December 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper on bowhead whale abundance
by Doniol-Valcroze, Thomas 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

We are pleased to announce the publication of a paper on bowhead whale abundance in the eastern Canadian Arctic: Doniol-Valcroze, T., Gosselin, J.-F., Pike, D. G., Lawson, J. W., Asselin, N. C., Hedges, K. J., & Ferguson, S. H. (2020). Distribution and Abundance of the Eastern Canada - West Greenland Bowhead Whale Population Based on the 2013 High Arctic Cetacean Survey. NAMMCO Scientific Publications, 11. The paper is available in open access at the following link: https://doi.org/10.7557/3.5315 Abstract: The hunting of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) is an integral part of Inuit culture. An up-to-date abundance estimate of the entire Eastern Canada - West Greenland (EC-WG) bowhead population is necessary to support sustainable management of this harvest. The High Arctic Cetacean Survey (HACS) was conducted in August 2013, primarily to update abundance estimates for known stocks of Baffin Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros). As the ranges of narwhal and bowhead largely overlap, the survey area was expanded to cover the summer range of bowhead whales. Bowhead whale abundance was estimated using 3 aircraft to cover the large survey area within a short time frame. Distance sampling methods were used to estimate detection probability away from the track line. Double platform with mark-recapture methods were used to correct for the proportion of whales missed by visual observers on the track line (perception bias). Abundance in Isabella Bay, an area known for high bowhead density, was estimated using density surface modelling to account for its complex shape and uneven coverage. Estimates were corrected for availability bias (whales that were not available for detection because they were submerged when the aircraft passed overhead) using a recent analysis of satellite-linked time depth recorders transmitting information on the diving behaviour of bowhead whales in the study area in August of the same survey year. The fully corrected abundance estimate for the EC-WG bowhead whale population was 6,446 (95% CI: 3,838-10,827). Possible sources of uncertainty include incomplete coverage and the diving behaviour of bowhead whales. These results confirm earlier indications that the EC-WG stock is continuing to recover from past overexploitation. Best regards, Thomas Doniol-Valcroze, PhD Head, Cetacean Research Program Pacific Biological Station Fisheries and Oceans Canada Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7 thomas.doniol-valcroze(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca<mailto:thomas.doniol-valcroze@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>

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Ecological responses to flow variation inform river dolphin conservation
by SHAMBHU PAUDEL 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

Dear all: Hydrological alteration ( by dams/barrage/hydropower) is threatening freshwater ecosystems and their native biotic inhabitants. Here, we quantify flow-ecology relationships that aid the formulation of flow management guidelines across regional scales. As South Asian river dolphins already at risk of extinction from dams, and hundreds of hydroelectric dams have been planned throughout the Amazon, we suggest immediate actions to incorporate flow-ecology relationships in their water use management plans to avoid the risks of native and sensitive aquatic species extinctions. We develop flow-ecology relationships in reference to river dolphin conservation. Check this out! Abstract: Many environmental flow (e-flow) studies and applications have predominantly used state—(i.e., at a single time point) and rate—(i.e., temporal change) based demographic characteristics of species representing lower trophic levels (e.g., fish communities) to build flow-ecology relationships, rather than using a process that incorporates population dynamics. Recent studies have revealed the importance of incorporating data on species traits when building flow-ecology relationships. The effects of flow on keystone megafauna species (i.e., body mass ≥ 30 kg) reverberate through entire food webs; however, the relationships between flow and these species are not well understood, limiting the scope of the relationships used in flow management. Here, we fill this gap by incorporating the habitat selection traits at different flows of a freshwater apex predator, Ganges River dolphin (GRD, *Platanista gangetica gangetica*), which plays a significant role in maintaining the structure, functions and integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Using temporally and spatially measured GRD habitat selection traits, we quantified flow-ecology responses in the Karnali River of Nepal during the low-flow season when habitat was heavily reduced and water demand was highest. We define ecological responses as suitable habitat templates with enough usable surface area to support GRD fitness by improving reproduction and survival. We measured the available and occupied habitats to develop flow-ecology responses. Variation in flow resulted in substantial differences in the ecological response across time and space, suggesting that aquatic species adjusted in a variety of habitats to support their life histories and maintain viable populations. The limited availability of suitable habitats combined with uninformed water regulations by humans likely places GRDs under severe physiological stress during low-water seasons (i.e., January–April), suggesting that reduced flows contribute to the process of endangering and extirpating highly sensitive endemic aquatic biodiversity. Our study reveals that ad hoc or experience-based flow management is no longer tenable to maintain the integrity and functionality of aquatic ecosystems. We stress that quantifying the flow-ecology relationships of foundational species, particularly megafauna, in response to flow variation is crucial for monitoring the effects of water alterations and determining the minimum flows needed for maintaining healthy and functional freshwater ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Link: Ecological responses to flow variation inform river dolphin conservation | Scientific Reports (nature.com) <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79532-3> Thank you! Shambhu Paudel -- *Ph.D. Candidate / **Russell E. Train Fellow (EFN/WWF-USA) * School of Natural Resources & the Environment Wildlife Conservation and Management Environment & Natural Resources 2 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA Web:https://conservation.arizona.edu/person/shambhu-paudel

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New publication on serum chemistry of wild-caught Amazon river dolphins
by Daniela Mello 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

Dear MARMAMers, My co-authors and I are pleased toannounce the publication of a new paper about serum chemistry values of 107wild-caught Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) published in MarineMammal Science DOI: 10.1111/mms.12765 Abstract: Blood values of wild cetaceanpopulation are a valuable tool to drive proper management of threatenedspecies. Reference intervals of 26 serum analytes were determined from 107apparently healthy Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) wild‐caughtin the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (3°3′S, 64°51′W), centralAmazon, Brazil. No differences were detected between males and females orbetween pregnant and nonpregnant females. Calves had higher serum calcium thanjuveniles and adults, and alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in calvesand juveniles than adults as a result of bone growth. Adults showed highercreatinine levels than juveniles due to higher body mass, and higher urea thancalves. Positive correlation was found between body length and body weight withcreatinine, urea, and alanine aminotransferase activity; whereas calcium andalkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase (CK) activities negatively correlatedwith these body parameters. Cardiac rate and respiratory frequency appear tohave not correlated with any serum analyte, while stress level positivelycorrelated with CK. Storage of frozen samples for 60 days at −80°Csignificantly altered 10 of the 19 analytes after one freeze–thaw cycle.Important differences were detected among age classes, stress level, and samplestorage and should be taken into account before any clinical or physiologicalinterpretations. The link to the abstract can be found at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12765 and a pdf can be requested to danielamello(a)hotmail.com Thank you and kind regards, Daniela Mello. -- Daniela M. D. de Mello, PhD Aquatic Mammals Laboratory National Institute of Amazonian Research,Brazil Phone: +55(11) 996041122

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New publications
by Mariano Domingo Álvarez 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

My co-authors and I are very pleased to share with you two recently published papers in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. The first paper presents the causes of death of cetaceans in the Catalan Coast 2012-2019. The second one analyses the risk factors for ingestion of debris and another abnormal material in the necropsied cetaceans. Please feel free to contact me for any questions. On behalf of all authors, Mariano Domingo Causes of cetacean stranding and death on the Catalonian coast (western Mediterranean Sea), 2012-2019 María Cuvertoret-Sanz, Carlos López-Figueroa, Alicia O’Byrne, Albert Canturri, Bernat Martí-Garcia, Ester Pintado, Lola Pérez, Llilianne Ganges, Alex Cobos, María Lourdes Abarca, Juan Antonio Raga, Marie-François Van Bressem, Mariano Domingo *Corresponding author: mariano.domingo(a)uab.cat<mailto:mariano.domingo@uab.cat> DAO 142:239-253 (2020) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03550<https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v142/p239-253/> ABSTRACT: The causes of cetacean stranding and death along the Catalan coast between 2012 and 2019 were systematically investigated. Necropsies and detailed pathological investigations were performed on 89 well-preserved stranded cetaceans, including 72 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, 9 Risso’s dolphins Grampus griseus, 5 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, 1 common dolphin Delphinus delphis, 1 Cuvier’s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris and 1 fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. The cause of death was determined for 89.9% of the stranded cetaceans. Fisheries interaction was the most frequent cause of death in striped dolphins (27.8%) and bottlenose dolphins (60%). Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) was detected on the Catalan coast from 2016 to 2017, causing systemic disease and death in 8 of the 72 (11.1%) striped dolphins. Chronic CeMV infection of the central nervous system was observed from 2018-2019 in a further 5 striped dolphins. Thus, acute and chronic CeMV disease caused mortality in 18% of striped dolphins and 14.6% of all 89 cetaceans. Brucella ceti was isolated in 6 striped dolphins and 1 bottlenose dolphin with typical brucellosis lesions and in 1 striped dolphin with systemic CeMV. Sinusitis due to severe infestation by the nematode parasite Crassicauda grampicola caused the death of 4 out of 6 adult Risso’s dolphins. Maternal separation, in some cases complicated with septicemia, was a frequent cause of death in 13 of 14 calves. Other less common causes of death were encephalomalacia of unknown origin, septicemia, peritonitis due to gastric perforation by parasites and hepatitis caused by Sarcocystis spp. Ingestion of foreign materials by odontocetes along the Catalan coast: causes and consequences A. Lacombe, E. Pintado, A. O’Byrne, A. Allepuz, L. Pérez-Rodriguez, M. Domingo *Corresponding author: mariano.domingo(a)uab.cat<mailto:mariano.domingo@uab.cat> DAO 142:23-31 (2020) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03527<https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v142/p23-31/> ABSTRACT: Ingestion of abnormal materials by cetaceans has been reported worldwide, but few studies have investigated the causes of foreign material ingestion. We retrospectively analysed necropsies performed between 2012 and 2019 on 88 cetaceans stranded along the coast of Catalonia, Spain, and evaluated the association of abnormal ingested materials with 2 risk factors, namely disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and maternal separation. Abnormal materials were found in the digestive tract in 19 of 88 (21.6%) cetaceans; of these, 13 (60%) had lesions in the CNS, such as morbilliviral encephalitis, neurobrucellosis or encephalomalacia, and 3 were diagnosed as having experienced maternal separation. In a logistic regression model, CNS lesions and maternal separation were identified as risk factors for ingestion of foreign material, but with wide confidence intervals, probably due to the small sample size. In contrast, abnormal ingestion was not identified in any of the 25 (28%) cetaceans whose cause of death was attributed to interaction with humans. Abnormal ingestion should be interpreted with caution, and efforts should be made at necropsy to exclude CNS diseases through pathologic and microbiologic investigations. If disease of the CNS is a significant risk factor for ingestion of marine debris by small odontocetes, results of monitoring programmes may be biased by the prevalence of CNS disease in a specific area or population. Mariano Domingo Profesor del Departamento de Sanidad Animal de la UAB Investigador del Subp. Enfermedades Exóticas del CReSA Edifici CReSA, s/n, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) Catalunya Tel.: +34 93 581 4567 mariano.domingo(a)uab.cat

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New Paper: Freshwater skin disease in dolphins, a case definition based on pathology and environmental factors in Australia
by Padraig Duignan 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

Dear Marmam members, We would like to bring your attention to a new TMMC/Murdoch/MMF paper on the detrimental effects of freshwater exposure in coastal bottlenose dolphins which is an emerging cause of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. In this study we provide a case definition for freshwater skin disease (FWSD) based on two outbreaks that occurred in Australia. The first affected Burrunan dolphins (Tursiops australis) in Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes in 2007. Coincidentally, a similar event is occurring there at the present time (see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/burrunan-dolphin-deaths-in-gippsland…) The second event occurred in 2009 and affected the resident Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus) in the Swan and Canning Rivers. Simultaneous with the Gippsland Lakes outbreak, the first FWSD outbreak in US waters was recorded for common bottlenose dolphins (T. truncatus) entrapped in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, for that event, the dermatopathology was not described as necropsies were not conducted. By contrast, the outbreaks in Australia occurred in areas where the resident dolphin population was well documented by long-term and ongoing field ecology and behavior studies with many known individuals; the waters inhabited by the dolphins were intensively monitored for physical and chemical parameters before, during and after the events; and when mortalities occurred, carcasses were retrieved in a timely manner for necropsy and sampling. Based on these data, FWSD occurs when there is a sudden (days) and profound (>25ppt to <5ppt) decrease in salinity, that persists for weeks to months. The skin lesions appear initially as patchy pallor that progresses to raised targetoid areas of ulceration and colonization by variably colored mats of algae, diatoms, fungi and bacteria. Histologically, the early changes are cell swelling in the mid layer of the epidermis (hydropic change) that progresses to full depth ulceration or inflammation arising from the superficial dermis to create intra-epidermal pustules that erupt as ulcers. Death may ensue from fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance (Think severe third degree burns over most of the body surface). For some, resolution may occur depending on prevailing salinity or presumably intercurrent disease or individual immune status. In Australia, the outbreaks followed resumption of season rainfall following a prolonged drought that flooded the Gippsland Lakes (normally brackish to marine saline) with fresh water. In Western Australia, unusually high winter-spring rainfall in the river catchments similarly turned a normally marine/brackish habitat to freshwater. In the Gulf of Mexico, events have followed the heavy rainfall and storm surges in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey and as hurricane seasons become more severe as in 2020, these events are likely to increase in frequency. A common denominator is extreme weather events the like of which are on the rise with climate change and for that reason, we regard FWSD as an emerging disease of cetaceans in vulnerable coastal habitat. To read the paper in full please use this link: https://rdcu.be/ccfbl Pádraig Duignan (TMMC, Sausalito, CA), Nahiid Stephens (Murdoch University, Western Australia) and Kate Robb (The Marine Mammal Foundation, Vic., Australia).

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Position Announcement in Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska
by Cate, Jenipher R 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Marine Mammals Management office in Alaska is advertising to fill 2 positions in our office. Our office has trust responsibility of polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters in Alaska. Our work primarily consists of implementing mandates under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, research and monitoring of these species to inform our management actions, implementing bilateral and international agreements, and working with Alaska Natives for co-management of subsistence use. The positions being advertised here are for a wildlife biologist in either the polar bear or sea otter/walrus programs. We are looking for highly motivated and committed individuals to function as part of an existing interdisciplinary team to monitor, manage, and research sea otters/polar bears pursuant to existing legal, regulatory, and conservation frameworks. Additional responsibilities include the developing and implementing community-based conservation and co-management efforts with Alaska Natives and the ability to collaborate with state, federal, regional, and international partners in managing, mitigating, and/or researching human-marine mammal conflicts. More information about our programs can be found on our website (https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/marine-mammals) The job announcements can be found here (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/587521000 or here https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/587521600) or by searching for the following job announcement numbers on the USAJobs website (R7-21-10989454-21-KL-DE and R7-21-10989453-21-KL-MP). Questions about the positions can be sent to either the Sea Otter and Walrus Program Lead, Dr. Jenipher Cate at jenipher_cate(a)fws.gov<mailto:jenipher_cate@fws.gov>, or the Polar Bear Program Lead, Dr. Dave Gustine at david_gustine(a)fws.gov<mailto:david_gustine@fws.gov>. Happy Holidays, Jenipher Cate, PhD Marine Mammals Management - Walrus and Sea Otter U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Phone: 907-205-8322

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New publication: Sperm whales clicking throughout the year
by Fannie Shabangu 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

Dear MARMAMers My co-author and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper published in Endangered Species Research. Shabangu FW, Andrew RK (2020) Clicking throughout the year: sperm whale clicks in relation to environmental conditions off the west coast of South Africa. Endang Species Res 43:475-494. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01089 Abstract Knowledge of cetacean occurrence and behaviour in southern African waters is limited, and passive acoustic monitoring has the potential to address this gap efficiently. Seasonal acoustic occurrence and diel-vocalizing patterns of sperm whales in relation to environmental conditions are described here using passive acoustic monitoring data collected off the west coast of South Africa. Four autonomous acoustic recorders (AARs) were deployed on 3 oceanographic moorings from July 2014 to January 2017. Sperm whale clicks were detected year round in most recording sites, with peaks in acoustic occurrence in summer and late winter through spring. Diel-vocalizing patterns were detected in winter, spring and summer. Higher percentages of sperm whale clicks were recorded by AARs deployed at 1100 m water depth compared to those concurrently deployed at 850 and 4500 m, likely inferring that the whales exhibited some preference to water depths around 1100 m. Acoustic propagation modelling suggested a maximum detection range of 83 km in winter for sperm whale clicks produced at 1100 m. Random forest models classified daylight regime, sea surface height anomaly and month of the year as the most important predictors of sperm whale acoustic occurrence. The continuous acoustic occurrence of sperm whales suggests that the study area supports large biomasses of prey to sustain this species’ food requirements year round. This is the first study to describe the seasonal acoustic occurrence and diel-vocalizing patterns of sperm whales off the west coast of South Africa, extending knowledge of the species previously available only through whaling records. The the paper can be downloaded at: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v43/p475-494/ Best wishes, Fannie_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Fannie W. Shabangu, PhD Marine Biologist Fisheries Management Branch Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Cape Town, South Africa Email: FannieS(a)daff.gov.za; fannie.shabangu(a)yahoo.com Mobile: +27 74 220 0210 Tel: +27 21 402 3553

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Special Article Collection: Approaches to addressing underwater noise in Canada
by Wright, Andrew 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

Dear listserve members, Apologies for cross-posting. Marine Pollution Bulletin is currently accepting manuscripts for a special collection under the theme "Approaches to addressing underwater noise in Canada." All manuscripts must be submitted by the deadline of February 28, 2021. Complementing existing research and noise-reduction efforts around the country, the Government of Canada has recently initiated various efforts to reduce anthropogenic noise in the oceans arising from its own activities, as well as the industries it manages. For example, research programs that have been funded under the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) and the Whales Initiative are currently working to support management by establishing a better understanding of noise impacts on Southern Resident killer whales and North Atlantic right whales. Elsewhere, joint government-university research efforts have examined shipping noise in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Arctic Ocean. On the management side reductions in noise levels are expected from the vessel slow-downs that have been implemented in key whale habitats on both the east and west coasts. Technical workshops organized by Transport Canada have advanced the development of quiet ship design standards and technologies. The Department of National Defence has developed enhanced mitigation measures for naval exercises near habitats used by the Southern Resident killer whale. In support of all these efforts, Fisheries and Oceans have taken steps to identify appropriate metrics for measuring anthropogenic noise and examine the applicability of the noise threshold approach used in the United States to Canadian regulations and law. To address the fragmented regulatory environment, the Government of Canada is currently developing a national Ocean Noise Strategy to better coordinate ocean noise management and research activities. This special collection of papers is intended to gather together information on all these efforts, as well as those by external partners, to help interested parties review and assess them collectively. If you are planning to submit an article please let us know so we can keep track of potential manuscripts, identify appropriate reviewers in a timely manner, and manage workload. Best wishes, Andrew Wright, Heather Breeze, and Emma Marotte, Guest Editors -- Dr. Andrew J. Wright NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division | Division des sciences de l'écosystème et de la mer Maritimes Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada| Région des maritimes Pêches et Océans Canada Bedford Institute of Oceanography | Institut océanographique de Bedford 1 Challenger Dr., PO Box 1006 | 1 promenade Challenger CP 1006 Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 4A2 andrew.wright(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca +1 (902) 440-5937

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New Paper: A Critique of the EU Technical Measures Regulation / Cetacean Bycatch
by Fabian Ritter; MEER e.V. 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

Dear fellow MARMAMers, on behalf of lead author Sarah Dolman and co-authors Jo Swabe, Peter Evans, Mark Simmonds and myself I am happy to announce our critical review of the EU Technical Measures Regulation with a special focus on cetacean bycatch, published in Marine Policy: Dolman S, Evans PGH, Ritter F, Simmonds M, Swabe J (2020). *Implications of New Technical Measures Regulation for Cetacean Bycatch in European Waters.* Marine Policy 124 (104320). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104320 <https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.ma…> Abstract: For decades, cetacean bycatch has been a major conservation and welfare concern in the European Union with high numbers of harbour porpoises, dolphins and whales dying each year. Despite binding legal requirements to monitor and reduce bycatch, cetacean bycatch monitoring has been insufficient in most fisheries and areas to generate reliable estimates of bycatch rate. Measures to reduce bycatch have been limited and not always directed at the most problematic fisheries. EU cetacean bycatch legislation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/ 2004) was repealed and replaced by a new Regulation, /Regulation on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures (2019/1241)/. Whilst some improvements have been made in the new Regulation, scientific advice of the ICES Bycatch Working Group (ICES WGBYC), and other expert regional bodies, such as ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS, were not incorporated explicitly and some measures in the adopted Technical Measures Regulation weaken both the provisions of the existing cetacean bycatch legislation and the Commission’s original proposal. The bycatch measures adopted for cetaceans are not suffi- cient to mitigate bycatch effectively in European waters. Management solutions to reduce bycatch are identified and a number of general recommendations towards development of national and regional management plans, implementation and enforcement to that end are made. Greetings to all, and stay well and healthy! Fabian --

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New publication on combining the marking of seals with taking of biopsy samples
by van Neer, Abbo 15 Dec '20

15 Dec '20

Dear MARMAM community, on behalf of my co-authors, I am happy to share with you a new publication in the Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology with the title: An Innovative Approach for Combining Marking of Phocid Seals with Biopsy Sampling by Using a New Type of Livestock Ear Tags van Neer, A., Rubio-Garcia, A., Gross, S., Salazar-Casals, A., Arriba-Garcia, A., Wohlsein, P., & Siebert, U. Abstract: Marking of seals is done for different purposes such as re-identification of single individuals within a rehabilitation centre, or to conduct capture-mark-recapture studies assessing ecological parameters on a population scale. Until today most studies use conventional livestock ear tags applied to the interdigital tissue of the flippers of seals. Here we present a different type of tag which combines the marking of an animal with the acquisition of a biopsy sample. This combination enables researchers to gain more data within the same handling time, following the three Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) used in animal experiments to optimise the ratio between animal suffering versus knowledge gain. This study describes a first trial within a seal rehabilitation centre, with the aim to assess the application process of this new tag as well as the rate of bleeding and healing following the application. Results show that the new tag type is suitable even in places with unrestricted public access and enables the researcher to gain additional data further supporting ethical justification. The article is open access and freely available online via http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume12/issue1/scientific.pdf Please feel free to get in touch with us in case you have any questions regarding the work conducted or the use of these flipper tags. I would like to wish everybody a great Christmas in these troubled times Stay healthy and happy and take care of each other!!! Cheers Abbo ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Abbo van Neer Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 25761 Büsum Germany ☏ +49 5 11 - 8 56 - 81 62 Fax: +49 5 11 - 8 56 - 81 81 abbo.van.neer(a)tiho-hannover.de<mailto:abbo.van.neer@tiho-hannover.de> https://www.tiho-hannover.de/itaw SAVE FORESTS - Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary

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