July 2026 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication: Harbour porpoises and gillnet fisheries
by Tiffany Goh 10 Jul '26

10 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I would like to share our latest publication in the journal of Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems: Tiffany Goh, Enrico Pirotta, Oriol Giralt Paradell, Mark Jessopp, Emer Rogan. 2026. Mapping seasonal interaction risk between harbour porpoises and gillnet fisheries to inform management thresholds. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 36, no. 7: e70415. Abstract: When empirical bycatch data are limited, risk-based assessments offer a valuable tool for identifying areas where marine mammals and fisheries are most likely to interact. The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is among the most vulnerable to incidental capture in gillnet fisheries. Although protected under European legislation, monitoring and mitigation efforts in Ireland remain insufficient to fully assess and address bycatch. Recent harbour porpoise abundance estimates indicate a declining trend in Irish waters, with bycatch considered a potential contributing factor. Here, we assessed seasonal spatial patterns of harbour porpoise–gillnet interaction risk by combining predicted porpoise distribution with gillnet fishing effort data for summer and winter between 2015 and 2022. Allowable bycatch thresholds, representing the maximum number of individuals that can be removed without causing population decline, were calculated using 2022 abundance estimates and a range of recovery factors and intrinsic growth rates for porpoises within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. Areas of elevated bycatch risk were consistently identified in the Celtic Sea and along the continental shelf off Ireland's west coast, indicating persistent zones of potential exposure. Calculated bycatch thresholds were low across all parameterisations, suggesting limited tolerance for additional mortality in a declining population. Although empirical bycatch data are required to determine the bycatch rate, these findings highlight priority areas for monitoring and mitigation. Overall, this study provides a spatially explicit framework to inform precautionary management of harbour porpoise–gillnet interactions in Irish waters. The PDF copy can be downloaded at: https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70415 Have a lovely weekend, Tiff Dr Tiffany Goh Postdoctoral Researcher ObSERVE III aerial survey programme University College Cork

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New publication: Untargeted Blubber Metabolomics Reveals Biochemical Signatures Associated with Physiological Status in Live, Free-Ranging Bottlenose Dolphins
by Guinn, Makayla 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of all authors, we are pleased to announce our recent publication in Metabolites: Guinn, M. A., Orbach, D. N., & Abdulla, H. (2026). Untargeted Blubber Metabolomics Reveals Biochemical Signatures Associated with Physiological Status in Live, Free-Ranging Bottlenose Dolphins. Metabolites, 16(7), 473. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16070473 ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Dolphins inhabiting coastlines can be influenced by anthropogenic factors. As biochemical changes accumulate in blubber over weeks to months, blubber metabolites may be informative biomarkers of molecular adaptations to environmental changes. Methods: We investigated the blubber metabolomic signatures of live free-ranging bottlenose dolphins for the first time. This exploratory study analyzed blubber samples from 35 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in South Texas waters using untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap metabolomics. Results: Blubber samples exhibited distinct temporal and spatial metabolic patterns. Pathway enrichment analyses comparing detected metabolites (n = 2777) revealed that dolphins sampled in the spring had enhanced lipid quality and immune regulation, while dolphins sampled in the summer showed stress-associated metabolic responses. Dolphins inhabiting areas previously reported to experience heavy vessel traffic and contaminant burdens exhibited enriched immune- and inflammation-associated pathways. Dolphins that visually appeared to have poorer body condition exhibited metabolite profiles suggestive of increased protein catabolism. Dolphins in extreme salinity conditions had more abundant membrane maintenance and endocrine pathways. Conclusions: Dolphins from each system exhibited distinct metabolic signatures that may be associated with differing physiological responses, highlighting the potential utility of blubber biomarkers for assessing physiological adaptations in free-ranging marine mammals. Improved understanding of habitat-specific physiological responses offers critical insights into how cumulative impacts may affect the health and adaptive capacity of vulnerable species in dynamic coastal ecosystems. Open access to the article is available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989<https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/7/473><https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/7/473>/16/7/473<https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/7/473> Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best, Makayla Guinn, M.S. Ph.D. Candidate FABEMM Lab <https://jrich40.wixsite.com/tcbdolphinproject> NRT STAGES<https://www.tamucc.edu/science/departments/physical-sciences/coastal-marine…> Alum + Peer Mentor Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Tidal Hall 354 [cid:32cdc200-d2ec-422c-a5f6-18deeb72a66b]

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NEW PUBLICATION: Energetic benefits of resting behaviour in humpback whale mother–calf pairs revealed by biologging and UAS-photogrammetry
by Gussie Hollers 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our latest open-access publication: "Energetic benefits of resting behaviour in humpback whale mother–calf pairs revealed by biologging and UAS-photogrammetry", published in Conservation Physiology and available here: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coag041 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or problems accessing the link (ahollers(a)hawaii.edu) Cheers, Gussie Hollers PhD Candidate Marine Mammal Research Program University of Hawaii at Manoa Abstract: Quantifying energy expenditure of cetacean mother–calf pairs is essential for modelling population-level responses to environmental change and anthropogenic disturbance, especially for capital breeders where mothers face the compounding demands of fasting while lactating. Technological advances in biologging and unoccupied aerial system (UAS; drone) photogrammetry help overcome challenges in translating respirometry methods from animals under human care to the field, creating better energy-use estimates in large cetaceans. We quantified energy expenditure of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mothers and calves on their winter breeding ground in Hawaii using 51 biologging suction-cup tag deployments paired with simultaneous UAS-photogrammetric measurements (n = 20 mothers, n = 31 calves) from 2020 to 2025. We used two independent methods, Thrust Power and Breathing Frequency, to calculate per-second energy expenditure, divided deployments into resting dives and other behavioural states and modelled state-specific energy use and daily energy expenditure for mothers and calves. Calves spent more time in resting dives as they aged, and energy expenditure was on average 44% and 35% lower during resting dives for mothers and calves, respectively, compared to other behaviour. Simulated daily energy expenditure for calves ranged from 92 MJ for the smallest and youngest (3.5 m, 1 day) to 452 MJ for the largest and oldest (7.7 m, 110 days), and for mothers from 817 MJ for small females (10 m, 15 000 kg) to 2013 MJ for large females (14 m, 50 000 kg). To illustrate the conservation implications of these energy savings, we simulated the energetic cost of vessel-disturbance-induced reductions in resting behaviour for a representative mother–calf pair. Under a realistic daytime disturbance scenario, daily pair energy expenditure increased by 64 MJ day−1, accumulating to an additional 150 kg of maternal blubber catabolized over 60 days of disturbance. Our findings provide best estimates of humpback whale mother–calf daily and behavioural state-specific energy expenditure, enabling improved quantification of the energetic consequences of disturbance. How to cite this paper: Augusta Hollers, William T Gough, Martin van Aswegen, Andrew Szabo, Lewis Evans, Jens J Currie, Ashley M Blawas, Andreas Fahlman, Jeremy A Goldbogen, Lars Bejder, Energetic benefits of resting behaviour in humpback whale mother–calf pairs revealed by biologging and UAS-photogrammetry, Conservation Physiology, Volume 14, Issue 1, 2026, coag041, https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coag041 Funding: We would like to thank our philanthropic donors for making this research possible. Funding was also received from: The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, NOAA, NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Marine Mammal Commission, DoD’s Defence University Research Instrumentation Program, Office of Naval Research, United States Pacific Fleet Environmental Readiness Division and the US Navy’s Living Marine Resources Program.

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some new killer whale publications
by Jared Towers 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Hello colleagues, Co-authors and I have recently had a few papers published open access in Marine Mammal Science. References and links are pasted below. best regards, Jared Executive Director Bay Cetology www.baycetology.org Barnhill, A., Towers, J.R., van Weelden, C., Rörup, T., Nöth, E., Maier, A., Bergler, C. (2026). Machine learning detection of scarring events in killer whales. Marine Mammal Science, 42:e70207. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70207 Abstract: Detection and analysis of body scars using photo-identification data of cetaceans can provide insights into life history, behavior, and exposure to threats, but such analyses typically require manual examination of large image datasets. To explore whether machine learning can assist this process, we developed a pipeline for automatically detecting and counting conspecific scarring events on killer whales. The approach combines an nnU-Net segmentation model, which generates binary masks containing individual scar lines, with hand-crafted feature representations and HDBSCAN clustering to group scars into events and estimate the number of events per image. Across a dataset in which images contained between 1 and 10 annotated scarring events (median = 2), the best-performing configuration produced a conservative estimator with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.82 events per image and exactly recovered the annotated number of events in just over 50% of cases. These results demonstrate that machine learning-assisted analysis can extract biologically meaningful information on scarring burden from standard photo-identification images of killer whales. While accurate recovery of absolute scarring burden from single images is achievable with useful reliability, detecting small inter-annual changes remains more challenging under heterogeneous field conditions. Rather than replacing expert annotation, the present system is best viewed as a semiautomated framework that can extend existing photo-identification workflows toward longitudinal scarring analysis and broader population-level assessment. It therefore provides a practical foundation on which more comprehensive detectors of cetacean scarring events can be built. Towers, J.R., Tixier, P., Guinet, C., Gasco, N., Arnould, J.P.Y., Cheeseman, T., Pitman, R.L. (2026). Total numbers and movements of photo-identified subantarctic (type D) killer whales. Marine Mammal Science, 42:e70192. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70192 Abstract: The distinctive Subantarctic (Type D) killer whale (DKW) (Orcinus orca) is a highly divergent and apparently inbred form previously known only from three mass strandings and several dozen at-sea sightings, primarily from Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) longline vessels in the southern Indian Ocean and from tourism vessels in the Scotia Sea. Its range appears to be circumpolar throughout the Subantarctic, but very little is known about total numbers and overall movements. We summarize photo-identification data from 352 of 406 sightings collected between 44° S and 62° S from 2003 to 2024. Among 207 photo-identified individuals there were two distinct clusters of 78 and 29 toothfish depredators, one in the southern Indian Ocean and the other off southern Chile, respectively. An additional 100 DKW were photo-identified throughout the wider Subantarctic. Discovery curves indicate that DKW may be more abundant than some less divergent or inbred killer whale populations. Depredating DKW showed seasonal and interannual site fidelity, but 10 depredating individuals identified in the southern Indian Ocean were also resighted in the southern South Atlantic, 4428 km away. Probable re-sightings of two other DKW occurred in the Scotia Sea over distances of 1070 and 41 km, respectively. These latitudinally narrow, long-distance inter-ocean movements are unique among killer whales. During the study period, the entirely pelagic distribution of encounters appears to have shifted significantly southward. Scarff, T.M., Towers, J.R., Trites, A.W. (2026). The inside waters of Vancouver Island are critical foraging habitat for west coast transient killer whales. Marine Mammal Science, 42:e70205. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70205 Abstract: West Coast Transient (WCT) killer whales (Orcinus orca rectipinnus) hunt marine mammals along the west coast of North America from California to southeastern Alaska. However, little information is available on their seasonal use of nearshore areas and the relative importance of different parts of their range. Using sighting data from 2016 to 2023, we assessed their seasonal distribution and abundance in the inside waters of Vancouver Island (the Salish Sea and North Island Waters). WCT killer whales were seen an average of 250 days throughout each year. They were most frequently observed in the Salish Sea from March to September but had fewer sightings in July of even years when pink salmon returns were low. In contrast, occurrences of WCT killer whales in the North Island Waters peaked in September but were significantly lower overall. Peak occurrences in both areas corresponded with the seasonal presence of seals and sea lions, their primary prey. Overall, ~70% of the coastal subset of the WCT population occurred annually in a region that accounts for a relatively small portion of their range. This high concentration highlights the importance of the inside waters for their survival and emphasizes the need to assess other key areas within their range.

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New Publication: Seasonal differences in group composition of common dolphins off southern California, USA
by Sam Leander 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Hello Marmam, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication: Leander, S., Durban, J., Fearnbach, H., Joyce, T., Sherman, K., Southall, B., & Ballance, L. Seasonal differences in group composition of common dolphins off southern California. *Marine Ecology Progress Series*. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15172 Abstract: In the eastern North Pacific, common dolphins (*Delphinus delphis bairdii* and *D. d. delphis*) often form large, energetic aggregations that make characterization of group composition challenging. Here we demonstrate how photogrammetry from drones can be used to precisely estimate total length distributions and infer group composition and reproductive patterns of 2 abundant dolphin subspecies. We obtained precise length measurements of 3519 dolphins from scaled aerial images of 29 groups of common dolphins off southern California (USA) from 2017 to 2021. Groups were assigned to 1 of 3 strata based on subspecies and month sampled: *D. d. bairdii* (June), *D. d. bairdii* (October), and *D. d. delphis* (October). Similarities in overall length distributions were found between all 3 strata, though the length range of *D. d. delphis* was shifted 0.3 m smaller than *D. d. bairdii*. Using a hierarchical Bayesian multinomial model, we estimated significantly more variability in length compositions for *D. d. bairdii* groups sampled in June than within other strata, implying more variable social composition for this stratum. The model-derived estimates of the typical length distributions for each stratum revealed that *D. d. delphis* had significantly higher proportions of calves, while both *D. d. bairdii* strata had significantly higher proportions of larger sub-adults, potentially related to calving peaks in the first half of the year for both subspecies. These results provide a better understanding of their basic biology and ecology, and vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Best, -- *Sam Leander** (she/her)* Research Associate *SR3, SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research*

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Volunteer & Intern Opportunities – Montenegro Dolphin Research
by DMAD Marine Mammals Research Association 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Dear all, We’re excited to announce we still have remaining spaces for volunteer and internship opportunities for the remainder of the 2026 season at Montenegro Dolphin Research! Who We Are MDR-Montenegro Dolphin Research, sister organisation of DMAD, conducts long-term research on marine mammals in Montenegro. Our work focuses on population studies, behavior, habitat use, and human impact (e.g., tourism, fishing, and industrial activities). Alongside research, we actively engage in conservation initiatives and community awareness. More details: montenegrodolphinresearch.org Who Can Apply? We welcome: ✔ Graduates & students looking for research experience (BSc/MSc thesis projects possible) ✔ Anyone passionate about marine conservation, regardless of background ✔ Minimum stay: 1 month What You’ll Do 🔹 Land-based dolphin surveys 🔹 Boat-based surveys 🔹 Data collection & analysis 🔹 Theodolite operation & Pythagoras 🔹 Conservation & citizen-science activities What You’ll Learn 📍 Field & research skills – Data collection protocols (land surveys and boat surveys), Behavioural studies, Theodolite and Phytagoras operation 📍 Research skills – GIS mapping, Acoustic analysis (Pamguard and Raven), Population Size Estimation, Survey Design, Photo-ID 📍 Data analysis & scientific reporting 📍 Stakeholder engagement & conservation strategies Fees & What’s Included Contribution fee varies seasonally, please enquire for additional information. Included: ✔ Accommodation & bills ✔ Local transport to the project sites ✔ Fieldwork & training ✔ Scientific support (interns) 🔹 Not included: Travel to/from Montenegro, meals, insurance, personal expenses How to Apply 📧 Send your CV & cover letter to info(a)dmad.org.tr 📌 Include your availability & duration of stay For more info: 🌐 Our Research <https://montenegrodolphinresearch.org/our-researches/> | Publications <https://montenegrodolphinresearch.org/publications/> | Internships <https://montenegrodolphinresearch.org/education/internships/montenegro-inte…>📸 Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/nvo_mdr/?hl=en> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568723015127> | Linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/company/mdr-montenegrodolphinresearch/?viewAsMembe…> Looking forward to having you on board! Best regards, MDR Team

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New publication: Fine-scale analysis of bowhead whale song
by Seth Harris 08 Jul '26

08 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication in JASA: Harris, S. I., Rendell, L., Hersh, T. A. and Stafford, K. M. (2026) 'Fine-scale quantitative analysis of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) song shows varying stability of song types', The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 160(1), pp. 289-300. Abstract: Since first being scientifically recognised almost 150 years ago, bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) song has been documented as a remarkably diverse form of communication. While songs in other taxa play fundamental roles in sexual selection and social organisation, the function of bowhead whale song remains poorly understood, in part due to a lack of studies that quantifiably explore variation in song and its fine-scale structure. Here, variation in the songs of Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort bowhead whales was quantified across three years (2011, 2014, 2020) using unit-level analyses and similarity metrics (Levenshtein distance and Dice's similarity). In each year, songs formed distinct song types, some of which remained stable for several weeks, while others changed rapidly within minutes. This variation was uneven across song components, revealing that songs contain a combination of persistent and variable features. By showing that stability and plasticity co-occur in an acoustic display, these findings indicate that multiple, possibly interacting selective pressures, including ecological constraints, social organisation, and sexual selection, may shape song structure. Overall, this study introduces a reproducible framework for song analysis, which provides a foundation for the cross-year and cross-population comparisons essential in understanding the role and evolution of bowhead whale songs. The article can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0044259. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions! Best, Seth Harris (sh400(a)st-andrews.ac.uk)

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New Publication: Cetacean Euthanasia at Strandings
by Rebecca Boys 08 Jul '26

08 Jul '26

Dear MARMAMers, We're pleased to announce our most recent publication on ballistics euthanasia for stranded cetaceans published in Scientific Reports. Boys, R.M., Stewart, R.O., Lye, G., Beausoleil, N., Stockin, K.A. Estimating the welfare impacts of differing projectile types utilised for stranded cetacean euthanasia. Sci Rep 16, 20825 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-50867-7 The paper is fully open access but please do get in touch if you have any issues accessing it or have any questions. Thank you, Rebecca On behalf of coauthors: Ramari Oliphant Stewart, Gordon Lye, Ngaio Beausoleil and Karen Stockin Abstract Euthanasia may be necessary for stranded cetaceans to alleviate suffering, achievable through properly applied ballistics causing rapid insensibility and death. Despite widespread use, understanding of appropriate equipment relative to anatomical variation remains limited. We conducted experimental ballistics trials using cetacean cadavers to examine cranial trauma from five projectile types. A .308 calibre rifle with two deforming and three non-deforming projectiles was tested on 30 cadavers across four odontocete species (six per projectile type). Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and dissection evaluated ballistics trauma. PMCT analysis assessed calvarium damage across 8 quadrants, summarized into four sectors. Marked caudoventral (brainstem) fractures were used as a conservative proxy indicator for likely instant insensibility. Generalized linear mixed models evaluated projectile type, brain sector, and species effects on fracture severity and fragmentation. Only 17 (56.7%) cadavers exhibited marked brainstem fractures. Non-deforming full metal jacket and hydrostatic projectiles caused significantly less severe fractures than other projectiles. Deforming and non-deforming monolithic projectiles produced brainstem-disrupting fractures in common, striped, and dusky dolphins. Monolithic projectiles appear more effective for bottlenose dolphins. Preliminary findings indicate deforming or monolithic projectiles were associated with a higher frequency of brainstem-associated osseous fractures in the cadavers studied. However, increased sample sizes with the addition of soft tissue damage quantification, are required to better elucidate species-specific equipment selection. ------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca M Boys, Ph.D. Marine Biology and Animal Welfare Science Research Fellow, Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland Honorary Research Fellow, University of Bristol Veterinary School, UK Research Affiliate, Cetacean Ecology Research Group, Massey University New Zealand Assistant Network Manager, Animal Welfare Research Network, UK European Cetacean Society Council Member Society for Marine Mammalogy Ethics Advisory Committee Check out our Research Topic that is open for submissions! https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75704/advancing-marine-mammal-w… [cid:15ed5d98-a03d-45a3-8080-626d189ba0ef]<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebecca_Boys> [cid:0af8ac2e-6e17-404d-be33-bd15471fa09b] <https://scholar.google.co.nz/citations?hl=en&user=7rHpOpMAAAAJ> [cid:9ad3e28b-4464-452d-874d-43a912c9a1f4] <https://twitter.com/RebeccaMBoys> [cid:b0ebc25c-d0ab-42e6-b6a6-2c340180f8af] <https://www.facebook.com/CetaceanEcologyOrg/?__xts__[0]=68.ARBKlWSLR-YC7KHN…> [cid:3d38491e-cf88-48df-9a0d-155d1397bcc1] <https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/explore/research/animal-veterinary/animal/m…>

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Reminder 4th Marine Mammal eDNA Workshop at SMM 2026: submit abstracts by July 15
by Amy Van Cise 07 Jul '26

07 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM, The 4th Marine Mammal eDNA Workshop <https://www.smmconference.org/workshops/#1647455659326-59b2adc5-38db> will be held on Sunday October 9 before the 2026 SMM Biennial conference, titled "From detections to deliverables: Using eDNA data to inform and guide management and conservation actions." If you are planning to join the workshop and/or are interested in presenting your recent analyses and applications of eDNA data, please complete our Participation and Abstract Submission Survey <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTWy5UxpV8YMHUu21vMMwwoV0MQ97-XkW…> . *Abstracts will be accepted until 15 July 2026.* *Workshop Description:* *The 4th Marine Mammal eDNA workshop will bring together early-career and established scientists interested in applying emerging techniques in environmental DNA (eDNA) research to marine mammal species. In this workshop, we will focus specifically on developments in the analysis and interpretation of eDNA detection data for marine mammals, and the application of these results to management and conservation plans.* * Researchers will share methods developments and lessons learned from recent eDNA work and explore priority areas for further development in the next two years. Participants will then engage in small-group discussion via breakout groups on topics such as using eDNA detections in spatiotemporal distribution modeling; developing methods to move toward quantitative metabarcoding and data analysis (i.e. eDNA for abundance estimation); developing methods for the use of eDNA for stock identification or population genetic analyses. Throughout the workshop, we aim to broadly discuss both the challenges and opportunities faced by marine mammal eDNA researchers aiming to use eDNA data in statistical or modeling frameworks.* We look forward to seeing you there! Warm Regards, Amy Van Cise, Kim Parsons, Kristina Cammen, and Maggie Hunter <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< Amy M. Van Cise, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) Assistant Professor Whale and Dolphin Ecology Lab <http://amyvancise.com> University of Washington | School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences 1122 NE Boat St, Box 355020 Seattle, WA 98105 Office: FSH 216B 206-221-6118 Need to meet with me? Let's find a time <https://calendar.app.google/6S7FAok44L6n2TpF7>. Where is Amy?** Monday: hiding (focus day) Tuesday: UW campus Wednesday: UW campus Thursday: UW campus Friday: hiding (focus day) **This is not exact. If you can't find me, shoot me an email and I will get back to you. "My paper was one long gigantic blunder from beginning to end." -Charles Darwin

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New Perspective Publication on Marine Mammal Vocal Rhythm
by Peter Cook 07 Jul '26

07 Jul '26

Dear Colleagues, We're happy to share our new open-access Perspective paper in BMC Biology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12915-026-02675-8 This was an interdisciplinary effort bringing together marine mammal physiologists, social ecologists, cognitive neuroscientists, evolutionary modelers, and experts in biorhythms. We argue that marine mammals are productive models for examining the evolution of vocal and social rhythms. Our approach integrates current understanding of the contribution of peripheral physiological and central nervous system mechanisms for creating and maintaining rhythmic vocalizations, and links these with field data examining social coordination across species. Citation: Cook, P.F., Flem, S., Madsen, P.T., Ravignani, A., Gremore, P., Hood, C., Jadoul, Y., Papageorgiou, D., Pedersen, M., Raimondi, T., Rouse, A., Sorensen, P., Videsen, S. & King, S.L. Marine mammals as models for charting the evolution of social vocal rhythm. *BMC Biol* (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-026-02675-8 Abstract In this Perspective, we suggest combining physiological, neurobiological, behavioural, and social data from multiple marine mammal species to create evolutionary models of the emergence of social vocal coordination. Marine mammal sound production mechanisms have evolved to manage vocalizing and breathing in an aquatic environment, potentially releasing functional constraints on the control of vocal timing. Intervals in rhythmic cetacean vocalizations cover a remarkable temporal range, from less than a millisecond in porpoise burst pulses to 10 s in sperm whale slow clicks. Many cetaceans demonstrate temporally coordinated social behaviour, while pinnipeds express high variability in vocal plasticity and social behaviour. The systematic variability of vocal production mechanisms, vocal rhythms, and sociality can be compared phylogenetically to generate models for the evolution of social rhythm in the vocal domain. All the best, Peter (on behalf of co-authors) Peter F. Cook, Ph.D Associate Professor of Psychology and Marine Mammal Science Master's in Marine Mammal Science New College of Florida Research Associate Institute for Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz *(a)pfcooklab.bsky.social*

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