Distribution and movement data can impact the management and conservation of a variety of marine species throughout the world. Although tracking studies are commonplace today, there is often a breakdown in data reaching management officials in part due to the complex pathways involved in the transfer of data. The authors highlight successful instances of location data impacting policy decisions (See included Figure 1. from publication) and note that these instances most often include early engagement, direct communication, and data sharing between researchers and stakeholders. Published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution 

A growing body of evidence suggests that decision-makers should also consider aspects of animal sociality and culture to determine conservation priorities. Socially transmitted knowledge can impact the survivorship of individuals within a population, create subpopulations with differing behaviors, influence phenotypic diversity and adaptability, and identify individuals that are key repositories of knowledge.  Moreover, social learning is prevalent across a wide range of taxa.  International authorities are moving to include cultural variation when identifying and enacting conservation policies. Photo of learned sperm whale depredation behavior, courtesy of S. Mesnick, NMFS Permit 774-1714. Published in the journal Science

The scientists used a novel coral bleaching proxy, skeletal stress bands, to assess the  relative thermal thresholds of coral communities. They reconstructed bleaching histories for multiple coral reefs in the central equatorial Pacific from 1982-2015. Within each population, the stress response of massive corals indicated community level bleaching and different levels of community bleaching resulted despite similar stress conditions at different reefs. These reef to reef differences are a measure of thermal tolerance. This study illustrates that we can reconstruct past bleaching events using proxy data from the skeletons of massive corals, and concurrently assess the thermal tolerances of coral reef communities.  Photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries. Published in the journal Coral Reefs

This study assessed seabird bycatch rates from Alaska fisheries observer data between 1993 and 2015.  Bycatch rates varied by species assemblage and fishery and the adoption of streamer lines and night setting efforts reduced most of the seabird bycatch four targeted fisheries. The observed decrease in the annual weighted mean bycatch rate of albatrosses and non-albatross species from 1993-2015 in all Alaskan longline fisheries is depicted in the figure above from the publication. Best practices to prevent seabird mortality require a variety of methods including gear modifications, industry support, robust observer data, and outreach to vessel operators. Published in the journal Conservation Biology