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Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in the inland waters of Washington were reduced by predator control programs in the twentieth century, but stocks have rebounded since being protected in the 1970s. Three management stocks are recognized, but there is little information on their current abundance. We conducted 38,431 km of aerial line-transect surveys throughout the range of these stocks in 2013–2016, sighting a total of 4,678 groups of harbor seals. Line-transect analysis with Beaufort sea state as a covariate provided estimates of the number of seals in the water. We then incorporated tagging data from 15 instrumented seals to develop correction factors, both for seals missed in the water while diving, and those that were on shore. Tagging data were modeled with generalized linear mixed models to provide estimates of the proportions diving and hauled out. After applying these correction factors, we estimated that the Hood Canal stock contained 1,368 seals (CV = 16.8%), the Southern Puget Sound stock contained 1,976 seals (CV = 20.5%), and the Washington Northern Inland Waters stock contained 7,513 seals (CV = 11.5%). This study presents a non-traditional approach to estimating the size of Washington inland waters harbor seal stocks, which may also be applicable to other species for which survey and tagging data are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a mystery surrounding the disappearance of short-finned pilot whales ( Globicephala macrorhynchus) from southern California. This species was very common in these waters through the early 1980s, with an apparently seasonally-resident population centered around Santa Catalina Island in the Southern California Bight. From 1980-1985, pilot whale numbers off Catalina Island declined dramatically, and they eventually disappeared. One theory has been proposed for this phenomenon, suggesting that a strong El Niño event in 1982/83 resulted in a failure of their main prey, market squid ( Doryteuthis opalescens), which lead to their departure. However, we argue that previously underestimated impacts from fishery by-catch and other anthropogenic effects may have actually been the primary driver. Information from diverse sources show that from the 1950s to 1980s, pilot whales were subject to extensive by-catches in purse-seine nets, lampara nets, and oceanic driftnets, as well as intentional shooting by fishermen, and live-captures for the aquarium industry. As a result, dozens of animals may have been removed in some years. From 1952 to 2014, we have documented no less than 232 individuals removed from southern California, with >52% through known anthropogenic factors. If these removals primarily affected the Catalina Island 'residents', they would have had a severe impact on that population. We conclude that human interactions of various types almost certainly played an important, and previously unrecognized, role in the disappearance of short-finned pilot whales from southern California waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Hawaiian Islands small numbers of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) have been documented only in the Northwestern (leeward) Hawaiian Islands, and sei whales (B. borealis) have only recently been confirmed near the islands of Maui and Hawai'i. In November 2007, one Bryde's whale and two sei whale groups (including three subadults) were documented during a 7-day, systematic vessel-transect survey conducted east and northeast of O'ahu. The Bryde's whale sighting is the first in nearshore (<70 km) waters of the main Hawaiian Islands, and the two sei whale sightings are the first near O'ahu, including the first documented subadult sei whales there. The latter information suggests that Hawai'i may be a reproductive area for the endangered sei whale, whose breeding and calving ground locations remain unknown in the Pacific Ocean. Other than rare incidence, the lack of historical sightings of these two species despite many years of previous shipboard and aerial surveys off Hawai'i may be due to misidentification and/or poor sea conditions prevalent in deep, offshore windward waters of the Hawaiian Islands. We recommend conducting more offshore vessel surveys for, and biopsy sampling of, these species to clarify habitat use and current stock boundaries and numbers, information important for management of Pacific populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the Neophocaena phocaenoides which is the only member of the family Phocoenidae without a dorsal fin. General characteristics; Distribution; Fossil record; Form and function; Ontogeny and reproduction; Ecology; Behavior; Conservation status; Genetics.

Presents a study which provided scientific information needed for the conservation and management of the population of Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins in Hong Kong, China. Methodology; Distribution and habitat use; Abundance and population trends; Social organization and behavior; Life history; Population and stock structure; Mortality rates and cases; Recommendations and conclusions.

Presents a legislative bill drafted by Thomas Jefferson for establishing religious freedom in the state of Virginia in the late 1700s. Key stipulations of the bill; Debate over whether the state should use its revenues to support religion; Assertion by Jefferson that religious belief should be solely a matter of private conscience and not public policy.

Focuses on the selection procedure of students in medical schools in Pisa, Italy. Variation of the number of examinations in the curriculum; Qualifications of students taking up medical courses; Implementation of strict selection among medical college applicants.

Speciation is a fundamental process in evolution and crucial to the formation of biodiversity. It is a continuous and complex process, which can involve multiple interacting barriers leading to heterogeneous genomic landscapes with various peaks of divergence among populations. In this study, we used a population genomics approach to gain insights on the speciation process and to understand the population structure within the genus Sousa across its distribution in the Indo-Pacific region. We found 5 distinct clusters, corresponding to S. plumbea along the eastern African coast and the Arabian Sea, the Bangladesh population, S. chinensis off Thailand and S. sahulensis off Australian waters. We suggest that the high level of differentiation found, even across geographically close areas, is likely determined by different oceanographic features such as sea surface temperature and primary productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) was conducted to study Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, as part of environmental impact assessments for several major coastal development projects in Hong Kong waters north of Lantau Island. Ecological acoustic recorders obtained 2711 days of recording at 13 sites from December 2012 to December 2014. Humpback dolphin sounds were manually detected on more than half of days with recordings at 12 sites, 8 of which were within proposed reclamation areas. Dolphin detection rates were greatest at Lung Kwu Chau, with other high-occurrence locations northeast of the Hong Kong International Airport and within the Lung Kwu Tan and Siu Ho Wan regions. Dolphin detection rates were greatest in summer and autumn (June-November) and were significantly reduced in spring (March-May) compared to other times of year. Click detection rates were significantly higher at night than during daylight hours. These findings suggest high use of many of the proposed reclamation/development areas by humpback dolphins, particularly at night, and demonstrate the value of long-term PAM for documenting spatial and temporal patterns in dolphin occurrence to help inform management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The potential health risks due to inorganic substances, mainly metals, was evaluated for the two resident marine mammals in Hong Kong, the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and the Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides). The stomachs from the carcasses of twelve stranded dolphins and fifteen stranded porpoises were collected and the contents examined. Concentrations of thirteen trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Se, V and Zn) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). An assessment of risks of adverse effects was undertaken using two toxicity guideline values, namely the Reference Dose (RfD), commonly used in human health risk assessment, and the Toxicity Reference Value (TRV), based on terrestrial mammal data. The levels of trace metals in stomach contents of dolphins and porpoises were found to be similar. Risk quotients (RQ) calculated for the trace elements showed that risks to the dolphins and porpoises were generally low and within safe limits using the values based on the TRV, which are less conservative than those based on the RfD values. Using the RfD-based values the risks associated with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel and mercury were comparatively higher. The highest RQ was associated with arsenic, however, most of the arsenic in marine organisms should be in the non-toxic organic form, and thus the calculated risk is likely to be overestimated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are one of the flame retardants widely used in plastics, textiles, electronic appliances, and electrical household appliances. In this study, PBDEs and organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined in the archived samples from the Environmental Specimen Bank for Global Monitoring (es-BANK) at Ehime University. The blubber of cetaceans found stranded along the coasts of Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and India during the period from 1990 to 2001 were employed for chemical analysis to understand the present status of contamination and the specific accumulation of PBDEs. PBDEs were detected in all the cetacean samples analyzed, and concentrations were one or two orders of magnitude lower than for PCBs and DDTs. Concentrations of PBDEs ranged from a low value of 6.0ng/g lipid wt. in spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) from India to a high value of 6000ng/g lipid wt. in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) from Hong Kong. No difference in PBDE levels between coastal and offshore species from Japan was observed, implying the existence of pollution sources in this region other than Japan. Highest concentrations of PBDEs were found in animals from Hong Kong, followed by Japan, and much lower levels from the Philippines and India, suggesting that developing nations may also have pollution sources of PBDEs. Geographical distribution of PBDEs in Asian waters was different from PCBs but similar to DDTs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The risks to Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins and Finless Porpoises associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed. Stomach contents from twelve stranded Humpback Dolphins and sixteen stranded Finless Porpoises were collected. Concentrations of total and isomer-specific PCBs in the stomach contents were determined using dual-column gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detectors (GC-ECD). Risks due to the PCBs were assessed in three scenarios, based on total PCBs (summation of 41 PCB congeners), total toxicity equivalency (TEQs) and PCB 118, using the toxicity reference values (TRVs) as the threshold effects benchmarks. The calculated risk quotients (RQs) showed that risks due to PCBs were generally low or negligible. Specifically, RQs from total TEQs and total PCBs for Finless Porpoises are below one, suggesting that PCBs should be a low risk for the Finless Porpoise in Hong Kong waters. However, the Humpback Dolphin has RQs larger than 1 for total TEQs and total PCBs when the 95th percentile data were used in the evaluation. This indicates that further investigation may be needed to examine more closely the potential impact of toxic contaminants in the habitat of the Humpback Dolphin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article describes an Ethical Dilemma Tool, designed by the ethics committee, to guide residents in professionalism and ethics.