June 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Scientific Data: Call for Papers - Bioacoustic Data
by Laela Sayigh 10 Jun '25

10 Jun '25

Dear colleagues, I wanted to alert you to a special collection on *Bioacoustic Data* <https://www.nature.com/collections/igddbigeec> being launched by /Scientific Data. /We are currently welcoming submissions of Data Descriptors to this collection, which arenon-traditional articles that describe externally deposited data. They provide detailed descriptions of research datasets, including the methods used to collect the data and technical analyses supporting the quality of the measurements. Data Descriptors focus on helping others reuse data, rather than testing hypotheses, or presenting new interpretations, results or in-depth analyses. You only need to share and describe useful data to be able to contribute a paper. This article Collection is a great opportunity to contribute to sharing and describing open bioacoustic datasets, promote your contributions for others to use and cite, and gain credit for the work. If you are interested in preparing a manuscript for consideration at /Scientific Data /as part of this Collection, and/or would like additional information, please feel free to contact me at lsayigh(a)whoi.edu. Laela Sayigh

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Looking for an obscure paper
by Thomas Jefferson 09 Jun '25

09 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM, I am searching for a copy of this paper: Barabasch-Nikiforov, I. I. (1960). Measurements and coloration of bottlenose dolphns ({ITursiops truncatus}) as the criterion for their subspecies differentiation. Nauch Dokl Vys Shkoly, Biol Sci, N1, 35-42. This is a paper in Russian, in an obscure journal, and multiple searches through traditional means have failed to turn it up. If anyone has a copy of it, I would very much appreciate a PDF.Thanks much,Tom Jeffersonsclymene(a)aol.com

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New Indigenous Representation Subcommittee of the SMM DEI Committee
by Éadin O'Mahony 09 Jun '25

09 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM community, We, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, are beginning the process of establishing an Indigenous Representation Subcommittee, the idea of which came out of an ad hoc meeting that was held at the SMM conference in Boorloo (Perth) in the Whajuk region of Western Australia, November last year. The goals of this subcommittee are open ended, but examples of early ideas include the drafting of best practice guidelines for carrying out culturally sensitive marine mammal research and for the equitable inclusion of local communities, particularly the Indigenous custodians of the local territories within which research occurs. We wish to invite anyone interested in joining this subcommittee, particularly our Indigenous community members and those already working in close collaboration with Indigenous communities, to reach out to us via diversity(a)marinemammalscience.org <mailto:diversity@marinemammalscience.org>. If you do not wish to join the subcommittee but have thoughts on what you would like to see tackled by it, you are welcome to (anonymously or otherwise) submit suggestions via this google form: https://forms.gle/WbzDSXrT5EFckTsi7 <https://forms.gle/WbzDSXrT5EFckTsi7> We look forward to hearing from you! Warm wishes, The DEI Committee — Eadin N. O’Mahony (she/her) PhD Candidate Marine Mammal Conservation Genomics Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Scotland & The North Coast Cetacean Society, British Columbia, Canada

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New publication: Impact of the Avian Influenza Outbreak on the Population Dynamics of South American Sea Lions Otaria byronia in Northern Patagonia
by Alejandra Romero 06 Jun '25

06 Jun '25

My co-authors and I are excited to share our newest publication: Romero, M.A., Bartés, S., Grandi, M.F., Brogger, M., Svendsen, G., González, R., Crespo, E.A. 2025. Impact of the avian influenza outbreak on the population dynamics of South American sea lions Otaria byronia in northern Patagonia. Marine Mammal Science, 2025: 0:e70031. The full text is available here: *https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70031* <https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70031> Abstract Understanding the population dynamics of marine mammals is essential for assessing their resilience to historical harvesting pressures and current anthropogenic threats. The South American sea lion (SASL, *Otaria byronia*), widely distributed along the South American coasts, represents the largest biomass of northern and central Patagonia. This species faces threats such as incidental fishing captures, aquaculture, and tourism, with well-documented impacts on its population. However, the effects of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on its population dynamics are poorly understood. This study provides new insights into the impact of the 2023 avian influenza outbreak on the SASL in northern Patagonia. Population trends and age-sex class composition of colonies were updated, incorporating the HPAI outbreak in the Rio Negro rookeries to compare trends before and after the epizootic event. A positive trend in SASL abundance was observed from 2007 to 2022 across most age and sex classes. However, in the 2024 census, 7175 ± 145 individuals were counted across three colonies, with the largest, Punta Bermeja, recording a 27.6% decline. During the 2023 outbreak, 1476 deaths were reported, affecting all age and sex classes. These findings suggest the HPAI H5N1 outbreak significantly impacted the previously positive population trend. The article is not open access, so it is available upon request! Best regards, M. Alejandra Romero -- Dra. María Alejandra Romero Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni" - CONICET, Güemes 1030 – (8520) San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro. Argentina. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas - Universidad Nacional del Comahue (IBMP-UNCo), San Martín 247 – (8520) San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro. Argentina. Tel/Fax: 54 (2934) 421002/430764 Email: romero.ale(a)gmail.com, aromero(a)cenpat-conicet.gob.ar

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New Publication: Quantifying entanglement risk reduction to North Atlantic right whales from time-area fishery closures
by Alexandra Cole 06 Jun '25

06 Jun '25

Dear Colleagues, We are very pleased to share our recent publication in Endangered Species Research: 'Quantifying entanglement risk reduction to North Atlantic right whales from time-area closures in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence snow crab fisheries' Abstract: Time-area closures for non-tended, fixed-gear fisheries have been implemented in Atlantic Canada since 2018 as a protective measure for North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis (hereafter, 'right whales'). The protocols for triggering closures have changed in each subsequent year without quantitative estimates of their effectiveness to mitigate entanglement risk. Using a counterfactual approach, we conducted an evaluation of 4 closure protocols (2018-2021) for reducing entanglement risk to right whales in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) snow crab fisheries to determine: (1) the effectiveness of each annual closure protocol and (2) the estimated entanglement risk removed each year. Co-occurrence of fishing gear and whales was used to estimate the monthly baseline entanglement risk and assess the amount of risk removed by the time-area fishery closures. Risk reduction considered rate of gear removal, amount of gear lost and reintroduction of risk due to redistributed fishing effort. Effectiveness of each protocol was assessed by creating closure scenarios from each annual whale detection pattern (2018-2021). Protocols from 2018 and 2019 showed larger risk reductions in some months than those from 2020 and 2021, but annual reductions in entanglement risk did not differ significantly. Over these 4 years, annual entanglement risk to right whales from the GSL snow crab fishery is estimated to have been reduced by approximately 62 ± 3% (mean ± SE) relative to pre-closure estimates of risk. This study represents the first effort to quantify the Canadian fisheries management measures towards North Atlantic right whale protection, having utility to improve conservation management efforts. The paper is available as Open Access at https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01412. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Sincerely, Alex --- Alex Cole, MMM, BSc. (she/her) Fisheries Management Specialist & Research Lead Conservation Science, Marine Programs [cid:image001.png@01DBD6C1.355D9800] 110 Chain Lake Drive, Unit 3J, Halifax, NS B3S 1A9 CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca<https://cwf-fcf.org/en/> | Federationcanadiennedelafaune.ca<https://cwf-fcf.org/fr/> ph. 1.877.599.5777 ext. 205 | cell. 604.376.8943

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Introducing BlueCorridors.org: A New Digital Platform for Whale Conservation
by Ryan Reisinger 05 Jun '25

05 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM, We are delighted to announce the launch of BlueCorridors.org https://bluecorridors.org/, a groundbreaking digital platform that marks a significant advance for marine conservation. Blue corridors are the migratory "superhighways" used by great whales, connecting them to vital breeding, feeding, and social habitats across ocean basins. These routes are essential not only for whale survival but also for the overall health of marine ecosystems. For the first time, these critical blue corridors are digitally mapped and made publicly accessible, providing valuable information for science, policy, and global ocean protection efforts. The platform transforms decades of scientific research into a practical tool for action, showing "when, where, and how to protect whales in a rapidly changing ocean". This initiative is a collaborative effort by WWF (https://wwfwhales.org/) technology partner Ode (https://ode.partners/en) and a global group of scientists and organisations (https://bluecorridors.org/collaborators) The site features ca. 1,437 tracks for 8 whale species, collected over 31 years by more than 50 data contributors. The platform offers a powerful, interactive tool that combines migration data with layers of marine threats and conservation priorities to guide protection efforts across national borders and various disciplines. Key features include: * Whale movement maps by species and time of year, which can be produced and shared. * Conservation data from partners like the IUCN Marine Mammal Taskforce’s Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) and other ecologically important zones, informing future marine protected area design and planning. * Overlapping threats, including shipping routes, fishing effort, and climate change layers. * Case studies, highlighting hotspots where whales are most vulnerable and outlining actionable solutions for governments. BlueCorridors.org builds on the collaborative "Protecting Blue Corridors" report (https://wwfwhales.org/resources/protecting-blue-corridors-report) and meets a growing need for open-access, science-based marine conservation tools. It visualises the growing risks to whales and outlines marine conservation solutions to inform policy. We encourage you to explore the platform at https://bluecorridors.org<https://bluecorridors.org/> and discover how this innovative tool can support your work. Importantly, this is only the first step for BlueCorridors.org – for example, we would like to add additional tracking data (including data for other species). Watch out for updates in the year and sign up to stay connected! Sincerely, Ryan Reisinger on behalf of the Blue Corridors governance group: Dr Rochelle Constantine (University of Auckland, New Zealand), Dr Violaine Dulau (Globice, Reunion Island), Dr Ari Friedlaender (University of California, Santa Cruz, USA), Chris Johnson (WWF), Dr Daniel Palacios (Oregon State University / Center for Coastal Studies, USA), Dr Simone Panigada (Tethys Research Institute, Italy), Dr Rui Prieto (University of the Azores), Dr Ryan Reisinger (University of Southampton, UK), Dr Els Vermeulen (University of Pretoria, South Africa), Dr Alex Zerbini (University of Washington, USA). Contributing researchers include: Dr Olivier Adam: Sorbonne University, France; Dr. Virginia Andrews-Goff, Australian Antarctic Program; Dr Artur Andriolo, Instituto Aqualie, Brazil; Dr Marie-Anne Blanchet: Norwegian Polar Institute; Dr Natalia Botero Acosta: Fundación Macuáticos, Colombia; Dr Gill Braulik: IUCN; Dr Emma Carroll: Associate Professor, University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau, Aotearoa New Zealand; Dr Salvatore Cerchio: African Aquatic Conservation Fund, USA/Senegal; Dr Mariano Coscarella: CONICET Argentina; Dr Tim Collins: Wildlife Conservation Society; Dr Solène Derville: French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), New Caledonia; Valeria Falabella: Wildlife Conservation Society, Argentina; Dr Steven H. Ferguson: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada; Dr Sabrina Fossette: Megaptera, Australia; Dr Claire Garrigue: Operation Cétacés, New Caledonia; Dr Raul Gonzalez: National University of Comahue, Argentina; Dr Rob Harcourt: Macquarie University, Australia; Dr Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Greenland; Dr Helena Herr: University of Hamburg, Germany; Erich Hoyt: IUCN SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, United Kingdom; Prof. Kit Kovacs, Norwegian Polar Institute, Dr Véronique Lesage: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada; Dr Christian Lydersen, Norwegian Polar Institute; Dr Gianna Minton: IUCN SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Netherlands; Dr Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara: IUCN SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Italy; Viola Panigada: Duke University, USA; Rui Prieto, Institute of Marine Sciences Okeanos - University of the Azores; Dr Christian Ramp: University of St Andrews, United Kingdom; Dr Leena Riekkola: Rutherford Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau, Aotearoa New Zealand; Dr Audun Rikardsen: UiT The Arctic University of Norway; Dr Howard Rosenbaum, Wildlife Conservation Society, USA Dr Anjara Saloma: Cétamada, Madagascar; S.Mduduzi Seakamela: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), South Africa; Maia Sarrouf Willson: Environment Society of Oman; Dr Maritza Sepúlveda: Universidad Valparaíso, Chile; Greg Schorr: Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research, USA; Dr. Mónica A. Silva, Institute of Marine Sciences Okeanos - University of the Azores; Dr Mariano Sironi, Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas, Argentina; Dr Kate Sprogis: The University of Western Australia, Australia; Dr Laurène Trudelle: Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, France; Dr Marcela Uhart, University of California, Davis, USA/Argentina; Dr Michel Vely: MEGAPTERA, France; Dr Andrew Willson: Future Seas, Oman; and Josh Wilson: University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Dr Ryan Reisinger PhD, FHEA, MRSSAf Associate Professor Marine Biology and Ecology School of Ocean and Earth Science University of Southampton National Oceanography Centre Southampton European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH UK Email: r.r.reisinger(a)southampton.ac.uk<mailto:r.r.reisinger@southampton.ac.uk> Web links: https://beacons.ai/ryan_reisinger

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Request for Expertise: Potential Ambergris Discovery on Grand Cayman
by Isabelle Schulz 05 Jun '25

05 Jun '25

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New Publication: Climatic and economic fluctuations revealed by decadal ocean soundscapes
by Natalie Posdaljian 05 Jun '25

05 Jun '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors and myself, we are excited to share our new publication in JASA titled "Climatic and economic fluctuations revealed by decadal ocean soundscapes" Vanessa M. ZoBell, Natalie Posdaljian, Kieran L. Lenssen, Sean M. Wiggins, John A. Hildebrand, Simone Baumann-Pickering, Kaitlin E. Frasier Abstract: Decadal variations of ocean soundscapes are intricately linked to large-scale climatic and economic fluctuations. This study draws on over 15 years of acoustic recordings at six sites within the Southern California Bight, investigating interannual, seasonal, and diel variations. By examining acoustic energy from fin and blue whales along with sounds from ships and wind, we identified changes in soundscape over time and space. This study reveals that sound levels associated with both biological and non-biological sound sources varied seasonally and correlated with large-scale climatic patterns and long-term oceanographic fluctuations. Baleen whale sound levels before, during, and after a marine heatwave were assessed; sound levels decreased in southern sites and increased in northern sites adjacent to the California Current, underscoring the potential for range shifts and habitat compression during warm years for these species. Ship-generated sound levels at high-traffic sites reflected economic events such as recessions, labor shortages and negotiations, and changes to port activities. Marine soundscapes offer an approach to assess the ocean's condition amid ongoing climatic and economic fluctuations. The full article is available here: https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article/157/6/4233/3348985/Climatic-and-econo… Cheers, Natalie Posdaljian, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Researcher Marine Bioacoustics Research Collaborative <https://mbarc.ucsd.edu/> Scripps Institution of Oceanography

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New Publication: Fin Whale as a Sink of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants: First Integrated Chemical Exposomics and Gene Expression Analysis in Cetaceans.
by Cristina Panti 05 Jun '25

05 Jun '25

Dear MARMAN community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recent publication in Environmental Science and Technology, entitled "Fin Whale as a Sink of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants: First Integrated Chemical Exposomics and Gene Expression Analysis in Cetaceans." This article is open access and freely available at this link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c00844. Fossi MC, Limonta G, Baini M, Urban R J, Athanassiadis I, Martin JW, Papazian S, Rosso M, Panti C. Fin Whale as a Sink of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants: First Integrated Chemical Exposomics and Gene Expression Analysis in Cetaceans. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Jun 2. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c00844. Abstract: Cetaceans face numerous anthropogenic chemical stressors in global oceans, yet there is a lack of studies that simultaneously assess their cumulative exposure to both legacy and emerging contaminants and their combined effects. To evaluate the susceptibility of fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) to chemical pollution, this study employed for the first time a multidiagnostic molecular approach that integrates chemical exposomics and gene expression analysis in live-sampled skin and blubber biopsies from two distinct populations: the endangered Mediterranean subpopulation (Italy) and the vulnerable population from the Sea of Cortez (Mexico). Both marine regions are biodiversity hotspots characterized by different anthropogenic impacts, making them ideal for the assessment of heterogeneous contaminants exposure and their effects. Results revealed distinct exposure profiles in the two populations, with Mediterranean fin whales exhibiting higher concentrations of legacy pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as plasticizers, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), while both populations showed traces of pharmaceuticals and lifestyle-related chemicals (e.g., paracetamol, diclofenac, nicotine, UV filters) and other substances not previously reported in whales. Supported by 32 network correlations with gene expression relevant to transcriptional regulation, endocrine disruption, lipid homeostasis, and inflammation, our findings suggest that complex anthropogenic chemical exposures may compromise the health and reproductive viability of the endangered Mediterranean fin whales, affirming their importance as a global sentinel species, which reflects marine ecosystem integrity within the “One Health” framework. Best regards, Cristina Panti University of Siena ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>><> ><> ><> [image: Università di Siena] Cristina Panti *Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente* *Plastic Busters - Biomarkers Laboratory team* T. +39 0577232245 [int.2245] <+390577232245> panti4(a)unisi.it https://plasticbusters.unisi.it/ <https://https//plasticbusters.unisi.it> Università di Siena Banchi di Sotto, 55 53100 Siena | Italy www.unisi.it

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Registration open: ANZ Student Chapter SMM Auckland Conference 2025
by ANZSCSMM ANZSCSMM 05 Jun '25

05 Jun '25

Dear Marine Mammal Community, The committee of the Australia and New Zealand Regional Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (ANZSCSMM) are pleased to announce our 7th annual conference. This year our meeting will be hosted by the Cetacean Ecology Research Group (CERG) at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand from October 24th to 27th, 2025. The conference is an opportunity to connect with your peers, present your work and network! Abstract submissions are now open - simply go to the Google Form (link below) and submit by the *20th of June* to secure your spot at the conference and accommodation (if needed): https://forms.gle/47kZfX1RDkRrtXGM6 To keep up to date with what's happening with the conference, please head on over to our conference website ( https://anzscsmm.wixsite.com/anzscsmm/home) and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us on this email. Please circulate among your labs – this is a great experience for students! We look forward to reading your abstract and seeing you in Auckland. On behalf of the ANZSCSMM Chapter Heads (Ciara Browne, Gabrielle Genty, Evi Hanniger, Marissa Hutchings, Brodee Lowe and Catherine Meyer) Australia/New Zealand Student Chapter for the Society of Marine Mammalogy (ANZSCSMM) anzscsmm(a)gmail.com ANZSCSMM Facebook Page <https://www.facebook.com/groups/ANZSCSMM> ANZSCSMM Website <https://lpogsonmanning.wixsite.com/anzscsmm/>

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