May 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

new publications in International Journal of Comparative Psychology and Special Issue Announcement - Legacy of Stan Kuczaj
by Hill, Heather 25 May '19

25 May '19

Dear Readers: International Journal of Comparative Psychology has just published several new papers on https://submit.escholarship.org/ojs/index.php/uclapsych_ijcp/issue/view/2274 Of interest to members of this listserv, please note the paper by Marulanda et al. and Dudzinski et al. Other articles may be of interest from a comparative perspective. We would also like to draw your attention to a final call for submissions to our final special issue celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Stan Kuczaj. As a developmental psychologist, Stan turned his creative mind to the comparative application of developmental phenomena to marine mammals. Across his 20+ year career studying marine mammals, he conducted both captive and field research on a variety of topics from cognitive psychology to the anthropogenic effects on free-ranging dolphins with collaborators around the world. We hope that this special issue will be of interest to the MARMAM readership and invite your submission by June 15, 2019. Please contact Dr. Heather Hill, with any questions. IJCP is a peer-reviewed, open access, no publication fees journal. International Journal of Comparative Psychology Vol 32 (2019) Table of Contents Research Article -------- Domestication and the role of social play on the development of socio-cognitive skills in rats Sergio M Pellis, Vivien C Pellis, Brett T Himmler, Klaudia Modlińska, Rafał Stryjek, Bryan Kolb, Wojciech Pisula The role of outcome unit size in the collective foraging strategies of rats Luis Alfaro, Federico Sanabria, Rosalva Cabrera Response-inhibition during problem solving in sheep Franziska Knolle, Rita P Goncalves, Emma L Davies, Amy R Duff, Jenny A Morton Three Levels of Consciousness: A Pattern in Phylogeny and Human Ontogeny Beat Wechsler Description of a Bottlenose Dolphin Calf’s Acoustic And Visual Exploratory Behavior Towards a Non-Alimentary Complex Object Juliana Lopez Marulanda, Noémie Roynette, Torea Blanchard, Olivier Adam, Fabienne Delfour Aristotelean-Thomistic Approach of Comparative Psychology Erika A. Brown, Charles I. Abramson Brief Report -------- A Facet Theory Analysis of the Structure of Cognitive Performance in New Zealand Robins (Petroica longipes) Paul M W Hackett, Rachael C Shaw, Neeltje J Boogert, Nicola S Clayton Drinks Like a Fish: Neural Maturation Mitigates the Effects of Ethanol on Associative Learning in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Troy Dogulas Fort, Jacob Negley, Tamara Mcewen Spatial memory in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus): Depleting/Replenishing environments and pre-choice behaviors in the Radial Arm Maze Maryed Rojas Leguizamon, Nataly Yañez, Felipe Cabrera Special Issue on Contact -------- Methodological Considerations for Comparison of Cross-species Use of Tactile Contact Kathleen M Dudzinski, Heather M Hill, Maria Botero Heather M. Hill, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Comparative Psychology St. Mary’s University San Antonio, TX 78228 210-431-6887 Hhill1(a)stmarytx.edu

1 0

New article on associations between organohalogen exposure and thyroid- and steroid-related gene responses in two whale populations
by Antoine Simond 25 May '19

25 May '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of our new toxicogenomic research: *Associations between organohalogen exposure and thyroid- and steroid-related gene responses in St. Lawrence Estuary belugas and minke whales* Simond, A. E., Houde, M., Lesage, V., Michaud, R., Zbinden, D. and Verreault, J. Download the paper for free before July 13, 2019 here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Z6MD,ashtxl9 *ABSTRACT* Elevated concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and emerging halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have been reported in tissues of the endangered St. Lawrence Estuary (Canada) beluga population as well as in minke whales visiting that same feeding area. This study examined the linkages between blubber concentrations of POPs and emerging HFRs, and transcription in skin of genes involved in the regulation of thyroid and steroid axes in belugas and minke whales from the St. Lawrence Estuary. In belugas, concentrations of PCBs, OCs and hexabromobenzene (HBB) were positively correlated with the transcription of thyroid- and/or steroid-related genes, while Dec-604 CB concentrations were negatively associated with the transcription of glucocorticoid and thyroid genes. In minke whales, PBDE concentrations changed positively with Esrβ transcript levels and HBB concentrations negatively with Nr3c1 transcripts. Present results suggest that several biological functions including reproduction and energetic metabolism may represent potential targets for organohalogens in these whales. *HIGHLIGHTS* - Linkages between contaminants and endocrine-related genes were studied in whales. - PCBs, p,p’-DDE, and PBDEs were the most abundant contaminants in blubber of belugas. - Most organochlorine compounds correlated positively with Dio2 and Esrα in belugas. - HBB and Dec-604 CB correlated with thyroid- and steroid-related genes in belugas. - This study suggests that endocrine control may be impacted in highly exposed whales. This study has been conducted in collaboration with Université du Québec à Montréal, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the GREMM <http://www.gremm.org/> and the Meriscope <http://www.meriscope.com/>. ********************************************************************************************** *ANTOINE SIMOND* *Étudiant en doctorat | PhD Student* Département des sciences biologiques | Biological Sciences Department Université du Québec à Montréal | University of Quebec at Montreal C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville | P.O. Box 8888, Downtown branch Montréal (Québec), Canada, H3C 3P8 | Montreal (Quebec), Canada, H3C 3P8 Bureau SB-3650 | Office SB-3650 Courriel | E-mail: simond.antoine(a)courrier.uqam.ca ********************************************************************************************** « *We feel fundamentally disconnected from nature and therefore not responsible for the ecological consequences of our actions. Once we learn that our very being, essence, health and happiness depend on Mother Earth, we have no choice but to radically shift the way we treat her.* » - David Suzuki.

1 0

New publication - Using a recreational echosounder to investigate predator-prey overlap in Hector's dolphin and little penguins
by Tom Brough 23 May '19

23 May '19

Kia ora MARMAM, We are pleased to announce the recent publication of our article in PLoS ONE. Tom Brough, William Rayment and Steve Dawson. 2019. Using a recreational grade echosounder to quantify the potential prey field of coastal predators. PLoS ONE 14(5): e0217013. Abstract Quantifying the distribution of prey greatly improves models of habitat use by marine predators and can assist in determining threats to both predators and prey. Small epipelagic fishes are important prey for many predators yet their distribution is difficult to quantify due to extreme patchiness. This study explores the use of recreational grade echosounders (RGE) to quantify school characteristics of epipelagic fish and link their distribution to that of their predators at Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. The hydro-acoustic system was groundtruthed with 259 schools of epipelagic fish. During 2015 and 2016, 136 hydro-acoustic surveys were conducted with concurrent observations of Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) and little penguins (Eudyptula minor). The relative abundance of the two predator species during surveys was modelled according to the relative abundance of potential prey using generalised additive mixed models. Schools of epipelagic fish were readily detected by the RGE system and were more abundant in summer compared to winter. The models performed well, explaining 43% and 37% of the deviance in relative abundances of dolphins and penguins respectively. This is the first study to link the distribution of Hector’s dolphin to that of their epipelagic prey and confirms the utility of RGE in studies of habitat use in marine predators. Limitations associated with a lack of formal acoustic calibration and data formatting can be overcome and would make RGE valuable, inexpensive tools for investigating variability in populations of small pelagic fishes. Full text pdf copies of the article are available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217013 Alternatively, feel free to email me at tom.broughnz(a)gmail.com for a copy, Many thanks, Tom Brough *Marine Mammal Research Group* *Department of Marine Science* *University of Otago, Dunedin* *Aotearoa/New Zealand* *http://whaledolphintrust.org.nz/ <http://whaledolphintrust.org.nz/>* *https://www.facebook.com/whaledolphintrust/ <https://www.facebook.com/whaledolphintrust/>*

1 0

New publication: Drivers of foraging behaviour in dolphins
by Severine Methion 23 May '19

23 May '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to announce our new publication: Methion S, Diaz Lopez B. Natural and anthropogenic drivers of foraging behaviour in bottlenose dolphins: Influence of shellfish aquaculture. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst. 2019;1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3116 Abstract 1. In the coastal environment, marine mammals are exposed to one of the fastest growing food production sectors; namely, the shellfish farming industry. Identification of critical habitats, such as foraging grounds in highly human‐impacted areas, is essential to species conservation. Therefore, understanding the variables that influence a species' foraging behaviour is important for their conservation, especially for long‐lived mammals such as cetaceans. 2. The aims of this study were (a) to identify and quantify the environmental and anthropogenic drivers of wild bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) foraging behaviour, and (b) to investigate whether the shellfish farming industry influences the behaviour of this species. 3. Behavioural observations were conducted along the north‐western coast of Spain, an area affected by intensive human activities, particularly the shellfish aquaculture industry. 4. A multi‐modelling approach highlighted the importance of shellfish farm areas as a foraging ground for bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins were predicted to be more likely found foraging inside shellfish farm areas than outside (57% vs. 43%). 5. Variability in bottlenose dolphin behaviour is likely a result of the interactions of environmental and anthropogenic drivers with prey availability and the physiological needs of the dolphins. Although shellfish farm areas provide high prey density for dolphins, they can also pose threats in a number of ways (i.e. collisions with vessels, entanglement with ropes, habitat loss, noise and water pollution). 6. From a conservation perspective, aquaculture management should consider the presence of dolphins foraging and minimize the associated risks that this industry may pose to these coastal cetaceans. The article can be found in the following link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aqc.3116 Feel free to contact me to request a pdf or for any question regarding our work at: severine(a)thebdri.com Best regards, Severine Methion Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Av. Beiramar 192, 36980, O Grove, Pontevedra, Spain www.thebdri.com

1 0

new article on interaction of whale baleen with oil
by Alex Werth 22 May '19

22 May '19

On behalf of my colleagues (Shemar Blakeney and Adrian Cothren) I am pleased to announce the publication of our new open-access article on the interaction of whale baleen with oil, which can be accessed here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.182194 Werth, A.J., S.M. Blakeney, A.I. Cothren. Oil adsorption does not structurally or functionally alter whale baleen. Royal Society Open Science 6(5):e182194, doi: 10.1098/rsos.182194 Abstract: Mysticete whales filter small prey from seawater using baleen, a unique keratinous oral tissue that grows from the palate, from which it hangs in hundreds of serial plates. Laboratory experiments testing effects of oils on material strength and flexibility, particle capture, and tissue architecture of baleen from four mysticete species (bowhead, Balaena mysticetus; North Atlantic right, Eubalaena glacialis; fin, Balaenoptera physalus; humpback, Megaptera novaeangliae) indicate that baleen is hydrophilic and oleophobic, shedding rather than adsorbing oil. Oils of different weights and viscosities were tested, including six petroleum-based oils and two fish or plankton oils of common whale prey. No notable differences were found by oil type or whale species. Baleen did not adsorb oil; oil was readily rinsed from baleen by flowing water, especially from moving fringes. Microscopic examination shows minimal wrinkling or peeling of baleen's cortical keratin layers, likely due to oil repelling infiltrated water. Combined results cast doubt on fears of baleen fouling by oil; filter porosity is not appreciably affected, but oil ingestion risks remain. Particle capture studies suggest potentially greater danger to mysticetes from plastic pollution than oil. Conclusions 1. Baleen is hydrophilic and oleophobic, shedding rather than adsorbing oil. 2. Oil was easily rinsed by flowing seawater, minimizing the danger of baleen fouling. 3. Oil did not significantly affect baleen's flexibility, strength, or capture of particles. 4. Histological investigation revealed slight wrinkling and peeling of baleen's surface keratin layers caused by prolonged oil exposure. 5. Ingestion of microplastics may pose a greater risk to whales than ingestion of oil, based on our findings of poor adsorption of oil to baleen, whereas we found baleen is highly effective in trapping and accumulating small plastic particles. Plastic is more likely to clog the baleen filter and thus perhaps more likely to be ingested by whales than oil. Best regards, Alex _______________________________ Alexander J. Werth, Ph.D. Trinkle Professor of Biology Hampden-Sydney College Box 162, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943 434-223-6326, fax 434-223-6374 http://www.hsc.edu/alex-werth

1 0

Humpback whale research expedition Costa Rica & Panama
by Joëlle De Weerdt 22 May '19

22 May '19

The organization ELI-S and the Coastal dolphin of Latin America is very happy to announce the setting up of a research expedition on humpback whale calving habitat in Golfo Dulce (Costa Rica) and Gulf of Chiriqui (Panama). When ? Costa Rica from 28 August-1 September 2019 and Panama from 1 September – 5 September 2019 Don't miss your chance to join us on this special edition where you can discover Costa Rica and Panama during one single expedition. Thanks to 15 years of data gathering on behaviors combined to satellite tagging data (cooperation with Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama) we have shown the fluid movement of mother-calf pairs between coastal waters in Chiriquí Gulf and Osa Peninsula, more particularly in Golfo Dulce. We will assess the development stage and health of calves. We will also be recording vocalizations on these calving areas. Additionally as a side project we will continue photo-ID efforts in Chiriquí Gulf with inshore bottlenose dolphins and seek possible exchange and transitions with the dolphin population in nearby Golfo Dulce. No previous experience is required to join the expedition as training will be provided. You will assist marine biologists in the field and gain experience in boat-based surveys. The program for this expedition comprises four marine navigations along coastal areas in the two study sites: two in Golfo Dulce and two in Gulf of Chiriquí. Participation fee includes lodging in shared accommodations (9 days/ 8 nights), including breakfast and dinner, meals, hydration and snacks during navigation are also included. The expedition arrangement facilitates participation in only one half of the expedition (4 nights / 5 days), however, we will start in Golfo Dulce since is the model to guide research next door in Panama, we will aid in travel arrangements in case just one of the site is chosen for participation. For any additionnal information on the program fees please send an email to eliscientific(a)gmail.com or visit https://www.nicacetacea.org/researchcamp Best regards, *Joëlle De Weerdt, Msc* President ELI-S Project director of Cetacean conservation of Nicaragua --------------------- www.nicacetacea.org & www.eli-s.com Find ELI-Scientific on : Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/ELIScientific/>, Instagram <http://www.instagram.com/eli.scientific/>, Twitter <http://twitter.com/ELI_Scientific>, Youtube <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjeseHPDvE6pq-MmoZXWNkg> Use lilo as research engine and support our project https://www.lilo.org/fr/eli-scientific/

1 0

PSO Training in Boston June 8-9
by Angela Bostwick 22 May '19

22 May '19

MPSC is holding a training course in Boston, MA that provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on June 8-9. This class will include a vessel trip to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, one of the top whale-watching locations in the world! Currently, humpback, fin, sei and minke whales have been quite active in the area. The vessel trip will provide the opportunity to practice the skills discussed in class regarding locating and identifying marine mammals and sea turtles. Attendees will also be able to practice wildlife photography using manual settings on digital SLR cameras, and distance estimation using binoculars with reticles. This course will also host a special guest speaker from NMFS, who will discuss PSO roles, regulatory framework, MMPA, and more. This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to provide Protected Species Observer certification for seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, and is a long-standing industry standard which may often be accepted in various other regions or industries where monitoring and mitigation for protected species is needed. The course examines the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the animals, and objective documentation of animal behavior for reporting to regulatory agencies. Student/recent graduate and government or non-profit discounts are available. Lunch is provided each day, along with various identification guides and regulatory documents (yours to keep), advice on applying to PSO positions, the vessel trip, and the professional certification. MPSC will also be holding PSO Training in Monterey, CA on June 1-2. Additional information for either course may be found online at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at ABostwick(a)psocertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

1 0

ASCOBANS: two consultancies related to bycatch - deadline 27 May 2019
by ASCOBANS Secretariat 21 May '19

21 May '19

Dear MARMAM community, The Secretariat to the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS<http://www.ascobans.org/>) is seeking a: 1. Consultant to conduct a cost analysis for mitigation measures in fisheries with high bycatch (JO 116842<https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=116842&Lang=en-US>); and a 2. Consultant to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of different monitoring methods aboard fisheries with regards to cetacean bycatch (JO 116844<https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=116844&Lang=en-US>). For details, please refer to the Job Openings (JO) linked above. Kindly note that the estimated duration of the contract does not necessarily mean a full time consultancy, but for the consultant to complete the work (within x amount of days) during the contract time. Applications must be submitted via UN Careers Portal<https://careers.un.org/>, by clicking 'Apply now' on the Job Opening page. Deadline for applications is 27 May 2019 (midnight New York time). If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us! Kind regards, Jenny Renell Coordinator ASCOBANS Secretariat UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1 53113 Bonn, Germany Tel. +49 228 815-2416 ascobans.secretariat(a)ascobans.org<mailto:ascobans.secretariat@ascobans.org> www.ascobans.org<http://www.ascobans.org/> [cid:image001.jpg@01D4138C.D448FF90]

1 0

New Review Paper: Sounds Produced by Bottlenose Dolphins
by Brittany Jones 21 May '19

21 May '19

My colleagues and I are excited to announce our new review paper published in Bioacoustics entitled: *Sounds produced by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops): a review of the defining characteristics and acoustic criteria of the dolphin vocal repertoire.* We hope this may serve as a useful tool to both seasoned and new researchers in marine mammal acoustics. We provide a review of previously reported sound types produced by *Tursiops* and wherever possible include spectrogram and waveform representations along with supplemental .wav files. Please use the link below to access a copy or contact brittany.jones(a)nmmf.org. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/et2PR3IuEku9meDQR3Du/full?target=10.1080… *Abstract:* Bottlenose dolphins make many different sounds that have been recorded and described by researchers for over 60 years. This species, Tursiops truncatus, is arguably the most studied marine mammal. They have the ability to hear and produce sounds over a range of at least 150 kilohertz (kHz). Although the human hear- ing is limited in bandwidth to less than 20 kHz, dolphin sounds have historically been described as humans perceive them (e.g. whistles, squeals, buzzes, barks, quacks, pops, etc.). Often the same names have been used for different sounds and different names have been used for sounds that are apparently the same. In this review, we try and summarize the dolphin sound literature and provide standardized spectrograms where possible. Our goal is to provide a foundation for future research to build upon by providing a tool for identifying whether a sound has been described before. Novel sound types can then be recognized. Also, we encourage future studies that show when dolphins perceive two sound types as different. Detailed reports linking sound and behaviour are also essential. Only then can we have a complete idea of the dolphin repertoire and begin to understand how they use sound for communication. To cite this article: Brittany Jones, Maria Zapetis, Mystera M. Samuelson & Sam Ridgway (2019): Sounds produced by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops): a review of the defining characteristics and acoustic criteria of the dolphin vocal repertoire, Bioacoustics, DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2019.1613265 All the best, Brittany -- Brittany Jones PhD National Marine Mammal Foundation Research Fellow

1 0

necropsy workshop correct dates
by Thierry Jauniaux 21 May '19

21 May '19

The annual marine mammal necropsy workshop is organized by the Department of Veterinary Pathology (University of Liege, Belgium), the Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics LAB (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain) and the UMS Pelagis, Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins (University of La Rochelle, France). The session will be held at the Veterinary College on the Sart Tilman campus (Liège, Belgium) on July 2, 3 and 4, 2019 Regards T. Jauniaux

1 0