Dear Colleagues,

Apologies for cross-posting. My co-authors and I are very pleased to announce two open access papers as follows:

Mustika, P.L.K.; High, K.K.; Putra, M.I.H.; Sahri, A.; Ratha, I.M.J.; Prinanda, M.O.; Agung, F.; Purnomo, F.S.; Kreb, D. When and Where Did They Strand? The Spatio-Temporal Hotspot Patterns of Cetacean Stranding Events in Indonesia. Oceans 2022, 3, 509-526. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans3040034 

Abstract
Analyses of the spatial and temporal patterns of 26 years of stranding events (1995–2011 and 2012–2021, n = 568) in Indonesia were conducted to improve the country’s stranding response. The Emerging Hot Spot Analysis was used to obtain the spatial and temporal hotspot patterns. A total of 92.4% events were single stranding, while the remaining were of mass stranding events. More stranding events were recorded between 2012 and 2021 in more dispersed locations compared to the previous period. Within the constraints of our sampling limitations, East Kalimantan and Bali were single stranding hotspots and consecutive hotspots. East Java and Sabu-Raijua in East Nusa Tenggara were mass stranding hotspots. Temporally, Raja Ampat (West Papua) experienced a significant increase in case numbers. The presence of active NGOs, individuals or government agencies in some locations might have inflated the numbers of reported cases compared to areas with less active institutions and/or individuals. However, our results still give a good understanding of the progression of Indonesia’s stranding responses and good guidance of resource allocation for the stranding network. Several locations in Indonesia that need more efforts (e.g., more training workshops on rescue and necropsies) have been identified in this paper. Suggestions to improve data collection (including georeferencing tips) have also been included.


Mustika, P.L.K., High, K.K., Ratha, I.M.J., Siko, M.M., Acebes, J.M., Makin, R.M.L., Meo, S.N., d’Alexandro, E. and Didok, P.R.E., 2022. First Record of Predation on an Oilfish and a Previously Unknown Cephalopod Prey by a Short-Finned Pilot Whale in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Aquatic Mammals, 48(6).

Available at: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.724  

Summary: 
In October 2020, a freshly dead 4 m short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) was found floating in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, with a fish in its mouth. The whale was immediately necropsied in-situ; the probable cause of death was asphyxiation due to the upper airway obstruction by a 1m oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) lodged in the posterior pharynx and upper esophagus. The whale also preyed on two diamond-back squids (Thysanoteuthis rhombus), a prey previously never reported for G. macrorhynchus. This paper highlights the importance of enhancing local capacities in marine mammal necropsy for the improvement of stranding data collection and management.



Sincerely,

Icha




Dr. Putu Liza Mustika (“Icha”)

Member of the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group
Member of the Steering Committee of the International Whaling Commission