March 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

DEADLINE EXTENSION- Dauphin Island Sea Lab Veterinarian/Post-Doctoral Researcher
by Mackenzie Russell 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) seeks a full-time veterinarian and research post-doc to join our dedicated team of staff, students, researchers and volunteers as part of the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (ALMMSN). The candidate filling this full-time, research-based position would be eligible to seek research assistant faculty status or adjunct appointment at DISL and any of the 22 consortial schools in the state of Alabama. The successful candidate will lead live animal response and necropsy of cetaceans and manatees, as well as write necropsy reports, make diagnostic assessments, assist with training support staff in stranding and necropsy techniques, and support and conduct independent research projects related to pathology, diagnostic assessments, or other relevant topics that lead to peer-reviewed publications. The successful candidate will co-mentor students and interns to assist with research. Teaching is not mandatory, but the candidate may opt to develop and teach courses as part of the DISL undergraduate summer or year-round graduate programs. The candidate will be encouraged to attend relevant scientific and professional meetings to share data and for career development. The ideal candidate has flexibility to respond to and consult on strandings on short notice, often during non-business hours including nights, weekends and holidays. Applicant should be able to conduct a thorough physical examination (including blood draws and administration of medications) and assess the status of live stranded marine mammals. Applicant must be a team player who communicates well with volunteers, technicians, the public and media. The candidate will work closely with the Stranding Coordinator and Primary Investigator (Dr. R.H. Carmichael) and in collaboration with the Southeast Region Stranding Network, state and local partners under NOAA NMFS and USFWS. *Requirements:* • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) and hold a valid U.S. veterinary license • Experience conducting independent research in a relevant field • Prior experience with veterinary care of stranded marine mammals (cetaceans and manatees preferred) • Obtain Alabama Veterinary and DEA licenses within 3 months of employment • Have a clean driving record • Applicants must be familiar with and able to comply with all policies, laws, regulations, and guidelines applicable to marine mammals in the U.S and be willing to gain specific knowledge needed to successfully accomplish professional tasks in the southeast region and in the state of Alabama *Preferred Qualifications:* • Applicant should be (or plan to become) a member of the International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine • Experience writing peer-reviewed publications • Experience with statistical methods • Public speaking and teaching experience Training will be provided to further develop project management, research, leadership and teaching skills, obtain stranding network certification, and enhance ongoing career development. The position is salaried with full benefits, with initial contract for 2 years with possibility of extension. Review of applications will begin on March 27, 2020 and the position will remain open until filled. The start date is negotiable, with preferred start date in spring or early summer 2020. To apply, please send a cover letter, including a research statement and potential collaborators, CV and list of three references to vetpostdoc(a)disl.org If you have questions or would like further information about the position, please contact Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael at 251-861-2141, x7555 or rcarmichael(a)disl.org.

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Paper on whale migration
by Pitman, Robert 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

Dear Colleagues, Some shelter-in-place reading material – a paper on why whales migrate was recently published in Marine Mammal Science: Skin in the game: Epidermal molt as a driver of long-distance migration in whales by R. L. Pitman, J. W. Durban, T. Joyce, H. Fearnbach, S. Panigada, and G. Lauriano Abstract. Long-distance migration in whales has historically been described as an annual, round-trip movement between high latitude, summer feeding grounds, and low-latitude, winter breeding areas, but there is no consensus about why whales travel to the tropics to breed. Between January 2009 and February 2016, we satellite-tagged 62 antarctic killer whales (Orcinus orca) of four different ecotypes, of which at least three made short-term (6–8 weeks), long-distance (maximum 11,000 km, round trip), essentially nonstop, migrations to warm waters (SST 20°C–24°C), and back. We previously suggested that antarctic killer whales could conserve body heat in subfreezing (to −1.9°C) waters by reducing blood flow to their skin, but that this might preclude normal (i.e., continuous) epidermal molt, and necessitate periodic trips to warm waters for routine skin maintenance (“skin molt migration,” SMM). In contrast to the century-old “feeding/breeding” migration paradigm, but consistent with a “feeding/molting” hypothesis, the current study provides additional evidence that deferred skin molt could be the main driver of long-distance migration for antarctic killer whales. Furthermore, we argue that for all whales that forage in polar latitudes and migrate to tropical waters, SMM might also allow them to exploit rich prey resources in a physiologically challenging environment and maintain healthy skin. A PDF is available from any of the authors or online, open access, at the following link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12661 Bob Pitman Robert L. Pitman Marine Mammal Institute Hatfield Marine Center Oregon State University Newport, Oregon 97365 Robert.pitman(a)oregonstate.edu<mailto:Robert.pitman@oregonstate.edu>

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MARMAM submission, New Publication: Synchrony, leadership, and association in male Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus)
by Laura McCue 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

Dear Marmamers, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication in *Ethology*: Synchrony, leadership, and association in male Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops aduncus*) Laura M. McCue, William R. Cioffi, Michael R. Heithaus, Lynne Barrè, & Richard C. Connor https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eth.13025 Please take care of yourselves and each other during this difficult time. Abstract Male Indo‐pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia, have converged with humans in the formation of nested male alliances and the use of synchrony in alliance behavior. Further, the strength of association among allied male dolphins varies and the stability of alliances correlates with the rate that males consort with estrus females (and is thus a possible indicator of dominance). To examine the possibility that synchrony reflects alliance association strength and dominance relationships, we analyzed videotapes from focal follows of two groups of males that reflect the range of alliance size and the strength of association between individuals in the population. We examined two variables: *leadership* during synchronous behaviors, based on which animal in a synchronously surfacing pair surfaced first, and the *degree of synchrony*, based on temporal differences in synchronous surfacing. We predicted that closer associates would exhibit a greater degree of synchrony and that one dolphin in a dyad would consistently lead. Contrary to our predictions, the degree of synchrony was inversely related to strength of association within alliances. This surprising result suggests that individuals with less secure bonds may strive more to achieve synchrony. We found no evidence of leadership during synchronous surfacing or between synchrony and other behavioral variables. Proximate mechanisms for synchronous behavior, such as entrainment and mutual motor imitation (“the mirror game” paradigm), may inhibit leadership in this context. Our results show that synchrony during surfacing is not a useful behavior to examine for dominance relationships in wild dolphins but it may be a useful tool to examine variation in alliance relationships. Thank you, Laura McCue NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region mccue.laura(a)gmail.com

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Antarctica Research Opportunity 2020-2021 Season
by Laura K.O. Smith 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

Antarctica Research Opportunity 2020-2021 Season Quixote Expeditions, a sailing company in Antarctica, has up to 3 bunk spaces during the 2020-2021 Antarctic Season for Guest Scientists to join us in Antarctica. The season is 1 Dec 2020 – Mid-March 2021. Scientists can come for 15 or 19 day trips during this time period. In the past our research positions have been filled by members of the MARMAM community helping phd with projects! We hope to continue to be able to support this community. Details are below. Any questions please contact info@quixote -expeditions.com. Applications Due April 17, 2020, with decisions being made by early May *Antarctica Guest Scientist Program* Quixote Expeditions is excited to announce its 2020-2021 Guest Scientist program for our 2020-2021 season on trips to the Antarctic Peninsula. More information is on our website (http://www.quixote-expeditions.com/guest -scientist/ <http://www.quixote-expeditions.com/guest-scientist/>) and below: Quixote Expeditions has a Guest Scientist Program where scientists can join any of our regularly scheduled trips in order to help them carry out their active research. This can be anyone working on a master's or PhD thesis, post-docs, professors and researchers at universities, and scientists associated with non-profits. We offer a free space onboard any of our scheduled trips for scientists to perform their research. We sail in remote places that are often hard for scientists to get to and for those with limited funding, impossible due to the expensive nature of working in remote areas. We hope that by offering these spaces, one per trip, that amazing and interesting science can be continued here at the end of the world. In exchange we ask that the scientists to contribute the following: - To involve the other guests onboard with the research and data collecting if possible (Its not always possible!). - To present some of their current or past research while onboard. - At the end of the trip to prepare a short write up about the trip and the science that will then be posted on the QuixoteExpeditions Website. - To help operate the vessel (standing watch, helping in the galley, etc). Ocean Tramp, while a large sailboat, is still small compared to a larger research vessel. We ask that all scientists chip in, along with our guests. We can offer free room and board to one scientist per trip. All other related costs are at the expense of the scientists. Please go to our website for the application and full details http://www.quixote-expedition s.com/guest-scientist/ Please feel to contact me with any questions Laura Smith info(a)quixote-expeditions.com

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Posted: Final Programmatic Biological Opinion on the Federally-Regulated Oil and Gas Program in the Gulf of Mexico
by Allison Hernandez - NOAA Federal 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

The *Final Programmatic Biological Opinion on the Federally-Regulated Oil and Gas Program in the Gulf of Mexico* was posted to https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/bio… under the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) subheading. ● Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must consult with NOAA Fisheries on activities that may affect ESA-listed species. These inter-agency consultations are designed to help federal agencies in fulfilling their duty to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of a species, or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. ● ESA Section 7 requires NOAA Fisheries’ to issue biological opinions on how federal agencies’ actions affect ESA-listed species and critical habitat. Where appropriate, these biological opinions provide an exemption for the otherwise-prohibited “take” of ESA-listed species, along with reasonable and prudent measures and terms and conditions to minimize impacts from such taking, which the federal action agency must comply with to have the exemption. If NOAA Fisheries determines that an action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species, the ESA requires the biological opinion to provide a “Reasonable and Prudent Alternative” that can be taken by the action agency to avoid jeopardy. ● At BOEM’s request, NOAA Fisheries consulted with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on their actions associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas program, and with NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Protected Resources’ Permits and Conservation Division on their proposed regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for geophysical surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. ● BOEM, the lead action agency for this consultation, makes decisions about energy development in the waters of the outer continental shelf, and has responsibility for permitting geophysical surveys. Efforts to explore for hydrocarbons using this technique were renewed in 2017 with Presidential Executive Order 13795, Implementing an America First Offshore Energy Strategy, which encourages energy exploration and production that fosters energy security and resilience for Americans, while ensuring those activities are safe and environmentally responsible. BOEM’s proposed action includes the oil and gas program from exploration and construction to production and decommissioning over the next 50 years. -- *Allison Hernandez* Biologist, ESA Interagency Cooperation Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-427-8413

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New Publication: Morphological structure of the aortic wall in three Delphinid species with shallow or intermediate diving habits: Evidence for diving adaptation
by Yara Bernaldo de Quirós Miranda 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

Dear Colleagues, We are glad to announce a new publication on the “Morphological structure of the aortic wall in three Delphinid species with shallow or intermediate diving habits: Evidence for diving adaptation” ABSTRACT Some modifications in the vascular system of marine mammals provide adaptive advantages for diving. This study analyses the organisation of the aortic wall in dolphins, observing artery changes in volume and blood pressure for diving behaviour. Samples of three aortic segments (ascending, thoracic and abdominal) of three dolphin species were processed for histological and morphometric studies. The three dolphin species used, striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), have shallow or intermediate diving habits. Our results indicated that the components of the aortic wall of the dolphins had different dispositions in the three selected segments. The aortic wall decreased in thickness along its length due to a loss of the lamellar units in the tunica media and a thinning of the main elements of the lamellar units along the artery. The life stage had little influence on the thickness of the aortic wall except for the ascending aorta. The weight, body length, species or sex of the specimen did not significantly influence the thickness of the wall or the lamellar units. In summary, the histological and morphometric aortic structure in dolphins, in relation to the studied parameters, seems to be similar to that previously described of terrestrial mammals such as pigs, except for a larger difference in the proportion of lamellar units between the ascending and thoracic segments. Link to the full manuscript: *https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.21105 <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.21105>* Regards, Prof. Antonio Fernández PhD Yara Bernaldo de Quirós

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New publication in Scientific Reports
by solene.derville＠ird.fr 17 Mar '20

17 Mar '20

Dear MARMAM community We are pleased to announce the publication of our new article about humpback whale use of seamounts in the South Pacific. Derville, S., Torres, L.G., Zerbini, A.N. et al. Horizontal and vertical movements of humpback whales inform the use of critical pelagic habitats in the western South Pacific. Sci Rep 10, 4871 (2020). [ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61771-z | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61771-z ] Abstract: Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) are known for their nearshore distribution during the breeding season, but their pelagic habitat use patterns remain mostly unexplored. From 2016 to 2018, 18 humpback whales were equipped with depth-recording satellite tags (SPLASH10) to shed light on environmental and social drivers of seamount association around New Caledonia in the western South Pacific. Movement paths were spatially structured around shallow seamounts (<200 m). Indeed, two males stopped over the Lord Howe seamount chain during the first-ever recorded longitudinal transit between New Caledonia and the east coast of Australia. Residence time significantly increased with proximity to shallow seamounts, while dive depth increased in the vicinity of seafloor ridges. Most of the 7,986 recorded dives occurred above 80 m (88.5%), but deep dives (>80 m, max 616 m) were also recorded (11.5%), including by maternal females. Deep dives often occurred in series and were characterized by U-shapes suggesting high energy expenditure. This study provides new insights into the formerly overlooked use of pelagic habitats by humpback whales during the breeding season. Given increasing anthropogenic threats on deep sea habitats worldwide, this work has implications for the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems. The article is open access in Scientific Reports. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions (s.derville(a)live.fr or [ mailto:claire.garrigue@ird.fr | claire.garrigue(a)ird.fr ] ). -- Solène Derville PhD - Marine & Geospatial Ecology Association Opération Cétacés UMR Entropie - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement ---------- 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BPA5 98848 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia Phone: +687 912299 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Solene_Derville

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MARMAM Submission NMLC
by Geneva Mommsen 17 Mar '20

17 Mar '20

Hello, The National Marine Life Center will be offering a new virtual outreach experience, Patient Updates LIVE. Friends should tune in to https://www.facebook.com/NationalMarineLifeCenter/ at 11:00AM EST Monday - Friday this week as a National Marine Life Center Animal Care Team Member goes Live on Facebook to share information about the current patients at the National Marine Life Center's Marine Animal Hospital. Viewers can ask questions by posting comments and we will do our best to answer them all live. Please direct questions to gmommsen(a)nmlc.org Geneva Mommsen Education & Volunteer Coordinator National Marine Life Center gmommsen(a)nmlc.org 508-743-9888 x302 Shop with Amazon? Try Amazon Smile! National Marine Life Center at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-3290276 A portion (.5%) of the price for eligible products is donated to a charity of your choice.

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New publication: Organophosphate contaminants in North Atlantic fin whales (Odei Garcia-Garin)
by Odei Garcia-Garin 17 Mar '20

17 Mar '20

Dear MARMAM list members, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recent study: *Organophosphate contaminants in North Atlantic fin whales* *Garcia-Garin, O., Sala, B., Aguilar, A., Vighi, M., Víkingsson, G. A., Chosson, V., Eljarrat, E., & Borrell, A. (2020). Organophosphate contaminants in North Atlantic fin whales. *Science of the Total Environment*, *721.* 137768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183135* *Abstract*: Pollution of the marine environment by litter composed of plastics is a growing concern. Chemical additives such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), which are added to plastics to improve their qualities, are in focus because they allegedly cause adverse effects on marine fauna. Here we analyse OPFR levels in the muscle of fin whales because, as a mysticete, this cetacean obtains its food by filter-feeding and is thus highly vulnerable to marine litter. Moreover, the fin whale performs long-range migrations from low-latitude areas in winter to high-latitude areas in summer, a trait that makes it a potentially good large-scale biomonitor of pollution. We also analyse OPFR levels in its main prey, the krill *Meganyctiphanes norvegica*, to assess transfer through diet. The samples analysed consisted of muscle tissue from 20 fin whales and whole-body homogenates of 10 krill samples, all collected off West Iceland. >From the 19 OPFRs analysed, we detected 7 in the fin whale and 5 in the krill samples. Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP), Isopropylated triphenyl phosphate (IPPP) and Triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) were the most abundant compounds found in both species. Mean ∑OPFR concentration, expressed on a lipid weight basis, was 985 (SD = 2239) ng g−1 in fin whale muscle, and 949 (SD = 1090) ng g−1 in krill homogenates. These results constitute the first evidence of the presence of OPFRs in the tissues of fin whales. Furthermore, they seem to support the non-significance of bioaccumulation of OPFRs through lifespan and of biomagnification trough the food web. The paper can be accessed using the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1alBlB8ccoBFN Or send me an e-mail (odei.garcia(a)ub.edu) for the full text. All the best, Odei Garcia-Garin

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NEW PUBLICATION: Ecophysiological traits of highly mobile large marine predators inferred from nucleic acid derived indices (Filipe Alves)
by Filipe Alves 17 Mar '20

17 Mar '20

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce a new publication assessing the aplicability of an innovative methodology to evaluate the ecophysiological condition in marine mammals: Alves F, M Dromby, V Baptista, R Ferreira, AM Correia, M Weyn, R Valente, E Froufe, M Rosso, I Sousa-Pinto, A Dinis, E Dias, MA Teodósio (2020). Ecophysiologicaltraits of highly mobile large marine predators inferred from nucleic acidderived indices. Scientific Reports10, 4752. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61769-7 Abstract Nucleic acid-derived indices such as RNA/DNA ratios have been successfully applied as ecophysiological indicators to assess growth, nutritional condition and health status in marine organisms given that they provide a measure of tissue protein reserves, which is known to vary depending on changes in the environment. Yet, the use of these biochemical indices on highly mobile large predators is scarce. In this study, we tested the applicability of using nucleic acids to provide insights on the ecophysiological traits of two marine mammal species (common bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales) and explored potential related factors (species, sex, season, and residency pattern), using skin tissue (obtained from biopsy darts) of apparently healthy and adult free-ranging animals. Significantly higher RNA/DNA ratios were obtained for bottlenose dolphins (p < 0.001), and for visitor pilot whales when compared with resident pilot whales (p = 0.001). No significant changes were found between the sexes. Based on the percentile approach, the samples contain individuals in a general good condition (as the 10th percentile is not closer to the mean than the 75th percentile), suggesting that the studied region of Macaronesia may be considered an adequate habitat. The combination of this effective tool with genetic sexing and photographic-identification provided an overall picture of ecosystem health, and although with some limitations and still being a first approach, it has the applicability to be used in other top predators and ecosystems. The paper is open access and freely available for download at: https://rdcu.be/b20Ie or contact me at filipe.alves(a)mare-centre.pt or filalves(a)rocketmail.com Cheers, Filipe Alves Postdoctoral fellow MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARDITI Oceanic Observatory of Madeira Caminho da Penteada, Madeira Tecnopolo, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal +351 291721216

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