Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alfonso Langle-Flores, Zinthia Lopez-Vazquez, Rosa Maria Chavez-Dagostino, Adriana Aguilar-Rodriguez
Summary: The research evaluated the responses of whale-watching tourism stakeholders on the Mexican Pacific Coast to the impacts of COVID-19, identifying main reported impacts and harmful legacies, and providing important information for policy-making.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jens J. Currie, Jessica A. McCordic, Grace L. Olson, Abigail F. Machernis, Stephanie H. Stack
Summary: The study investigated the impact of vessel presence on humpback whale behaviors in Maui, Hawaii, showing that vessel proximity resulted in increased swim speed, respiration rate, and path directness, while decreasing dive times. This suggests the need for stricter whale watching guidelines to reduce disturbance to humpback whales and ensure their fitness in changing environments.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Andrea Nesdoly, Christopher Bone, Molly Fraser, Norma Serra-Sogas, Rosaline Canessa
Summary: The rise in global ocean vessel activity has raised concerns for whale health. This study evaluates three computational models to classify whale-watching vessel behavior and recommends using the hidden Markov model (HMM) for accurate classification. The results can inform marine conservation efforts and policy decisions.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Raquel De la Cruz-Modino, Mel Cosentino
Summary: This article discusses successful cases of whale-watching eco-tourism activities in Norway, which combine whale-watching, research, education, and benefits for the local community, attracting a large number of tourists. Additionally, the collaboration between tourism and whale research can drive innovation in the fields of ecology and tourism.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cecile Marie Chauvat, Jessica Aquino, Sandra Magdalena Granquist
Summary: This study investigated the values and attitudes of seal watching visitors in Iceland. The results showed that seal watching visitors generally had high biospheric values, low egoistic values, and were open to most suggested management actions.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Malin Larm, Karin Noren, Anders Angerbjorn
Summary: The study focuses on the effects of tourism disturbance on the diurnal activity pattern and vigilance of breeding arctic foxes at den sites. Results show that high intensity tourism leads to increased daytime activity at the den site, contrary to the increased nocturnality observed in studies of other species. The difference is attributed to the higher cost of avoiding a key site for the animal compared to avoiding general human disturbance in the animal's distribution range.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Monika W. Shields
Summary: This study investigates the impact of whale-watching vessels on private vessel incidents and finds that the presence of commercial whale-watching vessels can decrease the number of incidents caused by private vessels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura V. Soto-Cortes, Andrea Luna-Acosta, Diana Lucia Maya
Summary: The study found that humpback whale-watching activities are characterized by uneven connections with markets, income inequality, and unequal distribution of operators. While there are informal agreements among operators and some motivation to form associations, there is still a lack of effective enforcement of rules due to limited government monitoring and absence of sanctions. Stakeholders need to mediate trust and reciprocity among operators to improve the situation and ensure the sustainability of whale-watching activities in Marine Protected Areas.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Cecile M. Chauvat, Sandra M. Granquist, Jessica Aquino
Summary: In this study, gender differences in biospheric value orientation and opinions on seal watching management were investigated. The findings revealed that women had stronger biospheric value orientations, higher awareness of anthropogenic impacts on seals, a belief in the usefulness of regulations in reducing impact, and a more positive attitude towards suggested management actions. Understanding the gender dynamics in pro-environmental attitudes is crucial for sustainable wildlife tourism management.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudia Oliveira, Sergi Perez-Jorge, Rui Prieto, Irma Cascao, Paul J. Wensveen, Monica A. Silva
Summary: This study used high-resolution multi-sensor tags to evaluate the short-term behavioral responses of sperm whales to whale watching vessels. The researchers found no significant changes in foraging behavior and overall dive behavior between exposure and non-exposure periods. However, there was an increase in body pitch variation during non-foraging periods. Additionally, sperm whales showed higher vertical velocity during ascents in response to vessel exposure. These findings highlight the potential impact of whale watching disturbance on the energetic balance and fitness of cetaceans.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mara Dionisio, Mafalda Mendes, Marc Fernandez, Valentina Nisi, Nuno Nunes
Summary: This paper introduces a digital tool called "Aqua" and compares participants' experiences of a whale-watching trip with and without the digital tool through observation and data gathering. The study provides preliminary insights to inform the design of digital tools aimed at promoting environmental conservation and citizen-science approaches.
Article
Environmental Studies
Roy Ballantyne, Karen Hughes, Julie Lee, Jan Packer, Joanne Sneddon
Summary: The research investigates how to design interpretation that appeals to visitors with different value priorities and identify elements that are most likely to appeal to and influence their environmental behavior.
TOURISM MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alfonso Langle-Flores, Zinthia Lopez-Vazquez, Rosa Maria Chavez Dagostino, Adriana Aguilar-Rodriguez
Summary: Humpback whales face emerging anthropogenic challenges such as entanglement in abandoned fishing gear and stranding during their winter migration. Collaborative governance systems involving diverse stakeholders are crucial for managing and conserving coastal and marine common-pool resources, especially in contexts of institutional weakness. Social network analysis revealed the presence of coordination, cooperation, and conflict within collaborative networks. The most pressing conflicts identified by stakeholders were related to pleasure boats, abandoned fishing gear, and rule compliance regarding the distance between boats and whales.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Caitlin Judge, Gwenith Susan Penry, Mark Brown, Minke Witteveen
Summary: The long-term sustainability of South Africa's boat-based whale-watching industry requires transparency and compliance in advertising. Research findings suggest that most websites do not fully comply with regulations in textual and photographic content, potentially leading to mismatched tourist expectations and experiences.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
(2021)
Review
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Chaitanya Suarez-Rojas, Matias M. Gonzalez Hernandez, Carmelo J. Leon
Summary: There is a growing consensus among scientists that whale-watching activities by humans are causing significant harm to the natural environment, posing critical challenges to sustainability. This study highlights the urgent need for rethinking and improving the sustainability of whale-watching through a comprehensive framework based on regenerative tourism. The study identifies three main research areas, including ecological responses of cetaceans, determinants of whale-watching tourism demand, and the impact of tourism on sustainability from cultural and political perspectives.
TOURISM MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sabrina Riveron, Vincent Raoult, David J. Slip, Robert G. Harcourt
Summary: This study assessed the effects of lipid extraction on sulfur isotopes in marine ecosystems. The results showed that lipid extraction had minimal effect on shark muscle and pinniped skin, but significantly affected shark liver tissue. This could be due to the selective removal of sulfolipids and glutathione, which are present in higher concentrations in the liver.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Jeremy J. Kiszka, Lars Bejder, Randall Davis, Rob Harcourt, Mark Meekan, Diego H. Rodriguez, Karen A. Stockin
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emma L. Carroll, Leena Riekkola, Virginia Andrews-Goff, C. Scott Baker, Rochelle Constantine, Ros Cole, Kim Goetz, Robert Harcourt, David Lundquist, Catherine Meyer, Mike Ogle, Richard O'Rorke, Nathalie Patenaude, Rodney Russ, Esther Stuck, Aimee L. van der Reis, Alexandre N. Zerbini, Simon Childerhouse
Summary: This study conducted surveys on the habitat use of southern right whales in Auckland Islands, New Zealand and found changes in behavior and population composition. However, it confirmed the significance of this area as a key habitat for southern right whales in New Zealand waters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kimberley Kliska, Rebecca R. McIntosh, Ian Jonsen, Fiona Hume, Peter Dann, Roger Kirkwood, Robert Harcourt
Summary: Marine ecosystems in southeastern Australia are rapidly responding to climate change, as evidenced by changes in the diet of the Australian fur seal. The frequency of occurrence of prey taxa changed over time, and correlations were found with environmental variables at both local and regional scales. The study predicts that the Australian fur seal's diverse diet will be advantageous in a rapidly changing ecosystem.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lachlan R. Phillips, Gemma Carroll, Ian Jonsen, Robert Harcourt, Andrew S. Brierley, Adam Wilkins, Martin Cox
Summary: Understanding how marine predators encounter prey across patchy landscapes remains challenging. This study used GPS and dive loggers to measure the at-sea behavior of little penguins and assessed the prey field through boat-based acoustic surveys. The results showed that penguin tracks had higher prey encounter rates compared to random movements, but reductions in prey encounters and abnormal body mass were observed when prey was sparse or deep.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joshua Reed, Leslie New, Peter Corkeron, Robert Harcourt
Summary: The abundance and population trends of Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whales have been studied using mark-recapture analyses. The study found a decline in the number of female whales, especially in breeding females, while the number of non-breeding females remained relatively stable. The research also revealed a reduction in the transition rate from non-breeder to breeder, resulting in a decrease in the proportion of breeding females in the population.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lachlan R. Phillips, Neil Malan, Moninya Roughan, Robert Harcourt, Ian Jonsen, Martin Cox, Andrew S. Brierley, David Slip, Adam Wilkins, Gemma Carroll
Summary: This study highlights the significant variability of coastal seascapes along the path of the rapidly intensifying East Australian Current (EAC) Southern Extension in southeast Australia, and emphasizes the critical role of offshore oceanographic processes in driving coastal seascape variability and biological activity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Vinay Udyawer, Charlie Huveneers, Fabrice Jaine, Russell C. Babcock, Stephanie Brodie, Marie-Jeanne Buscot, Hamish A. Campbell, Robert G. Harcourt, Xavier Hoenner, Elodie J. I. Ledee, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Matthew D. Taylor, Asia Armstrong, Adam Barnett, Culum Brown, Barry Bruce, Paul A. Butcher, Gwenael Cadiou, Lydie I. E. Couturier, Leanne Currey-Randall, Michael Drew, Christine L. Dudgeon, Ross G. Dwyer, Mario Espinoza, Luciana C. Ferreira, Anthony Fowler, David Harasti, Alastair R. Harborne, Nathan A. Knott, Kate Lee, Matt Lloyd, Michael Lowry, Teagan Marzullo, Jordan Matley, Jaime D. McAllister, Rory McAuley, Frazer McGregor, Mark Meekan, Kade Mills, Bradley M. Norman, Beverly Oh, Nicholas L. Payne, Vic Peddemors, Toby Piddocke, Richard D. Pillans, Richard D. Reina, Paul Rogers, Jayson M. Semmens, Amy Smoothey, Conrad W. Speed, Dylan van der Meulen, Michelle R. Heupel
Summary: A study found that ectothermic marine species exhibit allometric scaling for activity space, although the relationship is weaker compared to terrestrial species. Body mass alone can only explain 35% of the variation, with trophic position and latitude being stronger predictors for marine species. The study highlights the importance of using large-scale animal biotelemetry networks to address evolutionary and ecological questions across different taxa.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Abubakr Awad, Wei Pang, David Lusseau, George M. Coghill
Summary: Research on Physarum polycephalum has gained popularity in recent years, especially after Nakagaki's famous experiment. This experiment demonstrated the ability of Physarum to find the shortest route through a maze, and subsequent research has further explored the potential of Physarum-inspired algorithms. This comprehensive review presents the biological aspects, mathematical models, and applications of Physarum in a competitive environment, highlighting the intelligent behavior of Physarum.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David Lusseau, Lotte Kindt-Larsen, Floris M. van Beest
Summary: Human activities at sea are becoming more complex, requiring adaptable management interventions to mitigate their cumulative effects on biodiversity conservation. Coastal cetaceans, particularly harbour porpoises, are threatened by bycatch and the indirect effects of repeated exposure to disturbances such as acoustic disturbances. The prevalence of pingers, used to mitigate bycatch, can affect both bycatch rate and the population consequences of noise disturbance. Understanding the physiological effects on reproductive decisions and behavioural responses to noise is crucial for evaluating the cumulative impacts of bycatch and its mitigations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ian D. D. Jonsen, W. James Grecian, Lachlan Phillips, Gemma Carroll, Clive McMahon, Robert G. G. Harcourt, Mark A. A. Hindell, Toby A. A. Patterson
Summary: Animal tracking data is vital for understanding the behavior, ecology, and physiology of mobile or cryptic species. Noise in the data due to imperfect measurement technologies can hinder meaningful signals, necessitating rigorous quality control in comprehensive analysis. State-space models are powerful tools to separate signal from noise, particularly for error-prone location data, enabling inference of animal movements. However, fitting these statistical models to diverse animal tracking data sets can be challenging and time-consuming. The R package aniMotum simplifies quality control and movement inference tasks for animal tracking data.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David Lusseau, Rosie Baillie
Summary: More than half of the global population live in cities and rely on urban greenspaces for their nature experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of nature exposure for wellbeing and our study shows that people sought greenspace during mobility restrictions. However, access to greenspace varied depending on neighborhood deprivation, and the preference for greenspace intensified throughout the waves of lockdown.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Lu Wang, Davina Derous, Xiahe Huang, Sharon E. Mitchell, Alex Douglas, David Lusseau, Yingchun Wang, John R. Speakman
Summary: Calorie restriction extends life span by modulating aging-related mechanisms. Metabolic pathways such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and fatty acid degradation are significantly stimulated, while main signaling pathways and pathways in cancer are not significantly affected. Moreover, the metabolism of xenobiotics is altered by calorie restriction.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lotte Kindt-Larsen, Gildas Glemarec, Casper W. Berg, Sara Konigson, Anne-Mette Kroner, Mathias Sogaard, David Lusseau
Summary: Incidental captures (bycatch) of harbour porpoise in European Union fisheries remain a significant threat to cetaceans. A long-term monitoring program in Denmark using electronic monitoring has provided detailed data on porpoise bycatch and gillnet fishing effort. The study highlights the importance of considering fishing characteristics in estimating bycatch rates and emphasizes the need for effective monitoring methods and mitigation techniques.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Clive R. R. McMahon, Mark A. A. Hindell, Jean Benoit Charrassin, Richard Coleman, Christophe. Guinet, Robert Harcourt, Sara Labrousse, Benjemin Raymond, Michael Sumner, Natalia Ribeiro
Summary: Depth data from over 500,000 tagged seal dives on the East Antarctic continental shelf improves bathymetry maps and reveals new features. These data help understand the oceanographic processes affecting Antarctica's role in global climate. Incorporating seal dive data improves bathymetry of 22% to 60% of the sampled area, uncovering new features such as troughs and canyons.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)