Dear
MARMAM colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication of
the following paper in "Marine mammal Science":
Garrigue, C., Oremus, M., Dodemont, R., Bustamante, P.,
Kwiatek, O., Libeau, G., Lockyer, C., Vivier, JC., Dalebout,
M. 2016. A mass stranding of seven Longman's beaked whales
(indopacetus pacificus) in New Caledonia, South Pacific.
marine Mammal Science, doi: 11.1111/mms.12304
Abstract : Seven Longman’s beaked whales (Indopacetus
pacificus) stranded together in southern New Caledonia on 16
November 2013 (one adult male, two adult females, two
subadult females, one calf, and one unknown). At this time,
we have no evidence tosuggest that this event was an
“atypical” mass stranding associated with active naval sonar
or other anthropogenic activities. The adult females were
slightly larger (618–640 cm) than the adult male (590 cm).
The length of the calf (ca. 300 cm) suggests it was less
than a year old. Five of the whales were sampled for
mitochondrial (mt) DNA analysis to confirm species
identification. All shared the same haplotype over 680 bp of
the mtDNA control region. High concentrations of Hg, Fe, Se,
Zn (all in the liver), and Cd (in the kidneys) were
detected. Necropsies revealed plastic debris in the stomach
of two of the whales. One of these same whales had chronic
gastritis while the other had acute pleurisy and also tested
positive for morbillivirus. This infection may have been a
major factor behind this mass stranding event.