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Klanjšček, Tin. "Dynamic energy budgets and bioaccumulation : a model for marine mammals and marine mammal populations." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34623.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology, 2006.<br>"June 2006."<br>Includes bibliographical references.<br>Energy intake of individuals affects growth of organisms and, therefore, populations. Persistent lipophilic toxicants acquired with the energy can bioaccumulate and harm individuals. Marine mammals are particularly vulnerable because of their large energy requirements, and transfer of energy and toxicants from mothers to their young during gestation and lactation. Dynamic energy budget (DEB) models for energy assimilation and utilization, coupled with pharmacokinetic models that calculate distribution of toxicants in individuals, can help investigate the vulnerability. In this dissertation I develop the first individual DEB model tailored specifically to marine mammals and couple it to a pharmacokinetic model for lipophilic toxicants. I adapt the individual model to the right whale and use it to analyze consequences of energy availability on individual growth, reproduction, bioaccumulation, and transfer of toxicants between generations. From the coupled model, I create an individual-based model (IBM) of a marine mammal population. I use it to investigate how interactions of food availability, exposure to toxicants, and maternal transfer of toxicants affect populations. I also present a method to create matrix population models from a general DEB model to alleviate some of the drawbacks of the IBM approach.<br>by Tin Klanjšček.<br>Ph.D.
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McCaslin, Lauren E. "Documenting Marine Mammal Behavior and Evaluating the Benefits and Consequences of Viewing Marine Mammals in Southcentral Alaska." TopSCHOLAR®, 2019. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3128.
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Marine mammals are in a precarious conservation position because of anthropogenic impacts and historic perceptions that they are a consumable commodity. In light of changing abiotic conditions, further evaluation is needed on the habitat use, behavior, and interactions among marine mammals. Conservation legislation has helped protect species, but the greatest ground swelling may be the advent of the commercial whale watching industry. The feeding grounds in Alaskan waters have made this area a prime tourism location, and these nutrient-rich waters have resulted in a confluence of marine mammal species, including the appealing and abundant humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that may associate with three ecotypes of killer whales (Orcinus orca). These species are interesting because they may travel together to feed on prey or be adversaries in a predator-prey relationship. Using whale watching as a platform, this study evaluated the effects of the presence of these two species separately and together, and of the type of interaction between them, on human perception. Data were collected via opportunistic observations and a retrospective pre- and post-survey instrument. Differences in humpback whale distribution and group size patterns were found relative to killer whale occurrence, although humpback whale behavioral states were unchanged. Changes in passenger conservation attitudes could not be attributed to species and behaviors but they were important determinates to whale watching satisfaction. Overall, more positive conservation attitudes and an increase in knowledge about marine mammals were reported after whale watching. These tours provide an opportunity for collecting meaningful scientific data and providing more in-depth education such as enhancing the appreciation for ecosystem services provided by marine mammals.
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Durban, John William. "Bayesian methods for marine mammal population assessment." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2002. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/R?func=search-advanced-go&find_code1=WSN&request1=AAIU602316.
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Policy-makers increasingly need to use scientific data that are imprecise. This problem is particularly apparent for marine mammal management issues, where practical research constraints leave scientists and managers with the problem of drawing inference from sparse data. Effective use of such data therefore places great demands on our methods of data analysis and statistical inference. In this thesis I introduce novel Bayesian methods for the analysis of data on marine mammal abundance and trends. Bayesian methods are applied to a suite of case studies to inform current management issues of importance both in the UK and overseas. These include estimating the probability of density dependence in the growth of a killer whale (Orcinus orca) population inhabiting the inshore waters of Washington State; estimating the size of a widespread population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Bahamas; and assessing the population status and abundance trends of bottlenose dolphins within a newly designated Special Area of Conservation in the Moray Firth, NE Scotland. Each of these case studies uses model-based analysis of individual photo- identification data to make inference about unknown population parameters of interest. Specifically, Bayesian inference, based on "posterior" probability distributions and statements, is used to facilitate scientific reporting in the face of uncertainty about these unknowns. Additional issues addressed are the selection of alternative statistical models for inference based on posterior model probabilities; incorporating model selection uncertainty into inference through the estimation of model-averaged parameter estimates; and the use of random effects prior distributions to model the relatedness between unknown parameters and increase estimate precision. The application of these methods is accomplished through the use of Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling methods, which are implemented using the WinBUGS software.
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Linderhed, Anna. "Marine mammal behavior response to sonars, a review." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-97226.
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During the last decades the problems caused by anthropogenic sound and noise in oceans have been recognized in public, by governments, and military. With the use of active sonar, different choices can be made to minimize the risk of damaging or disturbing marine mammals. For this purpose knowledge of sonar disturbance is crucial. There are methods for time or area planning, i.e. when and where to use active sonars, to avoid marine mammals. The purpose of this work is to find information in literature on marine mammal behaviour reactions to the sound of sonar pings, and to evaluate which of two different behavioural models used in risk assessment programs, the “varying response” model and the “avoidance” model, is more correct to use. Main focus is on sonars and marine mammals residing in Sweden, i.e. the harbour porpoise, grey seal, harbour seal and ringed seal. Behavioral results from other research areas such as bycatch, environmental, and strandings, together with other sound sources than sonars and other species, provide a broader picture of the situation in noisy oceans. For the harbor porpoise the “avoidance” model works well. It is a very shy species, which flees fast and far when it comes in contact with new things. With the seals however the “avoidance” model is probably less good, since their responses to sonar differ rather much. Hence, for these taxa we recommend to use the “various” model that takes into account such varying responses.
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Scheidecker, Elizabeth M. "Wavelet analysis of bioacoustic scattering and marine mammal vocalizations." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2005. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion/05Sep%5FScheidecker.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2005.<br>Thesis Advisor(s): D. Benjamin Reeder, John A. Colosi. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-97). Also available online.
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Mullins, Ruth Louise. "Characterizing marine mammal stranding events along the Texas coast." Texas A&M University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/86047.
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The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) is a valuable data resource for the marine mammal community. Limitations of funding and personnel severely impact the ability of the Network to maintain impeccable databases. This research constructed an application to address database complications and focused on investigating the species identification, temporal and spatial trends for stranding events along the Texas coast.
From 1980 to 2004, Tursiops truncatus accounted for approximately 80% of all stranding events. The remainder was 20 additional whale and dolphin species known to reside in the Gulf of Mexico. Tursiops truncatus strand along the entire coastline and are the only species stranding in the bays. All other species stranding are most dense along the southern coastline.
The temporal scales of events revealed no linear patterns from 1980 to 2004. A unique cyclic fluctuation occurred from 1992 to 1998, including the highest yearly counts and one isolated mortality event in Port Aransas. Attempts to forecast stranding events beyond 2004 were inconclusive due to multiple factors influencing a stranding event. A bimodal seasonal trend was evident, with events peaking in the spring and fall months. Density distributions by decade isolated three frequent stranding areas: Sabine-Galveston-Brazoria counties, Galveston Shipping Channel, and Corpus Christi Shipping Channel. The final aspect analyzed spatial elaboration of events by creating six location values to describe the Texas coastline. Each event was assigned from the geographical location and the orientation of an event along the coastline. Analysis revealed the segregation of Tursiops truncatus in the bays and confirmed earlier results of density distributions. Examining the locations by time revealed a specific incident connected to a mortality event in 1992, accounting for 59% of the stranding events. Location categories were compared to the TMMSN stranding regions and the regions experienced different location frequencies.
This study demonstrated how to construct a stronger database and the necessity for database accuracy. Study conclusions demonstrated the need to better isolate and research factors responsible for event distributions in time and space along the Texas coast to forecast the magnitude and location of stranding events to better aid the TMMSN response efforts.
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Severson, Jared. "Modeling and frequency tracking of marine mammal whistle calls." Thesis, Cambridge Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/4301.
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CIVINS<br>Approved for public release, distribution unlimited<br>Marine mammal whistle calls present an attractive medium for covert underwater communications. High quality models of the whistle calls are needed in order to synthesize natural-sounding whistles with embedded information. Since the whistle calls are composed of frequency modulated harmonic tones, they are best modeled as a weighted superposition of harmonically related sinusoids. Previous research with bottlenose dolphin whistle calls has produced synthetic whistles that sound too clean for use in a covert communications system. Due to the sensitivity of the human auditory system, watermarking schemes that slightly modify the fundamental frequency contour have good potential for producing natural-sounding whistles embedded with retrievable watermarks. Structured total least squares is used with linear prediction analysis to track the time-varying fundamental frequency and harmonic amplitude contours throughout a whistle call. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the capability to accurately model bottlenose dolphin whistle calls and retrieve embedded information from watermarked synthetic whistle calls.
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Bedington, Michael. "Drift modelling of marine mammal carcases in coastal waters." Thesis, University of the Highlands and Islands, 2015. https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/drift-modelling-of-marine-mammal-carcases-in-coastal-waters(c1165a29-6c4c-4b6f-b079-e39d4ff164e5).html.
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A floating object's drift is governed by its buoyancy, shape, and the wind, waves and currents it experiences. Here, I develop a drift modelling framework for marine mammal carcases in coastal waters. The resulting models were run forwards and backwards in time to provide insights into strategies for environmental monitoring under two scenarios. The first explored the beach search options for carcases resulting from potentially fatal collisions between tidal-stream turbines and marine mammals. The second applied the reverse problem for known-location mass strandings to highlight potential at-sea mortality sites. The drift properties of carcase-like objects were assessed in at-sea experiments. Wave transport was found to be greater than Stokes drift alone and in a complex coastal area could not be represented by a downwind multiplier as many previous models have assumed. A high resolution unstructured grid wave model was set up to complement existing wind and current models for the West Coast of Scotland, and these components were combined to build a carcase drift model. In the forward case, from tidal turbine locations, the drift model showed a wide spread of potential stranding sites, suggesting monitoring a limited number of beaches is unlikely to be fruitful. However, selecting beaches in response to immediate wind direction would improve efficiency. Stranding locations alone can only provide evidence of turbine interactions if the number of animals affected is large. In the reverse case, when applied to a mass stranding in Chile, the drift model showed the ability to exclude areas of origin, even though it could not pinpoint an exact mortality site. This work advances understanding of wave transport of surface floating objects, of carcase drift modelling, and of the feasibility of strandings monitoring. The decomposition rate of carcases is a source of uncertainty in the model where further work should be undertaken.
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Jaaman, Saifullah A. "Marine mammal distribution and interactions with fisheries in East Malaysia." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.430421.
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This study aimed to provide scientific information on the status of marine mammals and threats from directed takes and incidental catches in fisheries in East Malaysia. Recommendations for the conservation of the animals and guidelines for further research are also provided. All available information on sightings, strandings, skeletal remains and threats to the marine mammals in East Malaysia prior to this study were reviewed. A series of broad and aerial sighting surveys was conducted in the marine and fluvial waters. The objective was to explore and observe marine mammals at sea, and to describe the present species composition, distribution and density. In conclusion, this study showed that marine mammals in East Malaysian waters are diverse. Dugongs and small citations are facing threats from by-catches in fisheries, declining fisheries resources, habitat loss and degradation, pollution, heavy vessel traffic and rapid urban and industrial development along its coastline. In Sabah, traditional hunting for meat, illegal trawling in estuarine and riverine waters, and dynamite fishing are particularly detrimental to the species and their habitats. Without an immediate, committed and concerted effort to educate the public, monitor fisheries, enforce conservation laws and conduct detailed assessment of the dugong and small cetacean populations and their habitats, there may be little hope to reduce or eliminate the threats and to maintain their present numbers in the waters of East Malaysia.
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Keith, Anna. "Molecular Responses to Catastrophic Molting in a Wild Marine Mammal." Scholarly Commons, 2021. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3745.
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While most mammals shed their hair and skin either continuously or seasonally, northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) undergo an annual catastrophic molt, in which they shed their entire fur and underlying skin layer in the span of just three weeks. Due to the energetic and thermoregulatory constraints of molting and the large distances between their coastal rookeries and foraging grounds, elephant seals must remain on land and fast for the duration of their molt. Previous studies of molting northern elephant seals have examined endocrine and metabolic adjustments to fasting, but not the molecular processes underlying molting. We examined changes in the skin and underlying blubber tissues using histological, endocrine, and proteomic analyses during molting to provide a more in-depth understanding of the cellular mechanisms enabling rapid skin shedding and regeneration in this marine mammal. Shotgun proteome sequencing by LC-MS/MS identified 47,671 peptides and 573 protein groups in skin and outer blubber that were associated with lipid metabolism, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and collagen regulation. Label-free quantification and differential protein expression analyses identified 23 and 21 proteins that were differentially expressed during molting in the skin and outer blubber, respectively. Proteins downregulated over molting included those associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, and cellular proliferation, whereas proteins upregulated over molting included those associated with cytoskeletal remodeling, collagen synthesis, and lipid metabolism. This suggests that rapid skin regeneration involves intensive protein synthesis and increased vascularization that may be supported by fatty acid substrates from underlying blubber tissue. These data provide insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern unusually rapid skin regeneration in mammals, which may further understanding of disorders affecting the skin and hair of humans and other mammals.
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Traffichini, Andrea M. "Reconstruction of Northeastern Pacific Ocean Holocene Production Using Marine Mammal Archaeofauna." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2019. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/513.
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Changes in marine production play a key role in determining the trophic structure of the northeastern Pacific Ocean. This is a region of great environmental fluctuations due to modern, historical, and paleo-environmental variability recorded throughout the Holocene. These fluctuations are recorded in the bone collagen of the marine mammals that reside in these waters. Marine mammal remains from four previously excavated archaeological deposits on Unalaska Island, Alaska are used as a proxy for marine production changes throughout the Holocene (4,500 BP to 350 BP). Historic and modern samples from museum collections, subsistence harvests, and previously published data provide a distinct contrast to prehistoric marine mammals. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) derived from marine mammal bone collagen correlate to changes in marine production and food web length. The 13C and 15N of prehistoric marine mammal taxa covary through the Holocene, indicating no trophic level change with fluctuations in 13C. Changes in δ13C and δ15N of marine mammals are correlated to periods of environmental fluctuations within the Holocene. Cooler climatic periods (transitional interval, beginning of the Neoglacial Interval, and Little Ice Age) show enrichedδ13C, reflecting primary production increase, compared to warmer climate periods (end of the Neoglacial Interval into the Medieval Climatic Anomaly). Unidentified cetacean bones are isotopically distinguishable into orders Mysticeti (baleen) and Odontoceti (toothed) due to different feeding ecologies. The δ13C depletion in modern pinnipeds compared to prehistoric is likely caused by the effect of increased anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 and resulting decrease in primary production.
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Aho, Kelsey B. "Transboundary agreement| Case studies of marine mammal management in the bering strait." Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10245619.
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<p> The effectiveness of a state's natural resource management is rendered meaningless if the particular resource migrates into another state's jurisdiction. In the case of marine mammals, inadequate management of the species anywhere along their annual migration could make food insecure for the regional human populations. My research evaluates to what extent International Environmental Agreements have been able to manage transboundary challenges to food security. Two case studies, the <i>Polar Bear Agreement</i> (2000) and the <i>International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling</i> (1946), are analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using Ronald Mitchell's four factors for describing variation of International Environmental Agreements' effectiveness: incentives, capacities, information, and norms. To ensure food security in the Bering Strait, this thesis stresses the importance of local concerns, norms and stakeholders. Transboundary management includes stakeholders at various scales to address a local challenge that is intersected by an international political boundary. The higher values of the Bowhead whale International Environmental Agreement's four factors, in the quantitative analysis, account for the higher level of food security for Bowhead whale. The qualitative analysis makes three recommendations for future International Environmental Agreements, in this case the draft U.S.-Russia agreement on Pacific walrus: 1) conservation of the Pacific walrus, 2) maintenance of Native self-determination and, 3) encouragement the flow of information between the local and federal stakeholders and between the United States and Russia. In order to ensure future food security in the Bering Strait Region, the management of the Pacific walrus depends on an effective International Environmental Agreement.</p>
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Quaggiotto, Maria Martina. "The role of marine mammal carrion in the ecology of coastal systems." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2016. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7099/.
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Carrion represents an important energy resource in the natural world, yet its ecological significance has often been overlooked. It also plays a crucial role facilitating energy transfer across trophic levels and between ecosystems. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the role of marine mammal carrion in the ecology of coastal systems, investigating one of the most commonly occurring sources of marine mammal carrion in the UK, the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). This was addressed by providing first a detailed documentation of the fate of a grey seal pup carcass with insights on the scavenging ecology existing in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On the shore, great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus), juvenile gulls and ravens (Corvus corax) fed on the carcass showing a distinct temporal succession using the food resource. The underwater carcass was initially dominated by Echinodermata (starfish), whose abundance dropped lately, while Malacostraca (crabs) were present in similar number during the whole monitoring. Bacterial activity was evident in both experiments. Predictability of seal carrion was then defined during the pupping season at one of the largest colonies in the UK, the Isle of May (Scotland). Data collected by aerial survey (11 years) and ground visual census (3 years) were used to estimate the inter-annual variability of carrion, from placentae and dead seals, according to its timing, biomass and energy released and spatial distribution on the island. For all measures considered, variability was below 34%, similarly to other resources, such as salmon runs, which appear to be predicted by consumers. Twenty one percent of the total biomass from dead seals was consumed at the end of the pupping season suggesting a clear response from the scavenging community to the presence of the resource carrion. The predictable nature of seal carrion was then tested exploring the spatial and temporal distribution of scavenging gulls at three geographical scales (regional, local and patch scales). The great black-backed gull was affected by carrion availability occurring on the Isle of May, while the herring gull (Larus argentatus) was not. In particular, the number of adult and juvenile great black-backed gulls feeding was directly correlated with carrion abundance, while searching behaviour was greatest after the mean seal pupping date and at the peak in mortality. The behavioural dynamics of scavengers were finally explored monitoring the feeding activity on pup carcasses and placentae of adult and juvenile great black-backed gulls. It was predicted that under conditions of predictable and abundant carrion an equal scavenging effort would be found for the two age classes when consuming carcasses. Hierarchical dominance was, instead, expected during scavenging activity on placenta as it represents a preferred energy-rich food item. Temporal trends of scavenging activity and time spent feeding on carcasses were in fact similar between the two, while young individuals spent more time feeding on placenta, highlighting the importance of this food source for juvenile gulls during winter. The house mouse was also found to scavenge on seal carrion, which until now has been undocumented. This study demonstrates the importance of marine mammal carrion as a resource for multiple facultative scavenger species in both the marine and terrestrial environment.
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Yeates, Laura Carleen. "Physiological capabilities and behavioral strategies for marine living by the smallest marine mammal, the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) /." Diss., Digital Dissertations Database. Restricted to UC campuses, 2006. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.
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Frere, Celine Henria Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science UNSW. "Interactions between behavioural ecology and relatedness of female bottlenose dolphins in East Shark Bay, Western Australia." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, 2009. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/43776.
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Female mammals play a central role in determination of social structure and are thus central to understanding the overall fission-fusion grouping pattern characteristic of many delphinid societies. Focusing specifically on female-female relatedness and association patterns, I have analysed more than 17 years of group composition, behavioural data, and genetic information to investigate complex interactions between behavioural ecology and relatedness and to also examine the common social evolutionary theory, that variation in mammalian social systems is typically attributed to five main factors: inclusive fitness, predation pressure, sexual conflict and male harassment, inbreeding avoidance, and resource competition. Overall, I found that female bottlenose dolphin association patterns depend upon the interplay between matrilineal kinship, biparental relatedness and home range overlap, and that female bottlenose dolphins seem to adapt their social strategies to seasonal variation in levels of predation and male harassment. The presence of both high sexual conflict and bisexual philopatry lead me to investigate the extent of inbreeding avoidance. I found that more than 14% of the calves were most likely the product of mating between close relatives, and identified female fitness costs to inbreeding. We were able to show that the effect of inbreeding on females??? fitness occurs via two independent mechanisms: being inbred and having at least one inbred calf. Inbred calves are on average weaned later than non-inbred calves, and a female???s first calf has a higher probability to be an inbred than subsequent calves. Last, I examined whether sociality provides inclusive fitness to female bottlenose dolphins through an investigation of both the additive genetic and social variance components of female calving success using a pedigree-free animal model. I found that variance in calving success of female bottlenose dolphins is best explained by complex genetic and social interactions. Females with high calving success showed both high genetic and social merit; they not only have good genes but also prefer to associate with others of high fitness. This study reveals that both social and heritable genetic variance contribute to fitness trait variance in the wild.
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Thompson, Stephanie. "Extensible 3D (X3D) graphics for visualizing marine mammal reaction to underwater sound on the Southern California ASW Range (SOAR)." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Naval Postgraduate School, 2007. http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/07Jun%5FThompson.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulations (MOVES))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2007.<br>Thesis Advisor(s): Don Brutzman, Curt Collins, John Joseph. "June 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-104). Also available in print.
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Meyer, Eric T. "Socio-technical perspectives on digital photography scientific digital photography use by marine mammal researchers /." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2007. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3278467.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Information Science, 2007.<br>Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-10, Section: A, page: 4119. Adviser: Howard Rosenbaum. Title from dissertation home page (viewed May 19, 2008).
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Deyarmin, Jared. "Blubber transcriptome and proteome responses to repeated adrenocorticotropic hormone administration in a marine mammal." Scholarly Commons, 2019. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3598.
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Chronic physiological stress impacts animal fitness by catabolizing metabolic stores and suppressing reproduction and immunity. This can be especially deleterious for capital breeding carnivores, such as marine mammals, which rely on lipid stores accrued during intensive foraging to sustain prolonged periods of fasting associated with reproduction. Therefore, chronic stress may cause a decrease in fitness in these animals, leading to population declines and potentially detrimental shifts in food web dynamics as a result. However, the impacts and indicators of chronic stress in animals are currently poorly understood. To identify downstream mediators of repeated stress responses in marine mammals, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was administered once daily for four days to free-ranging juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) to stimulate endogenous corticosteroid release. I then compared blubber tissue transcriptome responses to the first and fourth ACTH administrations to determine the effects of acute and chronic endocrine stress, respectively. Gene expression profiles showed differences in responses to single and repeated ACTH administration, despite similarities in circulating cortisol profiles. We identified 61 and 12 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to the first ACTH and fourth administrations, respectively, 24 DEGs between the first and fourth pre-ACTH samples, and 12 DEGs between ACTH response samples from the first and fourth days. Annotated DEGs were associated with functions in redox and lipid homeostasis, suggesting potential negative impacts of repeated stress on marine mammals. In addition, protein expression profiles were discrete between single and repeated ACTH administrations, and identified changes in expression of extracellular proteins that were not detected at the transcriptome level. We identified 8 and 7 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in response to the first and fourth ACTH administrations, respectively, including 5 DEPs in the overall ACTH response, 1 DEP between the first and fourth pre-ACTH samples, and 10 DEPs between ACTH response samples from the first and fourth days. Differentially expressed proteins in response to repeated ACTH administrations were associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and suggest a link between glucocorticoid-induced adipogenesis and ECM remodeling in blubber. Other differentially expressed proteins were associated with increased lipid metabolism and decreased immunity, consistent with transcriptome data. Together, the use of transcriptomics and proteomics to detect responses to repeated stress provides more comprehensive insight into the marine mammal stress response and highlights the importance of using multiple discovery-driven approaches for understanding stress physiology. The gene and protein markers identified in this study may be used to identify stressed animals and discriminate between acutely and chronically stressed individuals with higher sensitivity than hormone measurements alone.
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Ferdinando, Pilar M. "Assessment of Heavy Metals in Subsistence-Harvested Alaskan Marine Mammal Body Tissues and Vibrissae." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2019. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/504.
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The coastal, indigenous communities around Alaska have subsisted on marine animals for generations, often focusing on large apex predators such as seals, sea lions, and whales. Three species of pinnipeds (harbor seal, Steller sea lion, northern fur seal) and the northern sea otter have all undergone significant population declines since the 1970s, some regions more than others. Archived vibrissae (whiskers) and body tissues from these four species were available from the Bering Sea and throughout the Gulf of Alaska from the 1990s and early 2000s. Tissues from these species are exceedingly difficult to obtain; thus, the archived tissues provided a finite and irreplaceable resource of data. Analysis of these archived tissues indicates which species, tissues, and gender bioaccumulate metals more readily. In this study twelve heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, vanadium, zinc) were analyzed in vibrissae from the four select species, and in body tissues from harbor seals and Steller sea lions. The samples were collected from three regions (southeastern, southcentral, and southwestern Alaska) during the 1990s through early 2000s. Significant differences of heavy metal concentrations in vibrissae were detected among elements (p2(110) = 454.81, p2(66) = 310.88, p
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Hennen, Daniel Reneau. "The Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Decline and the Gulf of Alaska / Bering Sea Commercial Fishery." Thesis, Montana State University, 2004. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2004/hennen/HennenD1204.pdf.
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The Steller sea lion (SSL) population in Alaska was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1991. Several procedural restrictions were placed on the commercial fisheries of the region at that time in an effort to reduce the potential for human induced mortality on sea lions. Several years have elapsed since these restrictions were put into place and questions about their efficacy abound. In an effort to determine whether or not fisheries interventions have helped the SSL population to recover, estimates of the fishing activity of the Bering Sea/ Gulf of Alaska commercial fisheries in the vicinity of individual Steller sea lion rookeries and SSL population trends at those rookeries were made using data from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Fisheries Observer Program and Steller Sea Lion Adult Count Database. Fisheries data from 1976 - 2000 were analyzed in relation to SSL population counts from 1956 - 2001, at 32 rookeries from the endangered Western Stock. Linear regression on the principal components of the fisheries data show that a positive correlation exists between several metrics of historical fishing activity and SSL population decline. The relationship is less consistent after 1991, supporting a hypothesis that fishing closures around some of the rookeries have been effective in moderating the localized effects of fishing activity on SSL.
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Larson, Shawn Elizabeth. "Genetic and endocrine related variability of sea otters, Enhydra lutris /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5360.
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Mostman, Liwanag Heather Elizabeth. "Fur versus blubber : a comparative look at marine mammal insulation and its metabolic and behavioral consequences /." Diss., Digital Dissertations Database. Restricted to UC campuses, 2008. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.
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Alvarez-Flores, Carlos M. "Uncertainty in the management of activities affecting marine mammal populations : the tuna-dolphin conflict, a case study /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5333.
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Ward, Eric John. "Incorporating model selection and decision analysis into population dynamics modeling /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5319.
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Cate, Jenipher Rose. "The effects of tourism on the behaviour of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Biological Sciences, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/8724.
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The demand by ecotourism for easily accessible wildlife encounters has increased the need for regulations to minimise negative effects of tourism on towards marine mammals. High levels of human interaction could have serious consequences for recovering populations of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). By monitoring behavioural shifts in reactions to human disturbance, the aim of this study was to determine how disturbance by tourism is affecting the behaviour of the New Zealand fur seals. Fur seal breeding colonies, haul-outs, and a pup nursery were studied on the South Island to determine the level of disturbance. Data collected in this study can be used towards improving monitoring regimes to mitigate negative effects of anthropogenic disturbance. I first used behavioural observations to assess a seal’s behaviour in response to different types of tourist activities. Next, I examined changes in New Zealand fur seal behaviour as a result of visits to colonies by tourist boats. To quantify the response of fur seals to tourist boats, experimental boat approaches were conducted using a before, during, and after instantaneous scan sampling method at two breeding colonies (one with high vessel traffic and one with none). Impact of noise was also investigated using a loud speaker to mimic local harbour tours. Lastly, behavioural observations on seal pups at a nursery were conducted comparing pup behaviour in the presence and absence of tourism along with variable intensities of tourist behaviour. My observations suggest that seal behaviour was significantly different between sites with and without tourist visits. The type of tourism had a significant effect on the behavioural state of seals, with animals more active when there were people walking in the colonies. There were also signs of habituation in some of the study colonies. Since each colony varied in the type of tourism it experienced, it is possible that it is not only the level of tourism that is important but also the type of tourism that has a significant role in eliciting short-term behavioural shifts. Observations from a tour boat revealed an increase in the percentage of seals reacting when vessels were close to the shore. This distance effect was overridden and reactions were greater, however, when tours included commentary via an external speaker. The effects of both distance and noises were significantly different between colonies with high and low levels of tourist visits. Due to the overlap of peak tourist visits with fur seal breeding season, these animals are at their most vulnerable when companies are in peak operation. Finally, as with adults, pup behaviour was also significantly affected by tourism presence. Periods of inactivity and awareness increased in the presence of tourists, which is indicative of disruption of “play” and movement towards more vigilant behaviour. Despite the significant effects of tourist visits I found in this study, there was large variation in the degree of responses in different populations of the fur seal. This variation is thought to be due, in part, by the level of desensitisation, especially at locations with high or continual tourism pressures. This study also provides evidence that fur seal pups subject to human disturbance will alter their behaviour, shifting from active (when people are not around) to inactive and more aware (with increased disturbance). The results presented suggest such visits are not without consequences and that animals can be disturbed by human interactions. Therefore, measures should be taken at all seal colonies used in tourism ventures to mitigate any negative long-term effect on the fur seal populations.
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Mizuguchi, Daisuke. "Underwater vocal repertoire and their function in three ice-breeding seals in the Arctic." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/215373.
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Araújo, Claryana Costa. "O papel dos impactos antrópicos nos processos locais e padrões globais de extinção em cetáceos." Universidade Federal de Goiás, 2015. http://repositorio.bc.ufg.br/tede/handle/tede/5677.
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Previous issue date: 2015-03-20<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES<br>The population of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis that resides in the
eastern Taiwan Strait (ETS) is geographically and genetically isolated from populations
inhabiting the coastal waters of mainland China and appears to be facing unsustainable
levels of human threats. Using VORTEX 9.99b, we modeled the viability of this
Critically Endangered population under the present conditions as well as under realistic
additional threat scenarios. We examined 6 different levels of bycatch mortality, 3
scenarios of habitat loss/degradation, and scenarios in which these threats were
experienced together. Under the baseline (present) scenario, the population exhibited a
decreasing growth rate and was predicted to be smaller than the initial population size in
more than 76% of all model runs. In all scenarios with additional threats, the proportion
of model runs in which population size was smaller than the initial size varied from 77.1
to 92.6%. Over the short term, fisheries-related mortality appears to have a more
obvious impact on the population’s trajectory than habitat loss/degradation. Even
minimal increases in mortality from the current baseline levels will increase the
probability of extinction of this population. Due to the fragile situation of ETS
humpback dolphins, mitigation actions to reduce the current threats to this population
are needed immediately.<br>Sem resumo.
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Joyce, Jenna. "Using a Geospatial Approach to Evaluate the Impacts of Shipping Activity on Marine Mammals and Fish in Arctic Canada." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/37777.
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A loss in sea ice cover, primarily attributed to climate change, is increasing the accessibility and navigability of the Arctic Ocean. This increased accessibility of the Canadian Arctic, and in particular the Northwest Passage, presents important global and national shipping and development opportunities. However, increased shipping in the region also present challenges related to the environmental sustainability, sovereignty and safety, and cultural sustainability. The Low Impact Shipping Corridors (the Corridors) is currently the foundational framework for governing ship traffic within the Canadian Arctic. However, the Corridors were largely established based on historic traffic patterns and thus they do not fully consider important areas for marine mammals and fish in the region. This research addresses this important research gap by spatially identifying important areas for marine mammals and fish in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut using both Traditional Knowledge and western science, evaluating ship tracks from 1990-2015, and geospatially identifying and evaluating areas of potential disturbance for marine mammals and fish related to vessel noise from different ship types transiting the Corridors within the study region. The results of this study indicate that all vessel types have the potential to cause behavioural disturbance to marine mammals and fish when navigating through these important wildlife areas, and that louder vessels (i.e. Tanker ships) travelling outside of these important wildlife areas have a greater potential to cause behavioural disturbance to marine mammals and fish than quieter vessels (i.e. Pleasure Crafts). The results also indicate that vessels navigating through certain regions of the Kitikmeot have a higher potential to cause behavioural disturbances in these species, including through the Gulf of Boothia, Franklin Strait, Rae Strait, Rasmussen Basin, and Bathurst Inlet.
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Boehme, Lars. "The frontal system of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current : marine mammals as ocean explorers." Thesis, St Andrews, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/687.
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Mahmud, Sakib. "Comparing the Performance of Bottom-Moored and Unmanned Surface Vehicle Towed Passive Acoustic Monitoring Platforms for Marine Mammal Detections." Thesis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10636502.
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<p> Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a more effective method of monitoring cetaceans’ distribution and abundance than conventional visual surveys. Cetaceans are highly vocally active and produce identifiable acoustic signals during echolocation and communication. Three different PAM platforms recorded data in overlapping time periods in the vicinity of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill site: bottom-moored buoys (EARS), Unmanned Surface Vehicle towed arrays (USV), and subsurface glider-mounted hydrophones. Detection rates of the EARS and USV were compared to investigate their efficiency in detecting marine mammals. Detection events were obtained using independent detectors for each platform and then compared by feeding data through a common detector. Results from both detectors and platforms were compared, and a comparable trend of detection rates was found. The purpose of this study is to aid in the development of cost-efficient PAM methodology for mitigation and environmental impact assessment purposes.</p><p>
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Watson, Rebecca Reiko. "Immunohistochemical fiber typing, ultrastructure, and morphometry of harbor seal skeletal muscle." Diss., Texas A&M University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/246.
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There is strong evidence that the skeletal muscles of pinnipeds are adapted for an aerobic, lipid-based metabolism under the hypoxic conditions associated with breath-hold diving. However, regional variations in mitochondrial density are unknown, and the few fiber typing studies performed on pinniped skeletal muscles are not consistent with an aerobic physiological profile. Thus, the objectives of this study were to (1) reexamine the fiber type distribution throughout the primary locomotory muscles of the harbor seal, and (2) to better understand the density and distribution of mitochondria in the locomotory muscles. Multiple samples from transverse sections of the epaxial muscles and a single sample of the pectoralis muscle of wild harbor seals were analyzed using immunohistochemical fiber typing and electron microscopy. Fiber typing results indicated that harbor seal epaxial muscles are composed of 47.4% type I (slow twitch, oxidative) fibers and 52.8%, IIa (fast twitch, oxidative) fibers. No fast twitch, glycolytic (type IIb) fibers were detected in the epaxial muscles or the pectoralis muscle. Mean volume density of mitochondria [Vv(mt,f)] was 5.6%, which is elevated over what would be predicted for a terrestrial mammal of similar mass. The elevated Vv(mt,f) had a high proportion of intermyofibrillar mitochondria, a trait not normally found in the muscles of terrestrial mammals with elevated Vv(mt,f). These results provide further evidence that the elevated mitochondrial volume density in pinniped muscle decreases the oxygen diffusion distance between myoglobin and mitochondria to facilitate aerobic respiration in working muscles. In addition, analyses of heterogeneity revealed that the regions of the epaxial muscles that were located deep within the muscle showed a significantly higher Vv(mt,f) relative to those regions that were superficially-located. In contrast, there was no significant heterogeneity of fiber type detected in either plane of the epaxial muscles. Thus, there was a fine-scale pattern of spatial heterogeneity of Vv(mt,f) within the epaxial muscles that does not manifest in fiber type distribution, indicating that the fibers have similar oxidative capacities.
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Robinson, Kelly J. "The role of oxytocin in the maternal behaviour of the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/7057.
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The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin plays an integral role in mammalian reproductive endocrinology and behaviour. It has been utilised to study the physiological factors driving maternal behaviour in both laboratory and domestic mammals, but few studies have successfully detected oxytocin in wild individuals, or linked detected concentrations to the behaviours they exhibit. Phocid seals present an excellent system in which to study oxytocin's effects on maternal behaviour in the wild. The energetic constraints placed on a phocid mother during the dependant period should cause strong selection pressure for behaviour that maximises reproductive success with the least cost to the mother. However in many phocid species, substantial variations in maternal behaviour persist. In order to investigate whether oxytocin plays a role in driving this variation, behavioural and hormonal datasets were collected from grey seal mothers and pups on two breeding colonies in Scotland. A protocol for the detection of plasma oxytocin in phocid seals was successfully developed, along with the methodology to manipulate peripheral oxytocin concentrations to directly test the hormone's impact on behaviour. Both correlatory studies on natural oxytocin concentrations and behaviour in wild mother-pup pairs and manipulation experiments on newly weaned pups show that plasma oxytocin concentrations influence behaviours that makes mother – pup separation less likely. These include increasing the time spent in close proximity to each other, increasing the number of checks performed on the pup and reducing the aggressive behaviour directed towards the other individual. Additionally, plasma oxytocin could be used as an indicator of weak maternal bonds between mother and pup, which resulted in behaviours such as abandonment and fostering. This study highlights the potential of oxytocin for studying variations in behaviours critical to an individual's reproductive success and provides the methodological framework for studies on other wild species to be conducted in the future.
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Fang, Ying. "Historical population genetics of Callorhinus ursinus (Northern fur seals) from the Aleutian Islands." View electronic thesis (PDF), 2009. http://dl.uncw.edu/etd/2009-2/fangy/yingfang.pdf.
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Goldman, Ryan A. "Small Mammal Survey of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, Dania Beach, Florida." NSUWorks, 2013. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/166.
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Urban development and human encroachment on the natural habitats along the coastline of Florida combined with invasive exotic pressures have resulted in the fragmentation and degradation of habitat quality within Broward County. Native habitats have been significantly altered and fragmented to a fraction their previous size. With loss of habitat area and quality, isolation of breeding populations and anthropogenic pressures, it is important to determine species composition and habitat utilization in order to conserve the remaining biological diversity. It was the intent of this study to determine the small mammal species’ population structure and habitat utilization by season in the four sampled habitats. Previously undocumented species and/or extralimital populations were predicted prior to sampling.
John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach, Florida is an understudied location for small mammals. This study surveyed four terrestrial habitats for small mammal species using live trapping and mark/recapture techniques. Data were collected monthly over the span of thirteen months to determine habitat use from maritime hammock, mangrove swamp, coastal dune and ruderal habitat types to determine species composition and mass of individual captures and recaptures.
Trapping (3749 trap nights) produced twenty-four captures (including recaptures) in two of the four habitat types: maritime hammock and coastal strand. No animals were captured in the mangrove swamp or ruderal habitats, both of which were dominated by invasive Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) monocultures.
Post study, a large habitat restoration project restored the habitats impacted by invasive exotic flora. This survey serves as a baseline for small mammals in the park, documenting the pre-restoration habitat use and species composition. Future study to determine changes in species composition post-restoration is recommended.
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Friedman, Brielle. "Mass Cetacean Strandings in the United States- Comparison of Northeast and Southeast Strandings, 1997-2011." NSUWorks, 2013. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/169.
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Marine mammal mass strandings have been documented for centuries, even going as far back as Aristotle. For just as long, the causes of these mass strandings have been questioned. With every species of cetacean known to have stranded, it is important to find trends to understand and prevent these strandings from occurring. With a heightened awareness of this issue, leading to the creation of marine mammal stranding networks throughout the United States in the 1990s, a more comprehensive approach to data collection has helped with the study. Issues such as seasonality, weather, topography, and disease have all been observed as a potential cause of these events. This study attempted to look at the Atlantic Coast of the United States, and its documented mass strandings from 1997-2011. Stranding data taken from the Northeast and Southeast US Marine Mammal stranding network database provided a basis for the study of these mass strandings. Many of the possible causes of these strandings, including seasonality, location, and species were studied. There was some correlation found between seasons and stranding, meaning there are certain times of the year when a cetacean pod may be more likely to strand.
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Bigelow, Melinda Michelle. "Levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Archived Subcutaneous Blubber Samples in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris)." NSUWorks, 2006. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/125.
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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been linked to cancer in humans. Subsequently, 16 of them were listed as priority pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Clean Water Act. The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is an herbivorous endangered species that could have the potential to accumulate these compounds. The waters they inhabit have been shown to have PAH concentrations in the sediment from 0.035 μg/g w.w. (wet weight) to 0.686 μg/g w.w. PAH bioaccumulate due to their lipophilic nature and the manatee has a thick blubber layer that may allow for the accumulation of these compounds. Forty-eight archived subcutaneous manatee blubber samples were collected from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Mammal Pathobiology lab and analyzed for 16 known priority pollutant PAH. Samples were then compared to a standard using HPLC analysis. Concentrations were found to range from 0.001 μg/g w.w. to 84.84 μg/g w.w. All 16 priority pollutant PAH were found, however not all 16 were found in any one animal. Forty-six of forty-eight manatee samples analyzed were found to have at least one form of PAH. The number of occurrences of each PAH out of 48 samples ranged from 1-19. The highest average PAH concentration was acenaphthylene with 12.60 μg/g w.w. There was no significant difference (p-value >0.10) between total, carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic PAH, with levels of 2.01 μg/g w.w., 2.18 μg/g w.w. and 1.84 μg/g w.w. respectively. No significant difference (p-value >0.10) was found between year or location of carcass recovery as well as sex of manatee. Averages ranged between 0.02 μg/g w.w. and 18.92 μg/g w.w. for year and 0.15 μg/g w.w. and 5.68 μg/g w.w. for location. Male average levels were 5.21 μg/g w.w., while female averages and perinatal averages were 1.51 μg/g w.w. and 1.147 μg/g w.w. respectively.
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Kim, Sunghee. "Olfactory discrimination ability of South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) for enantiomers." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-78364.
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The sense of smell in marine mammals is traditionally thought to be poor. However, increasing evidence suggests that pinnipeds may use their sense of smell in a variety of behavioral contexts including communication, foraging, food selection, and reproduction. Using a food-rewarded two-choice instrumental conditioning paradigm, I assessed the ability of South African fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus, to discriminate between 12 enantiomeric odor pairs, that is, between odorants that are identical in structure except for chirality. The fur seals significantly discriminated between eight out of the twelve odor pairs (according to p < 0.05, with carvone, dihydrocarvone, dihydrocarveol, limonene oxide, menthol, beta-citronellol, fenchone, and alpha-pinene), and failed with only four odor pairs (isopulegol, rose oxide, limonene, and camphor). No significant differences in performance were found between the animals (p > 0.05). Cross-species comparisons between the olfactory performance of the fur seals and that of other species previously tested on the same set of odor pairs lend further support to the notion that the relative size of the olfactory bulbs is not a reliable predictor of olfactory discrimination abilities. The results of the present study suggest that sense of smell may play an important and hitherto underestimated role in regulating the behavior of fur seals.
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Guilment, Thomas. "Classification de vocalises de mammifères marins en environnement sismique." Thesis, Ecole nationale supérieure Mines-Télécom Atlantique Bretagne Pays de la Loire, 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018IMTA0080/document.
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En partenariat avec l’entreprise Sercel, la thèse concerne la mise en œuvre d’algorithmes de reconnaissance des sons émis par les mysticètes (baleines à fanons). Cessons peuvent être étudiés grâce aux systèmes de surveillance par acoustique passive. L’entreprise Sercel, par ses activités sismiques liées à la prospection pétrolière, a son propre logiciel pour détecter et localiser les sources d’énergie sonores sous-marines. Le travail de la thèse consiste dès lors à ajouter un module de reconnaissance pour identifier si l'énergie détectée et localisée correspond bien à un éventuel mysticète. Les campagnes de tirs sismiques étant onéreuses, la méthode utilisée doit pouvoir réduire la probabilité de fausse alarme, la reconnaissance pouvant infirmer la détection. La méthode proposée est basée sur l’apprentissage de dictionnaire. Elle est dynamique, modulaire, ne dépend que de peu de paramètres et est robuste aux fausses alarmes. Une expérimentation sur cinq types de vocalises est présentée. Nous obtenons un rappel moyen de 92.1 % tout en rejetant 97.3 % des bruits (persistants et transitoires). De plus, un coefficient de confiance est associé à chaque reconnaissance et permet de réaliser de l’apprentissage incrémental semi-supervisé. Enfin, nous proposons une méthode capable de gérer la détection et la reconnaissance conjointement. Ce « détecteur multiclasses » respecte au mieux les contraintes de gestion des fausses alarmes et permet d’identifier plusieurs types de vocalises au même instant. Cette méthode est bien adaptée au contexte industriel pour lequel elle est dédiée. Elle ouvre également des perspectives très prometteuses dans le contexte bioacoustique<br>In partnership with Sercel, the thesis concerns the implementation of algorithms for recognizing the sounds emitted by mysticetes (baleen whales). These sounds can be studiedusing passive acoustic monitoring systems. Sercel, through its seismic activities related to oïl exploration, has its own software to detect and locate underwater sound energy sources. The thesis work therefore consists in adding a recognition module to identify if the detected andlocalized energy corresponds to a possible mysticete. Since seismic shooting campaigns areexpensive, the method used must be able to reduce the probability of false alarms, as recognitioncan invalidate detection. The proposed method is based on dictionary learning. It is dynamic, modular, depends on few parameters and is robust to false alarms. An experiment on five types of vocalizations is presented. We obtain an average recall of 92.1% while rejecting 97.3% of the noises (persistent and transient). In addition, a confidence coefficient is associated with each recognition and allows semi-supervised incremental learning to be achieved. Finally, we propose a method capable of managing detection and recognition together. This "multiclassdetector" best respects the constraints of false alarm management and allows several types of vocalizations to be identified at the same time. This method is well adapted to the industrial context for which it is dedicated. It also opens up very promising prospects in the bioacoustic context
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Wierucka, Kaja. "Multimodal mother-offspring recognition in the Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea." Thesis, Université Paris-Saclay (ComUE), 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018SACLS432.
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La reconnaissance joue un rôle important dans les systèmes de communication animale et plusieurs modalités sensorielles sont impliquées à cette fin. Bien que la reconnaissance mère-jeune ait été largement étudiée, il y a un manque d'information sur la reconnaissance multimodale et l'importance relative des différentes modalités dans ce processus. Dans cette thèse, j'ai exploré la communication multimodale chez un mammifère colonial - le lion de mer Australien (Neophoca cinerea). La reconnaissance mère-jeune est connue pour être multimodale chez cette espèce, mais les processus sous-jacents de la reconnaissance olfactive et visuelle, ainsi que les interactions entre les indices acoustiques, visuels et olfactifs, et leurs contributions relatives restent inconnues. Des analyses chimiques ont permis de déterminer si les profils chimiques diffèrent selon le sexe et l'âge, les colonies et les régions corporelles des animaux. La présence de similarités chimiques entre la mère et son petit suggèrent que l'appariement des phénotypes pourrait être utilisé pour la reconnaissance olfactive. J'ai examiné le rôle des indices visuels lors de la reconnaissance mère-jeune et j'ai constaté que les indices visuels spécifiques à l'âge sont utilisés par les femelles pour affiner la recherche de leur petit dans la colonie. Les jeunes ont également la capacité de distinguer divers indices visuels, qui peuvent être utilisés pour identifier les différentes classes de congénères. Enfin, j’ai pu aussi déterminer comment les indices acoustiques, olfactifs et visuels sont utilisés de manière synergique dans le processus d’identification individuel, et les résultats sont interprété dans une perspective coûts-avantages pour démêler les pressions évolutives sur chaque composante de ce système de communication. Si les différents indices sensoriels ont la capacité de transmettre des informations en isolation, leur rôle peut être différent lorsque d'autres indices sensoriels sont présents. Les résultats de cette recherche fournissent des résultats sans précédent, contribuant à une meilleure compréhension de la reconnaissance mère-jeune chez les mammifères, ainsi que des règles générales de communication chez les vertébrés<br>Recognition plays an important role in animal communication systems and individuals often employ different sensory modalities to enact this activity. Although recognition has been widely investigated, especially for mother-offspring interactions, there is a dearth of information about multimodal recognition and the relative importance and interactions of various sensory cues. In this thesis, I explored multimodal communication in a colonial mammal – the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea). Communication during mother-pup reunions is known to be multimodal in this species, yet the underlying processes of olfactory and visual recognition, as well as the interactions between acoustic, visual and olfactory cues remain unclear. Through chemical analyses, I determined whether chemical profiles differ among sex and age classes, colonies, and body regions of animals. Chemical similarities between mothers and pups indicate that phenotype matching may be used by Australian sea lions for olfactory recognition. I examined the role of visual cues in mother-pup recognition and found that age-specific visual cues assist mothers to refine their search for their offspring in the colony. Pups are capable of distinguishing various visual cues that can be used in the assessment of conspecifics. Having provided baseline information about the role of sensory cues in isolation, I determined how acoustic, olfactory, and visual cues are used in a synergistic way to ensure accurate mutual recognition and then interpreted the results using a cost-benefit perspective to disentangle the evolutionary pressures on each component of this communication system. I showed that although cues have the ability to convey given information in isolation, their role may be different when other sensory cues are present. Furthermore, there is a mutual dependency in the communication system, where the limitations imposed on one participant of the dyad affect cue use by the other. These findings contribute to a better understanding of mammal mother-offspring recognition and communication mechanisms in vertebrates
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Einarsson, Níels. "Culture, Conflict and Crises in the Icelandic Fisheries : An Anthropological Study of People, Policy and Marine Resources in the North Atlantic Arctic." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för kulturantropologi och etnologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-146520.
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This thesis is offered as a contribution to studies of social and cultural change in the Icelandic fisheries and fishing communities. Such changes may be seen as a result of the interplay of internal dynamics with both national and global forces and processes, not least with regard to the impacts of fisheries governance. These changes occur also in an international context of new environmental ideologies and perceptions of marine mammals, with consequences for social dynamics of local resource-use. Here it is argued that the conflicts over the harvesting or conservation of cetaceans can productively be understood from a cultural perspective. The thesis discusses the elevation of whales as symbols of particular value, and the metaphorical and cognitive aspects of, in particular, anthropomorphism, the projection of human motives and values onto animal behaviour, as a significant and effective part of conservation rhetoric and ideology. Specifically, the thesis deals with issues concerning whaling and whale watching along with issues and debates concerning these alternative forms of exploiting marine mammals. It also discusses central questions regarding fisheries governance and rights to fishing with reference to social and economic viability in Icelandic fishing communities. The unifying themes of this thesis are: how marine-mammal issues and controversies and social impacts of fisheries governance form part of globalization processes; how environmental and economic paradigms influence change, particularly in terms of marine-mammal conservation campaigns and market liberalist resource policy; and how these external ideological forces call for responses at local and national levels. The adaptive actions of the human agents and communities involved are described as creative, cumulative and complex. The thesis also highlights the central transformative role of the new regime of private property rights introduced into Icelandic fisheries governance in the 1980s.
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Wade, Leslie Schwierzke. "Assessment of Fertility Potential in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): An ELISA-based Biomarker Analysis." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3399.
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As apex predators in coastal systems, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are susceptible to persistent organic pollutant (POP) accumulation and retention over time, which has prompted continued interest in understanding the extent to which contaminant body burdens or other stressors are sufficient to cause adverse sublethal effects on energetic fitness, immune function, or reproduction. Increasing our knowledge of reproductive endocrinology in bottlenose dolphins may provide insight into changes in reproductive rates, thereby expanding the capacity to assess conservation status. This study used the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) technique to examine peptide fertility hormones [inhibin A, inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)] measured in serum of free-ranging dolphins (n = 129) of varying age, gender, and maturity status from three locations (Sarasota Bay, FL, Indian River Lagoon, FL, and southern Georgia). The primary research objectives were to establish hormone baselines, investigate AMH and inhibin use as reproductive biomarkers, and examine the potential use of these hormones as biomarkers of toxicant or other stressor effects on reproduction. AMH secretion differed significantly with gender (p < 0.001), where levels were approximately 1,000-fold higher in males than females (1,122 ± 427 ng mL-1 and 1.15 ± 1.25 ng mL-1, mean ± SD). Male AMH levels were related to maturity status, and linear regression analysis revealed a significant, negative relationship between male AMH and age, body length, body weight, and maximum girth in all populations. Of the parameters assessed, age was the best indicator of AMH levels in males. AMH concentrations in females did not vary significantly over time or with maturity status, but exhibited a decrease in some older individuals, potentially indicating an AMH decline in long-lived female dolphins. Inhibins did not differ significantly between age classes in males, but appeared to be an estrous cycle indicator in females, where inhibin peaks were likely related to follicular and luteal phases. These data provide new information on circulating serum AMH and inhibin levels in bottlenose dolphins, which appear to reflect a degree of gonadal function and show promise as reproductive biomarkers. Our findings suggest the possibility of toxicant effects on AMH and inhibin production, but not conclusively. Further investigation of mechanism(s) of action for contaminant-related reproductive toxicity will elucidate the diagnostic value of these hormones to assess the effects of POPs on fertility potential in bottlenose dolphins.
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Olsen, Morten Tange. "Molecular ecology of marine mammals." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för genetik, mikrobiologi och toxikologi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-71166.
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Marine mammals comprise a paraphyletic group of species whose current abundance and distribution has been greatly shaped by past environmental changes and anthropogenic impacts. This thesis describes molecular ecological approaches to answer questions regarding habitat requirements, genetic differentiation, and life-history trade-offs in three species of marine mammals. The annual sea-ice dynamics of the Arctic may have large effects on the abundance and distribution of Arctic species such as the pagophilic ringed seal (Pusa hispida). Paper I describes and applies a simple molecular method for isolating and characterizing a relatively large set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ringed seal. These SNPs have been genotyped in a yet-to-be-analysed dataset which will form the basis in an assessment of the micro-evolutionary effects of annual sea-ice dynamics on ringed seal. Current management efforts directed towards the North Atlantic fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) are hampered by an unclear understanding of population structure. Paper II investigates the DNA basis for the high levels of genetic differentiation that have been reported in allozyme studies of the North Atlantic fin whale. We find that additional processes (at the organismal level) may have contributed to shaping the phenotype of the underlying allozyme variation. Telomeres may potentially serve as markers for determining the chronological and biological age of animals where other means of inference is difficult. Paper III describes the application and evaluation of four qPCR assays for telomere length estimation in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), finding that reliable telomere length estimates require extensive quality control. Paper IV applies the best performing qPCR assay to test whether telomeres may provide a method for genetic determination of chronological age in whales and concludes that the biological and experimental variation in telomere length estimates is too large to determine age with sufficient resolution. Finally, because telomere length and rate of telomere loss also may be affected by other cellular and organismal processes, such as resource allocation among self-maintenance mechanisms, growth and reproduction, Paper V describes the correlations between individual telomere length and rate of telomere loss, and sex, maturity status and female reproductive output. We found that the costs of reproduction in terms of telomere loss are higher in mature humpback whales than in juveniles; that reproductive costs are higher in males than females; and that differences among females tend to correlate with reproductive output.<br>At the time of doctoral defence the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted; Paper 3:Submitted; Paper 4: Manuscript; Paper 5:Manuscript
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Northridge, Simon Patrick. "Interactions between fisheries and marine mammals." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/46474.
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Flewelling, Leanne J. "Vectors of brevetoxins to marine mammals." [Tampa, Fla] : University of South Florida, 2008. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0002675.
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Thompson, Kirsten Freja. "Secrets of the deep : the molecular genetics of cryptic beaked whales." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/27760.
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Beaked whales are comparatively unknown social mammals due to their deep-ocean distribution and elusive habits. The deep-ocean is the largest biome on Earth and the final frontier for human expansion. Since their first discovery, beaked whales have remained largely hidden from science. In this era of rapid technological advancement, genetic and genomic methods are key tools for population biologists and are particularly useful in describing rarely seen species. Using DNA-barcoding and nuclear markers, the publications in this thesis provide data on the distribution and external appearance of two species of beaked whale: the spade-toothed (Mesoplodon traversii) and Derinayagala’s whale (Mesoplodon hotaula). These whales were previously known from only a handful of tissue and bone specimens. Long-term efforts have facilitated the collection of samples of Gray’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi) and we have used shot-gun sequencing to characterise the mitochondrial genome and isolate species-specific nuclear microsatellite loci. Using genetic species and sex identification, together with museum specimens and multivariate analyses, we provide clear evidence of sexual dimorphism in cranial dimensions and geographic variation in external morphology. No genetic differentiation was evident in Gray’s beaked whales across a large study area (~ 6,000 km). With a large female effective population size (Ne) and genetic homogeneity, we hypothesise that gene flow is facilitated by large-scale oceanographic features, such as the sub-tropical convergence. Genetic kinship analyses within Gray’s beaked whale groups suggest that the whales that strand together are not related. Both sexes disperse from their parents and these groups are not formed through the retention of kin. These results are consistent with a ‘fission-fusion’ social system that has been observed in some oceanic dolphin species. Taken together, these data provide the first insights into the population dynamics, dispersal and social organisation in Gray’s beaked whales. These publications highlight the value of using genetics alongside other techniques to describe inter- and intraspecific diversity. For beaked whales, the dead can tell us much about the living.
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Carter, Caroline Jane. "Tidal energy, underwater noise & marine mammals." Thesis, University of the Highlands and Islands, 2008. https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/tidal-energy-underwater-noise-and-marine-mammals(9963d662-76e1-4e70-a3ac-e18a96b23101).html.
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Sourcing energy from renewable sources is currently a key theme in modern society. Consequently, the pace of development of these emerging technologies is likely to increase in the near future, particularly in marine renewables. However, the environmental and ecological impact of many of these new developments in the marine environment is largely unknown. My thesis has focused on one unknown area of interaction; the potential effect of tidal-stream devices on marine mammals. Collision risk is often cited as a key concern. Therefore, my premise was - for marine mammals to avoid a collision with a marine renewable device (assuming they are on a collision course) they must first detect the device. It is well understood that marine mammals use sound and hearing as their primary sense for communication, foraging, navigation and predator avoidance, so it is highly likely that the primary cue for device detection will be acoustic. However, it is not known how operational marine renewable devices might modify the acoustic landscape in these areas, or whether they will be audible to marine mammals in time to alert them to the presence of devices. It has been suggested that the high level of natural and anthropogenic background noise in tidal-stream areas may mask (drown out) the signal of the tidal devices. The acoustic characteristics of underwater noise in shallow coastal waters are currently not well known. My thesis adds data to this knowledge gap by measuring and mapping underwater noise levels in tidal-stream areas.
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Lucke, Klaus [Verfasser]. "Auditory studies on marine mammals / Klaus Lucke." Kiel : Universitätsbibliothek Kiel, 2009. http://d-nb.info/1019811455/34.
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Ferreira, Anne Elise Landine. "Diferenças estratégicas de movimentação associadas à estrutura social em baleias jubarte, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781), através de dados de telemetria satelital." Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), 2017. https://repositorio.ufjf.br/jspui/handle/ufjf/5416.
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Previous issue date: 2017-03-20<br>A movimentação dos organismos pode ser considerada uma resposta comportamental mensurável, resultante da combinação de fatores ambientais, estados internos e restrições fisiológicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e caracterizar os diferentes padrões de movimentação realizados pelas baleias jubarte (Megaptera novaeangliae), em relação ao gênero e o papel social. Dados de localização por telemetria satelital foram filtrados e modelados pelo Modelo de Estado e Espaço (State-Space Model). A rota obtida foi divida em área de alimentação e rota migratória, considerando como limite a isóbata de 500m. A partir disso, foram calculados os ângulos de virada e as frequências com que ocorrem para o lado direito e esquerdo, utilizando o programa ArcGIS 9.3 e o programa livre R. As médias das angulações variaram significativamente, tanto para o lado esquerdo, quanto para o lado direito na análise comparativa das duas áreas, considerando conjunto total dos grupos. Fêmeas com filhote apresentaram valores de significância maior para ambos os lados, enquanto machos exibiram angulações mais proeminentes para o lado direito. A frequência média relativa de virada para a direita e para a esquerda, mostraram-se significativamente diferentes quando comparadas entre machos, fêmeas e fêmeas com filhote, na área de reprodução, bem como o papel social. Animais categorizados como mães, realizaram mais viradas para ambas as direções, em relação à acompanhantes e animais adultos sem presença de filhote. Concluímos que os animais, quando na área de alimentação, realizam movimentos mais irregulares e que fêmeas apresentam mais variação na movimentação quando associadas a filhotes. Novas ferramentas devem ser associadas à técnica de telemetria para obtenção de dados de fina escala, a fim de avaliar de forma mais apurada a movimentação dos animais.<br>Organisms movements may be considered a measurable behavioral response which outcomes from a combination of environmental factors, internal states and physiological restrictions. In this work, our goal was to evaluate and characterize the different patterns of movements of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781), regarding gender and social role. Location data obtained with satellite telemetry were filtered and patterned by State - Space Model. The obtained route was divided in feeding area and migration route going from the isobath of 500 m. In this context, the turning angles and their frequencies to the right and to the left were calculated using ArcGIS 9.3 and the open source software R. The average angulations varied significantly, both to the left and right sides, in the comparative analysis of the areas regarding the whole group. Females with calf showed more significant differences to both directions, while males presented more prominent angles to the right side. The average frequencies for the moves facing right and left turned out to be significantly different when correlated between males, females and females with calf, in the reproduction areas, as well as the social role. Animals categorized as mothers presented more turns to both directions, when compared to companions and adult animals without calves. We have concluded that when the animals are in feeding area, they present more irregular movements and that females with calf are the ones with the highest movement variation. New tools should be associated with the satellite telemetry in order to obtain fine scale data providing a more accurate form to evaluate the animal movement.
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Ball, Hope C. "Metabolic Activity in a Non-Model System: Leptin and Lipolysis in Bowhead (Balaena Mysticetus) and Beluga (Delphinapterus Leucas) Whale." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1373972573.
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Geib, Claudia M. (Claudia Marjorie). "Swimming sentinels : climate clues from stranded marine mammals." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106748.
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Thesis: S.M. in Science Writing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Humanities, Graduate Program in Science Writing, 2016.<br>Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.<br>From skinny sea lions on beaches in California, to hundreds of enormous dead whales in the fjords of Chile, scientists have been recently puzzled by a spate of dead and dying marine mammals. These events are so complicated- influenced by disease, biotoxins, ecosystem changes, and human interaction-that their cause can appear impossible to untangle. Yet a growing body of evidence strongly suggests that climate change has a hand in them all. This thesis examines marine mammal stranding events of the past and present to show how climate change will, and already has, impacted marine mammals, and how these events could serve as proxies for broader ecosystem changes in the years to come. By paying attention to whales and dolphins, seals and sea otters, we may be able to learn something about our planet, and how its changes will impact its most abundant mammal: us.<br>by Claudia M. Geib.<br>S.M. in Science Writing