Blunt trauma observed in a common dolphin delphinus sp. Likely caused by a vessel collision in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Martinez ◽  
K A Stockin
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Immature Male ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
The Impact

While coastal cetaceans can become habituated to watercraft, that may not prevent their injury or mortality as a consequence of vessel strike. Here we report a case of a likely collision between a Common Dolphin Delphinus sp. and a recreational vessel in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Injuries sustained by the immature male dolphin were fatal. Recovery and subsequent post-mortem of the carcass revealed a transection of the spinal cord, with the vertebral column sustaining fractures between L17 and Cd7 and between Cd3 and Cd8 of the neural and transverse processes, respectively. Cd4 likely received the brunt of the impact given the vertebral body and epiphyses were also fractured. Paralysis of the lower truck and associated extensive internal injuries resulted in a live stranding and subsequent mortality. Injuries sustained were consistent of those of blunt force trauma, a consequence of an impact caused by a collision with a small watercraft, most likely a jet-ski. This incident reinforces the need for continued public education concerning safe water practices around marine mammals, which are protected under the New Zealand Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 and Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992.

Causes of mortality in stranded Common Dolphin (Delphinus sp.) from New Zealand waters between 1998 and 2008

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A Stockin ◽  
Padraig J Duignan ◽  
Wendi D Roe ◽  
Laureline Meynier ◽  
Maurice Alley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Dolphin Population ◽  
Causes Of Mortality ◽  
Related Mortality ◽  
Beach Cast

Post-mortem examinations provide valuable information on sources of mortality for marine mammal populations. However, no published data exist to describe causes of death in the New Zealand population of Common Dolphin (Delphinus sp.). In order to examine the proportion of human and non-human induced mortality affecting this population, necropsies were conducted on 133 individuals that stranded around the New Zealand coastline between 1998 and 2008. Of these, 92.5% (n=123) were found as beach cast carcasses, with just 7.5% (n=10) as live strandings that subsequently died or that were euthanized on humane grounds. The sample included 54 males, 67 females and 12 animals of unknown sex from a range of age classes. Of the individuals for which cause of mortality could be established, 41.2% (n=35) were classified as human induced, with 28.2% (n=24) of carcasses exhibiting evidence of net entanglement. A further 10.6% and 32.9% of mortality was attributable to disease and natural (non-human related) causes, respectively. Few examples of disease were detected, but this may be at least partly a consequence of sampling constraints. Of the carcasses assessed, 68.6% of individuals exhibited some form of parasitism. Parasites identified were typical of the genus and considered to be present in low to moderate burdens. The proportion of beach cast carcasses exhibiting evidence of net entanglement suggests that fisheries-related mortality maybe higher than that previously considered for the New Zealand Common Dolphin population.

Tourist Disturbance On New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctophalus Forsteri)

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Boren ◽  
NJ Gemmell ◽  
KJ Barton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Current Minimum ◽  
The Impact

Marine mammals are significant tourist attractions around New Zealand, however, the impact of eco-tourism on these species is poorly documented. Effective management to mitigate any negative effects requires an understanding of target species? reactions to tourist activities. We have studied the effects of tourist activities on New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) using a novel combination of observations and controlled approaches. Three study areas were selected reflecting a range of visitor density, type of tourism, and the anticipated sensitivity of fur seals to disturbance. Behaviour was observed using instantaneous scan sampling and attributes of tourist approaches were tested experimentally by controlled approaches. Approaches were made on land, by kayak, and motorboat. Fur seal responses and the distance at which the seal responded were recorded. Our results indicate that A. forsteri behaviour was being modified by tourist activities. Habituation was occurring at study areas with high levels of tourist activity. Approachers following current minimum approach distances still caused some animals to modify their behaviour and new minimum approach distances are recommended based on controlled approaches to seals at all study areas. Our work demonstrated that controlled approaches can be a useful tool to develop effective management guidelines to lessen impacts from eco-tourism activities.

The Impact of Hospital Teaching Status on Timing of Intervention, Inpatient Morbidity, and Mortality After Surgery for Vertebral Column Fractures with Spinal Cord Injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 140-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael De la Garza Ramos ◽  
Jonathan Nakhla ◽  
Rani Nasser ◽  
Ajit Jada ◽  
Daniel M. Sciubba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Teaching Status ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Design and Retrospective Application of a Spine Trauma DVT Prophylaxis Protocol on Level 1 Trauma Center Patient Database

2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822097913
Author(s):  
Scott Nimmons ◽  
James Rizkalla ◽  
Jaicus Solis ◽  
Jonathan Dawkins ◽  
Ishaq Syed
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Spine Trauma ◽  
Filter Placement ◽  
Dvt Prophylaxis ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
The Impact

Study Design: Systematic literature review. Objectives: The impact of thromboembolic disease on the morbidity and mortality of patients with acute spinal cord injury is well documented, with rates as high as 67%-100% among untreated patients. The efficacy of mechanical prophylaxis as a stand-alone measure has been questioned, so we sought to determine a safe perioperative window for chemical anticoagulation use after spine surgery. Many surgeons have concerns anticoagulants may cause post-operative hematoma. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed, ultimately yielding 13 articles. Based on the existing literature and input from our multidisciplinary institutional trauma committee, a Spine Trauma DVT Prophylaxis Protocol was developed. Results: Effort was placed to identify cases within our institution in which patients suffered vertebral column fractures and/or spinal cord injuries. Of these 466 vertebral column fractures and/or spinal cord injuries, 4 patients were identified and diagnosed with DVTs while admitted. Conclusions: Of these patients, there is a clear dilemma with regard to safety of chemoprophylaxis use versus risk of developing a DVT. Though none of the patients developed a PE, utilizing the protocol would have led to earlier IVC filter placement or initiation of a VTE surveillance protocol in 2 of the patients. Initiation of enoxaparin before surgery in one patient (despite delay of surgical timing) may have avoided his subsequent LUE DVT. Though not appropriate for all clinical scenarios, we are confident that our treatment algorithm will prove beneficial for patient care in avoiding DVTs and helping trauma surgeons with evidence-based clinical decision making.

Conservation of marine mammals in New Zealand

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Slooten ◽  
Stephen M. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Conservation Problem ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Pinniped Species ◽  
New Zealand Fur Seal ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
The Impact

New Zealand has a diverse fauna of marine mammals, comprising 35 cetacean and six pinniped species. None of these is hunted within the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone, but several species are killed incidentally in coastal or deep-water fisheries. Particularly affected are Hector's Dolphin, Hooker's Sea Lion, and the New Zealand Fur Seal. Detailed information on the nature and magnitude of incidental catches is patchy at best, and inadequate to assess nationally the impact on any one species. Other species are known to be caught, but a quantitative assessment of how many are caught per year is impossible. The impact of whale watching on sperm whales has attracted more attention, and impacts of tourism on other marine mammals are just beginning to be studied. We critically review the nature and management of the potential threats facing New Zealand marine mammals, including bycatch, entanglement in plastic debris, chemical pollution, and tourism. We discuss research needs and management recommendations for each conservation problem in turn.

scholarly journals Subsistence practices, past biodiversity, and anthropogenic impacts revealed by New Zealand-wide ancient DNA survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (30) ◽  
pp. 7771-7776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik V. Seersholm ◽  
Theresa L. Cole ◽  
Alicia Grealy ◽  
Nicolas J. Rawlence ◽  
Karen Greig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Bone Fragments ◽  
Genetic Survey ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Subsistence Practices

New Zealand’s geographic isolation, lack of native terrestrial mammals, and Gondwanan origins make it an ideal location to study evolutionary processes. However, since the archipelago was first settled by humans 750 y ago, its unique biodiversity has been under pressure, and today an estimated 49% of the terrestrial avifauna is extinct. Current efforts to conserve the remaining fauna rely on a better understanding of the composition of past ecosystems, as well as the causes and timing of past extinctions. The exact temporal and spatial dynamics of New Zealand’s extinct fauna, however, can be difficult to interpret, as only a small proportion of animals are preserved as morphologically identifiable fossils. Here, we conduct a large-scale genetic survey of subfossil bone assemblages to elucidate the impact of humans on the environment in New Zealand. By genetically identifying more than 5,000 nondiagnostic bone fragments from archaeological and paleontological sites, we reconstruct a rich faunal record of 110 species of birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and marine mammals. We report evidence of five whale species rarely reported from New Zealand archaeological middens and characterize extinct lineages of leiopelmatid frog (Leiopelma sp.) and kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) haplotypes lost from the gene pool. Taken together, this molecular audit of New Zealand’s subfossil record not only contributes to our understanding of past biodiversity and precontact Māori subsistence practices but also provides a more nuanced snapshot of anthropogenic impacts on native fauna after first human arrival.

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