scholarly journals Community-Based Observations of Marine Mammal Occurrences in Groswater Bay, Labrador

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Keith G. Chaulk ◽  
Daniel Michelin ◽  
Melva Williams ◽  
Tony Wolfrey
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Balaenoptera Acutorostrata ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Industrial Growth ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Oil And Gas Exploration ◽  
Minke Whales

Experienced observers from the community of Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador, recorded marine mammal observations at Rigolet on the coast of Labrador from July to September 2012. During this study, a total of nine species of marine mammals were documented. A daily average of 2.6 (range 1–5) marine mammal species were observed, with Harp Seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and Common Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) being the most common. The area is thought to be regionally important for Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida) whelping; however, Ringed Seals were not observed in large numbers. Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) were also reported anecdotally, but were less common than the other species, with the possible exception of the Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Labrador is experiencing significant industrial growth related to hydroelectric development and offshore oil and gas exploration. These data should aid environmental assessment and environmental effects monitoring and assist researchers in understanding regional marine mammal ecology, including species diversity, seasonal occurrence, and relative abundance.

scholarly journals Marine mammal sightings around oil and gas installations in the central North Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 993-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Delefosse ◽  
Malene Louise Rahbek ◽  
Lars Roesen ◽  
Karin Tubbert Clausen
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Minke Whale ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Central North Sea

Relatively little is known about the distribution and diversity of marine mammals around offshore anthropogenic structures. We present results obtained from incidental sightings of marine mammals around oil and gas installations located 200 km off the Danish coast. A total of 131 sightings corresponding to about 288 animals were reported between May 2013 and May 2016. A total of seven marine mammal species were identified, five cetaceans: harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), killer whale (Orcinus orca), pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) and two species of pinnipeds: harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). The most sighted species were harbour porpoise (41%) and minke whale (31%). Relative counts and biodiversity of marine mammals observed around installations corresponded well with the expected distribution in the central North Sea. Several taxon-specific correlations were identified between number of sightings and environmental parameters (depth and latitude) or installation characteristics (installation aerial footprint). Furthermore, 85% of sightings were made during spring and summer and it is unclear whether the pattern observed reflected a natural seasonal occurrence of marine mammals in the area or an effect of reduced effort during autumn and winter. Despite the potential caveats, results obtained during this programme provide an insight into the relationship between marine mammals and oil and gas offshore installations in the North Sea.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of the Gut Microbiota Among Four Different Marine Mammals in an Aquarium

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shijie Bai ◽  
Peijun Zhang ◽  
Changhao Zhang ◽  
Jiang Du ◽  
Xinyi Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Host Phylogeny ◽  
Bacterial Lineages

Despite an increasing appreciation in the importance of host–microbe interactions in ecological and evolutionary processes, information on the gut microbial communities of some marine mammals is still lacking. Moreover, whether diet, environment, or host phylogeny has the greatest impact on microbial community structure is still unknown. To fill part of this knowledge gap, we exploited a natural experiment provided by an aquarium with belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) affiliated with family Monodontidae, Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) and common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) affiliated with family Delphinidae, and Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) affiliated with family Otariidae. Results show significant differences in microbial community composition of whales, dolphins, and fur seals and indicate that host phylogeny (family level) plays the most important role in shaping the microbial communities, rather than food and environment. In general, the gut microbial communities of dolphins had significantly lower diversity compared to that of whales and fur seals. Overall, the gut microbial communities were mainly composed of Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria, together with some from Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Epsilonbacteraeota. However, specific bacterial lineages were differentially distributed among the marine mammal groups. For instance, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae were the dominant bacterial lineages in the gut of belugas, while for Cape fur seals, Moraxellaceae and Bacteroidaceae were the main bacterial lineages. Moreover, gut microbial communities in both Pacific white-sided dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins were dominated by a number of pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium perfringens, Vibrio fluvialis, and Morganella morganii, reflecting the poor health condition of these animals. Although there is a growing recognition of the role microorganisms play in the gut of marine mammals, current knowledge about these microbial communities is still severely lacking. Large-scale research studies should be undertaken to reveal the roles played by the gut microbiota of different marine mammal species.

Corneal anatomy of marine mammals

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2282-2290 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Pardue ◽  
J. G. Sivak ◽  
K. M. Kovacs
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Balaenoptera Acutorostrata ◽  
Marine Habitat ◽  
Corneal Surface ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Phoca Groenlandica ◽  
Minke Whales ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Ultrathin Sections

The corneal anatomy of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), harp seals (Phoca groenlandica), ringed seals (Phoca hispida), and bearded seals (Eriganthus barbatus) was examined to determine if marine mammals have evolved specialized corneas for life in a marine habitat. One to seven eyes of each species were analyzed: paraffin sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin for light microscopy; and ultrathin sections for transmission electron microscopy. All corneas contain the five typical mammalian layers: epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. The corneas of these marine mammals are thicker than human corneas because of a thicker stromal layer. The other layers are thinner than those found in humans, except for the epithelial layer in the bearded seal and the cetaceans where it may provide extra protection for the eye during feeding behaviour. The epithelial cells in all corneas studied have an abundance of tonofilaments, which may strengthen the cells and distribute force across the corneal surface. No special organization of collagen fibrils was found in the stroma that would offer protection from ultraviolet radiation or glare for pinnipeds when on ice. The thickness of the sclera in the cetaceans may serve to hold the inner globe of the eye in an elliptical shape, while the thinning of the sclera in the equatorial region in pinnipeds may flatten the eye in air to reduce aerial myopia.

scholarly journals The impacts of climate change on marine mammals: early signs of significant problems

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Simmonds ◽  
Stephen J. Isaac
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Baleen Whale ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Conservation Plans ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Climate change is now known to be affecting the oceans. It is widely anticipated that impacts on marine mammals will be mediated primarily via changes in prey distribution and abundance and that the more mobile (or otherwise adaptable) species may be able to respond to this to some extent. However, the extent of this adaptability is largely unknown. Meanwhile, within the last few years direct observations have been made of several marine mammal populations that illustrate reactions to climate change. These observations indicate that certain species and populations may be especially vulnerable, including those with a limited habitat range, such as the vaquita Phocoena sinus, or those for which sea ice provides an important part of their habitat, such as narwhals Monodon monoceros, bowhead Balaena mysticetus and beluga Delphinapterus leucas whales and polar bears Ursus maritimus. Similarly, there are concerns about those species that migrate to feeding grounds in polar regions because of rapidly changing conditions there, and this includes many baleen whale populations. This review highlights the need to take projected impacts into account in future conservation and management plans, including species assessments. How this should be done in an adequately precautionary manner offers a significant challenge to those involved in such processes, although it is possible to identify at this time at least some species and populations that may be regarded as especially vulnerable. Marine ecosystems modellers and marine mammal experts will need to work together to make such assessments and conservation plans as robust as possible.

scholarly journals Contrasting changes in space use induced by climate change in two Arctic marine mammal species

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 20180834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charmain D. Hamilton ◽  
Jade Vacquié-Garcia ◽  
Kit M. Kovacs ◽  
Rolf A. Ims ◽  
Jack Kohler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Behavioural Plasticity ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Dietary Specialization ◽  
Environmental Pressures

Global warming is inducing major environmental changes in the Arctic. These changes will differentially affect species owing to differences in climate sensitivity and behavioural plasticity. Arctic endemic marine mammals are expected to be impacted significantly by ongoing changes in their key habitats owing to their long life cycles and dependence on ice. Herein, unique biotelemetry datasets for ringed seals (RS; Pusa hispida ) and white whales (WW; Delphinapterus leucas ) from Svalbard, Norway, spanning two decades (1995–2016) are used to investigate how these species have responded to reduced sea-ice cover and increased Atlantic water influxes. Tidal glacier fronts were traditionally important foraging areas for both species. Following a period with dramatic environmental change, RS now spend significantly more time near tidal glaciers, where Arctic prey presumably still concentrate. Conversely, WW spend significantly less time near tidal glacier fronts and display spatial patterns that suggest that they are foraging on Atlantic fishes that are new to the region. Differences in levels of dietary specialization and overall behavioural plasticity are likely reasons for similar environmental pressures affecting these species differently. Climate change adjustments through behavioural plasticity will be vital for species survival in the Arctic, given the rapidity of change and limited dispersal options.

scholarly journals Marine mammals' influence on ecosystem processes affecting fisheries in the Barents Sea is trivial

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J Corkeron
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Fishery Management ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Balaenoptera Acutorostrata ◽  
The Barents Sea

Some interpretations of ecosystem-based fishery management include culling marine mammals as an integral component. The current Norwegian policy on marine mammal management is one example. Scientific support for this policy includes the Scenario Barents Sea (SBS) models. These modelled interactions between cod, Gadus morhua , herring, Clupea harengus , capelin, Mallotus villosus and northern minke whales, Balaenoptera acutorostrata . Adding harp seals Phoca groenlandica into this top-down modelling approach resulted in unrealistic model outputs. Another set of models of the Barents Sea fish–fisheries system focused on interactions within and between the three fish populations, fisheries and climate. These model key processes of the system successfully. Continuing calls to support the SBS models despite their failure suggest a belief that marine mammal predation must be a problem for fisheries. The best available scientific evidence provides no justification for marine mammal culls as a primary component of an ecosystem-based approach to managing the fisheries of the Barents Sea.

scholarly journals Feasibility of melting fingerprint obtained from ISSR-HRM curves for marine mammal species identification

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11689
Author(s):  
Wannapimol Kriangwanich ◽  
Kittisak Buddhachat ◽  
Anocha Poommouang ◽  
Siriwadee Chomdej ◽  
Chatchote Thitaram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Issr Markers ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Hrm Analysis ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
High Degree

Currently, species identification of stranded marine mammals mostly relies on morphological features, which has inherent challenges. The use of genetic information for marine mammal species identification remains limited, therefore, new approaches that can contribute to a better monitoring of stranded species are needed. In that context, the ISSR-HRM method we have proposed offers a new approach for marine mammal species identification. Consequently, new approaches need to be developed to identify individuals at the species level. Eight primers of the ISSR markers were chosen for HRM analysis resulting in ranges of accuracy of 56.78–75.50% and 52.14–75.93% in terms of precision, while a degree of sensitivity of more than 80% was recorded when each single primer was used. The ISSR-HRM primer combinations revealed a success rate of 100% in terms of discrimination for all marine mammals included in this study. Furthermore, ISSR-HRM analysis was successfully employed in determining marine mammal discrimination among varying marine mammal species. Thus, ISSR-HRM analysis could serve as an effective alternative tool in the species identification process. This option would offer researchers a heightened level of convenience in terms of its performance and success rate. It would also offer field practice to veterinarians, biologists and other field-related people a greater degree of ease with which they could interpret results when effectively classifying stranded marine mammals. However, further studies with more samples and with a broader geographical scope will be required involving distinct populations to account for the high degree of intraspecific variability in cetaceans and to demonstrate the range of applications of this approach.

scholarly journals Stability of Domoic Acid in 50% Methanol Extracts and Raw Fecal Material from Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus)

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 423
Author(s):  
Emily K. Bowers ◽  
Raphaela Stimmelmayr ◽  
Kathi A. Lefebvre
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Domoic Acid ◽  
Harmful Algal Bloom ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Fecal Material ◽  
Shellfish Poisoning ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Methanol Extracts

Domoic acid (DA), the toxin causing amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is produced globally by some diatoms in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. DA has been detected in several marine mammal species in the Alaskan Arctic, raising health concerns for marine mammals and subsistence communities dependent upon them. Gastrointestinal matrices are routinely used to detect Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) toxin presence in marine mammals, yet DA stability has only been studied extensively in shellfish-related matrices. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified DA in bowhead whale fecal samples at multiple time points for two groups: (1) 50% methanol extracts from feces, and (2) raw feces stored in several conditions. DA concentrations decreased to 70 ± 7.1% of time zero (T0) in the 50% methanol extracts after 2 weeks, but remained steady until the final time point at 5 weeks (66 ± 5.7% T0). In contrast, DA concentrations were stable or increased in raw fecal material after 8 weeks of freezer storage (−20 °C), at room temperature (RT) in the dark, or refrigerated at 1 °C. DA concentrations in raw feces stored in an incubator (37 °C) or at RT in the light decreased to 77 ± 2.8% and 90 ± 15.0% T0 at 8 weeks, respectively. Evaporation during storage of raw fecal material is a likely cause of the increased DA concentrations observed over time with the highest increase to 126 ± 7.6% T0 after 3.2 years of frozen storage. These results provide valuable information for developing appropriate sample storage procedures for marine mammal fecal samples.

scholarly journals Cetaceans of the Barents Sea: Fauna and population status at the beginning of the XXI century

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-68
Author(s):  
T. V. Mishin
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Water Area ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Balaenoptera Acutorostrata ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
The Status

The Polar branch of Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) carries out annually comprehensive surveys in the Barents Sea. This allows obtaining relevant data on distribution and occurrence of marine mammals, in particular cetaceans – the key link in the World Ocean ecosystem. In recent years, marine mammals monitoring has become increasingly important due to climate change and temperature rise in seas and oceans, that can result in habitat displacement and even possible extinction of certain species. This article summarizes the results of the vessel surveys of cetaceans carried out by the Polar branch of VNIRO in the Barents Sea in 2010–2019, as well as provides retrospective data on baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti). Based on vessel survey material and taking into account data from literature sources, the current composition of the Barents Sea cetacean fauna is presented; at the beginning of the XXI century, it may include up to 16 species of 7 families. The analysis of vessel survey data made it possible to determine the status of marine mammals of this water area and to identify the frequency of their occurrence. The article presents population abundance for most species of baleen and toothed whales and shows the most likely spots of cetacean occurrence. According to the data obtained, white-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris is the most abundant, frequently sighted, and a year-round species: it accounts for more than 80 % of the total number of surveyed animals and about 50 % of all sighted cetaceans. Beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas and harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena are also classified as permanent residents of the water area, and their localization is mainly confined to the Kola Peninsula coastal zone. May to October, the Barents Sea is regularly visited by species arriving from other Atlantic Ocean areas for feeding: minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata, fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, and humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae. Narwhal Monodon monoceros and northern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon ampullatus are rarely sighted in the Russian Arctic western area.

scholarly journals Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program’s state of the Arctic marine biodiversity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit M. Kovacs ◽  
Rosa Meehan ◽  
Stas Belikov ◽  
Genevieve Desportes ◽  
Steve Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Status And Trends

Marine mammals are top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and are key to ecosystem functioning. Many Arctic marine mammal species are important resources and hold special cultural significance in Arctic communities. The CBMP (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme) Marine Mammal Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of all 11 ice-associated marine mammal Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring (and research) efforts for these species. Changes taking place in the physical environment in the Arctic due to global warming are affecting marine mammal behaviour, abundance, growth rates, body condition and reproduction, and impacting the resilience of marine mammal populations with concomitant effects on the people who rely on them for subsistence, economic and cultural purposes. Effective marine mammal population monitoring will need improved techniques and application at appropriate geographic scales to measure trends that can be evaluated relative to changes in climate (e.g., sea-ice cover) and human activities (e.g., hunting, shipping, mineral exploration). This presentation will summarize current marine mammal monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

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