1
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Thorne LH, Wiley DN. Evaluating drivers of recent large whale strandings on the East Coast of the United States. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14302. [PMID: 38808391 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors threaten large whales globally. Effective management requires an understanding of where, when, and why threats are occurring. Strandings data provide key information on geographic hotspots of risk and the relative importance of various threats. There is currently considerable public interest in the increased frequency of large whale strandings occurring along the US East Coast of the United States since 2016. Interest is accentuated due to a purported link with offshore wind energy development. We reviewed spatiotemporal patterns of strandings, mortalities, and serious injuries of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), the species most frequently involved, for which the US government has declared an "unusual mortality event" (UME). Our analysis highlights the role of vessel strikes, exacerbated by recent changes in humpback whale distribution and vessel traffic. Humpback whales have expanded into new foraging grounds in recent years. Mortalities due to vessel strikes have increased significantly in these newly occupied regions, which show high vessel traffic that also increased markedly during the UME. Surface feeding and feeding in shallow waters may have been contributing factors. We found no evidence that offshore wind development contributed to strandings or mortalities. This work highlights the need to consider behavioral, ecological, and anthropogenic factors to determine the drivers of mortality and serious injury in large whales and to provide informed guidance to decision-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- L H Thorne
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - D N Wiley
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Scituate, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Reed J, New L, Corkeron P, Harcourt R. Disentangling the influence of entanglement on recruitment in North Atlantic right whales. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240314. [PMID: 38471549 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
North Atlantic right whales are Critically Endangered and declining, with entanglements in fishing gear a key contributor to their decline. Entanglement events can result in lethal and sub-lethal (i.e. increased energetic demands and reduced foraging ability) impacts, with the latter influencing critical life-history states, such as reproduction. Using a multi-event framework, we developed a Bayesian mark-recapture model to investigate the influence of entanglement severity on survival and recruitment for female right whales. We used information from 199 known-aged females sighted between 1977 and 2018, combined with known entanglements of varying severity that were classified as minor, moderate or severe. Severe entanglements resulted in an average decline in survival of 27% for experienced non-breeders, 9% for breeders and 26% for pre-breeding females compared with other entanglements and unentangled individuals. Surviving individuals with severe entanglements had low transitional probabilities to breeders, but surprisingly, individuals with minor entanglements had the lowest transitional probabilities, contrary to expectations underpinning current management actions. Management actions are needed to address the lethal and sub-lethal impacts of entanglements, regardless of severity classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Reed
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Leslie New
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Peter Corkeron
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Robert Harcourt
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
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3
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Pirotta E, Tyack PL, Durban JW, Fearnbach H, Hamilton PK, Harris CM, Knowlton AR, Kraus SD, Miller CA, Moore MJ, Pettis HM, Photopoulou T, Rolland RM, Schick RS, Thomas L. Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240050. [PMID: 38420631 PMCID: PMC10898963 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Body size is key to many life-history processes, including reproduction. Across species, climate change and other stressors have caused reductions in the body size to which animals can grow, called asymptotic size, with consequences for demography. A reduction in mean asymptotic length was documented for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, in parallel with declines in health and vital rates resulting from human activities and environmental changes. Here, we tested whether smaller body size was associated with lower reproductive output, using a state-space model for individual health, survival and reproduction that quantifies the mechanistic links between these processes. Body size (as represented by the cube of length) was strongly associated with a female's calving probability at each reproductive opportunity. This relationship explained 62% of the variation in calving among reproductive females, along with their decreasing health (20%). The effects of decreasing mean body size on reproductive performance are another concerning indication of the worsening prospects for this species and many others affected by environmental change, requiring a focus of conservation and management interventions on improving conditions that affect reproduction as well as reducing mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Peter L. Tyack
- School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - John W. Durban
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA
| | - Holly Fearnbach
- SR3, SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research, Des Moines, WA, USA
| | - Philip K. Hamilton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Catriona M. Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Amy R. Knowlton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott D. Kraus
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carolyn A. Miller
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Michael J. Moore
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Heather M. Pettis
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | | | - Robert S. Schick
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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4
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Delsett LL. Collecting whales: processes and biases in Nordic museum collections. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16794. [PMID: 38288462 PMCID: PMC10823993 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Whales are unique museum objects that have entered collections in many ways and for different reasons. This work studies three Nordic natural history museum collections in Norway and Denmark with more than 2,500 whale specimens in total, and gathers the available biological and collection data on the specimens, which include skeletal elements, foetuses and organs preserved in ethanol or formalin, and a few dry-preserved organs. It finds that influx of specimens, which were mainly locally common species that were hunted, to the collections, mainly happened in the latest 1800s and earliest 1900s, fuelled by research trends, nation building, local whaling, and colonial mechanisms. Norway was a major whaling nation, but the largest hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean in the mid-1900s is not reflected in the Norwegian museum collections, probably because of the commercial focus of the whaling industry and logistical challenges, combined with limited research interest in zoological specimens at that time. The results demonstrate that it is important to understand these processes and the resulting biases for future research, outreach, and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Liebe Delsett
- Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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5
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Mobed A, Abdi B, Masoumi S, Mikaeili M, Shaterian E, Shaterian H, Kazemi ES, Shirafkan M. Advances in human reproductive biomarkers. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 552:117668. [PMID: 37992849 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive biomarkers are important regulators in women, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. Because of their essential role in women's health, the discovery and quantification of reproductive biomarkers is of great clinical importance. Nowadays, there are many detection strategies to detect these biomarkers, including VEGF, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), etc. Consider the limitations and problems of conventional diagnostic methods, new methods are being developed, one of the most important being methods based on nanotechnology. This review includes a review of methods for diagnosing reproductive biomarkers, ranging from mainstream to nanotechnology-based methods. The bulk of this article is an in-depth introduction to the latest advances in biosensor and nanosensor research for the detection and quantitative identification of reproductive biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Mobed
- Neuroscience Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Bita Abdi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sajjad Masoumi
- Deparment of Medical Biotechnology, National institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mikaeili
- The faculty of medical sciences of the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Iran
| | - Elham Shaterian
- The faculty of medical sciences of the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Iran
| | - Hamed Shaterian
- The faculty of medical sciences of the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Iran
| | - Esmat Sadat Kazemi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Mahdiye Shirafkan
- Division of Pharmacology and toxicology Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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6
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Buss DL, van den Hurk Y, Falahati-Anbaran M, Elliott D, Evans S, Frasier BA, Mulville JA, Rankin LK, Stebergløkken H, Whitridge P, Barrett JH. Archaeological evidence of resource utilisation of the great whales over the past two millennia: A systematic review protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295604. [PMID: 38096207 PMCID: PMC10721060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeological faunal remains provide key insights into human societies in the past, alongside information on previous resource utilisation and exploitation of wildlife populations. The great whales (Mysticete and sperm whales) were hunted unsustainably throughout the 16th - 20th centuries (herein defined as the modern period) leading to large population declines and variable recovery patterns among species. Humans have utilised whales as a resource through carcass scavenging for millennia; however, increasing local and regional ethnographic and archaeological evidence suggests that, prior to the modern period, hunting of the great whales was more common than previously thought; impacts of earlier hunting pressures on the population ecology of many whale species remains relatively unknown. Hunting guided by traditional ecological knowledge may have been sustainable and likely originated in societies that also incorporated opportunistic use of stranded individuals. The collation of georeferenced zooarchaeological data of the great whales between the 1st - 20th centuries CE worldwide will provide insight into the timescale and distribution of resource utilisation of the great whales and how this varied within and between societies, and may have changed over time. By comparing regions of known resource utilisation and breeding and feeding grounds of current-day whale populations, this information will subsequently be used to infer regions where whale populations were possibly lost or extirpated prior to detailed historical records. This systematic review protocol also provides a template for archaeologists, ecologists, and historians interested in using faunal remains to infer historical ecology and resource use of wild animal populations. The transparency of our data collection approach provides opportunities for reproducibility and comparability with future datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L. Buss
- Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Youri van den Hurk
- Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Deirdre Elliott
- Department of Archaeology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Sally Evans
- MSDS Marine and MSDS Heritage, Holbrook, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jacqueline A. Mulville
- School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa K. Rankin
- Department of Archaeology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
| | | | - Peter Whitridge
- Department of Archaeology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - James H. Barrett
- Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
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7
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Fernandez Ajó A, Pirotta E, Bierlich KC, Hildebrand L, Bird CN, Hunt KE, Buck CL, New L, Dillon D, Torres LG. Assessment of a non-invasive approach to pregnancy diagnosis in gray whales through drone-based photogrammetry and faecal hormone analysis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230452. [PMID: 37476509 PMCID: PMC10354484 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of baleen whales' reproductive physiology is limited and requires long-term individual-based studies and innovative tools. We used 6 years of individual-level data on the Pacific Coast Feeding Group gray whales to evaluate the utility of faecal progesterone immunoassays and drone-based photogrammetry for pregnancy diagnosis. We explored the variability in faecal progesterone metabolites and body morphology relative to observed reproductive status and estimated the pregnancy probability for mature females of unknown reproductive status using normal mixture models. Individual females had higher faecal progesterone concentrations when pregnant than when presumed non-pregnant. Yet, at the population level, high overlap and variability in progesterone metabolite concentrations occurred between pregnant and non-pregnant groups, limiting this metric for accurate pregnancy diagnosis in gray whales. Alternatively, body width at 50% of the total body length (W50) correctly discriminated pregnant from non-pregnant females at individual and population levels, with high accuracy. Application of the model using W50 metric to mature females of unknown pregnancy status identified eight additional pregnancies with high confidence. Our findings highlight the utility of drone-based photogrammetry to non-invasively diagnose pregnancy in this group of gray whales, and the potential for improved data on reproductive rates for population management of baleen whales generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Fernandez Ajó
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - E. Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - L. Hildebrand
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - C. N. Bird
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - K. E. Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, Department of Biology, George Mason University, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - C. L. Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 South Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - L. New
- Ursinus College, 601 East Main Street, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - D. Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 South Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - L. G. Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
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8
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Corkeron P, Bennett K, Moore MJ. US budget riders compromise conservation. Science 2023; 379:766. [PMID: 36821668 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg6235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyla Bennett
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Michael J Moore
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
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9
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Pirotta E, Schick RS, Hamilton PK, Harris CM, Hewitt J, Knowlton AR, Kraus SD, Meyer‐Gutbrod E, Moore MJ, Pettis HM, Photopoulou T, Rolland RM, Tyack PL, Thomas L. Estimating the effects of stressors on the health, survival and reproduction of a critically endangered, long‐lived species. OIKOS 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Robert S. Schick
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke Univ. Durham NC USA
| | - Philip K. Hamilton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Catriona M. Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Joshua Hewitt
- Dept of Statistical Science, Duke Univ. Durham NC USA
| | - Amy R. Knowlton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Scott D. Kraus
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Erin Meyer‐Gutbrod
- School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, Univ. of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
| | | | - Heather M. Pettis
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - Peter L. Tyack
- School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Inst., Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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10
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Atkinson S, Branch TA, Pack AA, Straley JM, Moran JR, Gabriele C, Mashburn KL, Cates K, Yin S. Pregnancy rate and reproductive hormones in humpback whale blubber: Dominant form of progesterone differs during pregnancy. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114151. [PMID: 36341970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
To better understand reproductive physiology of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae that reside in Hawai'i and Alaska, enzyme immunoassays were validated for both progesterone and testosterone in free-ranging and stranded animals (n = 185 biopsies). Concentrations were analyzed between different depths of large segments of blubber taken from skin to muscle layers of stranded female (n = 2, 1 pregnant, 1 non-pregnant) and male (n = 1) whales. Additionally, progesterone metabolites were identified between pregnant (n = 1) and non-pregnant (n = 3) females using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Progesterone concentrations were compared between juvenile (i.e., sexually immature), lactating, and pregnant females, and male whales, and pregnancy rates of sexually mature females were calculated. Based on replicate samples from ship struck animals collected at 7 depth locations, blubber containing the highest concentration of progesterone was located 1 cm below the skin for females, and the highest concentration of testosterone was in the skin layer of one male whale. HPLC of blubber samples of pregnant and non-pregnant females contain different immunoreactive progesterone metabolites, with the non-pregnant female eluate comprised of a more polar, and possibly conjugated, form of progesterone than the pregnant female. In females, concentrations of progesterone were highest in the blubber of pregnant (n = 28, 28.6 ± 6.9 ng/g), followed by lactating (n = 16, 0.9 ± 0.1 ng/g), and female juvenile (n = 5, 1.0 ± 0.2 ng/g) whales. Progesterone concentrations in male (n = 24, 0.6 ng/g ± 0.1 ng/g) tissues were the lowest all groups, and not different from lactating or juvenile females. Estimated summer season pregnancy rate among sexually mature females from the Hawai'i stock of humpback whales was 0.562 (95 % confidence interval 0.528-0.605). For lactating females, the year-round pregnancy rate was 0.243 (0.09-0.59), and varies depending on the threshold of progesterone assumed for pregnancy in the range between 3.1 and 28.5 ng/g. Our results demonstrate the synergistic value added when combining immunoreactive assays, HPLC, and long-term sighting histories to further knowledge of humpback whale reproductive physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Atkinson
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801, USA.
| | - T A Branch
- University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, Washington 98105, USA.
| | - A A Pack
- Departments of Psychology and Biology, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA; The Dolphin Institute, P.O. Box 6279, Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - J M Straley
- University of Alaska Southeast, 1332 Seward Avenue, Sitka, AK 99835, USA.
| | - J R Moran
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, 17109 Pt. Lena Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801, USA.
| | - C Gabriele
- Hawai'i Marine Mammal Consortium, P.O. Box 6107, Kamuela, HI 96743, USA; Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826, USA.
| | - K L Mashburn
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801, USA.
| | - K Cates
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801, USA.
| | - S Yin
- Hawai'i Marine Mammal Consortium, P.O. Box 6107, Kamuela, HI 96743, USA.
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11
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Ceballos V, Taggart C, Johnson H. Comparison of visual and acoustic surveys for the detection and dynamic management of North Atlantic right whales (
Eubalaena glacialis
) in Canada. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hansen Johnson
- Oceanography Department Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
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12
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Murray A, Rekdahl ML, Baumgartner MF, Rosenbaum HC. Acoustic presence and vocal activity of North Atlantic right whales in the New York Bight: Implications for protecting a critically endangered species in a human‐dominated environment. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anita Murray
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Ocean Giants Program, Bronx Zoo Bronx New York USA
- Maine Department of Marine Resources West Boothbay Harbor Maine USA
| | - Melinda L. Rekdahl
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Ocean Giants Program, Bronx Zoo Bronx New York USA
| | - Mark F. Baumgartner
- Biology Department Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole Massachusetts USA
| | - Howard C. Rosenbaum
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Ocean Giants Program, Bronx Zoo Bronx New York USA
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13
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de Greef E, Einfeldt AL, Miller PJO, Ferguson SH, Garroway CJ, Lefort KJ, Paterson IG, Bentzen P, Feyrer LJ. Genomics reveal population structure, evolutionary history, and signatures of selection in the northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4919-4931. [PMID: 35947506 PMCID: PMC9804413 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Information on wildlife population structure, demographic history, and adaptations are fundamental to understanding species evolution and informing conservation strategies. To study this ecological context for a cetacean of conservation concern, we conducted the first genomic assessment of the northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus, using whole-genome resequencing data (n = 37) from five regions across the North Atlantic Ocean. We found a range-wide pattern of isolation-by-distance with a genetic subdivision distinguishing three subgroups: the Scotian Shelf, western North Atlantic, and Jan Mayen regions. Signals of elevated levels of inbreeding in the Endangered Scotian Shelf population indicate this population may be more vulnerable than the other two subgroups. In addition to signatures of inbreeding, evidence of local adaptation in the Scotian Shelf was detected across the genome. We found a long-term decline in effective population size for the species, which poses risks to their genetic diversity and may be exacerbated by the isolating effects of population subdivision. Protecting important habitat and migratory corridors should be prioritized to rebuild population sizes that were diminished by commercial whaling, strengthen gene flow, and ensure animals can move across regions in response to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien de Greef
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada,Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | | | | | | | - Colin J. Garroway
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Kyle J. Lefort
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Ian G. Paterson
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Paul Bentzen
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Laura J. Feyrer
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada,Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
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14
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Hirtle NO, Stepanuk JEF, Heywood EI, Christiansen F, Thorne LH. Integrating
3D
models with morphometric measurements to improve volumetric estimates in marine mammals. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan O. Hirtle
- Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook NY USA
| | | | - Eleanor I. Heywood
- Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook NY USA
| | - Fredrik Christiansen
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies Aarhus C Denmark
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Lesley H. Thorne
- Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook NY USA
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15
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Knowlton AR, Clark JS, Hamilton PK, Kraus SD, Pettis HM, Rolland RM, Schick RS. Fishing gear entanglement threatens recovery of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amy R. Knowlton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life New England Aquarium, Central Wharf Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - James S. Clark
- Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Philip K. Hamilton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life New England Aquarium, Central Wharf Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Scott D. Kraus
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life New England Aquarium, Central Wharf Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Heather M. Pettis
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life New England Aquarium, Central Wharf Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Rosalind M. Rolland
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life New England Aquarium, Central Wharf Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Robert S. Schick
- Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina USA
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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16
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Pirotta E, Thomas L, Costa DP, Hall AJ, Harris CM, Harwood J, Kraus SD, Miller PJO, Moore MJ, Photopoulou T, Rolland RM, Schwacke L, Simmons SE, Southall BL, Tyack PL. Understanding the combined effects of multiple stressors: A new perspective on a longstanding challenge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153322. [PMID: 35074373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife populations and their habitats are exposed to an expanding diversity and intensity of stressors caused by human activities, within the broader context of natural processes and increasing pressure from climate change. Estimating how these multiple stressors affect individuals, populations, and ecosystems is thus of growing importance. However, their combined effects often cannot be predicted reliably from the individual effects of each stressor, and we lack the mechanistic understanding and analytical tools to predict their joint outcomes. We review the science of multiple stressors and present a conceptual framework that captures and reconciles the variety of existing approaches for assessing combined effects. Specifically, we show that all approaches lie along a spectrum, reflecting increasing assumptions about the mechanisms that regulate the action of single stressors and their combined effects. An emphasis on mechanisms improves analytical precision and predictive power but could introduce bias if the underlying assumptions are incorrect. A purely empirical approach has less risk of bias but requires adequate data on the effects of the full range of anticipated combinations of stressor types and magnitudes. We illustrate how this spectrum can be formalised into specific analytical methods, using an example of North Atlantic right whales feeding on limited prey resources while simultaneously being affected by entanglement in fishing gear. In practice, case-specific management needs and data availability will guide the exploration of the stressor combinations of interest and the selection of a suitable trade-off between precision and bias. We argue that the primary goal for adaptive management should be to identify the most practical and effective ways to remove or reduce specific combinations of stressors, bringing the risk of adverse impacts on populations and ecosystems below acceptable thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Catriona M Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - John Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Scott D Kraus
- Anderson-Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Michael J Moore
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Rosalind M Rolland
- Anderson-Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Lori Schwacke
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, Johns Island, SC, USA.
| | | | - Brandon L Southall
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, CA, USA.
| | - Peter L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
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17
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Baille LMR, Zitterbart DP. Effectiveness of surface-based detection methods for vessel strike mitigation of North Atlantic right whales. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2022. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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18
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Lonati GL, Zitterbart DP, Miller CA, Corkeron P, Murphy CT, Moore MJ. Investigating the thermal physiology of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis via aerial infrared thermography. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2022. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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19
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Atkinson S, Rogan A, Baker CS, Dagdag R, Redlinger M, Polinski J, Urban J, Sremba A, Branson M, Mashburn K, Pallin L, Klink A, Steel D, Bortz E, Kerr I. Genetic, Endocrine, and Microbiological Assessments of Blue, Humpback and Killer Whale Health using Unoccupied Aerial Systems. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Atkinson
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 17101 Pt Lena Loop Rd. Juneau AK 99801 USA
| | | | - C. Scott Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center 2030 SE Marine Science Dr. Newport OR 97365 USA
| | - Ralf Dagdag
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Biological Sciences 3211 Providence Dr. Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Matthew Redlinger
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Biological Sciences 3211 Providence Dr. Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Jennifer Polinski
- Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, 417 Main St Gloucester MA 01930 USA
| | - Jorge Urban
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, La Paz Baja California Sur México
| | - Angie Sremba
- Marine Mammal Institute Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center 2030 SE Marine Science Dr. Newport OR 97365 USA
| | - Maile Branson
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Biology and Wildlife 2090 Koyukuk Dr. Fairbanks AK 99775 USA
| | - Kendall Mashburn
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 17101 Pt Lena Loop Rd. Juneau AK 99801 USA
| | - Logan Pallin
- Marine Mammal Institute Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center 2030 SE Marine Science Dr. Newport OR 97365 USA
| | - Amy Klink
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Biological Sciences 3211 Providence Dr. Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Debbie Steel
- Marine Mammal Institute Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center 2030 SE Marine Science Dr. Newport OR 97365 USA
| | - Eric Bortz
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Biological Sciences 3211 Providence Dr. Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Iain Kerr
- Ocean Alliance Gloucester MA 01930 USA
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20
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Assessing North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) Welfare. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2040052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Welfare assessments have been largely successful in improving management and quality of life for animals in human care. This has prompted an increased interest in their use for free-ranging wild animals to assess health, environment, and human-induced impacts that influence policy decisions. The North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW, Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the most endangered whale species. NARWs constantly face serious injuries and mortalities due to human activities, which poses both a species conservation and an individual welfare concern. Establishing a standardized welfare assessment for the NARW is a holistic way to understand the cumulative effects of anthropogenic activities at both the individual and population levels. To investigate the potential use of welfare assessments in NARWs, we performed a brief literature review to explore the history and utility of animal welfare assessments. Following the review, we developed a welfare assessment tool specific to the NARW. The goal is for biologists to apply this tool to understand NARW welfare in conjunction with research in the field. Ultimately, the information gained from this review can aid in public dissemination of the results of human impacts on NARW welfare and may help influence future conservation policies.
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21
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Stewart JD, Durban JW, Knowlton AR, Lynn MS, Fearnbach H, Barbaro J, Perryman WL, Miller CA, Moore MJ. Decreasing body lengths in North Atlantic right whales. Curr Biol 2021; 31:3174-3179.e3. [PMID: 34087102 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Whales are now largely protected from direct harvest, leading to partial recoveries in many previously depleted species.1 However, most populations remain far below their historical abundances and incidental human impacts, especially vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, are increasingly recognized as key threats.2 In addition, climate-driven changes to prey dynamics are impacting the seasonal foraging grounds of many baleen whales.2 In many cases these impacts result directly in mortality. But it is less clear how widespread and increasing sub-lethal impacts are affecting life history, individual fitness, and population viability. We evaluated changes in body lengths of North Atlantic right whales (NARW) using aerial photogrammetry measurements collected from crewed aircraft and remotely operated drones over a 20-year period (Figure 1). NARW have been monitored consistently since the 1980s and have been declining in abundance since 2011 due primarily to deaths associated with entanglements in active fishing gear and vessel strikes.3 High rates of sub-lethal injuries and individual-level information on age, size and observed entanglements make this an ideal population to evaluate the effects that these widespread stressors may have on individual fitness. We find that entanglements in fishing gear are associated with shorter whales, and that body lengths have been decreasing since 1981. Arrested growth may lead to reduced reproductive success4,5 and increased probability of lethal gear entanglements.6 These results show that sub-lethal stressors threaten the recoveries of vulnerable whale populations even in the absence of direct harvest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Stewart
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow for Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - John W Durban
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA; Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA, 95003, USA
| | - Amy R Knowlton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Morgan S Lynn
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Holly Fearnbach
- Marine Mammal Research Program, SR3, SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research, S 216th St., Des Moines, WA, 98198, USA
| | - Jacob Barbaro
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Wayne L Perryman
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Carolyn A Miller
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Michael J Moore
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
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