February 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper: Long-term success of dolphin rescues
by Katie McHugh 16 Feb '21

16 Feb '21

My co-authors and I would like to share our recent paper evaluating the long-term success and potential conservation value of dolphin rescues, published as part of a Frontiers in Marine Science research topic on Small Cetacean Conservation: McHugh, K. A., A. A. Barleycorn, J. B. Allen, K. Bassos-Hull, G. Lovewell, D. Boyd, A. Panike, C. Cush, D. Fauquier, B. Mase, R. C. Lacy, M. R. Greenfield, D. I. Rubenstein, A. Weaver, A. Stone, L. Oliver, K. Morse and R. S. Wells. 2021. Staying Alive: Long-term success of bottlenose dolphin interventions in southwest Florida. Frontiers in Marine Science 7: 624729. Abstract: Small cetaceans face persistent threats from fisheries interactions, making effective mitigation a priority for conservation. In southwest Florida, interactions come primarily from small-scale recreational hook and line and trap/pot fisheries, with regional stranding network partners working with federal agency managers to assess and intervene as possible in cases of live animal entanglement. Evaluating success of intervention cases is difficult due to financial and logistical constraints which may preclude detailed follow-up monitoring. Survival over the initial 6 weeks post-release has been used as a marker of short-term success for small-cetacean rescue and/or rehabilitation cases. Early intervention prior to stranding, especially via remote disentanglement or rescue and immediate re-release onsite, can save entangled free-ranging dolphins facing life-threatening anthropogenic injuries. However, given the costs associated with interventions, it is important to understand the benefits of these endeavors not only to save individuals, but also to establish if and how saved individuals contribute to social functioning, survival and reproduction within small, resident populations facing multiple concurrent threats. Here we provide evidence from 27 well-documented common bottlenose dolphin (/Tursiops truncatus/) intervention cases during 1985–2019 where follow-up monitoring over multiple years sheds light on the longer-term success of these efforts and potential benefits to local populations. Nearly all rescued individuals (92%) survived longer than 6 weeks post-release (mean minimum survival period = 5 years, range 0–35 years), with 13 still observed frequently within their prior resident communities, in good physical health, and engaging in normal behavior. Survivorship rates did not decline substantially between 1 and 5 years post-rescue, meaning survival beyond 1 year may be a useful benchmark of long-term success. Rescued females that reached reproductive maturity (/n/ = 4) have produced 12 post-intervention offspring to date. Social network analysis and demographic modeling applied to cases from the long-term resident community in Sarasota Bay confirmed that animals maintain social connections post-intervention and that interventions result in higher population growth rates. While not every intervention succeeds, this study demonstrates the conservation value of pre-stranding interventions which allow individuals that otherwise would be lost to remain viable and productive members of local populations when prevention of anthropogenic injury is not possible. The paper is open access and freely available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.624729 Feel free to contact me at kmchugh(a)mote.org with any questions about the study or to request a PDF copy. Katie McHugh -- ************************************ Katherine McHugh Staff Scientist Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program c/o Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 388-4441 x450 office (650) 400-2776 cell kmchugh(a)mote.org ************************************

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New Article on cetacean-fisheries interactions: Modelling ecosystem dynamics to assess the effect of coastal fisheries on cetacean species
by Oriol Giralt 16 Feb '21

16 Feb '21

Dear MARMAM community, In behalf of my co-authors I would like to share the article with you all: Giralt Paradell, O., Methion, S., Rogan, E., Díaz López, B. 2021. Modelling ecosystem dynamics to assess the effect of coastal fisheries on cetacean species. Journal of Environmental Management. 285, 112175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112175 Abstract: The expansion of fisheries and its increased efficiency are causing severe detrimental impacts on marine species and ecosystems, that can be categorised into operational and ecological effects. While impacts directly caused by fishing activities have been extensively documented, it is difficult to set an empirical link between fisheries and changes in predator biomass and abundance. Therefore, exploring the functioning of ecosystems as a whole, the interactions between the different species within them and the impact of human activities, is key to understanding the ecological effects of fisheries on top predators and ecosystems, and to develop effective conservation measures, while ensuring a more sustainable exploitation of fishing resources. For instance, mass balance models, such as Ecopath with Ecosim, have proven to be a useful tool to develop more holistic fisheries management and conservation strategies. In this study, Ecopath with Ecosim was used to investigate the temporal dynamics of the Rías Baixas shelf ecosystem (North-West Spain) between 2005 and 2017. Additionally, nine 30-year forward projecting simulations covering the period 2018–2047 were developed to examine the effects of differing fisheries management strategies on common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Results from these models suggest that when intense fishing increases it poses a major threat to the conservation of these top predators in the area, by reducing the variety of their available prey and potentially enhancing competition amongst them. The study highlights the applicability of Ecopath with Ecosim to develop cetacean conservation measures and despite its small spatial scale, it provides a general framework that can be used to assess cetacean conservation in larger and impacted areas. The article is freely accessible at sciencedirect via the following link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479721002371#appsec1 Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have further inquiries: oriol(a)thebdri.com<mailto:oriol@thebdri.com> Best, Oriol Giralt

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New Publication: Acoustic Behaviour Of Bottlenose Dolphins Under Human Care While Performing Synchronous Aerial Jumps
by Juliana López Marulanda 15 Feb '21

15 Feb '21

Dear MARMAM subscribers, We are pleased to announce our recent publication: Lopez-Marulanda, J., Adam, O., Huetz, C., Delfour, F., Vanderheul, S., Blanchard, T., Celerier, A. (2021). Acoustic Behaviour Of Bottlenose Dolphins Under Human Care While Performing Synchronous Aerial Jumps. Behavioural Processes. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104357 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104357> https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635721000449 <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635721000449> Abstract Synchronous behaviours occur when two or more animals display the same behaviour at the same time. However, the mechanisms underlying this synchrony are not well understood. In this study, we carried out an experiment to determine whether or not Bottlenose dolphins use acoustic cues when performing a known synchronised exercise. For this, we recorded three dolphins while they performed requested aerial jumps both individually or synchronously in pairs, with a hydrophone array and a 360° underwater video camera allowing the identification of the subject emitting vocalisations. Results indicated that in pairs, dolphins synchronised their jumps 100% of the time. Whether they jumped alone or in pairs, they produced click trains before and after 92% of jumps. No whistles or burst-pulsed sounds were emitted by the animals during the exercise. The acoustic localisation process allowed the successful identification of the vocalising subject in 19.8% of all cases (N = 141). Our study showed that in all (n = 28) but one successful localisations, the click trains were produced by the same individual. It is worth noting that this individual was the oldest female of the group. This paper provides evidence suggesting that during synchronous behaviours, dolphins use acoustic cues, and more particularly click trains, to coordinate their movements; possibly by eavesdropping on the clicks or echoes produced by one individual leading the navigation. Please contact me by email (juliana.lopez.marulanda(a)gmail.com <mailto:juliana.lopez.marulanda@gmail.com>) for the full text. I will be glad to send you a pdf copy. Kind regards, Juliana López Marulanda, PhD Investigadora PostDoctoral Grupo de Ecología y Evolución de Vertebrados Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Antioquia Cofundadora e Investigadora Fundación Macuáticos Colombia

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New Publication: Similarities in composition and transformations of songs by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) over time and space
by Mercado, Eduardo 15 Feb '21

15 Feb '21

Dear colleagues, Christina and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new article in the Journal of Comparative Psychology: “Mercado, E. III, & Perazio, C. E. (2021). Similarities in composition and transformations of songs by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) over time and space. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 135(1), 28–50.” ABSTRACT The complex songs produced by humpback whales have been cited as evidence of prodigious memory, innovativeness, sophisticated auditory scene analysis, vocal imitation, and even culture. Researchers believe humpbacks learn their songs culturally because songs appear to change rapidly, consistently, and irreversibly across whales within a population. Here, we present evidence of similarities in song structure both across populations and decades that strongly challenge claims that social learning is the main driver of variations in humpback whale songs over time. Groups of humpback whales that were not in acoustic contact (recorded in Puerto Rico in 1970, Hawaii in 2012, and Colombia in 2013–2019) produced songs in acoustically comparable cycles, suggesting that progression through sound patterns within and across songs is not simply determined by vocal imitation of innovative patterns, but may instead be controlled by production templates that prescribe how singers construct and transform songs over time. Identifying universal constraints on song production is critical to evaluating the role of vocal imitation and cultural transmission in the progressive changes that humpback whales make to their songs and for evaluating the functional relevance of such changes. The current findings illustrate how information theoretic analyses of vocal sequences can potentially obscure key acoustic qualities of signals that may be critical to understanding how vocalizers produce, perceive, and use those sequences. Kind regards, Eduardo Mercado

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New publication available. Kin relationships in cultural species of the marine realm: case study of a matrilineal social group of sperm whales off Mauritius island, Indian Ocean
by Jean-Luc Jung 15 Feb '21

15 Feb '21

Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to share our new article, open access at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201794 Kin relationships in cultural species of the marine realm: case study of a matrilineal social group of sperm whales off Mauritius island, Indian Ocean By Francois Sarano, Justine Girardet, Véronique Sarano, Hugues Vitry, Axel Preud'homme, René Heuzey, Ana M. Garcia-Cegarra, Bénédicte Madon, Fabienne Delfour, Hervé Glotin, Olivier Adam and Jean-Luc Jung Abstract. Understanding the organization and dynamics of social groups of marine mammals through the study of kin relationships is particularly challenging*.*Here, we studied a stable social group of sperm whales off Mauritius, using underwater observations, individual-specific identification, non-invasive sampling and genetic analyses based on mitochondrial sequencing and microsatellite profiling. Twenty-four sperm whales were sampled between 2017 and 2019. All individuals except one adult female shared the same mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype—one that is rare in the western Indian Ocean—thus confirming with near certainty the matrilineality of the group. All probable first- and second-degree kin relationships were depicted in the sperm whale social group: 13 first-degree and 27 second-degree relationships were identified. Notably, we highlight the likely case of an unrelated female having been integrated into a social unit, in that she presented a distinct mtDNA haplotype and no close relationships with any members of the group. Investigating the possible matrilineality of sperm whale cultural units (i.e. vocal clans) is the next step in our research programme to elucidate and better apprehend the complex organization of sperm whale social groups. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Jean-Luc Jung* Maitre de Conférences Université de Brest, UFR Sciences et Techniques http://www.univ-brest.fr 6 avenue le Gorgeu, 29200 Brest, France Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité UMR7205 (ISYEB) Equipe Homologies http://isyeb.mnhn.fr/fr/homologies-419 Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Station Marine de Concarneau http://concarneau.mnhn.fr E-mail : Jean-Luc.Jung(a)univ-brest.fr http://www.univ-brest.fr/menu/recherche-innovation/pages-chercheurs/JUNG-Je… ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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PhD call – southern right whale foraging ecology (MRI Whale Unit)
by Els Vermeulen 15 Feb '21

15 Feb '21

The Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit at the University of Pretoria is looking for an enthusiastic PhD student to take on an exciting project related to the in-depth assessment of contemporary foraging ecology and migratory behaviour of South Africa’s population of southern right whales, in the context of some recent anomalous demographic shifts in the population. A vital part of this investigation is the assessment of the changed residence time on the South African breeding ground, the identification of (possibly altered) migration routes, and the determination of current feeding distributions. Such information will be attained through satellite tagging of adult individuals during their winter migration. This project will form an integral part of the related work conducted under the Southern Ocean Research Partnership ( http://www.marinemammals.gov.au/sorp/the-right-sentinel-for-climate-change) The student will be supervised by Dr Els Vermeulen and Prof Andre Ganswindt, and will be based at the MRI Whale Unit’s office in Hermanus, South Africa. Funding is currently available to cover all project related costs. However, the project will only commence once a competitive PhD fellowship has been attained. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds. Successful applicants will be hard-working, enthusiastic, and independently motivated students with a strong academic background, an advanced knowledge of statistical modelling, and with excellent communication skills. Previous boat-based field experience would be highly advantageous but is not a must. To find out more about the MRI Whale Unit: https://www.mammalresearchinstitute.science/whale-unit - www.adoptawhale.co.za Please direct all enquiries and applications to Dr Els Vermeulen ( els.vermeulen(a)up.ac.za) For applications to be considered, include a cover letter, an academic transcript and CV. Closing date 31/03/2021. ----- Dr Els Vermeulen - Research Manager Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria, South Africa Office: Shop 11 Astoria Village, Main Road, Hermanus 7200 Cell: +27 (0)60 9714301 www.mammalresearchinstitute.science/whale-unit www.adoptawhale.co.za -- This message and attachments are subject to a disclaimer. Please refer to http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf <http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf> for full details.

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Open Call for Papers on Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic
by Intern 15 Feb '21

15 Feb '21

Open Call for Papers on Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic NAMMCO NAMMCO (the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission) is an intergovernmental organization providing advice based on the best available science and user knowledge for the sustainable management of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. Further information about the organisation can be found at www.nammco.org<http://www.nammco.org/>. About NAMMCO Scientific Publications NAMMCO Scientific Publications<https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/NAMMCOSP> (NSP) is a free, open access, peer-reviewed academic journal established to make scientific knowledge relevant for the conservation and management of marine mammals widely available. It has a particular interest in publishing work that, despite its central importance for assessment and management, may be difficult to publish in other journals due to its apparent routine nature or lack of novelty (e.g. baseline or monitoring work). Previous volumes of NSP have focused on particular themes, with submissions often invited from global experts in the field. For Volume 12, however, we will have our first open call and welcome submissions on any topic related to marine mammals in the North Atlantic. Call for Papers We are now calling for papers for publication in Volume 12 of the NAMMCO Scientific Publications series. We are interested in work from any discipline with relevance for the conservation and management of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. Submissions can be in the form of original Research Articles, Literature Reviews, Technical or Policy Notes, or Workshop Reports. Submission, Review & Publication Process Manuscripts can be submitted online here<https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/NAMMCOSP/about/submissions> and to do so, at least one author will need to register as a user. The Guidelines for Authors are available here<https://nammco.no/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/nammco_guidelines_for_authors_…>. Note that although authors may submit their article in any format they prefer, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, they will need to ensure that it is transferred into the NAMMCO Scientific Publications Template<https://nammco.no/topics/scientific-publication-series/#authors>. Authors are therefore also welcome to use this template to structure their initial submission. Manuscripts submitted as original Research Articles or Literature Reviews will be sent for blind peer review by at least two reviewers. Manuscripts submitted as Notes are not necessarily sent for peer review but will be reviewed by at least the one of the Editors. If accepted for publication, the manuscript will be published online as soon as it is finalised and authors will therefore not have to wait for the entire volume to be complete before their work is made publicly available. Deadlines Submissions for this open call will be accepted until October 1st 2021. Contact Should you have any questions about the journal, the open call, or the suitability of your work for the volume, you can contact the Series Editor Fern Wickson at fern(a)nammco.org<mailto:fern@nammco.org>

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Paper: The effects of low salinity exposure on bottlenose dolphins
by Cormac Booth 15 Feb '21

15 Feb '21

We are proud to announce the publication of a new paper: “An Expert Elicitation of the Effects of Low Salinity Water Exposure on Bottlenose Dolphins”. The paper is open access and freely available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/2/1/11 Abstract: “There is increasing concern over anthropogenically driven changes in our oceans and seas, from a variety of stressors. Such stressors include the increased risk of storms and precipitation, offshore industries and increased coastal development which can affect the marine environment. For some coastal cetacean species, there is an increased exposure to low salinity waters which have been linked with a range of adverse health effects in bottlenose dolphins. Knowledge gaps persist regarding how different time–salinity exposures affect the health and survival of animals. In such data-poor instances, expert elicitation can be used to convert an expert’s qualitative knowledge into subjective probability distributions. The management implications of this stressor and the subjective nature of expert elicitation requires transparency; we have addressed this here, utilizing the Sheffield Elicitation Framework. The results are a series of time response scenarios to estimate time to death in bottlenose dolphins, for use when data are insufficient to estimate probabilistic summaries. This study improves our understanding of how low salinity exposure effects dolphins, guiding priorities for future research, while its outputs can be used to support coastal management on a global scale.” Keywords: freshwater<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=freshwater>; cetacean<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=cetacean>; Tursiops sp.<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=Tursiops%20sp.>; wildlife management<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=wildlife%20management>; marine biology<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=marine%20biology>; salinity<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=salinity>; human disturbance<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=human%20disturbance>; dose response<https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=dose%20response> The paper is open access and available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/2/1/11 or here: https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans2010011 The citation is: Booth, C.; Thomas, L. An Expert Elicitation of the Effects of Low Salinity Water Exposure on Bottlenose Dolphins. Oceans 2021, 1, 179–192. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans2010011 Kind regards, Cormac Booth & Len Thomas

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Virtual Workshop for Undergraduate Students (Mercado, Eduardo)
by Maria Zapetis 12 Feb '21

12 Feb '21

Dear All, Please share the following with undergraduates at your institution: ExploreCSR at University at Buffalo is a 3-day virtual workshop sponsored through Google's ExploreCSR grant that introduces undergraduates to basic connectionist models and signal processing in order to better understand how these techniques can be used in scientific studies and to solve real-world problems. Each day will consist of tutorials and testimonials on how computational methods can be used in scientific research (especially in studies of bioacoustics), followed by hands-on practice in small groups. Groups will compete to design the best methodology to monitor for possible responses by humpback whales to boat noise using Google's Pattern Radio. Students will also be able to meet graduate, postdoctoral, and faculty mentors to discuss future career and research goals, as well as get connected to information regarding graduate programs, funding, scientific organizations, and labs based on their individual interests. The workshop is designed to encourage women and other underrepresented groups in STEM to explore research and graduate opportunities in computing through mentorship and training. Undergraduate students studying psychology, animal behavior, biology, computer science, or any other major are welcome to apply! The workshop will take place *virtually* on April 16-18, 2021 and applications are due March 1, 2021. The cost of student attendance will be funded from sponsor support. There is no registration fee. Full-time participation of all participants is required. For more information, please visit https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/explorecsr/. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Best, Karen Chow chow.karen.m(a)gmail.com

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New Publication: Myoglobin Concentration and Oxygen Stores in Different Functional Muscle Groups from Three Small Cetacean Species
by MARINA ARREGUI GIL 12 Feb '21

12 Feb '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new article in the Journal Animals, as part of the Special Issue Recent Advances in Marine Mammal Research: “Myoglobin Concentration and Oxygen Stores in Different Functional Muscle Groups from Three Small Cetacean Species” Arregui, M.; Singleton, E.M.; Saavedra, P.; Pabst, D.A.; Moore, M.J.; Sierra, E.; Rivero, M.A.; Nakita, C.; Niemeyer, M.; Fahlman, A.; McLellan, W.A., and Bernaldo de Quirós, Y. ABSTRACT Compared with terrestrial mammals, marine mammals possess increased muscle myoglobin concentrations (Mb concentration, g Mb · 100g−1 muscle), enhancing their onboard oxygen (O2) stores and their aerobic dive limit. Although myoglobin is not homogeneously distributed, cetacean muscle O2 stores have been often determined by measuring Mb concentration from a single muscle sample (longissimus dorsi) and multiplying that value by the animal’s locomotor muscle or total muscle mass. This study serves to determine the accuracy of previous cetacean muscle O2 stores calculations. For that, body muscles from three delphinid species: Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, and Stenella frontalis, were dissected and weighed. Mb concentration was calculated from six muscles/muscle groups (epaxial, hypaxial and rectus abdominis; mastohumeralis; sternohyoideus; and dorsal scalenus), each representative of different functional groups (locomotion powering swimming, pectoral fin movement, feeding and respiration, respectively). Results demonstrated that the Mb concentration was heterogeneously distributed, being significantly higher in locomotor muscles. Locomotor muscles were the major contributors to total muscle O2 stores (mean 92.8%) due to their high Mb concentration and large muscle masses. Compared to this method, previous studies assuming homogenous Mb concentration distribution likely underestimated total muscle O2 stores by 10% when only considering locomotor muscles and overestimated them by 13% when total muscle mass was considered. The full article is available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/451 Kind regards, Marina Arregui Antes de imprimir este correo electrónico, piense bien si es necesario hacerlo: el medio ambiente es una cuestión de todos. Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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