April 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New article: Epizootic effect and aftermath in a pilot whale population
by Philippe Verborgh 30 Apr '19

30 Apr '19

Good afternoon, We apologise for cross posting and are pleased to share our new article: Verborgh, P., P. Gauffier, C. Brévart, J. Giménez, R. Esteban, M. Carbou, E. Debons, and R. de Stephanis. 2019. Epizootic effect and aftermath in a pilot whale population. Aquatic Conserv. Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst.:1–9. DOI:10.1002/aqc.3082 Abstract:1. Over the last three decades, emerging infectious diseases have resulted in large mortalities in wild populations.2. Different strains of Morbillivirus have infected cetaceans all over the world and caused at least seven epizootics since the 1980s, but few data exist on their effect at the population level.3. The demographic effect of a morbillivirus epizootic was studied on a well‐monitored resident population of long‐finned pilot whales in the Strait of Gibraltar.4. Results show decreases in population size and apparent survival rate, especially in males, as well as negative population growth rates during the epizootic and the following years.5. Although different anthropogenic and natural factors may have acted in conjunction, the epizootic was most likely the cause of this observed decline.6. This epizootic, and potential future ones, may put the population's future at even greater risk, and their habitat is threatened by increasing anthropogenic stress. The article can be accessed freely in the following link: https://rdcu.be/bzBCPOr by request at my email: philippeverborgh(a)gmail.com Thank you,Philippe Verborgh and co-authors

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CITES registered scientific institution query
by Per Palsbøll 29 Apr '19

29 Apr '19

Dear colleagues; We are having some difficulty convincing (eight years now) the Dutch CITES management authority that scientific institutions can be registered with CITES for exchange/loan of marine mammal materials. For some reason the Dutch CITES folks keep insisting that this exemption ONLY applies to plant materials, despite pretty clear language in the applicable regulation (11.15) which clearly states "RECOGNIZING that this exemption should apply to legally acquired animal and plant specimens that are under the authority of a registered scientific institution;” I have now made some small progress, as they now ask if I can provide examples of registered scientific institutions that exchange marine mammal specimens for scientific purposes. I am aware of some institutions (mainly collaborators), but it probably would help if I can add more. I am therefore hoping for your help, i.e., to let me know if you know any institution(s) registered as a scientific institution with CITES for exchange of marine mammal material. If you tell me which country and the institution name (or registration number) then I can find the remainder information on the CITES web-site. Thank You for your help, Per - -- Per J. Palsbøll Professor of Marine Evolution and Conservation Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands Office phone: +31 50 363 9882 Mobile +31 6 5777 9495 Mail address: PO Box 11103 9700 CC Groningen The Netherlands Adjunct scientist Center for Coastal Studies 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA 02657, U.S.A. - ---- "How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress." As quoted in "Niels Bohr : The Man, His Science, & the World They Changed" (1966) by Ruth Moore, p. 196 - ----

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Request for advice on image sharpening and data sharing in the eastern English Channel
by Theadora Taylor 29 Apr '19

29 Apr '19

Brighton Dolphin Project is a recent initiative set up by the World Cetacean Alliance aiming to study the marine mammal populations of the eastern English Channel. As we are a fairly new project, the majority of our data is sent in by members of the public. This can mean that many of the images sent in are taken on camera phones, or are stills captured from video footage taken on cameras. While this is all great information, we are struggling with the issue of image quality for photo ID. Does anyone have any tips on gathering useful data from video footage, or can recommend the best image-sharpening software to use? Many thanks *Thea Taylor, * Research & Sightings coordinator Brighton Dolphin Project.

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New publication: lobomycosis-like disease in bottlenose dolphins
by Fernando Félix Grijalva 26 Apr '19

26 Apr '19

My coauthors and I are pleased to share the following article recently published in the journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. F. Félix, M.F. Van Bressem and K. Van Waerebeek. 2019Role of social behaviour in the epidemiology of lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) in estuarine common bottlenose dolphins from Ecuador. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 134: 75-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03356 ABSTRACT: Lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) is a chronic granulomatous skin disorder that affects Delphinidae worldwide. LLD has been observed in common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador, since 1990. Although exogenous factors such as salinity and pollution may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease in estuarine and coastal dolphin communities, we hypothesized that demography and social behaviour may also influence its epidemiology. To address this issue, the role of social behaviour in the distribution and prevalence of LLD was assessed through hierarchical cluster analysis and spatial distribution analysis in 7 dolphin communities inhabiting the inner estuary. Individuals with LLD lesions were observed in 5 of the 7 dolphin communities, with 13 of the 163 (8%) animals being positive, all adults. Among 8 dolphins of known sex, LLD affected mostly males (86%), who usually were found in pairs. Prevalence was low to moderate (5.1-13%) in dolphin communities where low-rank males had LLD. Conversely, it was high (44.4%, n = 9) in a small community where a high-rank male was infected. LLD affected both dolphins in 2 of the 4 male pairs for which large time series data were available, suggesting horizontal transmission due to contact. Thus, association with LLD-positive males seems to be an important risk factor for infections. Additionally, low-rank males had larger home ranges than high-rank males, indicating that low-status LLD-affected dolphins are likely responsible for the geographic dissemination of the disease in this population. The article is available from the editorial site https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v134/n1/p75-87/. Let me know if you need a pdf copy. Best regards Fernando Félix fefelix90(a)hotmail.com<mailto:fefelix90@hotmail.com>

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New paper: Endangered rorqual whales in a highly impacted upwelling region
by Bruno Diaz Lopez 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

On behalf of my co-author and myself, I am delighted to bring to your attention the publication of our last research published by the scientific journal Ecological Indicators. Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, (2019) Habitat drivers of endangered rorqual whales in a highly impacted upwelling region. Ecological Indicators 103: 610-616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.04.038 Abstract Recent studies show that human impacts on marine ecosystems are threatening marine biodiversity. A greater emphasis on predicting how predators might respond to changes in the marine environment is needed because the effects of human activities are spatially heterogeneous. Here we analyse rorqual whales distribution data in a highly impacted upwelling region (North-western Iberian coast, Spain). Using a multi-model inference approach this study assesses the habitat drivers of the fine-scale distribution of three endangered whale species (blue, fin and sei whales) as a way to better understand how rorqual whales might respond to human-induced changes in the coastal ecosystem. The unequal use of available habitat, concentrated at the edge of the continental slope (200m depth and strong bottom slope gradient) in areas with a south-easterly coastal orientation, showed that rorqual whales presented a fine-scale pattern of habitat selection in response to prey availability. Rorqual whales’ distribution is affected by the coastal upwelling regime of the Iberian Peninsula, which is known to be under impact of climate change. Therefore, responses of rorqual whales to upwelling changes might be manifested at the population level such as shifts in abundance and distribution. This information contributes to extend the scant information available about the presence of these species in the North-east Atlantic. Our findings provide management agencies with an opportunity to devise and implement adequate adaptation measures which may ameliorate adverse effects critical for the conservation of rorquals in a changing climate. The article can be found and download in the following link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19302845?via%3Di… Please feel free to contact me for further questions or to request a pdf at: bruno(a)thebdri.com Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D Chief biologist and Director The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain www.thebdri.com 0034 684248552 Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram. Mention us on Twitter. 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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IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships - Fall 2019
by Kasper, Kira 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

The International Fund for Animal Welfare is accepting applications for Fall 2019 Marine Mammal Stranding Internships. Fall Session (First Week of September, 2019 - Mid January, 2020) Complete Applications due: May 20th, 2019 Program Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization. This internship is based out of our International Operations Center in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue and Research program is a federally authorized program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our program strives to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding "hot spot," with an average of over 251 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Only complete applications will be considered. Please click on the link below for more information and to submit an application. https://recruiting.ultipro.com/INT1059IFFA/JobBoard/17b588a3-808b-4bc9-aea8… Kira Kasper | Stranding Technician Marine Mammal Rescue and Research ___________________________________________________________ IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare International Operations Center 290 Summer Street - Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 tel. 1.508.744.2265 email. kkasper(a)ifaw.org<mailto:kkasper@ifaw.org> www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org/> Rescuing and protecting animals around the world www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org/> Watch videos of our work at... http://g.ifaw.org/IFoundAWay The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.

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Extended RFP Deadline
by Campbell, John 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

RFP on Environmental Impacts of Marine Vibrator Technology - Deadline Extension At the beginning of April, IOGP, on behalf of the participants in the Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life requested MARMAM to publish a Requests for Proposals notification on the Environmental Impacts of Marine Vibrator Technology. It has been decided to extend the submission deadline for this RfP call to 24th May 2019. John Campbell for and on behalf of the JIP Participants John Campbell Consultant email: jac(a)iogp.org phone: International Association of Oil & Gas Producers City Tower, 40 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5DE, UK reception: +44 20 3763 9700 web: www.iogp.org [IOGP logo] This e-mail was sent by The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP). IOGP is registered in England. Registration number: 1832064. Registered office: City Tower, 40 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5DE

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Whale sounds - Thank you!
by Bryony Manley 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

Thank you so much to everyone who got in touch with offers of sound files for us to use in our visitor centre. We had responses from lots of places and have a nice collection of files now, so thank you to such a helpful community! I thought I would share some of the public websites that were mentioned for reference. William Watkins marine mammal sound database https://cis.whoi.edu/science/B/whalesounds/index.cfm Sea of Sound, Cornell http://www.birds.cornell.edu/page.aspx?pid=2230# NOAA SWFSC https://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=PRD&ParentMenuId=148&id=5776 NOAA NEFSC https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/acoustics/sounds.html Thanks again, Bryony and Jen, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch

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RELEASE: Navy to hold open house public meetings for the Northwest Training and Testing draft supplemental EIS/OEIS
by Stanford, Julianne E CIV USN COMNAVREG NW BGR WA (USA) 23 Apr '19

23 Apr '19

Good afternoon, Attached and below is a news release regarding the U.S. Navy's upcoming open house public meetings for the draft supplement to the 2015 Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). With the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the Navy is reassessing the potential environmental impacts associated with conducting proposed training and testing activities, at sea and in associated airspace in the NWTT Study Area, at levels required to support military readiness requirements beyond 2020. The Navy will hold eight open house public meetings in Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska to provide information, answer questions, and give the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. The attached release includes further information about these meetings. For more information, please contact Navy Region Northwest Public Affairs Officer Julianne Stanford at (360)-867-8525 or her email at julianne.stanford(a)navy.mil. Very respectfully, Julianne Stanford Environmental Public Affairs Specialist, Navy Region Northwest Naval Magazine Indian Island Public Affairs Officer Desk: (360)-396-5393 Cell: (360)-867-8525 julianne.stanford(a)navy.mil ----------- For Immediate Release April 23, 2019 Release # 19-0423 NAVY TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE NORTHWEST TRAINING AND TESTING DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/OVERSEAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SILVERDALE, Wash - The U.S. Navy will hold eight open house public meetings to provide information, answer questions, and give the public an opportunity to comment on the 2015 Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). The Navy prepared the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS to reassess the potential environmental impacts associated with conducting proposed ongoing and future military readiness activities within the NWTT Study Area, referred to as the "Study Area." Military readiness activities include training and research, development, testing, and evaluation activities, referred to as "training and testing." The Navy welcomes substantive public comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Proposed Action: The Navy's Proposed Action is to conduct training and testing activities at sea and in associated airspace within the Study Area beyond 2020. These activities continue to include the use of active sound navigation and ranging, known as sonar, and explosives while employing marine species mitigation measures. Proposed activities are similar to those conducted in the Study Area for decades and analyzed in the 2015 document. The purpose of the Proposed Action, which remains the same as the 2015 analysis, is to conduct training and testing activities to ensure the Navy can accomplish its mission to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas, consistent with Congressional direction in section 8062 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code. In the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the Navy evaluated new, relevant information, such as more recent marine mammal density data and new scientific information, and updated the environmental analyses as appropriate. The Navy prepared the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS to support the issuance of federal regulatory permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. To achieve and maintain military readiness, the Navy proposes to: . Conduct training and testing activities, at sea and in associated airspace, at levels required to support military readiness requirements beyond 2020. . Accommodate evolving mission requirements, including those resulting from the development, testing, and introduction of new vessels, aircraft, and weapons systems into the fleet. The Study Area remains unchanged since the 2015 NWTT Final EIS/OEIS. The Study Area is comprised of established maritime operating areas and warning areas in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, including areas within the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the Western Behm Canal in southeastern Alaska. The Study Area includes air and water space within and outside Washington state waters and established special use airspace, Navy pierside and harbor locations within Washington state waters, and air and water space outside the state waters of Oregon and Northern California. In the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the Navy analyzed only those training and testing activities conducted at sea and in associated airspace within the Study Area. Visit the project website at www.NWTTEIS.com to download the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS, view other project information, and submit substantive comments online. Open house public meetings: The Navy will hold eight open house public meetings to provide information, answer questions, and give the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. The public may arrive at any time between 5 and 8 p.m., as there will not be a presentation or formal oral comment session. A stenographer will be available for the public to facilitate one-on-one oral comments; written comments can be submitted at any time during the meetings. The open house public meetings will be held at the following locations: Washington: Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Hampton Inn Seattle/Everett Downtown Salish Room 2931 W. Marine View Drive Everett, Wash. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Ridgetop Middle School Cafeteria 10600 Hillsboro Drive NW Silverdale, Wash. Friday, April 26, 2019 Naval Elks Lodge #353 131 E. First St. Port Angeles, Wash. Oregon: Monday, April 29, 2019 Astoria High School Student Commons 1001 W. Marine Drive Astoria, Ore. Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Newport Performing Arts Center Lobby 777 W. Olive St. Newport, Ore. Northern California: Thursday, May 2, 2019 Red Lion Hotel Eureka Ballroom 1929 Fourth St. Eureka, Calif. Friday, May 3, 2019 Dana Grey Elementary School Multipurpose Room 1197 Chestnut St. Fort Bragg, Calif. Southeastern Alaska: Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Ted Ferry Civic Center Naha and Alava Bays 888 Venetia Ave. Ketchikan, Alaska Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations, please contact Ms. Julianne Stanford, Public Affairs Officer, at 360-867-8525 or julianne.stanford(a)navy.mil. Media availability: Media will have an opportunity to speak with key project personnel before each meeting at 4:30 p.m. Media interested in attending or seeking further information should contact Ms. Julianne Stanford, 360-867-8525 or julianne.stanford(a)navy.mil. Availability of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS and public comment period: The Navy is seeking public review and comment on the Proposed Action and alternatives as well as the accuracy and adequacy of the environmental analysis. The Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS is available for public review online at www.NWTTEIS.com and at the following locations: Washington: . Everett Main Library . Gig Harbor Library . Jefferson County Library, Port Hadlock . Kitsap Regional Library, Poulsbo . Kitsap Regional Library, Sylvan Way, Bremerton . North Olympic Library System, Forks Branch . Lopez Island Library . Oak Harbor Public Library . Port Angeles Main Library . Port Townsend Public Library . San Juan Island Library . Timberland Regional Library, Aberdeen . Timberland Regional Library, Hoquiam Oregon: . Astoria Public Library . Driftwood Public Library . Newport Public Library . Oregon State University, Guin Library Hatfield Marine Science Center . Tillamook Main Library Northern California: . Fort Bragg Branch Library . Humboldt County Public Library, Arcata Branch Library . Humboldt County Public Library, Eureka Main Library . Redwood Coast Senior Center Southeastern Alaska: . Juneau Public Library, Downtown Branch . Ketchikan Public Library The Navy will accept comments throughout the public comment period from March 29, 2019, to June 12, 2019. All comments must be postmarked or received online by June 12, 2019, for consideration in the Final Supplemental EIS/OEIS. All comments submitted during the public comment period will become part of the public record, and substantive comments will be addressed in the Final Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Comments may be submitted online at www.NWTTEIS.com, at the public meetings, or by mail to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest Attention: NWTT Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager 3730 N. Charles Porter Ave. Building 385, Admin, Room 216 Oak Harbor, WA 98278-3500 -USN-

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New publication: Parasitism Elicits a Stress Response That Allocates Resources for Immune Function in South American Fur Seals (Arctocephalus australis)
by Geno DeRango 23 Apr '19

23 Apr '19

Dear MARMAM, My co-authors and I would like to share with you our recent publication: Mauricio Seguel, Diego Perez-Venegas, Josefina Gutierrez, Daniel E. Crocker, and Eugene J. DeRango. Parasitism elicits a stress response that allocates resources for immune function in South American fur seals (*Arctocephalus australis*) Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 92, no. 3 (May/June 2019): 326-338. The article may be reached via this link: https://doi.org/10.1086/702960 Please contact me at gderango(a)gmail.com if you would like to request a PDF copy. Abstract: Parasites can cause chronic stress in some animal species, and this type of stress response has been associated with adverse consequences for the host. In order to know whether parasitism elicited a stress response associated with decreased host fitness, hookworm (*Uncinaria* sp.) infection was studied in a colony of South American fur seals (*Arctocephalus australis*) in which hookworms infect nearly all pups born in a reproductive season. A parasite-free group was generated by treating a subset of pups with an antiparasitic drug before they developed patent hookworm infection. Stress and metabolic hormones, energy balance, and humoral and cellular immune parameters were measured in this group and hookworm-infected pups. Hookworms elicited a marked increase in plasma cortisol levels in fur seal pups. These hookworm-infected pups were able to maintain constant glucose levels, despite losing body mass over the course of infection potentially because of increased protein catabolism. Infected pups were able to mount an effective immune response against the parasite and eliminated hookworms from the intestine, recovering partial body mass lost as a result of hookworm infection at the end of the study period. As shown in previous studies, adequate glucose levels are critical for proper T lymphocyte reactivity, and it is possible that, through activation of a stress response, energy can be readily available for immune response against the parasite contributing to early recovery from infection. Although there are potential fitness costs to mounting a sustained stress response, these could also be adaptive and promote survival during critical life-history stages. Best regards, Geno DeRango PhD Student Galapagos Sea Lion Project Bielefeld University

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