Marine animal studies overview

Environmental heterogeneity plays a bigger role than diet quality in driving divergent California sea lion population trends

This study shows that environmental factors, not diet quality, drive divergent population trends in California sea lions between the Gulf of California and Channel Islands.

Impact of tusk anomalies on the long-term foraging ecology of narwhals

This study examines if tusk anomalies in narwhals affect foraging ecology using genetic sexing and stable isotope analysis, finding no systematic impact but noting differences in isotopic values for specimens with unusual dentition.

Unsupervised classification of graded animal vocalisations using fuzzy clustering

This paper presents an unsupervised method for classifying graded animal vocalisations using fuzzy clustering and Mel frequency cepstral coefficients, showing it can identify both stereotyped and graded vocalisations but with lower precision than manual classification.

Milking it: repeated post-weaning suckling events in Galapagos Sea Lions Zalophus Wollebaeki

The paper documents repeated suckling events between Galapagos Sea Lion mothers and their adult offspring beyond the expected weaning age, revealing a previously unknown behavior in marine mammals.

Who said that? Deciphering Complex Coral Reef Soundscapes with Spatial Audio and 360 Degree Video

The paper identifies fish sounds in coral reef soundscapes using spatial audio and 360-degree video, creating an open-access resource to improve passive acoustic monitoring and machine learning models.

Examining the fitness benefits of social plasticity to prey availability in bottlenose dolphins

The paper examines whether social plasticity in bottlenose dolphins relates to fitness by analyzing social behavior in response to salmon abundance and its link to reproductive success.

Feeling the noise: Ascidians detect substrate-borne vibrations, not pressure waves

This study shows that ascidians detect substrate vibrations, not waterborne pressure waves, highlighting the need to consider substrate vibrations in marine noise research.

An investigation of social learning of tool-use in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using a ball-up / ball-down task

This study tests whether untrained bottlenose dolphins can spontaneously learn tool-use tasks through social learning but finds no evidence of such ability.

Dental aging offers new insights to the first epigenetic clock for common dolphins (Delphinus delphis)

The paper develops the first species-specific epigenetic clock for common dolphins using DNA methylation data from stranded and bycaught individuals, showing consistent underestimation in older dolphins.

New minimally invasive techniques for sample collection in Antarctic seals

The paper develops a remote sampling device to collect nasal swabs from Antarctic seals without physical contact, testing negative for avian influenza virus.

Human activities drive novel behaviours and transitions in dolphins

The paper quantifies how tourism and fisheries impact behavioural states and transitions in Indian Ocean humpback dolphins using drone-based observations and machine learning.

Head-related transfer function predictions reveal dominant sound transmission mechanisms in a dolphin head

This study uses finite element modeling of dolphin anatomy to show how mandibular fat bodies and air spaces influence sound transmission directionality and block sound through bones at communication frequencies.

Seasonal contact and migration structure mass epidemics and inform outbreak preparedness in bottlenose dolphins

This study develops a data-driven epidemiological model for bottlenose dolphins to understand disease spread and improve outbreak preparedness by analyzing spatial and contact structures.

Megafauna show pervasive yet distinct affinity to ocean fronts: the urgent need for adaptive conservation in a warming world

The paper assesses marine megafauna associations with ocean fronts in the Mozambique Channel and predicts climate-driven shifts in front-rich areas, highlighting the need for adaptive conservation.

Vocal Interactions Between Singing Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

This study examines how humpback whales adjust their vocalizations during duets, finding that they modify sound patterns and spectral properties in response to acoustic context, suggesting social interaction through vocal coordination.

Lateralized cerebellar connectivity differentiates auditory pathways in echolocating and non-echolocating whales

This study compares auditory pathway connectivity in echolocating and non-echolocating whales using diffusion tractography, revealing differences in tract strength and laterality.

Linking ringed seal foraging behaviour to environmental variability

This study analyzes the foraging behavior of Saimaa ringed seals using telemetry data and environmental models to identify seasonal and depth-specific patterns.

First evidence for widespread sharing of stereotyped non-signature whistle types by wild dolphins

This study identifies shared non-signature whistles in wild dolphins and suggests they may have referential or affiliative functions, supporting the idea of a complex communication system.

Seasonal and interannual variation of common dolphin densities in Portuguese waters

This study models common dolphin densities in Portuguese waters using environmental factors, showing seasonal patterns and interannual variation linked to sardine biomass and oceanographic conditions.

Growth patterns of theoretical bite force and jaw musculature in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)

This study examines the ontogenetic development of bite force and jaw musculature in southern sea otters, finding that full maturation occurs at 3.6 and 5.0 years in females and males, respectively, with sexual dimorphism influencing growth patterns.

Contribution of mesopelagic fish and cephalopods to the diet of rorquals (Balaenoptera spp) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) beyond their feeding grounds

This study identifies the mesopelagic fish and cephalopod species consumed by rorquals and sperm whales using environmental and faecal DNA, revealing their foraging strategies and trophic roles.

Using known births to account for delayed marking in population estimation of North Atlantic right whales

The paper modifies a capture-recapture model to account for delayed marking in North Atlantic right whales, improving population estimates by incorporating known births and initial offspring mortality.

A summary of intraspecific size variation for large mysticetes

The paper summarizes intraspecific size variation in large mysticete whales using literature and IWC catch data, finding similar relative variability across species and links to feeding strategies.

Exploring tropical freshwater soundscapes in Southeast Asia: insights into auditory sensory adaptation of wild Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens

This study characterizes the underwater soundscape and auditory sensitivity of wild Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens in Southeast Asia, revealing sex-specific hearing ranges and susceptibility to anthropogenic noise.

Abundance and distribution of ringed and bearded seals in the Chukchi Sea: a reference for future trends

The paper estimates abundance and distribution of ringed and bearded seals in the Chukchi Sea using aerial surveys and environmental data, finding higher densities in specific regions.

Automated Skin Lesion Detection and Prevalence Estimation in Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins

This paper develops a machine learning model to detect skin lesions in bottlenose dolphins and estimates lesion prevalence, finding high model accuracy and a positive relationship between lesion presence and gregariousness.

Molecular evolution of toothed whale genes reveals adaptations to echolocating in different environments

The paper identifies molecular evolution patterns in hearing genes of toothed whales across different environments, showing habitat-specific selective pressures on echolocation genes.

WhaleLM: Finding Structure and Information in Sperm Whale Vocalizations and Behavior with Machine Learning

This paper uses machine learning to analyze sperm whale vocalizations and behavior, finding structured patterns and predictive information in their communication.

Innovative Use of Depth Data to Estimate Energy Intake and Expenditure in Adelie Penguins

This paper estimates energy expenditure and foraging activity in Adelie penguins using depth data and machine learning, showing high accuracy compared to traditional methods.

Geometric analysis of airway trees shows that lung anatomy evolved to enable explosive ventilation and prevent barotrauma in cetaceans

The paper analyzes airway geometry in cetaceans to show that lung anatomy evolved to enable rapid ventilation and prevent barotrauma by adjusting airway diameter ratios based on diving depth and ventilation speed.