October 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication: Utilization of stable isotopes in teeth to investigate pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) in the southeatern United States
by Wayne McFee 24 Oct '24

24 Oct '24

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce the new publication: Hackel, N.R. and W.E. McFee. (2024). Utilization of stable isotopes in teeth to investigate pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) in the southeastern United States. Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.13194. The full text is available here: http://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13194 Abstract The pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) is currently the second-most stranded cetacean in the southeastern United States (SEUS), but information concerning their population structure is severely limited. This study used stable isotope analysis to investigate the isotopic niches and population structure of K. breviceps among three regions in the SEUS determined by the distance of the continental shelf break and a fourth region in the Gulf of Mexico. Teeth from stranded individuals were subsampled via dental drill at four separate areas on each tooth, representing four different age classes: calf, juvenile, subadult, and adult. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen were measured in the organic component of 42 teeth, and oxygen isotope ratios were measured in the inorganic (hydroxyapatite) component of 19 teeth. No differences were found in δ13C, δ15N, or δ18O values between regions. However, differences between age classes were significant for adults and subadults for δ13C and adults and juveniles for δ15N. Differences between males and females were also significant for δ15N. Results from this study provide the first carbon and nitrogen isotope values from different age classes of pygmy sperm whales as well as the first reported oxygen isotope values for this species. Please email the authors at nmontey(a)gmail.com or wayne.mcfee(a)noaa.gov if you have any questions. Thank you. Nicole Hackel and Wayne McFee -- Wayne McFee PI -Coastal Marine Mammal Assessments Key Species and Bioinformatics Branch National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA National Ocean Service 331 Ft. Johnson Rd. Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 612-0061 Follow us on Twitter! @NOAACoastalSci <https://twitter.com/noaacoastalsci> Follow us on Facebook! @NOAACoastalSci <https://www.facebook.com/NOAACoastalSci>

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New publication: Herpesvirus surveillance in stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Italy with emphasis on neuropathological characterization
by Ignacio Vargas Castro 24 Oct '24

24 Oct '24

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our most recent publication. Vargas-Castro I, Giorda F, Mattioda V, Goria M, Serracca L, Varello K, Carta V, Nodari S, Maniaci MG, Dell'Atti L, Testori C, Pussini N, Iulini B, Battistini R, Zoppi S, Nocera FD, Lucifora G, Fontanesi E, Acutis P, Casalone C, Grattarola C, Peletto S. *Herpesvirus surveillance in stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Italy with emphasis on neuropathological characterization*. PLoS One. 2024 Oct 23;19(10):e0311767. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311767. You will find the open access publication at the link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311767 *Abstract*: Herpesvirus (HV) is widely distributed among cetacean populations, with the highest prevalence reported in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, including epidemiological, phylogenetic, and pathological aspects, with particular emphasis on neuropathology, to better understand the impact of HV in these animals. Our results show a higher presence of HV in males compared to females, with males exhibiting a greater number of positive tissues. Additionally, adults were more frequently affected by HV infection than juveniles, with no infections detected in calves or neonates. The affected species were striped (*Stenella coeruleoalba*) and bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*). The highest positivity rates were observed in the genital system, cerebrum, and skin tissues. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a higher occurrence of Gammaherpesvirus (GHV) sequences but increased genetic diversity within Alphaherpesvirus (AHV). Key neuropathological features included astro-microgliosis (n=4) and meningitis with minimal to mild perivascular cuffing (n=2). The presence of concurrent infections with other pathogens, particularly cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV), underscores the complex nature of infectious diseases in cetaceans. However, the presence of lesions at the Central Nervous System (CNS) with molecular positivity for GHV, excluding the involvement of other potential neurotropic agents, would confirm the potential of this HV subfamily to induce neurological damage. Pathological examination identified lesions in other organs that could potentially be associated with HV, characterized by lymphoid depletion and tissue inflammation. These findings enhance our understanding of HV in odontocetes and highlight the need for ongoing research into the factors driving these infections and their broader implications. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions you may have. Kind regards, Ignacio Vargas-Castro *Ignacio Vargas Castro* DVM, PhD Viral Immunology and Preventive Medicine Unit (SUAT) VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre & Animal Health Department Universidad Complutense Madrid Av. Puerta de Hierro, s/n. 28040 Madrid. Spainignavarg(a)ucm.eswww.sanidadanimal.info <https://www.sanidadanimal.info/en/> <https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/65258/innovations-in-surveillan…> This message is private and confidential and it is intended exclusively for the addressee. If you receive this message by mistake, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please inform the sender and delete the message and attachments from your system, as it is completely forbidden for you to use this information, according to the current legislation. No confidentiality nor any privilege regarding the information is waived or lost by any mistransmission or malfunction. The personal data herein will be collected in the file "Correoweb", under the ownership of the Vice-Rectorate for Information Technologies, in which those interested may exercise their right to access, rectify, erasure or right to object the contents (article 15-21 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, General Data Protection Regulation). Before printing this mail please consider whether it is really necessary: the environment is a concern for us all.

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NMFS 2024 Updated Marine Mammal Acoustic Guidance
by Amy SCHOLIK - NOAA Federal 23 Oct '24

23 Oct '24

Greetings, The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is announcing the finalization and availability of the “2024 Update to: Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing (Version 3.0): Underwater and In-Air Criteria for Onset of Auditory Injury and Temporary Threshold Shifts.” NOAA Fisheries has developed the 2024 Updated Technical Guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species, underwater and in-air,under NOAA Fisheries’s jurisdiction. This document provides updated received level thresholds and auditory weighting functions, or acoustic criteria, based on the best available science, at which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either auditory injury or temporary threshold shift) for all anthropogenic sound sources. The 2024 Updated Technical Guidance is intended to be used by NOAA Fisheries analysts and managers and other relevant user groups, including other federal agencies, when seeking to determine whether and how their activities are expected to result in particular types of impacts to marine mammals via acoustic exposure. The 2024 Updated Technical Guidance replaces our previous 2018 Revised Technical Guidance. Electronic copies of the document containing the revised section of the 2024 updated acoustic guidance can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mam… Thank you for your interest in this document and for those who provided recent public comment. For more information, please contact Amy Scholik-Schlomer (amy.scholik(a)noaa.gov or 301-427-8449). Amy R. Scholik-Schlomer, Ph.D*. *(she/her/hers) Fishery Biologist (HQ Protected Resources Acoustic Coordinator) *NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service* *Office of Protected Resources* *Permits and Conservation Division1315 East-West Hwy.Silver Spring, MD 20910* (301) 427-8449 Email: *Amy.Scholik(a)noaa.gov <Amy.Scholik(a)noaa.gov>* https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/understanding-sound-ocean

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REPORT - The trawl supremacy: hegemony of destructive bottom trawl fisheries and some of the management solutions
by Giovanni Bearzi 22 Oct '24

22 Oct '24

Dear colleagues, we announce the publication of a comprehensive report on trawling: Bearzi, G., Bonizzoni, S., Reeves, R.R. 2024. The trawl supremacy: hegemony of destructive bottom trawl fisheries and some of the management solutions. OceanCare, Wädenswil, Switzerland. 134 pp. While this long report does not feature marine mammals primarily, it does contain sections on bycatch of cetaceans and pinnipeds in trawl gear (in Chapter 5) and the relevant mitigation methods (in Chapter 10). Colleagues working on marine mammal conservation may also be interested in our review of the negative effects of trawling on the marine environment generally, which includes impacts on marine mammal habitat and prey. The report is free, and it can be downloaded from http://www.oceancare.org/trawlsupremacy as well as through ResearchGate. Cheers, Giovanni, Silvia and Randy ABSTRACT --- Trawling is a type of fishing characterized by the active towing of nets by a moving boat. Trawl nets vary greatly in size and shape, and they target a wide variety of species, including bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans and molluscs, pelagic and semi-pelagic schooling fish, and deep-water fauna. In this report, we provide a general overview on towed gear, but we focus more specifically on bottom trawling: the towing of nets along the seabed. Bottom trawling has become a cornerstone of global food supplies, accounting for more than one quarter of global fishery landings. In 2016, this equated to over 30 million tonnes of seafood. In several European and African countries, half of fishery landings come from bottom trawling. Bottom trawling, however, has long been known to be detrimental to marine life. It was regarded as a destructive fishing method since the early 14th century, and was often vocally opposed by communities of fishers who saw it as a threat to marine resources and their own livelihoods. The introduction of steam and diesel engines (in the 1830s and 1930s, respectively) marked the modern era of trawling. Engine-powered trawling increased rapidly during the 1960s, and by the 1980s large fleets of trawlers were combing the global oceans. Today's bottom trawlers can operate virtually anywhere, from shallow inland channels and rivers to deep offshore waters. Countless scientific studies, encompassing decades of fishery research, have documented the harmful nature of bottom trawling, with substantial cumulative evidence of damage to marine species and ecosystems. Bottom trawling reduces the biomass, diversity and complexity of benthic communities, and the action of trawl gear on the seabed causes dramatic mechanical and chemical alterations, compromising the seabed's functionality and productivity. In addition to the target species, most types of trawl gear take unwanted species, such as threatened elasmobranchs, sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals. Apart from these biological impacts, recent studies indicate that bottom trawling has a considerable carbon footprint, with high direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate disruption. Information on the harmful effects of bottom trawling has resulted in public and institutional awareness of environmental damage, and in restrictions that have sometimes included complete bans. Trawling is often prohibited in the most coastal and shallow waters. However, regulations and enforcement levels vary greatly across areas, and environmental protection measures are often ineffective -- to the point that the intensity of bottom trawling can be higher inside than outside some Marine Protected Areas. In this report, we review the evidence of how bottom trawling affects marine life and human life. We also summarize some of the primary management approaches that could help mitigate the harmful effects of trawling -- consistent with international commitments to protect the marine environment. We conclude that the amount of seafood produced by bottom trawling can no longer justify or excuse the pervasive damage caused to marine ecosystems and communities of small-scale fishers, and we advocate the use of less destructive fishing gear, combined with the creation of areas protected from harmful fishing practices, and more sustainable strategies to 'feed the world'.

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Sperm whale departure from the central portion of the Gulf of California publication!
by Hector Perez 22 Oct '24

22 Oct '24

Dear colleagues, Hola, my co-authors, and I are pleased to share with you our latest publication on the sperm whale departure from the central portion of the Gulf of California, particularly in the Midriff Islands Region, which is open access on the section Life and Environment PeerJ journal. Title: The departure of sperm whales (*Physeter macrocephalus*) in response to the declining jumbo squid (*Dosidicus gigas*) population in the central portion of the Gulf of California. Pérez-Puig H, Arias Del Razo A, Ahuatzin Gallardo D, Bolaños J. 2024. The departure of sperm whales (*Physeter macrocephalus*) in response to the declining jumbo squid (*Dosidicus gigas*) population in the central portion of the Gulf of California. PeerJ 12:e18117 https://peerj.com/articles/18117/ Abstract: As sperm whales are important predators that control energy flux in the oceans, changes in their population can be used as a sentinel to measure of ecosystem health. The present study conducted a sperm whale survey of the eastern Midriff Islands Region in the Gulf of California over the course of nine years, recording sightings and collecting photographs of the fluke of sperm whale individuals. A photo-identification catalog was compiled, while individual recapture data were used to estimate the population size in the central portion of the Gulf of California, using a Jolly-Seber POPAN open population model. The results obtained show a yearly population of between 20 and 167 sperm whales, with a super population of 354 sperm whales observed between 2009 and 2015. However, from 2016 to 2018, no sightings of the species were recorded, which coincides with the decline observed in landings of their main prey, the jumbo squid, in the region. General additive model conducted on sperm whale sightings per unit of effort vs jumbo squid landings obtained an adjusted R2 of 0.644 and a deviance explained of 60.3%, indicating a good non-linear relationship between sightings of this odontocete and its prey availability. This evidence suggests that sperm whales departed the region between 2016 and 2018, due to a documented fishery collapse alongside changes of their main prey into its small phenotype, possibly as the result of increase warming conditions in surface and subsurface waters in the Gulf of California in the last three decades. Saludos! -- MC. Héctor Pérez Puig. _______________________________________ Programa de Investigación y Conservación. Centro de Estudios Culturales y Ecológicos. Prescott College A.C. Bahía de Kino, Sonora, México. e-mail: hector.perez(a)prescott.edu teléfono: (01662) 242-0024. http://www.prescott.edu/kino-bay-center/index.html

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Senior Curator Positions with the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program
by Erin R. Bates 22 Oct '24

22 Oct '24

The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program is currently hiring two complementary Senior Curator level positions: Team Manager and Senior Scientist. The Team Manager will fill a supervisory and team management role within the program and will work with the Senior Scientist and Chief of Veterinary Science and Research as section leadership. This person will help develop and maintain operations related to stranding response, rehabilitation, and necropsy of sea turtles and marine mammals. The Senior Scientist will oversee and manage research projects, mentor Stranding Response Program staff/interns/fellows in skills and knowledge involved in marine mammal and sea turtle research endeavors, investigations, data collection, and analysis. They, along with the Team Manager and Chief of Veterinary Science and Research will develop and guide the programmatic and scientific goals for the Stranding Response Program. For more details and to apply for the position(s), please visit https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/v2/jobSearch?act=redirectCwsV2&…

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Final Incidental Take Regulations for the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, Offshore Maryland
by Jessica Taylor - NOAA Affiliate 22 Oct '24

22 Oct '24

Good morning Colleagues, On October 22, 2024, NOAA Fisheries will announce the final regulations to govern the incidental harassment of marine mammals related to the construction of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, offshore Maryland. As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the final regulations include mandatory mitigation measures to be undertaken by the wind developer that will ensure the “least practicable adverse impact” on marine mammals and their habitat, as well as monitoring and reporting measures to better understand those impacts. NOAA Fisheries determined that underwater noise generated by the Project’s activities over a five-year period may result in the take of marine mammals, in the form of Level A (injury) and/or Level B (behavioral) harassment. Impacts to a small number of North Atlantic right whales are expected to be limited to short-term behavioral disturbance (Level B harassment). No mortality or serious injury of any marine mammal species or stock is expected or allowed. NOAA Fisheries determined that the number and manner of take that may be authorized in a Letter of Authorization will have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species and stocks. This regulatory action is part of NOAA’s ongoing work supporting the responsible development of offshore wind energy. Documents associated with this final action will be available on our website <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-us-wind…> tomorrow. NOAA Fisheries is committed to careful review and use of the best available scientific information in satisfying the requirements of the MMPA. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you, Jessica Taylor -- Jessica Taylor, M.E.M. (she/her) Senior Analyst, ESA/MMPA Support Services Contractor with Ocean Associates, Inc. Permits and Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 427-8475 Email: Jessica.Taylor(a)noaa.gov

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New publication: Narwhal, beluga and bowhead whale responses to marine vessel traffic: A systematic map
by Emily Hague 22 Oct '24

22 Oct '24

Dear MARMAM, I am pleased to share with the marine mammal community our latest publication: Narwhal, beluga and bowhead whale responses to marine vessel traffic: A systematic map, published in Ocean and Coastal Management. You can access the article via this link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107251. We hope this paper will support research efforts towards understanding and mitigating the effects of Arctic shipping on Arctic whales. Abstract: The remote and harsh environment that endemic Arctic whales (bowhead, narwhal and beluga) reside in has so far limited their exposure to many human activities. However, Arctic industrialisation coupled with increasingly accessible ice-free waters means these species increasingly co-occur, and are exposed to, a number of potentially impactful activities, many of which are directly or indirectly associated with marine vessels. We conducted a systematic map, using five search databases, to ascertain the current level of understanding relating to how Arctic whales respond to marine vessels and vessel-associated activities. We identified a limited volume of literature (n = 169), and a disparity in volume between species, subpopulations, and vessel types. Several vessel types are increasingly present in the Arctic (e.g. cruise ships, fishing vessels), yet received limited consideration. Similarly, several endangered subpopulations have received little attention. Only with sufficient understanding of the associated impacts of vessels can we develop appropriate management and mitigation measures which can effectively conserve these unique, vulnerable and inherently valuable species. Any questions or feedback, please do get in touch, Emily and co-authors Emily Hague (She/her/hers) Marine Researcher www.emily-hague.com<http://www.emily-hague.com/> ·...¸><((((º> .··´¯`·.¸.·><((((º> ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> Email: emilyhague(a)live.co.uk<mailto:emilyhague@live.co.uk> or elh2001(a)hw.ac.uk<mailto:elh2001@hw.ac.uk> Twitter: @emilyhague<https://twitter.com/emilyhague>

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New publication: Influence of Dolphin-Watching Tourism Vessels on the Whistle Emission Pattern of Common Dolphins and Bottlenose Dolphins
by Joana Castro 22 Oct '24

22 Oct '24

Dear all, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce and share our recent paper titled "Influence of Dolphin-Watching Tourism Vessels on the Whistle Emission Pattern of Common Dolphins and Bottlenose Dolphins" The full paper is available via open access and free to download: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/5/4/44 Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Abstract: Recent years have seen a notable rise in dolphin-watching boat activities along the Algarve coast in Portugal, potentially affecting the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) local populations. This study examines the impact of increasing underwater noise levels from these boats on dolphin vocalizations. Field recordings were conducted from June to September 2022, analyzing dolphin whistles in various boat presence scenarios. The results indicate significant changes in whistle-frequency characteristics with boat presence, including increased start, low, and high frequencies, alongside a decrease in the number of inflection points in modulated whistles. The changes might negatively impact dolphin populations viability, underscoring the need for further research. Additionally, improved mitigation strategies may be necessary to reduce the potential negative effects of dolphin watching on cetacean communication and behavior in the Algarve region.

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Free Pacific Whale Foundation Research Webinar Oct 24
by Shannon Barber-Meyer 21 Oct '24

21 Oct '24

We invite you to register today for Pacific Whale Foundation's free research webinar "Science in Action: Research that Drives Cetacean Conservation" on October 24 at 1 pm HST https://www.pacificwhale.org/currents-of-curiosity-a-pacific-whale-foundati… Featuring expert-led discussions by Pacific Whale Foundation's (PWF) research team from Hawai‘i, Australia, and Ecuador, this webinar will explore how PWF's global research drives whale and dolphin conservation efforts. The team will highlight: * Research & conservation challenges facing Australia's threatened humpback dolphins * How long-term monitoring of humpback whales in Ecuador has led to successful conservation in the region * Research on endangered false killer whales in Hawai'i using suction cup camera tags. Thank you, Dr. Shannon Barber-Meyer Senior Research Manager Pacific Whale Foundation [cid:mkt_donation_email_sig_r3_500px_59742678-0de9-40fc-ac98-07ce516adf52.png]<https://secure.pacificwhale.org/forms/emailsignature>

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