September 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

ABSTRACT DEADLINE SEPT 29 - Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022 Interdisciplinary Session Announcement
by Stephanie Sharuga 27 Sep '21

27 Sep '21

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce and would like to extend an invitation to submit abstracts for a unique Social-Ocean Science Interactions and SDGs session at the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022, to be held starting February 27, 2022 in Honolulu, HI. The title of the hybrid session is "Syncing Silos: Bridging Scientific Divides in Government to Improve Responsible Stewardship of Ocean Resources". Abstracts are due September 29, 2021. More information on the session: OS17 Syncing Silos: Bridging Scientific Divides in Government to Improve Responsible Stewardship of Ocean Resources Complex marine and coastal environmental challenges require a collaborative approach to fully achieve government’s stewardship and conservation responsibilities. Merging the environmental, social, and economic sciences towards common goals is critical for efficiently and effectively protecting the natural and human environments and resources they rely on. This session aims to foster a discussion about the challenges and possible solutions for using cross-disciplinary and inclusive approaches to natural resource management decisions. With a focus on how to better connect the environmental and social sciences, this session will offer an opportunity to explore needs, approaches, and best practices for engaging with diverse stakeholders to strengthen science-based information for government actions. Discussion on how government stewardship decisions can address environmental justice issues and community needs, especially considering people that may be disproportionately impacted by natural and anthropogenic changes, is also highly encouraged. Presentations may include descriptions of needs, projects, programs, outreach and engagement activities, or other initiatives that explore how collaboration in the sciences can improve stewardship of the ocean’s resources. This session encourages participation by members of all levels of government, academia, organizations working on behalf of the government, and those working collaboratively with the government. Organizers: Laura Mansfield, laura.mansfield(a)boem.gov Stephanie Sharuga, stephanie.sharuga(a)boem.gov For more detailed guidelines and instructions on submitting an abstract, refer to: https://www.aslo.org/osm2022/abstract-guidelines/. To view the session and submit an abstract, please go to the following link: Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022 - Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022 NOTE: An abstract fee is required when submitting; however, this fee can be deferred to be paid later by selecting "pay by check." Potential Topics May Include (but are not limited to - we're flexible!): * Discussions of challenges for academia, NGOs, government, etc. and how interdisciplinary collaborative approaches can provide solutions * Logistical discussions of how interdisciplinary collaborative approaches can be promoted and/or funded * Examples of partnerships, projects, and programs that promote/fund interdisciplinary work * Examples of innovative business approaches or organizational structures and/or best practices that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration * Examples of the benefits of interdisciplinary collaborative approaches It is our goal to have a very diverse session representing innovations, programs, and perspectives from around the world. International and early career scientists and professionals, as well as students, are thus highly encouraged to submit abstracts. Please share this announcement widely among your peers! Feel free to contact me or my co-chairs if you have any questions. We look forward to hopefully seeing you all there! Stephanie Sharuga, PhD Interdisciplinary Scientist | Biologist | Resource Advisor (READ)703.787.1125 | stephanie.sharuga(a)boem.govBranch of Environmental Consultation | OEP | BOEM

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Biological Scientist II position - UF Aquatic Animal Health Program
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 27 Sep '21

27 Sep '21

Hi All, I wanted to share with you our current job posting for a full time Biological Scientist II, here at the University of Florida Aquatic Animal Health Program. SUMMARY OF POSITION ROLE/RESPONSIBILITIES: This position supports management of the aquatics laboratory facilities and develops various clinical and research field activities, initiatives and research areas within the aquatic animal health program, with a strong emphasis on marine mammal health and disease. It is a unique position with talent requirements that combine a bio-scientist ability and animal health care technology. The individual is an ambassador for the program with direct contact with many of the program partners and a valued part of the team. The activities of the bio scientist are in fulfilment of Scopes of Work, tied to an FWC state contract. You can find more details through the UF Careers site: https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/518260/biological-scientist-ii Sincerely, Dr Larkin [Description: AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Lecturer & Education Coordinator Director - Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________ Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to or from University of Florida employees via email may be subject to disclosure.

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New paper on associations between gray whale body condition and hormone variability
by Leila Soledade Lemos 27 Sep '21

27 Sep '21

We are pleased to announce our new paper in Marine Mammal Science on associations between gray whale body condition and hormone variability: "Stressed and slim or relaxed and chubby? A simultaneous assessment of gray whale body condition and hormone variability" Leila S. Lemos, Amy Olsen, Angela Smith, Jonathan D. Burnett, Todd E. Chandler, Shawn Larson, Kathleen Hunt, and Leigh G. Torres Baleen whale physiology remains poorly understood, including knowledge gaps concerning relationships between body condition and hormone metabolite concentrations associated with stress and energy allocation (i.e., glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones). To better understand these relationships, we collected 73 fecal samples from 36 different mature gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) with concurrently collected drone imagery of these whales to determine body condition. We use linear mixed models to determine that body condition and year were significantly related to glucocorticoid concentrations, and year and glucocorticoid concentrations were significantly related to thyroid hormone concentrations. Furthermore, we demonstrate a positive correlation between glucocorticoid and thyroid metabolites, and a negative correlation between body condition and glucocorticoid metabolites (i.e., fatter whales had lower glucocorticoid concentrations). The absence of correlation between body condition and thyroid metabolites indicates that thyroid hormones may not be fully involved with energy intake in baleen whales. Continued monitoring of baleen whale body condition and hormone metabolite concentrations may further elucidate these patterns and enable improved population management and conservation efforts. The paper is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.12877 [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/4517ceef-9b97-42e0-a646-3585bbdb3…]<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.12877> Stressed and slim or relaxed and chubby? A simultaneous assessment of gray whale body condition and hormone variability<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.12877> Click on the article title to read more. onlinelibrary.wiley.com I can share the PDF in case you don't have access, just email me back. Cheers, [cid:5c51fbc5-2005-4904-aec4-0bb4c6ea5205] Leila S. Lemos, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scholar Institute of Environment College of Arts, Sciences & Education Florida International University (971) 3409610 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leila_Lemos https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-soledade-lemos-94972415/

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New publication: Cetacean presence and distribution in the central Mediterranean Sea and potential risks deriving from plastic pollution
by Martina Gregorietti 27 Sep '21

27 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper: *Gregorietti M., Atzori F., Carosso L., Frau F., Pellegrino G., Sarà G. & Arcangeli A. 2021. Cetacean presence and distribution in the central Mediterranean Sea and potential risks deriving from plastic pollution. Marine Pollution Bulletin* *Abstract:* The Sardinian and Sicilian Channels are considered hotspots of biodiversity and key ecological passages between Mediterranean sub-basins, but with significant knowledge gaps about marine mammal presence and potential threats they face. Using data collected between 2013-2019 along fixed transects, inter and intra-annual cetacean index of abundance was assessed. Habitat suitability, seasonal hot spots, and risk exposure for plastic were performed using the Kernel analysis and the Biomod2 R-package. 661 sightings of 8 cetacean species were recorded, with bottlenose and striped dolphins as the most sighted species. The north-eastern pelagic sector, the coastal waters and areas near ridges resulted the most suitable habitats for these species. The risk analysis identified the Tunis, Palermo, and Castellammare gulfs and the Egadi Island as areas of particular risk of plastic exposure. The study represents a great improvement for cetacean knowledge in this region and contributes to the development of effective conservation strategies. The article is available at: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1do2l,ash%7ESDi <https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1do2l,ash~SDi> Kind regards, Martina Gregorietti

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Re: [MARMAM] Recent publications from Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory
by songhai 26 Sep '21

26 Sep '21

Dear MARMAM Community: On behalf of and with sincere thanks to my co-authors and contributors, I would very much like to share some of our recent publications as below. If you would like to get the pdf copies, please feel free to let me know. 01. Yuan Yuan, Yaolei Zhang, Peijun Zhang, Chang Liu, Jiahao Wang, Haiyu Gao, A. Rus Hoelzel, Inge Seim, Meiqi Lv, Mingli Lin, Lijun Dong, Haoyang Gao, Zixin Yang, Francesco Caruso, Wenzhi Lin, Rute R. da Fonseca, Ding Wang, Xianyan Wang, Marianne H. Rasmussen, Mingming Liu, Jinsong Zheng, Liyuan Zhao, Paula F. Campos, Hui Kang, Maria Iversen, Yue Song, Xinyu Guo, Jiao Guo, Yating Qin, Shanshan Pan, Qiwu Xu, Lingfeng Meng, Yunga A, Shanshan Liu, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Xin Liu, Xun Xu, Huanming Yang, Guangyi Fan, Kun Wang, Songhai Li. (2021) Comparative genomics provides insights into the aquatic adaptations of mammals | PNAS <https://www.pnas.org/content/118/37/e2106080118> Abstract: The ancestors of marine mammals once roamed the land and independently committed to an aquatic lifestyle. These macroevolutionary transitions have intrigued scientists for centuries. Here, we generated high-quality genome assemblies of 17 marine mammals (11 cetaceans and six pinnipeds), including eight assemblies at the chromosome level. Incorporating previously published data, we reconstructed the marine mammal phylogeny and population histories and identified numerous idiosyncratic and convergent genomic variations that possibly contributed to the transition from land to water in marine mammal lineages. Genes associated with the formation of blubber (NFIA), vascular development (SEMA3E), and heat production by brown adipose tissue (UCP1) had unique changes that may contribute to marine mammal thermoregulation. We also observed many lineage-specific changes in the marine mammals, including genes associated with deep diving and navigation. Our study advances understanding of the timing, pattern, and molecular changes associated with the evolution of mammalian lineages adapting to aquatic life. 02. Lijun Dong, Francesco Caruso, Jianchen Dong, Mingming Liu, Mingli Lin, and Songhai Li. (2021) Whistle characteristics of a newly recorded Indo <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12816> �\Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) population in waters southwest of Hainan Island, China, differ from other humpback dolphin populations - Dong - - Marine Mammal Science - Wiley Online Library Abstract: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) use whistles to communicate with their conspecifics. Little is known about the acoustic repertoire of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in waters southwest of Hainan Island, China, a newly recorded population in 2014. In this study, whistles of Hainan humpback dolphin population were collected by using autonomous acoustic recorders. The fundamental frequencies and durations of whistles were in ranges of 0.71�C21.35 kHz and 0.06�C2.22 s, respectively. Significant intraspecific differences in whistles duration and frequency parameters were found between the Hainan population and the other geographically neighboring populations (in Chinese waters) or the population in Malaysia waters. Compared with other Sousa species, significant interspecific differences were also observed. On the basis of clustering analysis, the geographically neighboring populations were more similar to each other in whistle parameters. Significant differences were also found between the humpback dolphins in waters southwest of Hainan Island and those dolphins in the geographically neighboring areas, supporting the hypothesis that this population may be independent. Ambient noise measurements in waters of Hainan Island, Zhanjiang and Sanniang Bay showed that humpback dolphin populations may use whistles with longer duration, lower frequency and fewer inflection points for more effective communication to adapt to a noisier environment. 03. Mingming Liu, Mingli Lin, Lijun Dong, Peijun Zhang, and Songhai Li. (2021) Spatiotemporal variations in fine-scale habitat use of the world <https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/102/2/384/6149491?login=true> ��s second largest population of humpback dolphins | Journal of Mammalogy | Oxford Academic (oup.com) Abstract: We assessed habitat use by the population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis, in the waters off Zhanjiang, China, by performing boat-based surveys between 2013 and 2018. In total, we gathered 253 sightings of humpback dolphins. To assess habitat use of humpback dolphins within the study area, we measured two spatial metrics at each sighting site: WDT (tide-calibrated water-depth) and DS (distance to the nearest shore). Results showed that dolphins mainly were observed in shallow (WDT: 8.46 �� 5.13 m, mean �� SD) and inshore (DS: 2.17 �� 2.14 km) waters. Their preference of inhabiting shallow waters was more apparent during the wet season (April�CSeptember) than during the dry season (October�CMarch); however, they were encountered in waters much closer to shore during the dry season than the wet season. By weighting survey effort, our sighting density maps further confirmed that humpback dolphins changed their habitat use between wet and dry seasons. Such spatiotemporal variations in dolphin habitat use might be associated with spatiotemporal movements of their prey. Our findings provide insights into variations in fine-scale habitat use of inshore apex predators, and also assist to designate proper conservation measures for these vulnerable animals. 04. Mingli Lin, Mingming Liu, Sovan Lek, Lijun Dong, Peijun Zhang, Rodolphe E. Gozlan, Songhai Li. (2021) Modelling habitat suitability of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin using artificial neural network: The influence of shipping - ScienceDirect <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954121000650?via%3Di hub> Abstract: The distribution of cetaceans is generally studied on the basis of their visual locations. However, the absence of observations does not exclude the presence of dolphins and not allow to distinguish habitats favourable to the species but where it would be currently absent due to anthropic disturbances. The modelling of ecological niches represents a powerful alternative choice and intensive computer modelling has been increasingly used to reveal the complexity of the relationships between cetaceans and their habitat. Here, we predicted the presence/absence of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), an endangered species, using the artificial neural network model of back-propagation (BP-ANN) with eight environmental variables. The BP-ANN model had a higher success rate for correct prediction (74%) compared to linear discriminant analysis (67%), especially for the prediction of the presence of S. chinensis (63% to 31%), indicating its potential application in cetacean habitat research. In the model output map, three suitable habitats were predicted without S. chinensis sightings identified. However, only one was confirmed by subsequent field surveys, the other two being located in a strong shipping area. Therefore, we suggest that the traditional assessment of the baseline habitat based on visual sighting may miss the identification of some suitable habitats due to anthropogenic disturbance. We have also highlighted the importance of ecological modelling research for cetacean conservation. In addition, among the eight environmental variables studied, distance from shore, fish abundance and salinity proved to be the most important factors for the distribution of S. chinensis, indicating that coastal construction, sea recovery and overfishing would be key constraints for its conservation. 05. Mingming Liu, Mingli Lin, David Lusseau, and Songhai Li. (2021) Frontiers | Intra-Population Variability in Group Size of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) | Marine Science (frontiersin.org) <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.671568/full> Abstract: Group size is a key social trait influencing population dynamics of group-living animals. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (IPHDs), Sousa chinensis, a shallow water delphinid species, display a fission-fusion social system. Yet little is known about how social organization of this species vary with temporal scales and behavioral state. In this study, we sampled group size estimates from the world��s second largest population of humpback dolphins (Sousa spp.), which inhabit the eastern waters of Zhanjiang, China. IPHD group sizes changed seasonally and inter-annually, but not with tidal phases. Group sizes also changed with behavioral state of IPHD groups and with number of mother-calf pairs present. IPHDs formed larger groups in the autumn than in other seasons, which might be related to seasonal changes in food availability and reproductive cycle. Of the groups observed, we recorded the presence of mother-calf pair in 85 groups (i.e., nursery groups: 47 ones with one pair, 25 ones with two pairs, and others with three pairs). Notably, nursery groups were about 2�C4 times larger than non-nursery groups. In addition, group sizes greatly increased with the number of mother-calf pairs. Living in relatively large groups, more protection, food, and resources might be available for IPHD mothers and calves, and such social strategy provide higher reproduction efficiency and survival success for this species. During our observations, feeding (45.5%) and traveling (25.2%) represented the majority of IPHD��s behavioral budget, while socializing (8.4%) and resting/milling (6.8%) were not frequently observed. Resting/milling groups were approximately 50% smaller than feeding, traveling, or socializing groups, while the latter three types had a similar mean group size. Large groups when IPHDs foraged, traveled, or socialized, might provide more added group benefits. For the first time, our findings clearly revealed intra-population variability in IPHD group sizes across different behavioral and temporal variables, and provided a better understanding of IPHDs�� adaptations to various biological processes and ecological constraints. 06. Mingming Liu, Wenzhi Lin, Mingli Lin, Binshuai Liu, Lijun Dong, Peijun Zhang, Zixin Yang, Kexiong Wang, Liang Dai, and Songhai Li. (2021) JMSE | Free Full-Text | The First Attempt of Satellite Tracking on Occurrence and Migration of Bryde <https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/796> ��s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Beibu Gulf (mdpi.com) Abstract: Satellite-tagging is increasingly becoming a powerful biotelemetry approach to obtain remote measurement through tracking free-living cetaceans, which can fill knowledge gaps on cetaceans and facilitate conservation management. Here, we made a first biologging attempt on baleen whales in Chinese waters. An adult Bryde��s whale in the Beibu Gulf was tagged to investigate potential occurrence areas and migration routes of this poorly studied species. The whale was satellite-tracked for ~6 days with 71 filtered Argos satellite locations, resulting in a linear movement distance of 464 km. At each satellite-tracking location, the water depth was measured as 42.1 �� 24.8 m on average. During the satellite-tracking period, the whale��s moving speed was estimated at 5.33 �� 4.01 km/h. These findings expanded the known distribution areas of Bryde��s whales in the Beibu Gulf and provided an important scientific basis for the regional protection of this species. We suggest that fine-scale movements, habitat use, and migratory behavior of Bryde��s whales in the Beibu Gulf need more biotelemetry research, using long-term satellite-tracking tags and involving enough individuals. Furthermore, the genetic relationship and possible connectivity of Bryde��s whales in the Beibu Gulf and adjacent waters should be examined. Best Regards Songhai ------------------------------------------------------------------- Songhai Li Ph.D. & Prof. Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 28 Luhuitou Road, Sanya, 572000, China Phone: +86-898-88222393 Email: <mailto:lish@sidsse.ac.cn> lish(a)idsse.ac.cn http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysws xyjz2015/ <http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/> http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/

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New publication: Insights from the first global population estimate of Weddell seals in Antarctica
by Michelle LaRue 25 Sep '21

25 Sep '21

Kia ora kotou, On behalf of my co-authors, I am happy to share our new work published in Science Advances about the first global estimate of Weddell seals, and insights to their habitat. The paper is available open access and here is the link: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh3674 Here is the abstract: The Weddell seal is one of the best-studied marine mammals in the world, owing to a multidecadal demographic effort in the southernmost part of its range. Despite their occurrence around the Antarctic coastline, we know little about larger scale patterns in distribution, population size, or structure. We combined high-resolution satellite imagery from 2011, crowd-sourcing, and habitat modeling to report the first global population estimate for the species and environmental factors that influence its distribution. We estimated ~202,000 (95% confidence interval: 85,345 to 523,140) sub-adult and adult female seals, with proximate ocean depth and fast-ice variables as factors explaining spatial prevalence. Distances to penguin colonies were associated with seal presence, but only emperor penguin population size had a strong negative relationship. The small, estimated population size relative to previous estimates and the seals’ nexus with trophic competitors indicates that a community ecology approach is required in efforts to monitor the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions! Michelle -- Research Associate Department of Earth Sciences 116 Church St SE 150 John T. Tate Hall University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455 www.drmichellelarue.com

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JNCC MMO and PAM eLearning Training Courses
by alisongill＠intelligentocean.com 25 Sep '21

25 Sep '21

Intelligent Ocean Ltd is pleased to offer two eLearning courses. JNCC Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) eLearning Training Course (GBP 150 per person) Passive Acoustic Monitoring and PAMGUARD Software eLearning Training Course (GBP 150 per person) The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) MMO registered course is required for you to work as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) in UK Continental Shelf waters during offshore projects such as seismic surveys, pile-driving and projects involving the use of explosives. This course has been created in response to the coronavirus crisis and has been approved by the JNCC as a valid alternative to the usual classroom taught course. Alternatively, project managers or interested parties may wish to complete this course for awareness of how MMOs work or for Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course is designed to introduce this technique of monitoring for marine mammals to MMOs, researchers, project managers or any other interested parties. It covers basic acoustic theory, the use of a spectrogram to view example marine mammal vocalisation types and other ocean noise, PAM equipment components, assembly and deployment and finally an exercise in configuring the industry standard PAM software - PAMGUARD. This course has received recognition as an accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). To complete the eLearning courses you simply log in, read, learn and then pass assessments based on the course content. You set the pace of your learning. You will have access to the course for 12 months. Courses usually take between 1 to 2 full days to complete. Full details of how to purchase these courses are available on our website at the following link where you can also find details of the course contents https://www.intelligentocean.com/ Companies wishing to sign up members of their staff please email info(a)intelligentocean.com <mailto:info@intelligentocean.com> for registration and invoicing. Intelligent Ocean's staff have extensive experience of working offshore as MMOs and PAM operators in addition to marine mammal survey work and nature guiding. We have been offering training courses since 2009 and have trained over 2000 persons working in marine mammal mitigation. Regards Alison Alison Gill Director and Trainer Intelligent Ocean Ltd www.intelligentocean.com <http://www.intelligentocean.com/> Registered in England Company Registration Number: 07590688 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by replying by email and delete it from your system. Do not copy or disclose its contents to anyone. The content of this email or any attachment may contain software viruses, which could damage your own computer. Although we have taken precautions to minimise this risk, we cannot accept responsibility for any damage resulting from a computer virus. You must carry out your own virus checks before opening this email or any attachments. Intelligent Ocean Ltd. is 100% compliant with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK-GDPR). To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information in compliance with UK GDPR, please view our privacy policy <https://www.intelligentocean.com/privacy-policy/> . You are receiving this email because you either opted-in to receiving emails from the Intelligent Ocean website, previously emailed us with an enquiry, are an existing client or we believe that you have a legitimate interest in receiving our promotional emails If you would rather not receive this type of communication, please click here to unsubscribe. <mailto:info@intelligentocean.com?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam paign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> Virus-free. <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam paign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> www.avg.com -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com

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New publication: West Indian manatees use partial migration to expand their range into the northern Gulf of Mexico
by Carl Cloyed 24 Sep '21

24 Sep '21

My coauthors and I are pleased to announce our publication: Cloyed, C.S., Hieb, E.E., DaCosta, K.P., Ross, M., Carmichael, R.H. (2021). West Indian manatees use partial migration to expand their range into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science. 8, 1354. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.725837/full Abstract: Partial migration provides a mechanism for species to shift their geographic ranges into new, environmentally favorable regions but has been poorly studied as a means to alleviate effects of climate change. Populations at the edge of their geographic range are ideal to investigate how migratory behaviors may enable range expansion as adjacent areas become more climatically favorable. We determined the contribution of partial migration to the range expansion of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) using GPS data from tagged individuals that migrated between the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) and primary habitat in peninsular Florida. Most of these manatees migrated to the nGoM annually and exhibited high site fidelity among years. Many individuals spent cumulatively more time in the nGoM than in peninsular Florida, indicating the nGoM is a regular part of their geographic range, and they returned to peninsular Florida to meet temperature-related physiological needs for survival. Autumn migrations most frequently terminated at Crystal River, Florida, and manatees that commenced migration late in the season stopped less frequently and had more directed movements. Spring migrations most frequently terminated at Mobile Bay, Alabama, and several manatees quickly and directly migrated from Florida to nGoM stopover sites. Migrations ranged from 10 to 133 days in length, and variation in duration was primarily driven by use of stopover sites and directedness of travel. These data confirm partial migration as an important component of manatee migratory behavior that has already enabled range shifts for manatees on the U.S.A. Gulf of Mexico coast and has potential to facilitate future responses to climate change. As the most common type of migration across the animal kingdom, partial migration may provide a global mechanism for a diverse variety of species to resist the range limiting effects of climate change. Cheers, Carl -- Carl S. Cloyed, Ph.D. Research Senior Marine Scientist I Dauphin Island Sea Lab 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, AL 36528

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New publication on the genetic diversity of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin in South Africa
by Stephanie Plön, PhD 24 Sep '21

24 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication on the genetic diversity of Indian Ocean humpback dolphin in South African waters: Lampert, S. G., Ingle, R. A., Jackson, J., Gopal, K. and S. Plön. 2021. Analysis of mitochondrial control region reveals low genetic diversity of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (*Sousa plumbea*) in South African waters. *Endangered Species Research* 46: 91-103. Abstract: The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin *Sousa plumbea* has been described as South Africa’s most endangered marine mammal due to its low abundance, reliance on coastal habitats with increasing anthropogenic threats and high rates of mortality from bycatch in bather protection nets (BPNs). Although the species has been well studied in South Africa, only a single study has examined its molecular ecology to date, and its population structure remains poorly understood. However, understanding population structure is vital for the conservation and management of a species. To address these research gaps for *S*. *plumbea* in South African waters, we analysed the mitochondrial D-loop of 157 museum skin and tooth samples collected between 1963 and 2017 from across the species’ geographic range in South Africa. Our data show that the humpback dolphin has extremely low mitochondrial diversity (haplotype diversity, *H*D = 0.47; nucleotide diversity, π = 0.2%) with only 3 haplotypes identified, which is comparable to the Critically Endangered Māui dolphin *Cephalorhynchus hectori maui* and the Critically Endangered Mekong population of Irrawaddy dolphin *Orcaella brevirostris*. Mitochondrial genetic diversity has not changed significantly in the last 50 yr, despite the high levels of bycatch in BPNs over this time period. Furthermore, we found no evidence of differentiation between dolphins from the KwaZulu-Natal Coast and the Cape South Coast (Western Cape and Eastern Cape). The extremely low mitochondrial diversity we found adds to the growing body of evidence that the humpback dolphin is becoming increasingly vulnerable and that urgent conservation efforts are required for the survival of the species. The publication is open access and can be downloaded here: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v46/p91-103/ Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions. Best wishes, Stephanie -- Assoc. Prof. Stephanie Plön Medical Virology Department of Pathology Stellenbosch University and Bayworld Centre for Research and Education (BCRE) Port Elizabeth South Africa Cell: +27-76-3791067 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie_Ploen *https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/ <https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/>*

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Job Opportunity
by Rebeccah Hazelkorn - NOAA Federal 22 Sep '21

22 Sep '21

JOB OPPORTUNITY - Marine Mammal Disaster Response Support Specialist Open until filled ERT, Inc is looking to hire a full-time, remote Disaster Response Specialist to support NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office's Marine Mammal Disaster Response Coordinator on the “Reducing Impacts to Cetaceans during Disasters by Improving Response Activities” project funded through the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Open Ocean Restoration Plan 2. The Contractor will enhance marine mammal disaster response preparedness to enable rapid responses to disasters affecting marine mammals. A Bachelor's degree in an associated discipline (e.g., biology, marine biology, coastal or aquatic sciences, coastal and marine habitat or living marine resource conservation and management), related or equivalent is required. Please see the full job posting and list of qualifications, responsibilities, and how to apply. https://phh.tbe.taleo.net/phh04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=ERT&cws=… Best, -- Rebeccah A. Hazelkorn Protected Resources Division NOAA, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Office: 727-551-5751 Cell: 941-724-3906

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