PacMam Podcast

After 4 years of the PacMam podcast this will be our last episode! We have enjoyed bringing you marine mammal highlights, interviews, and journal reviews. Although this is the end of the podcast, you will be able to interact with us in other platforms! We will be focusing our outreach in other areas, like our YouTube channel, so be sure to keep up with us there and stay tuned for other updates. But join us for this episode as we recap the awesome things we did this year, and what we are looking forward to next year!

One of the biggest questions about harbor porpoises is if the stocks we currently manage are truly one large population, or if there are smaller distinct units within a geographic area. DNA can help answer this question, but getting samples from harbor porpoises using traditional routes (i.e. biopsy darting), is very difficult. That's where eDNA comes in! Scoop some seawater from where an animal just dove, and you can snag some skin cells and extract the DNA. Using eDNA along with previously published data and tissue samples from stranded animals, this paper reveals the community/population structure of harbor porpoises in Alaska, with some intriguing results! Listen to learn more! Paper is open access and available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mec.17563 Donate to help our work! www.pacmam.org/donate

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! Donate today: https://donorbox.org/donatetopacmamwww.pacmam.org This week: Irrawaddy dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.marinebio.org/species/irrawaddy-dolphins/orcaella-brevirostris/#:~:text=Irrawaddy%20dolphins%2C%20Orcaella%20brevirostris%2C%20are,sub%2Dtropical%20Indo%2DPacific. https://www.riverdolphins.org/river-dolphins-worldwide/irrawaddy-dolphin/ New Research • Habitat modeling in Thailand Jackson Ricketts et al 2020 - https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/28594 • Long term population and distribution dynamic in Inodonesia and effects of coastal development, Kreb et al. 2020 - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.533197/full • ID habitat characteristics and crucial areas Peter et al. 2016 - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-26161-4_15 • Surviving ware and crowded world – in largest brackish water lagoon, Acharyya et al 2023 - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11852-023-00982-8 • Demographic collapse and low genetic diversity in Mekong river, Krutzen et al 2018- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0189200

Join us today as we celebrate Pacific Mammal Research's 10th anniversary! We have learned a lot about harbor porpoises and harbor seals, along with how to run a non-profit. We have grown so much, and are so excited for the next 10 years. Listen as we discuss how it all started, what we have learned, and where we are going! Thank you to everyone who has supported us through the years - whether volunteering, sharing about us, donating or listening, we would not be here without you!

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org Check out our 10 year anniversary fundraiser: https://www.pacmam.org/news-and-events/10th-anniversary-fundraiser This week: Frasers dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/frasers-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/frasers-dolphin/ https://cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii-species/frasers-dolphins-hawaii/ https://www.marinebio.org/species/frasers-dolphins/lagenodelphis-hosei/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser%27s_dolphin https://www.dolphins-world.com/frasers-dolphin/#google_vignette New Research • West et al. 2021, Novel Morbillivirus in rare Fraser's dolphin, Maui, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-94460-6 • Durante et al 2016 POPs in South Latin America, common and frasers - https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/bitstream/handle/11336/38484/CONICET_Digital_Nro.f76cda30-a15e-4926-a7af-134f876f2aeb_A.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y • Vu et al 2020 – New record of Frasers from Whale Temples and Fishing Communities of Vietnam - https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46.4-Vu.pdf • Chen-Yi Su et al 2022 and 2023, Wound healing in Frasers - https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/5/537 and https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1681 and https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1482

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Pygmy killer whale Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pygmy-killer-whale https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/2021-08/2020-Pacific-SARS-Pygmy.pdf http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=61 https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/pygmy-killer-whale/ https://cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii-species/pygmy-killer-whales-hawaii/ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Feresa_attenuata/https://www.marinebio.org/species/pygmy-killer-whales/feresa-attenuata/ Underwater video!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufsEo6bXFoc&t=8s New Research: • Alvarez Aleman et al – First report of pygmy killer whales in Cuba - https://new.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/47.1-Alvarez-Aleman-1.pdf • Berrow et al 2020 – First sighting off Cabo Verde – Atlantic African coast - https://www.scvz.org/zoolcv/Zoologia%20Caboverdiana%20Vol.%208%20No.%202%20complete%20issue.pdf#page=22 • Vanderzee et al – Underwater photos evaluate prevalence of injury - https://cascadiaresearch.org/files/Vanderzee_etal2019WMMC.pdf • Currie et al 2021 – Rapid weight loss in free ranging pygmy killer whales - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87514-2 • Yahn (Shelby) et al. 2022 – sexually dimorphic characteristics of short-finned pilot, pygmy killer, melon headed, false killer using fin and body morphometrics - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12963 • Pulis et al. 2018 – Movements and dive patterns of pygmy killer whales released in Gulf of Mexico after Rehab - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eric-Pulis/publication/327669759_Movements_and_Dive_Patterns_of_Pygmy_Killer_Whales_Feresa_attenuata_Released_in_the_Gulf_of_Mexico_Following_Rehabilitation/links/5ceeaea8a6fdcc8475f62e3f/Movements-and-Dive-Patterns-of-Pygmy-Killer-Whales-Feresa-attenuata-Released-in-the-Gulf-of-Mexico-Following-Rehabilitation.pdf?origin=journalDetail&_tp=eyJwYWdlIjoiam91cm5hbERldGFpbCJ9

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Ross seal Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.asoc.org/learn/ross-seals/ https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/the-phocid-seals/ross-seal https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ommatophoca_rossii/ https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/mammals/ross-seal/ https://oceaninfo.com/animals/ross-seal/ https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/seals/ross-seal/ https://animalia.bio/ross-sealhttps://marinemammalscience.org/facts/ommatophoca-rossii/ New Research: • Brault et al 2019 – Trophic position and foraging ecology - https://www.int-res.com/articles/feature/m611p001.pdf • Wege et al 2021 Distribution and habitat suitability of Ross seals in warming ocean - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.659430/full • Bester et al. 2020: Ross seal distribution in the Weddell Sea: fact and fallacy - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-019-02610-4 • Wege et al 2023 – The nightlife of a Ross seal - https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/C5A2A625A3D0733433C8D0D48BD49B98/S0954102022000438a.pdf/the-nightlife-of-a-ross-seal-diving-and-haul-out-behaviour-from-the-eastern-weddell-sea.pdf • Loza et al 2017 – sensory anatomy of the most aquatic seal - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsbl.2017.0489

Every animal has to balance the cost of foraging, with the benefit of what they get out of it. They have to make sure the effort is worth the reward! For predators, this means how much energy they expend in the hunt, vs. how much energy they are getting out of the prey the capture. Harbor porpoises generally feed on a lot of small fish, but have a very high metabolism. So they need to eat a lot, and that takes time. In this paper we discuss why this seemingly not effecient strategy is actually pretty effecient and why. For harbor porpoises this strategy is energetically pretty cheap, if not time consuming! Paper is freely available here: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.adj7132

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam!www.pacmam.org This week: Pacific White Sided Dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-white-sided-dolphinhttps://thewhaletrail.org/wt-species/pacific-white-sided-dolphin/ https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/learn-about-marine-mammals/cetaceans/pacific-white-sided-dolphin https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pacificwhitesideddolphin.main https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/pacific-white-sided-dolphin/ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lagenorhynchus_obliquidens/ New Research: • Rosser et al. 2022 – Calf directed aggression, infanticide? - https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/48.3-Rosser.pdf • Waite and Shelden 2018 – Distribution in Eastern N Pacific - https://bioone.org/journals/northwestern-naturalist/volume-99/issue-2/NWN17-15.1/The-Northern-Extent-of-Pacific-White-Sided-Dolphin-iLagenorhynchus-obliquidens/10.1898/NWN17-15.1.short • Sekiya et al 2024 – Anatomy https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ar.25284 • Mishima et al. 2019 – Pulsed calls as contact calls- https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article-abstract/146/1/409/994113/Pulsed-call-sequences-as-contact-calls-in-Pacific?redirectedFrom=fulltext • Suzuki et al. 2023 – Genomics shows genetically isolated population in Sea of Japan https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.16797• Kanes et al 2024 – Seasonal and diel patterns in pusled calls near Barkley Canyon - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.13055• Ashe et al 2021 – Natural and Anthropogenic mortalitiy - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.606876/full?field&journalName=Frontiers_in_Marine_Science&id=606876 Social Struture in BC Morton 2010- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2000.tb00905.xo Ashe 2015 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/9483

The Pacmam team got to go on an amazing trip this June - for our 10 year anniversary we all went to Alaska! We all had marine mammals and behaviors we wanted to see. We didn't see everything, but we saw a lot - and all checked off boxes on seeing a particular marine mammal we hadn't seen in the wild before. Join us to hear about what species and behaviors we got to see, and what Alaska was like. We highly recommend visiting Alaska, so much to see, on land and on the water! Note: we talk about Happywhale, a platform where you can upload photos of humpback whales and get them identified, check it out here: https://happywhale.com/home Check out our Facebook and Instagram to see the whales we got pictures of on our trip!

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Pygmy Sperm Whale Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pygmy-sperm-whale https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/pygmy-sperm-whale/ https://www.acsonline.org/pygmy-sperm-whalehttps://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/pygmy-sperm-whale/ https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/pygmy_sperm_whale New Research • Benites-Palomino et al 2019 New bulky faced pygmy sperm whale from the late Miocene of Peru https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2019.1728538 • Song et al 2017: Influence of air-filled structures on wave propagation and beam formation https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article-abstract/142/4/2443/853827/The-influence-of-air-filled-structures-on-wave?redirectedFrom=fulltext • Staudinger et al 2013 – Foraging ecology and niche overlap in pygmy and dwarf in US mid-Atlantic coast https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12064 • Brentano and Petry 2020 – Marine debris ingestion and human impacts in Brazil https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X1930743X • Erwin et al 2017 – High diversity and unique composition of gut microbiomes https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-07425-z

We are excited to get you a sneak peak into our next paper, first authored by our Research Assistant Ciera! She has spent over a year doing photo-ID of every seal photo we have between 2015-2019, creating our catalogue and analyzing the data. In this paper we look at the site fidelity and seasonality of harbor seals that use Burrows Pass. What are the results? Let's just say that individuality reigns! Join us as we discuss the variation in who returns, and when and how often, and what this means for our understanding of the in-water behavior of harbor seals. Special shout out to our interns who have assisted with the project, helping to confirm seal identifications - thank you!

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Rough toothed dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rough-toothed-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/rough-toothed-dolphin/ https://www.marinebio.org/species/rough-toothed-dolphins/steno-bredanensis/ https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/rough-toothed-dolphin https://marinemammalscience.org/facts/steno-bredanensis/ • Shaff and Baird 2021 Diel and Lunar variation in diving behavior https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12811 • Baird et al 2021 – Odontocetes in Pacific Missle Range Facility Feb 2020 https://cascadiaresearch.org/files/Bairdetal2021_Kauai.pdf • Mahaffy and Baird – conference poster: Long-term mom/calf associations 2003-2018 https://cascadiaresearch.org/files/MahaffyBaird2019WMMC.pdf • Huang et al – genome provides insights into genetic mechanism of rough teeth https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37212019/ • Cardoso et al 2019 Anamolous pigmentation and social and feeding behaviors off Brazil https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julio-Cardoso-3/publication/330399056_Rough-Toothed_Dolphins_Steno_bredanensis_Along_Southeastern_Brazil_Report_of_an_Anomalous_Pigmented_Juvenile_and_Description_of_Social_and_Feeding_Behaviors/links/6543e6ac3fa26f66f4ca7a3a/Rough-Toothed-Dolphins-Steno-bredanensis-Along-Southeastern-Brazil-Report-of-an-Anomalous-Pigmented-Juvenile-and-Description-of-Social-and-Feeding-Behaviors.pdf • Albertson et al 2022 Evidence of subspecies delimitation https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12933 • Ramos et al 2020 Food sharing https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeremy-Kiszka/publication/348480942_MMS_RTDfoodsharingpdf/data/6000a3c8299bf140889465cf/MMS-RTDfoodsharing.pdf

Globally there is currently one speices of Killer whale, Orcinus Orca. However they are divided into many different ecotypes based on their foraging, physical, behavioral and cultural differences. There has long been varying amounts of evidence that some of these ecotypes deserve status as at least a sub-species, if not fully separate species. However none have to date been recognized, mostly due to lack of a multitude of clear evidence. But that has changed with the Resident (fish eating) and Bigg's (aka transients, mammal eating) killer whales in the Eastern North Pacific. A new paper brings together multiple lines of evidence to propose that these two ecotypes are different from one another and every other orca population in the world. Enough to warrent them their own species status (suggested O. ater and O. rectipinnus). Join us to learn about the convincing evidence, the process still to come for the possible confirmation of this new designation, and what that means for conservation. Paper is open access: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rsos.231368 Information about how they choose the names: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/lost-skulls-and-latin-how-scientists-chose-names-newly-identified-killer-whale-species Information with info graphics: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-research-reveals-full-diversity-killer-whales-two-species-come-view-pacific-coast

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Heavisides (or Havisides) Dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.marinebio.org/species/heavisides-dolphins/cephalorhynchus-heavisidii/ https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/heavisides-dolphin/ Marine Mammals of the World, Jefferson, Webber, Pitman, Gorter: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124095427/marine-mammals-of-the-world https://animalia.bio/heavisides-dolphin https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4161/50352086#population New Research: Martin et al 2018– acoustic relaxing acoustic crypsis for increased communication •https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.1178 Martin et al 2019 – to buzz or burst pulse, functional role of vocalizations •https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347219300089 Gopal et al 2019 – Genetics and geographic variation mtDNA •https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1749-4877.12380 Martin et al 2020 – First abundance estimates •https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.555659/full Gridley et al. 2020 Towed passive acoustic monitoring complements visual surveys •https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/1814232X.2020.1848925

Did you know that menopause is an "evolutionary oddity"? Humans are the only terristrial mammal with this trait, and then there are 5 different species of Odontocetes (the group of toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) that have it as well. Why is it so rare, why did it evolve, what are the benefits, and costs? It is hard to figure out the why, when there aren't many species to compare. But looking at whales, who are very different (our last common ancestor with them is 90 million years ago) physically and ecologically, who show the same trait provides some unique insights into the why and how it evolved. Paper is open access and available HERE Check out This Podcast Will Kill You - Menapause episode HERE

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: Galapagos fur seal Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://animalia.bio/galapagos-fur-seal https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Arctocephalus_galapagoensis/ https://www.galapagos.org/about_galapagos/biodiversity/ https://www.marinebio.org/species/galapagos-fur-seals/arctocephalus-galapagoensis/ https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/species/galapagos-fur-seal/ https://www.nathab.com/know-before-you-go/galapagos-islands/wildlife-guide/mammals/galapagos-fur-seal/ New Research: • Lopes et al. 2015 – Matrilineal population structure - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-015-0725-1 • Paez-Rosas et al. 2017 – Northernmost record on Pacific coast of North and South America https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diego-Paez-Rosas/publication/319433301_Northernmost_Record_of_the_Galapagos_Fur_Seal_Arctocephalus_galapagoensis_A_Consequence_of_Anomalous_Warm_Conditions_Around_the_Galapagos_Archipelago/links/5a09e9ad45851551b78d287f/Northernmost-Record-of-the-Galapagos-Fur-Seal-Arctocephalus-galapagoensis-A-Consequence-of-Anomalous-Warm-Conditions-Around-the-Galapagos-Archipelago.pdf • Quintana-Rizzo et al. 2017 – 1st fur seal in Guatamala https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41200-017-0126-x • Tamayo-Millan et al. Molec ID of first fur seal on central coast of Oaxaca https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S0185-38802021000300201&script=sci_arttext • Chaves et al – 2022 Pop genetics and phylogeography https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.725772/full • Riofrio-Lazo and Paez-Rosas et al. 2021 – Galapagos sea lions and fur seals adapted to variable world https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-59184-7_30 • Ventura et al 2019 – Minimal overlap with conservation zone of marine reserve and Fur seals https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.2943

Harbor seals eat a lot of different things, over 60 different prey species in fact. This includes salmon, which here in the Pacific Northwest puts seals in competition with humans and other species that rely on salmon as well. Salmon runs are greatly in decline, with many of them threatened or endangered. Seals are often seen as a major impediment to salmon recovery, even though they are not the reason the salmon are in decline in the first place. So researchers are looking for ways to lower their impact on salmon populations in non-lethal ways (vs. widespread culling which has been brought to the table). Acoustic deterrent devices have been used for many years as a way to scare seals away, but come with costs including hearing damage, impact to other species and habitat displacement. This paper talks about a new technology that is species specific and limits possible hearing damage and habitat displacment. It is an exciting example of how we can find ways to protect both the salmon and the seals at the same time. Learn about how this new technology works and the possible impacts it could have for both these species. Paper is open access, access it HERE.

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! www.pacmam.org This week: White Beaked Dolphins Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/white-beaked-dolphin https://nammco.no/white-beaked-dolphin/#1475762140594-0925dd6e-f6cc New Research: • IJsseldijk et al 2018 – Spatiotemporal analysis of strandings https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/374690 • Van Elk et al 2014 – Is dolphin morbillivirus virulent? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0300985813516643 • Bertulli et al 2015 – photoID marks in Iceland https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/abs/an-assessment-of-the-natural-marking-patterns-used-for-photoidentification-of-common-minke-whales-and-whitebeaked-dolphins-in-icelandic-waters/C90BB6B92A97B770842D962A3C21F98D • Bertulli et al 2015 photoID and site fidelity in Iceland https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrm/article/view/512 • Bertulli et al 2021 – Fission-fusion dynamics https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1749-4877.12524 • Bertulli et al. 2016 – Color pattern in Iceland https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12312 • Haelters and Everaarts 2011 https://www.sosdolfijn.nl/websites/1711/images/two-cases-of-physical-interaction-between-white-beaked-dolphins-and-juvenile-harbour-porpoises-in-the-southern-north-sea.pdf • Samarra et al. 2022 – trophic ecology of white beaked and harbor porpoise https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v702/p139-152/

Have you heard of Roberts Bank Terminal 2? Chances are you have not (unless you are from Canada). This is a very large new terminal that is planning to be built within the next 10 years. It sits on the mouth of the Fraser River, and will greatly impact the health of the Salish Sea, and the animals and people that call it home. However, little media attention has occurred on the US side of the border, even though it will affect US waters, and is only 1 mile away from the border. This highlights the role of media in raising awareness about an issue, and how the border still acts as a barrier to management in a transboundary ecosystem. For something that will affect both countries, and the many Indigenous First Nations and Tribes in US and Canada, it is a start reminder that we all need to know, and have a say, in what happens. Listen to learn more about the economic, policital, cultural and environmental concerns about this large scale project.

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Spinner dolphins Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/spinner-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/spinner-dolphin/ https://www.wilddolphin.org/behavior.html#spinner https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/spinner-dolphin https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Spinner-Dolphin https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/marine-mammals/spinner-dolphins https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/wildlife-facts/spinner-dolphin/ New Research: • Fish et al 2006 - Dynamics of aerial maneuvers - https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/209/4/590/16484/Dynamics-of-the-aerial-maneuvers-of-spinner • Tyne et al 2015 - Importance of spinner dolphin resting habitat - https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.12434 • Fumagalli et al 2018 - Behavior responses to humans - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.172044 • Tyne et al 2018 – Chronic exposure to human activities - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.171506 • Stack et al 2020 – movement and behavioral patterns Maui Nui Hawai'I - https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v644/p187-197 and McElligott and Lammers 2021 - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.703818/full • Letessier et al 2022 – Spinner residency in tropical atoll lagoons - https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jzo.13000

Want to know what PacMam has been up to this year? Check out this episode where we recap what we have done and are most excited about, and what we have in store for next year!

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Harp seal Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: ⁠https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/harp-sealhttps://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/harpseal-phoquegroenland-eng.html⁠ ⁠https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/the-phocid-seals/harp-seal⁠ ⁠https://www.britannica.com/animal/harp-seal⁠ ⁠https://nammco.no/harp-seal/⁠ New Research: Stenson et al. 2020 - Harp Seals: Monitors of Change in Differing Ecosystem: ⁠https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.569258/full⁠ Daoust and Caraguel 2012- The Canadian harp seal hunt: observations on the effectiveness of procedures to avoid poor animal welfare outcomes: ⁠https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare/article/abs/canadian-harp-seal-hunt-observations-on-the-effectiveness-of-procedures-to-avoid-poor-animal-welfare-outcomes/7D9A319A8F86898827F2F03E3C50B154⁠ Stenson et al 2016 - The impact of changing climate and abundance on reproduction in an ice-dependent species, the Northwest Atlantic harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus: ⁠https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/73/2/250/2614432⁠ Gmuca et al 2015 - The Fat and the Furriest: Morphological Changes in Harp Seal Fur with Ontogeny: ⁠https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/680080⁠ Lindstrom et al 2012 Harp seal foraging behaviour during summer around Svalbard in the northern Barents Sea: diet composition and the selection of prey: ⁠https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-012-1260-x⁠ Grahl-Nielsen et al 2011 - Fatty acids in harp seal blubber do not necessarily reflect their diet: ⁠https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v426/p263-276/

Cooperation between humans and animals is not common, but does happen. Killer whales in Eden, New South Wales, had cooperatively hunted baleen whales with Indiginous peoples for millenia, and then for a short time with the commercial whalers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Eventually the baleen whales they hunted became scarce, and so did the Eden killer whales. Was their disspearance due to lack of prey, a breach in protocol (did the humans break the Law of the Tongue), or something else? Did they just die out, or spread their genes elsewhere? Genetics can help solve at least some of this mystery. This is the story of the Eden killer whale, Old Tom, and his pod. Join us as we discuss this unique relationship, and what possibly became of those killer whales. The paper can be found here: https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/598/7308443 End of year fundraiser, thank you for your support!: https://donorbox.org/pacmam2023

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Hector's dolphinPresenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hectors-dolphin https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/hectors-dolphin/https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/hectors-dolphin/https://animalia.bio/hectors-dolphin https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/maui-dolphin/facts/#:~:text=Social%20groups&text=Hector's%20dolphins%20often%20form%20groups,few%20other%20females%20and%20calves. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cephalorhynchus_hectori/https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/hector-s-dolphinNew Research: • Roe et al 2013 Toxoplasma gondii as mortality https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2009.00326.x • Leunissen et al 2019 Impact of pile-driving https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X19302012 • Miller et al 2012 – diet by stomach content https://healthyharbour.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Miller-et-al-2013-Hectors-dolphin.pdf • Slooten et al. 2010 – effectiveness of conservation measures https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20103147699 • Hammer et al. 2013 – long range movements of hectors may help Maui's dolphin https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12026 • Webster et al 2010 – laser photogrammetry for measuring Hector's dolphins https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2009.00326.x

Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are fish eating killer whales. In particular, they are salmon eaters, with their preferred prey being Chinook salmon. But over the years they have been documented killing porpoises (often times young calves), but NOT eating them. This type of non-consumptive killing by predators is not unique in the animal kingdom, but the reason behind it varies by species - and sometimes we just don't know why they do it. Are there particular individuals, age classes, or sexes that do it? Is the behavior being transmitted throughout the popluation (evidence of social learning, and culture)? Is it for play, competition for prey, hunting practice, helping of an injured animal, or just fun? Join us as we discuss this paper that covers 45 years of data to try and answer these questions for SRKW and porpoises in the Salish Sea. Paper available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.13073

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Shepard's beaked whalePresenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/shepherds-beaked-whale/ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Tasmacetus_shepherdi/ https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/shepherds-beaked-whale/ https://news.mongabay.com/2012/02/featured-video-scientists-capture-first-footage-of-shepherds-beaked-whale/ New Research Thompson et al 2019 - First underwater sighting -https://mbr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41200-019-0165-6 Holyoake ey al 2014 - Northern most stranding -https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC130169 Towers et al 2022 - Indian ocean sighting confirms circumpolar distribution -https://www.proquest.com/openview/ea83de51fddba9ba437623426ebb16a7/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=38594 Donnelly et al 2022 - New diagnostic descriptions and distribution information for Shepherd's beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) off Southern Australia and New Zealand - https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/new-diagnostic-descriptions-and-distribution-information-for-shep

It is a surprise to no one that single use plastics are increasing in the marine environment, and that the dangers of this are widespread across all organisms. For cetaceans it comes in the form of ingesting the material and/or becoming entangled. The outcomes for the animals in these scenarios are not good, and in many cases is death. But how do the animals get to that point - what is the behavior that causes them to ingest or get entangled? Do they mistake it for prey items, or as social animals are they playing with it? Understanding how they are interacting with these pieces of litter can help us understand why the bad outcomes happen, and how we may be better able to help prevent them. Join us as we discuss this interesting paper about how cetaceans around the world are playing with plastic (like they would other items in their environment like seaweed), how social media is helping to document this behavior and how all this can help us in the protection of these animals. Paper is available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X23008627

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: The Byrde's whalePresenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/long-finned-pilot-whale#:~:text=Long%2Dfinned%20pilot%20whales%20are%20one%20of%20two%20species%20of,features%2C%20coloration%2C%20and%20pattern. https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/long-finned-pilot-whale/https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/pilot-whale https://www.marinebio.org/species/pilot-whales/globicephala-macrorhynchus/https://www.acsonline.org/pilot-whale New Research Visser et al 2014 – Social context of individual foraging dives: https://ffi-publikasjoner.archive.knowledgearc.net/bitstream/handle/20.500.12242/781/1188198.pdf Visser et al. 2016 – Disturbance specific social responses: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep28641 Isojunno et al. 2017 – Activity budgets: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.2044 Zwamborn and Whitehead 2016 – repeated calls and behavioral context: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09524622.2016.1233457 Bolea-Fernandez et al 2019 – Mercury metabolism: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43825-zBetty et al. 2022 – Southern hemi age, growth and sex dimorph: https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/103/3/560/6520866

Mammal eating killer whales (often termed transients or Bigg's killer whales) feed on many different species, even larger whales - including humpback whales. An adult doesn't have to worry too much - they are too big, with defenses that can protect them. But killer whales do attack young calves. So it would make sense that adult humpbacks defend their young, or other humpback whales. But they don't stop there! They have been documented to seeminly come to the aid of other species, including seal, sea lions and other cetaceans. Why would they expend the energy (sometimes coming from miles away, and spending minutes to hours in the encounter), and risk injury to stop killer whales from attacking another species? Is it interspecific altruism, or a side effect of a behavior for another purpose? Join us as we discuss this very interesting paper, learn what defenses humpbacks have and what possible reasons they have for doing this seeminly benevolent behavior! Paper available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12343

Mammal eating killer whales (often termed transients or Bigg's killer whales) feed on many different species, even larger whales - including humpback whales. An adult doesn't have to worry too much - they are too big, with defenses that can protect them. But killer whales do attack young calves. So it would make sense that adult humpbacks defend their young, or other humpback whales. But they don't stop there! They have been documented to seeminly come to the aid of other species, including seal, sea lions and other cetaceans. Why would they expend the energy (sometimes coming from miles away, and spending minutes to hours in the encounter), and risk injury to stop killer whales from attacking another species? Is it interspecific altruism, or a side effect of a behavior for another purpose? Join us as we discuss this very interesting paper, learn what defenses humpbacks have and what possible reasons they have for doing this seeminly benevolent behavior! Paper available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12343

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: The Byrde's whale Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/brydes-whale https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/brydes-whale Vocalizations: https://voicesinthesea.ucsd.edu/species/baleenWhales/brydes.html New research Rosel and Wilcox 2014: Rice's Whale https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/peer-reviewed-research/genetic-evidence-reveals-unique-lineage-brydes-whales-northern-gulf NOAA Timeline of Rice's whale discovery: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/marine-mammal-protection/how-gulf-mexico-brydes-whale-became-rices-whale Constantine et al. 2018: Future directions in research for Bryde's whales https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2018.00333/full Alves et al 2009: associations and dive profiles: insights into foraging behaviors https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Filipe-Alves-9/publication/230108980_Bryde's_whale_Balaenoptera_brydei_stable_associations_and_dive_profiles_New_insights_into_foraging_behavior/links/5a01c9e94585152c9db46389/Brydes-whale-Balaenoptera-brydei-stable-associations-and-dive-profiles-New-insights-into-foraging-behavior.pdf Izadi et al 2018: night life of Bryde's whale https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-018-2492-8 Izadi et al 2022 – Feeding tactics in NZ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12918 Segre et al 2022 – High speed chases along sea floor – entanglement risk https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.12646 Zhang et al 2021 – Community based population monitoring in CA https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1749-4877.12525

Dr. Roger Payne is a giant in the world of marine mammal science. He is the reason "Save the Whales" is phrase, and why we still have whales to save. He recently passed away at the age of 88. In this episode we give some background on who is was, what he did that was so important, his legacy, and what we can learn from him and how we can continue the work he started. This is the last article Roger wrote (5 days prior to his death) for Time magazine: https://time.com/6284884/whale-scientist-last-please-save-the-species/?fbclid=IwAR3z_Cnqls3E-FEcqeHveCqEFSWflR4tB93HhlK43CuX0LiyzNdgP6NQja8

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: The Commerson's dolphin Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.marinebio.org/species/commersons-dolphins/cephalorhynchus-commersonii/ https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/mysteries-of-antarctica-the-commerson-s-dolphin https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/mammals/commersons-dolphin/ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cephalorhynchus_commersonii/#A9D5ED70-5253-4F4F-9369-E324EA316FEF https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/commerson-s-dolphin https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/commersons-dolphin/ New research: Kyhn et al 2010 - Narrowband high frequency clicks: https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/213/11/1940/9821/Echolocation-in-sympatric-Peale-s-dolphins Garaffo et al 2011 - Modeling habitat of Peales, Dusky and Commersons: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v421/p217-227/ Yoshida et al 2014 - Sound variation in captivity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635714001855 Riccialdelli et al 2013 - Ontogenetic diet shift:        https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-013-1289-5 Coscarella et al 2011 - body size and ranging patterns relating to sociality     https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/92/3/544/866487 Durante et al 2022 - Population structure with female philopatry and male dispersal  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26192-0

You may have heard in the media about the killer whales in Spain, off the Iberian Peninsula, that have been interacting with boats. These have been occurring since 2020, but seem to be increasing in number and intensity. Three boats have now been sunk due to the interactins of the whales with the boats, mainly their rudders. Is this play that just goes to far? Is this aggression? Who are the individuals involved? What are the dangers to the whales, and to people? Join us as we discuss the recent 2022 paper that first describes these interactions, including what types of boats seem to be targeted, possible reasons, the individual whales involved, and what mitigation measures have been put in place. We then discuss how the media is portraying the most recent events, and how the reason they discuss is or is not based in scientific evidence, and how this plays into the conservation of this endangered subpopulation of whales. The paper is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12947 For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: ⁠https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Ringed seal Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns References: General https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ringed-seal https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Ringed-Seal https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pusa_hispida/ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ringedseal.main New research Reimer et al 2018 – ringed seal and climate change https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/eap.1855?casa_token=rjEuyFVtuNcAAAAA%3A9fIYA23r6nCvn01HzCZ3NfWs6OJbUXDkMBm-0aR3q-0BvIHOm0nAqSVPZa-vT7mF3XGFN1_CtTU2mtx4   Kunnasranta et al 2021 - review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320720309666   Kelly et al 2010 – home ranges https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-010-0796-x   Riget et al 2013 - PFO pollution https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653513010989   Koivuniemi et al 2016 - photo-ID https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v30/p29-36/

We are still learning about what and how harbor porpoises eat, here and around the world. In the waters around Spain, needle fish are a known part of the diet of harbor porpoises as well as other cetaceans in the area. What is interesting about that is that these animals eat fish head first, exclusively, we thought. This may have evolved to protect them from fish that have sharp spines or hard scales that could damage the soft tissue of the esophagus. But with needle fish, the danger lies more in the head (their mouth is long, sharp and full of teeth), so does it make sense to eat it head first? In this interesting note, the researchers document 3 cases where harbor porpoises ate needle fish... but tail first! Is this the normal way to eat this prey species, are these outliers, what is going on? Join us as we discuss what they found, why it is so interesting and why we still have so much to learn about what they are eating! For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe Paper is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12781

This would normally be a marine mammal highlight episode, but Assistant Research Director Kat is on a well deserved vacation, and it isn't the same without her on those episodes! So instead, we are bringing you a sneak peak into what you have access to if you subscribe to the podcast! Subscribers get ad free episodes, plus additional content. That content is made up of mini-episodes about updates from the field, summaries of talks or workshops we have gone to, and learning more about the team behind PacMam and more. This episode is a combo of updates from the field over the last week or so, and then a dive into how our Research Director, Dr. Cindy Elliser came to be here in the Pacific Northwest researching harbor porpoises (it began in the desert if you can believe that!). So sit back and enjoy, and be sure to subscribe if you want to hear more episodes like these! For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe

Tokitae (Toki), or Lolita, is a Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) that was taken as a 4 year old in 1970. She has been in captivity for 52 years at the Miami Seaquarium in a tank far too small (smaller than all guidelines set for captive orcas). For over 40 of those years she has been with no other orcas (sometimes she has a dolphin in her tank for company). There has been dedicated work for decades to get her released, and that possibility is actually on the horizon! The Dolphin Company (who recently bought the Seaquarium) retired her, and has entered into a binding contract with Friends of Lolita/Toki to release her back into her home waters. This is fantastic news, but there is still a lot of work to be done, and things that need to be considered. There are economic, ethical, social and biological factors that need to be considered in how this release will go, and what is ultimitely best for Toki. There are so many people that have come together to help this whale, and that is truly heartwarming. Vets, trainers, activists, native tribes, researchers, the public all want what is best for her. In this podcast we are not judging either side (keeping captive vs. release), but raising the various questions that we need to consider in this complicated, and emotional, situation in order to inform our decisions so that we do the best we can for Toki.

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Pygmy Right Whales Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Sources: https://www.acsonline.org/pygmy-right-whale https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123735539002145 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/caperea-marginata New Research: 2013, Fordyce and Marx. Last of the Cetotheres: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2012.2645 2015, Tsai and Fordyce. Missing link – Ancestor-descendant relationships https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0875 2017, Tsai et al. Northern pygmy right whales in past https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982217310965 2018, Tsai and Mead. Stranding pygmy right whale in Northern hemisphere https://zoologicalletters.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40851-018-0117-8?fbclid=IwAR3qemUVOE7380cJYpCNbsWkYwpmpWkBTBZzjnCrwFvmFONeIMXkbnwaQUk 2002, Kemper. Distribution in Australasian region https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01021.x 2013, Kemper et al. whales and areas of high marine producitivity off AU and NZ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03014223.2012.707662 2022, Tanaka et al. Feeding by skimming https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.221353 2017, Park et al. Inner ear cochlea and phylogeny https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.20674 2018, Werth et al. Filtration area scaling and evolution https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/125/2/264/5085357 Fin whale references: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.630233/full https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0063396 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01161.x https://animalia.bio/southern-fin-whale

How can you measure a prey item that is being consumed by a sea otter? You can't take it and physically measure it, you are just watching them eat it. But size is an important factor to know about when looking at foraging ecology and how much energy they are deriving from their prey. Well, sea otter researchers have come up with an ingenious way to measure things that can be comparable with any other location - which is very necessary when wanting to compare between regions. They use sea otter paw widths! This is one of the fun new things we learned while reading this study on sea otter foraging ecology. We also learn more about how Washington sea otters are different than California and British Columbia sea otters, and why that is important when discussing and comparing diets, energy intake and population growth between regions. Come and learn about how good Washington sea otters are at eating kelp crabs (compared to the other locations) and what implications that has for differences in foraging ecology and population growth between these regions. For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe Paper is available here: https://bioone.org/journals/northwestern-naturalist/volume-104/issue-1/NWN20-07/RAPID-CONSUMPTION-OF-KELP-CRAB--IMPLICATIONS-FOR-SEA-OTTERS/10.1898/NWN20-07.short

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: New Zealand Fur Seals Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe Sources: Diet and Behavior: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/nz-fur-seal/facts/ https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/sea-lions-and-fur-seals/new-zealand-fur-seal https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/new-zealand-fur-seal/ New research: Lactating females and foraging: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z08-055 Colony specific foraging grounds: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v361/p279-290/ Foraging site fidelity continental shelf vs. oceanic: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00487.x Vessel disturbance: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12171 Swimming with seals ecotourism: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X13002522 Toxoplasmosis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401714004099 Novel DNA virus: https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/genomeA.00558-13 Hybrids: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03586.x

In some species males and females look different, this is called sexual dimorphism. Often times it is the males that have the distinct features, but not always. Sometimes the features are VERY different, and sometimes they are more subtle. Being able to know if an individual is male or female is important in understanding their social structure, behavior, mating strategies and can inform conservation measures. It is often hard to know the sex of a whale, dolphin or porpoise as many species don't have distinct sexual dimorphism, and other ways to determine sex are more invasive (like biopsies or necropsies). In this episode we dive into a new technology that allows researchers to determine the sex of individual whales by using photographs. They use a special program, ImageJ, that allows researchers to use pixel measurements to quantify different body parts (like fin height, length, etc.). They can then use combinations of these measurements to create ratios that they can then compare between individuals. Join us and learn how this new technology may allow researchers to be able to predict the sex of individuals, and the implications that has on conservation! For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe Paper is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12963

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: Weddell Seals Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns Become a Paid Subscriber - get ad-free episodes and bonus mini-episodes/content available to subscribers only: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe. Your support helps us continue our research and education programs! Weddell seal episode Sources: · https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/the-phocid-seals/weddell-seal · http://weddellsealscience.com/about.html (research running since 1968!) · https://www.marinebio.org/species/weddell-seals/leptonychotes-weddellii/ Sound files: · https://dosits.org/galleries/audio-gallery/marine-mammals/pinnipeds/weddell-seal/(sound file) · https://ocr.org/sounds/weddell-seal/(sound file) · https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/seals/weddell-seal/(lots of sound files) New research: LaRue et al 2020 - crowd sourcing and remote sensing: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.124 LaRue et al 2021 - new global population estimate with crowd sourcing and remote sensing: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.124 Popular science article of that publication: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/02/04/weddell-seal-population-may-be-much-lower-than-previously-thought/ Davis et al 2003 - 3D dive movments: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v264/p109-122/ Williams et al 2004 - metabolic costs of foraging: o https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/207/6/973/15049/The-cost-of-foraging-by-a-marine-predator-the Heerah et al 2013 - ecology of seals during winter (foraging): o https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0967064512001658 Wheatley et al 2006 - influence of maternal mass: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3838384 Hadley et al 2006 - variation in probability of first reproduction: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01118.x

We often talk about the Salish Sea on our podcast, but many of you may not know exactly where or what that is. It is an urban sea, with high biodiversity and productivity - making it a great place for many organisms, including humans. However, the extenisve development by humans often comes at a cost, which is paid for by the ecosystem, usually resulting in negative effects that can combine, accumulate and interact in very complex ways, reducing the health of both the ecosystem and those that call it home. But the Salish Sea has shown resiliency, it still boasts thriving populations of plants, animals and humans; but it is also a cautionary tale. There are many parts of the Sea, and animals within it, that are in danger - showing us that we are testing that resiliency. So what can be done? Join us as we review this article that showcases how the Salish Sea as an urban sea can be a model for understanding the complex threats to urban seas around the world, and most importantly provides ideas and hope for what we can do now to help protect and conserve these important waterways, so that we don't pass the point of no return. For a small monhtly fee, subscribe to our podcast and get ad free listening and bonus mini episodes!: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/subscribe Paper is open access: https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/10/1/00055/195015/Urban-seas-as-hotspots-of-stress-in-the Governance article mentioned in the podcast: https://cedar.wwu.edu/salish_pubs/33/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We wanted to end the year with a look back at the favorite things we covered and learned in the podcast, what was the most exciting field session and what we are looking forward to next year! Join us for a look back and a look forward, and have a wonderful holiday! There is still time to donate to our end of year fundraiser: https://donorbox.org/pacmam2022 Thank you for your support! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode we are covering two short notes on some pretty fantastic behaviors! Drones can give us perspectives that we can't otherwise get when viewing wildelife, and these two papers are great examples of this. The first paper reviews an apparent expulsion of placental material in a group of pilot whales that also contained a neonate calf (likely born within the past 12 hours). It is very rare to see a cetacean birth in the wild, or anything like this relating to a recent birth, so this is a very interesting and important documentation. Join us as we review the video and the interesting behaviors that the other pilot whales in the group showed during the event. The second paper is a bit lighter, and seems like two animals having some interspecies playtime. Here they document a river otter and harbor seal seemingly playing hide and seek or tag. Now, we don't know exactly what they are doing or why, but they are definitely interacting together on purpose, chasing after each other at times, and looking for each other when one runs off. Join us as we review the playful video and discuss what may be happening and why. Both papers provide unique and important insights in the lives of these marine mammals. Papers and videos freely available Long finned pilot whales: paper and video Otter and seal interaction: paper and video --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/support

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals each episode! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This week: The Bowhead Whale Presenters: Cindy Elliser and Katrina MacIver Music by Josh Burns --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/support

Marine ecotourism provides economic benefits for humans, and is a good alternative for marine species that migh otherwise be hunted, like many dolphin and whale species. However, there are still negative effects that can have long-term consequences for a species' survival. Increased vessel traffic creates a noisy enviornment, increases risk of vessel strike, and can cause changes to behavior and activity budgets. These can directly hurt the animals, but can also cause indirect effects (like reduced time foraging, or reduced reproduction) that can accumulate and negatively impact the long-term survival. It is important that we understand where the balance lies between what we need/want to do, and the needs of the animals. This paper is a great example of using long-term data to show what the problem is and articulate what we should be doing into the future to strike that balance so that both humans and dolphins can coexist. This paper looks at changes in the number of cruise ships and people going into a harbor in New Zealand and correlates that with changes observed in Hector's dolphins sighting rates and distribution pattern. It is an excellent example of how long-term monitoring is vital to being able to identify when changes occur, why the are occurring, and gives us the tools we need to be able to act in real-time for the health of the ecosystem that the humans and dolphins rely on. Paper is freely available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.3881 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/support

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about different marine mammals! We discuss a little about the biology, behavior and fun facts about each species. Have fun and learn about marine mammals with PacMam! This episode: the pantropical spotted dolphin Get merch!!! https://www.bonfire.com/store/pacific-mammal-research/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/support

Culture is not unique to humans. This idea is becoming increasingly more accepted, and researchers are finding evidence of culture in many different species, including marine mammals. From tool use, to foraging strategies and dialects, there is evidence of social learning and transmission of information between individuals and through generations, which is the basis for culture. Sperm whales are a wonderful example of multilevel cultural society, with distinct vocal characters (akin to dialects) and nearly permanent social units that interact with other social units in their range. This paper looks at if the vocal characteristics they have constitute a symbolic marker for a group of individuals that the whales can use to identify themselves, but also other whales. Do they use this as a cultural marker defining one group from the next. Think of clothing styles, accents, and body modifications in humans that serve the same purpose. Do sperm whales use specific vocal calls to identify members of their own clan, vs. members of others? Come learn what they found and how amazing the culture of sperm whales is! Paper is open access: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2201692119 Ted talk by Hal Whitehead on whale culture mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uyGXoMaXns --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pacific-mammal-research/support