December 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: “Surface behaviors correlate with prey abundance and vessels in an endangered killer whale (Orcinus orca) population” (Christine Bubac, Amy Johnson)
by Christine Bubac 31 Dec '20

31 Dec '20

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper: Bubac C.M.*, Johnson A.C.*, and Otis R. 2020. Surface behaviors correlate with prey abundance and vessels in an endangered killer whale (*Orcinus orca*) population. Marine Ecology, e12626. *Authors contributed equally. Abstract: Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) (*Orcinus orca*) are an endangered population in the United States and Canada, partly due to declines of their primary prey species, Chinook salmon. Prey availability influences various aspects of SRKW behavior, including distribution patterns and social structure. Yet, it is unclear to what extent a limited prey source influences the frequency of surface-active behaviors (SABs), behaviors with important ecological implications. Here, we used long-term datasets (1996-2019) to examine the relationships between the abundance of Chinook salmon, vessel presence, and the frequency with which SRKWs perform SABs. Salmon abundance was a significant predictor of SAB frequency, with fewer SABs performed in times of lower salmon abundance. SRKWs displayed more SABs when more whale watching vessels were present, and the whales spent a greater amount of time in the study area, performing more milling as opposed to traveling behavior, when vessel numbers were higher. Lastly, we found pod-specific differences, such that K pod displayed significantly fewer SABs than either J or L pods.The observed relationships between SRKW behavior and both salmon abundance and vessel presence have implications for social network cohesion and foraging success. Our study adds to a growing body of literature highlighting factors affecting SRKW behavior as they experience increased threats from decreased prey availability, habitat loss, and anthropogenic disturbance, with implications for trans-boundary management and conservation efforts. The article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12626. Alternatively, the article is available upon request via email to: bubac(a)ualberta.ca or acj1(a)ualberta.ca Kind regards, Christi Bubac -- Christi Bubac PhD Candidate, Ecology Dept. of Biological Sciences University of Alberta bubac(a)ualberta.ca

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Marine Mammals of Maine Summer Veterinary Preceptorship Announcement
by Walk, Dominique 31 Dec '20

31 Dec '20

Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is now accepting applications through February 3rd, 2021 for marine mammal veterinary preceptorship positions. MMoME is a non-profit organization federally authorized to respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles between Kittery and Rockland, Maine, covering some of the busiest seal stranding activity on the East Coast. MMoME also operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center which provides critical care to sick and injured pinnipeds. Additionally, our mission heavily encompasses marine mammal research, education, and outreach. We are seeking to fill up to 3 positions to assist with the upcoming harbor seal pup season. Preceptors, interns, and volunteers are critical in fulfilling our mission and are given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. On a day-to-day basis, preceptors work under the supervision and direction of core MMoME staff and join our marine mammal veterinarian for regular patient rounds and a mentored project. Additionally, preceptors work daily alongside non-veterinary interns as a team to accomplish our broad scope of work during our busiest time of year. Preceptors will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as Level A data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The preceptorship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Preceptors will be required to dedicate a minimum of 40-50 hours per week (minimum of 4 days/week), and will include holidays, weekends, late nights, early mornings, and overnight care for critical patients as needed. This opportunity is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff may be able to assist with sourcing options. *KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES SHARED AMONG ALL PRECEPTORS AND NON-VETERINARY INTERNS:* *STRANDING RESPONSE:* respond to live and dead cetacean, pinniped, and sea turtle strandings in the field to collect Level A data, perform health assessments, and monitor, relocate, and collect for humane euthanasia or rehabilitation. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required; *PATIENT CARE:* assist with all aspects relating to the care of sick, injured and abandoned pinnipeds (primarily harbor seal pups) undergoing short, or long-term care at MMoME’s center. Tasks include primarily cleaning, as well as meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, medical record maintenance, cleaning, and transport to other long-term care facilities; *NECROPSY:* transport carcasses to necropsy and compost sites, assist staff with necropsy of fresh dead pinnipeds and cetaceans, archive necropsy samples, and maintain and clean necropsy equipment; *EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:* give presentations to the public about the organization, attend outreach events, and help create educational materials; *OTHER TASKS:* additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, extensive cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *PRECEPTOR-SPECIFIC TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:*-Collect and process biological and diagnostic samples from stranded marine mammals, as well as from triage and rehabilitation pinniped patients in MMoME’s care. For example, blood samples from live marine mammals for diagnostic health evaluation, swabs from live and dead marine mammals for disease monitoring with partner research labs and patient health testing, culture samples from live and dead cases, necropsy tissue samples for histology or PCR testing, etc.; -Clinical rounds with MMoME’s veterinarian; -Assist staff and veterinarian with, and carry out clinical procedures such as IV, IM, or SQ injections and intravenous fluid therapy; -Provide after-hours medical care of triage or rehab patients in need of extended critical care as needed, and as directed by staff and veterinarian; -Conduct a project mentored by MMoME’s veterinarian (case study, nutritional study, etc.) to be completed during the preceptorship and presented to MMoME staff, veterinarian, and community. Research opportunities may be available depending on student interest, time, and permitting. *REQUIREMENTS:*-Must be actively enrolled in a veterinary program pursuing a DVM or similar degree. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year domestic and international students are encouraged to apply. -Must be available to start no later than May 17th, 2021 and commit to the full period extending through August 15th. Preference given to those that can start prior to May 17th. -Must have demonstrated experience with physical restraint of animals in a clinical setting. Wildlife handling is preferred, though not required. -Must be able to work well as a positive team member with other preceptors and non-veterinary interns, staff, and veterinarian, work well with limited supervision, and be adaptable to a changing and unpredictable schedule; -Must be able to lift 50 pounds; -Must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, and comfortable driving a full-size truck in urban and rural areas; -Preference given to applicants with marine mammal or other wildlife husbandry experience, and a demonstrated interest in marine mammal or conservation medicine; -Proof of Rabies vaccination or current titer. *HOW TO APPLY: *Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: why you would like to be considered for this internship, how you meet the requirements, what your expectations are, what you think MMoME’s expectations are, what you hope to gain from this opportunity, and the start and end dates you can commit to. Your application must also include a resume, one professional letter of recommendation, a copy of your current transcripts, and proof of rabies vaccine or current titer. Completed applications can be sent to info(a)mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST February 3rd, 2021. *Incomplete or late applications will not be considered*. For more information on MMoME or the preceptorship, visit www.mmome.org/veterinary-preceptorship/. We look forward to your application for this exciting experience! *Dominique Walk* *Assistant Stranding Coordinator* *Marine Mammals of MaineOffice: 207-844-8718* *Reporting Hotline: 1-800-532-9551* *www.mmome.org <http://www.mmome.org>*

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Marine Mammals of Maine Summer Internship Announcement
by Walk, Dominique 31 Dec '20

31 Dec '20

Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is now accepting applications through February 3rd for the summer 2021 harbor seal pup season internship. MMoME is a non-profit organization federally authorized to respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles between Kittery and Rockland, Maine, covering some of the busiest seal stranding activity on the East Coast. MMoME also operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center which provides critical care to sick and injured pinnipeds. Additionally, our mission heavily encompasses marine mammal research, education, and outreach. MMoME is seeking up to 4 motivated, flexible, positive, and independent interns who will be given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Interns will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as Level A data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The internship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick area), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Interns will work as a team alongside veterinary preceptors to accomplish MMoME’s broad scope of work during our busiest time of year, and will be required to dedicate a minimum of 40-50 hours per week to the internship (minimum of 4 days/week). These hours will include holidays, weekends, and late nights and early mornings. This internship is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff may be able to assist with sourcing options. *KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:* *STRANDING RESPONSE:* respond to live and dead cetacean, pinniped and sea turtle strandings to collect Level A data, perform health assessments, and monitor, relocate, and collect for humane euthanasia or rehabilitation. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required; *PATIENT CARE:* assist with all aspects relating to the care of sick, injured and abandoned pinnipeds (primarily harbor seal pups) undergoing short, or long-term care at MMoME’s center. Tasks include primarily cleaning, but also meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, medical record maintenance, and transport to other long-term care facilities; *NECROPSY:* transport carcasses to necropsy and compost sites, assist staff with necropsy of fresh dead pinnipeds and cetaceans, archive necropsy samples, and maintain and clean necropsy equipment; *EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:* give presentations to the public about the organization, attend outreach events, and help create educational materials; *OTHER TASKS:* additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, extensive cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *REQUIREMENTS:*-Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. This internship is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in, or recently graduated (within two years) from an accredited college or university; -The ideal candidate is working towards a career in marine mammal science, veterinary technology, marine biology, environmental education, or related field; -Must commit to at least three months, and be available from May 10th to August 15th, or October 15th. *All interns must be able to start on May 10th* , preference given to those that can stay through the end of August or later. -Must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, and comfortable driving a full-size truck in urban and rural areas; -Must be able to work independently and as part of a team with other veterinary and non-veterinary interns, and be adaptable to a changing and unpredictable schedule; -Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds; -Individuals that are passionate, responsible, hardworking, eager to learn, flexible, able to work under minimal supervision, able to work well with others as a team member, and detail-oriented are encouraged to apply; -Preference given to individuals with a demonstrated interest in marine mammals, and are specifically interested in marine mammal response and care. Previous marine mammal experience or animal husbandry a plus. *HOW TO APPLY: *Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: why you would like to be considered for this internship, how you meet the requirements, what your expectations are of this internship, what you think MMoME’s expectations are of interns, what you hope to gain from this internship and the start and end dates you can commit to. Your application must also include a resume and one professional letter of recommendation. Completed applications can be sent to info(a)mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST February 3rd, 2021. *Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.* For more information on MMoME and our internship programs, visit https://www.mmome.org/internship/. We look forward to your application for this exciting experience! *Dominique Walk* *Assistant Stranding Coordinator* *Marine Mammals of MaineOffice: 207-844-8718* *Reporting Hotline: 1-800-532-9551* *www.mmome.org <http://www.mmome.org>*

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New presentation: Automating Wildlife Conservation for Cetaceans
by Jason Holmberg 31 Dec '20

31 Dec '20

Dear readers, I am pleased to announce a recorded online presentation entitled "Automating Wildlife Conservation for Cetaceans" delivered recently at NeurIPS, presenting the engineering work of Wild Me (wildme.org) for fully automated, multi-feature, multi-species machine learning for Photo ID in the Flukebook.org platform. The recorded link for the in-depth presentation is here: https://slideslive.com/38942314/automating-wildlife-conservation-for-cetace… Citation: Parham, J. "Automating Wildlife Conservation for Cetaceans". 34th Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2020), 6-12 December 2020. Online Conference, Canada (C20-12-06). Conference presentation. Follow up questions are invited and can be directed to Jason Parham ( parham(a)wildme.org) or Jason Holmberg (jason(a)wildme.org) Thank you, Jason Holmberg Jason Holmberg (he/him/his) Executive Director, Wild Me A.I. and humans combating extinction together.

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New publication - Crassicauda sp. in an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
by Mauroo, Nathalie France 30 Dec '20

30 Dec '20

Dear colleagues, Myself and my co-authors are pleased to announce a new publication arising from our research on stranded Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Hong Kong. Mauroo, NF., Beh, PSL., Harris, E., Chan, SY., Gibson, DI. (2020) Crassicauda sp. in an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis). Veterinary Record Case Reports 8: e000865. doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2019-000865 Abstract A female Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) stranded in Hong Kong waters presented on postmortem examination with a single nematode with a diameter of 0.1 cm in the mammary gland, as well as mild multifocal chronic mastitis on histological examination. The parasitic material was recognised as a species of Crassicauda. To our knowledge, this is the first record of a species of Crassicauda occurring in an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and also represents a new geographical record for this genus in the South China Sea. Wishing you all a Healthy New Year 2021! Best wishes, Nathalie Dr Nathalie Mauroo, DVM, PhD, CertZooMed,MRCVS nmauroo(a)hkwhf.org.hk Hong Kong Wildlife Health Foundation www.hkwhf.org.hk

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New publication on dolphin lateralization
by Kelly Jaakkola 29 Dec '20

29 Dec '20

Dear All, We are placed to announce our new publication: Jaakkola, K., Loyer, C., Guarino, E., Donegan, K., & McMullen, C. (2021). Do dolphins really have a rightward lateralization for action? The importance of behavior-specific and orientation-neutral coding. Behavioural Brain Research, 401, 113083. Abstract: Because each side of the vertebrate body is controlled by a different side of the brain, studies of behavioral lateralization can provide insight into functional cerebral asymmetries in humans and other animals. The current study examined behavioral lateralization for a variety of behaviors in a group of 26 dolphins, in order to assess the claim that cetaceans show strong rightward action asymmetries indicative of a left-hemisphere specialization for action. We distinguished between side asymmetries and whole body turning actions, and devised a new coding system to counter the problem that previous studies of rolling behaviors (i.e., rotations around the long axis) have used contradictory coding systems depending on species' typical orientation. Our results did not support a generalized population-level rightward action asymmetry across multiple behaviors. Instead, we suggest that many dolphin behavioral asymmetries may be better explained as a result of perceptual processing asymmetries common across many vertebrates. You can access the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113083 Or email me directly for a copy: kelly(a)dolphins.org Cheers, -- Kelly /Kelly Jaakkola, PhD Director of Research, Dolphin Research Center Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums /

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Submission: New publication on cetacean lung anatomy (Cristina Otero-Sabio)
by Cristina Otero Sabio 29 Dec '20

29 Dec '20

New publication on cetacean lung anatomy (Cristina Otero-Sabio) Dear colleagues my Co-Authors and I are happy to share with you our recent article at Journal of Morphology, entitled: Microscopic anatomical, immunohistochemical, and morphometric characterization of the terminal airways of the lung in cetaceans Otero‐Sabio, C.; Centelleghe, C.; Corain, L.; Graïc, J.M.; Cozzi, B.; Rivero, M.; Consoli, F.; Peruffo, A. The PDF is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.21304 Abstract: The lungs of cetaceans undergo anatomical and physiological adaptations that facilitate extended breath‐holding during dives. Here, we present new insights on the ontogeny of the microscopic anatomy of the terminal portion of the airways of the lungs in five cetacean species: the fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*); the sperm whale (*Physeter macrocephalus*), the Cuvier's beaked whale (*Ziphius cavirostris*); the bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*); and the striped dolphin (*Stenella coeruleoalba*). We (a) studied the histology of the terminal portion of the airways; (b) used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to characterize the muscle fibers with antibodies against smooth muscle (sm‐) actin, sm‐myosin, and desmin; (c) the innervation of myoelastic sphincters (MESs) with an antibody against neurofilament protein; and (d) defined the diameter of the terminal bronchioles, the diameter and length of the alveoli, the thickness of the septa, the major and minor axis, perimeter and section area of the cartilaginous rings by quantitative morphometric analyses in partially inflated lung tissue. As already reported in the literature, in bottlenose and striped dolphins, a system of MESs was observed in the terminal bronchioles. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of smooth muscle in the terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar septa in all the examined species. Some neurofilaments were observed close to the MESs in both bottlenose and striped dolphins. In fin, sperm, and Cuvier's beaked whales, we noted a layer of longitudinal smooth muscle going from the terminal bronchioles to the alveolar sacs. The morphometric analysis allowed to quantify the structural differences among cetacean species by ranking them into groups according to the adjusted mean values of the morphometric parameters measured. Our results contribute to the current understanding of the anatomy of the terminal airways of the cetacean lung and the role of the smooth muscle in the alveolar collapse reflex, crucial for prolonged breath‐holding diving. Please do not hesitate to contact me at cristina.oterosabio(a)studenti.unipd.it Best regards and Happy New Year Cristina Otero-Sabio Ph.D Candidate Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA) University of Padova Viale dell’Università, 16 35030 Legnaro - Agripolis (PD), Italy phone: + 34 660 908 580 e-mail: cristina.oterosabio(a)studendi.unipd.it

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Todd et al., 2020 JASA paper on underwater drilling noise in the Dogger Bank and relevance to harbour porpoise
by Dr. Victoria Todd 29 Dec '20

29 Dec '20

Dear Marmamers, Pleased to announce publication of our latest paper on 28 December 2020: Todd, V.L.G., Williamson, L.D., Jiang, J., Cox, S.E., Todd, I.B., and Ruffert, M. (2020): Proximate underwater soundscape of a North Sea offshore petroleum-exploration jack-up drilling-rig in the Dogger Bank. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 148, 3971-3979. Please find the article here: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002958 Abstract Little is known about localized, near-field soundscapes during offshore hydrocarbon drilling campaigns. In the Dogger Bank, North Sea, underwater noise recordings were made 41-60 m from the drill stem of the Noble Kolskaya jack-up exploration drilling-rig. Aims were to document noise Received Levels (RLs) and frequency characteristics of rig-associated near-field noise. The rig produced Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) of 120 dB re 1µPa in the frequency range of 2-1,400 Hz. Over transient periods, RLs varied by 15-20 dB between softest (holding) and noisiest (drilling) operations. Tonal components at different frequencies varied with depth. Support-vessel noise was significantly louder than the jack-up rig at frequencies <1 kHz, even in its noisiest 'boulder-drilling' phase, though radiated noise levels were higher above 2 kHz. Rig SPLs fell rapidly above 8 kHz. Marine mammals, such as harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) forage regularly near offshore oil & gas rigs and platforms, and it is predicted that animals experience different noise regimes as they traverse the water column, and can potentially detect the higher-frequency components of drilling noise to a distance of 70 m from the source; however, while levels were unlikely to cause auditory injury, effects on echolocation behavior are still unknown. If you require a pdf, please don't hesitate to ask me on info(a)osc.co.uk<mailto:info@osc.co.uk>. Kind regards, -- Dr. Victoria Todd Managing Director Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk<http://www.osc.co.uk/> MMO or PAM requirement? We wrote the book. Now available on Amazon: www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com<http://www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com/>

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New publication- "Long-term demographic and spatio-temporal trends of Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) bycatch in bather protection nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa."
by Stephanie Plön, PhD 29 Dec '20

29 Dec '20

Dear MARMAM members, On behalf of all my co-authors, I would like to share with you our most recent paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science, section Marine Megafauna: "Long-term demographic and spatio-temporal trends of Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops aduncus*) bycatch in bather protection nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." Abstract: Bather protection nets have been in place off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, since the 1950’s. Besides sharks, they also catch a number of other marine vertebrates, including dolphins, the majority of which are Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins *Tursiops aduncus*. Previous analyses of dolphin bycatch in the nets indicated the potential impacts on the local populations, but a lack of information on population structure has to-date hindered a more detailed assessment. A recent re-assessment of the status and population delineations of *T. aduncus* off South Africa prompted a re-examination of demographic, spatial, and temporal patterns of its catches in bather protection nets over a 36-year period (January 1980 to December 2015). In total, 1169 dolphins were caught, including a slightly greater number of females and juveniles than other sex-classes, raising concern about the potential long-term effects on population demographics. More dolphins were caught off the North than the South coast. Temporal trends indicate that the bycatch during June and July every year (peak Sardine Run period) as a percentage of overall dolphin bycatch has been steadily decreasing from 39.8% in 1980 to 13% in 2015. A large inter-annual fluctuation can be seen, probably as a result of the inter-annual intensity of the Sardine Run. Although our results do not indicate a long-term decline of the individual populations as previously predicted, revised abundance estimates and data on the demographics and movement patterns of the animals are urgently required to accurately assess the impact of bycatch on the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin populations off KZN and to advise conservation and management decisions going forward. The article is available at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.542675/full or can be requested via e-mail from: stephanie.ploen(a)gmail.com Kind regards, Stephanie Dr. Stephanie Plön Bayworld Centre for Research and Education (BCRE) Port Elizabeth, South Africa Cell: +27-76-3791067 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie_Ploen *https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/ <https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/>*

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New publication on dugongs from India
by Anant Pande 26 Dec '20

26 Dec '20

Dear Marmamm peeps Happy to share with a recent article that we published using primary data and open access gene sequences on dugongs. Please find the article here. Mitochondrial phylogeography reveals high haplotype diversity and unique genetic lineage in Indian dugongs (Dugong dugon) - Srinivas - - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems - Wiley Online Library <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.3490> <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.3490> Abstract 1. India plays a significant role in dugong conservation by having the largest population within South Asia. The status of dugongs in India is largely unknown due to a paucity of reliable ecological data. This study generated mitochondrial control region sequences from 10% of dugong individuals from existing populations within India. Furthermore, data generated in this study were compared with the global data to assess genetic lineages, population structure, and genetic diversity of Indian populations. 2. Multiple analyses suggest that the Indian dugong populations are part of a single genetic cluster, comprising South Asia, North-west Indian Ocean, and South-west Indian Ocean populations. Despite small population size, they retain high genetic diversity with unique mitochondrial DNA haplotypes within South Asia. Within India, novel haplotypes are observed from all dugong habitats sampled, with overall high haplotype diversity (0.85 ± 0.04) but low nucleotide diversity (0.005 ± 0.001). Indian populations exhibit genetic differentiation with higher within-population variance (63.41%) than among populations (36.59%). Two of the haplotypes observed in India are shared with Sri Lanka, implying genetic connectivity between these populations. 3. The genetic data from Indian dugong populations provide critical insights into the identification of dugong corridors and important dugong conservation zones in India. We suggest site-specific interventions, including the creation of new marine protected areas and boundary reorganization and expansion of other existing protected areas, to ensure population connectivity. In addition, simultaneous efforts towards seagrass meadow restoration, reduction of dugong mortalities, and community participation in dugong conservation are recommended for population recovery of this threatened marine herbivore. Please feel free to write back to me at anantpande1984(a)gmail.com for a PDF. regards Anant Pande, Ph.D Department of Endangered Species Management Wildlife Institute of India Anant Pande, Ph.D Project Scientist Chandrabani, Dehradun- 248001 Ph no: +91-135-2646211-215 ext. 5007 Twitter: @AnantPande28 Former Team Lead - Indian Polar Research Network <http://iprnindia.wixsite.com/iprn> Project SEABIRD - http://pagodroma.blogspot.com https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anant_Pande <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anant_Pande> [image: Mailtrack] <https://mailtrack.io?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=sig…> Sender notified by Mailtrack <https://mailtrack.io?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=sig…> 12/26/20, 02:40:30 PM

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