March 2017 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper about impact of shellfish farming on common bottlenose dolphins
by Bruno Díaz López 22 Mar '17

22 Mar '17

We are delighted to bring to your attention the publication of our last scientific article published in Marine Biology. Díaz López, B. & Methion, S. (2017) The impact of shellfish farming on common bottlenose dolphins’ use of habitat. Marine Biology 164: 83. doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3125-x This study provides new insights into the understanding of how shellfish aquaculture influences coastal dolphins and hence support the design of policies aimed at implementing ecosystem management principles. Abstract: Shellfish farming is an expanding segment of marine aquaculture, but the impact of this industry on coastal cetacean species is only beginning to be considered. The interaction between mussel farming and coastal cetaceans in one of the world’s leading producers of this bivalve (Galicia, NW Spain) was studied. Specifically, the habitat use of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was evaluated in relation to environmental, geographical, and anthropogenic variables. Over a period of 22 months spent in the field, 154 daily boat surveys and 353 common bottlenose dolphin encounters were done. Results of this study confirm that areas of mussel production are frequently utilized by common bottlenose dolphins. Of the investigated factors, shellfish farms appeared to have a clear effect, with increased bottlenose dolphin occurrence at mussel farm locations and in waters close to the aquaculture zones. These observations contrast with previous studies where the occurrence and distribution of coastal cetacean species decreased in association with shellfish aquaculture representing a source of habitat loss and causing potentially negative effects. These differences suggest that the interactions between shellfish aquaculture and cetaceans are affected by the culture method and cetacean species involved. The positive relationships between dolphins’ occurrence and mussel aquaculture zones are presumably the result of large aggregations of fish species around mussel rafts, which provide high densities of high-quality prey for dolphins. This study provides new insights into the understanding of how shellfish aquaculture influences coastal dolphins and hence support the design of policies aimed at implementing ecosystem management principles. You can read the paper in the following link: http://rdcu.be/qci0 The paper can be download via the following link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-017-3125-x Please feel free to contact me if you don't have access to the paper: bruno(a)thebdri.com Kind regards, Bruno Díaz López Chief biologist and Director The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Spain www.thebdri.com 0034 684 248552 This email is confidential to the intended recipient(s) and the contents may be legally privileged or contain proprietary and private informations. It is intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this email. If received in error, please notify the sender and delete the message from your system immediately. Please note that neither the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI nor the sender accept any responsibility for any viruses and it is your responsibility to scan the email and the attachments (if any). Thank you for your cooperation.

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Beaked whale click production rates - new publication
by Victoria Warren 21 Mar '17

21 Mar '17

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following article: Spatio-temporal variation in click production rates of beaked whales: Implications for passive acoustic density estimation. Victoria E. Warren, Tiago A. Marques, Danielle Harris, Len Thomas, Peter L. Tyack, Natacha Aguilar de Soto, Leigh S. Hickmott, and Mark P. Johnson The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2017, Vol 141, Issue 3, 1962-1974; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.4978439 ABSTRACT Passive acoustic monitoring has become an increasingly prevalent tool for estimating density of marine mammals, such as beaked whales, which vocalize often but are difficult to survey visually. Counts of acoustic cues (e.g., vocalizations), when corrected for detection probability, can be translated into animal density estimates by applying an individual cue production rate multiplier. It is essential to understand variation in these rates to avoid biased estimates. The most direct way to measure cue production rate is with animal-mounted acoustic recorders. This study utilized data from sound recording tags deployed on Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris, 19 deployments) and Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris, 16 deployments) beaked whales, in two locations per species, to explore spatial and temporal variation in click production rates. No spatial or temporal variation was detected within the average click production rate of Blainville's beaked whales when calculated over dive cycles (including silent periods between dives); however, spatial variation was detected when averaged only over vocal periods. Cuvier's beaked whales exhibited significant spatial and temporal variation in click production rates within vocal periods and when silent periods were included. This evidence of variation emphasizes the need to utilize appropriate cue production rates when estimating density from passive acoustic data. The article can be downloaded from http://asa.scitation.org/doi/10.1121/1.4978439 or a PDF can be requested via email to victoriawarren(a)live.co.uk<mailto:victoriawarren@live.co.uk> Kind regards, Victoria Warren _____________________________________ Victoria Warren Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung Ocean Acoustics Lab, Room D-3035 Am Alten Hafen 26, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany Email: victoria.warren(a)awi.de<mailto:victoria.warren@awi.de> Phone: +4947 14831 2212

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ECS 2017 Workshop: Approaches to assessing impacts from marine industry on Harbour porpoise SACs
by Morris, Ceri 21 Mar '17

21 Mar '17

We would like to invite you to participate in a workshop on: “Approaches to assessing impacts from marine industry on harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation” To be held on Sunday 30th April 2017 ahead of the European Cetacean Society Conference in Middelfart, Denmark. The workshop is organised by members of the UK statutory nature conservation bodies (Natural Resources Wales, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee) who act as advisors to the UK government. The aim of the workshop is to present case studies from across Europe to discuss harbour porpoise conservation measures, particularly through Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the EU Habitats Directive, in the face of a growing renewable energy industry. It will be an opportunity for regulators, advisors, researchers, developers, NGOs and other stakeholders to share their experiences of harbour porpoise SAC conservation management. We will hear real-life case studies from around Europe on issues including: • How are activities regulated within harbour porpoise SACs? • Should impacts such as collision risk, noise disturbance and habitat loss be assessed and mitigated differently within and outside sites? • What are the main challenges faced, and how are they overcome? • Are there other approaches that have been used for ‘wider sea’ areas e.g. Conservation strategies? We also invite submissions on case studies such as approaches to mitigation, cumulative noise assessment, population change thresholds, and monitoring. There will be an afternoon of in-depth group discussions to allow all delegates to participate and explore these issues further. The workshop will attempt to identify issues, highlighting examples of best practice and lessons learned. We welcome submission of abstracts for short presentations on the topics covered in the workshop – please submit your abstract with your registration by 3rd April if you would like to contribute. Participation fee of €20 to be paid on the day. To register or submit an abstract please contact Ceri Wyn Morris:ceri.morris@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk<mailto:ceri.morris@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk> We look forward to seeing you in Denmark, Ceri Wyn Morris (on behalf of the organising committee) Natural Resources Wales UK Ceri Wyn Morris Arbenigwr Mamaliaid Môr / Marine Mammal Specialist Cyfarwyddiaeth Tystiolaeth, Polisi a Thrwyddedu /Evidence, Policy and Permitting Directorate Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales Ffon /telephone 0300 065 4913 / 07766248402 Siaradwr Cymraeg cyfoethnaturiol.cymru / naturalresources.wales Twitter: twitter.com/NatResWales<http://www.twitter.com/NatResWales> Facebook: facebook.com/NatResWales<http://www.facebook.com/NatResWales> Flickr: flickr.com/NatResWales<http://www.flickr.com/NatResWales> Youtube: youtube.com/NatResWales<http://www.youtube.com/NatResWales> Yn falch o arwain y ffordd at ddyfodol gwell i Gymru trwy reoli’r amgylchedd ac adnoddau naturiol yn gynaliadwy. Proud to be leading the way to a better future for Wales by managing the environment and natural resources sustainably.

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New publication: Whale-watching trips in Peru lead to increases in tourist knowledge, pro-conservation intentions and tourist concern for the impacts of whale-watching on humpback whales. (Ana Garcia-Cegarra)
by Ana garcia cegarra 21 Mar '17

21 Mar '17

Dear marmam members, My co-author and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper: Garcia-Cegarra A.M, Pacheco AS. 2017. Whale-watching trips in Peru lead to increases in tourist knowledge, pro-conservation intentions and tourist concern for the impacts of whale-watching on humpback whales. Aquatic conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst. 00:1 -10. The article can be read in the following link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.2754/full and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315113414_Whale-watching_trips_in_… Abstract: 1. Since the implementation of the commercial whaling ban in the 1980s, whale�\watching has become the most important economic activity involving whales worldwide. 2. Whale�\watching is promoted as a platform for education and conservation awareness of marine biodiversity. In Peru, where cetacean species are still in jeopardy, whale�\watching may play an important part in promoting the protection of these species. 3. This study aimed to determine the degree of whale�\watching tourists' knowledge regarding cetacean ecology and conservation status and to evaluate if whale�\watching tours could serve as platforms for educating the public and raising conservation awareness. 4. The results of 196 closed�\ended questionnaires and 20 open�\ended interviews conducted before and after whale�\watching tours, during the humpback whale season (winter�Cspring 2014) in northern Peru, revealed an overall lack of knowledge concerning the presence of species of cetaceans in Peruvian waters and threats to marine biodiversity. However, after the whale�\watching excursion, participants said they would be more willing to change their behaviour with respect to cetacean conservation and marine environment protection. 5. This study suggests that whale�\watching platforms, when implemented with adequate interpreters , can serve as a source of environmental education and can raise conservation awareness. This is an important conservation strategy to consider in countries, such as Peru, where by�\catch and direct hunting are decimating local cetacean populations. Best regards, A.M. Garc��a-Cegarra PhD candidate Doctorado Ciencias Aplicadas menci��n Sistemas Marinos Costeros Universidad de Antofagasta Chile EM: anamaria.garcia(a)uantof.cl

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Wideband sound recordings of pinger sounds needed
by Line Anker Kyhn 21 Mar '17

21 Mar '17

Dear MARMAN readers I am searching for wideband sound recordings of Aquamark 100, Aquamark 300 and Banana pingers. We need the recordings for building a script for automatic detection of these pingers in wideband PAM recordings. Please get in contact asap if you have such recordings that I may 'borrow'. Or if you have a script that we can copy from. Thank you very much, Line Line A. Kyhn Ph.D. Scientist Department of Bioscience - Aarhus University Section for Marine Mammal Research (SMAR) Frederiksborgvej 399 4000 Roskilde - Denmark Email:lky@bios.au.dk<mailto:lky@bios.au.dk> Direct telephone: +45 30183148 Skype: Line Kyhn Web:www.dce.au.dk<http://www.dce.au.dk/> [cid:image001.png@01D22472.89DED700]

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New publication: Temporal and spatial variation in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina L.) roar calls from southern Scandinavia
by Puk Faxe Sabinsky 21 Mar '17

21 Mar '17

Dear all, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of the following article: Puk Faxe Sabinsky; Ole Næsbye Larsen; Magnus Wahlberg and Jakob Tougaard (2017) "*Temporal and spatial variation in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina L.) roar calls from southern Scandinavia*". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Vol.141, No.3, p.824–1834). URL: http://asa.scitation.org/doi/10.1121/1.4977999 DOI: 10.1121/1.4977999 *Abstract:* Male harbor seals gather around breeding sites for competitive mating displays. Here, they produce underwater vocalizations possibly to attract females and/or scare off other males. These calls offer prospects for passive acoustic monitoring. Acoustic monitoring requires a good understanding of natural variation in calling behavior both temporally and among geographically separate sites. Such variation in call structure and calling patterns were studied in harbor seal vocalizations recorded at three locations in Danish and Swedish waters. There was a strong seasonality in the calls from end of June to early August. Vocalizations at two locations followed a diel pattern, with an activity peak at night. Recordings from one location also showed a peak in call rate at high tide. Large geographic variations were obvious in the total duration of the so-called roar call, the duration of the most prominent part of the call (the roar burst), and of percentage of energy in roar burst. A similarly large variation was also found when comparing the recordings from two consecutive years at the same site. Thus, great care must be taken to separate variation attributable to recording conditions from genuine biological differences when comparing harbor seal roars among recording sites and between years. A PDF version of the paper can be provided by request. Best wishes on behalf of the authors, Puk Faxe Sabinsky, M.Sc. pukfaxes(a)gmail.com

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PSO / MMO Training in Honolulu, Hawaii Apr 8-9
by abostwick 20 Mar '17

20 Mar '17

There are a few spots available in Protected Species Observer training (also known as Marine Mammal Observer training) on April 8-9 in Honolulu, Hawaii. This class will include a whale-watching trip, providing experience monitoring for marine mammals and sea turtles at sea, a value which cannot be obtained in viewing static pictures. This BOEM/BSEE-compliant PSO certification course covers the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, documenting animal behavior, and how to visually locate and identify the animals. Course comprehension is measured with examinations on regulations and animal identification. Successful completion of this course provides professional Protected Species Observer certification. Lunch is provided and included in the course fee (college/graduate/government discounts available), along with various identification guides and regulatory documents (yours to keep), a whale-watching cruise, and advice on applying to PSO positions. MPSC is also holding PSO training in Boston, MA this summer. For more information, please contact Angela Bostwick at ABostwick(a)PSOCertifications.com <mailto:ABostwick@PSOCertifications.com> , by phone at 832-523-2402 <tel:832-523-2402> , or visit the website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/. Thank you, Angela Bostwick / Founder Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com <http://www.ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com> https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

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FW: New Book on North Atlantic Right Whales
by David Laist 20 Mar '17

20 Mar '17

Dear Colleagues: I am pleased to announce the availability of a new book on the history of North Atlantic right whales. It spans their evolutionary origin, through 1000+ years of whaling history, up to present day efforts to restore their depleted numbers. The chapters on evolution propose a new theory on the development of right whale foraging strategies and suggest that an inverted feeding posture is more important than currently recognized. As the first large whale hunted commercially, the book also reviews the origin of whaling and its conversion from a subsistence pursuit to a profit-motivated industry based on the exploitation of North Atlantic right whales. Separate chapters describe whaling for the species off Europe in the medieval age, in eastern Canada during the 16th century, in the sub-Arctic during the Spitsbergen whaling era in the 17th century, and along shores of North America off Long Island, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Cape May, and North Carolina's Outer Banks from Colonial times up to the 20th century. Included are new assessments of right whale catch levels by Basque and Colonial whalers, their effect on right whale abundance, and pre-exploitation population size. North Atlantic right whales are now one of the most endangered mammals on land or in the sea. The latter half of the book recounts the development of conservation efforts to prevent their extinction. Separate chapters describe the formation of a dedicated recovery program for North Atlantic right whale, successful efforts to minimize deaths caused by ship strikes, and still unresolved work to reduce entanglement in fishing gear. This book is a valuable reference for all scientists and managers concerned about right whale recovery and the management of marine species. It features an extensive bibliography of historical and current literature on the species and is well illustrated with historical prints, photographs, and maps, including color plates. For students contemplating careers in marine science or marine conservation, the thorough description of conservation efforts and how they evolved offers unique insights into the work required by scientists, resource managers, conservation groups, and marine industries to conserve imperiled marine species. "North Atlantic Right Whales: from Hunted Leviathan to Conservation Icon" by David W. Laist. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD. 432 p., 82 illustrations, 9 color plates, 1 Appendix. Available from Johns Hopkins University Press (https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/content/north-atlantic-right-whales) and Amazon. David W. Laist dlaist(a)gmail.com<mailto:dlaist@gmail.com>

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novel adenovirus in harbour porpoises - new paper
by IJsseldijk, L.L. (Lonneke) 20 Mar '17

20 Mar '17

Dear all, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in Archives of Virology: A novel cetacean adenovirus in stranded harbour porpoises from the North Sea: detection and molecular characterization van Beurden SJ, IJsseldijk LL, van de Bildt MWG, Begeman L, Wellehan Jr. JFX, Waltzek TB, de Vrieze G, Grone A, Kuiken T, Verheije MH, Penzes JJ The publication is available at the following link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00705-017-3310-8 Abstract: Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are the most prevalent cetaceans in the North Sea. The fecal viral flora of 21 harbour porpoises stranded along the Dutch coastline was analyzed by a metagenomics approach. Sequences of a novel cetacean mastadenovirus, designated harbour porpoise adenovirus 1 (HpAdV-1), were detected. The sequence of a 23-kbp genomic region, spanning the conserved late region, was determined using primer walking. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that HpAdV-1 is most closely related to bottlenose dolphin adenovirus and clusters with Cetartiodactyla adenoviruses. The prevalence of HpAdV-1 was low (2.6%) based on targeted PCR-screening of the intestinal contents of 151 harbour porpoises stranded between 2010 and 2013. Feel free to contact me to request a PDF file of the paper. Best wishes, Lonneke IJsseldijk Project coördinator Cetaceans Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Department of Pathobiology T +31 30 253 5312, M +31 6 244 556 98 L.L.IJsseldijk(a)uu.nl Yalelaan 1, PO Box 80158, 3508 TD Utrecht The Netherlands

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ECS 2017 workshop- How to achieve a European Joint Cetacean Protocol?
by Kelly.Macleod＠jncc.gov.uk 20 Mar '17

20 Mar '17

Dear all, Please join us for a 1-day workshop on Saturday 29th April at the ECS Conference, Middlefart, Denmark. Aim: Identify potential European partners and discuss objectives of a future Joint Cetacean Protocol with coverage throughout European seas. Summary The Joint Cetacean Protocol (JCP) assembled effort-related cetacean sightings datasets from all major UK, and some European sources. These data represented the largest cetacean sightings resource ever collated in Europe: 38 data sources, at least 542 survey platforms; over 1 million km of effort; and over a 17-year period (1994-2010) in European shelf seas. There is currently no mechanism to maintain and develop the JCP (e.g. collate and store new datasets) and at the 2016 ECS conference a workshop was held to discuss the future of the JCP and what its future objectives should be. These included: · Developing standardised methods to increase the pool of robust and compatible datasets; · Developing an electronic data capture system that includes formatting, validation and data upload tools; · Developing a central European database; · Working towards making these data open access; · Identifying products required by stakeholders, such as maps or atlases; and · Identifying data gaps and working with data providers to fill them. In March 2017, JNCC hosted a UK and Ireland workshop towards further development and prioritisation of these objectives and to draft a plan of how they could be achieved. Ultimately, the JCP aims to broaden its coverage to a European level and this ECS 2017 workshop will gauge interest from potential European partners and review the outputs of the March workshop from a European perspective. Combining the outputs of this and the previous ECS 2017 workshop will ensure that the future JCP will deliver for both UK and European stakeholders. The workshop is aimed at stakeholders that collect/collate cetacean visual/digital survey datasets and end users of these data. Contact Kelly Macleod, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK: Kelly.Macleod(a)jncc.gov.uk<mailto:Kelly.Macleod@jncc.gov.uk>) and Tim Dunn, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK: Tim.Dunn(a)jncc.gov.uk<mailto:Tim.Dunn@jncc.gov.uk>) Participation fee: €5 Workshop programme: 10:00 Welcome 10:05 History of the JCP: aims and uses 10:20 Data types and ‘standard’ for the JCP 10: 35 Discussion 10:45 Presentation sessions: exploration of effort-related survey data within Europe 10:45 ‘Overview of the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme’ (MERP) James Waggit/Peter Evans, Bangor University, UK. 11:05 ‘Monitoring cetaceans opportunistically’ Lucy Babey, European Cetacean Monitoring Coalition, UK 11:25 Coffee 11:45 ‘Marine Megafauna Monitoring in France: The MEGASCOPE and SAMM Surveys’ Matthieu Authier, La Rochelle, France 12:05 ‘Standardized surveying of marine mammals with aerial high definition videos’ Caroline Hoeschle , BioConsult SH / HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd . 12:25 ‘Harbour porpoise surveys in the south-eastern North Sea’ Anita Gilles, Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, Germany. 12:45 Lunch 13:45 Objectives of a new JCP - Summary from the ECS 2016 - Discussion: scope of the objectives from a wider European perspective? 14:15 Break-out groups: Prioritisation of objectives 15: 00 Break 15:10 Feedback from break out groups 15: 30 Working arrangements at the European scale 15:45 Next steps 16:00 Close Kelly Macleod Senior Marine Species Advisor PhD JNCC, Inverdee House, Baxter Street, Torry, Aberdeen, AB11 9QA Tel: 01224 266 550, Direct Dial: 01224 266 584 , Mobile: 07964 598 206 Email: kelly.macleod(a)jncc.gov.uk<mailto:kelly.macleod@jncc.gov.uk> Skype: kelly.macleod5 My working days are: Monday to Thursday, 9-3pm [JNCCLogo_3DCol] http://jncc.defra.gov.uk [cid:image003.gif@01D1966B.745F1330]<https://twitter.com/JNCC_UK>[cid:image004.gif@01D1966B.745F1330]<https://www.facebook.com/JNCCUK/> [Linkedin logo] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/joint-nature-conservation-committee> 25 years delivering innovative solutions to realise the value of nature. _____________________________________________________________________ This email and any attachments, is intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you are not the named recipient then any copying, distribution, storage or other use of the information contained in them is strictly prohibited. In this case, please inform the sender straight away then destroy the email and any linked files. JNCC may have to make this message, and any reply to it, public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. If you have a Freedom of Information/Environmental Information request please refer to our website page. This message has been checked for all known viruses by JNCC through the MessageLabs Virus Control Centre however we can accept no responsibility once it has left our systems. The recipient should check any attachment before opening it. JNCC Support Co. registered in England and Wales, Company No. 05380206. Registered Office: Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1JY. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/

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