Dear MARMAMcolleagues,
We are pleased toannounce the publication of the following paper in Marine Mammal Science: AuthorsChiara G. Bertulli, AndersGalatius, Carl C. Kinze Marianne H. Rasmussen, William Keener and MarcA. Webber Title Color patterns inwhite-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchusalbirostris) from Iceland Abstract Few studies have examined the natural complexpigmentation patterns of white-beaked dolphins. From 2002 to 2014, whale-watchingtrips in Iceland provided a platform of opportunity to collect a large body ofphotographs of free-ranging individuals from a single area of distribution forthis species. Based on 823 images, 571 individuals showing one or more colorcomponents were identified, and assigned to the following four age classes:adults (n = 437), juveniles (n = 109), calves (n = 14), and neonates (n = 11).A total of 26 color components were observed and described: seven termspreviously applied to white-beaked dolphins, 12 previously applied to other dolphinspecies, and seven newly defined terms. Results showed that each age classcould be positively identified by differences in specific color components,some of which were exclusive. Therefore, color patterns may prove useful inestimating maturity in free-ranging white-beaked dolphins. This tool could befurther refined through assessment of a wide sample of freshly stranded specimensof known sex and age, which could reveal new age class-specific components, aswell as sexually dimorphic characteristics not seen here. Geographic variationshould be investigated by comparing image data sets and stranded animals fromdifferent parts of the North Atlantic. A copy of thepaper can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1748-7692 Or by sending arequest to [email protected] Kind regards, Chiara Giulia Bertulli Chiara Giulia Bertulli, Ph.D. Faculty of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of Iceland Faxafloi Cetacean Researchhttp://www.faxa-cetacean.org ResearchGatehttp://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chiara_Bertulli/contributions
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