[MARMAM] New article on nutrient concentrations in minke whale faeces

[Brandt, Carla Freitas]

Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to present our recently published paper:

Freitas, C., Gundersen, K., Lindblom, L., Biuw, M., Haug, T., 2023. Nutrient 
concentrations in minke whale faeces and the potential impact on dissolved 
nutrient pools off Svalbard, Norway. Progress in Oceanography, 210, 102927.

Abstract:
There is increasing interest in assessing the impact of whales on nutrient and 
carbon cycling in the ocean. By fertilising surface waters with nutrient-rich 
faeces, whales may stimulate primary production and thus carbon uptake, but 
robust assessments of such effects are lacking. Based on the analysis of faeces 
collected from minke whales (n = 31) off Svalbard, Norway, this study 
quantified the concentration of macro and micronutrients in whale faeces prior 
to their release in seawater. Concentrations of the macronutrients nitrogen (N) 
and phosphorous (P) in minke whale faeces were 50.1 ± 10.3 and 70.9 ± 12.1 g 
kg−1 dry weight, respectively, while the most important micronutrients were 
zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). By combining measured 
faecal nutrient concentrations with estimated prey-consumption and 
prey-assimilation rates, we calculate that the current population of 
approximately 15, 000 individuals in the small management area (SMA) of 
Svalbard defecates daily 7 ± 1.4 tonnes (t) N and 10 ± 1.7 t P during summer. 
The molar ratio of N:P in minke whale faeces was 1.6:1, meaning that N was 
proportionally limiting, when compared to average elemental ratios of 16:1 in 
phytoplankton. In case of no N limitation in surface waters at that time, the 
release of elemental P through defecation in surface waters has the potential 
to stimulate 407 ± 70 t of carbon per day during summer as new or regenerated 
primary production in the SMA of Svalbard. This amounts to 0.2 to 4 % of daily 
net primary production in this region. This study provides the first assessment 
of nutrient concentration in whale faeces prior to their dissolution in sea 
water. Further research, namely on the amount of N released via urine and 
seasonal changes in excreted nutrients, is needed to better assess the full 
potential of whale nutrient additions to dissolved nutrient pools in surface 
waters at regional and global scales.

The article is freely available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079661122001860

Kind regards,

Carla

Carla Freitas
Institute of Marine Research, Norway


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[MARMAM] LAST CALL - Dolphin Research and Marine Conservation Internship Program in Sardinia island, Italy (MareTerra ERC)

[Mareterra Onlus]

MareTerra Environmental Research and Conservation is accepting interns to
join research projects on the conservation of bottlenose dolphins and the
marine environment from May to October 2023 in Alghero (Sardinia island -
Italy).

MareTerra is a non-profit organization created by passionate people
committed to promoting the conservation of nature and sustainable
development. Our internship is a unique opportunity for students and
graduates to learn research methods (photo-ID, Bioacoustics, GIS) for the
conservation of the marine environment in Sardinia island, the hotspot of
biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea. Working in an international context,
our interns will play an active role in environmental education to develop
awareness and respect for marine conservation among tourists and locals. We
strongly believe we can make a difference!
Please have a look at our websites:
- www.mareterra-erc.org;
- www.progettonaturasardegna.com.

Required skills:
- Ability to communicate fluently in English (English level > B2);
- Self-confidence;
- Flexibility, adaptability to an international work environment and
punctuality;
- Good public relations skills;
- Confidence on board a motorboat and the ability to swim properly;
We look for people who are highly motivated, responsible and willing to
work long hours in the field.

To receive the internship rules, the application form and more details,
please, contact us:
i...@mareterra-erc.org

Gabriella La Manna, PhD

-- 
MareTerra Onlus
Regione Salondra 9
07041 Alghero (SS) - Italy
www.mareterra-erc.blogspot.it
mareterra web site

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[MARMAM] New paper: Contributions of bioacoustics to the scientific knowledge of marine mammals in Latin America

[Mariana Chávez]

Dear Marmamers,

My co-authors and I are pleased to share the recent publication of our paper 
"Contributions of bioacoustics to the scientific knowledge of marine mammals in 
Latin America" in Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. doi: 
https://doi.org/10.5597/%20lajam00302

Chávez-Andrade, M., de la Cueva, H., Luévano-Esparza, J., & Lavín Murcio, P. A. 
(2023). Contributions of bioacoustics to the scientific knowledge of marine 
mammals in Latin America. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 18(1), 
96-113.  https://doi.org/10.5597/lajam00302

ABSTRACT
We review and document scientific publications on marine mammal bioacoustics in 
Latin America between 1971 and 2021, showing early scarcity and an increase 
through time. Marine bioacoustic studies how marine fauna produce and receive 
sounds that facilitate their life functions. Bioacoustics explores the biology 
and ecology of marine mammals, difficult or impossible to carry out using only 
traditional visual methods. From the first published study on the free-living 
common bottlenose dolphin in the Gulf of Mexico in 1953, acoustic studies on 
marine mammals have increased; most of its growth occurred in the 2000s. The 
objective of this study was to document the history and development of marine 
mammal bioacoustics in Latin America. We conducted a systematic search of 
scientific peer-reviewed literature on the Web of Science from 1971 to 2021, 
using keywords involving 18 acoustic and 16 marine mammal terms. We reported 
the countries where studies were carried out, the focal species, and the 
research topics. The oldest paper found was published in Chile in 1971. The 
2010s yielded the most publications (n= 10), compared to the 1970s (n = 4), 
1980s (n = 8), 1990s (n = 12), and the 2000s (n = 49). The publication rate 
increase between 1971 and 2021 is likely due to the increased development and 
use of affordable autonomous recording devices. The countries with most 
publications were Brazil (n = 60), Mexico (n = 46), and Ecuador (n = 29). Those 
with the least studies were in the Caribbean region. The most studied species 
were the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) (n = 46), the sperm whale 
(Physeter macrocephalus) (n = 43), and the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops 
truncatus) (n = 40). These species are highly vocal, widely distributed, and 
accessible inseveral habitats, facilitating their study. The most analyzed 
research topics were inter- and intraspecific differences invocalizations (n = 
104), acoustic signal descriptions (n = 74), and association of acoustic 
signals and behavior (n = 59). Theuse of bioacoustics in abundance, 
distribution, habitat use, and anthropogenic effects was scant in the list of 
publicationsreviewed for this study, but these topics are predicted to be 
pursued more often by researchers in the future as they areneeded to establish 
mitigation policies for the species and their habitat conservation.

The paper can be accessed here:  
https://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam/article/view/1521
Please don´t hesitate to contact the corresponding author for a pdf copy: 
marianachav...@gmail.com
Best regards,
M. Sc. Mariana Chávez-AndradePh. D. CandidateBioacoustics and Behavioral 
Ecology LabCIIDIR-OAXACA-IPN
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