Marine Mammal Smart Phone Apps

NOAA Fisheries recently announced the release of two smartphone apps that may be of interest to marine mammal enthusiasts.

See & ID Dolphins & Whales App

The SEE & ID Dolphins & Whales app provides an extensive electronic species ID guide complete with information on biology, habitat (including maps), conservation, as well as guidelines for viewing marine mammals in the wild.

The app includes illustrations and photos for over 40 marine mammal species found in the Southeast U.S.  Wildlife and nature enthusiast, dolphin tours, eco-tours, whale watching tours, educators and scientists will find the SEE & ID Dolphins & Whales app useful to identify and learn about dolphins, whales, seals and manatees, while also learning how they can protect marine mammals by responsibly viewing them in the wild them in the wild.

The SEE & ID Dolphins & Whales app provides users with the following marine mammal information:

Identification: illustrations, photos and physical descriptions (size, color, body shape)

Biology: behaviors, diet, life history

Habitat: distribution (including map)

Conservation: status (protected / endangered), population size, and threats

Viewing guidelines: recommended ways to responsibly view marine mammals in the wild that will help reduce disturbance and ensure you are following the law (Marine Mammal Protection Act).

Dolphin & Whale 911 App
The Dolphin & Whale 911 app can be used to aid in accurate and timely reporting of stranded marine mammals in the Southeastern U.S.

The Dolphin & Whale 911 app allows users to:

Report dead, injured or entangled marine mammals by connecting you to the nearest stranding response hotline, so that trained responders and veterinarians can treat the animal ( App only works in Southeastern US- stay tuned for expansion to  additional geographic areas).

Send a photo of the marine mammal along with GPS coordinates to the marine mammal stranding network

Identify the kind of animal by providing an electronic field guide of marine mammals found in the Southeastern U.S.

Help live and dead stranded marine mammals by providing you with a list of “do’s and don’ts” or tips on what to do when you find a live or dead stranded dolphin, whale, or seal.

Marine mammal apps can be downloaded at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/outreach_and_education/mm_apps/index.html

source: NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Marine Mammal Rescue Grants

NOAA Fisheries recently awarded 39 grants to participants of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network to respond to sick, injured, or stranded marine mammals and to investigate health concerns for marine mammal populations in the wild.

The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program provided $3.45 million dollars for the 2012 grant competition and awarded additional funds ($250,000) to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for emergency awards as needed for the stranding network.

To enhance stranding response and investigations nationally, the program distributed the grants proportionally across six regions of the country, including 19 states.

For a complete list of the award recipients, visit the 2012 Prescott Grant Program at:
 http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/prescott/proposals/funded/2012.htm

source: NOAA FishNews

Gulf of Mexico Dolphin Illnesses

Bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are showing signs of severe ill health, according to NOAA marine mammal biologists and their local, state, federal and other research partners. Barataria Bay, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, received heavy and prolonged exposure to oil during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Based on comprehensive physicals of 32 live dolphins from Barataria Bay in the summer of 2011, preliminary results show that many of the dolphins in the study are underweight, anemic, have low blood sugar and/or some symptoms of liver and lung disease. Nearly half also have abnormally low levels of the hormones that help with stress response, metabolism and immune function. Researchers fear that some of the study dolphins are in such poor health that they will not survive.

NOAA and its local, state and federal partners started the Barataria Bay dolphin study in 2011 as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), the process for studying the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. NOAA is sharing the preliminary results from the study so that stranding responders and veterinarians can better care for live stranded dolphins and look for similar health conditions.

source: NOAA FishNews

Gulf of Mexico Dolphin Health Assessment

NOAA scientists and partners recently completed a 15 day capture and release dolphin health assessment in Barataria Bay, Louisiana.

The study, a part of the continuing Natural Resource Damage Assessment for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, gave scientists the ability to conduct a hands-on physical exam of individual dolphins to assess potential sub-lethal, chronic, and indirect health impacts of the spill.

This study follows up on an initial pre-assessment phase of photo-identification and remote biopsy studies that documented the oil exposure of bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay.

Over 50 veterinarians, biologists, and wildlife epidemiologists worked together to conduct comprehensive health evaluations of 31 dolphins during the study.

Specially trained team members humanely encircled the dolphins by net, brought them to a medical vessel for a complete veterinary exam, tagged them with satellite and VHF radio tags, and then released them back into the wild.

Researchers will use the tags to monitor the dolphins over time, to better understand their movements, range, and preferred habitats, which may help with exposure assessment and planning for the restoration of the area.

For more information on the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/