February 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Resistance and susceptibility of dolphins to cetacean morbillivirus (Kimberley Batley)
by Kimberley Batley 17 Mar '21

17 Mar '21

Dear all, My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper: Batley KC, Sandoval‐Castillo J, Kemper CM, Attard, CRM, Zanardo, N, Tomo, I, Beheregaray, LB, Möller, LM (2018). Genome-wide association study of an unusual dolphin mortality event reveals candidate genes for susceptibility and resistance to cetacean morbillivirus. Evolutionary Applications. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12747 Abstract: Infectious diseases are significant demographic and evolutionary drivers of populations, but studies about the genetic basis of disease resistance and susceptibility are scarce in wildlife populations. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a highly contagious disease that is increasing in both geographic distribution and incidence, causing unusual mortality events (UME) and killing tens of thousands of individuals across multiple cetacean species worldwide since the late 1980’s. The largest CeMV outbreak in the Southern Hemisphere reported to date occurred in Australia in 2013, where it was a major factor in a UME, killing mainly young Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Using cases (non-survivors) and controls (putative survivors) from the most affected population, we carried out a genome-wide association study to identify candidate genes for resistance and susceptibility to CeMV. The genomic dataset consisted of 278,147,988 sequence reads and 35,493 high quality SNPs genotyped across 38 individuals. Association analyses found highly significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies amongst cases and controls at 65 SNPs, and Random Forests conservatively identified eight as candidates. Annotation of these SNPs identified five candidate genes (MAPK8, FBXW11, INADL, ANK3, and ACOX3) with functions associated with stress, pain and immune responses. Our findings provide the first insights into the genetic basis of host defence to this highly contagious disease, enabling the development of an applied evolutionary framework to monitor CeMV resistance across cetacean species. Biomarkers could now be established to assess potential risk factors associated with these genes in other CeMV affected cetacean populations and species. These results could also possibly aid in the advancement of vaccines against morbilliviruses. The PDF is freely accessible at https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12747 Regards, Kimberley Batley, on behalf of all co-authors Kimberley Batley PhD candidate Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) Molecular Ecology Lab (MELFU) College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University P +61 8 8201 3865 | E kimberley.batley(a)flinders.edu.au www.cebel.org.au<http://www.cebel.org.au/> | www.molecularecology.flinders.edu.au<http://www.molecularecology.flinders.edu.au/>

1 1

New Publication on Bearded Seal Response to Noise
by Michelle E.H. Fournet 27 Feb '21

27 Feb '21

Hello Marmam, We are pleased to announce the following publication in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences. Limited vocal compensation for elevated ambient noise in bearded seals: implications for an industrializing Arctic Ocean Fournet MEH, Silvestri M,Clark CW, Klinck H, Rice AN Vocalizing animals have several strategies to compensate for elevated ambient noise. These behaviours evolved under historical conditions, but compensation limits are quickly being reached in the Anthropocene. Acoustic communication is essential to male bearded seals that vocalize for courtship and defending territories. As Arctic sea ice declines, industrial activities and associated anthropogenic noise are likely to increase. Documenting how seals respond to noise and identifying naturally occurring behavioural thresholds would indicate either their resilience or vulnerability to changing soundscapes. We investigated whether male bearded seals modified call amplitudes in response to changing ambient noise levels. Vocalizing seals increased their call amplitudes until ambient noise levels reached an observable threshold, above which call source levels stopped increasing. The presence of a threshold indicates limited noise compensation for seals, which still renders them vulnerable to acoustic masking of vocal signals. This behavioural threshold and response to noise is critical for developing management plans for an industrializing Arctic. Fournet MEH, Silvestri M,Clark CW, Klinck H, Rice AN. 2021 Limited vocal compensation for elevated ambient noise in bearded seals: implications for an industrializing Arctic Ocean. Proc. R. Soc. B 288: 20202712. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2712 The paper can be found here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2020.2712 Please direct any questions to Michelle Fournet at: michelle.fournet(a)cornelle.edu Cheers! Michelle

1 0

IWDG wish to recruit a Science Officer
by Simon Berrow 27 Feb '21

27 Feb '21

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is an All-Ireland NGO *“dedicated to the conservation and better understanding of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in Irish waters through study, education and interpretation”. *The IWDG has charitable status, is regulated by the Charity Regulators and is a Limited Company. Currently it has two full-time employees, eight service providers and 12 consultants who help the IWDG deliver its work plan. Over the past 30 years, the IWDG has grown into a large, credible and complex organisation. Its activities range from co-ordinating cetacean stranding and sighting schemes, to running a 56ft research vessel, provision of Marine Mammal Observers, preparing policy documents and action plans and informing the public about the importance of Ireland for cetaceans. The IWDG wishes to recruit a *Science Officer* to join its core team based in the Shannon Dolphin Centre, Kilrush, Co Clare. The *Science Officer* will be expected to work closely with the team in Kilrush and other officers in the IWDG. The officer will be expected to manage all IWDG archived data, identify relevant opportunities to collect and interpret IWDG data, contribute to conservation actions and policies, identify gaps in IWDG scientific knowledge and priorities for scientific research and identify roles for the IWDG research vessel *Celtic Mist *and will be encouraged to seek funding for research projects. The officer will also contribute heavily to IWDG Consulting, including desk-top assessments and site fieldwork. Please find full details on IWDG Science Officer <https://iwdg.ie/iwdg-wish-to-recruit-a-science-officer/> -- -------- Dr Simon Berrow Chief Executive Officer Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland www.iwdg.ie / www.shannondolphins.ie http://consulting.iwdg.ie Office; 065 9051763 / Mobile: 086 8545450 Charity Number: CHY 11163 Charity Regulatory Authority No. 20029913

1 0

New paper: Cosumption of Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in Lake Maracaibo System, Venezuela
by Yurasi Briceño 26 Feb '21

26 Feb '21

My co-authors and I are pleased to share our latest paper: Aquatic Wildmeat Consumption of Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Lake Maracaibo System, Venezuela It is available in: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.625801/full Abstract: In many regions of the world, the use of cetaceans as bait or protein source has been reported. In most cases the individuals are from bycatch but also from intentionally killed animals. Cetaceans with coastal habits are more susceptible to negative interactions with small-scale fisheries, as in the case of the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in the Lake Maracaibo system. For decades, the use of Guiana dolphins by local communities has been reported in this region and is culturally supported by recipes for its preparation. Most of these data was outdated and some were anecdotal, so the objective of this work was to collect systematically data through surveys using the snowball method in seven artisanal fishing communities and to try to quantify the capture rate and to inquire about the potential impact of this practice on the population of Guiana dolphin. >From 2017 to 2019, 95 semi-structured interviews were applied. An average bycatch of 180 individuals/year was obtained, the highest catch rate in the entire geographic distribution, an alarming situation considering that the surveys were not carried out in all the fishing ports, generating an underestimation. A total of 78% of interviewed recognized at least one bycatch event during their fishing effort. Surveys revealed a higher incidence of entanglement of offspring and juveniles (78%). 77% of the respondents deny the sale and commercialization of the species, while 5% mention some type of trade. The most frequent part exploited was the dorsal muscle, confirmed by fishermen (97%, n = 72) and the rest of the animal is discarded. During this investigation three episodes of directed capture were recorded, affecting a total of 23 individuals, two of them were pregnant females. The interviews also revealed that the majority of fishermen (93%) recognize the capture of this species as illegal. Considering the vulnerability of the Guiana dolphin in the country, the high incidence of capture and consumption and the lack of surveillance and sanctions by government entities, it is imperative to immediate actions to mitigate the negative impact on the population. All the best, Yurasi -- *PhD. (C) Yurasi Briceño* *@proyectosotalia*Universidad del Zulia. Centro de Ecología. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Carretera Panamericana, km 11 Altos de Pipe, Apartado postal 20632, Caracas1020-A, Estado Miranda - VENEZUELA Tlf: (58)(212)5041905 Mobile: (58)(412)5553962

1 0

New Publication: The role of touch in captive and semi-captive Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus)
by Karen Lucchini 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the recent publication of our article on Antillean manatees’ tactile communication in the Behaviour: Lucchini, K., Umeed, R., Guimaraes, L., Santos, P., Sommer, I. & Bezerra, B. (2021) The role of touch in captive and semi-captive Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus). – Behaviour, 1(aop): 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-bja10069 <https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-bja10069> ABSTRACT: Tactile signals have been neglected in aquatic animal studies despite being a major communication modality. We investigated Antillean manatees’ tactile behavioural repertoire and budget in captivity (7-females and 4-males) and semi-captivity (4-males) in Brazil. We detected 17 tactile behaviours (14.03% of the activity budget) with social, self-maintenance, or environmental exploration functions. The observation method influenced the detection of self-maintenance behaviours — focal animal and ad libitum detected more of these behaviours than scan sampling. Age, sex, housing, and centre routines influenced the tactile repertoire. The captive females and semi-captive males tactile patterns differed, suggesting that sex and animal-pool density play a role in tactile patterns. We recommend carefully choosing the observation method when investigating functional categories of manatee tactile behaviours. The monitoring and stimulation of manatee tactile behaviours should integrate rehabilitation and reintroduction practices. Environmental enrichment may stimulate tactile behaviours related to habitat exploration, key behaviours in aiding manatee navigation. Please, do not hesitate to contact me at lucchini.karen(a)gmail.com <mailto:lucchini.karen@gmail.com> or karen.lucchini(a)ufpe.br <mailto:karen.lucchini@ufpe.br> I would be happy to answer any further questions about the study and provide a pdf copy of the article. Best regards, Karen Lucchini MSc. in Animal Biology - Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation Lab Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) BSc. in Biological Sciences - São Paulo State University (UNESP) http://lattes.cnpq.br/0466847532755310 <http://lattes.cnpq.br/0466847532755310> https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-lucchini-041371174/ <https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-lucchini-041371174/>

1 0

Blue Whale Baleen
by Cheryl Munday 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

MARMAM Community: We are looking for a single blade of blue whale baleen for an educational exhibit at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). Unfortunately, most government-run museums and offices are closed because of the pandemic, so we have not been able to locate blue whale baleen that can be accessed at this time. If you are located in the U.S. and have a blade we can borrow for 9 months, please let me know. Whale: Living with Giants ( https://mission.cmaquarium.org/news/whale-exhibit-coming-to-clearwater-mari… ) Cheryl Munday Curator, Whales: Living with Giants cheryl(a)cherylmunday.com Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release. CMA is a stranding network partner in the Southeast U.S.

1 0

New publication: variability in bowhead whale songs and significance
by Florence Erbs 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new article on bowhead whale songs: Erbs, F., van der Schaar, M., Weissenberger, J. et al.*Contribution to unravel variability in bowhead whale songs and better understand its ecological significance*. Sci Rep 11, 168 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80220-5 *Abstract* Since the first studies on bowhead whale singing behaviour, song variations have been consistently reported. However, there has been little discussion regarding variability in bowhead whale singing display and its ecological significance. Unlike the better studied humpback whales, bowhead whales do not appear to share songs at population level, but several studies have reported song sharing within clusters of animals. Over the winter season 2013–2014, in an unstudied wintering ground off Northeast Greenland, 13 song groups sharing similar hierarchical structure and units were identified. Unit types were assessed through multidimensional maps, showing well separated clusters corresponding to manually labelled units, and revealing the presence of unit subtypes. Units presented contrasting levels of variability over their acoustic parameters, suggesting that bowhead whales keep consistency in some units while using a continuum in values of frequency, duration and modulation parameters for other unit types. Those findings emphasise the need to account for variability in song analysis to better understand the behavioural ecology of this endangered species. Additionally, shifting from song toward units or phrase-based analysis, as it has been suggested for humpback whales, offers the opportunity to identify and track similarities in songs over temporal and geographical scales relevant to population monitoring. The open-access article can be downloaded from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-80220-5 <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-80220-5> Please feel free to contact me (florence.erbs(a)upc.edu) if you have any questions. Best wishes, Florence -- UPC Icon *Florence Erbs* Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB) Rambla Exposició, 24 | 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú Barcelona, Spain Office +34 93 896 72 27 florence.erbs(a)upc.edu <mailto:florence.erbs@upc.edu> lab.upc.edu <http://www.lab.upc.edu/>, listentothedeep.com <http://www.listentothedeep.com/> -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

1 0

Abstracts due March 3rd for Graduate Student Symposium April 16-18 2021
by Lauren Clance 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

Hello everyone, The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) Marine Science Graduate Student Organization would like to remind you that we will be hosting a Graduate Student Symposium (GSS 2021) during the weekend of April 16th-18th! GSS is an annual conference of marine science graduate students from around the Gulf Coast who meet to present research, provide feedback, and network with others. Due to COVID-19, we have opted to hold the event virtually this year; however, this allows us to expand our range of opportunities to all grad students (not just those from Gulf Coast institutions) and to a wider variety of research topics, including sessions for marine mammal research, such as megafauna conservation. We will be holding the event as a live virtual conference, meaning that students will present in real-time in front of virtual audiences and receive live questions and feedback. To achieve this goal, we encourage all students, faculty and staff at research institutions and members of the press and general public to join us and participate throughout the weekend. To be a presenter, you must be either a graduate student or undergraduate, but you do not have to be a student to attend. The cost to register as a student or faculty member is $45, which will include a welcome packet and t-shirt (and abstract fee if you are a student). If you are a member of the general public or a technician or researcher that is not faculty, registration is $7.50. For presenters, abstracts are due March 3rd. Included in this email is a flyer with general information and a graphic that contains session topics. Please feel free to distribute these materials to anyone that may be interested. Registration forms can be accessed at our conference website: https://whova.com/web/msgss_202104/ If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out at msgso.gss2021(a)gmail.com . We look forward to hosting y'all in April! Sincerely, The DISL Marine Science Graduate Student Organization -- Lauren R. Clance M.S. Student University of South Alabama Dauphin Island Sea Lab 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, AL 36528

1 0

Free Event - Southern Ocean Stories: The Whale’s Tale
by Info 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

[cid:image001.png@01D70AC7.583D9700] Whales are arguably the most impressive and charismatic of animals in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Few sights are more memorable that witnessing a close encounter with a breaching whale. They are also an animal whose history during the last two and a half centuries is intimately entwined with that of human endeavour in the southern polar regions. Together with the South Georgia Heritage Trust (with the Friends of South Georgia Island), the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust are delighted to present three of the world's experts in the study and conservation of whales in the Southern Ocean to discuss the history, science and current efforts to conserve these important species on our planet. We invite you to join us to hear our three experts: Bjørn Basberg, Norwegian School of Economics Ted Cheeseman, Southern Cross University Jennifer Jackson, British Antarctic Survey As they offer their insights into the history of exploitation, science and recovery of whales in the Southern Ocean and join the discussion in our interactive webinar taking place on Wednesday 3 March 2021 from 7pm - 9pm GMT. This event is being held in support of the important work of these charities and all donations are gratefully received. More information can be found at http://www.ukaht.org/latest-news/2021/the-whale-s-tale/ To book for this event click here.<https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southern-ocean-stories-presents-the-whales-t…> We look forward to welcoming you. Camilla Nichol Camilla Nichol | Chief Executive UK Antarctic Heritage Trust High Cross | Madingley Road | Cambridge | CB3 0ET | UK http://www.ukaht.org<http://www.ukaht.org/> Please consider supporting our work<http://www.ukaht.org/support-us/> [signature_1713240792]<http://www.ukaht.org/support-us/>

1 0

Florida Manatee and Marine Turtle Management Job Opportunity
by Pasawicz, Michelle 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

Greetings everyone, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking a Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IV to aid the Imperiled Species Management Section with developing conservation measures to reduce potential adverse impacts to species under the responsibility of the Section, with a focus on Florida manatee and marine turtle conservation. Please follow this link to the job posting to learn more about this opportunity: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/TALLAHASSEE-F-&-W-BIOLOGICAL-SCIENTIST-IV-77… Sincerely, Michelle R. Pasawicz Biological Administrator Imperiled Species Management Section Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/manatee/> Michelle.Pasawicz(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Michelle.Pasawicz@MyFWC.com>

1 0