubber. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. If you would like a reprint of this paper, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Eric Montie -- Eric W. Montie Postdoctoral Fellow: College of Marine Science University of South Florida (USF) 140 Seventh Avenue, South; Room 2121 St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5016 Office Phone: (727) 553-1237 Fax: (727) 553-1189 E-mail: emontie(a)marine.usf.edu Guest Investigator: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Department of Biology; MS#32 Woods Hole, MA 02543 E-mail: emontie(a)whoi.edu

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Two new papers
by Antonio Jesús Fernández Rodríguez 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

Dear sir, I annex the following information to be considered to send through marmam@list Thanks in advance Prof. Antonio Fernández -- Dear colleagues, For those who could be interested, the following two recently published papers are available in pdf format upon request to: email: afernandez(a)dmor.ulpgc.es - Unusual cetacean mortality event in Taiwan, possibly linked to naval activities. Veterinary Record, 162: 184-185.(2008). W-C. Yang, L-S. Chou, P. D. Jepson, R. L. Brownell, Jr, D. Cowan, P-H. Chang, H-I. Chiou, C-J. Yao, T. K. Yamada, J-T. Chiu, P-J. Wang, and A. Fernández - Flavobacterium ceti sp. nov., isolated from beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol ; 57: 2604-2608 (2007) Vela I., A. Fernandez, C. Sanchez-Porro, E. Sierra, M. Mendez, M. Arbelo, A.Ventosa, L. Dominguez and J. F. Fernandez-Garayzabal. Antonio Fernández, Veterinary Histology and Pathology Institute for Animal Health Veterinary School Unversity of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Canary Islands Spain

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FINS Newsletter
by camille montiglio 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

Dear subscribers to MARMAM ACCOBAMS Secretariat is pleased to announce that the new issue of FINS, the newsletter of ACCOBAMS, is now available as pdf, downloadable from the Agreement's website (1.27 Mb)http://www.accobams.org/2006.php/newsletter/all Table of contents of FINS 4(1): * Editorial * The endangered Mediterranean common dolphins: is there anyone interested in their conservation? (/G. Bearzi/) * The decline of common dolphins around the island of Kalamos, Greece (/G. Bearzi/) * Gazing into a crystal ball at the largest comprehensive cetacean conservation agreement in the world: an important sister agreement to ACCOBAMS is fast developing in the Pacific Islands Region (/M. Prideaux/) * Forum * News from the Secretariat: Third Meeting of the Contracting Parties, Dubrovnik, Croatia, October 2007 (/M.C. Grillo/) * The Black Sea Commission and its role in support to the activities of ACCOBAMS in the Black Sea (/V. Velikova/) * Trends in transboundary protection of Black Sea dolphins and porpoises: 2006 and 2007 were years of basic talks and papers (/A. Birkun, Jr./) * Workshops held on the impacts of noise on cetaceans (/A. J. Wright, S. Dolman/) * Short news. Hurricane, oil spill and cetaceans in the Kerch Strait (/A. Birkun, Jr., S. Krivokhizin/) * Book review /(G. Notarbartolo di Sciara)/ -- Camille Montiglio ACCOBAMS Communication Assistant Jardins de l'UNESCO, Les Terrasses de Fontvieille MC-98000 Monaco Tel: 00377 9898 2078 - Fax: 00377 9898 4208

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Question concerning bottlenose dolphin behavior and its relationship to diurnal cycles
by Robert Clelland 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

I currently attempting to locate papers discussing bottlenose dolphin behavioral variation according to diurnal cycle. This information will help me in discussing how my sampling methodology impacts the discussion of the data that I have collected for my master's thesis on bottlenose dolphin energetics differ between estuarine and oceanic dolphins. I sampled from dawn to dusk, but I need to find information on how dolphin activity during the dusk to dawn time period differs from my observation times and so I was wondering if anyone might have any suggestions for papers to read on that topic. Robert Clelland reclella(a)coastal.edu

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Marine Mammal Observers course March 2008 - Dorset UK
by Yvonne Miles 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

Scanning Ocean Sectors – Marine Mammal Observer Training course - JNCC recognised Scanning Ocean Sectors is joint nature conservation committee recognised course for industry. The company was formed in 2003 after 3 years of research into the effectiveness of Marine Mammal Observers. Observations of MMOs were done in real time situations of research, with data collected from, experienced MMOs, untrained MMOs, trained MMOs and inexperienced. The foundation for the course was formulated and tested on Royal Navy personnel. The training proved very effective for the RN and assisted them in their aims with mitigation and use of effective measures when using sonar. The course has evolved over the 3 years of research and has taken into account all the outcomes from the research, putting them all to use within the course training. The MMO course was then standardised to obtain the best out of the training for an MMO. The standardisation will ensure that each MMO that we train will complete the course with all the most relevant up to date information and the MMO will be best equipped for industry and research. This will ensure that all data collected will be as accurate as the conditions allow and improve on data precision. We have a number of student funded places that have not been taken up for the March 17th- 19th & 26th - 28th 2008 courses Both courses will be held at the RNLI College, Poole, Dorset UK If you are interested in assisted funding/scholarships in MMO training please go to http://scanningoceansectors.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52 on our Scanning Ocean Sectors web site www.scanningoceansectors.org And send us your application for student funding Please ensure that you can commit to this program before applying for funding. Regards Yvonne -- Yvonne Miles 9 Long Street Point Vernon Hervey Bay QLD 4655 Australia 0435 017 524 mob 07 4124 8320 land line www.scanningoceansectors.org info(a)scanningoceansectors.org

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Correction for Internship Posting
by Jennifer Lewis 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Previous posting had incorrect year: See below for correct time period of internship: Internship: Behavioral Ecology of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Florida Keys Period of Service: May- August 2008. Need commitment of at least one month. Details of Position: Work will involve assisting doctoral student with field research on bottlenose dolphins in the Lower Florida Keys. Responsibilities will include assisting in collection of dolphin behavior and fish sampling. Off water duties will include data entry, management and analysis in addition to equipment maintenance. Interns will receive training in field and lab techniques used in cetacean research. Requirements: Must be upper division undergraduate or recent graduate from a scientific discipline. Prefer students with an interest in continuing education beyond Bachelors. Previous field experience a plus. Must be able to handle long hours (8+ per day) under extreme heat (up to 37 degrees Celsius). Positions are voluntary. All work conducted will be done under a Letter of Confirmation for Level B Harassment (MMPA 1972). For further information please contact Jennifer Lewis at: jennifer.lewis1(a)fiu.edu Florida International University Department of Biological Sciences Miami, Florida -- Doctoral Candidate Florida International University Department of Biological Sciences Miami, Florida 33199 305-348-7429

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Job posting: Humpback whale Research Associate
by Quincy Anne Gibson 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Research Associate for Humpback Whale Project: Pacific Whale Foundation (Maui, Hawaii) is seeking a Research Associate for its Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whale Research Program. Pacific Whale Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting whales and other marine life through research, education, and conservation. Position description: Research associates will conduct Pacific Whale Foundation’s humpback whale research activities in Australia, Oceania, and Latin America, under the supervision of the Research Director. This position is based in Maui, Hawaii. However, research associates will be expected to travel/temporarily re-locate to any of our field sites, for extended periods, as needed. Required Qualifications: • Masters degree in relevant field and 3+ years marine mammal field experience • Experience with data management, statistical analyses, and the preparation of manuscripts for publication Preferred Qualifications: • Prior experience with small boat operation • Knowledge of digital image software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop) and photography basics • Familiarity with relational databases (e.g. Access or File Maker Pro) • Excellent public speaking skills • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and lead a team of research assistants and interns Responsibilities: Research associates are expected to assist the Director of Research in all aspects of maintaining a productive Research Department. This includes leading research teams in the field, collecting data (primarily photo-ID and acoustic recordings), overseeing data entry and management, assisting with statistical analyses and the writing of reports, and presentation of our findings at scientific conferences and in-house training workshops. Research associates are also expected to work with the Research Director to provide supervision and leadership for research assistants, interns, and volunteers. Additional responsibilities include direct involvement in public outreach activities, staff training courses, and assisting with marketing and fund raising efforts. Application Process: This is a full-time position with a highly competitive salary and benefits package, including room, board and travel expenses during field seasons. Applicants must be able to begin work as soon as possible; no later than May 1, 2008. Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to the following address: Human Resources Pacific Whale Foundation 300 Ma’alaea Road, Suite 211 Wailuku, HI, USA 96793 Or email applications(a)pacificwhale.org The deadline for applications is February 25, 2008. For information on PWF, please see www.pacificwhale.org

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Sound Analysis Workshop at CLO, in Ithaca, NY
by Liz Rowland 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

We are pleased to announce that the Bioacoustics Research Program at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY will be running a Sound Analysis Workshop from 17th to 21st March 2008 inclusive. The course aims to provide a basic practical understanding of spectrographic analysis along with an introduction to a wide range of techniques used in sound analysis, and an introduction to applications of sound analysis techniques in biological research. We will focus primarily on the use of Raven and XBAT (two software programs developed at BRP) for two types of bioacoustics research: a) Large-scale monitoring programs using recordings that may span many months, where the aim generally centers on counting and/or locating vocalizations. b) Detailed analysis of selected calls, for instance investigating differences in vocalizations among individuals of a species. The maximum number of participants we take is 10. There are still at least 6 places available. The cost is $1,300, which covers tuition, course materials and lunches (all other expenses - travel, lodging, other meals etc the participant's responsibility). Please see attached pdf, or follow this link for further information. <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/update-items/MarchWorkshop>http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/update-items/MarchWorkshop Contact information: Kevin White, wkw2(a)cornell.edu, Tel. 607-254-2438 Liz Rowland Research Analyst Bioacoustics Research Program Tel: 254-2127

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