Development of Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, Capture and Satellite Tagging Protocol in Cook Inlet, Alaska

Attempts to capture and place satellite tags on belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, in Cook Inlet, Alaska were conducted during late spring and summer of 1995, 1997, and 1999. In 1995, capture attempts using a hoop net proved impractical in Cook Inlet. In 1997, capture efforts focused on driving belugas into nets. Although this method had been successful in the Canadian High Arctic, it failed in Cook Inlet due to the ability of the whales to detect and avoid nets in shallow and very turbid water. In 1999, belugas were successfully captured using a gillnet encirclement technique. A satellite tag was attached to a juvenile male, which subsequently provided the first documentation of this species’ movements within Cook Inlet during the summer months (31 May–17 September)

Variability of Cetacean Distribution and Habitat Selection in the Alaskan Arctic, Autumn 1982-91

Ten years (1982-91) of autumn sighting data from aerial surveys offshore northern Alaska were analyzed to investigate variability in cetacean distribution and habitat selection. Habitat selection indices were calculated for bowhead, white, and gray whales in heavy, moderate, and light ice conditions; and for high, moderate, and low transport (inflow) conditions at Bering Strait. Bowhead whales selected shallow inner-shelf waters during moderate and light ice, and deeper slope habitat in heavy ice conditions (chi², p < 0.05-0.001). White whales selected slope habitat (chi², p < 0.001), and gray whales selected coastal/shoal and shelf/trough habitat (chi², p < 0.025-0.001), in all ice conditions. In the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, bowheads selected shelf waters and white whales chose slope waters, without regard to transport conditions (chi², p < 0.01-0.001). In the northern Chukchi Sea, gray whales selected coastal/shoal habitat in high transport conditions (chi², p < 0.005), and shelf/trough habitat (chi², p < 0.001) during moderate and low transport conditions. Variability in distribution and habitat selection among these species is likely linked to prey availability at dissimilar trophic levels, although this hypothesis has yet to be rigorously tested. Des données d'observation réalisées en automne sur dix années (1982-1991) grâce à des relevés aériens au large de l'Alaska septentrional ont été analysées dans le cadre de recherches sur la variabilité dans la distribution des cétacés et la sélection de leur habitat. On a calculé les indices de sélection de l'habitat pour la baleine boréale, la baleine blanche et la baleine grise de Californie dans des conditions de glace épaisse, modérée et mince; et pour des conditions de transport (courants de déversement) important, moyen et faible dans le détroit de Béring. La baleine boréale choisissait des eaux peu profondes de l'intérieur du plateau continental durant les conditions de glace modérée et mince, et un habitat plus profond sur la pente durant des conditions de glace épaisse (chi², p < 0,05-0,001). La baleine blanche choisissait l'habitat sur la pente (chi², p < 0,001) et la baleine grise choisissait l'habitat côtier/de hauts-fonds et celui du plateau/des fossés (chi², p < 0,025-0,001), quelles que soient les conditions de glace. Dans la partie alaskienne de la mer de Beaufort, la baleine boréale choisissait les eaux du plateau et la baleine blanche celles de la pente, abstraction faite des conditions de transport (chi², p < 0,01-0,001). Dans la partie septentrionale de la mer des Tchouktches, la baleine grise choisissait un habitat côtier/de hauts-fonds dans des conditions de transport important (chi², p < 0,005) et un habitat de plateau/de fossés (chi², p < 0,001) dans des conditions de transport allant de moyen à faible. La variabilité dans la distribution et la sélection de l'habitat parmi ces espèces est probablement liée à la disponibilité des proies à des niveaux trophiques dissemblables, bien que cette hypothèse doive encore faire l'objet de tests approfondis.

Summer Records of Bowhead Whales in the Northeastern Chukchi Sea

The collation of 26 summer sighting records over years 1975-77, 1984 and 1987-91 suggest that bowhead whales may occupy the northeastern Chukchi Sea in late summer more regularly than commonly believed.Key words: bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, Chukchi Sea, outer continental shelfRÉSUMÉ. L'exploitation statistique de 26 observations faites au cours de l'été entre 1975 et 1977, en 1984 et entre 1987 et 1991 donne à penser que la baleine boréale pourrait occuper la partie septentrionale et orientale de la mer des Tchouktches à la fin de l'été de façon plus régulière qu'on ne l'admet généralement.Mots clés: baleine boréale, Balaena mysticetus, mer des Tchouktches, plateau continental extem

Master of Science

thesisIntrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) refers to the failure of a fetus to reach its genetic growth potential in utero. Each year in the United States, 5-12% of premature babies are born IUGR, which increases their risk for postnatal morbidities. One such postnatal morbidity is brochopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), in which males are more severely affected than females. Histologically, BPD is characterized by impaired alveolar development. One pathway contributing to alveolar formation is estrogen signaling. The predominate estrogen in the lung, estradiol, binds to estrogen receptors (ERs) in the cytosol, dimerizes, and translocates to the nucleus. In the nucleus, ERs bind to estrogen response elements on target genes and affect transcription, resulting in appropriate gene expression and lung development. Androgen signaling works in a similar way through the ligand testosterone and an androgen receptor (AR). Testosterone within the lung can be used to produce estradiol locally by the converting enzyme aromatase. Normal alveolar formation requires an appropriate estrogen to testosterone ratio. We hypothesize that IUGR alters lung sex steroids, estradiol to testosterone ratios, and ER/AR expression in a sex-specific manner in newborn rat lung. Uteroplacental insufficiency was induced in pregnant rats by uterine artery ligation on day 19 of gestation, producing IUGR pups. We examined 4 groups for this study: IUGR female, IUGR male, control female, and control male. Each group consisted of n=6 rat pups derived from different litters. ELISA was used to measure protein concentrations of serum and lung estradiol and testosterone, while Western blotting was used to determine ER?, ER?, and AR protein abundance relative to GAPDH. The serum and lung estrogen to testosterone ratios as well as ER? protein abundance is depressed in male but not female newborn IUGR rat pups when compared to sex-matched controls. ER? and AR expression are increased in IUGR males when compared to sex-matched controls. We conclude that IUGR alters lung sex steroids, estradiol to testosterone ratios, and ER/AR expression in a sex-specific manner in newborn rat lung. We speculate that depressed estrogen signaling in male IUGR lung may contribute to worse outcomes

Estimates of Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Numbers in the Beaufort Sea during Late Summer

Broad estimates of bowhead whale numbers in Beaufort Sea outer continental shelf (OCS) waters were calculated based on raw counts of whales seen during aerial surveys conducted in late summer 1982-84, corrected by factors accounting for surface area not sampled, surfaced whales missed by observers, and whales too deep to be seen. Annual estimates ranged from roughly 700-1200 to 3000-3500 whales for the latter half of August and from 2000-2200 to 1600-2900 whales for the first half of September. Additionally, estimates of up to 3000 whales were calculated for subregions of the Beaufort Sea for two separate two-week periods, with adjacent-period estimates of only several hundred whales in the same subregions, implying that whale concentrations were highly transitory. The highest estimate (ca. 3500 whales) accounts for less than half of the estimated 7800 whales in the Bering Sea bowhead population. If the population estimate of 7800 whales is valid, then either a substantial number of whales summered outside Beaufort Sea OCS waters in 1982-84 or bowhead numbers are routinely underestimated by the methods used here, or some combination of both.Key words: bowhead whale, Beaufort Sea, outer continental shelf, abundance estimates, aerial surveysMots clés: baleine franche, mer de Beaufort, au large du plateau continental, évaluations de la quantité, relevés aérien

Incidental Sighting of a Ribbon Seal (Phoca fasciata) in the Western Beaufort Sea

On 29 August 1983, an adult ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata) was seen by one of us (EIB) resting on ice in the western Beaufort Sea (71 41 N, 152 41 W), during the course of an aerial survey. The seal did not move from the ice when over-flown at 200 m, and was positively identified by its distinctive pelage. Ribbon seals are commonly found along the ice front in the Bering Sea in winter and early spring, then disperse in late spring as the sea ice breaks up and presumably become solitary and pelagic with poorly known distribution in the summer (Wilke, 1954; Naito and Konno, 1979; Burns, 1970, 1981; Stewart and Everett, 1983). Ribbon seals are rarely seen or taken by Eskimo hunters from coastal villages north of the Bering Strait, and sightings at Wainwright and Point Barrow in the northern Chukchi Sea have been described as "most unusual" (Burns, 1981). ... The observed ribbon seal may have drifted north and east with the ice from the Chukchi Sea during the summer. To our knowledge, this report constitutes the northeasternmost record of a ribbon seal

Consistent use of a combination product versus a single product in a safety trial of the diaphragm and microbicide in Harare, Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: We examined the use and acceptability of a combination product (diaphragm and gel) compared to a single product (gel) during a 6-month safety trial in Zimbabwe. STUDY DESIGN: Women were randomized to the use of a diaphragm with gel or the use of gel alone, in addition to male condoms. Ever use and use of study product on the last act of sexual intercourse were assessed monthly by Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing. Acceptability, correct use and consistent use (use at every sexual act during the previous 3 months) were measured on the last visit by face-to-face interview. Predictors of consistent use were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In this sample of 117 sexually active, monogamous, contracepting women, rates of consistent use were similar in both groups (59.7% for combination method vs. 56.4% for gel alone). Product acceptability was high, but was not independently associated with consistent use. Independent predictors of consistent use included age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.08; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.01-1.16], consistent condom use (AOR=3.85; 95% CI=1.54-9.63) and having a partner who approves of product use (AOR=2.66; 95% CI=1.10-6.39). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high reported acceptability and few problems with the products, the participants reported only moderate product adherence levels. Consistent use of condoms and consistent use of products were strongly associated. If observed in other studies, this may bias the estimation of product effectiveness in future trials of female-controlled methods