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!

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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

Microplastics are a hot topic right now in many areas of science. We are finding plastic everywhere, and in animals around the world - even in the deepest parts of the ocean.  Microplastics are small, often microscopic pieces of plastic.  The question now is how are this type of plastic affecting our oceans, the animals in it, and us?  In this paper researchers looked at microplastic abundance in bottlenose dolphins in South Carolina, spoiler - they found them!  But there is more to this story (and where you may find microplastics), so join us to find out more!

Paper available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X20307955

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/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!  

This week: Whale poop and whale falls (when a whale dies and sinks in deep water)!  Did you know that whale poop can help us combat climate change, and even after a whale dies they are an important part of the marine ecosystem (some species are only found where whales die and sink)?  Join us to learn all about it!    

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie  

Music by Josh Burns

Many seals (especially young juveniles/pups) in Atlantic waters have stranded with odd spiral, or corkscrew, lacerations.  There have been many hypotheses over the years as to how these injuries occurred, but researchers have recently uncovered the truth, and it was suprising to say the least.  Join us as we discuss how the mystery was solved, who was the culprit (spoiler: grey seals!), what else researchers have discovered (evidence for cannabalism for one!) and why this is important to understand for the health of all species involved.

Warning: the description of the attacks may be graphic for some listeners (we note this in the podcast so you know when it is coming up)

Referenced papers available at:

Brownlow et al. 2016 (open access): https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0156464

van Neer et al. 2019: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385110118303368

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/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!  

This week: Foraging strategies: bottlenose dolphin edition!  Bottlenose dolphins have a lot of different, unique, ways to catch their prey.  Here we highlight some of the coolest (we think) foraging strategies from bottlenose dolphin populations around the world.   

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie  

Music by Josh Burns

Join us as we talk with Michelle Greenfield, the founder and host of the new podcast, Aquadocs!  We are chatting with Michelle about her story, how she got to where she is, how she became interested in marine mammals, and aquatic medicine in general and learn about all the different ways you can work in this field.  We also learn what a typical day in the life of an aquatic vet looks like - spoilers, it can be very different depending your animal subjects and very interesting! So join us as we delve into the world of aquatic medicine, of course with an emphasis on marine mammals!  

Be sure to check out Michelle's podcast at: https://anchor.fm/aquadocs and http://www.aquadocspodcast.com/about.html

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

Join us as we talk about a recent paper that was published this year about postmortem attentive behavior (PAB) by humpback whales toward a deceased gray whale calf.  This type of behavior is rarely observed in mysticetes (baleen whales), and the fact that it was between 2 different species makes it even more unique.  Why would humpback whales be interested in a gray whale calf recently killed by killer whales (who were still feeding on the carcass)?  Is there a benefit to the humpback whales to do this, or is it just curiosity? Is this something that happens more often, it is just we aren't there to observe it?  Join us as we ponder these questions and discuss this unique event! 

Check out the article here: https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

Sponsorships: on for this episode

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: Foraging strategies: Sperm whales, crabeater seals and gray whales!  There are a lot of different ways to catch your prey, here we highlight some of the more unique strategies some pretty cool marine mammals use.   

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie  

Music by Josh Burns

Join us as we talk about a recent paper that was published about a hybrid animal that may be the largest hybrid on Earth!  The blue whale is the largest whale (and the largest animal to have ever lived - yes even larger than dinosaurs!), and the fin whale is the second largest.  Well, when they mate and produce a hybrid offspring, that is a pretty big hybrid whale!  Learn about how scientists discovered these hybrids exist, why it is difficult to identify them, why this may be occurring (and why only in one direction) and what it means for the populations of both species.

Check out the article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eva.13091

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/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!  

This week: The extremists: Walruses, river dolphins and the blue whale.  This week is a little different as we talk about why each of these species is kind of extreme in terms of biology and ecology, and of course debate which one is the best!  

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie

Join us on a mystery into the world of the humpback whale, and the songs they sing! We will be discussing a documentary about humpback whale song, that you can find on HERE, featuring our colleagues Dr. Marc Lammers and Dr. Adam Pack.  We will discuss a little about what they reveal in the video (not all of it - go watch it to see everything!), but we will also discuss the really cool tools they are using and how having a variety of tools allows researchers to better address the questions they are trying to answer.  For example, if you are researching humpback whale songs, why do you need to measure how large the whale is, and how do you do it?  Listen to find out.

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

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!  

This week: Pinnipeds of the Salish Sea (the regulars: steller sea lions, California sea lions, harbor seals)

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie  

Join us as we discuss an interesting paper about rough-toothed dolphins and prey sharing.  It isn't common to observe prey sharing in cetaceans, and particularly small dolphin species.  We will talk about what the researchers observed and why this is interesting, how it may relate to social structure and why drone footage can reveal such cool behavior!

Link to the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12727

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/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!  

This week: Orcas: Residents, transients and offshores, oh my!  

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie

Join us as we discuss an 2 scientific papers about harbor porpoise behavior and prey choices.  These are 2 recent publications by PacMam researchers and colleagues along the U.S. West Coast documenting the capture and ingestion of large prey items by harbor porpoises (particularly reproductively active females), and the potential risk this behavior poses.   Why risk it? Listen to find out.  Learn how it all started with one picture, which took us down a road we didn't even know was there, and led us to some new and exciting information about harbor porpoises.

Links to the papers:

Catching large fish: https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=1480&name=vol-46-iss-2-elliser

Asphyxiation: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/1/3/8#cite

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

Join us as we discuss an interesting scientific paper about an emerging disease, Mucormycosis, in marine mammals caused by fungi.  Fungal diseases are rare in marine mammals, so the fact that this has been noted 21 times since 2012 is concerning.  We will learn about the disease, which species are most affected and discuss how and why this may be happening.

Link to the paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00555/full

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/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!

This week: Beaked whales - those mysterious whales!

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie

Music by Josh Burns

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about 3 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: In honor of International Save the Vaquita day, July 18, we are talking about the vaquita and 2 other porpoise species, the Indo-pacific finless and the spectacled porpoises!  

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie

Join us as we discuss an interesting scientific note about a pantropical spotted dolphin with 2 blowholes!  Note that they normally only have 1, so this is a bit strange.  Listen and learn a bit about dolphin anatomy, how this could affect the animal, and why this type of observation/taking photographs is so important in marine mammal work!

Link to the paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12708

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

Join Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) scientists to learn about 3 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 weird ones - the ones you don't immediately think of as marine mammals: River otters, Dugongs/manatees, and polar bears!  

Presenters: Cindy Elliser, Katrina MacIver, Trevor Derie  

Music by Josh Burns

Join us as we discuss a fascinating scientific article about sperm whales that are attacked by giant petrels. That's right, birds eating on sperm whales!  We will talk about the paper, what they found and why it is so interesting.  

Link to the paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-020-02687-2

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/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! 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

In this episode we will be discussing the elephant seal, the leopard seal and the baikal seal!  Join us to learn some fun facts about these pinnipeds as we discuss why they are so cool!

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

Also see a video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v-DxiNmfduI

Today we are discussing the narwhal, the beluga and the humpback whale! Join PacMam's researchers as we learn fun facts about these species and try to decide which is the best!

Help us continue to provide content like this by donating: https://pacmam.org/wp/donate/

Also see a video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/35MFNJ6JMZ0

Welcome to the PacMam podcast!

Here we introduce our hosts Cindy Elliser and Kat MacIver and explain what the PacMam podcast is all about.  Cindy and Kat are researchers with Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam), a scientific non-profit conducting marine mammal research in the Salish Sea. Learn about marine mammals, research and environmental news in this fun podcast!

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!

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 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

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! 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