Amaral, A. R.,Collins, T.,Minton, G.,Baldwin, R.,Willson, A.,Kershaw, Francine,Gray, H.,Findlay, K.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Rosenbaum, H. C.
Update on Genetic Analyses of Arabian Sea Humpback Whales Technical Report
no. 9, 2016.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, feeding grounds, genetics, Gulf of Masirah, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Microsatellite, sexing
@techreport{,
title = {Update on Genetic Analyses of Arabian Sea Humpback Whales},
author = {Amaral, A. R.,Collins, T.,Minton, G.,Baldwin, R.,Willson, A.,Kershaw, Francine,Gray, H.,Findlay, K.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Rosenbaum, H. C.},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
journal = {Working Paper presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {9},
pages = {6},
publisher = {IWC},
abstract = {From the 49 new samples, 44 were successfully genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. We identified 27 males and 17 females. Within this dataset, 7 duplicate samples were found. Five samples representing 3 individuals in the 2015 dataset registered as genotypic matches with animals sampled in the 2004 dataset. An additional 9 samples involving 6 individuals that represent potential matches between the 2015 and 2004 dataset are being reviewed to determine if they represent inter-year recaptures. As the data were generated very recently, further checks to clarify issues with some microsatellite loci will be completed. Six samples failed to amplify consistently for sexing markers and need to be revisited.
Analysis of the combined genotypic dataset will be completed by the end of June/early July 2016. The genotypic matches and sexing data will be incorporated into the Oman Photo-ID database, and used to generate robust updated photo-ID and genotypic mark-recapture estimates of population abundance. These data have also been used to determine or confirm the sex of the 9 satellite tagged whales off the coast of Oman (see SH28), and a significant number of other whales identified photographically off the coast of Oman. This will prove highly valuable if future satellite tagging efforts are undertaken in Oman, as previous tagging work has been significantly male-biased (See SH28), and future tagging should target known females.
Preliminary assessment of the new sexing data (although not yet fully complete) is providing valuable insight into possible difference in habitat use between the two primary study sites off the coast of Oman (see Figure 1). Minton et al. (2011) documented a heavy bias toward males in Dhofar and a ratio near parity in the Gulf of Masirah. These results were based on the total number of photographic captures of known sex individuals. The combination of new and old sexing information allows for a more nuanced examination of this phenomenon: the male-female ratio based on individual whales for which sex was determined in each study site (regardless of how frequently they were observed) is 2:1 in Dhofar (n=30), whilst in the Gulf of Masirah this ratio is slightly biased toward females, with 45% of individuals of known sex observed in that study area being male, and 55% female (n=49). More detailed analysis of these sexing data in relation to survey effort and photographic identification data will yield further important insights into habitat use, behaviour, and social interactions, critical for the conservation of this population.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, feeding grounds, genetics, Gulf of Masirah, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Microsatellite, sexing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
From the 49 new samples, 44 were successfully genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. We identified 27 males and 17 females. Within this dataset, 7 duplicate samples were found. Five samples representing 3 individuals in the 2015 dataset registered as genotypic matches with animals sampled in the 2004 dataset. An additional 9 samples involving 6 individuals that represent potential matches between the 2015 and 2004 dataset are being reviewed to determine if they represent inter-year recaptures. As the data were generated very recently, further checks to clarify issues with some microsatellite loci will be completed. Six samples failed to amplify consistently for sexing markers and need to be revisited.
Analysis of the combined genotypic dataset will be completed by the end of June/early July 2016. The genotypic matches and sexing data will be incorporated into the Oman Photo-ID database, and used to generate robust updated photo-ID and genotypic mark-recapture estimates of population abundance. These data have also been used to determine or confirm the sex of the 9 satellite tagged whales off the coast of Oman (see SH28), and a significant number of other whales identified photographically off the coast of Oman. This will prove highly valuable if future satellite tagging efforts are undertaken in Oman, as previous tagging work has been significantly male-biased (See SH28), and future tagging should target known females.
Preliminary assessment of the new sexing data (although not yet fully complete) is providing valuable insight into possible difference in habitat use between the two primary study sites off the coast of Oman (see Figure 1). Minton et al. (2011) documented a heavy bias toward males in Dhofar and a ratio near parity in the Gulf of Masirah. These results were based on the total number of photographic captures of known sex individuals. The combination of new and old sexing information allows for a more nuanced examination of this phenomenon: the male-female ratio based on individual whales for which sex was determined in each study site (regardless of how frequently they were observed) is 2:1 in Dhofar (n=30), whilst in the Gulf of Masirah this ratio is slightly biased toward females, with 45% of individuals of known sex observed in that study area being male, and 55% female (n=49). More detailed analysis of these sexing data in relation to survey effort and photographic identification data will yield further important insights into habitat use, behaviour, and social interactions, critical for the conservation of this population.
Analysis of the combined genotypic dataset will be completed by the end of June/early July 2016. The genotypic matches and sexing data will be incorporated into the Oman Photo-ID database, and used to generate robust updated photo-ID and genotypic mark-recapture estimates of population abundance. These data have also been used to determine or confirm the sex of the 9 satellite tagged whales off the coast of Oman (see SH28), and a significant number of other whales identified photographically off the coast of Oman. This will prove highly valuable if future satellite tagging efforts are undertaken in Oman, as previous tagging work has been significantly male-biased (See SH28), and future tagging should target known females.
Preliminary assessment of the new sexing data (although not yet fully complete) is providing valuable insight into possible difference in habitat use between the two primary study sites off the coast of Oman (see Figure 1). Minton et al. (2011) documented a heavy bias toward males in Dhofar and a ratio near parity in the Gulf of Masirah. These results were based on the total number of photographic captures of known sex individuals. The combination of new and old sexing information allows for a more nuanced examination of this phenomenon: the male-female ratio based on individual whales for which sex was determined in each study site (regardless of how frequently they were observed) is 2:1 in Dhofar (n=30), whilst in the Gulf of Masirah this ratio is slightly biased toward females, with 45% of individuals of known sex observed in that study area being male, and 55% female (n=49). More detailed analysis of these sexing data in relation to survey effort and photographic identification data will yield further important insights into habitat use, behaviour, and social interactions, critical for the conservation of this population.
Rees, A. F.,Al Saady, S.,Broderick, A. C.,Coyne, M. S.,Papathanasopoulou, N.,Godley, B. J.
Behavioural polymorphism in one of the world’s largest populations of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta Journal Article
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 418, no. 442, pp. 201-212, 2010.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: caretta caretta, Gulf of Masirah, Loggerhead, marine turtle, Oman, Satellite telemetry, turtles
@article{,
title = {Behavioural polymorphism in one of the world’s largest populations of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta},
author = {Rees, A. F.,Al Saady, S.,Broderick, A. C.,Coyne, M. S.,Papathanasopoulou, N.,Godley, B. J.},
url = {http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v418/p201-212/},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},
volume = {418},
number = {442},
pages = {201-212},
abstract = {ABSTRACT: To aid management and conservation of widely distributed marine vertebrate species, it is necessary to have a knowledge and understanding of their spatial ecology. We tracked 10 adult female loggerhead turtles \textit{Caretta caretta} from Masirah Island, Sultanate of Oman, which hosts one of the world’s largest breeding aggregations. Transmitters were specifically deployed early in the nesting season to enable tracking throughout the internesting and post-nesting habitats. Turtles displayed a dichotomy in behaviour during the internesting period, with 6 remaining close to Masirah Island and the others undertaking circuitous oceanic loops, hundreds of kilometres in length. This behaviour did not appear to be related to body size. Tracking-derived minimum clutch frequency was on average (± SD) 4.8 ± 1.2 nests (n = 8 ind.). Post-nesting migrations revealed a propensity towards long-term utilisation of oceanic habitats in the region between Socotra Island (Yemen) and the mainland of Yemen/Oman, with 76 ± 15.4% of time spent in oceanic habitat (n = 8 ind.). The spatial footprint of our tracked turtles was found to be far less than that of a similar number of turtles that were tagged later in the same season (from a separate unpublished study) and from long-distance returns of flipper tags. The spatial and temporal sub-structuring of the population highlights the need for more comprehensive tracking projects, with deployments across the breeding season in multiple years, in order to obtain reliable estimations of high-use foraging habitats of widely dispersed marine vertebrates. Variation in behaviour patterns suggests the need for diverse conservation measures.},
keywords = {caretta caretta, Gulf of Masirah, Loggerhead, marine turtle, Oman, Satellite telemetry, turtles},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
ABSTRACT: To aid management and conservation of widely distributed marine vertebrate species, it is necessary to have a knowledge and understanding of their spatial ecology. We tracked 10 adult female loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta from Masirah Island, Sultanate of Oman, which hosts one of the world’s largest breeding aggregations. Transmitters were specifically deployed early in the nesting season to enable tracking throughout the internesting and post-nesting habitats. Turtles displayed a dichotomy in behaviour during the internesting period, with 6 remaining close to Masirah Island and the others undertaking circuitous oceanic loops, hundreds of kilometres in length. This behaviour did not appear to be related to body size. Tracking-derived minimum clutch frequency was on average (± SD) 4.8 ± 1.2 nests (n = 8 ind.). Post-nesting migrations revealed a propensity towards long-term utilisation of oceanic habitats in the region between Socotra Island (Yemen) and the mainland of Yemen/Oman, with 76 ± 15.4% of time spent in oceanic habitat (n = 8 ind.). The spatial footprint of our tracked turtles was found to be far less than that of a similar number of turtles that were tagged later in the same season (from a separate unpublished study) and from long-distance returns of flipper tags. The spatial and temporal sub-structuring of the population highlights the need for more comprehensive tracking projects, with deployments across the breeding season in multiple years, in order to obtain reliable estimations of high-use foraging habitats of widely dispersed marine vertebrates. Variation in behaviour patterns suggests the need for diverse conservation measures.
Wilson,S.,Baldwin,R.M.
Environmental Impact Assessment for Seismic Surveying Block 41-Block 22, Offshore Oman Technical Report
no. 507, 2001.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: assessment, Gulf of Masirah, marine, monitoring, noise pollution, Oman, seismic surveys, survey
@techreport{,
title = {Environmental Impact Assessment for Seismic Surveying Block 41-Block 22, Offshore Oman},
author = {Wilson,S.,Baldwin,R.M.},
year = {2001},
date = {2001-01-01},
number = {507},
pages = {1-83},
abstract = {The report describes the scope of surveying work to be undertaken, and the general parameters of the marine environment that could be impacted. The potential environmental impacts to the seabed, water quality, air quality, wildlife and local communities are discussed, and recommendations for mitigation of these impacts are made. Recommendations re also made for environmental monitoring to take place during the survey.},
keywords = {assessment, Gulf of Masirah, marine, monitoring, noise pollution, Oman, seismic surveys, survey},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The report describes the scope of surveying work to be undertaken, and the general parameters of the marine environment that could be impacted. The potential environmental impacts to the seabed, water quality, air quality, wildlife and local communities are discussed, and recommendations for mitigation of these impacts are made. Recommendations re also made for environmental monitoring to take place during the survey.
Brock,J.C.,Sathyendranath,S.,Platt,T.
Biohydro-optical classification of the northwestern Indian Ocean Journal Article
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 165, no. 338, pp. 1-15, 1998.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, chlorophyll, ecosystem, Gulf of Masirah, Indian Ocean, Oman, plankton, Upwelling
@article{,
title = {Biohydro-optical classification of the northwestern Indian Ocean},
author = {Brock,J.C.,Sathyendranath,S.,Platt,T.},
year = {1998},
date = {1998-01-01},
journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},
volume = {165},
number = {338},
pages = {1-15},
abstract = {An approach to a partial solution to the general problem of defining biogeochemical provinces for the accurate estimation of global-ocean primary production and realistic structuring of epipelagic plankton ecosystem models is presented for the northwestern Indian Ocean. This is accomplished through use of a new technique, biohydro-optical classification, that applies a rudimentary submarine light budget incorporating climatologies of incident light, mixed layer thickness, and chlorophyll to recognize fundamental modes of tropical plankton ecosystems. The three types of biohydro-optical classes found in the Arabian Sea, Typical Tropical, Mixed-Layer Bloom, and Transitional, are shown to evolve thorough the spring intermonsoon (March through May) summer southwest monsoon (June thorough August), and fall intermonsoon (Sep through Nov) under climatic forcing and in response to the resulting biological variability. Virtually all of the open Arabian Sea is within the Typical Tropical Class at the close of the spring intermonsoon. This class type is intended to identify the maximum (DCM) maintained by active algal growth, and light-rich oligotrophic shallow zone containing phytoplankton association which depends largely on regenerated nutrients. At the close of the southwest monsoon in August, a mixed layer bloom province covers much of the northern Arabian Sea. This province class corresponds to the ecosystem mode represented by tropical regions undergoing marginal or mid-ocean upwelling and greatly simplifies regional extrapolation of the local primary production algorithm. At the onset of the fall intermonsoon, the mixed layer algal bloom province in the northern and western Arabian Sea is superseded by a transitional province, which persists through the fall intermonsoon. We interpret the upper layer of the fall intermonsoon transitional province in the Arabian Sea as a special case of the shallow regenerative plankton ecosystem of oligotrophic ocean areas, where rates of zooplankton-driven nutrient regeneration and recycled production, key processes in the upper layer of the classic 2-layer euphotic zone or oligotrophic low-latitude oceans, reach extreme values.Note on diagrams/maps in paper:Of all the regions of the nw Arabian Sea, the coastal areas off Oman and Yemen are most often in the Transitional or Mixed layer bloom classes. The Gulf of Masirah maintains a mixed layer bloom class thorughout the year, even when other coastal areas of Oman switch to a Transitional class.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, chlorophyll, ecosystem, Gulf of Masirah, Indian Ocean, Oman, plankton, Upwelling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
An approach to a partial solution to the general problem of defining biogeochemical provinces for the accurate estimation of global-ocean primary production and realistic structuring of epipelagic plankton ecosystem models is presented for the northwestern Indian Ocean. This is accomplished through use of a new technique, biohydro-optical classification, that applies a rudimentary submarine light budget incorporating climatologies of incident light, mixed layer thickness, and chlorophyll to recognize fundamental modes of tropical plankton ecosystems. The three types of biohydro-optical classes found in the Arabian Sea, Typical Tropical, Mixed-Layer Bloom, and Transitional, are shown to evolve thorough the spring intermonsoon (March through May) summer southwest monsoon (June thorough August), and fall intermonsoon (Sep through Nov) under climatic forcing and in response to the resulting biological variability. Virtually all of the open Arabian Sea is within the Typical Tropical Class at the close of the spring intermonsoon. This class type is intended to identify the maximum (DCM) maintained by active algal growth, and light-rich oligotrophic shallow zone containing phytoplankton association which depends largely on regenerated nutrients. At the close of the southwest monsoon in August, a mixed layer bloom province covers much of the northern Arabian Sea. This province class corresponds to the ecosystem mode represented by tropical regions undergoing marginal or mid-ocean upwelling and greatly simplifies regional extrapolation of the local primary production algorithm. At the onset of the fall intermonsoon, the mixed layer algal bloom province in the northern and western Arabian Sea is superseded by a transitional province, which persists through the fall intermonsoon. We interpret the upper layer of the fall intermonsoon transitional province in the Arabian Sea as a special case of the shallow regenerative plankton ecosystem of oligotrophic ocean areas, where rates of zooplankton-driven nutrient regeneration and recycled production, key processes in the upper layer of the classic 2-layer euphotic zone or oligotrophic low-latitude oceans, reach extreme values.Note on diagrams/maps in paper:Of all the regions of the nw Arabian Sea, the coastal areas off Oman and Yemen are most often in the Transitional or Mixed layer bloom classes. The Gulf of Masirah maintains a mixed layer bloom class thorughout the year, even when other coastal areas of Oman switch to a Transitional class.
Baldwin,R.M.
Records of Wildlife and Observed Operational Impacts on Wildlife. Seismic Survey, Block 22, Oman. Environmental Observation Report 1. Technical Report
no. 314, 1997.
BibTeX | Tags: Gulf of Masirah, humpback whales, Oman, seismic surveys, sperm whale, survey
@techreport{,
title = {Records of Wildlife and Observed Operational Impacts on Wildlife. Seismic Survey, Block 22, Oman. Environmental Observation Report 1.},
author = {Baldwin,R.M.},
year = {1997},
date = {1997-01-01},
journal = {Unpublished report for Triton Oman Inc.},
number = {314},
pages = {1-76},
keywords = {Gulf of Masirah, humpback whales, Oman, seismic surveys, sperm whale, survey},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}