News from CIRCE
Archives (2002-2006)
June 2008
Publications
Two new peer reviewed papers have been published.
The first one is on the Morbillivirus epidemic that hit the pilot whale
population of the Strait of Gibraltar and then expended to the Spanish coasts
on the Mediterranean side, published in the journal Emerging Infectious
Disease. The second is on the diet of social group of pilot whales
in the Strait of Gibraltar, published in Marine Biology. You
can download them in the "Publications"
section.
May 2008
At Sea, Murcia
Within the project of the Fundation Biodiversity
on pilot whales, we went to Murcia to biopsy the local population in collaboration
with the association ANSE (www.asociacionanse.org).
After many days of bad weather and then going out without observing any cetaceans,
we finally did 5 sightings of pilot whales. From these 5 sightings, we could
biopsied 21 individuals and do more than 2000 pictures that will allow us
to identify all the individuals encountered. We have also observed a group
of bottlenose dolphin that has been photographed and of which we collected
4 samples, the first ones for this species in this region.
Biopsy of a bottlenose dolphin from the zodiac: Pedro dealing with the approach,
Cris taking the data, Pauline with the Pictures and Philippe shoots.
Session of photo-ID from the ELSE while we are taking biopsies from the zodiac.
Biopsy of a pilot whale and cutting of the samples from the day.
April 2008
At Sea, Strait of Gibraltar
After many months without going
out at sea, we were impatient to see what is happening in the Strait. We haven’t
been disappointed as more than 10 pilot whale newborns welcomed us. The population
does not seem to be doing so bad after the morbillivirus epidemic from last
year although they have suffer a high adult mortality which will be numbered
in the months to come. If we do a simple biological calculus (12 months pregnancy
on average), we find that right after the epidemic, the pilot whales reproduced.
We are now in a strange situation with females that still have a calf and just
had a newborn. Usually weaning occurs around 2 years old (very long period for
pilot whales). The analyses of the months to come should shed light on what
is really happening.
Newborns in the Strait of Gibraltar.
March 2008
European Cetacean Society congress, Egmond
aan zee, The Netherlands
We presented 5 posters at this
congress. Ruth Esteban’s one on the question: “Are the interactions
with tuna fisheries a negative issue for the killer whales in the Strait of
Gibraltar?” won the award of best student poster of the congress for the
second consecutive year! The other posters were on: “What is the price
of a pilot whale in the Strait of Gibraltar?”, “Common dolphins
decrease in the Strait of Gibraltar”, “Calculation of correction
factors for mark recapture population estimate” and “Bottlenose
dolphin population structure across the Gibraltar Strait”. You can find
all of them in the section Publications.
Presentation room of the congress
Laboratory, Bordeaux, France
After the survey in the Bay of Biscay, some laboratory
work at the IBGC in Bordeaux was needed in order to design our methodology
for the genetic study of pilot whales with microsatellites. First we extracted
DNA from the 47 skin samples collected this summer in the Strait (5), in November
in the Alboran Sea (15) and in February in the Bay of Biscay (27). Then many
PCR were run to define the best conditions. Once this job was done we brought
all our DNAs to the Plateforme Génotypage Séquençage
of the Université de Bordeaux who has a robot that can prepare and
run all the PCRs and a sequencer that can produce a lot of results in little
time. Since we have more than 110 samples to deal with, the automation avoids
possible human handling errors.
DNA extraction of the Bay of Biscay samples
February 2008
At sea, Bay of Biscay,
Basque Country
For our project funded by the Fundacion
Biodiversidad, we went to the Bay of Biscay in the Basque Country to biopsy
the long finned pilot whales of the area. These biopsies will allow us to compare
the Atlantic population with the ones from the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean
Sea. This study will show whether the populations are distinct or if they mix
together. These results are important for future conservation programs to know
where are the different stock limits that should be taken in consideration for
protection measures.
For this survey we were lucky to
be able to rent a catamaran that has the advantage of being very stable to shoot
to take biopsies and to be spacious enough for everybody on this special survey.
We were with Enara Marcos Ipiña from the association EIBE (www.eibeh.org)
who organised the entire survey logistic, Susana García Tiscar from the
Auntonomous University of Madrid who has been working with us for a long time
mainly on stable isotopes, Juanma Salazar also from EIBE who started with CIRCE
in the Strait in 2001, Yohan our new statistician in CIRCE and Amayur the boat
skipper. The methodology is pretty much the same as in the Strait although with
a bigger boat it is not always easy to manoeuvre to recover the biopsy arrow.
We had a tiny zodiac to get it back rapidly. Once it is back on the boat we
note down all the data of the biopsy (time, sample number, animal reaction,
picture number which allow us to know who we have already biopsied, etc.). The
tip then goes to the freezer until the end of the day.
Our catamaran and a pilot whale on a flat
sea!
Pilot whale biopsies in the Bay of Biscay
Recovery of the arrow with the zodiac and
data writing
Then at night we change the living
room in a lab to remove the samples from the tips. We keep a piece of skin for
genetics, another piece of skin for stable isotopes that allow us to study their
diet and we keep the blubber for pollutants analysis. Tips are then washed and
sterilised to be used the next day. We were able to collect 27 samples that
will be very precious for the genetic analysis.
Labels and tubes preparation for the samples
on the left, extraction of the samples from the tip in the middle and sterilised
tips on the right.
We did this survey in collaboration with EIBE who is doing cetacean surveys
and study their distribution in the Basque Country since 2003. We have also
encountered other species such as bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, striped
dolphins and a few minke whales. While on transit between two harbours we had
the chance to meet glowing dolphins in the night with the phosphorescent plankton.
Some magical moment!!
Common dolphin © Susana García
Tiscar
January 2008
On land, publications
One of our scientific papers has been published
in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series: Summer spatial distribution of
cetaceans in the Strait of Gibraltar in relation to the oceanographic context.
You can download it in Publications.
December 2007
Good news for everybody who is
interested to participate in a research survey and learn about cetacean study
methodology, you can join us in summer 2008 as a research
assistant.
Laboratory, Vancouver,
Canada
As part of the project funded by
the Spanish Ministry of the Environment on killer whales genetics of the Strait
of Gibraltar, Philippe Verborgh went to Vancouver to train on analysing genetic
results. This project was in collaboration with Lance Barrett-Lennard who is
working for the Vancouver Aquarium and the University of British Columbia. Many
results came out of these analyses: The killer whales of the Strait are apparently
more closely related to killer whales from the South Atlantic rather than from
the North Atlantic. We were also able to refine our knowledge on parental links
between the individuals that we know since 1998.
The entrance of the aquarium and belugas.
Sea otters, a male sea lion and white sided
dolphins.
The Vancouver Aquarium is financing
many research projects on captive and free living animals. They do not sell
a simple show but a real education work for each representation.
November 2007
At sea, Alboran Sea and
Murcia
In our project funded by the Fundacion
Biodiversidad we are doing biopsies in the Alboran Sea and Murcia. In the Alboran
we collaborate with the association Alnitak and we collected 15 samples. In
Murcia we were simply there in order to design the methodology with ANSE. We
did not find any pilot whales however we did see Risso’s dolphins and
sperm whales.
Pilot whale biopsy in the Alboran Sea and
« El Blanco » in Murcia, an old Risso’s dolphin well known
in the area.
October 2007
On land, publications
One of our scientific papers has
been published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series: killer whale predation
on bluefin tuna: exploring the hypothesis of the endurance-exhaustion technique.
You can download it in Publications.
September 2007
At sea, Gulf of Cadiz, Spain
We went out on the sailing boat
of the Fundacion La Caixa (Vell Mari). We take the opportunity to sail far away
from the coast where we rarely go. We found the same group of Risso’s
dolphin that we already identified in 2005.
Risso's Dolphin, mother and calf
Summer 2007
Research assistants
As every summer we are welcoming 4 research assistant
for 12 days. During that time we teach them different cetacean survey techniques
and our knowledge on the subject thanks to our study carried out since 1999.
Oral presentations usually precede some practice. Here we cut the samples
of the different species biopsied and the different dead fish found on the
surface in the Strait. Each sample is cut in 4 parts: a piece of skin in DMSO
put at -20ºC for genetics that will be used in the lab later, a piece
of skin in DMSO kept at -20ºC which is a backup for genetics and is stored
in Pelayo, a piece of skin frozen at -20ºC for stable isotopes analyses
and the piece of blubber wrapped in aluminium foil kept at -20ºC for
pollutants analyses.
Presentation of biopsy analyses and preparation
of the 4 tubes labelled for each sample.
Samples are cut in a Petri dish with sterile
gloves and scalpels. The sample on the right is made of a white part (blubber)
and a black one (skin).
On the boat we also train the research assistant to photo-identification.
Then on land, they can recognise the individuals in the existing catalogue.
You can take part of
the trips organised in 2008. All the information is on the research
assistant page.
Laser
End of August, Andrew Foote came to visit us.
He is currently doing his PhD in North Atlantic killer whale genetics. He
came to collaborate with us as we have already biopsied most of the individuals
in the Strait. Our samples would then be his southernmost ones as he is mainly
working from killer whales samples from Norway, Iceland and Scotland. One
of the techniques he will use to look for differences between populations
is to measure sizes of dorsal fins and the distance between the blowhole and
the dorsal fin. To perform those measures he uses a system of lasers that
are calibrated to have 2 green laser dots spaced by 10 cm. we can then use
those dots as marks like a scale to do all the measures. We did not find the
killer whales on the first day, but we tried the material on bottlenose dolphins
and pilot whales. We had some first promising results. Unfortunately when
we found the killer whales on the next day we could not get close enough to
do high quality pictures where the lasers could be visible.
Andy with his laser system and a first
result on a bottlenose dolphin (2 green dots).
Andy happy with this first result and
the lasers on a pilot whale dorsal fin.
Pilot whales
Many births took place this summer, which is
reassuring after the morbillivirus epidemic that probably decimated most of
the pilot whale population of the Strait. This epidemic started in November
2006 in the Strait of Gibraltar and then seems to have propagated in the Alboran
Sea then in Murcia to finally reach the Balearic Islands in March 2007. A
scientific paper should be published soon in collaboration with the veterinary
Dr Antonio Fernandez. Although the picture of this summer have not been analysed
yet, we have already observed that many individuals were missing from their
groups that we know since 1999.
Some newborns of this summer.
Although it is rather rare to see this
species jump, this individual was giving it all that day.
We could biopsy some new individuals that were
missing. We already have 70 identified individuals from the Strait. These
biopsies are then used in genetic studies to see whether the population of
the Strait reproduces with the ones from the Alboran Sea and Murcia or with
Atlantic populations. We can also study their diet through stable isotopes
that indicates at which trophic level pilot whales feed in the food chain.
The blubber part of the biopsy is used to analyse the presence of various
pollutants. We also took more than 14 000 pictures of dorsal fins.
Bottlenose dolphins
We made nearly 10 000 pictures of dorsal fins
and jumps of bottlenose dolphins. All these data is used to monitor closely
all the individuals of the Strait. Our catalogue has already 322 individuals
and we are observing the same individuals each year.
Jump of bottlenose dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins bow riding a cargo
We regularly observe many jumps while
they are feeding near surface like here.
As for the other species many newborns
added to the bottlenose dolphin resident population of the Strait.
At the end of August, we found the bottlenose dolphins north of the Strait,
while they are usually in the southern part, rubbing against some floating
seaweeds …. Thalassatherapy session??
Killer whales
The killer whales are still in interaction with
bluefin tuna fisheries and are still causing important damages to this fishery.
A killer whale near a Spanish fishermen
and a tuna half eaten by killer whales.
A newborn in the Strait next to his older
brother Camacho on the left and a juvenile having a good taste at bluefin
tuna from the Strait.
Moroccan fishermen who after almost an
hour of effort to haul in their catch end up getting a huge tuna onboard without
the killer whales having their bit. They will probably sell it around 500
Euros at the fish market.
Killer whales near Moroccan fishermen
who are waiting for them to leave to haul in their catch. The interactions
with fishermen are often beneficial for killer whales as they bring an energetic
gain without putting in too much effort, however it happens that a hook get
stuck as is the case here with a juvenile.
Although they are usually not demonstratives,
we had the chance to see a killer whale jump this summer!!
Sperm whales
Late summer we observed the sperm whales interacting
with pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. This summer some individuals that
identified in 1999 came back to the Strait. We were able to identify 11 different
individuals this year. Usually they are only 6 or 7 individuals per year to
come and feed in the area.
On the left we can compare the size of
a sperm whale with a pilot whale. On the right a sperm whale in the middle
of a pilot whale group.
A sperm whale in the front, pilot whales
behind and bottlenose dolphins in the back.
Fin whales
This summer we observed many fin whales migrating
to the Atlantic. Some calves and juveniles were on the trip along with groups
of adults. We have been able to biopsy many individuals to further understand
the genetic flow occurring through the Strait.
Fin whale breathing and a biopsy of a
fin whale.
Common and striped dolphins
As part of our collaboration with
the University of Sienna, we continue to take samples of common and striped
dolphins to analyse their pollutant load. We also keep a part of the skin for
genetic and stable isotope analyses. These studies are to better understand
the inter species competition level and to look for genetic distances with other
populations from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Biopsy of a striped dolphin on the left, biopsied common dolphin
on the right (small mark between the dorsal fin and the blowhole).
Many newborns were also observed.
Common dolphins from the Strait that were
less numerous than other years.
July 2007
June 2007
11/06/2007: And we continue with more novelties with each new trip. During another long day at sea in search of orcas in the Gulf of Cádiz we met a…Basking shark!! We are sorry but, we didn't manage to take a picture. Next time.
10/06/2007: We are pleased to communicate that our orcas are in perfect shape. WE have seen them twice in three days. However, today was very special, we found old friends, and some new acquisitions… three calves have joined the group!!
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06/06/2007: And we found the orcas!! As we left the port of Barbate , during our first day at sea, as due to the weather conditions it had not been possible to sail before, we aimed at Trafalgar cape , and after 2 hours, there they were. A group of approximately 8 individuals. While we were taking photographs of the dorsal fins for they´re subsequent analysis….. we saw a blow in the distance!!! What is our surprise when, it wasn't more orcas, but 2 fin whales aiming for the Atlantic . As our objective was the group of orcas, we decided to stay close to it to try and get some biopsies, so we had to say bye to them. We dollowed the orcas when…another blow!!! This time, on the other side we saw another fin whale, although this one was on its way to the Mediterranean .
02/06/2007: Early morning we move the boat to the port of Barbate , escaping from the ‘levante', East wind. Now it's the turn of the orcas. We hope to find them around Trafalgar cape o close to the ‘almadraba', as they frequently get close to it to feast on red tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ). Thanx to the ‘Suruga 1' skipper, Japanese tuna freezer boat based for the moment in the port of Barbate , we managed to get hold of 45 red tuna samples which will help us to reach a better understanding of the orca diet, by comparing the isotopic signs of the tuna samples to the ones obtained with the orca biopsies.
May 2007
30/05/2007: SECOND STRANGE STRANDING IN TWO DAYS!! This time what we found on the beach of Zahara was a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). It was approximately 7,50 metres long, and was found in an advanced descomposition state.
28/05/2007: STRANGE STRANDING!! A false killer whale ( Pseudorca crassidens ) was found stranded on Atlanterra beach, in Zahara de los Atunes. We extracted, for future analysis, the stomach contents. The animal, a female, was pregnant and would soon have had the baby. We found a foetus of around 1,90 metres long.
25/05/2007: We are starting now to work on biopsies, alter a had winter´s work in the office finishing off reports. Our objective now are the orcas, although before that, we passed by to see how the sperm whales were doing, still present in the Strait…and we managed to get 4 extremly valuable biopsies and 2 fin whale ones. And on the way of course, we could not forget the pilot whales.
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April 2007
26/04/2007: Just arrived from the ECS (European Cetacean Society) congreso, in which CIRCE stood out, obtaining the best undergraduate poster with ‘ Analysis of the diet of pilot whale (Globicephala melas) from the Strait of Gibraltar', a nomination to the best poster award with ‘Levels of progesterone and testosterone in blubber from cetaceans of the Strait of Gibraltar', and also nominated for the best oral presentation with ‘Is there a competition for the resources within the social groups of long-finned pilot whales in the Strait of Gibraltar along the year?'. The congress was organised in San Sebastian , a beautiful city. Now it's the time to start preparing for the next one, which will be set in Amsterdam , Holland.
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