[MARMAM] Sources for suction cups
Dear Marmaners, Some days ago I posted a request for information on suction cups vendors, for cetacean tagging work. First, I would like to show my appreciation to all who took time to respond. Below is a list of the suggestions I received, in alphabetical order, in case it is useful to someone else out there. Best regards, Rui Prieto 1900 engineering (https://www.researchmicrospeckle.com/) Andrew Cannon runs 1900 engineering. Among other things they developed and produce multi-material anti-skid suction cups for 'slippery' species (such as blue whales), reportedly with encouraging results. (Thanks to Lars Kleivane from lkarts.no for this tip). CATs (www.CATs.is). CATs produces customized tags, including their own suction cups that can be sold separately. Tags and cups have been extensively tested on several species. (Thanks to Elliot Hazen and Jeremy Kiszka for mentioning CATs). EHEIM (https://www.eheim.com) EHEIM is a distributor of equipment for aquariums, including suction cups. Suction cups from them have been tested for short-term (couple of hours) deployments on dolphins. (Thanks to Klaus Lucke from jasco.com for this tip). Vi-cas (https://vi-cas.com/). The Crittercam people use suction cups from vi-cas, reportedly with good results. Vis-cas is an industrial suction cup manufacturer but they seem to be receptive to work with researchers and modify designs to accommodate special needs (Thanks to Kyler Abernathy from NG Labs for this info). ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Request for help in sourcing suction cups for TDRs
Dear all, We've been using TDRs for a long time in several studies in the Azores, attached with a single suction cup (design attached). Our old suction cups had a very good performance, with long attachment durations and little migration over the body. Unfortunately, we no longer have these suction cups and the Portuguese manufacturer seems to have closed. We tested some similar suction cups, but the results are disappointing. Retention times are just too short for any meaningful study. We would appreciate if any colleagues working with suction cup tags, especially but not exclusively in Europe, could give information on where you obtain your suction cups. Please write back to rcabpri...@gmail.com with the information. In the end, I will compile a list of providers, and post back here. With the very best regards from the Azores, Rui Prieto, IMAR & OKEANOS, University of the Azores MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, FCUL 901-862 Horta Portugal Tel: (351) 292200475 Fax: (351) 292200411 Alternate e-mail: rpri...@mare-centre.pt http://whales.scienceontheweb.net ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] two new publications on environmental niche modelling of cetaceans in the Central North Atlantic
Dear Marmam subscribers, We are pleased to announce the publication of two articles on environmental niche modelling of cetaceans in the Azores (Central North Atlantic). Both articles are open access and can be downloaded directly from the respective journals’ webpages using the DOI links provided below. 1. Tobeña, M.*, Prieto, R.*, Machete, M., and Silva, M.A. (2016). Modeling the potential distribution and richness of cetaceans in the Azores from fisheries observer program data. Frontiers in Marine Science 3. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00202. * These authors have contributed equally to this work. Abstract: Marine spatial planning and ecological research call for high-resolution species distribution data. However, those data are still not available for most marine large vertebrates. The dynamic nature of oceanographic processes and the wide-ranging behavior of many marine vertebrates create further difficulties, as distribution data must incorporate both the spatial and temporal dimensions. Cetaceans play an essential role in structuring and maintaining marine ecosystems and face increasing threats from human activities. The Azores holds a high diversity of cetaceans but the information about spatial and temporal patterns of distribution for this marine megafauna group in the region is still very limited. To tackle this issue, we created monthly predictive cetacean distribution maps for spring and summer months, using data collected by the Azores Fisheries Observer Programme between 2004 and 2009. We then combined the individual predictive maps to obtain species richness maps for the same period. Our results reflect a great heterogeneity in distribution among species and within species among different months. This heterogeneity reflects a contrasting influence of oceanographic processes on the distribution of cetacean species. However, some persistent areas of increased species richness could also be identified from our results. We argue that policies aimed at effectively protecting cetaceans and their habitats must include the principle of dynamic ocean management coupled with other area-based management such as marine spatial planning. 2. Prieto, R.*, Tobeña, M.*, and Silva, M.A. (2016). Habitat preferences of baleen whales in a mid-latitude habitat. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2016.07.015. * These authors have contributed equally to this work. Abstract: Understanding the dynamics of baleen whale distribution is essential to predict how environmental changes can affect their ecology and, in turn, ecosystem functioning. Recent work showed that mid-latitude habitats along migratory routes may play an important role on the feeding ecology of baleen whales. This study aimed to investigate the function of a mid-latitude habitat for blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and sei (Balaenoptera borealis) whales occurring in sympatry during spring and summer months and to what extent their environmental niches overlap. We addressed those questions by developing environmental niche models (ENM) for each species and then making pairwise comparisons of niche overlap and relative habitat patch importance among the three species. ENMs were created using sightings from the Azorean Fisheries Observer Program from May to November, between 2004 and 2009, and a set of 18 predictor environmental variables. We then assessed monthly (April–July) overlap among ENMs using a modified Hellinger׳s distance metric (I). Results show that the habitat niches of blue and fin whales are strongly influenced by primary productivity and sea surface temperature and are highly dynamic both spatially and temporally due to the oceanography of the region. Niche overlap analyses show that blue and fin whale environmental niches are similar and that the suitable habitats for the two species have high degree of spatial coincidence. These results in combination suggest that this habitat may function as a mid-latitude feeding ground to both species while conditions are adequate. The sei whale model, on the other hand, did not include variables considered to be proxies for prey distribution and little environmental niche overlap was found between this species and the other two. We argue that these results suggest that the region holds little importance as a foraging habitat for the sei whale. With the very best regards to all, Rui Prieto MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre; IMAR Centre at the University of the Azores 9901-862 Horta Portugal Tel: (351) 292200475 Fax: (351) 292200411 E-mail: rpri...@mare-centre.pt http://www.whales.uac.pt ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Malcolm Clarke 1930-2013
Dear all, It is with great sorrow that I have to inform you that Malcolm Clarke passed away last Friday due to heart failure. He rests in Pico Island (Azores, Portugal), where he and his wife Dot made residence many years ago. Most of us understand the great loss for science that Malcolm's passing represents. It is difficult for a marine mammalogist not to have come across his work from time to time. But Malcolm was not only an accomplished marine mammalogist but also a prolific researcher and well known in the fields of teuthology and parasitology. But perhaps only the lucky ones who had the opportunity to spend some time with him will fathom the great loss of a human being this also represents. Malcolm was an achiever. He never stopped working and having new ideas. He was passionate about his work and about life. He was a great teacher; his workshops on cephalopod beak identification are a testimony to that, but his teaching dimension went far above that. I learned much about how to think and act in science just by conversing with Malcolm and listening to his stories. Malcolm was also a hands-on scientist. He spent a good deal of time in Antarctica as a whaling inspector, dissected countless animals, invented new ways to probe deep in the specimens and take the most of them. He worked all over the World, carrying out research in South Africa (Cape Town, Durban Port Elizabeth), Indonesia, Australia (Perth Melbourne), New Zealand, USA (Florida Hawaii), France, Portugal (Madeira Azores), Spain (Canary Islands), Denmark, Faroe Islands and Norway. Even when his age and post meant he could just tell other people what to do; he didn't shy of diving in a full whale dissection or to go out to the sea in a small skiff. He was happy as a child when handling a gooey Haliphron atlanticus, as I've seen him doing at sea because he was unable to wait until we were back on land. The stories are endless; one that comes to mind right now took place in 1998, when Malcolm was 68 years old. We were out at sea trying to put satellite tags on sperm whales. Malcolm was present as a consultant but he didn't rest until he jumped in the small inflatable kayak and rowed towards the whales with two other colleagues. Back in the boat I didn't rest until they came back and Malcolm was safe and sound. But the grin on his face was worth every second of my despair. It wasn't his nature to just be there watching everything from the boat; he had to be part of it. even with a triple bypass. His hands-on approach meant that he had a deep knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and biology of his study subjects. That and his brilliant and ever inquisitive mind made him a great theorist. Malcolm became one of those rare biologists who creates new theories and lines of thought. Malcolm and Dot Married in 1958 and had four children. His work brought Malcolm and Dot to the Azores and I believe the land and people made them stay. They made home in Pico Island and instead of laying back and resting, sipping tea on a stretcher and watching whales from the comfort of his backyard (which has the most amazing view over a stretch of ocean where sperm whales often come close to land), Malcolm embarked in one of his greatest challenges. In his own words, he planned, designed and constructed all the exhibits for my own museum on the biology of spermaceti whales and their cephalopod food. This museum has been open since 2003. That was done against all odds. Politicians offered their support, the merit of the idea was recognized and even the place was announced publicly: an old whaling factory in Pico. But these were pie-crust promises and soon were broken. Malcolm had a type of stubbornness that is called perseverance. Instead of giving up, Malcolm and Dot built a museum with their own hands, from the foundation to the ceiling, laying bricks at the same time they planned and developed the exhibit; literally all the exhibit contents were created by them, from the small pump-activated contraption from which you can feel the smell of ambergris, to the life-sized depiction of a pregnant sperm whale, not forgetting the anatomically correct, life-sized stuffed cephalopods cut and sewn by Dot. All along, Malcolm kept publishing. He left over 150 research contributions plus being editor of several books. He worked to the last day of his life. My apologies, but I have to stop here; Oh Malcolm, we will miss you. Rui Prieto Curriculum Vitae of Malcolm R.Clarke Born 1930 in UK. Married 19584 children. Education. 1979. D.Sc. Marine Zoology. Hull University, UK. 1959. Ph.D. Parasites of Marine Mammals. Hull University, 1955. B.Sc. Special. 2 i Zoology. Hull University. Career 1987-2013 Independent research (unpaid). 1972-1987. Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, UK Principal Scientific Officer and later Senior Principal Scientific Officer (Merit) 1958-1972
[MARMAM] Biomass removal from shore-based whaling in the Azores
Dear Marmam members, We are pleased to announce the publication a new work entitled Biomass removal from shore-based whaling in the Azores, in Fisheries Research. Abstract Knowledge on historical fisheries removal is essential for adopting an ecosystem approach to the management of marine resources. Shore-based whaling was an important economic activity for the Azores archipelago with 23,557 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) captured between 1896 and 1987. The corresponding biomass is unknown because local official fisheries statistics report this extractive component in number of sperm whales and total oil production. The objective of this study was to estimate total sperm whale biomass removed during shore-based whaling operations using two different methods: (1) a function of length of males and females and (2) a function of oil extraction efficiency. The estimated sperm whale biomass removed from Azorean waters by shore-based whalers between 1896 and 1987 was 361,039 tonnes (250,297-619,561 tonnes). For the period 1950-1987, sperm whale catches represented 29% of the total biomass removed by fisheries, including whaling. At the peak of whaling activity (1950-1957), sperm whale catches were about twice the amount reported by the fisheries sector. The results show that biomass removal by whaling was important in the scope of the regional fisheries. Consequently, including sperm whale biomass extractions into the total marine fisheries catch for the Azores is of high relevance for implementing an ecosystem approach to management. The paper can be obtained from the permanent link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165783613000179# In case you have any difficulty in gaining access to the paper, please contact me for reprints. Rui Prieto Dep. Oceanography and Fisheries Un. Azores R. Prof. Frederico Machado 9901-862 Horta Portugal Ph.: + 351 292 200 400 http://www.whales.uac.pt http://www.whales.uac.pt e-mail: mailto:r...@portulano.org r...@portulano.org e-mail: rpri...@uac.pt ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
