The previous
posting inadvertently omitted the authors of one of the articles. This is the
corrected version.
**************
Apologies, to those
of you on both listserves who will receive cross-postings. The following are
the contents and abstracts for the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals. This journal was
established by the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) in 1974. The
EAAM and the Board of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums sponsor
the journal.
Aquatic Mammals accepts a wide variety of papers on
the care, conservation, medicine, and science of marine mammals. Dr. Jeanette
Thomas of Western
Illinois University
is the editor and Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski of Mystic Aquarium is the co-editor.
These abstracts are posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the
sponsoring societies, as well as the managing editor of Aquatic Mammals.
Please find below, the
addresses (including email) of the authors to whom reprint requests and other
inquiries should be directed. Thank you for your continued interest in these
postings, as well as other publication postings to the listserves.
With regards,
Dagmar Fertl
Geo-Marine, Inc.
dfertl@geo-marine.com
http://www.geo-marine.com
**********************
Stamation, K.A.*, D.B.
Croft, P.D. Shaughnessy, and K.A.
Waples. 2007. Observations of humpback
whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
feeding during their southward migration along the coast of southeastern New South Wales, Australia: Identification of a
possible supplemental feeding ground. Aquatic Mammals 33(2):165-174.
*School
of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales,
Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia; E-mail: k.stamation@optusnet.com.au
There
is anecdotal evidence of humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae) feeding in southeastern New
South Wales (NSW) waters on their southward migration (Paterson, 1987). This
paper reports the frequency of feeding whales observed from waters just north
of Narooma (36° 5' S, 149° 55' E) to just south of Eden (37° 16' S, 150° 17'
E). Observations were made from commercial whale-watching vessels from late
September to early November in 2002, 2003, and 2005; and from two land-based
whale-watching sites, Montague Island (36° 15' S, 150° 14' E) and Green Cape
(37° 16' S, 150° 03' E), in the same period for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Feeding pods were seen on 24.5% of all whale-watching trips and during 14% of
all observations made from land-based sites. Whales fed on schools of small
pelagic fish as well as the coastal krill species (Nyctiphanes australis). The number of feeding pods observed
in 2005 was more than four times that observed in the two previous years and
most likely was due to the warmer current systems operating in the area in
2005. All observations from land-based sites were made when no vessels were in
the vicinity of the focal pod. Feeding behaviour did not alter in the presence
or absence of vessels; however, the time between feeding lunges increased when
the movements of the vessel were not consistent with NSW whale-watching
regulations and when more than one vessel was present. While many of the
reports of humpback whales feeding in mid- to low-latitude waters in both the
southern and northern hemisphere classify this behaviour as a rare opportunistic
event, it is probable that southeastern NSW is a significant supplemental
feeding ground for migrating whales, especially when oceanographic conditions
are optimal for food productivity.
Hobbs, J-P.A.*,
A.J. Frisch, J. Hender, and J.J. Gilligan. 2007. Long-distance oceanic movement
of a solitary dugong (Dugong dugon)
to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Aquatic
Mammals 33(2):175-178.
*Australian Research Council Centre
of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and School of Marine and Tropical
Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia;
E-mail: Jean-Paul.Hobbs@jcu.edu.au
In this paper, we
report on the arrival of a small (2 m long) male dugong (Dugong dugon) to the Cocos (Keeling)
Islands (12° 12' S, 96° 54' E), Indian Ocean. The dugong arrived in June 2002
after travelling more than 1,000 km across deep open ocean, during which time
it would have been vulnerable to predation and presumably unable to feed. This
is the longest recorded dugong movement and demonstrates that dugongs have the
capacity to make long-distance oceanic movements to colonise distant,
unoccupied locations. The solitary dugong has remained at the Cocos
Islands for at least four years and exhibits unusual habitat use
and behaviour; it frequently occupies deep water on the edge of the coral reef
and interacts with SCUBA divers.
Dendrinos, P.*, E. Tounta, A.A. Karamanlidis, A. Legakis,
and S. Kotomatas. 2007. A video surveillance system for monitoring the
endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus
monachus). Aquatic Mammals 33(2):179-184.
*Mom/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the
Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece; email: p.dendrinos@mom.gr
The components and specifications of
a surveillance system developed in a pilot study to monitor Mediterranean monk
seals (Monachus monachus) are
presented. The system consisted of two B/W CCD cameras, infrared illuminators,
a CCTV video web server, and photovoltaic solar panels, and it was operated
under harsh outdoor conditions for three and a half months. It enabled the
recording of rarely observed aspects of the Mediterranean monk seals’
social and reproductive behaviour, as well as provided a method to document
demographic parameters of the local seal population. Advantages of the system
include its non-invasive nature and its autonomous operation, while the primary
disadvantage is the high initial cost, which should decrease as technology
continues to improve. This system could prove to be a valuable tool in the
conservation of critically endangered seal species such as the Mediterranean
monk seal.
Greig, T.W., J.A. Bemiss, B.R. Lyon, G.D.
Bossart, and P.A. Fair. 2007. Prevalence and diversity of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli
found in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, and Charleston
Harbor area, South Carolina. Aquatic Mammals 33(2):185-194.
National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Environmental
Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC 29412, USA;
email: Thomas.grieg@noaa.gov
A total of 724 Escherichia coli isolates sampled from 38 wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Charleston
Harbor area, South Carolina, and the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, were
screened for resistance to 25 antibiotics. The percentages of animals harboring
at least one resistant isolate differed significantly between sampling
locations. No resistance was detected in E. coli
from dolphins at either site for six of the 25 antibiotics tested. Resistance
to penicillin was most common followed by cephalothin, ampicillin, and
amoxicillin. Within-animal isolate variability was examined in addition to
between sampling locales. Isolates from animals sampled in the Charleston Harbor area exhibited a greater
complexity of resistance patterns and within individual diversity compared to
isolates sampled from animals in the Indian River Lagoon. Causes related to the
observed heterogeneity are discussed.
Larson, S., and C.J. Casson. 2007.
Reproductive hormone levels within captive female northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) with and without
chemical contraceptives. Aquatic Mammals 33(2):195-201.
*Seattle Aquarium, 2483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA
98101-2059, USA; email: shawn.larson@seattle.gov
Northern
fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus)
are hold in only a few institutions within the United States and the world. The
Seattle Aquarium was the first institution to successfully breed and raise
captive Northern fur seals from conception to adulthood. The captive group that
was the focus of this study consisted of one adult male and five adult females.
One female was related to the adult male and was placed on chemical
contraceptives to prevent inbreeding. Another female was exposed to a chemical
spill in the wild while in utero,
had some health problems throughout the study period, and never became
pregnant. The remaining three females were though to be reproductively normal
throughout most of the study period, although one became pregnant and gave
birth. Serum estrogen, progerstone, and testerone levels were measured using
standard competitive binding antibody radio ad enzyme immunoassay techniques.
Individual animal longitudinal data are reported for samples collected over the
7-year study period. The hormone data revealed changes associated with chemical
contraceptives, pregnancy, and animals becoming sexually mature and senescent.
Green, S.R.*, E. Mercado, III, A.A. Pack,
and L.M. Herman. 2007. Characterizing patterns within humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) songs. Aquatic
Mammals 33(2):202-213.
*Department of Pyschology, University at Buffalo,
State University of New York, Buffalo,
NY 14260,
USA; email: srgreen@buffalo.edu
Male humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae) produce long songs that contain predictably repeated
sound patterns. Other animals (including humans) identify patterns in acoustic
sequences based on regularities in transitions between sounds. The present
study examined transitional probabilities within humpback whale songs to
determine whether relative acoustic changes from unit to unit are sufficient
for identifying repeating patterns within humpback whale songs. To identify
such patterns, four humpback whale songs were analyzed by first classifying
song units using a self-organizing map, and then calculating transitional
probabilities based on these classifications. Two separate analyses of
transitional probabilities were conducted: one involved units classified based
on their absolute acoustic features (e.g., duration, peak frequency, and
amplitude) as well as changes in these features relative to adjacent units, and
the other used units classified based on the relative changes alone. Both
analyses revealed repeated sequences of units within humpback whale songs, but
the analysis based on relative changes alone yielded a larger number of
predictable transitions. This finding suggests that relative acoustic changes
within humpback whale songs may provide robust indicators of repeating
patterns.
Bossart, G.D.*, G. Hensley, J.D.
Goldstein, K. Kroell, C.A. Manire, R.H. Defran, and J.S.
Reif. 2007. Cardiomyopathy and myocardial
degeneration in stranded pygmy sperm whales (Kogia
breviceps) and dwarf (Kogia sima)
sperm whales. Aquatic Mammals 3(2):214-222.
*Center for Coastal Research, Marine
Mammal Research and Conservation Program, Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institution, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA; email: GBossarst@hboi.edu
Cardiomyopathy
(CMP) has been documented as a disease associated with stranded pygmy (Kogia
breviceps) and dwarf (Kogia sima)
sperm whales in the United States
and Asia. In this study, hearts from 27 pygmy
and two dwarf sperm whales stranded in the coastal U.S. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico from 1999 to 2006 were analyzed. Gross and
microscopic examinations were conducted according to a standardized protocol
designed to ensure systematic examination of tissue and data recording. Hearts
were weighed and specific measurements made for selected tissues. Fourteen
(48.3%) pygmy sperm whales had a microscopic diagnosis of CMP, 12 (41.4%)
showed evidence of mild myocardial degeneration (MCD), one (3.4%) had moderate
myocarditis and two (6.9%) had no pathological lesions. One dwarf sperm whale
had CMP, and the other had mild MCD. The majority of stranded Kogia spp. with cardiac lesions came from
the southeast Atlantic region (19/27, 70.3%). Cardiomyopathy and MCD lesions
were found predominantly among adult whale. An excess of males was found for
CMP and MCD (approximately 75% of both groups). The predominant histological
lesions found in both disorders were anisokaryosis with karyomegaly and nuclear
rowing, followed in frequency by interstitial edema. Cardiac weight,
ventricular wall thickness, and valve circumference were compared between pygmy
sperm whales with CMP and those with MCD. The largest differences were found
for heart weight and intraventricular septum wall thickness, but none of the
differences were statistically significant. Further adjustments for sex and
body length did not alter the results. In this aggregate, these findings
suggest that CMP in Kogia spp. is
a chronic, progressive condition that represents a continuum from MCD to the
more severe forms of the disorder. The etiology of this complex disorder
remains unknown.
Gerpe, M.*, D. Rodriguez, V. Moreno, R.
Bastida, and J. Aizpun. 2007. Copper, zinc, cadmium, and mercury in southern
sea lions (Otaria flavescens)
from Argentina.
Aquatic Mammals 33(2):223-228.
*Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas
(CONICET), Argentina;
email: msgerpe@mdp.edu.ar or msgerpe@hotmail.com
Copper,
zinc, mercury, and cadmium were studied in the muscle, liver, and kidney of
three adults and one juvenile Southern sea lion (Otaria flavescens) found dead on the beaches of Argentina.
Heavy metal concentrations were determined by Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometry; cold vapor and air/acetylene flame techniques were applied
for mercury and for the rest of the metals, respectively. Previous acid
digestion was made with nitric/sulphuric (Hg) and percholoric/nitric (Cd, Zn,
Cu) mixtures. Quality was checked with a Certified Reference Material. Mercury
concentrations were highest in the liver, whereas cadmium levels were highest
in the kidney. The juvenile and adults presented the same tissue distribution
pattern for all studied metals. Hepatic mercury concentrations ranged from 23.2
ėg/g (juvenile female)
to 47.6 ėg/g
(adult male), with renal cadmium concentrations between 0.8 ėg/g
and 5.7 ėg/g, respectively.
Esteves, M.A.*, and L.A. Oviedo. 2007. Potential morphotype of common
dolphin (Delphinus spp.) on the
northeast coast of Venezuela.
Aquatic Mammals 33(2):229-234.
*Proyecto Delphinus, Isla de
Margarita, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela 6010
Records of
the common dolphin on the northeast coast of Venezuela have been widely
documented. The complex topography and bathymetry of this area and the enhanced
productivity due to upwelling processes promote the occurrence of occurrence of
common dolphin populations. It has not been clear, howeve,r whether the species
involved is Delphinus delphis or D. capensis. The aim of this contribution is to
review taxonomically Delphinus spp. from the northeast coast of the country
through skull morphometric analysis. A sample of 30 skulls comprised of
specimens collected in Nueva Esparta State
(n=28) and Sucre State
(n=2) in Venezuela
were analyzed using the morphometric parameters rostrum length (RL) and
zygomatic width (ZW), including the ratio of the measurements RL/ZW. Only
skulls identified as mature individuals (n=16) were included in the analysis.
The data were compared with published records of South Atlantic dolphins from Brazil and West Africa.
Rostral length showed significant differences within the Venezuelan sample
(p<0.05) and between the dolphins from Brazil
and West Africa. Zygomatic width also showed
clear differences (Venezuela
to Brazil, p <0.05; Venezuela to West Africa,
p < 0.05). In contrast, no differences were found for the RL/ZW ratio
(Venezueal to Brazil,
p=0.21; Venezuela to West Africa, p=0.33). Observations in the study area
during sightings of common dolphins noted small females with calves. These
observations suggested the occurrence of a small morphotype of common dolphin
on the northeast coast of Venezuela,
a semi-enclosed basin. Habitat conditions in this kind of ecosystem could lead
to morphologic differences between smaller coastal forms and larger off-shore
forms, an effect that could be related to feeding ecology.
Bossart, G.D.*, L. Hansen, J.D.
Goldstein, D. Kilpatrick, S. Bechdel, E.
Howells, K. Kroell, M. De Sieyes, M.K. Stolen, W.K. Durden, J.S. Reif, R.H.
Defran, and S.D. McCulloch. 2007. Pathologic findings in a rare mass stranding
of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala
electra) in Florida.
Aquatic Mammals 33(2):235-240.
*Center for Coastal Research, Marine
Mammal Research and Conservation Program, Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institution, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA; email: GBossarst@hboi.edu
Pathologic
findings associated with the mass stranding of five melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) along the Atlantic
coast of Florida
are reported. Four of the five whales were freshly dead, and the fifth was
moderately decomposed. Body weights ranged from 160 to 180 kg, and all whales
had mild to moderate weight loss evidenced by postnuchal depression and pronounced
scapulae and peduncular vertebrae. All whales had from 10 to 21 ovoid dermal
scars consistent with healed cookie-cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) wounds. Gastric compartments of all
whales contained from 6 to 20 squid beaks with no other solid food items
present. The peritoneum of all whales contained many parasitic cestode cysts
consistent with Monorygma spp. In
all cases, the alimentary tract had gross and microscopic lesions. Colons had
an unusual microscopic lesion diagnosed as particularly florid examples of the
collagenous stage of microcscopic colitis known as collagenous colitis as
reported in humans. The lesion was characterized by a diffuse, irregular,
moderate thickening of the colonic wall due to deposition of subepithelial
collagen between the muscularis mucosae and basement membrane of the surface
epithelium in the lamina propria. The surface epithelium and collagen layer had
mild multifocal infiltrates of neutrophils and eosinophils and mildly increased
numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Additionally, mild to moderate
myocardial degeneration was a consistent finding in all cases. Less consistent
lesions included erosive esophagitis, ulcerative gastritis, granulomatous
gastritis, ulcerative dermatitis, and Nasitrema-associated
suppurative sinusitis. The case of the mass stranding was not determined;
however, all whales exhibited pathological changes consistent with pre-existing
chronic disease with inanition that developed prior to the stranding event.
Luque, S.P.*, J.W. Higdon, and S.H.
Ferguson. 207. Dentine deposition rates in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas): An analysis of the evidence. Aquatic
Mammals 33(2):241-245.
*Department of Biology, Memorial University,
St. John’s NL A1B 3X9, Canada; email: sluque@mun.ca
Accurately determining the age of
belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)
has been difficult and the source of considerable uncertainty in demographic
studies of this species. Previous studies have predominantly assumed that two
growth layer groups (GLGs) are deposited annually in beluga teeth; however,
recent evidence from aquarium-raised individuals and radiocarbon dating assays
of teeth lends support to the hypothesis that one dentinal GLG is deposited
annually in beluga, rather than to the competing hypothesis claiming the rate
is twice as large. We present the allometric relationship between female age
and length at maturity among delphinoid cetaceans and suggest that estimates of
beluga age at maturity based on one GLG per annum are in better agreement with
this relationship than estimates base on the competing hypothesis. Our results,
and a reanalysis of previously published evidence, give further support to the
one annual GLG hypothesis; however, a change in the pattern of deposition rate
at sexual maturity remains a possibility, and research is needed to determine
whether changes in dentine deposition rates during life stages of beluga.
Gregg, J.D.* 2007. Book review: Rational animals? Editors: Susan Hurley
and Matthew Nudds. Oxford
University Press, 2006.
ISBN 0-19-852826-4. Aquatic Mammals 33(2):246-247.
*School
of Psychology, Aras an Phiarsaigh, Trinity College,
Dublin 2, Ireland; email: justin@dolphincommunication.com
**********************
Simmonds, M.* 2007. Book review: A guide to the identification of the whales and
dolphin of Ireland.
Editors: Jim Wilson with Simon Berrow. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. ISBN
o-9540552-2-5. Aquatic Mammals 33(2):248-249.
*The Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Society (WDCS), Brookfield House, 38 St. Paul
Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1LJ, UK; email: mark.simmonds@wdcs.org
********************
Ecott, T.* 2007. Book review: Sensuous seas: tales of a marine biologist.
Eugene H. Kaplan. Princeton
University Press, 2006.
ISBN 0-691-12560-0. Aquatic Mammals 33(2):250.
*no mailing address provided; email:
timecott@hotmail.com
*****************
Reynolds, J.E., III.* 2007. Book
review: The Florida manatee: biology and conservation.
Roger L. Reep and Robert K. Bonde. University Press of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida. ISBN 81302949X. Aquatic Mammals
33(2):251.
*Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida
34236, USA
(no email address provided)
***************************
Fertl, D.* 2007. Book review: Marine conservation biology: the science
of maintaining the sea’s biodiversity. Editors: E.A. Norse and L.B.
Crowder. Island Press, Washington,
D.C., 2005. ISBN 1559636629. Aquatic
Mammals 33(2):252-253.
Price, S.* 2007. Book review: Horns, tusks, and flippers: the evolution of hoofed mammals.
Editors: Donald R. Prothero and Robert M. Schoch. Johns
Hopkins University,
Baltimore and London, 2002. ISBN 0-8018-7135-2. Aquatic
Mammals 33(2):254.
*National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
(NESCent), 2024 W. Main Street, Suite A200, Erwin Mills Building, Durham, NC
27705, USA; no email address provided