March 2023 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

ECS WORKSHOP 17/04 - Morning session - "Setting up an international network to reinforce the collaboration with Marine Mammal Tourism companies and enhance their sustainability"
by aurelie.moulins＠cimafoundation.org 29 Mar '23

29 Mar '23

Dear Marmam Community, In the framework of the up-coming ECS conference (O'Grove, April 18th - 21st), the workshop: "Setting up an international network to reinforce the collaboration with Marine Mammal Tourism companies and enhance their sustainability" will take place the MONDAY 17th APRIL 2023 in the Morning session. If you are interested in participating, please register by sending an email to the following addresses at once: Laurène Trudelle: ltrudelle(a)miraceti.org Pauline Gauffier: paulinegauffier(a)museudabaleia.org Aurelie Moulins: aurelie.moulins(a)cimafoundation.org, ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Description: Whale-watching activities are widely spread over the world in many locations where each single sighting is precious both for scientific and management points of view. However, whale-watching companies do not always report their activities or sightings. The workshop will give the opportunity to experts to discuss and assess joint actions in order to enhance the framework between companies, scientists and decision makers. Initially the workshop will illustrate some recent key actions in different countries for reporting activities and improving collaborative whale-watching data collection. Then, the workshop will encourage discussions between experts, in breakout groups, each focusing on a specific topic about the challenges of efficient collaborations. The workshop will be an opportunity to exchange experience and lessons learnt between different regions and to support the establishment of an international network made to enhance collaborative activities with marine mammal tourism. https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/workshops-ecs2023 Workshops have an associated cost that is NOT included in the conference registration: EUR20/person for a Half-Day workshop Workshop registration and attendance payments will be made to the workshop organizer directly. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information. Best regards The workshop organizer

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NWSSMM REMINDER to Register and Submit Abstracts
by Bankhead, Kyra 28 Mar '23

28 Mar '23

Hello all, Quick reminder to register and submit your abstract to attend and present at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) on May 6, 2023. Abstract submission for the NWSSMM conference is due Friday, April 7th 2023 and the in-person registration deadline is April 14th, 2023. Virtual attendees can register for the event until May 4th, 2023. If you initially register to attend in-person, but need to change to virtual, please let us know ASAP. Registration and abstract submission link: https://bit.ly/NWSSMM23 We will be providing coffee/tea, light snacks, lunch, and a conference swag item for in-person guests and need to provide our vendors appropriate estimates in a timely manner. This will be a hybrid conference held at the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building in Newport, OR with a zoom attendance option. More details are provided in the registration form and the announcement email. Otherwise, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us: Michaela Kratofil <michaela.kratofil(a)oregonstate.edu> and/or Clara Bird <clara.bird(a)oregonstate.edu> Thanks so much, and we look forward to meeting everyone virtually and hearing about your research! NWSSMM webpage: https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/nwssmm/home Best regards, Kyra Bankhead, Michaela Kratofil and Clara Bird <michaela.kratofil(a)oregonstate.edu> <clara.bird(a)oregonstate.edu> <kyra.bankhead(a)oregonstate.edu> Graduate Students | Marine Mammal Institute Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences Oregon State University https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/ [cid:769e3f62-58f0-41f8-910b-d1f7a1d6fcda]

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Cetacean Sessions returns for season 3
by Anaïs Remili 28 Mar '23

28 Mar '23

Dear members of the MARMAM community, Join us on Crowdcast for Season 3 of Cetacean Sessions: This year, Bay Cetology <https://baycetology.org/> is partnering with Whale Scientists <https://whalescientists.com/>. Our season 3 is all about new cetacean research generated by passionate early-career researchers. Cetacean Sessions is a free seasonal bi-weekly webinar series where we discuss impactful cetacean science with those conducting it around the world. It is informal, educational, interactive, and geared towards those studying or interested in cetaceans. Cetacean Sessions was created by Bay Cetology and is being hosted by Anaïs and Naomi, the co-founders of Whale Scientists. Cetacean Sessions #13 <https://www.crowdcast.io/e/cetacean-session-13> will happen on Thursday, April 6th, at 12 pm Pacific Time. In this session, we are extremely happy to introduce Anna Selbmann, a PhD student at the University of Iceland, who recently published a paper on the interaction between pilot whales and killer whales in Iceland. You can find Anna’s paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10211-022-00394-1 The presentation and discussion will be followed by live Q&A. Please visit our Crowdcast channel to register and for more information on our upcoming sessions: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/cetacean-session-13/ Thanks, and stay tuned for the next episode's announcement! Anaïs from Whale Scientists

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Short-term internship - Coastal and Marine Conservation and Management
by Mareterra Onlus 28 Mar '23

28 Mar '23

MareTerra Environmental Research and Conservation (www.mareterra-erc.org) offers a short-term internship focused on conserving marine and coastal species and habitats. The program of activities is suitable for students and recent graduates and is realized in a real-world scientific research context. From the 17th to the 24th of September 2023 you can join our organization to live a highly educational experience in contact with the fantastic nature of Sardinia, learning and working with an international group of professors, researchers and students. Marine Research Summer Campaign - Where: Alghero, Sardinia. - Program duration: 8 days. - Dates: 17-24 September 2023. - Training hours: 75 hours in the field + 25 hours of individual study. - Number of participants: from 12 to 24. What you could do by participating in our activities: - Observation, photo-identification and acoustic and behavioural data collection on dolphins. - Collection of environmental, oceanographic, video and acoustic data. Identification and measurement of fish species abundance. - Identification of marine species and habitats through boat surveys, snorkelling and hiking in nature. To obtain the detailed program and register, please send an email to info(a)mareterra-erc.org We are waiting for you on board! The MareTerra ERC team -- MareTerra Onlus Regione Salondra 9 07041 Alghero (SS) - Italy www.mareterra-erc.blogspot.it mareterra web site <http://www.progettonaturasardegna.com/it/chi-siamo.html>

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New paper on Bowhead Whale Temporal Patterns & Habitat Preferences
by Niki Diogou 27 Mar '23

27 Mar '23

Dear Marmam community, My colleagues and I are pleased to share with you our latest publication on *Bowhead whale year-round acoustic presence and habitat associations in the Amundsen Gulf, Western Canadian Arctic, 2018–2019*, published online in Progress of Oceanography. *Abstract* Understanding the temporal and spatial distribution of bowhead whales is ecologically and culturally important in the context of a rapidly changing climate. Long-term monitoring can reveal alterations in the bowhead whale distribution range, spatiotemporal patterns, and migration phenology that can be responses to global change. However, Arctic ecosystems are challenging to monitor. Here, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at three locations in the southern Amundsen Gulf (western Canadian Arctic) between September 2018 and September 2019 to detect bowhead whale presence, quantify their seasonal occurrence, and examine the oceanographic conditions that correlate with bowhead occurrence. Results show clear seasonal patterns in the occurrence of bowheads with increased acoustic presence in spring/summer at all sites. In contrast to their typical migratory behavior, bowhead sounds were detected throughout the year at all sites, providing evidence of a number of overwintering animals in what is normally their summer feeding ground. The continuous occupancy of bowheads from May to August at all sites emphasizes the importance of this area as a core foraging ground for this population. Our results indicate a clear selection for the shallowest habitat over an annual cycle. Statistical habitat modeling indicated associations between bowhead occurrence and decreasing sea-ice coverage, wind speed, temperature, and salinity. Positive relationships between bowhead detections and zooplankton density suggest a predator-prey dynamic. These results are the first that cover an entire annual cycle of bowhead presence in the southern Amundsen Gulf, providing new knowledge and current status of bowhead habitat use to support effective management under ongoing Arctic change. The manuscript is available open access at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079661123000472?via%3Di… Please contact me with any comments or questions. I hope you enjoy the read, Niki -- Niki Diogou, PhD *Post-Doctoral Fellow* School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, *University of Victoria * Western Arctic Program,* Wildlife Conservation Society Canada* <ndiogou(a)uvic.ca>*niki.diogou(a)gmail.com <ndiogou(a)uvic.ca>* <ndiogou(a)uvic.ca> | <ndiogou(a)uvic.ca> <ndiogou(a)uvic.ca> *ndiogou(a)uvic.ca <ndiogou(a)uvic.ca> | ndiogou(a)wcs.org <ndiogou(a)wcs.org> | +1 236 591 4005*

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New publication: "Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency..."
by Joseph Mobley 27 Mar '23

27 Mar '23

Aloha all: My coauthors and I are pleased to announce the online publication of our article entitled: "Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi, in the face of an unprecedented North Pacific marine warming event," in Marine Mammal Science. Citation: Mobley, J. R. Jr, Deakos, M. H., Pack, A. A., & Bortolotto, G. A. (2023). Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi, in the face of an unprecedented North Pacific marine warming event. *Marine Mammal Science*, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13018. Abstract: After decades of population growth, the central stock of the North Pacific population of humpback whales, known as the Hawaiʻi Distinct Population Segment (HDPS), was delisted from its endangered status in 2016. At that time, however, an unprecedented heating event, the Pacific Marine Heatwave (PMH) was already underway. The PMH coincided with reports of major declines of sightings of humpback whales, including calves of the year, on both the Hawaiian wintering grounds and the feeding grounds of Southeast Alaska. To examine the resiliency of the HDPS, we conducted aerial surveys of the high-density Maui Nui region immediately following the PMH event in 2019 and 2020, using distance sampling methods identical to those used in an earlier series (1993–2003). Results showed whale densities at or above those seen earlier, with mean density for 2020 highest overall. Crude birth rates (percent groups containing a calf) were similarly comparable to those recorded in the earlier series, with an increase from 2019 to 2020. Overall, results suggest the central North Pacific humpback whale population stock to be resilient in the face of this major climatic event. Link to read-only pdf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/RWW2EG3DHIDZ62TMIQHJ?target=10… Feel free to contact me if any questions: jmobley(a)hawaii.edu --Joe

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Pacific Islands cetaceans report
by Cara Miller 26 Mar '23

26 Mar '23

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following report on Pacific Islands cetaceans is now available online. A report released by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) reviews the status of cetaceans in the waters surrounding the Pacific island countries and territories. More than 30 different species of cetaceans are found in Pacific waters, from the large migratory blue whales and fin whales to small dolphins such as the Australian snubfin dolphin that lives in river deltas and estuaries. Report author, Dr Cara Miller states, “*There are verified records for 34 different cetacean species across the Pacific islands region – this makes up almost half the species known in the world. However, it is very likely there are more species in the region that have not yet been observed or documented.*” The report carried out an extensive literature review, including both published and unpublished information and verified anecdotal reports, with over 300 references cited. The full report can be found here: https://library.sprep.org/content/review-cetacean-diversity-status-and-thre… Best, Cara caramasere(a)gmail.com

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New publication: Sowerby’s beaked whale
by Kerri J. Smith 26 Mar '23

26 Mar '23

Dear MARMAM community, My coauthor and I are pleased to share our new publication, "Sowerby’s Beaked Whale *Mesoplodon bidens* Sowerby 1804," in the Handbook of the Mammals of Europe book series. This comprehensive chapter covers all aspects of Sowerby's beaked whale biology, including taxonomy, global and European distribution, genetics, morphology, life history, ecology, behavior, parasitology, human threats, natural impacts on populations, species conservation management, and future research challenges. Smith KJ and Peterson MJ. Sowerby’s beaked whale, *Mesoplodon bidens*, Sowerby 1804. (2022) In: Cetacea (eds. Weir CR, Evans PGH, and Rasmussen MH). Handbook of the Mammals of Europe series (eds. Hackländer K, Zachos FE). Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland (ISSN: 2730-7387). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_95-2 Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, Cheers, Kerri *--Kerri J. Smith, Ph.D.* NSF Postdoctoral Fellow McMahon Ocean Ecogeochemistry Lab <http://keltonmcmahon.com/index.html#welcome> University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882

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9th Workshop Communicating Marine Mammal Science to the General Public, program and registration
by Luigi Elio Alessandro BUNDONE 26 Mar '23

26 Mar '23

Dear Marmam colleagues, with the 34th European Conference approaching we are glad to post the final program of our workshop on Communicating Marine Mammal Science to the General Public. Within this 9th edition of the workshop we explore different angles, the program is therefore structured in sessions all according to the different themes addressed as follows: Session 1: communicating using networks and citizen science Session 2: communicating exploring arts Session 3: communicating with music I Session 4: communicating to reach funding opportunities Session 5: communicating to a young audience Session 6: on broaden scientific communication Session 7: on motivational communications Session 8: communicating with music II The complete program can be downloaded at the following link: https://ln5.sync.com/dl/bfb043fa0/eqv886wv-yn2t64dd-bv8tqa4n-qvpakxm8 The workshop has a registration fee to participate of 30 € which will include a coffee break and lunch. We also allow internet audience participation for the cost of 15 €. If you are interested in participating, please register by sending an email to the following addresses at once: Luigibundone(a)tiscali.it, luigi.bundone(a)unive.it, smit(a)m-e-e-r.de, ghmilian(a)gmail.com, barbarapetterputnam(a)gmail.com Please specify if you will attend online or in person in the mail. On the second option, also provide us with information on food allergies so we can provide proper food accordingly. Best Regards, Luigi, Volker, Gema and Barbara

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Diving porpoises conserve more oxygen when they can’t see
by Peter Teglberg Madsen 25 Mar '23

25 Mar '23

Dear All, In a recent paper we show that porpoises conserve more oxygen when they can’t see. The dive response of marine mammals allow them to undertake long breath-hold dives to access rich marine prey resources. It consists of a mixture of peripheral vasoconstriction and a lowering of heart rate, leading to lower metabolic rates in un-perfused tissues. The dive response has been shown to vary with breath-hold duration, depth, exercise, and expectations during the dive. However, it is unknown to what extent sensory deprivation influences the dive response and oxygen management. We show that acoustic masking causes very little change in heart rate of a trained harbor porpoise tasked with discriminating between two targets, whereas visual deprivation reduces heart rate by half of control values, suggesting a much larger importance of vision from these previously considered obligate echolocators. This indicates that such strong oxygen regulation in response to a change in sensory information could be a potential anti-predator response. Check the paper out here: https://www.cell.com/.../fulltext/S2589-0042(23)00281-X...<https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)00281-X?fbclid=IwAR07f…> On behalf of the authors, Peter

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