May 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication: Seasonal and diel cycles of fin whale acoustic occurrence near Elephant Island, Antarctica
by Elke Burkhardt 26 May '21

26 May '21

Dear everyone, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce our article published today in Royal Society Open Science, entitled "Seasonal and diel cycles of fin whale acoustic occurrence near Elephant Island, Antarctica" Abstract: This study investigates the relevance of the Elephant Island (EI) region for Southern Hemisphere fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in their annual life cycle. We collected 3 years of passive acoustic recordings (January 2013 to February 2016) northwest of EI to calculate time series of fin whale acoustic indices, daily acoustic occurrence, spectrograms, as well as the abundance of their 20-Hz pulses. Acoustic backscatter strength, sea ice concentration and chlorophyll-a composites provided concurrent environmental information for graphic comparisons. Acoustic interannual, seasonal and diel patterns together with visual information and literature resources were used to define the period of occupancy and to infer potential drivers for their behaviour. Spectral results suggest that these fin whales migrate annually to and from offshore central Chile. Acoustic data and visual information reveal their arrival at EI in December to feed without producing their typical 20-Hz pulse. For all 3 years, acoustic activity commences in February, peaks in May and decreases in August, in phase with the onset of their breeding season. Our results emphasize the importance of EI for fin whales throughout most of the year. Our recommendation is to consider EI for establishing a marine protected area to expedite the recovery of this vulnerable species. Link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201142 Best wishes Elke [cid:image001.png@01D209D9.C568D220] Elke Burkhardt Ocean Acoustics Lab Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung Klußmannstraße 3d D - 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 471.4831 - 1861 Fax: +49 (0) 471.4831 - 1797 Elke.Burkhardt(a)awi.de<mailto:Elke.Burkhardt@awi.de> http://www.awi.de<http://www.awi.de/>

1 0

New publication "Empty promises: The European Union is failing to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries by- catch"
by Rogan, Emer 26 May '21

26 May '21

Hi all, We hope the recently published online paper will be of interest. Rogan, E., Read, A.J. & Berggren, P. Fish and Fisheries. 2021;00:1–5. DOI: 10.1111/faf.12556 Abstract: By- catch is the primary global conservation threat to populations of dolphins and porpoises. Despite protection for these protected species under its Habitats Directive, the European Union (EU) has failed to adequately assess and, where necessary, mitigate the by- catch of small cetaceans. Management authority is diffuse, and the EU has no over- arching, quantitative conservation objectives. To address this, we recommend that the EU adopt a comprehensive plan to conserve dolphins and porpoises in European waters. This plan should include regular formal assessments of small cetacean populations, including establishment of quantitative management objectives, generation of estimates of abundance and by- catch mortality, and agreement on biological reference points that will guide management actions to ensure that by- catch does not exceed sustainable levels. The paper is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.12556 Le gach dea ghuí, Emer Emer Rogan, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland.

1 0

New publication: Stable Isotope Analysis of Specimens of Opportunity Reveals Ocean-Scale Site Fidelity in an Elusive Whale Species
by Kerri J. Smith 25 May '21

25 May '21

Dear MARMAM community, My colleagues and I are pleased to share our new open access publication,"Stable Isotope Analysis of Specimens of Opportunity Reveals Ocean-Scale Site Fidelity in an Elusive Whale Species." *Abstract*: Elusive wildlife are challenging to study, manage, or conserve, as the difficulty of obtaining specimens or conducting direct observations leads to major data deficiencies. Specimens of opportunity, such as salvaged carcasses or museum specimens, are a valuable source of fundamental biological and ecological information on data-deficient, elusive species, increasing knowledge of biodiversity, habitat and range, and population structure. Stable isotope analysis is a powerful indirect tool that can be used to infer foraging behavior and habitat use retrospectively from archived specimens. Beaked whales are a speciose group of cetaceans that are challenging to study in situ, and although Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was discovered >200 years ago, little is known about its biology. We measured δ13C and δ15N stable isotope composition in bone, muscle, and skin tissue from 102 Sowerby's beaked whale specimens of opportunity collected throughout the North Atlantic Ocean to infer movement ecology and spatial population structure. Median δ13C and δ15N values in Sowerby's beaked whale bone, muscle, and skin tissues significantly differed between whales sampled from the east and west North Atlantic Ocean. Quadratic discriminant analysis that simultaneously considered δ13C and δ15N values correctly assigned >85% of the specimens to their collection region for all tissue types. These findings demonstrate Sowerby's beaked whale exhibits both short- and long-term site fidelity to the region from which the specimens were collected, suggest that this species is composed of two or more populations or exhibits a metapopulation structure, and have implications for conservation and management policy. Stable isotope analysis of specimens of opportunity proved a highly successful means of generating new spatial ecology data for this elusive species and is a method that can be effectively applied to other elusive species. The publication can be freely accessed at https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.65376 <https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.653766>. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Cheers, Kerri *--Kerri J. Smith, Ph.D.* Postdoctoral Researcher, Baylor University Research Fellow - Smithsonian Institution Website <https://kerrijsmith.wordpress.com/> “The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” -Charles Darwin

1 0

New publication on Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Song on a Subarctic Feeding Ground
by Martin, Saskia Cathrin 25 May '21

25 May '21

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce our new publication: Martin SC, Aniceto AS, Ahonen H, Pedersen G and Lindstrøm U (2021). Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Song on a Subarctic Feeding Ground. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:669748. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.669748 Abstract: Male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known to produce long complex sequences of structured vocalizations called song. Singing behavior has traditionally been associated with low latitude breeding grounds but is increasingly reported outside these areas. This study provides the first report of humpback whale songs in the subarctic waters of Northern Norway using a long-term bottom-moored hydrophone. Data processed included the months January–June 2018 and December 2018–January 2019. Out of 189 days with recordings, humpback whale singing was heard on 79 days. Singing was first detected the beginning of January 2018 with a peak in February and was heard until mid-April. No singing activity was found during the summer months and was heard again in December 2018, continuing over January 2019. A total of 131 song sessions, including 35 full sessions, were identified throughout the study period. The longest and shortest complete sessions lasted 815 and 13 min, respectively. The results confirm that singing can be heard over several months in winter and spring on a high latitude feeding ground. This provides additional evidence to the growing literature that singing is not an explicit behavior confined to low latitude breeding grounds. The peak of song occurrence in February appears to coincide with the reproductive cycle of humpback whales. Finally, this study indicates that song occurrence on a subarctic feeding ground likely aids the cultural transmission for the North Atlantic humpback whale population. The paper is available here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.669748/full You can also email me (saskia.cathrin.martin(a)hi.no<mailto:saskia.cathrin.martin@hi.no>) for a PDF copy. Kind regards, Saskia Martin Lund University, Sweden UiT The Arctic University of Norway Email: saskia.cathrin.martin(a)hi.no<mailto:saskia.cathrin.martin@hi.no> Twitter: @SaskiaCathrin <https://twitter.com/SaskiaCathrin>

1 0

Offshore wind energy survey | Second call for respondents
by Cotton Rockwood 25 May '21

25 May '21

Hi folks - This is a second request for input from marine mammal experts. If you have not yet taken the time to fill out our expert elicitation survey regarding the effects of offshore wind on various taxa, please consider doing so now. ------------------ Point Blue Conservation Science is working to evaluate the vulnerability of species and habitats to potential impacts caused by offshore wind farm construction and operation. We are requesting for input from scientists with expert knowledge of key taxonomic groups that may be affected by these installations. We ask that you answer a few questions to help us assess the relevance of these impacts to wildlife based on your expertise. Your responses will contribute to decision-making that best protects marine wildlife, habitats, and human uses during wind energy development offshore from California. The survey is estimated to take 5-15 minutes per taxonomic group. Once you begin the survey, please select any taxonomic group(s) for which you have expertise. Please do your best to score each impact, even if your assessment is based on your knowledge of the species and not on any direct evidence documented in the literature. Detailed instructions are provided at the start of the survey. Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D92VW2W Please share the survey with other experts you think can contribute informed responses. Contact us at crockwood(a)pointblue.org<mailto:crockwood@pointblue.org?subject=Offshore%20wind%20survey%20|%20RESPONDENT%20QUESTION/COMMENT> if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you so much for your time and sharing your knowledge and insights! Sincerely, Cotton Rockwood Senior Marine Ecologist Point Blue Conservation Science If you prefer, you can also scan this QR code to access the survey: [Qr code Description automatically generated]

1 0

New publication: A Comparison of Parapoxviruses in North American Pinnipeds
by Helena Costa 23 May '21

23 May '21

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce our new paper: Costa H, Klein J, Breines EM, Nollens HH, Matassa K, Garron M, Duignan PJ, Schmitt T, Goldstein T and Tryland M (2021) A Comparison of Parapoxviruses in North American Pinnipeds. Front. Vet. Sci. 8:653094. The paper is open access and is available for download here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.653094 Abstract: Parapoxviruses cause nodular lesions on the skin and mucosal membranes of pinnipeds and infections by these viruses have been documented worldwide. Seal parapoxvirus is currently classified as a tentative species of the Parapoxvirus genus. Tissue or swab samples were analyzed from 11 pinnipeds of different host species undergoing rehabilitation on the east and west coasts of the United States of America (USA) that were positive for parapoxvirus. The aim of the study was to compare parapoxvirus sequences of fragments of the B2L, DNA polymerase, GIF and viral interleukin-10 ortholog (vIL-10) genes and to examine the evolutionary relationship between viruses detected in different pinniped species and at different locations with other members of the Parapoxvirus genus, such as Orf virus (ORFV), Bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV) and Pseudocowpox virus (PCPV). The sequence analysis showed that the parapoxvirus sequences from the pinnipeds differed significantly from those found in terrestrial hosts and that they formed a separate cluster within the genus. Our results suggest that transmission of the same parapoxvirus strain is possible between different species, including between members of different families (phocids and otariids). Animals belonging to the same species but living in distant geographic locations presented genetically distant parapoxviruses. The findings of this study demonstrate that sealpox lesions in pinnipeds of different species are caused by viruses that belong to the Parapoxvirus genus but have significant genetic differences compared to the established virus species in terrestrial hosts, thus strongly supporting the classification of pinniped parapoxvirus as a new species of the genus. Kind regards, Helena Costa lenaa_costa(a)hotmail.com

1 0

New publication on the carbon cycling role of marine vertebrates
by Heidi Pearson 21 May '21

21 May '21

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce our paper just published in One Earth entitled, "Integral functions of marine vertebrates in the ocean carbon cycle and climate change mitigation". This is a comprehensive review of the role of marine mammals and other marine vertebrates in carbon cycling, which has implications for conservation and climate change strategies. Summary: In the last decade, the ocean has absorbed a quarter of the Earth’s greenhouse gas emissions through the carbon (C) cycle, a naturally occurring process. Aspects of the ocean C cycle are now being incorporated into climate change mitigation and adaptation plans. Currently, too little is known about marine vertebrate C functions for their inclusion in policies. Fortunately, marine vertebrate biology, behavior, and ecology through the lens of C and nutrient cycling and flux is an emerging area of research that is rich in existing data. This review uses literature and trusted data sources to describe marine vertebrate C interactions, provides quantification where possible, and highlights knowledge gaps. Implications of better understanding the integral functions of marine vertebrates in the ocean C cycle include the need for consideration of these functions both in policies on nature-based climate change mitigation and adaptation, and in management of marine vertebrate populations. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332221002384 kind regards, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271

1 0

Volunteering/Internship for students in Baltic Sea - harbor porpoises
by Isabella Kratzer 21 May '21

21 May '21

Dear MARMAM-members, we have an exciting opportunity coming up for (student) volunteers/interns this summer. We will be conducting a behavior study on the beautiful island Fyn in Denmark where we will observe harbor porpoises around gillnets and modified gillnets. The goal is to find out how they react to acoustically visible gillnets compared to standard nets and whether our modification have the potential to reduce bycatch of porpoises as they avoid the nets. The experiment will take place from 20/06/2021 - 31/08/2021. Duties and learning opportunities comprise: - observing porpoises from a cliff using a theodolite - observing porpoises from the boat - setting/hauling of gillnets - setting/hauling of acoustic equipment such as CPODs and SoundTraps - data retrieval and first analysis from the above mentioned equipment Room and board (and hopefully lots of beautiful and memorable porpoise moments!) will be provided, unfortunately there is no monetary compensation. You will be sharing a room with another volunteer. We do our best to provide a relaxed and fun working atmosphere and expect that our volunteers are also motivated to contribute to a pleasent experience for everybody. Please include a short motivation letter, the period during which you would like to participate and one thing that you would like to learn during your stay. Looking forward to hearing from you - if you have any questions please feel free to send an email. Kind regards, Isabella More information on the project: https://www.thuenen.de/en/of/projects/fisheries-and-survey-technology/using… Some video footage from 2018: https://vimeo.com/318714410 Everything you ever wanted to know about pearls: https://vimeo.com/332618067 Disclaimer: everything is of course dependent on the current COVID-19 situation which may change very suddenly. Right now, we are very hopeful that everything will go smoothly, but the past months have shown us all that sudden changes are always possible. -- Isabella Kratzer Thünen-Institut für Ostseefischerei/Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries Alter Hafen Süd 2 18069 Rostock (Germany) Tel.: +49 (0)381 66099-147 Fax: +49 381 8116 199 Mail: isabella.kratzer(a)thuenen.de Web: www.thuenen.de/of/ Das Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ländliche Räume, Wald und Fischerei – kurz: Thünen-Institut – besteht aus 14 Fachinstituten, die in den Bereichen Ökonomie, Ökologie und Technologie forschen und die Politik beraten. The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries – Thünen Institute in brief – consists of 14 specialized institutes that carry out research and provide policy advice in the fields of economy, ecology and technology.

1 0

JNCC approved MMO training course.
by Admin Team 21 May '21

21 May '21

Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is pleased to announce that we are now offering Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)-approved Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training courses. JNCC-certified MMOs comply with UK regulations to minimise the risk of injury and disturbance to marine mammals from piling, explosives, and geophysical surveys. OSC's JNCC-approved MMO course includes lectures and discussion in an intensive one-day training course. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the courses will temporarily be provided online, and when possible, in person at OSC's headquarters in Dunbar, Scotland where it will include practical elements of binocular and range estimation training at Dunbar Harbour, as well as practical role-play sessions. Our instructors are highly experienced MMOs, and will be delighted to help you achieve your career goals. Please visit our website (https://www.osc.co.uk/training/) for more details. Our next course will be 29 June 2021. The cost of which is £220 per person. This cost includes provision of a copy of the 'Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook' for each participant. -- Admin Team Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk . MMO or PAM requirement? We wrote the book. Now available on Amazon: www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com

1 0

New publication: Shifting trends - Detecting changes in cetacean population dynamics in shifting habitat
by Charlotte Boyd 20 May '21

20 May '21

Dear Colleagues We are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper: Boyd C, Punt AE. 2021. Shifting trends: Detecting changes in cetacean population dynamics in shifting habitat. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0251522. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251522 Abstract: The ability to monitor population dynamics and detect major changes in population trend is essential for wildlife conservation and management. However, this is often challenging for cetaceans as surveys typically cover only a portion of a population’s range and conventional stock assessment methods cannot then distinguish whether apparent changes in abundance reflect real changes in population size or shifts in distribution. We developed and tested methods for estimating population size and trend and detecting changes in population trend in the context of shifting habitat by integrating additional data into distance-sampling analysis. Previous research has shown that incorporating habitat information can improve population size estimates for highly mobile species with dynamic spatial distributions. Here, using simulated datasets representative of a large whale population, we demonstrate that incorporating individual mark-recapture data can increase the accuracy and precision of trend estimation and the power to distinguish whether apparent changes in abundance reflect changes in population trend or distribution shifts. We recommend that similar simulation studies are conducted for specific cetacean populations to assess the potential for detecting changes in population dynamics given available data. This approach is especially important wherever population change may be confounded with long-term change in distribution patterns associated with regime shifts or climate change. Charlotte Boyd PhD (she/her) boydchar(a)u.washington.edu<mailto:boydchar@u.washington.edu>

1 0