March 2017 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper about the population genetics of European harbour porpoises
by Michael fontaine 02 Mar '17

02 Mar '17

Dear MARMAMERS, We are delighted to announce the release of our new paper about population genetics of harbour porpoises! Mixing of Porpoise Ecotypes in South Western UK Waters Revealed by Genetic Profiling. Michaël C Fontaine, Olivier Thatcher, Nicolas Ray, Sylvain Piry, Andrew Brownlow, Nicholas J Davinson, Paul D Jepson, Rob Deaville, and Simon J Goodman Contact zones between ecotypes are windows for understanding how species may react to climate changes. Here, we analysed the fine-scale genetic and morphological variation in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) around the UK by genotyping 591 stranded animals at nine microsatellite loci. The data were integrated with a prior study to map at high resolution the contact zone between two previously identified ecotypes meeting in the northern Bay of Biscay. Clustering and spatial analyses revealed that UK porpoises are derived from two genetic pools with porpoises from the southwestern UK being genetically differentiated, and having larger body sizes compared to those of other UK areas. Southwestern UK porpoises showed admixed ancestry between southern and northern ecotypes with a contact zone extending from the northern Bay of Biscay to the Celtic Sea and Channel. Around the UK, ancestry blends from one genetic group to the other along a southwest--northeast axis, correlating with body size variation, consistent with previously reported morphological differences between the two ecotypes. We also detected isolation by distance among juveniles but not in adults, suggesting that stranded juveniles display reduced intergenerational dispersal. The fine-scale structure of this admixture zone raises the question of how it will respond to future climate change and provides a reference point for further study. The paper is freely available at: http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/4/3/160992 Fontaine M. C., Thatcher O., Ray N., Piry S., Brownlow A., Davinson N. J., Jepson P. D., Deaville R., Goodman S. J., 2017 Mixing of Porpoise Ecotypes in South Western UK Waters Revealed by Genetic Profiling. R. Soc. open sci. : https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160992 -- ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands Email: m.c.fontaine(a)rug.nl Google scholar profile <http://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=rvFE0t4AAAAJ&sortby=pubdate&…> Researcher-ID (G-5350-2011) http://michaelcfontaine.wordpress.com _____________________________________________________________________________ Please, adopt an eco-attitude Consider it twice before printing this email

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*Final Reminder - Call for Submissions: AoI to inform the regional identification of IMMAs in the Pacific Islands Region*
by MMPATF IMMA 02 Mar '17

02 Mar '17

**Final Reminder - Call for Submissions: Areas of Interest to inform the regional identification of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in the Pacific Islands Region** **Deadline for Proposals - March 9th 2017** The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF) would like to remind those interested of the final opportunity to submit Areas of Interest to inform the future identification of IMMAs in the Pacific Islands Region. The aim of the IMMA classification is to identify discrete habitat areas that are judged to be important for one or more marine mammal species and that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. This will be achieved by the use of the IMMA selection criteria which have been developed in partnership with the marine mammal science and conservation community. These criteria will be used as part of a process of regionally convened expert workshops where information on marine mammals and potential Areas of Interest for IMMAs will be critically assessed. The MMPATF would now like to remind those interested to submit their Areas of Interest, and other relevant information on marine mammals, which could be of assistance to identify IMMAs in the Pacific Islands region at the next IMMA Regional Workshop of experts in Apia, Samoa, March 2017. Please follow the link below to submit your IMMA Area of Interest for consideration by the MMPATF (information and additional instructions are provided on each page of the standard submission form). **IMMA Areas of Interest standard submission form** - http://goo.gl/cYvnGp For further information about the IMMA initiative, the IMMA selection criteria, or the other activities of the MMPATF, please visit the Task Force website www.marinemammalhabitat.org If you require any further assistance or information about the use of the submission form, or would prefer an alternative means of submitting your IMMA areas of interest, please contact the IMMA Coordinator at immacoordinator<@>gmail.com *Dr. Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Coordinator* IUCN Joint SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF) _______________________________________________

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Whale Heritage Sites: Initial applications open
by Dylan Walker 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

Dear colleagues, The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is requesting initial applications from locations with a track record of scientific research on wild cetaceans as one of four required criteria for its Whale Heritage Sites initiative. Any interested person can register a site between now and 28 June 2017, when the criteria will be reviewed, and all applicant sites will be discussed at the Whale Heritage Sites Summit, Durban, South Africa ( http://worldwhaleconference.org/programme/whs-summit-2017) Whale Heritage Sites (WHS) are high sea or coastal marine areas, and less often freshwater rivers and lakes, where cetaceans live, and their associated land areas. WHS will be identified against criteria that interweave natural and cultural elements and acknowledge critical places that, for reasons of physical and social geography, are sites where people can coexist with cetaceans in an authentic and respectful way. *Criteria* Whale Heritage Site status is granted to those places around the world where: 1. Cetaceans are celebrated through research, art, education, and cultural events 2. Sustainable practices and livelihoods are continually improved to ensure the health of cetacean habitats and the long-term economic health of human communities, and; 3. Respectful coexistence with cetaceans is supported through law, policy and cooperation. Criteria for WHS focuses on how people celebrate, benefit from, and seek to conserve the cetaceans with which they coexist. Each WHS may find its own unique means, appropriate to its local context, including geography, culture, economics, and politics, to satisfy the criteria with the required rigour. In meeting WHS criteria, a candidate site must take into account information relating to the relevant local cetacean populations including their status, numbers, biology, habitat, behaviour, and welfare. Overarching the criteria is the premise that WHS sites will promote respectful positive coexistence with cetaceans. *Submission* To submit an initial online application to be considered for Whale Heritage Site candidacy click here: http://whaleheritagesites.org/application/ For further information about Whale Heritage Sites click here: http://whaleheritagesites.org/ We welcome your submissions. Regards, Dylan Walker Chief Executive Officer *World Cetacean Alliance * *T *+44 (0)1273 355011* M *+44 (0)7900 471490* S *dylan.wca *E *dylan(a)worldcetaceanalliance.org* W *worldcetaceanalliance.org *W2 *whaleheritagesites.org *A *Studio 3, Lower Promenade, Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1ET, UK The WCA is proud to be a finalist at the 2016 World Responsible Tourism Awards <http://worldcetaceanalliance.org/2016/09/08/world-responsible-tourism-award…> *The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is a Partnership of over 70 non-profit organisations, whale and dolphin watching tour operators and individuals in 35 countries worldwide working collaboratively to protect cetaceans and their habitats. World Cetacean Alliance, the Secretariat to the Partnership, is a UK registered Charity no. 1160484. * *The content of this e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this communication in error, be aware that forwarding it, copying it, or in any way disclosing its content to any other person, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail immediately.* *Please consider the environment before printing this email or it's attachments. *

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New paper on aquatic mammal feeding
by Felix Marx 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

Dear colleagues, please find below the abstract and link to our recently published paper on a new behavioural and evolutionary framework of aquatic mammal feeding: Hocking D.P., Marx F.G., Park T., Fitzgerald E.M.G and Evans A.R. 2017. A behavioural framework for the evolution of feeding in predatory aquatic mammals. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284: 20162750. Link: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1850/20162750 Abstract: Extant aquatic mammals are a key component of aquatic ecosystems. Their morphology, ecological role and behaviour are, to a large extent, shaped by their feeding ecology. Nevertheless, the nature of this crucial aspect of their biology is often oversimplified and, consequently, misinterpreted. Here, we introduce a new framework that categorizes the feeding cycle of predatory aquatic mammals into four distinct functional stages (prey capture, manipulation and processing, water removal and swallowing), and details the feeding behaviours that can be employed at each stage. Based on this comprehensive scheme, we propose that the feeding strategies of living aquatic mammals form an evolutionary sequence that recalls the land-to-water transition of their ancestors. Our new conception helps to explain and predict the origin of particular feeding styles, such as baleen-assisted filter feeding in whales and raptorial ‘pierce’ feeding in pinnipeds, and informs the structure of present and past ecosystems. Kind regards, Felix Marx _____________________________ *Felix G. Marx* PhD Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow *Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium *Monash University, Melbourne, Australia *Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Australia Address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University 18 Innovation Walk, VIC 3800, Australia Tel. +61 (0)3 9905 1190 (Monash University) or +61 (0)3 8341 7346 (Museum Victoria)

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