[MARMAM] New publication: The first confirmed decline of a delphinid population from Brazilian waters

[Alexandre Azevedo]

Dear colleagues,


We are pleased to announce our recent article published on-line (first) in
the journal *Ecological Indicators*:

*The first confirmed decline of a delphinid population from Brazilian
waters: 2000-2015 abundance of Sotalia guianensis in Guanabara Bay,
South-eastern Brazil. *Alexandre F. Azevedo, Rafael R. Carvalh, Maja Kajin,
Monique Van Sluys, Tatiana L. Bisi, Haydée A. Cunha, José Lailson-Brito Jr.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.03.045



*Abstract*:
The abundance of Guiana dolphins (*Sotalia guianensis*) in Guanabara Bay,
Rio de Janeiro, South-eastern Brazil, was investigated during the period
2000 – 2015 using mark-recapture models applied to photo-identification
data. A combination of Pradel’s model and Pollock’s robust design was
applied to estimate abundance and other population parameters, such as
apparent survival (Φ), capture probability (p) and seniority probability
(γ). Total population size was estimated by correcting the estimates
derived from the Pradel robust design model for the proportion of marked
individuals in the population. The corrected abundance estimates decreased
drastically (37%) between 2000 (62, 95% CI 59-65) and 2015 (39, 95% CI
37-40), and can be explained by a combination of low survival and
recruitment rates. Determining the ultimate causes for the decline in this
Guiana dolphin population is difficult, but the likely reasons are of
anthropogenic nature, such as by-catch, habitat degradation, intense
traffic of vessels and exposure to immunosuppressive and
endocrine-disrupting pollutants. We provide the first quantitative evidence
of population decline in a delphinid from Brazilian waters. Conservation
and management actions are urged to change this scenario. Other local
dolphin populations in Brazil, which are exposed to the same impacts, may
also be currently declining or are expected to do so in the near future.
For this reason, we emphasize that anthropogenic impacts upon
estuarine/coastal species that exhibit site fidelity warrant greater
attention, because such impacts may lead to the same negative scenario
observed in Guanabara Bay.


Article available at: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Ur3a,XRNLVD2C


Best Regards,

Alexandre




-- 
Dr. Alexandre de Freitas Azevedo
Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores - MAQUA
Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do
Rio de Janeiro
Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524 sala 4002E
Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
azevedo.a...@uerj.br
55 21 2334-0065 - 2334-0795
55 21 99742-4993
CV: http://lattes.cnpq.br/5095457245652366
___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

[MARMAM] RESEARCH ASSISTANTS OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CETACEAN RESEARCH UNIT, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

[Valeria Senigaglia]

SEEKING RESEARCH ASSISTANTS FOR THE MURDOCH CETACEAN RESEARCH UNIT, WESTERN
AUSTRALIA



Program: The South West Marine Research Program is a long-term, monitoring
project on the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins of South West Australia.
The program is based in Bunbury (South of Perth in Western Australia) and
is a collaboration between Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit and
numerous industry and non-profit partners. Previous research focused on
dolphin population dynamics, abundance, social structure, habitat use,
conservation, genetic and foraging ecology
http://mucru.org/research-projects/south-west-marine-researchprogram/



PhD Outline: Here, I am seeking THREE research volunteers assist in
collecting data for my PhD, from the 8th of June till the 17th of September
2017. The project explores the ecological consequences and socio-economic
drivers of a food provisioning program of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins
in Bunbury, Western Australia. The feeding is conducted under a state
license by Dolphin Discovery Center as part of their touristic offer. I
examine both the short- and long-term ecological consequences of food
provisioning at both the individual and population level. Specifically, the
project aims to determine potential effects of food provisioning on dolphin
behavioral budgets, maternal care, home range sizes, reproductive success
and social dynamics. Moreover, the project explores the satisfaction level
and attitude towards food provisioning of staff and visitors. Ecological
and socio-economic consequences of food provisioning will then inform
management planning. Data on dolphin behavior are collected from boat and
from the beach where the food provisioning takes place. Additionally,
questionnaires will be distributed to the visitors and staff of the Dolphin
Discovery Centre. This experience will be most useful to students or anyone
wishing to pursue a career in behavioral ecology, conservation and social
science or marine science.

http://mucru.org/our-research/group-members/valeria-senigaglia/

Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, South West Marine Research
Program office based at the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury.
http://www.dolphindiscovery.com.au/



Duties:

Field: Behavioural data collection, spotting wildlife, boat driving, social
science, photo identification

Office: Data entry, fin matching, project organization. Computer programs
used for data are: FinBase, ACDSee, Microsoft Access, Excel and Word.

Assistants should be adaptable and patient as fieldwork is highly weather
dependent. Fieldwork will vary between weekdays and weekends and can be
long hours and on consecutive days.

 Preferred skills/traits:

1. Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, animal
behaviour or a related field.

2. Previous field experience with wildlife (behavioural field data
collection, photoidentification).

3. Boating experience.

4. Be enthusiastic, team oriented and have a positive attitude as well as a
genuine interest in wildlife science.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide monetary compensation or living
provisions and research assistants will be responsible for their own travel
to Western Australia and living expenses. Please note, the Bunbury
backpackers and the Rosa Hotel provide good discounts for volunteers and
research assistants of the Dolphin Discovery Centre. Moreover, additional
help in finding shared accommodation can be provided.

If you are interested in volunteering or interning, please provide a short
CV and a cover letter to the attention of valeria.senigag...@gmail.com.

Cheers,

Valeria Senigaglia

PhD Candidate
Murdoch Cetacean Research Unit
Murdoch University
Australia
___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

[MARMAM] New Publication : Evaluating morphometric and metabolic markers of body condition

[Joanna Kershaw]

Dear colleagues,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the
following article in Ecology and Evolution:

Kershaw, J. L. Sherrill, M. Davison, N. J. Brownlow, A. Hall, A. J. 2017.
Evaluating morphometric and metabolic markers of body condition in a small
cetacean, the harbour porpoise (*Phocoena phocoena*). Ecology and
Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2891

Abstract: Mammalian body condition is an important individual fitness
metric as it affects both survival and reproductive success. The ability to
accurately measure condition has key implications for predicting individual
and population health, and therefore monitoring the population-level
effects of changing environments. No consensus currently exists on the best
measure to quantitatively estimate body condition in many species,
including cetaceans. Here, two measures of body condition were investigated
in the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). First, the most informative
morphometric body condition index was identified. The mass/length2 ratio
was the most appropriate morphometric index of 10 indices tested,
explaining 50% of the variation in condition in stranded, male porpoises
with different causes of death and across age classes (n = 291).
Mass/length2 was then used to evaluate a second measure, blubber cortisol
concentration, as a metabolic condition marker. Cortisol is the main
glucocorticoid hormone involved in the regulation of lipolysis and overall
energy balance in mammals, and concentrations could provide information on
physiological state. Blubber cortisol concentrations did not significantly
vary around the girth (n = 20), but there was significant vertical
stratification through the blubber depth with highest concentrations in the
innermost layer. Concentrations in the dorsal, outermost layer were
representative of concentrations through the full blubber depth, showed
variation by sex and age class, and were negatively correlated with
mass/length2. Using this species as a model for live cetaceans from which
standard morphometric measurements cannot be taken, but from which blubber
biopsy samples are routinely collected, cortisol concentrations in the
dorsal, outermost blubber layer could potentially be used as a biomarker of
condition in free-ranging animals.

The publication is available at
*http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.2891/full
*

Best wishes,

Joanna Kershaw


-- 
Joanna Kershaw

Sea Mammal Research Unit
Scottish Oceans Institute
University of St Andrews
KY16 8LB

Twitter: @_SMRU_

The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No
SC013532
___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

[MARMAM] A new approach to estimate fecundity rate from inter-birth intervals

[Monica Arso Civil]

Dear MARMAM colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the following paper has been published online:

Arso Civil, Mònica, Barbara Cheney, Nicola J. Quick, Paul M. Thompson, and 
Philip S. Hammond (2017) A new approach to estimate fecundity rate from 
inter-birth intervals. Ecosphere 8(4):e01796. 10.1002/ecs2.1796

Abstract:
Accurate estimates of fecundity rate are key to population assessments and 
effectively direct conservation efforts. We present a new approach to estimate 
fecundity rate based on the probability of a female giving birth, conditional 
on a previous birth t years ago, from which an expected inter-birth interval 
(IBI) can be estimated. We use generalized linear mixed-effects models to 
account for individual and temporal variability and apply the approach to 
individual reproductive histories of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 
from the east coast of Scotland. We estimate a fecundity rate of 0.222 (95% CI 
= 0.218–0.253) and an expected IBI of 4.49 yr (95% CI = 3.94–4.93 yr). We use 
simulated data samples to show that the approach produces estimates with a 
minimum bias of <3%. Simulations are also used to investigate the effect of the 
most common data-driven biases in the estimates of birth intervals and 
fecundity rate; we recommend longitudinal studies of at least 10 yr and capture 
probabilities of at least 0.3 when using this methodology. The approach may be 
modified to incorporate other parameters of interest and should be applicable to 
any population with comprehensive data on birth intervals.

A PDF copy of the work can be downloaded from:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.1796/full

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any question regarding our work.

Best Regards,
Monica Arso


Dr Monica Arso
Research Fellow
Sea Mammal Research Unit
Scottish Oceans Institute
University of St Andrews
KY16 8LB
Tel: +44 (0) 1334 462629

Twitter: @_SMRU_
http://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/harbourseals/

***
The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532

___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam