December 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication: Tursiops truncatus nuuanu
by Ana Costa 12 Dec '22

12 Dec '22

Hello, On behalf of my co-authors, Dr. Eric Archer, Dr. Patricia Rosel and Dr. William Perrin, I am pleased to announce our more recent publication “*Tursiops truncatus nuuanu*, a new subspecies of the common bottlenose dolphin from the eastern tropical Pacific”, published in the Journal of Mammalian Evolution. This work is dedicated to our late co-author Dr. William Perrin, who approved the submission of this work prior to his passing, but sadly passed away before its acceptance and publication. Dr. Perrin conducted instrumental research in the eastern tropical Pacific, highlighting the killing of dolphin species in the tuna fishery, and played a crucial role in the creation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. He is also considered the father of modern marine mammal taxonomy due to his pioneering work with cetaceans. Costa, A.P.B., Archer, F.I., Rosel, P.E., Perrin, W.F*.* (2022) *Tursiops truncatus nuuanu*, a new subspecies of the common bottlenose dolphin from the eastern tropical Pacific. *J Mammal Evol*. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-022-09641-5 *Abstract* In the eastern Pacific Oc*e*an, three distinct forms of common bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) have been identified, with suggestions they may be different species: a southern California/Mexico coastal, a northern temperate offshore, and an eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) offshore form. Currently, only one species (*T. truncatus*) is recognized in the region, with the first two forms described as distinct ecotypes. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of the taxonomic status of these previously described forms through a re-examination of their morphological differentiation. We analyzed 135 skulls from the eastern and western Pacific, including the two nominal species, *T. gillii* and *T. nuuanu*, previously described for the eastern North Pacific and ETP, respectively. Additionally, we examined the holotypes of two currently recognized species in the genus, *T. truncatus* and *T. aduncus*. Our results showed significant morphological differentiation among bottlenose dolphins in the Pacific Ocean. The ETP offshore bottlenose dolphins were smaller in skull and body size and diagnostically distinct from dolphins in the western North Pacific and other regions in the eastern Pacific. Our results also indicated that, while other bottlenose dolphins in the Pacific were more similar to the globally distributed *T. truncatus*, the ETP offshore dolphins shared similarities with a previously described species in that region. The distinct environmental conditions in the ETP may be driving the evolutionary differentiation of these bottlenose dolphins. Given these results, we here recommend the recognition of ETP offshore bottlenose dolphins as a distinct subspecies, *Tursiops truncatus nuuanu*. Best regards, Ana

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WEBINAR: Using behaviour change science to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises
by Projects HBCA 12 Dec '22

12 Dec '22

Dear MARMAM Community, Human Behaviour Change for Life (HBCL) are delighted to announce that we will be joined by the CEO of the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), Harry Eckman, in a very special free webinar (donations optional) on the 15th of December at 1pm GMT: “Using behaviour change science to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises”. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-behaviour-change-science-to-protect-wh… In this conversation, we will be exploring how Harry has been using his experience and knowledge of behaviour change science to further the mission of the World Cetacean Alliance<https://worldcetaceanalliance.org/>: “to protect cetaceans and their habitats through global collaboration”. We will be leaving time for a Q&A with HBCL and Harry, so bring along your questions – we’d love to hear from you. Who is this webinar for? Anyone! Whether you are a marine conservationist looking to delve into a new area of study, or you are just curious about these fascinating subjects, this webinar is for you. If you can’t make the webinar live, no problem – just register as normal and we will send you the recording afterwards so that you don’t miss out. If you have any questions, please get in touch at projects(a)hbcforlife.org<mailto:projects@hbcforlife.org> We hope to see you there! Best wishes, Sophie & the HBCL Team -- Sophie Lewis Project Assistant Human Behaviour Change for Life (now encompassing HBCA) www.hbcforlife.org<http://www.hbcforlife.org> **Our new course is live! We are very excited to introduce our newest course - join us in an exploration of human behaviour change science in The HBCL Foundation Course. Enrol now<https://hbca-online-learning.thinkific.com/courses/hbcl-foundation-course> or take a look at the course advert here.<http://youtube.com/watch?v=rCcqK7EIl5g>**

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New publication: Marine soundscape during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sarasota Bay, FL
by Emma Longden 12 Dec '22

12 Dec '22

Hello MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication: "Comparison of the marine soundscape before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in dolphin habitat in Sarasota Bay, FL," published in the special issue of JASA on COVID-19 Pandemic Acoustic Effects. The full paper is available here: (PDF) Comparison of the marine soundscape before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in dolphin habitat in Sarasota Bay, FL (researchgate.net)<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365967746_Comparison_of_the_marine…> and an infographic here: https://twitter.com/emmalongden_/status/1599791931499823105?s=20&t=MrubQLRY…. Please find the full citation and abstract below. Best wishes, Emma Longden, E. G., Gillespie, D., Mann, D. A., McHugh, K. A., Rycyk, A. M., Wells, R. S., & Tyack, P. L. (2022). Comparison of the marine soundscape before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in dolphin habitat in Sarasota Bay, FL. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 152(6), 3170-3185. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0015366 Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in vessel activity and associated noise have been reported globally. Sarasota Bay is home to a large and increasing number of recreational vessels as well as a long-term resident community of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Data were analyzed from two hydrophones to compare the soundscape during the COVID-19 pandemic to previous years (March-May 2020 and 2018/2019). Hourly metrics were calculated: vessel passes, 95th percentile sound levels [125 Hz and 16 kHz third octave bands (TOBs), and two broader bands: 88-1122 Hz and 1781-17 959 Hz], and dolphin whistle detection to understand changes in vessel activity and the effect on wildlife. Vessel activity increased during COVID-19 restrictions by almost 80% at one site and remained the same at the other site. Of the four sound level measures, only the 125 Hz TOB and 88-1122 Hz band increased with vessel activity at both sites, suggesting that these may be appropriate measures of noise from rapid pass-bys of small vessels in very shallow (<10 m) habitats. Dolphin whistle detection decreased during COVID-19 restrictions at one site but remained the same at the site that experienced increased vessel activity. The results suggest that pandemic effects on wildlife should not be viewed as homogeneous globally. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Emma Longden Researcher Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB Twitter: @EmmaLongden_ @_SMRU_ ResearchGate<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emma-Longden-2> The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland: No SC013532

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New publication: Changes in humpback whale song structure and complexity reveal a rapid evolution on a feeding ground in Northern Norway (Saskia Cathrin Tyarks)
by Saskia Tyarks 11 Dec '22

11 Dec '22

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recent publication in Frontiers in Marine Science (Section Marine Megafauna): Tyarks, Saskia Cathrin; Aniceto, Ana Sofia; Ahonen, Heidi; Pedersen, Geir and Lindstrøm, Ulf (2022). Changes in humpback whale song structure and complexity reveal a rapid evolution on a feeding ground in Northern Norway. *Front. Mar. Sci.* 9:862794. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.862794 Abstract: Singing behaviour by male humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) has traditionally been associated with low-latitude breeding grounds. However, in recent years, this vocal behaviour has been increasingly reported outside these areas. All singers in a given population sing the same version of a song and this song is continually evolving over time with modifications on different levels within the song structure. Tracing changes in whale song will help to undercover the drivers underlying this vocal display and contribute to the understanding of animal culture and its evolution. To determine the progressive changes in songs found on a subarctic feeding ground and migratory stopover, a detailed analysis of humpback whale song recordings from Northern Norway was conducted. Passive acoustic data from the Lofoten-Vesterålen Ocean Observatory (LoVe), collected using a bottom-moored underwater hydrophone, were used from January - April 2018 and January 2019. Two measures of the song structure were examined: (1) sequence similarities using the Levenshtein distance and (2) song complexity using a principal component analysis (PCA). In total, 21 distinct themes were identified which presented highly directional, structural changes over time. Two themes from 2018 reoccurred in 2019, whereas all other themes in 2019 appeared to be evolved versions of 2018 themes. All songs grouped into three general clusters, reflecting the rapid evolution over the study period. With all sampled animals singing the same version of the song, this might indicate that the singers are either from the same breeding population or that song learning occurred before the study period. Song complexity appeared to follow the trend of song progression; songs became more complex as they evolved over the months in 2018 and decreased in complexity between the years, returning to a more simplified song in 2019. The results confirm that humpback whale song exhibits a rapid progression on a shared subarctic feeding ground, with strong potential for song exchange and opportunities for cultural transmission between populations in the North Atlantic. The article is open access and can be downloaded following the link below: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.862794/full <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.669748/full> If you have any questions regarding our work please contact this email: saskiatyarks(a)gmail.com Kind regards, Saskia Tyarks (formerly Martin) (she/her) Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Tromsø, Norway

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PhD Stipends in Marine Bioacoustics at CMST - Curtin MAURITIUS
by Christine Erbe 09 Dec '22

09 Dec '22

PhD Stipends in Marine Bioacoustics at CMST - Curtin MAURITIUS The Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University has 4 PhD stipends on offer in marine bioacoustics. Project: These stipends are part of a 4-year research project entitled “The Quieter Western Indian Ocean” (QWIO), funded by the Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM). The project is a partnership of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the African Aquatic Conservation Fund, Armateurs de France, Bureau Veritas, Centre d’Etude et de Découverte des Tortues, Curtin University, The French Biodiversity Agency, Globice, Kelonia, The Marine Megafauna Foundation, Quiet Oceans, and The University of St Andrews. The aims of the QWIO project are two-fold: 1) to study and assess underwater noise from shipping and maritime services and its potential effects on targeted species among large cetaceans (baleen whales and sperm whales), sharks, and sea turtles in the South-Western Indian Ocean, and 2) in consultation with regional governments, ship owners, ports, and relevant international authorities, to identify and initiate concrete and practical measures to reduce the risks of noise impacts and collisions. The 4 PhD theses will comprise (depending on student interest and skills) any of the following: underwater ship noise (measurement, modelling, mapping, management, minimisation, mitigation), marine soundscapes (characterisation, quantification, sources, sound budgets, geographic and temporal variability, trends, modelling, prediction), and large whale bioacoustics (species diversity, vocal behaviour of humpback whales, blue whales, and/or sperm whales, passive acoustic monitoring, sound production, song structure, song variability, dialects, spatial and temporal distribution, migration, relative abundance, acoustic ecology, risk of ship strike, effects of noise). The intention is to fill two of the four PhD stipends with a project focused more on physical acoustics and ocean noise/soundscapes, and the other two focused more on organismal biology and bioacoustics, looking at the possible impacts of noise on species ecology. The composition of the above topics in the theses will therefore vary among the students. There will be the need to fulfil specific QWIO objectives during the course of the PhD program (as guided by the supervisors), but the theses will not necessarily be restricted to those objectives. Location: Students will be enrolled at Curtin University Australia. However, they will be based at Curtin Mauritius (Moka, Mauritius). Opportunities for fieldwork exist from Mauritius, to Reunion, Madagascar, and eastern Africa. Supervision: Students will be supervised by Prof Christine Erbe (Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University), Dr Salvatore Cerchio (African Aquatic Conservation Fund), Dr Violaine Dulau (Globice), and Tim Collins (WCS)—depending on the PhD topics. Stipends: Each stipend includes an international tuition fee scholarship for 3.5 years. In addition, we are offering an annual living cost stipend of EUR 9,000, for 3.5 years (total EUR 31,500). Eligibility: As a preference of the funder, students would ideally be citizens of one of the Nairobi Convention signatory states: Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, or South Africa. However, applicants from the broader Indian Ocean will be considered. Students must obtain a student visa for Mauritius. Essential Criteria: Given the focus on underwater acoustics and bioacoustics, and depending on the chosen thesis project, students would ideally have a degree (Honours or Masters) in Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field, or a degree in Biological Sciences with experience in Organismal Biology, Bioacoustics, Acoustic Ecology, or a related field. Students with experience in both disciplines may be strongly favoured. Strong command of English is required. Students will have to pass an IELTS prior to enrolment, with a minimum grade of 6.5 overall and a minimum of 6 for any of its components (i.e., speaking, writing, reading, and listening). Experience programming in MATLAB or R. Desirable Criteria: Prior experience in acoustics is desired but not essential. Prior experience in marine science is valuable. Prior experience in offshore fieldwork is valuable. How to apply: Please email your expression of interest, including CV, summary of research skills and experience, reason you are interested in this project, and choice (focus) of project (e.g., ship noise, soundscape, whale ecology) to Christine Erbe: info(a)cmst.curtin.edu.au, subject: QWIO Stipend. Dates: Applications close 31 January 2023. Theses would ideally commence by April 2023. Christine Erbe, Ph.D. Director | Centre for Marine Science & Technology (CMST) John Curtin Distinguished Professor | School of Earth & Planetary Sciences Curtin University Perth, Western Australia 6845

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SMM Editors' Select Series on December 15th: Hormones and whales: what tiny molecules can tell us about the giants of the sea
by Student Members-at-Large Society for Marine Mammalogy 09 Dec '22

09 Dec '22

Greetings MARMAM! Join us on *Thursday, December 15th 3 PM AKST / 4 PM PST / 7 PM EST (December 16th 12 AM GMT)* for the next SMM Editors’ Select Series: Hormones and whales: what tiny molecules can tell us about the giants of the sea with Dr. Valentina Melica of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This event is free to attend and presented online via Zoom, but registration is required. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bZI5tOxLSNy_s8xXOt1TUQ Space on Zoom is limited to the first 500 attendees. The talk will also be streamed live on the SMM Facebook page. *About this talk:* Hormones are tiny molecules that regulate many functions in our (and in a whale) body. Some of them have the important job to keep the energy level up in challenging situations. We researched how these hormones behave in response to ordinary changes in the life of blue and gray whales. We found that soon-to-be mothers blue whales and nursing gray whales experienced higher energy demands, thus their hormones were elevated. This information is essential for understanding how whales may cope with stressors caused by human activities. *About the presenter:* Dr. Valentina Melica is a research biologist specializing in endocrine analysis. She grew up in Italy, where she worked as an aquarist and snorkel guide in northeast Italy and earned a master's degree from the University of Trieste, with a research project on moon jellyfish. She completed her PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where her research focused on reproductive and stress-related endocrinology in the eastern North Pacific populations of blue and gray whales. She now lives in North Vancouver, Canada, where she is research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, in the Marine Mammal Conservation Physiology program. In that position, she is studying biomarkers in killer whales and humpback whales. Open access to this article is made temporarily available in the weeks around the presentation and can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12954 . Current SMM members have access to all Marine Mammal Science papers. Missed a presentation or want to share this series with a friend? All previous Editors' Select presentations are recorded and archived on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUc78IynQlubS2DVS1VZoplf_t42-yZOO All the best, *Ayça Eleman, Ph.D. Candidate* *Theresa-Anne Tatom-Naecker, Ph.D. Candidate* *Student Members-at-Large* Society for Marine Mammalogy

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Re: [MARMAM] Publication: New mark-recap model and new Cook Inlet beluga demographic rate estimates
by Himes Boor, Gina 09 Dec '22

09 Dec '22

Corrected link to the paper: Himes Boor, G. K., McGuire, T. L., Warlick, A. J., Taylor, R. L., Converse, S. J., McClung, J. R., and Stephens, A. D., 2022, Estimating reproductive and juvenile survival rates when offspring ages are uncertain: a novel multievent mark-resight model with beluga whale case study: Methods in Ecology and Evolution https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14032

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New publication: Hemotropic Mycoplasma in Aquatic Mammals
by Aricia Benvenuto 08 Dec '22

08 Dec '22

On behalf of my coauthors, I am pleased to share our recent publication in the Emerging Infectious Diseases. Duarte-Benvenuto A, Sacristán C, Ewbank A, Sacristán I, Zamana-Ramblas R, Gravena W, et al. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in Aquatic Mammals, Amazon Basin, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022;28(12):2556-2559. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2812.220971 Abstract: Hemotropic *Mycoplasma* spp. (hemoplasmas) are uncultivable bacteria that infect mammals, including humans. We detected a potentially novel hemoplasma species in blood samples from wild river dolphins in the Amazon River Basin, Brazil. Further investigation could determine pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of the detected hemoplasma. The full article is available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/12/22-0971_article All the best, Aricia Duarte-Benvenuto --

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New Publication on "Pregnancy Rate and Reproductive Hormones in Humpback Whale Blubber"
by Adam Pack 07 Dec '22

07 Dec '22

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of lead author Shannon Atkinson and co-authors Trevor Branch, Adam Pack, Jan Straley, Jon Moran, Chris Gabriele, Kendall Mashburn, Kelly Cates and Suzanne Yin, I am pleased to inform you about our new paper " Pregnancy rate and reproductive hormones in humpback whale blubber: Dominant form of progesterone differs during pregnancy " published in the journal General and Comparative Endocrinology. Below, please find the full citation for the article and the abstract. Our findings are based on biopsy sampling data collected from 2004-2006 in Hawai’i and Alaska. If you would like to receive a pdf of this paper, please contact us. Wishing everyone in our community a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season. Mahalo, Adam Atkinson, S., Branch, T. A., Pack, A .A., Straley, J. M., Moran, J. Gabriele, C., Mashburn, K. L., Cates, K. & Yin, S. (2022). Pregnancy rate and reproductive hormones in humpback whale blubber: Dominant form of progesterone differs during pregnancy. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 114151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114151 Abstract To better understand reproductive physiology of humpback whales *Megaptera novaeangliae *that reside in Hawai’i and Alaska, enzyme immunoassays were validated for both progesterone and testosterone in free-ranging and stranded animals (n = 185 biopsies). Concentrations were analyzed between different depths of large segments of blubber taken from skin to muscle layers of stranded female (n = 2, 1 pregnant, 1 non-pregnant) and male (n = 1) whales. Additionally, progesterone metabolites were identified between pregnant (n = 1) and non-pregnant (n = 3) females using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Progesterone concentrations were compared between juvenile (i.e., sexually immature), lactating, and pregnant females, and male whales, and pregnancy rates of sexually mature females were calculated. Based on replicate samples from ship struck animals collected at 7 depth locations, blubber containing the highest concentration of progesterone was located 1 cm below the skin for females, and the highest concentration of testosterone was in the skin layer of one male whale. HPLC of blubber samples of pregnant and non-pregnant females contain different immunoreactive progesterone metabolites, with the non-pregnant female eluate comprised of a more polar, and possibly conjugated, form of progesterone than the pregnant female. In females, concentrations of progesterone were highest in the blubber of pregnant (n = 28, 28.6 ± 6.9 ng/g), followed by lactating (n = 16, 0.9 ± 0.1 ng/g), and female juvenile (n = 5, 1.0 ± 0.2 ng/g) whales. Progesterone concentrations in male (n = 24, 0.6 ng/g ± 0.1 ng/g) tissues were the lowest of all groups, and not different from lactating or juvenile females. Estimated summer season pregnancy rate among sexually mature females from the Hawai’i stock of humpback whales was 0.562 (95 % confidence interval 0.528–0.605). For lactating females, the year-round pregnancy rate was 0.243 (0.09–0.59), and varies depending on the threshold of progesterone assumed for pregnancy in the range between 3.1 and 28.5 ng/g. Our results demonstrate the synergistic value added when combining immunoreactive assays, HPLC, and long-term sighting histories to further knowledge of humpback whale reproductive physiology. -- Adam A. Pack, Ph.D. Professor and Chair (Psychology) Departments of Psychology and Biology University of Hawai'i at Hilo 200 West Kawili Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 (Office Voice): 808-932-7082 (Email): pack(a)hawaii.edu (Faculty Webpage): https://hilo.hawaii.edu/faculty/adam-a-pack/ (UH Hilo Lab): https://hilo.hawaii.edu/faculty/adam-a-pack/marine-mammal-lab/ (Non-profit organization): https://thedolphininstitute.org/ Recent PBS Documentary Films: Humpback Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0_pvMeGVho Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgEQ0TUjZh0 "Do or do not; there is no try." Yoda

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New publication: Towards the definition of the humpback whale population units along the Mexican and Central American coasts in the Pacific Ocean
by Pamela Martínez 07 Dec '22

07 Dec '22

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are very pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in Marine Mammal Science. Martínez-Loustalot, P., Audley, K., Cheeseman, T., De Weerdt, J., Frisch-Jordán, A., Guzón, O., Olio, M., Ortega-Ortiz, C. D., Ransome, N., Villegas-Zurita, F., & Urbán R., J. (2022). Towards the definition of the humpback whale population units along the Mexican and Central American coasts in the Pacific Ocean. Marine Mammal Science, 1– 16. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12980 <https://atsitesi.com/click?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1111%2Fmms.1…> Abstract The SPLASH project (2004–2006) revealed complex population structure and migratory connections, but no regional effort was made along the southern Mexican Pacific coast until dedicated research was initiated in 2010. It is unclear whether humpback whales documented in this region belong to the Mexican or Central American population units. This study aimed to establish the relationship between humpback whales of southern Mexico and those of the surrounding population units. Humpback whale photo-identification images were compared from multiple locations in north, central, and southern Mexico and Central America. Whales' movements among regions were estimated using the Interchange Index (InI) and the Movement Index (MI). The results showed higher movements among the southern sampling areas, suggesting that whales from southern Mexico belong to the “Central American population unit.” This population unit migrates north to the feeding areas of the US West Coast using a migratory corridor along mainland Mexico to the mouth of the Gulf of California along the Baja California Peninsula. The degree of interaction with humpback whales from other population units is unknown. More studies are needed to understand population structure and disentangle photographic capture of whales on migration from whales where this is their main wintering area. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12980 <https://atsitesi.com/click?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fonlinelibrary.wiley.com%2…> If you have any questions regarding our work please contact this emails: pamelapuma(a)gmail.com, jurban(a)gmail.com Kind regards, Pamela Martínez-Loustalot - Programa de Investigación de Mamíferos Marinos (PRIMMA) Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. --

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