September 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

NEW PUBLICATION: Inferring dolphin population status: using unoccupied aerial systems to quantify age-structure
by Fabien Vivier 06 Sep '24

06 Sep '24

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share with you our new paper entitled "Inferring dolphin population status: using unoccupied aerial systems to quantify age-structure", published in *Animal Conservation*. The paper can be accessed here: - Animal Conservation: https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12978 - Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383085566_Inferring_dolphin_popula… Abstract: Assessing trends in population abundance and demographics is crucial for managing long-lived and slow-reproducing species. Obtaining demographic data, and age-structure information, is challenging, notably for cetaceans. To address this, we combined Unoccupied Aerial System (UAS; drone) photogrammetry data with long-term (>20 years) photo identification data to assess the age-structure of the critically endangered sub-population of common bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) of the Gulf of Ambracia, Greece. We compared our findings with two extensively studied non-endangered bottlenose dolphin populations (*T. aduncus* in Shark Bay, Australia, and *T. truncatus* in Sarasota Bay, USA). Using a log-linear model, we estimated the total body lengths (TL) of 160 known-aged dolphins between 2021 and 2023 from blowhole-to-dorsal-fin distance (BHDF) measurements collected during surfacing. Subsequently, we tested four growth models to establish an age-length growth curve. We assessed the sub-population's age-structure using three methods: (1) UAS-derived TL estimates, (2) age-length growth curve and (3) long-term monitoring data (i.e. actual age-structure). UAS-measured TL (247.6 ± 32.2 cm) and UAS-estimated TL (246.0 ± 34.7 cm) of the Greek sub-population showed no differences. The Richards Growth model suggested an asymptotic length of 258.5 cm. In Greece, resulting age-structure estimates across the three methods revealed no significant differences (*P* > 0.1). The Gulf of Ambracia and Shark Bay populations shared similar age-structures, while Sarasota had higher proportions of 2–10 year-olds and lower proportions of 10+ year-olds. All populations had a comparable proportion of 0–2 year-olds (~14%), indicating a similar reproductive rate. Our findings suggest stability in the Greek sub-population; however, additional monitoring of reproductive parameters is essential before concluding its status. We demonstrated the effectiveness of UAS-photogrammetry in rapidly quantifying population age-structure, including scenarios with limited or no demographic data. This technique shows promise for enhancing precision, timeliness, cost-effectiveness and efficiency in population monitoring and informing timely conservation management decisions. How to cite this paper: Vivier, F., Andrés, C., Gonzalvo, J., Fertitta, K., van Aswegen, M., Foroughirad, V., Mann, J., McEntee, M., Wells, R.S. and Bejder, L. (2024), Inferring dolphin population status: using unoccupied aerial systems to quantify age-structure. Anim. Conserv.. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12978 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, need a copy, or have problems accessing the link (fvivier(a)hawaii.edu) This work is a collaboration between the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, the Ionian Dolphin Project from Tethys Research Institute, Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, and Shark Bay Dolphin Project. Finally, we would like to thank our funders: NOAA-PIFSC, Office of Naval Research, Dolphin Quest, Costas M Lemos Foundation, Blue Marine Foundation, OceanCare, Georgetown University, National Science Foundation (NSF), and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. Best, Fabien Vivier, PhD.

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Job Opportunity for Research Assistant at the Wild Dolphin Project
by Dr. Denise Herzing 06 Sep '24

06 Sep '24

*Job Posting - Field Research Assistant and Database Manager – Wild Dolphin Project Florida USA * I am seeking a Research Assistant to work in my research group at the Wild Dolphin Project in North Palm Beach Florida. www.wilddolphinproject.org. WDP has an ongoing field study in the Bahamas, during summer months, and Florida offshore cetacean monitoring during winter months. We work in the Bahamas with Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins to correlate underwater sound and behavior, track life history, collect noninvasive genetic materials, and monitor reproductive states and health. Our motto is “In Their World, On Their Terms”. We try to work carefully and respectfully with the dolphins to avoid any unnecessary disturbances. Founded in 1985, we are a small organization with a long history. We work directly with the dolphins (Bahamas and Florida) to shed light on their lives in the wild and use cutting-edge science to enhance our work. We have a 40-year history and hope to continue for a few more decades. Past employees have often been previous graduate students or field participants. Their love of the ocean and of marine life, and contributing to science, are often the most rewarding parts of the job. For serious scientists rewards come in the form of interesting research, creative publications, and interactions with colleagues on the boat and at scientific conferences. The R.A. is responsible for field data collection & management, and photo-identification work. May through September is for fieldwork in the Bahamas, October-April is for data analysis & writing and occasional day fieldwork in Florida. The individual must be willing and able to be at sea in remote locations, for 10 days at a time (4 days back home), from May – September, to lead field excursions to the Bahamas. Occasional day- work off of the Florida coast also occurs in fall/winter/spring months. The successful candidate must have a U.S. passport to work as crew on our research vessel and should be comfortable on a boat with 12 persons (6 crew, 6 passengers) during summer fieldwork months. The candidate should be able to work with colleagues, students, volunteers as needed, and leading projects on the boat and in the lab. Pay is commensurate with experience, between 40-45k. Health benefits, vacation time, sick days, comp-time for fieldwork, and retirement plan available. Non-summer work time is flexible for vacations. R.A. reports to, and works with, the Research Director and occasionally the Board of Directors. Job available starting Jan 1 2025 *Skills and Degrees* *Must haves* A Master degree, or PhD in the natural sciences, is required. Experience with Photo ID, video editing, database management, and previous field work with cetaceans. Interest and experience in sound analysis, and machine learning, is an extra plus. Experience with Apple computers and ipads. Experience in freediving, snorkeling, and water safety is required. Scuba is also desirable but not required. A few publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at professional conferences. *Nice to have skills* Social media – for occasional blogs and posts Event support – for fundraising events that are held Good personal communication skills for donors and team building Boat safety, CPR, AED, First Aid, EMT training. Drone – FAA license, GIS/Garmin systems experience Filemaker Pro, MS Office, Raven/Audacity, Adobe Photoshop, imovie Expectations for the R.A. are to learn about the dolphins, manage & improve the databases for ease of access, bring new ideas and technology opportunities, and to continue with a noninvasive approach for the work within the established protocols. This job is for someone who wants to learn, observe, and understand dolphin life in the wild, and apply scientific studies to the job. Work is a mixture of intense field time (4-5 months) and lab/office work (7-8 months). Candidate should be driven and committed to publishing the results of the science and be willing to work with existing staff and colleagues on papers and presentations. Ideas for new projects will also be considered. Main work location is the project office based in North Palm Beach, Florida. Preferences are for an R. A. who has a long-term career interest in this field. This is a permanent FT position offering. PhD candidates may also inquire about Co-Director opportunities in the near future or after training in the R.A. position for a couple years. Please send expressions of interest, a cv, and the names of two references to me at dlherzing(a)wilddolphinproject.org

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In Memoriam for the late Dr. Roger Payne 1935-2023
by Peter Teglberg Madsen 06 Sep '24

06 Sep '24

Dear All, As former students, post docs and collaborators of Roger Payne, we have written an In Memoriam in Marine Mammal Science to commemorate a very inspirational and influential whale conservation scientist who did more to save the great whales than any, and who raised a whole generation of whale scientists to study live whales at sea rather than dead on a flensing deck. You can find the In Memoriam here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.13172 If you don't have access, feel free to write us an email for a pdf. On behalf of the authors, Peter

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New publication: Australian snubfin dolphin acoustics
by Kate Indeck 05 Sep '24

05 Sep '24

G'day all, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication in Marine Mammal Science, "Australian snubfin vocal activity is influenced by behavioral state and group characteristics". Abstract: Acoustic communication is an important aspect of life for marine mammals, as their environment often limits the reliability of visual cues. However, there is little information regarding the acoustic communication and behavior of Australian snubfin dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni). This study was designed to determine if call rate and type were significantly affected by the behavioral state, group size, and cohesion of snubfin dolphins in the Fitzroy River in Queensland, Australia. We found that dolphins significantly modified both call rate (calls/hour/individual) and call type among behavioral states. For example, call rates were higher when dolphins were foraging versus resting or traveling. We also found that group size and cohesion had minimal effects on call rate, but significantly affected the predicted probabilities of call type production. For example, the probability ratio of burst pulse to whistle production is estimated to be highest when groups are widespread (>10 m), indicating the potential importance of burst pulses in maintaining contact between dispersed individuals. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of snubfin dolphin communication under natural noise conditions in relation to behavioral context, which provides a foundation to explore how anthropogenic acoustic masking and behavioral disturbances may affect these dolphins in the future. This article is Open Access at the following link: Australian snubfin vocal activity is influenced by behavioral state and group characteristics (wiley.com)<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.13173> If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me or lead author, Renae Banfield (renaebanfield(a)yahoo.com.au) Cheers, Kate Indeck Katherine Indeck, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow • Biological Sciences Mobile: (506) 653-7097 Office: Ganong Hall 224 Address: 100 Tucker Park Rd Saint John, New Brunswick Canada E2L 4L5 [University of New Brunswick] [Facebook]/uofnb<https://www.facebook.com/uofnb> [Twitter] @unb<https://twitter.com/UNB> [Instagram] @discoverunb<https://instagram.com/discoverunb/> UNB.ca<http://www.unb.ca/> Kate Indeck | Davies Lab<https://davieslab.wixsite.com/davieslab/copy-of-kim-davies>

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New Publication: Stranded marine mammal detection by the public, trained responders, and drones using decoy carcasses
by Mackenzie Russell 05 Sep '24

05 Sep '24

Dear MARMAM, We are excited to share our new publication "Stranded marine mammal detection by the public, trained responders, and drones using decoy carcasses" published in Marine Mammal Science. Ponti, M.J., M.L. Russell, C.D. Clark, C.S. Cloyed, R.H. Carmichael, C.L. Johnson, and J.C.G. Bloodgood. 2024. Stranded marine mammal detection by the public, trained responders, and drones using decoy carcasses. Marine Mammal Science e13169. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13169 Abstract: Stranded marine mammals provide valuable insight into population health of free ranging conspecifics; however, the likelihood of carcass detection by the public or trained observers is not well known. To better understand carcass detection rates (CDR), we placed twelve decoy dolphin carcasses around Dauphin Island, Alabama, for 2 weeks, one during peak tourist season and one during the off season. Decoys were placed in regions representing different habitat types (marsh or beach) and levels of human use (low or high). Calls from the public were recorded, and trained observers actively searched for decoys via drone and visual observation either by vessel or UTV and walking. There were 2.5 times more public reports during the peak (n = 38) compared to off season (n = 15), with most reports being from the high traffic beach site during peak season (n = 27). Trained observers found more decoys (CDR = 0.88) than the public (CDR = 0.58), however, the public found two decoys that observers did not. Drone searches were slightly more successful (CDR = 0.83) than other methods (CDR = 0.79). Our results indicate that a combination of surveillance methods will enhance carcass detection, and our novel methods can be used across habitat types to improve stranding surveillance, better estimate stranding rates, and inform mortality estimates of many species. Thank you, Mackenzie Russell Stranding Coordinator Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network

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New publication: Deep-sea cabled video-observatory provides insights into the behavior at depth of sub-adult male northern elephant seals
by Heloise Frouin 05 Sep '24

05 Sep '24

Hello, On behalf of my co-authors, I’m excited to share our new open-access article on the deep-sea behavior of sub-adult male northern elephant seals. The study delves into their feeding strategies, prey preferences, and resting habits. Intriguingly, we found that several seals consistently returned to a deep-sea cabled video observatory, likely because they’ve learned to associate the sonar noise from the research instrument with the presence of food—a phenomenon known as the 'dinner bell' effect. *Abstract* The Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) cabled video-observatory at the Barkley Canyon Node (British Columbia, Canada) was recently the site of a Fish Acoustics and Attraction Experiment (FAAE), from May 21, 2022 to July 16, 2023, combining observations from High-Definition (HD) video, acoustic imaging sonar, and underwater sounds at a depth of 645 m, to examine the effects of light and bait on deep-sea fish and invertebrate behaviors. The unexpected presence of at least eight (six recurrent and two temporary) sub-adult male northern elephant seals (*Mirounga angustirostris*) was reported in 113 and 210 recordings out of 9737 HD and 2805 sonar videos at the site, respectively. Elephant seals were found at the site during seven distinct periods between June 22, 2022 and May 19, 2023. Ethograms provided insights into the seal’s deep-sea resting and foraging strategies, including prey selection. We hypothesized that the ability of elephant seals to perform repeated visits to the same site over long periods (> 10 days) was due to the noise generated by the sonar, suggesting that they learned to use that anthropogenic source as an indicator of food location, also known as the “dinner bell” effect. One interpretation is that elephant seals are attracted to the FAAE site due to the availability of prey and use the infrastructure as a foraging and resting site, but then take advantage of fish disturbance caused by the camera lights to improve foraging success. Our video observations demonstrated that northern elephant seals primarily focused on actively swimming sablefish (*Anoplopoma fimbria*), ignoring stationary or drifting prey. Moreover, we found that elephant seals appear to produce (voluntary or involuntary) infrasonic sounds in a foraging context. This study highlights the utility of designing marine observatories with spatially and temporally cross-referenced data collection from instruments representing multiple modalities of observation. The paper and videos can be found here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0308461 Kind regards, Héloïse Frouin-Mouy (hxf319(a)miami.edu) Assistant Scientist at the University of Miami (USA) Visiting Scientist at the University of Victoria (Canada)

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Upcoming DOSITS Webinars
by Ellen Bellagamba Fucile 04 Sep '24

04 Sep '24

Please join the Discovery Of Sound In The Sea (DOSITS) program for the upcoming 2024 webinars: Multibeam Echosounders (MBES) September 18, 2024 | 12:00pm ET Mike Smith, Kongsberg Discover Hilary Kates Varghese, BOEM Register here: (https://uri-du.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zHyO2JBfQYux84bLvAI4nw<https://uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zHyO2JBfQYux84bLvAI4nw>) Impulsive Sound and Offshore Wind October 16, 2024 | 12:00pm ET Sander von Benda-Beckmann, Acoustics and Sonar Research Group, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) Register here: (https://uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZEzYZUUKTcSjYCx4fqTzqA) For more information about DOSITS webinars, please visit the DOSITS website: (https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2024-webinar-series/) The Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) program hosts a resource rich website (https://dosits.org/) aimed at introducing users to the science and uses of Sound in the Sea by people and animals, with specific sections on how marine mammals use underwater sound and the potential effects of underwater sound on marine mammals.

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New publication: Ontogeny of horizontal movement patterns of rehabilitated grey seal juveniles (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea
by Laura Lupeikaitė-Kuncienė 04 Sep '24

04 Sep '24

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce our latest open access publication "Ontogeny of horizontal movement patterns of rehabilitated grey seal juveniles (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea" now available in Frontiers in Marine Science. Kuncienė L, Nachtsheim D, Siebert U and Kleiva Ž (2024) Ontogeny of horizontal movement patterns of rehabilitated grey seal juveniles (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea. Front. Mar. Sci. 11:1449023. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1449023 Abstract: The ethical considerations and scepticism over the ecological benefits have fuelled debate about the rehabilitation of wildlife. Although there is evidence that many rehabilitated species are able to survive after rehabilitation, there is a paucity of research on the behaviour of rehabilitated pinnipeds, including grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). In this study, 14 rehabilitated grey seal juveniles were equipped with biotelemetry devices in order to conduct remote post-release monitoring and to investigate ontogeny of their movements in the Baltic Sea. The study revealed that their movements were similar to wild, non-rehabilitated grey seal pups when leaving their natal site: at first, they exhibited highly exploratory behaviour with largely transient movements, then switched into a resident movement pattern, while maximising foraging and minimising travelling time. Neither sex nor year of release, which varied in terms of rehabilitation time and body mass, had a significant effect on the ontogeny of these movements. Movements were significantly influenced by the time after release, suggesting that rehabilitated juveniles have gained experience and developed their movements over time in order to survive in the wild. The paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1449023 Kind regards, Laura Lupeikaitė - Kuncienė Lithuanian Sea Museum/Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University

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International Save the Vaquita Day 2024
by Thomas Jefferson 03 Sep '24

03 Sep '24

Dear MARMAMers, This is a final reminder that International Save the Vaquita Day 2024 is comingup this Saturday, 7 September, starting at 9 am (Pacific). It will be avirtual event, with a half-day live-stream of informative talks and videocontent. See https://vivavaquita.org/international-save-the-vaquita-day/for the schedule of talks and more details. You can tune in directly at https://vaquita.day/2024 . Please join us onSaturday, 7 September, to learn the latest about what you can do to help prevent thevaquita’s extinction! Best wishes, Tom Jefferson Director, ¡VIVA Vaquita!

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New publication: Novel Gammaherpesvirus Infections in Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) and False Killer Whales (Pseudorca crassidens)
by 이성빈 02 Sep '24

02 Sep '24

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are excited to announce our new publication, "Novel Gammaherpesvirus Infections in Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) and False Killer Whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in the Republic of Korea," now available in Viruses. Lee SB, Lee KL, Kim SW, Jung WJ, Park DS, Lee S, Giri SS, Kim SG, Su JJ, Park JH, Hwang MH. Novel Gammaherpesvirus Infections in Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) and False Killer Whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in the Republic of Korea. Viruses. 2024;16(8):1234. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/v16081234 Abstract: A female narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) stranded on a beach on Jeju Island showed epithelial proliferative skin lesions on its body. Two false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), caught using nets near Gangneung and Samcheok, respectively, had multiple plaques on their penile epidermis. Histological examination of the epidermis revealed that all the lesions had common features, including accentuated rete pegs, ballooning changes, and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion (INI) bodies. Based on the histopathological results, herpesvirus infection was suspected, and thus further analysis was conducted using herpesvirus-specific primers. Based on nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests using the herpesvirus-detectable primers, the PCR products demonstrated two fragments: a 222-base-pair (bp) sequence of the DNA polymerase gene, SNUABM_CeHV01, showing 96.4% identity with a bottlenose dolphin herpesvirus from the Jeju narrow-ridged finless porpoise; and a 222 bp sequence of the DNA polymerase gene, SNUABM_CeHV02, showing 95.95% identity with the same bottlenose dolphin herpesvirus from the Gangneung and Samcheok false killer whales. The significance of this study lies in its ability to demonstrate the existence of novel cetacean herpesviruses in South Korean seawater, representing an important step forward in studying potentially harmful pathogens that affect endangered whale and dolphin populations. Thank you for your attention. Have a great day. Kind regards, Sung Bin Lee, D.V.M. Lab of Aquatic Biomedicine College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, KOREA 서울특별시 관악구 관악로 1, 서울대학교 수의과대학 81동 생명공학연구동 421호 수생생물의학실

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