March 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

ECS workshop on Environmental Baseline Data and Mitiigation
by Patrick Lyne 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is pleased to announce Baseline Data and Noise Mitigation Workshop for ECS 2025 in Ponta Delgada May 12. *12F2 Examining standards of baseline data acquisition for EIA and mitigation for offshore construction under the EU Habitats Directive.* Key attendees: Baseline – morning session Patrick Lyne patrick.lyne(a)iwdg.ie (Officer IWDG) Michele Manghi (Founder and Owner of Nauta Scientific) Jakob Tougaard (Senior Scientist at Aarhus University, Dept. of Bioscience) Christ de Jong* (Senior Consultant Underwater Acoustics at TNO) Talks to be followed by break-out groups to identify criteria for baseline data and justification for such criteria and finishing with a plenary session. Mitigation – afternoon session Stephen Comerford Guideline for underwater noise stephen.comerford(a)iwdg.ie (ORE Marine Biodiversity Officer IWDG) Michael Daehne* (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation) Ross Culloch (Associate Director Head of Marine Mammal Consultancy APEM) Tim Taugnitz* (GEOSTOR)(Meersmuseum) Talks to be followed by break-out groups to identify criteria for mitigation and justification for such criteria and finishing with a plenary session. ** Talks to be delivered by video currently* To register for the Workshop see https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/workshops-36 Look forward to seeing you there -- Patrick Lyne Officer Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Registered Charity Number: 20029913 Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland www.iwdg.ie / http://consulting.iwdg.ie Email: Patrick.Lyne(a)iwdg.ie Mob: 353 85 2641342

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Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) Internship Program Call
by Aylin Guler 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Dear All, Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), established in 1997, has been dedicated to marine science research and conservation, including those for marine mammals (www.tudav.org<https://tudav.org/>). We are now pleased to announce our internship program. This program provides a valuable opportunity for those interested in marine research and conservation to gain experience in the field. For further details, please find the attached information document. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We look forward to welcoming participants. Best regards, Aylin Guler Internship Coordinator Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV)

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Dolphin Research and Conservation Field Course in Sardinia- Summer 2025
by IFR Info 11 Mar '25

11 Mar '25

Dear colleagues, The Institute for Field Research (IFR), in partnership with MareTerra, is offering a two-week field course on Dolphin Ecology & Marine Conservation <https://rebrand.ly/dolphin-ecology> in beautiful Sardinia, Italy from June 2-June 14. This immersive, two-week summer program offers participants the opportunity to study wild bottlenose dolphins, gain field research experience, and contribute to real-world conservation efforts. Participants will gain field and lab-based research skills, working alongside experts to collect dolphin bioacoustic data and contribute to conservation strategies for managing human-marine mammal interactions. The program includes an online pre-departure module, beachfront accommodations, and cultural excursions, with academic credit awarded through Connecticut College. *Course highlights include:* - Practical experience in boat-based monitoring of cetacean behavior and habitat use in the stunning Capo Caccia MPA, a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot - Training in photo identification, PAM data collection, GIS and Raven Pro analysis and more - Engage with local fishers and tourism stakeholders to advance conservation strategies - A home base in Alghero, a lively town with Catalan heritage, fantastic food, and access to Sardinia’s best beaches and cultural sites. A few spots are still available, and applications are welcomed until the program is filled. Please feel free to share this opportunity with students or colleagues who may be interested. More info & apply: [Field Course Webpage <https://rebrand.ly/dolphin-ecology>] [Download Flyer <https://rebrand.ly/dolphin-ecology-flyer>] For questions, contact us at info(a)ifrglobal.org. Thank you for sharing! -- Institute for Field Research ifrglobal.org (877) 839-4374 +1 (424) 209-1173

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Azores – ACCOBAMS course – Last call
by DMAD Marine Mammals Research Association 11 Mar '25

11 Mar '25

Dear friends, We are now finalizing numbers over the next two weeks for the ACCOBAMS MMO/PAM course 2025 to run May 4 to 10 inclusive in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. Course to cover 4 days of classroom sessions to cover ACCOBAMS Mitigation, Marine Mammal Observation (MMO – 1 day in class), though it is assumed most will have prior experience, Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM - 2 days in class) and QGIS (1 day in class). Additionally there will be two boat based days with a towed array and visual watches. Course enquiries and to make a deposit to reserve a place to patrick.lyne(a)dmad.org.tr and please give details of prior experience (30 days minimum required) with marine mammals to ensure qualification for the course. All the best, Dr. Aylin Akkaya Founder of Marine Mammals Research Association (DMAD) Founder of Montenegro Dolphin Research (MDR) Marine Mammal Consultant of WWF-Turkey +38267947956 skype: aylin.akkaya3 info(a)dmad.org.tr<mailto:info@dmad.org.tr> www.dmad.org.tr<http://www.dmad.org.tr/> https://www.instagram.com/marinemammalsresearch/ https://www.facebook.com/DMADforNature/

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Call for Collaboration – Images of Marine Mammals with Cookiecutter Shark Bites
by Christy Judd 11 Mar '25

11 Mar '25

Dear MARMAM Community, My name is Christy Judd, and I am a PhD student at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in the Reef Ecology Lab, working under Professor Michael Berumen and Dr. Mark Meekan. I am reaching out to request your collaboration on a research project investigating interactions between marine mammals and cookiecutter sharks. I am looking for images (photo or video) of marine mammals that show evidence of cookie cutter shark bites, whether they are fresh or healed. Please see examples of these bites at Barlow *et al. *(2019) <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00757/full>. If you have any such images, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share them along with the following details: - *Date of sighting* - *Location of sighting (coordinates if possible)* - *Species* If you are unsure, please send the images my way anyway! I am happy to receive images directly through email, on Google Drive, or OneDrive. By submitting images and associated data, you agree that they may be used as part of this research project. Proper credit will be given to contributors where applicable. Please send images and details to *ccsmammalcollab(a)gmail.com*. Any questions can also be directed to the same email address. Your contributions will be invaluable to this study, and I truly appreciate any help you can provide. Please feel free to share this request with others who may have relevant observations. Best regards, Christy Judd -- Christy Judd (She / Her) PhD Student, Reef Ecology Lab <https://reefecology.kaust.edu.sa/>, Red Sea Research Centre <https://rsrc.kaust.edu.sa/> King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Building 2, Level 2 (Seaside), Desk 2246-WS02 Mobile : +966501402548 / WhatsApp : +447763550930 Twitter : @BadBiologist <https://twitter.com/badbiologist> LinkedIn : Christy Judd <https://www.linkedin.com/in/christytjudd/> Weekends in Saudi Arabia are Friday-Saturday (UTC/GMT+3). [image: Home] -- This message and its contents, including attachments are intended solely for the original recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify me immediately and delete this message from your computer system. Any unauthorized use or distribution is prohibited. Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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Dauphin Island Sea Lab Friday Seminar Series hosts with Dr. Gaby Hernandez Mora
by Mackenzie Russell 10 Mar '25

10 Mar '25

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Friday Seminar Series hosts with *Dr. Gaby Hernandez Mora*! *Dr. Gabriela Hernandez Mora* is director of the Veterinary Medical Microbiology Unit of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), Costa Rica *Seminar title: Brucellosis as a cause of strandings in the Eastern Tropical Pacific* *Friday, Mar 14, at 12p* *Shelby Auditorium on DISL campus* or online via *Zoom: https://disl.zoom.us/j/86852063030 <https://disl.zoom.us/j/86852063030>* *Research bio of Gabriela Hernandez Mora: * Dr. Gabriela Hernández Mora is a veterinarian and researcher at the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). Since 2009, Gabriela has been the director of the Veterinary Medical Microbiology Unit of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of the government of Costa Rica. Her main interest is the diagnosis and pathobiology of Brucella infections in marine mammals and other domestic and wild animals. She completed her Master's degree in Microbiology (2011) and PhD in Science (2019) with an emphasis on the epidemiology of brucellosis in terrestrial and marine mammals at the University of Costa Rica (UCR). During her PhD she also worked with human brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in patients in Vietnam admitted to the Clinical Research Unit of the University of Oxford, in Ho Chi Ming City. Since 2007 she is a member of the International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM), and since 2021 she has been part of the Board of Directors of said International Association. Likewise, since 2017, she is a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on Strandings of the International Whaling Commission. She currently has 23 publications in the field of brucellosis and during 2020 a new Brucella was discovered in his laboratory: *Brucella nosferati.* *Abstract* Marine brucellosis caused by Brucella ceti and B. pinnipedialis is a worldwide infectious disease. The marine Brucella species cluster in nine groups according to host-geographical localization infecting at least 61 marine mammal species including cetaceans, pinnipeds, mustelids, and polar bears. While initial diagnosis is carried out by detecting antibodies against Brucella antigens (mainly lipopolysaccharides), confirmation of the infection is performed by isolation of the bacterium or partially performed using molecular techniques. In contrast to pinnipeds and mustelids, which barely present symptoms, cetaceans with brucellosis show a wide range of pathologies and clinical presentation, including abortion, meningoencephalitis, osteomyelitis, orchitis, endocarditis, and placentitis, among several, paralleling the pathologies observed in humans infected with Brucella organism. The mortality, reproductive failure, and complications in the life span of the cetaceans infected with Brucella in natural populations are currently unknown, and laboratory capacity-building is required around the world to understand better this disease and its potential as a zoonotic agent.

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Publication: porpoises in the Mediterranean Sea
by Mel Cosentino 08 Mar '25

08 Mar '25

Dear Marmamers I'm pleased to announced, on behalf of myself and my co-authors, the publication of Regular Presence of Harbor Porpoises in the Northern Alborán Sea, in Marine Mammal science. *Authors*: Samantha Blakeman, Juan Manuel Salazar, Noelia Villalba, Antonio Segura, Elena Papale, Mel Cosentino *Abstract*: The harbor porpoise (*Phocoena phocoena*) in the Atlantic waters of Spain and Portugal are a genetically differentiated population from the rest of the North Atlantic. They are rarely seen on the southern Atlantic coast of Spain and are thought to be extinct in the Mediterranean Sea, with scattered sightings and strandings recorded along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Here, we present 35 live sightings of harbor porpoises along a ~15 km coastline between Los Boliches (Fuengirola) and Benalmádena in Andalucia. The data were collected from whale watching vessels in two distinct periods: 2011–2013 and 2015–2019. The sightings included single individuals (20%) and groups of to up to 6 animals, including calves (especially in 2019). In one encounter, the animals were harassed by people on jet skis. The presence of porpoises and threats they face in this relatively narrow area highlight the need to implement conservation efforts and increase protection. The PDF can be found here (Open access): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.70005 -- *Mel Cosentino, PhD* Postdoctoral Researcher Section for Marine Mammal Research Aarhus University, Denmark www.PorpoiseLady.org <http://www.porpoiselady.org/> @PorpoiseLady "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" - E. Burke

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New paper on acoustics and surface behavior of common bottlenose dolphins in the Southern Gulf of Mexico
by Eduardo Morteo 07 Mar '25

07 Mar '25

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication on acoustics and surface behavior of common bottlenose dolphins in presence of low and high vessel traffic off the Southern Gulf of Mexico: Morales-Rincon N., Morteo E, Castelblanco–Martínez N., Pérez–España H., Bello–Pineda J., Delfín-Alfonso C.A., Bazúa–Durán C. 2025 Acoustic and behavioral strategies of dolphins competing with artisanal fisheries in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 35:e70103. ISSN:1099-0755. doi:10.1002/aqc.70103 <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.70103> Abstract: Behavioural and acoustic plasticity allow cetaceans to exploit a variety of habitats developing strategies to overcome increasingly demanding anthropogenic pressures. Bottlenose dolphins are known to compete with artisanal fishing along the southwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but the extent of marine traffic impacts on the species is unknown. We investigated dolphin behavioural dynamics through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and acoustic recordings in two zones off Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico, with high (HVP) and low-vessel presence (LVP). Within the HVP zone (at the mouth of a lagoon) known for its greater abundance of prey, dolphins focused their behavioural budget on feeding (mostly individually), with higher emission rates for echolocation trains. Conversely, at the LVP zone (located northwest and southeast of the lagoon mouth), groups were larger and their behavioural repertoire was more varied (dolphins travelled, fed, socialized and rested equally), emitting not only high emission rates for echolocation trains but also for whistles. Our findings suggest that dolphins have developed a zoning strategy through a compensatory mechanism that allows tolerance to a certain level of fishing activities and marine traffic, especially within their feeding areas, by reducing group size to individual interactions, while prioritizing certain surface and acoustic behaviour when in the presence of vessels. By using this trade-off strategy, dolphins may remain at the site and continue taking advantage of the resources, at the expense of potential long-term effects, which remain to be investigated. You may find the article at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.70103 Please e-mail me if you have any questions (eduardo.morteo(a)gmail.com <mailto:eduardo.morteo@gmail.com>); also, please feel free to check our other contributions at: http://www.uv.mx/personal/emorteo/publicaciones/ Kind regards, Dr. Eduardo Morteo Director Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Universidad Veracruzana Calle Dr. Castelazo Ayala S/N, Col. Industrial Ánimas CP 91190, Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Ph/Tel: +52 (228) 841 89 00 E-mail: emorteo(a)uv.mx http://www.uv.mx/personal/emorteo/ http://uv-mx.academia.edu/EMorteo https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Morteo/?ev=hdr_xprf http://scholar.google.com.mx/citations?user=fDUl-IIAAAAJ

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New Publication: Non-linear phenomena and dolphin health
by Jessica Sportelli 06 Mar '25

06 Mar '25

Dear colleagues, My co-author and I are excited to share our latest publication in Bioacoustics titled "Non-linear phenomena are not reliable vocal biomarkers for health status in bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*)" The full paper is available with open access and can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09524622.2025.2471329 Abstract: Non-linear phenomena (NLP), including biphonation, deterministic chaos, sidebands, and subharmonics, have been identified in the spectral structures of both terrestrial and marine mammal calls. Monitoring health using NLP in speech aids human diagnostics and has been explored in primate, canine, and feline calls. Signature whistles from 16 bottlenose dolphins at the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program were recorded during times of known health status. NLP occurred in 56% of whistles recorded during normal health, and 55% during abnormal health. While NLP were common additions to whistles, health status did not have an effect on the likelihood of a whistle to contain an NLP. No consistent trend of NLP use was found amongst individuals; however, significant differences in the persistence and persistence adjusted per health status per individual indicated that individuals had different patterns of NLP use. Although unrelated to health, this study further emphasises the prevalence of NLP in dolphin signature whistles and highlights the need for further investigation into communicative value and underlying mechanisms of NLP production in dolphin whistles. Feel free to email me (jessica.sportelli(a)nmmf.org) with any questions! Cheers, Jessica -- Jessica Sportelli (she/her) Research Associate Bioacoustic Analysis & Applied Research Team (BAART) National Marine Mammal Foundation

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New Paper: Admixture Increases Genetic Diversity and Adaptive Potential in Australasian Killer Whales
by Isabella Reeves 06 Mar '25

06 Mar '25

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am excited to announce the publication of our manuscript titled "Admixture Increases Genetic Diversity and Adaptive Potential in Australasian Killer Whales" in Molecular Ecology. Abstract: Admixture is the exchange of genetic variation between differentiated demes, resulting in ancestry within a population coalescing in multiple ancestral source populations. Low-latitude killer whales (Orcinus orca) populations typically have higher genetic diversity than those in more densely populated, high productivity and high-latitude regions. This has been hypothesized to be due to episodic admixture between populations with distinct genetic backgrounds. We test this hypothesis by estimating variation in local ancestry of whole genome sequences from three genetically differentiated, low-latitude killer whale populations and comparing them to global genetic variation. We find ‘Antarctic-like’ ancestry tracts in the genomes of southwestern Australia (SWA) population including recent (within the last 2–4 generations) admixture. Admixed individuals had, on average, shorter and fewer runs of homozygosity than unadmixed individuals and increased effective population size (Ne). Thus, connectivity between demes results in the maintenance of Ne of relatively small demes at a level comparable to the sum of Ne across demes. A subset of the admixed regions was inferred to be evolving under selection in the SWA population, suggesting that this admixed variation may be contributing to the population's adaptive potential. This study provides important and rare empirical evidence that small populations can maintain genetic diversity due to sporadic admixture between different genetic backgrounds and that admixed ancestry can promote the long-term stability of Ne. For full details, please see the article, available via open access here<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.17689?af=R>. Kind regards, Isabella Isabella Reeves (she/her) PhD Candidate BSc Marine Biology (Hons.) Cetacean Research Centre, WA Southern Shark Ecology Group College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University Email<mailto:isabella.reeves@flinders.edu.au> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/bellaa_reeves> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-reeves-60142b175/> [cid:cd32ec95-51b1-4e27-9f14-e588c27f9062][cid:2b0d0041-8cee-4ed3-9c3e-ede8be38b625] I acknowledge the Kaurna people, the Traditional Custodians of the land I am fortunate to live on. I pay respect to elders past, present and emerging, and recognise the continuing connection to the land, water, culture and community of First Nations people here and across Australia. CRICOS No: 00114A This email and any attachments may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please inform the sender by reply email and delete all copies of this message.

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