September 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

LAST INTERNSHIP PLACE AT THE MONTENEGRO DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROJECT (SOUTH ADRIATIC SEA)
by Selina Brouwer 23 Sep '20

23 Sep '20

Dear all, Please find below details of our last placement space at our Montenegro Dolphin Research project for 2020. WHO ARE DMAD AND WHAT DO WE DO? DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association has scientific projects running in Turkey, Montenegro and Albania. We conduct long-term studies of marine mammals in Istanbul, Antalya, the Levantine Sea, Montenegrin coastal waters and the northern coastline of Albania. We aim to address questions about marine mammal abundance, distribution and behaviour, define critical habitats and investigate the impact of major threats, ranging from tourism to hydrocarbon exploration. Our wider attention focuses on the promotion and implementation of awareness initiatives targeted at the local community. More details on the project can be found here: http://www.dmad.org.tr/montenegro-dolphin-research WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We offer several volunteering and internship positions: this is a valuable opportunity for graduates, that wish to gain experience in the marine mammal research field, and undergraduates, that would like to obtain internship academic credits. It could be used to develop a scientific project for BSc and MSc thesis. However, we are also open to accept applications from anyone whose passion for marine mammals is strong and sincere. This opportunity is available from October 2020. The minimum duration of the placement is 2 MONTHS, with possible exception for a skilled candidate. REQUIREMENTS -True interest for marine conservation, self-motivation, maturity and ability to work responsibly; -Ability to cohabit in a dynamic and multicultural environment; -Respect for the organisation's rules and willingness to follow standards and procedures; -Proven experience of working effectively as part of a team; -Fluent English (both spoken and written) and good communication skills; -Willingness to learn new software applications. -Background in marine biology and previous fieldwork experience are an advantage. FIELD WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES -Performing land-based surveys at least three times a week, including sunrise and sunset hours; -Performing boat-based surveys once a fortnight (occasionally more if possible). -Collecting dolphins sighting and behavioural data, as well as environmental and anthropogenic data; -Operating theodolite and managing its software Pythagoras; -Data entry and analysis; -Cataloguing and matching individuals of target species for photo-ID studies via Discovery software; -Raising stakeholder awareness through conservation actions. -Promoting citizen-science activities TRAINING The Montenegro Dolphin Research team provides lectures and field work training as well as constant mentoring. You will be given the chance to learn the most popular methodologies used in marine mammal research including: -GIS mapping -Theodolite operation and Pythagoras software; -Photo-identification; -Discovery, Darwin and Logger 2010 software; -Systematic data collection and data analysis; PROJECT CONTRIBUTION The project contribution is €750 per month. All of which goes directly to supporting the projects. The fee *includes*: -Accommodation and expenses; -Transportation between the project sites within and between Montenegro and Albania; -Training and lectures with a copy of the lecture on PDF; -Fieldwork (land- and boat survey); -Use of the equipment; -Scientific support; -Additional courses related to the selected subject; Applicants are responsible for their transportation to/from Montenegro, meals, insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance) and personal expenses. HOW TO APPLY Email your CV and cover letter to info(a)dmad.org.tr, explaining why you are a suitable asset for our team and which goals you hope to achieve with us! If you wish to have more info about our internships and work please take a look at some of our web pages and social media: Our research: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-projects Our internships: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-internships Our publications: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-publications Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DMADfornature/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMADforNature/ All the best, DMAD team

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NEW PUBLICATION: R package for extrapolation assessment in cetacean models
by Phil Bouchet 23 Sep '20

23 Sep '20

Dear MARMAM community, Further to an earlier post about this in the second half of 2019, my co-authors and I are thrilled to announce the publication of our new open access paper in Methods in Ecology and Evolution: Bouchet PJ, Miller DL, Roberts JJ, Mannocci L, Harris CM, Thomas L (2020). dsmextra: Extrapolation assessment tools for density surface models. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/2041-210X… The paper describes the dsmextra R package, a toolkit for assessing extrapolation in ecological models — with an emphasis (and worked examples) on abundance models of cetacean populations. The latest version (v1.1.2) of the package can be downloaded freely from https://github.com/densitymodelling/dsmextra Abstract (1) Forecasting the responses of biodiversity to global change has never been more important. However, many ecologists faced with limited sample sizes and shoestring budgets often resort to extrapolating predictive models beyond the range of their data to support management actions in data‐deficient contexts. This can lead to error‐prone inference that has the potential to misdirect conservation interventions and undermine decision‐making. Despite the perils associated with extrapolation, little guidance exists on the best way to identify it when it occurs, leaving users questioning how much credence they should place in model outputs. To address this, we present dsmextra, a new R package for measuring, summarizing and visualizing extrapolation in multivariate environmental space. (2) dsmextra automates the process of conducting quantitative, spatially explicit assessments of extrapolation on the basis of two established metrics: the Extrapolation Detection (ExDet) tool and the percentage of data nearby (%N). The package provides user‐friendly functions to (a) calculate these metrics, (b) create tabular and graphical summaries, (c) explore combinations of covariate sets as a means of informing covariate selection and (d) produce visual displays in the form of interactive html maps. (3) dsmextra implements a model‐agnostic approach to extrapolation detection that is applicable across taxonomic groups, modelling techniques and datasets. We present a case study fitting a density surface model to visual detections of pantropical spotted dolphins Stenella attenuata in the Gulf of Mexico. (4) Predictive modelling seeks to deliver actionable information about the states and trajectories of ecological systems, yet model performance can be strongly impaired out of sample. By assessing conditions under which models are likely to fail or succeed in extrapolating, ecologists may gain a better understanding of biological patterns and their underlying drivers. Critical to this is a concerted effort to standardize best practice in model evaluation, with an emphasis on extrapolative capacity. This work forms an output of the DenMod project, a collaborative partnership between the University of St Andrews, Duke University, and NOAA Fisheries, and supported through funding by the U.S. Navy’s Living Marine Resources programme. More information on project aims and outputs can be found at: https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/denmod/ Kind regards, Phil Bouchet Postdoctoral Research Fellow Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling (CREEM) University of St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland

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New publication-Endocrine profiling of reproductive status and evidence of pseudopregnancy in the Pacific walrus
by Jenell Larsen 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

Dear MARMAM Colleagues, My co-author and I are pleased to share with you our publication in Plos one. Larsen Tempel JT, Atkinson S (2020) Endocrine profiling of reproductive status and evidence of pseudopregnancy in the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). PLoS ONE 15(9):e0239218. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239218 This publication is open access. Abstract: Endocrine profiling is an increasingly utilized tool for detecting pregnancies in wild populations of mammals. Given the difficulty in calculating reproductive rates of Pacific walruses (*Odobenus rosmarus divergens*) the use of endocrine techniques for determining pregnancy rates could be particularly useful for management of the population. The goals of this study were to 1) determine if progesterone and total estrogen concentrations in ovarian tissues of female walruses could be used to determine reproductive state and 2) determine if walruses undergo a functional postpartum estrus, as is seen in other pinnipeds. Ovaries were collected from female walruses (n = 13) hunted in subsistence hunts by Alaska Native communities. Females were categorized as postpartum, full-term pregnant, pregnant diapause or unbred. Total estrogen concentrations were greatest in unbred (n = 2) and pregnant (n = 2) females. Progesterone concentrations were also nominally larger in unbred (n = 2) than pregnant (n = 2) and postpartum (n = 9) animals. Small samples sizes precluded the use of statistical comparisons among groups. Corpora lutea tissue samples in this study did not reflect the presence of a postpartum estrus in the month of May as postpartum females yielded lower total estrogen concentrations than unbred or pregnant animals. Both unbred animals were in a state of pseudopregnancy, which has not been physiologically described for this species before. The progesterone profiles in late (59 ng/g) and early (140 ng/g) pregnancy were lower than expected and fell within the range of the postpartum females (36-210 ng/g), suggesting low production of the hormone by the corpus luteum during these phases of pregnancy. Profiling reproductive hormones in free-ranging walruses demonstrates that an endocrine approach may be a valuable tool for determining reproductive status of females, however increased sample sizes and time of year must be considered to accurately separate pregnant versus pseudopregnant individuals. Cheers, Jenell Larsen Tempel, Ph.D.

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NEW PUBLICATION: Liver histopathology of Baltic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) over three decades
by Britta Müller 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

Dear MARMAM community, my co-authors and I are happy to announce the publication of our new paper in Environmental International about “Liver histopathology of Baltic grey seals (*Halichoerus grypus*) over three decades" <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020320651#!> Schmidt, B., Sonne, C., Nachtsheim, D., Wohlsein, P., Persson, S., Dietz, R., Siebert, U., 2020. Liver histopathology of Baltic grey seals (*Halichoerus grypus*) over three decades. Environ. Int., 164(1106110), 1-8. Abstract The liver plays an important role in the metabolism and elimination of endogenic and exogenic lipid-soluble compounds. Multiple studies have shown that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) lead to morphological changes in liver cells. The aim of the present study was therefore to analyse liver changes over time in Baltic grey seals (*Halichoerus grypus*) and to correlate these with historical PCB and DDT contaminations. A total of 191 liver samples were collected between 1981 and 2015 in the Gulf of Bothnia and northern Baltic Proper. Six histological features were evaluated, including portal mononuclear cell infiltration, random mononuclear cell infiltration, lipid granulomas, hepatocellular fat vacuoles, hepatic stellate cells and mild multifocal bile duct hyperplasia accompanied by portal fibrosis. Three of the six lesions showed a significant correlation with age. Furthermore, a positive correlation between portal mononuclear cell infiltration and mild multifocal bile duct hyperplasia was found. Additionally, lipid granulomas were significantly correlated with hepatic stellate cells. More importantly, hepatic stellate cells and mild multifocal bile duct hyperplasia were correlated with adipose tissue (blubber) concentrations of ƩPCB, measured in a subsample (n=34) of all individuals. No correlation with lesions and ƩDDT concentration were found. These results show that age is an important factor for the development of these liver lesions, but PCBs burden may be an influencing factor. This is an agreement with previous studies of marine mammals in the Baltic Sea as well as in the Arctic. We therefore conclude that not only age of the animals, but also exposure to PCBs should be taken into account when understanding and evaluating the current health status of the Baltic grey seals. The publication is freely available at: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020319231> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106110 Britta Schmidt Marine Biologist University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), Germany

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post-doc position on effect of pingers on behavior of captive dolphins
by Sandro Mazzariol 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

Dear collegues, this email is to share with you the opportunity of a post-doc position on the effects of pinger on behavior of captive dolphins The post-Doc research program aims at integrating ongoing projects on the effects of acoustic devices on marine fauna. In particular, the proposed activities are implementing the LIFE Project “Dolphin Experience: Lowering Fishing Interactions” (LFI). LFI aims at investigating animal behaviors associated to the use of acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) to keep animals away from fishing areas and reduce the unwanted bycatch of cetaceans drown incidentally in fishing nets. The LIF project is evaluating the effects of a new generation of pingers (Dolphin Interactive Deterrent; DID) that are activated only if dolphins are present, thus reducing acoustic noise pollution and habituation to the acoustic signal in the target species. A behavioral study will integrate already planned in field evaluation with experimental evaluation conducted on under human care dolphins. More specifically, the study will determine whether new available DID has any effect on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins under controlled conditions and the variability of possible effects when background motivation is manipulated. The project is coordinated by experts in marine fauna and the complete results of the present research are planned to be achieved in two years. The activities of the first year are focused on the design and validation of the methods to be applied on the dolphin under human care during the second year. Methods will be implemented at the Laboratory of Applied Ethology (Dept. of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua) and based on evaluation of animal's behavior during and after the exposure to acoustic devices. For this study the candidate must be acquainted with basic procedures employed in ethological research (behavioral data collection, video/audio equipment) and have an inclination for activities aimed at training animals for the experimental procedures (i.e. associative learning and habituation). The candidate must also be familiar with the most widely used video-analysis software, sound analysis procedure and statistical analysis software. A proficient use of the English language (both in speaking and writing) is compulsory. Moreover, the candidate must possess good relational skills and good predisposition for teamwork. International experiences are desirable. For any information you can contact directly the following address marinemammals.bca(a)unipd.it Best regards -- Prof. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) - Università degli Studi di Padova Cetaceans strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sui CEtacei (CIRCE) AGRIPOLIS - Ed. Museo Viale dell'Università 16 35020 - Legnaro (PD) tel.: +39 049 827 2963 fax: +39 049 827 2973 skype: smazzariol

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New publication on distribution patterns of floating marine debris in German waters (Bianca Unger)
by Unger, Bianca 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

Dear colleagues, My Co-Authors and I are delighted to announce the publication of our recent article on distribution patterns of floating marine debris in German waters. The presence of marine litter in the marine environment is a potential hazard for marine mammals since they ingest marine litter items or get entangled. Thus, the knowledge on the distribution, especially in areas designed for nature conservation, is of particular importance for assessing the risk for marine mammals. Citation: Unger, B., Herr, H., Viquerat, S., Gilles, A., Burkhardt-Holm, P., Siebert, U. Opportunistically collected data from aerial surveys reveal spatio-temporal distribution patterns of marine debris in German waters. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10610-9. Link to full paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-020-10610-9 Abstract: Marine debris is known for its ubiquitousness and harmful effects on marine life. This study is the first analysis to provide information on the distribution of floating marine debris in German waters using aerial survey data collected between 2002 and 2016. During regular harbour porpoise monitoring flights, 191,167 km were covered and 26,512 floating debris items recorded (average encounter rate 0.1387 items/km). Debris was encountered more often in the North Sea than in the Baltic Sea (0.16 items/km; 0.08 items/km). The average encounter rate was higher in offshore waters than in coastal areas. Overlaps of marine debris distribution with 'Special Areas of Conservation' are a particular reason for concern. Moreover, the spring months (March-May) were identified to be the time of the year with the highest average encounter rates for marine debris. Fishing-related debris was shown to contribute up to 25% of the total number of all observed items. This study shows that opportunistically collected data on marine debris from aerial surveys are valuable for identifying distribution patterns of floating debris without additional survey effort and costs. These data can be used as baseline information to inform management schemes such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Enjoy reading! Best, Bianca Unger _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Dr. Bianca Unger Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 / 25761 Büsum Germany Bianca.Unger(a)tiho-hannover.de<mailto:Bianca.Unger@tiho-hannover.de> https://www.tiho-hannover.de/index.php?id=5388&L=1 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bianca_Unger _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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New Publication: Seasonal occurrence and diel-calling pattern of crabeater seals off the Maud Rise, Antarctica
by Fannie Shabangu 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

Dear MARMAM Colleagues My co-author and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in Bioacoustics. Shabangu FW, Charif RA (2020): Short moan call reveals seasonal occurrence and diel-calling pattern of crabeater seals in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Bioacoustics, DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2020.1819877 Abstract Crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophaga) are an important component of the Southern Ocean as they are the most abundant pinniped species in this krill-based ecosystem; however, their acoustic repertoire and ecology remain to be fully described. Seasonal occurrence and diel-calling pattern of crabeater seal off the Maud Rise, eastern Weddell Sea, are described using passive acoustic monitoring data collected over 8 months (mid-January to mid-September) in 2014. We describe a new call type of crabeater seals, the short moan call (mean 90% duration: 2.2 ± 0.3 (SD) s, peak frequency: 596.5 ± 109.4 Hz, and frequency range: 122–1024 Hz), which was the only detected call type and 1871 calls were enumerated. Those crabeater seal calls were detected from April until mid-September (with peak in calling around September), which coincided with the appearance of sea ice. Short moan call rates were highest at night in August (i.e., 6.4 calls per minute) and September, and showed no diel variations for April through July. Distance to the sea ice edge and month of the year were the most important predictors of call occurrence and call rates of crabeater seals. This study highlights the Maud Rise as a useful habitat for this species. The first 50 free online copies of the paper can be downloaded at: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RKJVKSHHM3SKNSGU7Y69/full?target=10.1080…, or you can email me for a PDF copy. Warm regards, Fannie _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Fannie W. Shabangu, PhDMarine 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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New publication: Characterization of 25 new microsatellite markers for the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and cross‑species amplification in other cetaceans (Céline Tardy - WWF/CRIOBE)
by Céline TARDY 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Molecular Biology Reports. Tardy, C., Planes, S., Jung, J. L., Ody, D., & Boissin, E. (2020). Characterization of 25 new microsatellite markers for the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and cross-species amplification in other cetaceans. Molecular Biology Reports, 1-14. PDF requests can be sent to celine.tardy63(a)gmail.com Abstract Cetaceans are large mammals widely distributed on Earth. The fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus, is the second largest living animal. In the 20th century, commercial whaling reduced its global population by 70%, and in the Mediterranean Sea not only was their overall population depleted but the migration between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean was reduced. Previous genetic studies identified isolation between these two regions, with a limited gene-flow between these adjacent populations based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers. However, only limited information exists for the Mediterranean population as genetic diversity and abundance trends are still unknown. In this study, 39 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were tested, including 25 markers developed de novo together with 14 markers previously published. An average allelic diversity of 8.3 alleles per locus was reported, ranging from 3 to 15 alleles per locus, for B. physalus. Expected heterozygosity was variable among loci and ranged from 0.34 to 0.91. Only two markers in the new set were significantly deviant from the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. Cross-species amplification was tested in four other cetacean species. A total of 27 markers were successfully amplified in the four species (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Megaptera novaeangliae, Physeter macrocephalus and Globicephala melas). A multivariate analysis on the multilocus genotypes successfully discriminated the five species. This new set of microsatellite markers will not only provide a useful tool to identify and understand the genetic diversity and the evolution of the B. physalus population, but it will also be relevant for other cetacean species, and will allow further parentage analyses. Eventually, this new set of microsatellite markers will provide critical data that will shed light on important biological data within a conservation perspective. Best wishes, Céline -- Céline Tardy PhD student WWF France - Bureau Marseille 6 rue des Fabres 13001 Marseille Portable : +33 6 50 50 03 60

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Reminder: Survey on definitions of delphinid groups and related terms - Invitation to participate
by Jonathan Syme 20 Sep '20

20 Sep '20

Dear MARMAM community, Thank you to all who have already completed the survey. If you haven't had the chance yet, please see below for more information and the link. My name is Jonathan Syme and I am a PhD student with the Cetacean, Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) at Flinders University, Australia, under the supervision of Associate Professor Guido Parra (CEBEL, Flinders University) and Assistant Professor Jeremy Kiszka (Marine Conservation Ecology Lab, Florida International University). As part of my thesis, I am conducting a review into how group and associated terms are defined in regard to the study of delphinid behavioural ecology. I plan to use an online survey, accompanied by a literature review, to gather information on how researchers define delphinid groups. To this end, I would appreciate it if you would kindly take 10 - 15 minutes to complete a questionnaire regarding your opinions on this subject via the following link: https://qualtrics.flinders.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_3CwSUztVdqFBgEt Participation is entirely voluntary, and all responses will be anonymous and treated in confidence. Please see the Participant Information Sheet for more information and if you have any enquiries, please contact me by email at jonathan.syme(a)flinders.edu.au<mailto:jonathan.syme@flinders.edu.au>. Thank you for your time and assistance. Kind regards, Jonathan Jonathan Syme PhD Candidate Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL), Flinders University, South Australia jonathan.syme(a)flinders.edu.au<mailto:jonathan.syme@flinders.edu.au> @jonathan_syme @CEBELresearch

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Seeking acoustic recordings from UK waters for use in education and outreach project (The Cloud Aquarium)
by Freya Pellie 20 Sep '20

20 Sep '20

Dear MARMAM community, I am currently seeking acoustic recordings from UK waters for use in an education and outreach project, entitled The Cloud Aquarium, and was wondering if any of you might be interested in contributing any recordings of marine mammal vocalisations to the project? I have outlined the project and what we are looking for below. If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free to contact me via email. - Project Details - The Cloud Aquarium primarily comprises a pop-up interactive theatre show, introducing audiences to the wonders of marine ecology through spoken word, movement, puppetry, and soundscape. The performance is scheduled to be taken to a series of events in summer 2021. From January 2021 onwards, online resources delivered through social media will accompany the performance series. Links and references to current research will be integrated into our online resources, enabling viewers to delve further into the topics and creatures which the show introduces. The project is a collaboration between early career researchers and professional performing artists with a passion for environmental education. Our aim is to showcase the diversity of life in UK waters and introduce audiences to issues that these organisms face. This is partially a response to my own disconnect with marine biology as a child, perceiving it as something conducted solely in exotic, far-flung locations that I would never be able to visit. The project is supported by the British Ecological Society (BES) who are kindly contributing to the costs of materials, rehearsal space hire, and logo design. - What We Are Looking For - We are looking for short extracts of field recordings (between 10 seconds and 5 minutes long) from any species found in UK waters, ideally with a good signal to noise ratio. These will be compiled into a soundscape by a producer, alongside recordings of other marine organisms. As the incredible sounds of marine mammals were one of the main things that drew me to this field, for me it is paramount that marine mammals are included in the soundscape for the show. We regret that we are unable to pay for the use of recordings (all staff, myself included, are working on the project voluntarily) but all contributors will be credited. Given your permission, we will also seek to promote the work of contributors through social media channels and during the discussion section that will culminate each performance. You will of course retain ownership of the original recording and remain free to use it for any other purpose. If you have any recording(s) that you would like to contribute to the project, or have any questions, please get in touch via email at fpellie(a)outlook.com Kind regards, Freya Pellie fpellie(a)outlook.com Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook>

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