June 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper: By-catch risk for toothed whales in global small-scale fisheries
by Andrew Temple 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Dear All, Myself and my coauthors are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper which is available Open Access at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12581 Temple AJ, Westmerland E, Berggren P. (2021) By-catch risk for toothed whales in global small-scale fisheries. Fish and Fisheries. 00:1-5. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12581 Abstract: Fisheries by-catch poses the single greatest threat to cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) populations. Despite this, by-catch of cetaceans does not receive proportionate levels of research or management effort. The contribution of small-scale fisheries to cetacean by-catch is generally overlooked because of the extreme data paucity in these fisheries. Here, we assess the likely geographic distribution of by-catch risk posed to the odontocetes (toothed whales) at the global scale. We combine species’ occurrence and estimates of fisheries susceptibility for all 72 marine toothed whale species with estimates of small-scale fisheries’ gillnet fishing pressure across 163 marine fishing nations. We show that the by-catch risk from small-scale fisheries is likely greatest in low- and middle-income regions, generally in the tropics and sub-tropics. Our findings highlight a “wicked problem”, that the highest by-catch risks primarily occur in regions with lowest fisheries management efficacy. Addressing by-catch in these priority regions is fraught with potentially damaging consequences for the survival of vulnerable human coastal communities. Yet, immediate management and conservation actions are required to prevent species extirpation and extinction through the reduction of small-scale fisheries by-catch. To be successful, these actions will likely require multilateral cooperation and must carefully balance both species and human needs. Best wishes, Andrew ---------------------------- Dr Andrew J. Temple Senior Consultant, MRAG Ltd. Mayfair, London, United Kingdom

1 0

New paper: Diet composition and body condition of polar bears in relation to sea ice habitat in the Canadian High Arctic
by Katie Florko 13 Jun '21

13 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper in Polar Biology: Florko, K.R.N, Thiemann, G.W., Bromaghin, J.F., Richardson, E.S. Diet composition and body condition of polar bears (*Ursus maritimus*) in relation to sea ice habitat in the Canadian High Arctic. *Polar Biology*, doi: 10.1007/s00300-021-02891-8 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-021-02891-8 Abstract: Polar bears (*Ursus maritimus*) rely on sea ice for hunting marine mammal prey. Declining sea ice conditions associated with climate warming have negatively affected polar bears, especially in the southern portion of their range. At higher latitudes, the transition from multi-year ice to thinner annual ice has been hypothesized to increase biological productivity and potentially improve polar bear foraging conditions. To investigate this possibility, we used quantitative fatty acid signature analysis to characterize the diet composition of 148 polar bears in two high-latitude subpopulations from 2012 to 2014: (1) Viscount Melville Sound, where little is known about marine mammal ecology, and (2) Northern Beaufort Sea, a subpopulation considered stable with comparatively more ecological data. We used adipose tissue lipid content as an index of body condition. To characterize long-term habitat conditions, we examined trends in sea ice metrics from 1979 to 2014 in both regions. Although the diets of bears in both subpopulations were dominated by ringed seal (*Pusa hispida,* mean biomass consumption = 45%), bears in Viscount Melville Sound showed higher proportional consumption of beluga whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*; mean biomass consumption = 37%) than any other polar bear subpopulation studied to date. Although the three-year duration of our study precludes long-term insights, relatively lighter sea ice conditions in Viscount Melville Sound were associated with reduced consumption of preferred prey (i.e., ringed seal), especially among female polar bears. Further, polar bears in Viscount Melville Sound were in poorer body condition than those in the Northern Beaufort Sea. Our results do not indicate that declining sea ice has had any positive effect on polar bear foraging at high-latitudes. Keywords: Beaufort Sea, beluga whale, foraging ecology, quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA), ringed seal, Viscount Melville Sound Best regards, Katie Florko -- Katie Florko, PhD Candidate Statistical Ecology Research Group Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries University of British Columbia Twitter: @kflorko Email: katieflorko(a)gmail.com

1 0

New paper: Spatial distribution and abundance of small cetaceans in the Pacific waters of Guatemala
by Ester Quintana 13 Jun '21

13 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent Open Access publication in Frontiers in Marine Science: Quintana-Rizzo E, Cabrera AA, Ortiz-Wolford J, and Dávila V. (2021). Spatial Distribution and Abundance of Small Cetaceans in the Pacific Waters of Guatemala. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:674134. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.674134 Abstract: The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) requires a thorough assessment of the abundance, distribution, and habitat preferences of a variety of marine species. Small cetacean spatial distribution and abundance were examined in the Pacific waters of Guatemala to provide this information. Boat surveys were conducted for 38 months between January 2008 and June 2012. A total of 64,678 cetaceans in 505 sightings from nine Delphinidae species were recorded. Three species, referred to as common species, accounted for 90% (n = 456) of all sightings. They included Tursiops truncatus (56%, n = 278), Stenella attenuata (29%, n = 143), and Stenella longirostris (7%, n = 35). Group size was significantly different among the common species (p < 0.001). S. longirostris had the largest group size (444 +|- 75 dolphins), followed by S. attenuata (28 +|- 5 dolphins), and T. truncatus (15 +|- 2 dolphins). T. truncatus was the most common in the study area (0.02 +|- 0.002 sightings/km of survey effort), and S. attenuata (0.37 +|- 0.16 dolphins/km) and S. longirostris (1.62 +|- 0.41 dolphins/km) were the most abundant in the neritic (≤ 200 m depth) and oceanic zones (≥200 m depth), respectively. The wide-ranging distribution of T. truncatus overlapped with the distribution of S. attenuata in the neritic zone and S. longirostris in the oceanic zone. Little overlap was observed in the distribution of S. attenuata and S. longirostris. Most hot spots (~66%) were in the oceanic zone and no hot spots were near or in the MPAs. Hot spots were identified along the 200 m isobath, the Middle America trench, and the San José Canyon. These could be areas of high productivity where dolphins concentrate to feed. To the north of the San José Canyon, five species of small cetaceans were observed in a stretch of the neritic zone including three MPAs. No other section of this zone had such high diversity. Results need to be taken with caution given the small sample size. Our results suggest that the protection of small cetaceans needs to consider the creation of oceanic MPAs that should be integrated into the existing network. The full article is available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.674134 Best regards, Ester Quintana, Ph,D. Simmons University Boston, MA USA

1 0

New publication: Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes of Killer Whales around Hokkaido, Japan
by Yoko Mitani 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

Dear all, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to inform you about our paper titled "Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes of Killer Whales around Hokkaido, Japan" recently published in Mammal Study. Yoko Mitani, Yuki F. Kita, Shigeo Saino, Motoi Yoshioka, Hiroshi Ohizumi, and Fumio Nakahara "Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes of Killer Whales around Hokkaido, Japan," Mammal Study 46(3), 1-7, (2 June 2021). https://doi.org/10.3106/ms2020-0072 Abstract In this study, we examined a genetic variation of killer whales, Orcinus orca, from off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan, by sequencing the D-loop and cytochrome b (Cyt-b) regions of the mitochondrial genome. Three D-loop and two Cyt-b haplotypes were identified from eight skin biopsies. These five haplotypes had been previously deposited at GenBank and the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC). Two D-loop and one Cyt-b haplotypes were consistent with the marine mammal-eating “Transient” ecotype previously reported in Japanese waters. One D-loop and one Cyt-b haplotypes were identified as the fish-eating “Resident” or “Offshore” ecotype that is the first record of this ecotype in Japanese waters. Our study showed that different ecotypes exist in Japanese waters, contributing to the conservation and management of killer whales. The article can be found at the link, https://bioone.org/journals/mammal-study/volume-46/issue-3/ms2020-0072/Mito… or please email me <yo_mitani(a)fsc.hokudai.ac.jp> for a PDF copy. Best, Yoko -- 三谷曜子　Yoko Mitani 北海道大学北方生物圏フィールド科学センター海獣班 HokkaidOcean Mammal Team 〒040-0051 北海道函館市弁天町20番5号函館市国際水産・海洋総合研究センター内219号室 Tel&Fax: 0138-85-6625 Email: yo_mitani(a)fsc.hokudai.ac.jp Yoko MITANI HokkaidOcean Mammal Team Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University Hakodate Research Center for Fisheries and Oceans 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, JAPAN TEL&FAX: +81-138-85-6625 E-mail: yo_mitani(a)fsc.hokudai.ac.jp

1 0

Marine Mammal / Sea Turtle Observer Certification - July 24-25, 2021
by Angela Bostwick 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

MPSC is offering an online training course that provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on July 24-25, 2021. This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to provide Protected Species Observer Certification for seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, and is a long-standing industry standard which is often accepted in other regions or industries (such as renewable energy construction and monitoring) where monitoring for protected species and mitigation of impacts is required. Course cost includes the live instruction, advice on applying to PSO positions, the professional certification, and various regulatory documents and supplementary identification guides. PSOs monitor mainly for ESA-listed animals and marine mammals. PSOs complete certain reports on protected species activity and industry operations, and advise on the measures required to reduce impacts to the animals. As discussed in the course, working offshore as a PSO is fun, but involves long hours of standing watch for the animals; thus, the job requires patience and persistence. The course examines the regulations for reducing impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the animals, life at sea, and objective documentation of animal behavior for reporting to regulatory agencies. Additional information may be found on the MPSC website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting us at ABostwick(a)psocertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

1 0

Acoustician positions
by Emma Dvorak 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

Integrated Statistics is seeking several Acousticians to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). The Acousticians will support the Protected Species Branch's Passive Acoustic Group, working on projects focused on anthropogenic noise, marine mammals, and fishes. The projects typically involve running acoustic detectors and analyzing data as well as graphic generation and writing up components of the project. Opportunities to participate in fieldwork are possible. *Duties * The Acousticians participate in one or more of these tasks: * Analyze bottom-mounted and mobile passive acoustic data to assess the distribution, occurrence, and habitat use of cetacean species along the US eastern seaboard using a combination of manual and automated detectors. * Analyze passive acoustic data to describe marine soundscapes, including biological, geological and anthropogenic contributions. * Analyze passive acoustic data to describe the occurrence and distribution of fishes. * Analyze passive acoustic data to describe the occurrence, distribution and relative source levels of vessels. * Assist with field collection of passive acoustic data as needed. * Assist in maintenance of a passive acoustic literature database in Endnote. * Assist with PSB Passive Acoustic Group webpage content and maintenance. * Assist in synthesizing and where applicable present results at relevant venues. * Assist with education and outreach activities conducted by the Passive Acoustic Group. *Qualifications* The Acoustician should possess:* * * Undergraduate degree in marine biology or a related biological science. A Master's degree in a relevant field is a bonus. * Some experience in analyzing acoustic data. Prior experience with Raven Pro software is a bonus. * Able to participate in fieldwork. * Excellent written and oral communications skills. * Ability to work collaboratively with a large group and multifaceted projects. * Basic understanding and prior experience with programming and data management is a bonus. The positions will be full-time for one year, with the possibility of extension. They are eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. Authorization to work for any employer in the USA is required. To apply for this position, go to https://jobs.intstats.com/JobDetails.jsp?jobListingId=281 or visit www.integratedstatistics.com, click Employment Opportunities, click the job name and click the Apply Here link. Integrated Statistics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its obligations under federal law, Integrated Statistics is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified women, minorities, disabled individuals, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans. For assistance with accessibility of applications, posters, forms, and/or documents, please email the Integrated Statistics office. -- Integrated Statistics, Inc. 16 Sumner Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Cell: (508) 648-8308 Office: (508) 540-8560 Fax: (508) 721-6841

1 0

Monday's Ocean Talk with Dr. Robin W. Baird
by AIMM Internships 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

*Mondays Ocean Talks* Interview with Dr. Robin W. Baird 14th June, 3 pm (GMT+1) on AIMM YouTube channel https://youtu.be/YJo4lR7h-7c Mondays Ocean Talks are a set of recorded interviews between Joana Castro, the founder of AIMM, and invited guests from all over the world who play an important role within the ocean and marine life. The Mondays Ocean Talks were launched in February and every two weeks a new interview is released. Each interview has a duration of appr. one hour and presents an informal talk, a sharing of experiences and an exchange of knowledge. The interviews are completely free to access from AIMM YouTube channel. Subscribe and meet an Ocean Researcher! The next interview will be with Dr. Robin W. Baird. You can find out more information about Dr. Robin W. Baird https://www.cascadiaresearch.org/robinwbaird More info: info(a)aimmportugal.org -- AIMM Portugal - Ass. Investigacao do Meio Marinho | Marine Environment Research Association Website: www.aimmportugal.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMM.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AIMMPortugal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimmportugal_org/ Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/AimmportugalOrg -- *AIMM Portugal* - Ass. Investigação do Meio Marinho | Marine Environment Research Association *Website*: www.aimmportugal.org [image: AIMM Portugal | facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/AIMM.org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | twitter] <https://twitter.com/AIMMPortugal> [image: AIMM Portugal | instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/aimmportugal_org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | youtube] <http://www.youtube.com/c/AimmportugalOrg>

1 0

New publication: Modelling seasonal distribution of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in a transnational Important Marine Mammal Area
by Discourse Maps 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

New research article available: Verutes, G. M., Tubbs, S. E., Selmes, N., Clark, D. R., Walker, P., & Clements, O. (2021). Modelling seasonal distribution of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in a transnational Important Marine Mammal Area. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 698. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.617921 PDF available at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.617921/full Abstract Fishing activities continue to decimate populations of marine mammals, fish, and their habitats in the coastal waters of the Kep Archipelago, a cluster of tropical islands on the Cambodia-Vietnam border. In 2019, the area was recognized as an Important Marine Mammal Area, largely owing to the significant presence of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). Understanding habitat preferences and distribution aids in the identification of areas to target for monitoring and conservation, which is particularly challenging in data-limited nations of Southeast Asia. Here, we test the hypothesis that accurate seasonal habitat models, relying on environmental data and species occurrences alone, can be used to describe the ecological processes governing abundance for the resident dolphin population of the Kep Archipelago, Cambodia. Leveraging two years of species and oceanographic data-depth, slope, distance to shore and rivers, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration-we built temporally stratified models to estimate distribution and infer seasonal habitat importance. Overall, Irrawaddy dolphins of Kep displayed habitat preferences similar to other populations, and were predominately encountered in three situations: (1) water depths ranging from 3.0 to 5.3 m, (2) surface water temperatures of 27-32C, and (3) in close proximity to offshore islands (< 7.5 km). With respect to seasonality, statistical tests detected significant differences for all environment variables considered except seafloor slope. Four predictor sets, each with a unique combination of variables, were used to map seasonal variation in dolphin habitat suitability. Models with highest variable importance scores were water depth, pre-and during monsoon season (61-62%), and sea surface temperature, post-monsoon (71%), which suggests that greater freshwater flow during the wet season may alter primary productivity and dolphin prey abundance. Importantly, findings show the majority of areas with highest habitat suitability are not currently surveyed for dolphins and located outside Kep's Marine Fisheries Management Area. This research confirms the need to expand monitoring to new areas where high-impact fisheries and other human activities operate. Baseline knowledge on dolphin distribution can guide regional conservation efforts by taking into account the seasonality of the species and support the design of tailored management strategies that address transboundary threats to an Important Marine Mammal Area. This work builds on the Irrawaddy dolphin habitat models for the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve/Kep Archipelago border region previously mapped by: * Verutes, Gregory M., et al. "Using GIS and stakeholder involvement to innovate marine mammal bycatch risk assessment in data-limited fisheries." PloS one 15.8 (2020): e0237835. * Hines, Ellen, et al. "Getting to the bottom of bycatch: a GIS-based toolbox to assess the risk of marine mammal bycatch." Endangered Species Research 42 (2020): 37-57. Regards, Gregg

1 0

New publication: Source Levels of 20 Hz Fin Whale Notes measured from Ocean-Bottom Seismometers
by Andreia Pereira 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to inform you on the publication of our open-access article: Pereira, A.; Romagosa, M.; Corela, C.; Silva, M.A.; Matias, L. "Source Levels of 20 Hz Fin Whale Notes Measured as Sound Pressure and Particle Velocity from Ocean-Bottom Seismometers in the North Atlantic" J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9, 646. ABSTRACT: Source level is one factor that determines the effectiveness of animal signal transmissions and their acoustic communication active space. Ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) are platforms of opportunity to monitor marine species because they record data as pressure fluctuations in the water using a hydrophone and/or as particle velocity of the seabed using a seismometer. This study estimates source levels of 20 Hz fin whale notes recorded simultaneously in these two OBS channels and in two areas of the North Atlantic (Azores and southwest Portugal). It also discusses factors contributing to the variability of the estimates, namely geographical (deployment areas), instrumental (recording channels and sample size), and temporal factors (month of detected notes, inter-note interval, and diving duration). The average source level was 196.9 dB re 1 µPa m for the seismometer (derived from particle velocity measurements) and 186.7 dB re 1 µPa m for the hydrophone. Variability was associated with sample size, instrumental characteristics, acoustic propagation, and month of recordings. Source level estimates were very consistent throughout sequences, and there was no indication of geographical differences. Understanding what causes variation in animal sound source levels provides insights into the function of sounds and helps to assess the potential effects of increasing anthropogenic noise. The full article is available here: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9060646 The article was published in a special issue of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering titled "Ocean Noise: From Science to Management<https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jmse/special_issues/ocean_noise>". Kind regards, Andreia Pereira -- Andreia Pereira Research Fellow IDL - Instituto Dom Luiz Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon Edifício C8 - Room 8.3.20 | Campo Grande | 1749-016 Lisboa | Portugal | +351966321466 ECCO Ocean https://ecco-ocean.com/ Associação para as Ciências do Mar https://cienciasmar.wixsite.com/associacao

1 0

New paper
by Susanna Blackwell 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

Hello all, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper on cue rates (calling rates) in migrating bowhead whales: Blackwell SB, AM Thode, AS Conrad, MC Ferguson, CL Berchok, KM Stafford, TA Marques, and KH Kim. 2021. Estimating acoustic cue rates in bowhead whales, *Balaena mysticetus*, during their fall migration through the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 149(5):3611-3625. Abstract: Eight years of passive acoustic data (2007–2014) from the Beaufort Sea were used to estimate the mean cue rate (calling rate) of individual bowhead whales (*Balaena mysticetus*) during their fall migration along the North Slope of Alaska. Calls detected on directional acoustic recorders (DASARs) were triangulated to provide estimates of locations at times of call production, which were then translated into call densities (calls/hour/km2). Various assumptions were used to convert call density into animal cue rates, including the time for whales to cross the arrays of acoustic recorders, the population size, the fraction of the migration corridor missed by the localizing array system, and the fraction of the seasonal migration missed because recorders were retrieved before the end of the migration. Taking these uncertainties into account in various combinations yielded up to 351 cue rate estimates, which summarize to a median of 1.3 calls/whale/h and an interquartile range of 0.5–5.4 calls/whale/h. The paper can be obtained at the following link: https://asa.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1121/10.0005043 Or by email request: susanna(a)greeneridge.com or apoflav2work(a)gmail.com Best, Susanna Susanna B. Blackwell, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Greeneridge Sciences, Inc. Research Associate, UC Santa Cruz

1 0