March 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication about pinniped cardiovascular physiology
by Rhea Storlund 25 Mar '24

25 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM community, I am happy to announce our new publication in JEZ-A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology titled “Ultrasound images of the ascending aorta of anesthetized northern fur seals and Steller sea lions confirm that the aortic bulb maintains continuous blood flow”. Abstract The increased size and enhanced compliance of the aortic bulb—the enlargement of the ascending aorta—are believed to maintain blood flow in pinnipeds during extended periods of diastole induced by diving bradycardia. The aortic bulb has been described ex vivo in several species of pinnipeds, but in vivo measurements are needed to investigate the relationship between structure and function. We obtained ultrasound images using electrocardiogram-gated transesophageal echocardiography during anesthesia and after atropine administration to assess the relationship between aortic bulb anatomy and cardiac function (heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output) in northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). We observed that the aortic bulb in northern fur seals and Steller sea lions expands during systole and recoils over the entire diastolic period indicating that blood flow is maintained throughout the entire cardiac cycle as expected. The stroke volumes we measured in the fur seals and sea lions fit the values predicted based on body size in mammals and did not change with increased heart rates, suggesting that greater stroke volumes are not needed for aortic bulb function. Overall, our results suggest that peripheral vasoconstriction during diving is sufficient to modulate the volume of blood in the aortic bulb to ensure that flow lasts over the entire diastolic period. These results indicate that the shift of blood into the aortic bulb of pinnipeds is a fundamental mechanism caused by vasoconstriction while diving, highlighting the importance of this unique anatomical adaptation. The paper is available open access here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jez.2799 <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jez.2799> Citation Storlund RL, Rosen DAS, Haulena M, Sanatani S, Vander Zaag J, Trites AW. 2024. Ultrasound images of the ascending aorta of anesthetized northern fur seals and Steller sea lions confirm that the aortic bulb maintains continuous blood flow. J Exp Zool Pt A:1–12. All the best, Rhea Rhea Storlund, MSc PhD Candidate (Zoology) Marine Mammal Research Unit Traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory The University of British Columbia r.storlund(a)oceans.ubc.ca <mailto:r.storlund@oceans.ubc.ca>

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New publication on humpback whale entanglements in aquaculture farms in BC
by Rhea Storlund 25 Mar '24

25 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to share our recent publication in PLoS ONE titled “Aquaculture related humpback whale entanglements in coastal waters of British Columbia from 2008–2021”. Abstract Over the past two decades, increasing numbers of humpback whales have been returning to feed in the inshore waters of British Columbia (BC) where marine aquaculture farms are situated. This has led to growing concerns that the presence of aquaculture farms may pose an entanglement threat to humpback whales. However, it is not known whether aquaculture facilities attract humpback whales, or whether there are factors that increase the likelihood of humpback whale, becoming entangled and dying. We examined eight reports of humpback whales interacting with Atlantic salmon farms in BC from 2008 to 2021 to evaluate the conditions that may have contributed to their entanglements. Of the eight entangled humpbacks, three individuals died and five were successfully disentangled and released. All were young animals (1 calf, 7 subadults). Multiple factors were associated with two or more of the reported incidents. These included facility design, environmental features, seasonality, humpback whale age, and feeding behaviour. We found that humpback whales were most commonly entrapped in the predator nets of the aquaculture facilities (6/8 incidents), and were less often entangled in anchor support lines (2/8). The presence of salmon smolts did not appear to be an attractant for humpback whales given that half of the reported entanglements (4/8) occurred at fallowed salmon farms. Almost all of the entanglements (7/8) occurred in late winter (prior to the seasonal return of humpbacks) and during late fall (after most humpbacks have migrated south). Overall, the number of humpback whales impacted by fish farms was small compared to the numbers that return to BC (> 7,000) and accounted for <6% of all types of reported entanglements in BC. Human intervention was required to release humpback whales at fish farms, which points to the need to have well-established protocols to minimize entanglements and maximize successful releases. It is available open-access here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297768 <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297768> Citation Storlund RL, Cottrell PE, Cottrell B, Roth M, Lehnhart T, Snyman H, et al. (2024) Aquaculture related humpback whale entanglements in coastal waters of British Columbia from 2008–2021. PLoS ONE 19(3): e0297768. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297768 <https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297768> All the best, Rhea Rhea Storlund, MSc PhD Candidate (Zoology) Marine Mammal Research Unit Traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory The University of British Columbia r.storlund(a)oceans.ubc.ca <mailto:r.storlund@oceans.ubc.ca>

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Request for Proposals for right whale aerial surveys in the Gulf of Maine, USA
by Summers, Erin L. 22 Mar '24

22 Mar '24

Hello Marmam Community! The Maine Department of Marine Resources is planning monthly aerial surveys in the Gulf of Maine targeting sightings of large whales, specifically North Atlantic right whales. Sightings of right whales from these aerial surveys will be used to inform density and occupancy models for right whales, as well as identify overlap with fixed fishing gear in the Gulf of Maine that may pose a risk of entanglement. I wanted to share the Request for Proposals that the State of Maine just published for this work. Please distribute to any colleagues you think might be interested! Document is linked here<https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/sites/maine.gov.dafs.bbm…>. It can also be found on the State of Maine's website at this link<https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/rfps>. The proposals are due April 19th. Questions can be sent to Sarah Leiter (sarah.leiter(a)maine.gov<mailto:sarah.leiter@maine.gov>). Official questions must be received by March 29th to be included in the RFP materials. Thank you for helping us get the word out! Best, Erin Summers Director, Division of Marine Mammal Research Maine Department of Marine Resources erin.l.summers(a)maine.gov<mailto:erin.l.summers@maine.gov>

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New publication: Comparison of common bottlenose dolphin whistles in tropical waters (RIO et al., 2024)
by Raul Rio Ribeiro 22 Mar '24

22 Mar '24

Dear MarMam community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our latest article published in Marine Mammal Science: Comparison of common bottlenose dolphin whistles in tropical waters (Raul Rio, Daniel Romero-Mujalli, Sergio Cobarrubia-Russo, Hiram Rosales Nanduca, Flávio Medeiros Vieites, Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas, Lilian Sander Hoffmann) The paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13122 If you're interested in reading the full article, please email me for a copy of the pdf: oceansoundsecrets(a)gmail.com (Raul Rio) The present study about geographic variation in tropical common bottlenose dolphin whistles showed variation between oceanic (Revillagigedo Archipelago, Pacific Ocean, Mexico; Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, mid-equatorial North Atlantic Ocean, Brazil) and coastal populations (the western Coast of Aragua, South Caribbean, Venezuela). Environmental acoustic adaptations, variances in vessel traffic among locations, and other possible causes associated with the geographic differences are discussed. The current study is the first step towards providing an overview of geographic whistle variation among the herein assessed locations. Future studies should focus on a fine-grained comparison of variations between whistle types, measure ambient noise levels in each location, and incorporate acoustic propagation modeling. Happy reading! Raul RioUniversidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF ONG Som de Oceano (Ocean Sound NGO) http://www.somdeoceano.com.br http://www.oceansound.org Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somdeoceano Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somdeoceano/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@somdeoceano Em quarta-feira, 8 de novembro de 2023 às 07:39:57 BRT, Raul Rio Ribeiro <rrvet(a)yahoo.com.br> escreveu: Dear MARMAM readers, We are pleased to announce the publication of our new study entitled "First identification of stereotyped whistle contour types by Pseudorca crassidens" in Marine Mammal Science (Rio & Hiram, 2023). It may be accessed via the link: https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13087 Best regards, Raul RioUniversidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJFONG Som de Oceano (Ocean Sound NGO)http://www.oceansound.org Site: https://www.oceansound.org/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/oceansound.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceansoundorg/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@oceansound

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New article on habitat use of Florida manatees
by Eric Angel Ramos 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Greetings MARMAM, I am happy to share our newest publication on habitat use of Florida manatees in PLOS One titled “Persistent long-term habitat use by Florida manatees at Fort Pierce, Florida from 1997 to 2020.” *Abstract* To survive cold winters, Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) depend on artificial (i.e., power plants) and natural warm water sources such as springs and passive thermal basins. Passive thermal basins can provide critical habitat for manatees for short or extended periods of time. The Henry D. King Powerplant in Fort Pierce, Florida discharged warm water into Moore’s Creek until it went offline in 1995. However, it is unknown to what degree manatees continue to occupy this area and how environmental factors influence their occurrence in the creek. To explore this, we examined the habitat use of Florida manatees in Moore’s Creek after the shutdown from November 1997 to March 2020 from daily counts of manatees. In addition, we correlated local environmental data (ambient air, temperature, salinity) to assess if Moore’s Creek had properties indicative of a passive thermal basin. Results indicated there was not an increase or decrease in habitat use over twenty years in the Creek. The consistent use of Moore’s Creek over the study period suggests that this habitat possesses thermal and freshwater resources to support manatee occurrence long-term. These findings provide robust support for the importance of this habitat and passive thermal basins for Florida manatees. The Open Access article can be downloaded free here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297636 *Reference:* Tennant, R., Brady, B., Love, K.R., Ramos, E.A., Schloesser, R. (2024). Persistent long-term habitat use by Florida manatees at Fort Pierce, Florida from 1997 to 2020. PloS One. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the corresponding author: Beth Brady at biobbrady(a)gmail.com Best regards, *Eric Angel Ramos, Ph.D.* Scientist at FINS (Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sustentabilidad) Member of the IUCN SSC Sirenian Specialist Group for Mesoamerica www.finsconservation.org <https://finsconservation.org/> E-mail: eric.angel.ramos(a)gmail.com Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ericangelramos> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/EricAngelRamos> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/eric.angel.ramos/> ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eric_Ramos> | ORCiD <https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4803-3170> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-angel-ramos-aa9b4915/>

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Job Opportunities at Maine Department of Marine Resources
by Murray, Anita 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM community, Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring two Marine Resource Scientist II - Acoustic Project Lead positions. We previously posted the job advertisement for these positions, but due to an error in the previous advert we are re-posting a revised job advertisement and have extended the application deadline to August 18, 2023. These positions are part of a new North Atlantic right whale monitoring and research program. This program is being formed with three primary objectives in mind: 1. Collect baseline information on right whale occurrence, distribution, and habitat use in the Gulf of Maine. 2. Contribute to and create new right whale, fishery, and risk assessment models 3. Provide support for innovative gear testing and research, including on-demand fishing gear A link for the Acoustic Project Lead positions is included below along with the job description. These positions will be based at the DMR laboratory in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Feel free to contact me (anita.murray(a)maine.gov<mailto:anita.murray@maine.gov>) or Erin Summers (erin.l.summers(a)maine.gov<mailto:erin.l.summers@maine.gov>) with any questions about these positions. Cheers, Anita Anita Murray, PhD (she/her) Lead, Cetacean Research Program Maine Department of Marine Resources 194 McKown Point Road West Boothbay Harbor, ME., 04575, USA anita.murray(a)maine.gov<mailto:anita.murray@maine.gov> Link to Job Posting: https://mainebhr.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0xglj/ [cid:image004.png@01D9C930.DE59F1B0] [Logo Description automatically generated with medium confidence] http://www.maine.gov/dmr Public Service Career Diversity Retirement Promotional Opportunities Benefits Over 10,000 Employees Paid Holidays Statewide Locations Training Seasonal Jobs Full Time Part Time HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to complete and submit an online State of Maine Direct Hire Application along with a Cover Letter, and detailed Resume at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#dmr If you are unable to apply online, Direct Hire Application forms can be obtained by contacting the NRSC Personnel Office at (207) 624-6370 or by accessing the NRSC website at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/application.shtml APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED) Direct Hire Career Opportunity Bulletin DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES State House Station #21, Augusta, ME 04333 - *Offices Located at 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta MARINE RESOURCE SCIENTIST II Acoustics Project Leads (Anticipated Vacancies) Opening Date: July 26, 2023 Closing Date: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED) Location: West Boothbay Harbor Position #'s: 07200-2724 07200-2725 Position Type: Limited Period Full Time Class Code: 9363 Grade/Salary: Grade 25 $52,582.40 - $70,907.20 Annually* (*This includes the 5.5% salary adjustment) ________________________________ BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring two positions to lead various passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) projects. The positions will be responsible for planning and designing PAM projects within DMR's passive acoustics monitoring program and setting project goals, protocols, and timelines that address data gaps and management needs. The positions will also be responsible for managing data collection, data storage, data quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), acoustic analyses, and statistical analyses using species detection and/or ambient noise data depending on project goals. This position will also supervise a team of Marine Resource Scientist I positions, including dividing up tasks amongst analysts, leading project meetings, overseeing data analysis, and setting priorities and timelines for staff. The positions will also be responsible for disseminating information from the PAM projects by publishing in the peer-reviewed literature, representing DMR at meetings and conferences, and making recommendations to DMR's policy group and Commissioner's Office. These positions may foster and manage collaborations with external partners for various PAM projects as well as seek grant funding opportunities as appropriate. Finally, the positions will work across programmatic lines within the DMR to foster collaboration and maximize DMR's strengths. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES PREFERRED: A high level of supervisory, organization, and project management experience is necessary. Expertise in PAM and cetacean bioacoustics is necessary, including project design, methodologies, and data analysis. The candidate should be able to manage the operation and maintenance of a network of PAM sites, including the ability to troubleshoot acoustic equipment issues and issues that arise during deployment and retrieval of PAM moorings. There is a preference for a candidate with experience in automatic detection performance evaluation, acoustic localization and tracking of cetaceans, acoustic density estimation, calculating species detection range, sound propagation modeling, and/or ambient noise analysis and statistics. Preference will also be given to candidates who have experience working with RavenPro acoustic analysis software, SoundTrap acoustic recorders, LFDCS or other automatic detection algorithms, ArcGIS Pro mapping software, and/or computer programming in R, Python, and/or MATLAB. This position requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in a scientific, technical, or engineering field or equivalent in directly related work experience and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of marine resource research and/or management or related field. Preference will be given to previous experience in a supervisory capacity. Equivalent experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including: * Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. * Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($9,893.52-$11,057.52 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/som-health-plan/premium-rates> for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. * Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/health-premium-credit>. * Dental Insurance- The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value). * Retirement Plan- The State of Maine contributes 13.00% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee. * Gym Membership Reimbursement- Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. * Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts- Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. * Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness- The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office<https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service>. * Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program. * Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-employees/rules-policies/policy-practices-m…>. * Voluntary Deferred Compensation- Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. * Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/>. There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

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Request for Harbour Porpoise Broadband Recordings
by Ellen White 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Hello MARMAM network, I am a post-doc at the University of Southampton, and I am just enquiring if anyone has any broadband Harbour Porpoise acoustic recordings, they would be willing to share with me. The data will be used to test several detections algorithms and may form part of the training data if permissible. I am testing algorithms for their performance in variable soundscapes and ambient noise conditions, but I am currently struggling to source Harbour Porpoise data. Ideally the sample rate would be around 384 kHz, and any quantity of data is suitable. Thanks in advance 😊 Please get in contact via: elw1d23(a)soton.ac.uk<mailto:elw1d23@soton.ac.uk> All the best Dr Ellen White --

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Updates Table of Contents for Aquatic Mammals issue 50.2
by Kathleen Dudzinski 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM Subscribers, The Table of Contents for our recently published issue (50.2) was incomplete in the first post. Please see the full list of articles in issue 50.2 below. My apologies for the error. Further information about the journal can be found at: http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/ To submit a manuscript for publication consideration, please visit: http://am.expressacademic.org/actions/author.php With regards, Kathleen M. Dudzinski, Ph.D. Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal business(a)aquaticmammalsjournal.org <mailto:business@aquaticmammalsjournal.org> Articles with ** are open access: Sarah G. Trabue, Melinda L. Rekdahl, and Howard C. Rosenbaum. (2024). Photo-Identification and Skin Lesion Prevalence of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) in the Waters of New York and New Jersey. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 65-85. **Britney E. Pepper, Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov, Paul K. Doshkov, and Andrew J. Read. (2024).Heading South for the Winter: The Seasonal Occurrence of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) Near Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, USA. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 86-92. Josh D. McInnes, Andrew W. Trites, Chelsea R. Mathieson, Marilyn E. Dahlheim, Jeffrey E. Moore, Paula A. Olson, and Kevin M. Lester. (2024). Evidence for an Oceanic Population of Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Offshore Waters of California and Oregon. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 93-106. **Ronald A. Kastelein, Lean Helder-Hoek, Laura Van Acoleyen, Linde N. Defillet, and John M. Terhune. (2024). Temporary Hearing Threshold Shift in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) Due to a Noise Band Centered at 32 kHz. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 107-121. Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez and Tulio Gutiérrez. (2024). An Antarctic Minke Whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) Live-Stranding in Venezuela: First Record for the Caribbean Sea. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2),122-126. Andrés Moreira-Mendieta, Diego O. Urquía, Pacarina Asadobay, and Diego Páez-Rosas. (2024). Evidence of a Predatory Interaction of a Cookiecutter Shark (Isistius brasiliensis) on Galapagos Fur Seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis). Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 127-131. **Marc A. Webber, William Keener, Tim M. Markowitz, David Chamberlin, Darrin Allen, Rebekah S. Lane, Josephine M. Slaathaug, Pilar N. Rodriguez, Kathi George, and Julia E. O’Hern. (2024). Fish Feeding and Rapid Foraging Behavior Switching by Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in California. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 132-151. Isabel C. Hernández-Candelario, Violeta Pardío-Sedas, Casandra Gálvez, and Eduardo Morteo. (2024). First Report of Organochlorine Pesticides and Heavy Metals in a Stranded Bottlenose Dolphin Off the Central Coast of Veracruz State: A Warning to Assess Pollution in a Reef Marine Ecosystem from the Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Mammals, 50(2), 152-169.

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New publication on cognitive welfare for marine mammals
by Kelly Jaakkola 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Dear colleagues, I’m happy to announce our new publication: Jaakkola, K. (2024). Minding the minds: A primer on cognitive challenge for marine mammals in human care. Animals, 14, 949. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14060949 Abstract: The past several decades have witnessed significant improvement in the physical welfare of marine mammals in zoos and aquariums. Over that same time period, research has revealed complex cognitive abilities in at least some of these species, yet there has been comparatively little attention paid to addressing their cognitive welfare per se. Studies primarily conducted with terrestrial animals have suggested that providing appropriate cognitive challenges in managed care settings can improve animal well-being. As a step toward facilitating this practice with marine mammals, this paper discusses factors relevant for creating appropriate cognitive challenges, outlines the three major categories of cognitive challenge that have been utilized with marine mammals, along with the logistical pros and cons of each, and calls on organizations that care for marine mammals to cultivate a bias for action with respect to providing cognitive care. The paper is open access, available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/6/949 All the best, Kelly Kelly Jaakkola, PhD Director of Research Dolphin Research Center

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New Publication: Foraging Behaviour and Ecology of Transient Killer Whales Within a Deep Submarine Canyon System
by McInnes, Joshua 20 Mar '24

20 Mar '24

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are please to announce the publication of our new paper titled: Foraging Behaviour and Ecology of Transient Killer Whales Within a Deep Submarine Canyon System. McInnes, J.D., Lester, K.L., Dill, L.M., Mathieson, C.R., West-Stap, P.J., Marcos, S.L., and Trites, A.W. (2024). Foraging Behaviour and Ecology of Transient Killer Whales Within a Deep Submarine Canyon System. PLoS ONE 19(3): e0299291. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299291. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0299291 Summary: Transient killer whales have been documented hunting marine mammals across a variety of habitats. However, relatively little has been reported about their predatory behaviours near deep submarine canyons and oceanic environments. We used a long-term database of sightings and encounters with these predators in and around the Monterey Submarine Canyon, California to describe foraging behaviour, diet, seasonal occurrence, and habitat use patterns. Transient killer whales belonging to the outer coast subpopulation were observed within the study area 261 times from 2006–2021. Occurrences, behaviours, and group sizes all varied seasonally, with more encounters occurring in the spring as grey whales migrated northward from their breeding and calving lagoons in Mexico (March-May). Groups of killer whales foraged exclusively in open water, with individuals within the groups following the contours of the submarine canyon as they searched for prey. Focal follows revealed that killer whales spent 51% of their time searching for prey (26% of their time along the shelfbreak and upper slope of the canyon, and 25% in open water). The remainder of their time was spent pursuing prey (10%), feeding (23%), travelling (9%), socializing (6%), and resting (1%). Prey species during 87 observed predation events included California sea lions, grey whale calves, northern elephant seals, minke whales, common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall’s porpoise, harbour porpoise, harbour seals, and sea birds. The calculated kill rates (based on 270 hours of observing 50 predation events) were 0.26 California sea lions per killer whale over 24 hours, 0.11 grey whale calves, and 0.15 for all remaining prey species combined. These behavioural observations provide insights into predator-prey interactions among apex predators over submarine canyons and deep pelagic environments. Please feel free to email me with any questions: j.mcinnes(a)oceans.ubc.ca Sincerely, Josh D. McInnes, MSc Candidate Marine Mammal Research Unit Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4 Research Associate | Pacific Wildlife Foundation Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, V3H 1V6 Centre for Wildlife Ecology Department of Biological Sciences 8888 University Drive Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

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