September 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Strontium as a potential tracer for mysticetes movements and habitat use
by Morgana Vighi 26 Sep '18

26 Sep '18

Dear MARMAMers, We are pleased to announce that the following paper on the potential use of Sr as a tracer for whale migrations has been published online: Morgana Vighi, A. Borrell, G. Víkingsson, Th. Gunnlaugsson and A. Aguilar (2019). Strontium in fin whale baleen: A potential tracer of mysticete movements across the oceans? https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.103 ABSTRACT Strontium is a metal broadly distributed in oceanic waters, where its concentrations follow gradients mainly driven by oceanographic and biological factors. Studies on terrestrial vertebrates show that Sr can accumulate in mammalian hair in amounts mainly related to the external environment, a property that has been scarcely investigated inaquatic mammals. Cetaceans are marine mammals whose skin is generally hairless, but the species belonging to the mysticete group feed through a filtering apparatus made of keratinous baleen plates that, like hair, grow continuously. During their annual latitudinal migrations, mysticetes cross water masses with variable chemo-physical characteristics that may be reflected in these tissues. In the present study, baleen plates were sampled from 10 fin whales obtained from NW Spain (N = 5) and SW Iceland (N = 5) to investigate Sr concentrations along the plates growth axis. Samples were taken longitudinally at regular 1 cm-intervals on each plate. Sr concentrations, determined through mass spectrometry, ranged from 5 to 40 mg kg−1and increased from proximal to distal positions along plates. These results suggest a progressive adsorption of Sr on the plate surface, a process that also occurs in mammalian hair. Increasing trends were similar in the two regions but overall concentrations were significantly higher in NW Spain, reflecting different Sr baseline concentrations in the two areas and indicating isolation between the two whale populations. Some oscillations in Sr longitudinal trends were also detected, likely indicating that whales migrate across water masses with different Sr baselines. These results suggest that Sr concentrations in keratinous tissues of marine mammals can be used as ecological tracers of their migrations and habitat use. Free access to the article will be available until November 2, 2018, via the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1XjP6B8ccgeVZ For any questions do not hesitate to contact me at: morgana.vighi(a)gmail.com Best regards, Morgana Vighi -- Morgana Vighi, PhD Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals University of Barcelona Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain +34 633656763 +39 3388269806

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World premiere of documentary on Risso’s dolphins
by Nova Atlantis 25 Sep '18

25 Sep '18

Dear All, We would like to inform you that our documentary “SCARS – politics in the big blue” about the Risso’s dolphins off Pico Island, Azores, will have its world premiere at the Wildlife Conservation Film festival in New York on 22 October 2018. In this film, our 19 consecutive years of scientific research into the social ecology of Risso’s dolphins in the Azores (including a PhD thesis) have been summarized for a larger audience. The trailer can be found here <https://vimeo.com/271343334>. All the best, Karin Hartman, Nova Atlantis Foundation-Azores -- Karin Hartman Bestevaerstraat 124 HS 1056 HS Amsterdam 0031-20 772 21 28 0031-618 66 78 40 Nova Atlantis Foundation Risso's Dolphin Research Center Rua Dr. Freitas Pimentel 11 9930-309 Santa Cruz das Ribeiras Lajes do Pico Azores -Portugal www.nova-atlantis.org 00351-292 678 121 00351-912 798 666

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ACS-LA Student Travel Grants to the American Cetacean Society Conference - Deadline is 1 week away
by ACS-LA.Grants 25 Sep '18

25 Sep '18

Reminder - Oct 3rd deadline for student travel grants to the American Cetacean Society conference in Newport Beach CA (Nov 2-4th) - Deadline to submit your travel grant application to ACS-LA is only 1 week away. -------Original posting below------------ The American Cetacean Society, Los Angeles Chapter (ACS-LA) is happy to announce the opening of applications for 2018 Student Travel Grants. The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society (ACS-LA) is offering four travel grants in the amount of $250.00 each to students working or attending school in the Southern California area and who will be attending the 16th International Conference “Whales & Us: the Next Generation” hosted by the American Cetacean Society (ACS), in Newport Beach, CA, November 2-4, 2018. Conference information is available here: https://www.acsonline.org/2018-conference <https://www.acsonline.org/2018-conference>. The four $250 travel grants will be awarded to four students exhibiting outstanding commitment to research on marine mammals. Students should either be attending school in Southern California and/or conducting their marine mammal research in Southern California. Presenting at the ACS Conference is not a requirement for applying for the student travel grant, but priority will be given to students presenting a poster at the conference. Eligibility: 1. Applicant needs to be a student (undergraduate or graduate) and be attending the ACS conference. Proof of registration will be required prior to receiving your award. You can register for the conference at this link: https://www.acsonline.org/2018-conference <https://www.acsonline.org/2018-conference>. If you are presenting a poster at the ACS conference, you will be given additional priority for receiving these travel grants. AND 2. Applicant should be a student attending an accredited institution and living in Southern California. OR 3. Current research focus should be on Marine Mammals located in or around Southern California. Applications: Applications should include the following: 1. Cover sheet with: a) Title of poster presentation being given at ACS Conference (if presenting). Note: presenting is not required to receive a travel grant award. If not presenting, leave this blank. b) Your area of interest or area of research c) Applicant Contact Information (Name, Address, E-mail, and Phone numbers) d) Current school and major including current supervisor and department. If you are an undergraduate please indicate special areas of interest for you and give the name of your supervising professor if you have one. 2. Proof that applicant is a student (photo of the front and back of current student ID card). 3. A one-page CV or Resume 4. Note: Upon acceptance of the award, proof of ACS Conference registration will be required prior to receipt of grant award. Conference attendance is required to receive this award. Deadlines: Deadline for submission is 3 October, 2018. Awards will be announced by 12 October, 2018. Applications should be sent by E-mail to ACSLA.Grants(a)gmail.com. Information about the Los Angeles Chapter of ACS can be found on our website: www.acs-la.org <http://www.acs-la.org/>. To join ACS-LA, please go to https://www.acsonline.org/membership and specify the Los Angeles Chapter. To Register for the ACS Conference please go to: https://www.acsonline.org/2018-conference. For further information about specific chapters and other grant-making programs, please visit the Chapter page of the National American Cetacean Society website: www.acsonline.org <http://www.acsonline.org/>. ========================== ACS-LA Grants Coordinator Christina Tombach Wright American Cetacean Society-Los Angeles Chapter acsla.grants(a)gmail.com www.acs-la.org

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New publication: Spatiotemporal trends in white-beaked dolphin strandings along the North Sea coast
by Mariel ten Doeschate 24 Sep '18

24 Sep '18

Dear all, On behalf of all co-authors I am pleased to announce the publication of the following research article in Lutra North Sea Cetacean Special Edition: *Spatiotemporal trends in white-beaked dolphin strandings along the North Sea coast **from 1991–2017.* Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Andrew Brownlow, Nicholas J. Davison, Rob Deaville, Jan *Haelters, Guido Keijl, Ursula Siebert & Mariel T.I. ten Doeschate. *Lutra* 61 (1): 153 - 163* *Abstract*: *The white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) is an endemic species in the North Sea with an estimated population of around 36,000 individuals. Recently, concerns have been raised among conservationists regarding increasing water temperatures as a result of climate change, which could result in a decline in population **numbers in certain areas of the white-beaked dolphin’s range. Here we use stranding frequencies of white-beaked dolphins as an indicator of distribution and investigate whether there have been spatiotemporal patterns and changes in stranding frequencies in the south western North Sea in the last 27 years (1991-2017). A total of 407 strandings was recorded and the distribution of stranded animals throughout this period revealed a higher density of animals in the southern countries in earlier years, with slightly increased densities in the north western area more recently. This could be a first indication of a change in habitat use and population distribution from southern to northern regions.* *A potential explanation for the observed shift is climate change and its effect on prey distribution and availability. This study highlights the potential of using stranding records as a way to collect high resolution spatiotemporal data, making this a valuable addition to surveys of live animals assessing species distribution and abundance. Additional research into metrics such as causes of mortality, life history and diet parameters (all of which are currently largely unknown for this species) would provide a welcome contribution to assess more detailed measures of the status of the population.* If you would like a copy of the full article, or if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch by sending an email to marielten.doeschate(a)sac.co.uk / m.t.i.tendoeschate(a)uu.nl Cheers, Mariel *Mariel ten Doeschate MSc* Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme SRUC Veterinary Services Inverness IV2 4JZ www.strandings.org +44 (0) 7990513589

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new publication: Movements and dive behaviour of a toothfish-depredating killer and sperm whale
by Jared Towers 21 Sep '18

21 Sep '18

Dear all, Our paper titled "Movements and dive behaviour of a toothfish-depredating killer and sperm whale" was recently published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science. Towers, J. R., Tixier, P., Ross, K. A., Bennett, J., Arnould, J. P. Y., Pitman, R. L., and Durban, J. W. Movements and dive behaviour of a toothfish-depredating killer and sperm whale. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsy118. Abstract: Depredation of demersal longlines by killer and sperm whales is a widespread behaviour that impacts fisheries and whale populations. To better understand how depredating whales behave in response to fishing activity, we deployed satellite-linked location and dive-profile tags on a sperm and killer whale that were depredating Patagonian toothfish from commercial longlines off South Georgia. The sperm and killer whale followed one fishing vessel for >180 km and >300 km and repeatedly depredated when longlines were being retrieved over periods of 6 and 7 d, respectively. Their behaviours were also sometimes correlated with the depths and locations of deployed gear. They both dove significantly deeper and faster when depredating compared with when foraging naturally. The killer whale dove >750m on five occasions while depredating (maximum: 1087 m), but these deep dives were always followed by long periods (3.9–4.6 h) of shallow (<100 m) diving. We hypothesize that energetically and physiologically costly dive behaviour while depredating is driven by intra- and inter-specific competition due to the limited availability of this abundant resource. The paper can be accessed at https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/icesj… or by contacting jrtowers(a)gmail.com Jared Towers

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program Intern applications now open
by Jessica Fujii 21 Sep '18

21 Sep '18

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Program is seeking enthusiastic and motivated individuals for two internship programs, 1) Research and 2) Animal Care for January-June 2019 Research Intern project responsibilities include, but are not limited to, data collection in the field from shore and occasionally on a small boat using radio telemetry equipment and making visual observations with spotting scopes. Interns will record daily re-sights, movement patterns and forage observations, and activity budget data on marked individual wild sea otters. Animal care intern project responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily care and feeding of ill, injured and orphaned sea otters, maintenance and cleaning of animal tanks and enclosures, and computer data entry. Interns may also assist with rescues of live-stranded otters, tracking of released otters, administration of medication to sick otters, and managing otter in research projects. Qualified applicants must be able to work in a team environment, as well as independently without direct supervision, and must have good communication skills. All internship opportunities are Unpaid or STEM Internships (STEM may include funding provided through your educational institution). College credit may be available. Please refer to your College/University's student services division. Early submission of applications is encouraged. Deadline to apply is November 16, 2018. For more information and to apply, go to Animal Care https://montereybayaquarium.snaphire.com/jobdetails?ajid=Nv298 Research https://montereybayaquarium.snaphire.com/jobdetails?ajid=5y298 Jessica Fujii SORAC Senior Research Biologist [cid:image001.gif@01D4519D.DAA50470] Monterey Bay Aquarium 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 www.montereybayaquarium.org<http://www.montereybayaquarium.org> Our mission is to inspire conservation of the ocean.

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Publication: Fjord habitat use strategies of fin and humpback whales
by Eric Keen 21 Sep '18

21 Sep '18

On behalf of my co-authors, I would like to bring the following publication in *Marine Environmental Research* to your attention: *Distinct habitat use strategies of sympatric rorqual whales within a fjord system* EM Keen, J Wray, J Pilkington, KL Thompson, CR Picard Link to article <https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1XmAyW5UJ5uGw> *Abstract:* We used ecosystem sampling during systematic surveys and opportunistic focal follows, comparison tests, and random forest models to evaluate fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) habitat associations within an inland feeding ground (Kitimat Fjord System, British Columbia, Canada). Though these species are sympatric and share a common prey source, they were attuned to different aspects of the local habitat. The fin whales were associated with habitat properties reminiscent of the open ocean. Humpback whales, in contrast, were associated with features more commonly associated with the inland waters of fjords. Fixed habitat features, such as seafloor depth and distance from the fjord mouth, were the most important predictors of fin whale presence, but fixed and dynamic variables, such as surface properties, predicted humpback whale presence with equal (moderate) success. With the exception of strong salinity gradients for humpback whales, habitat conditions were poor predictors of feeding state. Fin whales practiced a spatially confined, seasonally stable, and thus more predictable use of certain channels within the fjord system. These findings are compatible with site loyal behavior, which is interesting in light of the species' historical, unique use of this fjord system. The relatively lackluster performance of humpback-habitat models, coupled with the importance of oceanographic properties, makes the humpback's habitat use strategy more uncertain. The fact that two sympatric species sharing a common prey source exhibited different habitat use strategies suggests that at least one species was informed by something in addition to prey. Given that the two species are attuned to different aspects of the fjord habitat, their responses to habitat changes, including anthropogenic impacts, would likely be different in both nature and degree. Our findings highlight the value of comparative studies and the complexity of rorqual habitat use, which must be understood in order for critical habitat to be identified and protected. -- Eric M Keen PhD, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Visiting Professor, Sewanee: The University of the South Science Director, North Coast Cetacean Society Biologist, Marine Ecology & Telemetry Research

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New paper on cetacean strandings in Denmark 1968-2017
by Morten Tange Olsen 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

Dear all It is my pleasure to announce our new paper on cetacean strandings in Denmark 1968-2017 Kinze CC, Thøstesen CB, Olsen MT (2018) Cetacean stranding records along the Danish coastline: Records for the period 2008-2017 and a comparative review. Lutra, 61 (1): 87-105 Abstract: For the period 2008-2017, finds of stranded cetaceans along the Danish coastline are listed and reviewed in comparison to the preceding 40-year period (1968-2007). The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was by far the most commonly stranded species with a total of 1177 individuals for the period 2008-2017. Of these, 62.4% (n=735) originated from the North Sea and Skagerrak coastlines, i.e. the outer Danish waters (ODW), 37.0% (n=435) from the Kattegat and Belt Sea, i.e. the inner Danish waters (IDW), and 0.6% (n=7) from the waters around Bornholm (WAB), i.e. the Baltic Sea proper. Due to the large number and the amount of information for these records only a summary is given. In addition, 90 strandings of twelve other cetacean species occurred between 2008-2017. These comprise 49 white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), three white-sided dolphins (Leucopleurus acutus), seven common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), a Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), four long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), a killer whale (Orcinus orca), a Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens), six sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), 14 minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), two fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). During the last 50 years (1968-2017) five additional cetacean species have stranded on the Danish coasts: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in 1968, 1975 and 1976, beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) in 1976 and 1987, northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) in 1969 and 1998, Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) in 2000, and sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) in 1980. The cetacean fauna around Denmark falls into the following categories: 1. native species such as the harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, and minke whale; 2. resilient visitors, i.e. species such as common dolphin, fin whale and humpback whale that during their occurrences adapt well to altered environmental conditions encountered; and 3. erratic stragglers of oceanic, pelagic origin failing to adapt, such as long-finned pilot whale, Sowerby’s beaked whale and sperm whale. You can email me for a copy, or see http://www.zoogdierwinkel.nl/lutra Best Morten Morten Tange Olsen Assistant Professor Curator of Marine Mammals Natural History Museum of Denmark Section for Evolutionary Genomics University of Copenhagen Øster Voldgade 5-7 1350 Copenhagen K Denmark morten.olsen(a)snm.ku.dk (+45)42661525 http://snm.ku.dk/

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New publication on C-POD dolphin detection validation
by Aran Garrod 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the paper Garrod, A., Fandel, A.D., Wingfield, J.E., Fouda, L., Rice, A.N., Bailey, H. 2018. Validating automated click detector dolphin detection rates and investigating factors affecting performance. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5049802. Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a widely used technique for studying the distribution and habitat use of cetaceans. The C-POD, an acoustic sensor with an onboard automated click detector, has been deployed in diverse acoustic environments, but studies verifying its offshore detection rates and factors affecting detection probability are scarce. To empirically evaluate the performance of C-PODs in detecting bottlenose dolphins (/Tursiops truncatus/), C-PODs were deployed alongside archival acoustic recorders 12–30 km offshore in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The C-POD and acoustic recordings, post-processed using PAMGUARD software, were compared for a period of 6852 h. C-POD false positive rates were very low (mean 0.003%), and positive hourly detection accuracy was very high (mean 99.6%). Analysis of the acoustic environment and dolphin click characteristics revealed that true positive detections by C-PODs were significantly more likely to occur when PAMGUARD detected more clicks and there was increased high frequency noise (>20 kHz), likely from distant or unclassified clicks. C-PODs were found to be reliable indicators of dolphin presence at hourly or greater time scales. These results support the application of C-PODs in PAM studies that aim to investigate patterns of dolphin occurrence, such as those related to offshore windfarms. The paper can be found here: https://asa.scitation.org/doi/10.1121/1.5049802 Aran Garrod

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Alaska SeaLife Center fellowship
by Anna Pullins 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

*Alaska SeaLife Center Fellowship in Seward, AK* *R**emote Video Monitoring** and Scat Collection Studies of Steller Sea Lions Fellow* *Start date 1/2/19, end date 4/30/19* Position requirements: 75% of time per week will be spent in this department and 25% of time per week supporting the Interpretation department. The fellow will assist with the day to day support of animal-related research activities involving Steller sea lions. Applicants should exhibit a strong interest in field-based and animal-related research work and associated support. Candidates with animal photo identification and behavioral study experience are preferred. Familiarity with Excell, MS Access and video recording equipment are also preferred. Applicants should possess the ability to lift and carry 50+ lbs over uneven terrain while working in freezing temperatures in a remote marine environment. Under the guidance of Chiswell staff, the fellow will be trained and expected to perform the following duties: - operate remotely controlled cameras from a desktop computer, - assist with behavioral observations, video recording, data entry and management, - assist with field work including scat collection and remote monitoring equipment installation/maintenance, - work in a laboratory sub-sampling, cleaning, and sifting scat samples, and - be prompt with daily data collection, stay focused on the task at hand for extended periods of time and follow a very much regimented schedule. -- <https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaSeaLifeCenter> <https://twitter.com/alaskasealife> <http://instagram.com/alaskasealifecenter> <https://www.youtube.com/user/AKSeaLifeCenter> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/alaska-sealife-center> *Anna Pullins* *Human Resources Coordinator*Alaska SeaLife Center P.O. Box 1329 • 301 Railway Ave • Seward, AK 99664 <https://maps.google.com/?q=1329%C2%A0%E2%80%A2+301+Railway+Ave%C2%A0%E2%80%…> Direct: 907-224-6327 Mobile: 907-362-7773 Fax: 907-224-6320 www.alaskasealife.org

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