Links
Recommended resources for veterinary and animal science

Marine Mammals

Information gateways

NetVet - Marine Mammals
This information gateway contains links to a variety of marine mammal related sites on the web.

General resources

The University of Sydney Library Catalogue
Recommended subject headings on the University of Sydney Library Catalogue are listed below. Please check all related subject heading for comprehensive results.

• marine mammals
• aquatic mammals
• cetacea
• pinnipedia
• sirenia
• dolphins
• whales

About marine mammals
This is a marine mammal education web site created by Laura Drumm and the National Marine Mammal Laboratory. Its science-based content, including pictures and general information, consists of a science and career section designed to answer questions about the study of marine mammals and careers in marine mammalogy, and an animal section which presents a sample of marine mammal species arranged along taxonomic lines from order to species. The site also contains a comprehensive links page.

National Marine Mammal Laboratory - Internet resources
This site is produced by the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML), which is responsible for conducting research on marine mammals in conjunction with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Links are provided under broad headings such as specific marine mammal species, marine mammal stock assessments, organisations and institutions and marine mammal career information. Although much of this site is US-based, there are some links to information relevant to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Jaap's marine mammal pages
A detailed and informative site produced and maintained by Dutch computer programmer and biologist specialising in marine mammals, Jaap van der Toorn. Information on whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions covering natural history, taxonomy and population status is available. Photos, skeletal diagrams and some publications in HTML format are also provided.

Research publications
This web site is the publication list for the Lighthouse Field Station, Aberdeen University, which focuses on research on seal and dolphin ecology and biology. Many publications in this list are available in full-text, .pdf format, including:

• Changing occurrence of epidermal lesions in wild bottlenose dolphins
• Amplifying DNA from dolphin faecal plumes
• Epidermal diseases in bottlenose dolphins: impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors
• Distribution and activity of male harbour seals during the mating season
• Prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasite Echinophthirius horridus on harbour seals (Phoca vitulina): effects of host age and inter-annual variability in host food availability

Marine mammal reprints
This is a bibliographic list of original research reprint articles published on the web by the Space and Warfare Systems Center (SSC), San Diego. Articles listed were originally published in a variety of peer reviewed journals and cover all aspects of marine mammal biology - for example: cytogenetics, reproduction, parasitism, ecology, anaesthesia, disease, tooth extraction, and neurology. Articles date from the mid-1960s to the mid 1990s, however even many of the older papers would still be relevant and of interest to veterinarians and animal scientists today. All articles are provided online in .pdf format.

Mammal Species of the World (MSW)
A database of mammalian taxonomy run by the Department of Systematic biology and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The database is searchable by both scientific and common names, or by browsing the taxonomic hierarchy. Some records have images attached.

European Register of Marine Species
The European Register of Marine Species (ERMS) is an authoritive taxonomic list of species occuring in the European marine environment. It is part of the Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning EU Network of Excellence.

Specific Species

Cetaceans and pinnipeds

Order Cetacea
This is the Cetacea section of the Animal Diversity Web, "an online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology at the University of Michigan". The site contains species accounts organised taxonomically and including information on geographic range, physical characteristics, natural history and conservation.

Cetacea
Cetacea is a comprehensive, non-commercial website published by Vision Internet Services (a UK based web publishing company). It is designed, created and maintained by Heather K Ward, and is supported by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Naturenet and Discovery Channel Online. The site claims to provide "complete background information on every species of whale, dolphin and porpoise known to humankind". Individual species are listed with information on distribution, classification, common names, description, habitat, feeding, behaviour, longevity, estimated population size and influence of man. The site also contains sections on cetacean evolution, conservation and whalewatching around the world, as well as a glossary and links page.

Whale, dolphin and porpoise conservation.
Published by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage. Contains resources on biology, ecology, and conservation.

Seal and sea lion conservation
Published by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage. Contains resources on biology, ecology, and conservation

Pacific Walrus Research
This site is produced by the Alaska Biological Science Center, U.S. Geologic Survey, Department of the Interior and contains general information about the walrus including distribution, habitat, biology, life history and behaviour. Current research projects undertaken by the Center are also discussed.

Skin temperatures during free-ranging swimming and diving in Antarctic fur seals
This research paper by I.L. Boyd of the British Antarctic Survey, Natural Research Council is published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, a peer reviewed journal in comparative animal physiology. Skin temperature variability of Antarctic fur seals relative to diving is investigated and metabolic rates estimated. The study shows "that Antarctic fur seal skin temperature is highly dynamic and suggests that the thoracic surface is an organ used for active thermoregulation." The full text of the article is available in .pdf format.

Aerial and Land-Based Surveys of Steller Sea Lions
Created by John L. Sease and Carolyn J. Gudmundson of the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, Washiington. It gives details of surveys of Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) from the Western Stock in Alaska, in June and July 2001 and 2002 and includes data on populations, telemetry and programs and also includes an image gallery.

Dolphins

Dolphin Research Institute
Based in Frankston, Victoria, the Dolphin Research Institute is a non-profit conservation organisation comprising biologists, animal scientists, community groups and educators. Research conducted at the Institute has been approved by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) since 1996. This site contains information on current research projects including population studies, behaviour and identification as well as featured news items concerning cetacean and marine issues. Also included are education pages on cetaceans generally and bottlenose dolphins in particular.

Dugongs

Facts about dugongs
Produced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, this is an information site dedicated to the dugong, which is found in Australian waters. As well as general information, details about threats to the species, sanctuaries and dugong protection areas are also given.

Dugong dugon (Dugong)
This is the Dugong page of the Animal Diversity Web, "an online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology" produced by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. The page is a brief but comprehensive species account of the dugong and includes information on geographic range, physical characteristics, natural history, economic importance and conservation. A series of anatomical images are also available under the 'Media' tab. The page was written by David L. Fox.

The Dugong: Status Reports and Action Plans for Countries and Territories in Its Range
Report compiled by Helenr Marsh, Action Plan Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Sirenia Specialist Group Helen Penrose, Carole Eros, and Joanna Hugues (James Cook University, UNEP, WCMC) The purpose of this document is to present a global overview of the status of the dugong and its management in the various countries in its range.

Observations on the behaviour of the Dugong (Dugong dugon Müller, 1776) from waters of the Lease Islands, eastern Indonesia
This is the full-text of a research article by H.H. de Iongh, B. Bierhuizen, and B. van Orden published in the online version of the journal Contributions to Zoology. It discusses the behaviour and feeding ecology of a dugong population in coastal waters of the Lease Islands in eastern Indonesia. The authors are affiliated with Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The article is in .html format.

Procedures for the salvage and necropsy of the dugong (Dugong dugon)
This Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority publication is a manual providing a detailed guide for dugong carcass handling and necropsy procedures. It is intended as a resource and training guide for anyone involved in dugong incidents - including veterinarians and pathologists. The contents of the document are outlined and each section is available in .pdf format. Topics covered include incident response procedures, necropsy technique, specimen collection and preservation, determination of causes of death and a glossary. Limited information is also provided on managing live dugong stranding incidents. Information is provided by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Some sections of the site are quite large and may be slow to download.

Manatees
Manatee information pages produced by the SeaWorld / Busch Gardens Animal Information Database, developed by the SeaWorld Education Department. Although much of the information provided here is quite basic, it does provide a good, concise summary of manatee features such as habitat, physical characteristics, behaviour, diet, reproduction and conservation. Pages are easy to navigate and information can be found quickly. Pictures and diagrams are also provided to illustrate anatomical features.

Sirenia Project: Manatee Ecology and Population Biology
This page provides information on current Sirenia research conducted at the Florida Caribbean Science Center in conjunction with the United States Geological Survey. Studies concentrate on the West Indian manatee and specifically the life history, population dynamics and ecological requirements of the species.

Sirenian International
Sirenian International, Inc., is a grassroots organisation of people who share a dedication to manatee & dugong research, education, and conservation. It is partnership of scientists, students, educators, conservationists, and the public. Its website contains a large collection of dugong and manatee resources.

Whales

The South Australian Whale Centre
Operated by the City of Victor Harbour, the objective of the SA Whale Centre is to assist and enhance the research, understanding, welfare and conservation of all whales and dolphins in southern Australian waters. Although aimed more at the general public than animal health and science professionals, this site does include some information on the 25 species of whales recorded in South Australian waters, strandings and whale behaviour. The Centre is also the home of the Whale Information Network (WIN), which monitors and publicises the locations and activities of all whales sighted across SA and Victoria.

Whale calls
The whale acoustics project is a collaborative effort between the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, Washington and Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Newport, Oregon. Sound files (.wav format) of several whale calls can be heard from this page, including the that of the blue whale found in the Pacific.

Whale Strandings - How you can help
This is an information sheet on whale strandings produced by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. Information is given on why whales strand and what can be done to help beached whales. There is also a link to the Action Plan for Whale Rescues: Tasmania document, produced in 1999 by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, which can be downloaded in .pdf format.

Anatomy

The brain of the Florida Manatee
This is an excellent site providing access to photographs, images, stained sections and information on the Manatee brain. External morphology, internal architecture, specialised body features, behaviour, ecological adaptations and evolution are all discussed in some detail. There is also a comprehensive list of relevant links and a database search engine. This site is managed by Wally Welker, John Irwin Johnson and Roger Reep and is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin, the University of Florida and Michigan State University.

Laser safety thresholds for Cetaceans and Pinnipeds
This report was prepared by Heather M. Zorn, James H. Churnside and Charles W. Oliver for the National (US) Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, California. It discusses the potential for laser injury to marine mammals by the use of LIDAR (light detection and ranging, involves sweeping a laser beam across the ocean surface) systems in oceanographic experiments. Sections on eye anatomy of cetaceans and pinnipeds, visual acuity and estimated exposure limits for cetaceans and pinnipeds are included. The report is in .pdf format and is quite large so may be slow to download on some computers.

Diseases and Pests

Diseases of marine mammals
This website is the text of a lecture by Robert B. Moeller, Jr. (LTC, VC, USA, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD) prepared for an education program of the US based Charles Louis Davis, D. V. M. Foundation For the International Advancement of Veterinary & Comparative Pathology. The lecture discusses diseases, infections, parasites and disorders that affect marine mammals. Some of those included are pox viruses, sea lion viruses, the influenza virus, morbillivirus, herpesvirus, hepatitis-like infection, bacterial infections, lice, mites, barnacles, infections and parasites of the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems, vitamin deficiencies and sunburn. An extensive bibliography is also included for further reference.

Associations

Sea Mammal Ecology Group (SMEG)
SMEG is a research group within the Department of Zoology at La Trobe University, Victoria. This site describes current ecological research programmes being undertaken by the group on marine mammals in Australia and the Southern Ocean. Research focuses on the ecology, physiology, behaviour, conservation and management of marine mammals, the recovery of seal populations and seal-fisheries interactions. Some publications are available to download as .pdf files and links to collaborating institutions are also given.

The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM)
Founded in the Netherlands in 1972, EAAM promotes scientific progress and knowledge exchange in the areas of research, medical care, training, education, conservation and management pertaining to aquatic mammals. Membership of the organisation includes veterinarians, biologists, animal scientists, zoo and marine park professionals and students.

International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM)
This is a professional organisation of individuals involved in the practice, teaching and research of aquatic animal medicine. The associations' main objectives are to promote the science of aquatic animal medicine, the improvement of domestic aquatic animal husbandry, and the proper management of aquatic animal resources in the wild.

The Society for Marine Mammalogy
Homepage of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, hosted by the University of Central Florida. This is a US based organisation that promotes the educational, scientific and managerial advancement of marine mammal science. The website contains information on society membership, conferences, awards, research, publications and newsletters. Current Society newsletters and items such as Sirenews, a newsletter of the Sirenia Specialist Group, are available in full text.

Current Awareness / Discussion Lists

MARMAM email discussion list
MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list focusing on marine mammal research and conservation. MARMAM uses the listserver at the University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), is funded by the Humane Society of the United States and current list editors are Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, and Shannon Gowans. Subscription is free.

Recommended Research Databases and Indexes

Recommended research databases and indexes for this area of study are: Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts, Zoological Record, BIOSIS Previews, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, AGRICOLA and Web of Science.