June 2026 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Novel dolphin morbillivirus epizootic in stranded striped dolphins in the western Mediterranean Sea, 2025 (Laura Martino)
by Laura 05 Jun '26

05 Jun '26

Dear all, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce a new open access note published in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms in which we inform of a new circulation/epizootic of mortality of dolphin morbillivirus in the western Mediterranean Sea, affecting striped dolphins. The note compiles five cases stranded and dead from August to November. However, we have evidence that mortality is still ongoing as two weeks ago we had a case of acute DMV dying from secondary infections in our facilities. Link to the publication: https://www.int-res.com/journals/dao/articles/dao03918 Abstract: Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) epizootics have recurrently occurred in the western Mediterranean Sea since the first reported outbreak in 1990–1992. In August–November 2025, 5 stranded striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba were diagnosed with systemic DMV infection in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea. Dolphins were thin, and 4 of them had typical viral lesions of bronchiolointerstitial pneumonia, lymphoid depletion, and encephalitis. RT-PCR for DMV was positive in at least 2 organs in all dolphins, and viral antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry in 4 dolphins. Four dolphins died due to morbillivirus infection, while the other DMV-infected dolphin died from cranial trauma and tension pneumothorax. The viral genome recovered from the sample of one dolphin has higher identity to delphinid 2016–2017 Italian DMV sequences and to a fin whale strain from Denmark in 2016, and is approximately 1% distant from strains of previous epizootics in the Mediterranean Sea. The exact source of the infection is unknown, but direct contact with infected striped dolphins from other areas of the Mediterranean or a new DMV incursion from the Atlantic Ocean are possible.

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New publication - Nutritional Stress and Warming Seas Threaten Hawaiʻi’s Last False Killer Whales
by Jens Currie 04 Jun '26

04 Jun '26

Hi MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication: 2026: Currie, J.J., Stirling, B., Olson, G., van Aswegen, M., Evans, L., Stack, S.H., Kobayashi, N., Ueda, K., Higa, S., Gough, W., Vivier, F., McPherson, L., Fertitta, K., and Bejder, L. Body condition differs among social clusters and across years in endangered false killer whales in Hawai‘i. Endangered Species Research. 60: esr01505. Please find our open access article at: https://www.int-res.com/journals/esr/articles/esr01505 Abstract: Body condition is a critical indicator of health and nutritional status in cetaceans, particularly for small, endangered populations facing ecological stressors. We used aerial photogrammetry to evaluate body size and condition of the endangered false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens population resident in the main Hawaiian Islands. From 2019 to 2025, 68 individuals were assessed across 142 photogrammetric measurements. Relative body width declined with age class, particularly across the mid-body region, indicating early-life lipid accumulation followed by increased energetic demands in adulthood. Photogrammetric volume estimates were validated against 3D-scanned individuals, providing estimates within 3% of scanned volumes. Standardized major axis regression revealed significant differences in the body length–volume relationship across social clusters. Body condition index (BCI) varied across years, with the lowest values in 2020, coinciding with the largest single-year population decline and record sea surface temperatures from a marine heatwave, suggesting that environmental stressors may have contributed to reduced body condition during this period. Individual-level trajectories further highlighted substantial fluctuations in BCI, including one case of 28% estimated body mass loss over a 2.5 mo period, and pronounced variability within one cluster, potentially reflecting higher energetic costs and nutritional stress associated with broader ranging behavior. These findings underscore the influence of spatial ecology and local prey availability on the health of this declining population, while providing a foundation for long-term monitoring of the energetic stressors shaping their viability. Sincerely, Jens Jens Currie (he/him) Chief Scientist Pacific Whale Foundation 300 Ma‘alaea Road Ste 211, Wailuku, HI 96793 Cell: +1 808-990-5544 Office: +1 808-856-8338 Fax: +1 808-856-8363 PacificWhale.org<http://www.pacificwhale.org/> [cid:mkt_donation_email_sig_r3_500px_59742678-0de9-40fc-ac98-07ce516adf52.png]<https://secure.pacificwhale.org/forms/emailsignature>

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Half-Day Workshop, October 18. 2026 08:00-12:30 AST - Response Planning for High-Interest Stranding Events: Managing Public Expectations and Communications While Maintaining Operational Continuity
by Alli Deperte 04 Jun '26

04 Jun '26

Dear MARMAM Community, In case you missed it, we wanted to send this reminder out to look for the half-day SMM Workshop, scheduled for Sunday, October 18th from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM titled: Response Planning for High-Interest Stranding Events: Managing Public Expectations and Communications While Maintaining Operational Continuity<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.smmconference.org_…> Workshop Description When the Pressure Hits Building Trust, Managing Communication, and Supporting Responders During High-Interest Stranding Events When high-interest marine mammal stranding events occur, responders are tasked with far more than field operations and scientific assessment. They are suddenly navigating public concern, media attention, stakeholder expectations, social media pressure, and the emotional weight carried by their own teams, all in real time. This workshop explores how proactive communication systems can reduce anxiety, strengthen operational clarity, and build long-term public trust during high-visibility incidents. As marine mammal response operations continue to evolve in an area shaped by rapid information sharing, heightened public engagement, and increased visibility of stranding events, communication systems have become a critical component of operational readiness. This workshop recognizes communication not as a secondary task, but as essential response infrastructure that supports responders, agencies, stakeholders, and the communities they serve. Built around the TRUST Framework. Transparency, Readiness, Unity, Stability, and Trust. Participants will engage with practical tools and real-world strategies designed specifically for the marine mammal response, management, and research community. Through case studies, collaborative discussion, and applied planning exercises, attendees will gain more tools to: * manage communication during rapidly evolving incidents * maintain public confidence while protecting scientific integrity * reduce communication overload and responder stress * strengthen coordination across agencies and stakeholders * create educational and post-incident communication strategies that build lasting community trust Responders already carry the weight of the science, logistics, and animal care. This workshop focuses on the often-overlooked layer of incident response: managing public perception, expectation, and anxiety in a way that supports both the community and the responder. Because in high-interest events, trust is not built during the crisis. It is built before it. Link to register: https://www.smmconference.org/registration/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.smmconference.org_…> . We look forward to seeing you at SMM 2026! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions- Alli DePerte, adeperte(a)amseas.org<mailto:adeperte@amseas.org> (On behalf of Robert A. DiGiovanni, Jr.) Workshop Steering Committee Robert DiGiovanni, Jr., Atlantic Marine Conservation Society Allison DePerte, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society Mendy Garron, NOAA Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Lynda Doughty, Marine Mammals of Maine Keith Matassa, Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance Kristen Epperson, Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance Allison DePerte Research Associate/ Field Biologist Atlantic Marine Conservation Society P.O.Box 932 Hampton Bays, NY 11946 C: 631-317-0030 adeperte(a)amseas.org<mailto:adeperte@amseas.org> www.amseas.org<http://www.amseas.org> 24-HR Hotline: (631)-369-9829

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New publication: A Legacy of Exposure: Lactational PFAS Transfer and Early-Life Accumulation in Northern Elephant Seals
by Jane Khudyakov 04 Jun '26

04 Jun '26

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I would like to share our recent publication on PFAS accumulation in elephant seals, published as part of Environment & Health journal’s special issue “Transforming Environmental Exposure and Health Research through Emerging Technologies”: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/envhealth.5c00782 Title: A Legacy of Exposure: Lactational PFAS Transfer and Early-Life Accumulation in Northern Elephant Seals Abstract: Although PFAS are widely acknowledged as ubiquitous and persistent organic pollutants, critical gaps remain in mapping environmental distribution and clarifying health-relevant exposure pathways, especially in early life. Marine mammal milk provides a unique window into both environmental occurrence and intergenerational transfer, especially in capital-breeding species in which lactation occurs during prolonged fasting with rapid lipid mobilization. Here, we investigated PFAS burdens and maternal transfer in the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Elephant seals, with highly characterized nursing behavior and foraging patterns, serve as a valuable sentinel for modeling both patterns of lactational transfer and assessing PFAS concentrations in deep-ocean ecosystems. This study assessed plasma from 14 mother-pup pairs and milk from 9 mothers using a non-targeted data acquisition platform coupling liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-HRMS). Twenty-seven PFAS were identified across all matrices and age groups, and quantitative analyses revealed concentrations in milk and plasma that exceeded relevant human-based exposure and dietary intake thresholds. Across all pairs, pup plasma PFAS concentrations were consistently higher than maternal concentrations. Specifically, the highest PFAS concentrations were observed in weaned pups (average sum of 16 PFAS = 89.08 ng/mL), indicating pronounced early-life accumulation and/or redistribution during the postweaning fast. Concentrations of PFAS in the milk also correlated with maternal and pup plasma levels, demonstrating pair-specific contaminant profiles. Suspect screening further illustrated matrix- and lineage-specific exposure patterns within matched mother-pup pairs, consistent with shared foraging grounds and lactational transfer mechanisms. Together, these findings indicate that neonatal marine mammals in extreme capital-breeding systems experience elevated PFAS body burdens during sensitive developmental windows. Joseph KM, Rehm SJ, Chappel JR, Crocker DE, Holser RR, Costa DP, Khudyakov JI, and Baker ES. (2026) A Legacy of Exposure: Lactational PFAS Transfer and Early-Life Accumulation in Northern Elephant Seals, Environment & Health DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00782 Best, Jane -- Jane Khudyakov, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of the Pacific Stockton, CA 95211 https://physgenlab.weebly.com/

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New publication: From Natural to Human-Dominated Seascapes: Habitat Loss for Guiana Dolphins Over Two Decades
by Rodrigo Tardin 04 Jun '26

04 Jun '26

Dear MARMAM Community, We are pleased to share our latest open-access publication in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems: >From Natural to Human-Dominated Seascapes: Habitat Loss for Guiana Dolphins Over Two Decades Mariana Leêne Santana Barros de Leal, Tomaz Cezimbra, Guilherme Maricato, Israel S. Maciel, and Rodrigo H. Tardin. Abstract: Changes in natural environments, such as coastal and marine zones, caused by human activities impact the quality of habitats and their inhabitants, ultimately jeopardizing species conservation. As human activity is ever-increasing, it is imperative to understand how multiple stressors, such as shipping, fisheries, and pollution, affect marine animals. The Guiana dolphin is a cetacean susceptible to many anthropogenic stressors due to its coastal preference. As such, we assessed the consequences of human stressors for this species by comparing the probability of occurrence of a population in two time series: past (1998–2007) and current (2017–2024). We modeled the probability of occurrence using environmental and anthropogenic data from both time series, comparing the response curves and importance of variables. We observed a change in the importance of variables; in the past, chlorophyll concentration was more important to predict dolphins' habitat use, while in the current time series, distance to multiple anthropogenic stressors was more significant. The models predicted a 6.84% increase in the number of pixels of occurrence over the years. However, 44.83% of these areas were predicted to have the lowest and low probabilities. Meanwhile, 49.61% of pixels decreased to a lower probability category, including the areas with the highest probabilities of occurrence (24.7% of pixels) that were now predicted as absences. We concluded that anthropogenic changes are affecting the habitats and distribution of the Guiana dolphin, highlighting the need for further evaluations of how human activities influence the conservation of biodiversity. The full paper is available via open access here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aqc.70386 Thank you, Rodrigo Professor Adjunto Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil Editor associado - Ecology and Evolution <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20457758> ----- Professor Department of Ecology, Biology Institute Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Associate editor - Ecology and Evolution <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20457758> Lattes <http://lattes.cnpq.br/3231576901208672> ORCID <http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0807-6937> Research Gate ID <http://www.researcherid.com/rid/J-6566-2013> ECoMAR-UFRJ <https://ecomarufrj.com.br/>

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new publication - Repeated Precautionary Inputs in Complex Underwater Sound Models Drives Overestimation of Predicted Risk
by Dagmar Fertl 04 Jun '26

04 Jun '26

I am pleased to announce the publication of this paper. The book editors and JASCO Applied Sciences are thanked for helping make this chapter - and the broader volume - available through open access, ensuring these scientific contributions are broadly accessible to researchers, regulators, stakeholders, and the public. Gisiner, R.C., Loureiro, A., Fertl, D. (2026). Repeated Precautionary Inputs in Complex Underwater Sound Models Drives Overestimation of Predicted Risk. In: Popper, A.N., Sisneros, J.A., Lepper, P.A., Vigness-Raposa, K.J. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life IV. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94229-7_89-1 Current risk models assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals are complex and multivariate. It is common practice to apply some degree of conservatism, or precaution, to input variables for which uncertainty exists about the most likely real-world values. However, when precautionary inputs are applied to multiple variables in the model, their interactions can lead to accumulated changes in predictions. This can lead to highly inflated risk predictions, ultimately reducing confidence in management decisions based on these outcomes. Multivariate risk models are also used in other fields, such as meteorology and medicine, employing alternative methods to address uncertainty, methods that preserve the realism of model outputs while still supporting precautionary decision-making. Similar approaches could improve risk assessment for anthropogenic underwater sound by avoiding the overestimation that arises from compounding precaution within the model.

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New publication: Behavioral and life history responses of an endangered sea lion (Otariidae) following a severe marine heatwave
by John M. 03 Jun '26

03 Jun '26

My coauthors and I are pleased to share the following article recently published online at Academia Biology: https://www.academia.edu/2837-4010/4/2/10.20935/AcadBiol8306 *Behavioral and life history responses of an endangered sea lion (Otariidae) following a severe marine heatwave* John M. Maniscalco, Pamela Parker and Kara Bolander *Abstract:* *Introduction:* The northeast Pacific marine heatwave (PMH) of 2014-2016 had strong impacts on many species across a vast region. Impacts on upper trophic species, such as reduced survival and reproduction, were a clear consequence of reduced food availability. *Methods:* We conducted a long-term individual-based study of behavior and vital rates in endangered Steller sea lions (*Eumetopias jubatus*) in the Gulf of Alaska. Vital rates were estimated using robust design, multi-state mark-recapture statistical methods. *Results:* After parturition, the duration of maternal attendance declined significantly during 2015 – 2018 and again in 2021 compared to earlier years of this study. Prior to the PMH, adult female survival rates for sea lions were approximately 93%, irrespective of parturition status. Beginning in 2016, and the years following the PMH, survival dropped to 77% for females giving birth and 85% for females that were barren, demonstrating an important cost of reproduction in terms of future survival. Females born in 2016 delayed their age at first reproduction by 1 year compared to females born in earlier years, while adult female reproductive rates declined from > 70% prior to 2016, to around 60% during the years 2016 – 2018 as greater proportion of mature females skipped a year of giving birth. Following the PMH years, there was also an increased lactation interval as a greater proportion of juveniles suckled beyond one year of age. Extended lactation buffered against a reduction in juvenile survival, but with a negative impact on adult female survival. *Conclusions:* Changes in animal behavior and vital rates can be expected during periods of reduced resource availability, but adult survival should be favored over juvenile survival and reproduction in slow-living K-selected species such as the Steller sea lion. We found that adult females will bear a cost of reproduction in terms of future survival and reproductive potential during these periods. Furthermore, a preference to nurse offspring for additional years represented a type selfless behavior that also reduced maternal survival probabilities and may ultimately compromise population stability. *John M. Maniscalco, Ph.D., Capt.* Senior Research Scientist, Alaska SeaLife Center

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Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM)
by Carolina Loch Silva 03 Jun '26

03 Jun '26

Dear MARMAM Members, On behalf of the Editorial Team of the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM), we would like to invite you to submit your research for publication in the journal. LAJAM is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing knowledge and conservation of aquatic mammals in Latin America and beyond. The journal welcomes original research articles, review papers, notes, and other contributions related to the biology, ecology, conservation, management, health, behaviour, and human dimensions of aquatic mammals. Importantly, LAJAM is fully open access, ensuring that published research is freely available to readers worldwide. In addition, there are no article processing charges or publication fees for authors. We encourage submissions from researchers, students, and conservation professionals working across all aspects of aquatic mammal science. Publishing in LAJAM helps disseminate research findings throughout our region and contributes to strengthening collaboration within our community. Submission guidelines and published articles can be found on the journal website: https://lajamjournal.org/ Please share this call with colleagues, students, and collaborators who may be interested in submitting their work. We look forward to receiving your contributions and continuing to showcase research on aquatic mammal in Latin America and around the world. With best wishes, The Editorial team at the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM) *ASSOC PROF CAROLINA LOCH* (She/Her) *PhD Associate Professor in Oral Biology and Deputy Director, Sir John Walsh Research Institute* Faculty of Dentistry University of Otago | Otakou Whakaihu Waka Tel*/Waea* +64 3 479 9255 Dunedin | Otepoti PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand | Aotearoa Website*/Pae tukutuku* https://www.otago.ac.nz/dentistry/about/people/expertise/profile?id=2033

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New publication: Characterization of cooperative feeding dynamics and a novel acoustic indicator of prey capture in herring-eating killer whales
by Ellen Hayward 03 Jun '26

03 Jun '26

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are very pleased to share our recent open access publication on cooperative feeding by herring-eating killer whales in Icelandic waters: Ellen L. Hayward, Filipa I. P. Samarra, Paul J. Wensveen, Anokhi Saha, Giorgia Giovannini, Kagari Aoki, Katsufumi Sato, Patrick J. O. Miller; Characterization of cooperative feeding dynamics and a novel acoustic indicator of prey capture in herring-eating killer whales. R Soc Open Sci. 1 June 2026; 13 (6): 260065. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.260065 Abstract: Group hunting is a widespread phenomenon, fundamentally shaping predator social dynamics and trophic interactions with their prey. The foraging behaviour of killer whale (Orcinus orca) groups feeding upon herring has been described as cooperative. In this study, we used animal-borne audio and video data to evaluate cooperative interactions and feeding rates of herring-eating killer whales in Icelandic waters. From video observations, whales appeared to stop herding herring following a tail-slap, feeding close to one another on individual stunned herring. By-product mutualism was identified, as whales consumed herring regardless of whether or not they conducted the tail-slap. A ‘slurping’ sound was recorded during 26% of video-confirmed consumption events, enabling us to estimate a mean (± s.d.) of 29.7 ± 25.3 herring consumed per tail-slap by the foraging group. Role specialization was indicated, with three tagged whales repeatedly occupying the ‘tail-slapping’ role more than expected by chance (p < 0.05). Only 8% of visually observed prey consumption events occurred in the absence of tail-slaps (‘whole-body attacks’), indicating that cooperative tail-slap feeding is more efficient than whole-body attacks. Our study confirms the highly social and cooperative nature of tail-slap feeding by killer whale groups and provides a novel method to estimate group-level feeding rates. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. All the best, Ellen Hayward [cid:552f0988-57a1-451f-a59a-1ee43c1748e1] Ellen Hayward (she/her) PhD Student Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8BL The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland: No SC013532

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Job Vacancy: Marine Mammal Consultancy
by Denise Risch 02 Jun '26

02 Jun '26

Dear All, I would like to bring to your attention a current vacancy at SAMS Enterprise. We are looking to recruit a Senior Environmental Consultant with experience and background in marine mammal ecology, bio-acoustics and/or species distribution/statistical modelling. For more information please follow this link: Senior Marine Environmental Consultant – Marine Mammals (SE03.26.MH) — Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban UK <https://www.sams.ac.uk/vacancies/senior-marine-environmental-consultant--ma…> Closing date is the 15th of June 2026. Please get in touch with any questions. Many thanks, Denise Risch email: denise.risch(a)sams.ac.uk

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