August 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Call for abstract: SMM 2015 Workshop: Ecological roles and importance of marine mammals
by Jeremy Kiszka 28 Aug '15

28 Aug '15

Dear colleagues, Apologies for cross posting! _*SMM WORKSHOP*_*: ECOLOGICAL ROLES OF MARINE MAMMALS IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS**(Saturday, December 12, 2015; 830am to 530pm) * Those interested in presenting should submit an abstract (300 word limit) for talks only by email to Jeremy Kiszka (jeremy.kiszka(a)gmail.com) and Peter Corkeron (peter.corkeron(a)noaa.gov) by September 15th (extended deadline). Please indicate in your abstract which length you prefer (no more than 15 or 20 minutes + 5 minutes for questions). See you in SF! On behalf of the organizing committee, J Kiszka -- Jeremy Kiszka (PhD) Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University 3000 NE 151 St., FL-33181, North Miami, USA. Tel office (direct): (305)-919-4104 Cell: (786)-717-9797 Skype: jeremy.kiszka The Heithaus lab: http://www2.fiu.edu/~heithaus/ --- L'absence de virus dans ce courrier électronique a été vérifiée par le logiciel antivirus Avast. http://www.avast.com

1 0

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Stranding Biologist Position
by Volunteer Department 28 Aug '15

28 Aug '15

Interested applicants will email a cover letter and resume to ddesantis(a)cmaquarium.org<mailto:ddesantis@cmaquarium.org> . Clearwater Marine Aquarium is located at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater FL . Information can be found at www.seewinter.com<http://www.seewinter.com> . Due to the large number of applicants no follow up calls or emails will be accepted. POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Stranding Biologist REPORTS TO: Supervisor EXEMPT OR NON-EXEMPT: Non-exempt PERCENTAGE OF FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT: 100% PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Able to work in adverse environmental conditions, lift and carry 50 lbs, proficient swimmer, and have good physical stamina. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: The role of the Stranding Biologist within the Stranding Department is to support and contribute to the goals and objectives outlined by management. This will require the Stranding Biologist position to maintain flexible working hours, to be amenable to shifting priorities and other changes, and to be able to modify accordingly. The Stranding Biologist may report to more than one job site, which involves traveling beyond Pinellas County and/or to other facilities. The primary responsibility of the Stranding Biologist is to be activity involved in tasks that are necessary to support stranding preparedness and response, as determined by the Stranding Coordinator, and that which promotes education and community awareness. Routine tasks required of the Stranding Biologist include, but are not limited to, public speaking, public relations, maintenance and storage of equipment, purchase of supplies, teaching and education, collection and management of data and samples, correspondence related to all aspects of the job, rehab shift coverage and overnight observations, operation of vehicles and vesicles, and producing written materials. Other aspects of the Stranding Biologist position involve transport, processing and/or disposal of carcasses as well as the treatment and care of live animals in the field and/or in a rehab setting. The Stranding Biologist is required to participate in random and unscheduled events such as interviews, necropsies, or various animal responses. On an as needed basis, the Stranding Biologist will also assist with some or all aspects of various projects, research, or grant writing and is required to participate in other animal care departments. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: * To have complete knowledge of the SE Marine Mammal Stranding Network, CMA's role within the stranding network and the community. * Participate in all operations required for consistent stranding response preparedness 100% of the time. * Participate in daily operations including, but not limited to, the completion of checklists, equipment cleaning and organization, monitoring and response to the stranding hotline, public stranding demonstrations, guest programs, and more. * Modify and adjust work schedule and priorities in order to participate in the rapid response to all stranded animal rescues and rehab events, including those which occur during non-schedule times. * Maintain the cleanliness and organization of the critical care facilities and storage areas on a consistent basis. * Complete routine inspections of critical care facilities based on NMFS Polices and Best Practices and USDA guidelines. Make recommendations for work orders. * Complete all tasks necessary to monitor the 24-hour CMA emergency stranding hotline. * Maintain a comprehensive and updated stranding team membership database. * Conduct workshops and trainings for the Stranding Team volunteers, interns, law enforcement, and the public. * Participate in the rehabilitation, release, and monitoring efforts of marine mammals, which involve overnight and extended-hour shifts. * Maintain accurate and updated information on CMA's Cetacean Database, CMA's Photo Archive, and the NMFS Marine Mammal National Database. * Collect quality data and complete required documentations (e.g. 24-hour report, Level A Data) for stranded animals. * Maintain or revise the Stranding Internship syllabus as needed, and provide daily training and supervision to Stranding Interns. Complete a minimum of two evaluations for each Stranding Intern. * Participate in activities that promote or support the Stranding Department as determined by the Stranding Coordinator. * Participate in various public relations and media events, including professional interviews. * Participate in community relations, outreach events and other activities, which may involve traveling to the other counties within the state of FL, for the purpose of education, training, and networking. * Conduct public stranding demonstrations and/or hoist paid guest programs. Assist with training of new program hosts and monitor programs for appropriate content and quality. * Participate in some or all aspects of various types of research projects, as deemed appropriate by CMA's research committee and the Stranding Coordinator. * Participate in projects, grant writing, and research, as needed. * Assist with conducting necropsies and coordinate the disposal of carcasses. * Maintain CMA's database for tissue samples and skeletal parts/complete skeletons and keep record of the transfer of parts. * Maintain stranding equipment and vehicles, including inspection logs. * Produce quality written material including SOPs, SOGs, reports, correspondence, and other. * Maintain an on-going record of the CCF freezer content, storage, and removal. * Participate in the development and implementation of educational outreach material or activities to promote public awareness and conservation efforts. EDUCATIONAL/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: * Bachelor's degree in related discipline from an accredited college/university * Minimum of 1-3 years of experience working in the Marine Mammal Stranding Network * Capacity to withstand extreme outdoor temperatures * Ability to lift up to 50lbs * Valid driver's license * Must pass the CMA Stranding Team swim test with a total of 80 points or higher * Proven written communication skills, preferably in research and/or grant writing * Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and related software programs (e.g. Microsoft Outlook; ArcGIS) * Excellent organizational and data entry skills. * Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. * Possess good judgment, flexibility in responding to changing priorities, and be able to work as a team member and function well under pressure Dawn De Santis Vice President of Guest Relations/Human Resources Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage Clearwater, FL 33767 ddesantis(a)cmaquarium.org<mailto:Youre-mail@cmaquarium.org> www.SeeWinter.com [cid:3491897161_717927]

1 0

Ocean Sciences 2016 session, 'Physical-biological interactions at ocean fronts: from processes to predators'
by Kylie Scales - NOAA Affiliate 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

Are you interested in how marine mammals interact with their oceanic environment? Does your work investigate (sub-)mesoscale oceanographic influence on at-sea habitat use? Does your study species associate with ocean fronts, or are they ecologically significant features of your study system? If so, we need you! We are seeking abstracts for an Ocean Sciences (New Orleans, Feb 2016) session, 'Physical-biological interactions at ocean fronts: from processes to predators'. Further details are given below. We aim to make this an engaging session with an interdisciplinary, cross-taxon focus and opportunities for discussion with experts from across the fields of marine ecology, biologging, physical oceanography, remote sensing and oceanographic modelling. Abstracts can be submitted at https://agu.confex.com/agu/os16/preliminaryview.cgi/Session9323 The submission deadline is 23 September 2015, 23:59EDT. Session info: Ocean fronts are sharp horizontal gradients in physical properties such as temperature, salinity and density. Fronts manifest throughout the oceans over a range of spatio-temporal scales, from ephemeral sub-mesoscale features in shelf seas to persistent basin-scale water mass boundaries in the open oceans. Under certain conditions, bio-physical coupling along fronts can lead to enhanced primary productivity and the aggregation of zooplankton and micronekton. This low trophic level enhancement is known to attract marine predators including seabirds, cetaceans, turtles, pinnipeds, sharks and tuna to front-associated foraging and migration habitats. However, key questions remain regarding the mechanisms through which the physical properties of fronts interact with prey field dynamics and the foraging ecology of marine predators to influence associations. A better understanding of the physical-biological interactions that occur at fronts, and the influence of spatial scale, frontal persistence and wider regional oceanography is required to ascertain their ecological importance, and predict future shifts in critical predator habitats. This session seeks to gather researchers to share new insights into physical-biological interactions at fronts in pelagic systems. We particularly encourage inter-disciplinary presentations that integrate model-derived or remotely-sensed oceanographic data with biological indices to elucidate the mechanistic links between physical processes, predators and prey. *Dr. Kylie L. Scales | *Assistant Project Scientist Environmental Research Division NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center 99 Pacific Street, Suite #255A Monterey, CA 93940, USA kylie.scales(a)noaa.gov | +1 (831) 648-8516 @KylieScales

1 0

Fwd: [lajam] New Issue Published
by Lajam Editors 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

Dear Readers: We are happy to let you know that Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals has just published its latest issue at http://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam. We invite you to review the Table of Contents here and then visit our web site to review articles and items of interest. Thanks for the continuing interest in our work, Dr. Miriam Marmontel Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá lajam.editors(a)gmail.com LAJAM, Editor-in-Chief Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals Vol 10, No 1 (2015) Table of Contents http://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam/issue/view/26 Editorial -------- Editorial (1) Miriam Marmontel, Daniel M. Palacios Articles -------- Cetaceans observed in Suriname and adjacent waters (2-19) Marijke Nita de Boer Epidemiological characteristics of skin disorders in cetaceans from South American waters (20-32) Marie-Francoise Elisabeth Van Bressem, Leonardo Flach, Julio César Reyes, Mónica Echegaray, Marcos Santos, Francisco Viddi, Fernando Félix, Liliane Lodi, Koen Van Waerebeek Notes -------- Strand-feeding by coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador (33-37) Pedro Jose Jiménez, Juan José Alava Occurrence of Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, from 2006 to 2009 (38-47) Gustavo Cárdenas-Hinojosa, Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) and killer whales (Orcinus orca) attending chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) commercial trawl fisheries over the Patagonian Shelf: a first report (48-51) Juan Pablo Seco Pon, Marco Favero First successful capture and satellite tracking of a West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Panama: feasibility of capture and telemetry techniques (52-57) Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, Leon D. Olivera-Gómez, James P. Reid, Carlos Espinoza-Marin, Kherson E. Ruiz, Kenneth E. Glander Detection of infection with Leptospira spp. in manatees (Trichechus inunguis) of the Peruvian Amazon (58-61) Patrick Mathews Delgado, Nofre Sanchez Perea, Claudia Biffi Garcia, Carmen Rosa García Davila Short Communications -------- First record of the pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) in Trinidad and Tobago waters (62-64) Alësha Rachel Naranjit, Howard P. Nelson, Angela P. Ramsey Finding of a skull of Pseudorca crassidens in Caleta de Los Loros, Rio Negro Province, Argentina (65-67) Raimundo Lucas Bustos, Maria Fernanda Negri, Gustavo Adolfo Daneri, Esperanza Amalia Varela, Marcos Luna In Memoriam -------- Rae Natalie Prosser de Goodall 1935-2015 (68-69) Adrián Schiavini ________________________________________________________________________ Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals http://www.lajamjournal.org/ -- Miriam Marmontel Editor-in-Chief Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals http://www.lajamjournal.org/

1 0

Marine Mammal Field Techniques
by Mithriel MacKay 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

Marine Mammal Field Techniques Participants in this program will spend 5 days in the field learning skills important to marine mammal research and two days snorkeling near shore reefs. Each day we will focus on a different skill and include a round table discussion in the evening. This program is meant to be low stress and enjoyable! A maximum of 8 students (and 2 MCERC faculty members) will cover the following: Ø Passive acoustic monitoring data collection Ø Acoustic analysis software Theodolite tracking and theory Ø Marine Mammal identification Ø Capture-recapture studies (fluke and fin matching) Bring your own snorkel gear and a camera because we will be working from beautiful cliffs and swimming/snorkeling from Puerto Rico’s Caribbean beaches. Cost of this program is $900.00USD and includes the instruction fee, a bunk at the field house, all meals (we cook together), and transportation to all field sites and beaches. The program fee does not include transportation to and from San German, Puerto Rico. To join us in this program; Go to www.Marine-Eco.org/mcerc-moodle and fill out the Simple Application Form. You can find the form and detailed instructions on the left on the home page of the Education Hub. Send all the pages (you can take photos of them!) to the address on the form. You will get a log on and password, then you just log in, go to the course through the block on the right of the home page, and follow the instructions! There are only 8 spots for this program, so register quickly! Mithriel MacKay, Ph.D. Director of Research and Education Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center San German, Puerto Rico, USA and Pipe Creek, Texas 78063 Website www.Marine-Eco.org <http://www.marine-eco.org/> E-mail Mithriel(a)Marine-Eco.org <MCERC.mail(a)gmail.com> Education HUb www.Marine-Eco.org/mcerc-moodle Photo Gallery www.Marine-Eco.Jimdo.com

1 0

New Publication: CYP1A1 as POP Biomarker in Stranded Pacific Island Cetaceans
by Melannie Bachman - NOAA Affiliate 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to inform you of our recent publication in *Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry*. Bachman MJ, Foltz KM, Lynch JM, West KL, Jensen BA. Using Cytochrome P4501A1 Expression in Liver and Blubber to Understand Effects of Persistent Organic Pollutant Exposure in Stranded Pacific Island Cetaceans. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015; 34: 1989-1995. Abstract: Elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been reported in tropical Pacific Island cetaceans and their environment. In addition, recent health concerns in cetacean populations have warranted investigation into potential physiological effects from POP exposure for this region. Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is a candidate for examining such effects. This well-studied biomarker of exposure and effect was examined in stranded cetacean liver using immunoblot (n=39, 16 species) and blubber using immunohistochemistry (n=23, 10 species). Paired tissue samples allowed for CYP1A1 comparisons not only between species but also within each individual animal to examine differences between tissue types. Liver CYP1A1 expression correlated positively and significantly with blubber concentrations of all POP categories (n=39, p < 0.050) except octachlorostyrene and pentachlorobenzene (p > 0.100). Among Stenella species, liver CYP1A1 tissue expression was correlated negatively with the sum of all blubber layer endothelial cell CYP1A1 expression (n=14, p=0.049). Overall, elevated expression of liver CYP1A1 confirms its use as a biomarker of POP exposure to cetaceans stranded in the tropical Pacific basin. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1989–1995. This article is available online ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3018/abstract) Please send pdf requests to Melannie Bachman (melannie.bachman(a)noaa.gov) Sincerely, Melannie Bachman -- Melannie J. Bachman, MSc Biologist National Institute of Standards & Technology Hollings Marine Laboratory 331 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412 O: 843-762-8951

1 0

Invitation: Career-Life balance workshop at SMM BIennial in December
by Samantha Simmons 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to a half-day workshop entitled "Career-Life balance and how to make a successful career in marine mammal science" in association with the SMM Biennial Conference on Sunday, December 13th from 8:30am - 12:30. Below is a brief description of the workshop. More information can be found at the SMM conference website. Career-Life balance and how to make a successful career in marine mammal science Workshop Summary: Globally, there is increasing recognition that family and care giving responsibilities are driving women away from STEM fields. However, this issue is not unique to gender, and other minorities or those (of either gender) with additional caring responsibilities can face similar difficulties. In particular, marine mammalogy is a challenging career in this respect because of the fieldwork and travel obligations necessary to excel in the field. This workshop aims to bring awareness to this issue within our community, and examine whether there is more that the Society for Marine Mammalogy could do to retain and maximize talent and diversity across its members. Before the workshop we will be distributing a brief on-line survey to Society members. We will use the results of the survey at the workshop to highlight potential challenges and biases as they apply specifically to our community. Date and Time: December 13th, 2015, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm For further information and to register please go to the Society's website: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#career REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS: We are seeking sponsorship for the workshop and have received support from ATS, Loggerhead Instruments and Teledyne-Reson. We will pass on this support as a reduction in fees, and are currently able to offer a $20 discount to the first 30 registrants for this workshop. (If you have registered already a refund will be issued through the SMM system). If you have any questions about the workshop please contact one of the co-organizers: Samantha Simmons (ssimmons(a)mmc.gov<mailto:ssimmons@mmc.gov>), Sascha Hooker (sh43(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:sh43@st-andrews.ac.uk>), Gitte McDonald (gmcdonald(a)mlml.calstate.edu<mailto:gmcdonald@mlml.calstate.edu>), Alison Stimpert (astimpert(a)mlml.calstate.edu<mailto:astimpert@mlml.calstate.edu>) We hope to see you in San Francisco in December! Sam, Sascha, Gitte and Alison. _______________________________________________________________ Samantha Simmons, PhD. Assistant Scientific Program Director Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814 (w) 301-504-0087 web: www.mmc.gov The Marine Mammal Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. Government Follow us on Twitter: @MarineMammalCom

1 0

WIKIPEDIA WORKSHOP at Biennial
by Shane Gero 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

To all Biennial Attendees, Now that everyone has heard about their abstract assignments for the SMM conference in San Francisco, I know everyone is frantically looking over the list of amazing workshops – WELL LOOK NO FURTHER! You want to attend this one: Wikipedia as a tool for outreach, open access science, and in the classroom This biennial workshop is presented by the Society’s Education Committee and Wiki Education Foundation. It has been sponsored by the Society for Marine Mammalogy to reduce the cost of the ½ day workshop to only $20! This is a great workshop for: 1) Faculty wanting a new pedagogic approach, 2) Early-career scientists looking for new tools to distinguish themselves, 3) Those interested in outreach and public access to science, and 4) Those looking to increase their digital literacy in new media. Workshop Description: Wikipedia is viewed over 5 billion times a day and is the 7th most visited site on the internet globally. In most searches, Wikipedia is the #1 result returned for most marine mammal common and latin binomial names, and for the term marine mammal<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_mammal>. As a result the public accesses content on Wikipedia about diverse topics from Whaling<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling> to the effects of climate change on marine mammals<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_climate_change_on_marine_mammals> on a daily basis. For example, the article on blue whales<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_whales> has been viewed over 66,000 times in the last 30 days! A common complaint of many scientists is that Wikipedia is not a well-grounded reference for information. Nonetheless, the people; including students, the media, and government officials; accesses information about marine mammal behavior, species facts, conservation issues, and taxonomy online every day. This issue is that contemporary knowledge about marine mammal species and conservation issues in the primary research literature is disparate, difficult to read and access, and not always free or open access. As the premier international society for understanding marine mammals and their interactions with their environment and humans, the Society for Marine Mammalogy<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Marine_Mammalogy> is committed to providing the most up-to-date information about these species to the public. This workshop run in conjunction by the Wiki Education Foundation and the SMM Education Committee will will demonstrate how Wikipedia can be used as a teaching tool in the classroom, as a method for building digital literacy, and as a method to increase the free access to accurate scientific information. Wiki in your classroom: The Wiki Education Foundation was established to serves as the bridge between academia and Wikipedia. Since 2010, educators participating in the program have assigned their students to add content to course-related articles on Wikipedia. Students gain key 21st century skills like media literacy, writing and research development, and critical thinking, while content gaps on Wikipedia get filled thanks to students’ efforts. Wiki as a tool for Digital Literacy: The internet, and Wikipedia itself, is by far the first source of knowledge accessed by the public. Evaluating this quality and content of this information is critical competency for this generation of students. Furthermore, contributing content allows students to evaluate and assess articles online, a central part of learning to be a scientist. As contributors, they learn to summarize and concisely communicate information from reliable primarily literature sources. A key to being a clear scientific communicator is the ability to communicate complex ideas at a lay level. Wiki as a tool for Open Access: Wikipedia pages are viewed thousands of times a day by the public. Expert edits on Wikipedia increase the free access to current information about scientific fields, controversies in popular perception, and increases the level of public understanding. Expert content links primary scientific literature with the public. The workshop will cover: 1) The basic functions, coding, and use of Wikipedia itself 2) The specific course content and support available from Wiki Education Foundation to educators who use Wikipedia 3) As a practical exercise, the attendees will participate in the 3rd SMM Wikisprint to update, correct and improve the content on Wikipedia about marine mammal science. See you all there, The Organizers Shane Gero<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ShaneGero> (shane.gero(a)bios.au.dk) and Jami Mathewson<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jami_%28Wiki_Ed%29> (WikiEd) **************************** Shane Gero, Ph.D. FNU Research Fellow Marine Bioacoustics Lab<http://www.marinebioacoustics.com/> Institute for Bioscience Aarhus University Denmark [home-icon20]<http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/sge/> [Twitter_2012_bird_icon 20] <https://twitter.com/sgero> [linkedin_logo20] <http://ca.linkedin.com/in/shanegero> Learn more about The Dominica Sperm Whale Project at http://www.thespermwhaleproject.org<http://www.thespermwhaleproject.org/> Find us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/spermwhaleproject> or Follow @DomWhale<https://twitter.com/DomWhale>

1 0

New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation is Soliciting Bids for contractors to Conduct Three Years of Whale Monitoring in the New York Bight using aerial surveys, shipboard surveys and passive acoustics
by Bonacci, Lisa A (DEC) 26 Aug '15

26 Aug '15

Dear Colleagues, The New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources is currently soliciting bids for contractors to conduct a three year monitoring program for large whales in the New York Bight. This monitoring program will be conducted using three methods of monitoring: Passive acoustics, Aerial surveys and Shipboard surveys. The Invitations for Bids (IFBs) for each of these methods is being solicited separately. However, you may bid for more than one if appropriate. The bid period closes on 9/29/15. Bids must be received on that date by 1 pm. The Invitations for Bids can be found in the New York State Contract Reporter: https://www.nyscr.ny.gov/adsOpen.cfm. On the left hand side of the screen select Consulting & Other Services and you will see the IFBs. Please note that they are listed separately so you will have to scroll through. You may also request copies of the Invitations for Bids by email: lisa.bonacci(a)dec.ny.gov<mailto:lisa.bonacci@dec.ny.gov>. Requests for information pertinent to the preparation and submission of the bid and procurement process should be made no later than close of business on September 8, 2015 in writing to: Lisa Bonacci New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Bureau of Marine Resources 205 N Belle Meade Rd, Suite 1 East Setauket, NY 117363 Phone: 631-444-0462 Email: Lisa.Bonacci(a)dec.ny.gov<mailto:Lisa.Bonacci@dec.ny.gov> Thank you very much, Lisa Bonacci

1 0

New Publication
by Eva Schwanke 26 Aug '15

26 Aug '15

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce publication of the following article: Lehnert, K., Schwanke, E., Hahn, K., Wohlsein, P., & Siebert, U. (2015). Heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) and seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) infections in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from the North and Baltic Seas. Journal of Sea Research. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385110115300150 *Abstract* The seal louse (Echinophthirius [E.] horridus) and the heartworm (Acanthocheilonema [A.] spirocauda) are parasites of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Little is known about the role of the seal louse as a potential vector and its role for the development and transmission of heartworm larvae to their final host, the harbour seal. The life-cycle of the heartworm is still not fully understood. For the presented study, findings of 1191 stranded harbour seals collected along the North- and Baltic Sea coast between 1996 and 2013 were examined. 4.4% (n = 53), of these harbour seals were infected with adult heartworms and 3.4% (n = 40) harbour seals carried seal lice. The highest prevalence and level of infection with adult heartworms (A. spirocauda) (9.3%) and seal lice (E. horridus) (8.9%) were found on yearling harbour seals (7–18 months) compared to neonate and adult seals. Investigating seal lice (n = 35) for larval heartworm stages one larvae was encountered in an ethanol-fixated seal louse. During a health monitoring survey of live harbour seals, 109 animals were captured and examined during spring and autumn between 2008 and 2014. Blood samples were taken and microfilariae were discovered in blood smears in 41% (n = 45) of the examined harbour seals. Yearling seals (n = 21) showed higher prevalence (86%) and level of infection with microfilariae than adults. Microfilariae were identified as A. spirocauda by sequencing the species-specific COI gene in 24 blood samples. The high prevalence of microfilariae of A. spirocauda in blood samples (41%) is in contrast to the low prevalence of mature infections/adult specimens in stranded seals (4.4%) investigated. Although rare parasites of seals, the recent increase in prevalence of heartworm and seal lice in stranded seals and the relatively high occurrence of microfilaria in the free-ranging population underscore the importance of further studies investigating the immunology of infections and their transmission pathways, as well as the epidemiology of both species. Please contact us if you do not have access to this article and you would like a pdf (Kristina.Lehnert(a)tiho-hannover.de; eva.schwanke(a)yahoo.de) Best regards, Eva

1 0