PacMam Podcast
By Cindy Elliser
PacMam PodcastDec 11, 2021
Marine Mammal Highlight 53: Rough toothed dolphin!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Rough toothed dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rough-toothed-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/rough-toothed-dolphin/ https://www.marinebio.org/species/rough-toothed-dolphins/steno-bredanensis/ https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/rough-toothed-dolphin https://marinemammalscience.org/facts/steno-bredanensis/ • Shaff and Baird 2021 Diel and Lunar variation in diving behavior https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12811 • Baird et al 2021 – Odontocetes in Pacific Missle Range Facility Feb 2020 https://cascadiaresearch.org/files/Bairdetal2021_Kauai.pdf • Mahaffy and Baird – conference poster: Long-term mom/calf associations 2003-2018 https://cascadiaresearch.org/files/MahaffyBaird2019WMMC.pdf • Huang et al – genome provides insights into genetic mechanism of rough teeth https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37212019/ • Cardoso et al 2019 Anamolous pigmentation and social and feeding behaviors off Brazil https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julio-Cardoso-3/publication/330399056_Rough-Toothed_Dolphins_Steno_bredanensis_Along_Southeastern_Brazil_Report_of_an_Anomalous_Pigmented_Juvenile_and_Description_of_Social_and_Feeding_Behaviors/links/6543e6ac3fa26f66f4ca7a3a/Rough-Toothed-Dolphins-Steno-bredanensis-Along-Southeastern-Brazil-Report-of-an-Anomalous-Pigmented-Juvenile-and-Description-of-Social-and-Feeding-Behaviors.pdf • Albertson et al 2022 Evidence of subspecies delimitation https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12933 • Ramos et al 2020 Food sharing https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeremy-Kiszka/publication/348480942_MMS_RTDfoodsharingpdf/data/6000a3c8299bf140889465cf/MMS-RTDfoodsharing.pdf
PacMam Podcast: New species of killer whales?
Globally there is currently one speices of Killer whale, Orcinus Orca. However they are divided into many different ecotypes based on their foraging, physical, behavioral and cultural differences. There has long been varying amounts of evidence that some of these ecotypes deserve status as at least a sub-species, if not fully separate species. However none have to date been recognized, mostly due to lack of a multitude of clear evidence. But that has changed with the Resident (fish eating) and Bigg's (aka transients, mammal eating) killer whales in the Eastern North Pacific. A new paper brings together multiple lines of evidence to propose that these two ecotypes are different from one another and every other orca population in the world. Enough to warrent them their own species status (suggested O. ater and O. rectipinnus). Join us to learn about the convincing evidence, the process still to come for the possible confirmation of this new designation, and what that means for conservation.
Paper is open access: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rsos.231368
Information about how they choose the names: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/lost-skulls-and-latin-how-scientists-chose-names-newly-identified-killer-whale-species
Information with info graphics: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-research-reveals-full-diversity-killer-whales-two-species-come-view-pacific-coast
Marine Mammal Highlight 52: Heavisides (or Havisides) Dolphin!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
www.pacmam.org
This week: Heavisides (or Havisides) Dolphin
Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources:
https://www.marinebio.org/species/heavisides-dolphins/cephalorhynchus-heavisidii/
https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/heavisides-dolphin/
Marine Mammals of the World, Jefferson, Webber, Pitman, Gorter: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124095427/marine-mammals-of-the-world
https://animalia.bio/heavisides-dolphin
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4161/50352086#population
New Research:
Martin et al 2018– acoustic relaxing acoustic crypsis for increased communication
•https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.1178
Martin et al 2019 – to buzz or burst pulse, functional role of vocalizations •https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347219300089
Gopal et al 2019 – Genetics and geographic variation mtDNA
•https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1749-4877.12380
Martin et al 2020 – First abundance estimates •https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.555659/full
Gridley et al. 2020 Towed passive acoustic monitoring complements visual surveys
•https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/1814232X.2020.1848925
PacMam Podcast: Whale menopause - live long and prosper!
Did you know that menopause is an "evolutionary oddity"? Humans are the only terristrial mammal with this trait, and then there are 5 different species of Odontocetes (the group of toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) that have it as well. Why is it so rare, why did it evolve, what are the benefits, and costs? It is hard to figure out the why, when there aren't many species to compare. But looking at whales, who are very different (our last common ancestor with them is 90 million years ago) physically and ecologically, who show the same trait provides some unique insights into the why and how it evolved.
Paper is open access and available HERE
Check out This Podcast Will Kill You - Menapause episode HERE
Marine Mammal Highlight 51: Galapagos Fur Seal!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Galapagos fur seal Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://animalia.bio/galapagos-fur-seal https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Arctocephalus_galapagoensis/ https://www.galapagos.org/about_galapagos/biodiversity/ https://www.marinebio.org/species/galapagos-fur-seals/arctocephalus-galapagoensis/ https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/species/galapagos-fur-seal/ https://www.nathab.com/know-before-you-go/galapagos-islands/wildlife-guide/mammals/galapagos-fur-seal/ New Research: • Lopes et al. 2015 – Matrilineal population structure - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-015-0725-1 • Paez-Rosas et al. 2017 – Northernmost record on Pacific coast of North and South America https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diego-Paez-Rosas/publication/319433301_Northernmost_Record_of_the_Galapagos_Fur_Seal_Arctocephalus_galapagoensis_A_Consequence_of_Anomalous_Warm_Conditions_Around_the_Galapagos_Archipelago/links/5a09e9ad45851551b78d287f/Northernmost-Record-of-the-Galapagos-Fur-Seal-Arctocephalus-galapagoensis-A-Consequence-of-Anomalous-Warm-Conditions-Around-the-Galapagos-Archipelago.pdf • Quintana-Rizzo et al. 2017 – 1st fur seal in Guatamala https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41200-017-0126-x • Tamayo-Millan et al. Molec ID of first fur seal on central coast of Oaxaca https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S0185-38802021000300201&script=sci_arttext • Chaves et al – 2022 Pop genetics and phylogeography https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.725772/full • Riofrio-Lazo and Paez-Rosas et al. 2021 – Galapagos sea lions and fur seals adapted to variable world https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-59184-7_30 • Ventura et al 2019 – Minimal overlap with conservation zone of marine reserve and Fur seals https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.2943
PacMam podcast: Startle the seal, save some salmon
Harbor seals eat a lot of different things, over 60 different prey species in fact. This includes salmon, which here in the Pacific Northwest puts seals in competition with humans and other species that rely on salmon as well. Salmon runs are greatly in decline, with many of them threatened or endangered. Seals are often seen as a major impediment to salmon recovery, even though they are not the reason the salmon are in decline in the first place. So researchers are looking for ways to lower their impact on salmon populations in non-lethal ways (vs. widespread culling which has been brought to the table). Acoustic deterrent devices have been used for many years as a way to scare seals away, but come with costs including hearing damage, impact to other species and habitat displacement. This paper talks about a new technology that is species specific and limits possible hearing damage and habitat displacment. It is an exciting example of how we can find ways to protect both the salmon and the seals at the same time. Learn about how this new technology works and the possible impacts it could have for both these species.
Paper is open access, access it HERE.
Marine Mammal Highlight 50: White Beaked Dolphin!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
www.pacmam.org This week: White Beaked Dolphins Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/white-beaked-dolphin https://nammco.no/white-beaked-dolphin/#1475762140594-0925dd6e-f6cc New Research: • IJsseldijk et al 2018 – Spatiotemporal analysis of strandings https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/374690 • Van Elk et al 2014 – Is dolphin morbillivirus virulent? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0300985813516643 • Bertulli et al 2015 – photoID marks in Iceland https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/abs/an-assessment-of-the-natural-marking-patterns-used-for-photoidentification-of-common-minke-whales-and-whitebeaked-dolphins-in-icelandic-waters/C90BB6B92A97B770842D962A3C21F98D • Bertulli et al 2015 photoID and site fidelity in Iceland https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrm/article/view/512 • Bertulli et al 2021 – Fission-fusion dynamics https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1749-4877.12524 • Bertulli et al. 2016 – Color pattern in Iceland https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12312 • Haelters and Everaarts 2011 https://www.sosdolfijn.nl/websites/1711/images/two-cases-of-physical-interaction-between-white-beaked-dolphins-and-juvenile-harbour-porpoises-in-the-southern-north-sea.pdf • Samarra et al. 2022 – trophic ecology of white beaked and harbor porpoise https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v702/p139-152/
PacMam podcast: Roberts Bank Terminal 2
Have you heard of Roberts Bank Terminal 2? Chances are you have not (unless you are from Canada). This is a very large new terminal that is planning to be built within the next 10 years. It sits on the mouth of the Fraser River, and will greatly impact the health of the Salish Sea, and the animals and people that call it home. However, little media attention has occurred on the US side of the border, even though it will affect US waters, and is only 1 mile away from the border. This highlights the role of media in raising awareness about an issue, and how the border still acts as a barrier to management in a transboundary ecosystem. For something that will affect both countries, and the many Indigenous First Nations and Tribes in US and Canada, it is a start reminder that we all need to know, and have a say, in what happens. Listen to learn more about the economic, policital, cultural and environmental concerns about this large scale project.
Marine Mammal Highlight 49: Spinner dolphins!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Spinner dolphins Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/spinner-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/spinner-dolphin/ https://www.wilddolphin.org/behavior.html#spinner https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/spinner-dolphin https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Spinner-Dolphin https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/marine-mammals/spinner-dolphins https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/wildlife-facts/spinner-dolphin/ New Research: • Fish et al 2006 - Dynamics of aerial maneuvers - https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/209/4/590/16484/Dynamics-of-the-aerial-maneuvers-of-spinner
• Tyne et al 2015 - Importance of spinner dolphin resting habitat - https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.12434
• Fumagalli et al 2018 - Behavior responses to humans - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.172044
• Tyne et al 2018 – Chronic exposure to human activities - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.171506
• Stack et al 2020 – movement and behavioral patterns Maui Nui Hawai’I - https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v644/p187-197 and McElligott and Lammers 2021 - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.703818/full
• Letessier et al 2022 – Spinner residency in tropical atoll lagoons - https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jzo.13000
PacMam podcast: End of year recap!
Want to know what PacMam has been up to this year? Check out this episode where we recap what we have done and are most excited about, and what we have in store for next year!
Marine Mammal Highlight 48: Harp Seal!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: Harp seal
Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources:
https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/the-phocid-seals/harp-seal
https://www.britannica.com/animal/harp-seal
https://nammco.no/harp-seal/
New Research:
Stenson et al. 2020 - Harp Seals: Monitors of Change in Differing Ecosystem: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.569258/full
Daoust and Caraguel 2012- The Canadian harp seal hunt: observations on the effectiveness of procedures to avoid poor animal welfare outcomes: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare/article/abs/canadian-harp-seal-hunt-observations-on-the-effectiveness-of-procedures-to-avoid-poor-animal-welfare-outcomes/7D9A319A8F86898827F2F03E3C50B154
Stenson et al 2016 - The impact of changing climate and abundance on reproduction in an ice-dependent species, the Northwest Atlantic harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/73/2/250/2614432
Gmuca et al 2015 - The Fat and the Furriest: Morphological Changes in Harp Seal Fur with Ontogeny: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/680080
Lindstrom et al 2012 Harp seal foraging behaviour during summer around Svalbard in the northern Barents Sea: diet composition and the selection of prey: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-012-1260-x
Grahl-Nielsen et al 2011 - Fatty acids in harp seal blubber do not necessarily reflect their diet: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v426/p263-276/
PacMam Podcast: Cooperation between killer whales and humans -Old Tom's tale
Cooperation between humans and animals is not common, but does happen. Killer whales in Eden, New South Wales, had cooperatively hunted baleen whales with Indiginous peoples for millenia, and then for a short time with the commercial whalers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Eventually the baleen whales they hunted became scarce, and so did the Eden killer whales. Was their disspearance due to lack of prey, a breach in protocol (did the humans break the Law of the Tongue), or something else? Did they just die out, or spread their genes elsewhere? Genetics can help solve at least some of this mystery. This is the story of the Eden killer whale, Old Tom, and his pod. Join us as we discuss this unique relationship, and what possibly became of those killer whales.
The paper can be found here: https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/598/7308443
End of year fundraiser, thank you for your support!: https://donorbox.org/pacmam2023
Marine Mammal Highlight: Hector's dolphin
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: Hector's dolphinPresenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hectors-dolphin
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/hectors-dolphin/https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/hectors-dolphin/https://animalia.bio/hectors-dolphin
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/maui-dolphin/facts/#:~:text=Social%20groups&text=Hector's%20dolphins%20often%20form%20groups,few%20other%20females%20and%20calves.
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cephalorhynchus_hectori/https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/hector-s-dolphinNew
Research:
• Roe et al 2013 Toxoplasma gondii as mortality https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2009.00326.x
• Leunissen et al 2019 Impact of pile-driving https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X19302012
• Miller et al 2012 – diet by stomach content https://healthyharbour.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Miller-et-al-2013-Hectors-dolphin.pdf
• Slooten et al. 2010 – effectiveness of conservation measures https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20103147699
• Hammer et al. 2013 – long range movements of hectors may help Maui’s dolphin https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12026
• Webster et al 2010 – laser photogrammetry for measuring Hector’s dolphins https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2009.00326.x
PacMam Podcast: Whats the 'porpoise' of phocoenacide?
Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are fish eating killer whales. In particular, they are salmon eaters, with their preferred prey being Chinook salmon. But over the years they have been documented killing porpoises (often times young calves), but NOT eating them. This type of non-consumptive killing by predators is not unique in the animal kingdom, but the reason behind it varies by species - and sometimes we just don't know why they do it. Are there particular individuals, age classes, or sexes that do it? Is the behavior being transmitted throughout the popluation (evidence of social learning, and culture)? Is it for play, competition for prey, hunting practice, helping of an injured animal, or just fun? Join us as we discuss this paper that covers 45 years of data to try and answer these questions for SRKW and porpoises in the Salish Sea.
Paper available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.13073
Marine Mammal Highlight: Shepard's beaked whale!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: Shepard's beaked whalePresenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources:
https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/shepherds-beaked-whale/
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Tasmacetus_shepherdi/
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/shepherds-beaked-whale/
New Research
Thompson et al 2019 - First underwater sighting -https://mbr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41200-019-0165-6
Holyoake ey al 2014 - Northern most stranding -https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC130169
Towers et al 2022 - Indian ocean sighting confirms circumpolar distribution -https://www.proquest.com/openview/ea83de51fddba9ba437623426ebb16a7/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=38594
Donnelly et al 2022 - New diagnostic descriptions and distribution information for Shepherd's beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) off Southern Australia and New Zealand - https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/new-diagnostic-descriptions-and-distribution-information-for-shep
PacMam Podcast: Dangerous play, cetaceans playing with plastic
It is a surprise to no one that single use plastics are increasing in the marine environment, and that the dangers of this are widespread across all organisms. For cetaceans it comes in the form of ingesting the material and/or becoming entangled. The outcomes for the animals in these scenarios are not good, and in many cases is death. But how do the animals get to that point - what is the behavior that causes them to ingest or get entangled? Do they mistake it for prey items, or as social animals are they playing with it? Understanding how they are interacting with these pieces of litter can help us understand why the bad outcomes happen, and how we may be better able to help prevent them. Join us as we discuss this interesting paper about how cetaceans around the world are playing with plastic (like they would other items in their environment like seaweed), how social media is helping to document this behavior and how all this can help us in the protection of these animals.
Paper is available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X23008627
Marine Mammal Highlight: Long finned pilot whales!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: The Byrde's whalePresenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/long-finned-pilot-whale#:~:text=Long%2Dfinned%20pilot%20whales%20are%20one%20of%20two%20species%20of,features%2C%20coloration%2C%20and%20pattern.
https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/long-finned-pilot-whale/https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/pilot-whale
https://www.marinebio.org/species/pilot-whales/globicephala-macrorhynchus/https://www.acsonline.org/pilot-whale
New Research
Visser et al 2014 – Social context of individual foraging dives: https://ffi-publikasjoner.archive.knowledgearc.net/bitstream/handle/20.500.12242/781/1188198.pdf
Visser et al. 2016 – Disturbance specific social responses: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep28641
Isojunno et al. 2017 – Activity budgets: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.2044
Zwamborn and Whitehead 2016 – repeated calls and behavioral context: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09524622.2016.1233457
Bolea-Fernandez et al 2019 – Mercury metabolism: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43825-zBetty et al. 2022 – Southern hemi age, growth and sex dimorph: https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/103/3/560/6520866
PacMam podcast: Humpback whales to the rescue - correct version!
Mammal eating killer whales (often termed transients or Bigg's killer whales) feed on many different species, even larger whales - including humpback whales. An adult doesn't have to worry too much - they are too big, with defenses that can protect them. But killer whales do attack young calves. So it would make sense that adult humpbacks defend their young, or other humpback whales. But they don't stop there! They have been documented to seeminly come to the aid of other species, including seal, sea lions and other cetaceans. Why would they expend the energy (sometimes coming from miles away, and spending minutes to hours in the encounter), and risk injury to stop killer whales from attacking another species? Is it interspecific altruism, or a side effect of a behavior for another purpose? Join us as we discuss this very interesting paper, learn what defenses humpbacks have and what possible reasons they have for doing this seeminly benevolent behavior!
Paper available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12343
Marine Mammal Highlight: Byrde's whale!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: The Byrde's whale Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/brydes-whale
https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/brydes-whale Vocalizations: https://voicesinthesea.ucsd.edu/species/baleenWhales/brydes.html New research Rosel and Wilcox 2014: Rice’s Whale
NOAA Timeline of Rice's whale discovery:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/marine-mammal-protection/how-gulf-mexico-brydes-whale-became-rices-whale Constantine et al. 2018: Future directions in research for Bryde’s whales https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2018.00333/full Alves et al 2009: associations and dive profiles: insights into foraging behaviors https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Filipe-Alves-9/publication/230108980_Bryde's_whale_Balaenoptera_brydei_stable_associations_and_dive_profiles_New_insights_into_foraging_behavior/links/5a01c9e94585152c9db46389/Brydes-whale-Balaenoptera-brydei-stable-associations-and-dive-profiles-New-insights-into-foraging-behavior.pdf Izadi et al 2018: night life of Bryde’s whale https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-018-2492-8 Izadi et al 2022 – Feeding tactics in NZ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12918 Segre et al 2022 – High speed chases along sea floor – entanglement risk https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.12646 Zhang et al 2021 – Community based population monitoring in CA https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1749-4877.12525
PacMam podcast: Honoring Dr. Roger Payne
Dr. Roger Payne is a giant in the world of marine mammal science. He is the reason "Save the Whales" is phrase, and why we still have whales to save. He recently passed away at the age of 88. In this episode we give some background on who is was, what he did that was so important, his legacy, and what we can learn from him and how we can continue the work he started.
This is the last article Roger wrote (5 days prior to his death) for Time magazine: https://time.com/6284884/whale-scientist-last-please-save-the-species/?fbclid=IwAR3z_Cnqls3E-FEcqeHveCqEFSWflR4tB93HhlK43CuX0LiyzNdgP6NQja8
Marine Mammal Highlight 43: Commerson's dolphin!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: The Commerson's dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.marinebio.org/species/commersons-dolphins/cephalorhynchus-commersonii/
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/mysteries-of-antarctica-the-commerson-s-dolphin
https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/mammals/commersons-dolphin/
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/commerson-s-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/commersons-dolphin/ New research:
Kyhn et al 2010 - Narrowband high frequency clicks: https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/213/11/1940/9821/Echolocation-in-sympatric-Peale-s-dolphins
Garaffo et al 2011 - Modeling habitat of Peales, Dusky and Commersons: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v421/p217-227/
Yoshida et al 2014 - Sound variation in captivity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635714001855
Riccialdelli et al 2013 - Ontogenetic diet shift: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-013-1289-5
Coscarella et al 2011 - body size and ranging patterns relating to sociality https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/92/3/544/866487
Durante et al 2022 - Population structure with female philopatry and male dispersal https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26192-0
PacMam podcast: Kat's story
This episode is about our Assistant Research Director Kat! Learn about her journey that lead her from the Shetland Islands in the North Sea, to PacMama and the Salish Sea.
Research Assistant Ciera's story
Learn about how our Research Assistant Ciera became a marine mammalogist and found her way to us here at PacMam!
PacMam podcast: Don't touch the boat... killer whales in Spain
You may have heard in the media about the killer whales in Spain, off the Iberian Peninsula, that have been interacting with boats. These have been occurring since 2020, but seem to be increasing in number and intensity. Three boats have now been sunk due to the interactins of the whales with the boats, mainly their rudders. Is this play that just goes to far? Is this aggression? Who are the individuals involved? What are the dangers to the whales, and to people? Join us as we discuss the recent 2022 paper that first describes these interactions, including what types of boats seem to be targeted, possible reasons, the individual whales involved, and what mitigation measures have been put in place. We then discuss how the media is portraying the most recent events, and how the reason they discuss is or is not based in scientific evidence, and how this plays into the conservation of this endangered subpopulation of whales.
The paper is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12947
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Marine Mammal Highlight 42: Ringed Seal!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Ringed seal Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns References:
General
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ringed-seal
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Ringed-Seal
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pusa_hispida/
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ringedseal.main
New research
Reimer et al 2018 – ringed seal and climate change
Kunnasranta et al 2021 - review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320720309666
Kelly et al 2010 – home ranges
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-010-0796-x
Riget et al 2013 - PFO pollution
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653513010989
Koivuniemi et al 2016 - photo-ID
https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v30/p29-36/
PacMam podcast: Needle fish for dinner?
We are still learning about what and how harbor porpoises eat, here and around the world. In the waters around Spain, needle fish are a known part of the diet of harbor porpoises as well as other cetaceans in the area. What is interesting about that is that these animals eat fish head first, exclusively, we thought. This may have evolved to protect them from fish that have sharp spines or hard scales that could damage the soft tissue of the esophagus. But with needle fish, the danger lies more in the head (their mouth is long, sharp and full of teeth), so does it make sense to eat it head first? In this interesting note, the researchers document 3 cases where harbor porpoises ate needle fish... but tail first! Is this the normal way to eat this prey species, are these outliers, what is going on? Join us as we discuss what they found, why it is so interesting and why we still have so much to learn about what they are eating!
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Paper is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12781
PacMam podcast: The path to a marine mammal career, and field updates!
This would normally be a marine mammal highlight episode, but Assistant Research Director Kat is on a well deserved vacation, and it isn't the same without her on those episodes! So instead, we are bringing you a sneak peak into what you have access to if you subscribe to the podcast! Subscribers get ad free episodes, plus additional content. That content is made up of mini-episodes about updates from the field, summaries of talks or workshops we have gone to, and learning more about the team behind PacMam and more. This episode is a combo of updates from the field over the last week or so, and then a dive into how our Research Director, Dr. Cindy Elliser came to be here in the Pacific Northwest researching harbor porpoises (it began in the desert if you can believe that!). So sit back and enjoy, and be sure to subscribe if you want to hear more episodes like these! For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe
PacMam podcast: The release of Tokitae/Lolita - things to think about
Tokitae (Toki), or Lolita, is a Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) that was taken as a 4 year old in 1970. She has been in captivity for 52 years at the Miami Seaquarium in a tank far too small (smaller than all guidelines set for captive orcas). For over 40 of those years she has been with no other orcas (sometimes she has a dolphin in her tank for company). There has been dedicated work for decades to get her released, and that possibility is actually on the horizon! The Dolphin Company (who recently bought the Seaquarium) retired her, and has entered into a binding contract with Friends of Lolita/Toki to release her back into her home waters. This is fantastic news, but there is still a lot of work to be done, and things that need to be considered. There are economic, ethical, social and biological factors that need to be considered in how this release will go, and what is ultimitely best for Toki. There are so many people that have come together to help this whale, and that is truly heartwarming. Vets, trainers, activists, native tribes, researchers, the public all want what is best for her. In this podcast we are not judging either side (keeping captive vs. release), but raising the various questions that we need to consider in this complicated, and emotional, situation in order to inform our decisions so that we do the best we can for Toki.
Marine Mammal Highlight 41: Pygmy Right Whale!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: Pygmy Right Whales
Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources: https://www.acsonline.org/pygmy-right-whale
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123735539002145
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/caperea-marginata
New Research:
2013, Fordyce and Marx. Last of the Cetotheres: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2012.2645
2015, Tsai and Fordyce. Missing link – Ancestor-descendant relationships https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0875
2017, Tsai et al. Northern pygmy right whales in past https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982217310965
2018, Tsai and Mead. Stranding pygmy right whale in Northern hemisphere https://zoologicalletters.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40851-018-0117-8?fbclid=IwAR3qemUVOE7380cJYpCNbsWkYwpmpWkBTBZzjnCrwFvmFONeIMXkbnwaQUk
2002, Kemper. Distribution in Australasian region https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01021.x
2013, Kemper et al. whales and areas of high marine producitivity off AU and NZ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03014223.2012.707662
2022, Tanaka et al. Feeding by skimming https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.221353
2017, Park et al. Inner ear cochlea and phylogeny https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.20674
2018, Werth et al. Filtration area scaling and evolution https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/125/2/264/5085357
Fin whale references:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.630233/full
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0063396
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01161.x
PacMam podcast: Field updates!
Join Research Director Cindy and Research Assistant Ciera as we review some of the fun things we have seen in the field over the last 3-4 weeks. From porpoises and seals, to birds and river otters, and even some snow, there was a lot to see! We hope you enjoy reliving some of the highlights with us!
Music by Josh Burns
PacMam podcast: New measurement unit, sea otter paws!
How can you measure a prey item that is being consumed by a sea otter? You can't take it and physically measure it, you are just watching them eat it. But size is an important factor to know about when looking at foraging ecology and how much energy they are deriving from their prey. Well, sea otter researchers have come up with an ingenious way to measure things that can be comparable with any other location - which is very necessary when wanting to compare between regions. They use sea otter paw widths! This is one of the fun new things we learned while reading this study on sea otter foraging ecology. We also learn more about how Washington sea otters are different than California and British Columbia sea otters, and why that is important when discussing and comparing diets, energy intake and population growth between regions. Come and learn about how good Washington sea otters are at eating kelp crabs (compared to the other locations) and what implications that has for differences in foraging ecology and population growth between these regions.
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Paper is available here: https://bioone.org/journals/northwestern-naturalist/volume-104/issue-1/NWN20-07/RAPID-CONSUMPTION-OF-KELP-CRAB--IMPLICATIONS-FOR-SEA-OTTERS/10.1898/NWN20-07.short
Marine Mammal Highlight 40: New Zealand Fur Seals!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: New Zealand Fur Seals
Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe
Sources:
Diet and Behavior:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/nz-fur-seal/facts/
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/new-zealand-fur-seal/
New research:
Lactating females and foraging: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z08-055
Colony specific foraging grounds: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v361/p279-290/
Foraging site fidelity continental shelf vs. oceanic: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00487.x
Vessel disturbance: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12171
Swimming with seals ecotourism: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X13002522
Toxoplasmosis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401714004099
Novel DNA virus: https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/genomeA.00558-13
Hybrids: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03586.x
PacMam podcast: How big is your fin?
In some species males and females look different, this is called sexual dimorphism. Often times it is the males that have the distinct features, but not always. Sometimes the features are VERY different, and sometimes they are more subtle. Being able to know if an individual is male or female is important in understanding their social structure, behavior, mating strategies and can inform conservation measures. It is often hard to know the sex of a whale, dolphin or porpoise as many species don't have distinct sexual dimorphism, and other ways to determine sex are more invasive (like biopsies or necropsies). In this episode we dive into a new technology that allows researchers to determine the sex of individual whales by using photographs. They use a special program, ImageJ, that allows researchers to use pixel measurements to quantify different body parts (like fin height, length, etc.). They can then use combinations of these measurements to create ratios that they can then compare between individuals. Join us and learn how this new technology may allow researchers to be able to predict the sex of individuals, and the implications that has on conservation!
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Paper is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12963
PacMam podcast: Ways of Whales workshop recap
Thank you for being a subscriber!
In this mini episode we review the recent Ways of Whales workshop held in January 2023 by the Orca Network. This is a great day of learning, open to everyone, from the public to researchers. It is a great day to learn new things, catch up with friends and meet new ones, and new colleagues! Check it out next year in 2024!
If you have questions for the podcast, send them to info@pacmam.org.
Thank you for your support!
Marine Mammal Highlight 39: Weddell Seals!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: Weddell Seals
Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
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Weddell seal episode Sources:
· https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/the-phocid-seals/weddell-seal
· http://weddellsealscience.com/about.html (research running since 1968!)
· https://www.marinebio.org/species/weddell-seals/leptonychotes-weddellii/
Sound files:
· https://dosits.org/galleries/audio-gallery/marine-mammals/pinnipeds/weddell-seal/(sound file)
· https://ocr.org/sounds/weddell-seal/(sound file)
· https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/seals/weddell-seal/(lots of sound files)
New research:
LaRue et al 2020 - crowd sourcing and remote sensing: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.124
LaRue et al 2021 - new global population estimate with crowd sourcing and remote sensing: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.124
Popular science article of that publication: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/02/04/weddell-seal-population-may-be-much-lower-than-previously-thought/
Davis et al 2003 - 3D dive movments: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v264/p109-122/
Williams et al 2004 - metabolic costs of foraging: o https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/207/6/973/15049/The-cost-of-foraging-by-a-marine-predator-the
Heerah et al 2013 - ecology of seals during winter (foraging): o https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0967064512001658
Wheatley et al 2006 - influence of maternal mass: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3838384
Hadley et al 2006 - variation in probability of first reproduction: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01118.x
PacMam Podcast: Hot Spots for hope - the Salish Sea example
We often talk about the Salish Sea on our podcast, but many of you may not know exactly where or what that is. It is an urban sea, with high biodiversity and productivity - making it a great place for many organisms, including humans. However, the extenisve development by humans often comes at a cost, which is paid for by the ecosystem, usually resulting in negative effects that can combine, accumulate and interact in very complex ways, reducing the health of both the ecosystem and those that call it home. But the Salish Sea has shown resiliency, it still boasts thriving populations of plants, animals and humans; but it is also a cautionary tale. There are many parts of the Sea, and animals within it, that are in danger - showing us that we are testing that resiliency. So what can be done? Join us as we review this article that showcases how the Salish Sea as an urban sea can be a model for understanding the complex threats to urban seas around the world, and most importantly provides ideas and hope for what we can do now to help protect and conserve these important waterways, so that we don't pass the point of no return.
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Paper is open access: https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/10/1/00055/195015/Urban-seas-as-hotspots-of-stress-in-the
Governance article mentioned in the podcast: https://cedar.wwu.edu/salish_pubs/33/
PacMam Podcast: End of year fun!
We wanted to end the year with a look back at the favorite things we covered and learned in the podcast, what was the most exciting field session and what we are looking forward to next year! Join us for a look back and a look forward, and have a wonderful holiday!
There is still time to donate to our end of year fundraiser: https://donorbox.org/pacmam2022
Thank you for your support!
PacMam podcast: pilot whales expelled what? and seal vs. otter hide and seek
This episode we are covering two short notes on some pretty fantastic behaviors! Drones can give us perspectives that we can't otherwise get when viewing wildelife, and these two papers are great examples of this. The first paper reviews an apparent expulsion of placental material in a group of pilot whales that also contained a neonate calf (likely born within the past 12 hours). It is very rare to see a cetacean birth in the wild, or anything like this relating to a recent birth, so this is a very interesting and important documentation. Join us as we review the video and the interesting behaviors that the other pilot whales in the group showed during the event. The second paper is a bit lighter, and seems like two animals having some interspecies playtime. Here they document a river otter and harbor seal seemingly playing hide and seek or tag. Now, we don't know exactly what they are doing or why, but they are definitely interacting together on purpose, chasing after each other at times, and looking for each other when one runs off. Join us as we review the playful video and discuss what may be happening and why. Both papers provide unique and important insights in the lives of these marine mammals.
Papers and videos freely available
Marine Mammal Highlight 38: The Bowhead Whale!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This week: The Bowhead Whale
Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver
Music by Josh Burns
Sources
General:
International Whaling commission
Papers in the new research section:
Seasonal habitat selection and here
Killer whale predation and landscape of fear
Genome and positive selection for gene mutations linked to cancer and aging
Olfaction – they have sense of smell
Unmanned aerial systems for photo-ID
PacMam podcast: Cruise ships, busy harbors and displaced dolphins
Marine ecotourism provides economic benefits for humans, and is a good alternative for marine species that migh otherwise be hunted, like many dolphin and whale species. However, there are still negative effects that can have long-term consequences for a species' survival. Increased vessel traffic creates a noisy enviornment, increases risk of vessel strike, and can cause changes to behavior and activity budgets. These can directly hurt the animals, but can also cause indirect effects (like reduced time foraging, or reduced reproduction) that can accumulate and negatively impact the long-term survival. It is important that we understand where the balance lies between what we need/want to do, and the needs of the animals. This paper is a great example of using long-term data to show what the problem is and articulate what we should be doing into the future to strike that balance so that both humans and dolphins can coexist. This paper looks at changes in the number of cruise ships and people going into a harbor in New Zealand and correlates that with changes observed in Hector's dolphins sighting rates and distribution pattern. It is an excellent example of how long-term monitoring is vital to being able to identify when changes occur, why the are occurring, and gives us the tools we need to be able to act in real-time for the health of the ecosystem that the humans and dolphins rely on.
Paper is freely available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.3881
Marine Mammal Highlight 37: The Pantropical Spotted Dolphin!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This episode: the pantropical spotted dolphin
Get merch!!! https://www.bonfire.com/store/pacific-mammal-research/
PacMam podcast: symbols of cultural importance
Culture is not unique to humans. This idea is becoming increasingly more accepted, and researchers are finding evidence of culture in many different species, including marine mammals. From tool use, to foraging strategies and dialects, there is evidence of social learning and transmission of information between individuals and through generations, which is the basis for culture. Sperm whales are a wonderful example of multilevel cultural society, with distinct vocal characters (akin to dialects) and nearly permanent social units that interact with other social units in their range. This paper looks at if the vocal characteristics they have constitute a symbolic marker for a group of individuals that the whales can use to identify themselves, but also other whales. Do they use this as a cultural marker defining one group from the next. Think of clothing styles, accents, and body modifications in humans that serve the same purpose. Do sperm whales use specific vocal calls to identify members of their own clan, vs. members of others? Come learn what they found and how amazing the culture of sperm whales is!
Paper is open access: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2201692119
Ted talk by Hal Whitehead on whale culture mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uyGXoMaXns
Marine Mammal Highlight 36: The Walrus!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This episode: The Walrus
PacMam podcast: The tell tale isotopes
We are what we eat...that is more than just a metaphor. The food we eat gets incorporated into our body tissues. This allows us to learn about what an animal eats, not just by observing them, or looking through their poop, but by sampling tissues like skin. This is particularly important for animals where it is hard to observe exactly what they are eating, or getting their poop, like many marine mammals. By using skin/blubber samples from biopsy darting researchers can look at the stable isotopes of Carbon and Nitrogen. Every element has a certain number of istopes, which are naturally occurring variants of each element that differ in the number of neutrons in the atom. They occur in particular ratios at different trophic levels (level of the food chain) and regions. By looking at these istopes researchers can determine what and where an animal has eaten. In this paper researchers are looking at Eastern Pacific Gray whales (on the U.S. West Coast). Previously it was thought that they only ate in the Arctic, and did not eat at their breeding grounds in Baja California, Mexico. But observations of occassional feeding in other areas, like west of Vancouver Island, and at the breeding grounds raise questions. Join us as we learn about what these stable istopes from skin samples can tell us about the importance of different feeding areas to these whales, why this turns the table on what we have previously thought about their feeding habits, and why this information is so crucial for conservation.
Paper freely available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-10780-1
Marine Mammal Highlight 35: Burmeister's porpoise!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This episode: Burmeister's porpoise
PacMam Podacst: Risky business - fungus and marine mammals!
We did an episode about Mucormycosis a while back, and here we are touching on it again, but this time about the risk factors. This is an emergent disease in marine mammals of the Salish Sea, and particularly harbor porpoises who it seems to affect more than other species. In addition, porpoises are a good surrogate for how this disease can affect Southern Resident Killer Whales that are critically endangered. But in order to understand what the risk is, we need to know how they get the fungus, how likely are they to be exposed to it, how severe is the infection, what does it look like, and what are the cofactors that may affect if a porpoise gets the disease? In this paper the authors look at a lot of different factors, studies and what we know from other species and combine them into a qualitative risk assessment for harbor porpoises that is the first step to better understanding this disease and its effect on Salish Sea marine mammals.
Paper is open access and freely available: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00555/full
PacMam podcast: the power of observation, the scientific note!
This episode is a little different, we aren't going over one journal paper, but a few. These papers are called notes, and they are shorter descriptions of interesting behaviors, observations or occurrences. They are similar to anecdotes in that a full analysis of the event or behavior cannot be conducted as there are only a few instances (or maybe only 1), and so a full analysis cannot be completed, or it would not be correct to do so. Some have seen these types of papers as 'less than', or not worthy of publication, but that is changing. Science starts with observation - that is the beginning of the scientific method, it starts the process! These observations are important as they can point us in new directions of research, or just to keep our eyes open for something we weren't looking for before. This allows us to ask more questions and better understand the organisms we are studying - sometimes a new behavior becomes the norm! Join us as we showcase a few scientific notes that show why this type of paper is so important, and the amazing things they have documented.
Marine Mammal Highlight 34: The Ribbon seal!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This episode: The Ribbon seal
PacMam podcast: Leopard seals eat what?!
New Zealand leopard seals are generalist top predators. However, little is known about the diet and foraging ecology for many populations, especially in New Zealand. Although they are usually found around Antarctic waters, they can be found farther north along the land masses and islands that surround those waters. Recently a nonprofit organization, leopardseals.org, has found through photo-ID that individuals are returning to the NZ coastline. They also collect scat, or poop, to identify what they are eating. This unique research combines citizen science, dedicated research, photo-ID, along morphological and DNA analyses to identify prey of the NZ leopard seals. Come learn about how citizens are helping collect vital data, and what these leopard seals are eating - something that hasn't been documented in this species before!
Marine Mammal Highlight 33: Peale's dolphin!
Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!
This episode: Peale's dolphin