Marine Mammals (Biology

Sound is the primary sensory modality for dolphins, yet policies mitigating anthropogenic sound exposure are limited in wild populations and even fewer noise policies or guidelines have been developed for governing dolphin welfare under human care. Concerns have been raised that dolphins under human care live in facilities that are too noisy, or are too acoustically sterile. However, these claims have not been evaluated to characterize facility soundscapes, and further, how they compare to wild soundscapes. The soundscape of a wild dolphin habitat off the coast of Quintana, Roo, Mexico was characterized based on Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) recordings over one year. Snapping shrimp were persistent and broadband, following a diel pattern. Fish sound production was pulsed and prominent in low frequencies (100 -- 1000 Hz), and abiotic surface wave action contributed to noise in higher frequencies (15 -- 28 kHz). Boat motors were the main anthropogenic sound source. While sporadic, boat motors were responsible for large spikes in the noise, sometimes exceeding the ambient noise (in the absence of a boat) by 20 dB root-mean-squared sound pressure level, and potentially higher at closer distances. Boat motor sounds can potentially mask cues and communication sounds of dolphins. The soundscapes of four acoustically distinct outdoor dolphin facilities in Quintana Roo, Mexico were also characterized based on PAM, and findings compared with one another and with the measurements from the wild dolphin habitat. Recordings were made for at least 24 hours to encompass the range of daily activities. The four facilities differed in non-dolphin species present (biological sounds), bathymetry complexity, and method of water circulation. It was hypothesized that the greater the biological and physical differences of a pool from the ocean habitat, the greater the acoustic differences would be from the natural environment. Spectral analysis and audio playback revealed that the site most biologically and physically distinct from the ocean habitat also differed greatly from the other sites acoustically, with the most common and high amplitude sound being pump noise versus biological sounds at the other sites. Overall the dolphin facilities were neither clearly noisier nor more sterile than the wild site, but rather differed in particular characteristics. The findings are encouraging for dolphin welfare for several reasons. Sound levels measured were unlikely to cause threshold shifts in hearing. At three of four facilities, prominent biological sounds in the wild site -- snapping shrimp and fish sounds -- were present, meaning that the dolphins at these facilities are experiencing biotic features of the soundscape they would experience in the wild. Additionally, the main anthropogenic sounds experienced at the facilities (construction and cleaning sounds) did not reach the levels of the anthropogenic sounds experienced at the wild site (boat motor sounds), and the highest noise levels for anthropogenic sounds fall outside the dolphins' most sensitive range of hearing. However, there are anthropogenic contributors to the soundscape that are of particular interest and possible concern that should be investigated further, particularly pump noise and periodic or intermittent construction noise. These factors need to be considered on a facility-by-facility basis and appropriate mitigation procedures incorporated in animal handling to mitigate potential responses to planned or anticipated sound producing events, e.g. animal relocation or buffering sound producing activities. The central role of bioacoustics for dolphins means that PAM is a basic life support requirement along with water and food testing. Periodic noise is of highest concern, and PAM is needed to inform mitigation of noise from periodic sources. Priority actions are more widespread and long-term standardized monitoring, further research on habituation, preference, coupling and pool acoustics, implementation of acoustics training, standardization of measurements, and improved information access.

Biological reconstruction of ape and human (hominoid) evolution, mostly based on comparative, fossil, paleo-environmental and DNA evidence.

Schematically:

(I) arboreal to aquarboreal:
The evolution from monkey to ape body-plan is best explained by a transition from tree-dwelling to living in flooded forests (Mio-Pliocene).

(II) aquarboreal to littoral:
The evolution from ape/australopith to Homo body-plan can mostly be explained by a transition to a coastal and waterside lifestyle during the Ice Ages (early-Pleistocene dispersal along African and Eurasian coasts).

In this study, a buckler crab, Cryptopodia angulata, reported for the first time from Majali, Karwar, West coast of India. This species occurs rarely in the Indian coastal waters and this is the first report from Karwar coast. External characters have been photographed and examined.

Abstract: A series of natural history factors were examined to identify which are likely to influence acoustic behaviour in male phocid seals. Contrary to traditional thought, the degree of polygyny did not appear to influence vocal repertoire size or the other acoustic features examined. However, degree of sexual dimorphism, stability of the pupping substrate and density, guard-ability and predictability of oestrus females, and function of the signals, all appear to be important. Species pupping in stable habitats tend to have vocalizations which are low in minimum frequency, whereas pack-ice breeders have vocalizations with high minimum frequencies. In species where oestrus females are predictably distributed and guardable (the southern elephant, Mirounga leonina, northern elephant, Mirounga angustirostris, grey, Halichoerus grypus, hooded, Cystophora cristata, and crabeater, Lobodon carcinophagus, seals) the acoustic displays of the males tend to be associated with male-male agonistic interactions and are likely to be intrasexual in function. Male vocal repertoires tend to be simple in form composed of a reduced number of primarily broadband pulsed sounds following Morton's (1982) Motivational Structural Hypothesis. However, in species where females do not remain hauled-out with their pups until weaning it is more difficult for males to physically guard them until oestrus. If oestrus females are inaccessible to males, either because they are moving to and from the sea or because they are widely distributed, males could use vocal displays to attract a mate. When oestrus females are widely and unpredictably dispersed long-range underwater advertisement displays are necessary (Scattergun advertizing). The acoustic displays of males of these species (leopard, Hydrurga leptonyx ; Ross, Ommatophoca rossii; bearded, Erignathus barbatus; and ribbon, Histriophoca fasciata, seals) must travel long distances. Sounds that are required to travel over long distances could change slightly in character due to the differing propagation characteristics of the varying frequency components within the vocalization. The signal also could be masked by background noise. Perhaps it is easier for a listening seal to recognize a smaller number of stereotyped vocalizations. Therefore, these seals tend to have fewer, narrowband, highly stereotyped sounds used in stylized repetitive displays which helps ensure that the signal is recognized by a receiving seal at a distance. In species where oestrus females are predictably distributed, but unguarded (Weddell, Leptonychotes weddellii; harp, Pagophilus groenlandicus; harbour, Phoca vitulina; and ringed, Phoca hispida seals) males perform shorter-range underwater advertisement displays. The signals of species advertizing to a local audience are not constrained by propagation difficulties. These species therefore adopt a large array of sound types, and include subtle variations of the same sound type, greatly increasing their overall repertoire size (Local advertizing).

Introduction: There are scarce information about the movements and patterns of residence of bottlenose
dolphins in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico and the objective of this study is to have information on this
subject, Terminos lagoon area is the zone with more effort to study in the region and it is possible that the dolphins
move along the coast.
Methods: During 1994 to 1999 systematic surveys were carried out to study the movements and residence
patterns of bottlenose dolphin populations in four different localities along the coast of the southern Gulf of Mexico,
Holbox Island, Quintana Roo, Celestun in Yucatan, Terminos lagoon in Campeche and oriental Tabasco.
Results: In total, 2,889 dolphins were photo-identified in the four areas, the majority in the Terminos lagoon
(1,987); in this same area one dolphin was recorded within 10 years and nine months, thus having a multi-annual
residency pattern. Other dolphin was photo-identified during 1997 in Holbox and 247 days later in Tabasco; another
four animals moved from Terminos lagoon to Tabasco, travelling on average 270 km.
Discussion and conclusions: These are the first long-term residence patterns and migration records for the
species along the southern Gulf of Mexico. Bottlenose dolphins use the coastal lagoons as feeding and shelter areas
for calving. The long movements recorded along the Yucatán peninsula between Quintana

The Lafken Mapu Lahual Coastal Marine Protected Area of Multiple Uses (Lafken Mapu Lahual), Osorno coast, southern Chile, is one of the first protected areas of created in Chile during 2006, but only in 2019 its Management Plan was presented. This study provides information on its marine mammal species to be used in future biodiversity monitoring plans. The sighted mammals were recorded and counted through 18 navigation tracks and one observation point in the 2014-2015 austral breeding season. Five species were recorded systematically (one whale species, two dolphin species, one marine otter species and a one sea lion species). Two of them (Lontra felina and Balaenoptera musculus) are classified by the IUCN in the conservation category corresponding to Endangered. Laken Mapu Lahual is an important area for the species of whales that use it for their migratory route to the south of Chile.

This paper overviews the contamination caused by persistent organochlorines in endocrine system of mammals. To overcome yield loss in crops plants via pests, it is necessary to control them. There are a number of pest control strategies. But in developing and under developed countries, most of the farmers are using pesticides without a proper way and proper knowledge. Out of total applied pesticide, <0.1% of pesticides reach their target pests. Due to this reason, more than 99.9% of pesticides applied affect the public health, contaminate soil, water, and natural resources of our environment. The contamination by organochlorine residues is due to continuous usage in developing and under developed countries. In field and laboratory experiments, it was found that organochlorines are most persistent in nature which causes adverse effects on endocrine system in mammals. Endocrine disruption induces Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Thyrotoxicosis, malformation of glands and reproductive organs, histological changes in organ system and homeostasis of mammals. Therefore low persistent insecticides and plant derivatives must be applied for pest control because they are safer to our biota and ecosystem.

Daytime feeding behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Gulf of the Farallones, California, and adjacent waters was observed during autumn of 1988 to 1990. Bodega Canyon, Cordell Bank, and the Farallon Islands were the primary sites of feeding activity. Fecal samples of whales and zooplankton tows contained euphausiids exclusively, dominated by Thysanoessa spinifera (79%), with lesser amounts of Euphausia pacifica (14%), Nyctiphanes simp/ex (4%), and Nematoscelis diffici/is (3%). In 1988 and 1990, whales also were infrequently observed feeding on small schooling fish, presumably Pacific herring (C/upea pal/asH), northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.).

It is widely accepted that obligate aquatic mammals, specifically toothed whales, rely relatively little on olfaction. There is less agreement about the importance of smell among aquatic mammals with residual ties to land, such as pinnipeds and sea otters. Field observations of marine carnivorans stress their keen use of smell while on land or pack ice. Yet, one dimension of olfactory ecology is often overlooked: while underwater , aquatic carnivorans forage "noseblind," diving with nares closed, removed from airborne chemical cues. For this reason, we predicted marine carnivorans would have reduced olfactory anatomy relative to closely related terrestrial carnivorans. Moreover, because species that dive deeper and longer forage farther removed from surface scent cues, we predicted further reductions in their olfactory anatomy. To test these hypotheses, we looked to the cribriform plate (CP), a perforated bone in the posterior nasal chamber of mammals that serves as the only passageway for ol-factory nerves crossing from the periphery to the olfactory bulb and thus covaries in size with relative olfactory innervation. Using CT scans and digital quantification, we compared CP morphology across Arctoidea, a clade at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecologies. We found that aquatic carnivoran species from two lineages that independently reinvaded marine environments (Pinnipedia and Mustelidae), have significantly reduced relative CP than terrestrial species. Furthermore, within these aquatic lineages, diving depth and duration were strongly correlated with CP loss, and the most extreme divers, elephant seals, displayed the greatest reductions. These observations suggest that CP reduction in carnivorans is an adaptive response to shifting selection pressures during secondary invasion of marine environments, particularly to foraging at great depths. Because the CP is fairly well preserved in the fossil record, using methods presented here to quantify CP morphology in extinct species could further clarify evolutionary patterns of olfactory loss across aquatic mammal lineages that have independently committed to life in water. K E Y W O R D S aquatic adaptations, cribriform plate, diving behavioral ecology, marine mammals, olfaction, skull morphology

In this paper I examine the purpose of the narwhal's tusk. While there are many proposed functions of the narwhal's tusk and multiple tusk functions that may have driven its evolutionary development and persistence, I claim that most scientists today focus on the role of the narwhal tusk as a sensory organ, secondary sex characteristic, and weapon used in aggressive encounters.

Se reconocen aspectos generales acerca de algunas micosis (enfermedades fúngicas) en mamíferos marinos.  Los hongos como los mohos acuáticos y los microhongos mitospóricos son los más comunes como agentes etiológicos en mamíferos marinos así como en otras especies acuáticas.  Existen condiciones más serias como por ejemplo la coccidioidomicosis, que pudiera ser una verdadera amenaza a la existencia de estos mamíferos.  Los casos aquí reseñados provienen de la literatura micológica.

. Ž . Individual chlorinated biphenyls CBs and chlorinated pesticides p, pЈ-DDT and metabolites, HCHs and HCB Ž . were determined in blubber samples of 40 harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena of different age and sex from the Ž . North Sea, the Baltic Sea and Greenland coastal waters. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins PCDDs and polychlori-Ž . Ž . nated dibenzofurans PCDFs were analysed in a selected group of animals. ⌺CB concentrations medians in North Ž . Ž . Sea immature specimens were similar 14.9 grg lipid to those from the Baltic Sea 17.0 grg lipid and exceeding Ž . Ž . those in Greenland specimens by an order of magnitude 1.3 grg lipid . The median concentrations grg lipid of HCB, p, pЈ-DDE, p, pЈ-DDD and ␥-HCH were in the order Greenland -North Sea -Baltic Sea. The highest Ž . concentrations of ␣-HCH 0.14 grg lipid were found in the Greenland population, and p, pЈ-DDT was detected only in this group. The North Sea and Baltic Sea populations were identified as distinctly separate on the basis of levels and compositions of these contaminants. The ecological risk associated with dioxin-like toxicity was dominated by the CB congeners 118 and 170; the PCDDrFs were playing only a minor role. ᮊ

The authors present a remarkable site with a remarkable interpretation: a structured platform of dugong bones, containing skulls laid in parallel and ribs in sets, together with artefacts of the Neolithic period. They propose that the bones have been symbolically arranged and the mound as a whole had a ritual purpose -an interpretation endorsed by analogy with dugong platforms noted in the Torres Strait in recent times.

Over millions of years, whales have evolved for diving in the ocean to obtain food while holding their breath. Because whales are air-breathing mammals, they eventually have to return to the ocean surface to get
more oxygen. However, the air in the lungs also contains nitrogen, a gas that is taken up but not used by the body. As the whale dives deeper, the pressure from the water increases and more nitrogen is taken up by blood
circulating from the lungs to other tissues. When the whale returns to the surface and the water pressure decreases, the nitrogen gas is returned to
the lungs. If the whale spends too much time in the zone where nitrogen is taken up at elevated pressure, bubbles may form when the whale returns to the surface; similar to what happens when you open a soda bottle. The
bubbles can cause many different problems inside the whale’s body and even cause death. Whales normally do not experience problems caused by bubbles. In recent years, scientists have discovered that when humans
disturb whales, their dive behavior or their bodily functions may change in ways that increase the risk of formation of bubbles that could cause problems and death. A better understanding of whale behavior and how the nitrogen bubbles form may help scientist develop tools that can prevent these problems in whales.

Through collaboration with Inuit hunters, we examined the stomach contents of 142 seals (ringed seals [Phoca hispida; n = 135], bearded seals [Erignathus barbatus; n = 6], and one harbour seal [Phoca vitualina; n = 1]) hunted between 2007 and 2019 from communities around Nunavut to assess whether seals in the eastern Canadian Arctic ingest and retain plastics in their stomachs. The seals in this study ranged from juveniles to adults of up to 30 years of age, and 55% of the seals were males. We found no evidence of plastic ingestion in any of the seals suggesting that seals in Nunavut are not accumulating plastics (>425 μm) in their stomachs. These data provide important baseline information for future plastic pollution monitoring programs in the Arctic.

Utility leaders worldwide face multiple challenges to secure
a reliable, efficient and sustainable future water supply – from
accelerated population growth, to exhaustion of our traditional
water sources, water scarcity driven by climate change and
inefficient management of our available water resources. Finding
a rational solution for sustainable water supply compels us to seek
new water management solutions based on:
• Adopting the wider use of alternative water resources
such as desalination of sea and brackish water

Se reseña el uso de satélites artificiales como rastreadores de mamíferos marinos de varias especies incluyendo ballenas, delfines, manatíes, entre otros.  Aunque muchos avances científicos han sido implementados para estudiar el movimiento de los mamíferos marinos usando la telemetría por medio radial y satelital, aún queda mucho por mejorarse en cuanto a instrumentación, rastreo y manejo eficaz de estos organismos marinos, muchos de ellos amenazados por la extinción.

Toxic -non-, mono-and di-ortho coplanar PCB congeners were determined in terrestrial and marine mammals. The concentrations of coplanar PCBs were found to be higher in the order of di-ortho > mono-ortho > non-ortho congeners and were significantly higher than the levels of toxic dioxins and furans. The geographical distribution of these chemicals based on the relative abundance of coplanar PCB congeners with reference to total PCBs did not vary in terrestrial, coastal and open ocean mammals, whereas that of PCDFs and PCDDs apparently decreased from land to ocean. '2,3,7,8-T4CDD toxic equivalent analysis' revealed that higher aquatic predators such as cetaceans receive a greater toxic threat from 3,3',4,4',5-and 2,3,3',4,4'-pentachlorobiphenyls than PCDFs and PCDDs.