[MARMAM] New publication on humpback whale birthing events

[Nico Ransome]

Dear MARMAM community,
My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper:
Observations of parturition in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and 
occurrence of escorting and competitive behavior around birthing females

ABSTRACT
Documented cases of cetacean births in the wild are rare. While there are 
currently no direct observations of a complete humpback whale birth, they are 
one of the few large whale species where observers have been present during a 
birthing event. We compiled eye-witnessed accounts of all known humpback whale 
birthing events and found nine well-documented cases globally (three published 
and six “new” unpublished). In two-thirds of the accounts another “escort” 
whale was present and in close association with the birthing female, and of 
these, most cases involved multiple escorts (n = 4). We describe details of 
birthing events, including mother, neonate and escort(s)’ behavior, neonate 
appearance, and discuss reasons for escort presence during parturition. We note 
that immediately postpartum: (1) blood and/or placenta were not always apparent 
during above water observations, (2) females often (but not always) supported 
calves at the surface, (3) constant travel and tail slapping were typical 
neonate behaviors, (4) two cases of temporary calf abandonment (<10 min), and 
(5) evidence of shark scavenging (of placenta) and possible predation attempts 
(of neonate). Lastly, we suggest curled tail flukes as an additional trait for 
identifying neonates and note that fetal folds are not always evident in 
newborn humpback whales.

It is available online at 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10./mms.12864?fbclid=IwAR06eSmIDfrcxXk0483OoGYsY6186vBDIWmeDtiGv_Eqikgpmuo2q8z0CH8
 https://doi.org/10./mms.12864
[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/4517ceef-9b97-42e0-a646-3585bbdb383d/mms.v37.3.cover.jpg]
Observations of parturition in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and 
occurrence of escorting and competitive behavior around birthing 
females
Documented cases of cetacean births in the wild are rare. While there are 
currently no direct observations of a complete humpback whale birth, they are 
one of the few large whale species where observ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com



Alternatively, please feel free to contact me via email for a copy,

Kind Regards,

Nico

Nicola Ransome MSc.
Researcher and PhD Student,
Murdoch University, Western Australia
nicola.rans...@murdoch.edu.au
https://amru.org.au/group-member/nicola-ransome/
Australia: (+61) 0423 261 442/Mexico: (+52) 322 121 3917

[cid:31f5ff63-c98c-440e-a20f-2bc835664e75]
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[MARMAM] Aquatic Mammals issue 47.5 available online

[Kathleen Dudzinski]

Dear MARMAM and ECS Talk subscribers,

Happy early Autumn! 
 
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 5, 2021) of Aquatic Mammals available online. The issue is officially 
published on 15 September 2021.
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 5 (Items preceded by an ** are open access)
 
**Brandon L. Southall, Douglas P. Nowacek, Ann E. Bowles, Valeria Senigaglia, 
Lars Bejder, and Peter L. Tyack. (2021). Marine Mammal Noise Exposure Criteria: 
Assessing the Severity of Marine Mammal Behavioral Responses to Human Noise. 
Aquatic Mammals, 47(5), 421-464. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.5.2021.421 

 
Georgia Catherine Anne Jones, Andrew John Roberts, and David George Edwards. 
(2021). First Record of a Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Predating a Tope Shark 
(Galeorhinus galeus) in the UK. Aquatic Mammals, 47(5), 465-469. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.5.2021.465 

 
**Irina S. Trukhanova, Elena M. Andrievskaya, and Vyacheslav A. Alekseev. 
(2021). Bycatch in Lake Ladoga Fisheries Remains a Threat to Ladoga Ringed Seal 
(Pusa hispida ladogensis) Population. Aquatic Mammals, 47(5), 470-481. 
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.5.2021.470 

 
**Abigail F. Machernis, Stephanie H. Stack, Grace L. Olson, Florence A. 
Sullivan, and Jens J. Currie. (2021). External Scarring as an Indicator of 
Fisheries Interactions with Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Pantropical 
Spotted (Stenella attenuata) Dolphins in Maui Nui, Hawai‘i. Aquatic Mammals, 
47(5), 482-498. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.5.2021.482 

 
Caroline Casey, Jillian M. Sills, Sonny Knaub, Kathy Sotolotto, and Colleen 
Reichmuth. (2021). Lifelong Patterns of Sound Production in Two Seals. Aquatic 
Mammals, 47(5), 499-514. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.5.2021.499 

 
**Dr. Willem Hendrik Dudok van Heel: A Tribute. (2021). Aquatic Mammals, 47(5), 
515-520. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.47.5.2021.515 



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[MARMAM] New publication on Ferries and environmental DNA

[Elena Agnese Valsecchi]

Dear colleagues,

My co-authors and I are pleased to share with you our publication
describing an innovative methodology for monitoring the distribution
of marine mammals and their preys by means of environmental DNA
analysis, using ferries as sampling platforms:


Elena Valsecchi, Antonella Arcangeli, Roberto Lombardi, Elizabeth
Boyse, Ian M Carr, Paolo Galli, Simon J Goodman (2021) "Ferries and
environmental DNA: underway sampling from commercial vessels provides
new opportunities for systematic genetic surveys of marine
biodiversity", Front. Mar. Sci., 27 August 2021 |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.704786


Abstract

Marine environmental DNA (eDNA) is an important tool for biodiversity
research and monitoring but challenges remain in scaling surveys over
large spatial areas, and increasing the frequency of sampling in
remote locations at reasonable cost. Here we demonstrate the
feasibility of sampling from commercial vessels (Mediterranean
ferries) while underway, as a strategy to facilitate replicable,
systematic marine eDNA surveys in locations that would normally be
challenging and expensive for researchers to access. Sixteen eDNA
samples were collected from four fixed sampling stations, and in
response to four cetacean sightings, across three cruises undertaken
along the 300 km ferry route between Livorno (Tuscany) and Golfo
Aranci (Sardinia) in the Ligurian/Tyrrhenian Seas, June-July 2018.
Using 12SrDNA and 16SrDNA metabarcoding markers, we recovered diverse
marine vertebrate Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) from
teleost fish, elasmobranchs, and cetaceans. We detected sample
heterogeneity consistent with previously known variation in species
occurrences, including putative species spawning peaks associated with
specific sea surface temperature ranges, and increased night time
abundance of bathypelagic species known to undertake diel migrations
through the water column. We suggest commercial vessel based marine
eDNA sampling using the global shipping network has potential to
facilitate broad-scale biodiversity monitoring in the world’s oceans.

You can find the open-access article at this link:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.704786/full

We hope you enjoy it!

Elena Valsecchi, PhD

*Marine eDNA Group, MaRHE Center (http://www.marhe.unimib.it/
)*

*Adjunct Professor of Marine Vertebrate Zoology
(http://www.marinesciences.unimib.it/
)*

*Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences
(**https://www.disat.unimib.it/en **),
*

*University of Milano-Bicocca. **Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy*

*elena.valsec...@unimib.it *
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