Genome-wide analysis of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) indicates isolation-by-distance across the North Atlantic and potential local adaptation in adjacent waters

Autenrieth, Marijke; Havenstein, Katja; De Cahsan, Binia; Canitz, Julia; Benke, Harald; Roos, Anna; Pampoulie, Christophe; Sigurðsson, Guðjón Már; Siebert, Ursula; Olsen, Morten Tange; Biard, Vincent; Heide-Jørgensen, Mads Peter; Öztürk, Ayaka Amaha; Öztürk, Bayram; Lawson, John W.; Tiedemann, Ralph
Conservation Genetics (2023)

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), a highly mobile cetacean species of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabits basins that vary broadly in salinity, temperature, and food availability; such variation can drive divergent…


Hardly seen, often heard: Acoustic presence of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in one of the most urbanised estuaries in the world

Rekdahl, Melinda L.; Trabue, Sarah G.; King-Nolan, Carissa D.; Strindberg, Samantha; Rosenbaum, Howard C.
Frontiers in Marine Science (2023)

The New York-New Jersey (NY-NJ) Harbour Estuary and surrounding waters support the largest port along the U.S. East Coast, commercial and recreational fishing, and a burgeoning offshore wind energy industry.…


Wild harbour porpoises startle and flee at low received levels from acoustic harassment device

Elmegaard, Siri L.; Teilmann, Jonas; Rojano-Doñate, Laia; Brennecke, Dennis; Mikkelsen, Lonnie; Balle, Jeppe D.; Gosewinkel, Ulrich; Kyhn, Line A.; Tønnesen, Pernille; Wahlberg, Magnus; Ruser, Andreas; Siebert, Ursula; Madsen, Peter Teglberg
Scientific Reports (2023)

Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHD) are widely used to deter marine mammals from aquaculture depredation, and from pile driving operations that may otherwise cause hearing damage. However, little is known about…


Blood transcriptome analysis provides responsive changes in gene expression between ex situ and captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)

Cao, Z.; Yin, D.; Li, Z.; Yan, Y.; Zhang, P.; Zhang, S.; Lin, D.; Hua, Z.; Zhang, J.; Ying, C.; Zhang, H.; Xu, P.; Dong, G.; Liu, K.
Fishes (2023)

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis, YFP) is an endangered species endemic to the Yangtze River in China, and it is the only freshwater whale in the genus Neophocaena.…


Knowing the fishery to know the bycatch: Bias-corrected estimates of harbour porpoise bycatch in gillnet fisheries

Kindt-Larsen, Lotte; Glemarec, Gildas; Berg, Casper W.; Königson, Sara; Kroner, Anne-Mette; Søgaard, Mathias; Lusseau, David
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2023)

Incidental captures (bycatch) remain a key global conservation threat for cetaceans. Bycatch of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena in set gillnets is routinely monitored in European Union fisheries, but generally relies…


The click production of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaorientalis) is influenced by social and environmental factors

Serres, Agathe; Xu, Chen; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
Animals (2021)

Yangtze finless porpoises use high-frequency clicks to navigate, forage, and communicate. The way in which click production may vary depending on social or environmental context has never been investigated. A…


Out of sight, out of mind: How conservation is failing European porpoises

Carlén, Ida; Nunny, Laetitia; Simmonds, Mark P.
Frontiers in Marine Science (2021)

The conservation of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) appears to be failing in Europe. There are particular concerns about this species in the Baltic Proper, Black, and Mediterranean Seas, as well…


Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults

Williams, Rosie S.; Curnick, David J.; Barber, Jonathan L.; Brownlow, Andrew; Davison, Nicholas J.; Deaville, Rob; Perkins, Matthew; Jobling, Susan; Jepson, Paul D.
Science of The Total Environment (2020)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 persistent and bio-accumulative toxic pollutants present as complex mixtures in human and animal tissues. Harbor porpoises accumulate some of the highest levels…