[MARMAM] New Publication: Characterizing estrus by trans-abdominal ultrasounds, fecal estrone-3-glucuronide, and vaginal cytology in the Steller sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus )
Dear MARMAM Readers, My co-authors and I are happy to share our recent publication: "Characterizing estrus by trans-abdominal ultrasounds, fecal estrone-3-glucuronide, and vaginal cytology in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)". Sattler R, Bishop A, Woodie K, Polasek L. Characterizing estrus by trans-abdominal ultrasounds, fecal estrone-3-glucuronide, and vaginal cytology in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). Theriogenology 120:25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.07.020 Abstract:Theability to monitor the estrus cycle in wild and captive marine species isimportant for identifying reproductive failures, ensuring a successful breedingprogram, and monitoring animal welfare. Minimally invasive sampling methods tomonitor estrus in captive populations have been developed, but results suggestthese tools can be species-specific in their precision and accuracy. Therefore,the minimally invasive sampling methods of trans-abdominal ultrasounds, a fecalsteroid analysis (estrone-3-glucuronide, E1G), and vaginal cytology, wereevaluated for their efficacy to characterize and monitor estrus in a captivebreeding population of Steller sea lions (Eumetopiasjubatus). Three adult females were sampled over five breeding seasons,resulting in six estrus profiles characterized by trans-abdominal ultrasounds, fiveby fecal E1G, and four by vaginal cytology. Animals were trained to allowtrans-abdominal ultrasounds, fecal samples, and vaginal swabs to be collected approximatelydaily. Of the 76 trans-abdominal ultrasound sessions attempted, 8 successfullyvisualized both ovaries. From these scans, the chronology of ovarian changesduring proestrus and estrus was estimated. The time from the detection of developingfollicles to the identification of a dominate follicle occurred in 2-5 days anda corpus hemorrhagicum formed approximately 4 days later. However, becausevisualization of the ovaries was prevented by the gastrointestinal system in 88%of scans, this tool was overall unreliable for monitoring changes associatedwith estrus. To detect fine scale physiological changes associated with estrus,we analyzed changes in fecal E1G (n = 62) and vaginal cytology (n = 157) 15days before and after each female’s single copulation event (Day = 0). Changesin fecal E1G had the highest accuracy at detecting Day = 0. Fecal E1G increasedleading up to estrus, peaked at Day = 0, and then declined. Although we didobserve the characteristic increase in superficial cells associated withimpending estrus, the type of cell which peaked closest to Day = 0 wasintermediate. The uncertainty around the peak in intermediate cells, indicatingestrus, was greater than the uncertainty associated with detecting estrus fromfecal E1G. Collectively, these results suggest that changes in fecal E1G andvaginal cytology are viable tools to detect estrus in Steller sea lions, butrequire daily sampling to detect gradual changes, limiting their applicabilityto studies of wild populations. Please email me for a copy of the pdf. ren...@alaskasealife.org Thanks! Renae SattlerResearch Associate Alaska SeaLife CenterSeward, AK 99664907-224-6882 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] new articles on postmortem analyses on bycaught animals applying diatoms technique
Dear Collegues I'm glad to announce a new article on a forensic techniques which could be useful in by-catch diagnosis. This article is a preliminary evaluation of the presence of diatoms in bones of stranded marine vertebrates including cetaceans. Diatoms researches are used in forensic human medicine in order to support drowning evidences. Further studies could enforce the use of this technique in bycatch postmortem diagnosis along with other findings. Details could be found in the following maniscript * * *The diatoms test in veterinary medicine: a pilot study on cetaceans and sea turtles.* Fishing activities are considered one of the most relevant threats for cetaceans and sea turtles con- servation since these animals are sometimes found dead entangled in fishing gears. Currently, postmortem diagnosis is based mainly on the presence of nets and lines on the body and the related marks and injuries evident at gross examination. A more detailed and objective evidence is needed to clarify doubts cases and the diatoms technique, used in forensic human medicine, could support drowning diagnosis also in this field. Diatoms’ investigation was implemented to be applied in ma- rine vertebrate on 8 striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and 1 bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins and 5 sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Italian coastlines with a likely cause of death hypothized on necropsies carried out by veterinary pathologists. Diatoms were microscopically searched in the bone marrow collected from long bones implementing protocols used in human medicine and their presence was observed in 4 cetaceans and 2 sea turtles. Despite a clear relation between diatoms’ presence and amount and the likely cause of death was not proved due to the poor number of samples, the higher burden of diatoms was found in 3 animals deemed to be death for the interaction with human activity. Despite more studied are necessary to identify the possible relation between the cause of death and diatoms’ findings, the present study implemented this technique to be adapted to marine animals, confirming its possible application also in veterinary forensic medicine. CITATION: Rubini S, Frisoni P, Russotto C, Pedriali N, Mignone W, Grattarola C, Giorda F, Pautasso A, Barbieri S, Cozzi B, Mazzariol S, Gaudio RM. The diatoms test in veterinary medicine: A pilot study on cetaceans and sea turtles. Forensic Sci Int. 2018 Jul 5. pii: S0379-0738(18)30358-X Full text could be downloaded at the following address https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037907381830358X?via%3Dihub All the best Sandro Mazzariol -- Dr. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) Università degli Studi di Padova Cetaceans strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) AGRIPOLIS - Ed. Museo Viale dell'Università 16 35020 - Legnaro (PD) tel.: +39 049 827 2963 fax: +39 049 827 2973 skype: smazzariol ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on sperm whales mass stranding
Dear Collegues my co-author and I are happy to announce a new publication reporting investigations on a sperm whales' mass stranding occurred in Italy in 2014. In that event, a pod of 7 specimens stranded alive along the Italian coast of the Central Adriatic Sea: 3 individuals died on the beach after a few hours due to internal damages induced by prolonged recumbency; the remaining 4 whales were refloated after great efforts. All the dead animals were genetically related females; one was pregnant. All the animals were infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and the pregnant whale was also affected by a severe nephropathy due to a large kidney stone. Other analyses ruled out other possible relevant factors related to weather conditions or human activities. The results of multidisciplinary post-mortem analyses revealed that the 7 sperm whales entered the Adriatic Sea encountering adverse weather conditions and then kept heading northward following the pregnant but sick leader of the pod, thereby reaching the stranding site. DMV infection most likely played a crucial role in impairing the health condition and orientation abilities of the whales. They did not steer back towards deeper waters, but eventually stranded along the Central Adriatic Sea coastline, a real trap for sperm whales. The full paper could be downloaded at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29966-7 *Citation:* Mazzariol S, Centelleghe C, Cozzi B, Povinelli M, Marcer F, Ferri N, Di Francesco G, Badagliacca P, Profeta F, Olivieri V, Guccione S, Cocumelli C,Terracciano G, Troiano P, Beverelli M, Garibaldi F, Podestà M, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Mattiucci S, Cipriani P, De Nurra D, Zaccaroni A, Rubini S, Berto D, deQuiros YB, Fernandez A, Morell M, Giorda F, Pautasso A, Modesto P, Casalone C, Di Guardo G. Multidisciplinary studies on a sick-leader syndrome-associated massstranding of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic coast of Italy. Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 1;8(1):11577. All the best Sandro -- Dr. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) Università degli Studi di Padova Cetaceans strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) AGRIPOLIS - Ed. Museo Viale dell'Università 16 35020 - Legnaro (PD) tel.: +39 049 827 2963 fax: +39 049 827 2973 skype: smazzariol ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Internship Opportunity: Sea Search Research and Conservation
The Sea Search group conducts research on marine megafauna, primarily whales and dolphins, in southern Africa. Our research covers a wide range of topics from understanding habitat use and ecological relationships in a changing climate to behavioural acoustics. Our primary focus is the production of peer-reviewed scientific research and student training. In addition, we engage in a number of education and outreach activities. The Sea Search Research and Conservation intern programme is aimed at students and graduates looking for medium to long-term placements to develop analytical skills, conduct student projects or short theses and experience active field work and data analysis in the field of cetacean research. We have placements available from September 2018 to May 2019 for periods of at least 2 months. We study a range of species and students/interns would be involved in processing and analysis of (an) appropriate datasets. Fieldwork during this period will focus on feeding groups of humpback whales and endangered humpback dolphins, but the study area has a very diverse species list and data are collected from all encountered cetaceans. Interns will form part of a highly motivated team and will be involved in many Sea Search activities during their stay, including outreach and education activities. Requirements: People with a background in biology and some prior relevant experience (photography, passive acoustics, boat skills) would be preferred, although all training will be given. Interns must have a mature attitude to their work and be prepared to work long days and occasional weekends. There is a monthly cost associated with this programme which includes accommodation, training and fieldwork. Interns who stay through December 2018 will have the opportunity to attend the African Bioacoustics Community Conference for a small additional fee https://africanbioacoustic.wixsite.com/abcommunity. If you are interested in these placements, please contact i...@seasearch.co.za for further information or look at our websites and social media sites: www.seasearch.co.za https://www.facebook.com/seasearch/ https://www.facebook.com/NamibianDolphinProject/ https://www.facebook.com/africanbioacousticscommunity/ Many Thanks! Erin Church Sea Search Research and Conservation 4 Bath Road Muizenberg 021 788 1206 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Vacancy –Masters/PhD Student for Dolphin Ecology and Conservation Study in Penang, Malaysia
Dear MARMAM, Please share Vacancy –Masters/PhD Student for a Dolphin Ecology and Conservation Study in Penang, Malaysia -Knowledge on cetacean ecology/inshore dolphin ecology -Ability to conduct photo-identification, mark-recapture analysis a plus -Independent -Accustomed to long field hours -Team player -Able to get registered as a student as soon as possible -Research is fully funded If interested please send a curriculum vitae and letter of interest by August 15th, 2018 to Dr. Leela Rajamani : leelarajam...@usm.my , Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia,11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia Please also send a page long essay of ‘Why do I want to be marine mammal scientist/conservationist? Regards, Leela -- Leela Rajamani (Ph.D.) Marine Mammal Conservation Senior Lecturer, Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Tel no: 60-4-8852750 (CEMACS) 60-4 6535922 (Main Campus) Fax No: 60-4-8852751 Email leelarajam...@gmail.com leelarajam...@usm.my ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication: Trade-offs between foraging efficiency and pup feeding rate of lactating northern fur seals in a declining population
Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are please to announce the publication of the article ' Trade-offs between foraging efficiency and pup feeding rate of lactating northern fur seals in a declining population’ in Marine Ecology Progress Series and freely available online (open access) at https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v600/p207-222/ Citation: Jeanniard du Dot T, Trites AW, Arnould JPY, Speakman JR, Guinet C (2018) Trade-offs between foraging efficiency and pup feeding rate of lactating northern fur seals in a declining population. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 600:207-222. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12638 Abstract: Foraging strategies and their resulting efficiency (energy gain to cost ratio) affect animals’ survival and reproductive success and can be linked to population dynamics. However, they have rarely been studied quantitatively in free-ranging animals. We investigated foraging strategies and efficiencies of wild northern fur seals Callorhinus ursinus during their breeding season to understand potential links to the observed population decline in the Bering Sea. We equipped 20 lactating females with biologgers to determine at-sea foraging behaviours. We measured energy expenditure while foraging using the doubly-labelled water method, and energy gained using (1) the types and energy densities of prey consumed, and (2) the number of prey capture attempts (from acceleration data). Our results show that seals employed 2 foraging strategies: one group (40%) fed mostly in oceanic waters on small, high energy-density prey, while the other (60%) stayed over the shallow continental shelf feeding mostly on larger, lower quality fish. Females foraging in oceanic waters captured 3 times more prey, and had double the foraging efficiencies of females that foraged on-shelf in neritic waters. However, neritic seals made comparatively shorter trips, and likely fed their pups ~20 to 25% more frequently. The presence of these strategies which either favor foraging efficiency (energy) or frequency of nursing (time) might be maintained in the population because they have similar net fitness outcomes. However, neither strategy appears to simultaneously maximize time and energy allocated to nursing, with potential impacts on the survival of pups during their first year at sea. Best wishes, Tiphaine Jeanniard-du-Dot Tiphaine Jeanniard-du-Dot, PhD Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Marine mammal biology and conservation Institut Maurice-Lamontagne 850 Route de la Mer, P.O. Box 1000 Mont-Joli, QC, G5H 3Z4, CANADA Cell:+1-604-724-4230 / Fax: +1-418-775-0740 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
