September 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Invitation to publish your research on Risks, Threats, and Conservation Status of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Black Seas
by Morgana Vighi 09 Sep '21

09 Sep '21

Dear MARMAM colleagues, on behalf of my colleagues co-editors of the new Research Topic *Risks, Threats, and Conservation Status of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Black Seas*, of the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, we would like to invite any interested contributor to submit their research at: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/22037/risks-threats-and-conserv… We’re putting together a group of top researchers whose work we’d like to feature in this collection. The submission deadline for abstracts is September 30th, 2021, while for full manuscripts the deadline is on January 31st, 2022. Hosted by Frontiers in Marine Science, this is a unique opportunity for us to collaborate and to showcase your research. We look forward to working together on this exciting project. Kind Regards, Morgana vighi, on behalf of The Topic Editorial Team Marine Megafauna Section, Frontiers in Marine Science: • Roberto Carlucci - University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy • Antonella Arcangeli - Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Rome, Italy • Pauline Gauffier - Museu da Baleia da Madeira, Caniçal, Portugal • Aylin Akkaya - Marine Mammals Research Association, Antalya, Turkey • Sandro Mazzariol - University of Padua, Padua, Italy • Morgana Vighi - Consultant, Barcelona, Spain • Léa DAVID - EcoOcéan Institut, Montpellier, France __________ https://research-topic-management-app.frontiersin.org/manage/contributor-co… Submission deadline: 31 January 2022 All submitted articles are peer reviewed. Article processing charges are applied to all published articles. • See if your institution has a payment plan with us. (see here: https://www.frontiersin.org/about/institutional-membership ) • Find out about applying for fee support (see here https://www.frontiersin.org/about/publishing-fees#feesupport ) Please let us know if you don’t wish to participate this time: https://research-topic-management-app.frontiersin.org/manage/contributor-de… About Frontiers in Marine Science Finding ocean-based solutions to solve global challenges including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Led by Field Chief Editor Carlos M. Duarte, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, our journal is the fourth most-cited in its field. More than 3,500 articles by 16,000 authors have received 14 million views and 13,000 citations. Impact Factor: 4.912 (as reported in the Journal Citation Reports by Web of Science) CiteScore: 5 (as reported in Scopus by Elsevier) About Research Topics Frontiers’ Research Topics multidisciplinary article collections bringing together leading experts in the field. Designed for impact, these collections are highly cited and widely read by researchers across the world. Find out more about Research Topics (see https://www.frontiersin.org/about/research-topics)

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Sarasota Dolphin Research Program Internships - Deadline Oct 1st!
by Katie McHugh 09 Sep '21

09 Sep '21

*Sarasota Dolphin Research Program Internships* The Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP), based at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, conducts the world’s longest-running study of a dolphin population. The program’s primary goal is to contribute to a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of populations of small cetaceans, as well as the natural and anthropogenic factors that impact them. The SDRP uses an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach in conducting studies of bottlenose dolphins within Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Naples/Marco Island, and the Gulf of Mexico coastal waters. For more information about the SDRP, please visit:<http://www.sarasotadolphin.org>www.sarasotadolphin.org <http://www.sarasotadolphin.org>. Starting with the Winter 2022 season, the SDRP will select volunteer interns through the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) during three seasons: * Winter (positions January to April, applications due to CZS by October 1st); * Summer (positions mid-May to August, applications due to CZS by February 11th); * Fall (positions September to December, applications due to CZS by June 1st). All internships must be a minimum of 10 weeks of participation, but ideally will run for 12-16 weeks. Please note that we typically only seek 2-4 interns for each session and that we receive many more applications than we have openings – the selection process is very competitive.Successful candidates will participate in the following research projects: 1)*Dolphin population monitoring project**:*(/YEAR ROUND/) This study monitors the resident bottlenose dolphin community in Sarasota Bay and vicinity. Duties in the field will include assisting with boat-based photographic identification surveys for dolphin groups during one to two weeks per month. Behavioral, location, individual, and environmental data will be recorded for each dolphin group, and additional data related to human-dolphin interactions will also be collected in conjunction with this project. While in the lab (at least 2 weeks per month), work will generally involve photo-identification of dolphins, computer data entry and double-checking, logging of videos into database and archives, dolphin dorsal fin identification catalog updates, boat and field equipment maintenance, and other duties. 2) *Dolphin prey and habitat use project**:* (/JAN-MAR & JUN-SEPT ONLY/) This study uses the Sarasota dolphin community and fish populations to study relationships between distributions of dolphins and their prey and factors that affect fish community ecology, such as red tide. While in the field, work will involve sampling of fish communities through purse seining techniques and collection of other environmental data. Interns typically participate in this project 2-3 days per month. 3)*Other projects* (/TBD/) Interns may participate in other research projects, depending on availability and timing of grant funding for specific projects.Interns may also be asked to assist with dolphin rescues. Interns should expect to spend about 20% of their time in the field, and about 80% of their time in the lab working with data, or performing equipment maintenance. There is no financial compensation for these internship positions, and successful applicants will be responsible for their own living and transportation expenses. Shared housing opportunities near Mote Marine Laboratory may be available. Applicants would ideally have the following qualifications: * Minimum of 18 years of age and engaged in or recently completed undergraduate or graduate studies; * A background or degree in marine biology, biology, ecology, zoology, wildlife, fisheries, or a related field; * Basic computer proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (especially Excel and Access); * Excellent verbal communication skills, fluent in English; * Must be physically fit and able to swim; * Must be able to work effectively as part of a team; * Some prior field research experience preferred but not required; * Enthusiasm and desire to learn a variety of field and lab based research methods; * A willingness to spend a minimum of 10-12 weeks working full time as a volunteer with our program. ** *To apply for a Sarasota Dolphin Research Program internship, interested persons should:* 1) Fill out an application form on the Chicago Zoological Society’s internship website (https://www.czs.org/SDRPinternships <https://www.czs.org/SDRPinternships>) 2) Complete and provide to CZS all required application materials including: a statement of interest, resume or CV, two letters of recommendation, and a current college transcript/. /Materials should be submitted via the appropriate links within the “Application Steps” section of this page <https://www.czs.org/Centers-of-Excellence/Center-for-Conservation-Leadershi…> (incomplete applications will not be considered) 3) Send an email to SDRP Intern Coordinator (Katie McHugh, _kmchugh(a)mote.org_) stating your name, contact information, exact dates and duration of availability, where you learned about the internship opportunity (/e.g. /Mote, SDRP, Chicago Zoological Society, MARMAM, etc.), and that you have provided all application materials to the CZS intern office, as detailed above. Only those applications received by the deadline will be reviewed. Applicants may contact Katie McHugh (kmchugh(a)mote.org <mailto:TUkmchugh@mote.orgUT>) in the SDRP with any questions. Applicants applying because of an interest in engaging in graduate studies with the SDRP should discuss their interests with Program Director Randall Wells, PhD, upon acceptance into the program.There is no assurance that participation as an intern with the SDRP will lead to graduate research program opportunities. -- ************************************ Katherine McHugh Staff Scientist Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program c/o Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34236 (650) 400-2776 cell kmchugh(a)mote.org ************************************

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SHUSH: effects of underwater anthropogenic sounds, solution for mitigation and policies
by Olivier Adam 09 Sep '21

09 Sep '21

Dear Marmam colleagues, The symposium SHUSH, organized by Sorbonne University and Ocean Ambassadors, will show 3 topics about the underwater anthropogenic sounds : * Effects on the marine biodiversity * Solution for mitigations * Current and future national and internation policies It will be on line next Monday, Sept 13, from 9:30am to 4:30 pm (French time UTC+2) Free inscription on https://oceanambassadors.co.uk/events/2021/9/13/noise-in-the-ocean Here is the program of this special day: Session #1: effects of underwater anthropogenic sounds 9:50 - 10:10: Olivier Adam (Sorbonne University, France): "effects of sounds on cetacean species" 10:10 - 10:30: Heleen Middel (NTNU, UK): "Underwater noise and cetaceans in the North Sea" 10:30 - 10:50: Paul Nguyen (Carleton University, Canada): "project Osmose : big data, annotation and analysis of underwater soundscapes" Session #2: effects of underwater anthropogenic sounds 11:00 - 11:20: Hervé Glotin (CNRS LIS, University of Toulon, France): "SABIOD: Online or Offline Deep Learning for Bioacoustic and Anthropophonic Scaled Observatories" 11:20 - 11:40: Orla Robinson (Port of Vancouver, Canada): "Program ECHO: protection of orcas from risks of commercial ships" 11:40 - 12:00: Nadège Gandilhon (France): "Industrial ports and noise" Session #3: Solutions for noise mitigation 13:30 - 13:50: Eric Baudin (Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, France): "A classification society contribution to regulatory framework" 13:50 - 14:10: Damien Demoor (Greenov, France): "Mitigation of Reduction of the negative impact on the ecosystems from underwater noise generated by industrial ports and coastal developments" 14:10 - 14:30: Laura Williamson (Ocean Science Consulting Limited, UK): "Ecosystem modeling" 14:30 - 14:50: Brandon Southall (Sea-Inc, UK): "Mitigation the underwater anthropic noise" Session #4: Policies and regulation 15:00 - 15:20: Nicolas Entrup (OceanCare, Switzerland): "Future perspective of noise mitigation" 15:20 - 15:40: Michael Jasny (NRDC, USA): "American policies" 15:40 - 16:00: Tom Smith (British Maritime Tech Group / University College London) Kind regards, Olivier ADAM Professor Sorbonne University, Paris, France olivier.adam(a)sorbonne-universite.fr <mailto:olivier.adam@sorbonne-universite.fr> -- L'absence de virus dans ce courrier électronique a été vérifiée par le logiciel antivirus Avast. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Launch of the Marine Mammal Atlas of Oman
by CmsOffice.ae 09 Sep '21

09 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share the launch of the Marine Mammal Atlas of Oman. This full-colour reference book is the culmination of 20 years of scientific research, providing a thorough geographical representation of the whales and dolphins that call the Northern Indian Ocean their home. Making an important contribution to the understanding of Oman's unique marine and coastal wildlife, the Atlas offers a rare insight into Oman's 20 species of cetaceans. The Atlas is available to download from ESO's website- (click here to download<http://www.eso.org.om/index/images/file/2021-08/MarineMammal_2_.pdf>) ESO will be hosting a public event to celebrate the launch of the atlas on Monday 20th September 2021 at 5:00pm (Muscat time) and ESO would like to invite you to join. For attendance, please register at the following link: https://form.123formbuilder.com/5987682//<https://form.123formbuilder.com/5987682/> Best regards, [cid:image001.png@01D7A583.49DBCF40] CMS Dugong MOU Secretariat Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MOU) Convention on Migratory Species Office - Abu Dhabi * United Nations Environment Programme c/o Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi * PO Box 45553 * Abu Dhabi * United Arab Emirates www.cms.int/dugong<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cms.in…> * www.dugongseagrass.org<http://www.dugongseagrass.org/> * @DugongHub

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Right Whale Ecology Habitat Internship - Provincetown, MA USA
by Stephanie Richardson 08 Sep '21

08 Sep '21

Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) Right Whale Ecology Program – Habitat Internship The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), a nonprofit institution dedicated to the understanding and protection of our coastal environment and marine ecosystems, is seeking a seasonal Right Whale Ecology Program intern from January 04 - May 27, 2022. This long-term project focuses on documenting the abundance, distribution, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales and their food resource in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent Massachusetts waters. The intern will assist the habitat research associate in the collection and processing of zooplankton in the field and lab. Fieldwork responsibilities include zooplankton collection through tow and pump techniques, marine observer, and environmental data collector. Lab responsibilities include zooplankton species identification and counts, plastics analysis, archiving samples, data entry and maintenance, and maintaining field equipment. Minimum Requirements - A college degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences - Good memorization skills and strong attention to details - Basic computer literacy and experience using Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience with database entry and management is preferred - Experience working on boats, ability to withstand harsh elements, and not be prone to serious seasickness - Must be able to live and work well in a team - Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab-based research methods - Ability to work well under pressure Preferred Qualifications: - Plankton identification - Microscopy and laboratory experience - Not prone to seasickness - A valid US driver’s license The successful applicant will be required to work a minimum of four full days per week and will need to be flexible for research cruises due to weather constrictions. The intern will often process zooplankton samples independently in the lab, thus responsible, detail-oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be available for the full five months and must be willing to work weekends, holidays and evenings as needed. Housing will be provided, as well as a small stipend to cover general living expenses. International applicants must secure their own visas or other required documentation. CCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale and Cape Cod Bay has been a major critical habitat for over 50% of the estimated population in recent years. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand their skills in marine mammal survey techniques and zooplankton analysis; and will offer the successful applicant the unique chance to work with one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans. This internship will afford the successful applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established institution, with highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in boat-based research, zooplankton and environmental collections, plankton identification, plastic analysis, and data entry and analysis. Details of our work can be found on our website: http://coastalstudies.org/right-whale-research/ How to Apply: The application package should include the following attachment(s): 1) A cover letter describing your specific interests in marine mammal science, internship qualifications, and how the experience would assist you in reaching career goals 2) CV/resume 3) College transcripts (unofficial are sufficient) 4) The names and contact information of two references Application materials must be e-mailed in PDF format to: *employment(a)coastalstudies.org* with the following text in the subject line: *2022 RW habitat internship*. *Deadline for submissions: October 1st, 2022.* -- Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager Center for Coastal Studies 5 Holway Avenue Provincetown, MA 02657 t. (508) 487-3622 Ext. 113 Office Hours: Monday and Thursday 9:00-12:00

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New publication: Abundance estimates of three cetacean species in the coastal waters of Matang, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia
by Vivian Kuit 08 Sep '21

08 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our latest publication: Kuit, S.H., Ponnampalam, L.S., Hammond, P., Chong, V.C., & Then, A.Y. (2021). Abundance estimates of three cetacean species in the coastal waters of Matang, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi:10.1002/aqc.3699 Abstract: The paucity of baseline data on coastal cetaceans due to a lack of research in developing countries frequently precludes assessment of their status and informed management actions for conservation. This study provides the first abundance estimates of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins, and Indo-Pacific finless porpoises in the coastal waters of Matang, Peninsular Malaysia. Boat-based surveys covering 1,152 km2 of coastal waters with 4,108 km of survey effort were conducted between 2013 and 2016 to collect data for line transect analysis of Irrawaddy dolphins and finless porpoises. Photo-identification data of humpback dolphins were concurrently collected for mark–recapture analysis. Estimates of abundance from four sampling strata totalled 763 Irrawaddy dolphins (CV = 13%, 95% confidence interval (CI) [588, 990]) and 600 Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (CV = 27%, 95% CI [354, 1,016]). The annual abundance estimates of humpback dolphins ranged between 171 (95% CI [148, 208]) in 2014–2015 and 81 (95% CI [67, 98]) in 2015–2016, likely due to the presence of offshore individuals that moved in and out of the study area. The estuarine strata were inhabited by 68 (95% CI [63, 73]) inshore humpback dolphins in 2013–2014 to 87 (95% CI [78, 97]) dolphins in 2014–2015. As an International Union for Conservation of Nature important marine mammal area, the productive coastal waters of Matang are shown to support a high density of small coastal cetaceans, and the results serve as an important baseline for future studies to identify population trends for conservation management plans. This publication can be found at this link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.3699 (Early View). Please contact me at vivianshkuit(a)gmail.com if you would like a PDF copy. Best regards, Vivian Kuit MareCet Research Organization

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New publications: Humpback whale call repertoire on a northeastern Newfoundland foraging ground; Allopatric humpback whales of differing generations share call types between foraging and wintering grounds
by Mikala Epp 08 Sep '21

08 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share the publication of two new manuscripts: Epp, M. V., Fournet, M. E. H., & Davoren, G. K. (2021). Humpback whale call repertoire on a northeastern Newfoundland foraging ground. Marine Mammal Science, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12859 Abstract: Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a highly vocal baleen whale species with a diverse acoustic repertoire. “Song” has been well studied, while discrete “calls” have been described in a limited number of regions. We aimed to quantitatively describe calls from coastal Newfoundland, Canada, where foraging humpback whales aggregate during the summer. Recordings were made in July–August 2015 and 2016. Extracted calls were assigned to call types using aural/visual (AV) characteristics, and then agreement between quantitative acoustic parameters and qualitative call assignments was assessed using a supervised random forest (RF) analysis. The RF classified calls well (96% agreement) into three broad classes (high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), pulsed (P)), but agreement for call types within classes was lower (LF: 63%; P: 85%; HF: 81%). We found support for a repertoire of 13 call types based on either high (≥70%) RF agreement (9 call types) or high (≥70%) AV agreement between two observers (4 call types). Five call types (swops, droplets, teepees, growls and whups) were qualitatively similar to call types from other regions. We propose that the variable classification agreement is reflective of the graded nature of humpback whale calls and present a gradation model to demonstrate the suggested continuum. Epp, M. V., Fournet, M. E. H., Silber, G. K., & Davoren, G. K. (2021). Allopatric humpback whales of differing generations share call types between foraging and wintering grounds. Scientific Reports, 11, 16297. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95601-7 Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a cosmopolitan baleen whale species with geographically isolated lineages. Despite last sharing an ancestor ~ 2–3 million years ago, Atlantic and Pacific foraging populations share five call types. Whether these call types are also shared between allopatric breeding and foraging populations is unclear, but would provide further evidence that some call types are ubiquitous and fixed. We investigated whether these five call types were present on a contemporary foraging ground (Newfoundland, 2015–2016) and a historic breeding ground (Hawaii, 1981–1982). Calls were classified using aural/visual (AV) characteristics; 16 relevant acoustic variables were measured and a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to examine within-call and between-population variation. To assess whether between-population variation influenced classification, all 16 variables were included in classification and regression tree (CART) and random forest analyses (RF). All five call types were identified in both populations. Between-population variation in combined acoustic variables (PC1, PC2, PC3) was lower within call types than among call types, and high agreement between AV and quantitative classification (CART: 83% agreement; RF: 77% agreement) suggested that acoustic characteristics were more similar within than among call types. Findings indicate that these five call types are shared across allopatric populations, generations, and behavioural contexts. Please contact me (eppm34(a)myumanitoba.ca<mailto:eppm34@myumanitoba.ca>) for a pdf of the Marine Mammal Science article or with any questions about this work. The Scientific Reports article is open access and is available here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95601-7 -------------------- Mikala Epp, MSc Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba

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New paper: Global cultural evolutionary model of humpback whale song
by Ellen Garland 08 Sep '21

08 Sep '21

Dear Colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B: Zandberg L, Lachlan RF, Lamoni L, Garland EC. 2021 Global cultural evolutionary model of humpback whale song. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 376: 20200242. Humpback whale song is an extraordinary example of vocal cultural behaviour. In northern populations, the complex songs show long-lasting traditions that slowly evolve, while in the South Pacific, periodic revolutions occur when songs are adopted from neighbouring populations and rapidly spread. In this species, vocal learning cannot be studied in the laboratory, learning is instead inferred from the songs’ complexity and patterns of transmission. Here, we used individual-based cultural evolutionary simulations of the entire Southern and Northern Hemisphere humpback whale populations to formalize this process of inference. We modelled processes of song mutation and patterns of contact among populations and compared our model with patterns of song theme sharing measured in South Pacific populations. Low levels of mutation in combination with rare population interactions were sufficient to closely fit the pattern of diversity in the South Pacific, including the distinctive pattern of west-to-east revolutions. Interestingly, the same learning parameters that gave rise to revolutions in the Southern Hemisphere simulations gave rise to evolutionary patterns of cultural evolution in the Northern Hemisphere populations. Our study demonstrates how cultural evolutionary approaches can be used to make inferences about the learning processes underlying cultural transmission and how they might generate emergent population-level processes. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’. The paper is freely available here: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0242 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lies Zandberg (elisabeth.zandberg(a)rhul.ac.uk<mailto:elisabeth.zandberg@rhul.ac.uk>) or myself (ecg5(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:ecg5@st-andrews.ac.uk>). Kind regards, Ellen ----------------------------------------------------- Ellen C. Garland, Ph.D. Royal Society University Research Fellow Member RSE Young Academy of Scotland Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Scottish Oceans Institute School of Biology University of St Andrews Fife, KY16 8LB, UK Ph: +44 (0)1334-46-3620 Ph: +44 (0)7478-649964 Email: ecg5(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:ecg5@st-andrews.ac.uk> WWW: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/biology/people/ecg5 Twitter: @EllenGarland4 ----------------------------------------------------- The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland: No SC013532

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recent publication _ playbacks in cetaceans
by Charlotte Curé 08 Sep '21

08 Sep '21

Dear Marmam colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication entitled "Friend or foe: Risso's dolphins eavesdrop on conspecific sounds to induce or avoid intra-specific interaction", recently published in Animal Cognition. I’ll be pleased to send you a pdf copy of the paper on request. Find below the abstract. Kind regards, Charlotte Curé PhD, Researcher in Bioacoustics at UMRAE (Cerema-Univ. Gustave Eiffel, FRANCE) charlotte.cure(a)cerema.fr Abstract The detection and use of emitters' signals by unintended receivers, i.e., eavesdropping, represents an important and often low-cost way for animals to gather information from their environment. Acoustic eavesdropping can be a key driver in mediating intra- and interspecific interactions (e.g., cooperation, predator-prey systems), specifically in species such as cetaceans that use sound as a primary sensory modality. While most cetacean species produce context-specific sounds, little is known about the use of those sounds by potential conspecific eavesdroppers. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that a social cetacean, Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), is able to gather biologically relevant information by eavesdropping on conspecific sounds. We conducted playback experiments on free-ranging dolphins using three context-specific sounds stimuli and monitored their horizontal movement using visual or airborne focal follow observations. We broadcasted natural sequences of conspecific foraging sounds potentially providing an attractive dinner bell signal (n = 7), male social sounds simulating a risk of forthcoming agonistic interaction (n = 7) and female-calf social sounds representing no particularly threatening context (n = 7). We developed a quantitative movement response score and tested whether animals changed their direction of horizontal movement towards or away from the playback source. Dolphins approached the foraging and the social female-calf sounds whereas they avoided the social male sounds. Hence, by acoustically eavesdropping on conspecifics, dolphins can discriminate between social and behavioural contexts and anticipate potential threatening or beneficial situations. Eavesdropping and the ensuing classification of 'friend or foe' can thus shape intra-specific social interactions in cetaceans. Keywords: Cetacean; Communication; Conspecific sounds; Eavesdropping; Horizontal movement response; Playback experiments.

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New publication on Weddell and crabeater seal breeding habitat and climate change impacts in the Weddell Sea
by Mia Wege 08 Sep '21

08 Sep '21

Dear MARMAMMers, My colleagues and I are pleased to announce our latest publication in Global Change Biology: Wege, M., Salas, L., LaRue, M. (2021) Ice matters: Life‐history strategies of two Antarctic seals dictate climate change eventualities in the Weddell Sea. Global Change Biology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.15828 *Abstract:* The impacts of climate change in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are not uni- form and ice- obligate species with dissimilar life- history characteristics will likely re- spond differently to their changing ecosystems. We use a unique data set of Weddell *Leptonychotes weddellii *and crabeater seals' (CESs) *Lobodon carcinophaga* breeding season distribution in the Weddell Sea, determined from satellite imagery. We con- trast the theoretical climate impacts on both ice- obligate predators who differ in life- history characteristics: CESs are highly specialized Antarctic krill* Euphausia superba* predators and breed in the seasonal pack ice; Weddell seals (WESs) are generalist predators and breed on comparatively stable fast ice. We used presence– absence data and a suite of remotely sensed environmental variables to build habitat models. Each of the environmental predictors is multiplied by a ‘climate change score’ based on known responses to climate change to create a ‘change importance product’. Results show CESs are more sensitive to climate change than WESs. Crabeater seals prefer to breed close to krill, and the compounding effects of changing sea ice concentra- tions and sea surface temperatures, the proximity to krill and abundance of stable breeding ice, can influence their post- breeding foraging success and ultimately their future breeding success. But in contrast to the Ross Sea, here WESs prefer to breed closer to larger colonies of emperor penguins (*Aptenodytes forsteri*). This suggests that the Weddell Sea may currently be prey- abundant, allowing the only two air- breathing Antarctic silverfish predators (*Pleuragramma antarctica*) (WESs and emperor penguins) to breed closer to each other. This is the first basin- scale, region- specific comparison of breeding season habitat in these two key Antarctic predators based on real- world data to compare climate change responses. This work shows that broad- brush, basin- scale approaches to understanding species- specific responses to climate change are not always appropriate, and regional models are needed— especially when designing marine protected areas. All the best, Mia -- Mia Wege, PhD Claude Leon Postdoctoral Fellow Marion Island Marine Mammal Programme Department of Zoology & Entomology University of Pretoria +27 (0)78 002 3951 mia.wege(a)gmail.com www.drmiawege.com

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