[MARMAM] New publication: Characterizing human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tampa Bay (Meredith MacQueeney)

[Meredith MacQueeney]

Dear colleagues,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication in Human
Dimensions of Wildlife:

“Characterizing human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops
truncatus*) in Tampa Bay”

Meredith MacQueeney, Michelle A. M. Collier, Peter Simard & Shannon Gowans

https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2021.1950241

Abstract:

Human interaction (HI) is known to disturb cetaceans. Regional wildlife
interaction guidelines exist to mitigate harmful impacts, but the efficacy
of these guidelines is understudied. HI with bottlenose dolphins was
documented opportunistically in Tampa Bay from 2009 to 2018. Vessel
compliance to the guidelines was low with 80% of encounters being
non-compliant. HI was observed in 33% of days in the field and in 22% of
dolphin sightings. Poisson regression identified vessel type as a strong
key factor related to compliance, with faster more maneuverable boats more
likely to be non-compliant. Additionally, HI involved recreational vessels
much more frequently than tourism vessels. These results likely
underestimate true HI rates because of sampling limitations. Researchers
should opportunistically document HI including vessel characteristics and
vessel behavior to help quantify compliance. When developing HI guidelines
and their promotion, managers should carefully consider which stakeholders
engage in HI to best direct resources to that audience.

To request a PDF copy of the paper please contact Meredith MacQueeney (
memac...@eckerd.edu).

Kind regards,

-Meredith MacQueeney (she/her)

Eckerd College 2019

Current affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Biology

Georgetown University

mem...@georgetown.edu
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[MARMAM] New publication on elephant seals biologging and active acoustics

[TOURNIER Martin]

Dear MARMAM colleagues,

On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to announce our new article in Journal 
of Marine Systems :

Tournier, M., Goulet, P., Fonvieille, N., Nerini, D., Johnson, M., & Guinet, C. 
(2021). A novel animal-borne miniature echosounder to observe the distribution 
and migration patterns of intermediate trophic levels in the Southern Ocean. 
Journal of Marine Systems. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2021.103608

Abstract:

Despite expanding in-situ observations of marine 
ecosystems
 by new-generation sensors, information about intermediate trophic 
levels
 remains sparse. Indeed, mid-trophic levels, while encompassing a broad range 
of 
zooplankton
 and 
micronekton
 organisms that represent a key component of marine ecosystems and sustain 
large and diverse communities of marine predators, are challenging to sample 
and identify. In this study, we examined whether an animal-borne miniature 
active echosounder can provide information on the distribution and movements of 
mid-trophic level organisms. If so, such a sonar tag, harnessing the persistent 
diving behaviour of far-ranging marine 
mammals,
 could greatly increase the density of data on this under-studied biome. 
High-frequency (1.5 MHz) sonar tags were deployed simultaneously with 
oceanographic tags on two southern elephant seals (Mirounga 
leonina),
 at the Kerguelen Islands and Valdés 
Peninsula
 (Argentina), and recorded acoustic 
backscatter
 while the seals foraged respectively in the Indian and the Atlantic sectors of 
the Southern 
Ocean.
 The backscatter varied widely over time and space, and the seals attempted to 
capture only a small fraction of the insonified targets. Diel vertical 
migration
 patterns were clearly identifiable in the data, reinforcing our confidence in 
the ability of the sonar tags to detect living mid-trophic organisms along with 
possibly sinking biological 
detritus.
 Moreover, CTD tags attached to the same animals indicated how the abundance, 
size distribution, and diel 
migration
 behaviour of acoustic targets varied with water bodies. These preliminary 
results demonstrate the potential for animal-borne sonars to provide detailed 
in-situ information. Further validation effort will make it a valuable tool to 
refine the estimation of carbon export fluxes as well as for assessing the 
variation of mid-trophic level biomass according to oceanographic domains and 
seasons.

Please feel free to ask for the PDF.

Regards,

Martin Tournier,
Ph.D. candidate
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC, UMR 7372 CNRS/ULR)
martin.tourn...@cebc.cnrs.fr

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[MARMAM] New publication: Acoustic repertoire of hooded seals

[Heloise Frouin-Mouy]

Dear MARMAM community,



My co-author and I are pleased to announce that the following paper on acoustic 
repertoire of hooded seals is now available online:


Frouin-Mouy, H., & Hammill, M. 2021. In-air and underwater sounds of hooded 
seals during the breeding season in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Journal of 
the Acoustical Society of America 150, 281-293 
https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0005478



Abstract:

The hooded seal is a migratory species inhabiting the North Atlantic. Passive 
acoustic monitoring (PAM) conducted over spatial scales consistent with their 
known and potential habitat could provide insight into seasonal and spatial 
occurrence patterns of this species. Hooded seal airborne and underwater 
acoustic signals were recorded during the breeding season on the pack ice in 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence in March 2018 to better characterize their acoustic 
repertoire (notably underwater calls). In-air and underwater signals were 
classified into 12 and 22 types, respectively. Signals produced by males 
through the inflation and deflation of the proboscis and septum were the 
predominant sounds heard on the ice surface. Five of the 22 underwater signals 
were proboscis and septum noises. The remaining underwater signals (17) were 
categorized as voiced calls and further analyzed using two classification 
methods. Agreement with the initial subjective classification of voiced calls 
was high (77% for classification tree analysis and 88% for random forest 
analysis), showing that 12-13 call types separated well. The hooded seal's 
underwater acoustic repertoire is larger and more diverse than has been 
previously described. This study provides important baseline information 
necessary to monitor hooded seals using PAM.



Please feel free to reach out (hfrouinm...@uvic.ca) with questions or to obtain 
a pdf copy of the article.



Best,



Heloise



Héloïse Frouin-Mouy, PhD




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[MARMAM] Aquatic Mammals journal issue 47.4 is available online

[Kathleen Dudzinski]

Dear MARMAM and ECS Talk subscribers,
 
Happy July!  Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to 
cross-posting.
 
The titles listed below represent the contents of the most recent issue (Volume 
47, issue 4, 2021) of Aquatic Mammals that is published online. 
 
Aquatic Mammals is the longest running peer-reviewed journal dedicated to 
research on aquatic mammals and is published quarterly with manuscripts 
available as published PDFs in real time. 
Further information about the journal can be found at: 
http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/  
 
To submit a manuscript for publication consideration, please visit: 
http://am.expressacademic.org/actions/author.php 

 Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and abstract postings.
 
With regards,
Kathleen M. Dudzinski, Ph.D.
Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal
busin...@aquaticmammalsjournal.org 
 
 
Volume 47, Issue 4 (Items preceded by an ** are open access)
 
Victoria Sorriba, Lia Lujan, Viviana De los Santos, Adam W. Stern, Federico R. 
Vilaplana Grosso, and Juan Pablo Damián. (2021). Comparison Between Digital 
Radiography and Computed Tomography for the Detection of Metal Fragments in 
Postmortem Examined Pinniped Skulls. Aquatic Mammals, 47(4), 321-329. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.321 

Nicoli Eiras, Samira Costa-Silva, Thais H. M. Melo, Luciana Veríssimo, and 
Milton C. C. Marcondes. (2021). Unusual Behaviour of Humpback Whale (Megaptera 
novaeangliae) Mothers and Calves. Aquatic Mammals, 47(4), 330-336. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.330 

Holli C. Eskelinen and Brittany L. Jones. (2021). Acoustic Characteristics of 
Bubblestream-Associated Whistles Produced by Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) During the First Thirty Days of Life. Aquatic Mammals, 
47(4), 337-348. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.337 

**Douglas J. Krause and Jefferson T. Hinke. (2021). Finally Within Reach: A 
Drone Census of an Important, But Practically Inaccessible, Antarctic Fur Seal 
Colony. Aquatic Mammals, 47(4), 349-354. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.349 

Brian C. Balmer, Stephen D. McCulloch, Todd R. Speakman, Jeffrey Foster, Larry 
J. Hansen, Wayne E. McFee, and Gregory D. Bossart. (2021). Comparison of 
Short-Term Satellite Telemetry and Long-Term Photographic-Identification for 
Assessing Ranging Patterns of Individual Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops 
truncatus) in the Waters Around Charleston, South Carolina, USA . Aquatic 
Mammals, 47(4), 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.355 

Guillermo J. Sánchez Contreras, Barbara Biancani, Nicola Pussini, Claudia Gili, 
Livio Galosi, and Giacomo Rossi. (2021). Multimetastatic Hepatocellular 
Carcinoma in a South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens; Shaw, 1800). Aquatic 
Mammals, 47(4), 362-370. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.362 

Jessica Post, Mystera M. Samuelson, Debra P. Moore, and Moby Solangi. (2021). 
Brachygnathia Superior Observed in a Juvenile Common Bottlenose Dolphin 
(Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals, 47(4), 371-375. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.371 

**Miriam Marmontel, Danielle dos Santos Lima, Claudia Funi, Valdenira Ferreira 
dos Santos, and Marcelo Oliveira-da-Costa. (2021). Unveiling the Conservation 
Status of Inia and Sotalia in the Brazilian Northeastern Amazon. Aquatic 
Mammals, 47(4), 376-393.  https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.376 

**Ronald A. Kastelein, Lean Helder-Hoek, Linde N. Defillet, Léonie A. E. 
Huijser, John M. Terhune, and Robin Gransier. (2021). Temporary Hearing 
Threshold Shift in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) Due to 
One-Sixth-Octave Noise Bands Centered at 2 and 4 kHz: Effect of Duty Cycle and 
Testing the Equal-Energy Hypothesis. Aquatic Mammals, 47(4), 394-418. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.4.2021.394 
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[MARMAM] New publication : Ontogenetic and seasonal analysis of the diet and isotopic niche of humpback whales in the Magellan Strait, Chile

[Daniela Haro]

Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication of the paper:

Haro, D., P. Sabat, J. Acevedo, J. Capella, B. Cáceres, A. Aguayo-Lobo, F.
Martínez. 2021. Ontogenetic and seasonal analysis of the diet and isotopic
niche of humpback whales in the Magellan Strait, Chile.  Marine Ecology
Progress Series. 669: 213–226. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13733

https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v669/p213-226/

ABSTRACT: The ecological niche is dynamic, since the position and width of
the niche can vary at different spatial and temporal scales. We examined
the trophic ecology of southeast Pacific humpback whales Megaptera
novaeangliae in the Magellan Strait feeding area in 2011, 2012 and 2017,
analyzing changes in diet and the width of the isotopic niche in relation
to ontogeny and seasonality. The isotopic composition of carbon (δ13C) and
nitrogen (δ15N) in whale skin and in
putative prey species was analyzed. Bayesian mixing models were used to
determine the diet, and the isotopic niche was estimated using the standard
ellipse area. Differences were found between the diets of juveniles and
adults; Fuegian sprat Sprattus fuegensis was consumed mostly by
adult individuals. We found no differences in the diet or in the isotopic
niche of humpback whales
throughout the feeding season in all years. This study suggests that the
differences in diet between age classes are influenced by the ability to
find and capture prey, whereas seasonality does not influence the niche
width of humpback whales in the Magellan Strait. Our results suggested that
fluctuations in the abundance of prey populations could influence in the
trophic niche
dynamics of humpback whales in the Magellan Strait. In particular, a
reduction in the availability of Fuegian sprat would mainly affect adult
individuals, leading to a dietary switch and/or to an expansion of their
feeding area.

Please contact me at >
for a PDF copy or
questions.
-- 
*Daniela Haro Díaz*
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[MARMAM] PhD available on communicative cognition in whales in Australia

[Michael Noad]

PhD available on animal communicative cognition



The Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratories (CEAL) group at the University 
of Queensland (UQ), Australia, is seeking applicants for one PhD position. UQ 
is routinely listed in the top 50 or so universities in the world and has one 
of the largest marine science programs in Australia. CEAL has been studying 
humpback whale vocal communication since 2002. CEAL is situated at the Moreton 
Bay Research Station at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Is (Minjerribah) near 
Brisbane. MBRS is a 30 min ferry trip from the mainland (Cleveland, where 
several of our PhD students live) and about 90 min from the centre of Brisbane, 
the main St Lucia campus of the University, and the Brisbane international and 
domestic airports. North Stradbroke Island itself is a beautiful island with 
good surf beaches, national parks, diving, and camping.

The CEAL group has a primarily focus on cetacean acoustic behaviour and 
communication, the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals, cetacean 
physiology, and cetacean population dynamics. We value a team-based approach, 
where supervisors and researchers work effectively together on various 
projects. We also value gender equity and cultural diversity within the lab. As 
part of the lab PhD programme, we offer experience in field data collection, 
grant and report writing, and statistical data analysis. We are also able to 
offer students industry placements, where we encourage and support students to 
gain real-world experience. Our lab would provide a challenging but impactful 
PhD experience and, as such, we are seeking an enthusiastic and capable student 
with strong interests in animal acoustic communication and cognition.



This PhD will be part of a larger study on the hearing of humpback whales 
funded by the Living Marine Resources program, U.S. Navy. Applicants should 
therefore have a background and general interest in animal communication, 
behaviour and cognition and should hold an honours degree or masters degree (or 
equivalent). Successful applications will be put forward for a scholarship to 
the University which will fully cover tuition and pay a living stipend. Due to 
current COVID-19 travel restrictions, domestic (Australian and New Zealand) 
students will be preferred. Please see below for more details.



Background



Humpback whales are renowned for their complex communication repertoire. 
However, much less is known about how these animals hear, and perceive, 
different sound sources. A previous study (project BRAHSS; 
https://www.brahss.org.au), led by CEAL, Curtin University, and the University 
of Sydney, found that humpback whales changed their migratory behaviour in 
response to the noise from seismic air guns. However, these behavioural changes 
were found to be relatively 'subtle'. One hypothesis that may explain these 
subtle behavioural changes is that the air gun 'bang' is a similar to the sound 
of a humpback 'breach'. Therefore, humpback whales perceive these sounds as 
being 'familiar' and do not respond dramatically to them. This hypothesis will 
be the focus of the PhD project.



CEAL is leading a new study of the hearing range, and hearing sensitivity, of 
humpback whales. To do this, 'tones' of various frequencies will be played back 
to humpback whales following on from a previous experiment that found a clear 
and measurable avoidance response to a 2 kHz tone (Dunlop et al. 2013). Part of 
this new study will include a 'positive control'; sounds from killer whales. We 
expect these sounds to elicit a 'fear' response in whales meaning we would 
expect a clear avoidance respond as soon as they hear them giving us a basis 
with which to measure the behavioural response to tones. The fact that humpback 
whales clearly avoided a 2 kHz tone, and this response seemed to be of greater 
magnitude than was found to the seismic air gun array, may be due to the fact 
that the



2 kHz tones sounded similar to killer whale sounds. In other words, 'tones' and 
'killer whale sounds' do not sound like conspecific sounds, and may elicit a 
more 'fearful' response.

The PhD project will compare the behavioural response of humpbacks to tones, 
killer whale sounds, air guns, and sounds made by conspecifics to test if sound 
context, familiarity, and 'meaning' could explain differences in observed 
behavioural responses. You will use data already collected on humpback whale 
responses to conspecific sounds and air gun sounds (project BRAHSS). In 
addition, you will be part of the HHARC (Hearing in Humpbacks Acoustic Research 
Collaboration) project field effort (2021 - 2024) to collect further data on 
humpback responses to 'tones' and 'killer whale sounds' (Peregian Beach field 
site). For further information on the field site and earlier studies see CEAL 
publications.

Results will extend our knowledge of animal perception of sound (cognition) as 
well as how, and why, whales respond to variou

[MARMAM] Vacancy for Modeller at International Whaling Commission

[Iain Staniland]

Dear MarMam,

We have an exciting opportunity to work within the Secretariat of the 
International Whaling Commission
See: https://iwc.int/vacancies

Lead for Modelling and Statistics

This position will oversee the programming and implementation of cetacean 
population models and the management of related data. An important part of the 
role is to evaluate the sustainability of aboriginal harvest quotas through 
computer simulations and involves close collaboration with members of the 
Scientific Committee and other Commission stakeholders. The post holder will 
also have line management responsibility for three statistical officers.

We are looking for candidates with substantial programming and analytical 
experience, skilled in leadership and management, and confident in building 
effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. The ideal 
candidate will have good communication skills, including the ability to explain 
technical material to a non-scientific audience.

Overseas applications are welcomed, noting that the successful applicant will 
need to be based in Cambridge, UK.

Applications can be made by sending a CV and covering letter setting out how 
you meet the requirements in the person 
specification
 to Julie Creek 
(julie.cr...@iwc.int) by 00:00 GMT on Sunday 1st 
August 2020.

Equal opportunities statement

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all 
suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar 
philosophical belief; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, 
whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are 
disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo 
gender reassignment


Dr. Iain Staniland
Head of Science, Conservation and Management
INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION
The Red House, 135 Station Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9NP, UK
t. +44 (0) 1223 233971  d. +44 (0) 1223 606128
www.iwc.int
Working hours: 9 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday
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This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential or 
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recipient(s). If you are not the named addressee you should delete the email 
and notify the sender immediately. E-mails are not secure and cannot be 
guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, or contain 
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attachment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent 
those of the International Whaling Commission.
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[MARMAM] New paper on behavioral responses of humpback whales to biopsy sampling

[Claire GARRIGUE]

Dear Colleagues,


My co-author Solene Dervile and I are very pleased to be able to share 
that our paper "Behavioral responses of humpback whales to biopsy 
sampling on a breeding ground: the influence of age-class, reproductive 
status, social context, and repeated sampling" has been publisehd in 
Marine Mammal Science. 2021 https://doi.org/10./mms.12848



Abstract:

/The short-term response of humpback whales to boat approach and remote 
biopsy sampling was investigated in a breeding ground according to 
age-class, sex, female reproductive status, social context, sampling 
system, habitat, and repeated sampling with more than 20 years of data. 
In a total of 2,248 observed behavioral responses to biopsy sampling, 58.7%
showed no response, 40.7% were considered to be weak or moderate 
responses, and only 0.5% were considered to be
strong. No significant difference was found between the response of 
calves (young-of-the-year) and that of adults, whereas juveniles 
responded significantly more strenuously. The response of adult whales 
was influenced by sex, female reproductive
status, and social context.Mothers showed themost frequent response to 
the boat approach, but the weakest response to the biopsy sampling 
itself, whereas nonlactating females had the strongest response to 
biopsy sampling. Males responded less when sampledwithin a competitive 
group. Repeated sampling of individual adults resulted in decreasing 
intensity of  responses across years. This comprehensive assessment has 
implications for management authorities, notably in approving  research 
permits for sampling different age classes on breeding grounds. We found 
that publicationson marine mammal welfare are infrequent but on the 
rise, and that there is a need for a common language between welfare 
science and marine mammal research to improve the translation and 
reception of this cross-disciplinary field. /


Please contact me or solene.dervi...@ird.fr for a full pdf paper.//

--
Dr Claire Garrigue
UMR ENTROPIE - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
101 Promenade Gabriel Laroque
BPA5
98848 Nouméa Cedex
Nouvelle-Calédonie
Phone: +687 829560
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claire_Garrigue

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