August 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper: Harbor porpoise displacement by a solitary bottlenose dolphin in the Baltic Sea
by Filatova Olga 09 Aug '24

09 Aug '24

1 0

New publication: Preparing killer whale bone for stable isotope analysis
by Kelly Bowen 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

Hello all, Please see below for details regarding our open-access publication on preparing killer whale bone for stable isotope analysis: Bowen KR, Kurle CM. Effects of pre‐treatment, historical age, and sample characteristics on the stable isotope analyses of killer whale (*Orcinus orca*) bone. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 2024 Oct 15;38(19):e9874. https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.9… ABSTRACT: *Rationale* Stable isotope analysis of bone provides insight into animal foraging and allows for ecological reconstructions over time, however pre-treatment is required to isolate collagen. Pre-treatments typically consist of demineralization to remove inorganic components and/or lipid extraction to remove fats, but these protocols can differentially affect stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values depending on the chemicals, tissues, and/or species involved. Species-specific methodologies create a standard for comparability across studies and enhance understanding of collagen isolation from modern cetacean bone. *Methods* Elemental analyzers coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometers were used to measure the δ13C and δ15N values of powdered killer whale (Orcinus orca) bone that was intact (control) or subjected to one of three experimental conditions: demineralized, lipid-extracted, and both demineralized and lipid-extracted. Additionally, C:N ratios were evaluated as a proxy for collagen purity. Lastly, correlations were examined between control C:N ratios vs. historical age and control C:N ratios vs. sample characteristics. *Results* No significant differences in the δ15N values were observed for any of the experimental protocols. However, the δ13C values were significantly increased by all three experimental protocols: demineralization, lipid extraction, and both treatments combined. The most influential protocol was both demineralization and lipid extraction. Measures of the C:N ratios were also significantly lowered by demineralization and both treatments combined, indicating the material was closer to pure collagen after the treatments. Collagen purity as indicated via C:N ratio was not correlated with historical age nor sample characteristics. *Conclusions* If only the δ15N values from killer whale bone are of interest for analysis, no pre-treatment seems necessary. If the δ13C values are of interest, samples should be both demineralized and lipid-extracted. As historical age and specimen characteristics are not correlated with sample contamination, all samples can be treated equally. Best regards, Kelly Bowen -- Kelly R. Bowen (Flanders) Ph.D. Candidate - Kurle Lab Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution - Biological Sciences University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093

1 0

Announcement of application for student travel awards to SMM from ACS/PS - Reminder
by Stephanie Norman 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

*American Cetacean Society – Puget Sound Chapter* *Call for student/intern travel grants to the Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals!* We are back with another opportunity to apply for student/intern travel grant awards! The American Cetacean Society-Puget Sound Chapter (ACS/PS) ( https://www.acspugetsound.org/index.php) would like to once again solicit submissions for student/intern travel grants to the Society for Marine Mammalogy's *25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals* (Perth, Western Australia, 11-15 November 2024). *Two* student travel grants (US$750 each) will be selected from all eligible applications received by *Friday, 16 August 2024*. *The focus of the research must be on cetaceans within the inland waters (Puget Sound/Salish Sea) OR the outer coast of Washington State, USA.* *Qualifications to apply:* 1. Obtain ACS membership if selected for the grant. Application for membership to ACS may be completed at the following website: https://www.acsonline.org/membership 2. Currently enrolled as a student at a recognized academic institution or an intern at a recognized organization conducting cetacean research. 3. Be first author on an accepted oral or poster presentation. 4. Register for the conference by the early registration deadline ( www.marinemammalscience.org) 5. Though you do not need to be a student/intern at a Washington State organization/institution, the focus of the research *must* be in Washington State waters. International student/intern applications are accepted as long as the research takes place within Washington State. US/Canada cross-boundary research must take place a majority of the time within Washington State waters. *To apply:* 1. Submit an accepted title and abstract to the SMM conference. 2. Provide your name and school/organization affiliation. 3. E-mail your application to: acspsgrant(a)acspugetsound.org Note: As an awardee, you will be asked to provide a summary of your poster/spoken presentation to be posted on ACS/PS social media and website. And you may be asked to present your poster or oral talk at a future ACS/PS general meeting. *The application period closes Friday 16 August 2024 (11:59pm PDT)!* Notification of the student travel grant awards will be made by *1 September 2024.* IMPORTANT: If you are selected for an award, you will need to make sure you register for the conference by the end of the early registration period or the award will be given to someone else. For questions or to submit your application, contact Dr. Stephanie Norman, ACS/PS Grants Chair: acspsgrant(a)acspugetsound.org Stephanie A. Norman, DVM, MS, PhD Marine-Med: Marine Research, Epidemiology, and Veterinary Medicine E-mail: stephanie(a)marine-med.com Phone: 206-321-0249 Marine-Med website <https://www.marine-med.com/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/MarineMed1> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/whaledocsteph> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieanorman/>

1 0

New publication - Bubble blasts! An adaptation for buoyancy regulation in shallow foraging gray whales
by Clara Bird 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

Hi MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are excited to share with you our new publication in Ecology and Evolution. Bird, C. N., Pirotta, E., New, L., Bierlich, K. C., Hildebrand, L., Fernandez Ajó, A., & Torres, L. G. (2024). Bubble blasts! An adaptation for buoyancy regulation in shallow foraging gray whales. Ecology and Evolution, 14(8), e70093. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70093 Abstract: Foraging efficiency is key to animal fitness. Consequently, animals evolved a variety of kinematic, morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations for efficient locomotion to reduce energy expenditure while moving to find, capture, and consume prey. Often suited to specific habitat and prey types, these adaptations correspond to the terrain or substrate the animal moves through. In aquatic systems, adaptations focus on overcoming drag, buoyancy, and hydrostatic forces. Buoyancy both benefits and hinders diving animals; in particular, shallow divers constantly contend with the costs of overcoming buoyancy to dive and maintain position. Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales forage in shallow habitats where they work against buoyancy to dive and feed using various foraging tactics. Bubble blasts (underwater exhalations) have been observed during several foraging tactics performed by PCFG whales. As exhalations aid buoyancy regulation in other diving animals, we hypothesize that bubble blasts are performed by longer, more buoyant whales in shallower water and that bubble blasts increase dive duration while accounting for size and tactic. We test our hypotheses using Bayesian linear mixed effects models and a 7-year dataset of drone footage containing concurrent individual morphological and behavioral data. We find that while headstanding – a stationary, head-down tactic – bubble blasts are performed by longer, more buoyant whales and extend the dive duration, whereas whales using forward-swimming tactics are less likely to bubble blast. Our results suggest that PCFG gray whales may use bubble blasts as a behavioral adaption to mitigate the cost of energetically expensive tactics in their shallow habitat foraging niche. The article is open access and available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.70093 Please reach out with any questions. Cheers, Clara (clara.bird(a)oregonstate.edu) ---- Clara Bird (she/her) PhD Candidate Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab Marine Mammal Institute Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center

1 0

JOB- FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant Position
by Steve Burton 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

Position Summary: Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Marine Mammal Stranding & Population Assessment Asst.-3. - Fort Pierce, FL. Summary of Responsibilities: · Performs as a NOAA NMFS authorized primary responder on marine mammal strandings and collects Level A stranding data, working in the field and office. · Performs as a co-investigator on population assessment permit. Duties include boat-based surveys, photo analysis, data entry and data QA/QC. · Assists with maintenance of vessels, vehicles, and equipment used for operations. · Participates in on-call rotation with other members of the group. · Assists with curation of marine mammal tissue archives. · Participates in presentations or other outreach activities regarding stranding and population assessments. · Assists with necropsy facilities maintenance and management operations. FAU Benefits and Perks If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers: · Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more. · State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans. · State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program - https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service · Flexible work arrangement plans - https://www.fau.edu/hr/employee_relations/flexwork.php · Sick Leave Pool Program · Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion). · Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day - https://www.fau.edu/hr/documents/community-engagement-volunteer-leave4-2015… · Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment. For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply). For details on FAU's amazing offers visit us at https://www.fau.edu/hr/benefits/index.php Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization and one year of appropriate experience required. Ability to work flexible hours including on-call times on weeknights, weekends, and holidays to meet program objectives required. Must have valid Florida driver’s license with acceptable driving record or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Comfortable driving large vehicles and towing boats required Florida certificate of Boating Safety Education required or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Successfully complete the USGS Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC) within 6 months of hire required. Experience driving various vessels in coastal and offshore waters required. Preferred Qualifications/Skills: Experience with population assessment data collection, photo-ID boat surveys, photo analysis and database input. Ability to become a NOAA NMFS primary responder on marine mammal stranding activities (Article 3 and 4) required within one year of hire. Ability to immediately be approved for NOAA NMFS primary responder is preferred. Experience with Microsoft Office. Excellent verbal and communication skills. Able to work within a team and independently. This includes collaborative activities with all stakeholders. Salary: $18.00 - $21.00 per hour. College or Department: HBOI: Research - MMRC Location: Harbor Branch (HBOI) Work Days and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Occasional work outside of regular hours for strandings and outreach events as needed. Must be able to do on-call rotation. Application Deadline: 2024-08-12 Special Instructions to Applicant: This position involves research or research-related support. VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants may claim Veterans’ Preference on their application. The applicant claiming preference is responsible for providing required documentation at the time of making an application in Workday for a vacant position, or prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If an applicant qualifies for Veterans' Preference and the SP position, they are shown preference by the guarantee of an interview. Veterans’ Preference does not guarantee a job. For additional information, please visit https://www.fau.edu/jobs/resources/veterans/. For assistance, please contact Recruitment Services at empl(a)fau.edu<mailto:empl@fau.edu>. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Resume Cover letter OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED: Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment. PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENINGS REQUIRED: Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check. REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS: Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation, please call 561-297-3057. 711 https://fau.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FAU/details/Marine-Mammal-Stranding…

1 0

The Marine Mammal Center | Associate Veterinarian position opening
by Sarah Tatum 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

Greetings, The Marine Mammal Center is hiring an Associate Veterinarian! Use this link<https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/2640569/Marine-Mam…> to see the full job posting and to apply. Below is a summary: Location of Position: Marin Headlands, Sausalito, California Reports to: Clinical Veterinarian Position Classification & Expected Hours of Work, and Travel: This is a part-time, non-exempt, position, 16 hrs per week. * Work schedule will consist of two consecutive days including a weekend day (either Friday and Saturday or Sunday and Monday). * Regular onsite work is required. * Evening, weekend, and holiday work is required. * Occasional travel to satellite facilities and/or field research sites is possible for this position. Compensation Range: $52.00/hr. Benefits: Partial Benefits: * Sick Time * 401k Retirement Plan * Employee Assistance Program Job Summary The Associate Veterinarian supports the work of the Conservation Programs Department as a member of the organization’s veterinary team. The Associate Veterinarian provides clinical medical care and contributes to case management for patients at The Marine Mammal Center. Additionally, this position contributes to the training and mentorship of Teaching Hospital participants in the clinical veterinary and animal husbandry tracks. Qualifications and Experience * This position requires a combination of education and experience which includes a DVM or equivalent degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary college and a minimum of 3 years of clinical veterinary experience. * Preferred qualifications include experience in clinical marine mammal veterinary medicine, familiarity with wild stranded marine mammal health and disease, and experience providing training and mentorship to students in a clinical veterinary setting. * DVM or equivalent degree from AVMA-accredited veterinary college. * California State license to practice veterinary medicine or ability to obtain licensure prior to initiating employment. * Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain standards of insurability. * Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or waiver (medical or religious). ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education. For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org<https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/about-us/what-we-do> Thank you! Sarah [Icon Description automatically generated with low confidence] Sarah Tatum (she-her) Human Resources Operations Coordinator TatumS(a)tmmc.org<mailto:tatums@tmmc.org> | MarineMammalCenter.org<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/> The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965

1 0

Recommendations for drone video analysis software
by Heidi Pearson 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

Dear colleagues, We are looking for recommendations on software for analyzing video imagery of large dolphin groups collected via drone. Our aim is to count the number of dolphins in groups that sometimes contain many hundreds of dolphins. We also aim to identify and count mother-calf pairs, assess the relative size of each calf, and track those mom-calf pairs as they swim across the screen. Our main challenges are: the large group sizes where individuals may be tightly bunched, the continuously moving imagery as the drone moves with the dolphins, and sun glare. We would be most grateful for any recommendations on software that may aid in any component of this analysis. We would appreciate hearing from you by August 16, 2024. Please email Heidi Pearson at hcpearson(a)alaska.edu and Joana Castro at info(a)aimmportugal.org. Thank you very much, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. (she/her) Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 *Our campus resides on the unceded territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan on Lingít Aaní, also known as Juneau and Douglas, Alaska, which also houses neighboring X̱aadas and Ts’msyen peoples.*

1 0

JOB- FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant
by Steve Burton 07 Aug '24

07 Aug '24

https://fau.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FAU/details/Marine-Mammal-Stranding… Position Summary: Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Marine Mammal Stranding & Population Assessment Asst.-3. - Fort Pierce, FL. Summary of Responsibilities: · Performs as a NOAA NMFS authorized primary responder on marine mammal strandings and collects Level A stranding data, working in the field and office. · Performs as a co-investigator on population assessment permit. Duties include boat-based surveys, photo analysis, data entry and data QA/QC. · Assists with maintenance of vessels, vehicles, and equipment used for operations. · Participates in on-call rotation with other members of the group. · Assists with curation of marine mammal tissue archives. · Participates in presentations or other outreach activities regarding stranding and population assessments. · Assists with necropsy facilities maintenance and management operations. FAU Benefits and Perks If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers: · Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more. · State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans. · State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program - https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service · Flexible work arrangement plans - https://www.fau.edu/hr/employee_relations/flexwork.php · Sick Leave Pool Program · Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion). · Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day - https://www.fau.edu/hr/documents/community-engagement-volunteer-leave4-2015… · Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment. For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply). For details on FAU's amazing offers visit us at https://www.fau.edu/hr/benefits/index.php Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization and one year of appropriate experience required. Ability to work flexible hours including on-call times on weeknights, weekends, and holidays to meet program objectives required. Must have valid Florida driver’s license with acceptable driving record or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Comfortable driving large vehicles and towing boats required Florida certificate of Boating Safety Education required or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Successfully complete the USGS Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC) within 6 months of hire required. Experience driving various vessels in coastal and offshore waters required. Preferred Qualifications/Skills: Experience with population assessment data collection, photo-ID boat surveys, photo analysis and database input. Ability to become a NOAA NMFS primary responder on marine mammal stranding activities (Article 3 and 4) required within one year of hire. Ability to immediately be approved for NOAA NMFS primary responder is preferred. Experience with Microsoft Office. Excellent verbal and communication skills. Able to work within a team and independently. This includes collaborative activities with all stakeholders. Salary: $18.00 - $21.00 per hour. College or Department: HBOI: Research - MMRC Location: Harbor Branch (HBOI) Work Days and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Occasional work outside of regular hours for strandings and outreach events as needed. Must be able to do on-call rotation. Application Deadline: 2024-08-12 Special Instructions to Applicant: This position involves research or research-related support. VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants may claim Veterans’ Preference on their application. The applicant claiming preference is responsible for providing required documentation at the time of making an application in Workday for a vacant position, or prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If an applicant qualifies for Veterans' Preference and the SP position, they are shown preference by the guarantee of an interview. Veterans’ Preference does not guarantee a job. For additional information, please visit https://www.fau.edu/jobs/resources/veterans/. For assistance, please contact Recruitment Services at empl(a)fau.edu<mailto:empl@fau.edu>. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Resume Cover letter OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED: Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment. PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENINGS REQUIRED: Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check. REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS: Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation, please call 561-297-3057. 711

1 0

New publication: Identifying the best spatio-temporal scales of environmental covariates to model the distribution of a small cetacean
by Tiffany Goh 06 Aug '24

06 Aug '24

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share with you our recent publication in Ecology and Evolution: Tiffany Goh, Mark Jessopp, Emer Rogan, Enrico Pirotta. (2024). A matter of scale: Identifying the best spatial and temporal scale of environmental variables to model the distribution of a small cetacean. Ecology and Evolution 14(8): e70102. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70102 <https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70102> Abstract: The importance of scale when investigating ecological patterns and processes is recognised across many species. In marine ecosystems, the processes that drive species distribution have a hierarchical structure over multiple nested spatial and temporal scales. Hence, multi-scale approaches should be considered when developing accurate distribution models to identify key habitats, particularly for populations of conservation concern. Here, we propose a modelling procedure to identify the best spatial and temporal scale for each modelled and remotely sensed oceanographic variable to model harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) distribution within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. Harbour porpoise sightings were recorded during dedicated line-transect aerial surveys conducted in the summers of 2016, 2021 and 2022. Binary generalised additive models were used to assess the relationships between porpoise presence and oceanographic variables at different spatial (5–40 km) and temporal (daily, monthly and across survey period) scales. Selected variables included sea surface temperature, thermal fronts, chlorophyll-a, sea surface height, mixed layer depth and salinity. A total of 30,514 km was covered on-effort with 216 harbour porpoise sightings recorded. Overall, the best spatial scale corresponded to the coarsest resolution considered in this study (40 km), while porpoise presence showed stronger association with oceanographic variables summarised at a longer temporal scale. Habitat models including covariates at coarse spatial and temporal scales may better reflect the processes driving availability and abundance of resources at these large scales. These findings support the hypothesis that a multi-scale approach should be applied when investigating species distribution. Identifying suitable spatial and temporal scale would improve the functional interpretation of the underlying relationships, particularly when studying how a small marine predator interacts with its environment and responds to climate and ecosystem changes. The article is open access and available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.70102 <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.70102> Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best wishes, Tiffany Goh PhD Candidate ObSERVE aerial survey programme School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University College Cork

1 0

New Publication: Reproductive dynamics of an inshore delphinid reflect demographic consequences of large-scale coastal constructions
by Stephen Chan 06 Aug '24

06 Aug '24

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to share with you our recent publication in Biological Conservation. Chan SCY, Ho Y-W & Karczmarski L. (2024). Reproductive dynamics of an inshore delphinid reflect demographic consequences of large-scale coastal constructions. Biological Conservation, 297, 110690. Abstract: In fast-developing regions, rapid coastal urbanization has led to considerable transformation of both landscapes and seascapes, with various adverse implications for species dependent on inshore habitats. As reliable estimates of vital demographic rates reflect the population-level responses to stressors, rigorous quantification of these parameters is central to assessing the consequences of human-induced environmental change. As a case-in-point, we quantified the reproductive parameters and calf survivorship of an obligatory inshore delphinid, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), in the anthropogenic seascape of Hong Kong prior and during two consecutive large-scale coastal infrastructure projects. Our 8-year photo-ID mark-recapture dataset was examined with both frequentist and Bayesian techniques. The reproductive output of female dolphins worsened significantly following the onset of construction activities, eventually declining alarmingly close to zero. Annual recruitment rate followed a similar trajectory. Concurrently, calf survival rates (pooled across the study period) were low, with <60% of newborns surviving the first 3-month and <46% surviving their first year of life. Both mean crude birth rate (~0.03) and annual recruitment rate (~0.02) were among the lowest reported for coastal delphinids to date. Cumulatively, all of this slows population recruitment and increases population susceptibility to stochastic events. We conclude that natural factors alone are not likely to cause such critically low demographic rates, underscoring the vulnerability of obligatory inshore species to growing anthropogenic pressure and habitat loss in fast-changing coastal seas. We emphasize the need for proactive (instead of reactive) conservation based on reliable sentinel model system and wise use of the precautionary principle. The article will be freely available (free to download) through this link until 24 September 2024: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1jYgJ1R%7EeWaRO Please contact mailto:scychan@cetacea-institute.org if you have any questions or if you need a PDF copy after the abovementioned expiry date. Best regards, Stephen Stephen C.Y. Chan, PhD Research Scientist Cetacea Research Institute, Hong Kong

1 0