June 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication on gray seal isotopic niches
by Keith Hernandez 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

Hello MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors, I am excited to share our latest publication in *Marine** Ecology Progress Series*. Keith M. Hernandez, Wendy Blay Puryear, Jonathan A. Runstadler, Michael J. Polito (2021) Little interannual variability in gray seal (*Halichoerus grypus*) trophic niches during pregnancy despite variable environmental conditions. Marine Ecology Progress Series 667: 207-217. DOI: https://doi.org/meps/10.3354/meps13702 ABSTRACT: The successful recruitment of juveniles into a population is often dependent on receiving sufficient nutrition pre- and post-parturition. Thus, variation in maternal foraging ecology during pregnancy, whether due to prey choice, prey availability or fluctuations in environmental conditions, can impact offspring fitness in the subsequent breeding season. As many pinnipeds spend the majority of the gestation period at sea, past studies have used the biogeochemical analysis of pup tissues to infer female diets during this critical period. The objective of our study was to examine the trophic niches of a population of pregnant female gray seals *Halichoerus grypus* over a 4 yr period in coastal Massachusetts, USA by analyzing the stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) values of pup lanugo. In addition, we sought to determine if individual and inter-annual variation in pup body condition could be explained by differences in female trophic niches, prey availability, or environmental conditions. Stable isotope-based metrics of trophic niche position, width, and overlap indicated little to no interannual variability in female foraging ecology at the population level despite variation in environmental conditions and prey availability in the fall on Georges Bank. Model selection indicated a positive relationship between pup body condition and δ 13C values, which is indicative of pregnant females foraging on benthic, demersal, or nearshore prey species during the fall prior to parturition. This indicates that individual variation in female foraging ecology during pregnancy has a carry-over effect on offspring condition with possible implications for first-year survival, and ultimately recruitment to the adult population. The article can be found at the link here <https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v667/p207-217/>, or you can reach me at keith.hernandez2011(a)gmail.com for a PDF copy or with any questions or feedback. Best, Keith -- Keith M. Hernandez, PhD | he/him/his Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department/Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Google Scholar <https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&view_op=list_works&authuser=2&gm…> | ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Keith_Hernandez2>

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New publication: WhaleMap: a tool to collate and display whale survey results in near real-time
by Hansen Johnson 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I have developed an open source software tool called WhaleMap (available at whalemap.org<http://whalemap.org>) to collate and display whale survey results in near real-time. It is described in our recent publication in the Journal of Open Source Software: Johnson H, Morrison D, Taggart C (2021). WhaleMap: a tool to collate and display whale survey results in near real-time. Journal of Open Source Software, 6(62), 3094, https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.03094 WhaleMap has proven a valuable tool for improving conservation outcomes for baleen whales, including the North Atlantic right whale, along the east coast of the US and Canada. It has achieved this by optimizing research activities, facilitating dynamic risk-mitigation measures, and engaging with the ocean industry and the public. It is our hope that this system can be readily adapted to benefit other regions and species facing similar conservation challenges. Please do not hesitate to contact me (hansen.johnson(a)dal.ca<mailto:hansen.johnson@dal.ca>) if you have any questions. All the best, Hansen -- Hansen Johnson (he/him/his) PhD Candidate, Oceanography Department, Dalhousie University Guest Student, Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution hansenjohnson.org<https://hansenjohnson.org/> --

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Introductory distance sampling workshop: widening participation applications now being accepted
by Eric Rexstad 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

The autumn offering of the introductory distance sampling workshop offered by CREEM will occur 20 Sept - 01 Oct 2021. Distance sampling is a survey method often employed in the assessment of marine mammal populations. Registration for the workshop will open the last week of June. Meanwhile, applications are now being accepted for the free place at this workshop. The intention is to widen participation in the workshop to practitioners under-represented in the discipline. Details of the eligibility and application process available at http://workshops.distancesampling.org/widening-participation Enquiries and applications should be sent to me. Closing date for the widening participation applications for the introductory distance sampling workshop is *25 June 2021*. -- Eric Rexstad Centre for Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland SC013532

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New Publication: Cetaceans as sentinels for informing climate change policy in UK waters
by Williamson, Michael 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announced our recent publication in Marine Policy: Williamson, M. J., Ten Doeschate, M. T. I, Deaville, R., Brownlow, A. C., & Taylor, N. L. (2021). Cetaceans as sentinels for informing climate change policy in UK waters. Marine Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104634 ABSTRACT Climate change is predicted to have profound consequences for marine ecosystems. Due to the growing political and social drive to address its impacts, monitoring and mitigating climate change is a priority in marine policy in the UK. Cetaceans have been proposed as informative sentinel species for monitoring ocean health. Here, strandings data from four UK cetacean species were assessed for their use as a tool to aid policy makers monitoring climate change in marine environments. Data on stranded cetaceans were collected from 1990 to 2018 and differences in the proportions of stranded cold water adapted and warm water adapted species assessed using Generalised Linear Models (GLM), with 6-year periods and four regions of the UK included as explanatory variables. This modelling approach showed an increase in the proportion of stranded warm water adapted species over time across the UK and that differences in proportion of strandings between cold water and warm water adapted species can be detected between regions and 6-year periods, chosen as metrics to coordinate with reporting cycles for policy assessment needs. As such, these results show the potential for utilising strandings data to identify changing oceanic trends at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales for policy reporting in the UK. However, development of these analyses with a more detailed examination of these data at a finer resolution, incorporating other data sources, such as distribution trends and dietary stable isotope data, may be required before it is applicable as an indicator for trends in changes in climate. Full text can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104634 For further information please contact me at michael.williamson(a)kcl.ac.uk<mailto:michael.williamson@kcl.ac.uk>. Kind regards, Mike Michael Williamson London NERC DTP Candidate Email: michael.williamson(a)kcl.ac.uk<mailto:Email:%20michael.williamson@kcl.ac.uk> Phone: +447764836592 Skype: mikejwilliamson Twitter: @mjw_marine Website: www.thenetlab.uk<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenet…>

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New Publication: Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a MPA
by Charlotte Findlay 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent Open Access publication in Journal of Applied Ecology: Findlay, C.R., Aleynik, D., Farcas, A., Merchant, N.D., Risch, D., & Wilson, B. (2021). Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a marine protected area. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13910 Abstract: 1. Management interventions to reduce human–wildlife conflict can have unintended consequences for non-target species. Acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) are used globally by the aquaculture sector. However, the potential for these sound emissions to impact non-target species, such as cetaceans, has not yet been quantified at population relevant spatial scales. 2. To better understand the extent of potential impacts on cetaceans, such as harbour porpoises, we used acoustic modelling to investigate levels of ADD noise throughout the west coast of Scotland and across a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for this species. 3. Using an energy-flux acoustic propagation model and data on aquaculture sites known to be using ADDs, we predicted the spatial extent of ADD noise on the Scottish west coast from 1 February 2017 to 31 January 2018. Noise maps were produced to determine the risk of auditory impairment for harbour porpoises under a range of scenarios which assumed single or multiple ADDs and simultaneous use across all sites. 4. The acoustic propagation model performed well when tested against field measurements up to 5 km, with 98% of sound exposure level (SEL) predictions within ±10% of the measurements. Predictions of SELs over a 24-hr period suggested extensive temporary hearing loss zones (median radius: ~28 km) for harbour porpoises around aquaculture sites. Assuming a single device at each site, 23% of the harbour porpoise SAC was predicted to be exposed to ADD noise sufficient to induce a temporary threshold shift, and under the worst-case scenario (multiple, continuously running devices per site with an aggregate duty cycle of 100%), levels exceeding permanent threshold shift could reach 0.9% of the SAC. 5. Policy implications. This study highlights the potential for ‘collateral damage’ from interventions such as acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) which are intended to reduce human–wildlife conflicts with pinnipeds but may affect the long-term health and habitat use of non-target species. This is especially true for harbour porpoises which are protected under the EU and UK Habitats Regulations. The aquaculture industry, policymakers and regulators in countries where ADDs are used should consider these findings when attempting to mitigate pinniped depredation. The full article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13910 Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to discuss further. Best wishes, Charlotte Findlay Ph.D. Researcher, Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) charlotte.findlay(a)sams.ac.uk / charlotte_findlay(a)hotmail.co.uk @chazz_findlay

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Conservation in Marine Mammal Response internship with stipend
by Julia Ohern 09 Jun '21

09 Jun '21

Hello! The Marine Mammal Center is excited to recruit a candidate for our Conservation in Marine Mammal Response internship. This internship includes housing support, monthly stipend, and is based out of our Monterey Bay office in Moss Landing, California. Ideally, the intern will begin in July and continue through mid-November. Stipend and housing are meant to increase the accessibility of this early-career opportunity in marine mammal conservation while providing meaningful support to our response community at The Marine Mammal Center. Interested applicants can find more information and apply at our website https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/597828/Marine-Mamm… [https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/GetShareLogoFile?moduleId=…]<https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/597828/Marine-Mamm…> Marine Mammal Center - Conservation in Marine Mammal Response Internship<https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/597828/Marine-Mamm…> Conservation in Marine Mammal Response InternshipLocation of Position: Moss Landing, California Reports to: Monterey Bay Operations ManagerHours: 40 hours Thursday-Monday, hours flexiblePosition Classification: Seasonal Benefits: Limited benefits. Stipend with housing options provided through a network of our volunteers in exchange for house or pet-sitting.Position OverviewThis internship is meant to provide the intern with a high-level view of community powered conservation while supporting the advancement of an inclusive environment within one of the world’s largest marine mammal stranding response programs. The successful candidate will contribute meaningful support to the technology, volunteer engagement, and logistics of our Monterey Bay Operations. Key ResponsibilitiesSchedule is Thursday-Monday. Supports the Operations Coordinators with technological and logistical tools that facilitate an efficient stranding response program. This includes tracking response progress, updating the recruiting.paylocity.com [cid:image003.png@01D546BE.F148AC60] Julia O'Hern, Ph.D. Monterey Bay Operations Manager ohernj(a)tmmc.org | T: 831.633.7802 | C: 415.942.3352 MarineMammalCenter.org<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/> The Marine Mammal Center, P.O. Box 778, Moss Landing, CA 95039

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Flukebook.org: Release v.2021-05-31
by Jason Holmberg 09 Jun '21

09 Jun '21

We are pleased to announce the Wildbook software release v.2021-05-31, which is reflected in the Flukebook.org platform for cetacean photo ID. Wildbook DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4895243 <https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.4895243.svg)](https://doi.org/1…> Wildbook Image Analysis (WBIA): 10.5281/zenodo.4784646 <https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.4784646.svg)](https://doi.org/1…> For an overview of Flukebook's multi-species, multi-modal machine learning for photo ID, please see: https://docs.wildme.org/docs/researchers/ia_pipeline Community support for Wildbook is provided at: https://community.wildme.org Release notes for May 2021 Flukebook Updates - Added new locations in the Atlantic Ocean and Hawaii. - Improved algorithms for gray whale computer vision have been deployed for performance testing Bug Fixes - WB-1671 Resolve submitter email issue - WB-1634 Images no longer swapping width and height with annotation location. - WB-1630 Conflict between projects and submissions has been resolved. - WB-1626 Corrected “My data” restriction in match filtering. - WB-1625 Corrected project filter in iaResults to include all project matches. - WB-1601 Google maps renders GPS and ignores LocationID correctly. - WB-1529 Flukebook projects display more than the IndoCet Opportunistic project. **Wildbook-IA Release Notes (Machine Learning)** The following updates were made to WBIA last month. SAGE-40 Completed the AI extension for the MAPS project (general purpose, multi-species dorsal fin matching). Added bonus: works great for white shark individual ID too! SAGE-293 Two new publications at CVPR workshop “CV 4 Animals” on 1) the continual ID curation problem and 2) CurvRank V2. SAGE-304 New WBIA API for the background job engine allows job IDs to be specified instead of generating random UUIDs. SAGE-310 Migrate WBIA codebase in GitHub to use the new “main” branch convention. Bug Fixes SAGE-292 Fix EXIF orientation parsing with OpenCV. SAGE-309 Fix automated testing on CI for GitHub. Jason Holmberg (he/him/his) Executive Director, Wild Me <https://wildme.org/> A.I. and humans combating extinction together.

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New Publication: Decompressive pathology in cetaceans based on an experimental pathological model
by Alicia Sofía Velázquez Wallraf 09 Jun '21

09 Jun '21

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of our new article in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, being part of the research topic: Pathologic Findings in Stranded Marine Mammals: A Global Perspective. "Decompressive pathology in cetaceans based on an experimental pathological model". Velázquez-Wallraf, A.; Fernández, A.; Caballero, M.J.; Møllerløkken, A.; Jepson, P.D.; Andrada, M., and Bernaldo de Quirós, B. ABSTRACT Decompression sickness (DCS) is a widely known clinical syndrome in human medicine, mainly in divers, related to the formation of intravascular and extravascular gas bubbles. Gas embolism and decompression-like sickness have also been described in wild animals, such as cetaceans. It was hypothesized that adaptations to the marine environment protected them from DCS, but in 2003, decompression-like sickness was described for the first time in beaked whales, challenging this dogma. Since then, several episodes of mass strandings of beaked whales coincidental in time and space with naval maneuvers have been recorded and diagnosed with DCS. The diagnosis of human DCS is based on the presence of clinical symptoms and the detection of gas embolism by ultrasound, but in cetaceans, the diagnosis is limited to forensic investigations. For this reason, it is necessary to resort to experimental animal models to support the pathological diagnosis of DCS in cetaceans. The objective of this study is to validate the pathological results of cetaceans through an experimental rabbit model wherein a complete and detailed histopathological analysis was performed. Gross and histopathological results were very similar in the experimental animal model compared to stranded cetaceans with DCS, with the presence of gas embolism systemically distributed as well as emphysema and hemorrhages as primary lesions in different organs. The experimental data reinforces the pathological findings found in cetaceans with DCS as well as the hypothesis that individuality plays an essential role in DCS, as it has previously been proposed in animal models and human diving medicine. The link to the full article is: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.676499/full?&utm_so… [https://www.frontiersin.org/files/MyHome%20Article%20Library/676499/676499_…]<https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.676499/full?&utm_so…> Decompressive Pathology in Cetaceans Based on an Experimental Pathological Model<https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.676499/full?&utm_so…> www.frontiersin.org Kind regards, Alicia Velázquez-Wallraf. 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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New Publication: Effects of time-area closures on the distribution of snow crab fishing effort with respect to entanglement threat to North Atlantic right whales
by Alexandra Cole 09 Jun '21

09 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announced our recent publication in ICES Journal of Marine Science: Cole, A.K., Brillant, S.W., & Boudreau, S.A. (2021). Effects of time-area closures on the distribution of snow crab fishing effort with respect to entanglement threat to North Atlantic right whales. ICES Journal of Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab103 ABSTRACT Time-area closures are increasingly used to mitigate cetacean entanglement by temporarily excluding fishing effort from areas where high densities of cetaceans and fishing overlap. The effort displaced by these closures can be redistributed to the areas that remain open, changing the distribution and density of fishing effort outside the closures. These patterns were evaluated for the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence snow crab fishery by comparing recent years (2015-2017) with 2018 when time-area closures were implemented to protect North Atlantic right whales. A predictive model framework was created to test how well we could predict the response of fishers to closures. Approximately 29% of the total fishing effort was displaced by the 2018 closures, increasing effort density outside the closures by 41%. Displaced fishing effort shifted farther from the closures than predicted, into areas which, prior to 2018, had low effort density, producing a higher threat of entanglement in these new areas. Fishing effort in 2018 remained as high as 2017, despite a lower quota and reduced trap limit. Consequently, the resulting effects of time-area closures on fishing patterns outside of the closures cannot be discounted if entanglement threat to whales is to be successfully mitigated. The full text can be accessed at: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/icesj… Please reach out to me at alexandrac(a)cwf-fcf.org<mailto:alexandrac@cwf-fcf.org> if you have any questions. Best, Alex --- Alex Cole, MMM Fisheries Management Evaluation Specialist [cid:image001.png@01D75C7E.592C0210] Dalhousie University | Department of Oceanography 1355 Oxford St. PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca<http://www.canadianwildlifefederation.ca/?src=signature> | Federationcanadiennedelafaune.ca<https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.federa…> ph. 1.877.599.5777 ext. 205 | cell. 604.376.8943

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Submissions open for Remote Sensing Applied to Marine Species Distribution
by Laura González García 09 Jun '21

09 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM colleagues, As a guest editor of the special issue “*Remote Sensing Applied to Marine Species Distribution*” of the peer-reviewed and open-access MDPI journal “Remote Sensing” (Impact Factor 4.509 and Scopus Cite Score 6.6), *I would like to invite you to submit your work on applied remote sensing to study temporal and/or spatial distribution of marine organisms*, including, among others, marine mammals. Ecological models relating species distribution patterns to environmental factors play a key role in assessing ecosystem health and biodiversity in a context of global change. However, estimation of species distribution is often hindered by the availability of reliable field data, especially in marine environments. Remote sensing products can provide continuous data on environmental factors driving the distribution of marine organisms. The increasing availability of Earth Observation (EO) data provides an unprecedented opportunity to extend the applicability of ecological models for both predictive and explanatory purposes, therefore supporting decision making to implement a more effective planning for management and conservation. The deadline for abstract submission is *15th January 2022*, however I will really appreciate your feedback showing your interest in the next few weeks if possible. The special issue will accept both review and research papers. You can find more information about this special issue here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/special_issues/RS_marine_species… Greetings from the Mid-Atlantic, wishing you all a great season at sea, *Laura González García, PhD.* Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores laura.gonzalez(a)uac.pt

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