[MARMAM] New publication on the metabolic cost of echolocation in dolphins

[Dawn Noren - NOAA Federal]

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper on
the metabolic cost of echolocation in dolphins in the Journal of
Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.

Free access to the article is valid until September 01, 2017 at the
following link:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1VNIP51aURf05


Noren D.P., Holt M.M., Dunkin R.C., Williams T.M. (2017) Echolocation is
cheap for some mammals: Dolphins conserve oxygen while producing
high-intensity clicks. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
495:103-109.


Highlights

•

Metabolic rates of clicking bottlenose dolphins were measured using
respirometry.
•

The metabolic cost of dolphins producing echolocation clicks is low.
•

The metabolic cost of click production increases with acoustic energy
produced.
•

The metabolic cost of echolocation in dolphins is much lower than that of
bats.
•

The low metabolic cost of echolocation helps foraging dolphins conserve
oxygen.


Abstract:
Toothed whales use echolocation to sense their environment and capture
prey. However, their reliance on acoustic information makes them vulnerable
to sound exposure. Odontocetes modify echolocation signals in response to
ambient noise levels, yet the metabolic cost of producing and modifying
echolocation signals are unknown. Studies on bats found that the metabolic
cost of producing echolocation signals and modifying sonar parameters is
high. Unlike terrestrial mammals, however, the conservation of oxygen is
paramount for odontocetes that echolocate underwater on a breath-hold.
Flow-through respirometry was used to determine the metabolic costs of
producing and modifying echolocations signals in two trained bottlenose
dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) that produced echolocation clicks with
variable sound energy levels. Unlike bats, the metabolic cost of
echolocation was negligible in dolphins. On average, the metabolic rate of
submerged dolphins producing clicks was 1.1 times greater than the
metabolic rate of submerged, silent dolphins. Similar to bats, the
metabolic cost of producing echolocation signals increased significantly
with acoustic energy in dolphins. Yet, for the sound energy levels
produced, metabolic rates of dolphins producing clicks were within the
range of metabolic rates measured when the dolphins were silent. These
results can be used to better understand some of the energetic costs
associated with dolphin foraging behavior as well as assess the relative
energetic impacts of different delphinid behavioral responses to
anthropogenic disturbance.

Best,
Dawn Noren
-- 
Dawn P. Noren, Ph.D.
Research Fishery Biologist
NOAA NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 302-2439
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/contact/display_staffprofile.cfm?staffid=1112
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[MARMAM] New article about infanticide attacks and associated epimeletic behaviour in bottlenose dolphins

[Bruno Diaz Lopez]

Dear colleagues,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce that our latest article about 
infanticide attacks and associated epimeletic behaviour in free-ranging common 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has been published.

Díaz López, B., López, A., Methion, S., & Covelo, P. (2017). Infanticide 
attacks and associated epimeletic behaviour in free-ranging common bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of 
the United Kingdom, 1-9. doi:10.1017/S0025315417001266

Infanticide is considered a conspicuous expression of sexual conflict amongst 
mammals, including bottlenose dolphins. Although reported previously in this 
species, confirmed cases of infanticide and associated epimeletic behaviour are 
very rare and their socio-behavioural context remains poorly understood. Here, 
we provide evidence of epimeletic and infanticide behaviours in free-ranging 
bottlenose dolphins in Galicia, NW Spain. After describing the observed events, 
we include a complete description of the post-mortem examinations (where the 
carcasses were recovered) in order to confirm the cause of death. With 
evidences of blunt trauma in two of the presented cases, we confirm that the 
calves were intentionally killed by adult individuals. The aggressive 
interaction between adult individuals and the neonates together with the 
observed ante-mortem injuries bore a strong resemblance to the behaviours and 
traumatic injuries described in other cases of violent dolphin interactions in 
other parts of the world. The circumstances under which these infanticides 
occurred at our site fit the conditions proposed under the sexual selection 
hypothesis. The difficulties for researchers to observe this type of behaviour 
in the field and to find carcasses in good enough condition to determine the 
cause of death, emphasizes the importance of this type of study.

You can access the article at: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315417001266

If you cannot download the publication, you can request a pdf by emailing to: 
br...@thebdri.com

Best wishes,

Bruno Díaz López
Chief biologist and Director
The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI
Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain
www.thebdri.com
0034 684248552

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you for your cooperation.

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[MARMAM] New publication on cetacean hormone analysis using LC-MS/MS

[Hayden, Mary]

Dear Marmam,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper:

Nanospray liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry analysis of steroids 
from gray whale blubber.
Mary Hayden, Ruchika Bhawal, John Escobedo, Clinton Harmon, Todd M. O’Hara, 
David Klein, Susan San-Francisco, Masoud Zabet-Moghaddam and
Céline A. J. Godard-Codding
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2017, 31, 1088�C1094

Abstract:
RATIONALE: Analysis of steroids from precious blubber biopsies obtained from 
marine mammals, especially endangered
species, can provide valuable information on their endocrine status. Challenges 
with currently used ELISA methodology
include lack of absolute quantitation and incompatibility with multiple 
steroids analysis due to limited biopsy mass.
Development of a sensitive, accurate analytical method for this purpose is 
critical.
METHODS: A nanospray liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry 
(nanoLC/MS/MS) method was validated
for sensitive, specific and quantitative analysis of three steroid hormones, 
without derivatization, extracted from 50 mg
blubber samples. Data was acquired with an LTQ XL ion trap mass spectrometer in 
positive ion mode, using single
reaction monitoring. All three steroids were analyzed in a single run. Cholic 
acid was used as a surrogate internal standard
for quantitation due to its steroidal structure and lack of measurable 
endogenous levels in blubber.
RESULTS: The lowest limits of quantitation for progesterone, testosterone, and 
hydrocortisone were significantly
improved compared to previous studies using conventional LC/MS/MS. The lowest 
limit of detection was 7 fg/μL using
a 1 μL injection volume. Calibration curves for steroid quantification showed 
good linearity (r2>0.99) between 14 and 3620
fg/μL, and accuracy was <20% for interday and<10% for intraday. After 
validation, the method was successfully applied
to quantification of steroids in gray whale blubber samples.
CONCLUSIONS: The nanoLC/MS/MS method is more sensitive than traditional 
LC/MS/MS for steroid analysis. It is
also compatible with other important biopsy analyses due to its small blubber 
mass requirement. This will benefit the
reproductive and stress assessments for all marine mammals, particularly 
endangered populations. Copyright (c) 2017
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The paper is available here: 
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.7884/full

Please make any requests for copies to: mary.hay...@ttu.edu

Cheers,

Mary J Hayden
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Environmental Toxicology
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health
1207 S. Gilbert Dr. | Lubbock, TX 79416
Ph: 806-885-4567

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[MARMAM] New publication on marine debris in harbour porpoises and seals from German waters (Bianca Unger)

[Unger, Bianca]

Dear colleagues,
My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new article:
Marine debris in harbour porpoises and seals from German waters
Bianca Unger, Helena Herr, Harald Benke, Michel Böhmert, Patricia 
Burkhardt-Holm, Michael Dähne, Miriam Hillmann, Kornelia Wolff-Schmidt, Peter 
Wohlsein, Ursula Siebert
Abstract:
Records of marine debris in and attached to stranded harbour porpoises 
(Phocoena phocoena), harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus 
grypus) were studied comprising information on 6587 carcasses collected along 
the German coast between 1990 and 2014, the decomposition state allowed for 
necropsy in 1622 cases.
Marine debris items were recorded in 31 carcasses including 14 entanglements (5 
harbour porpoises, 6 harbour seals, 3 grey seals) and 17 cases of ingestion (4 
harbour porpoises, 10 harbour seals, 3 grey seals). Objects comprised general 
debris (35.1%) and fishing related debris (64.9%). Injuries associated with 
marine debris included lesions, suppurative ulcerative dermatitis, perforation 
of the digestive tract, abscessation, suppurative peritonitis and septicaemia.
This study is the first investigation of marine debris findings in all three 
marine mammal species from German waters. It demonstrates the health impacts 
marine debris can have, including severe suffering and death. The results 
provide needed information on debris burdens in the North and Baltic Seas for 
implementing management directives, such as the Marine Strategy Framework 
Directive (MSFD).
The full article is available online at
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113617302350

or email me directly for a PDF copy

bianca.un...@tiho-hannover.de
Best,
Bianca

Dipl.-Biologin Bianca Unger

Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of 
Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 / 25761 Büsum / Germany

Tel+49 511 856 8176
Fax   +49 511 856 8181

http://www.tiho-hannover.de/index.php?id=5388

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[MARMAM] Request for leopard seal sighting records/collections from New Zealand waters

[Krista Hupman]

Request for leopard seal sighting records/collections from New Zealand waters

On behalf of all authors currently writing a review of leopard seals in New 
Zealand waters, we would like to make a request for leopard seal sighting 
records or locations of specimen collections from this region.

We are primarily seeking unpublished and anecdotal accounts, and would be 
grateful for any information.

Any observations and images/footage shared will of course be fully credited to 
the observer and photographer.

In instances where substantial unpublished data collections are shared, it may 
warrant co-authorship.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Krista Hupman


Dr Krista Hupman

Cetacean Biologist/Ecologist


krista.hup...@niwa.co.nz



+64-4-386-0527 | 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, 
Wellington | www.niwa.co.nz




Dr Krista Hupman
Cetacean Biologist/Ecologist

+64-4-386-0527 | 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, Wellington | 
www.niwa.co.nz
[NIWA]
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[MARMAM] Volunteer position

[Laela Sayigh]

A position is open for a volunteer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution. Start and end times are flexible, but a minimum time 
commitment of 4 months is desired. Hours are flexible, and can be part 
time. The position is unpaid and the volunteer would need to make their 
own living arrangements. Responsibilities will primarily consist of 
analysis of marine mammal acoustic data. Applicants with some acoustic 
analysis experience, and particularly with Matlab and Raven, are 
especially encouraged. If interested, please email Laela Sayigh 
(lsay...@whoi.edu) with your CV, unofficial transcript and the names of 
two references. Only US citizens should apply.


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[MARMAM] Pelagos 2017 call for proposals

[secretar...@pelagos-sanctuary.org]

Dear MarMam and ECS Communities,

Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement is pleased to announce the 
launching of the Pelagos call for proposals. The call aims to improve knowledge 
on marine mammals and to propose new management measures on specific issues in 
the Pelagos Sanctuary.

Applications are open from July 12th to October 11th 2017 at 11:59 pm (UCT / 
GMT + 2 hours).

To download the call (in French and Italian versions), please click on the 
following link: 
http://www.sanctuaire-pelagos.org/en/news/all-news/564-call-for-proposals-pelagos-2017

Please do not hesitate to contact Permanent Secretariat should you need any 
further information.

Contact: secretar...@pelagos-sanctuary.org

Kind regards,


—



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[MARMAM] MMO & PAM vacancies

[Recruitment]

Dear MMO and PAM Operators,

Currently, OSC has vacancies for the following projects (durations and dates 
are estimates):

1 x MMO & 1 x PAM commencing mid Aug for 21 days in Mediterranean
1 x MMO & 1 x PAM commencing early Sep for 28 days in Mediterranean
2 x MMO & 2 x PAM commencing between Sep & Oct for 30-40 days in North Sea

If you or any colleagues are interested in the above, please get in touch ASAP. 
We also have random/unplanned projects that materialise typically with notice 
periods of only 1-3 days, and other planned projects that are expected to 
mobilise within the next few weeks for which dates (and durations) are still 
tbc, so please keep us posted with your availability.

Kind regards,

Recruitment
Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC)
Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK
M: +44 (0)7876 547 855
T: +44 (0)1368 865 722
W: www.osc.co.uk

--
Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC)
Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK
T: +44 (0)1368 865 722
W: www.osc.co.uk
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