April 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Monitoring of a Nearshore Small Dolphin Species Using Passive Acoustic Platforms and Supervised Machine Learning Techniques
by Francesco Caruso 29 Apr '20

29 Apr '20

Dear MARMAM readers, we are pleased to announce the publication of our Methods Article in Frontiers in Marine Science - Section: Marine Megafauna. Caruso F, Dong L, Lin M, Liu M, Gong Z, Xu W, Alonge G and Li S (2020). Monitoring of a Nearshore Small Dolphin Species Using Passive Acoustic Platforms and Supervised Machine Learning Techniques. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:267. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00267 ABSTRACT: Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is increasingly being adopted as a non-invasive method for the assessment of ocean ecological dynamics. PAM is an important sampling approach for acquiring critical information about marine mammals, especially in areas where data are lacking and where evaluations of threats for vulnerable populations are required. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (IPHD, Sousa chinensis) is a coastal species which inhabits tropical and warm-temperate waters from the eastern Indian Ocean throughout Southeast Asia to central China. A new population of this species was recently discovered in waters southwest of Hainan Island, China. An array of passive acoustic platforms was deployed at depths of 10–20 m (the preferred habitat of humpback dolphins), across sites covering more than 100 km of coastline. In this study, we explored whether the acoustic data recorded by the array could be used to classify IPHD echolocation clicks, with the aim of investigating the spatiotemporal patterns of distribution and acoustic behavior of this species. A number of supervised machine learning algorithms were trained to automatically classify echolocation clicks from the different types of short-broadband pulses recorded. The best performance was reported by a cubic support vector machine (Cubic SVM), which was applied to 19,215 5-min recordings (∼4.2 TB), collected over a period of 75 days at six locations. Subsequently, using spectrogram visualization and audio listening, human operators confirmed the presence of clicks within the selected files. Additionally, other dolphin vocalizations (including whistles, buzzes, and burst pulses) and different sound sources (soniferous fishes, snapping shrimps, human activities) were also reported. The detection range of IPHD clicks was estimated using a transmission loss (TL) model and the performance of the trained classifier was compared with data synchronously collected by an acoustic data logger (A-tag). This study demonstrates that the distribution and habitat use of a coastal and resident dolphin species can be monitored over a large spatiotemporal scale, using an array of passive acoustic platforms and a data analysis protocol that includes both machine learning techniques and spectrogram inspection. The article is available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00267. Best regards, Francesco Francesco Caruso, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 28 Luhuitou Road, Sanya, 572000, China

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new paper on baleen growth and erosion
by Alex Werth 28 Apr '20

28 Apr '20

Dear MamMam colleagues, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce our new publication in Polar Biology: Werth, A.J., Sformo, T.L., Lysiak, N., Rita, D., George, J.C. Baleen turnover and gut transit in mysticete whales and its environmental implications. Polar Biol (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02673-8 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-020-02673-8#citeas Abstract: Baleen, a unique oral α-keratin, has flat cortical layers enclosing hollow horn tubules. Baleen grows continuously to replace erosive loss from feeding-related wear. This is essential for maintaining efficient filtration over a whale's long life history. Baleen fragments are seen in stomach contents and feces. We focused on fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) but examined eleven mysticete species. Histological features including variably-sized tubules plus differential growth along plate axes (growing faster along the medial fringed edge) and between plates of a rack (central plates growing faster than others) relate to baleen strength and flexibility. Sheet-like cortical layers provide strength and probably hinder erosive shedding, whereas medullary (tubular/intertubular) keratin provides flexibility and likely promotes shedding. To calculate amounts of grown/lost baleen we considered both erosive wear and basal growth, recognizing that each plate represents several years of growth. We estimate average annual loss of 70-100,000 cm2 (20-40,000 cm3) of baleen in balaenids and 25-50,000 cm2 (7-14,000 cm3) in balaenopterids. Baleen growth rates depend on age, size, and other life history parameters; the most reliable calculations come from morphometric data with plate dimensions measured along full racks. We argue that baleen turnover has been underrated and baleen growth rates underestimated in published literature. Baleen turnover maintains filter integrity/porosity while gut passage possibly clears gastrointestinal tracts of endoparasites. Large volumes of shed keratin hold potential ecological consequences by providing food for microbial decomposers and detritivores throughout ocean ecosystems, especially in polar regions where most mysticete feeding occurs. Best regards, Alex Werth _______________________________ 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

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New paper on crabeater seal habitat modeling
by Luis Huckstadt 27 Apr '20

27 Apr '20

Dear MARMaMers: My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in Nature Climate Change: Hückstädt, L.A., Piñones, A., Palacios, D.M. *et al.* Projected shifts in the foraging habitat of crabeater seals along the Antarctic Peninsula. *Nat. Clim. Chang.* (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0745-9 Abstract: Crabeater seals exhibit extreme dietary specialization, feeding almost exclusively on Antarctic krill. This specialization has inextricably linked habitat use, life history and evolution of this pinniped species to the distribution of its prey. Therefore, the foraging habitat of crabeater seals can be used to infer the distribution of Antarctic krill. Here, we combined seal movements and diving behaviour with environmental variables to build a foraging habitat model for crabeater seals for the rapidly changing western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). Our projections show that future crabeater seal foraging habitat and, by inference, krill distribution will expand towards offshore waters and the southern WAP in response to changes in circulation, water temperature and sea ice distribution. Antarctic krill biomass is projected to be negatively affected by the environmental changes, which are anticipated to manifest as a decrease in krill densities in coastal waters, with impacts on the land-/ice-based krill predator community, particularly in the northern WAP. Please, contact me at lahuckst(a)udec.cl for a pdf copy if needed. All the best, ---------------------------------------- Luis A. Huckstadt, Ph.D. Assistant Researcher Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Ph: (831) 239-5762 http://lahuckst.wixsite.com/welcome

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New publication: abundance & fidelity pattern of bottlenose dolphin off a remote oceanic island (Reunion, SW Indian Ocean)
by Violaine Dulau 27 Apr '20

27 Apr '20

Dear all, We are pleased to share our new publication: Estrade V, Dulau V. 2020. Abundance and site fidelity of bottlenose dolphins off a remote oceanic island (Reunion, southwest Indian Ocean). Marine Mammal Science, 2020:1-26. *Abstract* This study represents the first comprehensive assessment of the population dynamics and residency of common bottlenose dolphin around Reunion Island (southwest Indian Ocean). Understanding dynamics and movement patterns of this local population is essential to guide effective conservation efforts, notably in a context of growing dolphin watching activities. Dedicated surveys based on photoidentification methods were conducted over 6 years (2010–2015). The species was present year-round, in groups of 25 individuals on average (1–150). Jolly-Seber mark-recapture models resulted in a population estimate of 254 individuals (95% CI = 191–337) and an apparent annual survival rate of 0.83. The population was almost equally split into three residency patterns: residents (33.1%), long-term visitors (32.6%), and short-term visitors (34.3%, including transients, i.e., individuals only seen once [14.9%]), suggesting that the majority of the population showed a moderate-to-high level of residency in the study area. Individuals from the three residency patterns associated randomly, mixing together and forming a single community. Models based on the lagged identification rate indicated emigration and reimmigration to the survey area, with some individuals occupying the study area for about 2 years (832 days), and remaining outside for an average of 276 days, probably exhibiting larger home ranges and extensive movement behavior. Available at : _https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12693_ For a pdf copy, please contact: vanessa.estrade(a)globice.org <mailto:vanessa.estrade@globice.org> All the best, Violaine Dulau GLOBICE-Reunion www.globice.org -- L'absence de virus dans ce courrier électronique a été vérifiée par le logiciel antivirus Avast. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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New Publication: Alliance-specific habitat selection by male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia
by Orla O'Brien 26 Apr '20

26 Apr '20

Dear Marmam, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce our new publication in Animal Behaviour: O'Brien, O., Allen, S. J., Krützen, M. & Connor, R. C. (2020). Alliance-specific habitat selection by male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Animal Behaviour, 164, 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.03.014. ABSTRACT: Individuals and groups within the same population may differ in their use of resources. Also referred to as niche specialization, such differences can be documented through direct or indirect observation of resource or habitat use. Here, we examined selective habitat use in alliance-forming male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus, in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Using 6 years of sighting data (2001–2006), we calculated the home ranges of 17 male alliances (comprising 3–14 individuals each). We defined five habitat types in the study area and measured the proportion of each habitat type in the home range of each alliance. Habitat selectivity was examined using selection ratios of used and available habitat within alliance home ranges. Since home range is also a form of habitat selection, we also examined selection ratios of alliances within defined subareas within the study area. Subareas were the combined home ranges of subsets of alliances that were linked by general location, distinctive habitat features and seasonal movement patterns. During each sighting, the predominant group behaviour was recorded. We analysed data from all sightings (which included all behavioural types: resting, travelling, socializing and foraging), as well as a restricted set of foraging groups only. For all sightings, alliances were selective of habitat within each of three subareas (northern, central, southern), and 14 alliances were selective of habitat within their home range. For foraging sightings, alliances within all three subareas were selective with respect to foraging habitat, and seven alliances showed significant selection of foraging habitat within their respective home ranges. Some alliances with broadly overlapping ranges foraged in different habitats. Alliance-specific habitat use may be influenced by ecological and social factors. Our results raise the possibility that the considerable variation in alliance size within this population may be influenced by the distribution of food as well as the distribution of females. Article can be found here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347220300828?via…. Best wishes, Orla O’Brien Assistant Scientist Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium<https://www.andersoncabotcenterforoceanlife.org/> Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 o: 617-973-5236 This electronic message contains information from the New England Aquarium which may be privileged and confidential. The information is intended to be for the use of the addressee only. If you have received this communication in error, do not read or circulate it. Please delete it from your system without copying it or saving any attachments and notify the sender by reply e-mail. Thank you.

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New publication: Modelling habitat use suggests static spatial exclusion zones are a non-optimal management tool for a highly mobile marine mammal
by Dwyer, Sarah 25 Apr '20

25 Apr '20

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication in Marine Biology: Dwyer SL, Pawley MDM, Clement DM, Stockin KA. 2020. Modelling habitat use suggests static spatial exclusion zones are a non-optimal management tool for a highly mobile marine mammal. Marine Biology 167:62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-3664-4 Abstract: Understanding how animals use the space in which they are distributed is important for guiding management decisions in conservation, especially where human disturbance can be spatially managed. Here we applied distribution modelling to examine common dolphin (Delphinus sp.) habitat use in the Hauraki Gulf (36°S, 175°E), New Zealand. Given the known importance of the area for foraging and nursing, we assessed which variables affect Delphinus occurrence based on generalised additive models (GAMs), and modelled probability of encounter. Behavioural information was included to assess habitat use by feeding and nursing groups and determine whether persistent hotspots for such activities could be identified and meaningfully used as a spatial management tool. Using data collected from dedicated boat surveys during 2010–2012, depth and sea surface temperature (SST) were frequently identified as important variables. Overall, seasonal predictive occurrence maps for the larger population resembled predictive maps of feeding groups more than nursery groups, suggesting prey availability has important implications for the distribution of Delphinus in this region. In this case, static spatial exclusions would not be the best management option as the core areas of use identified for these activities were large and shifted temporally. It appears that at the scale examined, most of the Hauraki Gulf is important for feeding and nursing rather than specific smaller regions being used for these functions. In cases where static management is not the optimal tool, as suggested here for a highly mobile species, a dynamic approach requires more than a boundary line on a map. The article is available at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-020-3664-4 or please contact me (s.l.dwyer(a)massey.ac.nz) for a PDF. Best wishes, Sarah ------------------------------------- Sarah Dwyer, PhD Coastal-Marine Research Group School of Natural and Computational Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 North Shore Auckland 0745 New Zealand Mob: +64 (0) 21 035 4749 Email: s.l.dwyer(a)massey.ac.nz http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz

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New publication: Distribution, habitat use and abundance of the Franciscana
by Federico Sucunza 25 Apr '20

25 Apr '20

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors, I am pleased to announce our recent article Federico Sucunza, Daniel Danilewicz, Artur Andriolo, Alexandre F. Azevedo, Eduardo R. Secchi, Alexandre N. Zerbini . *Distribution, habitat use, and abundance of the endangered franciscana in southeastern and southern Brazil. Marine Mammal Science, v. 36, 421-435. * Abstract The franciscana (*Pontoporia blainvillei*) is endemic to coastal waters from Brazil to Argentina. The species is regarded as one of the most threatened cetaceans in South America due to high bycatch levels. Four management units (FMAs) were defined throughout the species’ range. FMA II includes states along southeastern and southern Brazil, and represents one of the least known units. Recently, genetic analysis proposed that FMA II comprises two distinct populations and its range should be divided into FMA IIa and IIb. In December 2008 and January 2009 aerial surveys were conducted to assess the distribution and to estimate abundance of franciscanas off FMA II. A total of 54 groups were seen (average group size = 2.76, *SE* = 0.17) in shallow (mean depth = 7.15 m, *SE* = 7.08) coastal habitats (average distance from the shore = 6.48 km, *SE* = 6.28). Abundance corrected for perception and availability bias was estimated at 6,827 (*CV* = 0.26) franciscanas in FMA II, and at 1,915 (*CV* = 0.32) and 4,353 (*CV* = 0.24) franciscanas in FMA IIa and FMA IIb, respectively. This study indicates that, at least during the summer, franciscanas aggregate in shallow coastal habitats. Current estimates of incidental mortality in FMA II correspond to 4.4%–7.3% of the estimated stock size, suggesting high, likely unsustainable bycatch. The full article is available online: https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12650 Please do not hesitate to contact me (fsucunza(a)gmail.com) if you have any queries regarding to this article or to request a PDF copy. Best regards, Federico Sucunza <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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New publication: New Pliocene right whale from Belgium informs balaenid phylogeny and function
by Guillaume Duboys De Lavigerie 24 Apr '20

24 Apr '20

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors, I am pleased to announce our recent article published in The Journal of Systematic Palaeontology New Pliocene right whale from Belgium informs balaenid phylogeny and function Guillaume Duboys de Lavigerie, Mark Bosselaers, Stijn Goolaerts, Travis Park, Olivier Lambert & Felix G. Marx ABSTRACT Right whales (Balaenidae) are the most distinctive family of extant baleen whales, thanks to their highly arched rostrum, tall lips and robust body shape. They are also the oldest, originating as much as 20 million years ago (Ma). Nevertheless, their fossil record is patchy and frequently understudied, obscuring their evolution. Here, we describe anew stem balaenid, Antwerpibalaena liberatlas, from northern Belgium, adding to the rich but historically problematic baleen whale assemblage of the Pliocene North Sea. Within right whales, Antwerpibalaena forms a clade with two previously described extinct genera, Balaenella and Balaenula. The holotype preserves much of the postcranial skeleton, and informs the emergence of typical balaenid traits like fused neck vertebrae and paddle-shaped flippers. Its size is intermediate between that of extant right whales and most of their extinct forebears revealing a more complex pattern of balaenid size evolution than previously thought Provenance : Courrier pour Windows 10 -- L'absence de virus dans ce courrier électronique a été vérifiée par le logiciel antivirus Avast. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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New publication: Non-song vocalizations of humpback whales in Western Australia
by Angela Paola Recalde 24 Apr '20

24 Apr '20

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our newest paper entitled: "Non-song Vocalizations of Humpback Whales in Western Australia". Recalde-Salas A, Erbe C, Salgado Kent C, Parsons M (2020). Non-song Vocalizations of Humpback Whales in Western Australia. *Frontiers in Marine Science*, 7:141. DOI: doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00141 ABSTRACT This study presents non-song vocalizations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from two migratory areas off the Western Australian coast: Geographe Bay and Port Hedland. A total of 220 sounds were identified as non-song sounds in 193 h of recordings reviewed. Of those, 68 were measured and qualitatively classified into 17 groups using their spectral features. One group (HW-02) had a high level of variation in terms of spectral slope. However, further classification using statistical classification methods was not possible because of the small sample size. Non-song sound frequencies varied from 9 Hz to 6 kHz, with the majority of sounds under 200 Hz. The duration of non-song sounds varied between 0.09 and 3.59 s. Overall, the use of spectral features allowed general classification of humpback whale sounds in a low sample size scenario that was not conducive to using quantitative methods. However, for highly variable groups, quantitative statistical classification methods (e.g., random forests) are needed to improve classification accuracy. The identification and accurate classification of a species’ acoustic repertoire is key to effectively monitor population status using acoustic techniques and to better understand the vocal behavior of the species. The results of this study improve the monitoring of humpback whales by standardizing the classification of sounds and including them in the species’ repertoire. The inclusion of non-song sounds in passive acoustic monitoring of humpback whales will add females and calves to the detection counts of otherwise only singing males. The article is open access and available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00141 Cheers, Angela Angela Recalde-Salas. MSc. PhD. Researcher | Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) Data analyst | Centre for Digital Agriculture Curtin University, Perth - Western Australia Email | angela.recaldesalas(a)uqconnect.edu.au, angela.recaldesalas(a)curtin.edu.au <a.recaldesalas(a)posgrad.curtin.edu.au> Project Web | http://souwest.org/

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NOAA Fisheries Draft List of Foreign Fisheries--Deadline for Comments Approaching
by Smith, Zak 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

Hello all, I am writing this email to call your attention to the fact (or remind you) that the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking comments on its draft List of Foreign Fisheries-a tool it is using to implement the US ban on imports of fish and fish products from foreign fisheries that do not meet US standards for marine mammal protection as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Comments are due by May 1, 2020<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/17/2020-05380/fish-and-fi…>. NOAA has created a fact sheet<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/67782930> that provides an overview of the process, and you can find more detailed information on the List of Foreign Fisheries, its development, and how it will be used on the NOAA Fisheries website: List of Foreign Fisheries<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/foreign/international-affairs/list-foreign-f…>. The main purpose of the List of Foreign Fisheries is to classify all fisheries exporting fish and fish products to the United States as either "exempt" or "export" based on the frequency and likelihood of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals. The resulting classification will determine the kind of fishery-specific information that countries must provide to NOAA Fisheries in order for a foreign fishery to obtain a "comparability finding," which will allow its exports to enter the United States. Proper classification is crucial as only export fisheries must submit extensive information about the operations of its fisheries and their interactions with marine mammals and the status of those marine mammal populations in order to determine whether those fisheries are meeting US standards for marine mammal protection. Please consider reviewing the draft List of Foreign Fisheries and submitting comments directly to NOAA Fisheries<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/17/2020-05380/fish-and-fi…> if you have information that would help it correctly classify particular fisheries. For example, you may have information indicating that a fishery NOAA has preliminarily designated as "exempt," actually has a high likelihood of bycatch and should be reviewed as a potential "export" fishery. You may also reach out to myself Zak Smith (zsmith(a)nrdc.org<mailto:zsmith@nrdc.org>) or my colleagues, Sarah Uhlemann (suhlemann(a)biologicaldiversity.org<mailto:suhlemann@biologicaldiversity.org>) and Kate O'Connell (kate.oconnell(a)balaena.org<mailto:kate.oconnell@balaena.org>) as we prepare our comments. While the list is long (NMFS classified nearly 2,900 foreign fishery operations), you can easily focus in on fisheries you are familiar with to see if NMFS got it right or if it should reconsider its classification based on information you provide. Thank you for your time. Best, Zak Zak Smith Senior Attorney Director, International Wildlife Conservation Nature Program *Admitted in California Natural Resources Defense Council 317 E Mendenhall STREET, Suite D Bozeman, MT 59715 T 406.556.9305 zsmith(a)nrdc.org<mailto:zsmith@nrdc.org> NRDC.ORG<http://www.nrdc.org/>

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