conference organizer - university of florida · assessment of the florida manatee (p. 11) 11 ......

April 22-25, 2008 Whitney Laboratory St. Augustine, FL, USA

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Department of Physiological Sciences 1600 SW Archer Road PO Box 100144 Gainesville, FL 32610-0144 352-392-2246 x 3859 Phone 352-392-5145 Fax 21 April 2008

A warm welcome to the third Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference. It is always a pleasure to be in the company of colleagues who share the concern for marine mammal welfare and conservation, as well as the desire to tackle thorny issues related to the coexistence of people and animals.

I am excited about the scientific program for this year's conference, and want to thank the session chairs for putting together an outstanding roster of invited speakers. I am also greatly pleased that we could accommodate a diverse group of speakers for the non-chaired sessions, and presenters at the poster sessions.

The small size of our conference ensures that everyone can see and hear everything. It is my wish that this intimacy, together with this year's beautiful natural setting for the conference, will contribute to a positive atmosphere of exchange and learning for us all.

We thank our major sponsors for making the conference possible:

The taxpayers of Florida, as expressed through

◊ Marine Mammal Health Program, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine ◊ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ◊ Peter Anderson, Director of Whitney Laboratory

We give hearty thanks to the staff of the UF/IFAS Office of Conferences and Institutes for their organizational acumen.

Finally, it is my great pleasure to thank my lab manager, Maggie Stoll, for her enduring loyalty and efforts on behalf of this conference.

Best Wishes, Roger Reep Conference Organizer E-Mail: [email protected]

The Foundation for The Gator NationAn Equal Opportunity Institution

Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference III

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Table of Contents

Welcome Letter ..................................................................................... i

Sponsor Recognition ........................................................................... iv

Conference Organizers ......................................................................... v

Program Committee/Session Chairs..................................................... v

Program Agenda.................................................................................. vi

Poster Directory.................................................................................... x

Marine Mammal Genetics Session Notes ......................................... xiii

Algal Biotoxins Session Notes .......................................................... xiv

Power Plants and Manatees Session Notes ........................................ xv

Right Whales Session Notes.............................................................. xvi

Health Assessments Session Notes .................................................. xvii

General Notes .................................................................................. xviii

Abstracts ............................................................................................... 1

Author Index....................................................................................... 58

List of Participants.............................................................................. 61

Front Cover Photo Credits Top left pseudorca crassidens photo by Bob Bonde, U.S. Geological Survey Top right whale photo by Alicia Windham-Reid, Under NOAA Permit Middle left manatee transport photo by Bob Bonde, U.S. Geological Survey Bottom left bottlenose dolphin photo by Bob Bonde, U.S. Geological Survey


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A Special Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Aquatic Animal Health

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience

Save the Manatee Club

Marineland Dolphin Conservation Center

Florida Sea Grant


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Conference Organizers

Roger Reep, Conference Chair Professor Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine EMAIL: [email protected] Maggie Stoll Biological Scientist University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine EMAIL: [email protected]

Beth Miller-Tipton, CMP Conference Coordinator University of Florida/IFAS Office of Conferences & Institutes (OCI) EMAIL: [email protected] Holly Paszko Conference Coordinator University of Florida/IFAS Office of Conferences & Institutes (OCI) EMAIL: [email protected]

Program Committee/Session Chairs

Marine Mammal Genetics Peter McGuire, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL Algal Biotoxins Hendrik Nollens, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL Power Plants and Manatees Pat Rose, Save the Manatee Club, Maitland, FL Right Whales Scott Kraus, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA Health Assessments Mike Walsh, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL


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Program Agenda Tuesday, April 22, 2008 6:00pm-8:00pm Conference Registration at Holiday Inn St. Augustine and Poolside

Networking Social Wednesday, April 23, 2008 7:00am Morning Refreshments at Holiday Inn

8:00am-8:15am Arrive at Whitney Laboratory and Assemble in Auditorium

Marine Mammal Genetics – Peter McGuire 8:15am-8:30am Roger Reep – Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:30am-9:00am Robert Bonde – US Geological Survey Sirenia Project and University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Population Genetics of the Florida Manatee (p. 8)

9:00am-9:30am Margaret Kellogg – University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Population Genetics of the West Indian Manatee (p. 24)

9:30am-10:00am Janet M. Lanyon – School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Mark-recapture Modeling of a Wild Dugong Population (p. 30)

10:00am-10:30am Howard C. Rosenbaum – Wildlife Conservation Society Illuminating Species Differences, Population Structure, and Migration Patterns among Large Whales: Insights and Lessons Learned (p. 49)

10:30am-11:00am Coffee Break

General Session I 11:00am-11:20am Michelle Davis – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

This Won’t Hurt a Bit: New Molecular Tools for Population Assessment of the Florida Manatee (p. 11)

11:20am-11:40am Erin Pulster – Mote Marine Laboratory Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants in aAn Endangered Species, the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus), Sampled in Southeastern Mexico (p. 46)

11:40am-12:00pm Carla Phillips – University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Brevetoxin-Induced DNA Damage in Neoplastic Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells (p. 45)

12:00pm-12:20pm Larry Dunn – Mystic Aquarium Marine Mammal Associated Brucella Exposure Celisa Serosurveys (p. 14)


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Wednesday, April 23, 2008 (continued) 12:30pm-1:30pm Group Lunch

1:30pm-3:30pm Poster Session I

Algal Biotoxins – Hendrik Nollens 3:30pm-4:00pm Fran Van Dolah – NOAA

Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms on Marine Mammals (p. 53)

4:00pm-4:30pm Damon Gannon – Mote Marine Laboratory Effects of Karenia brevis Harmful Algal Blooms on Bottlenose Dolphins and Their Prey (p. 15)

4:30pm-5:00pm Felicia Nutter – The Marine Mammal Center Changing Epidemiology and Symptomatology of Domoic Acid Toxicosis in California Sea Lions (p. 43)

5:00pm-5:30pm Spencer E. Fire – Marine Biotoxins Program, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research at Charleston, NOAA/National Ocean Service, Charleston, SC

Domoic Acid in Cetaceans on the East Coast and its Possible Associations with Strandings

6:00pm-8:30pm Networking Social at Marineland Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:00am Morning Refreshments at Holiday Inn


General Session II 8:30am-9:00am Chip Deutsch – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Fine-scale Winter Movements and Attendance Patterns of Florida Manatees at Power Plants in Tampa Bay (p. 12)

9:00am-9:30am Gordon Bauer – New College of Florida Sensory Processes and Cognition in the Florida Manatee, Trichechus Manatus Latirostris (p. 6)

9:30am-10:00am Edmund Gerstein – Florida Atlantic University Of Manatees and Men, Masking, Boats and Alarms (p. 18)



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Thursday, April 24, 2008 (continued) Power Plants and Manatees – Pat Rose

10:30am-10:55am John E. Reynolds – Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL

Manatee Use at FPL Power Plants

10:55am-11:20am David W. Laist – Marine Mammal Commission Effects of Power Plant Shut-Downs on Florida Manatees and Possible Mitigation Measures (p. 28)

11:20am-11:45am Ron Mezich – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Manatee Warm-Water Habitat - Back to the Future (p. 36)

11:45am-12:10pm Graham A. J. Worthy – University of Central Florida and Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Manatees and Cold: Why Isn’t Florida Warm Enough? (p. 57)

12:10pm-12:30pm Patrick M. Rose, Executive Director – Save the Manatee Club Florida Manatees: An Overview of their Status and Future Risks (p. 48)

12:30pm-1:30pm Group Luncheon

1:30pm-3:30pm Poster Session II

Right Whales – Scott Kraus

3:30pm-4:00pm William McLellan – Biology and Marine Biology, UNC Wilmington Northern Right Whale Necropsy Response: Size Certainly Matters (p. 35)

4:00pm-4:30pm Rosalind M. Rolland – New England Aquarium Integrated Health Assessment of North Atlantic Right Whales Using Fecal Samples (p. 47)

4:30pm-5:00pm Leslie Ward – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Overview of Risk of Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales in the Southeastern U.S.: Assessment of North Atlantic Right Whale Habitat and Characterization of Vessel Traffic (p. 54)

5:00pm-5:30pm Scott D. Kraus – New England Aquarium The Urban Life of the North Atlantic Right Whale: The Cumulative Effects of Traffic, Noise, Pollution, and Disease in the Coastal Zone of North America (p. 26)

6:30pm-10:00pm Poolside Cookout at Holiday Inn St. Augustine Beach


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Friday, April 25, 2008 7:00am-7:45am Morning Refreshments at Holiday Inn


Health Assessments – Mike Walsh 8:30am-9:00am Janet Whaley – National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Marine

Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program An Overview of Marine Mammal Health Assessment Programs (p. 56)

9:00am-9:30am Hendrik Nollens – University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Novel and Traditional Diagnostic Techniques in Aquatic Animal Health Assessment (p. 41)

9:30am-10:00am Greg Bossart – Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, FAU The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as a Sentinel for Environmental and Human Health, Veterinary Assessment Findings from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina (p. 9)

10:00am-10:30am Jamison Smith – Large Whale Disentanglement Coordinator, NOAA Fisheries At Sea Assessment of Large Whale Species for Determination and Classification of Human Induced Trauma aAnd Potential for Human and Medical Intervention (p. 50)


General Session III 11:00am-11:20am Juli Goldstein – Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, FAU

Ongoing Investigations of the Etiopathogenesis of Kogia Spp. Cardiomyopathy (p. 21)

11:20am-11:40am Katie Tripp – University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine Assessment of Manatee Corpora Lutea Function via Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (Star) Immunohistochemistry, Morphometry, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) (p. 52)

11:40am-12:00pm Ann Weaver – Argosy University Physical Anomalies in John's Pass Bottlenose Dolphins (p. 55)

12:00pm-12:20pm Eric Montie – University of South Florida Magnetic Resonance Imaging: New Approaches to Study Marine Mammal Health (p. 37)

12:20pm Roger Reep – Closing Remarks

12:30pm Conference Concludes – Please turn in completed evaluation form before you leave


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Poster Directory Abstract titles for poster presentations are listed in alphabetical order by the presenting author’s last name, which appears in bold.

POSTER SESSION ONE - Wednesday, April 23, 1:30pm-3:30pm

Poster Number

1..........Crassicauda sp. Infection in Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps), on Ceará state, NE of Brazil − Bianca Altieri, Centro de Especialidades Veterinárias, Ceara, Brazil (p. 3)

2..........Strandings Records of Cetaceans (Order Cetacea) in Coast Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraiba States - Brazil in the Period from 2003 to 2007 − Fernanda Attademo, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos, Pernambuco, Brazil .................................................. (p. 4)

10........Boat-based Anthropogenic Impacts on Dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida − Sarah Bechdel, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, United States...... (p. 7)

3..........Selenium and Mercury Concentrations in Liver of Stranded Pygmy Sperm Whales (Kogia breviceps) Affected by Cardiomyopathy − Colleen Bryan, NIST, United States...................................................................................................................................... (p. 10)

11........Comparisons of Fecal Cortisol Levels in Wild and Captive West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus): Who's More Stressed? − Kyle Donnelly, University of Florida,College of Veterinary Medicine, United States............................................... (p. 13)

5..........Hematological, Biochemical and Immunological Findings in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with Orogenital Papillomas − Juli Goldstein, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Inst., United States ................................................................. (p. 20)

6..........Use of Photo-analysis of Dolphin Mother-Calf Pairs to Determine Reproductive Rates in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. − Elisabeth Howells, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, United States........................................................................ (p. 22)

12........Environmental Correlates with Kogia Strandings from the Southeastern United States − Edward Keith, Nova Southeastern University, United States....................... (p. 23)

7..........Home Ranges of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida: Environmental Correlates and Implications for the Interpretation of Health Status − Marilyn Mazzoil, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, United States .............. (p. 33)

8..........Photo-identification for Estimation of Prevalence, Spatial Distribution and Temporal Trends of Lobomycosis in Bottlenose Dolphins from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida − Elizabeth Murdoch, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, United States ............................................................................................................................ (p. 39)


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POSTER SESSION ONE - Wednesday, April 23, 1:30pm-3:30pm (continued)

Poster Number

4..........Viral Metagenomics Reveals a Novel Anellovirus from a Mortality Event of Three Captive Sea Lions − Terry Fei Fan Ng, University of South Florida, United States (p. 40)

9..........Circulating Retinol and Alpha-Tocopherol Levels Based on Artificial Formula Consumed in Rescued Neonatal Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) − Noel Takeuchi, University of Florida, United States ........................................................................... (p. 51)

POSTER SESSION TWO - Thursday, April 24, 1:30pm-3:30pm

Poster Number

1..........Ingestion of Plastic Debris by Marine Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) Reintroduced on the Coast of Paraíba / Brazil: Case Report − Fernanda Attademo, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos, Pernambuco, Brazil .................................................. (p. 4)

6..........Manatees and Barges − Edmund Gerstein, Leviathan Legacy Inc., United States .. (p. 17)

7..........Ship Strike Acoustics: In the Shadow of Death − Edmund Gerstein, Leviathan Legacy Inc., United States ........................................................................................................ (p. 19)

8..........Manatee Zones of Masking from Dredging Noise − Edmund Gerstein, Leviathan Legacy Inc., United States ........................................................................................... (p. 16)

10........CT and MRI Techniques for Analysis of Trauma and Disease in Marine Mammals − Darlene R. Ketten, Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst., United States...................... (p. 25)

11........Lower Annual Survival Rates Confirmed for Adult Manatees in Northwest Florida during a Red Tide Event − Catherine Langtimm, US Geological Survey, United States...................................................................................................................................... (p. 29)

12........Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Development: Embryological and Fetal Anatomy and Staging − Iske Larkin, University of Florida, United States .... (p. 31)

4..........The Effects of the Visiting Public on the Swimming Behavior of Captive Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) − Michelle Latham, Midwest Florida Manatee Research Project, United States .................................................................... (p. 32)

5..........Teodolite Observations of the Gray Whale in the Region of the Construction Gas and Oil Extraction of Platform − Natalia Kryukova, Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Institute of Geograph, Russia....................................................................................... (p. 27)

9..........Morphological Description of Conjunctiva-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (CALT) in the Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris − Jennifer McGee, University of Florida, United States .................................................................................................. (p. 34)


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POSTER SESSION TWO - Thursday, April 24, 1:30pm-3:30pm (continued)

Poster Number

3..........Immunosuppression Cascade in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) − Katherine Moore, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, United States ............................................................................................................... (p. 38)

2..........Genetic Studies of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Mexico − Coralie Nourisson, ECOSUR, Quintana Roo, Mexico .............................. (p. 42)


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Marine Mammal Genetics Session Notes


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Algal Biotoxins Session Notes


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Power Plants and Manatees Session Notes


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Right Whales Session Notes


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Health Assessments Session Notes


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General Notes

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Conference Abstracts

Listed alphabetically by presenting author. Presenting author names appear in bold.


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Crassicauda sp. Infection in Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps), on Ceará State, NE of Brazil Bianca De Luca Altieri1, 2, Vitor Luz Carvalho3, Daniel Viana2, Katherine Fiedler Choi1, Thais Moura Campos1 and Antonio Carlos Amancio1

1Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos – AQUASIS, Ceará, Brazil. 2Centro de Especialidades Veterinárias, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 3Rua dos Campeões, Dionísio Torres, Ceará, Brasil

The family Crassicaudidae consists of two genera of large nematodes, Crassicauda and Placentonema. Members of the genus Crassicauda are commonly observed in mammary tissue, kidneys and around the genitalia. Their effect on individual animal health is unclear, but it has been suggested that these parasites may reduce populations of certain baleen whales and reduce reproductive success of cetacean species by decreasing milk production. On September 25th 2007 an adult male pygmy sperm whale stranded freshly dead (200 Kg and 2,71m length long) on Majorlandia beach (06’ 47. 3”S, 94’96.7”W). The carcass was recovered and a necropsy examination was performed at the Aquasis Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center, Iparana beach, Ceará state. Parasitic cysts were identified in the visceral diaphragm, bilaterally in the suprascapular muscles and in the penis. The parasites found inside the cysts measured 162cm on average and were identified as the genus Crassicauda through cranial parasite end examination and general appearance. Histopathologic sections of muscles demonstrated cysts that were filled with nematode eggs resembling those of Crassicauda sp and no inflammatory cells were present. Although lesions caused by the parasite infection did not have deleterious effects on the general health of the animal, parasites are important indicators of biological and environmental phenomena and in some cases might impact marine mammal populations. Contact Information: Bianca De Luca Altieri, Centro de Especialidades Veterinárias, R: 24 de maio n. 1441-Fortaleza, Ceará 60020-001; Phone: 5512-38958425; Email: [email protected]


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Ingestion of Plastic Debris by Marine Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) Reintroduced on the Coast of Paraíba / Brazil: Case Report F. L. N. Attademo1, A. E. Alencar1, J. K. Nobre1, L. J. Lopes2 and M. M. Severo2

1Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos-FMA, Recife, PE, Brazil

2Centro de Nacional de Pesquisa, Conservação e Manejo de Mamíferos Aquáticos-CMA/ICMBio, Ilha de Itamaracá, PE, Brazil

The sirenians are represented in Brazil by the Amazonian (Trichechus inunguis) and marine (Trichechus manatus manatus) manatees, being this last one population distributed in the northern and northeastern Brazilian coastal area. The Aquatic Mammals Center (CMA / ICMBio) is responsible for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of manatee throughout the northeast coast. A total of 16 releases were already made during the project operation years, being the two latest ones done in April 2006, when two male animals were released at Barra de Mamanguape, Paraíba, Brazil. Guape (01S0111/13) and Guaju (01S111/14) remained in semi-captivity for 6 years and were released in Rio Mamanguape / PB, due to an operation problem caused by a tide wide range. The two individuals were then monitored by VHF radiotelemetry. The animals' locomotion route and behavior patterns were described in ethogram spreadsheets and no veterinary management was carried after release. After the release, Guaju came to death 2 months later and Guape was redeemed with life, 5 months after release. During Guaju necropsy, it was established that the cause mortis could be attributed to the ingestion of plastic material, found in the stomach and intestines of the animal, obstructing these organs flow. The second animal presented a large displacement and was redeemed with great physical weakness and loss of a third (1/3) of body weight. The animal was translocated to an ex-situ rehabilitation captivity, located at Ilha de Itamaracá, pernambuco, Brazil. The animal was also presenting breathing difficulty, abdominal pain and constipation, being initiated the administration of 20ml of mineral oil orally, once per day and, after 1 week, the fecal elimination of the plastic material was verified for 60 non-consecutive days. Since then, the animal showed excellent clinical response and 120 days after it was translocated back to semi-captivity. These were the first record of plastic ingestion by manatee reintroduced in Brazil. The success of manatees’ reintroduction depends not only of a satisfactory rehabilitation but also is directly related to the existence of a preserved habitat. The plastic debris has been investigated as and impact sign for various species of marine animals. Being thus, conservation measures are necessary this species occurrence areas. Contact Information: Attademo F. L. M..Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos–FMA, Projeto Peixe-Boi Estrada do Forte Orange S/N, Ilha de Itamaracá, PE 53900-000 Brazil; Phone: 55-81-3544-1056; Fax: 55-81-3544-1835; Email: [email protected]


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Strandings Records of Cetaceans (Order Cetacea) in Coast Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraiba States - Brazil in the Period from 2003 to 2007

F. L. N. Attademo1, L. R. A. Carneiro2, C. M. Santos3, G. M. Garcia 4, M. M. Severo 5 and I. C. Normande 5

1Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos - FMA, Recife, PE, Brazil

2Universidade de Brasília - UNB, Brasília, DF, Brazil

3Universidade Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, PE, Brazil 4União Pioneira de Integração Social - UPIS, Brasília, DF, Brazil

5Centro Nacional de Pesquisa, Conservação e Manejo de Mamíferos Aquáticos-CMA/ICMBio, Ilha de Itamaracá, PE, Brazil

The aquatic mammals are distributed in all Brazilian territory, since the coast till the estuaries. In Brazil, the largest numbers of stranded registers belong to Order Cetacea species, many of them without sufficient data on the conservation status. This event happens during all months of the year and some of stranding causes are the entangled in fishing nets, a collision with vessels, natural causes such as infectious diseases, attack by predators, consumption of neurotoxins produced by dinoflagellate or unknown causes. The recording of stranding is a important support for data determination about the species conservation status and geographic distribution. In this study was used information from the stranding records attended by the National Center for Research, Conservation and Handling of Aquatic Mammals CMA/ICMBio on the coast of Alagoas, Paraíba and Pernambuco, during the years 2003 to 2007. In these period, 78 stranding events were analyzed and copied in Excel, focused on four main categories: 1) locality of event, 2) Stranding seasonality, 3) Stranding conditions (Alive, alive followed by death and death), 4) Taxonomic group. Results indicate that Pernambuco state concentrate most part of records (52%), followed by the state of Paraiba (26%) and Alagoas (22%). The months of July to September showed the highest rates in studied period (34.6%). As to the stranding condition, data from death overlap those rescued with life, where only 6% of incidents were for live animals, and of these, 60% came to death after the rescue because of its high degree of weakness. The most common species among the large cetaceans are Megaptera novaeangliae – Humpback whale (17%), Physeter macrocephalus– Sperm whale (15%), and between small cetaceans, Sotalia guianensis – Tucuxi dolphin (22%) e Tursiops truncatus – Bottle-nosed dolphin (17%). It was also observed that in July and September, the specie most incident was M. Novaeangliae (53.8% and 35% respectively), Coinciding with the time of activity migration toward the northeastern Brazil. Unable to be diagnosed in whole, the causes of strandings, but the entangled in fishing nets was the main cause mortis, mainly of small cetaceans. According to the result obtained was observed the implementation need of measures for the aquatic mammals conservation in the region and further studies that better define the causes mortis and distribution of the species. These data may be used to environmental education programs, determination of standards for the use of habitat and environmental factors associated with the occurrence of these animals. Contact Information: Attademo F. L. M..Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos–FMA, Projeto Peixe-Boi Estrada do Forte Orange S/N, Ilha de Itamaracá, PE 53900-000 Brazil; Phone: 55-81-3544-1056; Fax: 55-81-3544-1835; Email: [email protected]


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Sensory Processes and Cognition in the Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris Gordon B. Bauer1,2, D.E. Colbert3, J.C. Gaspard III2,5, K. Dziuk2, A. Cardwell 2, R. L. Reep5 and D. Mann2,4

1New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL 2Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 3University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 4College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 5College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

As humans continue to modify coastal environments (physically, acoustically, visually, and chemically), it would be useful to understand better how such changes may interfere with the manatee’s sensory and cognitive abilities to locate and select optimal habitat and to detect major threats, such as boats. Investigations of manatee sensory processes have revealed a surprising constellation of abilities, facility at learning new tasks, and durable memory that suggest a cognitive capacity unexpected by many. Manatees are tactile/auditory specialists, with limited visual acuity, a pattern consistent with the frequently turbid, underwater environment these herbivores inhabit. Using the vibrissae-rich facial area, manatees demonstrate tactile discrimination of texture gratings (Weber fraction = 0.05) at a level comparable to human index finger performance. Initial tests indicate manatees detect low frequency vibrations between 5 and 150 Hz, presumably through hydrodynamic sensation involving the vibrissae that cover their bodies, an arrangement unique among mammals. Anatomical evidence suggests that the vibrissae form a three dimensional array for detecting subtle changes in water movement, analogous to the lateral line of a fish. Their auditory temporal processing rate is high, exceeding that for humans by a factor of 10, but less than that of dolphins, which are active echolocators. The manatee evoked potential audiogram indicates detection of sound frequencies up to at least 40 kHz. Directional hearing for broadband stimuli is excellent, but localization of tonal sounds is poor. They have dichromatic color vision, unique among marine mammals, but visual acuity measured as a minimum angle of resolution is probably no better than 20 arc minutes. The two subjects used in our behavioral paradigms quickly learned detection and discrimination tasks in two-alternative forced choice, go/no-go, and eight-alternative choice procedures. They invested more time to solve difficult discriminations compared to easier discriminations, an important problem solving strategy. They demonstrated excellent retention of tasks they had not attempted for many months, supporting a capacity for long term memory suggested by observations of manatees returning to familiar sites in the wild. Contact Information: Gordon B. Bauer, Division of Social Sciences, New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, FL 34243 USA; Phone: 941-487-4394; Fax: 941-487-4475; Email: [email protected]


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Boat-based Anthropogenic Impacts on Dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Sarah E. Bechdel1, Marilyn Mazzoil1, M. Elizabeth Murdoch1, Elisabeth Howells1, David S. Kilpatrick1,3, John S. Reif2, Stephen D. McCulloch1 and Gregory D. Bossart1

1Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce, FL

2Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 3Southside Veterinary Hospital, Vero Beach, FL

Anthropogenic impacts continue to increase in the coastal environment. In 2004, Florida, having been in the top five boating states for over a decade, soared to the nations’ leader in the number of registered boats. The increased number of boats and boaters has impacted man and the resources of the Indian River Lagoon Estuary (IRL), FL, in terms of threats to human safety, property, shallow-water habitats and wildlife. As an Estuary of National Significance, the IRL Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) identified key living resources for implementation of management and protection actions. Action Item MB-5, to provide education to owners and operators of boats and personal watercraft, was identified to create boating and environmental awareness. Action Item MB-8, to establish resource protection zones in the IRL, recognized boating impacts on wildlife, such as manatees, turtles and dolphins, being struck by boats and injured or killed. Currently, no data exist to examine boating impacts on the resident population of dolphins inhabiting the IRL. Vessel-based anthropogenic impacts were investigated by quantifying visible physical injuries to dolphin dorsal fins from photo-identification data collected from 1996-2006. Forty-three dolphins were identified with dorsal fin damage from propeller or blunt impact trauma, and 33 with >6 sightings were used for home range analyses. The IRL was divided into 6 segments based on hydrodynamics and geographic features and dolphins were assigned to a segment(s) and corresponding surrounding county according to ranging patterns. The highest rate of boat strikes were found for segment 1B (Banana River), in central Brevard County. Preliminary data indicate that Brevard County, which contains segments 1B, 2 and 3, had the highest number of dolphins with boat injuries as well as the highest number of registered boats. Two dolphin deaths were attributed to boat hits, one from pneumothorax as a result of impact, the other as a result of a propeller slice through the skull. Due to shallow nature of this estuary, management considerations include: increasing the number of regulated speed zones and continuing/increasing boater awareness programs. Boaters are recommended to obey all posted speed zones, wear polarized glasses, limit boating over shallow areas, watch for changes in water movement, and observe marine mammals from a safe distance > 100 ft. Negligent activity involving marine animals should be reported to local authorities or the Florida Marine Patrol. Contact Information: Sarah E. Bechdel, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 USA; Phone: 772.465.2400 X654; Fax: 772-595-3332; Email: [email protected]


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Population Genetics of the Florida Manatee Robert K. Bonde1, Kimberly C. Pause2, Margaret E. Kellogg3, AnnMarie Clark4 and Peter M. McGuire2

1Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL 2College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 3College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 4Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Trichechines have had an uncanny ability to establish new populations within their subtropical range, as evidenced by their evolutionary history and genetic traits. Although vicariance separated the taxa over time, the vagility of this unique group of aquatic mammals enabled populations to disperse through deliberate migration or stochastic events. This phenomenon of population expansion is characteristic when the existing population is large enough to act as a source to populate new habitats. Although these adjacent habitats are not always biologically suitable, the trichechines have persisted due to their ability to modify their behavior to adjust to the new surroundings. For example, specific but subtle morphological characteristics have evolved within each population. Florida is an example of a more recently established population (within the last 20,000 years) and the northwest Florida group of manatees that overwinters at Crystal River is an example of a new subpopulation. Within Florida there are several distinct habitat types that require very different survival strategies for the resident manatees. Some previous studies have examined the genetic diversity of the Florida population. Early studies using allozymes and nuclear microsatellites suggest that Florida manatees have low to average genetic variation and a relatively homogeneous population. This could be explained by their unique and specialized breeding habits that result in adequate gene flow between contiguous areas. Mitochondrial DNA analyses suggest that low genetic diversity among all Florida manatees may have been due to inbreeding, a bottleneck event, or founder effect. The Crystal River manatee population is well established and has increased in numbers over the last 30 years. Long-term data sets (over 35 years) using photo-identification of distinct individuals (n=417) from Crystal River exist for this well-studied winter population of manatees; furthermore, aerial surveys recorded the highest count of 438 manatees in 2006. Though an increase in population size has occurred in recent decades, there is concern as to the possible genetic impacts of the accelerated growth that may potentially affect the well-being of the Florida population as a whole. Genetic connectivity and pedigree studies can give us information on breeding among different population units. Knowledge of the genetic composition of this group will determine whether breeding with parapatric populations is occurring, and may play a role in understanding the population structure by complementing efforts to model various life history strategies. To date, over 700 samples (550 from calves and 150 from adults) have been collected from the Crystal River winter manatee population, providing a good base for future genetic applications. This massive effort allows for inferences about Florida manatee life history and population structure, including reproductive potential, migration and movements, and overall population size. Contact Information: R. K. Bonde, U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Sirenia Project, 2201 NW 40th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605 USA; Phone: 352-264-3555; Fax: 352-374-8080; Email: [email protected]


9

The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as a Sentinel for Environmental and Human Health: Veterinary Assessment Findings from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina Gregory D. Bossart1, John S. Reif1,2 and Patricia A. Fair3

1Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, FL 2Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical

Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 3Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric

Administration, Charleston, SC Marine mammals are proving to be important sentinels for oceans and human health due to their many unique natural attributes. To this end, an Atlantic bottle dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) comparative health assessment study was developed and conducted on 90 bottlenose dolphins inhabiting coastal estuaries near Charleston (CHS), SC and 140 from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), FL from 2003-2007. As of January 1, 2008, 24 peer-reviewed publications have resulted from data generated from this comparative study. Comprehensive health examinations included a complete physical examination, ultrasound survey and the collection of a suite of traditional and specialized clinicopathologic samples analyzed by a team of approximately 40 collaborators. The health status of 230 dolphins was classified as normal, possible disease or definite disease by a panel of five marine mammal veterinarians. Dolphins from both populations had a high prevalence of definite disease (21% in CHS, 36% in the IRL) and less than half of the dolphins at each site were classified as normal health (49% in CHS, 39% in the IRL). The definite disease category contained dolphins with two diseases, lobomycosis and orogenital sessile papillomatosis that accounted for 68% of the diagnoses. Both diseases are occurring in epidemic proportions in the IRL and are associated with specific immunologic perturbations, which may have an environmental basis. A third general group of diseased animals was classified on other clinicopatholgic findings such as gastric inflammation and hematologic/serum chemistry abnormalities. Both dolphin populations had a high prevalence of antibiotic resistant E. coli. Higher concentrations of persistent emerging contaminants such as PBDEs and PFCs and a suite of legacy pollutants such as PCBs, DDT and trace metals were found in CHS dolphins. Levels of PBDEs and PFOS in Charleston dolphins represented some of the highest measured in marine mammals. Conversely, levels of total and methyl mercury levels in the skin and blood of IRL dolphins was up to 4 times higher that CHS dolphins and well above EPA standards established for fish for human consumption. Thus, this health assessment study has documented new complex diseases involving emerging infectious, immunologic and neoplastic components coupled with toxicologic and other data that provide important information on aquatic ecosystem health. Dolphin sentinels can provide an early warning system of potential negative environmental trends and then these warnings may permit the better characterization and management of negative impacts on oceans and human health. This is especially important since much of the existing disease data suggest that complex interactions occur among anthropogenic toxins, immunologic and/or infectious organisms in marine mammals that share a coastal environment with humans. Contact Information: Gregory D. Bossart, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 USA; Phone: 772-465-2400 X556; Email: [email protected]


10

Selenium and Mercury Concentrations in Liver of Stranded Pygmy Sperm Whales (Kogia breviceps) Affected by Cardiomyopathy Colleen E. Bryan1, 2, Wayne E. McFee3, Gregory D. Bossart4, W. Clay Davis1 and Steven J. Christopher1

1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC 2Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 3NOAA National Ocean Service, CCEHBR, Charleston, SC 4Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, HBOI, Fort Pierce, FL

Pygmy sperm whales are the second most frequently stranded toothed whale along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. More than half of documented cases exhibit signs of cardiomyopathy (CMP). Many factors may contribute to the development of idiopathic CMP in K. breviceps, including genetics, infectious agents, chemical toxins, contaminants, and nutritional abnormalities. Nutritional deficiencies of selenium (Se) have been shown in mouse and bovine models to contribute to CMP. This study assesses trace elements in K. breviceps (n = 62) exhibiting or lacking signs of CMP using liver samples collected from individuals that stranded along the coasts of MA, VA, NC, SC, GA, and FL between 1991-2007. Total Se was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and total mercury (Hg) was measured by pyrolysis atomic absorption (AA) to examine if the Se/Hg detoxification pathway inhibits the bioavailability of Se. Due to the important role Se can play an in antioxidant biochemistry and protein formation, Se species were also measured in addition to total Se by reverse phase liquid chromatography (RP/LC/ICP-MS). Mean total Se and Hg concentrations (wet mass, ± SD) were 9.57 ± 4.33 μg/g and 11.5 ± 10.6 μg/g respectively. Se ranged from 2.01-21.6 μg/g and Hg ranged from 0.385-56.9 μg/g. A strong positive correlation existed between total Se and Hg concentrations in liver (p < 0.001, r = 0.770). Data collected on trace elements and metalloproteins will be evaluated in the context of animal life history, disease state markers, and other complementary histological information to gain insight into the biochemical pathways contributing to the development of CMP in K. breviceps. This research is being performed in the context of a larger study on Kogia species in partnership with NOAA's Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research and HBOI Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation. Contact Information: Colleen E. Bryan, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 USA; Phone: 843-762-8832; Fax: 843-762-8742; Email: [email protected]


11

This Won’t Hurt a Bit: New Molecular Tools for Population Assessment of the Florida Manatee Michael D. Tringali 1, Michelle C. Davis 1, Seifu Seyoum 1, Marta A. Rodriguez-Lopez 1, Jamie G. Sullivan1, Elsa Haubold1, Susan L. Carney2 and Ellen E. Bolen2

1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida 2Mote Marine Laboratory, , Sarasota, Florida

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is an endangered marine mammal that inhabits coastal waters of the southeastern United States. In the last decade, many studies of Florida manatee populations have been conducted using sighting-resighting surveys (population estimates, migratory, survival, and reproductive rates) by way of photo-identification. Unfortunately, significant data gaps exist in gender-specific identification data due to photographic conditions, animal accessibility, and other extrinsic factors. Thus, our specific objectives were to develop the following: 1) a minimally invasive sampling tool, 2) a molecular-sexing assay, 3) an informative array of microsatellite markers, and 4) the baseline genetic data for needed probability computations during individual identification. These new tools can then be integrated into sighting-resighting investigations to increase the number of identifications and instances in which gender is recorded. We designed and successfully tested a minimally invasive ‘biopsy’ sampler – a narrow, sharpened, stainless-steel tube containing barbed wires that retain skin cells when it is withdrawn – for use with free-swimming manatees. We designed and tested a rigorous molecular-sexing assay, based on manatee-specific X- and Y-chromosome gene markers, which can be detected by agarose-gel electrophoresis and automated DNA fragment analysis. Finally, we developed eighteen polymorphic microsatellite loci. Using these new markers, we genotyped 786 samples from five Florida locations – three on the Atlantic coast (NE, n=68; EC, n=124; SE, n=93) and two on the Gulf coast (NW, n=122; SW, n=379). In tests of allele frequencies, Nei’s genetic distance, FST, and AMOVA, we observed highly significant differences between all Atlantic and Gulf locations (p<0.00001). Minor genetic differences were also observed among locations within coasts. These analyses provide the baseline allele frequencies and other parametric values needed for individual genetic identification. Thus, molecular tools and protocols are now in place for important population monitoring, assessment, and other conservation applications for this subspecies. Contact Information: Michelle C. Davis, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA; Phone: 727-896-8626 x3130; Fax: 727-893-9840; Email: [email protected]


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Fine-scale Winter Movements and Attendance Patterns of Florida Manatees at Power Plants in Tampa Bay Charles J. Deutsch1, Holly H. Edwards2 and Margaret E. Barlas2

1Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL 2Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL

Florida manatees seek warm-water habitat during winter because of their vulnerability to cold-related stress and mortality. We investigated manatee winter movements and attendance patterns at industrial thermal refugia in Tampa Bay in relation to environmental factors. We tagged 32 manatees near the TECO Big Bend power plant over four winters (December through February, 2002-2006). The manatees were tracked with state-of-the-art Global Positioning System tags that relayed near-real-time and highly accurate movement data through the Argos system. The tags attempted GPS fixes every 15-20 minutes, with a success rate of 82%. Data loggers provided continuous temperature records for ambient bay waters, power plant discharges, and the thermal regime experienced by the animals. Manatees behave as central-place foragers in winter, using a thermal refuge as a focal point from which to make feeding trips. All tagged manatees showed strong fidelity to TECO, which had the highest quality warm-water habitat, but 13 individuals also visited other power plants in the region. Manatee presence at warm-water sites increased as ambient temperature declined, as expected based on their thermoregulatory physiology. The animals fasted while resting in the heated effluent of the power plant for periods lasting up to 7 or more days during unusually cold weather. Once they ventured into the bay to forage, the duration of their trips was constrained by exposure to cold water. There was considerable variation among individuals in size of winter range and proportion of time spent at thermal refugia. During the winter season manatees spent an average of 47% of their time in a thermal refuge and 24% in mapped seagrass habitat, their primary food source. This translates to an average of 5.8 hr per day potentially engaged in foraging activity. About ½ and ¾ of all non-refuge winter locations were located within 10 and 20 km of the TECO power plant, respectively (max = 64 km). Individuals were consistent in their daily movements and within-winter fidelity to particular foraging grounds. The timing of manatee foraging and refuging activity was influenced by the interaction of water level, bathymetry, and time of day. Peak presence at the power plant occurred during mid-day, whereas manatees primarily foraged at night. Access to shallow, nearshore grass beds was limited to times of higher tidal levels, which typically occurred at night. Manatees avoided foraging during the day over extensive, shallow grass flats even when water levels permitted access, perhaps reflecting their reluctance to stray from deep water to which they can flee when approached by watercraft. Winter attendance patterns and movements reflect the energetic tradeoffs manatees make between foraging in cold water and fasting in warm water. Contact Information: Charles J. Deutsch, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 4005 S. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 USA; Phone: 352-955-2230 x109; Fax: 352-955-2183, Email: [email protected]


13

Comparisons of Fecal Cortisol Levels in Wild and Captive West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus): Who’s More Stressed? Kyle A. Donnelly and Iske L. Vandevelde Larkin

Aquatic Animal Health Program, CVM, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL The endangered Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) which is considered rare throughout its range along the coastal waters of the Caribbean, Central and South America. An additional small number of manatees live in captivity in various aquariums and zoos. Wild and captive populations inhabit different environments, and the relative stress levels between them may reflect these differences. The effects of stress can be damaging to health, and this is of particular interest to manatees since the overall health of an endangered species is of the upmost concern to ensure their future. When animals are faced with a stressor, the pituitary produces adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which initiates the release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex. The primary glucocorticoid released by adrenocortical activity in all marine mammals is cortisol. These biological responses enable stress to be measured, and this study utilizes concentrations of fecal cortisol to estimate the level of overall stress. The primary objective of this study was to determine the difference in fecal cortisol concentrations between captive and wild manatees. The null hypotheisis assumes both captive and wild groups have equal concentrations of cortisol. One alternative hypothesis predicts wild manatees have a higher concentration, while the other predicts the captive population has the higher concentration. We hypothesize captive animals have a higher fecal cortisol concentrations. One hundred and ten total manatees of varying ages were used in this project from locations including Mexico, Belize, Puerto Rico, and Florida. Over 440 fecal samples were analyzed, the repeats coming mainly from captive manatees. After the samples were collected, they were stored in the freezer (-20°C). A lyophilizer was used to freeze dry them, and then they were solubilized (0.25g mixed with 5 ml of 100% ethanol and 5ml of 3.7 pH citrate buffer). From this solubilized sample, the 300 µl of the supernatant were double extracted using 5 ml of ethyl ether and dried under air. The cortisol concentrations were then determined using cortisol (R 1222 anti-cortisol-3-BSA serum, Animal Reproduction & Biotechnology Lab, Colorado State University) antibodies in a radioimmunoassay. The differences between captive and wild manatee fecal cortisol concentrations differ among locations. The captive Florida population is higher than the other wild populations; while the captive Mexican population shows lower concentrations than the other wild populations. The results of this investigation suggest that location may play an important role in stress levels when comparing a manatee’s status as captive or wild. The factors that influence stress and fecal cortisol concentrations are many (gender and season etc…). Additional samples from captive manatees living at SeaWorld, Orlando will be analyzed in the near future and will add further insight into which variables play important roles in manatee stress. Contact Information: Kyle A. Donnelly, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100136, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA; Phone: 941-313-0616; Email: [email protected]


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Marine Mammal Associated Brucella Exposure cELISA Serosurveys J. Lawrence Dunn1, Cara Field1, Inga Sidor1 and Jenny Meegan1,2

1Department of Research and Veterinary Services, Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, Mystic, CT 2University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL,USA;

Beginning with the discovery of marine origin Brucella in 1994 concerns have been raised about possible risks of exposure to this pathogen in humans who interact with marine mammals. Human interaction with marine mammals may be as simple as participating in a seal or whale watch or as involved and intimate as subsistence hunting, butchering and consuming marine mammal tissues. In our multiyear study of marine Brucella we have processed thousands of marine mammal samples and more recently have conducted seroprevalence analyses on two suspected at risk human populations. The first human cohort sampled consisted of 125 veterinarians, researchers and marine mammal care personnel who had satisfactorily completed qualifying questionnaires relating to their histories of marine mammal interactions. The second cohort consists of samples from 1130 arctic subsistence hunters and consumers of marine mammals collected in the fall of 2007. Results of these surveys and seroprevalence levels in marine mammal populations from the South East US will be presented. Contact Information: J. Lawrence Dunn, Mystic Aquarium, Department of Research and Veterinary Services,55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Phone: 860-572-5955 ext.103; Fax: 860-572-5972, Email: [email protected]


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Effects of Karenia brevis Harmful Algal Blooms on Bottlenose Dolphins and Their Prey Damon Gannon1, Elizabeth Berens1, Janet Gannon1, Sandra Camilleri1, Jason Allen2 and Randall Wells2

1Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL USA 2Chicago Zoological Society, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL USA

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur frequently along Florida’s southwest coast, causing episodes of high mortality in fishes, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. The most prevalent HAB involves the red tide organism Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate that produces neurotoxins, called brevetoxins. Intense K. brevis blooms can also cause hypoxia in bottom waters. Although much research effort has focused on bloom dynamics and the health effects of brevetoxin on individual animals, little attention has been paid to the population- or community-level effects of red tide on upper trophic level organisms. In 2004, we initiated a large-scale ecological survey to investigate the extent to which the estuarine community in Sarasota Bay, Florida (particularly fishes and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus) is affected by K. brevis blooms. We conducted concurrent surveys of (1) K. brevis cell densities; (2) water quality (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity); (3) fish abundance, distribution, diversity, and community structure; and (4) bottlenose dolphin abundance and habitat selection during the summers of 2003 to 2007. Five discrete habitats were studied: nearshore Gulf, open bay, seagrass beds, sandflats, and mangrove fringes. There were three red tide events during the study, in 2003, 2005, and 2006. The 2005 red tide was particularly severe, prompting the National Marine Fisheries Service to declare a multispecies Unusual Mortality Event. Overall fish densities were significantly lower during red tide than non-red tide conditions in all habitats (t tests, P<0.05). Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis showed that K. brevis cell count was consistently (and negatively) associated with fish catch rates in all habitats. K. brevis cell count was a significant predictor of fish densities in every habitat, with critical cell count values ranging from 1 to 138,037 cells per liter. No other variable (depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, or turbidity) was statistically associated with the density of non-clupeid fishes by the CART models. Fish diversity, measured by Shannon-Weaver indices and by species richness, was significantly lower during red tide than non-red tide periods in every habitat (t tests, P<0.05). Canonical correspondence analyses showed that the fish communities during non-red tide conditions were distinct from those found during red conditions in all habitats and that clupeids tend to become more dominant in all habitats during red tide. Syrjala’s test indicated that the distribution of dolphins in 2005 differed significantly from that of all other years. Dolphin habitat selection changed (G (adj)df=4= 11.39 p=0.0225) and group size increased (Fdf=3=12.162, p<0.0001) in 2005. The dolphins may have responded directly to the presence of the algal bloom or to changes in prey availability brought about by the bloom. These results suggest that, in addition to acute toxic effects, HABs can have significant ecological effects on bottlenose dolphins and their prey. Contact Information: Damon Gannon, Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236 USA; Phone: 941-388-4441 x450; Email: [email protected]


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Manatee Zones of Masking from Dredging Noise Edmund Gerstein1, 2, Joseph Blue1, Gerard Pinto3 and Seth Barr3

1Leviathan Legacy Inc., Boca Raton, FL 2Florida Atlantic University, Behavioral Sciences Bld., Boca Raton, FL 3Jacksonville University, Department of Biology, Jacksonville, FL

The purpose of this study was to record and analyze underwater acoustic characteristics of hydraulic dredging in the St. Johns River, Duval Co., Florida and evaluate possible noise impacts in the waterway with respect to manatee hearing. Of particular interest, was the extent and range that dredging noise may acoustically mask the sounds of approaching commercial and recreational vessels. The underwater noise generated by a hopper dredge performing navigational maintenance near Blount Island and Talleyrand was recorded using vertical hydrophone arrays and a multi-channel digital recording system. In addition to dredging noise, baseline ambient noise surveys, site-specific bathymetic and active noise propagation measurements were conducted where dredge recordings were made. Site-specific acoustical and physical data were then integrated with behavioral hearing data to evaluate the acoustic impacts and estimate zones of masking surrounding hopper dredging activity. In the areas measured, tidal mixing resulted in isothermal conditions and iso-sound speed velocities across depths. In the dredged channel, acoustical transmission loss was spherical up to 100 meters. Noise propagated relatively freely in the channel, while boundary effects were apparent at lower frequencies in shallower water. Mid-range frequencies, (2 kHz to 10 kHz) propagated with the best efficiency while lower frequencies were attenuated near the surface and higher frequencies were more readily absorbed and scattered. Three discernable and relatively continuous noise sources that masked boat noise were (1) cavitation from dredge propellers, (2) draghead vacuuming and, (3) noise from the submerged slurry pump out pipeline. Peak sound pressure levels were measured at 63 Hz to 2,815 Hz for the different sources. Estimated source levels at 1 meter were for frequencies > 1,000 Hz were, 172 dB re 1μPa for cavitation, 177 dB re 1μPa for draghead vacuuming and, 169 dB re 1μPa for slurry pump out noise. Dredging noise masked the sounds of fast approaching watercraft at ranges > 250 m. The zone of masking for a slow approaching vessel was > 2.5 miles away from the hopper dredge. Mitigation techniques suggested to abate noise radiation include; ship quieting technologies, reducing propeller cavitation, insulating and elevating the slurry pipeline, and minimizing the number and distance of transects back and forth to pump out stations. With respect to the effects on boat noise a direct mitigation would be to attach a low intensity, directional alarm (in a noise bandwidth above the masking frequencies) to the bows of slow and fast moving vessels.

Funding provided by the City of Jacksonville Waterways Commission.

Contact Information: Edmund Gerstein, Leviathan Legacy Inc, 1318 SW 14th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486, USA; Phone: 561-338-9185; Fax: 561-338-9185; Email: [email protected]


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Manatees and Barges Edmund Gerstein 1, 2, Laura Gerstein 1, Joseph Blue 1 and Steven Forsythe 3

1Leviathan Legacy Inc., Boca Raton, FL 2Florida Atlantic University, Behavioral Sciences Bld., Boca Raton, FL 3U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division, Newport, RI

Collisions with slow moving barges and large commercial vessels may account for a significant percentage of watercraft related manatee mortalities. The causes for these collisions are not known, however, we do know slow speed zones do not protect manatees from fatal encounters with these lumbering vessels. Gerstein and Blue having measured manatee hearing abilities and the acoustic propagation of ship and boat noise in the manatees shallow water habitats, argue that a combination of the low frequency hearing constraints and shallow water propagation effects make the auditory detection of these vessels very difficult. Ambient noise in manatees habitats can also mask or obscure the sounds of large slow moving vessels as it does smaller recreational boats. As propeller tip rotations decrease, the frequency spectra and sound pressure levels decrease proportionately, and at some acoustic level, these sounds can become indiscernible from the ambient background noise. Aside from these challenges barges and tugs present unique detection problems for manatees. The most serious of which is acoustic shadowing. The condition exists when propellers are positioned above keel level and the sounds from propellers are physically blocked from projecting forward as they reflect off the stern. While a noise is projected off the stern and to the sides of the vessel, there is an absence of propeller noise directly ahead of the bow near the surface. This is the acoustic shadow. Measurements with hydrophone arrays demonstrate that approaching 200 and 260’ barges pushed by various tugs in the AIWC are acoustical undetectable until at least ½ to ¾ of the barge length has passed directly over the hydrophones. Regardless of the manatees’ hearing abilities they can not react to sounds that never even reach them. An insidious aspect of acoustical shadows is that animals positioned off to the sides that hear approaching vessels may actively seek refuge into the quiet zones directly ahead of approaching barges and large commercial ships. This may be happening with whales in the ocean and an acoustical projector array has been developed to selectively fill in the acoustical shadows and alert marine mammals of approaching vessels. Funding provided by WES, ACOE, DOD, Navy Legacy, CFW. Contact Information: Edmund Gerstein, Leviathan Legacy Inc, 1318 SW 14th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486, USA; Phone: 561-338-9185; Fax: 561-338-9185; Email: [email protected]


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Of Manatees and Men: Masking, Boats and Alarms Edmund Gerstein1, 2, Laura Gerstein1, Joseph Blue1, Narayan Elasmar2, Josiah Greenewald2 and Steven Forsythe 3

1Leviathan Legacy Inc., Boca Raton, FL 2Florida Atlantic University, Behavioral Sciences Building, Boca Raton, FL 3U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division, Newport, RI

A comprehensive series of controlled underwater psychoacoustic tests was conducted to measure and document the overall hearing abilities of the West Indian manatee. Pure tones, complex noise and real world sounds were presented to manatees under various controlled acoustical conditions. The results from more than 30,000 threshold trials definitively measured the manatees’ overall range of hearing, sensitivity, masked thresholds, critical ratios, and directional hearing for pure tones, species specific calls and boat noise. Complementing these investigations, underwater acoustical measurements of manatee habitats and vessel noise propagation in these environments were conducted to evaluate the acoustical factors that render Florida manatees vulnerable to repeated collisions with vessels. Both low frequency cut-offs in shallow water and near surface boundary effects limit the propagation of low frequency sounds and the dominant low frequency spectra of slow moving boats. Slow speed zones implemented to protect manatees do not address the underlying acoustical challenges manatees face. Ironically, the strategy can also be counter-productive in turbid waters and exacerbate the problem, making vessels more difficult or impossible for manatees to detect, while increasing transect times and thus the opportunities for collisions. While manatees are not adapted for hearing the dominant spectra from watercraft they are well equipped to detect and locate higher frequency modulated sounds. This hearing sensitivity provides a narrow sensory window through which to alert manatees of approaching vessels. A highly directional, very low intensity alarm which exploits the manatees' best hearing abilities has been designed for boats. The efficacy of this technology for alerting manatees is being evaluated through controlled slow boat approach tests with wild manatees. The tests are being conducted in areas where public boating is not permitted and manatees are routinely observed. The areas provide relatively controlled conditions with relatively few acoustic and anthrogenic variables to influence manatee behavior. An array of GPS instrumented buoys with submerged hydrophones acoustically gird the study site. These underwater acoustic recording buoys are synchronized with aerial video recorders to record manatee reactions and document acoustic conditions during control and experimental conditions. The study design is straightforward with two experimental conditions: (1) boat approaches without the alarm activated and (2) boat approaches with the alarm activated. Preliminary results show that 93% (40 of 43) of the no-alarm approach trials elicited no avoidance reactions until the boat veered off and passed the manatee, while 100% (6 out of 6) of the alarm trials elicited overt avoidance responses (swimming away or diving) 15-25m ahead of the bow. More tests will be conducted this year. Research authorized under USFWS permits PRT761873, PRT 795477, and MA063561-1. Funding: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Navy Legacy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Inland Navigation District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and Citizens for Florida's Waterways.

Contact Information: Edmund Gerstein, Florida Atlantic University, Psychology Department, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486, USA; Phone: 561-338-9185, Fax: 561-338-9185, Email: [email protected]


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Ship Strike Acoustics: In the Shadow of Death Edmund R. Gerstein 1, 2, Joseph E. Blue 1 and Steve E. Forsythe 3

1Leviathan Legacy Inc., Boca Raton, FL 2Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Behavioral Sciences, Boca Raton, FL 3Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, Newport, RI

Though more commonly reported in coastal areas, ship strikes are not restricted to busy shipping lanes or shallow water. A common denominator is that they occur near the surface. Here the acoustical laws of reflection and propagation affect the ability of whales to hear and locate the sounds of approaching vessels. The confluence of Lloyd’s Mirror Effect, acoustical shadowing, along with spherical spreading loss from the stern to bow of large ships can render the sounds of many approaching ships indiscernible from the ambient noise. Perhaps the most confusing is acoustical shadowing. While the size and geometry of the shadows ahead of ships may vary, propeller noise is more intense off the port and starboard sides than it is directly ahead an approaching vessel. Observations of whales surfacing in front of ships suggest that the acoustical conditions can confuse whales and may even cause some to seek refuge by surfacing or actively swimming into the quieter shadows zones directly in front of ships. Once here, hydrodynamic forces can sweep adults and especially calves into the propellers. Speed reductions proposed to reduce collisions do not address the underlying acoustical challenges whales or other animals, such as manatees, face. Direct measurements demonstrate propeller noise intensity is proportional with propeller tip rotation. The consequences with respect to long ships can be profound as spherical spreading loss from stern to bow can reduce noise at the bow to levels below the whale's critical ratios for detection. In multiple ship environments, the sounds from slower moving ships may be masked by the prevailing near surface ambient conditions and distance faster vessels. A directional bow-mounted projection system has been developed to selectively fill-in acoustical shadows with modulated ship noise to mitigate masking and near surface effects, and to neutralize the dangerous ambiguity posed by acoustical shadows. Funding provided by DOD, Navy Legacy, ACOE WES, NUWC. Contact Information: Edmund Gerstein, Leviathan Legacy Inc, 1318 SW 14th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486, USA; Phone: 561-338-9185; Fax: 561-338-9185; Email: [email protected]


20

Hematological, Biochemical and Immunological Findings in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with Orogenital Papillomas Gregory D. Bossart1, Juli D. Goldstein1, Tracy A. Romano2, Margie M. Peden-Adams3, Charles D. Rice4, Patricia A. Fair5, David Kilpatrick1, Kristina Cammen1 and John S. Reif1,6

1Center for Coastal Research, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft.Pierce, FL

2The Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, Mystic, CT

3Department of Pediatrics and the Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Science Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

4 Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program in Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

5Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC 6Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical

Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

The first cases of orogenital sessile papillomas associated with a novel gammaherpesvirus and papillomavirus were recently reported in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. The tumors appear to be sexually-transmitted and are now occurring in epidemic proportions in some coastal areas. This study describes the hematological, biochemical and immunological findings in free ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with orogenital papillomas from the coastal waters of Florida and South Carolina. Blood samples were obtained from 22 dolphins with papillomas and 86 healthy dolphins. Few statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found for hematological and serum chemistry variables. Serum iron was significantly lower and serum bicarbonate significantly higher in dolphins with orogenital papillomas compared with healthy dolphins. Dolphins with tumors had multiple abnormalities in serum proteins and immunologic parameters. Serum protein electrophoresis results demonstrated significantly elevated levels of total globulin, total alpha globulin and alpha-2 globulin in dolphins with orogenital papillomas. Gamma globulins were also elevated in dolphins with orogenital papillomas although not significantly. Innate immunity was up-regulated in dolphins with tumors. Granulocytic and monocytic phagocytosis and superoxide respiratory burst were significantly higher in dolphins with orogenital tumors compared with healthy dolphins. Adaptive immunity appeared to be relatively intact with an up-regulated humoral immune response; statistically significant increases were found in B lymphocyte proliferation and antibody titers to the common marine microorganisms Escherichia coli, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Mycobacterium marinum, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio carchariae, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahemolyticus. The clinically relevant results indicate that dolphins with orogenital papillomas demonstrate hypoferremia, hyperglobulinemia, and hyperalphaglobulinemia likely associated with an acute phase inflammatory response and upregulated innate and humoral immunity, all possible responses to the tumors and/or the viruses associated with the tumors. Also, dolphins with orogenital papillomas may have enhanced innate and humoral adaptive immunity due to increased exposure to other directly transmitted pathogens. Contact Information: Juli D. Goldstein, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University 5600 US 1 North Ft. Pierce, FL, USA; Phone:772-216-3549; Fax: 772-595-3332; Email: [email protected]


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Ongoing Investigations of the Etiopathogenesis of Kogia spp. Cardiomyopathy Gregory D. Bossart1, Juli D. Goldstein1, Kenny Kroell1, John Reif1 and Stephen D. McCulloch1

Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program/Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce, FL

Cardiomyopathy (CMP) was first described in pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf (Kogia sima) sperm whales in 1985 within a group of (29) beached whales. This disease in Kogia spp. has been described primarily in whales from the southeastern Atlantic Ocean, but it also occurs in Pacific Ocean whales. The etiopathogenesis of the Kogia spp. CMP is unknown. However, distinct clinical, functional and pathologic patterns of CMP occur in domestic animals and humans, and each pattern may be associated with a distinct etiology. While each form of CMP in these species is fundamentally different, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive in a given case. Interest in the etiology and pathogenesis of CMP is ongoing as Kogia spp. are the second most common single-stranded cetaceans in the SEUS after the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). To date, we have been able to further characterize the pathologic features of the cardiac lesions found in Kogia spp. and began to explore potential factors contributing to the etiopathogenesis of CMP. In our pathologic study we found new evidence indicating that Kogia spp. CMP is a chronic progressive condition rather that an acute terminal event (Bossart et al., 2007). Although the etiopathogenesis of various forms of cardiomyopathy have been well described in numerous mammalian species including canines, felines, pinnipeds, otters and humans; these observations have not been documented in Kogia spp., and limited information is available for cetaceans. Several clinicopathologic parameters have been correlated with the types of CMP in terrestrial species including the stress, hypertrophic, dilated or restrictive forms. We initiated a pilot study in 2005 to examine the following parameters in Kogia spp. known to be associated with CMP in terrestrial mammals: hematology and serum chemistry analytes, catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinepherine), dopamine, amino acids (L- carnitine, taurine), vitamins (selenium and thiamine), as well as circulating troponin I (TnI) parameters. Serum samples were provided by members of the Southeast United States Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the analyses of these samples yielded some interesting trends and findings. With a limited sample size, we found evidence to suggest the following potential conditions in whales with CMP: 1) changes in serum chemistry analytes consistent with right-sided congestive heart failure (RCHF) in whales; 2) elevated catecholamines supportive of acute stress reactions in whales with myocardial degeneration (MCD); and (3) counterintuitive data showing increased amino acid and vitamin levels in whales with cardiac disease. Currently, we are expanding this study by sampling each stranded whale in a consistent manner, thereby increasing the sample size, statistical power and scientific validity of our analyses for potential etiologies of CMP. These findings will continue to yield import insights as to the potential cause of CMP in captive and free-ranging Kogia spp. They will also enhance our understanding of the relationship between CMP and individual stranding as well as larger scale mortality events. Literature cited: Bossart, G D, Hensley G, Goldstein J D, Kroell K, Manire C A, Defran R H, Reif JS. Cardiomyopathy in Stranded Pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and Dwarf (Kogia sima) Sperm Whales. 2007 Aquatic Mammals 33(2)214-222 Contact Information: Juli D. Goldstein, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University 5600 US 1 North Ft. Pierce, FL, USA; Phone:772-216-3549; Fax: 772-595-3332; Email: [email protected]


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Use of Photo-analysis of Dolphin Mother-Calf Pairs to Determine Reproductive Rates in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Elisabeth Howells1, John S. Reif2, Marilyn Mazzoil1, M. Elizabeth Murdoch1, Sarah E. Bechdel1, Sarah Ziemann1, Stephen D. McCulloch1 and Gregory D. Bossart1


2Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO Female bottlenose dolphins exhibit an extensive maternal investment in their offspring, yet factors affecting variation in female reproductive success remain unknown. The birth season, inter-birth interval, calf survivorship, and age at weaning were examined for a resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida using photo-identification records from 1996-2006. Additionally, environmental correlates associated with individual ranging patterns were examined for reproductive females with calves that survived < one year. Two hundred thirty-five reproductive females were identified during the study period. Birth dates were estimated for 297 calves that were first observed as young-of-the-year. Sixty-nine (23%) of the calves were born in April and 99 (33%) in September, the two highest birth months. Twenty-four percent of the mothers had two calves; 7% gave birth to three calves; 3% gave birth to four calves; and less than 1% gave birth to five calves during the study. An inter-birth interval of 12 to 89 months was calculated for 81 mothers that had more than one calf that survived past one year of age. The average inter-birth interval was 3.4 years. The IRL was divided into 6 segments based on hydrodynamics and geographic features and females were assigned to a segment(s) corresponding to ranging patterns. Twenty-nine cows had 31 calves that disappeared and were presumed dead before one year of age. Nine (29%) of these dolphins resided in Segment 4, which is characterized by freshwater discharges from flood control drainage canals containing high levels of pollutants. Maternal investment was examined by estimating the length of time a calf stays with its mother for 190 of 297 (64%) mother-calf pairs, based on the availability of the calf’s estimated birth date and the last time it was sighted with its mother. Excluding calves surviving < one year, 45 (33%) were seen with their mothers for 1-2 years; 37 (27%) for 2-3 years; and 38 (28%) for 3-4 years. 16 (12%) calves remained with their mothers for over 4 years. The mean value was 2.6 years, important for estimating population recruitment levels of unmarked calves. Contact Information: Elisabeth Howells, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 USA; Phone: 772.465.2400 X603; Fax 772-595-3332; Email: [email protected]


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Environmental Correlates with Kogia Strandings from the Southeastern United States Nicole M. Knauer O’Brien1, Edward O. Keith1 and Daniel K. Odell2

1Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, Florida 2Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Orlando, Florida

Pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) strand frequently in the southeastern United States (SEUS). We hypothesize that short-term changes in wind and water movement may influence the timing of stranding events in the SEUS. To detect seasonal trends in Kogia strandings across the SEUS, all 979 stranding events from 1977-2005 were segregated by month and regions of similar coastline orientation. Most areas display a peak in strandings in summer and a smaller peak in winter, with the exception of Texas, with a peak in the fall. The time series of Kogia strandings between 1977 and 2005 corresponds with the Multivariate ENSO index (MEI). The correlation (R2) between MEI and Kogia strandings in Georgia and eastern Florida for the period 1977-2005 was 0.1794. The same correlation for the period 1985 to 2005 had an R2 value of 0.4125, suggesting that approximately 18% and 41%, respectively, of the variance of the Kogia strandings is due to the influence of MEI. Lesser correlations were found between MEI and Kogia strandings in other areas of the SEUS. The correlation (R2) between the yearly mean North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the number of Kogia strandings from 1977-2005 was 0.0014, suggesting that the NAO probably did not have any influence on Kogia strandings in the SEUS. Analysis of the frequency of Kogia strandings during the lunar cycle revealed no significant correlation between strandings and lunar day. Along Florida’s Atlantic coast, distances to isobaths from stranding sites are not significantly different from distances of randomly selected sites to isobaths. However, skewness statistics suggest a tendency towards shorter distances to isobaths and smaller angles of the seafloor. The unique bathymetry of Florida –gently sloping seafloor with deep water close to the coast – may contribute to strandings across the entire Florida Atlantic coast. Kogia strandings were analyzed in relation to changes in wind speed and direction, and six general wind patterns were found. Strandings occurred more frequently when winds shifted from upwelling favorable to downwelling favorable during the week before the stranding. Contact Information: Nicole M. Knauer O’Brien, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004, USA; Phone 305-586-6073; Email: [email protected]


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Population Genetics of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) Margaret E. Kellogg1, Kimberly C. Pause2, Sean McCann2, AnnMarie Clark3, James Powell5, Nicole Auil5, Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni6, Robert K. Bonde1,4 and Peter M. McGuire2

1College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 2College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 3Genetic Analysis Laboratory, ICBR, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 4Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL 5Wildlife Trust, St. Petersburg, FL, and Belize City, Belize 6Carribean Stranding Network, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The threatened West Indian manatee is divided into two subspecies: the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean manatee (T. m. manatus). Morphological, ecological, and biological data support the subspecies distinction and IUCN threatened status, but do not address the extent of ancestry or migration among populations. Therefore, genetic analyses will be integrated with traditional conservation studies to provide information on the evolutionary lineages and contemporary relatedness of the West Indian manatee. For these analyses, the Antillean manatee is represented by the Belize and Puerto Rico populations. Previous Florida manatee molecular genetic studies detected high migration rates, low genetic diversity, and only one maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA haplotype, A01. The A01 haplotype was additionally identified in the Puerto Rico population along with two others, A02 and B01. The three Puerto Rico haplotypes exhibited strong geographical division, which indicates a low female migration rate. In this study, mitochondrial and microsatellite markers were used to determine the relatedness of the Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico manatees and to investigate the genetic organization of the Belize and Puerto Rico populations on a spatial level. Mitochondrial control region haplotypes from each study site were identified using the program SEQUENCHER 4.5. The genotypes of 96 Florida, 133 Belize, and 111 Puerto Rico manatees were investigated at 18, 15, and 16 microsatellite loci, respectively. To distinguish the ancestry of extant manatees, a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed using the program STRUCTURE 2.2. Additionally, neighbor-joining trees were constructed using the statistical package PHYLIP 3.6 to illustrate genetic distances among individuals and populations. The analyses described here identified considerable diversity among the Florida, Belize and Puerto Rico manatee populations. A relationship was observed between individual genotypes and geographic locations, most notably in Puerto Rico and to a lesser extent in Belize, suggesting spatially influenced breeding and the potential for distinct subpopulations. The results from this study should benefit future West Indian manatee management and conservation. Contact Information: Margaret E. Kellogg, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100144, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA; Phone: 352-392-6853; Fax: 352-392-2953; Email: [email protected]


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CT and MRI Techniques for Analysis of Trauma and Disease in Marine Mammals D. R. Ketten1,2, S. Cramer1, J. Arruda1,2, S. Prahl3, S. R. Williams4 and B. Dunnigan4

1Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 2 Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 3University of Kiel, Forschungs- u. Technologiezentrum, Kiel, Germany 4National Marine Life Center, Bourne, MA

With the advent of larger bore machines, more rapid data acquisition, and increased weight capacities, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have become more accessible and useful diagnostic and research tools for marine mammals. CT scanners are capable now of acquiring high resolution data as rapidly as 10 mm/sec, leading to less than 5 minutes table time for a full body scan of a 1.5 meter animal. In addition, ultra-high resolution acquisitions allow micro-imaging with 100 micron slice imaging and 100 micron voxel resolution. Consequently, it is feasible to perform in vivo micro and macro imaging of many small to mid-size cetaceans and pinnipeds as well as post-mortem exams of parts of larger specimens, including whole heads of juvenile mysticetes. This paper presents an overview of CT and MRI scan protocols developed over the last decade for imaging marine mammals. It also provides special protocols for maximizing detection and diagnosis of a range of pathologies encountered in strandings, including blunt force trauma, explosive trauma, fractures, foreign bodies, pneumothorax, pneumonia, hemorrhage, brain lesions, deafness, auditory system trauma, parasites, and emboli. Images with case histories are presented for each condition. Copies of a manual for CT/MRI imaging of marine mammals will also be available on CD. Work was supported by ONR, the Joint Industry Program, and WHOI. Contact Information: D. R. Ketten, Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Phone: 508-289-3582; Fax: 508-457-2041; Email: [email protected]


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The Urban Life of the North Atlantic Right Whale: The Cumulative Effects of Traffic, Fishing, Noise, Pollution, and Disease in the Coastal Zone of North America Scott D. Kraus

New England Aquarium, Boston, MA USA The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the rarest large whales in the world, with an estimated 400 remaining in the western North Atlantic despite international protection since 1937. The species known range extends from Florida to Canada, mostly within 40 mile of shore. The apparent failure of the population to recover has been partly attributed to mortality from collisions with ships and entanglements in fixed fishing gear. However, highly variable calving rates, and comparisons with other right whales also suggests that reproduction in this species is significantly compromised. While many explanations for reduced reproduction have been proposed, it is likely that the low calving rates are due to the cumulative effects of anthropogenic impacts upon right whales health and their habitats. Restoring the quality of ocean habitats in order to benefit coastal dwelling marine mammals is a daunting task for managers. Nevertheless, specific problems have been identified, and both the technology and the knowledge exist to fix them. Contact Information: Scott D. Kraus, PhD., Vice President of Research, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110; Phone: 617-973-5200 Email: [email protected]


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Teodolite Observations of the Gray Whale in the Region of the Construction Gas and Oil Extraction of Platform Natalia V. Kryukova1 and Denis I. Ivanov2

1Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Institute of Geography, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

2Lomonosov’s Moscow State University, Russia Teodolite observations on behaviour and movement patterns of gray whales were conducted during summer months at the Western gray whales (WGW) feeding grounds off North-East Sakhalin Island (Russia). The research was funded by WWF (2004) and IFAW (2005-2007). In 2005-2007s new marine oil and gas extraction platform was constructed some6-7 km offshore the feeding ground Observations were done using digital teodolite Topcon DT-102 from the shore of Pil’tunskaya Spit (2004) and from the lighthouse (2005-07) 32 m high, which is situated opposite the entrance to the Pil’tun Bay. The data collected were entered into the database which also allowed preliminary analysis, using the program Pythagoras (Version 1.2.24 2000 Glenn Gailey and Joel Ortega), immediately in the field. We’ve recorded different aspects of behavior, geographic coordinates of every whale directly into program Pythagoras real-time. Synchronous behavior and whale track records 15 minutes long were taken for the analysis (total 79 whales). We have undertaken the analysis using Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test and Mann-Whitney U Test (nonparametric methods of the Statistica 6.0 program). The analyses of the following variables were conducted: linearity of whale movements, whale average speed and reorientation. We have found significant difference in whale reorientation (RR) which was generally higher during 2005 - 2006 if compared with 2004 (p<0,005, p=0,000695; p<0,001, p=0,000969), The noticeable RR increase was registered in response to oil platform construction activities on 30 of July 2005 (p<0,005, p=0,0002778), difference linearity movement of whales into months (June/July p<0,05, p=0,022243; July/September p<0,025, p=0,002124 – increase; August/September p<0,05, p=0,025960; June/September p=0,038052 – decrease). Also we have analyzed average blow intervals duration (total 97 whales). Found significant difference in the duration of intervals between the 2004 and 2005 (p< 0,001, p=0,000000)- decrease, 2004 and 2006 (p<0,05)- decrease, 2005 and 2007 (p<0,025, p=0,018144)- increase, June and August (p<0,05, p=0,017181)- decrease, and before and after construction of platform (p<0,005, p=0,000870)-decrease. Intensive ship traffic in vicinity to WGW feeding grounds and construction works at the sea platform had the influence on behavior of whales which caused changes in movement and respiration patterns. Contact Information: Natalia V. Kryukova; Phone: +7 903 780 4946; Fax +7 495 933 34 14; Email: [email protected]


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Effects of Power Plant Shut-Downs on Florida Manatees and Possible Mitigation Measures David W. Laist

Marine Mammal Commission, Bethesda, MD To survive winter cold periods nearly half of all Florida manatees aggregate at warm-water refuges formed by thermal discharges from power plant cooling systems. Most other animals (at least 30% of all Florida manatees) rely on natural warm-water springs or passive thermal basins that retain heat from solar radiation or other sources during cold periods. Of the 23 major warm-water refuges with at least one winter count of 50 or more animals, 11 are formed by power plants, including 4 with maximum one-day winter counts between 100-299 animals, 3 with maximum counts of 300-499 animals, and one with a maximum count of more than 500 animals. All 11 power plants were built more than 40 years ago. Although two plants have been repowered recently to increase their efficiency and extend their operating lives, the other nine could be shut down or begin operating intermittently in the next 10-20 years due to economic considerations or concern over carbon emissions. Such shut-downs could eliminate warm-water refuges essential for manatee survival and cause cold-stress related deaths for many animals that have learned to rely on them in winter. The potential these shut-downs would be greatest for the Atlantic coast subpopulation, which includes about half of all Florida manatees. Nearly 70% percent of all Atlantic coast manatees use power plant outfalls to survive winter. If power plants used by large numbers of Atlantic coast manatees are closed or begin operating sporadically in winter, manatees may be unable to find alternative warm-water refuges and a significant decline in the subpopulation’s abundance could occur. More than 40% of the southwest Florida subpopulation, which includes about a third of all Florida manatees, also relies on power plant outfalls. Thus, a significant, though probably smaller decline of that subpopulation could occur if key power plants in that region are shut down. To help develop a potential approach for preventing large, sudden declines in abundance due to power plant shut-downs, the Florida Solar Energy Center and Reliant Energy recently cooperated on a project to prepare a conceptual design for a temporary warm-water refuge enclosure at the Reliant Energy power plant in Brevard County, Florida. Its objective would be to test the feasibility of creating a temporary warm-water refuge to support manatees now using the plant’s outfall when the plant is shut down. The envisioned refuge is a 50 ft by 50 ft enclosure with two openings on opposite walls to allow manatee access. It would be built in the Indian River immediately off the plant’s cooling water discharge canal to support perhaps 50 manatees through the winter. Water in the enclosure would be heated by a natural gas fired boiler or solar water heating system using a closed-circuit heat exchanger attached to the inside of the refuge walls. The estimated cost to build a test refuge with a gas fired boiler is $1.56 million. If, after 2-5 years of testing, manatees demonstrate that they will use the refuge when the plant is not operating, a solar water heating system could be added as the primary heat source for about $2.43 million, or a second boiler could be installed as a back up system for about $330,000. Contact Information: David W. Laist, Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 700, Bethesda, MD 20814; Phone: 301-504-0087; Fax: 301-504-0099; Email: [email protected]


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Lower Annual Survival Rates Confirmed for Adult Manatees in Northwest Florida during a Red Tide Event Catherine A. Langtimm, Cathy A. Beck and Robert K. Bonde

Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL Although manatee Unusual Mortality Events (UME) due to red tide poisoning frequently occur on the southwest coast of Florida, no UME has been designated for manatees in northwest or Atlantic coasts of Florida. Red-tide events however have occurred off the panhandle that stranded bottlenose dolphins and rose to the level of a UME. Both manatees and dolphins are killed by brevitoxins produced by Karenia brevis, but recent research (Flewelling et al. 2005) documented that the timing of a UME for the species can vary because of differences in the means of delivery and vectors of exposure to the toxin. Based on this research, we hypothesized that differences in behavior, physiology, and distribution could affect the magnitude of impact of a given red tide event on each species resulting in a UME for one, but a lower mortality rate for the other. We tested this hypothesis with a capture-recapture analysis of annual variation in annual adult manatee survival rates from photo-documentation records of known individuals in the northwest subpopulation. One dolphin UME attributable to a Karenia brevis bloom occurred during this 23-yr study (winter 1981-82 through winter 2003-04), as reported by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission – 120 individuals were found dead from August 1999 through February 2000. A UME occurred later in 2004 and a red tide event in 2005, but adequate data are not yet available for analysis. We expected to see a decrease in survival during the red tide years and our analysis did show a significant drop, supporting a cause-effect relationship. Manatee survival rates in both 1999 and 2000 were approximately 0.06 lower than years with no identifiable dolphin UME or major storm strike (mean survival 0.97, ca. 95% Confidence Interval 0.960-0.978). The decrease was equivalent to a previously documented drop in survival in 1995 when Hurricane Opal struck the panhandle area (Langtimm & Beck 2003).

Contact Information: Catherine A. Langtimm, USGS, 2201 NW 20th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605; Phone: 508-335-3029; Fax: 352-374-8080; Email: [email protected]


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Mark-Recapture Modeling of a Wild Dugong Population Janet M. Lanyon, Helen L. Sneath and Rob W. Slade

School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia The dugong is a cryptic marine mammal with a tropical to subtropical distribution around northern Australia. Its specialist feeding habits, extremely slow reproductive rate and coastal habitat all contribute to its vulnerability. There is an urgent need to obtain data on life history and population demographics at both regional and local scales, particularly in urban coastal areas prone to human impact. Until now, all population size estimations have been made remotely through aerial survey, and life history information obtained through carcass salvage. This paper reports on the first hands-on tagging study of dugongs in the world. In this study, we describe the population size and structure of a resident population of individually-tagged dugongs in Moreton Bay, southeast Queensland, Australia, over a seven year period. Multiple tagging methods were used simultaneously to discriminate individuals: four physical tags (turtle tag, PIT tag, fluke notch and photo ID) and a molecular gene-tag based on 26 dugong-specific microsatellite primers and two male-specific sex primers. In this paper, we validate the use of gene-tagging against more conventional physical tagging methods and the usefulness and efficacy of these tagging methods are discussed. Mark-recapture modelling is used to address hypotheses of sex and size differences on recapture probabilities, abundance estimates, survival estimates and recruitment rates. Contact Information: Janet M. Lanyon, School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia, Email: [email protected]


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Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Development: Embryological and Fetal Anatomy and Staging Iskande V. Larkin, Sara Pflaum, Jaleh Khorsandian-Fallah, Roger L. Reep and Don Samuelson

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL The unique physiology of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is the byproduct of an aquatic habitat and herbivorous diet (e.g. adaptations to facilitate diving, thermoregulation, navigation, osmoregulation, reproduction, and digestion). Very little has been done to date examining manatee embryological and fetal development. Gestation in Florida manatees is approximately 14 months, and new born calves are approximately 122 cm in length, with an estimated weight of 22 kg. Developmental studies are important because knowledge of healthy states will help researchers understand trends in neonatal and perinatal mortality, allowing them to better identify unhealthy states. In this study, we describe some general anatomy and compare developmental events in humans, horses, and cetaceans to estimate the stages of development and ages of two manatee embryos and one manatee fetus. The two manatee embryos included imaging with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and histological processing with Masson’s trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin stains. One embryo, ID#18-85, was 14 cm in length, and several organ systems were easily discernible. The limbs had begun to develop. Circulatory and urogenital systems were well developed. The diaphragm and lungs were well preserved, but the lungs did not appear fully developed. The digestive tract was discernable. The brain was not well preserved, but the spinal cord and ganglia could be defined. Some skeletal ossification was seen, especially in the vertebrae and ribs. The second embryo, ID#MSW-97, was approximately 9 mm long but less well preserved. No external features could be defined. The heart and dorsal aorta were visible, and umbilical tissue dominated the body. The neural tube, somites, and mesonephros were also identified. However, due to degradation of the tissue, little additional information could be gathered from this specimen. A small manatee fetus, ID#M-78-16-F, length 24.5 cm, diameter 7.6 cm, and girth 17.1 cm, was imaged with NMR and is currently being histologically processed. The smaller embryo was at Carnegie stage 10 of development or at stage 2 of the cetacean embryonic stages established by Sterba et al. (2000). Its age was estimated to be 17-22 days. The larger embryo was at Carnegie stage 23 or cetacean stage 6. Both of these represent the last stage of embryonic development. Its age was between 40 and 60 days. The degree of development of the fetus corresponded to stage 8 of cetacean development, and it was estimated to be 56-78 days old. These findings will be helpful in understanding normal manatee development, identifying abnormalities and in determining evolutionary relationships between Sirenia and related Orders. Contact Information: Iskande V. Larkin, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA; Phone: 352-392-2212 x5168; Fax 352-846-1171; Email: [email protected]


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The Effects of the Visiting Public on the Swimming Behavior of Captive Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Michelle L. Latham, Cheryl A. Theile and Charles J. Grossman

Midwest Florida Manatee Research Project, Xavier University Department of Biology, Cincinnati, OH During a study of Captive Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) vocalizations at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, our group noticed that the swimming behavior of the manatees appeared to increase when there were visitors present in the viewing hall. Because manatees are known to interact with environmental stimuli, this behavioral response was studied over a thirteen month period, during different times of the day, to determine if the swimming activity of the manatees was notably affected when visitors were present for public viewing. The two manatees, Slip and Little Joe, were males of approximately the same age, and were housed at the Manatee Springs exhibit. Because the construction of the exhibit allows visitors to approach the windows of the tank, the manatees could clearly see and hear people through the viewing glass. Swimming activity was monitored for each manatee when there were visitors present in the exhibit hall, and this was compared to swimming activity when there were no visitors present. When visitors were present, there was an increase in both Slip’s and Little Joe’s swimming activity by ~ 133% (3/7 blocks traversed; p=3.3e-7, p=3.62e-6 respectively). These findings suggest a relationship between the behavioral responses of captive manatees and the presence of people in the exhibit hall, and further investigation may help ascertain the reason the manatees are interacting with visitors in this manner. Contact Information: Michelle L. Latham, 8689 Harperpoint Drive Apt A, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249 USA; Phone: 513-265-0448; Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Cheryl A. Theile, 3063 Regal Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45251, USA; Phone: 513-741-3291; Email: [email protected] or [email protected]


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Home Ranges of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida: Environmental Correlates and Implications for the Interpretation of Health Status Marilyn Mazzoil1, John S. Reif2, Stephen D. McCulloch1, M. Elizabeth Murdoch1, Sarah E. Bechdel1, Elisabeth Howells1, Marsh Youngbluth1, Larry J. Hansen3, David S. Kilpatrick1,4 and Gregory D. Bossart1


2Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 3National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, NC 4Southside Veterinary Hospital, Vero Beach, FL

The bottlenose dolphin represents a key component of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), FL ecosystem as an apex predator and serves as a sentinel species for monitoring the health of the environment. From 2003-2007, a dolphin Health and Risk Assessment (HERA) program was conducted to assess dolphin health and investigate anthropogenic stressors impacting the population. Over 100 dolphins were captured, sampled, and released in the five-year period. As background, photo-identification surveys were conducted between September 2002 and August 2005 to determine dolphin home range patterns and the extent of site fidelity to areas within the IRL. Spatial distribution was determined by dividing the IRL into 6 segments based on hydrodynamics and geographic features. Analyses of ranging patterns indicated that 75% of dolphins had sightings in <2 segments of the lagoon and suggested at least three spatially separate sub-population units exist. Dolphins residing in the southern segments, characterized by freshwater infusions from flood control drainage canals containing high levels of pollutants, had higher incidence of lobomycosis, anti-biotic resistance, and orogenital neoplasms. Thus, pooling health data amongst all IRL dolphins can obscure intra-regional variability in health status and diminish the effects of dissimilar environmental exposures. Such information indicates that the biological and ecological information used for environmental risk assessments should be interpreted in the context of these localized distribution and residence patterns. Further, the health of dolphins exhibiting regional site fidelity can be used as a performance measure to evaluate localized restoration projects, designed to re-establish ecosystem health. Contact Information: Marilyn Mazzoil, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 USA; Phone: 772-465-2400 X603, Fax 772-595-3332; Email: [email protected]


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Morphological Description of Conjunctiva-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (CALT) in the Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris Jennifer L. McGee1, D. Samuelson1, P. Lewis1, L. Farina1 and M. deWit2

1College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 2Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab, St. Petersburg, FL

Conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) is closely associated with tears and their formation and provides part of the first line of defense to protect the eye as part of the greater lymphatic system. Manatees are believed to have the thickest tear film of any sea mammal, and possibly of any animal. Tear analysis is being used in human ophthalmology and is in its early stages in veterinary medicine. We suspect that manatees’ thick, mucous tear film likely contains proteins, including antibodies that would prevent bacteria and other pathogens from causing disease. For this study, samples from 12 animals were collected from the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab in St. Petersburg, Florida and placed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned at 5 μm. Samples were then stained using Hematoxylin & Eosin with a selective number of samples stained with Trichrome as well. All specimens revealed a well-developed CALT within the upper eyelid that extended from the fornix to the margin of the gray line of the eyelid. The CALT consisted of both diffuse and nodular lymphatic tissue, which laid immediately beneath the epithelium, that for the most part was stratified squamous but at times became reduced to simple squamous with intermittent areas of pseudostratified columnar epithelium. These latter areas were confluent with the ducts of the adjacent accessory mucous glands. The ducts were most developed in the regions between adjacent nodules and were often serpentine. In the nictitating membrane, the CALT consisted of both diffuse and nodular forms as well. The diffuse form was closely associated with the glandular tissue, whereas the nodular form appeared to be less associated with the ducts than seen in the eyelids. The CALT of the Florida manatee appears to be the most developed of any mammal studied to date, having a lymphoid layer that is especially prominent along the superficial conjunctiva of the upper eyelid and bulbar conjunctiva of the nictitating membrane. The occurrence of numerous large nodules within the conjunctiva of the upper eyelid is a feature only previously described in the guinea pig and morphologically is comparable to the Peyer’s patches of the gastrointestinal tract. The lymphatic tissue appears to have a close association with the ducts of the large mucous accessory glands of the upper eyelid as well as the secretory tissue of the nictitating gland. Variations in the development of the CALT were seen and may be indicative of the health of the animal. Currently, we are using immunohistochemistry to localize and measure antibodies, macrophages, and lymphocytes. By sampling manatees’ tear film in addition to performing other standard tests, we hope to more efficiently evaluate manatees’ immune system function and better determine strategies for rescue, treatment and rehabilitation. Contact Information: Jennifer L. McGee, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave., PO Box 100126, Gainesville, Fl., 32610 USA; Phone: 716-481-4750; Fax: 352-392-6125; Email: [email protected]


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Northern Right Whale Necropsy Response: Size Certainly Matters William A. McLellan

Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) necropsies present one of the largest challenges to the east coast stranding networks. Their immense size, which leads to rapid tissue putrefaction; unpredictable stranding locations and the need for large equipment to conduct a thorough necropsy, all present real challenges to the necropsy team. And yet, the data collected on cause of death, health assessment and life history during each of these necropsies are all vital inputs into regional and national recovery and management plans. In an effort to maximize the data collected during each right whale necropsy a set of standard operating procedures have recently been developed. These SOPs include formalizing team members with duties and responsibilities assigned to each, including Onsite Coordinator, Necropsy Team Leader, Sample Coordinator, Necropsy Assistants, and Press Coordinator. In addition, the need for front-loaded support for travel and equipment rental to conduct the necropsy, and for tissue and data analysis after necropsy, are recognized as critical to the collection of consistent data. There has developed a small cadre of individuals who do respond to every right whale stranding on the east coast. The next step, and one that can be greatly aided by this conference, is adding to the list of people that can respond locally to help collect high quality diagnostic tissues and data from these large whale strandings that literally appear overnight. Contact Information: William McLellan, Biology and Marine Biology, UNC Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403; Phone: 910-962-7266; Fax: 910-962-4066; Email: [email protected]


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Manatee Warm-Water Habitat – Back to the Future Ron Mezich

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, a cost effective technology was developed by industries that needed cooling water for their operations. This technology used ambient waters as a coolant, which was then returned back to their origin as a heated discharge. This “once-through cooling” technology created warm-water refugia that multiple species have used to their advantage, especially the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Over time, manatees became habituated to using these man-made refugia in the cold season because of their dependability and abundant warm water. Currently, 60% of the manatees sighted during the annual Florida synoptic survey are observed using the thermal discharges created by coastal power plants. Several of these sites can harbor hundreds of manatees during, and after a winter cold front. Times are however, changing. New challenges face Florida’s power-generating industry that may lead to older less efficient coastal power plants modifying their operations, and as a result their dependability and warm-water outfall characteristics. When, where and how these changes occur will have a significant effect on the Florida manatee population, and its distribution. Maintaining adequate regional warm-water habitat is essential for manatee survival during the winter. Replacement of artificial and enhancement and protection of natural warm-water habitats are only part of the final solution that must be considered when planning for the continued recovery of the Florida manatee. Behavioral adjustments by manatees are also necessary. Many manatees will have to overcome a demonstrated strong site-fidelity to their former warm-water habitat and adapt to using new sites, something that may take years to achieve.

Contact Information: Ron Mezich, FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration Section, 620 Meridian Street, 6A, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600; Phone: 850-922-4330; Email: [email protected]


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Magnetic Resonance Imaging: New Approaches to Study Marine Mammal Health Eric Montie1,2, Gerald Schneider3, Lori Marino4, Katie Touhey5, Heather Harris6, Felicia Nutter6 and Frances Gulland6

1College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 2Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 3Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 4Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 5Cape Cod Stranding Network, Buzzards Bay, MA 6The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used recently to study the neuroanatomy of a variety of odontocetes. MRI offers a nondestructive method of acquiring a permanent archive of brain structure data. This technique allows thin virtual sections of the entire brain to be acquired where histological processing is not practical. Furthermore, MRI coupled with voxel-based morphometry (an approach used to measure the size of brain structures from MR images) can accurately determine regional brain volumes, while traditional dissection and photography introduces error in performing quantitative measurements. MRI can also be used to investigate emerging threats to marine mammals, including anthropogenic chemicals, land-based pathogens, noise pollution, and biotoxins from harmful algal blooms (HABs), all of which can impact the brain. For example, domoic acid, a biotoxin produced by some diatoms (Pseudo-nitzschia spp) and associated with HABs, is neurotoxic and has been shown to cause hippocampal atrophy in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). MRI can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify pre- or postmortem brain pathologies associated with such etiologies. Additionally, it is possible that biotoxins and environmental pollutants cause differences in the size of brain structures that are not detectable to the unaided eye; voxel-based morphometry would be a valuable approach to identify these subtle abnormalities. The objectives of this presentation are to: 1) illustrate the utility of MRI by presenting the first anatomically labeled, MRI-based atlas of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) brain from images of fresh, postmortem brains in situ rather than extracted, formalin-fixed brains; 2) report measurements of total white matter, total gray matter, cerebellum, hippocampus, and corpus callosum along an ontogenetic series for the Atlantic white-sided dolphin; 3) demonstrate how MRI was used to identify brain pathologies of Atlantic white-sided dolphins and common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) postmortem; 4) show how MRI and voxel-based morphometry can be used to detect subtle differences in the size of brain structures that are not detectable to the unaided eye in live California sea lions exposed to domoic acid. These approaches could be applied to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and manatees (Trichechus manatus) occupying Florida waters. Contact Information: Eric W. Montie, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 USA; Phone: 727-553-1193; Fax: 727-553-1189; Email: [email protected]


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Immunosuppression Cascade in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Katherine M. Moore and Edward O. Keith

Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a federally endangered marine mammal, residing on both coasts of the Florida peninsula. The species faces many anthropogenic and natural threats, including boat strikes, exposure to harmful algal blooms, and cold water temperatures. We have developed a conceptual model that integrates how changes in the environment, such as reduced water temperature, can trigger an immunosuppressive cascade of interrelated diseases and pathological conditions, ultimately leading to the death of the animal. Although the Florida manatee has relatively a robust immune system, rendering them resistant to several diseases, the onset of unfavorable environmental conditions has been shown to compromise the immune system, often leading to infections that make the animal more susceptible to opportunistic pathogens. We review several common diseases of the Florida manatee and compare and contraste their causes and symptoms. The findings were then interrelated to generate a conceptual model of a cascade of immunosuppressive conditions originally triggered by adverse environmental conditions and/or one of the diseases. The end result of the cascade is the death of the animal. Contact Information: Katherine M. Moore, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL, 33004 USA; Phone: 954-262-3636; Fax: 954-262-4093; Email: [email protected]


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Photo-identification for Estimation of Prevalence, Spatial Distribution and Temporal Trends of Lobomycosis in Bottlenose Dolphins from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Elizabeth Murdoch1, John S. Reif2, Marilyn Mazzoil1, Stephen D. McCulloch1, Patricia A. Fair3 and Gregory D. Bossart1

1Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, FL 2Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 3Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, NOAA, NOS, Charleston, SC

Lobomycosis is a chronic fungal disease of the skin of dolphins and humans. Previous studies have identified the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (IRL) as an environment with a high prevalence of dolphin lobomycosis. We studied the occurrence and distribution of lobomycosis in the IRL using photo-identification survey data collected between 1996 and 2006. Our objectives were to (1) determine the sensitivity and specificity of photo-identification for diagnosis of lobomycosis in free-ranging dolphins; (2) determine the spatial distribution of lobomycosis in the IRL; and (3) assess the temporal pattern of lobomycosis occurrence in the IRL. A single investigator reviewed 8,686 photographs of distinctly marked dolphins encountered during 1,985 sighting events between 1996 and 2006. Photographs found to contain skin lesions compatible with lobomycosis were reviewed independently by a second investigator. Dolphins were classified as presumptive lobomycosis when both reviewers agreed on the assessment. We validated the presumptive diagnosis by comparing the results of prior photographic analysis of 102 dolphins captured during the Dolphin Health and Risk Assessment and 3 stranded dolphins with those from physical examination and histologic examination of lesion biopsies. Twelve of 16 confirmed cases had been identified previously from photographs yielding a sensitivity of 75%. False negatives occurred when lesions were restricted to areas not visible during surfacing. Among 89 dolphins without disease, all 89 were considered disease free on photographs, a specificity of 100%. The prevalence of lobomycosis estimated from photographic data was 7.2% (48 of 664 distinct dolphins). The spatial distribution was determined by dividing the IRL into 6 segments based on hydrodynamics and geographic features. The prevalence ranged from less than 1% in the Mosquito Lagoon to 19.8% in the South Indian River. Based on newly identified presumptive cases, the incidence of the disease varied but did not increase over the 11 year study period. In summary, photo-identification is a useful tool to monitor the course of individual and population health for this enigmatic disease. Contact Information: Elizabeth Murdoch, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 USA; Phone: 772-465-2400 X649; Fax 772-465-7156; Email: [email protected]


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Viral Metagenomics Reveals a Novel Anellovirus from a Mortality Event of Three Captive California Sea Lions Terry F.F. Ng1, Wm. Kirk Suedmeyer2 and Mya Breitbart1

1University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL 2Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, MO

Three California sea lions died with no known etiology at Kansas City Zoo in the summer of 2006. Granulomatous nonsuppurative mediastinitis and pleuritis were observed in two of the sea lions by necropsy and histopathology. Toxicity assays and tests for pathogenic bacteria and fungi were negative. The sea lions tested negative for West Nile Virus and in viral cultures using green monkey and canine cell lines. To further investigate the possible involvement of viruses in the etiology of these sea lion deaths, we used viral metagenomics to examine the viral community present in lung tissue from one of the diseased sea lions. The viral metagenomics technique involves selection for viral particles (based on size, density, and nuclease resistance), nucleic acid extraction, sequence-independent amplification, DNA fragmentation, and sequencing. These methods led to the discovery and complete genome sequencing of a novel virus from the deceased sea lions. The virus has a 2.1 kilobase, single-stranded, circular genome, with amino acid level similarity to a feline Anellovirus. PCR primers were designed to amplify the newly discovered Sea Lion Anellovirus were designed, and all three sea lions in the mortality event tested positive. To determine if this virus was involved in the mortality event, lung biopsies from four other sea lions that died of unrelated causes (cancer or kidney disease) were also tested. All of these sea lions were negative for the Sea Lion Anellovirus. Future work will examine additional sea lion lung samples in order to determine the prevalence of the Sea Lion Anellovirus amongst wild and captive sea lion populations, and characterize the pathology of this virus. This is the first Anellovirus discovered in marine animals and it demonstrates our ability to discover novel pathogenic viruses from animal tissues using metagenomic sequencing.

Contact Information: Terry Ng, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA; Phone: (727) 553-3930; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.marine.usf.edu/genomics/terry_fei_fan_ng.shtml


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Novel and Traditional Diagnostic Techniques in Aquatic Animal Health Assessment Hendrik H. Nollens

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL The ability to test for and gain information about potential disease agents of aquatic animals often is opportunistic depending on the tests available, a researcher’s interest, or tests that have been developed in other domestic species. It therefore is important to understand the assay and its limitations when interpreting results. This guide provides a review of the basic principles of traditional and novel techniques used by clinical and anatomic pathologists, electron microscopists, microbiologists, and molecular and serologic diagnosticians in aquatic animal medicine. It also reviews the appropriate sampling and handling requirements for each technique. The goal is to increase the overall understanding of the available assays, so that results will be evaluated critically and interpreted correctly. Contact Information: Hendrik Nollens, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100126, Gainesville, FL32610, USA; Phone: 352-392-4700 ext 5286; Fax: 352-392-6436; Email: [email protected]


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Genetic Studies of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Mexico Coralie Nourisson1, Benjamín Morales-Vela1, Peter McGuire2, AnnMarie Clark3 and Robert Bonde4

1El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México 2Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 3BEECS Genetic Analysis Laboratory, University of Florida, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology

Research, Gainesville, FL 4Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) is an endangered species that inhabits the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. It is a protected species under international agreements and in each country further protected under national laws. To date there is little known about the population estimate in Mexico. For the state of Quintana Roo there is an estimation of between 200 to 250 manatees, which represent close to the suspected total of individuals occurring in the Yucatan Peninsula. The conservation of the manatee in Mexico could be improved by incorporating genetic data into the management plan. Manatee population analysis, using mtDNA, from different areas of its wordwide distribution, illustrates a low level of genetic variability. In Mexico, the Gulf population shows a lower level of genetic diversity compared to the Caribbean population. Microsatellites, for their high level of variability between individuals, is used for better evaluation of the level of genetic variability tends to more accurately reflect the genetic differentiation not only of the maternal genes but that of both parents. We analysed 98 samples from Quintana Roo (66), Tabasco (18), Chiapas (5) and Veracruz (9) for fifteen microsatellites. We observed high variability among individuals using these polymorphic microsatellites. Preliminary results indicate differentiation between the populations of Chetumal Bay and Ascensión Bay in the Quintana Roo state, with the population of Tabasco as has been previously suggested by mtDNA analysis. The information generated from microsatellites will be used to better estimate the number of individuals in the population in Mexico, as well as determine the reproductive success of the individual manatees. In order to be able to interpret the information, and to make a suitable characterization of the genetic structure of these populations and of the levels of genetic flow existing among them, we are continuing this study using microsatellites and increasing the number of samples from the Gulf of Mexico. We currently have eight new samples from Tabasco. A calf found in 1997, north of Quintana Roo, presented various alleles that are not present in the rest of the analyzed Mexican population that may suggest this manatee has originated from a distant manatee population. A hypothesis will be presented to help explain the possible origin of this manatee, which will be further investigated during future comparative analyses. Contact Information: Coralie Nourisson, Proyecto Manatí, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av Centenario Km 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo. 77900. Mexico; Phone: (983) 83 50440 ext. 4334; Email: [email protected]


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Changing Epidemiology and Symptomatology of Domoic Acid Toxicosis in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) F. M. D. Gulland, T. Goldstein, T. Zabka, C. Williams, F. Van Dolah and J. Barakos

The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA Presented by: Felicia Nutter The first confirmed domoic acid poisoning of marine mammals occurred on the California coast in 1998, when 70 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) were stranded along the central California coast. All animals were in good nutritional condition and displayed clinical symptoms that were predominantly neurological, including head weaving, scratching, tremors, and convulsions. Of the 70 animals stranded, 57 died. The majority of clinically affected animals were adult females, of which 50% were pregnant. Domoic acid was identified in serum, urine and feces of many of the sea lions that exhibited clinical symptoms, with the highest concentrations found in urine and feces. The predominant lesion observed was neuronal necrosis that was most severe in the CA3 and CA4, followed by CA1 and CA2, regions of the hippocampus and in the dentate gyrus. The origin of the domoic acid was a bloom of P. australis that developed in Monterey Bay during the latter half of May 1998. Anchovies collected during the peak of the bloom had P. australis frustules in their stomachs and high levels of domoic acid in tissues. Anchovy vertebrae and otoliths and frustules from P. australis were also found in sea lion fecal samples. Since then, there have been toxic algal blooms producing domoic acid off the California coast every summer, with other species of marine mammal (common dolphins, sea otters, gray whales) impacted in addition to California sea lions. In 1998 there was a clear association between domoic acid production by plankton blooms and sea lion mortality following seizures. However, over the last five years, sea lions have stranded with neurological damage at times when domoic acid producing blooms are not evident. These sea lions seizured intermittently, although no domoic acid was detected in their body fluids. Domoic acid is a water soluble tricarboxylic amino acid that acts as an analog of the neurotransmitter glutamate and is a potent glutamate receptor agonist. Neurotoxicity and lesions occur in areas of the brain where glutaminergic pathways are heavily concentrated. The CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, areas responsible for learning and memory processing, are particularly susceptible to domoic acid toxicity, and display extensive lesions in experimental animals. Histopathology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of these sea lions stranding at times outside of algal blooms has revealed hippocampal atrophy, which is often unilateral. Electro-encephalograms revealed animals were having repeated sub-clinical seizures, which may cause further neuronal loss in the hippocampus. Reproductive failure has also been observed in California sea lions following domoic acid exposure. Stranded sea lions with clinical signs typical of domoic acid toxicity aborted or gave birth to premature pups, and domoic acid was detected in amniotic fluid and stomach contents of the fetuses. These results show that domoic acid can cross the placenta, and may expose the fetus to domoic acid while the female is alive and consuming sub-lethal doses of domoic acid in prey. Low levels of domoic acid thus had severe long term effects on sea lions beyond acute mortality. Contact Information: Frances Gulland, The Marine Mammal Center, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965, Email: [email protected]


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Manatee Use at FPL Power Plants Winifred G. Perkins

Florida Power & Light Company, Juno Beach, FL For over 30 years Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has sponsored aerial surveys to count manatees around five select power plants in Florida. These surveys have provided valuable information about manatee abundance, reproduction and responses to cold weather. Data from these surveys have been critical in documenting the dependence of manatees on power plants during cold weather. The dependence on the warm water outfalls from these five power plants (as well as other power plants located around the state), have clearly demonstrated that manatees are extremely dependent on these man made facilities for their survival. For example, on February 7, 2007, 1555 manatees were counted during one of these aerial surveys around FPL’s power plant sites. This is the highest count ever recorded since the surveys began in 1977. This presentation will focus on the many challenges facing the long-term availability of these power plants for manatees in the future. Issues such as power plant retirement due to aging technology or equipment, plant closures due to climate change concerns and changes in plant operations due to alternative energy choices will all be discussed in this presentation. In addition, this presentation will address what steps we need to take to ensure a satisfactory transition for manatees prior to the loss of these warm water outfalls; as well as who needs to work on these issues, what are the practical limitations and why we need to act now. Contact Information: Winifred G. Perkins, Manager of Environmental Relations, Florida Power & Light Company, PO Box 14000, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, USA; Phone: 561-691-7046; Fax: 561-691-7070; Email: [email protected]


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Brevetoxin-induced DNA Damage in Neoplastic Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells Barbara J. Sheppard and Ayanna C. Phillips

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Mass mortalities in manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during red tide periods have been the result of exposure to brevetoxins (PbTx) produced by the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. The toxins have been identified in immune cells of the lung and liver and in the lymphoid tissues of the dead manatees. In man, inhalation of aerosolized toxin in sea spray results in a host of signs of respiratory dysfunction including upper respiratory tract irritation, cold-like symptoms and asthma attacks in prone individuals. Symptoms are worse in persons with pre-existing lung conditions. To investigate the effects of brevetoxins on compromised respiratory epithelial cells, two human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines (H460 and H1299) were used as models for in vitro studies. H1299 cells are p53 null; p53 is a key cell cycle regulator, responsible for signaling cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage to allow for DNA repair, and when DNA damage is deemed to be excessive or irreparable, it directs the cell toward apoptosis. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether PbTx-3, the form of brevetoxin found in aerosols, could induce DNA damage in these cells. A single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet Assay) was used to determine and compare DNA damage following exposure to 10, 100 and 500ng/ml concentrations of PbTx-3 for 1 hour. For H460 cells, as PbTx-3 concentration increased, cell counts decreased post exposure, whereas for H1299 cells, as PbTx-3 concentration increased, cell numbers remained relatively comparable across treatment groups post-exposure. The DNA damage results for cells that survived the exposures were expressed as tail moments, which represent the percentage of DNA in comet tails multiplied by the tail length (in arbitrary units). For H460 cells, the mean negative control tail moment was 0.30 (SE = ±0.08), whereas the positive control (hydrogen peroxide) was 62.56 (14.14). The tail moment for PbTx-3 at 10ng/ml was 11.16 (1.06), at 100ng/ml was 0.13 (0.02), and at 500ng/ml was 0.21 (0.05). For H1299 cells, the mean negative control tail moment was 0.02 (0.01), whereas the positive control was 55.01 (9.43). The tail moment for PbTx-3 at 10ng/ml was 16.91 (2.40), at 100ng/ml was 0.03 (0.02), and at 500ng/ml was 0.30 (0.14). The data indicates that PbTx-3 at 10ng/ml for 1 hour results in acute cell loss in wild-type human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells and results in DNA damage in some surviving wild-type cells as well as in the p53-null cells. PbTx-3 at 100 and 500ng/ml for 1 hour resulted in no cells with detectable DNA damage in surviving cells. These results suggest that PbTx-3 could induce acute cell loss and DNA damage in the respiratory epithelial lining of marine mammals using an undetermined p53-dependent mechanism. It is hypothesized that this cell loss and cell damage contributes to morbidity and mortality in marine mammals during red tides. Contact Information: Ayanna Carla N. Phillips, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue Bldg 1017, V3-238, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA; Phone: 352-392-2239 ext 4453; Fax: 352-392-9704; Email: [email protected]


46

Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants in an Endangered Species, the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), Sampled in Southeastern Mexico Erin L. Pulster1, Dana Wetzel1, John E. Reynolds III1 and Benjamin Morales-Vela2

1Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida 2Proyecto Manati' El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have existed since the 1800’s and have since been measured in many marine organisms globally; however, studies of contaminants of any type have been exceedingly rare in endangered manatees (Trichechus manatus). Although manatees have no natural predators, they are threatened by a variety of human activities, including boating, habitat destruction, and use of pesticides and other contaminants. Given the prevalence of fat/blubber, coastal habitat (i.e., in proximity to agricultural areas and other habitats impacted by people), and the long lifespan of marine mammals such as manatees, certain pollutants can bioaccumulate at very high levels. The objective of this study was to determine baseline concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in manatees sampled in Chetumal Bay (Figure 1), in southeastern Mexico. Although concerns exist in this region about contaminant levels and effects, no studies of body burdens in manatees have been done in this region. Blubber biopsies (n=9) and blood (n=9) were collected from manatees and analyzed by GC-ECD and GC-MS. The PCB concentrations in blubber and blood samples ranged from 0.379 to 5.62 ug/g lipid weight and 0.299 to 2.56 ug/g lipid weight respectively. The OCP concentrations in blubber and blood samples ranged from 0.029 to 20.4 ug/g lipid weight and 0.035 to 0.490 ug/g lipid weight, respectively. These high levels exceed current thresholds for toxic endpoints and warrant further research. Contact Information: Erin L. Pulster, Mote Marine Laboratory, Center for Ecotoxicology - Aquatic Toxicology, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236; Phone: 941.388.4441 ext. 390; Fax: 941.388.4312; Email: [email protected]


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Integrated Health Assessment of North Atlantic Right Whales Using Fecal Samples Rosalind M. Rolland1, Gregory J. Doucette2, Luis F. Leandro2, Lora G. Rickard3, Carla Panuska4, Roxanne M. Gillett5, Kathleen E. Hunt6, Samuel K. Wasser7 and Scott D. Kraus1

1New England Aquarium, Boston, MA 2Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/NOS, Charleston, SC 3Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 4College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 5Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada. 6University of Portland, Portland, OR 7Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

A decline in reproduction, increased prevalence of skin lesions, and deterioration of body condition in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) during the 1990s led to development of non-invasive methods to assess health of free-swimming whales. The objectives of this study were to use fecal samples to: (1) assess stress and reproductive endocrinology using radioimmunoassays of steroid hormone metabolites; (2) evaluate exposure to marine biotoxins by measuring levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSP) and domoic acid (DA); (3) assess the prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium using an immunofluorescence assay and determine genotypes of isolates, and; (4) use mitochondrial and microsatellite fecal DNA profiles to confirm the species and individual identity of the sampled whales. From 1999-2006, we collected 324 fecal samples and here we present results from multiple years. Sample collection efficiency increased more than four-fold using scent detection dogs to locate samples. Our results show that concentrations of fecal estrogens, progestins and androgens are reliable predictors of gender, pregnancy and lactation in females and sexual maturity in males. Two cases of pregnancy loss were identified using fecal progestin concentrations and sightings records on the calving grounds the following winter. Levels of adrenal stress hormone metabolites vary with reproductive status, sex and physiological state. Right whales have the highest prevalence of infection with potentially pathogenic Giardia (67.5%) and Cryptosporidium (14.2%) of any marine mammal yet examined. Finally, right whales are being exposed to both DA and PSP toxins with levels varying yearly and both toxin groups co-occurring in some cases. In certain whales PSP toxins are exceeding concentrations at which human advisories for shellfish are invoked. Using photo-identification and fecal DNA analyses, over one-third of samples have been associated with an individual in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, allowing correlation of assay results with long-term life history data. These studies represent the foundation of an individual-based profile of health and reproductive status, providing insights into population-based trends in reproduction, health, and mortality. Contact Information: Rosalind M. Rolland, Marine Conservation Medicine Program, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 USA; Phone: 617-973-6587; Fax: 617-973-0242; Email: [email protected]


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Florida Manatees: An Overview of Their Status and Future Risks Patrick M. Rose

Save the Manatee Club, Maitland, Florida The endangered Florida manatee is often the center of strong political debate due to human development activities and recreational pursuits within its essential habitat. Like Steller’s sea cow, its extinct Sirenian relative, manatees had been hunted historically with devastating results. Although, it is now rare for a Florida manatee to be intentionally killed by humans, other human-related threats have escalated with great intensity. Collectively, mortality associated with man-related activities such as water-craft strikes, fishing gear, water control structures, and other habitat alterations and pollution - continue to pose serious risks to the Florida manatee’s future survival. Unfortunately, Florida manatees also face serious risks from cold stress syndrome due to their cold intolerance. Historically, manatees likely suffered losses from time to time as major cold events occurred. However, they also had many more natural springs and up-wellings available to weather such events. Additionally, manatees have benefited from a significant number of artificial warm water outflows from power plants and industrial discharges to weather strong winter cold fronts. With the elimination of some of these artificially warm discharges and natural springs, together with the prospects of losing many more within the next decade or two, manatees are at risk of catastrophic mortality should these facilities go off line before mitigating measures can be implemented. Issues surrounding climate change and fossil fuel costs are coming together with increased human development activities and recreational pressures to create the perfect storm that threatens the Florida manatee’s future survival. It will be up to all concerned to find common higher-ground, if future calamity is to be avoided for Florida’s manatees and aquatic ecosystems. Contact Information: Patrick M. Rose, Save the Manatee Club, Suite 210, 500 North Maitland Ave., Maitland, Florida 32751 USA; Phone: 407-539-0990; Fax: 407-539-0871; Email: [email protected]


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Illuminating Species Differences, Population Structure, and Migration Patterns among Large Whales: Insights and Lessons Learned Howard C. Rosenbaum

Wildlife Conservation Society, Cetacean Conservation & Research Program, Global Conservation-Marine, Bronx, NY

For species of large whales, species designations and population structure have often been controversial or complex. The ability to clearly discriminate species from population level differences for cetacean conservation and management requires a complimentary approach integrating concepts and approaches from systematics and population genetics. Over the last decade, major aspects of our genetic research has focused at a species level for right whales worldwide and for detecting population structure among Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. This talk will briefly review the conceptual and analytical approaches used to address species level differences in right whales (leading to recognition of three right whale species), followed by an in-depth view of population structure analyses for humpback whales. For the latter, it is often presumed that traits for humpback whales described from studies in the Northern Hemisphere should apply to those in the Southern Hemisphere, with key differences linked to austral seasonality. The approach to understand population structure among Southern Hemisphere humpback whales utilizes large-scale genetic comparisons from wintering grounds, migratory corridors, and Antarctic feeding grounds (n>2000 individual whales) and integrates multiple lines of evidence including: satellite tracking of individual whales, photographic identification, acoustic comparisons, and reconsideration of whaling records. Significant genetic differences for mtDNA sequences and microsatellites (15 loci) between two sub-populations in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean have been found with relatively low rates of exchange of effective migrants/generation. Overall, our findings for humpback whales off southern Africa illustrate: 1) significant population structure within and between wintering grounds and, 2) intriguing patterns of migrations, connectivity and interchange between populations. Our results have countered and challenged a traditional set of hypotheses and assumptions. The insights and lessons learned (as part of the analytical process) from these large whale case studies may provide some additional perspective for the growing and substantial set of genetic studies on Sirenia. Contact Information: Howard C. Rosenbaum, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cetacean Conservation & Research Program, Global Conservation-Marine, Bronx, NY 10460 USA; Phone: 718-220-5184; Fax: 718-364-4275; Email: [email protected]


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At Sea Assessment of Large Whale Species for Determination and Classification of Human Induced Trauma and Potential for Human and Medical Intervention Jamison Smith1, Teri Rowles2 and Michael Moore3

1Protected Resources Division, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Gloucester, MA, USA

2Office of Protected Resources, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD, USA

3Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA Many large whale species are subject to high levels of anthropogenic serious injury and mortality. For some species, such as the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, there is an urgent need to examine every animal, both alive and deceased, to determine the extent of human anthropogenic trauma that resulted in its ultimate demise or observed condition. This information is utilized by managers, scientists, environmentalists, veterinarians, and others to draft policy, recommendations, and medical treatment plans based on findings from examinations and identify trends in practices with increased takes of protected marine mammals. To determine and classify human induced trauma every large whale mortality that is accessible, even if only by at-sea observation and sampling, is examined and the findings are widely disseminated to other researchers and managers. Reports of large whales with any indications of human induced trauma are also thoroughly researched and those findings are used in both determining marine mammal stock assessments as well as at-sea response options. The range of options include stress hormone analysis, genetics profiling and stable isotopic analysis through biopsy sampling; overall health and condition assessment based on body condition and indices through visual and ultrasound observations; bacterial culture and histological analysis through skin scraping samples; just to name a few diagnostic options. With the recent increase in remote drug delivery technology, cases that were once thought to have extremely limited options are now being seen in a different light, one of potential medical intervention in order to treat the whale’s condition. Other similar technological advancements have enabled an increased knowledge and awareness of large whales in their environment in order to assess their overall health and potential for serious injury and/or mortality and the possibility of human intervention. Contact Information: Jamison M. Smith, NOAA Fisheries Service, Protected Species Division, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 USA; Phone: 978-281-9336; Email: [email protected]


51

Circulating Retinol and α-tocopherol Levels Based on Artificial Formula Consumed in Rescued Neonatal Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) Noel Y. Takeuchi1, Kathryn A. Ono1 and Lisa M. Mazzaro2

1Marine Science Research and Education Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 2Research and Veterinary Services, Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, Mystic, CT

Vitamin A is a source for growth, development and maintenance of reproductive, endocrine, and immunological function, while the antioxidant, vitamin E, helps maintain cellular integrity and aids in developing the immune system. These vitamins are of great importance when creating artificial formulas for neonate harbor seals in rehabilitation that may have experienced dietary deficiencies at a critical stage. This study is the first for rehabilitated Western Atlantic harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) pups focusing on circulating levels of retinol (vitamin A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) via non-invasive serum analysis admitted to the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) in Biddeford, Maine. Data from five harbor seal neonates was analyzed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) during the summer of 2006. The objectives of this study were to: 1. Determine the circulating levels of retinol and α-tocopherol in harbor seal pups upon admittance, on milk matrix formula, and on fish gruel formula prior to weaning 2. Compare levels of retinol and α-tocopherol in rehabilitated versus wild phocid pups to determine if MARC formulas are providing a diet similar to that in the wild. Retinol levels ranged from 0.16 to 0.20μg/mL on admittance. Newborn pups contained 0μg/mL of α-tocopherol, supporting limited transplacental transfer of α-tocopherol and suggesting that orphaned pups admitted into rehabilitation centers may have never nursed. Retinol and α-tocopherol levels increased from admittance when given milk matrix and fish gruel formulas. Thus, artificial formulas utilized were efficient enough in Vitamin A and E to show an increase in serum levels which reflected similarly to wild phocid pups. Feeding an adequate artificial diet with essential vitamins early in life will maximize proper growth and development in orphaned pups and will increase their chances of survival once released back into the wild. Contact Information: University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, PO Box 100136, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32610 U.S.A; Phone: Lab- 352-392-2212 x5729; Email: [email protected]


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Assessment of Manatee Corpora Lutea Function via Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) Immunohistochemistry, Morphometry, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Kathleen M. Tripp1, Don A. Samuelson1, Michael J. Fields2 and Patricia A. Lewis1

1College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 2Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Manatees possess high numbers of corpora lutea during diestrus and pregnancy, yet exhibit much lower serum progesterone concentrations than many other species. The purpose of this study was to use immunohistochemical staining for StAR, along with morphometry and TEM to assess the ability of individual manatee corpora lutea to produce progesterone. Within luteal cells, StAR controls the movement of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane for conversion to progesterone. We hypothesized that fully functional corpora lutea would exhibit the most intense StAR expression, the largest luteal cells, numerous mitochondria, and extensive endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Conversely, lower StAR expression, smaller cells, and infrequent or degenerating organelles would indicate reduced progesterone production. The most intense StAR staining was observed during late pregnancy, moderate staining predominated in early diestrus, and the least staining was associated with abortion. Staining among corpora lutea of individual females also varied, ranging from low to high. Corpora lutea usually occurred concurrently in both ovaries and ranged in number from 14-58. Lengths of corpora lutea were significantly (P<0.05) larger in early diestrus and mid pregnancy than late pregnancy, and granulosa lutein cells were significantly larger in early diestrus than late pregnancy or during abortion. Degenerating corpora lutea analyzed with TEM were characterized by widely spaced luteal cells and stromal collagen. Luteal cells exhibited poorly organized cytoplasm with few identifiable organelles (smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria). StAR was expressed in manatee corpora lutea throughout diestrus and pregnancy, indicating continual progesterone production during these times. Variability in StAR expression among the corpora lutea of individual females suggests different contributions to progesterone production, regardless of their morphological appearance. StAR expression was greatest in late pregnancy, but contrary to our hypothesis, corpora lutea and granulosa lutein cells were significantly smaller and presumed to be degenerating by this stage. Abortion was found to be accompanied by reduced luteal cell size, degeneration of luteal cells and their organelles at the ultrastructural level, and minimal expression of StAR. These results indicate that manatee corpora lutea do actively produce progesterone throughout normal diestrus and pregnancy, despite low circulating progesterone concentrations in this species. Contact Information: Katie Tripp, College of Veterinary Medicine-SACS, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue (P.O. Box 100126), Gainesville, FL 32610-0126 USA; Phone: 352-392-2226 x5280; Fax: 352-392-6125; Email: [email protected]


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Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms on Marine Mammals Frances M. Van Dolah

Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC

Marine mammal mortality events associated with harmful algal blooms have increased in recent years, in concert with the increased frequency and expanded geographic distribution of harmful algal blooms that has been documented over the last quarter century. To date, three classes of algal toxin have been definitively linked to episodic marine mammal mortality events: domoic acid, saxitoxin, and brevetoxin. Beginning in 1998, upwelling-driven blooms of the domoic acid producing diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia australis, on the California coast have coincided with extensive mortalities of California sea lions, sea otters, and cetaceans. Although retrospective analysis suggests that domoic acid-related mortality events may have occurred as far back as the 1970’s, their frequency has clearly increased, with large mortality events repeating annually from in 2000 to 2007. P. australis is a natural component of the phytoplankton community on the west coast of the U.S. Its increased bloom frequency may be driven by a long-term (25-year) climatic cycle that controls productivity of the North Pacific Ocean. This cycle appears to have undergone a regime shift in the mid 1990’s, concurrent with the onset of domoic acid-related mortality events, suggesting that we may expect increased bloom frequencies for some years to come. A second class of algal toxin, saxitoxin, has been associated with cetacean mortality on the northeast coast of the U.S. In an unusual mass stranding of humpback whales in Cape Cod Bay, STX was identified in both whales and mackerel that had been consumed, in an apparent acute toxicity event. Although no acute STX toxicity has been observed in Northern right whales, annual exposure of this highly endangered species to both STX and DA has recently been established through the monitoring of feces samples in their summer feeding grounds in the Bay of Fundy. Exposure modeling is currently underway to establish possible adverse effects of these toxin levels. Brevetoxins, produced by the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, have definitive links to manatee and bottlenose dolphin mortalities in the Gulf of Mexico that have increased in frequency over the past decade. Manatees have suffered recurring mortality events in southwest Florida every year that red tides persist through winter into the spring. Bottlenose dolphins have similarly suffered extensive mortalities in the past decade; however, differences in susceptibility between northern Gulf versus central west Florida dolphin populations have become apparent. This observation makes clear the need to define the potential differences in feeding ecology, behavior, and health status of these two populations. Given the wide distribution of these toxins in the world’s coastal oceans, the few documented cases of adverse impacts of HABs on marine mammals described here are likely not unique. Where acute toxicity is documented, the population level consequences of exposure are not known. Effects of chronic on sub-lethal exposures are poorly understood and effect levels of marine algal toxins are not well established. Understanding the global impacts of algal toxins and their potential synergistic effects with infectious diseases will require multidisciplinary approaches to establish exposure and effect of algal toxins to marine mammal populations. Contact Information: Frances M. Van Dolah, Ph.D., NOAA, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, USA; Phone: (843)762-8529; Fax: (843)762-8700; Email: [email protected]


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Overview of Risk of Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales in the Southeastern US: Assessment of North Atlantic Right Whale Habitat and Characterization of Vessel Traffic Leslie Ward

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL The only known calving area for the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is on the continental shelf of the southeastern United States. Identification and protection of the calving habitat is a critical component of conservation efforts for this highly endangered species as risk of collision with ocean-going vessels is a continuing challenge to the recovery of the species. In an effort to protect right whales, NOAA Fisheries has supported winter aerial surveys in the southeastern U.S. calving area. Data from over a decade of aerial surveys conducted by the New England Aquarium, and the states of Florida (FWC) and Georgia (GDNR), were used to investigate spatiotemporal distributions of right whales. Aerial surveys have demonstrated significant interannual and within-season variability in both the spatial distribution and numbers of calving females within the southeastern region. Monthly compilations showed peaks in relative abundance of right whales in the months of January and February. In addition to aerial survey data, information reported to the federal Mandatory Ship Reporting System (MSRS) was used to characterize commercial ship traffic patterns within the critical habitat. The relative risk of whale-vessel interactions among various potential vessel approaches to pilot buoys were explored within a modeling framework. The results aided in the evaluation of candidate traffic lanes that result in relatively low overall risk of encounters with right whales for ships using those lanes. Over the past year, advancements in the spatiotemporal detail of traffic patterns were possible because of the systematic collection and analysis of vessel data via Automatic Identification System (AIS). Synthesized AIS data and preliminary analyses demonstrate the utility of this technology in measuring vessel compliance of recommended lanes in the southeastern region and in improving the precision of risk assessments. Contact Information: Leslie Ward, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 SE 8th Avenue St. Petersburg, Florida 33701; Phone: 727- 896-8626; Fax: 727-893-9176; Email: [email protected]; Web: research.myfwc.com


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Physical Anomalies of John’s Pass Bottlenose Dolphins Ann Weaver

Argosy University, Sarasota, FL The John’s Pass Dolphin Conservation Project (NOAA GA1088-1815) is an intensive long-term study of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Treasure Island FL. It uses small boat observational surveys in a before, during and after design to measure the impact of a major bridge reconstruction project on dolphin abundance, distribution and behavior. Data are collected 3 times a week and include an extensive photo-identification catalog (N=50000 photos) available for the investigation of physical anomalies of wild dolphins. This report presents a preliminary analysis of 2007 data (n=121 surveys) on shark scars, dorsal fin creases, skin mottling, slashes and head bruises. Bull, tiger and hammerhead sharks occur in the study area but only a quarter (27%, n = 52) of the 189 dolphins in the photo-ID catalog have shark scars that are visible during breathing surfaces. A scant majority of 58% has one scar but the remaining 42% have more than one (n=78 bites), raising questions about attack recurrence and whether scarred dolphins behave differently than unscarred dolphins. Scars vary in width, depth and pigmentation but showed no significant difference in body location (dorsum/peduncle). While sharks presumably attack from below, most scars (74%) show sharks bit dolphins over the top (dorsal side) while only 12% of visible bites suggest the shark aimed for the ventrum. Several pre/post-attack case studies are presented, including unusual pigments patterns and a dramatic pictorial of 2 attacks on the same dolphin in 5 wks, to discuss attack type, stress response and healing rates. Answers are sought for the biological basis of dorsal fin creases, intermittent but distinct concave (some convex) networks on dorsal fins. During 2007, 20% (38 dolphins: 35 adults, 3 calves) exhibited creases (n=87 incidences). While creases are not correlated to intense social activity, 18 cases where 2 or more dolphins showed creases simultaneously suggest a social context: 9 cases involved some combination of bulls and available females, 5 involved females with close social associations and 4 involved some combination of bulls. Data are presented to raise questions about creases as a useful field marker of biosocial conditions. Mottling refers to various non-pox dermatitis such as apparent peeling, large or small patches of lighter-colored pigment, small scattered bruises, pustules, rings of pustules, tiny white speckles and small oval spots with central blemishes. Mottling occurred across the entire year but most often in April, June and July. There were 3 temporal clusters where 4-6 dolphins showed mottling at the same time, most were residential with frequent social associations. Dolphins showed a range of long deep body slashes unlikely to be caused by dolphins or sharks. About half the slashed dolphins were calves. Large head bruises are rare but significant events that often leave a small permanent bruise over the melon area. Contact Information: Ann Weaver, School of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Argosy University, 5250 17th Street, Sarasota, FL 34235, USA; Phone 800.331.5995; Email: [email protected]


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Overview of Marine Mammal Health Assessment Programs and their Importance to Conservation Janet Whaley1, David Rotstein2, Lori Schwacke3, and Teri Rowles1

1National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Silver Spring, MD 2Cooperative Center for Marine Animal Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 3Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Ocean Service, Charleston, SC

Scientists have been assessing the health of wild marine mammals for the over thirty years. The primary focus was on traditional applications to evaluating the health of individual animals. Today, the focus is on population health and the knowledge base is quickly expanding due in large part to the advancements and availability of biomedical tools and techniques and in the scope of approach. Studies are now more focused on epidemiological approaches with a goal towards understanding how human interaction and infectious and non-infectious disease can affect populations and even ecosystem dynamics. The evolution of wildlife health assessment programs have been aided by a number of factors: 1) the integration of conservation medicine into wildlife investigations, 2) the development of infrastructure to support wildlife disease surveillance and 3) the re-focusing of conservation and management towards ecosystem approaches. Given the goal of integrating conservation medicine for marine mammal management, health assessment programs have developed with emphasis on the following:

• Surveillance of disease and pathogen/toxin exposure

• Development of standardized protocols, validated assays, and databases to support epidemiological analyses

• Development of more sensitive diagnostic tools, molecular and other techniques and approaches to population, disease or toxin surveillance

• Information dissemination for science and management

• Training in sample collection and processing techniques to ensure data consistency All of these have a foundation of collaboration between the academic community, federal state and local government agencies and private organizations. There are a number of ongoing multi-collaborator health assessment programs in the U.S. These include long term projects such as the Sarasota Dolphin Project and the right whale visual health assessment program which allow us to evaluate temporal trends in health, survival and reproductive success. More targeted, and generally shorter term, studies have focused on either effects or exposure assessments; investigations of unusual morbidity or mortality; and individual case studies. Synthesis of information derived from these studies can provide a view of spatial and temporal trends at a national level, and aid in the understanding of how anthropogenic and environmental factors affect the health of marine mammal populations. How these programs operate and the collaborations developed will be illustrated in specific examples from US waters. Contact Information: Janet Whaley, NOAA/NMFS, Protected Resources, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Springs, MD 20910, United States; Phone: 301-713-2322; Email: [email protected]


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Manatees and Cold: Why Isn’t Florida Warm Enough? Graham A.J. Worthy 1,2

1 Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 2 Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Orlando, FL

Despite recent efforts, relatively little is known about the physiological ecology of manatees. Data indicate that manatees possess metabolic rates that are only 25-30% of Kleiber’s (1975) predicted values (e.g., Gallivan and Best 1980; Irvine 1983; Miculka and Worthy 1995). Despite having several anatomical adaptations to minimize heat loss (e.g., Rommel et al. 2001; Rommel and Caplan 2003) and the possibility of additional heat produced by gut fermentation, the immediate result of having a low metabolic rate and a high thermal conductance (or poor insulation) is an inability to deal with cold conditions (Miculka and Worthy 1993). Recent data suggests that manatees weighing more than 300 kg exhibit the standard mammalian response to cold exposure. Metabolism increased at water temperatures of 19-20°C (consistent with Irvine 1983) and individuals increased metabolic output by almost 100% when temperatures dipped to 15°C. This suggests that animals of this size are capable of dealing with cold for at least some period of time consistent feld observations. Results for immature manatees (<300 kg) were very different showing an apparent inability to increase metabolism. Even at temperatures as low as 16°C, there was no increase in metabolic heat production yet they became lethargic and held their pectoral flippers close to their body to conserve heat. This response would quickly result in hypothermia and death if left even for a few hours. This apparent inability to increase metabolic rate in response to cold is puzzling since in most precocial species this response is present at birth. It is consistent with mortality data that shows that sub-adults appear to be most at risk during cold winters (O'Shea et al. 1985).

Heat flux and skin temperature (Ts) data indicate that, at water temperatures (Tw) >20°C, manatees experience minimal heat losses. When Tw dropped below 20°C, manatees would minimize heat loss by holding their pectoral flippers close to the body to decrease the potentially high rates of heat loss from this richly vascularized area. Even at these colder temperatures, there were low rates of heat loss from the paddle, consistent with the presence of counter-current heat exchangers in the region. At colder Tw, the difference between Ts and Tw decreased over the general body surface suggesting peripheral vasoconstriction. Prolonged peripheral vasoconstriction would also be consistent with the observed effects of cold exposure on the skin of many cold-stressed manatees. Increased understanding of the physiological constraints that manatees face will be critical to our understanding of both the basic biology of this endangered species and the potential impacts of cold conditions. Contact Information: Graham A.J. Worthy, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando FL 32816-2368 USA; Phone:407-823-4701; Fax: 407-823-5769; Email: [email protected]


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Author Index Bold numbers indicate presenting authors.

Altieri, Bianca De Luca ............................................3 Alencar, A. E. ...........................................................4 Allen, Jason ............................................................15 Amancio, Antonio Carlos .........................................3 Arruda, J. ................................................................25 Attademo, F. L. N. ................................................4, 5 Auil, Nicole ............................................................24 Barakos, J. ...............................................................43 Barlas, Margaret E. .................................................12 Barr, Seth ................................................................16 Bauer, Gordon B. ......................................................6 Bechdel, Sarah E. ..........................................7, 22, 33 Beck, Cathy A. ........................................................29 Berens, Elizabeth ....................................................15 Blue, Joseph E. .....................................16, 17, 18, 19 Bolen, Ellen E. ........................................................11 Bonde, Robert K. ....................................8, 24, 29, 42 Bossart, Gregory D. .......... 7, 9, 10, 20, 21, 22, 33, 39 Breitbart, Mya .........................................................40 Bryan, Colleen E. ....................................................10 Camilleri, Sandra ....................................................15 Cammen, Kristina ...................................................20 Campos, Thais Moura ...............................................3 Cardwell, A. ..............................................................6 Carneiro, L. R. A. .....................................................5 Carney, Susan L. .....................................................11 Carvalho, Vitor Luz ..................................................3 Choi, Katherine Fiedler .............................................3 Christopher, Steven J. .............................................10 Clark, AnnMarie ...........................................8, 24, 42 Colbert, D.E. .............................................................6 Cramer, S. ...............................................................25 Davis, Michelle C. ..................................................11 Davis, W. Clay ........................................................10 Deutsch, Charles J. .................................................12 deWit, M. ................................................................34 Donnelly, Kyle A. ...................................................13 Doucette, Gregory J. ...............................................47 Dunn, J. Lawrence ..................................................14 Dunnigan, B. ...........................................................25

Dziuk, K. ...................................................................6 Edwards, Holly H. ..................................................12 Elasmar, Narayan ....................................................18 Fair, Patricia A. .............................................9, 20, 39 Farina, L. .................................................................34 Field, Cara ..............................................................14 Fields, Michael J. ....................................................52 Forsythe, Steven E. ......................................17, 18, 19 Gannon, Damon ......................................................15 Gannon, Janet .........................................................15 Garcia, G. M. ............................................................5 Gaspard, J.C., III........................................................6 Gerstein, Edmund R. .............................16, 17, 18, 19 Gerstein, Laura .................................................17, 18 Gillett, Roxanne M. ................................................47 Goldstein, Juli D. ..............................................20, 21 Goldstein, T. ...........................................................43 Greenewald, Josiah .................................................18 Grossman, Charles J. ..............................................32 Gulland, Frances M. D. .....................................37, 43 Hansen, Larry J. ......................................................33 Harris, Heather ........................................................37 Haubold, Elsa ..........................................................11 Howells, Elisabeth ........................................7, 22, 33 Hunt, Kathleen E. ...................................................47 Ivanov, Denis I. .......................................................27 Keith, Edward O. ..............................................23, 38 Kellogg, Margaret E. ..........................................8, 24 Ketten, D. R. ...........................................................25 Khorsandian-Fallah, Jaleh ......................................31 Kilpatrick, David S. ......................................7, 20, 33 Kraus, Scott D. ..................................................26, 47 Kroell, Kenny .........................................................21 Kryukova, Natalia V. ..............................................27 Laist, David W. .......................................................28 Langtimm, Catherine A. .........................................29 Lanyon, Janet M. ....................................................30 Larkin, Iske L. Vandevelde ...............................13, 31 Latham, Michelle L. ...............................................32 Leandro, Luis F. ......................................................47


59

Lewis, Patricia A. ............................................. 34, 52 Lopes, L. J. ...............................................................4 Mann, D. ...................................................................6 Marino, Lori ...........................................................37 Mazzaro, Lisa M. ....................................................51 Mazzoil, Marilyn .................................... 7, 22, 33, 39 McCann, Sean ........................................................24 McCulloch, Stephen D. ................... 7, 21, 22, 33, 39, McFee, Wayne E. ...................................................10 McGee, Jennifer L. .................................................34 McGuire, Peter M. ........................................ 8, 24, 42 McLellan, William A. .............................................35 Meegan, Jenny ........................................................14 Mezich, Ron ...........................................................36 Mignucci-Giannoni, Antonio A. .............................24 Montie, Eric ............................................................37 Moore, Katherine M. ..............................................38 Moore, Michael ......................................................50 Morales-Vela, Benjamín ................................... 42, 46 Murdoch, M. Elizabeth ........................... 7, 22, 33, 39 Ng, Terry F. F. ........................................................40 Nobre, J. K. ...............................................................4 Nollens, Hendrik H. ................................................41 Normande, I. C. ........................................................5 Nourisson, Coralie ..................................................42 Nutter, Felicia ................................................... 37, 43 O’Brien, Nicole M. Knauer ....................................23 Odell, Daniel K. ......................................................23 Ono, Kathryn A. .....................................................51 Panuska, Carla ........................................................47 Pause, Kimberly C. ............................................. 8, 24 Peden-Adams, Margie M. .......................................20 Perkins, Winifred G. ...............................................44 Pflaum, Sara ...........................................................31 Phillips, Ayanna C. .................................................45 Pinto, Gerard ..........................................................16 Powell, James .........................................................24 Prahl, S. ..................................................................25 Pulster, Erin L. ........................................................46 Reep, Roger L. .................................................... 6, 31 Reif, John S. ........................... 7, 9, 20, 21, 22, 33, 39 Reynolds, John E., III .............................................46

Rice, Charles D. ......................................................20 Rickard, Lora G. .....................................................47 Rodriguez-Lopez, Marta A. ....................................11 Rolland, Rosalind M. ..............................................47 Romano, Tracy A. ..................................................20 Rose, Patrick M. .....................................................48 Rosenbaum, Howard C. ..........................................49 Rotstein, David .......................................................56 Rowles, Teri ..................................................... 50, 56 Samuelson, Don A. ..................................... 31, 34, 52 Santos, C. M. ............................................................5 Schneider, Gerald ...................................................37 Schwacke, Lori .......................................................56 Severo, M. M. ....................................................... 4, 5 Seyoum, Seifu ........................................................11 Sheppard, Barbara J. ...............................................45 Sidor, Inga ..............................................................14 Slade, Rob W. .........................................................30 Smith, Jamison .......................................................50 Sneath, Helen L. .....................................................30 Suedmeyer, Wm. Kirk ............................................40 Sullivan, Jamie G. ..................................................11 Takeuchi, Noel Y. ..................................................51 Theile, Cheryl A. ....................................................32 Touhey, Katie .........................................................37 Tringali, Michael D. ...............................................11 Tripp, Kathleen M. .................................................52 Van Dolah, Frances M. ..................................... 43, 53 Viana, Daniel ............................................................3 Ward, Leslie ...........................................................54 Wasser, Samuel K. .................................................47 Weaver, Ann ...........................................................55 Wells, Randall ........................................................15 Wetzel, Dana ..........................................................46 Whaley, Janet .........................................................56 Williams, C. ............................................................43 Williams, S. R. .......................................................25 Worthy, Graham A. J. .............................................57 Youngbluth, Marsh .................................................33 Zabka, T. ................................................................43 Ziemann, Sarah .......................................................22


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List of Participants

Names of individuals registered by March 31, 2008


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Nicole Adimey U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish & Wildlife Biologist 6620 Southpoint Drive, South #310 Jacksonville, Florida 32216-0958 PH: 904-232-2580, ext. 123 FX: 904-232-2404 Email: [email protected]

Bianca Altieri Centro de Especialidades Veterinarias Anatomic Pathology Rua 24 de maio # 1441 Fortaleza, Ceara 60020-001 Brazil PH: 55-1238958425 Email: [email protected]

Fernanda Attademo Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos / Projeto Peixe Boi Veterinária Estrada do Forte Orange S/N Caixa Postal 01 - Forte Orange Ilha de Itamaracá, Pernambuco 53900-000 Brazil PH: 55-8135441056 | FX: 55-8135441835 Email: [email protected]

Christie Austin Marineland 1155 Ocean Shore Blvd #306 Ormond Beach, FL 32176 USA PH: 904-521-5078 Email: [email protected]

James Bailey Univ of Florida Anesthesiology PO Box 100136 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-258-6600 | FX: 352-392-8289 Email: [email protected]

Diana Baptista Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária from UTL Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária Avenida da Universidade Técnica Lisbon, Lisbon 1500-445 Portugal PH: 351-914247846 Email: [email protected]

Gordon Bauer New College of Florida Division of Social Sciences 5800 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243 USA PH: 941-487-4394 | FX: 941-487-4475 Email: [email protected]

Sarah Bechdel Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Marine Mammal Conservation 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-465-2400 x 654 FX: 772-595-3332 Email: [email protected]

Cathy Beck US Geological Survey Sirenia Project 2201 NW 40th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 352-264-3550 Email: [email protected]

Ryan Berger Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife: Marine Mammals 6134 Authority Ave Jacksonville, FL 32221 USA PH: 904-573-4910 | FX: 904-573-4982 Email: [email protected]

Nicole Bianculli Discovery Cove 7007 Sea World Drive Orlando, FL 32821 USA PH: 516-659-7116 Email: [email protected]

George Biedenbach Dolphin Conservation Center at Marineland Director of Conservation Programs 9600 Oceanshore Blvd Saint Augustine, FL 32080 USA PH: 904-471-1111 x 141 Email: [email protected]

Meghan Bills Univ of Florida Aquatic Animal Health PO Box 100144 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2239 x 5872 Email: [email protected]

Bob Bonde US Geological Survey Florida Integrated Science Center 2201 NW 40 Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 352-264-3555 | FX: 352-374-8080 Email: [email protected]

Gregory Bossart Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Marine Mammal Research & Conservation 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-465-2400 x 556 Email: [email protected]

Colleen Bryan NIST 331 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412 USA PH: 843-762-8832 | FX: 843-762-8742 Email: [email protected]

Susan Butler ASci Corp/US Geological Survey 2201 NW 40th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 352-264-3557 | FX: 352-374-8080 Email: [email protected]

Scott Calleson Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Imperiled Species Management 620 S Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399 USA PH: 850-922-4330 | FX: 850-922-4338 Email: [email protected]

Terri Calleson Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Imperiled Species Management 620 S Meridian St Mail Station 6A Tallahassee, FL 32399 USA PH: 850-922-4330 | FX: 850-922-4338 Email: [email protected]

Steven Christopher NIST Hollings Marine Laboratory 331 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412 USA PH: 843-762-8856 Email: [email protected]

Catherine Clabby Knight Journalism Fellow MIT 60 Wendell St Cambridge, MA 02138 USA PH: 919-423-6163 Email: [email protected]

Tonya Clauss Georgia Aquarium Veterinary Services & Conservation Medicine 225 Baker Street Atlanta, GA 30313 USA PH: 404-581-4361 | FX: 404-581-4379 Email: [email protected]

Pat Clough Dolphin Research Center Medical Department 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050 USA PH: 305-289-1121 x 216 FX: 305-743-4482 Email: [email protected]

Alex Costidis Univ of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine 1600 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2246 x 3854 FX: 352-294-9880 Email: [email protected]

Scott Cramer Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Biology 266 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA PH: 508-289-2832 | FX: 508-457-2041 Email: [email protected]

Jennifer Cucksey Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 6134 Authority Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32221 USA PH: 904-573-4916 Email: [email protected]

Heather Daniel Univ of Florida Aquatic Animal Health 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, FL 32608 USA PH: 352-392-2212 x 5686 Email: [email protected]


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Michelle Davis Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 100 8th Ave SE Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 USA PH: 727-896-8626 x 3130 Email: [email protected]

Martine de Wit Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Mammal Path Lab 3700 54th Ave S Saint Petersburg, FL 33711 USA PH: 727-423-0271 Email: [email protected]

Chip Deutsch Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife Research Lab 4005 S Main St Gainesville, FL 32601 USA PH: 352-955-2230 x 109 FX: 352-955-2183 Email: [email protected]

Kyle Donnelly Univ of Florida Aquatic Animal Health 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2212 x 5729 Email: [email protected]

Larry Dunn Mystic Aquarium Research & Veterinary Services 55 Coogan Blvd Mystic, CT 06355 USA PH: 860-572-5955 x 103 Email: [email protected]

Richard Evans Pacific Marine Mammal Center 20612 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA PH: 949-494-3050 | FX: 949-494-2802 Email: [email protected]

Megan Fairobent Florida Dept of Environmental Protection 2295 Victoria Ave Ste 364 Fort Myers, FL 33902 USA PH: 239-332-6975 Email: [email protected]

Spencer Fire NOAA Marine Biotoxins Program 219 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412 USA PH: 843-762-8574 | FX: 843-762-8700 Email: [email protected]

Jana Fly Marine Mammal Conservancy 1000 Tamarind Rd Key Largo, FL 33037 USA PH: 305-393-5635 Email: [email protected]

Erin Fougeres NOAA Protected Resources 263 13th Ave South Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 USA PH: 727-824-5323 Email: [email protected]

Ruth Francis-Floyd Univ of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine PO Box 100136 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-745-8295 | FX: 352-392-8289 Email: [email protected]

Deanna Frankowski Univ of Georgia 30 Ocean Science Circle Savannah, GA 31411 USA PH: 912-414-0717 Email: [email protected]

Damon Gannon Mote Marine Laboratory & Bowdoin College 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 USA PH: 941-388-4441 x 450 Email: [email protected]

Joe Gaspard Univ of Florida/Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2246 x 3854 Email: [email protected]

Edmund Gerstein Florida Atlantic University Charles E Schmidt College of Science 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL 33486 USA PH: 561-338-9185 | FX: 561-297-2160 Email: [email protected]

Juli Goldstein Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Marine Mammal Research & Conservation Program 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-216-3549 | FX: 772-595-3332 Email: [email protected]

Lynda Green Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) 1581 Brickell Ave Apt 2308 Miami, FL 33129 USA PH: 305-860-1121 Email: [email protected]

Lauren Harshaw Univ of Florida Marine Mammal Health Program 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 610-291-2821 Email: [email protected]

Yianna Hernandez Bayamon 959 Puerto Rico Email: [email protected]

Camelia Hoinoiu University of Medicine Experimental Research p-ta Eftimie Murgu Nr2 Timisoara 300041 Romania PH: 40-256216510 Email: [email protected]

Elisabeth Howells Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Marine Mammal Research & Conservation 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-465-2400 x 630 Email: [email protected]

Christy Hudak Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife Division 19100 SE Federal Hwy Tequesta, FL 33469 USA PH: 561-575-5407 x 11 FX: 561-743-6228 Email: [email protected]

William Hurley Marineland's Dolphin Conservation Center Administration 9600 Oceanshore Blvd Saint Augustine, FL 32080 USA PH: 904-471-1111 Email: [email protected]

Katie Jackson Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission North Atlantic Right Whale 6134 Authority Ave Jacksonville, FL 32221 USA PH: 904-237-4220 Email: [email protected]

Jen Jakush Volusia County Environmental Management 123 W Indiana Ave DeLand, FL 32720 USA PH: 386-736-5927 x 2235 Email: [email protected]

Hardy Jones BlueVoiceorg 24 Dolphin Dr Saint Augustine, FL 32080 USA PH: 904-819-5509 | FX: 904-819-5509 Email: [email protected]

Ed Keith Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center 8000 N Ocean Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004 USA PH: 954-262-8322 | FX: 954-262-4098 Email: [email protected]

Maggie Kellogg Univ of Florida Physiological Sciences PO BOX 100245 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-6853 Email: [email protected]

Darlene Ketten Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Biology 266 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA PH: 508-289-2731 | FX: 508-457-2041 Email: [email protected]


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Carol Knox Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Habitat & Species Conservation 620 S Meridian St MS 6A Tallahassee, FL 32399 USA PH: 850-922-4330 | FX: 850-922-4338 Email: [email protected]

Scott Kraus New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston, MA 01833 USA PH: 617-973-5457 Email: [email protected]

David Laist Marine Mammal Commission 4340 East-West Hwy Rm 700 Bethesda, MD 20184 USA PH: 301-504-0087 | FX: 301-504-0099 Email: [email protected]

KB Langtimm US Geological Survey Florida Integrated Science Center 2201 NW 40th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 508-335-3029 | FX: 352-374-8080 Email: [email protected]

Janet Lanyon University of Queensland Marine Vertebrate Ecology Research Group St Lucia Brisbane Australia PH: 61-7-33654416 | FX: 61-7-33651655 Email: [email protected]

Iske Larkin Univ of Florida Aquatic Animal Health 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2212 x 5168 FX: 352-846-1171 Email: [email protected]

Michelle Latham Midwest Florida Manatee Research Project Xavier University Department of Biology 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45207 USA PH: 513-265-0448 | FX: 513-745-1079 Email: [email protected]

Dana Lindemann University of Miami Marine Mammal Rescue Team 815 Red Stable Way Oak Brook, IL 60523 USA PH: 630-624-9056 Email: [email protected]

Susan Lowe Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park 4150 S Suncoast Blvd Homosassa, FL 34446 USA PH: 352-628-5343 Email: [email protected]

Mark Lowe Midway Animal Hospital 1635 S Suncoast Blvd Homosassa, FL 34448 USA PH: 352-795-7110 Email: [email protected]

Marilyn Mazzoil Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-465-2400 x 603 Email: [email protected]

Stephen McCulloch Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Marine Mammal Research & Conservation Program 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-465-2400 x 604 FX: 772-595-3332 Email: [email protected]

Stewart McDaniel Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc Waterlife Design Group 2395 Apopka Blvd Apopka, FL 32703 USA PH: 407-886-3939 | FX: 407-886-6787 Email: [email protected]

Jennifer McGee Univ of Florida Veterinary Medical Sciences PO Box 100126 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2226 | FX: 352-392-6125 Email: [email protected]

Peter McGuire Univ of Florida Biochem & Mol Biol Box 100245 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-6853 | FX: 352-392-2953 Email: [email protected]

William McLellan Univ of North Carolina Biology & Marine Biology 601 South College Road Wilmington, NC 28403 USA PH: 910-962-7266 Email: [email protected]

Jenny Meegan Univ of Florida Aquatic Animal Health 491 SW 70th Way #330 Gainesville, FL 32607 USA PH: 619-992-2487 Email: [email protected]

Gaia Meigs-Friend ASci Corp/US Geological Survey Sirenia Project 2201 NW 40th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 352-264-3562 Email: [email protected]

Ron Mezich Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 S Meridian Street - 6A Tallahassee, FL 32399 USA PH: 850-922-4330 Email: [email protected]

Eric Montie Univ of South Florida College of Marine Science 140 Seventh Avenue South Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 USA PH: 727-553-1237 | FX: 727-553-1189 Email: [email protected]

Katherine Moore Nova Southeastern University 1850 NW 69th Ave Suite 5 Plantation, FL 33313 USA PH: 954-587-9020 Email: [email protected]

Tim Mullican Georgia Aquarium Veterinary Services and Conservation Medicine 225 Baker Street NW Atlanta, GA 30313 USA PH: 404-581-4248 | FX: 404-581-4379 Email: [email protected]

Elizabeth Murdoch Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 561-289-4919 Email: [email protected]

Terry Ng Univ of South Florida Marine Science 140 7th Avenue South Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 USA PH: 727-553-3520 Email: [email protected]

Hendrik Nollens Univ of Florida Marine Mammal Health Program PO Box 100126 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2226 x 5286 Email: [email protected]

Coralie Nourisson ECOSUR Proyecto Manati Av Centenario km55 Chetumal, Q. Roo 77900 Mexico PH: 3522643552 Email: [email protected]

Felicia Nutter The Marine Mammal Center 1065 Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965 USA PH: 4152897370 | FX: 415-289-7376 Email: [email protected]

Samara Parker NSU-OC 93 Birch Hill Rd Stow, MA 01775 USA PH: 508-596-1066 Email: [email protected]

Helen Peereboom University of Queensland School of Intergrative Biology 94 Old Mount Samson Road Mount Samson, Queensland 4520 Australia PH: 0418452045 Email: [email protected]


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Carla Phillips Univ of Florida Infectious Diseases & Pathology 2015 SW 16th Avenue Bldg 1017 Gainesville, FL 32608 USA PH: 352-392-2239 x 4453 Email: [email protected]

Tom Pitchford Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish & Wildlife Research Institute 6134 Authority Ave Jacksonville, FL 32221 USA PH: 727-423-8430 Email: [email protected]

Arielle Poulos Florida Dept of Environmental Protection 2295 Victoria Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33902 USA PH: 239-332-6975 Email: [email protected]

Erin Pulster Mote Marine Laboratory Aquatic Toxicology 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota 34236 USA PH: 941-388-4441 x 390 Email: [email protected]

Roger Reep Univ of Florida Dept Physiological Sci Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-4700 | FX: 352-392-4700 Email: [email protected]

Jim Reid US Geological Survey Sirenia Project 2201 NW 40 Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 352-264-3546 Email: [email protected]

Tom Reinert Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish & Wildlife Research Institute 19100 SE Federal Hwy Tequesta, FL 33469 USA PH: 561-575-5408 Email: [email protected]

Michael Renner Miami Seaquarium 17207 131st Terrace North Jupiter, FL 33478 USA PH: 561-743-1922 Email: [email protected]

John E. Reynolds Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 USA PH: 941-388-4441 E-mail: [email protected]

Kevin Roberts Marineland's Dolphin Conservation Center Animal Care 9600 Oceanshore Blvd Saint Augustine, FL 32080 USA PH: 904-471-1111 x 109 FX: 904-460-1330 Email: [email protected]

Roz Rolland New England Aquarium Marine Conservation Medicine Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110 USA PH: 617-973-6587 | FX: 617-973-0242 Email: [email protected]

Patrick Rose Save the Manatee Club 500 N Maitland Ave Maitland, FL 32751 USA PH: 407-539-0990 Email: [email protected]

Howard Rosenbaum Wildlife Conservation Society Cetacean Conservation & Research Program-Marine Global Conservation Program 2300 Southern Blvd Bronx, NY 10460 USA PH: 718-220-5184 | FX: 718-364-4275 Email: [email protected]

Don Samuelson Univ of Florida Small Animal Clinical Sciences PO Box 100126 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2226 | FX: 352-392-6125 Email: [email protected]

Adam Schaefer Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Marine Mammal Research & Conservation 5600 US Hwy 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA PH: 772-465-2400 x 594 Email: [email protected]

Anne Schmieg Florida Institute of Technology 2620 Revolution St #103 Melbourne, FL 32935 USA PH: 941-587-4370 Email: [email protected]

Kate Shaffer Volusia County Environmental Managment 123 W Indiana Ave Room 202 DeLand, FL 32720 USA PH: 386-736-5927 x 2235 FX: 386-740-5193 Email: [email protected]

Jamison Smith NOAA Protected Resources One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 USA PH: 978-281-9336 | FX: 978-281-9394 Email: [email protected]

Vikki Socha Mote Marine Laboratory Stranding Investigations Program 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 USA PH: 941-388-4441 x 239 FX: 941-388-4317 Email: [email protected]

Dave Stelling David Stelling DVM PA PO Box 924094 Homestead, FL 33092 USA PH: 305-278-2028 Email: [email protected]

Megan Stolen Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute 6295 Sea Harbor Drive Orlando, FL 32821 USA PH: 407-370-1652 Email: [email protected]

Maggie Stoll Univ of Florida Physiological Sciences 1600 SW Archer Rd Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2246 | FX: 352-294-9880 Email: [email protected]

Pamela Sweeney Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) PO Box 833356 Miami, FL 33283 USA PH: 305-546-1111 Email: [email protected]

Nami Takase Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium 424 Azaishikawa Motobu-city Kunigamigun Okinawa-state 905-0206 Japan PH: 0980482748 | FX: 0980482749 Email: [email protected]

Noel Takeuchi Univ of Florida 935 NW 21st Avenue Gainesville, FL 32609 USA PH: 310-963-9059 Email: [email protected]

Amy Teague ASci Corp/US Geological Survey/UF 2201 NW 49th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32605 USA PH: 352-264-3558 Email: [email protected]

Carol Tobias Nathan's Ark 156 Erie Ave Decatur, GA 30030 USA PH: 404-218-2776 Email: [email protected]

Katie Tripp Univ of Florida Aquatic Animal Health 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, FL 32608 USA PH: 352-392-2226 x 5280 Email: [email protected]

Frances Van Dolah NOAA Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research 219 Fort Johnson Rd Charleston, SC 29412 USA PH: 843-762-8529 Email: [email protected]


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Michael Walsh Univ of Florida Large Animal Clinical Sciences 2015 SW 16th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32610 USA PH: 352-392-2212 | FX: 352-392-8289 Email: [email protected]

Leslie Ward Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish & Wildlife Research Institute 100 SE 8th Ave Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 USA PH: 727-896-8626 | FX: 727-893-9176 Email: [email protected]

Ann Weaver Argosy Univ Dept of Psychology 5250 17th Street Sarasota, FL 34235 USA PH: 941-379-0404 | FX: 941-379-4839 Email: [email protected]

Celeste Weimer Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team PO Box 500456 Marathon, FL 33050 USA PH: 305-731-6178 Email: [email protected]

Janet Whaley NOAA/NMFS 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA PH: 301-713-2322 Email: [email protected]

Aliya Wilson Univ of Wisconsin 114 Breese Terrace Unit L Madison, WI 53726 USA PH: 608-819-8465 Email: [email protected]

Graham Worthy Univ of Central Florida Biology 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL 32816 USA PH: 407-823-4701 | FX: 407-823-5769 Email: [email protected]

Kellie Youmans Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Imperiled Species Management Section 620 South Meridian Street - 6A Tallahassee, FL 32399 USA PH: 850-922-4330 Email: [email protected]

Julie Zaias Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) PO Box 833356 Miami, FL 33283 USA PH: 305-951-2439 Email: [email protected]

Georgia Zern Volusia County Environmental Management 123 West Indiana Ave DeLand, FL 32720 USA PH: 386-736-5927 x 2839 | FX: 386-740-5193 Email: [email protected]


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