May 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Risso's Dolphin Site Fidelity in the Western Mediterranean Sea: The Importance of Submarine Canyons
by Oriol Giralt 14 May '25

14 May '25

Dear colleagues, In behalf of my coauthors and Associació Cetàcea, we are glad to share with you our most recent publication “Risso's Dolphin Site Fidelity in the Western Mediterranean Sea: The Importance of Submarine Canyons”. Abstract: Knowledge on the distribution of species provides baseline information towards their conservation and the management of human activities affecting them. For endangered species, such as the Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the areas within their distribution range to which individuals regularly return can reveal patterns of site fidelity. For Risso's dolphin, this information is scarce in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, photo identification was used to assess Risso's dolphin site fidelity patterns in the Garraf submarine canyon system (NW Mediterranean Sea). Data collected along 237 boat surveys between 2017 and 2023 resulted in 56 sightings and 364 unique individuals. Eight Site Fidelity Indices (SFIs) were calculated for each individual based on three indicators: Occurrence, Permanence and Periodicity. A divisive hierarchical clustering analysis based on the eight SFIs was used to detect different degrees of residency. Individuals seen in more than 2 months were divided into three clusters and defined as seasonal residents, regular and occasional visitors, whereas individuals seen only in 1 month were considered to be transient. Results show the importance of the Garraf submarine canyon system for Risso's dolphin and highlight the need to expand the photo identification studies to further regions to better understand the distribution and movements of the species in a wider context in the western Mediterranean Sea. The article can be accessed here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.70154 Or contact recerca(a)associaciocetacea.org to request a copy of the article. Thanks, Oriol Giralt Paradell

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Final Call for Data – Killer Whale and Elasmobranch Interactions
by Isabella Reeves 13 May '25

13 May '25

Hi all, We are currently compiling data for a global review and open-access data paper on interactions between killer whales and elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), with nearly 900 records gathered so far. As we move toward completion, we’re putting out a final call for contributions to help fill any remaining geographic or taxonomic gaps. This is a great opportunity to include unpublished records of any kind of interaction—such as predation, scavenging, co-occurrence, feeding competition, or other ecological relationships. If you have relevant records to share, or if you'd like to learn more about the project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’d love to hear from you. 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:b42be6e6-d4e6-4054-9231-8d0770056f00][cid:3bc3a4a8-63a3-40ad-b2e0-7b5b5eb6db63] 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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New publication on Camera trap monitoring of the haul-out behavior of Mediterranean monk Seal
by AYHAN DEDE 13 May '25

13 May '25

Dear All, *Apologies for cross posting.* We would like to inform you that the new paper on “Camera trap monitoring of the haul-out behavior of Mediterranean monk seals on Gokçeada Island in the North Aegean Sea” has been published in Regional Studies in Marine Science. Dede, A, Tonay, A.M., Gönülal, O., Güreşen, S.O., Öztürk, B. 2025. Camera trap monitoring of the haul-out behavior of Mediterranean monk seals on Gokçeada Island in the North Aegean Sea. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 87, 104224. You can view the article at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104224 Abstract Gökçeada Island, on the northern Aegean Sea coast of Türkiye, is an important habitat for endangered Mediterranean monk seals (*Monachus monachus*), where their presence has long been known. This is the first study to document the number, individual identity (sex and age), seasonal distribution, and habitat use (duration and time of haul-out) of these seals. One cave and one beach site on the northwest coast of Gökçeada Island were monitored using camera traps from 2017 to 2019 (777 days). Seals were photographed at 5-minute intervals for 177 days at the cave site and 64 days at the beach site. Seals’ diel patterns varied by month, with reduced activity during daytime at both sites. Eight seals (one adult male, five adult females, one young female, and one newborn) were documented using the sites. Five individuals were detected gregariously in the cave. A female was observed nursing a newborn in the cave in October 2017. One seal remained in the cave for more than 5 days without interruption. This study shows that the northwest coast of Gökçeada Island is year-round habitat and a breeding area for Mediterranean monk seals. Additional monitoring on neighboring islands is necessary to better understand the population size, distribution, habitat use, and haul-out behavior in the North Aegean Sea, so that this endangered species may be better protected for potential recovery. Pdf request can be sent to aydede(a)istanbul.edu.tr Regards Ayhan -- Ayhan Dede PhD İstanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences Dept. of Marine Biology Kalenderhane Mah. Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No:2, PBox 34134 Vezneciler, Fatih, İstanbul. Tel:+90 212 4400000/20159 *aydede(a)istanbul.edu.tr http://aves.istanbul.edu.tr/aydede/ <http://aves.istanbul.edu.tr/aydede/>* -- *Yasal Uyarı:* Bu elektronik posta, **buradan* <https://bilgiislem.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/duyuru/e-posta-yasal-uyari-e-mail-dis…> *ulaşabileceğiniz Koşul ve Şartlara tabidir. *Disclaimer: *This email is subject to the Terms and Conditions available *here.* <https://bilgiislem.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/duyuru/e-posta-yasal-uyari-e-mail-dis…>

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New paper on robust real-time detection of NARW using CNN-capable smart buoys
by Frants Jensen 12 May '25

12 May '25

Dear Marmam community On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share a new paper on detection of North Atlantic Right Whales in real-time using convolutional neural networks deployed directly on satellite-linked recording buoys. Please do not hesitate to reach out with comments or questions. Hyer et al. 2025 | Robust real-time detection of right whale upcalls using neural networks on the edge - ScienceDirect <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954125001396> Abstract: Animals worldwide are facing ecological pressures from global climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities. To transition to a renewable energy future, extensive offshore wind development is planned globally. In the North Atlantic, future development sites overlap with the migratory range of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW) and will lead to increased risk of ship strikes, pile driving impacts, and other population risks. New methods to accurately detect cetaceans and provide real-time feedback for mitigation will be increasingly important to enact sustainable management actions to facilitate the recovery of the NARW. Recent developments in acoustic event detection made possible by deep learning have shown significantly improved detection performance across many different taxa, but such models tend to be too computationally expensive to run on existing wildlife monitoring platforms. Here, we use model compression techniques combined with an autonomous acoustic recording platform integrating an ESP32 microcontroller to bring real-time detection with deep learning to the edge. We test if edge-based inference using a compressed network running on a microprocessor entails significant performance loss and find that this loss is negligible. We leverage large, open-source datasets of noise from the NOAA SanctSound project for generating semi-synthetic training datasets that encourage model generalization to novel noise conditions. Our compressed model achieves improved performance across all tested recording sites in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, demonstrating that deep learning powered wildlife monitoring solutions can provide reliable real-time data for mitigation of human impacts and help ensure a sustainable green energy transition. *-----------------------------------------* *FRANTS HAVMAND JENSEN* *Senior Scientist, Aarhus University Department of Ecoscience**c* +45 50 22 32 82 | *w* frantsjensen.weebly.com

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New Paper on offshore bottlenose dolphin click rates
by Frants Jensen 12 May '25

12 May '25

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share a new paper on offshore dolphin click rates for PAM density estimation: Baldachini et al. 2025 | Drivers of biosonar click rates in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) over the West Florida Shelf <https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.…> Abstract: Understanding cetacean echolocation behavior is important for effective population monitoring and conservation. Using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), researchers can listen for the biosonar clicks produced by echolocating animals to estimate both diurnal and seasonal variations in their presence and activity. Furthermore, if species-specific click rates are known, cue counting techniques can be used to provide an estimate of population density. This study investigated the click rates of wild bottlenose dolphins tagged with sound and movement recording DTAG3s during health assessments over the West Florida Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico to quantify individual variability and explore factors influencing click production. We observed modest but significant differences in click rates across individuals, and higher click rates during dives compared to inter-dive surface intervals. Within dives, dive depth was the most important in shaping click rates, reflecting that dolphins adjust their echolocation behavior to tailor their acoustic field of view based on both predator-prey distance and their proximity to other large reflectors such as the ocean bottom. Click rates also showed subtle diurnal peaks at dawn and dusk, aligning with increased foraging efforts. The findings lay the groundwork for bottlenose dolphin density estimation using the cue counting technique and underscore the importance of incorporating region-specific information on foraging ecology and diving behavior into models of click rates. Our study provides the first estimate of bottlenose dolphin click rates but calls for further research to refine these click rate estimates to facilitate acoustic monitoring of delphinids. *-----------------------------------------* *FRANTS HAVMAND JENSEN* *Senior Scientist, Aarhus University Department of Ecoscience**c* +45 50 22 32 82 | *w* frantsjensen.weebly.com

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New Paper on the leopard seal genome
by Dr Julia Canitz 09 May '25

09 May '25

Dear colleagues, We are excited to share the news about our recently published high-quality reference genome of the leopard seal (*Hydrurga leptonyx*) in Frontiers in Genetics. The article is freely available. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1… [frontiersin.org] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/a…> This data report demonstrates the high-quality of our leopard seal reference genome, which has a N50 value of 99.4 Mbp, a L50 value of 9, and a BUSCO completeness of ~94%. The genome size of pinnipeds is highly conserved, and the leopard seal genome falls within expectations for size and chromosome number. The final formatted version of the manuscript will be published soon (including all figures) but all data reported is already available. All the best, Julia and co-authors -- *Dr Julia Canitz* *MaMMELab <http://bonincarolina.wixsite.com/mammel>* Marine and Environmental Sciences Department Hampton University 3 Shore Rd Hampton, VA, 23668 USA *office:* Marine Science Center Building; Room 115 *phone:* (+1) (757) 727-5618 *email:* julia.canitz(a)hamptonu.edu

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New publication: Culture and conservation in baleen whales
by Ellen Garland 09 May '25

09 May '25

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B: Garland EC, Corkeron P, Noad MJ, Abrahms B, Allen JA, Constantine R, Rendell L, Sousa-Lima RS, Stafford KM, Carroll EL. 2025 Culture and conservation in baleen whales. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 380: 20240133. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0133 ABSTRACT Culture, defined as information or behaviours shared within a population and acquired from conspecifics through social learning, acts as a second inheritance system which has important implications for species' ecology and evolution. Understanding the influence of social learning and culture in animals' lives is essential to planning and predicting outcomes of conservation actions. Culture plays a key role in cetaceans’ lives, and some of the best evidence for social learning has come from baleen whales (Mysticetes). The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), an international treaty operating under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has recently integrated animal culture into their conservation initiatives. An essential first step in such a conservation framework is to identify key indicators of social learning in well-studied species, which could be applied to other more elusive species. Here, as part of the UNEP CMS Expert Group on Animal Culture and Social Complexity, we first evaluate key evidence for social learning and culture in baleen whales through several case studies. We then suggest key indicators by behavioural context to assist in identifying potential cases of social learning in more elusive species generating a practical guide for future conservation assessment and management. The paper is open access and available here: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0133 It is part of the theme issue ‘Animal culture: conservation in a changing world’. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/2025/380/1925 Kind regards, Ellen ----------------------------------------------------- Dr Ellen C. Garland (she/her) Royal Society University Research Fellow Email: ecg5(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:ecg5@st-andrews.ac.uk> Ph: +44 (0)7478-649964 WWW: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/biology/people/ecg5 Bluesky: @ellengarland.bsky.social Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews Arnon I, Kirby S, Allen JA, Garrigue C, Carroll EL, Garland EC (2025) Whale song shows language-like statistical structure. Science 387, 649-653. 10.1126/science.adq7055<https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adq7055> [signature_3535776839] The Evolution of Cetacean Societies: available for preorder here<https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/E/bo257312594.html>. ----------------------------------------------------- The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland: No SC013532

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New publication on persistence of breeding philopatry and cultural memory of humpback whales to the Great Barrier Reef
by Joshua Smith 08 May '25

08 May '25

Dear MARMAM subscribers, My co-authors and I are happy to share our new publication in Biological Conservation. Smith, J. N., Van Issum, H., Patterson, T., & Kelly, N. (2025). Persistence of breeding philopatry and cultural memory of the Great Barrier Reef as a humpback whale breeding ground. Biological Conservation, 308, 111212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111212 Abstract Long-distance seasonal migrations are a classic animal migration strategy and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) annually undertake some of the longest seasonal migrations of any mammal. Commercial whaling exploited their predictable migration and breeding/feeding site fidelity, which included the Australian east coast population (IWC Breeding Stock E1) that were almost extirpated due largely to legal whaling on their migratory route (1952–1962) and illegal whaling on their feeding ground (1959–61). An historical understanding of population demographics and fidelity to migration routes and breeding/feeding grounds is critical to assessing the recovery of exploited whale species, and informs an understanding of social learning of migratory routes and destinations. Here we present multiple lines of evidence, including cultural knowledge of First Nations Australians and observations near European arrival (1802), that demonstrates historical breeding philopatry by the E1 population to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Sightings within the GBR near the time of extirpation from commercial whaling (1965/67) provide evidence the whales' maintained their migration and retained ‘cultural memory’ of the breeding ground. We propose species evolutionary adaptations (e.g. song, reproductive aggregations) aided the species in minimising mate-finding Allee effects at low density at this time and speculate a temporal extension of the whales' breeding season at low abundance may have further maximised mate-finding opportunities. We present an analysis of contemporary aerial survey and satellite tracking data that supports consistent use of historical areas in the GBR, with implications on the welfare of whales from increased interactions with marine-based human activities. Full text also available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320725002496 Kind regards Joshua Smith Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University [OFFICIAL]

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Upcoming webinar on gray whale foraging behavior and morphology off the Oregon Coast
by Monica Farris 08 May '25

08 May '25

The Eugene Natural History Society, Eugene, OR, is pleased to present Dr. Clara Bird, Oregon State University, Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab, on Friday, 16 May 2025, 7 p.m. PT. Dr. Bird's talk is entitled "A drone-eyes view into patterns of gray whale foraging behavior and morphology off the Oregon Coast." During her talk, Dr. Bird will share what she has discovered about how the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales feed. The GEMM lab has been collecting drone footage of PCFG gray whales since 2016. The footage has provided an incredible new perspective that provides the opportunity to study individualization and how patterns of behavior and energetics differ across habitat type, and between whales of different body condition, age, and size. By gaining insight into what factors may affect gray whale behavior in the foraging habitat we can better understand how they are being affected by a changing environment. The presentation will be live on the University of Oregon campus and via Zoom. More information about the talk and a link for the Zoom will be available at https://eugenenaturalhistorysociety.org/. Monica Farris Secretary, Eugene Natural History Society podarke001(a)gmail.com "People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth." Attributed to Linji by Thich Nhat Hanh from *The Miracle of Mindfulness*, translated by Mobi Ho

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New Publication on Seal Bycatch Mitigation
by michael.daehne＠gmx.com 08 May '25

08 May '25

Dear colleagues, we are happy to share our new publication on grey seal bycatch in fish traps in Germany with implications for mitigations measures with the marmam-community. The work describes an unusual mortality event that directly lead to conservation measures implemented into the permits for fish traps. Westphal, L., von Vietinghoff, V., Moritz, T., von Nordheim, H., Schaarschmidt, T., Teifke, J.-P., Wohlsein, P., Piroch, I., Harder, T., König, P., Höper, D., Benke, H. and Dähne, M. (2025), By-Catch of Grey Seals in Fish Traps in the German Baltic Sea—From Incidents to Mitigation and Fisheries Regulation. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst, 35: e70147. <https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70147> https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70147 In autumn 2017, an unusual mortality event of Baltic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus grypus) occurred at the German Baltic coast. An alarming 23 carcasses of healthy, well-fed, male large grey seals were found in a confined area in the Greifswald Bay (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) in < 10 weeks from September to December. From 1997 to 2016, only a total of 30 grey seal carcasses were found along the entire coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with an annual maximum of eight seals in 2014. Pathological investigations were conducted on 19 seals, showing acute cardiac and circulatory failure of unknown origin. However, toxicological, virological, bacteriological and other presumed causes of acute death could be excluded. These findings in combination with inquiries about fishing permits in that region indicated that the seals likely died as by-catch in a fyke net. A legal complaint was therefore filed because of the death of the legally protected grey seal. Although no offender was finally identified, this caused a series of consequences. Public prosecutors encouraged the fisheries authority to establish precautionary provisions. The use of scientific data and fishermen's expertise in by-catch prevention techniques and regulations resulted in a new provision for fyke net permits in the Greifswald Bay. Since 2020, the entrance opening size for fyke nets must now not exceed 75-cm circumference and no more comparable suspected by-catch cases of grey seals were found in this area until 2022, emphasizing the potential of technical modifications of fishing gear to mitigate marine mammal by-catch. This study shows how effective conservation measures established based on provisions, media attention, pathological assessments, scientific long-term data sets and open-minded efforts can protect a marine species from fisheries by-catch. The article is available here: <https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70147> https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70147 Kind regards, Linda & Michael -- Dr. Michael Dähne A person who has been punished is not less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he (or she) learns how to avoid punishment. (B.F. Skinner) A persons a person – no matter how small (Dr. Seuss) The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value. (F.D. Roosevelt)

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