July 2023 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New report of mercury biomagnification on a tropical food web
by lucas Rodrigues Tovar 21 Jul '23

21 Jul '23

Dear all, We are pleased to share our newly publication: Tovar, L.R. et al.Understanding trophic transference role in mercury biomagnification and bioaccumulation in the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). Chemosphere, p. 139496, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139496 Abstract Mercury is a metal of toxicological importance that occurs naturally. However, its concentration can be affected by anthropogenic activities and has the potential to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in food webs. Thus, knowing how its concentration varies along the trophic levels allows us to understand its potential risks to the biota. The present study aimed to investigate mercury transfer through the Stenella frontalis food web in Ilha Grande Bay (IGB), Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Samples of muscle and liver of S. frontalis were obtained from carcasses (n = 8) found stranded in the IGB, and its potential prey species were collected in fishing landings in the same Bay (n = 145). Total mercury (THg) concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, and the δ15N was determined by an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. To investigate how trophic transfer affects mercury contamination in biota, six linear models were applied between THg logarithmic concentrations and δ15N or trophic position (TP). The trophic magnification factor (TMF) was calculated from each model to estimate the trophic transfer. Mean THg concentration in S. frontalis was higher in the liver than in muscle, but no correlation was found with age and δ15N values. Instead, the hepatic and muscular THg concentrations positively correlated with the trophic position. In the summer, THg concentration, TP, and δ15N values in prey species varied significantly, as well as in the winter, except for THg concentration. All trophic transfer models were significant in both seasons, and the TMF >1. The present study showed that trophic transfer is an essential factor in mercury biomagnification in both seasons but is not the unique driver. Both δ15N and TP could explain mercury trophic transfer, but TP better integrates metabolic diversity and seasonality. The full text is available open acess till september. For futher informations mail me on: lucastov(a)yahoo.com.br best regards, Msc. Lucas R. Tovar Bacharel em Ciências Biológicas com ênfase em meio ambiente pela UFFMestre em oceanografia pela UERJDoutorando em ecologia e evolução pela UERJLaboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA-UERJ) Underdegree in Biological Sciences with emphasis on environmental studies at UFFMaster degree in Oceanography at UERJPHD studant in ecology and evolution at UERJAquatic Mammal and Bioindicatores Lab (MAQUA-UERJ) Lucas R. Tovar (ele/dele, he/him)

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Prehistoric and historic exploitation of marine mammals in the Black Sea
by Pavel Gol'din 20 Jul '23

20 Jul '23

Dear colleagues, I am happy to announce our new paper which can be of your interest. Aiken, M., Gladilina, E., Çakırlar, C., Telizhenko, S., van den Hurk, Y., Bejenaru, L., Olsen, M.T. and Gol'din, P., 2023. Prehistoric and historic exploitation of marine mammals in the Black Sea. *Quaternary Science Reviews*, *314*, p.108210. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379123002585 (open access) The recent exploitation of marine species is relatively well documented and understood in terms of impacts on species abundance, distribution, and resource use. In contrast, ancient exploitation of marine mammals remains poorly documented; in part, because a detailed meta-analysis of their presence in the zooarchaeological record is lacking. This is true in the Black Sea, where cetaceans are reported in the zooarchaeological record but have not yet been studied comprehensively. Here, we synthesize all available published and unpublished zooarchaeological data from 27 sites around the Black Sea, dating from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods (6500-6000 BCE) to the Medieval period (641–1475 CE), to document the extent and nature of the exploitation of the Black Sea cetacean species. The results suggest that cetacean exploitation was practised continuously in the Black Sea over a period of 8500 years from the Neolithic through to the Medieval period. This suggests a much longer history of marine mammal exploitation in the Black Sea than previously understood, pushing back the timeline of human impacts on the Black Sea marine fauna. All the best, Pavel Gol'din Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

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Online workshop: Practical design and simulation to optimise distance sampling surveys, 28-31 August 2023
by Len Thomas 20 Jul '23

20 Jul '23

Online workshop: Practical design and simulation to optimise distance sampling surveys, 28-31 August 2023 Registration deadline: 14 August 2023 The workshop is organized by the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) at the University of St Andrews. Instructors are Laura Marshall and Len Thomas, CREEM, University of St Andrews. Distance sampling surveys, particularly shipboard or aerial line transects, are widely used to estimate the population size of marine mammals. Good survey design is critical for obtaining reliable results in such surveys. This workshop expands on the basic theory provided in our introductory workshops to demonstrate how our latest software can be used to generate optimal survey designs while respecting budgetary and logistical constraints. We will demonstrate survey design using our R package dssd, and investigate design optimisation and the implications of deviations from our design assumptions using our latest simulation package dsims. We will also demonstrate the use of QGIS to obtain requisite input information. Further information and how to register can be found at: https://workshops.distancesampling.org/design-aug-2023 Any questions, please do get in touch! Questions can be directed to Laura via lhm(a)st-andrews.ac.uk

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New publication
by Stephanie Plön, PhD 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

Dear MARMAMers, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recent publication: A Karomo, S Plön & P Vrancken. 2023. “Get with the beat! The regulation of underwater noise in South Africa”. Obiter 44: 383‒411. Summary: Anthropogenic noise in the oceans, including from shipping and seismic surveys, is of concern as it often adversely impacts marine life and biodiversity. It is considered to be the number-one ocean pollutant today. The authors review major international legal instruments regarding underwater noise as a marine pollutant and examine them in the South African context. The authors find, *inter alia*, that a distinction between substance-based pollution (such as chemical pollution) and energy-based pollution (such as noise) is currently lacking. It is also found that very little literature is available on the impacts of shipping and seismic noise on small fish, turtles and cetaceans, a state of affairs that calls for a precautionary approach. It is recommended: (1) South African legal instruments that regulate underwater noise should be revised and aligned with international legal frameworks; (2) more scientific research should be conducted on the cumulative impacts of shipping and seismic surveys on the South African marine environment; and (3) the public participation process should be effectively monitored to ensure full compliance with the requirement to consult all affected and interested persons. Doing so would have wider implications for developments in the western Indian Ocean region regarding shipping, port construction and seismic explorations. If you are interested in a copy please contact me directly at: stephanie.ploen(a)gmail.com

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Job opening: supervisor in PRD Alaska Region of NOAA Fisheries
by Verena Gill - NOAA Federal 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region is pleased to announce the following job opportunity open July 19, 2023 - August 1, 2023. *Supervisory Biologist* To be located in the Alaska Regional Office/Protected Resources Division; Juneau, AK or Anchorage, AK. Please note, one position is being recruited as ZP-0401-04. *NMFS 23-12031873-DHA: *https://www.usajobs.gov/job/737719600 This position is one of three branch chiefs in the Protected Resources Division (PRD) within the Alaska Regional office of NOAA Fisheries. This position is currently held by Greg Balogh who is slated to retire this October. Staff in PRD work on a variety of projects and actions, including working to minimize interactions between marine mammals and commercial fisheries; promoting responsible marine mammal viewing practices; coordinating response to stranded or entangled marine mammals; consulting with federal agencies to minimize project effects on threatened and endangered species; cooperatively managing subsistence use of marine mammals through co-management agreements with Alaska Native organizations; and responding to petitions and lawsuits that have very short turnaround times. PRD is structured in a matrix management in that all three branch chiefs work with all staff across the branches. No one branch specializes in a discipline although the branch chiefs do specialize (ESA Section 7 consultation, recovery, and deputy duties). *This position also serves as the Endangered Species Act Section 7 Coordinator which is where the majority of the duties lie outside of supervision. *This position requires you to be good at juggling a wide diversity of tasks, timelines, and personalities. At this time, this position supervises 5 permanent staff, and oversees the work of several contractors. To apply for this position you must be a U.S. Citizen. You will also need to be located in either Anchorage or Juneau to perform the job. Please help spread the word! Thanks! For more information please contact *Anne Marie Eich*, PhD (she | her <https://pronouns.org/what-and-why>) Assistant Regional Administrator Protected Resources Division, Alaska Regional Office NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce Office: (907) 586-7172 <o<<o<<o<<o<<o<<o<<o<<o<<o< Verena A. Gill (she/her/hers) Branch Chief Marine Mammal Conservation Branch 3 NOAA Fisheries 222 W. 7th Ave, Rm 552 Anchorage, AK 99513 Office desk: 907-271-1937 Google voice: 323-364-2401‬ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Verena-Gill *To lead people, walk behind them - Lao Tzu* www.fisheries.noaa.gov <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/endangered-species-act-50-year…>

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New Publication - A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Heath—A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change
by Ashley Barratclough 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

New Publication - A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Heath—A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change (Barratclough, Ashley) Dear All, We are excited to share our new publication: Barratclough, Ashley, Steven H. Ferguson, Christian Lydersen, Peter O. Thomas, and Kit M. Kovacs. "A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Heath—A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change." Pathogens 12, no. 7 (2023): 937. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/7/937 <https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/7/937> The full text is available open access. Abstract The impacts of climate change on the health of marine mammals are increasingly being recognised. Given the rapid rate of environmental change in the Arctic, the potential ramifications on the health of marine mammals in this region are a particular concern. There are eleven endemic Arctic marine mammal species (AMMs) comprising three cetaceans, seven pinnipeds, and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). All of these species are dependent on sea ice for survival, particularly those requiring ice for breeding. As air and water temperatures increase, additional species previously non-resident in Arctic waters are extending their ranges northward, leading to greater species overlaps and a concomitant increased risk of disease transmission. In this study, we review the literature documenting disease presence in Arctic marine mammals to understand the current causes of morbidity and mortality in these species and forecast future disease issues. Our review highlights potential pathogen occurrence in a changing Arctic environment, discussing surveillance methods for 35 specific pathogens, identifying risk factors associated with these diseases, as well as making recommendations for future monitoring for emerging pathogens. Several of the pathogens discussed have the potential to cause unusual mortality events in AMMs. Brucella, morbillivirus, influenza A virus, and Toxoplasma gondii are all of concern, particularly with the relative naivety of the immune systems of endemic Arctic species. There is a clear need for increased surveillance to understand baseline disease levels and address the gravity of the predicted impacts of climate change on marine mammal species. Please email me at ashley.barratclough(a)nmmf.org <mailto:ashley.barratclough@nmmf.org> if you have any questions. Best, Ashley

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Job Opportunity-UF Aquatic Animal Health Program
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

Hello! The University of Florida Aquatic Animal Health Program is currently seeking to fill our Program Assistant Position. Our program here at the College of Veterinary Medicine focuses on training in the care of marine mammals, with an emphasis on manatees. This position aids the program's initiatives through administrative support, grant management, and supporting facilitation of educational deliverables. Please see below for further details regarding the posting. If you have any questions regarding the posting, please email me at (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu>). Please feel free to share this posting with anyone who you think may be interested. University of Florida - Details - Program Assistant link (ufl.edu)<https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/527613/program-assistant?fbclid=IwAR…> Or go to https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/listing/ and look for job number: 527613 The posting will close on Friday July 21st, 2023. Sincerely, Dr Iske Larkin [AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Senior Lecturer & Education Coordinator Director of Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________

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Announcement of DCLDE2024 workshop
by Benda-Beckmann, A.M. (Sander) von 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

Dear MARMAM readers, I am excited to announce the upcoming DCLDE2024 workshop, to be held June 2 to 7 of 2024 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This workshop on Detection, Classification, Localisation and Density Estimation (DCLDE) of marine mammals is held on a bi-annual basis. During this workshop participants share their recent insights into algorithms and technology for acoustic monitoring of marine mammals. The workshop will be focused on studies using dedicated workshop datasets. In addition, we also expect to have some sessions more broadly related to DCLDE techniques. The workshop is open to anyone with an interest in the topic. Datasets are provided by the workshop organization so that the community can work on this dataset and results can be compared. This year's workshop dataset is related to real-time localisation of North Atlantic right whales using sonobuoy networks. The use of distributed fields of sensor systems for real-time acoustic monitoring and tracking of marine mammals is becoming increasingly used in the field, and expected to be of wide interest. You can find out how to access the workshop dataset by visiting our website: www.dclde2024.com<http://www.dclde2024.com>. We have selected a great venue located in the center of Rotterdam, which is the largest European port, a popular cultural hub, and is well known for its modern architecture. We are still working on the timeline for abstract submission , which is expected to be due early 2024. If you want to stay updated, please subscribe to our mailing list by sending a mail to dclde2024(a)gmail.com<mailto:dclde2024@gmail.com> or visit our website www.dclde2024.com<http://www.dclde2024.com>. Yours sincerely, Sander von Benda-Beckmann Senior Scientist, Acoustics & Sonar TNO, The Netherlands This message may contain information that is not intended for you. If you are not the addressee or if this message was sent to you by mistake, you are requested to inform the sender and delete the message. TNO accepts no liability for the content of this e-mail, for the manner in which you use it and for damage of any kind resulting from the risks inherent to the electronic transmission of messages.

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Job Opening: Wildlife Biologist 2/3-Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation
by Dodd, Mark 18 Jul '23

18 Jul '23

Location: Brunswick, GA Division: Wildlife Resources Division Position # 00099753 Job Code NRP062 Entry Salary $50,063.23- $54,280.21/year plus benefits Job Responsibilities: The Wildlife Biologist 2/3 will coordinate projects for the Department's coastal wildlife conservation program, focused on marine mammals and sea turtles. The biologist will coordinate coastal wildlife research and monitoring projects, manage grants, coordinate management and policy efforts, and lead marine wildlife stranding response. The position requires a a strong academic background, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and quantitative and technical skills. The Widlife Biologist 2/3 is required to operate watercraft and other field equipment in sometimes adverse conditions and work with large wildlife species in stressful and potentially hazardous situations. Minimum Qualifications: Wildlife Biologist 2 Master's degree in Biology or a related field from an accredited college or university OR Bachelor's degree in Biology or a related field from an accredited college or university AND One year of related experience OR One year of experience required at the lower-level Wildlife Biologist 1 (NRP060) or position equivalent. Wildlife Biologist 3 Master's degree in Biology or a related field from an accredited college or university AND One year of related experience OR Bachelor's degree in Biology or a related field from an accredited college or university AND two years of related experience OR One year of experience required at the lower-level Wildlife Biologist 2, (NRP061) or position equivalent. Preferred Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with: 1. An MS or PhD in wildlife management, marine biology, zoology or related field. 2. Proficiency designing and implementing published wildlife field research, monitoring projects or management. 3. Experience conducting marine wildlife stranding and/or other live marine animal responses, and coordinating complex projects involving multiple agencies, organizations or stakeholders. 4. Proficiency with database management, GIS and/or statistical software. 5. Experience administering federal grants and contracts, managing budgets, and writing reports. 6. Experience operating watercraft independently in marine or coastal habitats. 7. Practical experience with policy issues related to threatened/endangered species management. 8. Status as a current or former employee of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Application: Download an application for employment at https://gadnr.org/careers/ and submit the completed application to the e-mail address highlighted below. Alternatively, a completed paper copy can be mailed to the following address: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Office of Human Resources ATTN: Recruitment and Selection 2067 US Hwy, 278, SE Social Circle, GA 30025 WRD.careers(a)dnr.ga.gov<mailto:WRD.careers@dnr.ga.gov> Contact: Mark.Dodd(a)dnr.ga.gov Application Deadline: July 25th, 2023

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New publication - Ancient dolphin genomes reveal rapid repeated adaptation to coastal waters
by Marie Louis 18 Jul '23

18 Jul '23

Dear all, We are pleased to share our publication: Louis, M., Korlević, P., Nykänen, M. et al. Ancient dolphin genomes reveal rapid repeated adaptation to coastal waters. Nat Commun 14, 4020 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39532-z Abstract Parallel evolution provides strong evidence of adaptation by natural selection due to local environmental variation. Yet, the chronology, and mode of the process of parallel evolution remains debated. Here, we harness the temporal resolution of paleogenomics to address these long-standing questions, by comparing genomes originating from the mid-Holocene (8610-5626 years before present, BP) to contemporary pairs of coastal-pelagic ecotypes of bottlenose dolphin. We find that the affinity of ancient samples to coastal populations increases as the age of the samples decreases. We assess the youngest genome (5626 years BP) at sites previously inferred to be under parallel selection to coastal habitats and find it contained coastal-associated genotypes. Thus, coastal-associated variants rose to detectable frequencies close to the emergence of coastal habitat. Admixture graph analyses reveal a reticulate evolutionary history between pelagic and coastal populations, sharing standing genetic variation that facilitated rapid adaptation to newly emerged coastal habitats. The article is available at: https://rdcu.be/dg9g7 On behalf of all co-authors, Marie

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