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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

On the performance of automated porpoise-click-detectors in experiments with captive harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena).

Recently, automated porpoise-click-detectors (T-PODs, Chelonia-Marine-Research) have been used intensively in monitoring harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the wild. However, the automated click-detection-mechanism of the T-POD leads to questions on the characteristics of the detection process. We undertook experiments with six captive harbor porpoises (four subadult males in one pool, two adult males in another) at the Dolfinarium Harderwijk (Netherlands). One T-POD was placed for over a week in each pool, while the behavior of the porpoises was logged by visual observation. Data were analyzed using the T-POD software. A total of 725 431 clicks in 30 090 trains were recorded with 32% of the trains classified as CET HI, 27% as CET LO, and 41% as DOUBTFUL. All three train classes differed significantly in all parameters, except for click duration. We conclude that T-PODs perform generally well in detecting click trains of harbor porpoises but that in any future study trains classified as being of lower probability should be investigated very carefully to avoid the risk of losing valuable information.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1999

Target detection by an echolocating harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

Two echolocation experiments are described. They were conducted on the same harbor porpoise housed in a sea pen, one year apart at Neeltje Jans, The Netherlands. The aims were to determine the target detection ability of an echolocating harbor porpoise, with the ultimate goal to predict the distance at which harbor porpoises can detect fishing nets. In experiment 1, the maximum distance at which the 3-year-old porpoise could detect a 7.62-cm diameter water-filled stainless-steel sphere by echolocation was determined psychophysically. The 50%-current detection threshold was reached when the sphere was at a distance of 26 m from the porpoise's rostrum. In experiment 2, conducted a year later, the maximum detection distance for a 5.08-cm water-filled stainless-steel sphere was 15.9 m. The target strengths of both targets were measured using simulated harbor porpoise echolocation signals and the results, coupled with transmission-loss calculations, indicated that the echo levels received by the porpoise with the targets at the threshold ranges in the two experiments were only 1.3 dB apart. Together with information on the target strengths of various fishing nets, the results of the present study can be used to predict the distance at which the nets can be detected by harbor porpoises.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Evidence of infectious diseases in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) hunted in the waters of Greenland and by-caught in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea.

The pathological, microbiological and serological findings in harbour porpoises hunted in Greenlandic waters were compared with the findings in animals accidentally caught in fishing gear in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea. The body condition of the Greenlandic animals was good, whereas nine of 23 German harbour porpoises were moderately to markedly emaciated. Both groups were infested with parasites. In the Greenlandic animals parasitism of the aural peribullar cavity with Stenurus minor, of the liver and pancreas with Orthosplanchnus mironovi, of the lungs with Halocercus species and of the subcutaneous and mammary tissue with Crassicauda species was generally associated with a mild inflammatory response. No diseases associated with bacteria were identified in any of the Greenlandic harbour porpoises. In the porpoises from the German North Sea and Baltic Sea, parasites were present in the aural peribullar cavity (S minor), liver (Campula oblonga), first and second gastric compartment (Anisakis simplex) and in the lungs (Pseudalius inflexus and Torynurus convolutus). Moderate to marked pulmonary parasitism and suppurative pneumonia, not observed in the Greenlandic porpoises, were present in 11 and 10, respectively, of the 23 German porpoises. The suppurative pneumonia was attributed to bacterial infection with beta-haemolytic streptococci and Escherichia coil var haemolytica. Four Greenlandic and 10 German porpoises had positive porpoise morbillivirus-specific antibody titres suggesting that the virus was circulating in both populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A passive acoustic monitoring method applied to observation and group size estimation of finless porpoises.

The present study aimed at determining the detection capabilities of an acoustic observation system to recognize porpoises under local riverine conditions and compare the results with sighting observations. Arrays of three to five acoustic data loggers were stationed across the main channel of the Tian-e-zhou Oxbow of China's Yangtze River at intervals of 100-150 m to record sonar signals of free-ranging finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides). Acoustic observations, concurrent with visual observations, were conducted at two occasions on 20-22 October 2003 and 17-19 October 2004. During a total of 42 h of observation, 316 finless porpoises were sighted and 7041 sonar signals were recorded by loggers. The acoustic data loggers recorded ultrasonic signals of porpoises clearly, and detected the presence of porpoises with a correct detection level of 77.6% and a false alarm level of 5.8% within an effective distance of 150 m. Results indicated that the stationed passive acoustic observation method was effective in detecting the presence of porpoises and showed potential in estimating the group size. A positive linear correlation between the number of recorded signals and the group size of sighted porpoises was indicated, although it is faced with some uncertainty and requires further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Post-mortem investigations on stranded dolphins and porpoises from Hong Kong waters.

Stranded cetaceans reported from the territorial waters of Hong Kong during the period May 1993 to March 1998 were examined to establish factors that may have contributed to their death. During the current study, 28 Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins (Sousa chinensis), 32 finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides), and four bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were necropsied. Bacteria (15 species) were isolated from nine animals. Of these bacteria, 47% were of possible fecal origin reflecting the high level of sewage contamination in Hong Kong's waters. One finless porpoise displayed wounds caused by a shark attack, and two female finless porpoises presented prolapsed uteri. At least 10 finless porpoises showed evidence of moderate to heavy lungworm infections (Halocercus pingi), and this appears to have been a factor contributing to death in at least six animals. Evidence suggesting blunt traumatic injury (probably caused by boat collisions) was found in six cetaceans (three finless porpoises and three hump-backed dolphins). Signs of fishery-related mortality were detected in at least nine animals (six hump-backed dolphins, two finless porpoises, and one bottlenose dolphin). Of these two human-caused mortality types, pre-existing disease or bacterial infection were detected in 29% of cases. Results indicate that human factors may have played a significant role in the death of at least 15 animals (32% of hump-backed dolphins, 15% of finless porpoises, and 25% of bottlenose dolphins).

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Accumulation of organotin compounds and mercury in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the Danish waters and West Greenland.

The concentrations of butyltin (summation operatorBT=TBT+DBT+MBT) and mercury (Hg) were determined in the liver of 35 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), which were found dead along the coastlines or caught as by-catch in the Danish North Sea and the Inner Danish waters. In addition, three harbour porpoises hunted in West Greenland were analysed. High levels of butyltin and mercury, within the range of 68-4605 mg BT/kg ww and 0.22-92 mg Hg/kg ww, were found in the liver of the Danish harbour porpoises and both substances tend to accumulate with age. The levels in the harbour porpoise from West Greenland were 2.0-18 mg BT/kg ww and 6.3-6.9 mg Hg/kg ww, respectively. The concentrations of butyltin and mercury were both found to be higher in stranded than in by-caught harbour porpoises but only the butyltin concentration was significantly higher in stranded porpoises in the age group 1-5 years. These substances are suspected of inducing adverse effects on immune and endocrine systems in mammals and they may thereby pose a threat to the animals. This study suggests that organotin compounds are also important, when assessing the risks of contaminants on the health and viability of harbour porpoises in Danish waters.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Concentrations and accumulation patterns of organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, from the coast of Newfoundland, the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine.

Concentrations of 99 organochlorine compounds were measured in the blubber of 196 harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, killed in commercial gill net fisheries in the western North Atlantic. PCBs and chlorinated bornanes (CHB) were the dominant contaminants in all porpoises. Mean concentrations (with standard deviations) of PCBs and CHBs from the three regions were as follows: Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine, PCB males 17.3 +/- 11.2 microg/g, PCB females 11.4 +/- 4.8 microg/g, CHB males 11.5 +/- 6.6 microg/g, CHB females 8.4 +/- 5.3 microg/g; Gulf of St Lawrence, PCB males 10.6 +/- 5.4 microg/g, PCB females 7.2 +/- 3.9 microg/g, CHB males 14.1 +/- 8.8 microg/g, CHB females 9.0 +/- 6.3 microg/g; southeast Newfoundland, PCB males 5.2 +/- 2.5 microg/g, PCB females 5.5 +/- 4.4 microg/g, CHB males 7.0 +/- 2.2 microg/g, CHB females 5.5 +/- 3.0 microg/g. The relative composition of the major contaminant groups found in male and female harbour porpoise blubber from the three locations varied. In order of decreasing concentration, porpoises from Fundy/Maine had PCBs > CHB > DDT > chlordanes (CHL), whereas Gulf of St Lawrence and Newfoundland porpoises had CHB > PCB > DDT > CHL. Significant increases with age were observed for most contaminants in male harbour porpoises, and significant decreases were observed in females. Females lose about 15% of their contaminant burden per birth. PCB and DDT levels in porpoises from the Bay of Fundy are significantly lower than those recorded in the 1970s.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Trace elements and butyltins in a Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) from the Sanriku coast of Japan.

Concentrations and body burdens of 14 trace elements (Hg, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ag, Cd, V, Se, Pb, Mo, and Fe) and butyltins (BTs) (tributyltin TBT, dibutyltin DBT, and monobutyltin MBT) were determined in various tissues of a mature male Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) collected off the Sanriku coast of Japan. Selective accumulation in this porpoise was observed for Hg, Mn, Cu, Ag, Mo, Fe, and total BTs (TBT, DBT, and MBT) in the liver, Cd in the kidney, Zn, Sr, V, Pb, and Co in the bone, and Se in the skin. In contrast, Cr concentrations in all tissues were similar. This distribution pattern in this mature porpoise was in general agreement with the accumulation characteristics of trace elements and butyltins reported for other marine mammals. The whole body of the porpoise contained approximately 62 g Fe, 8.8 g Zn, 4.0 g Sr, 0.6g Se, 0.41 g Cu, 0.19 g Hg, 0.17 g Cd, 0.16 g Mn, 0.05 g Cr, 0.009 g Ag, 0.008 g Mo, 0.005 g Pb, 0.004 g Co, and 0.7 mg of BTs (0.4 mg TBT, 0.2 mg DBT, and 0.1 mg MBT). Metabolism of TBT to its breakdown products of this porpoise seems to be limited, since TBT still accounted for about half of the total burden of BTs. As in the cases of Hg, Mn, Cu, Se, and Fe, the muscle was the most important reservoir (43%) for the whole body burden of total BTs, 80% of which was TBT, and thus muscle played a crucial role in the higher body composition of TBT in this Dall's porpoise.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The influence of acoustic emissions for underwater data transmission on the behaviour of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in a floating pen.

To prevent grounding of ships and collisions between ships in shallow coastal waters, an underwater data collection and communication network is currently under development: Acoustic Communication network for Monitoring of underwater Environment in coastal areas (ACME). Marine mammals might be affected by ACME sounds since they use sounds of similar frequencies (around 12 kHz) for communication, orientation, and prey location. If marine mammals tend to avoid the vicinity of the transmitters, they may be kept away from ecologically important areas by ACME sounds. One marine mammal species that may be affected in the North Sea is the harbour porpoise. Therefore, as part of an environmental impact assessment program, two captive harbour porpoises were subjected to four sounds, three of which may be used in the underwater acoustic data communication network. The effect of each sound was judged by comparing the animals' positions and respiration rates during a test period with those during a baseline period. Each of the four sounds could be made a deterrent by increasing the amplitude of the sound. The porpoises reacted by swimming away from the sounds and by slightly, but significantly, increasing their respiration rate. From the sound pressure level distribution in the pen, and the distribution of the animals during test sessions, discomfort sound level thresholds were determined for each sound. In combination with information on sound propagation in the areas where the communication system may be deployed, the extent of the 'discomfort zone' can be estimated for several source levels (SLs). The discomfort zone is defined as the area around a sound source that harbour porpoises are expected to avoid. Based on these results, SLs can be selected that have an acceptable effect on harbour porpoises in particular areas. The discomfort zone of a communication sound depends on the selected sound, the selected SL, and the propagation characteristics of the area in which the sound system is operational. In shallow, winding coastal water courses, with sandbanks, etc., the type of habitat in which the ACME sounds will be produced, propagation loss cannot be accurately estimated by using a simple propagation model, but should be measured on site. The SL of the communication system should be adapted to each area (taking into account bounding conditions created by narrow channels, sound propagation variability due to environmental factors, and the importance of an area to the affected species). The discomfort zone should not prevent harbour porpoises from spending sufficient time in ecologically important areas (for instance feeding areas), or routes towards these areas.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2005

Aquatic Resource Conservation. The first Yangtze finless porpoise successfully born in captivity.

BACKGROUND: As the sole freshwater subspecies of finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), the Yangtze finless porpoise (N. p. asiaeorientalis) lives only in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its appended Poyang and Dongting Lakes. As a result of human activity on the river, including over and illegal fishing, pollution, transportation and dam construction, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises has been steadily and rapidly decreasing during the past several decades, which leads the animal to be endangered. METHODS: For saving this unique animal from extinction, three corresponding measures, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, and intensifying breeding research in captivity, were proposed and have been implemented since the 1980s. RESULTS: After successfully rearing the animals in captivity for almost nine years, the first Yangtze finless porpoise was successfully born in captivity on July 5, 2005. The calf is male, with a body length of 69 cm. This is the first freshwater cetacean ever born in captivity. CONCLUSION: The successful birth of this calf confirms that it is possible to breed the Yangtze finless porpoise in captivity. Furthermore, this will greatly benefit the conservation efforts, and also greatly bolster our on-going efforts to study the reproductive biology of these animals. RECOMMENDATION: More studies and efforts are expected to establish a sustainable, captive colony of the Yangtze finless porpoise, which will not only greatly expand our knowledge about the reproduction biology of this animal, but also help to redeem the wild population through a careful yearly 'soft releasing' process.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1992

Characteristics of a cetacean morbillivirus isolated from a porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

A virus isolated from a porpoise during the 1988 seal epizootic was shown to be a morbillivirus. In order to determine the relationship of the virus to phocine distemper virus (PDV) a battery of monoclonal antibodies raised against canine distemper virus (CDV), PDV or the porpoise isolate were assessed for their ability to bind to CDV, PDV or porpoise virus epitopes in indirect immunofluorescence assays and ELISAs. The porpoise isolate contained several unique epitopes and several epitopes present on CDV and PDV were absent on the porpoise isolate. The data presented in this study indicate that the porpoise virus is an antigenically distinct morbillivirus and as such has been tentatively named as delphinoid distemper virus (DDV).

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Organochlorine pesticide residue and PCBs in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) incidentally caught in Scandinavian waters.

During Norwegian and Danish harbour porpoise projects 1987-1991, subcutaneous blubber samples of 34 male harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were collected. Animals from three geographical locations, ranging from 56 degrees N, 12 degrees E to 71 degrees N, 26 degrees E, were chosen in order to study the organochlorine (OC) contamination in this species inhabiting the northeastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean, the northern North Sea and Kattegat, at the locations of Tufjord, Vestlandet and Gilleleje, respectively. Analytical standards used consisted of the industrial chemicals PCBs (22 individual PCB congeners and 6 industrial mixtures which contained 104 PCB congeners or group of congeners) and HCB, and the organochlorine pesticides DDT, HCH, the cyclodienes endrin, dieldrin and the chlordane metabolites oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor, and heptachlor epoxide. A total of 16 PCB congeners or groups of congeners, all the DDT metabolites except o,p'-DDD, and all the pesticides were detected in all animals. The concentrations of sigmaPCB (sum of concentrations of 47 detected PCB congeners) and sigmaDDT (sum of concentrations of all DDT detected compounds) ranged from 3.7-65.3 and 3.2-45.0 microg g(-1) lipid weight, respectively. The range of mean concentrations of dieldrin, endrin and trans-nonachlor was 1-3 microg g(-1), while mean concentrations of HCHs, heptachlor epoxide, and HCB were <1 microg g(-1). No significant variation in PCB congener pattern was apparent between geographical areas. The major PCB congeners nos 147/123, 153, 138/163/164, 182/187 and 180 at Gilleleje, Vestlandet and Tufjord represented 53%, 45% and 44% of sigmaPCB, respectively. A significant difference was found between the number of PCB congeners in blubber of newborn and older porpoises. This might indicate the presence of a blood/placenta barrier and/or selective mammary transport of PCBs with specific structures. A significant OC accumulation with age was apparent, with the exception of HCB and HCHs. Geographical differences in the levels of OCs were apparent for all compounds except for dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide. Significantly higher levels of chlordane metabolites (trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane) and endrin were found in the group of animals from the northern location Tufjord, while sigmaDDT, p,p'-DDTs, HCHs and PCBs were highest in the group of animals from the southern location Gilleleje. Highest levels of the o,p'-substituted DDTs were found in specimens from the middle location Vestlandet. These findings indicate little or no regular migration of harbour porpoise between these three locations. No correlations were found between OC concentrations and blubber thickness. Although mean values of sigmaDDT and sigmaPCB were in the lower end of previously reported levels in harbour porpoise from adjacent waters in the eastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean and along the coasts of North America, these levels are relatively high. The organochlorine concentrations in harbour porpoises in the present study were 2-3 times higher than corresponding OC levels detected in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from the same areas.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

The phylogeographic pattern of mitochondrial DNA variation in the Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli.

We used 11 restriction endonucleases to study mtDNA variation in 101 Dall's porpoises Phocoenoides dalli from the Bering Sea and western North Pacific. There was little phylogeographic patterning among the 34 mtDNA haplotypes identified in this analysis, suggesting a strong historical connection among populations across this region. Nonetheless, mtDNA variation does not appear to be randomly distributed in this species. Both GST and AMOVA uncovered significant differences in the distribution of mtDNA variation between the Bering Sea and western North Pacific populations. These mtDNA results, coupled with differences in allozyme variation and parasite infestation, support the demographic distinctiveness of Bering Sea and western North Pacific stocks of Dall's porpoise. The lack of a strong phylogeographic orientation of mtDNA haplotypes within the Dall's porpoise is similar to the pattern reported in other vertebrates such as coyotes, blackbirds, chickadees, marine catfish, and catadromous eels. Like Dall's porpoise, these species are broadly distributed, and have large populations linked by moderate to high levels of gene flow. However, the more complex, deeply branched phylogenetic network of mtDNA haplotypes within Dall's porpoise, relative to these other vertebrates, suggests important differences between these species in the forces shaping mtDNA variation. One such force is the effective size of female populations, which appears to have been comparatively large and stable in Dall's porpoise.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Precise monitoring of porpoising behaviour of Adélie penguins determined using acceleration data loggers.

A new method using acceleration data loggers enabled us to measure the porpoising behaviour of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), defined as a continuous rapid swimming with rhythmic serial leaps. Previous hydrodynamic models suggested that leaping would be energetically cheaper when an animal swims continuously at depths of less than three maximum body diameters below the water surface. In the present study, free-ranging Adélie penguins leapt at a mean speed of 2.8 m s(-)(1) above the predicted threshold speed (0.18-1. 88 m s(-)(1)). Wild penguins reduced drag by swimming deeper (0.91 m) and did not swim continuously within the high-drag layer while submerged. This indicates that previous calculations may be incomplete. Moreover, leaps represented an average of only 3.8 % of the total distance travelled during the porpoising cycle, which would make energy savings marginal. Among the six penguins used in our study, two did not porpoise and three porpoised for less than 7 min, also indicating that this behaviour was not important during travel to and from foraging sites, as has been previously suggested. Birds mainly porpoised at the start and end of a trip. One explanation of porpoising might be an escape behaviour from predators.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Bartonella henselae in porpoise blood.

We report detection of Bartonella henselae DNA in blood samples from 2 harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). By using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we directly amplified Bartonella species DNA from blood of a harbor porpoise stranded along the northern North Carolina coast and from a pre-enrichment blood culture from a second harbor porpoise. The second porpoise was captured out of habitat (in a low-salinity canal along the northern North Carolina coast) and relocated back into the ocean. Subsequently, DNA was amplified by conventional polymerase chain reaction for DNA sequencing. The 16S-23S intergenic transcribed spacer region obtained from each porpoise was 99.8% similar to that of B. henselae strain San Antonio 2 (SA2), whereas both heme-binding phage-associated pap31 gene sequences were 100% homologous to that of B. henselae SA2. Currently, the geographic distribution, mode of transmission, reservoir potential, and pathogenicity of bloodborne Bartonella species in porpoises have not been determined.

Animals↗