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The Natural History Museum, London (NHM) houses one of the largest archival collections of NBW skeletal specimens in the world. The goal of this research project was to collect samples from the museum’s NBW specimens for bulk stable isotope (δ13C or δ15N) analysis. Similar to most museum cetacean collections, NBW specimens at the NHM were largely gathered from beach cast or stranded animals, and given NBW size, the collection reflects a geographic emphasis on animals found locally, across the species’ eastern North Atlantic range. This is the first open access stable isotope reference data set published for NBW of the northeastern Atlantic, with considerable temporal scope (1845–2006; but see also MacLeod 2005). This reference dataset is contributing to ongoing geographic and tissue specific comparisons with other stable isotope datasets for NBW and other species of cetaceans. Stable isotope data can also be used to support interpretation of the provenance and life history of NBW specimens in the NHM’s significant cetacean collection. NHM register numbers of specimens sampled are recorded in the attached data.

Manuscript drafts and data sources for identifying beaked whale important habitat

A detailed account of a variety of species foraging on Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum, 1792)) fisheries discards associated with a commercial fishing vessel in central Baffin Bay, Nunavut, Canada is presented. Species observed included three marine mammals: northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus (Forster, 1770)), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758), and a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)), and two marine bird species: northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis (Linnaeus, 1761)) and glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus Gunnerus, 1767). Interspecies and intraspecies interactions were observed while species were in close proximity to the stern and starboard of a commercial fishing vessel confirming anecdotal reports from boat captains. Improved understanding of marine mammal and bird interactions with fisheries in the Arctic is required to accurately assess financial and ecological (i.e., bycatch) losses, potential for entanglement and to predict the likely impact on energy flow and transport of these resource subsidies throughout the Arctic marine ecosystem.

Despite foraging being critical for survival, characterising foraging behaviour in marine animals is inherently challenging. Found in deep offshore habitats, beaked whales are the least known cetacean family, whose foraging behaviour (besides echolocation) remains poorly understood. This thesis provides insights into the foraging behaviour of northern bottlenose whales, a data-deficient species of beaked whale with an uncertain conservation status. Fine-scale sound- and movement-recording tags were deployed on the little-known north-eastern Atlantic population. Using echolocation buzzes as a proxy for prey-capture attempts, Chapter Two characterises prey-capture kinematics. Buzz-associated movements consisted of dynamic translational and rotational motions, and complex rolling manoeuvres. Building on this knowledge, Chapter Three develops a method of detecting prey-capture attempts using accelerometer data. Concordance with rolling behaviour demonstrated that rapid changes in acceleration (jerk) successfully predicted foraging buzzes, paving the way for detecting foraging behaviour over longer time-scales. The starvation-predation trade-off and condition-dependent risk-taking concepts are cornerstones of foraging theory, but little explored in marine top predators. Chapter Four shows that the whales exchanged foraging effort for predator-avoidance behaviour; however, contrary to theoretical predictions, individuals in poorer body condition foraged less and had higher levels of predator-avoidance behaviour, which suggests that body condition was a consequence rather than driver of behaviour for the animals sampled in this study. Chapter Five reveals that northern bottlenose whales at two sites (the Gully and Jan Mayen in the western and eastern North Atlantic respectively) varied substantially in foraging depths and time budgets, possibly reflecting differences in prey availability and interspecific competition. Although this thesis provides an understanding of the foraging behaviour and ecology of a little-known whale species, the methods developed (e.g. for determining prey-capture kinematics) and the knowledge revealed (e.g. how body condition relates to behavioural trade-offs) are applicable and relevant to both marine and terrestrial animals. "This work was supported by the University of St Andrews (School of Biology). This work was supported by the SERDP body condition project RC-2337 (Behavioral ecology of cetaceans: the relationship of body condition with behavior and reproductive status)." -- Funding acknowledgements

Entanglements in Fishing Gear and Strandings Reported to the Whale Release and Strandings Group in Newfoundland and Labrador and a Summary of the Whale Release and Strandings Program During 2019. A Report to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Incidental Entrapments and Entanglements of Cetaceans and Leatherback Sea Turtles, Strandings, Ice Entrapments Reported to the Whale Release and Strandings Group in Newfoundland and Labrador and a Summary of the Whale Release and Strandings Program During 2015. A Report to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Region.&nbsp

Controlled exposure experiments using 1 to2 kHz sonar signals were conducted with 11 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), one minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and one northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) during three field trials from 2011 to 2013. Ship approaches without sonar transmis-sions, playbacks of killer whale vocalizations, and broadband noise were conducted as controls. Behavioural parameters such as horizontal movement, diving, social interactions, and vocalizations were recorded by animal-attached tags and by visual and acoustic tracking. Based on these data, two expert panels independently scored the severity of behavioural changes that were judged likely to be responses to the experimental stimuli, using a severity scale ranging from no effect (0) to high potential to affect vital rates (9) if exposed repeatedly. After scoring, consensus was reached with a third-party moderator. In humpback whales, killer whale playbacks induced more severe responses than sonar exposure, and both sonar exposures and killer whale playbacks induced more responses and responses of higher severity than the no-sonar ship approaches and broadband noise playbacks. The most common response during sonar exposures in all three species was avoidance of the sound source. The most severe responses to sonar (severity 8) were progressive high-speed avoidance by the minke whale and long-term area avoidance by the bottlenose whale. Other severe responses included prolonged avoidance and cessation of feeding (severity 7). The minke whale and bottlenose whale started avoiding the source at a received sound pressure level (SPL) of 146 and 130 dB re 1 μPa, respectively. Humpback whales generally had less severe responses that were triggered at higher received levels. The probability of severity scores with the potential to affect vital rates increased with increasing sound exposure level (SEL). The single experiments with minke and bottlenose whales suggest they have greater susceptibility to sonar disturbance than humpback whales, but additional studies are needed to confirm this result.

Controlled exposure experiments using 1 to2 kHz sonar signals were conducted with 11 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), one minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and one northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) during three field trials from 2011 to 2013. Ship approaches without sonar transmis-sions, playbacks of killer whale vocalizations, and broadband noise were conducted as controls. Behavioural parameters such as horizontal movement, diving, social interactions, and vocalizations were recorded by animal-attached tags and by visual and acoustic tracking. Based on these data, two expert panels independently scored the severity of behavioural changes that were judged likely to be responses to the experimental stimuli, using a severity scale ranging from no effect (0) to high potential to affect vital rates (9) if exposed repeatedly. After scoring, consensus was reached with a third-party moderator. In humpback whales, killer whale playbacks induced more severe responses than sonar exposure, and both sonar exposures and killer whale playbacks induced more responses and responses of higher severity than the no-sonar ship approaches and broadband noise playbacks. The most common response during sonar exposures in all three species was avoidance of the sound source. The most severe responses to sonar (severity 8) were progressive high-speed avoidance by the minke whale and long-term area avoidance by the bottlenose whale. Other severe responses included prolonged avoidance and cessation of feeding (severity 7). The minke whale and bottlenose whale started avoiding the source at a received sound pressure level (SPL) of 146 and 130 dB re 1 μPa, respectively. Humpback whales generally had less severe responses that were triggered at higher received levels. The probability of severity scores with the potential to affect vital rates increased with increasing sound exposure level (SEL). The single experiments with minke and bottlenose whales suggest they have greater susceptibility to sonar disturbance than humpback whales, but additional studies are needed to confirm this result.

Incidental Entrapments in Fishing Gear Reported in 2007 in Newfoundland and Labrador and a Summary of the Whale Release and Strandings Program. A Report to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Region.&nbsp

Marine Animal Entrapments in Fishing Gear in Newfoundland and Labrador and a Summary of the Whale Release and Strandings Program During 2004. A Report to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.