April 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Stranding Coordinator position open at WDC
by Regina Asmutis-Silvia 11 Apr '24

11 Apr '24

Whale and Dolphin Conservation is seeking a full-time Stranding Coordinator to oversee WDC’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response (MARR) program on the South Shore of Massachusetts. The ideal applicant is detail oriented, enjoys wearing multiple hats and problem solving, thrives in a high energy role, and values their contribution as an integral part of our team. The role is based out of our North American headquarters in Plymouth, MA. Candidate is expected to split hotline coverage (including nights, weekends, and holidays) with the Stranding Specialist. For more information on the position and details about how to apply, please go to “Employment Opportunities” on our Get Involved page at https://us.whales.org/about/get-involved/. As part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, our application process requires you to fill out an application questionnaire where you will also submit a resume. Responses to the questions are provided to a hiring panel without names or resumes to reduce any potential biases during the review of candidates. Only after a candidate is selected for consideration does the panel receive the candidate's resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position is open until May 3rd with a proposed start date in mid to late May. After submitting your application, you'll be redirected to our anonymous Applicant Demographics Survey. Please take 60 seconds to complete it - thank you! Please forward any questions to jobs(a)whales.org<mailto:jobs@whales.org>. [cid:image001.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://us.whales.org/> Regina Asmutis‑Silvia Executive Director WDC North America Pronouns: she, her, hers Telephone: +1 508 746 2522<tel:+1%20508%20746%202522> WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation 7 Nelson Street Plymouth, MA 02360‑4044 United States whales.org<https://whales.org/> [cid:image002.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://www.facebook.com/uswhalesorg> [cid:image003.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://www.twitter.com/whales_org> [cid:image004.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://www.instagram.com/whales_org> [cid:image005.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://www.youtube.com/whalesorg> [cid:image006.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://us.whales.org/category/news/> [cid:image007.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://us.whales.org/newsletter> [cid:image008.png@01DA8C1B.2637FCE0]<https://www.guidestar.org/profile/02-0749188> Whale and Dolphin Conservation (“WDC”), Inc. is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non‑profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. WDC, 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA 02360‑4044 Tel: +1 (508) 746‑2522 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Finally, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.

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Sealcentre Pieterburen Veterinary Department internships 2024 &2025
by Ana Rubio García 11 Apr '24

11 Apr '24

Dear colleagues, One more year we are pleased to announce our veterinary internship. VETERINARY DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP – SEALCENTRE PIETERBUREN The Sealcentre Pieterburen, the Netherlands, has an exciting opportunity for two Veterinary Interns to work in our Veterinary and Sealcare Departments. Both positions last one year, one is scheduled to start in October 2024, and the other in April 2025. Previous marine mammal or wildlife experience is a plus. The Sealcentre’s Veterinary Department includes two full time veterinarians and two veterinary interns. We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic candidate who will join our team and will work closely in a team setting with staff and volunteers to assist with all aspects of veterinary care and husbandry of sick and injured seals. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to: daily care of animals, transport of live/dead marine animals, maintenance of daily nutritional and medical records, sampling for various research projects, and data entry. Additional duties and projects may be assigned by staff. The interns must be veterinarians or veterinary students. They are required to find their own transportation to Pieterburen and we provide housing (gas, electricity, water, and internet included) and meals. An allowance to cover health insurance costs is provided. These positions are unpaid. The interns should expect to be scheduled to cover a variety of shifts including weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays. The ideal candidate should be mature and motivated, and possess a strong work ethic and excellent observational and communication skills (a fluent English level is required). Due to Visa requirements we are currently only able to accept applicants with a European passport. The deadline for applications is May 12th 2024. Interested applicants should submit a copy of the CV, an intention letter, and two recommendation letters. Note that the application materials should be in English. Applications and questions should be submitted to vet(a)zeehondencentrum.nl indicating in the subject VETERINARY INTERN 2024/2025. For more information about the Sealcentre Pieterburen visit www.zeehondencentrum.nl Kind regards, Ana Rubio-Garcia Head of the Veterinary, Care and Research departments ana.rubiogarcia(a)zeehondencentrum.nl +31(0)6 12981154 *SEAL, SEA, SCIENCE.* *DOE JE MEE?* -- Hoofdstraat 94a 9968 AG Pieterburen T +31 (0)595 526 526 E: *info(a)zeehondencentrum.nl <info(a)zeehondencentrum.nl>* www.zeehondencentrum.nl -- Please consider the environment. Think before printing.

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New Publication - Baleen whale microsatellite panel for individual identification and parentage assignment in Mysticeti (Marcos Suárez Menéndez & Martine Bérubé)
by Suárez Menéndez, Marcos 11 Apr '24

11 Apr '24

Dear all, On behalf of all the co-authors I'm happy to share our new publication in *Global Ecology and Conservation "*Baleen whale microsatellite panel for individual identification and parentage assignment in *Mysticeti"* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02947 *Abstract* Highly polymorphic single tandem repeat loci (STR, also known as microsatellite loci) remain a familiar, cost efficient class of genetic markers in genetic studies in ecology, behavior and conservation. Here we characterize a new, universal set of ten STR loci in seven species of baleen whales, optimized for PCR amplification in two multiplex reactions along with a Y chromosome marker for sex determination. The optimized, universal set of STR loci provides a convenient starting point for new genetic studies in baleen whales aimed at identifying individuals and populations. Data from the new STR loci were combined with genotypes from previously published STR loci to assess the power to assign parentage using paternity exclusion in four species: fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*), humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*), blue whale (*B. musculus*) and bowhead whale (*Balaena mysticetus*). Our results suggest that parentage studies should always be accompanied by a power analysis in order to ascertain that each individual specific study is based upon data with sufficient power to assign parentage with statistical rigor. Best, Marcos -- *Marcos Suárez Menéndez, MSc. *(he/him) PhD Student | Marine Evolution and Conservation Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) University of Groningen Zernike Campus, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

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New publication : Effects of duty cycle on passive acoustic monitoring metrics:The case of blue whale songs
by Mathilde MICHEL 11 Apr '24

11 Apr '24

Dear Marmam community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication: Effects of duty cycle on passive acoustic monitoring metrics:The case of blue whale songs in Indian Ocean, published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. You can view the article athttps://doi.org/10.1121/10.0025545. Abstract: Long-term fixed passive acoustic monitoring of cetacean populations is a logistical and technological challenge, often limited by the battery capacity of the autonomous recorders. Depending on the research scope and target species, temporal subsampling of the data may become necessary to extend the deployment period. This study explores the effects of different duty cycles on metrics that describe patterns of seasonal presence, call type richness, and daily call rate of three blue whale acoustics populations in the Southern Indian Ocean. Detections of blue whale calls from continuous acoustic data were subsampled with three different duty cycles of 50%, 33%, and 25% within listening periods ranging from 1min to 6 h. Results show that reducing the percentage of recording time reduces the accuracy of the observed seasonal patterns as well as the estimation of daily call rate and call type richness. For a specific duty cycle, short listening periods (5–30 min) are preferred to longer listening periods (1–6 h). The effects of subsampling are greater the lower the species’ vocal activity or the shorter their periods of presence. These results emphasize the importance of selecting a subsampling scheme adapted to the target species. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me: mathilde.michel(a)ensta-bretagne.org Many thanks, Best regards Mathilde Michel -- Logo ENSTA Bretagne <https://www.ensta-bretagne.fr> Logo LabSTIC <https://www.labsticc.fr/en/index/> Mathilde MICHEL *Doctorante*// PhD Student/ *+33 (0)2 21 09 58 89 * *Lab-STICC – UMR CNRS 6285 www.labsticc.fr * ENSTA Bretagne *Grande école d'ingénieurs et centre de recherche* /French State Graduate, Post-Graduate and Research Institute / 2 rue François Verny - 29806 Brest Cedex 9 - France www.ensta-bretagne.fr <https://www.ensta-bretagne.fr>

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New Publication Bottlenose Dolphin Stock Structure in the Gulf of Mexico
by Glenn, Tre W 09 Apr '24

09 Apr '24

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our publication describing sampling of bottlenose dolphins within estuaries and nearshore coastal waters of the western Gulf of Mexico to elucidate population structure amongst adjacent groups of bottlenose dolphins. This study was initially funded in 2011 and as such any language and interpretation thereof should be considered a description in time around the year 2016 when draft of this study was presented. Garrison LP, Glenn III DW, Karrigan H, Stoni T. 2024. Bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans (LA): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 42 p. Contract No.: M11PG00041. Report No.: OCS Study BOEM 2024-020. Abstract: The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), is ubiquitous in the estuarine and nearshore coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the population is divided into population stocks, or group of animals that occupy the same habitat and interbreed when mature. This study was conducted to assess bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the Gulf of Mexico and analyze contaminants the population may be exposed to. A total of 247 and 81 biopsy samples were collected during the Texas Coastal Bend and western Mississippi Sound surveys, respectively. Photo-identification analysis in Texas waters indicated the encounter of at least 1,347 individuals in estuarine waters and 450 individuals in coastal waters, indicating a relatively high abundance of dolphins within the surveyed areas. Genetic analysis samples from Texas indicated genetically distinct stocks occupying each of the tested areas. This study is the first to examine population structure within the estuaries along the Texas coast and demonstrates a high degree of genetic differentiation among adjacent stocks. https://espis.boem.gov/Final%20Reports/BOEM_2024-020.pdf Thank you! Donald (Tre) W. Glenn, III, Ph.D., P.E., CFM Protected Species Biologist Consultation Specialist Professional Environmental Engineer National Certified Floodplain Manager Contracting Officer's Representative III Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) GOMR, Office of Environment Mail Stop GM 673E 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana 70123

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Upcoming Editors Select Webinar: Cost of migration and migratory timing in Western Australian humpback whales, with Grace Russell
by Student Members-at-Large Society for Marine Mammalogy 08 Apr '24

08 Apr '24

Greetings MARMAM community! Join us on Thursday April 18th 2024 at 04 pm PDT / 7 pm EDT / 7 am AWST (+1) for the next SMM Editors Select Series Webinar: Cost of migration and migratory timing in Western Australian humpback whales with Grace Russell This event is free to attend and presented online via Zoom, but registration is required. Register here: < https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2bFB7KixR5SoASk2C7NrOw#/registr… > The talk will also be live streamed on the SMM Facebook page. About this talk: Migratory humpback whales cover the cost of reproduction in low-latitude breeding grounds with stored energy accumulated from polar feeding grounds. The ability to accumulate sufficient energy reserves during feeding periods is vital for key life history stages during migration, including mating, calving, and lactation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between migration timing and body condition of Western Australian humpback whales. We used drone footage to measure body condition by obtaining morphometric measurements from 460 individuals. The body condition of juveniles was shown to be correlated with migration timing for their northern migration, with individuals in better body condition migrating to the breeding grounds earlier. While stored energy is vital for humpback whales to successfully complete their vast migration to-and-from breeding grounds, we found no evidence that body condition affects the migration timing for adults, lactating females, and calves. About the presenter: Grace has recently completed her PhD at Southern Cross University in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. For the past four years she has studied the body condition of the two breeding populations of humpback whales in Australia (east and west coast) and the South-east Indian Ocean population of pygmy blue whales, exploring the relationship between migration timing and body condition, as well as energetic usage over their migration. During her PhD Grace created The Fat Whales Project and now her research focuses on the energetics, physiology and morphology of cetacean species in Australia. Grace is an experienced remote pilot (using drones) and has worked on marine mammal research projects in Bremer Bay (orca), Ningaloo Reef (blue whales), and the Great Barrier Reef (dolphins). Open access to this article is made temporarily available in the weeks around the presentation and can be found here: < https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.13074> Current SMM members have access to all Marine Mammal Science papers. We hope to see you there! The SMM Student-Members-at-Large *Theresa-Anne Tatom-Naecker, Ph.D. Candidate* *Sophia Volzke, Ph.D. **Candidate* *Clinton Factheu, Ph.D. Candidate* *Student Members-at-Large* The Society for Marine Mammalogy

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New publication on Bryde's whales in Nicaragua
by Association ELI-S 08 Apr '24

08 Apr '24

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. De Weerdt J, Patulny C, Ruiz Pérez N, Blanchet L (2024). Sightings of Bryde’s whale, *Balaenoptera edeni*, off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 104,e40,1–7. https://doi.org/ 10.1017/S0025315424000250 Abstract. Here, we report the first sighting records of Bryde's whales in Nicaragua. Four sightings were made in 2022 during boat-based surveys off the southwestern coast of Nicaragua. Photo-identification, distributional data, dive times, and behavioural information were collected, and environmental parameters, including sea surface temperature, were measured for each sighting. Sightings included calf and non-calf groups displaying travelling (n = 1; 25%), milling (n = 1; 25%), and suspected feeding (n = 2; 50%) behaviours. Approximately 4 h of focal following allowed the calculation of short and long breath intervals. Based on our observations , the individuals were suspected of feeding in the area, based on the presence of feeding birds, feeding humpback whales, relatively high time-lagged chlorophyll-a, and observed general behaviours. Our findings indicate that this species may occasionally visit Nicaraguan coastal areas in search of feeding opportunities, and could represent a possible range extension of the Eastern North Pacific stock. The pdf of the paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315424000250 If you wish to support this project you can order an original whale bracelet that is handmade and custom made by Association ELI-S. https://eli-s.com/shop/, consider a donation <https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6DCP5GMKBKYLA>, or follow us on our social media. Best regards, *Joëlle De Weerdt* *I support Whale Research in Nicaragua with my online searches on lilo <http://www.lilo.org/fr/?utm_source=eli-scientific>* PhD Candidate at Vrije Universiteit University Award winner of Jane Goodall Institute and Fondation Yves-Rocher Scientist at Association ELI-S --------------------- www.eli-s.com Find more on Association ELI-S: Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/AssociationELIS> | Instagram <http://www.instagram.com/association.elis> | Twitter <http://twitter.com/ELI_Scientific> | Youtube <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjeseHPDvE6pq-MmoZXWNkg> ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joelle-De-Weerdt> | ORCiD <https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4054-6609> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo%C3%ABlle-de-weerdt/>

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New publication: Exposure of satellite tagged bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to transiting vessels in the Eastern Canadian Arctic
by Morgan J. Martin 08 Apr '24

08 Apr '24

Dear Colleagues, We are excited to share our new paper published as open access in Marine Mammal Science: *Morgan J. Martin, William D. Halliday, Steven H. Ferguson, Brent G. Young, Rachel Charish, Jackie Dawson, Sarah M. E. Fortune, Francis Juanes, Levi Qaunaq, and Stephen J. Insley. 2024. Exposure of satellite tagged bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to transiting vessels in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Marine Mammal Science, e13125.* Abstract: Climate change poses new challenges to Arctic marine mammals, with increasing vessel traffic and associated underwater noise pollution emerging as significant threats. The bowhead whale (*Balaena mysticetus*), an endemic Arctic cetacean, faces these new threats. The Eastern Canada-West Greenland (ECWG) bowhead whale population migrates through areas with the highest levels of vessel traffic in the Canadian Arctic. Here, we document the spatial and temporal overlap between 36 satellite-tagged ECWG bowhead whales and vessels equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders during 2012–2017. We report 1,145 instances where vessels were within 125 km of a tagged whale, with 306 occurrences within distances ≤50 km. Overlap between vessels and tagged bowhead whales was quantified monthly within years to investigate individual whale encounter rates. Results indicate that ECWG bowhead whales encounter the majority (79%) of vessels annually during August–October, with the highest number of encounters (42%) observed in September. Encounter rates ranged from 0.25 to 0.51 vessels encountered per day per whale during August–October compared to <0.07 vessels per day in all other months in this study. To better inform conservation strategies, further research is required to assess bowhead whale behavioral responses relative to distance from vessels. The published article is freely available to download via this link: http://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13125 Thank you! Morgan J. Martin, Ph.D. Marine Bioacoustician Center for Marine Acoustics <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boem.…> [image: image.png]

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New Publication: Dusky dolphin habitat use in a mussel farming region and changes over time (Sarah Piwetz)
by Sarah Piwetz 07 Apr '24

07 Apr '24

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our publication describing dusky dolphin habitat use in a mussel farming region, and changes over time: Sarah Piwetz, Heidi C. Pearson, Krysta A. Honkus and Bernd Würsig. 2024. Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) habitat use in a mussel farming region and changes over time. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research (2024): 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2024.2334287 Abstract: Information on marine mammal habitat use in coastal areas can provide a better understanding of anthropogenic effects on species. Admiralty Bay, New Zealand has extensive near-shore mussel farms and is an important dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) foraging habitat. Prior dusky dolphin research indicated a declining trend in regional abundance from the late 1990s to mid-2000s. We describe dusky dolphin behaviour, habitat patch use and movement patterns in Admiralty Bay in 2011–2012 and compare findings to previous research to capture long-term trends. Sampling methods included small-boat group follows and photo-identification and shore-based theodolite tracking. Dolphin encounter rate, mean group size, and individual resighting rate showed a negative trend from previous years. Coordinated prey ball herding, a foraging technique documented in previous years, was rarely observed during this study. Dolphins were more likely to forage near farms (excluding specialised prey herding), though they seldom entered farms. Near shore, swimming speed was slower, reorientation rate was higher, and linearity was lower in the presence of farms than in their absence. This research builds upon prior studies, suggesting a continued decline in dusky dolphin presence, and highlights differences in habitat patch use in a human-altered ecosystem. Feel free to request publication from first author via email (sarahpiwetz(a)hotmail.com) or ResearchGate<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Piwetz/research>. Thank you!

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New publication on Cuvier’s beaked whale’s eDNA
by Elena Agnese Valsecchi 06 Apr '24

06 Apr '24

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share with you our publication describing a molecular assay able to detect Cuvier’s beaked whale’s DNA traces: Boldrocchi G, Conte L, Galli P, Bettinetti R and Valsecchi E 2024. “Cuvier's beaked whale (*Ziphius cavirostris*) detection through surface-sourced eDNA: a promising approach for monitoring deep-diving cetaceans”. Ecological Indicators 161, 111966 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111966 Abstract Among cetaceans, the Cuvier’s beaked whale is considered an extreme diver, thus not one of the easiest cetacean species to be studied due to its elusive behaviour and a preference for deep offshore waters. Although dedicated cetacean surveys have increased our knowledge on the distribution of Cuvier’s beaked whales in the Mediterranean Sea, knowledge gaps still remain where the study effort is non-existent. In this context, the use of new molecular methodologies capable of intercepting small traces of DNA left in the environment (eDNA) by marine organisms represents a valid approach to infer species’ occurrence. Moreover, the collection of water from the superficial layer is suitable for targeting marine mammals, as the constraints imposed by their nature implies periodic and frequent surfacing in order to breathe, releasing exhalants rich in their epithelial cells. Therefore, we designed and tested a taxon-specific primer set to infer Cuvier’s beaked whale presence, with the aims of 1) examining the effectiveness of the eDNA technique to detect the presence of a deep-diving cetacean in open waters, using the Cuvier’s beaked whale as case study; 2) providing data on the occurrence of this species within the Canyon of Caprera over a six-months study period and 3) assessing the species presence in adjacent waters in the central northern Mediterranean Sea based on the analysis of samples collected in a Citizen Science campaign. Results from this study demonstrated that superficial waters may retain biological traces of this cetacean despite the fact that it mostly inhabits deep waters. Specifically, this study provides evidence of the regular presence of Cuvier’s beaked whale in the Canyon of Caprera, with a preference for bathymetry in the range of 700–1000 m. Molecular traces’ distribution suggests a potential inshore movement of this species during Fall, which might be related to migration of its cephalopod prey or a shift in prey preferences, although this aspect requires further investigation. Overall, this study showed that stronger positive signals were recorded in sampling stations located on surfaces above submarine canyon systems, demonstrating the importance of these areas as elective habitats for the Cuvier’s beaked whale, thus the pivotal priority to their conservation. You can find the open-access article at this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24004230 Best wishes Elena Valsecchi

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