[All-postdocs] Bioseminar FRIDAY - Daniela Alarcón and Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez

[Ana M Velez]

The usual Bioseminar has been changed this week to Friday. There will not be Bioseminar on Thursday.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Biology Department Seminar
Friday, May 3, 2024 – 12:00 noon

Daniela Alarcón
Research Scientist, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, UNC-Chapel Hill & Galapagos Science Center and PhD Candidate, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

Cetacean Research Efforts in the Galápagos
The Galápagos Archipelago, a complex and diverse ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean, is known for its significant cetacean populations, which thrive in the rich waters that surround the islands. Information on occurrence and diversity of cetaceans has been recorded since whalers arrived on the islands in the 1800s. Due to these and more recent records, 26 of the 30 cetacean species known to occur in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) have been documented in Galápagos waters. However, despite the great scientific and economic relevance of the reserve, there are significant knowledge gaps surrounding cetacean biology and ecology in this region. Our research program focuses on four main areas: population structure, trophic ecology, health assessment and social behavior. This information is essential for mitigating impending impacts of climate change and other anthropogenic encroachments.

*****************

Juan-Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
Research Scientist and Lecturer, Universidad San Francisco de Quito - Galápagos

Galápagos and the Plastic Problem: Impacts and Health Metrics on Unique Marine Vertebrate Fauna
Plastic pollution is a pervasive global problem, affecting even the relatively pristine and protected waters of the Galápagos archipelago. Our research quantified and mapped the extent of this problem and its impact on Galápagos wildlife. We found that all areas were contaminated with plastic debris, with the highest levels found on windward shores. We documented plastic exposure (entanglement and ingestion) in 52 species, including 20 endemic ones. We further investigated potential health impacts associated with marine plastic exposure on three species: marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), and black striped salemas (Xenocys jessiae). We quantified both plastics in feces and the gastrointestinal tracts as well as a suite of health metrics (vital signs, hematology, and blood chemistry). Using two laboratory techniques (FT-IR and Pyr-GC/MS) we detected and quantified plastic pollution in 84% of A. cristatus (n= 89), 98% of C. mydas (n=46), and 92% of X. jessiae (n=61). Animals were clinically normal based on measured health metrics, but marine iguanas had lower leukocyte (WBCs), monocyte, and heterophile counts. This study is the first to quantify plastic pollution and health metrics in wildlife in Ecuador. As plastic pollution continues to grow exponentially worldwide, its measurement in conjunction with wildlife health is necessary in order to address its short- and long-term consequences.

Hybrid! In Person; Redfield Auditorium Zoom: https://whoi-edu.zoom.us/j/96659800499<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fq%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwhoi-edu.zoom.us%2Fj%2F96659800499%26sa%3DD%26source%3Dcalendar%26ust%3D1710961226530924%26usg%3DAOvVaw0rckQulqqXGNJkTgRIGczF&data=05%7C02%7Call-postdocs%40whoi.edu%7C555f19e9cbd74f4c238b08dc6852d723%7Cd44c5cc6d18c46cc8abd4fdf5b6e5944%7C0%7C0%7C638499952880340787%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FjEuDGdV1OhGZxLDnNZ7Hb88VZjTEiVXEKNCn0mpLkg%3D&reserved=0> Meeting ID: 966 5980 0499 By phone: Find your local number: https://whoi-edu.zoom.us/u/acHcJ3eLG5<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fq%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwhoi-edu.zoom.us%2Fu%2FacHcJ3eLG5%26sa%3DD%26source%3Dcalendar%26ust%3D1710961226530924%26usg%3DAOvVaw3ro25bAEA0ac41nilOZc6i&data=05%7C02%7Call-postdocs%40whoi.edu%7C555f19e9cbd74f4c238b08dc6852d723%7Cd44c5cc6d18c46cc8abd4fdf5b6e5944%7C0%7C0%7C638499952880497051%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2Fwnj4NFQyLLlscvDDz1%2ByiECJcXZm5dDFFxQXm7zSB4%3D&reserved=0>

Pizza and drinks will be served afterward in Redfield Lobby!

For questions, contact: Laela Sayigh

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/all-postdocs/attachments/20240429/b1abea41/attachment-0001.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 05_03_2024 Bioseminar Galapagos.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 2726669 bytes
Desc: 05_03_2024 Bioseminar Galapagos.pdf
Url : http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/all-postdocs/attachments/20240429/b1abea41/05_03_2024BioseminarGalapagos-0001.pdf