From daniel.reporte at gmail.com Wed Jul 1 07:00:51 2009 From: daniel.reporte at gmail.com (Daniel Perez Martinez) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:00:51 -0300 Subject: [MARMAM] A new low cost digital tag for whales Message-ID: <4a4b6c14.14025a0a.68fc.3a02@mx.google.com> To whom it may concern, We have developed a low cost tag (under U$ 4000) to study the southern right whale behavior in Peninsula Vald?s, Argentina. The unit (computer and sensors not connected ) was successfully attached to 23 whales during November and December 2008. We have just started to testing a number of sensors connected to a micro computer (open source Linux software). The device (400 gr weight) has three silicone suction cup , which are released by a radio triggered device (up to 2 miles). The prototype has an internal hydrophone plus an external mono audio plug, a 12 bit digital camera (vga quality, IR capable), a 3D inertial movement unit (3 axes of acceleration input + 3 axes of gyroscopic input + 3 axes of magnetic input), two analog connectors for external sensors (pressure, hearth rate), 8Gbs micro SD memory, Bluetooth data offload, and a high sensitivity GPS-enabled tag tracking system (to recovery the unit post released up to 5 miles). The complete system work with a custom PDA from where can be download all the tag data, track the device and activate the radio valves to release suction cups. We will use this unit in several research projects, including underwater noise disturbance in Peninsula Valdes Gulfs, behavioral responses of whales to kelp gull attacks, response of whales to a whale watching boats, and playback and response experiments to prevent potential risk on ship strike incidents, beginning August 2009. Because we work in shallow waters (up to 100 meters depth) we did not test the tag in a high pressure environment. Even the device was developed to work with right whales, we are pleased to share the device and our first experience with cetaceans research teams who want to use our tag with other species (2010 season). Kind Regards and please could you be so kind to respond directly to our E-mail address, Daniel P?rez Mart?nez Independent consultant Daniel.reporte at gmail.com Domec Garc?a Norte 1142 (9120) Puerto Madryn (Chubut) Argentina Dr. Marcelo Bertellotti Biolog?a y Manejo de Recursos Acu?ticos Centro Nacional Patag?nico (CONICET) bertello at cenpat.edu.ar Boulevard Brown 2825 (9120) Puerto Madryn (Chubut) Argentina -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From castelblanco.nataly at gmail.com Wed Jul 1 10:27:44 2009 From: castelblanco.nataly at gmail.com (Nataly Castelblanco) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:27:44 -0600 Subject: [MARMAM] Central and South America Student Chapter Message-ID: <77ba1a30907011027t24150a43kd9fae17550e33798@mail.gmail.com> Hello! (Apologies for cross-posting) We are pleased to announce the creation of the new *Central and South America Student Chapter* of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. You are invited to join us if you are a *current student* working on Aquatic Mammals in Central or South America. Please take a look and enjoy it! http://csachapter.webs.com/ -- Nataly Castelblanco-Mart?nez, Ph.D. Candidate Doctorado en Ecolog?a y Desarrollo Sustentable El Colegio de la Frontera Sur - ECOSUR Av. Centenario Km 5.5 C.P. 77900 Chetumal, Quintana Roo. Mexico -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From christophe.johnson at mac.com Wed Jul 1 20:51:14 2009 From: christophe.johnson at mac.com (Chris Johnson) Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:51:14 +1000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Online Documentary about the DTAG and Beaked Whales Message-ID: Dear Marmam readers, We have produced a new video as part of our online documentary series, "Whale Trackers". "DIVING WITH BEAKED WHALES" explores research using the DTAG. We interview scientists Mark Johnson of the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution and Natacha Aguilar de Soto of the University of La Laguna in depth about the DTAG, their field work on El Hierro in the Canary Islands, and their efforts to discover more about these elusive marine mammals. Website - http://www.whaletrackers.com/beaked-whales/ In addition, we are developing new documentaries as part of the Whale Trackers series for 2010/2011. These 10-20 minute programs aim to communicate the latest science about marine mammals and their environment to the general public. If you are interested in participating in the series, please send us an email. ( address - chris.johnson at whaletrackers.com ) Enjoy, Chris CHRIS JOHNSON www.chrisjohnsonimages.com Director - earthOCEAN media www.earthOCEAN.tv Producer - "Whale Trackers" A series exploring whales,dolphins and porpoises around the world. www.whaletrackers.com Board of Directors - Filmmakers for Conservation www.filmmakersforconservation.org email: christophe.johnson at mac.com chris.johnson at whaletrackers.com phone: +61 (03) 9917-2251 (australia) cell: +61 (0) 449-188-770 (australia) skype: chris.earthocean From j.barnett at vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk Fri Jul 3 08:21:26 2009 From: j.barnett at vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk (Barnett, James) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:21:26 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Post mortem evidence for bottlenose dolphin interactions with species other than harbour porpoises Message-ID: <7A885E8FE1C71C488D974EC601FAA6900579A217@vla-exchn1.cvlnt.vla.gov.uk> Reports of violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the coastal waters of the UK are well documented. Examination of stranded cetaceans in south west England conducted under the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme has also found pathology consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction in seven animals from four other species since 2001, including two juvenile and two adult common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), one juvenile pilot whale (Globicephala melas), one juvenile Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) and one adult striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Although traumatic lesions recorded were often not as severe as those found in harbour porpoises, it is probable that the interactions did contribute to stranding and/or death in all four juvenile animals examined. Retrospective analysis of photographs of stranded cetaceans also revealed rake (teeth) marks consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction in a stranded common dolphin as early as 1992. A number of causes have been suggested for these interactions in UK stranded harbour porpoises and it is possible that any combination of these factors may also be implicated in cases occurring in other species. The initial findings in the south west were presented as a poster at the European Cetacean Society conference in 2009 and a number of attendees came forward detailing similar findings in their own strandings programmes. Although a more detailed paper has already been accepted for publication on the SW England cases, we would be interested to hear from those at ECS and other colleagues internationally who have evidence of similar interactions, potentially with a view to production of a paper that could consider any spatiotemporal trends in the data set and further exploration of possible causes. James Barnett, Nick Davison, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Truro, UK Paul Jepson, Rob Deaville, Institute of Zoology, London, UK (Contact: James Barnett, e mail: j.barnett at vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk ) Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) VLA is hosting the international conference, Animal Diseases 2009, from 2nd - 4th September at Royal Holloway, University of London. We would like to invite submission of scientific papers for presentation and nominations for the inaugural Rooker prize. For further information, including sponsorship opportunities, see http://www.defra.gov.uk/vla/news/new_conf_vla2009.htm This email and any attachments is intended for the named recipient only. If you have received it in error you have no authority to use, disclose, store or copy any of its contents and you should destroy it and inform the sender. Whilst this email and associated attachments will have been checked for known viruses whilst within VLA systems we can accept no responsibility once it has left our systems. Communications on VLA's computer systems may be monitored and/or recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From H.M.McConnell at massey.ac.nz Sun Jul 5 17:01:38 2009 From: H.M.McConnell at massey.ac.nz (McConnell, Helen) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 12:01:38 +1200 Subject: [MARMAM] Conference Announcement - Australasian Wildlife Disease Assoc & Wildlife Society of the NZ Veterinary Assoc Message-ID: <222EC917D7D39047B95749A8411C2BE86776C4EB16@TUR-EXCHMBX.massey.ac.nz> [cid:image001.jpg at 01C9FE31.846FECB0] [cid:image002.gif at 01C9FE31.846FECB0] WILDLIFE DISEASE ASSOCIATION (AUSTRALASIAN SECTION) AND WILDLIFE SOCIETY of the NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY ASSOCIATION - JOINT CONFERENCE 2009 10-16 December, Woodstock Lodge, The Catlins, New Zealand Registrations are now open The Australasian Section Wildlife Disease Association and Wildlife Society of the New Zealand Veterinary Association combined conference will be held during 10 - 16 December 2009 in the Catlins, South Otago, New Zealand. The Catlins is an internationally renowned wilderness area with natural features that will compliment the conference programme well. Viewing of a number of threatened endemic species will be possible during the conference with New Zealand sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins having population concentrations in this region. Other features of the Catlins include old growth coastal forest remnants, the Catlins River valley, a fossilised forest of geological interest, an abundance of native passerine species - tuis, fantails, bell birds and many wild southern beaches. We look forward to preparing a top quality six day conference programme. The first three days will have a strong New Zealand focus in line with the Wildlife Society's past programmes, with a broader Australasian focus for the remainder of the programme. See http://wildlife.massey.ac.nz/meetings/meetings.asp for conference information, registrations and abstract submission forms. Reduced "early-bird" registration rates are on offer until 28th August Helen McConnell (MSc) Oiled Wildlife Response - Project Administrator New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences Massey University Private Bag 11-222 Palmerston North 4442 New Zealand Phone +64-6-356-9099 extn 2765 Email: H.M.McConnell at massey.ac.nz http://wildlife.massey.ac.nz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4432 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 6480 bytes Desc: image002.gif URL: From karsten.brensing at wdcs.org Mon Jul 6 00:05:34 2009 From: karsten.brensing at wdcs.org (Karsten Brensing) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 08:05:34 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] noise monitoring, especially noise mapping and modeling Message-ID: Dear Marmamers, in the light of European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (DIRECTIVE 2008/56/EC) I'm conducting a feasibility study concerning noise (descriptor 11) for the German Federal Environment Agency (http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/uba-info-e/index.htm) . I'm searching for all information's concerning noise monitoring especially noise mapping and modelling in the marine environment and would be happy for any support. I am aware of the following projects (see below) but I would be happy for any further links. I'm especially interested in people who would like to share their experience or in companies which could be helpful. Thanks in advanced and kind regards Karsten Brensing (please respond directly to my e mail address: karsten.brensing at wdcs.org) Incomplete list of project: * Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (Boston, USA): http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/science/passive_acoustics.html * Orcalab (Vancouver Island, Kanada): www.orcalab.org * PUGET SOUNDSCAPE (Seattle, USA): http://homepage.mac.com/brettbecker/soundscape/pugetsoundscape.html * Scripps whale acoustic lab: http://cetus.ucsd.edu/projects_Main.html * Monitoring Underwater Noise Melbourne: http://www.channelproject.com.au/global/docs/EMON_080205_Monitoring_Underwater_Noise.pdf * Ocean Tracking Network (Dalhousie University, Kanada): http://www.oceantrackingnetwork.org * University of Catalunia: www.lab.upc.es/mapa * TNO: Assessment of natural and anthropogenic sound sources and acoustic propagation in the North Sea ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Karsten Brensing Conservation Manager Germany WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (www.wdcs-de.org) WDCS Altostr.43 81245 M?nchen Germany Tel.: + 49 89 4581 9943 Fax: + 49 89 6100 2394 Mobil: + 49 176 2267 5679 E-Mail. karsten.brensing at wdcs.org karstenbre -->www.skype.com ** Die Tagung der Internationalen Walfangkommission (IWC) ist vorbei, aber der Kampf gegen den Walfang dauert an: www.wdcs-de.org ** WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment. Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society "WDCS": Registered in England and Wales No. 2737421 WDCS, Brookfield House, 38 St. Paul street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN!5 1LJ. Registered Charity No. 1014705. Tel: 01249 449500 Fax: 01249449501 WDCS Shop is a trading name of WDCS (Trading) Limited (Registered in England No. 2593116) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (Charity No. 1014705) and gift aids all post tax profits to the charity. WDCS Wildlife Centre: Spey Bay, Moray, IV32 7PJ. Tel: 01343 820339 Fax: 01343 829065 WDCS Australasia: WDCS, PO Box 720, Port Adelaide Business Centre, South Australia, Australia 5015. Tel: 1300 360 442 Fax: 08 8242 1595 WDCS Deutschland: WDCS, Altostra?e 43, D-81245, M?nchen. Tel: 089 6100 2393 Fax: 089 6100 2394 WDCS North America: 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA 02360-4044 Tel: 1.888.MYWHALE (1.888.699.4253) WDCS South America: Potosi 2087, B1636BUA- Olivos, Buenos Aires . Tel: +5411 47963191 Please note that WDCS email accounts will NOT accept attachments larger than 3Mb. If you need to send files to this addressee please contact them for alternative arrangements. This e-mail's contents are confidential to the intended recipient(s) at the e-mail address to which it has been sent. It may not be disclosed, copied to, circulated or used by anyone other than the intended addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or have received this transmission in error please telephone the originator immediately or ring +44 (0)1249 449500. Any opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WDCS. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jte at dmu.dk Sun Jul 5 13:46:13 2009 From: jte at dmu.dk (Teilmann, Jonas) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 22:46:13 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Ph.D. scholarship in porpoise acoustics Message-ID: Dear MARMAM Please post the following: How do harbour porpoises utilize their natural environment and how do they respond to noise? Aarhus University, the National Environmental Research Institute in Denmark (NERI) and the Graduate School concerning Sense organs, Nerve systems, Behaviour, and Communication (SNAK), invite applications for a Ph.D. scholarship in research on acoustic and diving behaviour of free ranging wild harbour porpoises starting around 1 November 2009. The Ph.D. project involves tagging of by-caught live harbour porpoises in Danish waters to study the movements, diving and echolocation behaviour. The instruments on the tagged porpoises will also record diving behaviour and body movements during echolocation so detailed utilisation of their natural habitat can be investigated for the first time. Furthermore behavioural and acoustical recordings of porpoises during play-back experiments with anthropogenic sounds will provide important information on how porpoises react to different noise conditions. The position involves flexible stand-by and active field work mainly in the summer months when harbour porpoises are incidentally caught alive. The Ph.D. will mainly be based at NERI in Roskilde. The project will be supervised by Senior Scientist Jonas Teilmann, Associate professor Kim Mouritsen and Associate Professor (Emeritus) Lee Miller. Applicants should preferably be recent graduates in the field of animal bioacoustics and behavioural ecology and preferably, but not necessarily, have experience in marine mammal research. Candidates having quantitative experience with time sequential data analysis, large data sets, mechanical and electronic skills, and experience with field work at sea will be preferred. The duration of the Ph.D.-contract is three years. Within the contract period, the candidate is expected to complete his/her research with publications (or manuscripts accepted or in press) and a dissertation all written in English. Salary will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Before applying, candidates are strongly encouraged to consult the full project description at http://science.au.dk/en/studies/phd-studies/for-applicants/calls/aktuelle-runde/ or http://www.snak.biology.sdu.dk. The closing date for the application is August 1st 2009. To apply, candidates should fill out the electronic application form (http://science.au.dk/en/studies/phd-studies/for-applicants/applying-for-admission/) including CV (with a brief description of research interests, previous employment and publication list), documentation of academic degrees, reprints of published articles, and names and contact information for three referees. For further information on the project please contact Dr. Jonas Teilmann, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, e-mail: jte at dmu.dk. For further information on the application process please contact Lene Kjeldsteen Aarhus University, e-mail: lk@jte at dmu.dk National Environmental Research Institute Department for Arctic Environment Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399 DK-4000 Roskilde Denmark -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cetonews at yahoo.it Sat Jul 4 03:19:20 2009 From: cetonews at yahoo.it (Ceto News) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 10:19:20 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [MARMAM] JMATE new issue of the marine animals journal Message-ID: <965630.43367.qm@web28414.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> The current issue of The Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology (Volume 2, Issue 1, June 2009) is now available. The journal is accessible to the public free of charge and is electronically published by the Oceanographic Environmental Research Society (OERS). Table of contents include: ? 1) The short?term impact of dolphin-watching on the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) in western Australia. 2) Cetaceans? occurrence off the west central Portugal coast: a compilation of data from whaling, observations of opportunity and boat-based surveys. ? http://www.oers.ca/journal/journal.html ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gem_v34 at hotmail.com Mon Jul 6 16:33:31 2009 From: gem_v34 at hotmail.com (Gemma Veneruso) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:33:31 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Sea Watch Foundation Cetacean Survey Training Course 2009 Message-ID: Cetacean Survey Training Course in New Quay, West Wales Join a short course to learn all about British cetaceans, how to survey for them, and contribute to their conservation! DATE FOR THE 2009 TRAINING COURSES IS SET! Two-days weekend course, 5th-6th September 2009 The course will consist of illustrated lectures and video presentations as well as headland watches and boat surveys aboard a local research vessel. The area where land and boat trips will be undertaken is the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a place well-known for the presence and high sighting frequency of bottlenose dolphins (the largest population in the UK), harbour porpoises and grey seals. These populations are protected in the SAC following the 1992 EU Species and Habitat Directive. The Sea Watch Foundation is the most experienced organisation in the UK for training observers and students interested in marine mammals, having run courses for over ten years. It has provided training for staff from all three national statutory conservation agencies, the Environment Agency, CEFAS, Department of the Environment, Wildlife Trusts, Royal Navy, and MMOs working with the oil and gas industries. Most of the field guides on cetaceans on the market in UK have actually been written or had consultations from the Sea Watch Foundation. Thus we hope we can guarantee a very high level training course given by highly experienced staff. The lectures and videos will focus on general biology and classification of cetaceans, species identification, conservation issues facing UK cetaceans, and recommended monitoring survey methods. The course will be based at New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales, where our Welsh office is based, and will provide an unparalleled opportunity to see marine mammals in the wild and to contribute to cetacean conservation in Britain. The practical element of the course will combine both land and boat-based surveys allowing participants to directly learn how to conduct systematic watches and fill in standardised recording forms. Land and Boat-based work will teach participants the skills needed for: identifying the various cetaceans species found in the area estimating group size and distinguishing between calves, juveniles and adults determining cetacean behaviours assessing sea state and other key environmental features learning some basic photographic techniques aimed at identifying single individuals Please note that, due to the unforeseeable weather conditions, the program might change and, in case of particularly adverse weather, the field trips may have to be modified. All participants will receive a detailed manual on how to record and monitor cetaceans, a species identification booklet, and a certificate for completing the course. The courses will be taught by experienced and enthusiastic staff from the Sea Watch Foundation. The price for the course is ?180.00 and includes lectures, boat and land surveys, insurance and all the materials provided, but excludes meals, travel and accommodation. To book a place or for further information please contact Sightings Officer, Gemma Veneruso. Tel: 01545 561227, gemma.veneruso at seawatchfoundation.org.uk. _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organise, edit, and share your photos. http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/134665338/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Jean-Francois.Gosselin at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Tue Jul 7 08:47:58 2009 From: Jean-Francois.Gosselin at dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Gosselin, Jean-Francois) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:47:58 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] July 20th is the early registration deadline for the SMM 18th Biennial Conference in Quebec City Message-ID: July 20th is the early registration deadline for the SMM 18th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS Save between $25 US and $120 US by taking advantage of the early registration which will remain open until July 20th. This is only 2 weeks away! Please note that July 20th will also be the early registration deadline for exhibitors and vendors. For those of you who have submitted an abstract, results about acceptance of submissions will be announced on July 10th, in time to benefit from the early registration rates. For students looking for some support, travel grant applications will be accepted until July 12th. You can find all the information related to the conference and registration on the website: http://conference.marinemammalogy.org. Registration is done online using a single transaction with credit card or Paypal. Optional extras, such as banquet tickets, dinner cruise on the St Lawrence River and the Conference Poster by Pieter Folkens, Marine Mammals from the Northern Cryosphere, can also be purchased online through separate transactions. Don't forget to look under the Program tab, to find out and register to the 23 workshops and symposia that will be held at the Quebec Conference Centre on October 10th and 11th. If you don't already know, the 18th biennial conference will be held at the Quebec Convention Centre (http://www.convention.qc.ca) in Quebec City, Canada from October 12th to 16th 2009. It is a nice time to visit Quebec City that celebrated its 400th Anniversary in 2008 (http://www.quebecregion.com). Jean-Fran?ois Gosselin 18th Biennial Conference registrar congres_smm2009 at dfo-mpo.gc.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Rosa_Meehan at fws.gov Tue Jul 7 12:28:43 2009 From: Rosa_Meehan at fws.gov (Rosa_Meehan at fws.gov) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:28:43 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Announcement - US Fish and Wildlife Service Walrus Program Supervisor Message-ID: Walrus Program Supervisor Position Available US Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals Management Program Anchorage, Alaska APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL: Friday, August 07, 2009 For more information, please contact: Rosa Meehan Division Chief, Marine Mammals Management Email: rosa_meehan at fws.gov _ _ _ _ _ _ The Marine Mammals Management Program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking a highly motivated and conservation oriented individual to lead the Walrus Program. The office is responsible for the conservation and management of Pacific walrus, polar bears, and sea otters and the goal is to maintain these marine mammal populations as healthy, functioning component of the marine ecosystem. The program takes an ecosystem approach to management, carried out through the cooperative efforts of many partners. Management and research efforts are coordinated at the local, state and international level. Current challenges focus on understanding the effects of climate change, notably the extreme retreat of sea ice, on the ice-dependent species and developing appropriate management strategies. Additional information about the program is at: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/index.htm The ideal candidate will have a background in population biology and arctic marine ecology, ability to work with people, and skills needed to provide leadership to highly motivated and independent professionals. Minimum requirements include at least one year of specialized experience and an advanced degree in biological sciences. For additional information, see the job announcement on USA Jobs: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?jobid=81297752 The full time position is located in Anchorage, Alaska. Some travel is required, including international travel as well as travel to meetings and for field work within the State. Salary is at the GS 13 level and is commensurate with qualifications and previous government experience. See job announcement for details. Applications must be submitted through USA Jobs, details can be accessed through the Job Announcement listed above or by going to: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov and searching by title (Supervisory Wildlife Biologist GS-486-13) and agency (FWS). For further information about the FWS, please go to: http://www.fws.gov/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Alecia.VanAtta at noaa.gov Tue Jul 7 19:59:06 2009 From: Alecia.VanAtta at noaa.gov (Lisa VanAtta) Date: Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:59:06 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] NMFS Take Reduction Team (TRT) Coordinator - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Message-ID: <4A540B7A.8010200@noaa.gov> TAKE REDUCTION TEAM (TRT) COORDINATOR NOAA Fisheries Service's Pacific Islands Regional Office is currently accepting applications for a Take Reduction Team (TRT) Coordinator. The person filling this position will ensure Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) compliance with statutory authorities pertaining to take reduction teams, including implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Section 118, coordinating efforts with the Office of Protected Resources, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, the State of Hawaii, and other partners and stakeholders. The person filling this position will also: lead PIRO responsibilities for MMPA take reduction rulemaking, permitting, and coordination with co-managers/stakeholders; serve as PIRO lead on cetacean Take Reduction Issues; and develop PIRO's cetacean take reduction program. The deadline to apply is July 17, 2009. For more information regarding duties, evaluations, and applications, please refer to www.usajobs.gov. The job announcement number is: NMF-PIR-2009-0015. The agency contact is Barbara Schloetter, barbara.w.schloetter at noaa.gov . NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office's Protected Resources Division is dedicated to protecting and recovering endangered and threatened species of sea turtles, monk seals and cetaceans as mandated by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Through management, conservation and recovery efforts as well as public outreach and education, the program strives to ensure the recovery and survival of the protected marine species of the Pacific Islands Region for future generations. More information is available at www.fpir.noaa.gov Thank you for your interest - Lisa Van Atta Assistant Regional Administrator Protected Resources Division Pacific Islands Regional Office NOAA Fisheries Service 1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 alecia.vanatta at noaa.gov -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: alecia_vanatta.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 374 bytes Desc: not available URL: From S.Allen at murdoch.edu.au Tue Jul 7 21:53:28 2009 From: S.Allen at murdoch.edu.au (Simon Allen) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:28 +0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication References: Message-ID: Dear friends and colleagues, We are pleased to notify you of our recent publication in Marine Ecology Progress Series. The short essay is a contribution to the forthcoming theme section 'Acoustics in marine ecology' (http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/theme-sections/forthcoming-theme-sections/), but has broader application to impact assessment and research beyond acoustics and including terrestrial ecology. The pre-press abstract is available at http://www.int-res.com/prepress/m07979.html or you can request the full PDF from either of us. This paper is dedicated to our dearly missed co-author, the late Dr. Amy Samuels. Kind regards, Lars (l.bejder at murdoch.edu.au) and Simon (s.allen at murdoch.edu.au) ---------- Bejder, L., Samuels, A., Whitehead, H., Finn, H. and Allen, S. (2009). Impact assessment research: use and misuse of habituation, sensitisation and tolerance in describing wildlife responses to anthropogenic stimuli. Marine Ecology Progress Series. doi: 10.3354/meps07979 ABSTRACT: Studies on the effects of anthropogenic activity on wildlife aim to provide a sound scientific basis for management. However, misinterpretation of the theoretical basis for these studies can jeopardise this objective and lead to management outcomes that are detrimental to the wildlife they are intended to protect. Misapplication of the terms 'habituation', 'sensitisation' and 'tolerance' in impact studies, for example, can lead to fundamental misinterpretations of research findings. Habituation is often used incorrectly to refer to any form of moderation in wildlife response to human disturbance, rather than to describe a progressive reduction in response to stimuli that are perceived as neither aversive nor beneficial. This misinterpretation, when coupled with the widely held assumption that habituation has a positive or neutral outcome for animals, can lead to inappropriate decisions about the threats human interactions pose to wildlife. We review the conceptual framework for the use of habituation, sensitisation and tolerance, and provide a set of principles for their appropriate application in studies of behavioural responses to anthropogenic stimuli. We describe how cases of presumed habituation or sensitisation may actually represent differences in the tolerance levels of wildlife to anthropogenic activity. This distinction is vital because impact studies must address (1) the various mechanisms by which differing tolerance levels can occur; and (2) the range of explanations for habituation and sensitisation-type responses. We show that only one mechanism leads to true behavioural habituation (or sensitisation), while a range of mechanisms can lead to changes in tolerance. KEY WORDS: Habituation ? Sensitisation ? Tolerance ? Human disturbance ? Wildlife management ? Conservation ? Impact assessment ---------- Simon Allen Research Fellow, Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University South St., Murdoch Western Australia 6150 mob: +61(0) 416 083 653 ph: +61(0)8 9360 2823 fax: +61(0)8 9360 6303 email: s.allen at murdoch.edu.au web: http://www.cffr.murdoch.edu.au/mucru/simon_allen.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dagmar_fertl at hotmail.com Thu Jul 9 15:55:14 2009 From: dagmar_fertl at hotmail.com (Dagmar Fertl) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 17:55:14 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals, vol 35(2), 2009 Message-ID: Dear Marmam and ECS-mail subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will get duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The following are abstracts from the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals, the scientific peer-reviewed journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). Abstracts are presented as a courtesy to the EAAM and the journal editors ? Drs. Jeanette Thomas (managing editor; aquaticmammals at gmail.com) and Kathleen Dudzinski (co-editor; kdudzinski at dolphincommunicationproject.org). The journal publishes papers dealing with all aspects of the care, conservation, medicine and science of aquatic mammals. The journal receives support of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA). For more information on the journal, please go to: http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/. Contact information is provided for the corresponding author for each article. Please do not contact the listserve editors or me for pdfs or copies of the articles. Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and these postings. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Ziphius EcoServices dfertl at gmail.com http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com Winter, A.,* R. J. Foy, & K. Wynne. 2009. Seasonal differences in prey availability around a Steller sea lion haulout and rookery in the Gulf of Alaska. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):145-162. * E-mail: awinter at vt.edu Abundance and distribution of fish biomass were surveyed around a Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) haulout (nonbreeding) and rookery (breeding) site in the Gulf of Alaska to test the hypothesis that seasonal occupation of either site was related to the availability of prey. The haulout and rookery are located 30 nmi (55.56 km) apart at Long Island and Marmot Island in the Central Gulf of Alaska region where the Steller sea lion population is slowly recovering from a severe decline. Surveys conducted in May and November of 2002 (just before and after the breeding season) showed significantly higher prey energy density (total fish biomass density ? energy content; kJ nmi-2) around the Long Island haulout than around the Marmot Island rookery. A survey conducted in July of 2002 (during breeding season) showed prey energy densities that were not significantly different between Long Island and Marmot Island but that were more concentrated in a single area by Marmot Island. Major prey species groups in all surveys were arrowtooth flounder, walleye pol-lock, cod, and soles; all are known prey of Steller sea lions in this area. Steller sea lion counts at Long Island during nonbreeding seasons from 2000 to 2004 correlated significantly with midwater prey energy densities. Steller sea lion counts at Marmot Island over the same period did not correlate with midwater prey energy densities in either breeding or nonbreeding seasons. The results of the study indicate that prey availability may be an important factor in the choice of haulout sites by Steller sea lions, and the higher prey availability at rookery sites provides some advantage. ******************************************* Schaefer, M.,* J. S. Reif, J. D. Goldstein, C. N. Ryan, P. A. Fair, & G. D. Bossart. 2009. Serological evidence of exposure to selected viral, bacterial, and protozoal pathogens in free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):163-170. * E-mail: aschaefer at hboi.fau.edu Sera from free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dol?phins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (IRL) (n = 122), and the estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina (CHS) (n = 82) were collected from 2003 to 2007 and ana?lyzed for antibodies to several bacterial and viral pathogens. Serological evidence of exposure to Chlamydophila psittaci; Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses; and West Nile virus represents the first reports of these pathogens in cetacean populations. Antibodies to Eastern and Venezualan encephalitis viruses and to West Nile virus were detected only in IRL dol?phins. Positive titers to Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella abortus (rivanol and card tests) were identified in dolphins from both locations. The prevalence of antibodies to Brucella spp. on the card test was significantly higher in bottlenose dolphins sampled in the IRL compared to the CHS location. This study establishes baseline seroprev?alence for several zoonotic pathogens in these two populations. ******************************************* Hawkins, E.R.* & D. F. Gartside. 2009. Patterns of whistles emitted by wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) during a provisioning program. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):171-186. E-mail: elizabeth.hawkins at scu.edu.au To facilitate and coordinate the complexities of fission-fusion societies, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) have developed a multilayered acoustic communication system to effectively transmit signals in the marine environment. Among the many acoustic emissions produced by dolphins, whistles are thought to play a major communicative role. Little is understood about the functions of the diverse whistle repertoire of wild bottlenose dolphins and the influence human activities can have on these sounds. This study provides a detailed investigation into the use and diversity of whistles by a group of eight wild bottlenose dolphins that participate in a provisioning program at Tangalooma, Moreton Island, Australia. Acoustic recordings and concurrent behavioural observations were made during evening feeding sessions. Behaviours were divided into three activities: (1) milling, (2) scanning/foraging (excluding human provisioning), and (3) socialising. Pod separation occasions were also examined. Whistles were classified as either stereotyped or nonstereotyped and divided into five tonal classes based on the shape of the fundamental frequency: (1) sine, (2) up-sweep, (3) down-sweep, (4) flat, and (5) concave. Whistles were then catalogued into distinct whistles types. From 943 min of recordings, 5,682 whistles were analyzed that then were catalogued into 68 distinct whistle types of which 18 were stereotyped and 50 were nonstereotyped. The repetition rate (x = 1.12 whistles per min per dolphin [w/m/d]; SD = 0.61) and diversity of whistles varied between feeding sessions but were not related to the number of dolphins. Distinct whistle types were divided into common or uncommon categories to facilitate correspondence analysis to examine associations between whistles and behaviour activities. Results showed that around 38% of common whistles and 84% of uncommon whistles were closely associated with behaviour activities, particularly socialising and scanning/foraging. Sine whistles were the only tonal class associated with pod separation. This study provides further evidence of the communicative functions of whistles across the repertoire of wild bottlenose dolphins. **************************************************************** Lanyon, J.M.*, H. L. Sneath, J. R. Ovenden, D. Broderick, & R. K. Bonde. 2009. Sexing sirenians: Validation of visual and molecular sex determination in both wild dugongs (Dugong dugon) and Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Aquatic Mammals 35(2):187-192. * E-mail: j.lanyon at uq.edu.au Sexing wild marine mammals that show little to no sexual dimorphism is challenging. For sire?nians that are difficult to catch or approach closely, molecular sexing from tissue biopsies offers an alternative method to visual discrimination. This paper reports the results of a field study to validate the use of two sexing methods: (1) visual discrim?ination of sex vs (2) molecular sexing based on a multiplex PCR assay which amplifies the male-specific SRY gene and differentiates ZFX and ZFY gametologues. Skin samples from 628 dug?ongs (Dugong dugon) and 100 Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) were analysed and assigned as male or female based on molecu?lar sex. These individuals were also assigned a sex based on either direct observation of the genitalia and/or the association of the individual with a calf. Individuals of both species showed 93 to 96% con?gruence between visual and molecular sexing. For the remaining 4 to 7%, the discrepancies could be explained by human error. To mitigate this error rate, we recommend using both of these robust techniques, with routine inclusion of sex primers into microsatellite panels employed for identity, along with trained field observers and stringent sample handling. ************************************************ Mellor, L., L. N. Cooper*, J. Torre, R. L. Brownell, Jr. 2009. Paedomorphic ossification in porpoises with an emphasis on the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Aquatic Mammals 35(2):193-202. E-mail: l.noelle.cooper at gmail.com Heterochrony, the change in timing of develop?mental processes, is thought to be a key process shaping the numerous limb morphologies of tet?rapods. Through a delayed offset in digit devel?opment, all cetaceans (i.e., whales, dolphins, and porpoises) have evolved supernumary phalan?ges (hyperphalangy). Moreover, some toothed cetaceans further alter digital morphologies by delayed endochondral and perichondral ossifica?tion of individual elements. In the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), these paedomorphic pat?terns have created poorly ossified phalangeal ele?ments. However, no studies have addressed this morphology in other porpoise taxa. This study documents the timing of carpal and digital epi?physeal ossification in the poorly studied vaquita (Phocoena sinus) based on radiographs (n = 18) of known-age specimens. Patterns of vaquita manus ossification were compared between other porpoise and delphinid taxa. Adult vaquitas are paedomorphic in carpal, metacarpal, and digital development as they maintain a juvenile ossifica?tion pattern relative to that of other porpoise spe?cies of equivalent ages. Vaquitas also ossify fewer carpal elements as compared to other porpoise and some delphinid cetaceans, and ossification arrests relative to that of the harbor porpoise. Vaquitas also display sexual dimorphism as females reach a greater body size and display more ossified ele?ments in the manus relative to their paedomorphic male cohorts *********************************************** Haarr, M.L., L. D. Charlton, J. M. Terhune*, & E. A. Trippel. 2009. Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) presence patterns at an aquaculture cage site in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Aquatic Mammals 35(2): 203-211. E-mail: terhune at unbsj.ca Finfish aquaculture is a prominent industry in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. The distribution of har?bour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Bay during the summer and fall may be impacted by the presence of offshore cages or the activities of workers on the site. Harbour porpoise presence near and within an aquaculture cage site was stud?ied using visual observations during the summer of 2006 and by monitoring echolocation signals using T-PODs during the summer and autumn of 2006 and 2007. At least one harbour porpoise was sighted per hour 61% of the time among or near the cages. Porpoise occasionally surfaced within the cage site when workers were present. Mother-calf pairs used the within-cages area proportionately more than adults and juveniles. The porpoise were temporarily displaced by high disturbance activi?ties such as cage cleaning with pressure hoses, but quickly returned to the area when the disturbance ended. Echolocation activity was lowest during the day, increased in the evening, and peaked between midnight and dawn. This pattern was evident on the offshore and inshore side of the cages and, to a lesser extent, at a non-aquaculture location farther along the coastline (2007 only). In August of both years, the echolocation patterns were similar, even though in 2007 there were no fish in the cages and much less worker activity than in 2006 when all 15 cages contained Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Echolocation activity near a T-POD typically lasted for no more than 10 min or for at least 1 h, suggesting that the porpoise were either passing by the area or staying to feed, respectively. The presence of the aquaculture cage site under study did not appear to be displacing harbour porpoise from the area except during short intervals when high disturbance activities such as a food delivery by barge or cage cleaning were occurring. *********************************************** Webster, T. A.*, S. M. Dawson, & E. Slooten. 2009. Evidence of sex segregation in Hector?s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori). Aquatic Mammals 35(2):212-219. *E-mail: trudi.webster at xtra.co.nz Segregation by sex is evident at a variety of levels in many birds, fishes, and mammals. Segregation has been observed in marine mammals to vary?ing degrees, but it was previously undocumented in Hector?s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori). Forty-three groups (of group size ? 5) were sexed using an underwater pole-camera; 91% of groups consisting of two to five individuals (n = 32) were either all male or all female. Sexes were obtained from an additional seven groups containing calves. All of the adults associating with mothers and their young were female. This research suggests that Hector?s dolphin groups are highly segregated by sex. Sex segregation might have implications for reproduction in Hector?s dolphins, including difficulty in finding a mate as local populations decline. *********************************************** Yu, J. Y. Sun, & Z. Xia. 2009. The rescue, rehabilitation, and Release of a Stranded Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides sunameri) at Bohai Bay of China. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):220-225. E-mail address: drxia at 126.com A stranded female west Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides sunameri) was found in the shallows of Bohai Bay, China, on 30 March 2008. It was moderately dehydrated. After transportation to Beijing Aquarium, medical treatment and rehabilitation were conducted. Under microscopic examination, the ova of Nasitrema spp. and Zalophotrema hepaticum were found in the feces. This is a new host record for the trematodes Nasitrema spp. and Z. hepaticum infecting a finless porpoise. Antibiotics were administered to prevent secondary infection, while supportive therapies, including fluid and electrolyte supplements, were provided. The porpoise was released on 6 June 2008, approximately 18.5 km offshore in Xingang, Tianjin, China. This is the first report of a rescue, rehabilitation, and release of a stranded marine mammal in Bohai Bay, China. ********************************************* Fudge, D.S.*, L. J. Szewciw, & A. N. Schwalb. 2009. Morphology and development of blue whale baleen: An annotated translation of Tycho Tullberg?s classic 1883 paper. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):226-252. *no email address provided with article. Address: Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada Herein we present an annotated translation of the classic paper by Tycho Tullberg on the struc?ture and development of baleen in blue whales. The three blue whale fetuses on which this study was based were obtained from a whaling station in Norway during a time when blue whales were still abundant enough to support a whaling indus?try. The value of this text for the modern reader is that it provides a glimpse into the mechanisms of development of baleen in the largest rorqual whale, which is something that modern biolo?gists are unlikely to be able to replicate for a long time. Tullberg?s careful morphology, histology, and developmental thinking provide a coherent account of how the elaborate baleen racks develop from simple epidermal and dermal origins. The fig?ures, which we have reproduced here, are superb and provide a rare window into the morphology of blue whale baleen at three fetal stages. The histol?ogy is excellent for its time and provides insights into the various keratin tissue phases that make up the baleen plates and bristles as well as the enig?matic Zwischensubstanz that acts as a spacer and possible shock-absorber between plates. ********************************************* Silva, F. M. O., J. E. Vergara-Parente, J. K. N. Gomes, M. N. Teixeira, F. L. N. Attademo, & J. C. R. Silva. 2009. Blood chemistry of Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus): Age variations. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):253-258. E-mail: fernanda.pxboi at gmail.com The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) is the most endangered aquatic mammal in Brazil. Sampling blood data from such critically endangered marine mammal species is extremely challenging. Although several hematological studies have been developed for captive manatees, captivity studies addressing the environmental and physiological effects on blood values are scarce. The present work describes blood biochemistry values for captive Antillean manatee adults and calves and verifies the occurrence of possible physiological adjustments due to age, sex, and dietary influences. Blood from 13 clinically healthy manatees (eight calves and five adults) were analyzed for 13 blood serum chemistry parameters using a semi-automatic analyzer. Descriptive analysis was performed for all parameters, and differences between sex and age were determined. Calves had higher means of urea (6.29 ? 5.58 mg/dL), total proteins (5.07 ? 0.94 g/dL), globulin (3.06 ? 1.32 g/dL), and alanine aminotransferase (6.19 ? 2.18 U/mL), levels, and lower means of creatinine (1.42 ? 0.64 mg/dL), aspartate aminotransferase (7.24 ? 3.21 U/mL), phosphate (3.03 ? 1.63 mg/dL), and uric acid (0.71 ? 0.17 g/dL) than adults. Further studies are necessary, especially when considering handling and alimentary management in captivity, to provide important data for better monitoring and clinical management of manatees. ***************************************************** Hawkins, E. R., & D. F. Gartside. 2009. Interactive behaviours of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) during encounters with vessels. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):259-268. E-mail: elizabeth.hawkins at scu.edu.au Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) are one of the most frequently encountered cetaceans in coastal regions and form the focus of a growing commercial dolphin-watching industry. Bottlenose dolphins are renowned for approaching and interacting with vessels. By obtaining information on the occurrence of interactive behaviours, further insight into the influence of vessel encounters on dolphins can be gained. This research examined the interactive behaviours (defined as bow-riding, wake-riding, and sustained approaches) displayed by Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the presence of different vessel types (motor vessel or sailing yacht) in a region with relatively low levels of commercial dolphin-based tourism activities. The patterns of acoustic emissions produced during these interactions were also recorded. Results indicated that a relatively small proportion of the population displayed interactive behaviours (22% of groups observed). Of the groups that displayed interactive behaviours, 59% contained at least one calf, and most were engaged in the behavioural state of milling (36%). The vessel type (p < 0.05) and vessel activity (p < 0.05) both significantly influenced the occurrence of interactive behaviour of the dolphins. More interactions per hour occurred with the motor vessel (0.32) compared to the yacht (0.26). The mean duration of interactions was 3 min (SD = 9.07). During interactions with vessels, dolphins emitted a diverse repertoire of whistles with a high repetition rate suggesting that either the group cohesion was affected or that there were higher levels of excitation. It is recommended that monitoring the levels and types of interactive behaviours of dolphins during vessel encounters may be useful to ensure that dolphin-watching activities do not negatively impact social cohesion and long-term survival of dolphin populations. ****************************************************** Rivamonte, L. A. 2009. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) double-slit pupil asymmetries enhance vision. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):269-280. E-mail: lorenzo.andre.rivamonte at us.army.mil Geometries of the iris, retinal cell distributions, and the optical characteristics of the lens and cornea have evolved to optimize the visual adaptations of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) to the oceanic environment. Under high ambient light conditions, the operculum of the iris shields the lens and forms two asymmetrical slit pupils. Under these conditions, light entering the eye is channeled and focused onto the two areas of the retina having a finer retinal mosaic of ganglion cells (typically associated with higher image resolution). The paths of light determined by tracing rays in the reverse direction through these pupils coincide with a dolphin?s behaviorally observed preferred viewing directions. These rays aid in determining the interdependence between the graininess of the retinal mosaic and resolution spot sizes in the object space. For oblique forward and downward viewing directions in air, the larger temporal pupil admits light which passes through the weakly refractive margin of a bifocal lens, counterbalancing the optically strong cornea in air. In water, light passing through the optically strong lens core is focused from a wide lateral and downward field-of-vision. Although other explanations for comparable aerial and underwater vision remain plausible, a dolphin eye model incorporating a bifocal lens offers an explanation consistent with ophthalmoscopic refractive state measurements. The model is also consistent with visual acuity study results conducted in air and in water under both high and low ambient light levels. From insight gained after applying a common data analysis technique to visual acuity studies conducted by other researchers and tracing oblique rays through the asymmetric double-slit pupils, a re-examination of explanatory hypotheses for the paradoxical observations of comparable aerial and underwater vision is presented. Based in part on these findings and supportive evidence from dolphin vision researchers, the unique distinguishing characteristics of dolphin vision are summarized. ************************************** Melillo, K. E.*, K. M. Dudzinski, & L. A. Cornick. 2009. Interactions between Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins off Bimini, The Bahamas, 2003-2007. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):281-291. *E-mail: kmelillo at dolphincommunicationproject.org Interspecific interactions have been observed in a variety of social animals. Functional explanations include foraging, anti-predatory, and social advantages. These behaviors are poorly understood in marine mammals but are increasingly studied phenomena in sympatric populations. Resident Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) off Bimini, The Bahamas, have been the subject of ongoing photo-identification and behavioral studies since 2001. A lesser-known population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has been observed interacting with these S. frontalis since 2003. To examine the functional significance of these interactions, interspecific behaviors were documented with underwater video using focal animal sampling. Mating or sexual play were the primary activities observed in nearly 50% of interactions, with male T. truncatus as the initiators. Therefore, the most likely functional explanation for these interactions is social. We hypothesize that male T. truncatus which lack access to T. truncatus females because of sexual immaturity or low social status seek copulations with S. frontalis females as an alternative. **************************************** Perrin, W. F.* 2009. Historical perspectives - Early days of the tuna/dolphin problem. Aquatic Mammals 35(2):292-305. *E-mail: william.perrin at noaa.gov Dr. Bill Perrin is with the National Marine Fisheries Service?s Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Much of his research has involved dolphins: life history, population and community ecology, and behavioral and fishing-gear research to reduce mortality. His article recounts the earlier days of the tuna/dolphin problem in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. ************************************************ Bloch, D. & B. Mikkelsen. 2009. A northernmost record of dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) (Owen, 1866) from the Faroe Islands. Aquatic Mammals 35(2): 306-307. No email address was provided; Faroese Museum of Natural History, F?tal?g 40, FO-100 T?rshavn, Faroe Islands This was a letter to the editor of the journal. In summary, on 28 March 2008, a dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) was observed swimming in the vicinity of the village of Haraldsund, close to the embank?ment between Bor?oy and Kunoy. The position of the locality is 62.27? N, -7.00? W, and with a depth of 20 to 25 m. The letter provides further details and is supported by photographic evidence. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hgp5 at cdc.gov Wed Jul 8 11:30:41 2009 From: hgp5 at cdc.gov (Roess, Amira A. (CDC/CCID/NCZVED)) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:30:41 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] CDC can assist in sealpox diagnosis and request for information about recent sealpox virus infections in pinnipeds or humans Message-ID: > <> > > > June 29, 2009 > > Dear MARMAM members: > > We are seeking information on cases of sealpox that have occurred in > recent years at locations worldwide. Sealpox is a zoonosis which > principally affects seals and sea lions and is caused by viruses in > the genus Parapoxviridae. > > Because this virus can also affect humans the Centers for Disease > Control and Prevention (CDC) is interested in learning about recent > sealpox virus infections in wildlife or humans. Additionally, CDC > laboratories can assist in providing diagnostic evaluation of > suspected sealpox virus infections in humans or wildlife. > > Sealpox has been identified in many pinniped species (see list below) > and is most often seen in younger animals. Infected animals usually > have 1-3 cm firm skin nodules on head, neck and thorax. Nodules can > spread to abdomen, flippers, and mucosa or oral cavity, and can be > solitary or in clusters. The infected area can be inflamed or > necrotic. Lesions usually heal within a few weeks without treatment > and leave a slightly raised gray scar without fur. > > The sealpox virus is transmittable to humans who have contact with > infected animals and often presents as lesions on the hands (which is > sometimes mistaken for 'seal finger') in marine rehabilitation > workers. > > Please contact the Poxvirus and Rabies Branch/CDC with questions about > the infection in humans or information you have on recent sealpox > infection (mreynolds3 at cdc.gov, aroess at cdc.gov or 404-639-4129). > > Thank you for your interest, > > Amira Roess, PhD, MPH > aroess at cdc.gov, aroess at gmail.com > > > Mary Reynolds, PhD, MPH > Nzr6 at cdc.gov > > 404-639-5278 > 404-639-4129 > > Poxvirus and Rabies Branch > Centers for Disease Control and Prevention > 1600 Clifton Road NE > MS G43 > Atlanta, GA 30333 > > Pinniped species with known sealpox infections: > -Gray Seals > -Harbor Seals > -Northern Fur Seals > -Northern Elephant Seals > -California Sea Lion > -Stellers Sea Lion > -South America Sea Lion > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: MARAM draft_8July09.doc Type: application/msword Size: 30208 bytes Desc: MARAM draft_8July09.doc URL: From lynnee.williams at duke.edu Fri Jul 10 06:37:00 2009 From: lynnee.williams at duke.edu (Lynne Williams) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:37:00 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Students - Don't forget to apply for an SMM Biennial Conference Student Travel Grant! Message-ID: <3667.1247233020@duke.edu> * Students - Don't forget to apply for an SMM Biennial Conference Student Travel Grant! ? For students planning on attending the upcoming SMM Biennial Conference in Quebec City in October 2009, don't forget that the deadline for applying for a student travel grant is this Sunday, July 12th, 2009.? Remember, to qualify for this grant, you need to: 1) make sure you are a current SMM student member at the time of submission, 2) be currently enrolled as a student at a recognized academic institution, 3) be first author on an accepted oral or poster presentation, and 4) register for the conference by the early registration deadline.? (You are allowed to apply for a student travel grant before you find out if your abstract is accepted; I will make sure everyone on the final application list has an accepted abstract, though, which may require removing some names at which point you will be notified.)? Notification of the student travel grant awards will be made no later than Wednesday, July 15th, 2009.? If you are granted an award, you will need to make sure you register for the conference by the end of the early registration period (July 20th, 2009) or the award will be granted to someone else. ? More information on the upcoming Biennial Conference can be found on the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website (http://www.marinemammalogy.org/). ? ? Thanks! Lynne Williams, SMM Student Member-at-Large 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd. Beaufort, NC 28516 lynnee.williams at duke.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ryan.j.campbell at navy.mil Fri Jul 10 10:21:48 2009 From: ryan.j.campbell at navy.mil (Campbell, Ryan J CIV NUWC NWPT) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:21:48 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] JOB POSTING-BIOLOGIST POSITION, NEWPORT, RI In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: BIOLOGIST POSITION The Naval Undersea Warfare Center located in Newport Rhode Island is seeking qualified candidates with environmental planning, marine biology, and management skills to serve as a lead in support of various U.S. Navy environmental planning projects. Job tasks will be geared towards the needs of Fleet/NAVSEA customers and teaming with other Navy service providers for biological analyses, marine species monitoring, and overall compliance with NEPA, EO12114, ESA, MMPA, CZMA. Individuals selected for these positions will directly support environmental planning for U.S. Navy. Individuals will team with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) within the Marine Resources Support Group (MRSG) to support the U.S. Fleet Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and NAVSEA Commands. The MRSG is a group of Navy biologists, scientists, and environmental planners who have particular expertise or experience in environmental planning and regulatory compliance in the marine environment. The incumbent will prepare and review marine related documentation including endangered species and marine mammal consultation packages, Environmental Assessments (EAs)/Overseas Environmental Assessments (OEAs), Categorical Exclusions (CATEXs), mitigation and monitoring plans, and related special environmental studies or technical reports assessing the environmental impacts of proposed Navy actions involving at-sea operations, training, and testing. The incumbent selected will be expected to participate in consultations with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), coordinate projects with a multi-disciplinary team, and participate in project management for research and compliance documents. Experience or knowledge of the following is highly desirable: project management; marine mammals; sea turtles; principals of underwater acoustics; statistical principles and methods; ESRI GIS products; environmental legislation and DoD/Navy policy. This is not a field biologist position, but there are numerous opportunities for travel. The positions are located onsite at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport, Rhode Island and are open to all U.S. citizens. OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, July 09, 2009 - Thursday, July 23, 2009 USAJOBS links: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=82051200&JobTitle=Biologist &sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&q=Biologist+Newport%2c+RI& AVSDM=2009-07-09+07%3a37%3a00 For questions about this job please contact the NUWC Recruitment Office, Phone: 401-832-1017, email: patricia.johnson.3 at navy.mil From lucywkeith at hotmail.com Sat Jul 11 07:33:11 2009 From: lucywkeith at hotmail.com (Lucy Keith) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:33:11 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] African manatee conservation training workshop- request for nominations Message-ID: Hello! We are pleased to announce the 3rd and final year of West African Manatee Research Training Programme. This is an opportunity for African scientists to participate in the Earthwatch/NCRC West African manatee community conservation and research project on the Afram Arm of Volta Lake, Ghana. Over the past 2 years we have trained 15 individuals from 8 West African countries. In 2009 we will be running 2 teams: Team 1: 18th ? 31st October 2009 Team 2: 15th ? 29th November 2009 Earthwatch has funding to bring 8 West African scientists and conservationists to join each training expedition. The Earthwatch Capacity Development Programme covers the costs of the training and all travel expenses to/from the rendezvous site in Accra, Ghana. However, all Fellows MUST commit to the entire 2-week training programme. We are targeting nationals in West African countries who already have an interest in manatee research and conservation or who have the potential to start a West African manatee conservation research project in their own country. Following last year?s success, we are especially interested in hosting young and/or female scientists. Training includes: Introduction to the Order Sirenia, History of Manatee Evolution, Manatee Field Research Techniques, Field research equipment and data sheets training; Manatee Genetics, Manatee habitat measurements and water quality analysis and Conservation Strategies for the Protection of Sirenians. Training seminars and field work will be done each day. Our work in Volta Lake is done under primitive and hot conditions (huts and tents) from a remote field station near a small village on the northern coast of the Afram Arm of Volta Lake. Last year, highlights of the expedition included a football match and special ceremony in the adjacent village. If you would like to apply for this training opportunity, please contact sstauntonlamb at earthwatch.org.uk Nomination forms must be completed and submitted by 10th August 2009 Cheers from Earthwatch, Nature Conservation Research Centre, Dr. Patrick Ofori-Dansen, Lucy Keith and Caryn Self-Sullivan About Earthwatch Earthwatch is an international environmental charity which is committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of life on earth to meet the needs of current and future generations. Our mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch has a global reach, with offices in Oxford (UK), Boston (USA), Melbourne (Australia) and Tokyo (Japan). Website: www.earthwatch.org/europe About NCRC Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) is recognized internationally as a leader in developing rural ecotourism and community protected areas as a means of economic development and resource conservation. NCRC?s initiatives have facilitated sustainable economic development in scores of poor rural areas of Ghana and other nations in West Africa. Founded in Ghana in 1996, NCRC has grown rapidly to become Ghana?s leading indigenous conservation organisation, as well as a key actor in West African civil society. Website: http://www.ncrc-ghana.org/ About Sirenian International Sirenian International, Inc., is a organization of grassroots people who share a dedication to manatee & dugong research, education, and conservation through inter-cultural collaboration. We are a partnership of scientists, students, educators, conservationists, and the public. We believe in the process of integrating science, education, and culture to catalyze positive change in our shared environment, Mother Earth Website: http://www.sirenian.org/ About Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Trust is an international organization of scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity. For more than 35 years, Wildlife Trust has focused its efforts on conservation. Today, we are known for our innovative research on the intricate relationships between wildlife, ecosystems and human health. Wildlife Trust Research Scientist Lucy Keith is the lead on West African manatee projects and currently conducts research in Gabon, Angola, Senegal and is in the process of building a collaborative partnership for manatee genetics with researchers from 15 West African countries. Website: http://www.wildlifetrust.org/edge_of_the_sea/project.shtml _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tttrainr at aol.com Fri Jul 10 21:03:27 2009 From: tttrainr at aol.com (tttrainr at aol.com) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:03:27 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] 2009 IMATA Conference, Atlanta GA Message-ID: <8CBCFF3ADC52041-13C0-1AE4@webmail-dx02.sysops.aol.com> MARMAM subscribers: The annual conference of the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA) will be held?2 ? 6 November 2009?in?Atlanta,?GA. - Conference registration and?paper/abstract submission are available online at www.imata.org. - Discounted registration is available for registrations received by 31 August 2009. For more information, please visit the conference tab of IMATA's web site at www.imata.org. Regards, Michael Hunt IMATA President -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From caryn_sullivan at hotmail.com Mon Jul 13 07:13:32 2009 From: caryn_sullivan at hotmail.com (Caryn Self-Sullivan) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:13:32 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] More information and links for the African manatee conservation training workshop In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The deadline for nominations is August 10th! Please feel forward this to any of your West African colleagues who may not be on this list! Since attachments are not allowed on the Marmam or Sirenian Listservers, I've put more information and nomination forms online at Sirenian International's Facebook page, located here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42708759266 Direct links to the forms are here: http://www.sirenian.org/2009Announcement.doc http://www.sirenian.org/2009NominationForm.doc http://www.sirenian.org/2009Flyer.pdf We are pleased to announce the 3rd and final year of West African Manatee Research Training Programme. This is an opportunity for African scientists to participate in the Earthwatch/NCRC West African manatee community conservation and research project on the Afram Arm of Volta Lake, Ghana. Over the past 2 years we have trained 15 individuals from 8 West African countries. In 2009 we will be running 2 teams: Team 1: 18th - 31st October 2009 Team 2: 15th - 29th November 2009 Earthwatch has funding to bring 8 West African scientists and conservationists to join each training expedition. The Earthwatch Capacity Development Programme covers the costs of the training and all travel expenses to/from the rendezvous site in Accra, Ghana. However, all Fellows MUST commit to the entire 2-week training programme. We are targeting nationals in West African countries who already have an interest in manatee research and conservation or who have the potential to start a West African manatee conservation research project in their own country. Following last year's success, we are especially interested in hosting young and/or female scientists. Training includes: Introduction to the Order Sirenia, History of Manatee Evolution, Manatee Field Research Techniques, Field research equipment and data sheets training; Manatee Genetics, Manatee habitat measurements and water quality analysis and Conservation Strategies for the Protection of Sirenians. Training seminars and field work will be done each day. Our work in Volta Lake is done under primitive and hot conditions (huts and tents) from a remote field station near a small village on the northern coast of the Afram Arm of Volta Lake. Last year, highlights of the expedition included a football match and special ceremony in the adjacent village. If you would like to apply for this training opportunity, please contact sstauntonlamb at earthwatch.org.uk Nomination forms must be completed and submitted by 10th August 2009 Cheers from Earthwatch, Nature Conservation Research Centre, Dr. Patrick Ofori-Dansen, Lucy Keith and Caryn Self-Sullivan About Earthwatch Earthwatch is an international environmental charity which is committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of life on earth to meet the needs of current and future generations. Our mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch has a global reach, with offices in Oxford (UK), Boston (USA), Melbourne (Australia) and Tokyo (Japan). Website: www.earthwatch.org/europe About NCRC Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) is recognized internationally as a leader in developing rural ecotourism and community protected areas as a means of economic development and resource conservation. NCRC's initiatives have facilitated sustainable economic development in scores of poor rural areas of Ghana and other nations in West Africa. Founded in Ghana in 1996, NCRC has grown rapidly to become Ghana's leading indigenous conservation organisation, as well as a key actor in West African civil society. Website: http://www.ncrc-ghana.org/ About Sirenian International Sirenian International, Inc., is a organization of grassroots people who share a dedication to manatee & dugong research, education, and conservation through inter-cultural collaboration. We are a partnership of scientists, students, educators, conservationists, and the public. We believe in the process of integrating science, education, and culture to catalyze positive change in our shared environment, Mother Earth Website: http://www.sirenian.org/ About Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Trust is an international organization of scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity. For more than 35 years, Wildlife Trust has focused its efforts on conservation. Today, we are known for our innovative research on the intricate relationships between wildlife, ecosystems and human health. Wildlife Trust Research Scientist Lucy Keith is the lead on West African manatee projects and currently conducts research in Gabon, Angola, Senegal and is in the process of building a collaborative partnership for manatee genetics with researchers from 15 West African countries. Website: http://www.wildlifetrust.org/edge_of_the_sea/project.shtml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From heidipearson at tamu.edu Sun Jul 12 17:48:05 2009 From: heidipearson at tamu.edu (heidipearson at tamu.edu) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:48:05 -0500 (CDT) Subject: [MARMAM] new publication on dusky dolphin fission-fusion dynamics In-Reply-To: <1588033358.1054011247445533863.JavaMail.root@neo-mail-3> Message-ID: <305668129.1054391247446085677.JavaMail.root@neo-mail-3> The following paper has just been published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (Online First version): Pearson, H.C. Influences on dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) fission-fusion dynamics in Admiralty Bay, New Zealand. doi:10.1007/s00265-009-0821-7 Abstract: In societies characterized by a high degree of fission-fusion dynamics, individuals adjust their grouping patterns according to the shifting balance of costs and benefits associated with grouping. This study examines influences on fission-fusion dynamics for dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in Admiralty Bay, New Zealand. This area is an important foraging habitat for dusky dolphins during the winter and spring. Admiralty Bay has little predation risk, but nearshore mussel farms may infringe on available habitat. I used generalized estimating equations to determine the influences of coordinated foraging, predation risk, and presence of mussel farms on party size, rate of fission-fusion, and behavioral state. I conducted 168 boat-based group focal follows totaling 168 h. The proportion of individuals observed foraging was positively related to party size and rate of party fusion. Resting had no effect on party size and did not vary according to location. Near mussel farms, traveling decreased, and rate of party fission decreased. I conclude that (1) coordinated foraging strategies are a primary influence on fission-fusion dynamics within this population, (2) dolphins may respond to decreased predation risk by not adjusting party size or location during resting, and (3) areas near mussel farms are not used for traveling. You may download the full article by visiting SpringerLink at http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s00265-009-0821-7. Alternatively, you may e-mail me at heidipearson at tamu.edu to request a pdf. Heidi Pearson, PhD Assistant Director and Stranding Coordinator The Whale Center of New England 24 Harbor Loop P.O. Box 159 Gloucester MA, 01930, USA ph: 978-515-5001 fax: 978-281-5666 www.whalecenter.org From janiger at almaak-01.usc.edu Mon Jul 13 19:43:30 2009 From: janiger at almaak-01.usc.edu (David S. Janiger) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:43:30 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New Articles Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.20090713194330.00b68a30@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 cox.net (note new email address) 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 cox.net djaniger at nhm.org Janiger Journals ADIE, SUSAN and BJORN L. BASBERG. POLAR RECORD 45(3):243-263. 2009. The first Antarctic whaling season of Admiralen (1905-1906): the diary of Alexander Lange. 1.035 MB AHRENS, LUTZ; URSULA SIEBERT and RALF EBINGHAUS. CHEMOSPHERE 76(2):151-158. 2009. Temporal trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German Bight, 1999-2008. 0.822 MB BAJPAI, SUNIL; DARYL P. DOMNING; DEBI R. DAS and VIJAY P. MISHRA. NEUES JAHRBUCH FUR GEOLOGIE UND PALAONTOLOGIE-ABHANDLUNGEN 252(3):257-267. 2009. A new Middle Eocene sirenian (Mammalia, Protosirenidae) from India. 1.342 MB BAJZAK, CATHERINE E.; STEEVE D. COTE; MIKE O. HAMMILL and GARRY STENSON. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 385:285-294. 2009. Intersexual differences in the postbreeding foraging behaviour of the Northwest Atlantic hooded seal. 0.449 MB BARAJ, BESNIK; LUIS FELIPE NIENCHESKI; GILBERTO FILLMANN and LUCIANO HERMANNS. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY 57(1):1-6. 2009. Biochemical normalization of trace metals in Arctocephalus australis. 0.260 MB BEARZI, MADDALENA; CHARLES A. SAYLAN and ALICE HWANG. MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH 60(6):584-593. 2009. Ecology and comparison of coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in California. 0.474 MB BERROW, SIMON; RONAN COSGROVE; RUTH H. LEENEY; JOANNE O'BRIEN; DAVID MCGRATH; JEPPE DALGARD AND YVES LE GALL. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 10(3):227-233. 2008. Effect of acoustic deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). 1.116 MB BERROW, SIMON; JOANNE O'BRIEN; IAN O'CONNOR and DAVID MCGRATH. BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY 109B(1):35-46. 2009. Abundance estimate and acoustic monitoring of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) in the Blasket Islands' candidate special area of conservation. 0.345 MB BIUW, MARTIN; BJORN A. KRAFFT; G. J. GREG HOFMEYR; CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN and KIT M. KOVACS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 385:271-284. 2009. Time budgets and at-sea behaviour of lactating female Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella at Bouvetoya. 1.021 MB BLANC, ANDREA; DORA RUCHANSKY; MARIO CLARA; FEDERICO ACHAVAL; ALFREDO LE BAS and JUAN ARBIZA. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 45(2):519-521. 2009. Serologic evidence of influenza A and B viruses in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis). 0.146 MB CARDONA-MAREK, TAMARA; KATRINA K. KNOTT; BENJAMIN E. MEYER and TODD M. O'HARA. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 28(7):1416-1424. 2009. Mercury concentrations in southern Beaufort Sea polar bears: Variation based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. 0.202 MB CHEN, TANIA LI; SANDRA S. WISE; SCOTT KRAUS; FARIBA SHAFFIEY; KAITLYNN M. LEVINE; W. DOUGLAS THOMPSON; TRACY ROMANO; TODD O'HARA and JOHN PIERCE WISE, SR. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 50(5):387-393. 2009. Particulate hexavalent chromium is cytotoxic and genotoxic to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) lung and skin fibroblasts. 0.145 MB CHINNADURAI, SATHYA K.; BRIGID V. TROAN; KAREN N. WOLF; RYAN S. DEVOE; C. J. J. HUIJSMANS; MIRJAM H. A. HERMANS and PETER C. WEVER. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 40(2):393-397. 2009. Septicemia, endocarditis, and cerebral infarction due to staphylococcus aureus in a harp seal (Phoca groenlandica). 0.390 MB CHURNSIDE, JAMES; LEV OSTROVSKY and TIM VEENSTRA. OCEANOGRAPHY 22(1):206-209. 2009. Thermal footprints of whales. 0.299 MB COLBERT, DEBBORAH E.; JOSEPH C. GASPARD, III; ROGER REEP; DAVID A. MANN and GORDON B. BAUER. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 212(13):2104-2111. 2009. Four-choice sound localization abilities of two Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus latirostris. 0.535 MB COLLIER, ROGER. CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL 180(13):1290-1291. 2009. Harp seal heart valves being tested for human use. 4.575 MB CUNNINGHAM, LOUISE; JOHN M. BAXTER; IAN L. BOYD; CALLAN D. DUCK; MIKE LONERGAN; SIMON E. MOSS and BERNIE MCCONNELL. AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS 19(4):398-407. 2009. Harbour seal movements and haul-out patterns: Implications for monitoring and management. 0.394 MB DAU, BRYNIE KAPLAN; KIRSTEN V. K. GILARDI; FRANCES M. GULLAND; ALI HIGGINS; JAY B. HOLCOMB; JUDY ST. LEGER and MICHAEL H. ZICCARDI. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 45(2):355-362. 2009. Fishing gear-related injury in California marine wildlife. 0.212 MB DENNISON, SOPHIE E.; LISA J. FORREST; MICHELLE L. FLEETWOOD and FRANCES M. D. GULLAND. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 40(2):385-388. 2009. Concurrent occipital bone malformation and atlantoaxial subluxation in a neonatal harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). 0.260 MB DOKSAETER, LISE; OLAV R. GODO; ERIK OLSEN; LEIF NOTTESTAD and RUBEN PATEL. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 66(6):1029-1036. 2009. Ecological studies of marine mammals using a seabed-mounted echosounder. 0.265 MB EHRET, DANA J.; BRUCE J. MACFADDEN and RODOLFO SALAS-GISMONDI. PALAIOS 24(5):329-333. 2009. Caught in the act: Trophic interactions between a 4-million-year-old white shark (Carcharodon) and mysticete whale from Peru. 0.412 MB ELLIS, BLAKE C.; SEBASTIANO GATTONI-CELLI; ANNALAURA MANCIA and MARK S. KINDY. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 33(8):901-912. 2009. The vitamin D3 transcriptomic response in skin cells derived from the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. 0.513 MB FIRE, SPENCER E.; ZHIHONG WANG; TOD A. LEIGHFIELD; STEVE L. MORTON; WAYNE E. MCFEE; WILLIAM A. MCLELLAN; R. WAYNE LITAKER; PATRICIA A. TESTER; ALETA A. HOHN; GRETCHEN LOVEWELL; CRAIG HARMS; DAVID S. ROTSTEIN; SUSAN G. BARCO; ALEX COSTIDIS; BARBARA SHEPPARD; GREGORY D. BOSSART; MEGAN STOLEN; WENDY NOKE DURDEN and FRANCES M. VAN DOLAH. HARMFUL ALGAE 8(5):658-664. 2009. Domoic acid exposure in pygmy and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia spp.) from southeastern and mid-Atlantic US waters. 0.315 MB FORCADA, JAUME; DONALD MALONE; J. ANDREW ROYLE and IAIN J. STANILAND. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 220(12):1513-1521. 2009. Modelling predation by transient leopard seals for an ecosystem-based management of Southern Ocean fisheries. 0.430 MB FORMAN, DAN; NATHAN WEST; JANET FRANCIS and EDWARD GUY. MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, RIO DE JANEIRO 104(2):295-297. 2009. The sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in British marine mammals. 0.348 MB GOLDSTEIN, TRACEY; JONNA A. K. MAZET; VERENA A. GILL; ANGELA M. DOROFF; KATHY A. BUREK and JOHN A. HAMMONDI. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES 15(6):925-927. 2009. Phocine distemper virus in northern sea otters in the Pacific Ocean, Alaska, USA. 0.497 MB HAELTERS, JAN and KEES (C. J.) CAMPHUYSEN. Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM, Belgium), the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ, The Netherlands) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) report. 56pp. 2009. The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena L.) in the southern North Sea: Abundance, threats, research- and management proposals. 2.612 MB HANDEL, STEPHEN; SEAN K. TODD and ANN M. ZOIDIS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 125(6):EL225-EL230. 2009. Rhythmic structure in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) songs: Preliminary implications for song production and perception. 0.208 MB HARVEY, JOHN W.; KENDAL E. HARR; DAVID MURPHY; MICHAEL T. WALSH; ELIZABETH C. NOLAN; ROBERT K. BONDE; MELANIE G. PATE; CHARLES J. DEUTSCH; HOLLY H. EDWARDS and WILLIAM L. CLAPP. VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY 38(2):183-193. 2009. Hematology of healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus). 0.859 MB HATUN, H.; M. R. PAYNE; G. BEAUGRAND; P. C. REID; A. B. SANDO; H. DRANGE; B. HANSEN; J. A. JACOBSEN and D. BLOCH. PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY 80(3-4):149-162. 2009. Large bio-geographical shifts in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean: From the subpolar gyre, via plankton, to blue whiting and pilot whales. 1.816 MB HERNANDEZ-MORA, GABRIELA; CHARLES A. MANIRE; ROCIO GONZALEZ-BARRIENTOS; ELIAS BARQUERO-CALVO; CATERINA GUZMAN-VERRI; LYDIA STAGGS; RACHEL THOMPSON; ESTEBAN CHAVES-OLARTE and EDGARDO MORENO. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY 16(6):906-915. 2009. Serological diagnosis of Brucella infections in odontocetes. 1.019 MB HIGDON, JEFF W. and STEVEN H. FERGUSON. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 19(5):1365-1375. 2009. Loss of Arctic sea ice causing punctuated change in sightings of killer whales (Orcinus orca) over the past century. 0.781 MB HOFFMAN, JOSEPH I. CONSERVATION GENETICS 10(4):989-992. 2009. A panel of new microsatellite loci for genetic studies of Antarctic fur seals and other otariids. 0.151 MB KLEPAC, PETRA; LAURA W. POMEROY; OTTAR N. BJORNSTAD; THIJS KUIKEN; ALBERT D. M. E. OSTERHAUS; JOLIANNE M. RIJKS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 276(1666):2469-2476. 2009. Stage-structured transmission of phocine distemper virus in the Dutch 2002 outbreak. 0.186 MB LOSETO, L. L.; G. A. STERN; T. L. CONNELLY; D. DEIBEL; B. GEMMILL; A. PROKOPOWICZ; L. FORTIER and S. H. FERGUSON. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 374(1):12-18. 2009. Summer diet of beluga whales inferred by fatty acid analysis of the eastern Beaufort Sea food web. 0.346 MB LUCKE, KLAUS; URSULA SIEBERT; PAUL A. LEPPER and MARIE-ANNE BLANCHET. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 125(6):4060-4070. 2009. Temporary shift in masked hearing thresholds in a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) after exposure to seismic airgun stimuli. 0.998 MB MCKINNEY, MELISSA A.; ELIZABETH PEACOCK and ROBERT J. LETCHER. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 43(12):4334-4339. 2009. Sea ice-associated diet change increases the levels of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in polar bears. 1.343 MB NELSON, T. A.; D. DUFFUS; C. ROBERTSON; K. LABEREE and L. J. FEYRER. JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH (Special Issue) 56:1537-1541. 2009. Spatial-temporal analysis of marine wildlife. 0.963 MB OHKUBO, MAKOTO; KOUJI TOKUTAKE; HARUKA ITO; KATSUTOSHI YOSHIDA and AKIO SHIMIZU. MAMMAL STUDY 33(2):83-86. 2008. Haplotype of the mitochondrial DNA control region of a neonatal finless porpoise stranded around the Yokohama Port. 0.434 MB PETERS, SHANAN E.; MOHAMMED SAMEH M. ANTAR; IYAD S. ZALMOUT and PHILIP D. GINGERICH. PALAIOS 24(5):290-302. 2009. Sequence stratigraphic control on preservation of Late Eocene whales and other vertebrates at Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt. 2.496 MB PULSTER, ERIN L.; KELLY L. SMALLING; ERIC ZOLMAN; LORI SCHWACKE and KEITH A. MARUYA. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 28(7):1390-1399. 2009. Persistent organochlorine pollutants and toxaphene congener profiles in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) frequenting the turtle/Brunswick River Estuary, Georgia, USA. 0.334 MB ROSENFELD, HENNING; STEPHAN LASSEN and ANDREAS PRANGE. JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH 8(6):2923-2932. 2009. Characterization of haptoglobin in the blood plasma of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 5.704 MB ROSSONG, M. A. and J. M. TERHUNE. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 87(7):609-617. 2009. Source levels and communication-range models for harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) underwater calls in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. 0.317 MB RYAN, PETER G.; CHARLES J. MOORE; JAN A. VAN FRANEKER and COLEEN L. MOLONEY. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 364(1526):1999-2012. 2009. Monitoring the abundance of plastic debris in the marine environment. 0.846 MB SCHIAVONE, A.; S. CORSOLINI; K. KANNAN; L. TAO; W. TRIVELPIECE; D. TORRES, JR. and S. FOCARDI. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 407(12):3899-3904. 2009. Perfluorinated contaminants in fur seal pups and penguin eggs from South Shetland, Antarctica. 0.300 MB SCHIAVONE, ALESSANDRA; SIMONETTA CORSOLINI; NICOLETTA BORGHESI and SILVANO FOCARDI. CHEMOSPHERE 76(2):264-269. 2009. Contamination profiles of selected PCB congeners, chlorinated pesticides, PCDD/Fs in Antarctic fur seal pups and penguin eggs. 0.306 MB THEWISSEN, J. G. M.; LISA NOELLE COOPER; JOHN C. GEORGE and SUNIL BAJPAI. EVOLUTION: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 2(2):272-288. 2009. >From land to water: The origin of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. 1.232 MB TOUGAARD, JAKOB; OLUF DAMSGAARD HENRIKSEN and LEE A. MILLER. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 125(6):3766-3773. 2009. Underwater noise from three types of offshore wind turbines: Estimation of impact zones for harbor porpoises and harbor seals. 0.125 MB TSUKROV, IGOR; JUDSON C. DECEW; KENNETH BALDWIN; REGINA CAMPBELL-MALONE and MICHAEL J. MOORE. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 374(2):93-103. 2009. Mechanics of the right whale mandible: Full scale testing and finite element analysis. 1.146 MB WILLIAMS, ROB and LEN THOMAS. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 142(7):1542-1547. 2009. Cost-effective abundance estimation of rare animals: Testing performance of small-boat surveys for killer whales in British Columbia. (Orcinus orca) 0.232 MB WISE, JOHN PIERCE, SR.; ROGER PAYNE; SANDRA S. WISE; CAROLYNE LACERTE; JAMES WISE; CHRISTY GIANIOS, JR.; W. DOUGLAS THOMPSON; CHRISTOPHER PERKINS; TONGZHANG ZHENG; CAIRONG ZHU; LUCILLE BENEDICT and IAIN KERR. CHEMOSPHERE 75(11):1461-1467. 2009. A global assessment of chromium pollution using sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species. 0.359 MB WISZNIEWSKI, JOANNA; SIMON J. ALLEN and LUCIANA M. MOELLER. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 77(6):1449-1457. 2009. Social cohesion in a hierarchically structured embayment population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. 0.412 MB YEUNG, LEO W. Y.; NOBUYOSHI YAMASHITA; SACHI TANIYASU; PAUL K. S. LAM; RAVINDRA K. SINHA; DNYANDEV V. BOROLE and KURUNTHACHALAM KANNAN. CHEMOSPHERE 76(1):55-62. 2009. A survey of perfluorinated compounds in surface water and biota including dolphins from the Ganges River and in other waterbodies in India. 1.516 MB YONEZAWA, TAKAHIRO; NAOKI KOHNO and MASAMI HASEGAWA. GENE (AMSTERDAM) 441(1-2):89-99. 2009. The monophyletic origin of sea lions and fur seals (Carnivora; Otariidae) in the Southern Hemisphere. 1.646 MB YUEN, QUEENY W. H.; MICHAEL T. C. YING; FIONA M. BROOK and REIMI E. KINOSHITA. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 35(6):1005-1009. 2009. Reliability of 2D ultrasound measurements of testis size in dolphins taken under voluntary behavior. 0.321 MB ZUEMER, RICHARD L.; CAROLINE E. CAMERON; STEPHEN RAVERTY; JOHN ROBINSON; KATHLEEN M. COLEGROVE; STEPHANIE A. NORMAN; DYANNA LAMBOUM; STEVEN JEFFRIES; DAVID P. ALT and FRANCES GULLAND. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 137(1-2):105-110. 2009. Geographical dissemination of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona during seasonal migration of California sea lions. 0.279 MB From GBUCK at crs.loc.gov Wed Jul 15 07:39:18 2009 From: GBUCK at crs.loc.gov (Gene Buck) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:39:18 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Acoustic pingers? Message-ID: <4A5DB1D5.BE22.00C2.0@crs.loc.gov> Colleagues: I'm looking for something that might summarize the current state of knowledge and/or general evaluation on the usefulness and/or effectiveness of acoustic pingers for marine mammal deterrence. Are these devices useful or not; if useful, for what species under what circumstances? What are the limitations of marine mammal deterrence using acoustic pingers? Any suggestions or citations? Gene Buck, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Congressional Research Service gbuck at crs.loc.gov Phone: (202) 707-7262 *This information is intended only for the congressional addressee or other individual to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of this information is only at the discretion of the intended recipient. If you received this message in error, please contact me and delete the material from any computer. The foregoing has not been cleared by CRS review and is not for attribution. This response is provided to help in urgent situations.* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Ilse.van.Opzeeland at awi.de Wed Jul 15 07:26:56 2009 From: Ilse.van.Opzeeland at awi.de (Ilse van Opzeeland) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:26:56 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Recent publication: Geographic variation in harp seal pup vocalizations and mother-pup behavior Message-ID: <34D7431953934A64A0C9069CB77566D9@dmawi.de> Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to announce the recent publication on geographic variation in harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) pup vocalizations and mother-pup behavior. This article was publised online in Aquatic Biology, with open access: http://www.int-res.com/articles/ab2009/6/b006p109.pdf Van Opzeeland IC, Corkeron PJ, Risch D, Stenson G, Van Parijs SM (2009) Geographic variation in vocalizations of pups and mother-pup behavior of harp seals Pagophilus groenlandicus. Aquatic Biology 6: 109-120 ABSTRACT All harp seal populations form breeding aggregations on the Arctic pack ice. However, pack ice conditions vary spatially and temporally among these aggregations with variation in environmental and oceanographic conditions, which may affect the behavioral interactions between mothers and their newborn pups. We investigated the variation in mother-pup behavior between harp seal breeding aggregations in the NE (Greenland Sea) and NW Atlantic coastal shelf region (Front). Acoustic cues provided by the pups are thought to be important in facilitating reunions with their mothers. Consequently, we measured variation in vocal parameters among seals to investigate geographic differences in pup vocalizations. Classification trees showed a distinctive split between Front and Greenland Sea pup vocalizations. There were no clear differences between male and female pups at the Front, where 42% of male and 38% of female pup calls could be attributed to a given individual. This contrasts with the Greenland Sea, where 55% of vocalizations of female pups were attributed to individuals compared with only 8% for males. Analyses of behavioral observations of mother-pup pairs made in the afternoon and evening showed that pups in the Greenland Sea suckled more and were more alert than pups in the Front. Further, mother-pup attendance patterns differed between sites. Mothers at the Front attended their pups 85.1% of the time, whereas mothers in the Greenland Sea attended their pups 52.2% of the time. These substantial differences between sites might be related to evolutionary changes in behavior resulting from commercial hunting or variable environmental conditions. Sincerely, Ilse Van Opzeeland I.C. Van Opzeeland Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research Ocean Acoustics Lab Am Alten Hafen 26 27568 Bremerhaven GERMANY Phone: +49-471-4831-1169 Fax: +49-471-4831-1149 Web: www.awi.de/acoustics From Katie.Brill at MyFWC.com Fri Jul 17 11:17:59 2009 From: Katie.Brill at MyFWC.com (Brill, Katie) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:17:59 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Florida Manatee Research Job Vacancy Message-ID: <1DB18CF57E4FC540A154AA38998EF86A06CE24FA@FWC-TLEX3.fwc.state.fl.us> Florida Manatee Research Job Vacancy OPS Research Staff Job #77900922 Department: Wildlife Research Location: St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas County) Rate of Pay: $11.00/hr (40 hrs/wk) including some weekends and occasional holidays; no benefits provided Close Date: Open until filled Contact: Katherine Brill Position Description: Serve as member of FWC's manatee necropsy, carcass salvage, and rescue team. Conduct necropsies at the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory or in the field on manatees and other marine mammal carcasses, record observations, and complete associated necropsy reports. Responsible for preparation and labeling of sample containers, carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments. Recover marine mammal carcasses for necropsy from Florida's Northwest region (coastal and inland waterways of Manatee County to Escambia County). Assist in manatee rescue and transport operations in the Northwest region. Assist with manatee rescues and capture operations away from designated area as needed. Process skeletal collection requests according to FWC and USFWS guidelines; prepare skeletal remains for curating and shipping and process federal, state, and international permits for tracking skeletal collections and information requests. Maintain inventories of tissues and tissue requests. Manage associated database of inventories including metadata. Responsible for vessel maintenance and associated boater safety reports. Manages the processing and labeling of manatee necropsy slides, digital images, archiving of digital images, and overseeing the image log database. Participate in public outreach efforts ad appropriate. Prepare research papers and technical reports. Serve with other MMPL staff members in the rotating, on-call duty (that includes weekends and occasional holidays) for the purpose of responding to marine mammal emergencies and carcasses. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Knowledge of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and state and federal legislation protecting manatees * Knowledge of methods of data collection and principles and techniques of research and analysis * Knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques * Knowledge of SLR digital cameras, filters, and lenses * Experience creating and managing databases, spreadsheets, and word processing using Microsoft Access, Excel, and Word * Able to trailer flatbeds and watercraft vessels * Able to safely operate watercraft vessels 26' in length and smaller * Be capable of daily manual labor requiring handling of heavy and sharp objects and working under unpleasant conditions * Must be physically fit, able to lift at least 75 lbs, and be able to swim sufficiently to save oneself * Able to conduct fieldwork in all weather conditions * Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships * Be comfortable speaking to the public * Possess or be able to obtain a Florida driver's license within a month of employment Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences or one year of professional biological experience in a field or lab research program. Experience with dissection, pathology, or animal necropsies. TO APPLY: Please reply to this posting with a cover letter, resume, and references or submit a completed State of Florida Employment Application to the contact listed below. An application can be printed from https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com. Katherine Brill Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory 3700 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33711 (727)893-2904 Fax: (727)893-2907 Katie.brill at myfwc.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From quincy at pacificwhale.org Fri Jul 17 16:42:39 2009 From: quincy at pacificwhale.org (Quincy Gibson) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:42:39 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Internship Opportunity Message-ID: Pacific Whale Foundation (Maui, Hawaii) is seeking interns for its Marine Mammal Research Program. Pacific Whale Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting whales and other marine life through research, education, and conservation. Our researchers have studied whales and dolphins throughout the Pacific for over 29 years and we currently conduct projects in Hawaii, Australia and Ecuador. To learn more, please visit www.pacificwhale.org. Pacific Whale Foundation is seeking dedicated individuals to assist with our research efforts. Interns will work in the research lab at Pacific Whale Foundation headquarters in Ma?alaea, Maui. Intern positions involve working with our Research Staff to process and analyze data from our humpback whale studies in Australia, as well as our odontocete (toothed whale & dolphin) studies in Hawaii. Tasks will include photo-identification matching of whale flukes and/or dolphin dorsal fins, data entry, scanning archived slide images, and other duties. Additional opportunities to assist with data collection in the field and on the research vessel may become available. No prior research experience is required; full training will be provided. Applicants should have basic computer proficiency; experience with Excel and Photoshop is preferred. Attention to detail and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team are also desired qualities. Positions are available immediately and will remain open until filled. Accepted applicants will be expected to work a minimum of 30 hours per week for a 6-week period. Shorter durations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As a reward for their hard work, interns will be offered a complimentary ticket for a snorkeling/dolphin watching eco-tour each week. There is no financial compensation for these positions and interns are responsible for their own living and transportation expenses. Shared intern housing is available for a reasonable fee. To apply, please send a cover letter, current resume, and two letters of recommendation to research at pacificwhale.org. If you prefer to mail your application, all materials should be sent to: Research Department Pacific Whale Foundation 300 Ma?alaea Rd., Ste. 211 Wailuku, HI 96793 (808) 856-8305 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From KZagzebski at nmlc.org Fri Jul 17 11:28:19 2009 From: KZagzebski at nmlc.org (Kathy Zagzebski) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:28:19 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] JOB OPPORTUNITY - Executive Director, American Cetacean Society Message-ID: <2890C345BB98E04F8B8EE72F62DC9EA51714D6@eco.NMLC.local> Executive Director Job Description Summary: The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Cetacean Society (ACS). The Executive Director works at the direction of the ACS President, is responsible to the Board of Directors, and is evaluated by the Executive Committee of the Board. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the implementation and management of Board objectives and directives, consistent with ACS's mission and financial objectives. Introduction: ACS has been without an Executive Director for over 15 years. The President and Board have been filling the role in the interim, assisted by an office administrator. ACS's 2009 budget is $180,000. The National and Chapter Boards are eager to welcome an Executive Director who is suited to help build upon our strengths while developing a sustainable future. Program Development and Administration: * In conjunction with the Board of Directors, assure that ACS has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress. * Provide leadership in developing program, organizational, and financial plans with the Board and staff, and carry out plans and policies authorized by the Board. * Support the Chapters and promote development of new chapters. * Promote active and broad participation by volunteers in all areas of ACS's work. * Maintain official records and documents; ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. * Develop and maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in cetacean biology, management, and conservation. Budget and Finance: * Develop and maintain sound financial practices. * Work with the Treasurer and the Board to prepare a budget; ensure that ACS operates within budget guidelines. * Ensure that adequate funds are available to permit ACS to carry out its programs. * Jointly with the President and Secretary of the Board, conduct ACS's official correspondence; jointly with designated officers, execute legal documents on behalf of ACS. Communications & Marketing: * Ensure that the Board is kept fully informed on the condition of ACS and all important factors influencing it. * Publicize ACS's activities, programs, and goals. * Establish sound, collaborative relationships with community groups and other organizations. * Represent ACS's programs and point of view to agencies, organizations, and the general public. * Oversee publication of ACS's newsletter Spyhopper and journal Whalewatcher. Staff and Volunteers - Recruitment, Retention, Training, & Evaluation: * Be responsible for the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers. (Note: there currently is one part-time office administrator on staff.) * Ensure that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are held, and that sound human resource practices are in place. * Encourage staff and volunteer development and education, and assist program staff and volunteers in relating their specialized work to the total program of ACS. * Maintain a climate that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff (including volunteer staff) of top quality people. Conditions of Employment: * The normal work week is 40 hours weekdays, including occasional evening and weekend work. * Occasional travel required. * Paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave. * Health insurance, FICA, Workers' compensation, unemployment insurance. * The continuation of employment is contingent upon successful fundraising. Qualifications: * Minimum of two years experience working in a nonprofit organization, including supervising paid and volunteer staff and working with a volunteer President and Board of Directors. * Bachelor's degree in a related field. * Successful experience raising money and managing fundraising programs. Proven ability to obtain grant funding and manage a membership program. * Experience in nonprofit fiscal management, including fund accounting, budgeting, and grant management. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Demonstrated ability in written and oral communications and interpersonal skills. * Proven ability to develop and execute a strategic plan. * Demonstrated conceptual skills and problem solving capabilities. * Proven ability to think "outside the box". * Computer skills (M.S. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, QuickBooks, internet, etc.). * Background in marine mammals, including natural history, policy, and conservation desirable. Personal Characteristics: * A leader who can articulate a vision and motivate people to act with a shared vision. * An individual whose style is at once decisive and direct as well as collegial and approachable. * A person who is accessible, supportive, and flexible. * An executive with a "hands on" approach to work and a passion for results. * A good listener who inspires confidence and trust and is open to ideas of others. * An excellent manager who respects and supports the capabilities and independence of staff and volunteer leadership. * A person with integrity, a good sense of humor, and a high level of energy. * A conservationist with enthusiastic commitment to ACS's mission, growth and development. E-mail cover letter, resume, a one-page writing sample related to fundraising, and the names and contact information of three professional references to: acsedsearch at acsonline.com. Position open until filled. The American Cetacean Society is an equal opportunity employer. About ACS: The American Cetacean Society protects whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through public education, research grants, and conservation actions. Founded in 1967, ACS is the oldest whale conservation group in the world. ACS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in San Pedro, California with chapters in Orange County, Los Angeles, Channel Islands (Santa Barbara and Ventura), Monterey, San Francisco, and Puget Sound (Seattle). Our members live throughout the United States and in more than 20 countries. We take our responsibility as participants in the web of life seriously, and volunteer our time and resources to not just protect whales, dolphins and porpoises, but to promote the health of our oceans and ultimately our planet as well. For more information, visit: http://www.acsonline.org . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathy Zagzebski President & Executive Director The National Marine Life Center P.O. Box 269, 120 Main Street Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-0269 phone: 508 743-9888 x301 cell: 774 313-8850 fax: 508 759-5477 e-mail: kzagzebski at nmlc.org web: http://www.nmlc.org/ "Caring for stranded marine animals." I GoodSearch for the National Marine Life Center. You can help, too, just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com . Thanks for your support! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 9354 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From cathybajzak at hotmail.com Wed Jul 22 05:30:02 2009 From: cathybajzak at hotmail.com (Catherine BAJZAK) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:30:02 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Early Bird Registration - SMM 18th Biennal Conference Message-ID: Early Bird Registration As you are aware the early bird registration for the conference in Quebec City closed last night July 20 at midnight. To give those who need a bit of extra time we have decided to extend the deadline until midnight on Friday 24 July, 2009 . In addition we updated our FAQs for those who had questions about completing their registrations. The FAQs are here: http://www.marinemammalscience.org/faq Look forward to seeing you in Quebec Mike Hammill Chair, Quebec 2009 mailto: Congres_SMM2009 at dfo-mpo.gc.ca _________________________________________________________________ D?couvrez toutes les possibilit?s de communication avec vos proches http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/default.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dagmar_fertl at hotmail.com Thu Jul 23 08:24:19 2009 From: dagmar_fertl at hotmail.com (Dagmar Fertl) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:24:19 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Abstracts - Journal of Cetacean Research and Management Vol. 10(3), 2008 Message-ID: Dear Marmam and ECS-listserve subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) publishes The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management thrice yearly (Spring, Autumn, and Winter), with at least one supplement that will contain the full report of the IWC Scientific Committee. The following is posted on behalf of the IWC and the journal editor. Further information can be found at: http://www.iwcoffice.org/publications/JCRM.htm. A guide for authors is included in the first volume of each issue and on the IWC website: http://www.iwcoffice.org/publications/authorsguide.htm. Please do not contact me or the listserve editors for pdfs. Email addresses are provided for the corresponding authors. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Ziphius EcoServices http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com *************************************** Punt, A.E. 2008. A note on the modelling of MSY-related parameters when population dynamics are stochastic. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):183-189. Contact email: aepunt at u.washington.edu A method is outlined for calculating the values for the parameters which determine MSYR and MSYL in the types of population dynamics models on which Implementation Simulation Trials and Evaluation Trials are based in the face of environmental variability in fecundity (birth rate) and survival. The method is illustrated using a minke whale-like biology in which MSYR is defined in terms of harvesting of the mature female component of the population. Results are shown for various levels of environmental variation in survival and fecundity. ****************************************************************** Aldrin, M., R. Bang Huseby, and T. Schweder. 2008. A note on tuning the Catch Limit Algorithm for commercial baleen whaling. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):191-194. Contact email: magne.aldrin at nr.no The Catch Limit Algorithm for commercial baleen whaling developed by the International Whaling Commission converges slowly to a steady depletion (proportion of carrying capacity), and consequently 300 years of management is proposed as horizon for tuning and computer simulation. Long-term depletion is rather insensitive to the parameter currently used for tuning, and an alternative control parameter is suggested for this purpose. *************************** Rugh, D.J.*, W.R. Koski, J.C. George, and J.E. Zeh. 2008. Interyear re-identifications of bowhead whales during their spring migration past Point Barrow, Alaska, 1984-1994. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):195?200. *contact email: Dave.Rugh at noaa.gov As a part of a review of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) stocks, a study was conducted to evaluate how much mixing occurs in the whales? spring migration, a period which immediately follows the mating season. This study has used aerial photography of bowhead whales during their spring migration near Point Barrow, which has resulted in 5,800 images, primarily from 1984 through 1994. These photographs included 40 different whales seen in at least two years, and of these, two were seen in three different years, making for a pair-wise sample size of 42 matches between years. Differences between dates of initial sightings and subsequent sightings (i.e. resightings) ranged from -31 to +23 days comparing month and day only, irrespective of year. These resightings were well dispersed across most of the bowhead spring migration; 98% of the photographs were taken across 45 days from 19 April through 2 June. Models for predicting resighting date from initial sighting date, whale length, presence of a calf, year of initial sighting and year of subsequent sightings were considered, and the best model was chosen using Akaike?s Information Criterion (AIC). The best model included most predictors but did not include initial sighting date. Thus, all of the available evidence indicates that individual mature bowheads do not have a consistent migration timing past Barrow; instead, in subsequent years they may appear on almost any date within the normal migratory period. This wide mixing and near-random distribution of resighting dates throughout the spring migration is indicative of a single stock of whales that have a somewhat plastic schedule. ********** Lowry, L.F., K.J. Frost, A. Zerbini, D. DeMaster, and R.R. Reeves. 2008. Trend in aerial counts of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Bristol Bay, Alaska, 1993-2005. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):201-207. Contact email: llowry at hawaii.rr.com Thirty-eight aerial surveys of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) were conducted in Bristol Bay, Alaska, during six different years between 1993 and 2005. Belugas were sighted mainly close to shore in the upper parts of Nushagak and Kvichak bays, as well as along the coast between these bays and in the lower parts of major rivers. Data from 28 complete counts made in good or excellent survey conditions were analysed for trend. Counts ranged from 264 to 1,067. The estimated rate of increase over the 12-year period was 4.8%/year (95% CI = 2.1%-7.5%). Such a rate of increase suggests that either the population was below the environmental carrying capacity in the early 1990s or, alternatively, that factors that had been limiting population increase were alleviated after that time. A review of possible changes in human-caused mortality, predation and prey availability did not reveal a single likely cause of the increase. Among the factors that could have played a role are recovery from research kills in the 1960s, a modest decline in subsistence removals and a delayed response to increases in Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) abundance in the 1980s. The positive growth rate for this population shows that in recent years there has been no substantial negative impact of human or natural factors, acting either alone or in combination, and there is no need for changes to the current management regime. ************************************************************************************** Afsal, V.V., K.S.S.M. Yousuf, B. Anoop, A.K. Anoop, P. Kannan, M. Rajagopalan, and E. Vivekanandan. 2008. A note on cetacean distribution in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas during 2003-07. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):209-215. Contact email: vafsal at gmail.com Relatively little is known about the distribution of cetaceans in Indian seas due to lack of systematic surveys. For collecting data on species distribution, 35 opportunistic surveys were conducted onboard FORV Sagar Sampada between October 2003 and February 2007 in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas. In 5,254 hours of sighting effort, a total of 473 cetacean records were made with 5,865 individuals. The occurrence of 10 species from three cetacean families was confirmed. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was the most frequently sighted species, whereas the spinner dolphin was dominant in terms of abundance. Long-beaked common dolphins, Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin and sperm whales were also recorded at frequent intervals. Cetaceans were found to have a wide geographical distribution in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas. High abundance and species richness were recorded in the Southeastern Arabian Sea and southern Sri Lankan waters. From the information collected during the present study, the platform of opportunity has proved to be a useful means for cetacean survey. *************************************************** Palka, D.L.*, M.C. Rossman, A.S. VanAtten, and C.D. Orphanides. 2008. Effect of pingers on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the US Northeast gillnet fishery. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):217?226. Contact email: Debra.Palka at noaa.gov Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the US Northeast gillnet fishery is managed under the Harbour Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP), which was implemented on 1 January 1999. The HPTRP divides this fishery into management areas that are either completely closed to all gillnets or closed only to gillnets that do not use pingers. Questions about pingers that have arisen include: (1) would pingers be as effective in an operational fishery as in controlled scientific experiments; (2) would the fishery comply with these regulations; and (3) would harbour porpoises habituate to pingers? To investigate these questions, data from over 25,000 gillnet hauls observed by the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program after the implementation of the HPTRP, 1999-2007, were examined. In a 1994 controlled scientific experiment conducted in part of this fishery that used 15cm mesh gillnets, the bycatch rate in pingered nets was 92% less than that in nets without pingers. In contrast, in the operational fishery, the bycatch reduction in pingered nets was 50-70%, depending on the time, area and mesh size. In particular, there was no observed bycatch in pingered nets that used the same mesh size as used in the experiment. Thus, it seem that the apparent decrease in pinger effectiveness in the operational fishery was partially due to the type of gillnet used and lack of compliance. Pinger usage started out high in 1999 (the first year required), dropped substantially during 2003-05 and perhaps due to outreach activities increased beginning in 2006. During years of high pinger usage, 87% of the tested pingers were functional, while only 36% of the tested pingers were functional during years of low pinger usage. In general, as expected, observed bycatch rates in hauls without pingers were greater than bycatch rates in hauls with the required number of pingers. Unexpectedly, bycatch rates of observed hauls with an incomplete set of pingers were higher that in observed hauls without pingers. Confounding factors that could partially explain this apparently contrary result are discussed. There was no evidence for temporal trends in the bycatch rates, suggesting that harbour porpoises had not habituated to the pingers. In conclusion, in the US Northeast gillnet fishery, harbour porpoises do not appear to have habituated to pingers, and pingers appear to have reduced the bycatch rate, particularly when the required number of pingers were used and in nets using mesh sizes of 15cm or less. ************************************************************************************** Berrow, S., R. Cosgrove, R.H. Leeney, J. O?Brien, D. McGrath, J. Dalgard, and Y. Le Gall. 2008. Effect of acoustic deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):227?233. Contact email: simon.berrow at shannondolphins.ie Not all delphinids are similarly affected by acoustic deterrent devices (pingers). At-sea trials were carried out to assess a range of acoustic signals and deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins. In initial tests two acoustic deterrent devices, which previously produced an evasive response by bottlenose dolphins, failed to elicit any similar behaviour in common dolphins. A new signal output device, which permitted a range of signals to be tested at various source levels and characteristics was subsequently developed but again no significant effects on the behaviour of common dolphins were observed. Two commercially available acoustic deterrents, which had deterred common dolphins in previous studies, produced an occasional mild evasive response. Significant modification of the signal type or source level may be more effective, but our results suggest that pingers, at their current state of development, may not provide a consistently effective deterrent signal for common dolphins. *************************************************************** Trippel, E.A.*, N.L. Holy and T.D. Shepherd. 2008. Barium sulphate modified fishing gear as a mitigative measure for cetacean incidental mortalities. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):235-246. Contact email: edward.trippel at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Incidental mortality from entanglements in fishing gear in threatening cetacean populations worldwide. In eastern Canadian waters, entanglement deaths of the critically endangered transboundary North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) are a key conservation concern and incidental mortalities of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in gillnets are a major source of mortality. Since the 1990s, a number of mitigation techniques to reduce mortalities in both species have been tested and the use of some in the US commercial fishery have been legislated. Despite this, the North Atlantic right whale population remains in a precarious state and entanglement deaths of harbour porpoise have been increasing in recent years. Further, mitigation devices, such as acoustic alarms, carry with them concerns about habituation, noise pollution, maintenance requirements and cost. The modifying of the physical characteristics of commercial fishing gear has shown some promise at reducing entanglement mortalities in initial testing while avoiding many of the drawbacks of other mitigation methods. In this study the current state of development and effectiveness of mitigation techniques through the addition of barium sulphate to fishing gear rope and twine was investigated. The development of neutrally buoyant groundline, through the addition of barium sulphate, was undertaken in order to reduce the probability of large whale entanglement in lobster pot gear. The resulting product maintained a much lower profile in the water column relative to traditional polypropylene groundline, however, it was found unsuitable for hard-bottom areas as it was susceptible to chaffing and breaking. In order to reduce mortalities once large whales are entangled, a weak rope was developed again with the addition of barium sulphate. The breaking strength of this product was found to be 1,065 lb, which meets the US legislated limits (1,100 lb), as opposed to traditional polypropylene rope which had a breaking strength of over 2,400 lb. To meet the challenge of harbour porpoise entanglements, a gillnet twine was developed to have an increased acoustic profile and a more stiff form through the addition of barium sulphate. In field testing trials, the barium sulphate modified gillnets reduced harbour porpoise bycatch and the minimal effects on targeted groundfishes. Although they are in an early state of development, barium sulphate modified fishing gear shows promise at reducing entanglement deaths of cetaceans. *************************************************************** Reeves, R.R.*, T.D. Smith, and E.A. Josephson. 2008. Observations of western gray whales by ship-based whalers in the 19th century. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):247-256. Contact email: rrreeves at okapis.ca Animals belonging to the small, endangered population of western gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are observed today primarily during the summer open-water season in feeding areas off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia. The migration route(s) and wintering area(s) used by this population are largely unknown. Gray whales once had a fairly extensive distribution in the Sea of Okhotsk but little detailed information has been published on when and where they occurred. Open-boat, ship-based whalers from the United States and a few other countries conducted an intensive hunt for bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica) in the Sea of Okhotsk from the 1840s to 1970s. According to entries in voyage logbooks, the American whalers regularly encountered (and sometimes hunted) gray whales in the far northeastern corner of the Okhotsk Sea (Shelikhov Bay, Gizhiginskaya Bay and Penzhinskaya Gulf) between early May-late August. They also observed gray whales in summer along the northern coast of the sea (especially Tauskaya Bay), around the Shantar Islands, in Sakhalin Bay, off Cape Elizabeth at the northern tip of Sakhalin Island and along the west coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. No evidence was found in the logbooks studied of gray whales (and indeed of whaling effort) off northeastern Sakhalin Island where most observations of gray whales occur in the present day. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Store, access, and share your photos. See how. http://windowslive.com/Online/SkyDrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_SD_photos_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From daniel.danilewicz at gmail.com Thu Jul 23 12:52:32 2009 From: daniel.danilewicz at gmail.com (Daniel danilewicz) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:52:32 -0300 Subject: [MARMAM] franciscana habitat use Message-ID: <95d9c31a0907231252kee07d95w8e537f8c91c58931@mail.gmail.com> Dear all The following paper on habitat use of franciscanas has been published. PDFs are available with the first author (daniel.danilewicz at gmail.com). Danilewicz, D., Secchi, E.R., Ott, P.H., Moreno, I.B., Bassoi, M., Borges-Martins, M. (2009). Habitat use patterns of franciscana dolphins (*Pontoporia blainvillei*) off southern Brazil in relation to water depth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 89(5), 943?949. SincerelyDaniel -- Dr. Daniel Danilewicz Grupo de Estudos de Mam?feros Aqu?ticos do Rio Grande do Sul - GEMARS www.gemars.org.br Projeto Monitoramento de Baleias por Satelite - Instituto Aqualie http://projetobaleias.com.br msn: daniel_danilewicz at hotmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tursion at yahoo.com Mon Jul 27 15:32:33 2009 From: tursion at yahoo.com (Oscar Guzon) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:32:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [MARMAM] Used hydrophone needed for educational whale watching MEXICO Message-ID: <646253.36096.qm@web65412.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Dear All, ? Greetings. We are looking to buy a second-hand or used (simple) hydrophone for educational purposes on board research-based whale watching operations in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Help will be much appreciated in locating individuals or research groups that might know about some?opportunities. Please reply directly to sender. ? Thanks a lot in advance! Oscar Guz?n (M.Sc.) Director General Onca Explorations S.A. de C.V. R?o de la Plata 409 Col. Gaviotas 82110 Mazatlan, Sin. M?xico. Tel: (669) 913-40-50 Movil: (669) 116-03-01 Email: oxinfo at gmail.com www.whalewatchingmazatlan.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jwisznie at bio.mq.edu.au Mon Jul 27 19:07:10 2009 From: jwisznie at bio.mq.edu.au (Joanna Wiszniewski) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:07:10 +1000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on dolphin social networks Message-ID: <4A6EE9EE020000F10001A7A0@gwc2cn01.its.mq.edu.au> Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce a paper recently published in Animal Behaviour: Wiszniewski, J., Allen, S.J., & Moller, L.M. Social cohesion in a hierarchically structured embayment population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Animal Behaviour 77 (6): 1449-1457 The paper can be downloaded directly from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.02.025. Alternatively, pdf copies can be obtained by emailing me at jwisznie at bio.mq.edu.au ABSTRACT: We investigated community structure and association patterns for a small population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus, inhabiting the Port Stephens embayment in southeastern Australia. Association data for 120 regularly sighted individuals were obtained from seasonal photoidentification surveys collected over 7 years (1998?2007). Using a combined cluster and social network analysis approach, we found association patterns between dolphins were hierarchically structured, where two mixed-sex communities were subdivided into smaller, temporarily dynamic social groups. Community membership corresponded to differences in individual ranging patterns and habitat occupation. The larger eastern community inhabits a typically marine environment, while individuals of the western community range over a larger area that is dominated by estuarine processes. Both communities were composed of long-term preferred companions; however, the degree of social cohesion differed considerably between the two communities. Associations between individuals were considerably stronger and temporally more stable in the western community. Western individuals also had significantly fewer preferred associates despite living in similar-sized schools. Finally, in direct contrast to associations within each community, intercommunity associations were highly variable and resulted primarily from aggregative behaviour. We propose the segregation of communities resulted from individual adaptation to local environmental conditions, facilitated by individual variability in association preferences. The disparity in association patterns between communities may have resulted from a combination of ecological, population density, kinship and anthropogenic factors. Kind regards, Jo **************************************** Joanna Wiszniewski PhD Candidate Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University NSW 2109 Australia Ph. 61(2) 9850 8205 Fax: 61(2) 9850 8245 Email: jwisznie at bio.mq.edu.au **************************************** From Thea.Johanos-Kam at noaa.gov Mon Jul 27 19:49:06 2009 From: Thea.Johanos-Kam at noaa.gov (Thea Johanos-Kam) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:49:06 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Hawaiian monk seal field camp position posting for 2009-2010 winter season Message-ID: <4A6E6722.7020306@noaa.gov> The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) works closely with The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center through a cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii, and will be accepting applications for field assistants to participate in the upcoming 2009-2010 winter field research season to study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal at Laysan Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal population monitoring and conservation program by NMFS which includes: conducting trend counts; tagging seals; identifying individual seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks; monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, performing necropsies; collecting scat & spew samples for food habitat, parasite load, and hormonal analysis; collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis; collecting & removing debris capable of entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data are also collected. In addition, researchers will periodically handle, weigh, and administer de-worming medication to immature seals in an effort to increase seal condition and survival by removing parasite loads. For general information about the program, visit this website: http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/psd/ Employment will be from early September through May, or for a subset of this period. Options include 1) from early September through mid-December, 2) from mid-December though March, and/or 3) from March through May. The number of positions and/or continuation of the program is subject to funding. The first weeks of employment are spent in Honolulu training and packing, and the final weeks are also spent in Honolulu to clean up gear and summarize data. Travel to Honolulu and food and lodging while in Honolulu are not provided; a listing of potential housing options is available. Transportation between Honolulu and the field site, and food and lodging in the field are provided. Field work is accomplished by a 3 member team in a remote camp at Laysan Island. Researchers live in wall tents, and the site is accessible by ship (4 day travel; 1,300 km from Honolulu). Few supply opportunities exist and outside communication is limited. Employment will be provided by JIMAR, which hires its program and scientific staff through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH). To search and apply for RCUH positions, refer to the following website: http://www.rcuh.com / **NO LATER THAN AUGUST 3^rd 2009 BUT SOONER IS BETTER* * *IMPORTANT:* Please specify in your application the period(s) you are available, remote field experience, and animal handling experience. Applicants will be considered for the position described below. *JIMAR PIFSC BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT ? ID# 29318.* Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research. (4) Regular, Full-Time, RCUH Non-Civil Service position with the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR), located at the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds. *MINIMUM MONTHLY SALARY:* $1,730/Mo. *DUTIES: *Under guidance of field camp leader and/or NMFS personnel, assists in camp preparations, daily maintenance and operation of field camp, and collection of census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals. Conducts boating operations at multiple-island atolls. Assists with return, repair, and clean-up of field equipment and supplies at the end of camp. *PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION: *High School Diploma or equivalent.* EXPERIENCE:* One to three (1-3) years of field experience, including experience working within small groups in remote settings. Experience with handling of wildlife. *ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS:* Working knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Good communication and team skills. Ability to perform data entry. *PHYSICAL/MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: *Ability to swim. Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time. Must be able to work long hours in the sun. Must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles) in the sand carrying 25-35 pounds of field gear. Must be able to manually restrain immature seals (up to 200 pounds). Must be able to obtain medical clearance for embarking/working on NOAA research vessels or other appropriate vessels which includes providing proof of required immunizations and/or obtaining the necessary immunizations as required by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations. Must meet the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration security requirements for working in a federal facility which includes being fingerprinted and having a federal background check performed. Must be able to pass pre-deployment training requirements including field medical training before being deployed to remote islands. *SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS: *Prior field experience in a Hawaiian monk seal field camp. Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals, previous data entry experience. Prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammology or related field. For positions requiring travel between multiple-island atolls, possess prior experience operating small boats and/or the ability to conduct routine maintenance on small boats. Possess NOAA certification for small boat operations (having completed Motorboat Operators Certification Course (MOCC) and NOAA small boat component training) to work at multiple-island atolls. *_INQUIRIES: Nicole Wakazuru 956-9465 (_**_Oahu_**_). _**APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:* The preferred method of applying for a job is through our on-line application process. Please go to www.rcuh.com, click on ?Employment? and navigate to ?Job Announcements/Apply for a Job.? However, if you do not have access to the Internet, you may apply by submitting resume; cover letter including Recruitment ID#, referral source, narrative of your qualifications for position and salary history; names, phone numbers and addresses of three supervisory references and copy of degree(s)/transcripts/certificate(s) to qualify for position by fax (808) 956-5022 or mail to Director of Human Resources, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, 2530 Dole Street, Sakamaki Hall D-100, Honolulu, HI 96822 before the closing date. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808)956-3100. *_CLOSING DATE: _**_August 3, 2009_**_. _*EEO/AA Employer. -- Thea Johanos Lead, Monk Seal Population Assessment Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 1601 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1110 Honolulu, HI 96814-4700 808-944-2174 office 808-941-0307 fax From dagmar_fertl at hotmail.com Thu Jul 30 11:56:03 2009 From: dagmar_fertl at hotmail.com (Dagmar Fertl) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:56:03 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] recent Journal of Cetacean Research and Management publication (2009) Message-ID: Dear Marmam and ECS subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) publishes The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management thrice yearly (Spring, Autumn, and Winter), with at least one supplement that will contain the full report of the IWC Scientific Committee. The following is posted on behalf of the IWC and the journal editor. Further information can be found at: http://www.iwcoffice.org/publications/JCRM.htm. A guide for authors is included in the first volume of each issue and on the IWC website: http://www.iwcoffice.org/publications/authorsguide.htm. Volume 11 Supplement (April 2009) is now available. This supplement to the Journal contains the Report of the Scientific Committe from its Annual Meeting held from 2-13 June 2008 in Santiago, chile. It also contains: the Report of the AWMP Workshop on Greenlandic fisheries held in March 2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark; the Report of the First Intersessional Workshop on North Atlantic Fin Whales held in March-April 2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark; the Report of the SOWER Abundance Workshop held in February 2008 in Seattle, USA; the Report of the MSYR Workshop held in November 2007 in Seattle, USA; the Report of the Intersessional Workshop to Plan a Large-Scale Whalewatching Experiment: LaWE held in March-April 2008 in Bunbury, Australia; and the Report of the Workshop on Cetacean Skin Diseases held in May 2008 in Santiago, Chile. Please do not contact me or the listserve editors for copies of the supplement. Information on contacting the IWC, for further information, is found above. With regards, Dagmar Fertl http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Store, access, and share your photos. See how. http://windowslive.com/Online/SkyDrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_SD_photos_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Hannahk at tmmc.org Thu Jul 30 17:57:31 2009 From: Hannahk at tmmc.org (Kathleen Hannah) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:57:31 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] STRANDING COORDINATOR OPENING Message-ID: <39AD038EA3A2CE4CAC6C1A892A59865725C063000E@dawn.TMMC.org> STRANDING COORDINATOR The Marine Mammal Center, an equal opportunity, non-profit employer, is seeking a candidate for the position of STRANDING COORDINATOR. The mission of the Center is to rescue and rehabilitate injured and sick marine mammals, and, once healthy, to release them back into the ocean. The Center also conducts important research and educates the public in the protection of marine mammals and their habitats. Duties include responding to public questions/concerns about distressed animals, volunteer opportunities, and general inquiries; ensures that stranding reports from the public or local agencies are handled correctly; receives public reports of stranded animals and coordinates appropriate response; coordinates assessment and rescue teams from pick-up to transport; participates in rescues, transports, and releases as needed; maintains the Stranding Department database; enters data, produces and submits National Marine Fisheries Service reports and other reports in a timely and accurate manner; must have excellent people skills and professionalism. Candidates must be comfortable in teaching and training volunteers in rescue and animal handling. Computer skills, Excel and Word, are required. Work hours will include evening, night, weekend coverage, including after hours on-call. Travel is required as needed to our Satellite facilities in Moss Landing, San Luis Obispo and Anchor Bay. Must have a valid California Driver's license, with a clean driving record, and be able to lift at least 40 pounds. This is a full-time non-exempt position with competitive benefits. If you are interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to: Human Resources The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965 Fax: (415) 754.4074. Email: hannahk at tmmc.org. www.marinemammalcenter.org No faxes or telephone calls please. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2743 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From Jennifer.Johnson at MyFWC.com Fri Jul 31 12:31:35 2009 From: Jennifer.Johnson at MyFWC.com (Johnson, Jennifer) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:31:35 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Posting - FWC Manatee Photo-ID Research Staff Message-ID: OPS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Manatee Photo-identification Research Staff Section: Wildlife Research Sub-section: Marine Mammals Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida (Pinellas County) Rate of Pay: $11.00-$12.00 per hour, dependent on experience. No paid benefits. Full-time (40 hours/week) Closing Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009 Brief Description of Job Duties: Assist in all aspects of the manatee photo-identification project. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: photographing manatees, independently operating and trailering vessels up to 24' in length, collecting environmental and behavioral data, collecting genetic samples from free ranging manatees, matching images to known animals, drawing composite scar sketches of manatees, data entry and verification, equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, management of volunteers/interns, and public outreach. Travel and working on weekends will be required periodically. Desired Qualifications: A bachelor's degree with a major in one of the biological sciences. The successful candidate must have strong computer skills, preferably including experience with Microsoft Office applications (particularly Microsoft Access) and photo-editing/management software. Previous experience in photo-identification, in the operation of digital SLR cameras, and in boat handling and trailering is strongly desired. Patience, organizational skills, attention to detail, strong oral and written communication skills, and the ability to work successfully with a number of different cooperators are essential qualifications for this position. Qualified applicants will also need to be adept at independent problem-solving and time management to succeed in this position. Applicants should apply through the PeopleFirst website at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com (enter 77900917 in the keyword search field). In addition, in order to be considered for the position, qualified applicants must submit by the closing date a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references via email to Kari.Rood at MyFWC.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From paduan at nps.edu Fri Jul 31 14:52:19 2009 From: paduan at nps.edu (Jeffrey Paduan) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:52:19 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Research Faculty Position in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics-Naval Postgraduate School Message-ID: Naval Postgraduate School Department of Oceanography Research Faculty Position in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics The Department of Oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School invites applications for an Assistant Research Professor position in the area of marine mammal bioacoustics and biological oceanography. A doctoral degree in Biological Oceanography or a closely related field with a minimum of one year of postdoctoral research experience in the subject area is required. We are specifically seeking a candidate with promise for long-term creativity and research excellence. Consideration will be given to the applicants who have both strong observational and theoretical skills, as well as demonstrated expertise in marine mammal behavioral ecology, habitat modeling, passive acoustic monitoring, and acoustic classification of marine mammal species. The successful candidate is expected to complement, enhance and eventually play a leadership role in ongoing marine mammal research of the Oceanography Department. This is a research faculty position that is renewable annually depending upon the availability of reimbursable funds. Therefore the candidate?s ability to successfully compete for external research grants and/or contracts is important. The Naval Postgraduate School provides graduate education to active duty officers from all branches of the Armed Services as well as members of the federal civil service. Students are educated to lead, innovate and manage in a changing, highly technological world. The School conducts research that is recognized internationally as well as for its relevance to national defense and academic quality. The School is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. The Naval Postgraduate School is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Initial review for the position will begin on 15 August 2009. Applicants should submit a CV, a brief description of research interests, and at least three references electronically or by mail to: Professor Jeffrey D. Paduan, Chairman Department of Oceanography, Code OC/Pd Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jeffrey D. Paduan, Code OC/Pd (831) 656-3350; 2712/FAX Naval Postgraduate School paduan at nps.edu Monterey, CA 93943 http://www.oc.nps.navy.mil/~paduan/ From Hannahk at tmmc.org Thu Jul 30 17:53:11 2009 From: Hannahk at tmmc.org (Kathleen Hannah) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:53:11 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] VETERINARY TECHNICIAN OPENING Message-ID: <39AD038EA3A2CE4CAC6C1A892A59865725C063000A@dawn.TMMC.org> VETERINARY TECHNICIAN (CLOSING DATE AUGUST 15, 2009) The Marine Mammal Center, an equal opportunity, non-profit employer, is seeking candidates for the position of VETERINARY TECHNICIAN. The mission of the Center is to rescue and rehabilitate injured and sick marine mammals, and, once healthy, to release these animals back into the ocean. The Center also conducts important research and educates the public in the protection of marine mammals and their habitats. The veterinary technician will assist veterinarians in a variety of animal health care duties, including medical treatments, collection of samples, surgery, ultrasound exams, endoscopy, radiology, and maintenance of equipment; must be able to travel to the Center's Satellite facilities at Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Anchor Bay. Candidate must have strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills; this position requires a veterinary technician license or the ability to obtain one within one year. Must be willing to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays. This is a full time, non exempt position with competitive benefits. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to: Human Resources Department The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965, Email hannahk at tmmc.org. No faxes or telephone calls please. www.marinemammalcenter.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2743 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From bedocchid at yahoo.it Wed Jul 29 08:18:55 2009 From: bedocchid at yahoo.it (davide bedocchi) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:18:55 -0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Common Dolphins Sighting Message-ID: <144202.62671.qm@web26204.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> "Common Dolphins Sighting in the Tuscan Archipelago waters" ? From: Davide Bedocchi - CE.TU.S. Cetacean Research Centre (Viareggio Italy) ????????? email: cetus at supereva.it?or bedocchid at yahoo.it ? Dear Colleagues, In date July 21, 2009 we are pleased to annunce the sighting of three Short-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the waters of the Tuscan Archipelago. The Short-Beaked Common Dolphins were inside a group of about 200 Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) at a distance of about 8 miles North?from Capraia Island. Date: 07/21/09 Time: 11.30 am. The dolphins?were sighted and photographed by Lilia Giuntoli (CE.TU.S. biologist) from the Krill catamaran. In the last two weeks the Krill catamarans of CE.TU.S., member of O.T.C. Cetacean Tuscan Observatory,?during the weekly research activities sighted Bottlenose Dolphins, Striped Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins and finally Short-Beaked?Common Dolphins. Common Dolphins? are now rare and endangered in all the Pelagos Santuary and our last sighting was dated Septemner 2005. For details regarding the sighting, pictures or other informations pls do not hesitate to contact us. ? Best and Kind Regards. ? Davide Bedocchi CE.TU.S. Cetacean Research Centre ? ?Dott. Davide Bedocchi - Naturalista Direttore Culturale CE.TU.S. Rappresentante CE.TU.S. presso l' O.T.C. Osservatorio Toscano dei Cetacei CE.TU.S. - Centro di Ricerche sui Cetacei Via Degli Ontani 60, 55049 Viareggio (LU) Italy e-mail: bedocchid at yahoo.it Mobile: +39 3287524380 www.cetusresearch.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: