November 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Hector’s dolphin distribution at Kaikōura before and after a major earthquake
by Grant Ellis 07 Nov '24

07 Nov '24

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of by coauthors, I am pleased to share our recent publication: Ellis GK, Weir J, Bräger S, Heinrich S (2024) Hector’s dolphin distribution at Kaikōura before and after a major earthquake. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 748:175-190. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14690 Abstract: Catastrophic natural events can have major impacts on marine ecosystems, but effects on mobile predators, such as cetaceans, remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether the coastal distribution patterns of Hector’s dolphins Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori off Kaikōura, New Zealand, changed after the powerful Kaikōura earthquake in November 2016. Dolphin sightings from boat-based surveys conducted before (2013–2016) and after (2016–2020) the earthquake were binned into 18 sectors of 4 km length each. The dolphins’ occurrence across sectors was then compared during pre- and post-earthquake periods using generalised linear models. Areas of high and low occurrence probability were temporally stable for Hector’s dolphins from before to 1.5 yr post-quake. Historic sighting data (from the 1990s) matched with the observed high-occurrence areas, indicating decadal stability in distribution patterns. An increase in dolphin occurrence was noted in the final 2–4 yr post-quake period across most nearshore sectors. This was particularly noticeable in the historically low-use areas along the narrow shelf at the head of the deep Kaikōura Canyon. This observation could indicate increased population connectivity between dolphins using the northern and southern sections of the Kaikōura Peninsula. The dolphins’ occurrence patterns pre-quake at the sector level were broadly explained by water depth, distance to rivers, sea surface temperature and chlorophyll when explored with generalised additive models. We discuss scenarios that may explain the species’ persistent distribution patterns during natural perturbation events as well as synergies with other conservation measures. Available at Inter Research » MEPS » v748 » p175-190<https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v748/p175-190/> Please get in touch to request a copy of the manuscript, or with any queries Kind Regards ----------- Grant Ellis PhD Student | Research Assistant Sea Mammal Research Unit Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB ge27(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:ge27@st-andrews.ac.uk> www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk<http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/> [cid:2787fb8d-102f-4949-8e03-894bb5b51e20] [cid:9965926f-0a07-40ca-af92-54b77fcc8fdb] The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

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New publication: Species diversity and critical habitats of offshore and deep-diving cetaceans in the South China Sea
by songhai 06 Nov '24

06 Nov '24

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am very pleased to share our recent publication about "Species diversity and critical habitats of offshore and deep-diving cetaceans in the South China Sea " in Biological Conservation. Abstract: Despite being recognized as a global marine biodiversity hotspot, the South China Sea (SCS) is a distinct "cetacean data-deficient area". In particular, robust scientific knowledge and conservation baseline information available for offshore cetacean species in this region remain scarce. Between 2019 and 2023, we conducted six systematic ship-based surveys to investigate cetaceans occurring potentially in the offshore waters of the SCS, primarily around the Xisha-Zhongsha Islands. During the field surveys, 211 cetacean sightings comprising 187 single- and 24 mixed-species sightings were recorded. We identified 17 odontocete species, all offshore and deep-diving species. Notably, the pantropical spotted dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, and Fraser's dolphin, were recognized as the dominant species because of regular presence, commonness and high relative abundance. Based on the field sightings reported in this study and supplementary opportunistic sightings, we confirm 25 cetacean species living in the SCS. By integrating several additional data sources, such as stranding records and taxidermy/skeletal specimens, we further establish a cetacean species checklist consisting of at least 36 species. Biogeographically, the northern SCS (especially Xisha-Zhongsha waters) not only supports a remarkably high level of cetacean richness, and may also function as nursery and/or feeding grounds for the "Vulnerable" sperm whale and serve as critical habitats for many other offshore and deep-diving species. Therefore, we recommend that the Xisha-Zhongsha waters be proposed as a candidate Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), which has great potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. The article is freely accessible via this link: Species diversity and critical habitats of offshore and deep-diving cetaceans in the South China Sea - ScienceDirect <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320724003707?dgcid=a uthor> For any queries, please feel free to contact me at <mailto:lish@idsse.ac.cn> lish(a)idsse.ac.cn Best Regards Songhai ------------------------------------------------------------------- Songhai Li Ph.D. & Prof. Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 28 Luhuitou Road, Sanya, 572000, China Phone: +86-898-88222393 Email: <mailto:lish@sidsse.ac.cn> lish(a)idsse.ac.cn <http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysw sxyjz2015/> http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysws xyjz2015/ <http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/> http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/

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UCSC - IMS postdoctoral researcher in Monterey
by Elliott Hazen 06 Nov '24

06 Nov '24

The Institute of Marine Sciences [https://ims.ucsc.edu/] at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), working in conjunction with the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries), invites applications for the position of Project Scientist to develop climate-ready management tools and data streams to improve fisheries sustainability and manage protected resources in the North Pacific. The candidate will work with ecological models built upon and tied to global climate and earth system models, regional ocean models, and observational datasets, and should have strong skills in accessing, downloading, analyzing, and visualizing large data sets. The candidate will operationalize ecological models to produce daily and forecasted outputs, e.g. EcoCast (https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/ecocast/map_product.html) WhaleWatch (https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/projects/whalewatch2/whalewatch2_map.html) and should have a robust analytical skillset and strong skills in computer science, coding, and data management. The individual will participate in research projects to understand how climatic information can support management decision-making across multiple time-scales, e.g. historical predictions, seasonal forecasts, climate projections. Specific research areas may include fisheries bycatch, whale entanglement in fishing gear and ship strike, the effects of short-term and long-term warming on human-wildlife risk, and the design of climate-smart spatial closures and protected areas. These efforts are part of broader interdisciplinary projects aimed at developing improved fisheries management strategies for the California Current System. Initial appointments are typically for a period of two years. Reappointment may be considered contingent upon the availability of work and appropriate funding. The positions will be based in Monterey, CA and supervised by Barbara Muhling in the Fisheries Collaborative Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz and will work closely with NOAA staff at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Monterey. Please see the ad here<https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.ucsc.edu/dist/e/692/files/2024/11/2024.…> for more information and to apply. Applications are due by November 29th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Barbara Muhling (barbara.muhling(a)noaa.gov<mailto:barbara.muhling@noaa.gov>), Heather Welch (heather.welch(a)noaa.gov<mailto:heather.welch@noaa.gov>) and/or Elliott Hazen (elliott.hazen(a)noaa.gov<mailto:elliott.hazen@noaa.gov>). Sincerely, Elliott

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Three new publications on infectious diseases in cetaceans
by Sandro Mazzariol 05 Nov '24

05 Nov '24

Dear colleagues My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of three new papers on infectious diseases in cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. Here below the details of our publications: 1. Grattarola C, Pietroluongo G, Belluscio D, Berio E, Canonico C, Centelleghe C, Cocumelli C, Crotti S, Denurra D, Di Donato A, Di Francesco G, Di Guardo G, Di Nocera F, Di Renzo L, Gavaudan S, Giorda F, Lucifora G, Marino L, Marcer F, Marsili L, Migliore S, Pascucci I, Petrella A, Pintore A, Puleio R, Rubini S, Terracciano G, Toffan A, Mazzariol S, Casalone C. Pathogen Prevalence in Cetaceans Stranded along the Italian Coastline between 2015 and 2020. Pathogens. 2024 Sep 4;13(9):762. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13090762. Abstract The monitoring of stranded marine mammals represents a strategic method to assess their health, conservation status, and ecological role in the marine ecosystem. Networks worldwide track stranding events for the passive monitoring of mortality patterns, emerging and reemerging pathogens, climate change, and environmental degradation from a One Health perspective. This study summarizes pathogen prevalence data from the Italian Stranding Network (ISN) derived from post-mortem investigations on cetaceans found dead stranded along the Italian coastline between 2015 and 2020. The decomposition of the carcasses and logistics limited the post-mortem examination to 585 individuals, out of 1236 single-stranding reports. The most relevant pathogens identified were Cetacean Morbillivirus, Herpesvirus, Brucella spp., and Toxoplasma gondii, whose roles as environmental stressors are well known, despite their real impact still needing to be investigated in depth. Statistical analysis showed that age and sex seem to be positively related to the presence of pathogens. This study represents the first step in harmonizing post-mortem investigations, which is crucial for evidence-based conservation efforts. Implementing diagnostic and forensic frameworks could offer an indirect insight into the systematic monitoring of diseases to improve the identification of regional and temporal hotspots in which to target specific mitigation, management, and conservation strategies. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/9/762 Pathogen Prevalence in Cetaceans Stranded along the Italian Coastline between 2015 and 2020 mdpi.com 2. Legnardi M, Franzo G, Cecchinato M, Si H, Baston R, Mazzariol S, Centelleghe C, Pietroluongo G, Holcer D, Miočić-Stošić J, Hofs J, Frleta-Valić M, Tucciarone CM. First Detection of Gammacoronavirus in a Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Adriatic Sea. Animals (Basel). 2024 Sep 20;14(18):2725. doi: 10.3390/ani14182725. Abstract This case report presents the first molecular identification of a gammacoronavirus in a free-ranging striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) that was found stranded along the Croatian coastline in 2022. The dolphin exhibited a concurrent infection with cetacean morbillivirus. The gammacoronavirus strain was amplified and sequenced from heart tissue imprinted on an FTA®card, revealing a notable genetic distance (approximately 8%) from previously characterized cetacean gammacoronaviruses. This finding highlights the importance of including gammacoronaviruses in routine diagnostics for stranded dolphins to gather epidemiological data on their prevalence and potential role in causing disease in cetaceans. This study sets the premises for a further understanding of the diversity and distribution of gammacoronaviruses in marine mammals and highlights the necessity for ongoing surveillance of emerging infectious diseases in wild populations. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/18/2725 First Detection of Gammacoronavirus in a Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Adriatic Sea mdpi.com 3. Pietroluongo, G.; Tucciarone, C.M.; Cecchinato, M.; Si, H.; Spadotto, L.; Danyer, I.A.; Isuru, H.; Wijesundera, K.; Ekanayake, L.; Centelleghe, C.; et al. Coinfection with Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) and Gammaherpesvirus in a Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) Stranded in Sri Lanka. Viruses 2024, 16, 1662. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16111662 Abstract Following the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster off the coast of Sri Lanka, a stranded spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) was recovered, and the cause of death was investigated. Post-mortem examinations revealed evidence of by-catch, but a natural coinfection with dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and gammaherpesvirus was detected by further analyses, marking the first documented case of a dual viral infection in this species within the region. Molecular diagnostics, including PCR and sequencing, were performed on tissue imprints collected on FTA® cards, confirming the presence of DMV in the prescapular lymph node and gammaherpesvirus in the lesions in the oral cavity. The concurrent detection of DMV and gammaherpesvirus raises significant concerns regarding the potential impacts of environmental stressors, such as chemical pollutants from the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, on exacerbating susceptibility to viral infections in marine mammals. These findings highlight the need for ongoing surveillance of cetacean populations in the Indian Ocean to better understand pathogen circulation and health and conservation implications of anthropogenic activities on the marine ecosystem. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1662 Coinfection with Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) and Gammaherpesvirus in a Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) Stranded in Sri Lanka mdpi.com If you have any questions you can directly contact the corresponding author or myself. Best wishes Sandro Mazzariol Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD Full Professor of Veterinary Pathology Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA) - University of Padova AGRIPOLIS - Ed. BCA1 Viale dell’Università, 16 - 35020 - Legnaro (PD) tel.: +39 049 827 2963 fax: +39 049 827 2973 sandro.mazzariol(a)unipd.it marinemammals.bca(a)unipd.it wildlife.bca(a)unipd.it

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New Paper on Behavioral Responses of Common Dolphins to Military Sonar
by Brandon Southall 05 Nov '24

05 Nov '24

MARMAM Community, On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to announce the publication of a new paper on the behavioral responses of common dolphins to simulated and actual military active mid-frequency sonar signals. The paper reference, open access link, and abstract are included below. Southall B.L., Durban, J.W., Calambokidis, J., Casey, C., Fahlbusch, J.A., Fearnbach, H., Flynn, K., Fregosi, S., Friedlaender, A.S., Leander, S.G.M., and Visser, F. (2024). Behavioural responses of common dolphins to naval sonar. R. Soc. Open Sci.11: 240650. Open Access and Other Relevant Links: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240650 https://royalsociety.org/blog/2024/10/how-military-sonar-impacts-dolphins-n… https://sea-inc.net/2024/10/sea-leads-new-paper-on-behavioral-responses-of-… Abstract: Despite strong interest in how noise affects marine mammals, little is known for the most abundant and commonly exposed taxa. Social delphinids occur in groups of hundreds of individuals that travel quickly, change behaviour ephemerally, and are not amenable to conventional tagging methods, posing challenges in quantifying noise impacts. We integrated drone-based photogrammetry, strategically- placed acoustic recorders, and broad-scale visual observations to provide complimentary measurements of different aspects of behaviour for short- and long-beaked common dolphins. We measured behavioural responses during controlled exposure experiments (CEEs) of military mid-frequency (3-–4 kHz) active sonar (MFAS) using simulated and actual Navy sonar sources. We used latent-state Bayesian models to evaluate response probability and persistence in exposure and post-exposure phases. Changes in sub-group movement and aggregation parameters were commonly detected during different phases of MFAS CEEs but not control CEEs. Responses were more evident in short-beaked common dolphins (n =14 CEEs), and a direct relationship between response probability and received level was observed. Long-beaked common dolphins (n = 20) showed less consistent responses, although contextual differences may have limited which some movement responses could be detected. These are the first experimental behavioural response data for these abundant dolphins to directly inform impact assessments for military sonars. Thanks for your interest and to all the study participants, funders and logistical support provided and acknowledged in the paper. Brandon Southall on behalf of my co-authors —— Brandon Southall, Ph.D President, Chief Scientist - Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Research Associate - UC Santa Cruz Institute of Marine Science Adjunct Assistant Professor - Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Brandon.Southall(a)sea-inc.net 831.661.5177 (office) 831.332.8744 (cell) 9099 Soquel Dr., suite 8 Aptos CA 95003 USA www.sea-inc.net

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New publication: The longest documented travel by a West Indian manatee
by Camila Carvalho de Carvalho 04 Nov '24

04 Nov '24

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our article about Tico, the rehabilitated manatee that traveled from Brazil to Venezuela. The article entitled "The longest documented travel by a West Indian manatee" in Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom is accessible via https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315424000894. Carvalho, C. C. de, Simoes-Sousa, I. T., Santos, L. P., Choi-Lima, K. F., Pereira, L. G., Alves, M. D. de O., Santander, J., Carrero, A., Carvalho, V. L. (2024). The longest documented travel by a West Indian manatee. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 104, e99. doi:10.1017/S0025315424000894 Abstract In Northeastern Brazil, successful release programmes have been implemented for the conservation of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) since the 1990s. Recently, the non-government organization AQUASIS started releasing manatees in the state of Ceará, where oceanographic conditions and the absence of sheltered places pose new challenges for the release and monitoring of manatees. This research investigates the movement of a manatee named Tico, released in Icapuí, Ceará, Brazil, that travelled approximately 4017 km over 62 days through deep oceanic waters. Correlating Tico's trajectory and velocity with surface currents revealed the influence of the North Brazil Current (NBC) and its vortices on his movement. Tico crossed the diluted Amazon River plume with surface salinity as low as 26 g kg−1 in early August, potentially encountering areas of even lower salinity. Additionally, Tico experienced several storms, with significant rainfall during his journey, which may have provided freshwater. The erratic movement patterns and significant weight loss prompted the rescue of Tico on Isla la Blanquilla, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Tico is currently being temporarily housed in Parque Zoológico y Botánico Bararida in Venezuela. Understanding the nature of Tico's long-distance movement could help inform decisions about his future. AQUASIS proposes to return Tico to Brazil, a region with an ecologically and genetically distinct population from Venezuela, for a second release attempt, incorporating lessons learned from the first release. Furthermore, AQUASIS has the necessary human and financial resources to ensure the continuous monitoring of Tico during his readaptation to the wild. For any request or queries, please feel free to contact me at camilacarvalho.bio08(a)gmail.com. Kind regards, Camila -- Camila Carvalho de Carvalho Mestre em Oceanografia Biológica - PPGOB/FURG Grupo de Pesquisa em Mamíferos Aquáticos Amazônicos - IDSM skype: camila.carvalho.de.carvalho cel: +55 15 98151-9531

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New paper on the acoustic behavior of a solitary bottlenose dolphin
by Olga Filatova 04 Nov '24

04 Nov '24

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New publication: potential signature whistles in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins
by songhai 03 Nov '24

03 Nov '24

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am very pleased to share our recent publication about "Potential signature whistle production by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the northern South China Sea" in Animal Behaviour. Abstract: Dolphin communication involves acoustic signals, including whistles, and the well-studied bottlenose dolphins produce individually distinctive whistles called signature whistles (SWs). The production of a potential SW by an injured Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin has been reported, but no study has attempted to validate this finding in this species. Using data collected during encounters with free-ranging Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins at two locations in the northern South China Sea, we investigated the production of SWs by these dolphins. Of the 3846 analysed whistles, 37% were identified as potential SWs (PSWs) using the SIGnature whistle IDentification method and categorized into 82 PSW types. Overall, PSWs were identified during 54% of encounters. Given the high production rate of stereotyped whistles (62% of all whistles in 90% of encounters) compared with the identified PSWs, we suggest that the SIGnature whistle IDentification method criteria cannot be fully adapted for the detection of SWs in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, and more research should be conducted to adapt the criteria to the species. In addition, the characteristics of PSWs differed slightly between locations, potentially because of the geographical separation of populations and habitat differences (e.g. noise levels). The present results confirm the production of stereotyped whistles, including PSWs, by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Further research should be conducted to confirm whether these whistles are similar to bottlenose dolphins' SWs. The article is freely accessible via this link: https://kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fauthors.elsevier.com %2Fc%2F1k1OOmjM6G3T/1/01020192e955d2b8-b0d365e0-111f-46d9-83d2-f556d4dc4b6c- 000000/4fm1TzsWKFnYCZw8fQ6CCRSdNJA=398 For any queries, please feel free to contact me at lish(a)idsse.ac.cn <mailto:lish@idsse.ac.cn> Best Regards Songhai ------------------------------------------------------------------- Songhai Li Ph.D. & Prof. Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 28 Luhuitou Road, Sanya, 572000, China Phone: +86-898-88222393 Email: <mailto:lish@sidsse.ac.cn> lish(a)idsse.ac.cn <http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysw sxyjz2015/> http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysws xyjz2015/ <http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/> http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/

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New publication on Amazonian manatee acoustics and call for collaboration
by Florence Erbs 03 Nov '24

03 Nov '24

Dear MARMAM community, We're excited to announce our new paper is out! We combined 2 years of passive acoustic monitoring to detect Amazonian manatee vocalizations using deep learning and we characterized the vocal repertoire of wild Amazonian manatees for the first time (abstract below). Erbs, F., van der Schaar, M., Marmontel, M., Gaona, M., Ramalho, E. and André, M. (2024), Amazonian manatee critical habitat revealed by artificial intelligence-based passive acoustic techniques. Remote Sens Ecol Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.418. The paper is open access, you can find it here: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.418 Call for collaboration: We would like to build on these results to extend the PAM of manatees in the Amazon and contribute to the identification of priority areas for conservation. The objective is to use the current automatic classification model to quickly detect manatee in other datasets from various locations in the Amazon (ideally representing different habitat types). If you have underwater recordings from locations that could be interesting to explore for manatee presence, please get in touch with us, we will be happy to discuss collaboration. Call for pictures: In addition, we are looking for pictures of Amazonian manatees in the wild to get the word out about the dangers they're facing and how research can contribute to their conservation. The pictures will be used on posts (from short posts on social media to longer blog posts) to illustrate the species in its habitat and put in context the research using acoustics as a tool for detecting their presence. We will ensure that proper attribution is given to the photographer/institution. You can reach out to us at florence.erbs(a)upc.edu or michel.andre(a)upc.edu. Thank you very much, Florence *Abstract* For many species at risk, monitoring challenges related to low visual detectability and elusive behavior limit the use of traditional visual surveys to collect critical information, hindering the development of sound conservation strategies. Passive acoustics can cost-effectively acquire terrestrial and underwater long-term data. However, to extract valuable information from large datasets, automatic methods need to be developed, tested and applied. Combining passive acoustics with deep learning models, we developed a method to monitor the secretive Amazonian manatee over two consecutive flooded seasons in the Brazilian Amazon floodplains. Subsequently, we investigated the vocal behavior parameters based on vocalization frequencies and temporal characteristics in the context of habitat use. A Convolutional Neural Network model successfully detected Amazonian manatee vocalizations with a 0.98 average precision on training data. Similar classification performance in terms of precision (range: 0.83–1.00) and recall (range: 0.97–1.00) was achieved for each year. Using this model, we evaluated manatee acoustic presence over a total of 226 days comprising recording periods in 2021 and 2022. Manatee vocalizations were consistently detected during both years, reaching 94% daily temporal occurrence in 2021, and up to 11 h a day with detections during peak presence. Manatee calls were characterized by a high emphasized frequency and high repetition rate, being mostly produced in rapid sequences. This vocal behavior strongly indicates an exchange between females and their calves. Combining passive acoustic monitoring with deep learning models, and extending temporal monitoring and increasing species detectability, we demonstrated that the approach can be used to identify manatee core habitats according to seasonality. The combined method represents a reliable, cost-effective, scalable ecological monitoring technique that can be integrated into long-term, standardized survey protocols of aquatic species. It can considerably benefit the monitoring of inaccessible regions, such as the Amazonian freshwater systems, which are facing immediate threats from increased hydropower construction. -- [image: UPC Icon] *Florence Erbs* Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB) Rambla Exposició, 24 | 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú Barcelona, Spain Office +34 93 896 72 27 florence.erbs(a)upc.edu lab.upc.es <http://www.lab.upc.es/>, listentothedeep.com <http://www.listentothedeep.com/>

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New publication: potential signature whistles in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins
by agathe serres 01 Nov '24

01 Nov '24

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our article entitled « *Potential signature whistle production by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the northern South China Sea » *in Animal Behaviour. Abstract: Dolphin communication involves acoustic signals, including whistles, and the well-studied bottlenose dolphins produce individually distinctive whistles called signature whistles (SWs). The production of a potential SW by an injured Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin has been reported, but no study has attempted to validate this finding in this species. Using data collected during encounters with free-ranging Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins at two locations in the northern South China Sea, we investigated the production of SWs by these dolphins. Of the 3846 analysed whistles, 37% were identified as potential SWs (PSWs) using the SIGnature whistle IDentification method and categorized into 82 PSW types. Overall, PSWs were identified during 54% of encounters. Given the high production rate of stereotyped whistles (62% of all whistles in 90% of encounters) compared with the identified PSWs, we suggest that the SIGnature whistle IDentification method criteria cannot be fully adapted for the detection of SWs in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, and more research should be conducted to adapt the criteria to the species. In addition, the characteristics of PSWs differed slightly between locations, potentially because of the geographical separation of populations and habitat differences (e.g. noise levels). The present results confirm the production of stereotyped whistles, including PSWs, by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Further research should be conducted to confirm whether these whistles are similar to bottlenose dolphins’ SWs. The article is freely accessible via this link: https://kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fauthors.elsevier.co… For any queries, please feel free to contact me at agathe(a)idsse.ac.cn or agathe.serres11(a)gmail.com Best, Agathe On Fri 1 Nov 2024 at 22:30, <marmam-request(a)lists.uvic.ca> wrote: > Send MARMAM mailing list submissions to > marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > marmam-request(a)lists.uvic.ca > > You can reach the person managing the list at > marmam-owner(a)lists.uvic.ca > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of MARMAM digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. `Xcertainty` R package now available! Incorporating > uncertainty associated with drone-based photogrammetry of marine > mammals (Bierlich, Kevin C) > 2. Job Opening: Wildlife Biologist at Alaska Dept. of Fish and > Game (Pearson, Linnea E (DFG)) > 3. New publication: killer whale predation in the SW Indian > Ocean (Maeva Terrapon) > 4. New publication: Stress and Reproductive Hormones of > Free-Ranging Dolphins Across a Natural Salinity Gradient > (Guinn, Makayla) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2024 02:41:09 +0000 > From: "Bierlich, Kevin C" <kevin.bierlich(a)oregonstate.edu> > To: "marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca" <marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca> > Subject: [MARMAM] `Xcertainty` R package now available! Incorporating > uncertainty associated with drone-based photogrammetry of marine > mammals > Message-ID: > < > CO1P222MB01139F1EEF034C16B2A308A78A562(a)CO1P222MB0113.NAMP222.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Hey MarMam! > > We are excited to announce that the Xcertainty R package is now available > on CRAN! > > Xcertainty is an easy-to-use R package that uses a Bayesian approach for > predicting photogrammetric uncertainty in morphometric measurements of > marine mammals derived from drones. > > The easiest way to install Xcertainty is via CRAN: > > install.packages("Xcertainty") > library(Xcertainty) > > Learn more: > GitHub: https://github.com/MMI-CODEX/Xcertainty > CODEX website: > https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/centers-excellence/codex/software-hardware/xcer… > CRAN: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/Xcertainty/index.html > All morphological measurements derived using drone-based photogrammetry > are susceptible to uncertainty. This uncertainty often varies by the drone > system used. Thus, it is critical to incorporate photogrammetric > uncertainty associated with measurements collected using different drones > so that results are robust and comparable across studies and over long-term > datasets. > The Xcertainty R package makes this simple and easy by producing a > predictive posterior distribution for each measurement. This posterior > distribution can be summarized to describe the measurement (i.e., mean, > median) and its associated uncertainty (i.e., standard deviation, credible > intervals). The posterior distributions are also useful for making > probabilistic statements, such as classifying maturity or diagnosing > pregnancy if a proportion of the posterior distribution for a given > measurement is greater than a specified threshold (e.g., if greater than > 50% of posterior distribution for total body length is > 10 m, the > individual is classified as mature). > Xcertainty is based off of previously published Bayesian statistical > models. In essence, measurements of known-sized objects (?calibration > objects?) collected at various altitudes are used as training data to > predict morphological measurements (e.g., body length) and associated > uncertainty of unknown-sized objects (e.g., whales). > Xcertainty also includes functions that incorporate multiple measurements > (body length and width) to estimate different body condition metrics (i.e., > single widths, surface area, body volume, body area index) with associated > uncertainty, as well as combine body length with age information to > construct growth curves > Cheers, > KC Bierlich & Josh Hewitt > > > KC (Kevin) Bierlich, PhD, MEM > Assistant Professor Senior Research > Center of Drone Excellence (CODEX< > https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/centers-excellence/codex>) > Marine Mammal Institute, > Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, > Oregon State University > Pronouns: he, him, his > kevin.bierlich(a)oregonstate.edu<mailto:kevin.bierlich@oregonstate.edu> > >

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