May 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL
by AIMM Internships 27 May '24

27 May '24

*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL* *BACKGROUND: *The Marine Environment Research Association - AIMM, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies. The main species observed are Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), although other species such as Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can also be sighted. AIMM Interns are young, hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an friendly and multicultural environment. Interns have the additional option to enrich their time with AIMM by beginning or improving their SCUBA skills with a PADI-certified instructor, hiking, kayaking, surf classes and others. *WHERE:* Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal *WHEN:* The field season lasts from May to end of November 2024. The minimum internship attendance is 7 days. *FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in AIMM's research vessel, Ketos, commercial dolphin watching boats and from the shore. Fieldwork is dependent on weather conditions. The field days can be intense, especially in the peak of summer but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be trained to: - Conduct on-board surveys of marine species occurrence; - Record effort tracks on a handheld GPS; - Access and collect environmental data; - Collect data on behavior, group size, species, etc.; - Collect photos to photo-identification, acoustic recording, and underwater videos; - Help to collect of drone footage from the marine mammals; - Land base monitoring of marine mammals. *DATA ANALYSIS: *This will be conducted on a daily basis and will entail entering data into established databases and spreadsheets, photo-identification processing, and preliminary data interpretation. *INTERNSHIP FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from our volunteers, partners, and conservation-minded people like you so that we may continue our important research and education programs in the Algarve. This internship requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation and running a non-profit. For more information on internship fees for the 2024 season, please contact: interns(a)aimmportugal.org *Included* in the fee is: - Accommodation in AIMM field station; - Transportation to/from the marina; - All meals at home (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); - Fieldwork; - Theoretical classes. *Not included* in the fee is: - Transportation to/from Albufeira; - Meals in restaurants; - Free time activities; - Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance); - Others personal expenses. *INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO:* - Be above the age of 16; - Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment; - Be autonomous and flexible; - Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at sea; - Speak English; - Participate for minimum 7 days. *Preference will be given* to those who have: - Relevant marine mammal field experience - Working experience on research vessels - Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms - Experience in photo-identification - Availability to stay for longer periods of time *INTERNSHIP APPLICATION: * You can apply on AIMM website here <http://www.aimmportugal.org/opportunities/dolphin-research-internship/>*.* *or * Send us an e-mail to: interns(a)aimmportugal.org, with the subject “*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP*” with your CV and motivation letter. We will send you a confirmation email with the availability and all the other details. Applications will be accepted during all season. However, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. The follow links are a shorts videos about the internship in Albufeira. You get a different perspective and feedback from old participants about it: http://bit.ly/aimm-movie <https://bit.ly/AIMM-movie> https://youtu.be/hTJJQPHBdI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zTIEQEsftA *Contacts*: interns(a)aimmportugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org | Thank you, <http://aimm-marineresearch.blogspot.com/> [image: Logo AIMM] <https://www.aimmportugal.org/> Associação para Investigação do Meio Marinho *Marine Environment Research Association* m: (00351) 915013285 e: interns(a)aimmportugal.org www.aimmportugal.org <https://www.facebook.com/AIMM.org> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8jcTONJZsvaQ3tZiQtRFNQ> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/aimm-portugal---marine-environment-researc…> <https://www.instagram.com/aimmportugal_org/>

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New Publication: Evidence of sociality and group foraging in Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
by jallen10＠ucsc.edu 26 May '24

26 May '24

Dear MARMAM, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the following publication: Jenny A Allen, David E Cade, Caroline B Casey, Sarah Weindorf, David W Johnston, Jacob MJ Linsky, Jeremy A Goldbogen, Doug P Nowacek, & Ari S Friedlaender. 2024. Evidence of sociality and group foraging in Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Volume 78: Issue 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03481-4 Abstract: Top krill predators such as the Antarctic minke whale (AMW) serve a vital role within the fragile Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem. They are an abundant krill specialist, but their ecological role in the Antarctic remains poorly understood due to their cryptic behavior and remote habitat. It is therefore crucial to develop a baseline understanding of their basic social and foraging ecology. This study uses animal-borne camera tags to quantitatively explore these critical ecological aspects. Twenty-eight tags were deployed on AMW between 2018 and 2019 in Andvord and Paradise Bays around the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Tag data were analyzed with respect to diving, foraging, and social behavior. Results suggest the presence of loose fission-fusion sociality, with individuals forming short-term associations in 60.6% of cases including both foraging and non-foraging contexts. Socializing was significantly more common for larger individuals and resulted in a significant decrease in foraging rates for both shallow (< 30 m) and deep (> 30 m) dives. There were 12 instances of simultaneously tagged individuals that associated with one another in pairs or trios, displaying synchronized spatial movement and diving behavior. These data illustrated the use of group foraging strategies, with high incidence of synchronized foraging dives (67.5% of associated dives) and lunges (64% of associated lunges). Our results provide clear baseline information on AMW sociality and group foraging, which will help direct future studies for more targeted work. This study will improve our ability to understand the relationship between Antarctic species and their environment as climate change continues to alter the ecosystem landscape. The paper is available via the following link: <https://rdcu.be/dIWY1> https://rdcu.be/dIWY1 Alternatively, you can email me at jallen10(a)ucsc.edu <mailto:jallen10@ucsc.edu> for a pdf copy. Best regards, Jenny Allen Dr Jenny Allen (she/her) Postdoctoral Research Fellow NSF Office of Polar Programs Bio-Telemetry and Behavioral Ecology Lab (BTBEL) Department of Ocean Sciences The University of California, Santa Cruz E: jallen10(a)ucsc.edu <mailto:jallen10@ucsc.edu> US M: +1 508 281 1813 Aus M: +61 (0)424 773 994

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Two publications on ecological drivers and extinction risk in the southern resident killer whale population
by Rob Williams 25 May '24

25 May '24

Dear members of the MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors, I'd like to share two recent, open access publications on population drivers and extinction risk in endangered southern resident killer whales. Nelson, B.W., Ward, E.J., Linden, D.W., Ashe, E. and Williams, R., 2024. Identifying drivers of demographic rates in an at‐risk population of marine mammals using integrated population models. Ecosphere, 15(2), p.e4773. Effective conservation of threatened populations requires identification of the processes limiting recovery. When multiple population processes are potentially limiting, they are sometimes analyzed independently, often using different datasets. Analytically, this is suboptimal, as processes are often correlated, which can lead to biased estimates of parameters and quantities of interest. Integrated population models (IPMs) can synthesize several data streams in the same probabilistic framework to circumvent these issues. Lack of prey was identified as one of the primary threats to recovery of critically endangered southern resident killer whales (SRKWs), Orcinus orca. Previous studies have correlated SRKW demographic rates with indices of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha abundance, but these approaches have modeled reproduction and survival independently. We developed an IPM for SRKWs that models both processes simultaneously, as a function of Chinook salmon abundance along the west coast of North America. We used this model to evaluate the relationship between Chinook salmon abundance and demographic rates of SRKWs, with the goal of updating our understanding of a potential causal relationship between prey availability and SRKW population dynamics, and how these relationships may have changed over time. Results suggest that SRKW mortality rates are more strongly associated with Chinook salmon abundance than birth rates. Our analysis also suggests northern resident killer whale abundance could also be affecting SRKW carrying capacity, possibly through competition over shared prey resources. The IPM fit observed total abundance data well and predicted temporal changes in population demographics with reasonable accuracy, but small sample size may have opacified model selection. Our approach offers a valuable tool for predicting the response of the SRKW population to alternative management strategies involving the recovery of Chinook salmon stocks in the eastern Pacific. https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.4773 Williams, R., Lacy, R.C., Ashe, E., Barrett-Lennard, L., Brown, T.M., Gaydos, J.K., Gulland, F., MacDuffee, M., Nelson, B.W., Nielsen, K.A. and Nollens, H., 2024. Warning sign of an accelerating decline in critically endangered killer whales (Orcinus orca). Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), p.173. Wildlife species and populations are being driven toward extinction by a combination of historic and emerging stressors (e.g., overexploitation, habitat loss, contaminants, climate change), suggesting that we are in the midst of the planet’s sixth mass extinction. The invisible loss of biodiversity before species have been identified and described in scientific literature has been termed, memorably, dark extinction. The critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) population illustrates its contrast, which we term bright extinction; namely the noticeable and documented precipitous decline of a data-rich population toward extinction. Here we use a population viability analysis to test the sensitivity of this killer whale population to variability in age structure, survival rates, and prey-demography functional relationships. Preventing extinction is still possible but will require greater sacrifices on regional ocean use, urban development, and land use practices, than would have been the case had threats been mitigated even a decade earlier. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01327-5

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New publication: Comparison of Infrared thermography of the blowhole mucosa with rectal temperatures in killer whales (Orcinus orca)
by Russell, Jennifer 24 May '24

24 May '24

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of the authors, we are pleased to announce a new publication, “Comparison of infrared thermography of the blowhole mucosa with rectal temperatures in killer whales (Orcinus orca).” Russell JP, Germain MS, Osborn SD, Schmitt TL, Herrick KES and Robeck T (2024) Comparison of infrared thermography of the blowhole mucosa with rectal temperatures in killer whales (Orcinus orca). Front. Mar. Sci. 11:1369287. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1369287 ABSTRACT: Killer whales are an important sentinel species and developing non-invasive methods of health assessments might provide insight for understanding how wildlife health is influenced by ecosystem change. Rectal temperature (RT) is a proxy for core body temperature in managed-care cetaceans, however, this measurement is impractical for free-ranging cetaceans and infrared imaging has been suggested as an alternative. The aim of the current study was to prospectively compare infrared thermography of the blowhole to rectal temperatures in killer whales, as well as establish a healthy range for rectal temperature using retrospective data. Infrared video was recorded from the blowhole of thirteen healthy killer whales in managed care, immediately followed by rectal temperature measurement. Repeated measures Bland-Altman analysis revealed blowhole temperature (BHT) had a bias of -1.28°C from RT. Considerable proportional bias was observed with agreement between measurements improving as mean temperature increased. RT positively associated with air temperature, and inversely associated with body mass. BHT was not significantly affected by sex or body mass but was significantly affected by water temperature and air temperature. Retrospective analysis from eighteen killer whales (n = 3591 observations) was performed to generate expected RT ranges, partitioning out for sex and body mass. Given the proportional bias observed with Bland Altman analysis, BHT cannot currently be recommended as a measurement for absolute core body temperature, however infrared thermography of the blowhole remains a promising tool for health assessment of free-ranging killer whale populations, as it may serve as a non-contact screening tool to detect pyrexic animals within a group. The article is available open access via the following link: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2024.1369287/full?&utm…<https://links.email.frontiersin.org/ls/click?upn=u001.XMDYoia1RNsvvPvywoxyX…> Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. Warm regards, Jenn Russell, MRCVS Clinical Veterinarian SeaWorld San Diego jennifer.russell(a)seaworld.com

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Obituary - Dr Guilherme Frainer
by Simon Elwen 24 May '24

24 May '24

n memoriam: Dr Guilherme Laozola Frainer Correa– 05 Aug 1987 to 29 April 2024 It is with deep sorrow and immense pain that we share the news of the passing of researcher, collaborator and dear friend, Dr Guilherme Laizola Frainer Correa. [see attached pdf for version with active hyperlinks to references and websites. ] Guilherme, or simply Gui, as he was known, graduated in 2011 in Biological Sciences at UFRGS in Porto Alegre, Brazil where he worked in the Ichthyology laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Luiz Roberto Malabarba with neotropical fishes <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772000.2021.1986167>. However, from a very young age, his passion for the sea led him to work as an intern at Labsmar (Laboratory of Systematics and Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals), under the guidance of Prof. Ignacio Moreno. He stood out early on for his determination and drive to pursue his dreams and research projects in the field. From then on, he never stopped, and in his master's degree (2013), using innovative techniques of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance, he brought extremely important data to understand the cause of accidental mortality of Franciscana dolphins <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12211> in their early years and their possible relationship with the development of echolocation apparatus. In his Ph.D. (2019) <https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/128/3/700/5550896?login=false>, he went even further and unraveled the mysteries of the embryonic development of different odontocete lineages and their relationship with sound production. He carried out various activities in the Botos da Barra Project <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-024-03443-w>, from which he never disconnected, even when he went to develop part of his doctorate in Germany under the guidance of Dr. Stefan Huggenberger or his post-doctoral research in South Africa. In 2020, Gui joined the Sea Search group <http://seasearch.co.za/about/> and the University of Cape Town, working with Dr Tess Gridley and Dr Simon Elwen, where he rapidly became a central part of the team. He lead several lines of research with a focus on humpback dolphins <https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.23981>, and acoustic differentiation of delphinids in the region, but he was involved in projects on several other species including humpback whales and killer whales. He worked with a variety of research techniques <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954123003205?via%3Di…>, always seeking to innovate using cutting-edge tools and creating new ways to answer the scientific questions he posed himself. Gui successfully transitioned from Zoological research expertise to an advanced machine learning one, a transition which is challenging and time consuming. Gui had learnt a great deal about machine learning and was undoubtedly on a path to produce impactful and important research contributions related to machine learning and marine bioacoustics. Gui was always eager to learn more and challenge himself intellectually regardless of the level of difficulty; no challenge was too big. He produced open-source scientific code <https://github.com/Gui-Frainer/CetusID> where he challenged himself to learn advanced computing methodologies and algorithms. Gui led a large number of research outputs in reputable international journals. He also had great sensitivity, sharing stories with artisanal fishermen, whether in the Barra do Tramandaí river, or in Mozambique. In addition, he had a tremendous concern to pass on his knowledge to society and especially to children <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354544747_Nariz_para_fazer_som_Nos…>. He leaves us at his peak, he had recently started a post-doc at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences and was very excited! The research group at AIMS was extremely happy to have Gui on board, where he was going to conduct research in deep neural networks for bioacoustics. Gui always had a strong vision to develop easy-to-use and accessible software code that would massively impact researchers in marine bioacoustics. Despite the pain and sadness, Gui leaves us with an invaluable legacy of scientific knowledge. But more than that, he leaves us his contagious joy, his happiness, his unique way of seeing the world <https://gui-frainer.github.io/guifrainer.github.io/photography.html>, and his passion for the sea and the waves. Rest in peace, here we will cherish your joy and your teachings! We wish strength to your family, friends, and colleagues to get through this difficult time. ... .. -- --- -. / . .-.. .-- . -. Simon Elwen Ph.D. - Director Sea Search Research & Conservation <http://www.seasearch.co.za> and the Namibian Dolphin Project <http://www.namibiandolphinproject.org> Research Associate: Department of Zoology and Botany - Stellenbosch University Associate Fellow: Mammal Research Institute - University of Pretoria Office: +27 21 788 1206 Cell/Whatsapp: +27 71 139 5951

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New publication: Seasonal prevalence of skin lesions on dolphins across a natural salinity gradient
by Guinn, Makayla 23 May '24

23 May '24

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of all authors, we are pleased to announce our recent publication in Sustainability: Guinn, M. A., Toms, C. N., Sinclair, C., & Orbach, D. N. (2024). Seasonal Prevalence of Skin Lesions on Dolphins across a Natural Salinity Gradient. Sustainability, 16(10), 4260. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104260 ABSTRACT: Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabit waters across a broad natural salinity gradient and exhibit changes in skin condition based on the quality of their environment. Prolonged exposure to low salinities (��10�C20 ppt) degenerates the epidermal barrier and causes cutaneous lesions in dolphins, while the role of high salinity exposure (>35 ppt) in lesion development remains unknown. We assessed seasonal lesion prevalence in three free-ranging dolphin stocks inhabiting coastal Gulf of Mexico (GoM) waters of different salinities (0�C30 ppt, 22�C35 ppt, and 36+ ppt) using images of dolphin bodies. Lesions were documented on 44% of the dolphins photographed (n = 432), and lesion occurrence was significantly related to cold seasons and water temperatures but not salinity. Cold water temperatures may heighten dolphin susceptibility to infectious pathogens and disease and compound the effects of anthropogenic pollutants in the GoM. As dolphins are a bioindicator species of marine habitat welfare, natural studies assessing dolphin skin may reveal environmental degradation with potential impacts on marine ecosystems and human health. Open access to the article is available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4260 Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best, Makayla Guinn, M.S. Ph.D. Student FABEMM Lab <https://jrich40.wixsite.com/tcbdolphinproject>

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New publication: Short Communication: Lateralised lunge-feeding behaviour in Southern Hemisphere fin whales at Antarctic feeding grounds
by Alexander Rychwalski 22 May '24

22 May '24

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce our recent publication in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management: Rychwalski AN, Herr H (2024) Short Communication: Lateralised lunge-feeding behaviour in Southern Hemisphere fin whales at Antarctic feeding grounds. *J. Cetacean Res. Manage.* 25:23-29. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v25i1.947 Abstract: Balaenopterids use dynamic feeding lunges to capture prey, often performing roll manoeuvres which may demonstrate a side preference or laterality. In this study, we use aerial video footage of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) feeding at Elephant Island, Antarctica, to investigate laterality in the Southern Hemisphere fin whale subspecies B. p. quoyi. Right‐biased lateralisation was observed in all 63 recorded side lunges, 57 of which displayed visible lunge directions, the majority being clockwise (98.3%). These results complement existing information on lateralised feeding behaviour in Northern Hemisphere fin whales, confirming a strong right‐sided bias across the diﬀerent fin whale subspecies. Open access link to article: https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrm/article/view/947 Please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have. Best regards, Alexander and Helena — Alexander N. Rychwalski Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science (IMF) Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) University of Hamburg Große Elbstrasse 133 22767 Hamburg, Germany alexander.rychwalski(a)gmail.com Tel. +49 15257612619 — Dr. Helena Herr Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science (IMF) Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) University of Hamburg Große Elbstrasse 133 22767 Hamburg, Germany helena.herr(a)uni-hamburg.de Tel. +49 40 42838 6677 and Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) Section Polar Biological Oceanography AG Ecophysiology of Pelagic Key Species Am Handelshafen 12 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany helena.herr(a)awi.de +49 471 4831 1642

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Webinar -Tag loss integration into mark-recapture modelling
by Heloíse Pavanato 21 May '24

21 May '24

Dear colleagues, Setfan Meyer (Proteus Statistical Consulting, NZ) is giving a free webinar on tag loss in mark-recapture that might be of your interest. See details below. Kind regards, Heloise *Webinar -Tag loss integration into mark-recapture modelling – a simple example* June 2024 Webinar URL https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c4003c66-7655-4f27-941b-5d14da77e2… *Details* Tag loss integration into mark-recapture modelling – a simple example. *Abstract* In mark-recapture studies, tag loss results in the permanent loss of otherwise detectable individuals. This is known to commonly occur in mark-recapture studies and can cause biased estimates of, for example, recapture, survival, and population size. Therefore, several approaches have been developed to account for tag loss in mark-recapture models. In this webinar, Stefan provides an introduction mark-recapture modelling with tag loss and demonstrates how to implement a simple tag loss model into a Bayesian state-space modelling framework. This webinar will be a great opportunity for those starting to learn mark-recapture modelling (especially in a Bayesian context) or wanting to expand their modelling skills to customize their models to account for tag loss. About the speaker Stefan has a background in quantitative ecology. Originally from Germany, Stefan graduated with a zoology PhD at the University of Otago in 2016, studying the population dynamics of New Zealand sea lions. He has extensive experience in applying quantitative methods, such as Bayesian statistics and state-space modelling, to wildlife population and fisheries data. Further, Stefan specializes in the development of Shiny Apps aiming to streamline statistical data analysis and making statistical models accessible to non-specialists. He has been principal investigator on various fisheries modeling projects contracted by the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand. Currently, Stefan is a Quantitative Ecologist at Proteus <http://www.proteus.co.nz/>, a New Zealand-based statistical consulting company that specialises in ecological and wildlife applications, with clients all around the world.

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Final Incidental Take Regulations for the Sunrise Wind Project, Offshore New York
by Kelsey Potlock - NOAA Federal 21 May '24

21 May '24

Dear Colleagues, Good Morning, On May 21, 2024, NOAA Fisheries announced the final regulations to govern the incidental harassment of marine mammals related to the construction of the Sunrise Wind Project, offshore New York, and within the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Wind Energy Area. As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the final regulations include mandatory mitigation measures undertaken by the wind developer that ensure the “least practicable adverse impact” on marine mammals and their habitat, as well as monitoring and reporting measures to better understand those impacts. NOAA Fisheries determined that underwater noise generated by the project’s activities over a five-year period may harass marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries determined that the number and manner of “take,” in the form of harassment, that may be authorized in a Letter of Authorization, will have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species and stocks. Impacts to a small number of North Atlantic right whales are expected to be limited to short-term behavioral disturbance (Level B harassment). This regulatory action is part of NOAA’s ongoing work to ensure the nation’s deployment of offshore wind energy is done in a manner that avoids and minimizes impacts to protected resources and their habitats. Documents associated with this final action are available on our website <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-sunrise…> . NOAA Fisheries is committed to careful review and use of the best available scientific information in satisfying the requirements of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you, Kelsey - - - - - *Kelsey Potlock, M.Phil* *(she/her/hers)* *Marine Resources Management Specialist* MMPA Permits and Conservation Division <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-…> Office of Protected Resources <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-protected-resources> NOAA Fisheries <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/> | U.S. Department of Commerce <https://www.commerce.gov/> Google Voice Phone Number: (301) 427-8410 Email: *kelsey.potlock(a)noaa.gov <kelsey.potlock(a)noaa.gov>*><((((º>·.¸. ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º>·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> [image: icon-facebook.png] <https://www.facebook.com/NOAAFisheries>[image: icon-twitter.png] <http://www.twitter.com/noaafisheries>[image: icon-youtube.png] <http://www.youtube.com/usnoaafisheriesgov>[image: icon-instagram.png] <http://www.instagram.com/noaafisheries>[image: icon-linkedin.png] <http://www.linkedin.com/company/noaa-fisheries> *Confidentiality Notice: *This e-mail message is intended only for the named recipients. It contains information that may be confidential, privileged, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, are not a named recipient, or are not the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to a named recipient, be advised that any review, disclosure, use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this message or its contents is strictly prohibited. Please notify us immediately that you have received this message in error, and delete the message. This email and/or its contents may be subject to discovery under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). To learn more about FOIA, please see https://www.foia.gov/.

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ANZSCSMM Online Webinar Mon 27th May
by Marissa Hutchings 20 May '24

20 May '24

Greetings MARMAM community! Join us on Monday May 27th 2024 at 9:30 am AEST for the next ANZSCSMM Online Webinar: Ancestry testing of "Old Tom," a killer whale central to mutualistic interactions with human whalers - presented by Isabella M. Reeves. This event is free to attend and presented online via Zoom, but registration is required. Register here: https://auckland.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAlfuyvpj8qGtfbIbB3IBKSMcErUrPyz… About this talk: Cooperative hunting between humans and killer whales (Orcinus orca) targeting baleen whales was reported in Eden, New South Wales, Australia, for almost a century. By 1928, whaling operations had ceased, and local killer whale sightings became scarce. A killer whale from the group, known as "Old Tom," washed up dead in 1930 and his skeleton was preserved. How these killer whales from Eden relate to other populations globally and whether their genetic descendants persist today remains unknown. We extracted and sequenced DNA from Old Tom using ancient DNA techniques. Genomic sequences were then compared with a global dataset of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Old Tom shared a most recent common ancestor with killer whales from Australasia, the North Atlantic, and the North Pacific, having the highest genetic similarity with contemporary New Zealand killer whales. However, much of the variation found in Old Tom's genome was not shared with these widespread populations, suggesting ancestral rather than ongoing gene flow. Our genetic comparisons also failed to find any clear descendants of Tom, raising the possibility of local extinction of this group. We integrated Traditional Custodian knowledge to recapture the events in Eden and recognize that Indigenous Australians initiated the relationship with the killer whales before European colonization and the advent of commercial whaling locally. This study rectifies discrepancies in local records and provides new insight into the origins of the killer whales in Eden and the history of Australasian killer whales. About the presenters: Isabella M. Reeves is a PhD Candidate researching killer whale evolutionary ecology and conservation genomics at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. Open access to this article is available and can be found here: https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/598/7308443 We hope to see you there! The ANZSCSMM

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