October 2009 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Final call for Marine Mammal and Passive Acoustic Observer Courses - AUSTRALIA
by Yvonne Miles 19 Oct '09

19 Oct '09

Hi All *Scanning Ocean Sectors – A Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training company and Joint Nature Conservation Committee – JNCC, recognised course for industry and research.* We have years of research behind the effective training of MMOs with courses adapted to the requirements of the clients, and taught by professionals in their specialised fields. *Please note that we are finalising numbers for the November courses in ** AUSTRALIA** – These will be the last courses of 2009* *MMO COURSE **NOVEMBER 16th – 18TH 2009* * ** Due to high request we will be running a Passive Acoustic Monitoring course for MMOs on 19TH – 20TH NOVEMBER 2009 * *Courses book up quickly so don’t leave it late* Please visit our website for more information and to register for all courses At the end of November there will be 2010 dates for training up on the website *Note – There are limited numbers for each course so please book early to avoid disappointment.* If anyone is interested in advertising in our newsletter please contact us for the next issue www.scanningoceansectors.org info(a)scanningoceansectors.org -- Yvonne Miles 9 Long Street Point Vernon Hervey Bay QLD 4655 Australia 0431 824 063 mob 07 4124 8320 land line info(a)scanningoceansectors.org www.scanningoceansectors.org

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Grant Opportunity
by Sarah Courbis 18 Oct '09

18 Oct '09

Just wanted to let people know that the North Pacific Research Board is soliciting proposals that include marine mammal research. See the url below for details. I am not involved with this organization, so I cannot answer questions. I just wanted to pass on the info to other marine mammal researchers. http://www.nprb.org/proposals/current_rfp.html Cheers, Sarah Courbis sarahc(a)rogue.com

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Field Assistant Opportunity April through August 2010, Cedar Key Florida
by Stefanie Gazda 18 Oct '09

18 Oct '09

Field Assistant Opportunity: 2 field assistants are needed for fieldwork for a PhD student's dissertation from the University of Massachusetts in dolphin feeding behavior, niche specialization, and predator-prey stable isotope and fatty acid studies. The field season will run for approximately 5 months, from April through August, pending final funding. Research will take place in Cedar Key, Florida, 3 hours north of Tampa and 60 miles west of Gainesville. Assistants will be expected to work on a boat 6 to 7 days per week, for up to 10 hours at a time. Typical weather conditions in summer include 95 degree heat, very high humidity, and no breezes. Prior experience working on dolphins and habitats (photo ID, biopsy darting) is preferred but not required. Those with no experience should demonstrate their willingness to learn. This is not a paid position. Assistants will have the option to obtain their own housing and food in Cedar Key. Housing is available with the PI, in this case assistants may be asked to contribute $75 per month towards food. More details are available. Opportunities for part-time work in tourist-related positions in Cedar Key may be available to assistants-however it is their responsibility to obtain those jobs and assistants must make the field work a priority. Priority will be given to applicants who can stay for the duration-a minimum commitment of one month is required. Please send an email of inquiry to stefanie.gazda(a)gmail.com with the subject line as "Field assistants for 2010". Be specific about how much time you can commit to. A more in depth description of the position and its requirements will be emailed out-at that time candidates who are still interested should email their CV and informative cover letter to the above email address. -Stefanie Gazda -- Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals, volume 35, issue 3
by Dagmar Fertl 18 Oct '09

18 Oct '09

Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will get duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The following are abstracts from the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals, the scientific peer-reviewed journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). Abstracts are presented as a courtesy to the EAAM and the journal editors – Drs. Jeanette Thomas (managing editor; aquaticmammals(a)gmail.com) and Kathleen Dudzinski (co-editor; kdudzinski(a)dolphincommunicationproject.org) The journal publishes papers dealing with all aspects of the care, conservation, medicine and science of aquatic mammals. The journal receives support of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA). For more information on the journal, please go to: http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/. Contact information is provided for the corresponding author for each article. Please do not contact the listserve editors or me for pdfs or copies of the articles. Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and these postings. It was great to see friends, as well as make new ones in Quebec. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Ziphius EcoServices dfertl(a)gmail.com http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com OLSEN, E.*, W. O. BUDGELL, E. HEAD, L. KLEIVANE, L. NØTTESTAD, R. PRIETO, M. A. SILVA, H. SKOV, G. A. VÍKINGSSON, G. WARING and N. ØIEN. 2009. First satellite-tracked long-distance movement of a sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) in the North Atlantic. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 313-318. * Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway; E-mail: eriko(a)imr.no2Bedford Long-distance migration for most species of baleen whales is poorly understood because of the practical difficulties and substantial expense involved in gathering relevant data. Presently, satellite tracking is the only method that delivers the necessary detail and quantitative data on movement patterns on far-ranging marine mammals. In this study, ARGOS satellite tags were deployed on North Atlantic sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) at the Azores Islands. Data from one whale showed a cumulative 4,102-km movement from tagging at Faial Island in the Azores on 12 April 2005 via the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ) to the Labrador Sea where transmissions stopped on 7 June 2005. For a portion of the distance from CGFZ to the Labrador Sea, the whale moved in the prevailing direction of the surface current pattern. Erratic movement in five areas along the movement track indicates feeding behaviour, particularly in the CGFZ. The results show the large-scale movement potential of North Atlantic sei whales from wintering grounds to highly productive potential feeding areas in the Labrador Sea. *************** CUNNINGHAM, L.* 2009. Using computer-assisted photo-identification and capture-recapture techniques to monitor the conservation status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 319-329. *S ea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, United KingdomCurrent Address: The Scottish Government, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; E-mail: lc66smru(a)gmail.com Conservation policies require the status of protected species to be monitored. The choice of monitoring methods may be constrained in situations in which there is concern about disturbance or in which sighting individuals is difficult. This study investigated the potential of using a computer-assisted photo-identification method to measure population size in adult harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Pattern cells or combinations of pattern cells from photographs (i.e., ventral, flank, shoulder, and head) were used for computerized selection of potential matching pairs, and the pelage patterns of those pairs were then checked visually. There was monthly variation in capture-recapture population estimates, with the highest number of adult harbour seals in May (117, CV = 7.2). Around three times more individuals used the sampling area in northwest Scotland between April and October (268, CV = 0.04) than were estimated per month (mean = 86, CV = 0.07). Using computer-assisted photo-identification and capture-recapture methods may be the only practical way of obtaining a measurement of how many seals use a site. This approach has important implications for determining the effectiveness of designated conservation areas for protecting seals and will influence management decisions, including the size of management units. ********************* PIMPER, L. E.*, M. I. REMIS, R. N. P. GOODALL and C. S. BAKER. 2009. Teeth and bones as sources of DNA for genetic diversity and sex identification of Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 330-333. *Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Capital Federal (1428), Argentina; E-mail: liditas(a)ege.fcen.uba.ar Museum specimens are often the only source of genetic material for many species of cetaceans. Most of the protocols that have been developed to extract DNA from teeth and bone samples involve mechanical or chemical disintegration of the material. An alternative method to the mechanical reduction process is presented here for 212 Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) samples collected in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, from 1974 to 2004. From the total samples, 82.5% (n = 175) allow for amplification to occur of a minimum length of 200 pb for the mtDNA control region, 66.5% (n = 141) of 400 bp, and 51% (n = 108) of 500 bp. A total of 11 haplotypes were defined from 10 polymorphic sites. From the initial number of samples, 64.6% could be sexed via molecular markers. This method is effective for processing large quantities of degraded samples over a short time period, analysing a representative number of mtDNA haplotypes, and allowing robust estimation of historical genetic diversity and trends over time. ***************** AINLEY, D. G.*, G. BALLARD and S. OLMASTRONI. 2009. An apparent decrease in the prevalence of “Ross Sea Killer Whales” in the southern Ross Sea Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 334-346. H T. Harvey & Associates, 983 University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA; E-mail: dainley(a)penguinscience.com Killer whales (Orcinus orca), both ecotype-B and -C, are important to the Ross Sea, Antarctic ecosystem. The ecotype-C is referred to as “Ross Sea [RS] killer whale.” Herein, we review data on occurrence patterns and diet of RS killer whales and present new information on numbers observed in the southwestern Ross Sea, 2002-2003 to 2008-2009 austral summers. These “resident” whales appear to feed principally on fish, including the large Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni). On the basis of sea watches from Cape Crozier, Ross Island, sighting frequency and average group size appears to have decreased; prevalence as indicated by casual observations from helicopter pilots flying over the area on a daily basis has also decreased in nearby McMurdo Sound. Consistent with a decrease in the catch-per-unit-effort of scientific fishing for toothfish in McMurdo Sound, we suggest and review evidence that the change in RS killer whale numbers in the southern Ross Sea is related to an industrial fishery-driven, density-dependent northward contraction of the toothfish stock and not to changes in the physical (and, in turn, biological) environment. We surmise that in this closely coupled foodweb, composed of very abundant penguin, seal, and whale components, loss of the toothfish option for RS killer whales would force more direct competition with other predators for capture of the smaller-fish prey. Therefore, we propose, the RS killer whales have opted to move elsewhere, in a scenario consistent with that of the Pacific coast of Canada, where numbers of resident killer whales have decreased following the loss of large fish as a prey choice. ******** KOSKI, W. R.*, T. ALLEN, D. IRELAND, G. BUCK, P. R. SMITH, A. M. MACRANDER, M. A. HALICK, C. RUSHING, D. J. SLIWA and T. L. MCDONALD. 2009. Evaluation of an unmanned airborne system for monitoring marine mammals. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 347-357. *LGL Limited, environmental research associates, P.O. Box 280, 22 Fisher Street, King City, ON L7B 1A6, Canada; E-mail: bkoski(a)lgl.com Tests of an unmanned airborne system (UAS) for surveys of marine mammals were conducted near Port Townsend, Washington. Sixteen surveys were conducted over a 10-d period to find 128 simulated whale targets (4 to 9 per survey). Various weather conditions were encountered, and search-widths and altitudes were varied to establish optimal search parameters for future surveys. Logistic regression models were applied to estimate how detection rates were influenced by target color, degree of target inflation, shutter speed, search-width, and Beaufort wind force. Beaufort wind force was the strongest predictor of detection rates with color and degree of target inflation also included in the model that best fit these data. Overall detection rates of simulated large whale profiles using UASs were similar to published estimates of detection rates during manned aerial surveys for marine mammals, except the search area was much smaller (narrow strip width) when using the UAS. The best detection rates were obtained when Beaufort wind force was lowest (~ 2). The UAS tested showed promise for replacing manned aerial surveys for monitoring distribution and abundance of large marine mammals; however, improvements are required before the UAS would be an efficient tool for detection of all species. Side-by-side comparisons are needed between the UAS and manned aircraft to evaluate any differences in detection rates from the two platforms. ********************* O’HERN, J. E.* and D. C. BIGGS. 2009. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) habitat in the Gulf of Mexico: Satellite observed ocean color and altimetry applied to small-scale variability in distribution. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 358-366. * Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3146, USA; E-mail: jeo27(a)neo.tamu.edu During the summers of 2004 and 2005, researchers surveyed cetacean presence along the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Towed, passive acoustic hydrophones were used to identify locations along the cruise tracks where sperm whales were encountered and not encountered. During both summers, 35 groups of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were encountered at a frequency of about one group every 120 nmi of survey effort. To assess the linkages between surface oceanography and the distribution of sperm whales, surface ocean color from NASA’s Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and surface dynamic height from NASA’s Earth orbital altimeters were evaluated in conjunction with survey data. Most sperm whale groups were found within regions of enhanced sea surface chlorophyll (SSC), particularly 2 wks after the initial development of locally higher SSC anomalies. Results from this study indicate sperm whale distribution in the Gulf of Mexico is linked to surface oceanography at shorter time scales than previously documented. ******************* BECHDEL, S. E.*, M. S. MAZZOIL, M. E. MURDOCH, E. M. HOWELLS, J. S. REIF, S. D. MCCULLOCH, A. M. SCHAEFER and G. D. BOSSART. 2009. Prevalence and impacts of motorized vessels on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 367-377. *Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Center for Coastal Research – Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, USA; E-mail: sbechdel(a)hboi.fau.edu Vessel-based anthropogenic impacts on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, were investigated by quantifying visible physical injuries to dorsal fins from photo-identification data collected from 1996 to 2006. Forty-three dolphins, 6.0% of the distinctly marked population, had injuries related to vessel impact. Impact was determined from previously published vessel-related wound definitions and the elimination of other possible wound sources. Spatial distribution was determined by dividing the IRL into six segments based on hydrodynamics and geographic features. Dolphins were assigned to a segment(s) and corresponding county according to ranging patterns. Segment 4, consisting of St. Lucie and Martin Counties, had the highest prevalence (9.9/100 distinct dolphins) of boat-injured dolphins and had the highest number of registered boaters per km2 of habitat. These preliminary data suggest that vessel impacts on dolphins occur disproportionally in the IRL and should be considered a high-priority management issue for local governments. Behavioral data collected during photo-identification surveys support the possibility of a low tolerance and sensitization to vessel interactions. Recommendations to reduce direct and indirect impacts from vessels on dolphins are discussed. ******************** VERMEULEN, E.* and A. CAMMARERI. 2009. Residency patterns, abundance, and social composition of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bahía San Antonio, Patagonia, Argentina. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 378-385. * Marybio Foundation, Conaniyeu 475, Las Grutas, Río Negro, Argentina; E-mail: els(a)marybio.org Residency patterns, abundance, and social composition of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were assessed from 2006 to 2008 in Bahía San Antonio (BSA), Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 714 survey hours resulted in 132 contact hours with 224 bottlenose dolphin groups. Results indicated that dolphins can be seen year-round on average every 4 h, with sighting periods lasting an average of 45 min. A total of 57 bottlenose dolphins were positively identified in the bay, of which 56% showed a degree of residency, including almost all mother and calf pairs. Using the closed time heterogeneity model (Mth), and accounting for the proportion of unidentifiable individuals, calculations resulted in a corrected abundance estimate of 83 individuals for the study area. Further analysis revealed that individual dolphins associated at random and that the entire community exhibits rapid disassociations and two levels of casual acquaintances. Data suggest that the shallow waters of BSA support a relatively resident community of bottlenose dolphins, living in a fission-fusion society in which companionships frequently change. The relative constant presence of calves in more than 50% of the dolphin groups and the observed presence of neonates might furthermore indicate that dolphins specifically use this area, among others, to give birth and nurse their young. In addition, a reported decline in bottlenose dolphin sightings in the larger area of the Argentinean coast might indicate that BSA is one of the last remaining refuges of the species in the country. Further research seems vital for their conservation. ******* MURACO, H., A. CHENG, N. RAVIDA, D. ARN, J. HUDSON and B. DURRANT. 2009. Conditioning for conservation: A new approach to detection of luteinizing hormone in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 386-393. The Mirage Dolphin Habitat, The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA; E-mail: holley(a)muraco.biz2San Precise determination of the time of ovulation will greatly enhance the success rate of artificial insemination and timed breedings of captive marine mammals. Because daily samples are necessary to effectively monitor the estrous cycle, behavioral conditioning of blood and urine collection has greatly facilitated the development of reproductive hormone profiles of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Measuring luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine obviates the need for blood collection and increases the frequency with which samples can be obtained. This non-invasive method has the potential to elucidate the temporal associations between the fall of circulating estrogen, the surge of LH, and the time of ovulation. Daily urine samples were collected from one female bottlenose dolphin during an ovulatory estrous cycle. Urine was concentrated and normalized by osmolality before application to an immunochromatographic assay (ICG) designed to detect canine serum LH. Centrifuging urine samples to remove insoluble components enhanced the definition and visibility of LH assay bands, concentrating urine increased the speed and intensity of test band development, and normalization of samples by osmolality ensured the application of a standard concentration of urine to each assay. In this single animal cycle follow-up trial, the urinary LH profile corresponded with serum LH, estrogen, and progesterone profiles, demonstrating the possible efficacy of this method for monitoring LH. *************** ANDERSEN, S. H. 2009. Historical perspectives: Investigations on the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Denmark from 1962 to 1983. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 394-398. *no contact information was provided with article Søren Hechmann Andersen talks about his involvement in the first European research laboratory to study the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), which was established in Strib, Denmark, in 1962 and was transferred in 1974 to the Southern University of Denmark, Odense. The laboratory was closed in 1983. ********** DUDOK VAN HEEL, W.H.* 2009. Historical perspectives: Aquatic Mammals: A journal and an association. Aquatic Mammals 35(3): 399-411. *no email address provided; mailing address is: Vredehoflaan 560, 4382 CJ, Vlissingen, Netherlands ******** NACHTIGALL, P.E. 2009. Book review: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MARINE MAMMALS (2ND EDITION). Editors: William F. Perrin, Bernd Würsig, J. G. M. Thewissen. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA. Aquatic Mammals 2009, 35(3), 412-413. No email address provided; mailing address is: Director, Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kane’ohe, HI 96744, USA ********** WÜRSIG, B. 2009. Book review: MARINE MAMMALS OF THE WORLD: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THEIR IDENTIFICATION. Thomas A. Jefferson, Marc A. Webber, and Robert L. Pitman. Illustrations by Brett Jarrett. Academic/Elsevier Press, Amsterdam. Aquatic Mammals 35(3):414-415. Contact address: Regents Professor, Chair of the Marine Biology Graduate Program, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551, USA; wursigb(a)tamug.edu ************* ANONYMOUS. 2009. Obituary for John Russell Twiss, Jr. (1938-2009). Aquatic Mammals 35(3):417. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/

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Cefas Job offer
by Frank Thomsen (Cefas) 18 Oct '09

18 Oct '09

Dear colleagues I would like to draw your attention to a very nice job offer from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) for a scientist dealing with projects on underwater noise. Please find additional information and guidance on how to apply at http://www.cefas.jobs/ go to 'current vacancies/ external vacancies/marine biologist underwater noise 52/09. All the Best Frank Thomsen PURPOSE OF JOB An increasingly important environmental issue is the noise generated during human activities in the marine environment and its potential effects on marine life. Cefas has become very engaged in this field recently. We undertake experimental and desk based research on effects of noise on marine life, provide advice to the UK government on noise-generating activities (e.g. offshore wind farms, seismic surveys) and develop background to policy makers on the issue. Our projects target a wide variety of species with an emphasis on marine mammals and fish off the UK coast. The purpose of this post is to further develop underwater noise research at Cefas as a principal scientist who is responsible for planning projects, data collection and analysis and in particular reporting. There is also the possibility of expansion into other topics such as generic risk assessment and cumulative impact assessment. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES You will be expected to further develop analytical methods to determine implications of noise related disturbance, contribute to impact assessments, and publish the results of your research in peer reviewed journals and at scientific conferences. As an experienced scientist with an enthusiasm for research science, you will be encouraged to seek new opportunities for research in the UK and abroad. QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS You must have a degree or equivalent, and a higher degree is very desirable. You must have relevant postgraduate research experience, ideally in the field of marine bioacoustics / noise impact studies and an enthusiasm for research. You must also have good organisational and oral communication skills and a record of publication in the form of peer reviewed papers or reports. Experience in field research and experimental studies dealing with the effects of underwater noise is a clear asset to any application. Since some of the methods we apply deal with spatial analysis of noise disturbance, GIS experience would be a further asset to the post. *********************************************************************************** This email and any attachments are intended for the named recipient only. Its unauthorised use, distribution, disclosure, storage or copying is not permitted. If you have received it in error, please destroy all copies and notify the sender. In messages of a non-business nature, the views and opinions expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organisation from which it is sent. All emails may be subject to monitoring. ***********************************************************************************

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Arctic Frontiers 2010 - registration and abstract submission
by Arntraut Götsch 16 Oct '09

16 Oct '09

Arctic Frontiers 2010 - Living in the High North registration The conference Arctic Frontiers takes place in Tromsø from 24 - 29 January 2010 entiteled " Living in the High North ". Registration is now open. All registration will be online via the Arctic Frontiers homepage at www.arcticfrontiers.com. Abstract submission Please remember that the deadline for the submission of abstracts for the scientific part of the conference is Monday 19 October 2009. With best regards Arntraut Götsch and Marianne Frantzen Local organising committee info(a)arcticfrontiers.com

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Postdoc Opportunity --Bioenergetics Modeling for the Pacific Walrus
by Karen L Oakley 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Seeking Applicants--Due January 15, 2010 The USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program for FY2011 includes a 2-year fellowship opportunity for bioenergetics research related to the Pacific Walrus. Applicants must have completed a PhD. in an area of research applicable to the fellowship opportunity between Jan. 15 2005 and March 2011. Applications include both a resume and research proposal. The Mendenhall program and the application process are described at the following website: http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/ See Research Opportunity #70. Pacific Walrus Response to Rapidly Accelerating Arctic Change: Bioenergetics Modeling to Inform Forecasting of Future Population Status For further information, please contact: Karen Oakley U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Marine & Freshwater Ecology, Branch Chief 4210 University Dr. Anchorage, AK 99508 907-786-7076 907-786-7150 fax koakley(a)usgs.gov OR Chadwick V. Jay, Ph.D. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Pacific Walrus Project Leader 4210 University Drive Anchorage, Alaska 99508 PH: (907) 786-7414 FAX: (907) 786-7150 cjay(a)usgs.gov

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nasal complex in the harbour porpoise
by Susanne Prahl 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of a recent paper in Journal of Morphology: Histological and Ultrastructural Aspects of the Nasal Complex in the Harbour Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena Journal of Morphology 270(11): 1320-1337. S. Prahl, S. Huggenberger , H. Schliemann During the evolution of odontocetes, the nasal complex was modified into a complicated system of passages and diverticulae. It is generally accepted that these are essential structures for nasal sound production. However, the mechanism of sound generation and the functional significance of the epicranial nasal complex are not fully understood. We have studied the epicranial structures of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) using light and electron microscopy with special consideration of the nasal diverticulae, the phonic lips and dorsal bursae, the proposed center of nasal sound generation. The lining of the epicranial respiratory tract with associated diverticulae is consistently composed of a stratified squamous epithelium with incomplete keratinization and irregular pigmentation. It consists of a stratum basale and a stratum spinosum that transforms apically into a stratum externum. The epithelium of the phonic lips comprises 7080 layers of extremely flattened cells, i.e., four times more layers than in the remaining epicranial air spaces. This alignment and the increased number of desmosomes surrounding each cell indicate a conspicuous rigid quality of the epithelium. The area surrounding the phonic lips and adjacent fat bodies exhibits a high density of mechanoreceptors, possibly perceiving pressure differentials and vibrations. Mechanoreceptors with few layers and with perineural capsules directly subepithelial of the phonic lips can be distinguished from larger, multi-layered mechanoreceptors without perineural capsules in the periphery of the dorsal bursae. A blade-like elastin body at the caudal wall of the epicranial respiratory tract may act as antagonist of the musculature that moves the blowhole ligament. Bursal cartilages exist in the developmental stages from fetus through juvenile and could not be verified in adults. These histological results support the hypothesis of nasal sound generation for the harbor porpoise and display specific adaptations of the echolocating system in this species. J. Morphol. 270:13201337, 2009. You can download the article here: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/35280/home?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 For further information please contact me at susanneprahl(a)web.de Best, Susanne Dr. Susanne Prahl Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Harvard Medical School Otopathology 243 Charles Street Boston, MA 02114 Tel: (617)573-3662 Fax: (617)573-3939 susanne_prahl(a)meei.harvard.edu Zoological Institute University of Hamburg Martin-Luther-King Platz 3 20146 Hamburg Germany susanneprahl(a)web.de _______________________________________________________________ Neu: WEB.DE DSL bis 50.000 kBit/s und 200,- Euro Startguthaben! http://produkte.web.de/go/02/

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MRI atlas of the California sea lion brain
by emontie＠marine.usf.edu 13 Oct '09

13 Oct '09

Dear Colleagues, We would like to draw your attention to the following paper featured on the front cover of this month's issue of The Anatomical Record. This paper will serve as a foundation for a series of MRI studies investigating the effects of pollutants and domoic acid on central nervous system damage in wild California sea lions. Please contact me if you would like a pdf copy of this manuscript. Montie, E.W., Pussini, N., Schneider, G.E., Battey, T.W.K., Dennison, S., Barakos, J., Gulland, F., 2009. Neuroanatomy and volumes of brain structures of a live California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) from magnetic resonance images. The Anatomical Record 292, 1523-1547. Abstract The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) has been a focal point for sensory, communication, cognition, and neurological disease studies in marine mammals. However, as a scientific community, we lack a noninvasive approach to investigate the anatomy and size of brain structures in this species and other free-ranging, live marine mammals. In this article, we provide the first anatomically labeled, magnetic resonance imaging based atlas derived from a live marine mammal, the California sea lion. The brain of the California seal lion contained more secondary gyri and sulci than the brains of terrestrial carnivores. The olfactory bulb was present but small. The hippocampus of the California sea lion was found mostly in the ventral position with very little extension dorsally, quite unlike the canids and the mustelids, in which the hippocampus is present in the ventral position but extends dorsally above the thalamus. In contrast to the canids and the mustelids, the pineal gland of the California sea lion was strikingly large. In addition, we report three-dimensional reconstructions and volumes of cerebrospinal fluid, cerebral ventricles, total white matter (WM), total gray matter (GM), cerebral hemispheres (WM and GM), cerebellum and brainstem combined (WM and GM), and hippocampal structures all derived from magnetic resonance images. These measurements are the first to be determined for any pinniped species. In California sea lions, this approach can be used not only to relate cognitive and sensory capabilities to brain size but also to investigate the neurological effects of exposure to neurotoxins such as domoic acid. Best Regards, Eric Montie

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Albatross association with killer whale
by William Rossiter 12 Oct '09

12 Oct '09

www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007322 From the Eye of the Albatrosses: A Bird-Borne Camera Shows an Association between Albatrosses and a Killer Whale in the Southern Ocean Kentaro Q. Sakamoto1, Akinori Takahashi2*, Takashi Iwata2, Philip N. Trathan3 1 Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, 2 Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan, 3 British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge, United Kingdom Abstract Top Albatrosses fly many hundreds of kilometers across the open ocean to find and feed upon their prey. Despite the growing number of studies concerning their foraging behaviour, relatively little is known about how albatrosses actually locate their prey. Here, we present our results from the first deployments of a combined animal-borne camera and depth data logger on free-ranging black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophrys). The still images recorded from these cameras showed that some albatrosses actively followed a killer whale (Orcinus orca), possibly to feed on food scraps left by this diving predator. The camera images together with the depth profiles showed that the birds dived only occasionally, but that they actively dived when other birds or the killer whale were present. This association with diving predators or other birds may partially explain how albatrosses find their prey more efficiently in the apparently ‘featureless’ ocean, with a minimal requirement for energetically costly diving or landing activities.

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