April 2016 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: New Miocene fossil Allodelphinidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Platanistoidea) from the North Pacific Ocean
by Toshiyuki KIMURA 04 Apr '16

04 Apr '16

Dear all, We are pleased to announce our new publication: Kimura, T. and Barnes, L.G. (2016). New Miocene fossil Allodelphinidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Platanistoidea) from the North Pacific Ocean. Bulletin of the Gunma Museum of Natural History, (20):1-58. Abstract. Species in the extinct platanistoid family Allodelphinidae are dolphin-like odontocete (echolocating) cetaceans known by fossils from early and middle Miocene marine deposits around the eastern and western margins of the North Pacific Ocean. Allodelphinids were relatively large animals, having estimated adult total body lengths of approximately 3 to 5 meters, a long rostrum, the mandible extending to the end of the rostrum with a fused mandibular symphysis, large and anteroposteriorly elongated cervical vertebrae, and elongated humerus. The previously named allodelphinid species, all from California, are early Miocene Allodelphis pratti Wilson, 1935, and A. woodburnei Barnes and Reynolds, 2009, and middle Miocene Zarhinocetus errabundus (Kellogg, 1931). Additional new species belonging in the family are Goedertius oregonensis Barnes and Kimura, new genus and new species, from the early Miocene Nye Mudstone in Lincoln County, Oregon, U.S.A.; Ninjadelphis ujiharai Kimura, new genus and new species, from the early Miocene Awa Group in Mie Prefecture, Japan; and Zarhinocetus donnamatsonae Barnes, new species, from the late early Miocene to early middle Miocene Astoria Formation in Grays Harbor County, Washington State, U.S.A. Goedertius oregonensis is more derived than the species of Allodelphis. Ninjadelphis ujiharai is more derived than Goedertius oregonensis and has anteriorly retracted posterior ends of its premaxillae. Species of Zarhinocetus Barnes and Reynolds, 2009, have a maxillary tuberosity on each side of the base of the rostrum and a maxillary crest over the orbit. Zarhinocetus donnamatsonae is more derived than N. ujiharai, but more primitive than Zarhinocetus errabundus, which is the most derived species in the family. Contrary to the general evolutionary trend in cetaceans, allodelphinids evolved secondarily enlarged and anteroposteriorly elongated cervical vertebrae, and all cervical vertebrae remained un-fused to one another. Their elongated necks, combined with a large occipital shield and thick nuchal crest on the cranium, indicate that allodelphinids had well-developed muscles for movements of the head. Their extremely long and slender rostra may have allowed either raptorial or benthic feeding, and niche partitioning can explain the diversity that is now being documented within the family. Their swimming methods likely favored maneuverability but not speed. Key words: Miocene fossil Cetacea, Platanistoidea, Allodelphinidae, Allodelphis, Goedertius, Ninjadelphis, Zarhinocetus, odontocete benthic feeding, odontocete swimming methods PDF file is available here https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299616327_New_Miocene_fossil_Allod… or upon e-mail request to kimura(a)gmnh.pref.gunma.jp Regards, -- :>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Toshiyuki KIMURA, Ph.D. Assistant Curator Gunma Museum of Natural History 1674-1 Kamikuroiwa, Tomioka Gunma 370-2345, Japan tel: +81-274-60-1200 fax: +81-274-60-1250 e-mail: kimura(a)gmnh.pref.gunma.jp :<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

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Publication on bottlenose dolphin prey availability and calorific value
by Shannon McCluskey 04 Apr '16

04 Apr '16

Dear Colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the recent publication of our paper titled "Dolphin Prey Availability and Calorific Value in an Estuarine and Coastal Environment". The paper is available for download FREE from Frontiers in Marine Science: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2016.00030/full You can also find a link to the article and more information about the Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit by going here: http://mucru.org/hot-off-the-press-dolphin-prey-availability-and-calorific-… You may also contact me directly with any queries. The abstract is below. Sincerely, Shannon McCluskey Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University Perth, Western Australia Abstract Prey density has long been associated with prey profitability for a predator, but prey quality has seldom been quantified. We assessed the potential prey availability and calorific value for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops aduncus*) in an estuarine and coastal environment of temperate south-western Australia. Fish were sampled using three methods (21.5 m beach seine, multi-mesh gillnet, and fish traps), across three regions (Estuary, Bay, and Ocean) in the study area. The total biomass and numbers of all species and those of potential dolphin prey were determined in austral summers and winters between 2007 and 2010. The calorific value of 19 species was determined by bomb calorimetry. The aim of the research was to evaluate the significance of prey availability in explaining the higher abundance of dolphins in the region in summer vs. winter across years. A higher abundance of prey was captured in the summer (mean of two summer seasons 12,080 ± 160) than in the winter (mean of two winter seasons = 7358 ± 343) using the same number of gear sets in each season and year. In contrast, higher biomass and higher energy rich prey were captured during winters than during summers, when fewer dolphins are present in the area. Variability was significant between season and region for the gillnet (*p* < 0.01), and seine (*p* < 0.01). The interaction of season and region was also significant for the calorific content captured by the traps (*p* < 0.03), and between the seasons for biomass of the trap catch (*p* < 0.02). The dolphin mother and calf pairs that remain in the Estuary and Bay year round may be sustained by the higher quality, and generally larger, if lesser abundant, prey in the winter months. Furthermore, factors such as predator avoidance and mating opportunities are likely to influence patterns of local dolphin abundance. This study provides insights into the complex dynamics of predator—prey interactions, and highlights the importance for a better understanding of prey abundance, distribution and calorific content in explaining the spatial ecology of large apex predators.

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Seeking Beta-testers for Beaked whale detection software
by Aguasonic Acoustics 04 Apr '16

04 Apr '16

All, Currently seeking beta-testers for a new version of my "Beaked whale detector", have it down to 9 seconds per minute of data, using 256000 sps/24 bps recordings. If you are using passive acoustics to look for Beaked whales, and are interested in giving this a spin, send a note. Oh. Matlab with Wavelet toolbox is currently required, until the pure Java version is done. Sincerely, Mark Fischer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ https://aguasonic.com/

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PhD Grant call in Italy
by Sandro Mazzariol 04 Apr '16

04 Apr '16

Dear Collegues I'm forwarding you the following call for PhD grants. The University of Padova, through funding from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo, offers research fellowships for foreign students to attend Doctoral Courses. During the 3-year doctorate programme, successful candidates are entitled to full board and lodging. If you have any available candidate interested in submitting a research proposal on marine mammals *veter**inary sciences*, please give her/him this link ( http://www.unipd.it/en/node/1053) with the indication of selecting the Doctoral Course in Veterinary Sciences and preparing a research topic related to marine mammals anatomy, diseases and/or pathology. This could be an interesting opportunity for cooperation. If you need further information this is my email: sandro.mazzariol(a)unipd.it. Sincerely Sandro Mazzariol -- Dr. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) Università degli Studi di Padova Cetaceans strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) AGRIPOLIS - Ed. Museo Viale dell'Università 16 35020 - Legnaro (PD) tel.: +39 049 827 2963 fax: +39 049 827 2973 skype: smazzariol

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