Browsing by Subject "Short-finned pilot whales"
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Item Open Access A PROCEDURAL REVIEW OF THE MASS PILOT WHALE STRANDING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, 2003(2004) Jenkins, Cherie LOn April 18, 2003, twenty-eight short-finned pilot whales stranded in the shallow waters near Content Keys Passage, about five miles north of Big Pine Key in the lower Florida Keys. Of the twenty-eight, 21 animals died at the site, were euthanized or moved back into deeper water and their whereabouts were unknown. Seven whales were moved to a rehabilitation site and after almost four months of care, four female juveniles and one male calf were released about 15 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. The response, rehabilitation and release efforts during mass stranding events are challenging situations that require the cooperation of multiple organizations, including federal agencies, regional stranding networks, local marine mammal societies and volunteers. I examine the legislative and regulatory basis for stranding programs and the organizational structure that they establish, and evaluate conflicts that arose during this particular mass stranding of pilot whales. I use recommendations solicited from various professionals involved in all phases of the event to provide suggestions as to how this process could be improved upon during future events. I provide specific recommendations to address problems in communication among the multiple organizations, the lack of a clear chain of command, improper data collection and disagreements among veterinary staff as to the release of individual whales. Only by learning from previous experience and identifying strengths and weaknesses within current operations will stranding networks provide the care and support needed by animals under their care.Item Open Access Connecting Populations Across Ocean Basins: Genomics of Short-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in the Western North Atlantic(2022-04-18) Hanson, SophieShort-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are widely-distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean. These whales are capable of traveling large distances, yet their regional movement patterns and population structure are poorly defined, making stock identification and species management challenging. To understand the population structure of these whales, I analyzed genetic relatedness across 56 distinct individuals in three geographic locations: the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent & the Grenadines (n = 17), Florida, USA (n = 7), and North Carolina, USA (n = 36). I generated genetic sequences from tissue samples using double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-Seq). I then derived 3,227 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the Freebayes bioinformatics pipeline. To infer population structure, I used a Bayesian clustering analysis implemented in STRUCTURE software. The results indicate that individuals from all of the three sampling locations are genetically similar. This supports the hypothesis that there is substantial gene flow between the eastern Caribbean and southeast United States. It is likely that the Gulf Stream and extensive continental shelf facilitate long-ranging individual or group movement, and thus connectivity. Interestingly, results also indicate a second, genetically-distinct population comprised of three individuals (two from St. Vincent and one from North Carolina). While more sampling is needed to confirm this second population, it is possible that there is a larger oceanic stock in the western North Atlantic. Together, these findings can be used to better inform the management of short-finned pilot whales, which is imperative considering rising anthropogenic pressures, mass-strandings, and the species’ cultural importance in artisanal whaling.Item Open Access Effects of Sea Surface Temperature on the Distribution of Short-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean(2019-04-23) Davis, LeahTwo species of pilot whales inhabit the western North Atlantic Ocean: short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus; and long-finned pilot whales G. melas. The two species are morphologically similar and difficult to differentiate in the field, so the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) uses an algorithm based on sea surface temperature (SST) and water depth to determine species identity for stock assessment surveys and fishery bycatch records. NMFS assumes that short-finned pilot whales are found in waters warmer than 22°C, while long-finned pilot whales are typically found in waters colder than 25°C, with an overlap between the two species in waters from 22°C to 25°C. This area of overlap occurs primarily between latitudes 38°N and 40°N during summer months. I used short-finned pilot whale telemetry data to test this assumption regarding the thermal preferences of short-finned pilot whales. Only 7.4% of locations in the area of overlap occurred in waters below 22°C, and my analysis confirmed that sea surface temperature has a significant impact on habitat selection of short-finned pilot whales. These results will inform future pilot whale stock assessments in the western North Atlantic Ocean, assist in determining species identity of Atlantic pelagic longline fishery bycatch records, and provide a baseline for assessing potential range shifts in the western North Atlantic expected as a result of climate change.