[MARMAM] New publication

[Charlotte Lambert]

 

Dear MARMAM readers,

We are pleased to announce the publication of
the article _"Hide and seek in the Bay of Biscay--a functional
investigation of marine megafauna and small pelagic fish interactions"_
in ICES Journal of Marine Science. 
By C. Lambert, M. Authier, M. Doray,
G. Dorémus, J. Spitz and V. Ridoux
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsy143 [1]

Abstract:

Prey and predator
distributions influence one another. Understanding the scale and the
orientation of predator-prey spatial correlations is crucial in foraging
ecology. Growing evidence suggests that predator-prey interactions are
more constrained by functional characteristics of both the predator and
the prey. Unfortunately, in marine pelagic systems, the scale and
orientation of spatial correlations between predators and prey have been
only little explored from a functional point of view. We tested the
existence of fine-scale association between predators and fish
functional groups. Visual predator sightings and acoustic fish records
were collected synchronously during oceanographic surveys from 2004 to
2014. Prey biomass was integrated by nautical miles and split into four
size classes (<10 cm; 10-20 cm; 20-30 cm; >30 cm) and two depth layers
(surface, deep). We computed the relative biomass by prey size and depth
category from 0 to 12 nm around predator sightings to determine the
predators' proximity to local prey biomass. Two cetaceans (common,
bottlenose dolphins) and three seabirds (northern gannets, auks,
northern fulmars) were studied. No association was found in fulmars,
indicating they probably do not feed on considered fishes in the area.
Gannets and auks were positively correlated with local prey biomass for
sizes <20 cm at both depth layers. Significant negative relationships
were found between common dolphins and prey size classes <20 cm at both
depth layers, and between bottlenose dolphins and all size ranges at the
deeper layer. Our results suggest that the fine-scale spatial overlap of
predator and prey is influenced by their functional traits, and that
prey exhibit predator avoidance behaviour in presence of swimming
predators but not of flying ones.

For any questions or pdf requests,
please feel free to email me !

Best regards,

Charlotte Lambert


Charlotte
Lambert 
PhD 
PELAGIS, UMS 3462 Universite de la Rochelle - CNRS 
17000
La Rochelle, France 
mail: charlotte.lamb...@univ-lr.fr 
Professional
profile: ResearchGate [2]




Links:
--
[1] https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsy143
[2]
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Charlotte_Lambert
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[MARMAM] humpback whale trap-feeding publication

[Jared Towers]

Dear colleagues,

Our article 
describing a new humpback whale feeding behaviour was recently published in
Marine Mammal Science.

McMillan, C. J., Towers, J. R. and Hildering, J. (2018), The innovation and
diffusion of “trap‐feeding,” a novel humpback whale foraging strategy. Mar
Mam Sci. . doi:10./mms.12557

“The innovation and diffusion of novel foraging strategies within a
population can increase the capacity of individuals to respond to shifts in
prey abundance and distribution. Since 2011, some humpback whales
(Megaptera novaeangliae) off northeastern Vancouver Island (NEVI), Canada,
have been documented using a new feeding strategy called “trap‐feeding.” We
provide the first description of this foraging innovation and explore the
ecological and social variables associated with its diffusion using
sightings data, video analysis, and logistic regression modeling. The
number of humpback whales confirmed to trap‐feed off NEVI increased from
two in 2011 to 16 in 2015. Neither the locations of trap‐feeding sessions
nor prey species consumed differed from those documented during
lunge‐feeding. However, preliminary results indicate that the schools of
fish consumed when individuals trap‐fed were smaller and more diffuse than
those consumed when whales lunge‐fed. Top‐ranked models predicting whether
an individual would be observed exhibiting trap‐feeding behavior included
the following parameters: average number of days per year that the
individual was seen off NEVI and proportion of the individual’s
associations that were with other trap‐feeders. These results suggest that
trap‐feeding may be a culturally transmitted foraging innovation that
provides an energetically efficient method of feeding on small, diffuse
prey patches.”

For advance copies please contact: chris...@mersociety.org. For photos and
video please see:
https://mersociety.wordpress.com/2018/11/03/trap-feeding-a-new-humpback-feeding-strategy/

  Sincerely,   Jared Towers
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[MARMAM] new paper on passive acoustic monitoring through the use of a wave glider

[Lis Bittencourt]

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to anounce the publication of our recent work on Deep-Sea
Research Part I:

“Mapping cetacean sounds using a passive acoustic monitoring system towed
by an autonomous Wave Glider in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean”

Lis Bittencourt, William Soares-Filho, Isabela Maria Seabra de Lima, Sudhir
Pai, Jose Lailson-BritoJr., Leonardo Martins Barreira, Alexandre Freitas
Azevedo, Luiz Alexandre A. Guerra

Abstract
Passive acoustic monitoring techniques provide a useful alternative to
visual surveys for monitoring of marine mammals since they are less
affected by adverse weather conditions. An autonomous unmanned Wave Glider,
equipped with a towed hydrophone and recording system was used to collect
acoustic data in the Brazilian offshore waters of the Southwestern Atlantic
Ocean between 6 and 25 February 2016. Nearly continuous data were obtained
during this period (light and dark hours) for the 750 km traveled. There
were 165,130 high-frequency detections in 31 encounters, including 1789
whistles, 389 burst-pulse sounds, and 162,952 echolocation clicks. A total
of 705 low-frequency tonal signals were recorded in 5 encounters. Although
high-frequency detections occurred at all hours of the day, the majority
occurred during dark hours. Low-frequency detections were not evenly spread
through all hours of the day, with the majority of them occurring during
dark hours. High-frequency and low-frequency detections represented 26% and
3% of the recording hours, respectively. Duration, the number of emissions,
and ocean depth varied among acoustic encounters. Encounters composed by
high-frequency sounds were separated into seven different groups, probably
different species. One of the encounters presented whistles that were
previously recorded in the Rio de Janeiro Coast for Steno bredanensis
(Rough-toothed dolphins). All of the low-frequency encounters were composed
of a type of Balaenoptera brydei (Bryde's whales) call. This type of data
collection is un-precedented for the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean and
highlighted the use of the sampled area by delphinids on different days and
different times of the day, including the dark hours.


The article pdf can be reached at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063718301614?via%3Dihub

Or e-mail me: lis.b...@gmail.com

Best regards,

Lis Bittencourt
Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores - MAQUA
Rio de Janeiro State University
-- 
Lis Bittencourt

Mestre em Oceanografia
Doutoranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia - UERJ
Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores - MAQUA
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UERJ
Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 4º andar - sala 4002 bloco E
Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
CEP 20550-013
Tel: 21 2334-0795
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Re: [MARMAM] New publication: Whales from space, four mysticete species described using new VHR satellite imagery

[Hannah Cubaynes]

Dear colleagues,



My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our article
in Marine Mammal Science "Whales from space: Four mysticete species
described using new VHR satellite imagery". The paper is available for
early view at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10./mms.12544



Citation: Cubaynes, H. C., P. T. Fretwell, C. Bamford, L. Gerrish, J.A.
Jackson. 2018. Whales from space: Four mysticete species described using
new VHR satellite imagery. *Marine Mammal Science* 00(00): 1-26.



Abstract: Large‐bodied animals such as baleen whales can now be detected
with very high resolution (VHR) satellite imagery, allowing for scientific
studies of whales in remote and inaccessible areas where traditional survey
methods are limited or impractical. Here we present the first study of
baleen whales using the WorldView‐3 satellite, which has a maximum spatial
resolution of 31 cm in the panchromatic band, the highest currently
available to nonmilitary professionals. We manually detected, described,
and counted four different mysticete species: fin whales (Balaenoptera
physalus) in the Ligurian Sea, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off
Hawaii, southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) off Península Valdés,
and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Laguna San Ignacio. Visual and
spectral analyses were conducted for each species, their surrounding
waters, and nonwhale objects (e.g., boats). We found that behavioral and
morphological differences made some species more distinguishable than
others. Fin and gray whales were the easiest to discern due to their
contrasting body coloration with surrounding water, and their prone body
position, which is proximal to the sea surface (i.e., body parallel to the
sea surface). These results demonstrate the feasibility of using VHR
satellite technology for monitoring the great whales.


Corresponding author: Hannah Cubaynes (hc...@cam.ac.uk)


Best wishes,

Hannah

*Hannah Cubaynes MSc*
PhD Candidate in Marine Conservation and Remote Sensing
British Antarctic Survey/Scott Polar Research Institute
Department of Geography
University of Cambridge
United Kingdom

E-mails: hanba...@bas.ac.uk hc...@cam.ac.uk
Mobile/Cell UK: +44 (0) 7506 992118
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