HBOI | Marine Mammal Research & Conservation

MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

2007 Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Publication Highlights

- Bossart G.D. 2007. Emerging Diseases in Marine Mammals: from Dolphins to Manatees. Microbe Volume 2:544-549.
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- Bossart G.D., Hensley G., Goldstein J.D., Kroell K, Manire C.A., Defran R.H., and J.S. Reif. 2007. Cardiomyopathy and Myocardial Degeneration in Stranded Pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and Dwarf (Kogia sima) Sperm Whales. Aquatic Mammals 33:214-222.
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- Bossart G.D., Hansen L., Goldstein J.D., Kilpatrick D., Bechdel S., Howells E., Kroell K., de Sieyes M., Stolen M.K., Durden W.N., Reif J.S., Defran R.H.,and S.D. McCulloch. 2007. Pathological Findings in a Rare Mass Stranding of Melon-Headed Whales (Peponocephala electra) in Florida. Aquatic Mammals 33:235-240.
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- Greig T.W., Bemiss J.A., Lyon B.R., Bossart G.D., and P.A. Fair. 2007. Prevalence and Diversity of Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates) from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, and Charleston Harbor Area, South Carolina. Aquatic Mammals 33:185-194.
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- Stavrosa H-C.W., Bossart G.D., Hulsey T.C., and P.A. Faira. 2007. Trace element concentrations in skin of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) from the southeast Atlantic coast. Science of the Total Environment 388:300-315.
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HBOI/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose Dolphin Population Photo-ID Program

Currently operating under a five year General Authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and working with other noted scientific researchers, the Dolphin Research Team is collecting valuable baseline data and compiling a Photo-ID catalogue of the Indian River Lagoon's population of bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Harbor Branch plans to expand the program in the future to other areas of Florida.

Clinical Research Program - Cutaneous Viral Papillomatosis in the Florida Manatee

DMMRC is launching an extensive clinical research program on developing a treatment for cutaneous viral papillomatosis in the Florida manatee. This transmissible skin disease is the first and only viral disease documented in manatees and was recently discovered by Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, DMMRC Director, and colleagues.

- Pathologic Findings in Florida Manatees [ PDF download ]

Learn more about the efforts of Dr. Bossart and HARBOR BRANCH researchers to stop the spread of viral papillomatosis in the Florida manatee

5-Year Comprehensive Health Assessment Of Wild Dolphins In The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) And In Charleston, S.C.

Scientists from HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution and the National Ocean Service, along with other marine mammal experts, launched a 5-year comprehensive assessment of the health of wild dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and in Charleston, S.C. The main goal of the project is to identify serious health threats to the animals, such as pollutants, so that effective management plans can be designed.

The study will involve close medical examination of a sample of dolphins from each area by a team of specialists in marine mammal research and medicine. A wide range of measurements and diagnostic tests will be used to conduct a comprehensive examination of each animal's health. During the first round of fieldwork for the project, which ran from July 7 to July 18th, researchers worked successfully with dozens of dolphins in the IRL and Charleston.

The new project was prompted by concerns raised during HARBOR BRANCH's ongoing photo-identification study of IRL dolphins, which has now spanned six years. More than 30% of the 500 dolphins studied to date have as yet unexplained skin disorders and tumors. Also of concern, strandings of certain species have increased over the past two years.

Read more about the joint HARBOR BRANCH - National Ocean Service Dolphin Health Assessment

Population Genetics Analyses Of Bottle Nose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Of The Indian River Lagoon (IRL)

Genetics is the science of heredity material, which forms the basis of development, diversity and differences among living creatures. For sexually reproducing species, such as mammals, genetic and phenotypic (physical) differences due to the recombination of genes is typically a ticket to better adaptations and survival in changing environments. Population genetics is a sub-discipline of genetics that focuses on the frequency and diversity of specific genes or gene differences (alleles) in specific groups (populations) of individuals within a particular species.

To understand the diversity of one of the most charismatic mammals inhabiting the Indian River Lagoon - bottle nose dolphins -bnd (Tursiops truncatus), molecular biology and genetic research has been initiated by the Dolphin Research group of the Marine Mammal Division at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, headed by Division Director, Dr. Gregory Bossart. For the past several years, dolphin surveys led by Stephen McCullough and Marilyn Mazzoil have been identifying individual IRL dolphins through high resolution photography. Their surveys suggest that many dolphins appear to form a discrete group(s) or population within the lagoon, and one hypothesis is that these IRL individuals can be distinguished from other offshore groups. Here is where molecular genetics methods comes into play.

A new genetic laboratory funded by the Dolphin Research Program and the Wild dolphin license plate at HBOI now have the capacity to separate DNA samples according to size using gel electrophoresis, amplify specific gene segments with the Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR , and then read the biochemical letters of that gene's genetic code via modern gene sequencing. Mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite DNA are common genes targeted for study, because they are extremely variable and can be used to distinguish different individuals in a type of "genetic fingerprint".

The new genetics lab intends to tackle questions such as , "Is the bottle nose dolphin population distinct or different from most other dolphins that live offshore?" " Can family trees or genealogies be tracked within the lagoon?" , "What is the molecular basis of disease and immunity in marine mammals?" and " Can genetic sequence and fingerprinting identify species or individuals?". As many know, dolphins are highly intelligent animals, and therefore can form complex social groupings. For example, male dolphins often form coalitions of 2 or more individuals, which often can assist in the herding of females. On the west coast of Florida, dolphin tracking has revealed that some female dolphins can have multiple calves from different fathers. Genetic studies can reveal precisely who the father may be, along with identifying other relatives. Also, molecular genetic tests, such as PCR amplification of a gene found exclusively on the Y sex chromosome, can help distinguish males from females, when photos or full-scale physical examinations are not available, or stranded carcasses are too degraded. Furthermore, genetic analyses can support physical and medical health assessments being carried out in the Level A health assessments carried out annually by the Marine Mammal Division. The first graduate student to work in the lab is Ms. Christine Politz, who is working towards her doctoral degree at Florida Atlantic University.

Supervising the genetic research will be Dr. Jose V. Lopez, who is currently conducting genetic research on marine invertebrates with the Division of Biomedical Marine Research, with the same techniques described above. Dr. Lopez has previous experience working in vertebrate animal molecular genetics, earning a doctorate degree by characterizing transposed mitochondrial genes of cats in the Laboratory Genomic Diversity of Dr Stephen J. O'Brien at the National Cancer Institute. The LGD will be holding its Conservation genetics workshop this year, where Dr. Lopez will be acting as a guest faculty and speak on marine topics. Dr Lopez also sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Morris Animal Foundation which funds wildlife health research.

Overall, HBOI looks forward to many opportunities to apply molecular biology towards beneficial health studies of marine mammals.

HBOI MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ABSTRACTS AND ARTICLES

MMRC Publications and Selected Abstracts - 02.2006

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