[MARMAM] New article: Animal-borne video camera and integrated sensor system for small cetaceans
We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article regarding the development of a new multi-sensor suction-cup biologger for small cetaceans. Pearson HC, Jones PW, Srinivasan M, Lundquist D, Pearson CJ, Stockin KA, and Machovsky-Capuska GE (2017) Testing and deployment of C-VISS (cetacean-borne video camera and integrated sensor system) on wild dolphins. Marine Biology 164:42. doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3079-z Abstract: Multi-sensor biologgers are a powerful method for studying individual behaviors of free-ranging species, yet the challenges of attaching non-invasive biologgers to agile, fast-moving marine species have prohibited application of this technique to small (<5 m) cetaceans. Integration of video cameras into such biologgers is critical to understanding behavior from the animal’s perspective; however, this technique has not been applied to small cetaceans. We examined the feasibility of remotely deploying a cetacean-borne video camera and integrated sensor system (“C-VISS”) on small cetaceans. We deployed C-VISS on eight free-swimming dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) off New Zealand (42°25′15″S 173°40′23″E) from December 2015 to January 2016, collecting a total of 535 min of video footage (average = 66.8 ± 91.10 SD, range 9–284). Dolphins were observed to show limited reactions to biologger attachment attempts and deployments. Social and environmental parameters derived from video footage include conspecific body condition, mother-calf spatial positioning, affiliative behavior, sexual behavior, sociability, prey, and habitat type. The ability to record behavioral states and fine-scale events from the individual’s perspective will yield new insights into the behavior, socioecology, conservation, rehabilitation, and welfare of small cetaceans. -- Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marine Biology Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast & College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks Address: 11120 Glacier Hwy, AND 1, Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 E-mail: hcpear...@alaska.edu Website: https://online.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/HCPEARSON ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on the function of dolphin leaps
Dear colleagues, I'm pleased to announce the following paper that was recently published in Behaviour. Pearson HC. 2017. Unravelling the function of dolphin leaps using the dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) as a model species. Behaviour 154: 563-581. The article is available on the journal's website: http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/1568539x-3434 Alternatively, you may contact me for a pdf: hcpear...@alaska.edu The prevalence of leaping across delphinids indicates it has an adaptive benefit. I examined leaping behaviour in dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) according to signalling, social facilitation, and prey capture hypotheses. I quantified the effect of leaping on group behaviour and fission-fusion and the behavioural context of leaping. I observed dolphins in Admiralty Bay, New Zealand during 171 focal follows totalling 157 h. Data were analysed using generalized estimating equations. Clean leaping had a positive effect on party fission (p<0.01) and foraging behaviour (p<0.001). Coordinated leaping caused a short-term wane in foraging behaviour (p<0.01) and had a positive effect on party fusion(p<0.05).Noisy leaping had a negative effect on perpetuating resting and traveling cessation (both p<0.001). The signalling hypothesis was the most strongly supported.The social facilitation and prey capture hypotheses were moderately supported.Leaping may provide adaptive benefits such as reduced scramble competition,increased foraging efficiency, and social bonding. cheers, Heidi -- Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast & College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks Address: 11120 Glacier Hwy, AND 1, Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 E-mail: hcpear...@alaska.edu Website: https://online.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/HCPEARSON ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Job Opening: Term Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Southeast
The University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau is now accepting applications for a Term Assistant Professor in Natural Sciences. This position is for the 2018-19 academic year, beginning in August. This is a full-time, one-year teaching/sabbatical replacement position that would be ideal for a post-doc or recent PhD with expertise in marine mammal physiology. The ideal candidate would also have interest in teaching at a small university in a beautiful setting with a rich biodiversity of marine mammals and other marine life. Teaching responsibilities will include: Marine Mammalogy (lecture and lab), Discussions in Marine Mammalogy (seminar focused around Sitka WhaleFest), Biology and Society (non-majors lecture and lab) and lab sections for Animal Physiology, Genetics, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. Please visit this website for further information on the position and application instructions: http://careers.alaska.edu/cw/en-us/job/509464/term-assistant-professor-of-natural-sciences Specific questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Sherry Tamone: sltam...@alaska.edu Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast & College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks Address: 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1, Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 E-mail: hcpear...@alaska.edu Website: https://online.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/HCPEARSON ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Oceanic Blue Carbon Story Map
Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the publication of a new story map, "Oceanic Blue Carbon - How Marine Life Can Help to Mitigate Climate Change", by UN Environment/GRID-Arendal. Oceanic blue carbon refers to the various ways that marine life can capture and store carbon. Recognizing the role that marine life plays in the carbon cycle is a potentially innovative and important strategy for combating climate change. Several of these mechanisms refer to ways in which marine mammals contribute towards carbon storage and sequestration through their feeding and movement patterns. The story map features a new video by cartoonist Jim Toomey - of Sherman's Lagoon fame - in addition to an infographic and maps that present the latest scientific data on oceanic blue carbon. The story map is available here: url.grida.no/oceanicbc kind regards, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Fulbright Scholar UN Environment/GRID-Arendal Arendal, Norway Associate Professor of Marine Biology Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast & College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks https://online.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/HCPEARSON ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New paper: A biologging perspective to the drivers that shape gregariousness in dusky dolphins
Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I pleased to announce publication of the following paper on dolphin gregariousness in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. You may find the abstract below and the full article may be accessed here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-019-2763-z You may also contact me for reprint requests. Pearson HC, Jones PW, Brandon TP, Stockin KA, Machovsky-Capuska GE. 2019. A biologging perspective to the drivers that shape gregariousness in dusky dolphins. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 73:155. Knowledge of proximate (causation and development) and ultimate (evolution and survival function) causes of gregariousness is necessary to advance our knowledge of animal societies. Delphinids are among the most social taxa; however, fine-scale understanding of their intra-specific relationships is hindered by the need for underwater observations on individuals. We developed a non-invasive animal-borne camera system with the goal of examining influences on gregariousness in dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). We analyzed video and diving records from 11 individual dusky dolphins off Kaikoura, New Zealand. We examined the influence of biologger attachment on dolphin behavior and tested hypotheses regarding the effects of physiology, predation, and inter-individual variation on conspecific interactions. Dolphins did not exhibit increased rates of descent or ascent in the minutes immediately following biologger attachment, indicating a lack of behavioral response. Respiration rate was positively related to dive depth and duration, suggesting that diving is energetically expensive for this species. Gregariousness was negatively related to dive depth providing evidence that the physiological constraints of diving are likely to limit social behavior. Calves were not observed more frequently in infant (vs. echelon) position with increasing depth, highlighting the likelihood of other anti-predation strategies (e.g., dilution effect) in mother-calf pairs. We found that gregariousness differed between individuals within similar social groups, suggesting the importance of collecting data at the individual level. The evidence presented herein suggests that the further development of animal-borne camera systems will yield further insight into the mechanisms underlying delphinid social behavior. best regards, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast & College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks Address: 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1, Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 E-mail: hcpear...@alaska.edu Website: https://online.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/HCPEARSON ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Seminar on the effects of sea otter recolonization in Southeast Alaska
Dear colleagues, I would like to invite you to a webinar on our Apex Predators, Ecosystems, and Community Sustainability (APECS) project, where we are examining the effects of sea otter recolonization in Southeast Alaska. Please find the details below. APRIL 23, 2021 8:30am-11:45am Alaska time Register to receive the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/32dJljc 8:30 AM Ginny Eckert Introduction to the Apex Predators, Ecosystems and Community Sustainability (APECS) program 8:45 AM Wendel Raymond Patterns and effects of sea otter harvest in Southeast Alaska 9:00 AM Nicole LaRoche Seasonal sea otter diet composition with respect to recolonization and life history 9:15 AM Sonia Ibarra Sea otters, shellfish, and people: Addressing a complex resource conflict in Southeast Alaska 9:30 AM Becca Cates Effects of habitat type and sea otter predation on crab assemblages in Southeast Alaska 9:45 AM Ashley Bolwerk Ecological indicators of the effects of sea otters on abalone density 10:00 AM break 10:15 AM Tom Bell Changes in kelp canopy cover associated with sea otter recovery in the NE Pacific 10:30 AM Wendel Raymond Testing the generality of sea otter‐mediated trophic cascades in seagrass meadows 10:45 AM Jessica Saavedra Testing the effects of recovering sea otters on seagrass ecosystems 11:00 AM Tiff Stephens Disturbance by sea otters reduces eelgrass extent in Southeast Alaska 11:15 AM Lia Domke Juvenile salmon use of eelgrass meadows in the context of sea otter recolonization 11:30 AM Questions and discussion 11:45 AM End - Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on the carbon cycling role of marine vertebrates
Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce our paper just published in One Earth entitled, "Integral functions of marine vertebrates in the ocean carbon cycle and climate change mitigation". This is a comprehensive review of the role of marine mammals and other marine vertebrates in carbon cycling, which has implications for conservation and climate change strategies. Summary: In the last decade, the ocean has absorbed a quarter of the Earth’s greenhouse gas emissions through the carbon (C) cycle, a naturally occurring process. Aspects of the ocean C cycle are now being incorporated into climate change mitigation and adaptation plans. Currently, too little is known about marine vertebrate C functions for their inclusion in policies. Fortunately, marine vertebrate biology, behavior, and ecology through the lens of C and nutrient cycling and flux is an emerging area of research that is rich in existing data. This review uses literature and trusted data sources to describe marine vertebrate C interactions, provides quantification where possible, and highlights knowledge gaps. Implications of better understanding the integral functions of marine vertebrates in the ocean C cycle include the need for consideration of these functions both in policies on nature-based climate change mitigation and adaptation, and in management of marine vertebrate populations. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332221002384 kind regards, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New paper on the nutrient cycling roles of marine mammals and seabirds in Southeast Alaska
Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to share the following paper recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science, "Examining the role of marine mammals and seabirds in Southeast Alaska's marine ecosystem dynamics." Melissa Rhodes-Reese, David Clay, Curry Cunningham, Janet Moriles-Miller, Cheryl Reese, Joe Roman, Joseph D. Warren and Heidi C. Pearson Primary producers are the foundation of marine food webs and require reliable nutrient sources to maintain their important role with ecosystems. While marine mammals and seabirds can play critical roles in marine nutrient cycling, their contributions are often overlooked. Southeast Alaska’s marine environment supports abundant marine mammal and seabird populations in addition to valuable fisheries. Nonetheless, there is still relatively little known about nutrient sources and fluxes in this region which is a critical component of fisheries management. The goal of our study was to advance knowledge of the role of mammals and seabirds in marine nutrient cycling and to understand how changing marine mammal and seabird populations may alter ecosystem dynamics. We utilized qualitative network models (QNMs) to examine how a simulated Southeast Alaska ecosystem would respond to an increase in marine mammals, seabirds, and nutrients. Researchers are increasingly utilizing QNMs as a first step in the development of ecosystem-based fisheries management plans as their adaptable nature is well suited to address rapidly changing climatic conditions. Our results indicate that marine mammals and seabirds make important contributions to marine nutrient concentrations in the region and that these valuable ecosystem services should not be overlooked. The paper is freely available here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.720277/full Thank you, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] new paper on the role of whales in the carbon cycle
Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new article with you, "Whales in the carbon cycle: can recovery remove carbon dioxide?", published in *Trends in Ecology and Evolution.* It is open-access <https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(22)00279-8> and freely available to all. Heidi C. Pearson, Matthew S. Savoca, Daniel P. Costa, Michael W. Lomas, Renato Molina, Andrew J. Pershing, Craig R. Smith, Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez, Stephen R. Wing, Joe Roman *Abstract* The great whales (baleen and sperm whales), through their massive size and wide distribution, influence ecosystem and carbon dynamics. Whales directly store carbon in their biomass and contribute to carbon export through sinking carcasses. Whale excreta may stimulate phytoplankton growth and capture atmospheric CO2; such indirect pathways represent the greatest potential for whale-carbon sequestration but are poorly understood. We quantify the carbon values of whales while recognizing the numerous ecosystem, cultural, and moral motivations to protect them. We also propose a framework to quantify the economic value of whale carbon as populations change over time. Finally, we suggest research to address key unknowns (e.g., bioavailability of whale-derived nutrients to phytoplankton, species- and region-specific variability in whale carbon contributions). best regards, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 *Our campus resides on the unceded territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan on Lingít Aaní, also known as Juneau and Douglas, Alaska, which also houses neighboring X̱aadas and Ts’msyen peoples.* ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Comparative cetacean-primate symposium
A special symposium on comparative cetacean-primate behavior will be held at the upcoming Joint Meeting of the International Primatological Society and American Society for Primatologists in Chicago, August 21-27 ( http://www.ipschicago.org/). The symposium, "Towards a Better Understanding of Social Convergence between Cetaceans and Primates" will be held on August 22. Further details on symposium speakers and abstracts may be found here: https://www.asp.org/IPS/meetings/conferenceschedule.cfm?year=2016&day=104#6433 -- Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11120 Glacier Hwy, AND1 Juneau, AK 99801 907-796-6271 hcpear...@alaska.edu ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Recommendations for drone video analysis software
Dear colleagues, We are looking for recommendations on software for analyzing video imagery of large dolphin groups collected via drone. Our aim is to count the number of dolphins in groups that sometimes contain many hundreds of dolphins. We also aim to identify and count mother-calf pairs, assess the relative size of each calf, and track those mom-calf pairs as they swim across the screen. Our main challenges are: the large group sizes where individuals may be tightly bunched, the continuously moving imagery as the drone moves with the dolphins, and sun glare. We would be most grateful for any recommendations on software that may aid in any component of this analysis. We would appreciate hearing from you by August 16, 2024. Please email Heidi Pearson at hcpear...@alaska.edu and Joana Castro at i...@aimmportugal.org. Thank you very much, Heidi Heidi Pearson, Ph.D. (she/her) Professor of Marine Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1 Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.796.6271 *Our campus resides on the unceded territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan on Lingít Aaní, also known as Juneau and Douglas, Alaska, which also houses neighboring X̱aadas and Ts’msyen peoples.* ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
