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1. Predicting suitable habitats for foraging and migration in Eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue whales from satellite tracking data

Author

Luciana C. Ferreira, Curt Jenner, Micheline Jenner, Vinay Udyawer, Ben Radford, Andrew Davenport, Luciana Moller, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Mike Double, and Michele Thums

Subjects
Satellite tracking, Movement, Habitat suitability, Species distribution modelling, Threatened species, Machine learning, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

Abstract Background Accurate predictions of animal occurrence in time and space are crucial for informing and implementing science-based management strategies for threatened species. Methods We compiled known, available satellite tracking data for pygmy blue whales in the Eastern Indian Ocean (n = 38), applied movement models to define low (foraging and reproduction) and high (migratory) move persistence underlying location estimates and matched these with environmental data. We then used machine learning models to identify the relationship between whale occurrence and environment, and predict foraging and migration habitat suitability in Australia and Southeast Asia. Results Our model predictions were validated by producing spatially varying accuracy metrics. We identified the shelf off the Bonney Coast, Great Australian Bight, and southern Western Australia as well as the slope off the Western Australian coast as suitable habitat for migration, with predicted foraging/reproduction suitable habitat in Southeast Asia region occurring on slope and in deep ocean waters. Suitable foraging habitat occurred primarily on slope and shelf break throughout most of Australia, with use of the continental shelf also occurring, predominanly in South West and Southern Australia. Depth of the water column (bathymetry) was consistently a top predictor of suitable habitat for most regions, however, dynamic environmental variables (sea surface temperature, surface height anomaly) influenced the probability of whale occurrence. Conclusions Our results indicate suitable habitat is related to dynamic, localised oceanic processes that may occur at fine temporal scales or seasonally. An increase in the sample size of tagged whales is required to move towards developing more dynamic distribution models at seasonal and monthly temporal scales. Our validation metrics also indicated areas where further data collection is needed to improve model accuracy. This is of particular importance for pygmy blue whale management, since threats (e.g., shipping, underwater noise and artificial structures) from the offshore energy and shipping industries will persist or may increase with the onset of an offshore renewable energy sector in Australia.

Published
2024
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2. Exposure of marine megafauna to cumulative anthropogenic threats in north-west Australia

Author

Luciana C. Ferreira, Michele Thums, Scott Whiting, Mark Meekan, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Catherine R. M. Attard, Kerstin Bilgmann, Andrew Davenport, Mike Double, Fabio Falchi, Michael Guinea, Sharyn M. Hickey, Curt Jenner, Micheline Jenner, Graham Loewenthal, Glenn McFarlane, Luciana M. Möller, Brad Norman, Lauren Peel, Kellie Pendoley, Ben Radford, Samantha Reynolds, Jason Rossendell, Anton Tucker, David Waayers, Paul Whittock, Phillipa Wilson, and Sabrina Fossette

Subjects
marine turtle, whale, whale shark, oil and gas, shipping, fishing, Evolution, QH359-425, Ecology, QH540-549.5
Abstract

As the use of coastal and offshore environments expands, there is a need to better understand the exposure of marine megafauna to anthropogenic activities that potentially threaten their populations. Individual satellite telemetry studies are often hampered by small sample sizes, providing limited information on spatiotemporal distributions of migratory animals and their relationships to anthropogenic threats. We addressed this issue by synthesising satellite tracking data from 484 individuals of three taxonomic groups and six species; three marine turtle, two whale and one shark. The spatial overlap between taxa distributions and multiple anthropogenic activities was assessed as a proxy for the cumulative exposure of these taxa to anthropogenic threats (coastal modification, vessel strike, underwater noise, oil spill, bycatch, entanglement, and artificial light) across an area totalling 2,205,740 km2 off north-western Australia. Core exposure areas (top 50% of the distribution) encompassed ecologically important sites for all taxa, such as the Ningaloo and Pilbara regions, migratory routes for whales and sharks in offshore waters beyond Ningaloo Reef, and marine turtle nesting beaches at Barrow Island and Cape Lambert. Although areas of high exposure represented

Published
2023
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3. Pygmy blue whale movement, distribution and important areas in the Eastern Indian Ocean

Author

Michele Thums, Luciana C. Ferreira, Curt Jenner, Micheline Jenner, Danielle Harris, Andrew Davenport, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Mike Double, Luciana Möller, Catherine R.M. Attard, Kerstin Bilgmann, Paul G. Thomson, and Robert McCauley

Subjects
Migration, Foraging, Satellite telemetry, Passive acoustics, Biologically Important Areas, Ecologically significant areas, Ecology, QH540-549.5
Abstract

Pygmy blue whales in the South-east Indian Ocean migrate from the southern coast of Australia to Indonesia, with a significant part of their migration route passing through areas subject to oil and gas production. This study aimed at improving our understanding of the spatial extent of the distribution, migration and foraging areas, to better inform impact assessment of anthropogenic activities in these regions. Using a combination of passive acoustic monitoring of the NW Australian coast (46 instruments from 2006 to 2019) and satellite telemetry data (22 tag deployments from 2009 to 2021) we quantified the pygmy blue whale distribution and important areas during their northern and southern migration. We show extensive use of slope habitat off Western Australia and only minimal use of shelf habitat, compared to southern Australia where use of the continental shelf and shelf break predominates. In addition, movement behaviour estimated by a state-space model on satellite tag data showed that in general pygmy blue whales off Western Australia were mostly engaged in migration, interspersed with relatively short periods (median = 28 h, range = 2 – 1080 h) of low move persistence (slow movement with high turning angles), which is indicative of foraging. Using the spatial overlap of time and number of whales in area analysis of the satellite tracking data (top 50% of grid cells) with foraging movement behaviour, we quantified the spatial extent of pygmy blue whale high use areas for foraging and migration. We compared these areas to the previously described areas of importance to foraging and migrating whales (Biologically Important Areas; BIAs). In some cases these had good agreement with the most important areas we calculated from our data, but others had only low (

Published
2022
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4. Combining Regional Habitat Selection Models for Large-Scale Prediction: Circumpolar Habitat Selection of Southern Ocean Humpback Whales

Author

Ryan R. Reisinger, Ari S. Friedlaender, Alexandre N. Zerbini, Daniel M. Palacios, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Luciano Dalla Rosa, Mike Double, Ken Findlay, Claire Garrigue, Jason How, Curt Jenner, Micheline-Nicole Jenner, Bruce Mate, Howard C. Rosenbaum, S. Mduduzi Seakamela, and Rochelle Constantine

Subjects
ensembles, habitat selection, machine learning, prediction, resource selection functions, telemetry, Science
Abstract

Machine learning algorithms are often used to model and predict animal habitat selection—the relationships between animal occurrences and habitat characteristics. For broadly distributed species, habitat selection often varies among populations and regions; thus, it would seem preferable to fit region- or population-specific models of habitat selection for more accurate inference and prediction, rather than fitting large-scale models using pooled data. However, where the aim is to make range-wide predictions, including areas for which there are no existing data or models of habitat selection, how can regional models best be combined? We propose that ensemble approaches commonly used to combine different algorithms for a single region can be reframed, treating regional habitat selection models as the candidate models. By doing so, we can incorporate regional variation when fitting predictive models of animal habitat selection across large ranges. We test this approach using satellite telemetry data from 168 humpback whales across five geographic regions in the Southern Ocean. Using random forests, we fitted a large-scale model relating humpback whale locations, versus background locations, to 10 environmental covariates, and made a circumpolar prediction of humpback whale habitat selection. We also fitted five regional models, the predictions of which we used as input features for four ensemble approaches: an unweighted ensemble, an ensemble weighted by environmental similarity in each cell, stacked generalization, and a hybrid approach wherein the environmental covariates and regional predictions were used as input features in a new model. We tested the predictive performance of these approaches on an independent validation dataset of humpback whale sightings and whaling catches. These multiregional ensemble approaches resulted in models with higher predictive performance than the circumpolar naive model. These approaches can be used to incorporate regional variation in animal habitat selection when fitting range-wide predictive models using machine learning algorithms. This can yield more accurate predictions across regions or populations of animals that may show variation in habitat selection.

Published
2021
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5. Widespread exposure of marine parks, whales, and whale sharks to shipping

Author

Vincent Raoult, Vanessa Pirotta, Troy F. Gaston, Brad Norman, Samantha Reynolds, Tim M. Smith, Mike Double, Jason How, and Matt W. Hayward

Subjects
Ecology, Aquatic Science, Oceanography, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Abstract

Context Shipping impacts are a major environmental concern that can affect the behaviour and health of marine mammals and fishes. The potential impacts of shipping within marine parks is rarely considered during the planning process. Aims We assessed the areal disturbance footprint of shipping around Australia, its overlap with marine parks, and known locations of megafauna, so as to identify areas of concern that warrant further investigation. Methods Automatic Identification System (AIS) shipping data from 2018 to 2021 were interpreted through a kernel-density distribution and compared with satellite data from ∼200 individuals of megafauna amalgamated from 2003 to 2018, and the locations of marine parks. Key results Over 18% of marine parks had shipping exposure in excess of 365 vessels per year. Around all of Australia, 39% of satellite-tag reports from whale shark and 36.7% of pygmy blue and humpback whale satellite-tag reports were in moderate shipping-exposure areas (>90 ships per year). Shipping exposure significantly increased from 2018 despite the pandemic, including within marine parks. Conclusions These results highlight the wide-scale footprint of commercial shipping on marine ecosystems that may be increasing in intensity over time. Implications Consideration should be made for assessing and potentially limiting shipping impacts along migration routes and within marine parks.

Published
2022
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6. Local drivers of change in Southern Ocean ecosystems: Human activities and policy implications

Author

Claire M. Waluda, Catherine L. Waller, M Brasier, David K. A. Barnes, Kevin A. Hughes, Jennifer A. Jackson, Huw J. Griffiths, Susie M. Grant, Andrew J. Constable, Mike Double, and Simon A. Morley

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Pollution, Marine conservation, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Evolution, media_common.quotation_subject, Fishing, Climate change, 01 natural sciences, QH359-425, pollution, Ecosystem, 14. Life underwater, Southern Ocean, non-indigenous species, fishing, QH540-549.5, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, media_common, Ecology, business.industry, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, Corporate governance, Environmental resource management, fungi, 15. Life on land, climate change, Geography, 13. Climate action, Scale (social sciences), tourism, business, human activities, Tourism
Abstract

Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physical or ecological change at the local or regional scale. Here, we consider marine and land-derived pollution, non-indigenous species, tourism and other human visits, exploitation of marine resources, recovery of marine mammals, and coastal change as a result of ice loss, in terms of their historic and current extent, and their interactions with the Southern Ocean environment. We summarise projected increases or decreases in the influence of local drivers, and projected changes to their geographic range, concluding that the influence of non-indigenous species, fishing, and the recovery of marine mammals are predicted to increase in the future across the Southern Ocean. Local drivers can be managed regionally, and we identify existing governance frameworks as part of the Antarctic Treaty System and other instruments which may be employed to mitigate or limit their impacts on Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Published
2021
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7. Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems

Author

Marthán N Bester, Birgitte I. McDonald, Karine Delord, Ben Raymond, Jaimie Cleeland, Steven L. Chown, Jean-Benoît Charrassin, Daniel P. Costa, Norman Ratcliffe, Michael E. Goebel, Henri Weimerskirch, Bruno Danis, Rachael Alderman, Simon D. Goldsworthy, Akiko Kato, Keith W. Nicholls, Peter G. Ryan, Nick Gales, Luciano Dalla Rosa, Andrew D. Lowther, Pierre A. Pistorius, Rochelle Constantine, P J Nico de Bruyn, Christian Lydersen, Mike Double, Jefferson T. Hinke, Stuart Corney, Arnaud Tarroux, Kieran Lawton, Yan Ropert-Coudert, Colin Southwell, Kerstin Jerosch, Silvia Olmastroni, Richard A. Phillips, Dominik A Nachtsheim, David R. Thompson, Robert J. M. Crawford, Ian D. Jonsen, Kimberly T. Goetz, Mary-Anne Lea, José C. Xavier, Sébastien Descamps, Charles-André Bost, Michael A. Fedak, Grant Ballard, Robert Harcourt, Mônica M. C. Muelbert, Klemens Pütz, Christophe Guinet, Simon Wotherspoon, Kit M. Kovacs, Iain J. Staniland, Leigh G. Torres, Luis A. Hückstädt, Phil O'b. Lyver, Ari S. Friedlaender, Arnoldus Schytte Blix, Azwianewi B. Makhado, Mercedes Santos, Roger Kirkwood, Peter L. Boveng, John L. Bengtson, Erling S. Nordøy, Barbara Wienecke, Mark A. Hindell, Ryan R. Reisinger, Wayne Z. Trivelpiece, Joachim Plötz, Knowles Kerry, Ben Arthur, Akinori Takahashi, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Horst Bornemann, M. E. I. Marquez, Clive R. McMahon, Gerald L. Kooyman, Anton Van de Putte, Ewan D. Wakefield, Lars Boehme, Philip N. Trathan, Louise Emmerson, Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, University of Tasmania [Hobart, Australia] (UTAS), Processus et interactions de fine échelle océanique (PROTEO), Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), CESAB-FRB [France], Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (University of California Santa Cruz), University of California [Santa Cruz] (UC Santa Cruz), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC), Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology [Santa Cruz], Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI), School of Biological Sciences [Victoria, Australia] (Monash University), Monash University [Victoria, Australia], Marine Biology Laboratory, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [Hobart] (IMAS), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research [Wellington] (NIWA), Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University (OSU), BEDIC, OD Nature [Brussels, Belgium], Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences [Belgium], Department of Primary Industries [Australia], Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy, PRBO Conservation Science, Department of Zoology and Entomology [Pretoria], University of Pretoria [South Africa], The Arctic University of Norway [Tromsø, Norway] (UiT), Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews [Scotland], School of Biological Sciences [Auckland, New Zealand], University of Auckland [Auckland], Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE-CRC), Department of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries [South Africa] (Oceans and Coasts), Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha [Rio Grande, Brazil], Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Porto Alegre] (UFRGS), Norvegian Polar Research Institute (NPRI), Norwegian Polar Institute, Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, South Australian Research and Development Institute [Australia], Department of Biological Sciences [North Ryde], Macquarie University, Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-National Marine Fisheries Service, Scholander Hall, Scripps Institution of Oceanography [CA, USA], Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO - UC San Diego), University of California [San Diego] (UC San Diego), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC)-University of California [San Diego] (UC San Diego), FRAM Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research [Lincoln], Instituto Antartico Argentino, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories [CA, USA] (San José State University), San Jose State University [San Jose] (SJSU), University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science (USIMS), The University of Sydney, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), University of Tromsø (UiT), Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali 'G. Sarfatti', Università degli Studi di Siena = University of Siena (UNISI), National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, Antarctic Research Trust, British Antarctic Survey NERC [UK], DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology [South Africa], Nelson Mandela University [Port Elizabeth], Instituto Antártico Argentino, National Insitute of Polar Research, National Institute of Polar Research [Tokyo] (NiPR), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Natural Environment Research Council - British Antarctic Survey [Cambridge, UK], Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University (Australia), Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU), Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), University of California [Santa Cruz] (UCSC), University of California-University of California, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [Horbat] (IMAS), The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Jose State University [San José] (SJSU), and Nelson Mandela University

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Conservation of Natural Resources, Aquatic Organisms, Food Chain, bird, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, General Science & Technology, Oceans and Seas, Climate Change, Fishing, Population Dynamics, Animal Identification Systems, Climate change, Antarctic Regions, climate chang, mammal, 01 natural sciences, Predation, long-term change, Birds, bird, climate chang, econtinental shelf, exploitation, long-term change, mammal, predator tracking, Animals, Ecosystem, Ice Cover, 14. Life underwater, econtinental shelf, Life Below Water, Exploitation of natural resources, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Mammals, geography, Multidisciplinary, geography.geographical_feature_category, Continental shelf, predator tracking, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, Fishes, Biodiversity, Fishery, Climate Action, 13. Climate action, Predatory Behavior, Ecological significance, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Environmental science, exploitation, Sciences exactes et naturelles
Abstract

International audience; Southern Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from resource exploitation and climate change1,2. Mitigation requires the identification and protection of Areas of Ecological Significance (AESs), which have so far not been determined at the ocean-basin scale. Here, using assemblage-level tracking of marine predators, we identify AESs for this globally important region and assess current threats and protection levels. Integration of more than 4,000 tracks from 17 bird and mammal species reveals AESs around sub-Antarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and over the Antarctic continental shelf. Fishing pressure is disproportionately concentrated inside AESs, and climate change over the next century is predicted to impose pressure on these areas, particularly around the Antarctic continent. At present, 7.1% of the ocean south of 40°S is under formal protection, including 29% of the total AESs. The establishment and regular revision of networks of protection that encompass AESs are needed to provide long-term mitigation of growing pressures on Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Published
2020
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8. Documentation of a New Zealand blue whale population based on multiple lines of evidence

Author

Debbie Steel, Paula A. Olson, C Peters, Rebecca M. Hamner, Leigh G. Torres, C. S. Baker, N Bott, Peter Gill, Rochelle Constantine, C Lilley, Mike Ogle, Kristin B. Hodge, Mike Double, Barlow, D Glasgow, Todd E. Chandler, CT Tessaglia-Hymes, Holger Klinck, and Karen A. Stockin

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Ecology, biology, Whale, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, Population based, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, lcsh:QK1-989, Fishery, Documentation, Geography, Abundance (ecology), biology.animal, lcsh:Botany, Photo identification, lcsh:Zoology, lcsh:QL1-991, Nature and Landscape Conservation
Abstract

Species conservation depends on robust population assessment. Data on population abundance, distribution, and connectivity are critical for effective management, especially as baseline information for newly documented populations. We describe a pygmy blue whale Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda population in New Zealand waters with year-round presence that overlaps with industrial activities. This population was investigated using a multidisciplinary approach, including analysis of survey data, sighting records, acoustic data, identification photographs, and genetic samples. Blue whales were reported during every month of the year in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, with reports concentrated in the South Taranaki Bight (STB) region, where foraging behavior was frequently observed. Five hydrophones in the STB recorded the New Zealand blue whale call type on 99.7% of recording days (January to December 2016). A total of 151 individuals were photo-identified between 2004 and 2017. Nine individuals were resighted across multiple years. No matches were made to individuals identified in Australian or Antarctic waters. Mitochondrial DNA haplotype frequencies differed significantly between New Zealand (n = 53 individuals) and all other Southern Hemisphere blue whale populations, and haplotype diversity was significantly lower than all other populations. These results suggest a high degree of isolation of this New Zealand population. Using a closed capture-recapture population model, our conservative abundance estimate of blue whales in New Zealand is 718 (SD = 433, 95% CI = 279-1926). Our results fill critical knowledge gaps to improve management of blue whale populations in New Zealand and surrounding regions.

Published
2018

9. The characteristics of krill swarms in relation to aggregating Antarctic blue whales

Author

Joanne M. Potts, Susannah Calderan, Paula A. Olson, M J Cox, Russell Leaper, Elanor J. Miller, Mike Double, Brian S. Miller, and R L O'Driscoll

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Krill, Ecosystem ecology, Euphausia, lcsh:Medicine, Antarctic Regions, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Article, biology.animal, Animals, lcsh:Science, Ecosystem, Balaenoptera musculus, Multidisciplinary, Balaenoptera, biology, Whale, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, lcsh:R, Swarm behaviour, biology.organism_classification, Oceanography, Antarctic krill, Predatory Behavior, Environmental science, lcsh:Q, Euphausiacea
Abstract

We model the presence of rare Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) in relation to the swarm characteristics of their main prey species, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). A combination of visual observations and recent advances in passive acoustic technology were used to locate Antarctic blue whales, whilst simultaneously using active underwater acoustics to characterise the distribution, size, depth, composition and density of krill swarms. Krill swarm characteristics and blue whale presence were examined at a range of spatiotemporal scales to investigate sub meso-scale (i.e.

Published
2019
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10. Understanding pygmy blue whale movement and distribution off north Western Australia

Author

Curt Jenner, Micheline Jenner, Paul G. Thomson, Andrew Davenport, Mike Double, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Catherine R. M. Attard, Luciana M. Möller, Danielle Harris, Robert D. McCauley, Kerstin Bilgmann, Michele Thums, and Luciana C. Ferreira

Subjects
Balaenoptera musculus, education.field_of_study, geography.geographical_feature_category, biology, Whale, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Population, Fishing, Foraging, Endangered species, biology.organism_classification, Fishery, Geography, biology.animal, education, Reef
Abstract

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a listed endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. A distinct population of blue whales, the eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue (EIOPB) whale, migrates along the Western Australian coast to the Banda Sea in Indonesia. Their distribution and the delineation of biologically important areas (BIAs) in the north west marine region of the Australian coast are based on limited data with two possible foraging areas identified in the Blue Whale Conservation Management Plan – off Ningaloo and Scott Reef. This uncertainty is a problem because effective management of the many anthropogenic activities associated with industrial development in this area (e.g. oil and gas, commercial shipping and fishing) relies on robust data. To this end, we combined new satellite tag deployments on EIOPB whales off Ningaloo Reef with existing satellite tracking data to provide sufficient data to understand the spatial and temporal extent of the population’s distribution and the movement behaviour in the north west. We also deployed passive acoustic instruments at North West Cape and combined these with existing passive acoustic data from the north west, including 18 deployed instruments and 14 ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs). To fill data gaps in our understanding of EIOPB whale broad scale distribution on their northern and southern migration, we undertook three passive acoustic surveys using ocean gliders, thereby providing extensive spatial coverage across the north west.

Published
2021
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11. The retrospective analysis of Antarctic tracking data project

Author

Luciano Dalla Rosa, Henri Weimerskirch, Kerstin Jerosch, Sébastien Descamps, Marthán N Bester, Klemens Pütz, Charles-André Bost, Phil O'b. Lyver, Christophe Guinet, Akiko Kato, Horst Bornemann, John L. Bengtson, Jaimie Cleeland, Mary-Anne Lea, Silvia Olmastroni, Rochelle Constantine, Richard A. Phillips, Jean-Benoît Charrassin, Peter G. Ryan, Simon D. Goldsworthy, Roger Kirkwood, Louise Emmerson, Wayne Z. Trivelpiece, Christian Lydersen, Ben Raymond, Mark A. Hindell, Dominik A Nachtsheim, Jefferson T. Hinke, Nick Gales, Arnaud Tarroux, Simon Wotherspoon, Robert J. M. Crawford, Mônica M. C. Muelbert, Pierre A. Pistorius, Kimberly T. Goetz, Andrew D. Lowther, David R. Thompson, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Ian D. Jonsen, M. E. I. Marquez, Clive R. McMahon, Karine Delord, Mike Double, Gerald L. Kooyman, Kit M. Kovacs, José C. Xavier, Anton Van de Putte, Colin Southwell, Ewan D. Wakefield, Erling S. Nordøy, Barbara Wienecke, Mercedes Santos, Birgitte I. McDonald, Daniel P. Costa, Lars Boehme, Norman Ratcliffe, Ryan R. Reisinger, Arnoldus Schytte Blix, Michael A. Fedak, Peter L. Boveng, Rachael Alderman, Robert Harcourt, Iain J. Staniland, Leigh G. Torres, Ari S. Friedlaender, Yan Ropert-Coudert, Azwianewi B. Makhado, M. Goebel, Kieran Lawton, Philip N. Trathan, P J Nico de Bruyn, Luis A. Hückstädt, Keith W. Nicholls, Grant Ballard, Bruno Danis, Joachim Plötz, Knowles Kerry, David G. Ainley, Ben Arthur, Akinori Takahashi, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), BEDIC, OD Nature [Brussels, Belgium], Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences [Belgium], Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, University of Leuven, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI), Processus et interactions de fine échelle océanique (PROTEO), Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN), Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU), Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology [Santa Cruz], University of California [Santa Cruz] (UCSC), University of California-University of California, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Department of Biological Sciences [Sydney, Australia] (Macquarie University), Macquarie University, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [Horbat] (IMAS), University of Tasmania [Hobart, Australia] (UTAS), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research [Wellington] (NIWA), Hatfield Marine Science Center [Newport, USA], British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), H.T. Harvey & Associates [CA, USA), Department of Primary Industries [Australia], Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, PRBO Conservation Science, Department of Zoology and Entomology [Pretoria], University of Pretoria [South Africa], Mammal Research Institute - Department Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria (UPSpace), University of Tromsø (UiT), Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews [Scotland], School of Biological Sciences [Auckland, New Zealand], University of Auckland [Auckland], Department of Environmental Affairs [South Africa] (Oceans and Coasts), Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha [Rio Grande, Brazil], Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy, Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), South Australian Research and Development Institute, Department of Biological Sciences [North Ryde], Center for Marine Biology and Biomedicine [La Jolla], Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California [San Diego] (UC San Diego), University of California-University of California-University of California [San Diego] (UC San Diego), FRAM Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Biodiversity Section [Norway], Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research [Lincoln], Oceans & Coasts Branch, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories [CA, USA] (San José State University), San Jose State University [San José] (SJSU), University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science (USIMS), The University of Sydney, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche [Siena, Italy] (Università di Siena), Università di Siena, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, Antarctic Research Trust, British Antarctic Survey NERC [UK], Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, National Institute of Polar Research [Tokyo] (NiPR), Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE UC), Universidade de Coimbra [Coimbra], La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL (FR_636)), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), University of California [Santa Cruz] (UC Santa Cruz), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC), Department of Biological Sciences [Sydney], Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [Hobart] (IMAS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Porto Alegre] (UFRGS), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO - UC San Diego), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC)-University of California [San Diego] (UC San Diego), San Jose State University [San Jose] (SJSU), and Università degli Studi di Siena = University of Siena (UNISI)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Statistics and Probability, Data Descriptor, bird, Ecosystem ecology, animal experiment, Library and Information Sciences, Biodiversity informatics, animal experiment, Antarctica, biodiversity, bird, climate data,ecosystem, Southern Ocean, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Education, Information system, VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480, Tracking data, Ecosystem, 14. Life underwater, Southern Ocean, lcsh:Science, Life Below Water, biodiversity, Apex predator, ecosystem, Science & Technology, CLIMATE-CHANGE, business.industry, Conservation biology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, Environmental resource management, 15. Life on land, Computer Science Applications, Multidisciplinary Sciences, MODEL, Ocean Biogeographic Information System, Geography, 13. Climate action, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Antarctica, Science & Technology - Other Topics, ECOSYSTEM, lcsh:Q, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, business, climate data, Information Systems, Sciences exactes et naturelles, VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480
Abstract

The Retrospective Analysis of Antarctic Tracking Data (RAATD) is a Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research project led jointly by the Expert Groups on Birds and Marine Mammals and Antarctic Biodiversity Informatics, and endorsed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. RAATD consolidated tracking data for multiple species of Antarctic meso- and top-predators to identify Areas of Ecological Significance. These datasets and accompanying syntheses provide a greater understanding of fundamental ecosystem processes in the Southern Ocean, support modelling of predator distributions under future climate scenarios and create inputs that can be incorporated into decision making processes by management authorities. In this data paper, we present the compiled tracking data from research groups that have worked in the Antarctic since the 1990s. The data are publicly available through biodiversity.aq and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. The archive includes tracking data from over 70 contributors across 12 national Antarctic programs, and includes data from 17 predator species, 4060 individual animals, and over 2.9 million observed locations., Measurement(s)geographic locationTechnology Type(s)digital curationFactor Type(s)temporal interval • geographic locationSample Characteristic – OrganismAptenodytes forsteri • Lobodon carcinophaga • Eudyptes chrysolophus • Thalassarche melanophrys • Phoebetria palpebrata • Aptenodytes patagonicus • Pygoscelis adeliae • Leptonychotes weddellii • Megaptera novaeangliae • Mirounga leonina • Arctocephalus gazella • Thalassoica antarctica • Eudyptes schlegeli • Diomedea exulans • Phoebetria fusca • Diomedea chrysostoma • Procellaria aequinoctialisSample Characteristic – Environmentpolar biomeSample Characteristic – LocationAntarctica Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.11688876

Published
2018
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12. Humpback whale migrations to Antarctic summer foraging grounds through the southwest Pacific Ocean

Author

Andrea M. Polanowski, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Sophie Bestley, David Paton, Nick Gales, Mike Double, Natalie Schmitt, and S. M. Laverick

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Science, Foraging, Population, Context (language use), 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Article, Humpback whale, biology.animal, Photo identification, Whaling, 14. Life underwater, education, education.field_of_study, Multidisciplinary, biology, Whale, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, biology.organism_classification, Oceanography, Geography, Habitat, Medicine
Abstract

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations typically undertake seasonal migrations, spending winters in low latitude breeding grounds and summers foraging in high latitude feeding grounds. Until recently, a broad scale understanding of whale movement has been derived from whaling records, Discovery marks, photo identification and genetic analyses. However, with advances in satellite tagging technology and concurrent development of analytical methodologies we can now detail finer scale humpback whale movement, infer behavioural context and examine how these animals interact with their physical environment. Here we describe the temporal and spatial characteristics of migration along the east Australian seaboard and into the Southern Ocean by 30 humpback whales satellite tagged over three consecutive austral summers. We characterise the putative Antarctic feeding grounds and identify supplemental foraging within temperate, migratory corridors. We demonstrate that Antarctic foraging habitat is associated with the marginal ice zone, with key predictors of inferred foraging behaviour including distance from the ice edge, ice melt rate and variability in ice concentration two months prior to arrival. We discuss the highly variable ice season within the putative foraging habitat and the implications that this and other environmental factors may have on the continued strong recovery of this humpback whale population.

Published
2018

13. TaqMan assays for genotyping 45 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the humpback whale nuclear genome

Author

Nick Gales, Simon N. Jarman, Andrea M. Polanowski, Natalie Schmitt, and Mike Double

Subjects
Genetics, education.field_of_study, biology, Whale, Population, Population genetics, Single-nucleotide polymorphism, biology.organism_classification, Humpback whale, Evolutionary biology, Blubber, biology.animal, Microsatellite, education, Genotyping, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Abstract

The humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, migrates along coastal routes between high latitude summer feeding areas and low latitude winter breeding areas in both hemispheres. The coastal migrations and frequent surfacing behaviour make it easy to take biopsy samples from its skin and blubber and it is consequently the most intensely studied of the great whales. Microsatellite markers have been developed for population genetics and kinship studies of this species, but these show poor genotyping reproducibility among laboratories and scientists. We describe 45 TaqMan® single nucleotide polymorphism markers for a highly reproducable alternative genotyping system for M. novaeangliae.

Published
2011
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14. The conservation status and priorities for albatrosses and large petrels

Author

Marcela Uhart, Rosemary Gales, Marco Favero, Richard A. Phillips, Flavio Quintana, Mike Double, Henri Weimerskirch, G. B. Baker, A. C. Wolfaardt, Mark L. Tasker, British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), 259 Howden Road, 259 Howden Road, Howden, Tasmania, Australia, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [Horbat] (IMAS), University of Tasmania [Hobart, Australia] (UTAS), Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras [Mar del Plata] (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales [Mar del Plata], Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata [Mar del Plata] (UNMdP)-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata [Mar del Plata] (UNMdP)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires] (CONICET), Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos [Chubut] (IBIOMAR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires] (CONICET), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK), Inverdee House, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), P.O. Box 64, The Crags, 6602, South Africa, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS-Hobart), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires] (CONICET)-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales [Mar del Plata], Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata [Mar del Plata] (UNMdP)-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata [Mar del Plata] (UNMdP), and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, NON-TARGET SPECIES, CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT, Conservation management, Otras Ciencias Biológicas, Procellaria, Introduced species, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Predation, Ciencias Biológicas, Anthropogenic impacts, Non-target species, IUCN Red List, 14. Life underwater, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Nature and Landscape Conservation, biology, Invasive species, Ecology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ORGANISATIONS, 15. Life on land, biology.organism_classification, INVASIVE SPECIES, Bycatch, Fishery, ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS, Population trends, 13. Climate action, Regional fisheries management organisations, Threatened species, POPULATION TRENDS, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Conservation status, House mice, CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS
Abstract

Seabirds are amongst the most globally-threatened of all groups of birds, and conservation issues specific to albatrosses (Diomedeidae) and large petrels (Procellaria spp. and giant petrels Macronectes spp.) led to drafting of the multi-lateral Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). Here we review the taxonomy, breeding and foraging distributions, population status and trends, threats and priorities for the 29 species covered by ACAP. Nineteen (66%) are listed as threatened by IUCN, and 11 (38%) are declining. Most have extensive at-sea distributions, and the greatest threat is incidental mortality (bycatch) in industrial pelagic or demersal longline, trawl or artisanal fisheries, often in both national and international waters. Mitigation measures are available that reduce bycatch in most types of fisheries, but some management bodies are yet to make these mandatory, levels of implementation and monitoring of compliance are often inadequate, and there are insufficient observer programmes collecting robust data on bycatch rates. Intentional take, pollution (including plastic ingestion), and threats at colonies affect fewer species than bycatch; however, the impacts of disease (mainly avian cholera) and of predation by introduced species, including feral cats (Felis catus), rats (Rattus spp.) and house mice (Mus musculus), are severe for some breeding populations. Although major progress has been made in recent years in reducing bycatch rates and in controlling or eradicating pests at breeding sites, unless conservation efforts are intensified, the future prospects of many species of albatrosses and large petrels will remain bleak. Fil: Phillips, R. A.. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council; Reino Unido Fil: Gales, R.. No especifica; Fil: Baker, G. B.. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies ; Australia Fil: Double, M. C.. Australian Antarctic Division; Australia Fil: Favero, Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina Fil: Quintana, Flavio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; Argentina Fil: Tasker, M. L.. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Inverdee House; Reino Unido Fil: Weimerskirch, H.. Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; Francia Fil: Uhart, M.. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Wolfaart, A.. No especifica

Published
2016
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15. The Effect of Input DNA Copy Number on Genotype Call and Characterising SNP Markers in the Humpback Whale Genome Using a Nanofluidic Array

Author

Andrea M. Polanowski, Kerry R. Emslie, Somanath Bhat, Mike Double, and Simon N. Jarman

Subjects
Heredity, Genotype, Animal Types, Genotypes, lcsh:Medicine, Large Animals, Biology, Molecular Inversion Probe, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, law.invention, law, Genetics, Humans, Multiplex, Digital polymerase chain reaction, lcsh:Science, Genotyping, Polymerase chain reaction, Animal Management, Evolutionary Biology, Genome, Multidisciplinary, Population Biology, lcsh:R, Computational Biology, Agriculture, DNA, DNA extraction, genomic DNA, Mammalogy, Genetic Polymorphism, lcsh:Q, Veterinary Science, Animal Genetics, Zoology, Population Genetics, Research Article
Abstract

Recent advances in nanofluidic technologies have enabled the use of Integrated Fluidic Circuits (IFCs) for high-throughput Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping (GT). In this study, we implemented and validated a relatively low cost nanofluidic system for SNP-GT with and without Specific Target Amplification (STA). As proof of principle, we first validated the effect of input DNA copy number on genotype call rate using well characterised, digital PCR (dPCR) quantified human genomic DNA samples and then implemented the validated method to genotype 45 SNPs in the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, nuclear genome. When STA was not incorporated, for a homozygous human DNA sample, reaction chambers containing, on average 9 to 97 copies, showed 100% call rate and accuracy. Below 9 copies, the call rate decreased, and at one copy it was 40%. For a heterozygous human DNA sample, the call rate decreased from 100% to 21% when predicted copies per reaction chamber decreased from 38 copies to one copy. The tightness of genotype clusters on a scatter plot also decreased. In contrast, when the same samples were subjected to STA prior to genotyping a call rate and a call accuracy of 100% were achieved. Our results demonstrate that low input DNA copy number affects the quality of data generated, in particular for a heterozygous sample. Similar to human genomic DNA, a call rate and a call accuracy of 100% was achieved with whale genomic DNA samples following multiplex STA using either 15 or 45 SNP-GT assays. These calls were 100% concordant with their true genotypes determined by an independent method, suggesting that the nanofluidic system is a reliable platform for executing call rates with high accuracy and concordance in genomic sequences derived from biological tissue.

Published
2012
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16. Born Sinner.

Author

Manzi, Mike "Double Dragon"

Published
2013

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