Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters - Behaviour, Distribution and Habitat Use- WP3 Biotelemetry of Marine Megafauna in Irish Waters

*Work Package Leader: Simon Berrow, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group *Project Partners: Galway Mayo Institute of Technology *Author(s): Berrow, S.D. and O’Connor, I. *Project Duration: 01 February 2008 to 31August 2011Biotelemetry is the transmission of information from biological organisms through the atmosphere by radio waves. It encompasses a wide range of devices that can record environmental variables while attached to an animal, such as depth, salinity and temperature, while permitting the recording and transmitting of the position of an animal, commonly referred to as tracking. A review of biotelemetry, with reference to relevant species in Ireland, is presented. Although a number of marine species have been tagged and tracked in Ireland, these studies were generally of short duration or involved small numbers of individuals. However, these studies have shown that tracking marine megafauna in Ireland can be successful and that there is great potential for biotelemetry.This project (Grant-Aid Agreement No. PBA/ME/07/005(02)) was carried out under the Sea Change Strategy with the support of the Marine Institute and the Marine Research Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan 2007–2013, and through funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.Funder: Marine Institut

Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters - Behaviour, Distribution and Habitat Use- Final Summary Report.

*Lead Partner: Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology *Project Partners: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group *Project Duration: 01 February 2008 to 31 August 2011Irish waters are internationally important for cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), with 24 species recorded to date. These range from the harbour porpoise, the smallest species in European waters, to the blue whale, the largest animal to ever have lived on Earth. All cetaceans and their habitats are protected under Irish and international law. The research termed Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters – behaviour, distribution and habitat use was delivered under six Work Packages. The deliverables under this project will provide data which could be used to address a wide range of issues, and will contribute to developing policy advice on meeting Ireland’s statutory obligations.This project (Grant-Aid Agreement No. PBA/ME/07/005(02)) was carried out under the Sea Change Strategy with the support of the Marine Institute and the Marine Research Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan 2007–2013 and through funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.Funder: Marine Institut

Supply of Vertebrate Necropsy and Sample Recovery Services Merged Final Reports

The Marine Institute issued a tender for the Supply of Vertebrate Necropsy and Sample Recovery Services Tender (2017-2018). The results are presented in this report. These tenders required i) the recovery and standardised necropsy of three cetacean species with associated case history reporting, ii) the provision of sampling kits to be used for the recovery of tissue samples collected from bycaught animals (birds, seals and cetaceans) by observers on commercial inshore and offshore fishing vessels in Irish waters in order to provide additional data to the MI’s existing catch sampling programme and iii) the storage and subsequent delivery of all samples and associated databases to the client. Recovery of 24 animals from two geographical lots was the target for the initial contract (2017) and was achieved. The contract extension (early 2018) required the collection and necropsy of a further 16 animals, which was exceeded as 19 animals were collected. A target of 30 animals to be recovered was required in the second contract (2018) and was also successfully reached. These 73 animals comprised 53 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), ten striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and ten harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Forty-one of the 73 (56%) individuals were recovered from Lot 1 from counties Clare to Donegal, while 32 (44%) individuals were recovered from Lot 2 from counties Wexford to Kerry. Thirty-five sampling kits were assembled and delivered to the Marine Institute, and additional kits were prepared and available upon request for distribution to their panel of fishery observers. Between 24 July and 14 December 2017, two adult male grey seals were incidentally captured in tangle nets and reported to the Project Coordinator. Results from these tenders will inform the development of a long-term strategy for necropsy of stranded cetaceans and recovery of tissue samples for further biological studies. Samples requiring long-term storage at -20°C, including those for virology, were transported in a portable refrigerator to the IWDG office in Kilrush, Co. Clare and stored at facilities on site. Formalin fixed tissues, such as reproductive organs and adrenal glands, were stored at the RVL in Cork. All samples have been delivered to the Marine Institute in Oranmore, Co. Galway along with a detailed database of samples collected.EMF

Courtship behaviour of the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans at Bird Island, South Georgia

The behaviour postures and their sequences during courtship displays of the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans at South Georgia are described. Females initiated most display bouts, which began with a series of greetings. The core of the display consisted of a rapid sequence of head movements, snaps, ritualized preening and vocalisations. Most display bouts ended when the female walked away, although in 25% of cases the birds sat together on the male’s nest site. An underlying basic sequence was common to both sexes although there were differences in responses to the partner’s behaviour. Courtship behaviour was very similar to that described for Wandering Albatrosses breeding in the Indian Ocean

Marine mammals from northeast atlantic: relationship between their trophic status as determined by d¹³C and d¹⁵N measurements and their trace metal concentrations

The relationship between trophic position through d13C and d15N and trace metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Cu and Hg) was investigated in the tissues of six marine mammal species from the Northeast Atlantic: striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphin, Delphinus Delphis, Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus, harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena, white beaked-dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris, grey seal Halichoerus grypus stranded on French Channel and Irish coasts. White-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, white-sided dolphins, common and striped dolphins display the same relative and decreasing trophic position, as measured by d15N values, along both the Irish and French channel coasts, reflecting conservative trophic habits between these two places. Hepatic and renal Cd concentrations were significantly correlated to muscle d13C and d15N values while Hg, Zn and Cu did not. These results suggest that Cd accumulation is partly linked to the diet while other factors such as age or body condition might explain Hg, Zn or Cu variability in marine mammals. Combined stable isotope and trace metal analyses appear to be useful tools for the study of marine mammal ecology

Stable isotope analysis of baleen reveals resource partitioning among sympatric rorquals and population structure in fin whales

Stable isotope analysis is a useful tool for investigating diet, migrations and niche in ecological communities by tracing energy through food-webs. In this study, the stable isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in keratin was measured at growth increments of baleen plates from 3 sympatric species of rorquals (Balaenoptera acutrostrata, B. physalus and Megaptera novaeangliae), which died between 1985 and 2010 in Irish and contiguous waters. Bivariate ellipses were used to plot isotopic niches and standard ellipse area parameters were estimated via Bayesian inference using the SIBER routine in the SIAR package in R. Evidence of resource partitioning was thus found among fin, humpback and minke whales using isotopic niches. Highest ?15N values were found in minke whales followed by humpback, and fin whales. Comparison between Northeast Atlantic (Irish/UK and Biscayan) and Mediterranean fin whale isotopic niches support the current International Whaling Commission stock assessment of an isolated Mediterranean population. Significantly larger niche area and higher overall ?15N and ?13C values found in fin whales from Irish/UK waters compared to those sampled in adjacent regions (Bay of Biscay and Mediterranean) suggest inshore foraging that may be unique to fin whales in Ireland and the UK. Isotopic profiles support spatial overlap but different foraging strategies between fin whales sampled in Ireland/UK and the Bay of Biscay. Stable isotope analysis of baleen could provide an additional means for identifying ecological units, thus supporting more effective management for the conservation of baleen whales