scholarly journals Is Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Exhaled Breath Sampling Suitable for Hormonal Assessments?

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 907
Author(s):  
Anja Reckendorf ◽  
Marion Schmicke ◽  
Paulien Bunskoek ◽  
Kirstin Anderson Hansen ◽  
Mette Thybo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Petri Dish ◽  
Exhaled Breath ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Breath Sampling ◽  
Collection Device ◽  
Centrifuge Tube ◽  
Sterile Petri Dish ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Over the last decades, exhaled breath sampling has been established for laboratory analysis in various cetacean species. Due to their small size, the usability of respiratory vapor for hormone assessments was questionable in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). This pilot study compared three different blow collection devices for their suitability in the field and during laboratory processing: a sterile petri dish covered by a Nitex membrane, as well as sterile 50 mL centrifuge tubes with or without manganese(II) chloride as a stabilizer. Collected exhales varied between three, five or ten, depending on feasibility. Hormones were extracted through an ether mix, followed by centrifugal evaporation and cortisol analysis using an immunoassay. Although close to the lower end of the assay's dynamic range, the ELISA produced results (n = 110, 0.102–0.937 ng/mL). Hence, a simple 50 mL centrifuge tube was determined as the best suited blow collection device, while three consecutive exhales proved sufficient to yield results. These findings are promising regarding the suitability of exhaled breath as a matrix for future endocrine and immune system-related studies in harbor porpoises. If further advanced, blow sampling can become an important, non-invasive tool for studying and monitoring health, stress levels and diseases in harbor porpoises.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a standardized collection device for exhaled breath sampling onto thermal desorption tubes

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 036004
Author(s):  
Sean W Harshman ◽  
Rhonda L Pitsch ◽  
Christina N Davidson ◽  
Erica M Lee ◽  
Alexander M Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Desorption ◽  
Exhaled Breath ◽  
Breath Sampling ◽  
Collection Device

Indication of lethal interactions between a solitary bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the German Baltic Sea

BMC Zoology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Gross ◽  
Philip Claus ◽  
Peter Wohlsein ◽  
Tina Kesselring ◽  
Jan Lakemeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Temporal Correlation ◽  
First Record ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Abstract Background Aggressive interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) have been reported in different parts of the world since the late 1990s. In the Baltic Sea, harbor porpoises are the only native cetacean species, while bottlenose dolphins may appear there temporarily. In the fall of 2016, a solitary male photo-identified bottlenose dolphin stayed in the German Baltic Sea of Schleswig-Holstein for 3 months. During that time, the necropsies of the stranded harbor porpoises revealed types of trauma of varying degrees in six animals, which is unusual in this area. The purpose of this study was to determine if the appearance of the bottlenose dolphin could be linked to the trauma of the harbor porpoise carcasses. Results Pathological findings in these animals included subcutaneous, thoracic and abdominal hemorrhages, multiple, mainly bilateral, rib fractures, and one instance of lung laceration. These findings correspond with the previously reported dolphin-caused injuries in other regions. Moreover, public sighting reports showed a spatial and temporal correlation between the appearance of the dolphin and the stranding of fatally injured harbor porpoises. Conclusion Despite the fact that no attack has been witnessed in German waters to date, our findings indicate the first record of lethal interactions between a bottlenose dolphin and harbor porpoises in the German Baltic Sea. Furthermore, to our knowledge, this is the first report of porpoise aggression by a socially isolated bottlenose dolphin.

Effect of Pile-Driving Playback Sound Level on Fish-Catching Efficiency in Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 398-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. Kastelein ◽  
Léonie A. E. Huijser ◽  
Suzanne Cornelisse ◽  
Lean Helder-Hoek ◽  
Nancy Jennings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sound Level ◽  
Pile Driving ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Behavioral Responses of Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) to U.S. Navy 53C Sonar Signals in Noise

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 359-366
Author(s):  
Ronald A. Kastelein ◽  
Michael A. Ainslie ◽  
Ruby van Kester
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

scholarly journals Mycotic Infections in Free-Ranging Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasia Kapetanou ◽  
Lonneke L. IJsseldijk ◽  
Dorien S. Willems ◽  
Els M. Broens ◽  
Eligius Everaarts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Harbor Porpoises ◽  
Mycotic Infections

scholarly journals Phthalate metabolites in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Norwegian coastal waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 105525 ◽  
Author(s):  
May Britt Rian ◽  
Kristine Vike-Jonas ◽  
Susana Villa Gonzalez ◽  
Tomasz Maciej Ciesielski ◽  
Vishwesh Venkatraman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Phthalate Metabolites ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) recovery in the inland waters of Washington: estimates of density and abundance from aerial surveys, 2013–2015

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 505-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Jefferson ◽  
Mari A. Smultea ◽  
Sarah S. Courbis ◽  
Gregory S. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Puget Sound ◽  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Inland Waters ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Harbor Porpoise ◽  
San Juan Islands ◽  
Juan De Fuca ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

The harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena (L., 1758)) used to be common in Puget Sound, Washington, but virtually disappeared from these waters by the 1970s. We conducted systematic aerial line-transect surveys (17 237 km total effort) for harbor porpoises, with the goal of estimating density and abundance in the inland waters of Washington State. Surveys in Puget Sound occurred throughout the year from 2013 to 2015, and in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the San Juan Islands (and some adjacent Canadian waters) in April 2015. We used a high-wing, twin-engine Partenavia airplane and four observers (one on each side of the plane, one looking through a belly port, and one recording data). A total of 1063 harbor porpoise groups were sighted. Density and abundance were estimated using conventional distance sampling methods. Analyses were limited to 447 harbor porpoise groups observed during 5708 km of effort during good sighting conditions suitable for line-transect analysis. Harbor porpoises occurred in all regions of the study area, with highest densities around the San Juan Islands and in northern Puget Sound. Overall, estimated abundance for the Washington Inland Waters stock was 11 233 porpoises (CV = 37%, 95% CI = 9 616 – 13 120). This project clearly demonstrated that harbor porpoises have reoccupied waters of Puget Sound and are present there in all seasons. However, the specific reasons for their initial decline and subsequent recovery remain uncertain.

scholarly journals Comparing the performance of C-PODs and SoundTrap/PAMGUARD in detecting the acoustic activity of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Sarnocinska ◽  
Jakob Tougaard ◽  
Mark Johnson ◽  
Peter T. Madsen ◽  
Magnus Wahlberg
Keyword(s):  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Acoustic Activity ◽  
Harbor Porpoises
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