Apologies, a link to this paper should have been included in the original 
message.  The paper can be downloaded at www.cascadiaresearch.org or from the 
journal's web site at 
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00517.x/abstract


Dear MARMAM list members,

The following paper is now available in Early View from Marine Mammal Science.

Aschettino, J.M., R.W. Baird, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr, J.L. 
Huggins, K.K. Martien, S.D. Mahaffy, and K.L. West. 2011. Population structure 
of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in the Hawaiian Archipelago: 
evidence of multiple populations based on photo-identification. Marine Mammal 
Science doi: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00517.x

Abstract:
Despite the presence of melon-headed whales in tropical and subtropical waters 
worldwide, little is known about this species. To assess population structure 
in Hawai'i, dedicated field efforts were undertaken from 2000 to 2009. Using 
only good quality photographs, there were 1,433 unique photo-identified 
individuals, of which 1,046 were distinctive. Of these, 31.5% were seen more 
than once. Resighting data combined with social network analyses showed 
evidence of two populations-a smaller, resident population, seen exclusively 
off the northwest region of the island of Hawai'i, and a larger population, 
seen throughout all the main Hawaiian Islands (hereafter the "main Hawaiian 
Islands" population). A Bayesian analysis examining the probability of 
movements of individuals between populations provided a posterior median 
dispersal rate of 0.0009/yr (95% CI = 0-0.0041), indicating the populations are 
likely demographically independent. Depth of encounters with the Hawai'i Island 
resident population was significantly shallower (median = 381 m) than those 
with the main Hawaiian Islands population (median = 1,662 m). Resightings of 
individuals have occurred up to 22 yr apart for the Hawai'i Island resident 
population and up to 13 yr apart for the main Hawaiian Islands population, 
suggesting long-term residency to the islands for both populations.

Key words: melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra, Hawai'i, site fidelity, 
population structure, movements.

Jessica

------------------------------------------
Jessica Aschettino, MSc
Research Associate
Cascadia Research Collective
www.cascadiaresearch.org<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org>
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

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