October 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

NMFS Job opportunity deadline extension
by Rebeccah Hazelkorn - NOAA Federal 27 Oct '22

27 Oct '22

The deadline to apply for the Large Whale Recovery Coordinator and Small Cetacean Conservation Coordinator position has been extended to Nov 4th. Details of the job, previously posted, are as follows: The Direct Hire Announcement for *Natural Resources Specialists, ZP-0401-3/4 * has been posted. *Two positions* with the National Marine Fisheries Southeast Regional Office will be filled from this announcement, with one in St. Petersburg/Jacksonville, FL, Brunswick/Savannah, GA, and one in Saint Petersburg, FL The selected "Large Whale Recovery Coordinator" will work with state and federal agencies, academics, and other organizations to coordinate recovery of ESA listed whales in the Southeast (e.g., North Atlantic right whales, Rice's whales, sperm whales). The selected "Small Cetacean Conservation Coordinator" will work with state and federal agencies, academics, and other partners/organizations to coordinate conservation of MMPA protected small cetaceans in the Southeast (e.g., bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales). The announcement: *https://www.usajobs.gov/job/685029200 <https://www.usajobs.gov/job/685029200>* will be open for *7 days*, from *10/24/22-10/31/22 **Extended to 11/4/22*** Please circulate to qualified candidates who can assist us with: - Recommending effective conservation activities to support sustainable fisheries and minimize adverse effects on protected species and critical habitats - Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with counterparts, scientists, government partners and constituents. - Serving as an independent regional expert and point of contact (POC) management needs, communicating information to leadership, training staff in areas of expertise, collaborating to identify annual priorities, and providing technical guidance. - Reviewing, gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing scientific data and technical information to determine environmental impacts on biological resources and aquatic habitats. - Writing biological and regulatory documents required under Federal environmental laws and processes. - Developing natural resource plans, management strategies, or impact assessments with corresponding conservation measures. - Coordinating the completion of scientific, technical or regulatory work among interdisciplinary or inter-organizational groups. - Preparing reports and making presentations conveying technical information to a wide variety of audiences including the general public. *Note: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.* Feel free to contact Laura Engleby with any questions at laura.engleby(a)noaa.com -- 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

1 0

Special Issue on western gray whales and seismic surveys
by Glenn Gailey 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of the authors and co-authors, we are pleased to announce the publication of a special issue on western gray whales and seismic operations in the journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. The issue is dedicated to Rodger Melton who was instrumental towards establishing a long-term western gray whale research program off Sakhalin Island, Russia as well as mitigation and monitoring measures to minimize the impacts from oil and gas operations in the area. The issue summarizes the mitigation and monitoring approaches taken and assesses the impacts of seismic surveys that occurred near the gray whales feeding grounds off Sakhalin. The issue is open access and available online at https://link.springer.com/journal/10661/volumes-and-issues/194-1/supplement. Below are the individual papers. Streever, B. Western gray whales and seismic operations: an introduction to the topical selection and a tribute to the late Rodger Melton. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 747 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10056-1 Aerts, L., Jenkerson, M.R., Nechayuk, V.E., Gailey, G, Racca, R., Blanchard, A.L., Schwartz, L.K., & Melton, H.R. Seismic surveys near gray whale feeding areas off Sakhalin Island, Russia: assessing impact and mitigation effectiveness. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 746 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10016-9 Rutenko, A.N., Zykov, M.M., Gritsenko, V.A., Fershalov, M.Y., Jenkerson, M.R., Racca, R. & Nechayuk, V.E. Real-time acoustic monitoring with telemetry to mitigate potential effects of seismic survey sounds on marine mammals: a case study offshore Sakhalin Island. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 745 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10019-6 Rutenko, A.N., Zykov, M.M., Gritsenko, V.A., Fershalov, M.Y., Jenkerson, M.R., Manulchev, D.S., Racca, R. & Nechayuk, V.E.*.* Acoustic monitoring and analyses of air gun, pile driving, vessel, and ambient sounds during the 2015 seismic surveys on the Sakhalin shelf. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 744 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10021-y Blanchard, A.L., Demchenko, N.L., Aerts, L.A.M. Yazvenko, S.B. Ivin, V.V. & Shcherbakov, I.A.*.* Benthic studies adjacent to Sakhalin Island, Russia, 2015 I: benthic biomass and community structure in the nearshore gray whale feeding area. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 743 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10017-8 Maresh, J.L., Blanchard, A.L., Demchenko, N.L., Shcherbakov, I., Aerts, L. & Schwartz, L.K.*.* Benthic studies adjacent to Sakhalin Island, Russia, 2015 II: energy content of the zoobenthos in western gray whale feeding grounds. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 742 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10020-z Blanchard, A.L., Ainsworth, L., Gailey, G., Demchenko, N.L. & Shcherbakov, I.A*.* Benthic studies adjacent to Sakhalin Island, Russia 2015 III: benthic energy density spatial models in the nearshore gray whale feeding area. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 741 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10018-7 Gailey, G., Sychenko, O., Zykov, M., Rutenko, A., Blanchard, A. & Melton, R.H. Western gray whale behavioral response to seismic surveys during their foraging season. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 740 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10023-w Gailey, G., Zykov, M., Sychenko, O., Rutenko, A., Blanchard, A.L., Aerts, L. & Melton, R.H. Gray whale density during seismic surveys near their Sakhalin feeding ground. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 739 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10025-8 Schwarz, L.K., Gailey, G., Tyurneva, O., Yakovlev, Y., Sychenko, O. van der Wolf, P. & Vertyankin, V.V. Western gray whales on their summer feeding ground off Sakhalin Island in 2015: who is foraging where? *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 738 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10022-x Schwarz, L., McHuron, E., Mangel, M., Gailey, G. & Sychenko, O*.* Gray whale habitat use and reproductive success during seismic surveys near their feeding grounds: comparing state-dependent life history models and field data. *Environ Monit Assess* *194* (Suppl 1), 733 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10024-9

1 0

New publication on in vitro digestion in dodontocetes
by Dähne Michael Dr. 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Dear colleagues, our co-authors and we are excited to share with you our new publication in Biology Open. We adapted in vitro digestion experiments and investigated the potential influence of motoric movement on the digestion process in odontocetes. The paper is available open-access at: https://journals.biologists.com/bio/article-lookup/doi/10.1242/bio.059440 In vitro forestomach digestion experiments give less-baised estimates of food composition in odontocetes Authors: Klemens, L.; Neven, C.J; Bär, T.; Krumme, U.; Dähne, M. Abstract: Diet composition of odontocetes is usually inferred from stomach content analyses and accounts for digestion rates derived from in vitro digestion experiments based on seal physiology. However, pinnipeds, being carnivores, have only one stomach compartment, while odontocetes, being cetartiodactyla, have up to four. Inappropriate extrapolation from digestion processes in simulated seal stomachs may result in biased estimates of odontocete diets. We simulated a forestomach accounting for muscle contractions and a pH=4 using in vitro experiments with three fish species. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus), black goby (Gobius niger) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) showed highly variable exponential, sigmoid or linear digestion functions, and high digestion rates, taking between 50 and 230 min for completed digestion. Previous pinniped models (pH=2, lacking simulated muscular digestion) showed much slower and more similar digestion process. Our results suggest that present biomass intake estimates of odontocetes are biased towards bigger and fattier fish and need to be revised in general. Please, do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions. Best wishes, Lisa and Michael (on behalf of all co-authors)

1 0

Environmental Scientist in St. Petersburg, FL
by Jessica Powell - NOAA Federal 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Job opportunity for an Environmental Scientist in St. Petersburg, FL. This is a contract position through ERT, Inc. to support a wide range of goals and responsibilities for NOAA's Southeast Regional Office's Marine Mammal Branch and Protected Resources Division. For more information, please see the job description here <https://phh.tbe.taleo.net/phh04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=ERT&cws=…>. Please direct any additional questions or inquiries to ERT, Inc. Jessica R. Powell, M.S. Biologist National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-824-5327 jessica.powell(a)noaa.gov

1 0

New publication: Decadal migration phenology of a long-lived Arctic icon keeps pace with climate change
by Courtney Shuert 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Dear Colleagues, My co-authors and I are happy to share our new publication outlining climate-driven shifts in the migration phenology of narwhal in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Shuert CR, Marcoux M, Hussey NE, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Dietz R, Auger-Méthé M. (2022) Decadal Migration Phenology of a Long-Lived Arctic Icon Keeps Pace with Climate Change. PNAS 119(45):e2121092119. Our paper is available at: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2121092119 Abstract Animals migrate in response to seasonal environments, to reproduce, to benefit from resource pulses, or to avoid fluctuating hazards. Although climate change is predicted to modify migration, only a few studies to date have demonstrated phenological shifts in marine mammals. In the Arctic, marine mammals are considered among the most sensitive to ongoing climate change due to their narrow habitat preferences and long life spans. Longevity may prove an obstacle for species to evolutionarily respond. For species that exhibit high site fidelity and strong associations with migration routes, adjusting the timing of migration is one of the few recourses available to respond to a changing climate. Here, we demonstrate evidence of significant delays in the timing of narwhal autumn migrations with satellite tracking data spanning 21 y from the Canadian Arctic. Measures of migration phenology varied annually and were explained by sex and climate drivers associated with ice conditions, suggesting that narwhals are adopting strategic migration tactics. Male narwhals were found to lead the migration out of the summering areas, while females, potentially with dependent young, departed later. Narwhals are remaining longer in their summer areas at a rate of 10 d per decade, a similar rate to that observed for climate-driven sea ice loss across the region. The consequences of altered space use and timing have yet to be evaluated but will expose individuals to increasing natural changes and anthropogenic activities on the summering areas. Best wishes, Courtney Shuert cshuert(a)gmail.com

1 0

2 PhD positions open at the University of Siena
by Cristina Panti 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Dear MARMAM members, We are writing since we open two positions for two PhD students in our lab to focus on the following topics: Development of diagnostic methodologies to assess the presence and effects of emerging contaminants and multiple stresses on marine ecosystems and biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea (in particular marine mammals). Among the research topic: - Analysis of emerging contaminants: plastics additives, Drugs, etc. - Analysis of biological responses: Omics and Molecular Biology techniques. Ecotoxicological investigations on endangered species. We are looking for a person who has a molecular biology background or an analytical chemistry background (mainly interested in marine mammals and endangered species but not only). The deadline is quite close (11 November), more details in the attached file (focus on Annex 8). Thanks for your help! Regards, Cristina Panti and Maria Cristina ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> Cristina Panti, PhD Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences University of Siena Via P.A. Mattioli, 4 53100, Siena Italy Ph. +39 0577 232245 Fax. +39 0577 232930 https://plasticbustersmpas.interreg-med.eu/ https://www.unisi.it/

1 0

New publication: Toothed Whales Have Black Neurons in the Blue Spot
by Simona Sacchini 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are happy to share our new open-access publication in Veterinary Sciences. Sacchini, S.; Fernández, A.; Mompeó, B.; Ramírez, R.; Arbelo, M.; Holgersen, U.; Quesada-Canales, O.; Castro-Alonso, A.; Andrada, M. Toothed Whales Have Black Neurons in the Blue Spot. Vet. Sci. 2022, 9, 525. The paper is available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/10/525 Abstract: Neuromelanin (NM) is a dark polymer pigment that is located mostly in the human substantia nigra, and in the locus ceruleus, referred to as “the blue spot”. NM increases linearly with age, and has been described mainly in the human brain; however, it also occurs in the neurons of monkeys, horses, giraffes, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, rats, and even in frogs. While in most of these mammals NM shows the histochemical and ultrastructural features typical of lipofuscins, human NM is confined within cytoplasmic organelles that are surrounded by a double membrane, suggesting an autophagic origin. In a study on the morphology of the locus ceruleus of the family Delphinidae, the presence of a variable quantity of NM in the interior of locus ceruleus neurons was observed for the first time; meanwhile, nothing is known about its ultrastructure and composition. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated in two toothed whales—an Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis; family Delphinidae) and a Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris; family Ziphiidae)—the presence of melanin granules associated with lipid droplets and membranes that were very similar to that of human NM. The relationship between NM and neuronal vulnerability must be studied in depth, and cetaceans may offer a new natural-spontaneous comparative model for the study of NM and its implication in neurodegenerative diseases. These findinings widen the knowledge about neuromelanin in the toothed whales, described for the first time in our previous work on the locus coeruelus complex: Sacchini, S., Arbelo, M., Bombardi, C. et al. Locus coeruleus complex of the family Delphinidae. Sci Rep 8, 5486 (2018), available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-23827-z If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: simona.sacchini(a)ulpgc.es All the best, Simona Sacchini Centro Atlántico de Investigación de Cetáceos Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal y Seguridad Alimentaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Simona Sacchini Profesora Contratada Doctora Departamento de Morfología - Anatomía y Embriología Humana Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ________________________________ tel. 928451477 simona.sacchini(a)ulpgc.es www.ulpgc.es ORCID 0000-0001-6493-1275 ________________________________ EDIFICIO CIENCIAS DE LA SALUD C/ BLAS CABRERA FELIPE S/N 35016 · LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA · SPAIN [Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]

1 0

New publication: Beaked whale genomics
by Aubrie Onoufriou 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Hi all, My co-authors and I are excited to share our new publication in Global Ecology and Conservation, where we have investigated the hierarchical genomic population structure of Cuvier’s and Blainville’s beaked whales using ddRAD and whole mitogenome sequencing. Our paper is available open-access at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02308. Kind regards, Aubrie Onoufriou aubrieonoufriou(a)gmail.com Title: “Biogeography in the deep: Hierarchical population genomic structure of two beaked whale species” Authors: Aubrie B. Onoufriou, Oscar E. Gaggiotti, Natacha Aguilar de Soto, Morten T. Olsen, Morgan L. McCarthy, Phillip A. Morin, Massimiliano Rosso, Merel Dalebout, Nicholas Davison, Robin W. Baird, C. Scott Baker, Simon Berrow, Andrew Brownlow, Daniel Burns, Florence Caurant, Diane Claridge, Rochelle Constantine, Fabien Demaret, Sascha Dreyer, Martina Ðuras, John Durban, Alexandros Frantzis, Luis Freitas, Gabrielle Genty, Ana Galov, Sabine S. Hansen, Andrew C. Kitchener, Vidal Martin, Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Valeria Montano, Aurelie Moulins, Carlos Olavarría, M. Michael Poole, Cristel Reyes Suárez, Emer Rogan, Conor Ryan, Agustina Schiavi, Paola Tepsich, Jorge Urban, Kristi West, & Emma L. Carroll Abstract: The deep sea is the largest ecosystem on Earth, yet little is known about the processes driving patterns of genetic diversity in its inhabitants. Here, we investigated the macro- and microevolutionary processes shaping genomic population structure and diversity in two poorly understood, globally distributed, deep-sea predators: Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris). We used double-digest restriction associated DNA (ddRAD) and whole mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequencing to characterise genetic patterns using phylogenetic trees, cluster analysis, isolation-by-distance, genetic diversity and differentiation statistics. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; Blainville’s n = 43 samples, SNPs=13988; Cuvier’s n = 123, SNPs= 30479) and mitogenomes (Blainville’s n = 27; Cuvier’s n = 35) revealed substantial hierarchical structure at a global scale. Both species display significant genetic structure between the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and in Cuvier’s, the Mediterranean Sea. Within major ocean basins, clear differentiation is found between genetic clusters on the east and west sides of the North Atlantic, and some distinct patterns of structure in the Indo-Pacific and Southern Hemisphere. We infer that macroevolutionary processes shaping patterns of genetic diversity include biogeographical barriers, highlighting the importance of such barriers even to highly mobile, deep-diving taxa. The barriers likely differ between the species due to their thermal tolerances and evolutionary histories. On a microevolutionary scale, it seems likely that the balance between resident populations displaying site fidelity, and transient individuals facilitating gene flow, shapes patterns of connectivity and genetic drift in beaked whales. Based on these results, we propose management units to facilitate improved conservation measures for these elusive species.

1 0

The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project
by The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

*Irrawaddy Dolphin Research Internship – Coastal Cambodia * Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) is an NGO based on the island of Koh Ach Seh, in Cambodia's Kep Archipelago. The organisation has many facets, including working to stop illegal fishing practices, ecological and social science research and collecting data to use in the implementation of conservation legislation. In September 2017, MCC introduced The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration. The project's primary aim is to collect data on abundance, distribution and residency to delineate and protect critical habitats for the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin in Cambodia's Kep and Kampot provinces. We are currently looking for dolphin research interns to join the team from now until December 2023! Project activities: - a minimum of 3 observational land surveys per week using a Theodolite and Pythagoras software - a minimum of 1 observational boat survey per week - photo-identification techniques using Discovery software - passive acoustic monitoring using a C-POD and CPOD.exe software - social science techniques - data entry, processing and analysis - education and outreach - running a marine mammal stranding network - scientific writing for peer-reviewed journals and government reports - designing marine mammal legislation Basic internship training schedule Session 1: Introduction to MCC and The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project Session 2: Research method training on observational land and boat surveying techniques Session 3: Marine mammal identification and behaviour training Session 4: Marine vessel identification training Session 5: Data sheet and data entry training Session 6: Drone footage analysis training Session 8: Theory test Session 9: Theodolite introduction and training Session 10: Pythagoras and Theodolite station setting training You will also become involved in other project related activities, depending on your interest, skill set and length of stay. Internship requirements: We are looking for dedicated, motivated and hard-working interns, able to commit for a minimum internship period of one month. Please note, priority will be given to those who can commit to 2 or more months. We are looking for those who will commit to early mornings and late nights, with a keen interest in marine mammals and their conservation. Ideally, we are looking for university students or recent graduates. Project site description: The project is based on the island of Koh Ach Seh, a 40-minute boat trip from Kep Town, Cambodia. The island is inhabited only by MCC, a team made up of a mixture of interdisciplinary international and local staff. The accommodation and facilities on the island are basic but well-maintained. You will be in shared and catered accommodation with fellow interns and staff members. All project related resources are provided. Application process and fees: There is an internship fee associated with this internship, covering: - all food, water, accommodation; - transport to and from the mainland to the project island; - dolphin research training; - scuba diving (if qualified); - and the opportunity to get involved in activities and training at MCC, such as seahorse research or artificial reef management. There are limited spaces available, if interested, please send a CV/resume and covering letter to Rose, stating your available dates and desired length of stay, to cambodiadolphinproject(a)gmail.com -- Rose Ellis Coordinator of The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project *Marine Conservation Cambodia* @thecmmcp https://www.marineconservationcambodia.org/

1 0

New publication: Trophic position of dolphins tracks recent changes in the pelagic ecosystem of the Macaronesian region (NE Atlantic)
by Camilo Saavedra 26 Oct '22

26 Oct '22

Dear all. We are pleased to share with you our recently published paper on bulk and compound-specific stable isotope analyses of several species of cetaceans from the Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores) It has been published, in open access, in Marine Ecology Progress Series, so you can freely access it through the following link: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v699/p167-180/ Cite this article as: Bode A, Saavedra C, Álvarez-González M, Arregui M and others (2022) Trophic position of dolphins tracks recent changes in the pelagic ecosystem of the Macaronesian region (NE Atlantic). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 699:167-180. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14176 Abstract: Dolphins play a key role in marine food webs as predators of mid-trophic-level consumers. Because of their mobility and relatively long life span, they can be used as indicators of large-scale changes in the ecosystem. In this study, we calculated the trophic position (TP) of 5 dolphin species from the Canary, Madeira and Azores Islands using bulk and compound-specific stable isotope ratios from muscle tissue to assess trophic adaptations to recent changes in the availability of feeding resources. Dolphin TP values were then compared with those of 7 other species of cetaceans from this region. Analysis of stable nitrogen isotopes in amino acids of the common dolphin indicated non-significant effects of changes in the basal resources of the food web and thus supported the use of bulk samples for TP estimations. Dolphins occupied an intermediate TP (mean: 3.91 to 4.20) between fin (3.25) and sperm whales (4.95). Species-specific TP were equivalent among islands. However, TP increased for the common dolphin and decreased for the striped dolphin (the latter also becoming more oceanic) between 2000 and 2018 in the Canary Islands. These results suggest different impacts of recent changes in the oceanography and in the pelagic food web of the Macaronesian region on the trophic ecology of dolphin species. Please, do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any question or suggestion. Best wishes, Camilo sp. (on behalf of all co-authors) --- Dr. Camilo Saavedra Penas Camilo.Saavedra(a)ieo.csic.es Head of the Marine Mammals and Ecosystem team Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) --

1 0