July 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Reminder to register for 4th African Bioacoustics Community Conference
by African Bioacoustics Community 18 Jul '24

18 Jul '24

*ANNOUNCEMENT* *There are just TWO weeks left to get your standard registration for the African Bioacoustics Community (ABC) Conference*, taking place from 1st to 6 th September 2024 at The Breakwater Lodge, Cape Town, South Africa. As previously, the ABC Conference is of interest to marine mammal scientists and students, with an aim to focus on work around Africa. There is a great programme talks lined up for this year's conference* including a plenary on manatee communication* *by* *Dr Beth Brady*. The conference will end off with a full day *workshop hosted by Prof. Jennifer Miksis-Olds on the software MANTA* (Making Ambient Noise Trends Accessible). We are also hosting our *first ever hybrid conference*, so you will be able to attend online if you are not able to attend in person. For more information, please see our website: https://www.africanbioacoustics.org/ [image: image.png] If you are a *student or an early-career scientist from Africa*, you can apply for conference registration sponsorship by emailing your CV and a letter of motivation to africanbioacoustics(a)gmail.com by *Wednesday 24th July*. We look forward to seeing you in Cape Town! All the best, The ABC Team --

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Widening participation scholarship application (distance sampling workshop) deadline Monday 22 July
by Eric Rexstad 18 Jul '24

18 Jul '24

If you wish to be considered for a free place to attend the introductory distance sampling workshop (commonly used in assessment of marine mammal populations) 07-18 October 2024, I hope you are working on your application materials. Scholarship application deadline is Monday 22 July 2024. Eligibility, award criteria and application process are described at this link: https://workshops.distancesampling.org/widening-participation You are to send to me a) your CV, b) statement of interest and c) confirmation your internet resources are capable of video conferencing. If you have questions, please send questions to me, but hurry. Eric Rexstad Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews Registered Charity in Scotland SC013532

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New publication: A novel hypopigmentation for southeast Pacific humpback whales
by Isabel C. Avila 17 Jul '24

17 Jul '24

Dear MARMAMs, My co-author and I are happy to share our note on a novel hypopigmentation for southeast Pacific humpback whale, available online at: https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrm/article/view/933/759 Avila, I.C. & C. Castro. 2024. A novel hypopigmentation for southeast Pacific humpback whales. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 25: 71-77. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v25i1.933 In Colombia and Ecuador we identified 29 humpback whales with a novel body markings, which resemble the paintings of 20th Century artist Jackson Pollock. While this novel ‘Pollock‐style’ pigmentation does not appear to cause health problems, we recommend further studies to evaluate its origin and effect. Thank you, Isabel C. Avila

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New publication - Sperm whale demographics in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands: An overlooked female habitat (Natalie Posdaljian)
by Natalie Posdaljian 16 Jul '24

16 Jul '24

Dear colleagues, On behalf of all co-authors we are pleased to announce our new publication "Sperm whale demographics in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands: An overlooked female habitat" The full article is now available here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285068 <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285068> Natalie Posdaljian ,Alba Solsona-Berga,John A. Hildebrand,Caroline Soderstjerna,Sean M. Wiggins,Kieran Lenssen,Simone Baumann-Pickering Abstract Sperm whales exhibit sexual dimorphism and sex-specific latitudinal segregation. Females and their young form social groups and are usually found in temperate and tropical latitudes, while males forage at higher latitudes. Historical whaling data and rare sightings of social groups in high latitude regions of the North Pacific, such as the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI), suggest a more complex distribution than previously understood. Sperm whales are the most sighted and recorded cetacean in marine mammal surveys in these regions but capturing their demographic composition and habitat use has proven challenging. This study detects sperm whale presence using passive acoustic data from seven sites in the GOA and BSAI from 2010 to 2019. Differences in click characteristics between males and females (i.e., inter-click and inter-pulse interval) was used as a proxy for animal size/sex to derive time series of animal detections. Generalized additive models with generalized estimation equations demonstrate how spatiotemporal patterns differ between the sexes. Social groups were present at all recording sites with the largest relative proportion at two seamount sites in the GOA and an island site in the BSAI. We found that the seasonal patterns of presence varied for the sexes and between the sites. Male presence was highest in the summer and lowest in the winter, conversely, social group peak presence was in the winter for the BSAI and in the spring for the GOA region, with the lowest presence in the summer months. This study demonstrates that social groups are not restricted to lower latitudes and capture their present-day habitat use in the North Pacific. It highlights that sperm whale distribution is more complex than accounted for in management protocol and underscores the need for improved understanding of sperm whale demographic composition to better understand the impacts of increasing anthropogenic threats, particularly climate change. Best, Natalie Posdaljian, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Researcher Scripps Acoustic Ecology Lab Scripps Institution of Oceanography

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New publication: Interannual site fidelity by Svalbard walruses
by Lonnie Mikkelsen 16 Jul '24

16 Jul '24

Dear Marmam community On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to announce the open-access publication of our paper: "Interannual site fidelity by Svalbard walruses" by Lonnie Mikkelsen, Kit M. Kovacs, Marie-Anne Blanchet, Gary Brodin & Christian Lydersen. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-66370-w Abstract: The Arctic is experiencing rapid reductions in sea ice, affecting all ice-dependant species. In the present study we examine interannual seasonal movements and habitat use in relation to sea ice coverage for one of the Arctic endemic marine mammals. We tagged 40 male walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) in the Svalbard Archipelago with custom-designed tusk-mounted GPS loggers. Twelve of these animals provided tracks that lasted 1–6 years. Eleven of the walruses displayed clear seasonal migratory behaviour between summer foraging areas and winter breeding areas. Individuals showed high inter-individual variation, but clear site fidelity, using the same areas in consecutive years despite variable sea ice conditions. The walruses swam 5225–10,406 km per year and travelled remarkably similar distances between years on an individual basis. The phenology of migration was not impacted by sea ice concentrations or daylight length but was consistent at the individual level, suggesting endogenous drivers. Sea ice concentrations influenced movement behaviour with animals showing more tortuous paths when in areas with heavy sea ice, possibly searching for polynyas where females reside. Ongoing climate change is expected to drastically change walrus habitat, and it remains to be seen if walruses will be able to shift from their fixed seasonal migratory routines. Please reach out to lonnie.mikkelsen(a)npolar.no with any questions! Best, Lonnie Mikkelsen Norwegian Polar Institute Tromsø, Norway

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New publication: Systematic Review of Pinniped Sightings and Strandings Along the Pacific Coast of Colombia: Implications for Pinniped Conservation
by Tatiana Acosta Pachon 15 Jul '24

15 Jul '24

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication in Aquatic mammals, Vol. 50 (4): Dalia C. Barragán-Barrera, Casandra Gálvez, Christian Bermúdez-Rivas, María del Pilar Aguirre-Tapiero, Isabel C. Avila, Katerin Arévalo-González, and Tatiana A. Acosta-Pachón Systematic Review of Pinniped Sightings and Strandings Along the Pacific Coast of Colombia: Implications for Pinniped Conservation Sightings of pinnipeds in Colombia waters of the Pacific Ocean have sporadically been reported since 1970. Despite the Colombian Pacific region (CPR) not being within their typical distribu-tion range, six pinniped species—the Galápagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis), the Galápagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki), the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus austra-lis), the South American sea lion (Otaria byronia), the Juan Fernández fur seal (Arctocephalus philip-pii), and the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)—have been recorded in recent times. This study presents an overall systematic review of pinniped sightings and strandings from 1970 to 2023 along the Pacific coast of Colombia, with a total of 68 sightings of 80 individuals. Pinnipeds were recorded most often in 1998 (13 individuals), followed by 2014 (nine individuals); 1997 (eight individuals); 1983 (seven individuals); and 1993, 1996, 2015, and 2020 (with three individuals each year). Most pinniped observations correspond to vagrants—solitary, young individuals sighted on the southern coast of the Colombian Pacific, spe-cifically in Tumaco. Some records of these species appear to be influenced by upwelling events and changes in climatic-oceanographic phenomena (ENSO episodes) in the region. Further moni-toring is necessary to determine whether species presence and abundance in the CPR is a response to (1) vagrant behavior of the species, (2) altered habitat use associated with bioecological changes in the species populations, and/or (3) shifts in dis-tribution ranges related to potential new habitat suitability. You can find de paper here: https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/article/systematic-review-of-pinniped… Or you can write to: tatyacosta(a)gmail.com If you have any questions about our work, please reach out. Cheers, Tatiana. *---* *Dra. Tatiana A. Acosta Pachón* tatyacosta(a)gmail.com Profesora - Investigadora Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur Baja California Sur, Mexico Tel: +52 612 1238800 Ext. 4140

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New publication on Cook Inlet beluga
by Manuel Castellote - NOAA Affiliate 15 Jul '24

15 Jul '24

Dear MARMAM recipients, We are happy to announce our new publication: Castellote, Gill, Garner, Gilstad, Hou, Brewer, Knoth. 2024. Using passive acoustics to identify a quiet winter foraging refuge for an endangered beluga whale population in Alaska. Frontiers in Marine Science 11:1393380. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1393380 ABSTRACT: Cook Inlet beluga (CIB), *Delphinapterus leucas*, have not recovered from subsistence overharvest despite conservation efforts initiated in 2000. Reasons for this lack of recovery are still unclear with anthropogenic noise identified as a high threat in this population's recovery plan. Baseline information on CIB habitat use and soundscape characterization is crucial in evaluating impacts from anthropogenic activities. Using passive acoustic monitoring, we documented the seasonality and foraging occurrence of CIB, together with killer whale (Orcinus orca), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), for one year in Chinitna and Tuxedni bays and rivers, two historically important but recently overlooked areas of their critical habitat in western lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. This area's ecological interest converges with planned mining, marine renewable energy, offshore oil and gas production, and commercial shipping. Results revealed higher presence of harbor porpoise, killer whale, and humpback whale in Chinitna compared to Tuxedni but much lower CIB presence. CIB were not detected in Chinitna Bay but were in the river on 21 days September-February and one day in June. However, CIB were never detected feeding in Chinitna River. CIB acoustic crypsis and preferential use of very shallow habitat in Chinitna revealed a perceived predation risk from killer whales. In contrast, CIB were recorded foraging in both Tuxedni Bay and River and were detected September-April on 127 days making it an important winter foraging ground. Low levels of anthropogenic noise disturbance were quantified in both bays making them some of the most undisturbed sections of their critical habitat, but at the same time highly sensitive to further noise disturbance. Commercial shipping was the main noise source likely causing acoustic disturbance to CIB due to communication masking despite current low levels of temporal overlap with beluga presence. We recommend that applicable regulators consider restricting high sound producing anthropogenic activities in and adjacent to Tuxedni Bay from September 1st to May 15th when CIB are actively using this area. Managing future anthropogenic activities to minimize habitat degradation and acoustic disturbance in this winter foraging refuge will be a key component to support the recovery of this endangered population. The article can be downloaded at no cost here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.… Sincerely, Manuel Castellote -- Manuel Castellote, PhD Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington & Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program, Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries 7600 Sand Point Way N.E. F/AKC3 Seattle, WA 98115-6349 (206) 526-6866 (voice) (206) 526-6615 (fax)

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New paper - Southern right whale behavioral changes due to interactions with whale-watching vessels: evidence-based calculations aimed at improving management policies
by Magdalena Arias 15 Jul '24

15 Jul '24

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication: Arias, M., Dans, S., Crespo, E. A., & González, R. A. C. (2024). Southern right whale behavioral changes due to interactions with whale-watching vessels: evidence-based calculations aimed at improving management policies. Marine Mammal Science, e13149. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13149 Abstract: Interactions between whale-watching vessels and cetaceans have raised questions regarding the sustainability of whale-watching. This study aimed to build a model for managing whale-watching activity. The approach involved establishing vessel-exposure thresholds based on changes in short-term behavioral responses of southern right whales in the Bahía San Antonio Marine Protected Area of Argentina. The model serves as a source of information for management decision-making in whale-watching operations, with an estimated framework for the maximum carrying capacity dictating the vessel-exposure level that can be maintained with no significant changes in the whales' activity budgets. The model, based on Markov chains, indicated that surface active behavior was the form most sensitive to the presence of tourism vessels. However, vessel exposure always remained below nonsustainability threshold, defined as the amount of time that a whale could be disturbed by vessels without significantly changing its activity budget. Therefore, the observed changes were biologically insignificant. Thus, whale watching in this area is developing with minimal impact on southern right whales. An understanding of the exposure thresholds is essential for establishing management strategies that enable sustainable whale watching. This approach is crucial for setting limits within a scenario of future growth and reducing activity when demand exceeds the carrying capacity. A PDF copy of the publication can be downloaded from: http://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13149 Best regards, Magdalena Arias -- Dra. Magdalena Arias Investigadora del CONICET Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos Alte. Storni" (CIMAS) Güemes 1030 - San Antonio Oeste (R8520CXV). Río Negro - Argentina.

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Aquatic Mammals issue 50.4 is published online
by Kathleen Dudzinski 15 Jul '24

15 Jul '24

Dear MARMAM Subscribers, The 4th issue of volume 50 (50.4) of Aquatic Mammals journal is available online and officially published. 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: Heidi L. Bonifácio, Vera M. F. da Silva, Anthony R. Martin, Patrik F. Viana, and Eliana Feldberg. (2024). The Karyotype of Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis; Cetartiodactyla, Delphinidae). Aquatic Mammals,50(4), 275-283. Dalia C. Barragán-Barrera, Casandra Gálvez, Christian Bermúdez-Rivas, María del Pilar Aguirre-Tapiero, Isabel C. Avila, Katerin Arévalo-González, and Tatiana A. Acosta-Pachón. (2024). Systematic Review of Pinniped Sightings and Strandings Along the Pacific Coast of Colombia: Implications for Pinniped Conservation. Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 284-301. **Lemnuel V. Aragones, Alessandra Nicole L. Morado, Marie Christine M. Obusan, Honey Leen M. Laggui, Jonah L. Bondoc, Leo Jonathan A. Suarez, and Ewen Kye Lawler. (2024). Spatiotemporal Variation of Stranded Marine Mammals in the Philippines from 2005 to 2022: Latest Stranding Hotspots and Species Stranding Status. Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 302-322. Raúl E. Díaz-Gamboa, Pamela García-Aguilar, Alberto Pereira-Corona, and Carlos A. Niño-Torres. (2024). Determination of Metal and Metalloids in Bottlenose Dolphins’ (Tursiops truncatus) Skin from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 323-331. Elke Schüttler, Melisa Gañan, Omar Barroso, Tamara Contador, Diego Illanes, Gabriel Muñoz-Araya, María-José Palma, María-José Pérez-Álvarez, Maritza Sepúlveda, and Javier Rendoll-Cárcamo. (2024). Observations of Attacks on Sei and Fin Whales by Killer Whales in Magellanic Sub-Antarctic Waters, Chile. Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 332-341. **Hana A. Koilpillai, Charla J. Basran, Simon Berrow, Fredrik Broms, Valerie Chosson, Shannon Gowans, Lindsey S. Jones, Reg Kempen, Pedro López-Suárez, Edda Magnúsdóttir, Nick Massett, Kris Prince, Marianne H. Rasmussen, Jooke Robbins, Richard Sears, Peter Simard, Malene Simon, Pádraig Whooley, and Frederick W. Wenzel. (2024). Geographic Distribution of North Atlantic Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) with Fluke Scars Caused by Killer Whales (Orcinus orca). Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 342-351. **Lars Kleivane, Petter H. Kvadsheim, Anna Victoria Pyne Vinje, Jason Mulsow, Rolf Arne Ølberg, Jonas Teilmann, Craig Harms, and Dorian Houser. (2024). Capture and Release of Minke Whales Offers New Research Opportunities, Including Measurements of Mysticete Hearing. Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 352-368. **Kathleen Dezio. (2024). First-Ever West Coast AMMPA Annual Meeting Held May 7-9 in San Diego.Aquatic Mammals, 50(4), 369-371.

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New publication: Delphinid postmortem vitreous humor biochemistry as proxy for antemortem blood analyte concentrations
by Zorotrian, Tiffany 15 Jul '24

15 Jul '24

Dear MARMAMs, My co-authors and I are happy to share our note on delphinid postmortem vitreous humor biochemistry, available online at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.13157. Please let me know if you cannot access the document, as I am happy to share a .pdf with anyone interested. Zorotrian, T., Stern, A. W., Costidis, A., Harms, C. A., Gao, H., Fontaine, C., & Adams, H. R. (2024). Delphinid postmortem vitreous humor biochemistry as proxy for antemortem blood analyte concentrations. Marine Mammal Science, e13157. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13157 Biochemical analysis of vitreous humor has multiple forensic applications in human death investigations, including estimation of postmortem interval and as proxy for select antemortem serum/plasma analytes. Little work has been done on vitreous humor biochemistry in cetaceans due in part to a paucity of appropriate cases and relatively high cost of analysis. To investigate the utility of vitreous humor biochemistry in stranded delphinids, paired antemortem serum/plasma and postmortem vitreous humor samples (n=10) were analyzed on the UF Clinical Pathology Lab’s Beckman Coulter AU480. Results were assessed via a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient. This study supports the utility of postmortem biochemical analysis of delphinid VH for data on antemortem health status and metabolic state. Analytes that are likely to be informative for forensic purposes or to provide insight into antemortem health include UN, CREA, GLU, K, Na, and Cl. Sincerely, Tiffany Tiffany J. Zorotrian, MSc, LVT, CVT PhD Student Aquatic Animal Health Program Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida

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