From Jenelle_Gilding at alaskasealife.org Tue May 1 12:00:23 2007 From: Jenelle_Gilding at alaskasealife.org (Jenelle Gilding) Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 11:00:23 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Announcement Message-ID: <90DE6706D8A7F2479D11846B9B48623E0232BDF1@SEAOTTER.ALASKASEALIFE.ORG> The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation, conservation, and public education is seeking applications for the following: RESEARCH COORDINATOR This position is responsible for managing a variety of logistical functions for the harbor seal research program at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Responsibilities (include but are not limited to): 1. Coordinates and organizes data collection including assisting with logistical review of research project proposals, and accommodation of special project needs. 2. Works directly with internal and external collaborators under direction of the Principle Investigator including coordinating research trials, preparing supplies, scheduling staff, and ensuring preparedness to conduct trials. 3. Provides coordination of facility use and services for research projects relating to the harbor seal program. 4. Coordinates and carries out scientific data collection with field work and in-house research, as assigned. 5. Develops and manages field research support budget. 6. Coordinates observational research including remote camera installations and observations; assists in aerial surveys and ground/sea surveys. 7. Participates in boat operations for the program in coordination with the Vessel Safety Officer. 8. Manages the procurement, inventory, and maintenance of facilities, equipment and supplies to be used in research projects. 9. Supervises personnel matters for the Research Technicians, Interns, and WOW students. Sets performance standards, checks work, establishes schedules, sets deadlines, and delegates authority. Requirements: Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, or related field required and research experience specific to harbor seals preferred. Two years of experience in coordinating and conducting field research on vessels and at remote locations required. Experience with equipment procurement, inventory, and maintenance required. Proficiency in computer skills required. This is a full-time position. The SeaLife Center offers a competitive wage (DOE) with great benefits, in a beautiful setting. Start Date: August 1, 2007, advancing to full time: September 7, 2007 Apply by: May 21, 2007 Send resume & application (downloadable at www.alaskasealife.org ) to Human Resources, Alaska SeaLife Center, P. O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to HR at alaskasealife.org . www.alaskasealife.org The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 15435 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 5946 bytes Desc: image002.gif URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: oledata.mso Type: application/octet-stream Size: 17448 bytes Desc: oledata.mso URL: From mjasny at nrdc.org Tue May 1 13:46:04 2007 From: mjasny at nrdc.org (Jasny, Michael) Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 13:46:04 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] new NRDC fellowship in marine mammal science Message-ID: Dear MARMAM-ers, NRDC is offering a new two-year fellowship in marine mammal science, to begin in September. See below for details, and please feel free to contact me with questions. Best, Michael The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national nonprofit conservation organization, has an opening beginning September for a two-year, full-time, marine mammal biologist in our Santa Monica, California office. The Fellow will work with NRDC's Marine Mammal Project as part of a team focusing on the impacts of environmental stressors, such as warming oceans and undersea noise, on populations of marine mammals. He/she will also collaborate with other science fellows in a newly established NRDC Science Center. This position is modeled after the AAAS Environmental Fellowship program and is designed as an opportunity to make practical contributions to the more effective use of scientific and technical information in environmental policy decision-making. Specific tasks will include developing policy recommendations for the integration of environmental factors into marine mammal stock assessments; assisting NRDC in preparing technical comments on the cumulative impacts of human activities on the marine environment; preparing publications for lay and scientific audiences on the assessment of environmental stress in marine mammal populations; and engaging the regulatory and scientific communities on these issues. Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent doctoral-level degree in marine mammal science, population biology, or related field, with experience in modeling or statistics; an excellent scientific or technical background; and a strong interest in applying scientific knowledge to environmental problems. The successful applicant will also have excellent writing skills and enjoy working on an interdisciplinary team with people from different professional backgrounds. He/she should thrive under a fast-paced environment, with well-honed abilities to manage and prioritize a heavy workload. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. NRDC is an equal opportunity employer, and we particularly encourage women and people of color to apply. Interested applicants should forward a letter of interest, which addresses the following: a. why the fellowship is desired b. how the candidate is qualified c. what issues interest the candidate d. how the candidate hopes the fellowship will affect his/her career goals. Applicants should email cover letter, resume, and writing sample no later than June 15, 2007 to HR_DC at NRDC.org. In your correspondence, please indicate where you saw this job announcement. No phone calls or faxes, please. For further information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org. Michael Jasny Senior Policy Analyst Natural Resources Defense Council 4479 W. 5th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6R1S4 tel. 604-736-9386 fax 310-434-2399 mjasny at nrdc.org PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law as attorney-client and work-product confidential or otherwise confidential communications. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication or other use of a transmission received in error is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, immediately notify me at the above telephone number. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Lance.Garrison at noaa.gov Tue May 1 09:19:29 2007 From: Lance.Garrison at noaa.gov (Lance Garrison) Date: Tue, 01 May 2007 12:19:29 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Post-doctoral position - Miami, FL Message-ID: <46376891.3000505@noaa.gov> Postdoctoral Research Associate - Marine Mammal Habitat Modeling University of Miami, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies Position #034423 Ph.D. Degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Statistics or related field required. Strong quantitative and statistical skills required with experience developing spatially-explicit habitat models and working with geographic information systems. Experience working with remotely sensed environmental data and incorporating these into spatial models is also required. Programming capability in R, Matlab, IDL, C++ or other common languages is strongly desired. Position #034423. Duties include: analyzing marine mammal data collected during line transect surveys to develop spatially explicit habitat models. Project outcomes will be used to describe and predict the spatial distribution of marine mammals for use in environmental assessment projects. Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, are required. Ability to travel is required to meet with project partners and occasional participation in field work. This position is located in CIMAS, a Joint Institute of the University of Miami and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The person hired into this position will work closely with scientists in the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division located on Virginia Key. Salary: Competitive. Apply on line at: www.miami.edu/careers and include a current resume, statement of interests, and the names of three people who can provide letters of recommendation. Applications will be accepted through May 13, 2007. The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental benefits, tuition remission, vacation, paid holidays and much more. The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. From d.mccafferty at educ.gla.ac.uk Wed May 2 03:57:11 2007 From: d.mccafferty at educ.gla.ac.uk (Dominic McCafferty) Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 11:57:11 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Posting Summer field course Message-ID: <1B506413F710BF419BE2DB9A271166C801C28353@exchange-be1.centre.ad.gla.ac.uk> Summer field course: Marine Mammal and Turtle Biology 11 - 22 July 2007 Universities of Glasgow and London The course includes lectures, laboratory sessions and field work on research vessels in the Firth of Clyde and on whale watching boats of the west coast of Scotland. The course is residential and is based at the University Marine Biological Station, Millport (UMBSM), Isle of Cumbrae and at Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Accredited: 20 Credits Level 1 Open to both students and non students. For further details visit: www.gla.ac.uk/departments/adulteducation/certHE/courses/marinemammal.htm How to enrol visit: http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/adulteducation/courses/enrolment.html Or contact course coordinator: Dominic McCafferty d.mccafferty at educ.gla.ac.uk Tel 0141 330 1803 Dr Dominic McCafferty Lecturer in Life Sciences Coordinator for the Certificate of Higher Education www.gla.ac.uk/adulteducation/Personnel/dmcc Department of Adult & Continuing Education Faculty of Education, University of Glasgow, 11 Eldon Street, Glasgow G3 6NH Scotland, UK E: d.mccafferty at educ.gla.ac.uk T: 0141 330 1803 F: 0141 330 1821 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mdutoit at zoology.up.ac.za Thu May 3 06:30:06 2007 From: mdutoit at zoology.up.ac.za (Michelle du Toit) Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 15:30:06 +0200 (SAST) Subject: [MARMAM] 17th SMM Biennial Conference - Abstract submission deadline Message-ID: <4638.137.215.110.198.1178199006.squirrel@zoology.up.ac.za> Dear all, Conference Update:?? 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals,? Cape Town, 29 Nov - 3 Dec 2007 Reminder:?Abstract?submission deadline is 31 May 2007.?You need to create a user profile (http://www.smmconference2007.org/register_new_form.php) on the website in order to access the abstract submission and other?forms. Any questions can be forwarded to sciprog at marinemammalogy.org _________________________________________________? Michelle du Toit Assistant - Scientific Programme Committee 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Mammal Research Institute Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria, 0002 South Africa Tel: +27-12-4204573 Fax: +27-12-4202534 sciprog at marinemammalogy.org ------------------------------------------------------------------ This message and attachments are subject to a disclaimer. Please refer to http://www.it.up.ac.za/documentation/governance/disclaimer/ for full details. / Hierdie boodskap en aanhangsels is aan 'n vrywaringsklousule onderhewig. Volledige besonderhede is by http://www.it.up.ac.za/documentation/governance/disclaimer/ beskikbaar. From jlewi006 at fiu.edu Wed May 2 19:48:10 2007 From: jlewi006 at fiu.edu (jlewi006 at fiu.edu) Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 22:48:10 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [MARMAM] Immediate Opening available: Internship Florida Keys Bottlenose Dolphins Message-ID: <20070502224810.BBW25099@mailstore2.fiu.edu> Re-posting of Internship: Behavioral Ecology of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Florida Keys Period of Work: May 15- June 15 Details of Position: Work will involve assisting doctoral student with field research on bottlenose dolphins in the Lower Florida Keys. Responsibilities will include assisting in collection of dolphin behavior and environmental data, and help with fish sampling. Off water duties will include data entry, management and analysis in addition to equipment maintenance. Interns will receive training in field and lab techniques used in cetacean research. Requirements: Must be upper division undergraduate or recent graduate from a scientific discipline. Prefer students with an interest in continuing education beyond Bachelors. Previous field experience a plus. Must be able to handle long hours (8+ per day) under extreme heat (up to 37 degrees Celsius). Positions are voluntary. All work conducted will be done under a Letter of Confirmation for Level B Harassment (MMPA 1972). For further information please contact Jennifer Lewis ASAP at: jennifer.lewis1 at fiu.edu Florida International University Department of Biological Sciences Miami, Florida Doctoral Candidate Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 11200 SW 8th St. Miami, Florida 33199 305-348-7429 From michael.lueck at aut.ac.nz Tue May 1 15:37:00 2007 From: michael.lueck at aut.ac.nz (Michael Luck) Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 10:37:00 +1200 Subject: [MARMAM] =?iso-8859-1?q?5th_Coastal_=26_Marine_Tourism_Congress_*?= =?iso-8859-1?q?_Registration_is_open!?= Message-ID: Kia Ora! *** Apologies for Cross-Posting! We are pleased to announce that registration for the 5th International Coastal & Marine Tourism Congress (CMT?07), hosted by AUT University (School of Hospitality & Tourism, Faculty of Applied Humanities), the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI), and the University of Washington (School of Marine Affairs), is now open. Be quick and take advantage of the super early bird and early bird registration options through the CMT?07 webpage: http://nztri.aut.ac.nz/cmt2007/pages/index.php The CMT?07 will be a high profile international conference, with delegates from academia, industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Invited keynote speakers include Professor David Fennell (Brock University, Canada), Associate Professor James Higham (University of Otago, New Zealand), Professor Marc L. Miller (University of Washington, USA), Dr. Mark B. Orams (Sir Peter Blake Trust, New Zealand), and Professor Jeffrey Wilks (Surf Live Saving Australia). The CMT?07 will be opened by New Zealand?s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Damien O?Connor. Please remember that the deadline for working papers and posters is approaching quickly (18. May 2007). Please submit your abstract (250 words) directly online at: http://nztri.aut.ac.nz/cmt2007/pages/index.php With the invaluable help and generous support of the operators and providers, we have put together an exciting array offield trips for CMT'07 delegates and their partners at considerably lower cost, or with additional benefits. The CMT'07 Organising Committee also negotiated with some of New Zealand's top tourism providers to offer delegates special discounts for their private pre- or post-conference travel (see webpage for details). We are very much looking forward to welcoming you here in the City of Sails in September! All the Best! Michael L?ck (for the organising committee) *************************************************************************** Michael L?ck, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Tourism Studies Programme Leader, Postgraduate Programmes School of Hospitality and Tourism Faculty of Applied Humanities AUT University Private Bag 92006 Auckland, New Zealand e-mail: michael.lueck at aut.ac.nz Phone: +64 9-921-9999 ext. 5833 Fax: +64 9-921 9962 *************************************************************************** Associate Director, New Zealand Tourism Research Institute NZTRI http://www.tri.org.nz ( http://www.tri.org.nz/ ) *************************************************************************** Chair, Organising Committee, Coastal & Marine Tourism Congress 2007 http://nztri.aut.ac.nz/cmt2007/pages/ *************************************************************************** Editor-in-Chief: Tourism in Marine Environments http://www.cognizantcommunication.com/filecabinet/Tme/tme.html *************************************************************************** Associate Editor: Journal of Ecotourism http://www.channelviewpublications.com/multi/journals/journals_je.asp?TAG=&CID= *************************************************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From peter at hwdt.org Thu May 3 07:51:34 2007 From: peter at hwdt.org (Peter Stevick) Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 15:51:34 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Participate in cetacean surveys in Scotland References: Message-ID: <05c301c78d92$8bac1240$0c01a8c0@Peter> The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust carries out visual and acoustic cetacean surveys every summer from our research vessel, Silurian. Participating in these surveys will give you the unique opportunity to learn fundamental and essential cetacean research techniques from our experienced team, including acoustic monitoring and photo identification. There is also the opportunity to learn sailing skills. HWDT has conducted cetacean surveys off west Scotland since 2003 to identify key cetacean habitats and trends in relative abundance. We are at the forefront of the development of acoustic monitoring for harbour porpoise. We work closely with staff from the Sea Mammal Reseach Unit, St Andrews on data collection and analysis, supporting ongoing PhD research projects through SMRU on cetacean habitat preferences. No specific experience is required to work onboard. However you should have basic computing skills and be proficient in the English language. Prices and dates for this 2007 surveys are as follows: ? July 11th ? 19th (8 nights on board) ?695 ? July 20th ? 31st (11 nights on board) ?795 ? August 1st ? 12th (11 nights on board) ?795 ? September 4th ? 12th (8 nights on board) ?695 ? September 23rd ? October 4th (11 nights on board) ?795 Prices cover all expenses during the project incl. all food, 11 (or 8) nights accommodation on board our fully equipped 60ft sailing vessel, and all scientific and sailing training. Further information and how to apply can be found on our website (www.hwdt.org), by phoning HWDT on +44 1688 302620 or by e-mailing Fiona Quarmby at volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org From regina.asmutis-silvia at wdcs.org Tue May 1 14:40:54 2007 From: regina.asmutis-silvia at wdcs.org (Regina Asmutis-Silvia) Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 22:40:54 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Fall Internship Posting Message-ID: Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - North America (WDCS -NA) Intern / Residential Volunteer Program Intern applications for Fall now being accepted. Deadline is May 16th, 2007. Program runs from September 1st through November/December. Application and additional information is available at http://www.whales.org/news/internProgram.asp Background to Program WDCS offers a volunteer / intern program to qualified applicants throughout the year. The program provides a unique opportunity to garner experience in research, education and conservation of marine mammals. WDCS is willing to help qualified students obtain credits for the program through their college or university. The program is broken down into 3 blocks with a minimum commitment of 3 months, and the maximum stay being 4 months. Each block provides different opportunities regarding the work to be carried out. This is reflective of the weather conditions in the northeast US, the fact the whales are migratory and the varying conservation / management duties throughout the year. This type of diversity will provide interns with breadth of experience of working for an international organization in the conservation arena. It may also open doors to other opportunities within WDCS as it continues its development and growth. * The program may include all or some portion of the following: collection of distributional data of marine mammals, cataloguing individually identifiable humpback whales, responding to stranded marine mammals, attending key conservation and stakeholder meetings, outreach to local schools and the general public, and possibility to transfer to the WDCS Wildlife Center on the shores of the Moray Firth, Scotland for a period of time as a residential volunteer - min 1 month, max 6 months These internships are on a volunteer basis. Living arrangements* will be provided and based in Plymouth, MA. The accommodation can hold up to 3 interns**. * The associated fee for this program is used solely to offset the cost of housing. ** WDCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin. Description of Organization WDCS (NA), the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, is a non profit organization headquartered in Massachusetts and is part of the WDCS Group, a charity registered and incorporated under English charity law. WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment. Please go to www.whales.org , email regina.asmutis-silvia at wdcs.org or call 508 830 1977 for further information. Regina A. Asmutis-Silvia Senior Biologist (as in status, not age) Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Home office: 3 Jacqueline Lane Plymouth, MA 02360 Ph/Fax: 508-830-1977 www.whales.org regina.asmutis-silvia at wdcs.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From TWIMMER at dal.ca Thu May 3 10:33:58 2007 From: TWIMMER at dal.ca (Tonya Wimmer) Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 14:33:58 -0300 Subject: [MARMAM] SOCPROG workshop Message-ID: <20070503143358.dce273qt5gcgg0sw@my1.dal.ca> Hi everyone, SOCPROG is a series of MATLAB programs written by Hal Whitehead for analyzing data on the social structure, population structure and movements of identified individuals, usually using data from photo-identifications. However, analyzing social structure and using SOCPROG are not straightforward. The SOCPROG workshop plans to provide guidance in these matters, using onscreen real-time analyses of real data. Participants do not need to have experience in using SOCPROG (although this will help). For those who weren't able to attend the SOCPROG workshop in San Diego or if you did and would like a refresher, another SOCPROG workshop will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Wednesday August 15, 2007 at Dalhousie University. The cost is $60.00 Canadian and is being held as part of the 2007 International Ethological Conference which runs from 15 - 23 August 2007. You can attend the SOCPROG workshop even if you don't plan to attend the conference. To register, simply follow the instructions on the SOCPROG workshop website: http://iec2007.psychology.dal.ca/iec2007/Workshop.html If you have any difficulties or require more information, please contact Tonya Wimmer (twimmer at dal.ca). Cheers, Tonya "From space, the planet is blue. From space, the planet is the territory, not of humans, but of the whale" - Heathcote Williams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tonya Wimmer, MSc. World Wildlife Fund Canada, Halifax Species Conservation Manager 482-1105 ext. 32 & NS Marine Animal Response Society 1-866-567-6277 & Dalhousie University, Halifax http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/tw/tonya.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From FFish at wcupa.edu Fri May 4 10:55:08 2007 From: FFish at wcupa.edu (Frank Fish) Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 13:55:08 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Request for Cetacean Flipper Images Message-ID: <7AAC0C09-5417-4D80-A278-C1B8CF668FE3@wcupa.edu> Please post the following message on Marmam: Needed Images of Whale and Dolphin Flippers- I am examining the hydrodynamic morphology of dolphin and whale flippers. Specifically I need photographs of flippers in which the full planar surface (dorsal or ventral sides) is facing the camera and the whole flipper is shown from the insertion of the flipper with the body to the flipper tip. The photograph needs a scale of known length in the image. It is required that measurements of body length be provided and also if possible a measurement of body mass. Please send images with your name and contact information by email (ffish at wcupa.edu). Slides and photographs can also be sent to: Dr. Frank Fish, Dept. of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383; phone- 610-436-2460. Frank E. Fish, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Department of Biology Liquid Life Laboratory 750 S. Church St. West Chester University West Chester, PA 19383-2112 USA phone: 610-436-2460 fax: 610-436-2183 email: ffish at wcupa.edu Home page: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/~biology/fish ><))))0> ><))))0> ><))))0> ><))))0> ><))))0> ><))))0> ><)))) 0> ><))))0> ><))))0> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mariluz at cram.org Fri May 4 00:16:01 2007 From: mariluz at cram.org (Mari Luz Parga) Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 09:16:01 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Course on marine animal medicine and rehabilitation Message-ID: <200705040717.l447HpCw1765582@cascara.comp.uvic.ca> Hello everyone! Just to let you all know that the 9th edition of the annual course ?Medicine and Conservation of Marine Animals: Turtles, mammals and birds? is already advertised on our web-site, and will take place from 16-25 July 2007: http://www.cram.org/index.php?page=doc_fix&id2=63&taxn=128 . This course is organised by the Foundation for the Conservation and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals - CRAM, based in Barcelona (Spain). It is intended for professionals and final year students on the areas of veterinary medicine, biology and marine sciences, and focuses on all the aspects of keeping and treating injured marine animals for rehabilitation. The course is held in Spanish, and people attending the course will be expected to understand Spanish without problems. Best regards, Maria ========= Hola a todos! Solo comentaros que ya se esta organizando la novena edicion del curso ?Clinica y Conservacion de Animales Marinos: Tortugas, mamiferos y aves?. Tendra lugar del 16 al 25 de julio. Toda la informaci?n la teneis en nuestra pagina web: http://www.cram.org/index.php?page=doc_fix &id2=63&taxn=128 . Este curso esta organizado por la Fundacion para la Conservaci?n y el Rescate de Animales Marinos ? CRAM, en Barcelona, Espa?a. Esta dirigido a profesionales y estudiantes de ultimo curso de las areas de veterinaria, biolog?a y ciencias marinas. Se centra en todos los aspectos del mantenimiento y tratamiento de la recuperacion de animales marinos heridos o enfermos. El curso se imparte en espa?ol solo. Atentamente, MariLuz Maria Parga BVM MSc Head Veterinarian Rescue Centre for Marine Animals - CRAM Foundation Premia de Mar 08330, Barcelona, Spain Tel: +34 93 752 45 81 Fax: +34 93 752 57 10 www.cram.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From chakasha at mail.interq.or.jp Sat May 5 20:25:29 2007 From: chakasha at mail.interq.or.jp (Tadamichi Morisaka) Date: Sun, 6 May 2007 12:25:29 +0900 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on odontocetes sound evolution In-Reply-To: <20060507125330.44519.qmail@web86803.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> References: <20060507125330.44519.qmail@web86803.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <004001c78f8e$32c09b80$c783529d@CHAKA> Dear All, We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper, "Predation by killer whales (Orcinus orca) and the evolution of whistle loss and narrow-band high frequency clicks in odontocetes''. Please email me (Tadamichi Morasaka) for reprints (morisaka at ethol.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp). OR please download the following site: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01336.x (NOTE:The pdf file has about 2MB!!) T. MORISAKA, R. C. CONNOR Predation by killer whales (Orcinus orca) and the evolution of whistle loss and narrow-band high frequency clicks in odontocetes Journal of Evolutionary Biology (OnlineEarly Articles). doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01336.x abstract: A disparate selection of toothed whales (Odontoceti) share striking features of their acoustic repertoires including the absence of whistles and high frequency but weak (low peak-to-peak source level) clicks that have a relatively long duration and a narrow bandwidth. The non-whistling, high frequency click species include members of the family Phocoenidae, members of one genus of delphinids, Cephalorhynchus, the pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, and apparently the sole member of the family Pontoporiidae. Our review supports the 'acoustic crypsis' hypothesis that killer whale predation risk was the primary selective factor favouring an echolocation and communication system in cephalorhynchids, phocoenids and possibly Pontoporiidae and Kogiidae restricted to sounds that killer whales hear poorly or not at all (< 2 and > 100 kHz). ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Tadamichi MORISAKA, Ph.D. Postdoctral researcher of JSPS Kohshima Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology W3-43, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, JAPAN +81-3-5734-3383 (tel); +81-3-5734-2946 (fax) morisaka at ethol.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp (-April) chakasha at mail.interq.or.jp http://ecol.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~chaka/ http://www.interq.or.jp/www-user/chakasha/ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo From Twimmer at wwfcanada.org Fri May 4 09:41:39 2007 From: Twimmer at wwfcanada.org (Tonya Wimmer) Date: Fri, 04 May 2007 12:41:39 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] re-posting Right Whale Post Doc opportunity with WWF-Canada Message-ID: <463B381C.988B.0057.0@wwfcanada.org> Could you please post the following message regarding a right whale Post Doc opportunity with WWF-Canada on marmam. If anyone has any questions about this opportunity, they can contact me at TWimmer at wwfcanada.org Thank you, Tonya Wimmer ________________________________ Species Conservation Manager WWF-Canada, Atlantic Region Office Halifax, Nova Scotia 902-482-1105 ext. 32 TWimmer at wwfcanada.org ________________________________ Right Whale Conservation Opportunity for Post-Doctoral Researcher WWF-Canada, in collaboration with oceanographic and statistics researchers at Dalhousie University, is seeking a highly qualified Post Doctoral Fellow (PDF) to participate in a 2.5 year quantitative North Atlantic right whale conservation initiative based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We are seeking a PDF to lead advanced research in quantitative spatial and temporal oceanographic habitat determination and analyses related to right whale migration and habitat occupancy in relation to vessel strike and fishing-gear entanglement issues. The successful applicant would work in collaboration with Drs C.T. Taggart (Dalhousie, Oceanography) and R. Rangeley (WWF-Canada) and their colleagues. Qualifications: 1) a strong PhD in statistics, quantitative biological oceanography and/or quantitative marine ecology; 2) a credible publication record relative to peer-group; 3) a demonstrated expertise in spatial statistics and analyses and spatial/temporal modelling. Experience with Bayesian statistics and use of large and small, complex and discordant data will be considered a discriminating asset, as would be computational skills involving e.g. MATLAB, R, S-Plus, WinBUGS, secondarily GIS, and their analogues. The position is to be filled immediately. Anticipated duration is 30 months and the competition will be open until a successful applicant is secured. Annual salary is $45,000 and applicants must be eligible for an Industrial NSERC Post-Doc (Canadian or Landed Immigrant status required). Applicants should immediately forward by email a letter of interest, curriculum vitae (including a publication list), copies of graduate and undergraduatetranscripts, reprints, names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of three referees to: Ms. Maya Ahmad Dr. C.T. Taggart Program Administrator Department of Oceanography WWF-Canada Dalhousie University 5251 Duke St. 1355 Oxford Street Suite 1202 Halifax, NS Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 B3J 1P3 Email: mahmad at wwfcanada.org Email : chris.taggart at dal.ca Tel: 902 482 1105 Tel : 902 494 7144 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jan.herrmann at cetacea.de Mon May 7 02:10:33 2007 From: jan.herrmann at cetacea.de (Jan Herrmann) Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 11:10:33 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New publications week 14 Message-ID: Dear all, here are some new publications of week 14 / 2007, which haven't been announced on MARMAM earlier AFAIK. By clicking the following link you are guided to a website, where the following references are linked to their according journal homepages. There you can find abstracts and contact information: http://www.mmbib.com/news.html Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Thank you. Thanks to all of you who sent in reprints to be included in the weekly announcements. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann CETACEA Anonymous (2007): Brief Reviews: MARINE MAMMALS: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY. Second edition. Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, and Kit M. Kovacs. 2006. Burlington, MA, and San Diego: Academic Press. x + 547 p, illustrated, hard cover. ISBN 0-12-088552-2. ?43.99; $US69.95; EUR 63.95. Polar Record 43(): 191-191. Borrell, A. and A. Aguilar (2007): Organochlorine concentrations declined during 1987-2002 in western Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins, a coastal top predator. Chemosphere 66(2): 347-352. Fossi, M.C., S. Casini, and L. Marsili (2007): Potential toxicological hazard due to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on mediterranean top predators: State of art, gender differences and methodological tools. Environmental Research 104(1): 174-182. Kr?tzen, M., C. van Schaik, and A. Whiten (2007): Letters: The animal cultures debate: response to Laland and Janik. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 22(1): 6. Laland, K.N. and V.M. Janik (2007): Letters Response: Response to Kr?tzen et al.: Further problems with the 'method of exclusion'. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 22(1): 7. Teuten, E.L. and C.M. Reddy (2007): Halogenated organic compounds in archived whale oil: a pre-industrial record. Environmental Pollution 145(3): 668-671. Wenzel, G.W. (2007): Book Review: MARINE MAMMALS AND NORTHERN CULTURES. Arne Kalland and Frank Sejersen. 2005. Edmonton: Canadian Circumpolar Institute Press. v +349 p, illustrated, soft cover. ISBN 1-896445-26-8. Polar Record 43(2): 190-191. PINNIPEDIA Castinel, A. et al. (2007): Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) pups during and after the epidemics on Enderby Island, Auckland Islands. Veterinary Microbiology 122(1-2): 178-184. Labrada-Martagon, V., D. Aurioles-Gamboa, and M.I. Castro-Gonzalez (2007): Relation of Dental Wear to the Concentrations of Essential Minerals in Teeth of the California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus californianus. Biological Trace Element Research 115(2): 107-126. Maravilla-Chavez, M.O. et al. (2006): Reduction of the impact produced by sea lions on the fisheries in Mexico. J. Environ. Biol. 27(4): 629-631. Reid, S.M. et al. (2007): Development of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of marine caliciviruses (genus Vesivirus). Journal of Virological Methods 140(1-2): 166-173. Twiss, S.D. et al. (2007): The impact of climatic variation on the opportunity for sexual selection. Biology Letters 3(1): 12-15. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Derocher, A.E. and I.R. Stone (2007): An incident of polar bear infanticide and cannibalism on Phipps?ya, Svalbard. Polar Record 43(2): 171-173. Sonne, C. et al. (2007): Are liver and renal lesions in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) associated with high mercury levels? Environmental Health 6(1): 11. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de From EFalcone at cascadiaresearch.org Mon May 7 16:32:16 2007 From: EFalcone at cascadiaresearch.org (Erin Falcone) Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 16:32:16 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Humpback whale photo-ID matching position available Message-ID: <21701FB12DB4B648921199BC4614914C16BA52@server1.cascadia.local> Cascadia Research is a non-profit organization based in Olympia, WA, USA. We are the central matching office for the SPLASH humpback whale study, in which five field seasons of photo-ID data were collected from breeding and feeding areas across the North Pacific, 2004-2006. We are seeking a skilled humpback whale matcher to assist in the compilation of photos in the SPLASH collection. Qualified applicants should have at least one year of experience matching humpback whale fluke photos, ideally using large (>1,000 individuals) printed catalogs. Additionally, they should have solid data entry skills, and a familiarity with Microsoft Access or similar is helpful. Matchers must be able to match both accurately and efficiently for most of an 8-hour work day, while working in a small, open office environment alongside other matchers (which can be distracting). Comparison of SPLASH collections involves a somewhat complex system of accounting and peripheral data is collected with each fluke compared, so good organizational skills are imperative. A match test may be administered to candidates prior to hire. The position is open starting June 1, 2007. Employment will be full-time (~40 hours per week) through late-January 2008, at our office in Olympia, WA. Pay is $15 per hour. For more information, please contact Erin Falcone (efalcone at cascadiaresearch.org ). Serious applicants should attach a resume and include references with contact information for previous matching experience. Erin Andrea Falcone Cascadia Research 218 1/2 West 4th Ave. Olympia, WA 98501 360-943-7325 (Office) 360-943-7026 (Fax) 360-789-6474 (Cell) www.cascadiaresearch.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cristinabrito at clix.pt Mon May 7 07:58:16 2007 From: cristinabrito at clix.pt (cristinabrito at clix.pt) Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 15:58:16 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal History Workshop II Message-ID: <20070507145816.25568.qmail@maboque.srv.clix.pt> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available URL: From Karen.Evans at csiro.au Wed May 9 21:05:59 2007 From: Karen.Evans at csiro.au (Karen.Evans at csiro.au) Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 14:05:59 +1000 Subject: [MARMAM] South Australian Museum marine mammal aging workshop Message-ID: The recently established Marine Mammal Aging Facility at the South Australian Museum, South Australia would like to invite researchers to participate in a workshop focused on age determination in cetaceans and pinnipeds. This workshop is funded by the Australian federal government and is open to 6 to 8 Australian and New Zealand participants. There is no charge for the workshop itself but participants will need to fund and organise their own transport to Adelaide, South Australia and accommodation and meals during the period of the workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring their own material along to the workshop for preparation and aging. It is anticipated that the workshop will be held over the course of 3 days during the week of August 20 2007. For further information on the workshop and registration contact Catherine Kemper at Kemper.Cath at saugov.sa.gov.au, or on 08 8207 7458(in Aust) 61 8 82077458(from NZ). From tilen.genov at gmail.com Mon May 7 02:36:41 2007 From: tilen.genov at gmail.com (Tilen Genov) Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 11:36:41 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Summer Dolphin Research Camps in Slovenia Message-ID: Summer Dolphin Research Camps in Slovenia (apologies for cross-posting) Morigenos ? marine mammal research and conservation society is organizing Summer Dolphin Research Camps in July, August and September 2007, where you can assist in the research programme of the Slovenian Dolphin Project. Morigenos is a non-profit non-governmental organization from Slovenia, dedicated to cetacean research and conservation and to the preservation of the marine environment. More information on Morigenos can be found at www.morigenos.org . Slovenian Dolphin Project is a long-term study on the biology, ecology and conservation of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Slovenian waters and neighbouring areas in the north Adriatic Sea, carried out since 2002 by Morigenos. The main objectives of the project are: - to acquire basic information on the biology and ecology of bottlenose dolphins in the area; - to identify main negative factors affecting bottlenose dolphins in the area; - to inform and educate the public and to raise public awareness; - to recommend appropriate measures for dolphin conservation to managers; - to preserve marine habitats and biodiversity; - to promote a precautious exploitation of the sea; - to promote sustainable development; - to effectively protect cetaceans and their environment. Summer Dolphin Research Camps offer people to join Morigenos team for 8 days and participate in its research activities. The camps include fieldwork (boat- and land-based), lectures, visits of natural monuments, etc. Anyone above the age of 16 can participate, regardless of nationality or field of expertise. No previous experience is required. Apart from research activities, the participants share everyday duties and chores with the team members. These duties are cooking, washing up and general maintainance of the research centre. Out in the field, the participants help searching for dolphins, collecting data and possibly in data sorting and analysis. Detailed information on Summer Dolphin Research Camps can be found at www.morigenos.org -> "Research camps". Food, accommodation and fee Participants will be accommodated in Morigenos' research centre (sleeping, cooking and working facility). They must arrange their own travel to and from Morigenos base. The participation fee is 230 EUR. Applications There is no selection. Applications are treated on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Please send an e-mail to morigenos at morigenos.org for registration, preferred dates and possible questions. Detailed information can also be found at www.morigenos.org -> "Research camps". ********************************************* Tilen Genov Morigenos - marine mammal research and conservation society Jarska cesta 36/a 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia morigenos at morigenos.org www.morigenos.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From emily at dolphins.org Mon May 7 11:31:00 2007 From: emily at dolphins.org (Emily Guarino) Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 14:31:00 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Dolphin Research Internships - deadline approaching Message-ID: <002501c790d5$dcb917a0$8e01a8c0@DRCID142> > Dolphin Research Internships > > Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is currently accepting applications for > Research Interns for the Fall term. DRC is a not-for-profit education and > research facility, home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and > California sea lions. DRC is located on Grassy Key, in the heart of the > Florida Keys. > > Internships at DRC are an exciting way to develop career skills as well as > an opportunity to get "behind the scenes" to see how a marine mammal > facility operates. Research interns participate in DRC's ongoing research > projects, giving them broad exposure to a variety of research > methodologies. Interns receive extensive on-the-job training in observing > marine mammal behavior, collecting observational data, working with > research equipment, and assisting with experimental research sessions. In > addition, educational opportunities are available such as informal journal > article reviews and the development of personal learning objectives. > > Specific job duties include: > * Collecting observational behavioral data > * Preparing stimuli for experimental research sessions > * Assisting in setting up and tearing down equipment for experimental > research sessions > * Operating video equipment > * Entering data into the computer for analysis > * General support of the facility through participation in the > volunteer resource pool (facility maintenance, bird care, assisting with > public programs, guest interactions, etc.) > > Research studies can vary widely in nature and availability. For > information on past or current research projects at DRC, please visit our > website, at www.dolphins.org . > > Publications: > Jaakkola, K., Fellner, W., Erb, L., Rodriguez, A. M., & Guarino, E. > (2005). Understanding the concept of numerically "less" by bottlenose > dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology. > > Internships require a minimum of a 16-week commitment, 40 hours per week. > The internship is unpaid, and interns are responsible for providing their > own housing. DRC will provide assistance in locating housing and/or > matching up interns and volunteers desiring roommates. Successful > candidates will be ready and willing to learn, self-motivated, and > flexible. Prior research experience is recommended but not required. > > The deadline to apply is *June 1st*. Further information and application > materials can be found on our website at www.dolphins.org > . > > -------------------------------- > Emily Guarino Administrative Director of Research > emily at dolphins.org > Dolphin Research Center > 58901 Overseas Hwy. > Grassy Key, FL 33050 > www.dolphins.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gpp28 at cam.ac.uk Thu May 10 06:22:18 2007 From: gpp28 at cam.ac.uk (Dr Gareth Pearce) Date: 10 May 2007 14:22:18 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Training Scholarship in Wildlife Disease Investigation Message-ID: Dear All, We shall shortly be advertising the following vacancy to be based in the Wildlife Health & Conservation Medicine Research Group at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK. It is intended that the scholarship will contain some emphasis on marine mammal disease investigations. For further information, please see our website at http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news/ Best regards Gareth Pearce .......................................................................... Dr Gareth Pearce Wildlife Health & Conservation Medicine Research Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK, CB3 0ES Tel: 01223 337678 e-mail: gpp28 at cam.ac.uk .......................................................................... Senior Clinical Training Scholarship in Wildlife Disease Investigation Stipend: ?18,980 in year one, ?19,890 in year two and ?20,890 in year three (Tax Free) This is a collaborative 3-year training programme, partly supported by the RCVS Trust, involving veterinary and scientific staff from the Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Cambridge, the International Zoo Veterinary Group, Zoological Society of London, DEFRA, RSCPA Wildlife Centre-East Winch, Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre-Truro and the Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium. The position will offer outstanding opportunities for the scholar to gain a wide range of experience in wildlife disease diagnosis, surveillance, prevention and control; clinical wildlife medicine, rehabilitation and re-introduction; pathology of avian, terrestrial and aquatic species and epidemiological investigation and research. The training programme will provide the scholar with an advanced level of understanding of the role of epidemiology and pathology in particular in the investigation and management of wildlife disease and will involve attending specialised training courses in clinical research methodology and disease dynamics. The programme is designed to prepare the scholar for a future career in specialised wildlife medicine and applied research in the field of wildlife disease investigation and management. The programme is expected to provide the necessary preparation for successful examination for the RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine or Diploma if the Certificate or MSc (Wild Animal Health) is already held. The pathology component of the training will provide an additional platform for further specialisation and study towards a recognised pathology qualification such as DipECVP or MRCPath. Applicants must be Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or hold a degree qualifying them for membership and show evidence of a strong interest in wildlife disease investigation and management. For an informal discussion about the position, please contact Dr Gareth Pearce on 01223 337678 or via e-mail at gpp28 at cam.ac.uk. Further particulars for the post may be downloaded from http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news Application form (PD18) may be obtained by contacting the General Office in the Department of Veterinary Medicine on 01223 337701 quoting the title of the position or by downloading from http://www.admin.cam.ac.cam/offices/personnel/forms/pd18. Completed application forms along with a CV and letter of application should be sent to Miss Melissa Large at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, or via e-mail to recruit at vet.cam.ac.uk. Closing Date 1 June 2007 From tmsmh at nus.edu.sg Mon May 7 17:51:39 2007 From: tmsmh at nus.edu.sg (Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt) Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 08:51:39 +0800 Subject: [MARMAM] dolphin internship available Message-ID: <1F47EDCA-B5D0-46D8-B9D3-3A439E83D4ED@nus.edu.sg> Internships available at Ocean Park Hong Kong Full-time unpaid internships are currently being offered by the Acoustic Research Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute of the National University of Singapore in collaboration with Ocean Park Hong Kong. The ARL conducts studies on the cognitive and sensory capabilities of bottlenose dolphins living at Ocean Park with a focus on echolocation and underwater acoustics. Interns receive intensive hands-on experience by participating in all aspects of the ongoing research and laboratory activities, including assistance in the daily research sessions with the dolphins, training of dolphins, data processing and analysis, and also assist with projects administrative and maintenance requirements. Interns should have at least two years of college experience. Individuals from all types of academic disciplines are welcome to apply. Selection is competitive and is based on the applicant?s statement of interest, prior experience, academic record, and letters of reference. The following internship periods for the project are available: Summer (mid-May through August 2007, Fall (mid August 2007 to mid- January 2008) and Spring (early January through May 2008).Arrangements can possibly be made for different starting and ending dates if there are conflicts with school schedules. There is no charge for the internship. Interns are responsible for their own room and board. To apply please submit the following: 1) Statement of Interest 2) Academic records 3) Three letters of reference 4) Curriculum Vitae or for more information please contact (please put ?dolphin internship? in the subject line!) Dr M. Hoffmann-Kuhnt Acoustic Research Laboratory Tropical Marine Science Institute National University of Singapore 12 A Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119223 Email: mahoku at nus.edu.sg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From janiger at almaak-01.usc.edu Thu May 10 09:34:52 2007 From: janiger at almaak-01.usc.edu (David S. Janiger) Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 09:34:52 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New Articles Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20070510093452.01420a50@email.usc.edu> Hi, All Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. File sizes have been included. Abstracts also available on request. Please don't hit the reply button. Make all requests to: janiger at bcf.usc.edu Cheers! David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger at bcf.usc.edu djaniger at nhm.org Janiger Journals ANONMYOUS. POLAR RECORD 43(2):191. 2007. Book review Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology. Second edition. Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, and Kit M. Kovacs. Academic Press, San Diego. 547pp. ISBN 0-12-088552. $69.95. 2006. 0.041 MB BAKER, ALAN N. and BENEDICTE MADON. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. Science For Conservation 272. 23p. 2007. Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera cf. brydei Olsen 1913) in the Hauraki Gulf and northeastern New Zealand waters. 0.794 MB BASBERG, BJORN L. POLAR RECORD 43(2):182-184. 2007. Book review Whaling in the Falkland Islands Dependencies 1904-1931: A History of Shore and Bay-Based Whaling in the Antarctic. Ian B. Hart. Hertfordshire: Pequena. 365pp. ISBN 0-9552924-0-09. 2006. 0.059 MB BECK, CARRIE A.; SARA J. IVERSON; W. DON BOWEN and WADE BLANCHARD. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 76(3):490-502. 2007. Sex differences in grey seal diet reflect seasonal variation in foraging behaviour and reproductive expenditure: Evidence from quantitative fatty acid signature analysis. 0.255 MB CASTINEL, AURELIE; ALEX GRINBERG; REBECCA PATTISON; PADRAIG DUIGNAN; BILL MROY; LYNN ROGERS and IAN WILKINSON. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 122(1-2):178-184. 2007. Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) pups during and after the epidemics on Enderby Island, Auckland Islands. 0.312 MB CHRISTOPHER, STEVEN J.; REBECCA S. PUGH; MICHAEL B. ELLISOR; ELIZABETH A. MACKEY; RABIA O. SPATZ; BARBARA J. PORTER; KATHIE J. BEALER; JOHN R. KUCKLICK; TERI K. ROWLES and PAUL R. BECKER. ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 12(3-4):175-187. 2007. Description and results of the NIST/NOAA 2005 interlaboratory comparison exercise for trace elements in marine mammals. 0.265 MB CONNOR, RICHARD C. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 362(1480):587-602. 2007. Dolphin social intelligence: Complex alliance relationships in bottlenose dolphins and a consideration of selective environments for extreme brain size evolution in mammals. 0.351 MB DONIOL-VALCROZE, THOMAS; DOMINIQUE BERTEAUX; PIERRE LAROUCHE and RICHARD SEARS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 335:207-216. 2007. Influence of thermal fronts on habitat selection by four rorqual whale species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 1.616 MB FELIX, FERNANDO; PEDRO JIMENEZ; JESSICA FALCONI and OSCAR ECHEVERRY. REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA MARINA Y OCEANOGRAFIA 41(2):77-82. 2007. New records and first births of the Galapagos fur seal, Arctocephalus galapagoensis (Heller, 1904), from the mainland coast of Ecuador. 0.735 MB FERNANDEZ-JURICIC, ESTEBAN and MARCELO H. CASSINI. ACTA ETHOLOGICA 10(1):23-28. 2007. Intra-sexual female agonistic behaviour of the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) in two colonies with different breeding substrates. 0.159 MB GUERRERO-RUIZ, MERCEDES; HECTOR PEREZ-CORTES M.; MARIO SALINAS Z. and JORGE URBAN R. AQUATIC MAMMALS 32(3):265-272. 2006. First mass stranding of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. 0.486 MB HADLEY, GILLIAN L.; JAY J. ROTELLA and ROBERT A. GARROTT. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 76(3):448-458. 2007. Evaluation of reproductive costs for Weddell seals in Erebus Bay, Antarctica. 0.154 MB HARDING, ROBERT J. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO QUARTERLY 76(1):515-517. 2007. Book review Twentieth-century shore-station whaling in Newfoundland and Labrador. Anthony B. Dickinson & Chesley W. Sanger. McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal and Kingston. 254pp. $49.95. 2005. 0.082 MB HOLDEN, CONSTANCE. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 315(5816):1199. 2007. Whale sensing. 0.159 MB JACQUES, ISABELLE; MAGGY GRAYON and JEAN-MICHEL VERGER. FEMS (FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN MICROBIOLOGICAL SOCIETIES) MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS 270(2):245-249. 2007. Oxidative metabolic profiles of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals: Contribution to their species classification. 0.141 MB KASS, MICHAEL D. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 315(5819):1663. 2007. The loss of a valuable dolphin. 0.267 MB KRAFFT, BJORN A.; KIT M. KOVACS and CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 335:199-206. 2007. Distribution of sex and age groups of ringed seals Pusa hispida in the fast-ice breeding habitat of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. 0.556 MB LABRADA-MARTAGON, VANESSA; DAVID AURIOLES-GAMBOA and MA ISABEL CASTRO-GONZALEZ. BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH 115(2):107-126. 2007. Relation of dental wear to the concentrations of essential minerals in teeth of the California sea lion Zalophus californianus californianus. 0.231 MB MARCOUX, MARIANNE; LUKE RENDELL and HAL WHITEHEAD. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 61(7):1093-1098. 2007. Indications of fitness differences among vocal clans of sperm whales. 0.162 MB MELLISH, JO-ANN; DANIEL HENNEN; JAMIE THOMTON; LISA PETRAUSKAS; SHANNON ATKINSON and DON CALKINS. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 34(1):43-47. 2007. Permanent marking in an endangered species: Physiological response to hot branding in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.278 MB MERRICK, RICHARD L. and TIMOTHY V. N. COLE. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-202. 14pp. 2007. Evaluation of northern right whale ship strike reduction measures in the Great South Channel of Massachusetts. 1.511 MB MILLER, ANDREW R. and NIVES DOLSAK. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS 7(1):69-96. 2007. Issue linkages in international environmental policy: The International Whaling Commission and Japanese development aid. 0.163 MB MORELL, VIRGINIA. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 316(5824):532-534. 2007. Killing whales for science? 0.375 MB NIKAIDO, MASATO; OLIVER PISKUREK and NORIHIRO OKADA. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 43(1):216-244. 2007. Toothed whale monophyly reassessed by SINE insertion analysis: The absence of lineage sorting effects suggests a small population of a common ancestral species. 1.109 MB PARDINI, A. T.; P. C. M. O'BRIEN; B. FU; R. K. BONDE; F. F. B. ELDER; M. A. FERGUSON-SMITH; F. YANG and T. J. ROBINSON. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 274(1615):1333-1340. 2007. Chromosome painting among Proboscidea, Hyracoidea and Sirenia: Support for Paenungulata (Afrotheria, Mammalia) but not Tethytheria. 0.231 MB PEREZ-CORTES M., HECTOR; CARLOS A. BARRERA A. and FRANCISCO OLLERVIDES. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 5(1):77-79. 2006. First record of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mother and calf inside Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico. 0.134 MB RITTER, FABIAN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 23(2):429-433. 2007. Behavioral responses of rough-toothed dolphins to a dead newborn calf. 0.045 MB SHARP, JULIE A.; CHRISTOPHE LEFEVRE; AMELIA J. BRENNAN and KEVIN R. NICHOLAS. JOURNAL OF MAMMARY GLAND BIOLOGY AND NEOPLASIA 12(1):47-58. 2007. The fur seal - a model lactation phenotype to explore molecular factors involved in the initiation of apoptosis at involution. 0.468 MB SONNE, CHRISTIAN; RUNE DIETZ; PALL S. LEIFSSON; GERT ASMUND; ERIK W. BORN and MAJA KIRKEGAARD. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 6(11). 9p. 2007. Are liver and renal lesions in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) associated with high mercury levels? 0.315 MB SORICE, MICHAEL G.; RICHARD O. FLAMM and SARA MCDONALD. COASTAL MANAGEMENT 35(2-3):357-374. 2007. Factors influencing behavior in a boating speed zone. 1.249 MB SPENCE-BAILEY, L. M.; D. VERRIER and J. P. Y. ARNOULD. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 177(4):483-494. 2007. The physiological and behavioural development of diving in Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) pups. 0.313 MB STONE, IAN R. and ANDREW E. DEROCHER. POLAR RECORD 43(2):171-173. 2007. An incident of polar bear infanticide and cannibalism on Phippsoya, Svalbard. 0.118 MB WAITE, JASON N.; WENDY J. SCHRADER; JO-ANN E. MELLISH and MARKUS HORNING. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES 64(2):296-303. 2007. Three-dimensional photogrammetry as a tool for estimating morphometrics and body mass of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.618 MB WENZEL, GEORGE W. POLAR RECORD 43(2):190-191. 2007. Book review Marine Mammals and Northern Cultures. Arne Kalland and Frank Sejersen. Canadian Circumpolar Institute Press: Edmonton. 349pp. ISBN 1-896445-26-8. 2005. 0.049 MB From EGriffin at oceana.org Thu May 10 08:52:09 2007 From: EGriffin at oceana.org (Griffin, Elizabeth) Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 11:52:09 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Global Fisheries Subsidies hurt marine mammals Message-ID: <111FF5C4CD3EA04F9EEA2E3EAC840E250248CD49@flipper.ad.oceana.org> Dear Colleagues: Oceana is pushing the World Trade Organization (WTO) for an end to global fisheries subsidies that lead to overfishing. Fisheries subsidies hurt marine mammals by increasing fishing effort, which can decrease prey availability and increase bycatch. In addition, fisheries subsidies in some countries have been linked to whaling. Extensive information on the WTO, fisheries subsidies, and our work is available on our website. One of our current initiatives is a scientist sign on letter that asks Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, to push for as strong an outcome as possible in the WTO negotiations to eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies. Daniel Pauly, Boris Worm and Ussif Rashid Sumaila are the lead signers, and we hope they will be joined by scientists from around the world. If you are interested in more information about our work, please check out http://www.oceana.org/north-america/what-we-do/stop-overfishing-subsidie s/ or if you would like to be a signer to the letter, please reply to me at Egriffin at Oceana.org. Thank you, Elizabeth Griffin Elizabeth Griffin| Marine Wildlife Scientist ________________________________________ | Protecting the World's Oceans 2501 M Street NW, Suite 300 | Washington, DC 20037 USA T +1.202.467.1913 | F +1.202.833.2070 | C +1.202.271.5645 E egriffin at oceana.org | W www.oceana.org May XX, 2007 Director-General Pascal Lamy World Trade Organization Centre William Rappard Rue de Lausanne 154 CH-1211 Geneva 21 Switzerland Dear Director-General Lamy: As members of the international science community, we write to you with our grave concern about the state of the world's oceans. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has an unprecedented and unequalled opportunity to contribute to stopping global overfishing by significantly reducing worldwide subsidies to the fishing sector. An ambitious outcome in the ongoing WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations is vital to the future of the world's fisheries. It is our great hope that you will use your leadership to guide the WTO to meet this global challenge. We have spent lifetimes dedicated to studying the oceans ecosystems and marine fisheries. Many of us remember a time only decades ago when the oceans were viewed as vast storehouses of protein, able to provide food to an increasingly hungry world, food that could be provided by fishermen relying on technology and scientific management. At that time, many of us also started to observe the decline of some fish populations. But we had little idea how massive the problem would become. Modern fishing technology is capable of catching fish at amounts and in places we never would have envisioned. The majority of the world's fish populations are in jeopardy from overfishing and if current trends continue, will be beyond recovery within decades. Fish populations, as well as many other ocean species, have been depleted to a fraction of their historical level. Many of these fish are at the top of the marine food chain, and their disappearance can trigger cascading adverse effects throughout the marine ecosystem. * Ninety percent of all the "big fish"-large-bodied sharks, tuna, marlin and swordfish - have disappeared as the result of industrialized fishing;[1] * The decline of many ocean species is increasingly impairing the ocean's capacity to provide food, maintain water quality, and recover from perturbations.[2] * Despite massive technological advances and increased effort, global catches of food fish have been declining for more than a decade.[3] There is no longer any question -we have reached a critical state. The world's ocean ecosystems are at a tipping point, and overfishing represents one of the greatest threats to their productivity. Yet despite the precarious state of the oceans, many governments continue to provide significant subsidies to their fishing sector. Fisheries subsidies produce such strong economic incentives to overfish that reducing them is one of the most significant actions that can be taken to combat global overfishing. The WTO negotiations represent the best opportunity to control worldwide subsidies to the fishing sector. According to a new study, fisheries subsidies amount to $30 to $34 billion annually, and at least $20 billion go directly towards supporting fishing capacity, such as boats, fuel, equipment, and other operating costs.[4] These subsidies equal approximately 25 percent of worldwide fishing revenue. Fisheries subsidies are not only a major driver of overfishing, but promote other destructive fishing practices. For example, high seas bottom trawling, a practice so environmentally-destructive that the United Nations has called on nations to severely restrict it, would not be profitable without its large subsidies for fuel. Subsidies have also been documented to support illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing - a serious impediment to achieving sustainable fisheries. There are only decades left before the damage we have inflicted on the oceans becomes permanent. We are at a crossroads. One road leads to a world with tremendously diminished marine life. The other leads to one with oceans again teeming with abundance, where the world can rely on the oceans for protein, and enjoy its wildlife. The choices we make today will determine our path for the future. Global overfishing is one of the greatest threats to the oceans. Massive government subsidies continue to perpetuate and exacerbate this problem. The WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations are historic in their intent to address a major environmental issue in the context of trade. But the results of this negotiation go far beyond trade - they will directly impact our ability to ensure the long-term sustainability of the world's fisheries. The WTO has in its hands the opportunity to effect one of the greatest changes towards protecting the world's oceans. We urge you to use your skill and leadership to significantly achieve a successful outcome in the fisheries subsidies negotiations and demonstrate to the world that the WTO can play a constructive role in solving problems of global consequence. Sincerely, cc: Ambassador Guillermo Valles Galmes of Uruguay Chairman, WTO Negotiating Group on Rules [1] R. Myers & B. Worm, Rapid Worldwide Depletion of Predatory Fish Communities. Nature, May 15, 2003, Vol., 423, p. 280-283 [1] B. Worm et al., Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystems Services. Science, November 3, 2006, Vol. 314, p. 787-790 [1] R. Watson & D. Pauly, Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends. Nature November 29, 2001, 414, p. 534-536 4 Sumaila, U. R. and D. Pauly (Editors) 2006. Catching More Bait: A Bottom-up Re-estimation of Global Fisheries Subsidies. Fisheries Centre Research Reports Vol. 14(6) 114 pp. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ [1] R. Myers & B. Worm, Rapid Worldwide Depletion of Predatory Fish Communities. Nature, May 15, 2003, Vol., 423, p. 280-283 [2] B. Worm et al., Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystems Services. Science, November 3, 2006, Vol. 314, p. 787-790 [3] R. Watson & D. Pauly, Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends. Nature November 29, 2001, 414, p. 534-536 4 Sumaila, U. R. and D. Pauly (Editors) 2006. Catching More Bait: A Bottom-up Re-estimation of Global Fisheries Subsidies. Fisheries Centre Research Reports Vol. 14(6) 114 pp. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1667 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From celine.godard-codding at tiehh.ttu.edu Fri May 11 09:33:31 2007 From: celine.godard-codding at tiehh.ttu.edu (Godard-Codding, Celine) Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 11:33:31 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Graduate research assistantship Message-ID: <3E627C6E4DF3A24C988285BC3CB6796C011690B1@netsrv08.tiehh.ttu.edu> GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP IN MARINE MAMMAL AND SEA TURTLE ECOTOXICOLOGY I am soliciting applications for a graduate research assistant in marine mammal and sea turtle ecotoxicology at the Ph.D. or M.S. level beginning fall 2007 (or as early as June 07) within The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) and the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University. The position comes with a full stipend and will be awarded on a competitive basis. Applicants should have some level of experience and/or interest in genomic and cellular toxicology, mechanistic toxicology, endangered wildlife ecotoxicology and conservation, and biomarkers. Experience with cell culture, gene cloning and expression or proteomics a plus but not required. The successful candidate will be independent and highly motivated. Please contact me via email (celine.godard-codding at tiehh.ttu.edu) and send a CV and the names and contact information for 3 references if interested. Information on TIEHH and the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University can be found at: http://www.tiehh.ttu.edu Sincerely, Celine Godard-Codding ***************************************************************** C?line Godard-Codding, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Environmental Toxicology The Institute of Environmental and Human Health Texas Tech University and TTU Health Sciences Center Box 41163 Lubbock, Texas 79409-1163 Office: (806)-885-0337 Fax: (806)-885-4577 ***************************************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lweilgar at dal.ca Thu May 10 11:40:28 2007 From: lweilgar at dal.ca (Lindy Weilgart) Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 15:40:28 -0300 Subject: [MARMAM] Application to expose beaked whales to sonar in Bahamas Message-ID: <200705101840.l4AIeUa8013964@KIL-SM-1.UCIS.Dal.Ca> Although I have not thoroughly reviewed the application to expose beaked whales to naval sonar in the AUTEC naval training range in the Bahamas, I think I understand enough to be able to form an opinion that this research is very ill-advised. Training maneuvers with naval sonar have occurred in this AUTEC range for many years, the range is well-equipped with a large array of bottom-mounted hydrophones, and beaked whales are present. Thus, I am sure that years of archived audio recordings exist of these naval maneuvers which could be analyzed to see how beaked whales react to the sonar. Vocalizing beaked whales could be tracked acoustically to see if there is spatial avoidance of the sonar, vocalizations could be analyzed to determine whether they change when the sonar is present vs. absent, and a wealth of other information must be available in these recordings which would illuminate the potential reaction of beaked whales to sonar. Naturally, there are security restrictions to this information, and the tactical maneuvers must be kept classified, but I am sure there is a way around this problem. Surely, random subsamples can be taken which would not compromise security but would allow useful biological data to be analyzed. My question thus is: why wouldn't these data be analyzed first before putting more beaked whales at risk unnecessarily? And if there are really no archived recordings available (hard to believe), then why not make recordings of future naval maneuvers, which are ongoing? Ideally, naval maneuvers involving sonar should not take place in an area of known beaked whale abundance, but as they are occurring anyway, why not take advantage of the situation? If the Navy is unwilling to move its range to protect beaked whales, why not at least gain useful information that could help the whales? However, as WDCS rightfully points out, these whales cannot be considered naive to sonar and thus could not possibly represent beaked whale populations in general. The most sensitive individuals have probably long since left the AUTEC range. I am also profoundly disturbed that NMFS personell are the holder of this permit (Boreman) and PI (Southall). This appears to me to be a conflict-of-interest situation, and at the very least, provides a very poor example for a regulator of research ostensibly used to protect marine mammals. If the Co-PIs (Boyd, Clark, Ketten, Tyack, Frankel, and Claridge) are so sure that this research will not disturb or endanger whales, then they should take on the primary responsibility and accountability themselves, and be permit holders. I urge other marine mammalogists to comment on this application before May 17. Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D. Dept. of Biology Dalhousie University For more details, visit the website of the permit application: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/1121-1900_application.pdf and draft Environmental Assessment: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/1121-1900_ea_draft.pdf Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D. Research Associate and Assistant Professor Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Ph.: (902) 494-3723 Fax: (902) 494-3736 E-mail: lweilgar at dal.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aholmes at huntsmanmarine.ca Fri May 11 11:23:58 2007 From: aholmes at huntsmanmarine.ca (Ashley Holmes) Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 15:23:58 -0300 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal Summer Course Message-ID: <000c01c793f9$8ab891c0$1f00a8c0@HuntsmanMarine.local> Biology of Marine Mammals - Now Registering! The Huntsman Marine Science Centre St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada www.huntsmanmarine.ca New Session Just Opened Up! Dates: 28 July - 11 August, 2007 Our location on the Bay of Fundy is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to study several species of whales as well as seals and dolphins within a two-week course framework. There will be frequent field trips at sea and on shore to observe marine mammals in their natural habitats. Major topics include: an introduction to Bay of Fundy marine mammals, their distribution and abundance, origin and evolution, historical zoogeography, adaptations and community ecology as well as future prospects. Lab sessions will include an introduction to behavioural observations as well as dissections of seals and porpoises. Students will also conduct individual research projects. Prerequisite: Introductory Biology Instructor: Dr. Steven Benjamins Evaluation: Written exam (40%); Lab performance (10%); Student projects (40%); Course log (10%). Fee: $1,625 (CDN) Accredited through McGill University For more information, please contact: Ms. Ashley Holmes University Programs Coordinator Huntsman Marine Science Centre phone: (506) 529-1260 fax: (506) 529-1212 aholmes at huntsmanmarine.ca www.huntsmanmarine.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3603 bytes Desc: not available URL: From b_d_r_i at yahoo.com Fri May 11 14:29:49 2007 From: b_d_r_i at yahoo.com (Bruno Diaz) Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 14:29:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [MARMAM] Summer research courses Message-ID: <491691.71709.qm@web54309.mail.yahoo.com> Hi all, Would like to invite interested people to take a dolphin research BDRI course. Five specific summer training courses designed for students, biologists, and more interested people who seek a broad view of the research tecniques and study of wild Bottlenose dolphins and marine biology: - Field methods in the wild, - Photo-ID and bottlenose dolphins' social structure, - Study of bottlenose dolphin behaviour, - Bioacoustics of bottlenose dolphins, - Study of bottlenose dolphins and human activities Facility: The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (private research centre) Kind of course(s) offered: Specific training courses, useful to carry out Bachelor or MSc thesis work related with bottlenose dolphins Location: Emerald Coast, Golfo Aranci (northeastern coast of Sardinia), Italy Language: English, (if some student doesnot speak english courses also are in Spanish, Portuguese or Italian) Short description of course: Classes will be in a form of both: lectures that will lead to more "informal" discussion, hopefully ending with a constructive brain-storming on the specific topic; as well as instructions with hand-on practical component, especially when it involves data analysis and field techniques. Courses give an insight into the workings of a research team, and provide valuable experience in a wide range of areas including scientific data collection, analysis and presentation; giving public talks and more. Using study techniques that neither harm nor seriously disturb the animals, students conduct ecological and behavioural studies, as well as collecting detailed environmental information. Duration of the course: These intensive educational courses, generally six or thirteen days long (with 20 hours of lessons and 4 days of field work at sea or 40 hours and 9 days at sea respectively). There is the possibility of include several courses lasting a maximum of 10 weeks. Facilities: Accomodation in the research base, own research vessel and laboratory. Conditions for participation: Dedicated to those who are interesting to participate to dolphin research and conservation campaigns. It is open to anyone age 18 and above, with no special prerequisites concerning research experience. No background knowledge of cetaceans is required, we ask only for you willing to learn about the dolphins and their environment. Indicative costs: From 400 ? a 6 days course, from 800 ? a 13 days course. Students have a special price. More info: http://www.thebdri.com info at thebdri.com Bruno D?az L?pez Research Biologist / Marine Zoologist Chief Researcher The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI V.Armando Diaz N?4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy http://www.thebdri.com info at thebdri.com Tel: + (39) 346 0815414 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tysonregalecus at yahoo.com Tue May 15 17:45:15 2007 From: tysonregalecus at yahoo.com (Tyson Roberts) Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 01:45:15 +0100 (BST) Subject: [MARMAM] oarfish-cetacean interactions Message-ID: <199022.71349.qm@web53904.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Dear Marine Mammal Discussion group members, I have recently completed but not yet published a worldwide monograph on the oceanic fishes known as oarfishes (genus Regalecus). This work includes anextensive review and original observations on the systematics, biology, ecology, and distribution. Two species of Regalecus are recognized. They occur widely in the Pacific, Atlantic, and apparently also the Indian Oceans. Information on predators of Regalecus is remarkedly sparse and poorly documented. While small oarfish (usually far less than a meter long) are eaten by lancet-fish and tunas, remarkedly little is known concerning predators on large Regalecus (from 1-8 m long). The widely held belief that large Regalecus are commonly preyed upon by sharks is unsubstantiated and almost certainly false (any scientific observations of oarfish actually being eaten by sharks would be extremely welcome). Moreover, there seems to be no published information on other potential large oarfish predators, including squids and cetaceans. I do not know of a single published account of any whale or dolphin species feeding on oarfish. Information about cetacean or any other other predators on Regalecus would be extremely welcome. Tyson R. Roberts Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmarino at EMORY.EDU Tue May 15 15:59:49 2007 From: lmarino at EMORY.EDU (lmarino at EMORY.EDU) Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 18:59:49 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on cetacean intelligence Message-ID: <20070515185949.4g5v7ods0w44go48@webmail.service.emory.edu> Dear MARMAMERS - Please see the announcement below of our new integrative review of cetacean intelligence. PLoS is an on-line public-access journal and you can go to the website for the full article. Thanks, Lori Marino A group of eminent cetacean researchers respond to headlines charging that dolphins might be "flippin' idiots". They examine behavioural, anatomical and evolutionary data to conclude that the large brain of cetaceans evolved to support complex cognitive abilities. Marino L, Connor RC, Fordyce RE, Herman LM, Hof PR, et al. (2007) Cetaceans Have Complex Brains for Complex Cognition. PLoS Biol 5(5: e139 From jeremy.kiszka at wanadoo.fr Wed May 16 05:20:12 2007 From: jeremy.kiszka at wanadoo.fr (Jeremy KISZKA) Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 14:20:12 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Atypical association Message-ID: <009d01c797b4$9518b3c0$3620a8c0@FSC481209062311> Sorry for cross-posting! Dear all We observed an atypical inter-specific association in the Comoros archipelago, in the Mozambique Channel (south-west Indian Ocean), of an adult female Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (coastal species) and a spinner dolphin calf (mostly oceanic in this area). Both individuals are generally associated with other humpack dolphins. According to local dolphin watching operators, this association is observed for at least six months (the animal was newborn). First observations reported a probable hybrid (with a Tursiops, already observed in this area), but there are evidences that the calf is definitely a spinner. I would ask if similar cases have been observed in cetaceans and even in other mammals such as primates. Many thanks, Jeremy jeremy.kiszka at wanadoo.fr _________________________________________ Jeremy KISZKA (MSc, PhD cand.) CRELA (Centre de Recherche sur les Ecosyst?mes Littoraux Anthropis?s). UMR 6217 CNRS-IFREMER-Universit? de la Rochelle Avenue Michel Cr?peau, 17071, La Rochelle, France. & Direction de l'Environnement et D?veloppement Durable, Collectivit? D?partementale de Mayotte, BP 101, 97600 Mamoudzou, Mayotte. Tel. (bureau): (+261)02.69.64.99.17 GSM: 06.39.69.53.53 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From barthval at t-online.de Wed May 16 02:12:21 2007 From: barthval at t-online.de (Klaus Barthelmess) Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 11:12:21 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Baleen whale (humpback?) accidentally "swallowing" a boat Message-ID: For my ongoing study on the cultural history of human-cetacean relations, to be published in book form, I envision an chapter called "'Can whales do that?' Fact and fiction in popular whale lore". Recently I came across an old report of a baleen whale, perhaps a launch-feeding humpback, accidentally "swallowing" a boat. It is said to have occurred off Ireland on 28 November 1829 and is reported in the Massachusetts Yeoman and Worcester Saturday Journal and Advertiser of 6 February 1830, page 4, and reads thus: "A Boat's Crew Swallowed by a Whale. - A correspondent of the Dublin Morning Register, under date of Benn Green, Danally, Nov. 30, says - "I have to report a most awful and unparalleled event, which took place in Inver Bay on Saturday last. ((Which would make it the 28 November 1829; KB)) Five men, in a yawl, were in pursuit of a shoal of sprats, for bait, with hand loops, when a whale following the shoal, with open jaws came in contact with the yawl (broadside to.) Feeling the yawl, the monster closed its jaws, and crushed it in pieces, with the exception of the two ends, in one of which was a young lad, in the act of putting out his loop. He was the only one out of five that escaped. One man was found crushed, and fastened to a piece of the floating wreck. A bunch of hair, from the gills of the whale ((bristles of baleen; KB)) fastened in a shiver of the wreck, confirms that the boat was destroyed in the way described, and in the way which those on shore and those in the boats agree in attesting."" Well, is such an accident imaginable? I recall someone (Judy Whitehead?) at a conference many years ago telling how a breaching humpback once landed on her boat. But I'm wondering if anyone can confirm - or give reasons why to dispute - accidents with baleen whales of the type described in the old news article. Thanks and kindest regards Klaus Barthelmess Cologne, Germany From Drew.Lee at dpiw.tas.gov.au Wed May 16 21:32:51 2007 From: Drew.Lee at dpiw.tas.gov.au (Drew.Lee at dpiw.tas.gov.au) Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 14:32:51 +1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Positions Advertised - Tasmanian Govt Marine Conservation Section Message-ID: Two marine mammal positions are currently being advertised within the Tasmanian Governments Wildlife and Marine Conservation Section (DPIW). Advertisements shall appear in newspapers on 19 May 2007. Please find attached the positions advertised Project Leader, Marine Conservation and Marine Conservation Officer. Both Positions are now located on the Jobs Tasmania Website http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au Note: The closing dates for applications is June 1st, 2007. Applications can be sent to - Manager, Human Resources Management Branch, Department of Primary Industries and Water, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tas, 7001, phone (03) 6233 6390, fax (03) 6233 2660, email Tammy.Lovell at dpiw.tas.gov.au. Project Leader, Marine Wildlife Conservation (702530) Applications Close:? Friday, 1 June 2007. Salary:? $59,604?$64,798 per annum. Professional Employees Award, Level 2. Permanent full-time. Location:? Hobart. Commencing salary within the above range will be determined in accordance with qualifications and previous relevant experience. Duties:? As a senior professional practitioner, provide authoritative wildlife and marine conservation professional support to the Section Head, Wildlife and Marine Conservation Section. Plan and implement marine mammal and bird conservation projects, provide research leadership and support on marine conservation issues relating to the full range of biodiversity conservation values in marine wildlife. Essential Requirements:? Satisfactory completion of an appropriate course of study at a recognised tertiary institution. Appropriate Course of Study:? For the purpose of the previous section, an appropriate course of study is a Degree in Science or an equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution. Desirable Requirements:? A current motor vehicle driver?s licence. Work Place Level 2 First Aid Certificate or equivalent. Applications should quote position number, be marked Personal & Confidential and addressed as indicated. Enquiries to Melina Boerma, phone (03) 6233 6996, email Melina.Boerma at dpiw.tas.gov.au. Applications to Manager, Human Resources Management Branch, Department of Primary Industries and Water, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tas, 7001, phone (03) 6233 6390, fax (03) 6233 2660, email Tammy.Lovell at dpiw.tas.gov.au. Marine Conservation Officer (701885) Applications Close:? Friday, 1 June 2007. Salary:? $38,801?$57,008 per annum. Professional Employees Award, Level 1. Fixed-Term full-time from asap for 12 months.. Location:? Hobart. Commencing salary within the above range will be determined in accordance with qualifications and previous relevant experience. Duties:? Participate in responses to marine issues, including monitoring of seals and seabirds and rescue of cetaceans in remote locations; conduct marine mammal research in remote locations; conduct necropsies on marine mammals; provide effective data management; provide marine vertebrate biodiversity management and develop and assist with delivery of an effective marine mammal biodiversity component in the Biodiversity Conservation Branch, especially to support the Princess Melikoff Trust Mammal Program. Essential Requirements:? Satisfactory completion of an appropriate course of study at a recognised tertiary institution. Appropriate Course of Study:? For the purpose of the previous section, an appropriate course of study is a Degree in Science or an equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution. Desirable Requirements:? A current motor vehicle driver?s licence. Applications should quote position number, be marked Personal & Confidential and addressed as indicated. Enquiries to Drew Lee, phone (03) 6233 6013, email Drew.Lee at dpiw.tas.gov.au. Applications to Manager, Human Resources Management Branch, Department of Primary Industries and Water, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tas, 7001, phone (03) 6233 6390, fax (03) 6233 2660, email Tammy.Lovell at dpiw.tas.gov.au. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JBrennan at defenders.org Wed May 16 12:33:51 2007 From: JBrennan at defenders.org (JBrennan) Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 15:33:51 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] request your help in passing along this Poster Announcement Message-ID: <308D3217D6160A409376B6C6F1A3129D0AA70F74@MI8NYCMAIL10.Mi8.com> Dear Colleague, Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce our upcoming symposium and we wish to invite interested participants to present a poster. May I ask for your assistance in distributing the following invitation to present a poster at our September symposium "Innovations in Wildlife Conservation: Reducing the Impact of Global Warming on America's Wildlife" to be held in Washington DC, on September 27th. Below is a shortened version of the announcement for use in newsletters and a pdf copy of the full announcement is attached for distribution or posting. The follow-up email contact and URL appear in the text. I am very grateful for your help, thanking you in advance. Jean Brennan *********************************************** Jean Brennan, PhD Conservation Scientist, Climate Change Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th St. NW Washington, DC 20036-4604 Phone: 1-202-682-9400 ext 162 Web: www.defenders.org Email: jbrennan at defenders.org Symposium Announcement and Call for Posters: Defenders of Wildlife announces "Innovations in Wildlife Conservation: Reducing the Impact of Global Warming on America's Wildlife," Sept. 27, 2007; 8am-6pm in Washington, DC. Speakers will explore the impacts of climate change on wildlife; the adaptation strategies to reduce those impacts; and policy responses necessary to ensure that wildlife species survive impacts of global warming over the next century. Science, Engineering, and Policy Innovators are invited to present posters demonstrating innovative approaches, strategies, and practices to enhance adaptation of wildlife to the impacts of global warming. Posters should broadly examine both the impacts as well as the types of tools, technologies, practices, and measures that should be considered if we are to meet the challenges of global warming. Symposium proceedings and poster abstracts, and recommendations for action, will be published. For more information and to submit an abstract please visit: www.defenders.org/innovations/symposium2007 . Questions may be addressed to: poster at defenders.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Defenders_Poster-CCInnovation-Symp-Sep27_FINAL.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 71715 bytes Desc: Defenders_Poster-CCInnovation-Symp-Sep27_FINAL.pdf URL: From dfertl at geo-marine.com Fri May 18 21:26:39 2007 From: dfertl at geo-marine.com (Dagmar Fertl) Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 23:26:39 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals (2007) - Special issue on hearing Message-ID: <001e01c799cd$e5d40010$4001a8c0@gmi.lan> Apologies in advance, to those of you on both listserves who will receive cross-postings. The following are the contents and abstracts for the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals. This journal was established by the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) in 1974. The EAAM and the Board of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums sponsor the journal. Aquatic Mammals accepts a wide variety of papers on the care, conservation, medicine, and science of marine mammals. Dr. Jeanette Thomas of Western Illinois University is the editor and Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski of Mystic Aquarium is the co-editor. These abstracts are posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the sponsoring societies, as well as the managing editor of Aquatic Mammals. The latest issue of Aquatic Mammals is a special issue entitled: Electrophysiological Measurements of Hearing in Marine Mammals. The issue is divided into six parts: review, bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphin, new techniques, and pinnipeds, with a foreword by Michel Andr? and Paul Nachtigall, the organizers of this special issue. The special issue is available on CD, as well as a limited number of hard copies. See the journal?s Web site for more details at: http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org . Please find below, the addresses (including email) of the authors to whom reprint requests and other inquiries should be directed. Thank you for your continued interest in these postings, as well as other publication postings to the listserves. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. dfertl at geo-marine.com http://www.geo-marine.com ********************** Andr?, M.*, and P.E. Nachtigall. 2007. Electrophysiological measurements of hearing in marine mammals. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):1-5. *LAB, Laboratori d?Applicacions Bioac?sticiques, Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya, Rambla Exposici? s/n, 08800 Vilanova I la Geltr?, Barcelona, Spain. Direct author correspondence to : M. Andr? at - Email: Michel.Andre at upc.edu No abstract was provided, what follows is a summary. In March 2006, an international workshop was organized by Michel Andr? and Paul Nachtigall and hosted by the European Cetacean Society during its 20th Conference in Gdynia Poland. The workshop brought together experts in the field of bioacoustics and hearing. The experts presented a summary of the ?state-of-the-art? of AEP studies on cetaceans and non-cetacean species as well as provided directions for future research. This special issue represents the output of the workshop. The article then briefly discusses the content of each article in the issue. ************* Nachtigall, P.E., T.A. Mooney, K.A. Taylor, and M.M.L. Yuen. 2007. Hearing and auditory evoked potential methods applied to odontocete cetaceans. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):6-13. *Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, USA. Email: nachtiga at hawaii.edu Auditory evoked potential (AEP) procedures have been increasingly used to measure hearing processes in aquatic mammals. They have been demonstrated to be useful in measuring the audiograms of stranded animals like infant sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and Risso?s dolphins (Grampus griseus). Modulation rate transfer functions (MRTF) demonstrating appropriate stimulus presentation rates are usually measured prior to recording audiograms with odontocetes. Measures comparing behavioral and AEP audiograms with the same animals have generally shown good correspondence between data gathered using the two procedures. AEPs and acoustic brainstem responses (ABRs) also have been used to measure hearing while an animal is actively echolocating. This technique of measuring the animal?s ability to hear its own outgoing signals, as well as the returning echoes, allows experimenters to develop a new understanding of the processes underlying echolocation. ******************* Supin, A.Ya.* and V.V. Popov. 2007. Improved techniques of evoked-potential audiometry in odontocetes. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):14-23. *Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninksy Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia. Email: alex_supin at sevin.ru Efficiency of the auditory evoked-potential (AEP) method of audiometry in odontocetes can be markedly increased by the use of (1) stimulus parameters providing maximal AEP amplitude and (2) methods of better extraction of AEP from background noise. A train of short tone pips is a very effective stimulus that allows using the same analysis technique as the sinusoidally amplitude-modulated (SAM) stimulus, but provides much higher AEP amplitude. For AEP extraction from background noise, apart from a commonly used averaging method (mean-based extraction), mean-based extraction is very effective when the noise is not stationary and includes short, but big spikes or bursts. ************* Popov, V.V.*, A.Ya. Supin, M.G. Pletenko, M.B. Tarakanov, V.O. Klishin, T.N. Bulgakova, and E.I. Rosanova. 2007. Audiogram variability in normal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals 33(1):24-33. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninksy Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia. Email: popov_vl at sevin.ru In odontocetes, underwater audiograms have been obtained mostly in one or two individuals in a species. A representative number of animals should be investigated to document variability. In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the audiogram mean and scatter among normal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Measurements were made in dolphins captured in the wild and kept in captivity for three to five months, using auditory evoked potential (AEP) technique (envelope-following response [EFR]) to measure underwater hearing thresholds. Fourteen subjects, 11 males and 3 females, provisionally from 3 to 15 years old, were investigated. Hearing thresholds were measured at frequencies from 8 to 152 kHz with ?-octave steps. All the subjects had qualitatively similar audiograms, except one. The averaged audiogram featured the best sensitivity (the threshold below 50 dB re 1 ?Pa) at 45 kHz. Thresholds rose slowly to lower frequencies (up to 65 dB at 8 kHz) and steeply at higher frequencies (up to 97 dB at 152 kHz). Inter-individual standard deviations varied, depending on frequency, from 4.4 to 11.7 dB, mostly not more than 10 dB. One animal featured a significant hearing loss with increased thresholds at frequencies above 54 kHz. An analytical formula for a standard audiogram is suggested based on these data. ************* Hernandez, E.N.*, S. Kuczaj, D.S. Houser, and J.J. Finneran. 2007. Middle- and long-latency auditory evoked potentials in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) resulting from frequent and oddball stimuli. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):34-42. *Department of Psychology, Box 5025, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA. Email: erica.hernandez at yahoo.com Middle- and long-latency auditory evoked potentials 9AEP) have not been extensively studied in marine mammals. Differences in longer latency potentials resulting from infrequent ?oddball? stimuli inserted within a train of repeated, or ?standard,? auditory stimuli can potentially be used to detect the discrimination ability of an individual. To investigate the characteristics of evoked responses resulting from the oddball paradigm, AEPs were recorded using 100-ms pure tones as stimuli and recording AEP epochs of 500 ms from two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The P50 response to a 40-kHz pure tone was attenuated when that stimulus was repeated (the standard stimulus), with an 80% probability of occurrence. When a 30-kHz oddball tone was presented (20% probability of occurrence), however, the P50 response amplitude increased, indicating dishabituation to the novel stimulus. The attenuation of the P50 response to the standard tone was observed when the standard and oddball tones were reversed (30-kHz standard; 40-kHz oddball). The results demonstrated sensory gating, either habituating to a repeated stimulus (?gating out?) and/or dishabituating to a novel stimulus (?gating in?). The presence of one or both of these responses suggests that the P50 response to oddball stimuli has the potential to indicate discrimination of a particular set of auditory stimuli. ******************* Finneran, J.J.*, D.S. Houser, and C.E. Schlundt. 2007. Objective detection of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) steady-state auditory evoked potentials in response to AM/FM tones. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):43-54. *U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, CA 92152, USA. Email: james.finneran at navy.mil Auditory steady-state responses were measured in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and used to illustrative objective techniques to determine the presence and absence of a response. Experimental measurements were conducted under water in a quiet pool. Sound stimuli were pure tones that were both amplitude and frequency modulated. Evoked responses were recorded using noninvasive surface electrodes. Two frequency-domain techniques were used to assess the presence or absence of a response. The F test compares the evoked potential power at a single frequency (the amplitude modulation frequency) to the noise power averaged over adjacent frequencies. Magnitude-squared coherence (MSC) is a ratio of the signal power at a single frequency to the signal-plus-noise power and reflects the degree to which the system output is determined by the input. For the measurements here, both techniques provided identical results. Evoked potential thresholds based on the lowest detected response compared favorably to behavioral thresholds obtained in the same environment. ************* Lucke, K.*, P.A. Lepper, B. Hoeve, E. Everaarts, N. van Elk, and U. Siebert. 2007. Perception of low-frequency acoustic signals by a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the presence of simulated offshore wind turbine noise. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):55-68. *FTZ Westkueste, Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet zu Kiel, Buesum, Germany. Email: lucke at ftz-west.uni-kiel.de Using auditory evoked potential (AEP) methods, a study was conducted on a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) at the Dolfinarium Harderwijk in The Netherlands. The study measured the audible range of wind turbine sounds and their potential masking of wind turbine sounds and their potential masking effects on the acoustic perception of the animal. AEPs were evoked with two types of acoustic stimuli: (1) click-type signals and (2) amplitude-modulated signals. The masking noise resembling the underwater sound emissions of an operational wind turbine was simulated. At first, the animal?s hearing threshold was measured at frequencies between 0.7 and 16 kHz. Subsequently, these measurements were repeated at frequencies between 0.7 and 2.8 kHz in the presence of two different levels of masking noise. The resulting data show a masking effect of the simulated wind turbine sound at 128 dB re 1 ?Pa at 0.7, 1.0, and 2.0 kHz. This masking effect varied between 4.8 and 7.3 dB at those frequencies. No significant masking was measured at a masking level of 115 dB re 1 ?Pa. The available data indicate that the potential masking effect would be limited to short ranges in the open sea, but limitations exist to this conclusion and all estimates are based on existing turbine types, not taking into account future developments of larger and potentially noisier turbine types. ****************** Beedholm, K.*, and L.A. Miller. 2007. Automatic gain control in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)? Central versus peripheral mechanisms. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):69-75. *Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. Email: beedholm at mail.dk A previous study indicated no automatic gain control (AGC) in the auditory system of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) as revealed by recording auditory evoked potentials to simulated echoes (Beedholm et al., 2006). The same harbor porpoise did change the rate and amplitude of its echolocation clicks during stationary echolocation when presented with an artificial target at a fixed delay. The animal spontaneously changed its click rate in such a way that emitted level (in dB, arbitrary reference) of a click decreased as the inter-click interval (ICI) decreased (click emission rate increases), according to a 14.5 log (ICI) function. The same relationship was found when the animal swam toward a target (a fish). It reduced the amplitude of its clicks as it approached the target with a -14 to -17 log r (best-fit), which is close to the expected -20 log r found in other studies. The combined results indicate an incomplete AGC working on the transmitter side and might be explained by constraints in the sound production apparatus that couple the sound amplitude to the click rate. ****************** Au, W.W.L.*, J.A. Thomas, and K.T. Ramirez. 2007. Characteristics of the auditory brainstem evoked potential of a Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Aquatic Mammals 33(1):76-84. *Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, USA. Email: wau at hawaii.edu Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) of a Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in the presence of masking noise were measured at John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The dolphin was trained to wear suction cups with 1-cm diameter, gold-plated metallic electrodes typically used for human EEG measurements embedded in the cups. The animal was trained to station in a hoop, facing a sound projector 5 m away. ABR thresholds were obtained by progressively reducing the level of click stimuli, having peak frequencies of 8, 16, 32, 64, 80, and 100 kHz. The thresholds were obtained in the presence of broadband masking noise. The ABR waveforms were slightly different than for other odontocetes, having 7 to 8 waves present ? the most for any odontocetes measured so far. The response latency of 1.3 to 1.5 ms is similar to those of other dolphins of approximately the same size. The peaks in the Fourier transform of the ABR waveform occurred at 650 and 1,200 Hz, very similar to the 600 to 650 and 1,100 to 1,200 Hz for Tursiops truncatus. The deepest null in the spectrum, which occurred at about 950 Hz, was much deeper than for the bottlenose dolphin. Masked ABR thresholds expressed in peak-to-peak values were between 38 and 56 dB above the rms values of the masking noise. ****************** Delory, E., J. del Rio, J. Castell, M. van der Schaar, and M. Andr?. 2007. OdiSEA: An autonomous portable auditory screening unit for rapid assessment of hearing in cetaceans. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):85-92. *LAB, Laboratori d?Applicacions Bioac?sticiques, Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya, Rambla Exposici? s/n, 08800 Vilanova I la Geltr?, Barcelona, Spain. Direct author correspondence to : M. Andr? at - Email: Michel.Andre at upc.edu The screening of marine mammals? auditory capabilities is a vital and delicate diagnosis elaboration process. A self-configurable, compact, and portable battery-operated screening tool is now available, named OdiSEA, which enables the collection of species-related auditory characteristics and a rapid diagnosis of hearing impairment, both in controlled and field situations such as rehabilitation facilities and at stranding sites, respectively. Acoustic stimulation is achieved with a calibrated piezoelectric ceramic that transduces sound either through a gel-filled suction cup or, more conventionally, from a few meters distance to the subject in a pool. System portability and the integration of a wideband (>150 kHz) auditory brainstem response (ABR) and multiple auditory steady-state response (multiple ASSR) evoked potentials system shortens diagnosis times significantly for both simple auditory tests and more detailed screening of auditory function. This unit should simplify and significantly accelerate the collection of audiograms in cetaceans. ****************** Taylor, K.A.*, P.E. Nachtigall, T.A. Mooney, A.Ya. Supin, and M.L. Yuen. 2007. A portable system for the evaluation of marine mammals? auditory capabilities. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):93-99. *Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, USA. Email: kristent at hawaii.edu We have created a portable system that is capable of measuring the hearing thresholds of marine mammals. It was designed for the purpose of testing the auditory capabilities for a wide range of marine mammal individuals and species. This system consists of multiple individual components, independently purchased or assembled. The major component of the system is a standard laptop computer with custom software that is able to both generate outgoing signals and acquire the corresponding brain measurements in response to those outgoing signals. The system has been, and still is, in an ongoing state of improvement and optimization with the goal of having a final system that could be used in nearly all field conditions. ****************** Andr?, M.*, E. Delory, E. Degollada, J-M Alonos, J. del Rio, M. van Der Schaar, J.V. Castell, and M. Morell. 2007. Identifying cetacean hearing impairment at stranding sites. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):100-109. *LAB, Laboratori d?Applicacions Bioac?sticiques, Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya, Rambla Exposici? s/n, 08800 Vilanova I la Geltr?, Barcelona, Spain. Email: Michel.Andre at upc.edu While noise is now considered a marine hazard that can directly affect cetaceans and induce a stranding, no clinical approach has yet introduced that detection of a possible hearing loss at a stranding site as a necessary practice. This can be explained by the lack of time when facing vital decisions for the animal?s welfare as well as the unavailability of reliable, lightweight, autonomous, and portable audiometry equipment. Herein, we correlate measured electrophysiological evidence of a permanent threshold shift (PTS) in a rehabilitated striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) that prevented its release, with the postmortem analysis of an abnormal dilation of the central nervous system ventricles that prevented the correct acoustic reception of the animal. We further propose to follow a five-minute auditory evoked potential (AEP) standard protocol of hearing measurements in-air on cetaceans at a stranding site that includes the stimulation of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) with a single 4-?s broadband (>150 kHz) pulse at three decreasing levels (129, 117, and 105 dBpp re 1 ?Pa at 15 cm), which covers most of the cetaceans? known maximum acoustic sensitivity and allow the immediate sensing of an individual?s hearing capability before any final clinical decision is taken. Houser, D.S.*, D.E. Crocker, C. Kastak, J. Mulsow, and J.J. Finneran. 2007. Auditory evoked potentials in northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Aquatic Mammals 33(1):110-121. *BIOMEMETICA, 7951 Shantung Drive, Santee, CA 92071-3432, USA. Email: biomimetica at cox.net Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were investigated in northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) to characterize the responses elicitied by different acoustic stimulus types, examine temporal resolving capabilities, and evaluate the potential for using evoked responses to estimate hearing sensitivity. Clicks and tone pips were presented to individual seals to characterized evoked responses to broad- and narrowband stimuli. Tone pip trains and sinusoidally amplitude-modulated (SAM) tones were used to determine modulation rate transfer functions (MRTF) of the auditory system and to determine if the magnitude of the envelope-following response (EFR) relative to stimulus level can be used to estimate hearing thresholds. Click evoked responses were characterized by three early positive peaks (app. 2.6, 4.4, and 6.1 ms) and a dominant negative peak at 7.2 ms and had average amplitudes of 264 nV (peak-to-peak [pk-pk]) for a corresponding stimulus level of 126 dB re 20 ?Pa (pk-pk). The use of dissociative drugs for the immobilization of the seals showed no demonstrable effect on the latencies or amplitudes of the click evoked response. Both the rate following response (RFR) and EFR amplitudes were maximal when the stimulus repetition rate or the amplitude modulation rate, respectively, were <100 Hz. EFR amplitudes at the rate of amplitude modulation tracked near linearly with stimulus level. Thresholds for a 4-kHz, SAM tone were estimated to be 45 dB re 20 ?Pa. Thus, the recording of AEPs is a viable means of studying auditory processes in the northern elephant seal. ****************************** Mulsow, J.* and C. Reichmuth. 2007. Electrophysiological assessment of temporal resolution in pinnipeds. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):122-131. *Department of Ocean Sciences, Earth and Marine Sciences Building, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA. Email: jmulsow at ucsc.edu Studies of auditory temporal processing in marine mammals have traditionally focused on the highly refined temporal capabilities of dolphins and other odontocete cetaceans. However, a recent electrophysiological investigation of manatee (Trichechus manatus) hearing has shown their temporal resolution to be better than expected, leading to speculation that enhanced temporal processing capabilities are adaptive for underwater sound localization. This study measured evoked responses from several California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) to determine how well the auditory systems of these amphibious mammals resolve rhythmic stimuli. Trains of broadband clicks were presented in air at repetition rates from 125 to 1,500 s-1, and the averaged evoked responses elicited by those stimuli were recorded from the skin. Rate-following responses were detected in the sea lions at rates up to 1,000 s-1, with an upper limit of temporal resolution estimated at 875 to 1,000 s-1. This upper limit is better than previously anticipated and was further substantiated by limited testing with the harbor seal and northern elephant seal. While these findings might support an underwater sound localization hypothesis, measurements comparable to those of the pinnipeds were also obtained in a phylogenetically similar terrestrial mammal: a domestic dog (Canis familaris). It is therefore possible that increased temporal resolution in pinnipeds and other non-echolocating marine mammals is not a result of the evolutionary pressure of an aquatic environment. ****************************** Reichmuth, C.*, J. Mulsow, J.J. Finneran, D.S. Houser, and A.Ya. Supin. 2007. Measurement and response characteristics of auditory brainstem responses in pinnipeds. Aquatic Mammals 33(1):132-150. *Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA. Email: coll at ucsc.edu The measurement of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) has proven to be a useful tool for examining the auditory physiology of odontocete cetaceans and there is growing interest in applying this electrophysiological approach to study the hearing of other marine mammals. The aim of the current investigation was to examine some of the basic measurement and response characteristics of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in pinnipeds. The subjects were California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) there were awake, sedated, or anesthetized during in-air testing. Auditory stimuli were broadband clicks and Hanning-gated tone bursts there were presented binaurally in a direct field. The amplitude and waveform of the ABRs were evaluated as a function of subject sate, electrode type and position, analog bandpass filtering, stimulus presentation rate, and stimulus bandwidth. Results indicate that the ABRs were of highest amplitude when measured from subdermal electrodes arranged in a common reference configuration, with the cephalic electrode placed 2 to 4 cm forward of the ears on the dorsal midline of the head. The ABR waveforms were generally similar among the species tested, although the amplitude of the elephant seal ABR was much smaller than that of the other two species at similar stimulus levels. Bandpass filtering of the ABR resulted in improved signal-to-noise ratios but also caused reduction in response amplitude and distortion of the ABR waveform at high-pass settings above 65 Hz. Five-cycle tone bursts provided the best tradeoff between response amplitude and frequency specificity. The amplitude of ABRs evoked by clicks and tone bursts as a function of stimulus level was approximately linear for California sea lions and harbor seals over a range of app. 25 dB. Visually estimated thresholds for California sea lions were noise limited but were sensitive enough to show hearing loss in one older subject. These findings should inform future research efforts involving electrophysiological assessment of auditory function, hearing sensitivity, and noise i -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sarahc at rogue.com Sun May 20 21:22:56 2007 From: sarahc at rogue.com (Sarah Courbis) Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 21:22:56 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Publication on Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins Message-ID: <220A8311B150744F9B869CB15DE7D5C13FFDB5@internal.rogue.com> > The following publication is now available. Abstract is below. > > Courbis, S. 2007. Effect of spinner dolphin presence on vessel and swimmer activity in Hawaiian bays. Tourism in Marine Environments. 4(1):1-14. > > EFFECT OF SPINNER DOLPHIN PRESENCE ON LEVEL OF > SWIMMER AND VESSEL ACTIVITY IN HAWAIIAN BAYS > SARAH COURBIS > Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, USA > > Questions have been raised about the effects human activity in Hawai> '> ian bays has on dolphins. > Concerns about the effects of this activity have led the National Marine Fisheries Service to begin the > process of enacting regulations to reduce the impacts of swimmers and vessels on Hawaiian spinner > dolphins (Stenella longirostris). One step in evaluating potential effects is to determine if dolphin > presence attracts swimmers and vessels into bays. In this study, numbers of vessels and swimmers in > Kealake> '> akua, Honaunau, and Kauhako Bays were measured and related to spinner dolphin presence. > In Kauhako Bay, mean number of swimmers per scan sample was significantly higher when dolphins > were present, and in Honaunau Bay, mean number of kayaks per scan sample was significantly higher > when dolphins were present. In addition to measuring the relationship between dolphin presence and > vessel and swimmer presence, it is important to track vessel and swimmer numbers over time and to > determine patterns of use in individual bays. This establishes trends in human use of bays and allows > management on a more individual bay basis. During this study, Kealake> '> akua Bay experienced significantly > more vessel and swimmer activity than Kauhako Bay. Numbers of one- to three-person > kayaks, motorboats <6 m, and zodiacs were highest in Kealake> '> akua Bay. Numbers of swimmers > from shore were higher in Honaunau Bay than in Kauhako Bay. Overall, numbers of vessels and > swimmers in the bays were higher than in previous decades, and swimmers comprised the majority > human activity in the bays. > > Key words: Hawai> '> i; Vessel; Swimmer; Stenella longirostris; Spinner dolphin > > > Cheers! > Sarah > > Sarah Courbis > Ph.D. Candidate > Portland State University > sarahc at rogue.com > From RWBaird at cascadiaresearch.org Mon May 21 11:14:02 2007 From: RWBaird at cascadiaresearch.org (Robin W Baird) Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 11:14:02 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Abstract: site fidelity, associations and movements of beaked whales in Hawaii Message-ID: <21701FB12DB4B648921199BC4614914C1E4271@server1.cascadia.local> New publication For pdf copies contact me or see http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/mms/0/0 McSweeney, D.J., R.W. Baird, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2007. Site fidelity, associations and movements of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales off the island of Hawai'i. Marine Mammal Science 23: doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00135.x ABSTRACT Although the Ziphiidae are the second-most speciose family of cetaceans, information on beaked whale species and populations has been limited by the difficulties in finding and approaching free-ranging individuals. Site fidelity, patterns of association and movements of two species, Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales, were assessed using a 21-year photographic dataset from the west coast of the island of Hawai'i. Re-sightings of individuals of both species spanned 15-years, suggesting long-term site fidelity to the area. Long-term re-sightings were documented primarily from adult females of both species. Group sizes for both species were small and most groups had only a single adult male present. For Blainville's beaked whales, repeated associations between adult females and adult males were documented for all re-sightings of adult males over periods from 1-154 days. Among adult females, while repeated associations occurred up to 9 years apart, individuals were seen separately in intervening years. Individuals of both species seen on multiple occasions were typically documented in multiple months/seasons, suggesting they may use the study area throughout the year. Such long-term site-fidelity has implications both for potential population structure and for susceptibility of beaked whale populations to anthropogenic impacts. More information on this research can be found at www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/hawaii.htm ======================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Phone 1-360-943-7325 Fax 1-360-943-7026 e-mail: rwbaird at cascadiaresearch.org www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/robin.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From msimpkins at mmc.gov Mon May 21 09:58:31 2007 From: msimpkins at mmc.gov (Mike Simpkins) Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 12:58:31 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Postdoc Opportunity Message-ID: Hello all, The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission and National Research Council announce a new program for Postdoctoral Awards (i.e., NRC Research Associateships). The Commission is an independent federal agency created by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and is seeking creative, forward-looking scientists to address major challenges in marine mammal and marine ecosystem conservation. Opportunities exist to work at the interface between research, management, and policy decisions regarding critical marine mammal conservation issues. The Commission is seeking proposals for postdoctoral research on the following topics: -- The Effects of Climate Change on Arctic Marine Mammals -- Indicators of Ecosystem Health for Marine Ecosystems -- Marine Mammal Stock Assessment under the Marine Mammal Protection Act -- The Efficacy of Marine Protected Areas in Marine Mammal Conservation -- Co-management of Marine Mammals in Alaska -- Assessment of Cumulative Effects of Human Activities and Natural Stressors on Marine Mammals Interested candidates should submit resumes and pre-proposals in MS Word, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF formats by 15 June 2007 to Michael A. Simpkins, Ph.D., Assistant Scientific Program Director, email address msimpkins at mmc.gov. A description of research topics and proposal submission procedures can be found at http://www.mmc.gov/NRCpostdoc.html. Research Associateship awards offer competitive stipends for 1 year with potential renewal for a total of 3 years maximum. The Commission anticipates selecting only one Research Associate. The primary duty location will be the Commission?s office in Bethesda, MD. This program is open to foreign nationals as well as U.S. citizens. Further information regarding the NRC Research Associateship Program can be found at http://www.national-academies.org/rap. From mmorellyb at hotmail.com Tue May 22 08:43:37 2007 From: mmorellyb at hotmail.com (MARIA MORELL) Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 17:43:37 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Master on Marine Acoustic Sensing and Environment, Barcelona, Spain Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, The Technical University of Catalonia (UPC, Barcelona, Spain) is offering, in association with the ENSIETA (?cole Nationale Sup?rieure d'Ing?nieurs, Brest, France), from the next academic course (2007-2008) on, a new Master of Science on Marine Acoustic Sensing and Environment (MAS). You will find all the necessary information on the programme at www.lab.upc.es/mas We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the content of this Master is unique in Europe. It will provide advanced training in applied aspects of marine underwater acoustic technology and remote sensing through lectures, seminars, practical courses, desk studies and research projects. The MAS is of interest to students willing to be involved in engineering development and application of underwater acoustics research, including sonar equipment, oceanography technologies, bioacoustics and underwater communication for scientific, industrial and environmental purposes. It will be also extremely relevant to students with backgrounds in Fisheries, Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology involved in the field use of advanced acoustics underwater technologies. We hope you will find this initiative interesting and that you will encourage your students to register. Whether you would have any question or would need any further information, please do not hesitate in contacting with us at mas at lab.upc.edu With kind regards, Michel Andr? Dr. Michel Andr? Laboratori d'Aplicacions Bioac?stiques Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya (UPC) michel.andre at upc.edu, http://www.lab.upc.es Centre Tecnol?gic de Vilanova i la Geltr? Avda. Rambla Exposici?, s/n 08800 Vilanova i la Geltr? Barcelona, Espanya tel: +34 - 93 896 7227/ 00 fax: +34 - 93 896 7201 _________________________________________________________________ Dale rienda suelta a tu tiempo libre. Mil ideas para exprimir tu ocio con MSN Entretenimiento. http://entretenimiento.msn.es/ From marmamed at uvic.ca Tue May 22 16:41:53 2007 From: marmamed at uvic.ca (MARMAM Editors) Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 16:41:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [MARMAM] Live Relay Webcast of the 59th International Whaling Commission Annual Meeting (fwd) Message-ID: Forwarded from the ECS list ________________________________ From: European Cetacean Society - general discussion list on behalf of Jan Willem Broekema Sent: Tue 5/22/2007 12:23 PM To: ECS-TALK at JISCMAIL.AC.UK THE INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH 4-5 TOYOMI-CHO, CHUO-KU, TOKYO 104-0055 JAPAN PHONE: +81-3-3536-6521 FAX: +81-3536-6522 MEDIA RELEASE 14 May 2007 Live Relay Webcast of the 59th International Whaling Commission Annual Meeting The 59th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is being held from Monday 28 to Thursday 31 May 2007 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska. As in previous years the Institute of Cetacean Research will be broadcasting the IWC Plenary Meeting and press conferences to the world through the internet. The IWC59 Live Relay Webcast is available at www.e-kujira.or.jp/iwc/iwcmeeting.html starting from 28 May 2007. A variety of information on whales and whaling can be obtained also through the "Kujira Portal" website (www.e-kujira.or.jp). The purpose of this broadcast is to promote the correct understanding on the nature and content of the discussions being held at the IWC Annual Meeting. For further information contact: Ms. Tomoko KUBA The Institute of Cetacean Research Tel: +81-3-3536-6521 Fax: +81-3-3536-6522 Visit also: www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm www.iwcoffice.org/index.htm -- "This information is forwarded to you for informational purposes. It is not meant to invoke a discussion on any ECS mailing list" ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam at lists.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions, and ensure your message has an appropriate subject heading (ie., not "Message for MARMAM") -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. -To subscribe to MARMAM, go to lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed at uvic.ca -MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/marmam.htm From info at gremm.org Tue May 22 13:27:44 2007 From: info at gremm.org (GREMM) Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 16:27:44 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Fw: Master on Marine Acoustic Sensing and Environment, Barcelona, Spain Message-ID: <003c01c79caf$a78e9e20$7700a8c0@secretariat> ----- Original Message ----- From: "MARIA MORELL" To: Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 11:43 AM Subject: [MARMAM] Master on Marine Acoustic Sensing and Environment,Barcelona, Spain Dear Colleagues, The Technical University of Catalonia (UPC, Barcelona, Spain) is offering, in association with the ENSIETA (?cole Nationale Sup?rieure d'Ing?nieurs, Brest, France), from the next academic course (2007-2008) on, a new Master of Science on Marine Acoustic Sensing and Environment (MAS). You will find all the necessary information on the programme at www.lab.upc.es/mas We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the content of this Master is unique in Europe. It will provide advanced training in applied aspects of marine underwater acoustic technology and remote sensing through lectures, seminars, practical courses, desk studies and research projects. The MAS is of interest to students willing to be involved in engineering development and application of underwater acoustics research, including sonar equipment, oceanography technologies, bioacoustics and underwater communication for scientific, industrial and environmental purposes. It will be also extremely relevant to students with backgrounds in Fisheries, Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology involved in the field use of advanced acoustics underwater technologies. We hope you will find this initiative interesting and that you will encourage your students to register. Whether you would have any question or would need any further information, please do not hesitate in contacting with us at mas at lab.upc.edu With kind regards, Michel Andr? Dr. Michel Andr? Laboratori d'Aplicacions Bioac?stiques Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya (UPC) michel.andre at upc.edu, http://www.lab.upc.es Centre Tecnol?gic de Vilanova i la Geltr? Avda. Rambla Exposici?, s/n 08800 Vilanova i la Geltr? Barcelona, Espanya tel: +34 - 93 896 7227/ 00 fax: +34 - 93 896 7201 _________________________________________________________________ Dale rienda suelta a tu tiempo libre. Mil ideas para exprimir tu ocio con MSN Entretenimiento. http://entretenimiento.msn.es/ _______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM at lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam From info at m-e-e-r.de Wed May 23 03:55:32 2007 From: info at m-e-e-r.de (Fabian Ritter, MEER e.V.) Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 12:55:32 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] M.E.E.R. field course, autumn 2007 Message-ID: <46541DA4.2000808@m-e-e-r.de> Dear All! The non-profit association M.E.E.R. would like to announce its next field course in behavioural biology in the Canary Islands: "Assisting in field research of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera" from 30 September - 14 October 2007 The project M.E.E.R. La Gomera is conducting a study on the interactions between cetaceans and whale watching boats since many years. The participants of these 2-weeks practical courses will get an insight into the behavioural research conducted from whale watching boats operating off the island of La Gomera. In this area, 21 cetaceans species could be identified during the last years, representing one of the highest known species diversities in the world. A list of publications that resulted from this project is given below. The course includes a full training program: the theory and practice of behavioural research will be learned and profound background information on whale watching will be given. Research experience that will be gained includes sighting data recording, behavioural sampling, photo identification and others. The course is fully accepted for the study of Biology at the Humboldt-Universitaet Berlin (Germany) and the University of Vienna (Austria). Moreover, the research is embedded in conservation efforts aiming at the preservation and promotion of whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans and the establishment of a marine sanctuary in the waters off La Gomera. M.E.E.R. La Gomera was honoured in 2001 with the international environmental award "Tourismus und Umwelt", which is granted since 1987 by the German Association of Travel Agencies and Travel Operators (DRV). As was said during the bestowal, the project "realises new ways of co-operation of research and tourism in an exemplary and innovative way". For further information (including downloads of a detailed brochure and a booking form) please visit http://www.m-e-e-r.de/praktikum.0.html One course is offered during the 2007 autumn field season: 30 september - 14 October 2007. The price is 875.- ? including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., written working material, certificate of attendance and one year MEER e.V. membership (The journey to and from La Gomera is not included in the price.) Early bookings are accepted until 01 July 2007 at a price of 814.- ? For further information, booking, etc., please send an e-mail to newsletter at m-e-e-r.de _____________________________________ The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans in their natural habitats. Our work aims at increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to present ways how humans can deal with nature in a responsible way. Our co-operation partners are the "Deutsche Umwelthilfe" (Radolfzell/Germany) "Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine" (Munich/Germany), " and the "Club de Mar" (whale watching operator/La Gomera). _____________________________________________ Publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera: Ritter, F. (2007): BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHINS TO A DEAD NEWBORN CALF. Marine Mammal Science, 23(2): 429-433 (April 2007) Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. (2006): The Year of the Whale - Extraorbinary occurrence of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) off La Gomera (Canary Islands). Poster presented at the 20th Annual Conference of the ECS in Gdynia, April 2006. Mayr, I. & Ritter, F. (2005): PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION OF ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHINS OFF LA GOMERA (CANARY ISLANDS) WITH NEW INSIGHTS INTO SOCIAL ORGANISATION. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the ECS, La Rochelle, France, April 2005. Ritter, F. 2003. Interactions of Cetaceans with Whale Watching Boats - Implications for the Management of Whale Watching Tourism. M.E.E.R. e.V., Berlin, Germany, 91 pp. Ritter, F. 2003. Boat-Related behaviours as a tool for the development of species-specific whale watching guidelines. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Smit, V., Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. 2003. Feasibility study: Land-based observations of cetaceans off La Gomera. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. 2002. Behavioural Observations of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) with a special Reference to their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS 28.1, 46-59. Ritter, F. 2001. Twenty-one Cetacean Species off La Gomera (Canary Islands): Possible Reasons for an extraordinary Species Diversity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the ECS, 5-7 May 2001, Rome, Italy. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1999. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Dense Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS, 25.2, 55-61. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1998. First Report of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) Frequenting the Canary Island Waters. European Research on Cetaceans 12. Proc. 12th Ann. Conf. ECS, Monaco, 20-24th January 1998, 95-98. Ritter, F. & Ladner, U.A. 1996. Whale Watch Research on La Gomera: A new Interdisciplinary Approach. European Research on Cetaceans 9. Proc. 9th Ann. Conf. ECS, Lisbon 1996, 48ff. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Their Interaction with Whale Watching-Boats and Swimmers. Diploma Thesis to the University of Bremen, Faculty of Biology. 114pp. -- _________________________ Fabian Ritter MEER e.V. Bundesallee 123 D-12161 Berlin TEL/FAX: (0)30-85 07 87 55 e-mail: info at m-e-e-r.de www.m-e-e-r.org _________________________ "The dolphins were having a great relaxed time and had no major answers they wished to know the question to." (after Douglas Adams) From jim at sfcelticmusic.com Wed May 23 08:28:19 2007 From: jim at sfcelticmusic.com (Jim Scarff) Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 08:28:19 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal Science (1985-2007) vols 9-23 available for sale or as a donation Message-ID: <000001c79d4e$feb82780$0a0110ac@JIMSTPZ61m> I am seeking to sell or donate my back issues of Marine Mammal Science. This is a complete set starting with volume 9 in 1985 through the current issue + Special Pub. 4, Dale Rice's "Marine Mammals of the World". I would prefer selling to any individual or organization for best offer + shipping. Alternatively I would consider donating these to a library, academic institution, or nonprofit organization. I would like the recipient to pay shipping, but that is negotiable. I am located in Berkeley, California if someone (in addition to me) wants to avoid shipping. I can be contacted by e-mail (jim at sfcelticmusic.com) or phone (510) 644-2631. Jim Scarff From LarkinI at vetmed.ufl.edu Tue May 22 07:35:52 2007 From: LarkinI at vetmed.ufl.edu (Iske Larkin) Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 10:35:52 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Sea Vet II - spots still available for June 10-16, 2007 Message-ID: <4652C788.EDE2.002C.0@vetmed.ufl.edu> Sea Vet II is being developed as a truly advanced short course in aquatic health at the University of Florida. Emphasis will be on advanced medical management of marine mammals, sea turtles, and crocodilians, with special consideration of species native to Florida. Sea Vet II, June 10-16, 2007, University of Florida The course in intended for veterinarians, veterinary students, graduate students and professionals with significant responsibility for the care of captive aquatic animals. Acceptance into to he course is limited and will be based on demonstrated experience and need for professional development in this area. Applicants should be able to document at least one year of experience working with these species, or sufficient classroom training (ie. Sea vet I, Aquavet, Marvet etc.) to be prepared for the advanced nature of the curriculum. Due to the short period of time before the first offering of this course is scheduled to begin, applications will be evaluated as they come in and students will be notified of their acceptance status within a day or two. Once the course if full no further applications will be accepted. The course will be offered again in 2009. For more information and registration go online to: www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ame/seavet2 Iske L. Vandevelde Larkin, Ph.D. Assistant Scientist Education Coordinator Aquatic Animal Health Program Large Animal Clinical Sciences & Dept. of Zoology University of Florida 2015 SW 16th Ave. CVM - PO Box 100136 Gainesville, Fl 32610 (Ship to zip - 32608) USA Phone (352) 392-2212 ext 5168 Cell (352) 494-1742 Fax (352) 846-1171 e-mail: Larkini at vetmed.ufl.edu From mail at geomotive.net Tue May 22 13:16:44 2007 From: mail at geomotive.net (Geomotive) Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 22:16:44 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal Observer Positions, Gulf of Mexico USA Message-ID: <566622174.20070522221644@geomotive.net> Job Title: Marine Mammal Observers Company : GeoMotive Inc. Work Location: Gulf of Mexico Description: Experienced Marine Mammal Observers - June Openings Short term or long term work with rotations of 6 weeks on/6 weeks off. Work starting (11 June, 25th June and 27th June). All travel to vessel arranged and prepaid, travel days paid, meals/lodging paid, full insurance whilst working etc. Attractive day rate. Candidates must have: - US/Canadian residency or a US B1 OCS visa - Mitigation experience on a seismic survey vessel or other offshore mitigation experience (fisheries, conservation) OR Marine Mammal observation experience Offshore (researchers, whale watching guides, etc). - Willingness to be flexible and travel at short notice. - Dedication to Marine Mammal research and conservation. - At least a Bachelors degree in related field: Biology, Oceanology, Zoology, etc. (unless you have 3 years or more field experience). - Offshore medical (we can provide information on how to get one) - Offshore survival and Protected Species Observer training** **If you are able to attend classes on 10/11th June and/or 24rd/25th June, this requirement will be fulfilled. Spaces available, but limited for people not able to join vessel in June. If you meet the requirements above, please send a resume to JuliAnne at mail at geomotive.net We will then send you more detailed information and an application form. Deadline for June rotations: 28th May 2007 From shirleypacheco at yahoo.com Mon May 21 06:12:27 2007 From: shirleypacheco at yahoo.com (Shirley Pacheco) Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 06:12:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [MARMAM] XVth Conference of the Society for Human Ecology Message-ID: <410852.27006.qm@web34705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to invite you to the XVth International Conference of the Society for Human Ecology to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 4-7, 2007. There will be a session about 'Contributions of fishermen?s local ecological knowledge and scientific research to marine mammal conservation' as detailed below. For more information about the conference and sessions, please check the link: http://www.societyforhumanecology.org/SHEXV.html SESSION I ? Indigenous / Local knowledge & Sustainability 1.6. Contributions of fishermen?s local ecological knowledge and scientific research to marine mammal conservation (S. Siciliano & S. Pacheco /ENSP/DENSP/FIOCRUZ & UNICAMP/FIFO/Inst. Terra & Mar, Brazil) Contact: sal at ensp.fiocruz.br or shirleypacheco at yahoo.com The local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishermen has been applied in several conservation policies and practices related to fishery management around the world. Regarding marine mammals, studies addressing fishermen?s knowledge are still scarce. However, they have shown that in most cases their LEK is in high accordance with data obtained from scientific research. Most marine mammal species are poorly known. Some of these species are strongly affected by interactions with fishing gear, which makes fishermen?s LEK and cooperation greatly valuable for their conservation. For many threatened species time may be running out and since research on their biology are of long-term duration and generally expensive, the interface between fishermen?s LEK and scientific research should be widely explored to allow for expeditious decisions in favor of the protection and conservation of marine mammal species. Hope to see you there! Shirley Pacheco Shirley Pacheco de Souza Diretora Executiva - Instituto Terra & Mar Projeto SOS Mam?feros Marinhos PPG - Ecologia - UNICAMP Tel.: (12) 3862-1099 / 9144-6100 www.terraemar.org --------------------------------- Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vbourret2001 at yahoo.fr Wed May 23 04:59:38 2007 From: vbourret2001 at yahoo.fr (Vincent Bourret) Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 13:59:38 +0200 (CEST) Subject: [MARMAM] Tursiops/Stenella divergence In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <691418.50909.qm@web26715.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Dear Marmam readers, We have sequenced some microsatellite markers in the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and we are comparing these sequences to their orthologous counterparts in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from which the microsatellites were originally isolated. To discuss this comparison, we would wish to know about the divergence time between both species. So far, the only indication we have is that the Family Delphinidae likely arose in the mid- to late Miocene (11-12 mya, Barnes 1990), suggesting a divergence time inferior to 12 My between S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus. Would anyone have a more accurate / updated information (and the corresponding reference)? Thank you very much in advance. Best regards, Vincent. ----- Vincent Bourret, DVM UMR 5174 Evolution et Diversit? Biologique B?t 4R3b2 Universit? Paul Sabatier, 118, route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse cedex, France. --------------------------------- Ne gardez plus qu'une seule adresse mail ! Copiez vos mails vers Yahoo! Mail -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jaquetn at coastalstudies.org Wed May 23 14:44:56 2007 From: jaquetn at coastalstudies.org (Nathalie Jaquet) Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 17:44:56 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Right whale aerial survey research assistant position Message-ID: <01cf0085d763123bc7013dad1b8aee60@coastalstudies.org> RIGHT WHALE AERIAL SURVEY RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITION Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, is seeking a right whale aerial survey research assistant for the 2008 winter/spring season (January 2 to May 15, 2008). Responsibilities will include: participation in aerial surveys of Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters, data entry, photo analysis and matching. The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications: prior experience as a marine mammal aerial survey observer, experience in matching (right whales or other species of cetaceans), at least a B.S. with courses in biology (MSc preferred), and the ability to function in a team environment. This is a full-time seasonal position with no benefits. Housing will be provided at no cost. General information about the right whale research program at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is available at: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/aerialsur.htm Submit cover letter and resume (or enquiries) to: jaquetn at coastalstudies.org, =================== Nathalie Jaquet, PhD Senior Scientist Director Right Whale Survey program Center for Coastal Studies 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone Office: 508 - 487 3623 ext 111 FAX: 508 - 487 4695 Email: jaquetn at coastalstudies.org -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 1466 bytes Desc: not available URL: From ALLEND at si.edu Wed May 23 14:40:37 2007 From: ALLEND at si.edu (Allen, Dee) Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 17:40:37 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Smithsonian Institution beaked whale identification website Message-ID: Dear colleagues, The Smithsonian Institution's Marine Mammal Program is pleased to announce the availability of a new website designed specifically for aiding in the identification of beaked whale specimens. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/vert/mammals/beaked_whales/pages/main_menu.htm The objective of this website is to serve as a centralized resource for making morphological identifications of beaked whales. These pages include an introduction to the family Ziphiidae, information on beaked whale research, images of skulls and diagnostic characters for each species, links to museum research collections, and some bibliographic references. This project is an on-going collaborative effort with the marine mammal community, and will continue to draw from contributions from collaborators. With this website, we intend to enable more researchers and stranding responders to identify ziphiid species and to become more familiar with morphological variation within this taxonomic group by having access to reference specimens available online. Any comments, suggestions or contributions may be sent directly to Dee Allen (see signature below for contact information). We welcome your input. This project was made possible through the support of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, as well as NOAA Fisheries and the Smithsonian Institution. Dee Allen Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Marine Mammal Program P.O. Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 tel: 202.633.1247 fax: 202.786.2979 allend at si.edu http://www.nmnh.si.edu/vert/mammals/da.html http://www.nmnh.si.edu/vert/mammals/beaked_whales/pages/main_menu.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Julie.K.Young at asu.edu Thu May 24 15:40:55 2007 From: Julie.K.Young at asu.edu (Julie Young) Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 15:40:55 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] California sea lion demography and behavior study - postdoctoral position Message-ID: <73E761868BCD5F4CB6567B82C5218A66034A2A4C@EX02.asurite.ad.asu.edu> Postdoctoral Position available at Arizona State University Pinniped behavior and demography Postdoc will work with PI and graduate students on an NSF-funded project to 1) integrate theories from behavioral ecology with quantitative techniques in demography to examine the effects of reproductive behavior on extinction risk for California sea lions in the Gulf of California, and 2) contribute to an empirical research program to test hypotheses regarding the degree to which the demography of sea lions depends on reproductive behavior. Requires PhD in ecology and excellent demographic modeling skills. Experience with molecular approaches in conservation and field skills are also preferred. Send CV, statement of research interests, and contact information for 3 references to leah.gerber at asu.edu. Closing date: 10/1/2007, or until a successful candidate is identified. Arizona State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From alb992 at u.washington.edu Fri May 25 15:54:27 2007 From: alb992 at u.washington.edu (Amanda Bradford) Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 15:54:27 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [MARMAM] SMM Grants-in-Aid deadline extended Message-ID: Greetings MARMAM - The SMM offers a funding opportunity to facilitate marine mammal research in developing countries. Preference is given to nationals and early career researchers working in these countries. Note that this opportunity is to support research and does not relate at all to the upcoming conference. The deadline for submitting a proposal has been EXTENDED to 30 June 2007 (the previous deadline was 31 May). For more details see: . Please direct any inquiries about these grants to Helene Marsh at . Thanks, amanda bradford (SMM Student Member-at-Large) From dfertl at geo-marine.com Fri May 25 19:42:46 2007 From: dfertl at geo-marine.com (Dagmar Fertl) Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 21:42:46 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] MMS report available - sperm whale study Message-ID: <006201c79f3f$8bbc54c0$1bd2a8c0@gmi.lan> The following is recently released by the Minerals Management Service and might be of interest to listserve subscribers. Palka, D. and M. Johnson, eds. 2007. Cooperative research to study dive patterns of sperm whales in the Atlantic Ocean. OCS Study MMS 2007-033. New Orleans, Louisiana: Gulf of Mexico Region, Minerals Management Service. It can be downloaded (3 mb) for free at: http://www.gomr.mms.gov/PI/PDFImages/ESPIS/4/4247.pdf Executive Summary: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is required to produce stock assessments for all marine mammal stocks within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is evaluating potential environmental impacts of offshore oil and gas activities on marine mammals. Both agencies have a need for similar information on sperm whales and this is the basis for the cooperative research outlined here. This study, conducted in July 2003, has started a baseline of line transect, photo-identification, oceanographic and genetic data for the Atlantic sperm whale. Compared with the Delta region in the Gulf of Mexico, parts of the Atlantic Ocean may serve as a control population of sperm whales with little exposure to sounds of oil and gas related activities. A total of 12 sperm whales were tagged during the four-week, July 2003 cruise yielding a substantial data set spanning both deep foraging and socializing from 9 of the 12 tagged animals. These tag recordings represent the first acquisition of sound and movement data from sperm whales in the North Atlantic. Visual and acoustic surveys were performed whenever weather permitted throughout the cruise and visual focal follows were made when tags were deployed. Complimentary data products included physical oceanographic measurements and skin and fecal samples from tagged and neighboring whales. The tag data set from the cruise has been examined using techniques developed on the Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) program to parameterize foraging and social behaviors. The data set has also been integrated into a combined data set covering the Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic and Mediterranean seas to enable comparative analyses. We found that the North Atlantic whales follow a foraging and socializing cycle similar to the Gulf of Mexico whales but dive significantly deeper to forage. Foraging largely occurs at 500-1,100 m but a small amount of food may be taken in water as shallow as 300 m. A wide range of codas was produced but even fairly closely located groups appeared to prefer distinct codas. An unusually high rate of breaching, possibly associated with tag attachment, limited the longevity of the tag attachment. The maximum attachment duration of six hours in this Atlantic Ocean study compares unfavorably with 16 hours in the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean. The unknown reason for why there were few long attachments may reduce the number of future successful tagging events from whales in the Atlantic. Breaching, possibly associated with tag attachment, has been observed in other areas, and those breaching rates varied from year to year. So, perhaps this first year in the Atlantic is just on the high side of the inter-annual variability. Further work is needed to address this. In addition, there are areas in the Atlantic, such as off Virginia, where there are, at times, a substantial amount of low frequency impulsive sounds from underwater explosions in Navy test ranges. Such times and areas should not be considered as a future controlled exposure study area. Acoustic data could potentially be used in two ways to improve the sperm whale abundance estimates. One way is to utilize both visual and passive acoustic detections to estimate the abundance. A new project to advance development of such methods was recently funded. The visual and acoustic data collected during the Search Mode in this cruise will be used as a test case. Another way acoustic data could be used to improve visual line-transect abundance estimates is to use the dive time pattern data collected on the acoustic tag (DTAG) in surfacing-based line-transect analysis methods. If we assume the tagged animals are representative of the dive patterns of the Atlantic population, then there is a 27% (CV=0.46) chance that a single sperm whale is at the surface to be able to be detected by a visual sighting team. A simple implementation of using these dive data is to estimate total abundance of sperm whales as a function of (i) the abundance using standard visual line-transect methods, assuming this is an abundance estimate of surface animals and (ii) the percentage of time whales are at the surface using the tag data. Using this over-simplified method the dive time corrected total abundance of sperm whales would then be 14,922 (CV=0.60), which is about 3.5 times greater than the standard visual abundance estimate. However, this abundance estimate is biased upwards due to the facts that the standard abundance estimate is based on detection of groups of whales, where groups are usually greater than one, while the probability of a whale being at the surface using the tag data is based on singleton whales, and individual sperm whales do not dive totally independent of the other animals in its group. Thus, surface-based, not group-based, line-transect analysis methods are required to properly account for the confounding facts. These methods are explained in this report and are under development, thus results are not currently available. Another objective of this and the SWSS cruises is to address the question "Do sperm whales have preferred habitats that can be defined physiologically and/or with oceanographically?" One way to address this is to model the distribution and abundance of the sperm whales with respect to physical and biological parameters, such as water depth, bottom slope, sea-surface temperature, salinity at the surface, mixed layer depth, surface color (primary productivity), and distribution and abundance of other trophic levels (such as that obtained from bongo samples). Such a model can also include nuisance variables, such as Beaufort sea state, which affects the sightability of the whales, but probably does not affect the actual distribution of the whales. To start this process, five-day composites from the middle of the cruise of sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (chl-a) using satellite pictures were produced and the sightings were overlaid. Interestingly, sperm whales appear to be present in more diverse combinations of SST and chl-a than many of the other cetacean species detected during this cruise. This could imply that sperm whales are not cueing in on these two parameters, like some other species do. Or, sperm whales are generalists and so can utilize a variety of habitats or perhaps sperm whales are not cueing in ocean surface factors but are cueing on ocean bottom factors. More data are needed to address this. Because this cruise concentrated on putting tags on sperm whales and not investigating many type of potential habitats, this cruise surveyed a limited number of types of potential habitats. However, the NEFSC conducted a large scale line transect abundance survey in 1998 and is currently conducting one during the summer of 2004. The plan is to merge the line transect data of the 1998, 2003, and 2004 surveys to investigate habitat preferences of sperm whales in the Atlantic. Stepwise selection of Generalized Additive Models (GAM) will be used to define a model that uses physical and biological parameters to describe the sperm whale habitat. To start this modeling exercise, the 1998 data were used to model the distribution and abundance of sperm whales in five nautical mile sections of the track line. The stepwise GAM determined depth and an interaction between two groups of plankton species (groups 2 and 3) were the best predictors for sperm whale distribution and abundance, where depth was the most influential factor. Sperm whales were inversely related to Plankton group 3, which are species generally associated with warm core rings. Sperm whales were positively related to Plankton group 2, which are species most often associated with cooler waters, such as those on the outside edge of a ring or in between warm core rings. Thus, these GAM results can be interpreted as Atlantic sperm whales are most commonly found in waters approximately 2000 meters deep, when those waters are cool, like those found on the outside or in between warm core rings. ****************** Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. 2201 Avenue K, Suite A2 Plano, Texas 75074 USA 972-423-5480 FAX 972-422-2736 dfertl at geo-marine.com http://www.geo-marine.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From a.karamanlidis at mom.gr Wed May 30 03:57:42 2007 From: a.karamanlidis at mom.gr (a.karamanlidis@mom) Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:57:42 +0300 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal Conservationist position Message-ID: <000c01c7a2a9$58c90410$6e00a8c0@GISpc> Dear All Sorry for crossposting; the following message might be of interest to you. Alexandros Karamanlidis Biologist - Field Researcher MOm, HELLENIC SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF THE MONK SEAL 18 Solomou Str. GR-10682 Athens Greece. Tel.:+30.210.5222888, Fax: +30.210.5222450, web-site: www.mom.gr RREVISION OF MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MOm, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk seal, a Greek non-governmental environmental organisation, is seeking to contract, through a competitive tender, an independent Conservation Specialist to evaluate and revise the National Strategy for the Conservation of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in Greece. With a worldwide population of fewer than 600 individuals, the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is considered by IUCN to be critically endangered. During the last decades numerous conservation activities have concentrated in Greece, since it hosts approximately half of the species' population. The Conservation Specialist's tasks will be: O to evaluate the existing Strategy, originally drafted in 1996, in terms of its effectiveness to address the species' threats O to revise the Strategy, so as to address all current conservation requirements of the species and its habitat, identify priorities and suggest cost effective future actions covering the period up until 2015. The project's duration is 9 months. MOm will provide to the selected conservation specialist all background documentation and information required, and will assist in setting up working meetings with key stakeholders, experts, and the relevant national and European Commission authorities. The revised Strategy will be widely distributed to scientists, conservationists, stakeholders, and policy makers internationally. Upon its adoption by the National authorities it will constitute a seminal policy tool guiding all activities conducted for the conservation of the species. Applicants should have extended experience in similar projects and significant knowledge of the conservation requirements of critically endangered species. For a detailed description and the terms of reference of the project, applicants should contact Dr. Spyros Kotomatas, MOm's Scientific Coordinator at the address below. Applications should be forwarded with the indication (IC07-NCS) to info at mom.gr no later than the 15th of September 2007. -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 1259 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From banks at wildlifetrust.org Tue May 29 10:09:44 2007 From: banks at wildlifetrust.org (Christine Banks) Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 13:09:44 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] workshop announcement & call for papers Message-ID: <001401c7a214$28250970$800101df@wildlifetrust.org> Date: 28 November 2007 Workshop title: ?Conservation Medicine of Marine Mammals? Workshop outline: Conservation medicine is an increasingly interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between human and animal health, and environmental conditions. In particular the environmental causes of health problems are complex, global, and poorly understood. Outbreaks in the last few years such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the recent bird-flu pandemic illustrate the need to document and understand these diseases for the benefit of both humans and animals. Researchers are learning more about these pandemics in the terrestrial environment, but due to the migratory nature of many marine species, such events are difficult to understand in the marine environment. As a result there is still little documentation on diseases of wild marine mammals and potential overlap with those from other marine animals. However, such disease events in marine systems appear on the increase in recent years, possibly as a result of rising sea temperatures. This workshop aims at information exchange between researchers, gathering existing knowledge on diseases in marine mammals, and identifying the areas where future research efforts need to concentrate. Workshop format: Morning of invited presentations and afternoon of discussion Fee: $30 USD CALL FOR PAPERS: Participants and additional interested parties are asked to submit abstracts (no more than 200 words) outlining their proposed contribution to Stephanie Pl?n (see contact details below) DEADLINE: 20 June Contact details: Stephanie Pl?n Port Elizabeth Museum & Oceanarium/ Bayworld Humewood P. O. Box 13147 Port Elizabeth 6013 SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27-41-5840650 Fax: +27-41-5840661 E-mail: stephanie at bayworld.co.za -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dolphoto at yahoo.com Tue May 29 03:02:51 2007 From: dolphoto at yahoo.com (Sandra Rosenberg) Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 03:02:51 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Alaska Grant Message-ID: <200705291009.l4TA9a7g614506@cascara.comp.uvic.ca> Here's another grant I came across. Please note that I have no involvement with the grant or the funder. The website is http://akcf.org/_pages/grants_amp_awards/types_of_grants/watchable_wildlife. php Sandy Rosenberg sandy.rosenberg at sbcglobal.net Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust Grants Close-up of gray wolf walking through snow by AlaskaStock.comThe Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust is a donor-advised fund developed in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The purpose of the Trust is to fund those projects that emphasize non-consumptive use of wildlife, expand wildlife conservation efforts, and broaden public support for conserving Alaska's wildlife resources. Grantmaking Focus Areas of Interest * Interpretation (e.g., signage, viewing guides, media programming) * Education (e.g., curriculum development or publication development and distribution) * Facilities construction * Applied ecosystem research * Projects involving a state wildlife sanctuary Favored Strategies * Encouraging broader awareness and understanding of environmental laws and regulations * Promoting citizen participation in wildlife viewing * Supporting the social and/or economic values of non-consumptive wildlife use * Creating and distributing replicable educational materials * Developing viewing opportunities * Acquiring critical wildlife habitats * Encouraging cooperation between organizations/agencies * Leveraging other project funds Ineligible Requests * Projects outside the state of Alaska * General operating support * Litigation or lobbying * Endowments * Scholarships Who May Apply As a 501(c)(3) public foundation, ACF accepts requests for funding from incorporated, tax-exempt organizations, non-incorporated organizations, and individuals. To qualify for consideration, prospective grantees must demonstrate that their project, in addition to meeting Trust requirements, is congruent with ACF's larger overall mission: to protect Alaska's intact ecosystems and promote sustainable livelihoods for all Alaskan communities and peoples. For projects working with a state wildlife sanctuary, contact the sanctuary manager prior to submitting a proposal to the Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust. All other applicants should contact ACF staff. When to Apply The Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust makes grants once per calendar year. The next deadline is October 1, 2007. Prospective grantees should contact ACF to determine if the project fits within the grantmaking program and when to submit their proposal. The Trust generally funds projects in the $1,000 to $4,000 range. How to Apply ACF requests the use of recycled paper. Proposals should include the following: * A cover page that includes the organization name, project title, contact names, phone and fax number, e-mail address, and the amount requested. * A one-paragraph project abstract. * A proposal narrative, no more than five pages in length, that includes a brief organizational history, project background, plan of action, timeline, products or outcomes, method of evaluation, and any additional sources of support. * A proposal budget (including budget narrative) and organizational operating budget for the current year (do not include in-kind contributions as a cash item). * IRS tax determination letter if a tax-exempt organization or Social Security number if an individual. * Financial statements and the most recent audit, if available. * A list of the organization's current Board of Directors, including occupation of each Board member, city and state of residence, and current service on other boards. * A list of organization staff. * A letter of approval from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (for sanctuary-based projects only). AKDF&G can be reached at 907-261-2100. Please send one unbound, single-sided original to: Alaska Conservation Foundation Attn: Grantmaking Committee 441 West Fifth Avenue, Suite 402 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Phone: 907-276-1917 Proposals received via fax or e-mail will not be accepted. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 40709 bytes Desc: not available URL: From mdutoit at zoology.up.ac.za Wed May 30 07:00:58 2007 From: mdutoit at zoology.up.ac.za (Michelle du Toit) Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 16:00:58 +0200 (SAST) Subject: [MARMAM] 17th SMM Biennial - Abstract deadline extension and Workshop information Message-ID: <4273.137.215.110.198.1180533658.squirrel@zoology.up.ac.za> Dear all, Conference Update:??17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals,? Cape Town, 29 Nov?- 3 Dec 2007 Abstract?submission deadline has been extended from?31 May?to 10 June?2007.? The abstract submission form is accessible after creating a user profile at: http://www.smmconference2007.org/register_new_form.php. Please do not create more than one user profile, and do not attempt to submit more than one abstract from your user profile. The list of workshops that will be held prior to the conference, and contact details of workshop chairs, can be found at http://www.smmconference2007.org/workshop_info.php. Any questions can be forwarded to sciprog at marinemammalogy.org _________________________________________________ Michelle du Toit Assistant - Scientific Programme Committee 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Mammal Research Institute Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria, 0002 South Africa Tel: +27-12-4204573 Fax: +27-12-4202534 mdutoit at zoology.up.ac.za This message and attachments are subject to a disclaimer. Please refer to http://www.it.up.ac.za/documentation/governance/disclaimer/ for full details. / Hierdie boodskap en aanhangsels is aan 'n vrywaringsklousule onderhewig. Volledige besonderhede is by http://www.it.up.ac.za/documentation/governance/disclaimer/ beskikbaar. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rwallace at ursinus.edu Mon May 28 12:25:46 2007 From: rwallace at ursinus.edu (Wallace, Richard) Date: Mon, 28 May 2007 15:25:46 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] FW: JOB - Marine Science Program Coordinator Message-ID: FYI. Cheers, Rich Wallace Chair, Environmental Studies Ursinus College -----Original Message----- Program Coordinator Five College Coastal & Marine Sciences Program The Five College Coastal & Marine Sciences Program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum, including field research and internship components. The coordinator organizes and manages all aspects of the program under the supervision of the program's faculty director. Duties include advising students, developing and managing the annual budget, communicating with scientists at various marine labs regarding research opportunities for students, producing a bi-monthly newsletter and maintaining the program website and databases. Qualifications: BA degree; ability to work independently; commitment to promoting the program to students, especially its marine-related field research component; ability to communicate orally and in writing with faculty, staff, students, and research professionals; proficiency in Microsoft office; ability to hire, train and supervise student workers. Knowledge of marine and environmental science strongly preferred. Previous administrative experience or advanced degree desirable. This is a part-time, 20-hour per week hourly position for 39 weeks annually. It is based at Smith College. Benefits are pro-rated. Hourly wage: $20.26 - $23.08, depending on experience. Review of applications begins July 2, 2007. Submit letter of application, resume, and contact information for three professional references to: FCC&MS Program Coordinator Search Five Colleges, Incorporated 97 Spring Street Amherst, MA 01002 Five Colleges, Inc. and its member institutions are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. Ashley Baldridge, Coordinator Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Program 211 Burton Hall, Clark Science Center, Smith College Northampton, MA 01063 phone: 413-585-3799 fax: 413-585-3786 email: marinesci at smith.edu web: www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/marine From tinttun at gmail.com Wed May 30 08:22:27 2007 From: tinttun at gmail.com (Tint Tun) Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 03:22:27 -1200 Subject: [MARMAM] Request for copy Message-ID: <519ea0a30705300822k20ab5f48hd384637b4a8f7478@mail.gmail.com> Dear MARMAMmers, May I request your kind help, please? I can not find the following paper within my reach in Myanmar. I shall be very much obliged if you can share me a soft copy (in JPG, I think) of the following paper. Tin Thein, U. (1977). The Burmese freshwater dolphin. Mammalia, 41(2): 233-234.-36. Tint Tun Marine Biologist MYANMAR Emails: tinttun at gmail.com; tinttun at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stephanie at bayworld.co.za Thu May 31 00:15:54 2007 From: stephanie at bayworld.co.za (Stephanie Ploen) Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 09:15:54 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] re-posting: workshop announcement for upcoming SMM conference Message-ID: <20070531071933.B134A2D191@bayworld.co.za> Please re-post the following announcement- some of the info was left out! Thanks, Stephanie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Dear marmamers, Please excuse any double postings. The following workshop will be held prior to the upcoming SMM conference in Cape Town, South Africa (29 Nov- 3 Dec 2007). Participants and additional interested parties are asked to submit abstracts (no more than 200 words) outlining their proposed contribution to Stephanie Pl?n (see contact details below) Workshop title: Conservation Medicine of Marine Mammals Date: 28 November 2007 Workshop outline: Conservation medicine is an increasingly interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between human and animal health, and environmental conditions. In particular the environmental causes of health problems are complex,global, and poorly understood. Outbreaks in the last few years such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the recent bird-flu pandemic illustrate the need to document and understand these diseases for the benefit of both humans and animals. Researchers are learning more about these pandemics in the terrestrial environment, but due to the migratory nature of many marine species, such events are difficult to understand in the marine environment. As a result there is still little documentation on diseases of wild marine mammals and potential overlap with those from other marine animals. However, such disease events in marine systems appear on the increase in recent years, possibly as a result of rising sea temperatures. This workshop aims at information exchange between researchers, gathering existing knowledge on diseases in marine mammals, and identifying the areas where future research efforts need to concentrate. We will have a morning of invited paper presentations, but will allow for an open discussion forum in the afternoon. Workshop Fee: $30 USD The deadline for abstract submissions is: 20 June For any further queries and to submit abstracts please contact: Stephanie Pl?n Port Elizabeth Museum & Oceanarium/ Bayworld Humewood P. O. Box 13147 Port Elizabeth 6013 SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27-41-5840650 Fax: +27-41-5840661 E-mail: stephanie at bayworld.co.za -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: