Fin whales of the Great Bear Rainforest: Balaenoptera physalus velifera in a Canadian Pacific fjord system

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are widely considered an offshore and oceanic species, but certain populations also use coastal areas and semi-enclosed seas. Based upon fifteen years of study, we report that Canadian Pacific fin whales (B. p. velifera) have returned to the Kitimat Fjord System (KFS) in the Great Bear Rainforest, and have established a seasonally resident population in its intracoastal waters. This is the only fjord system along this coast or elsewhere in which fin whales are known to occur regularly with strong site fidelity. The KFS was also the only Canadian Pacific fjord system in which fin whales were commonly found and killed during commercial whaling, pointing to its long-term importance. Traditional knowledge, whaling records, and citizen science databases suggest that fin whales were extirpated from this area prior to their return in 2005–2006. Visual surveys and mark-recapture analysis documented their repopulation of the area, with 100–120 whales using the fjord system in recent years, as well as the establishment of a seasonally resident population with annual return rates higher than 70%. Line transect surveys identified the central and outer channels of the KFS as the primary fin whale habitat, with the greatest densities occurring in Squally Channel and Caamaño Sound. Fin whales were observed in the KFS in most months of the year. Vessel- and shore-based surveys (27,311 km and 6,572 hours of effort, respectively) indicated regular fin whale presence (2,542 detections), including mother-calf pairs, from June to October and peak abundance in late August–early September. Seasonal patterns were variable year-to-year, and several lines of evidence indicated that fin whales arrived and departed from the KFS repeatedly throughout the summer and fall. Additionally, we report on the population’s social network and morphometrics. These findings offer insights into the dynamics of population recovery in an area where several marine shipping projects are proposed. The fin whales of the Great Bear Rainforest represent a rare exception to general patterns in this species’ natural history, and we highlight the importance of their conservation.

Teleostei fishes of the North Coast of Brazil and adjacent areas

The North Coast of Brazil is a biogeographical area of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Brazil that share environmental features with region under influence of the Plume of the rio Amazon and Orinoco. Despite the relevance of the region’s fish fauna, in biogeo-graphic, ecologic, and commercial terms, this area is poorly known. This study presents the most complete and updated list of the bony fish fauna from the North Coast of Brazil, aiming to minimize our knowledge gap on such region's biodiversity. The main sources of infor-mation were records from zoological collections, inventories obtained during the surveys of the Research and Conservation National Center of Northern Marine Biodiversity and collec-tions from the authors. A total of 787 species of the Teleostei were recorded off the North Coast of Brazil and adjacent waters, representing 156 families and 45 orders. Most (531) of these species are coastal, 256 inhabit deeper water, and 31 pelagic (oceanic) species are com-mon to both the internal and external continental shelf, of which 54 represent new records. Given the progressive intensification of fisheries and increasing incentives for the exploita-tion of the local gas and oil reserves, a more adequate inventory of the marine fish fauna of the North Coast of Brazil is fundamentally important for the management of the region’s aquatic biodiversity.

Summertime Tintinnid Community in the Surface Waters Across the North Pacific Transition Zone

Located from 35° to 45° latitude in both hemispheres, the transition zone is an important region with respect to the planktonic biogeography of the sea. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on the existence of a tintinnid community in the transition zone. In this research, tintinnids along two transects across the North Pacific Transition Zone (NPTZ) were investigated in summer 2016 and 2019. Eighty-three oceanic tintinnid species were identified, 41 of which were defined as common oceanic species. The common oceanic species were further divided into five groups: boreal, warm water type I, warm water type II, transition zone, and cosmopolitan species. Undella californiensis and Undella clevei were transition zone species. Other species, such as Amphorides minor, Dadayiella ganymedes, Dictyocysta mitra, Eutintinnus pacificus, Eutintinnus tubulosus, Protorhabdonella simplex, and Steenstrupiella steenstrupii, were the most abundant in the NPTZ but spread over a much larger distribution region. Species richness showed no obvious increase in the NPTZ. Boreal, transition zone, and warm water communities were divided along the two transects. Tintinnid transition zone community mainly distributed in regions with water temperatures between 15 and 20°C. The tintinnid lorica oral diameter size classes were dominated by the 24–28 μm size class in three communities, but the dominance decreased from 66.26% in the boreal community to 48.85% in the transition zone community and then to 22.72% in the warm water community. Our research confirmed the existence of tintinnid transition zone species and community. The abrupt disappearance of warm water type I species below 15°C suggested that this group could be used as an indicator of the northern boundary of the NPTZ.

First shallow record of Bathyphysa conifera (Studer, 1878) (Siphonophora, Cystonectae), a live specimen in the Strait of Gibraltar. Worldwide species distribution review.

The rarely observed cystonect siphonophore Bathyphysa conifera was recorded for the first time in shallow depth water (- 16 m) as a live specimen, at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea by SCUBA divers. It is a delicate oceanic species, with earlier records coming mostly from deep water, where it readily adheres to deep sea fishing cables and nets, causing painful stings to fishermen. Deep water sightings from ROVs include in the North Atlantic, off Angola, the Gulf of Mexico and Monterey Canyon. The present specimen was swimming actively by contracting and expanding its stem, in a yo-yo movement. A review of all reliable records for this species worldwide has been carried out in order to gain a better knowledge of the present known distribution of this species, both geographical and bathymetric. Bathyphysa conifera may possibly represent an important component of the food web and be perhaps also a competitor to fish in the regions it inhabits.

Growth curves of the yellowlegs shrimp Penaeus californiensis Holmes, 1900 (Decapoda, Penaeidae), using length data

The yellowlegs shrimp Penaeus californiensis is an oceanic species that approaches the coastal zone for its reproduction. However, in the southern Gulf of California, this species also enters coastal lagoons to grow and reproduce. To test the hypothesis that the growth of P. californiensis differs between these two environments, monthly samplings of shrimp were made in the interior of the Navachiste coastal lagoon and its adjacent marine area. To determine growth, age groups were identified using the size structures over time. Five cases of the Schnute model were adjusted to the data, and the best case was selected using a multi-model selection approach. A sigmoid-shaped curve best represented the female data (case 2), and the inverted exponential curve (case 5; equivalent to the Von Bertalanffy growth function) was best for males. Average growth differed between sexes () but not between environments ().

Salinity optima for vegetative growth and sexual reproduction of the diatom Toxarium undulatum

Distribution of diatom algae is limited by their tolerance to environmental factors. Although a genus Toxarium has been evolving for more than 100 million years, it is represented by only two species. Toxarium undulatum is widely spread in tropical and subtropical seas, and it can be also found in the Black Sea, the salinity of which is twice lower than the oceanic one. Ecological and psychological characteristics research of this species is of great interest in terms of its relationship to salinity. T. undulatum clonal cultures were sampled in the Donuzlav Lake connected to the Black Sea (southwest of the Crimean Peninsula) and on Gran Canaria coast (Canary Islands archipelago). Experiments on the salinity tolerance limits showed, that the Black Sea clones were viable in a range of at least 30 ‰ (12 to 42 ‰). The same wide range of salinity tolerance with slightly higher values was observed among oceanic clones of this species. Optima of vegetative growth and sexual reproduction were determined. Optima of the Black Sea clones appeared to be 27.8 and 27.2 ‰, respectively, which was significantly higher than salinity observed in population habitat. Similar higher optima of vegetative growth and sexual reproduction, compared with those salinity values, at which natural population developed, were observed for a number of other Black Sea diatoms, which proved their oceanic (Mediterranean) origin. It was concluded that T. undulatum, along with other species, began to populate the Black Sea basin about seven thousand years ago after Mediterranean Sea water started to flow into the freshened Novoevksinsky Sea-Lake through the Bosporus Strait. However, the evolution rate did not allow bringing physiological and ecological characteristics of the species studied into full agreement with environmental conditions. Oceanic origin is evidently seen in its physiological reactions to salinity. Possibility of speciation due to settlement of the Black Sea with oceanic species is discussed.

Visceral Gout in Coastal and Oceanic Seabirds in Paraná, Southern of Brazil

Background: Owing to the abundance, wide distribution, long life cycles and higher positions in the throfic levels, seabirds are considered sentinels of hazards and negative anthropogenic impacts to marine ecosystems. Gout is a a common disease affecting birds, but also occurs in other taxa, including mammals and reptiles. The aim of this study was to elucidate the occurrence and pathological findings of gout cases in different species of seabirds, including biological and ecological factors that may contribute to disease.Cases: The urate crystals were observed in ten seabirds stranded, classified in eight species: four oceanic species - two Puffinus puffinus, one Macronectis giganteus, one Thalassarche melanophris, one Calonectris sp. and four coastal species - one Fregata magnifiscens, two Sula leucogaster, one Phalacrocorax brasilianus and one Rynchops niger. A total of seven animals were stranded alive and three were found dead; four animals were male and six were female; six were juveniles and four were mature. The nutritional condition was cachectic in four animals, poor in five and fair in one. The main clinical sign in alive animals was dehydration (7/7; 100%). The treatment consisted of standard support including fluid therapy and temperature stabilization; in addition, vitamins, amino acids, minerals and antibiotics (sulfonamide or enrofloxacin) were given, but the animals died between 1 and 13 days after rehabilitation entrance. Gout was associated with cachectic condition and autumn stranding (in comparison with summer stranding). The main macroscopic findings were observed in the kidneys, which were whitish and enlarged and all had microscopic evidence of multifocal, mild to marked renal crystal urate deposition. In two cases, urates deposition were observed in multiple organs, including liver, spleen, lung, epicardium and kidney in two cases, indicating severe visceral gout.The gout was considered the ultimate cause of death in three cases, and in the remaining cases, the main lesion associated with death was trauma (n = 2), infectious enteritis (n = 2), systemic infection (n = 1), myocardial necrosis (n = 1) and cachexia syndrome. The contributing factors for urate deposition were metabolic imbalances, chronic dehydration and overdoses of protein supplements. Discussion:The ten cases described above constitute a rare report of visceral gout in free-living and in rehabilitation seabirds and contributes towards understanding the prevalence and pathogeny of gout in stranded oceanic and coastal animals off southern Brazil. Similar prevalence of gout was observed among free-ranging birds of other reports,but it was considered lower when compared to 21.5% and 23.3% affected captive/broilers. The difference observed may be influenced by the population analysed, but also by the gout pathogeny and environmental conditions. Among the possible causes of gout, dehydration was observed in all gout-affetected animals stranded alive, a change usually observed in debilitated/stranded animals that probably has contributed to the disease. Additionally, the poor/cachectic condition noticed in the majority of seabirds indicates a nutritional disorder, also a cause promoting visceral gout. In the present study, accumulation of urate crystals was predominantly limited to the kidneys and associated with inflammatory infiltrate, suggesting a chronic process. The results of this study support the hypothesis that visceral gout is a complex consequence of multiple factors affecting both free-living and rehabilitated seabirds. Therefore, further investigation of the other possible causes, frequency and consequences for coastal and oceanic species is indispensable.

Tintinnid Ciliate Communities in Pre- and Post-Winter Conditions in the Southern Adriatic Sea (NE Mediterranean)

The Southern Adriatic Sea is a dynamic region under the influence of diverse physical forces that modify sea water properties as well as plankton dynamics, abundance, and distribution in an intricate way. The most pronounced being: winter vertical convection, lateral exchanges between coastal and open sea waters, and the ingression of water masses of different properties into the Adriatic. We investigated the distribution and abundance of tintinnid species in this dynamic environment in pre- and post-winter conditions in 2015/2016. A strong ingression of the saline Levantine Intermediate Water, supported by the cyclonic mode of the North Ionian Gyre in 2015 and 2016, in December was associated with a high diversity of oceanic species. An unusual spatial distribution of neritic-estuarine species Codonellopsis schabi was observed in deeper layers along the analyzed transect, which emphasizes the strong influence of physical processes on deep water biology in the South Adriatic. A shift of population toward greater depths (mesopelagic) and modification of deep sea community structure was recorded in April as a consequence of the winter convection-driven sinking of tintinnids. Our findings indicate that tintinnid abundance and composition is heavily influenced by physical conditions and they are good indicators of the impact of physical forces, including climate changes, on marine environment.

First documented records of Lugensa brevirostris (Lesson, 1831) and Phoebetria palpebrata (Forster, 1785) for the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil (Aves, Procellariiformes)

The order Procellariiformes comprises mainly oceanic species that are occasionally recorded from along the Brazilian coast. We presents the first records of Lugensa brevirostris (Lesson, 1831) (Kerguelen Petrel) and Phoebetria palpebrata (Forster, 1785) (Light-mantled Albatross) for the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Both species were recorded from the municipality of Ilha Comprida. Lugensa brevirostris was recorded on 25 May 2016 and P. palpebrata on 3 October 2016. Therefore, we add 2 important records to the Brazilian avifauna and suggest the inclusion of both species on the list of birds in São Paulo.

A Study of the Distributions of Two Endangered Sea Skaters Halobates matsumurai Esaki and Asclepios shiranui (Esaki) (Hemiptera: Gerridae: Halobatinae) with Special Reference to Their Strategies to Cope with Tidal Currents

There exist surprisingly few marine insects, most of which are confined to the intertidal zone. Halobates is the only genus to have some oceanic species along with some coastal species. Among the coastal sea skaters, that is, genus Halobates and its close relative, genus Asclepios, there are variations in their affinity for the shore. We have studied the distributions of two endangered Japanese sea skaters, Halobates matsumurai and Asclepios shiranui in Kujukushima, where they cooccur in coves. To compare their survival strategies at sea, we especially noted differences in their distributions along the shore during high and low tides. The results show that A. shiranui tended to remain along the shore during low tide. This species appeared to cling to the shore against the ebb current and to stay in the protected coves. By contrast, H. matsumurai tended to leave the shore during low tide. Notably, some adults were found skating outside the coves. The strategy of H. matsumurai appeared to be leaving with the ebb current even beyond the coves, thereby using more resources and enlarging its habitat. Some such coastal Halobates might have acquired the ability to live on the open ocean clearly independent of the shoreline.