October 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper describes the anatomy of the cetacean prostate.
by Cristian Suárez Santana 22 Oct '19

22 Oct '19

We are pleasured to inform you that there is a new paper that describes in detail the anatomy of the cetacean prostate from the Institute of Animal Health in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain). You can check it in the following link: (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31587464 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31587464>) Comparative morphology, histology, and cytology of odontocete cetaceans prostates. Suárez-Santana CM <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Su%C3%A1rez-Santana%20CM%5BAuthor…>, Fernández A <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Fern%C3%A1ndez%20A%5BAuthor%5D&ca…>, Sierra E <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Sierra%20E%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=tr…>, Arbelo M <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Arbelo%20M%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=tr…>, Bernaldo de Quirós Y <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Bernaldo%20de%20Quir%C3%B3s%20Y%5…>, Andrada M <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Andrada%20M%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=t…>, Mompeo B <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Mompeo%20B%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=tr…>, Pérez L <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=P%C3%A9rez%20L%5BAuthor%5D&cautho…>, Blanco A <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Blanco%20A%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=tr…>, Méndez A <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=M%C3%A9ndez%20A%5BAuthor%5D&cauth…>, Espinosa de Los Monteros A <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Espinosa%20de%20Los%20Monteros%20…>, Rivero MA <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Rivero%20MA%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=t…>. The prostate is the only male accessory gland in cetaceans. However, little is known about this organ in these species. Anatomical and histological characteristics of the prostate have been described in only a few cetacean species, further, one study reported a high incidence of prostatic pathologies in cetaceans that may impair reproduction. The objective of this work was to describe and compare the morphological, histological, and cytological characteristics of the prostate in different odontocete cetaceans. To this end, the prostate glands of 47 animals from nine different species of cetaceans were macroscopically and microscopically studied. Members of the families Delphinidae, Ziphiidae, and Physeteridae were included. In general, the prostate appeared as a musculo-glandular organ with two distinct parts—the Corpus prostatae and the Pars disseminata prostatae. In the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and the Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), the prostate was a discrete gland with a small Corpus prostatae. Microscopically, the prostates of different delphinids species shared similarities; however, the prostate of the pygmy sperm whale revealed significant histological differences compared to those of the delphinids. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using low- and high-molecular-weight cytokeratin, vimentin, and prostatic specific antigen commercial antibodies. Electron microscopy analysis was performed on the prostate of a bottlenose dolphin and the cytomorphological differences among the major epithelial components of the prostatic epithelium were described.

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Sotalia guianensis in the southern Gulf of Venezuela
by Hector Barrios-Garrido PhD 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

Dear MARMAM readers: We are happy to share #GeneralEcologyLab_LUZ <https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/generalecologylab_luz?source=feed_text&epa…> latest article entitled: Guiana Dolphin (*Sotalia guianensis*) in the southern Gulf of Venezuela: Seasonal distribution, group size, and habitat use. Free to download (for 50 days): https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Zx9v8MvAtjw4K More than happy to answer questions, comments, and collaboration opportunities! The authors Abstract: Small cetaceans, such as the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), do not migrate long distances to forage but use rather small areas subject to food source variations. Information on their distribution, behaviour, habitat use, and estimated population density play an important role in the identification of critical areas and regulating human activities within. Here we examine the seasonal variations, group size, and distribution of Guiana dolphin in the southern Gulf of Venezuela, to identify their critical habitats and thus aid mitigation planning. We used boat-based surveys with a follow-group protocol where observers monitor groups of animals for 30 min, from a distance of 20 to 30 m, gathering the following data: date, time observed, GPS position, estimated number of individuals, presence of calves, behavioural observations (when possible); and environmental parameters (sea-surface temperature, water transparency, salinity, sea state [Beaufort], and cloud cover). We found that Guiana dolphins did not use the studied area (6.33 Km2) homogeneously but rather aggregated in north of Zapara Island’s retaining wall. The highest density of dolphins was between 301 and 573 individuals within 4.22 Km2 approximately off north of Zapara Island, and the lowest (1 - 150 individuals) at the entrance of the main navigation channel. The group size was considerably larger in the wet season (mean ± SD = 6.4 ± 1.9 individuals, range = 1 to 80) than the dry season (2.2 ± 2.7 individuals, range = 1 to 27). The number of sightings differed among seasons (dry/wet), there were more sightings in the wet season (1.3414 ± 0.4389 groups, range = 1 to 5) than dry season (1.1233 ± 0.7418 groups, range = 1 to 5). Our data suggest this population might be highly adapted to local conditions and prey movements, and use the areas intensely year around, particularly during the wet season. Citation: Espinoza Rodríguez, N., De Turris-Morales, K., Shimada, T., & Barrios-Garrido, H. 2019. Guiana Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in the southern Gulf of Venezuela: Seasonal distribution, group size, and habitat use: Guiana Dolphin in the southern Gulf of Venezuela. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 1-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100874

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New paper on Hidden Markov models and killer whale behavior
by Jennifer Tennessen - NOAA Affiliate 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

Dear MARMAM readers, My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the open access publication of the following paper in Scientific Reports, available here <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-50942-2>: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-50942-2 Tennessen, J. B., Holt, M. M., Ward, E. J., Hanson, M. B., Emmons, C. K., Giles, D. A., & Hogan, J. T. (2019). Hidden Markov models reveal temporal patterns and sex differences in killer whale behavior. *Scientific Reports* , *9*(1), 1-12. *Abstract* Behavioral data can be important for effective management of endangered marine predators, but can be challenging to obtain. We utilized suction cup-attached biologging tags equipped with stereo hydrophones, triaxial accelerometers, magnetometers, pressure and temperature sensors, to characterize the subsurface behavior of an endangered population of killer whales (*Orcinus orca)*. Tags recorded depth, acoustic and movement behavior on fish-eating killer whales in the Salish Sea between 2010-2014. We tested the hypotheses that (a) distinct behavioral states can be characterized by integrating movement and acoustic variables, (b) subsurface foraging occurs in bouts, with distinct periods of searching and capture temporally separated from travel, and (c) the probabilities of transitioning between behavioral states differ by sex. Using Hidden Markov modeling of two acoustic and four movement variables, we identified five temporally distinct behavioral states. Persistence in the same state on a subsequent dive had the greatest likelihood, with the exception of deep prey pursuit, indicating that behavior was clustered in time. Additionally, females spent more time at the surface than males, and engaged in less foraging behavior. These results reveal significant complexity and sex differences in subsurface foraging behavior, and underscore the importance of incorporating behavior into the design of conservation strategies. Please contact me with any questions. Cheers, Jennifer Tennessen -- Jennifer B. Tennessen, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scientist, contractor with Lynker, LLC Marine Mammal & Seabird Ecology Team, Conservation Biology Division NOAA/NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Blvd East Seattle, WA 98112 Phone: (206) 860-3473

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Publication of new paper: Phylogenomic Resolution of the Cetacean Tree of Life Using Target Sequence Capture
by Michael McGowen 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

Publication of new paper in Systematic Biology: Phylogenomic Resolution of the Cetacean Tree of Life Using Target Sequence Capture Michael R McGowen, Georgia Tsagkogeorga, Sandra Álvarez-Carretero, Mario dos Reis, Monika Struebig, Robert Deaville, Paul D Jepson, Simon Jarman, Andrea Polanowski, Phillip A Morin, Stephen J Rossiter Abstract: The evolution of cetaceans, from their early transition to an aquatic lifestyle to their subsequent diversification, has been the subject of numerous studies. However, while the higher-level relationships among cetacean families have been largely settled, several aspects of the systematics within these groups remain unresolved. Problematic clades include the oceanic dolphins (37 spp.), which have experienced a recent rapid radiation, and the beaked whales (22 spp.), which have not been investigated in detail using nuclear loci. The combined application of high-throughput sequencing with techniques that target specific genomic sequences provide a powerful means of rapidly generating large volumes of orthologous sequence data for use in phylogenomic studies. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within the Cetacea, we combined sequence capture with Illumina sequencing to generate data for ∼3200 protein-coding genes for 68 cetacean species and their close relatives including the pygmy hippopotamus. By combining data from >38,000 exons with existing sequences from 11 cetaceans and seven outgroup taxa, we produced the first comprehensive comparative genomic dataset for cetaceans, spanning 6,527,596 aligned base pairs and 89 taxa. Phylogenetic trees reconstructed with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference of concatenated loci, as well as with coalescence analyses of individual gene trees, produced mostly concordant and well-supported trees. Our results completely resolve the relationships among beaked whales as well as the contentious relationships among oceanic dolphins, especially the problematic subfamily Delphininae. We carried out Bayesian estimation of species divergence times using MCMCTree, and compared our complete dataset to a subset of clocklike genes. Analyses using the complete dataset consistently showed less variance in divergence times than the reduced dataset. In addition, integration of new fossils (e.g., Mystacodon selenensis) indicate that the diversification of Crown Cetacea began before the Late Eocene and the divergence of Crown Delphinidae as early as the Middle Miocene. https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/advance-article/doi/10.1093/sysbio/syz068/5… ------ Michael McGowen, PhD Research Zoologist and Curator of Marine Mammals Curator-in-Charge, Division of Mammals Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution 10th St & Constitution Ave. NW Washington, DC 20560 USA +1 (202) 633-1292 mcgowenm(a)si.edu 1mmcgowen1(a)gmail.com

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Survey: Education and Conservation of marine mammals
by Ligia Meirinhos Pereira 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

Survey: Education and Conservation of marine mammals https://forms.gle/AkvpSVdTJFFbLTwq9 The survey is part of a study being conducted by CHOICES (Culture and Historicity in Out-of-school Innovations for Communication and Education in Science), a research group from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The purpose of this survey is to better understand the ideas about conservation from those who work with marine mammals. We would also like to understand what participants think about biodiversity conservation as a whole and how their educational background contributed to these ideas. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. The survey will be open until 28 October 2019. https://forms.gle/AkvpSVdTJFFbLTwq9 Thank you, CHOICES Department of Biological Sciences 14 Matao street Butantã, São Paulo (Brazil) Phone: (+55) 1130917575 choices(a)ib.usp.br

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10/23: NOAA Seminar: Chesapeake DolphinWatch: Dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay
by Tracy Gill - NOAA Federal 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

*OneNOAA Science Seminar Series <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/seminars/&sa=D&ust=1…>* *Please forward to folks who might be interested; thanks.* *Title: **Chesapeake DolphinWatch: Dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay* *Speaker: *Helen Bailey, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. *Presenting at NOAA in Silver Spring* *When: *Wednesday, October 23, 12-1pm EDT *Where: *Via webinar (see below) or for NOAA Silver Spring staff, SSMC4, Rm 8150 *Sponsor: *NOAA's National Ocean Service Science Seminar; coordinator is Tracy.Gill(a)noaa.gov *Webinar Access: *Please register at: https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/dolphins/event/registration.html <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/dolphin…> *After registering, an email will arrive with the webinar address.* Users should use either IE or Edge on Windows or Safari if using a Mac. Audio will be available thru the computer only; no phone. Questions will be addressed in the chat window. This Webcast will be recorded, archived and made accessible in the near future. You can test your ability to us Adobe Connect at the following link: https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.… <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/common/…> Audio is over the computer, so adjust volume on your computer speakers or headsets. Questions? Email Tracy.Gill(a)noaa.gov *Abstract: *Although documented sightings of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay date back to the 1800s, there is very little information on where they go, how long they spend there and what they are doing. Through our Chesapeake DolphinWatch app and website (www.chesapeakedolphinwatch.org <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.chesapeakedolphinwatch.org&sa=D&ust…>) we have been able to raise public awareness about bottlenose dolphins in the Bay. As well allowing users to view and report dolphin sightings, we provide responsible viewing guidelines to encourage safe and respectful encounters with these wild animals. This sighting information has helped to guide where we have conducted passive acoustic monitoring to learn more about the dolphins' movements and behaviors within the Chesapeake Bay, and characterize the underwater soundscape. Through analysis of dolphin signature whistles we have identified individual calls allowing us to record the number and identity of individual bottlenose dolphins. These data provide an important baseline on the distribution and seasonal occurrence of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay. *About the Speaker: *Helen Bailey is a Research Associate Professor at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. She has published over 50 journal articles, specializing in marine mammals and sea turtles. She received her B.A. (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford, UK, and her M.Sc. in Oceanography from the University of Southampton, UK. Dr. Bailey was awarded her Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen (UK) for her work on the habitat use of bottlenose dolphins. She subsequently studied the underwater sound levels and environmental impacts of offshore wind turbines on marine mammals. Dr. Bailey then received a National Research Council postdoctoral award to study migration pathways and hot spots of marine predators at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as part of the Census of Marine Life’s Tagging of Pacific Predators project. She joined the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in 2010 where her research focuses on studying movement ecology, patterns of habitat use and behavior of marine species, and its application to management and conservation. *Subscribe to the OneNOAA Science Seminar weekly email: *Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request(a)list.woc.noaa.gov with the word `subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the OneNOAA Science Seminar Series website <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/seminars/&sa=D&ust=1…>for more information.

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New publication on comparing image and observer based aerial surveys of narwhal
by Koen.Broker＠shell.com 20 Oct '19

20 Oct '19

Dear MARMAM readers, My co-authors and I would like to share our new publication: A comparison of image and observer based aerial surveys of narwhal. Abstract From 25 to 30 August 2014 a double-observer line-transect survey was conducted over Melville Bay, home to one of two summering populations of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) off West Greenland. A total of 1,932 linear kilometers was surveyed along 33 transects. In addition to using observers, the aircraft was equipped with two oblique cameras to capture a comparable data set. Analysts reviewed the images for narwhal sightings, which were then matched to the observer sightings. The objectives of the study were to determine advantages and disadvantages of the detection capabilities of both methodologies, and to conduct a comparative analysis of population abundance estimates. Correcting for the truncated detection distance of the images (500 m), the image analysts recorded more sightings (62) and a lower mean group size (2.2) compared to aerial observers (36 and 3.5, respectively), resulting in comparable numbers of individuals detected by both platforms (135 vs. 126). The abundance estimate based on the image sightings was 2,536 (CV = 0.51, 95% CI: 1,003–6,406), which was not signiﬁcantly different from the aerial observers estimate of 2,596 individuals (CV = 0.51; 95% CI: 961–7,008). This study supports the potential of using UAS for marine mammal abundance studies. Broker, K., Hansen, R., Leonard, K., Koski, W. (2019). A comparison of image and observer based aerial surveys of narwhal. Marine Mammal Science, 35(4): 1253–1279. The open access paper can be downloaded here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.12586 Best regards, Koen Broker

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Job Posting (New Hampshire / Northern Massachusetts)
by Ashley Stokes 19 Oct '19

19 Oct '19

Dear Marmam Community, Below is a job posting that may be of interest to some subscribers. *Marine Mammal Rescue Community Outreach Manager* The Seacoast Science Center, located in Rye NH, is seeking a dynamic and accomplished applicant for its open vacancy with the marine mammal rescue program: *Community Outreach Manager. * The Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue Program (SSC MMR) advances the Seacoast Science Center’s mission to spark curiosity, enhance understanding and inspire conservation of our Blue Planet through wildlife conservation, community education, outreach and marine mammal field response in New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. The Marine Mammal Rescue Community Outreach Manager (COM) ensures community relevance by advancing brand awareness, deepening community relationships, providing high quality education outreach programs, and cultivating a new network of donors, stakeholders, program sponsors, community members, and volunteers in Northern Massachusetts. To view the full job posting and how to apply, please click here <https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/MMR-Community-Outr…> . Thank you, *Ashley Stokes | Marine Mammal Rescue Manager* *Seacoast Science Center* 570 Ocean Blvd. Rye, NH 03870 603-436-8043 ext. 29 Rescue Hotline: 603-997-9448 www.seacoastsciencecenter.org *Inspiring conservation of our Blue Planet.* Learn about our Marine Mammal Rescue <http://seacoastsciencecenter.org/marine-mammal-rescue/> program.

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Job Opportunity: Director of Programs, Pacific Whale Foundation
by Alicia Salerno 18 Oct '19

18 Oct '19

Koya Leadership Partners is leading a search for a Director of Programs for the Pacific Whale Foundation <https://www.pacificwhale.org/pacific-whale-foundation/> (PWF). Located in Ma'alea Harbor on the island of Maui, HI, PWF is on a mission to protect the ocean through science and advocacy and to inspire environmental stewardship. PWF is also a social enterprise that offers fee-based programs and services through PacWhale Eco-Adventures and all of the profits generated go to supporting Pacific Whale Foundation’s work. Reporting to the Executive Director, and working in collaboration with other members of the core leadership team, this is a new role responsible for overseeing the Research, Education, and Conservation programs of PWF. The Director of Programs will also be responsible for identifying new funding opportunities through research, conservation, and education grants, and will serve as a key external face and brand ambassador for PWF in the community. This is an exciting new role for an entrepreneurial and dynamic leader who is passionate about protecting the ocean and inspiring environmental stewardship for an innovative and growing organization! To learn more you can read the full job description here <https://koyapartners.com/search/pwf-director-of-programs/>. We encourage you to share with your networks as appropriate and if you have an interest, please apply directly online. Thank you! -- Alicia Salerno Pronouns: She, Her, Hers <https://koyapartners.com/our-diversity-statement/> Vice President, Executive Search | Koya Leadership Partners 978-309-3235 | asalerno(a)koyapartners.com | www.koyapartners.com

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Funded M.S. position available: MLML/Monterey Bay, California -- deadline October 30
by Alison Stimpert 17 Oct '19

17 Oct '19

I am recruiting a student for a funded master's of marine science position at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Moss Landing, California. The student will work on a NOAA/Navy funded collaborative project using passive acoustic monitoring to describe ocean soundscapes in the US West Coast Sanctuaries (Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, and Olympic Coast: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/monitoring/sound/) The student will be responsible for running established Matlab code to generate analysis products, attending group meetings, and assisting with field deployments and recoveries as needed, as well as developing an individual analysis project which will become a master's thesis. Required qualifications include those listed for applying to the CSU/MLML graduate program ( https://www.mlml.calstate.edu/gradprog/faqs/) The ideal candidate will also have experience with marine bioacoustic/PAM data as well as programming in Matlab. Position includes funding through August 2021, including tuition, travel, and salary, and preference will be given to those who can begin work in January 2020. The accepted student will be expected to be an active participant in the MLML graduate program and a contributing member of the Vertebrate Ecology Lab team (https://www.mlml.calstate.edu/birdmam/ ) . To be considered, please send an email to Alison Stimpert (astimpert(a)mlml.calstate.edu) with the subject line: "SanctSound MS position" that includes: 1) a brief description of your qualifications, 2) 1 or 2 thesis project ideas related to the research effort listed above, and 3) your available start date. Deadline: October 30. -- Alison Stimpert, PhD Research Faculty, Bioacoustics/Vertebrate Ecology Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Moss Landing, CA astimpert(a)mlml.calstate.edu / 831.771.4493

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