From clare.embling at plymouth.ac.uk Tue Sep 1 05:18:21 2015 From: clare.embling at plymouth.ac.uk (Clare Embling) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 12:18:21 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] PhD studentship advert: seals & shipping noise Message-ID: We would like to invite applications for the competitively funded* 3 year PhD ?Do marine mammals react to shipping noise? Assessing the exposure and behavioural response of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) to shipping noise? at Plymouth University, UK. We are seeking a highly numerate candidate to carry out 3D oceanographic and propagation models of shipping noise, and using archived datasets from grey seals tagged in UK waters to calculate exposure levels and assess behavioural changes in diving activity of seals in relation to shipping noise. Full details of the PhD and how to apply can be found at the link below: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/the-graduate-school/postgraduate-research-studentships/do-marine-mammals-react-to-shipping-noise-assessing-the-exposure-behavioural-response-of-grey-seals-halichoerus-grypus-to-shipping-noise DEADLINE: 15th September 2015 Any queries about the PhD should be addressed to Dr Clare Embling: clare.embling at plymouth.ac.uk Many thanks, Clare *Competetive funding means that this PhD is in competition with other projects and appointment for this studentship is dependent on the calibre of candidates. --------------------------------------------------- Dr Clare B Embling Lecturer in Marine Ecology Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre School of Marine Science & Engineering, Plymouth University, Room B425 Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA. tel: 01752 586137 email: clare.embling at plymouth.ac.uk twitter: @ClareEmbling http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/cbembling http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=Gcin3_gAAAAJ&hl=en Member of the Marine Vertebrate Research Group http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/mberc/Research/marine-vertebrates/Pages/default.aspx twitter: @MarineVerts -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________ [http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif] This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. 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From danielasilvia.pace at gmail.com Tue Sep 1 06:20:08 2015 From: danielasilvia.pace at gmail.com (Daniela Silvia Pace) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 15:20:08 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?SAVE_THE_DATE=3A_1st_International_Workshop_?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=9CConservation_and_research_networking_on_common_?= =?utf-8?q?dolphin_=28Delphinus_delphis=29_in_the_Mediterranean_Sea?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=9D=2C_13-15_April_2016=2C_Ischia_Island=2C_Italy?= Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, in order to promote greater participation in international dialogue and scientific knowledge exchange on Mediterranean common dolphin, essential to strengthen both the scientific and conservation efforts on the species locally, nationally and internationally, Oceanomare Delphis Onlus (ODO) and the Biological Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF), together with OceanCare, are jointly organizing the first International Workshop on this Mediterranean endangered cetacean species at ?Albergo della Regina Isabella?, Ischia Island, Italy. Participation in the Workshop is by invitation only. Members of international public/private organizations and of academic institutions will be represented. The participation of observers is desirable and we would like to encourage anyone with interest in this cetacean species to participate in our exploration of new effective conservation ideas and possibilities. Observers have to cover their own expenses, as well as a registration fee of 100 euro. The provisional program will follow this Aide-M?moire shortly. Findings, conclusions and action plans resulting from the workshop will be published as proceedings in a relevant scientific journal. For more information, please contact: postmaster at oceanomaredelphis.org Best wishes, Daniela Silvia Pace & Barbara Mussi, Oceanomare Delphis Onlus ( oceanomaredelphis.org) Adriana Vella & Joseph Vella, BICREF Malta (bicref.org) Silvia Frey, OceanCare (oceancare.org) *Daniela Silvia Pace* President, Oceanomare Delphis Onlus p: +39 346 1039652 / f: +39 06 50910791 <%2B39%200650910791> e:danielasilvia at oceanomaredelphis.org w: oceanomaredelphis.org *Oceanomare Delphis Onlus* [CF 92045790398. P IVA 03923430403 - legal head office: via guglielmo oberdan 27, 47921 rimini (RN), italy - operation offices: via gino marinuzzi 74, 00124 rome (RM), italy; via zaro 22, 80075 forio d'ischia (NA), italy; piazza bisio 31, 15040 valmacca (AL), italy] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dnorbach at gmail.com Tue Sep 1 08:56:47 2015 From: dnorbach at gmail.com (Dara Orbach) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 10:56:47 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Evasive behaviours of female dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) during exploitative scramble competition Message-ID: Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper: Orbach DN, Packard JM, Kirchner T, and W?rsig, B. 2015. Evasive behaviours of female dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) during exploitative scramble competition. *Behaviour *doi: 10.1163/1568539X-00003310 ABSTRACT When males engage in scramble competition, are females non-evasive recipients of male coercion or evasive? Small groups of male dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) engage in exploitative (non-interference) scramble competition for access to oestrous females near Kaikoura, New Zealand. We conducted behavioural sequence analyses of videos of 48 mating groups with continuous records and focal individual follows of females. We determined (1) the frequency and type of behaviours (non-evasive vs. evasive), (2) the variation in simple transition probabilities of behaviours leading to a copulatory position associated with female resistance and non-resistance and (3) the variation in female responses to male behaviours throughout focal follows. Females exhibited frequent active evasive manoeuvers following male behaviours. Copulation sequences were highly variable and most complex when terminated by females. Females altered responses to male signals, one aspect of mate choice potentially favouring male endurance. A PDF version of the paper is available online at: http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/1568539x-00003310;jsessionid=3dqchqqj0fu0g.x-brill-live-02 or via e-mail request to dnorbach at gmail.com Cheers, Dara Orbach Ph.D. candidate Marine Mammal Behavioral Ecology Group Department of Marine Biology- IDP Texas A&M University at Galveston http://www.tamug.edu/mmbeg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ewan.fordyce at otago.ac.nz Tue Sep 1 14:48:27 2015 From: ewan.fordyce at otago.ac.nz (Ewan Fordyce) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 21:48:27 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Paper on early evolution of baleen whales Message-ID: Reporting a new article on the early evolution of baleen whales - Boessenecker RW, Fordyce RE 2015. A new genus and species of eomysticetid (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and a reinterpretation of ?Mauicetus? lophocephalus Marples, 1956: Transitional baleen whales from the upper Oligocene of New Zealand. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society: DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12297. Abstract: The early evolution of toothless baleen whales (Chaeomysticeti) remains elusive, despite a robust record of Eocene?Oligocene archaeocetes and toothed mysticetes. Eomysticetids, a group of archaic longirostrine and putatively toothless baleen whales, fill in a crucial morphological gap between well-known toothed mysticetes and more crownward Neogene Mysticeti. A historically important but perplexing cetacean is ?Mauicetus? lophocephalus (upper Oligocene South Island, New Zealand). The discovery of new skulls and skeletons of eomysticetids from the Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand and Otekaike Limestone permit a redescription and modern reinterpretation of ?Mauicetus? lophocephalus, and indicating that this species may have retained adult teeth. Tokarahia kauaeroa?gen.?et?sp.?nov. is erected on the basis of a well-preserved subadult to adult skull with mandibles, tympanoperiotics, and cervical and thoracic vertebrae, ribs, sternum, and forelimbs from the Otekaike Limestone (>?25.2?Mya). ?Mauicetus? lophocephalus is relatively similar and recombined as Tokarahia lophocephalus. Phylogenetic analysis supports the inclusion of Tokarahia within the Eomysticetidae, alongside Eomysticetus, Micromysticetus, Yamatocetus, and Tohoraata, and strongly supports the monophyly of Eomysticetidae. Tokarahia lacked extreme rostral kinesis of extant Mysticeti, and primitively retained a delicate archaeocete-like posterior mandible and synovial temporomandibular joint, suggesting that Tokarahia was capable of, at most, limited lunge feeding in contrast to extant Balaenopteridae, and used an alternative as-yet unspecified feeding strategy. Pdf is available from Robert Boessenecker robert.boessenecker at otago.ac.nz or R Ewan Fordyce ewan.fordyce at otago.ac.nz R Ewan Fordyce FRSNZ Professor, Department of Geology University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin 9054, NZ tel 3-4797510, paleo lab 3-4794575, cell 021-0373964, fax 3-4797527 Research Associate in Paleobiology and Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa; Fukui Dinosaur Museum; Michigan State University Museum. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From per.berggren at newcastle.ac.uk Tue Sep 1 07:49:10 2015 From: per.berggren at newcastle.ac.uk (Per Berggren) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 14:49:10 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] SMM 2015 Workshop: LOW COST METHODS TO REDUCE MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN GLOBAL ARTISANAL FISHERIES Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, If you are attending the 21st Biennal Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in San Francisco and working on low cost bycatch mitigation we hope you would consider attending the following workshop: LOW COST METHODS TO REDUCE MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN GLOBAL ARTISANAL FISHERIES Date/time: Sunday, 13 December 2015. 08:30-17:30. Organizers: Per Berggren (Newcastle University, UK), Jeremy Kiszka, (Florida International University) and Andy Read (Duke University) Contact email: per.berggren at ncl.ac.uk Description of Proposed Workshop: Bycatch is a major conservation threat to marine mammals worldwide. To date, most efforts to assess and mitigate bycatch have focused on industrial/semi-industrial fisheries in developed countries; much less attention has been paid to bycatch in artisanal fisheries of developing countries. Artisanal fisheries account for more than 95% of employment in the world's fisheries, and the potential magnitude of marine mammal bycatch in these fisheries is enormous. Many artisanal fisheries use small-scale gillnets and wherever the use of gillnets overlaps with marine mammals there is evidence of bycatch. Currently the greatest conservation threat to marine mammals is posed by bycatch in gillnets and so these gears are the main focus of this workshop. In industrial fisheries, the typical approach to mitigating bycatch follows a common pattern: bycatch is identified, its impact is assessed, and mitigation efforts to reduce the bycatch are then developed, tested and, finally, implemented. However, this is often a very lengthy processes, which includes a requirement to demonstrate statistically significant reduction of bycatch without undue impacts on the catch of target species. A more pragmatic approach is needed, especially in artisanal fisheries, in which mitigation is initiated immediately after bycatch is identified. Rather than waiting for an assessment, any mitigation measure leading to a bycatch reduction is put in place and the measures are then evaluated by an adaptive process implemented by fisheries participants themselves. Most currently available mitigation methods (e.g. pingers) are unsuitable for artisanal fisheries because of their cost, especially in developing countries. Nevertheless, a few promising examples of low cost mitigation strategies have been developed during the past decade, including gear switching, simple weak links and active disentanglement. The objective of this workshop is to review and bring together information on mitigation devices/methods that can be made from locally available materials, or changing fishing practices, to reduce the bycatch of marine mammals in gillnets at little or no cost. This will be a full day workshop (max 50 participants) divided into three sessions: 1. The first session will be dedicated to invited case study presentations on successful or unsuccessful bycatch mitigation for artisanal gillnet fisheries in a variety of geographical regions. 2. The second session (most of the day) will be dedicated to review, evaluation, discussion and collation of potential mitigation options to reduce marine mammal bycatch in artisanal gillnet fisheries. To facilitate and to make this a constructive exercise, we encourage workshop participants to submit ideas, potential prototypes or descriptions of mitigation device/methods for circulation in advance. 3. During the final session, the workshop will create a toolbox (to be placed on a suitable social media platform) of potential mitigation methods for different gillnets and geographical regions. Cost: $80 (early bird), $90 (after September 15th, 2015). For more information: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#bycatch Or please contact: per.berggren at ncl.ac.uk Many thanks for considering this and hope to see you at the workshop, Per Berggren, Jeremy Kiszka & Andy Read -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Per Berggren School of Marine Science and Technology Room 5.90, 5th Floor, Ridley Building 2, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK Phone:+44 191 208 5676 Email: per.berggren at ncl.ac.uk Read more on https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/marinescience/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit us on http://www.facebook.com/newcastlemarine Follow us on http://www.Twitter.com/newcastlemarine And watch us on http://www.YouTube.com/newcastlemarine ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From elc6 at st-andrews.ac.uk Tue Sep 1 22:12:38 2015 From: elc6 at st-andrews.ac.uk (Emma Carroll) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 06:12:38 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on Oceania humpback whales Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, we are please to announce a new open-access publication on the IUCN-listed Oceania humpback whale population: Assessing the design and power of capture?recapture studies to estimate demographic parameters for the Endangered Oceania humpback whale population E. L. Carroll, L. Brooks, C. S. Baker3, D. Burns, C. Garrigue, N. Hauser, J. A. Jackson, M. M. Poole, R. M. Fewster ABSTRACT: Capture?recapture studies offer a powerful tool to assess abundance, survival and population rate of change (?). A previous capture?recapture study, based on DNA profiles, esti- mated that the IUCN-listed Endangered Oceania population of humpback whales had a super- population size of 4329 whales (95% confidence limits, CL: 3345, 5315) and ? = 1.03 (95% CL: 0.90?1.18) for the period 1999?2005. This low estimate of ? contrasts with the high estimated ? for the neighbouring east Australia population (1.11; 95% CL: 1.105?1.113). A future assessment of Oceania humpbacks through capture?recapture methodology has been proposed to meet 3 objec- tives: (1) estimate population size with a coefficient of variation of <20%, and detect if ? is signif- icantly different from (2) 1.00 or (3) ? of east Australia. The proposed survey design involves using DNA profiles to identify whales on principal breeding grounds within Oceania in proportion to the abundance of whales on these grounds over the 10 to 12 wk wintering period, to minimise capture heterogeneity between individuals and to maximise capture probabilities. Simulations of the idealised survey design incorporating data from the previous surveys (1999?2005) with 3 new survey years were conducted under a range of scenarios for the ?true? demographic status of the population. Simulations of the entire Oceania region showed that the proposed design will give sufficient power to meet objectives (1) under all scenarios, (2) if the true ? ? 1.05 and (3) if the true ? ? 1.05. Region-specific simulations suggested there was scope to test for differences in recovery between principal breeding sites within Oceania. It is available for free download at: http://www.int-res.com/articles/esr2015/28/n028p147.pdf Thank you! -- Emma Carroll PhD Newton International Fellow Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From SSimmons at mmc.gov Wed Sep 2 08:25:07 2015 From: SSimmons at mmc.gov (Samantha Simmons) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 15:25:07 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Call for Abstracts: Animal telemetry session at Ocean Sciences meeting Feb 2016, New Orleans, LA. USA. Message-ID: Calling all marine mammal biologgers, (Apologies for cross-postings) We are seeking abstracts for an Ocean Sciences (New Orleans, Feb 2016) session, Our Session ID#: 9647- Integrating Ocean Observing and Animal Telemetry - the US Animal Telemetry Observing Network (ATN). Further details are given below. We aim to make this an engaging session with an interdisciplinary, cross-taxon focus and opportunities for discussion with experts from across the fields of Animal Telemetry Community and Ocean Observing community. Abstracts can be submitted at: https://agu.confex.com/agu/os16/preliminaryview.cgi/Session9647 The submission deadline is 23 September 2015, 23:59EDT. Session topics and description : * Integration between ocean observing and animal tracking platforms- We welcome submissions of case studies that show the benefits of integration of animal telemetry instruments with ocean platforms (buoys, moorings, gliders etc. * Animal oceanographers - We welcome submissions relevant to advances in aquatic animal borne sensors (ABS) and how oceanographic data collected by ABS is improving ocean model prediction skill and reducing uncertainty. * ATN data use cases for management/decision making- We welcome submissions of case studies that show animal telemetry data used in fisheries management, protected and endangered species management, Invasive species and application to restoration efforts (oil spills, renewable energy etc.) * Aquatic animal telemetry data management - We welcome submissions relevant to the complete life cycle of marine animal telemetry data stewardship, from proposal design and data management plans, through data handling, managing, storing, retrieving, interoperability with international animal telemetry systems, the development and implementation of open data/open science principles within the animal telemetry community, publication (including provision to WMO GTS) and preservation of animal telemetry data and how to eventually feed them to analyses tools publication and preservation. * New technologies - We welcome submissions on new aquatic animal telemetry technology including sensors. * The potential of networking to transform aquatic animal telemetry science- We welcome submissions of case studies that show the benefits of collaborative efforts (i.e. Network approach) to facilitate sharing of existing animal telemetry equipment, facilities, expertise and data to address local, regional and global scientific and management questions. Many thanks on behalf of the session organizers: Hassan Moustahfid (IOOS) Michael Weise (ONR) Molly McCammon (AOOS) Samantha Simmons (MMC) _______________________________________________________________ Samantha Simmons, PhD. Assistant Scientific Program Director Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814 (w) 301-504-0087 web: www.mmc.gov The Marine Mammal Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. Government Follow us on Twitter: @MarineMammalCom -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cgleaso2 at masonlive.gmu.edu Wed Sep 2 12:30:33 2015 From: cgleaso2 at masonlive.gmu.edu (cgleaso2 at masonlive.gmu.edu) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 19:30:33 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] IWC whale-watching sub-committee survey Message-ID: Greetings, The International Whaling Commission whale-watching (WW) sub-committee is conducting a survey to gather data regarding whale-watching guidelines/regulations. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and the information regarding how the WW sub-committee can improve outreach and communication with the whale-watching community will also be gathered. To complete the survey please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WMJ9F22 Please forward this link to any appropriate organizations or individuals! Inquiries can be directed to: Christine Gleason @ cgleaso2 at gmu.edu Thank-you for taking the time to complete the survey. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From PyensonN at si.edu Thu Sep 3 08:19:44 2015 From: PyensonN at si.edu (Pyenson, Nicholas) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 15:19:44 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Open-access paper and 3D models of new fossil river dolphin from Panama Message-ID: Open-access paper and 3D models of new fossil river dolphin from Panama Hi MARMAM list, On behalf of my coauthors, we wish to share the announcement, published on Tuesday 9/1, of a new species of fossil river dolphin, Isthminia panamensis, published in the open-access online journal PeerJ (https://peerj.com/articles/1227/). Pyenson ND, V?lez-Juarbe J, Gutstein CS, Little H, Vigil D, O?Dea A. (2015) Isthminia panamensis, a new fossil inioid (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Chagres Formation of Panama and the evolution of ?river dolphins? in the Americas. PeerJ 3:e1227 https://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1227 ABSTRACT: In contrast to dominant mode of ecological transition in the evolution of marine mammals, different lineages of toothed whales (Odontoceti) have repeatedly invaded freshwater ecosystems during the Cenozoic era. The so-called ?river dolphins? are now recognized as independent lineages that converged on similar morphological specializations (e.g., longirostry). In South America, the two endemic ?river dolphin? lineages form a clade (Inioidea), with closely related fossil inioids from marine rock units in the South Pacific and North Atlantic oceans. Here we describe a new genus and species of fossil inioid, Isthminia panamensis, gen. et sp. nov. from the late Miocene of Panama. The type and only known specimen consists of a partial skull, mandibles, isolated teeth, a right scapula, and carpal elements recovered from the Pi?a Facies of the Chagres Formation, along the Caribbean coast of Panama. Sedimentological and associated fauna from the Pi?a Facies point to fully marine conditions with high planktonic productivity about 6.1?5.8 million years ago (Messinian), pre-dating the final closure of the Isthmus of Panama. Along with ecomorphological data, we propose that Isthminia was primarily a marine inhabitant, similar to modern oceanic delphinoids. Phylogenetic analysis of fossil and living inioids, including new codings for Ischyrorhynchus, an enigmatic taxon from the late Miocene of Argentina, places Isthminia as the sister taxon to Inia, in a broader clade that includes Ischyrorhynchus and Meherrinia, a North American fossil inioid. This phylogenetic hypothesis complicates the possible scenarios for the freshwater invasion of the Amazon River system by stem relatives of Inia, but it remains consistent with a broader marine ancestry for Inioidea. Based on the fossil record of this group, along with Isthminia, we propose that a marine ancestor of Inia invaded Amazonia during late Miocene eustatic sea-level highs. NOTE: A 3D print of the skull and jaws is currently on display at the BioMuseo in Panama City, Panama. Also, 3D models are available for visualization, measurement, download and 3D printing at the Smithsonian X 3D browser: http://3d.si.edu Nicholas D. Pyenson, Ph.D. Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals Department of Paleobiology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution NHB, MRC 121, PO Box 37012 10th & Constitution NW Washington, DC 20013-7012 USA For FedEx, UPS, or other couriers, please use: Nicholas Pyenson Smithsonian Institution MRC 121, Natural History Building, West Loading Dock 10th & Constitution NW Washington, DC 20560 USA Tel: 202-633-1366 Fax: 202-786-2832 Email: PyensonN at si.edu Twitter: @PyensonLab Lab blog: http://nmnh.typepad.com/pyenson_lab/ Staff page: http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/pyenson.cfm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cdmacleod at gisinecology.com Thu Sep 3 07:12:27 2015 From: cdmacleod at gisinecology.com (Colin D. MacLeod) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 15:12:27 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Final Call: Training Course: QGIS For Biologists, September 2015 Message-ID: <9B0C2FA2F7C849AB8A2DFD6BA1C7164E@House1> Training Course - A Introduction To Using QGIS In Biological Research GIS In Ecology will be holding an introductory training course for those who wish to learn how to use the free, open-source GIS software QGIS (also known as Quantum GIS) in all aspects of biological research. The course will be held in Glasgow on the 28th and 29th of Sepember 2015, and it will be taught by Dr. Colin D. MacLeod, who has more than 15 years experience in using GIS for a wide variety of biological purposes. This course is aimed at those just starting to use GIS in their research and who have little or no existing knowledge of this subject area, those who are looking for a free, open source GIS solution for their biological research, and at existing users of commercial GIS software, such as ArcGIS, who wish to learn how to do GIS using QGIS software. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 15 people, and the course will cost ?295 per person (?200 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). To book a place, or for more information, contact info at GISinEcology.com. To attend this course, you must bring your own laptop computer and have a working copy of QGIS 2.6 pre-installed on it. You can find information about how to get this software package by searching QGIS in any web browser. At the end of the course, all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and completion. Glasgow has great transport links and is within half a days travel by car or by fast train links from most cities in the UK. For example, it can be reached in as little as 4h 30mins from London by train. It can also be reached by direct flights from many European cities and the flight time is generally under four hours. The course will be held in central Glasgow at the IET Glasgow Teacher Building (14 St Enoch Square, Glasgow, G1 4DB, UK). Attendees will be responsible for their own accommodation. However, Glasgow provides a wide range of accommodation options to fit most budgets. ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com Email: info at GISinEcology.com Need to ask a question about using GIS? Try the GIS In Ecology Forum: www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm Books From GIS In Ecology Staff: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology; RRP: ?44.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology: Supplementary Workbook One - Creating Maps Of Species Distribution; RRP: ?19:99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology: Supplementary Workbook Two - Working With Raster Data Layers; RRP: ?19.99 If you wish to purchase these books, visit: http://www.gisinecology.com/Book_Shop.htm To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is unavoidable. ================================================================================== --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pavelgoldin412 at gmail.com Thu Sep 3 14:43:59 2015 From: pavelgoldin412 at gmail.com (Pavel Gol'din) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 23:43:59 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] A New Miocene Family, Tranatocetidae, Brings Perspective on Baleen Whale Evolution Message-ID: Dear colleagues, We are happy to announce the following open access paper on the evolution of baleen whales: Gol?din P, Steeman ME (2015) From Problem Taxa to Problem Solver: A New Miocene Family, Tranatocetidae, Brings Perspective on Baleen Whale Evolution. PLoS ONE 10(9): e0135500. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135500 Miocene baleen whales were highly diverse and included tens of genera. However, their taxonomy and phylogeny, as well as relationships with living whales, are still a subject of controversy. Here, ?Mesocetus? argillarius, a poorly known specimen from Denmark, is redescribed with a focus on the cranial anatomy. It was found to represent not only a new genus, Tranatocetus gen. nov., but also a new family; Tranatocetidae. The whales of this family have the rostral bones either overriding or dividing the frontals; the rostral bones are contacting the parietals and nasals dividing the maxillae on the vertex; the occipital shield is dorsoventrally bent. The tympanic bulla is particularly characteristic of this family featuring a short, narrow anterior portion with a rounded or squared anterior end and a wider and higher posterior portion that is swollen in the posteroventral area. A phylogenetic analysis including 51 taxa supports a monophyletic group comprising most Neogene and modern whales, with Tranatocetidae being possibly closer related to Balaenopteridae (rorquals) than to Cetotheriidae. Tranatocetidae exhibit a charahteristic bulla shape. In fact, all Neogene and modern mysticete families examined have a unique shape of the tympanic bulla that is diagnostic at family-level. Inclusion of problematic taxa like Tranatocetus argillarius in phylogenies brings new understanding of the distribution and diagnostic value of character traits. This underlines the need for re-examination of earlier described specimens in the light of the wealth of new information published in later years. The paper can be read and downloaded at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0135500 Regards, Pavel Gol'din -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Tom.Reinert at MyFWC.com Fri Sep 4 14:40:20 2015 From: Tom.Reinert at MyFWC.com (Reinert, Tom) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 21:40:20 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Job announcement: Marine Mammal Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Port Charlotte, FL Message-ID: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Wildlife Research - Marine Mammals TITLE: OPS Biological Scientist I-FWC (two positions) POSITION #'s: 77907479 and 77902156 LOCATION: Port Charlotte, FL RATE OF PAY: $13.00-14.25/hour, 40 hours/week; one position is eligible for the higher salary level which is dependent on qualifications and expected renewal of grant-funded support; current grant expires 9/30/2016; if grant support is not renewed, the position remains but rate reverts to base pay of $13.00/hr. CLOSING DATE: 9/16/2015 DESCRIPTION OF JOB DUTIES: Duties include but are not limited to fielding calls from FWC Law Enforcement, other agencies, and the general public regarding marine mammals, particularly manatees and cetaceans; verification of mortalities and distressed manatees and cetaceans, potentially in need of rescue. Recovery of manatee carcasses from a ten county area in Southwest Florida and stranded cetaceans from a three county region. Conduct field necropsies on badly decomposed manatee carcasses and transport fresh to moderately decomposed manatee carcasses to the necropsy facility in St. Petersburg. Participate in the marine mammal stranding network, including coordination of capture and transportation of injured manatees and live cetaceans to the appropriate rehabilitation facility and conduct necropsies on fresh dead to badly decomposed stranded cetaceans. Conduct aerial surveys of manatees, track radio-tagged manatees and photograph manatees for photo identification purposes. Participate in aerial synoptic surveys for manatees. Operate a computer and software such as Arcview, Excel, Access and Word. Participate in data entry, office work, report writing and public outreach including working with the media. Perform tasks such as general cleaning of office and equipment, vehicle, trailer and boat maintenance and other tasks assigned by supervisor. Work long, unscheduled hours on short notice that include some evenings, most weekends and frequently on holidays. Occasional overnight travel required. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor's degree with a major in one of the biological sciences. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Applicant must obtain boater safety certification within the first six months of employment. Applicant must be able to swim proficiently. Field work is highly physical and applicant must be willing and able to lift 50 lbs on a regular basis. Must have the ability to work both as a team member as well as independently in various field situations. Must be able to work under adverse field conditions, potentially nights, on weekends and holidays. Must be able to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships; think logically and apply problem-solving techniques; effectively communicate verbally and in writing; and maintain a valid driver's License. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Marine mammal stranding-response experience; previous participation in NOAA's Marine Mammal Stranding Network is highly desirable. Knowledge and the ability to use personal computers, field gear, and cameras are preferred. Demonstrated writing ability, preferably in research-related areas. The ability to safely operate and trailer boats less than 30 feet in length is also highly desired. WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT? Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position. OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment, and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee. WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES? * State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan* - mandatory * Workers' Compensation - mandatory * Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory * Participation in state group insurance (upon availability and you must meet eligibility requirements) * Deferred Compensation - voluntary * Employee Assistance Program - voluntary WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES? * Any form of paid leave * Paid holidays * Participation in the Florida Retirement System * Reinstatement rights or retention rights APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please submit a current resume, three references, and a cover letter along with your State of Florida Employment Application in People First, as an attachment via the People First website: http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com. Applicants are required to submit a complete, up-to-date, State of Florida Employment Application Form electronically in People First (http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com) or faxed to 1-888-403-2110 by the closing date listed. Resumes and supporting documentation may be submitted in People First, but do not replace the requirement for a completed State of Florida Employment Application Form. If you experience technical difficulties during the application process or when attaching documents, call People First staffing at 1-877-562-7287. If unable to attach supporting documents to your application, they may be faxed to the People First Service Center at 1-888-403-2110. Be sure to include the Requisition number for the position to which you are applying on each page of your faxed documents. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or the People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. The State of Florida hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. An Employment Eligibility Verification Check will be conducted in the E-Verify System which is a federal government electronic database that confirms the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shawna.karpovich at alaska.gov Fri Sep 4 10:12:40 2015 From: shawna.karpovich at alaska.gov (Karpovich, Shawna A (DFG)) Date: Fri, 04 Sep 2015 17:12:40 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] new paper: Combined physiological and behavioral observations to assess the influence of vessel encounters on harbor seals in glacial fjords of southeast Alaska Message-ID: <48BE2134B4A1494DB6C2DA4524FF94F5CDA2AC7F@SOAFAIEXMB2.soa.alaska.gov> My coauthors and I would like to announce that the following paper is now available online: Combined physiological and behavioral observations to assess the influence of vessel encounters on harbor seals in glacial fjords of southeast Alaska Shawna A. Karpovich, John P. Skinner, Jeff E. Mondragon, Gail M. Blundell Highlights ? Heart rate increased by 5 bpm when seals were directly approached by vessels. ? Vessel approaches generally caused greater suppression of in-water heart rates. ? Heart rate during the haulout following a vessel approach was elevated by 6 bpm. ? Incidental vessel traffic caused a 4 bpm/vessel increase in seal heart rate. ? Elevated heart rates suggest increased energetic costs associated with vessels. Abstract Most studies examining disturbance of seals define disturbance as entry into the water. However, behavior alone may not be an accurate indicator of the timing, magnitude, or physiological cost of disturbances. This study examines changes in harbor seal heart rates in response to two levels of vessel disturbances; 1) ?incidental traffic? defined as presence of vessels in the area while seals were hauled out; and 2) ?experimental disturbance? defined as direct vessel approaches to seals until the seal entered the water. Incidental traffic resulted in a 4 bpm vessel? 1 increase in heart rate while seals were hauled out. Mean incidental traffic during haulouts was 0.26 (range 0 to 8.95) vessels, and small vessels caused the largest increase in heart rate. Experimental disturbances resulted in a 5 bpm increase in heart rate upon initiation of vigilance, defined as the head-lift behavior. In-water heart rate was significantly lower after an experimental disturbance compared to other water entries, suggesting that seals shift to an energetically conservative mode in response to disturbances. During the haulout following an experimental disturbance, seal heart rate was significantly higher than other haulouts, suggesting that there is an added energetic cost of disturbance. Also, sex, mass, current and previous haul-out duration, in-water duration, day of year, hour of day, ambient temperature, and light level were found to have significant influence on harbor seal heart rates; demonstrating that a complex assortment of factors affect heart rate and careful consideration of these factors must be included in disturbance studies. Whereas previous findings have shown that vessel encounters alter seal behavior, this study presents evidence that encounters have energetic and physiological consequences while the seals are hauled out and these consequences persist for some time after the water entry behavior. Accordingly, exposure of harbor seals to increased vessel traffic may result in altered behavior, increased energetic expenditures, and increased exposure to stress, negatively affecting the health, condition, and reproductive success of harbor seal populations that reside in glacial fjords. The pdf can be downloaded at http://www.sciencedirect.com.arlis.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S0022098115002105 Alternatively pdf requests can be sent to shawna.karpovich at alaska.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Lesley.Douglas at blueplanetmarine.com Tue Sep 1 01:30:39 2015 From: Lesley.Douglas at blueplanetmarine.com (Lesley Douglas) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 08:30:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] BPM Training Course for MMOs working in New Zealand and Australian waters Message-ID: BPM Training Course for MMOs working in New Zealand and Australian waters MMOs wishing to work on marine seismic surveys in New Zealand waters must successfully complete a training course consistent with the standards outlined in the 2013 Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations. Blue Planet Marine's course is one of only a few courses approved by the New Zealand Government as meeting these standards. It is suitable for candidates new to MMO work right through to experienced MMOs or industry/government personnel keen to better understand this role. MMOs working in Australia are subject to different legislation, Government departments, processes, and must identify a suite of different marine fauna. Our course will equip candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate in this environment. Our course consists of 14 modules of online distance learning and a three-day in-person practical component. The three-day practical component includes classroom, shore- and sea-based activities designed to consolidate online distance learning, and introduce and then practice techniques essential to the role of MMO. Candidates whom successfully complete the course will be capable and confident in undertaking the duties of a MMO under the relevant guidelines of Australia and New Zealand, and will be recognised by the New Zealand Government as 'trained' MMOs, able to work on marine seismic surveys in New Zealand waters. Candidates for the course must be able to complete the online distance learning within the timeframe specified below and be available to attend the practical component in Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. * Online distance learning: 24 September to 11 October 2015 (inclusive) * Practical component: 20-22 October 2015 (inclusive), Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. * Cost: NZ$2,100 (ex GST) - covering online distance learning, practical component, lectures and course handouts. (Note: any costs relating to travel, accommodation and meals required in order for you to attend the practical component of the course will be at your additional expense.) If you are interested in undertaking the course, please complete the table below and email it to Lesley Douglas (info at blueplanetmarine.com). Places are limited and applications close 15 September 2015. Apply early to avoid disappointment. First name: Last name: Email: Contact phone number: Postal address: Country: Notes on relevant experience or other comments: Lesley Douglas, M.Sc. Marine Scientist | NZ Office | Ph: +64 (0)27 631 9000 | Email: lesley.douglas at blueplanetmarine.com | www.blueplanetmarine.com P.O. Box 3639, Richmond, Nelson, 7050, New Zealand [BPMprimarylogo FOR EMAIL SIGNATURE 40mm] This message is private and confidential. If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it from your system. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3262 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From lindsay.jp at gmail.com Fri Sep 4 11:57:37 2015 From: lindsay.jp at gmail.com (Lindsay Porter) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2015 02:57:37 +0800 Subject: [MARMAM] Stu Innes Award, San Francisco, 2015. Please post! Message-ID: *Marine Mammal Biennial, San Francisco, USA December 2015* *Stu Innes Award * *Call for Applications* On May 21, 2000, the world of marine mammal research lost two talented scientists and cherished colleagues, Stuart Innes and Malcolm Ramsay. Drs. Innes and Ramsay were conducting field research near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada when their helicopter crashed. Both Stuart and Malcolm are remembered with affection and admiration for their boundless energy and devotion to their scientific endeavours in the Arctic. Stuart was a vocal advocate for supporting students in their efforts to develop a career in Arctic marine mammal research. He believed that the Biennial Marine Mammal Conferences hosted by the Society for Marine Mammalogy were a good opportunity for young researchers to learn, network, and develop enthusiasm from the leaders in the field. As a tribute to Stuart, friends and colleagues have established the ?S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary? to help support a student?s travel to this conference each time it is held. The award is open to post-secondary students conducting marine mammal research in the Arctic. Applications should consist of the following: 1. The student?s name, affiliated institution, level (MSc or PhD) and year of study and CV 2. Name and address of supervisor 3. One additional reference 4. The accepted abstract submitted to the 2015 Biennial conference 5. 400 words describing the project the award will contribute to, highlighting the direct benefits of the award. A selection committee of Stuart?s colleagues will review the applications and select one winner. The committee?s decision is final. After the conference, a brief report should be submitted summarizing how the student benefited from the conference experience. The award this year is $1000.00 USD. Questions and applications should be sent by email to Lindsay Porter lindsay.jp at gmail.com Applications must be received by midnight *30 September 2015*. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmaycollado at gmail.com Fri Sep 4 13:26:23 2015 From: lmaycollado at gmail.com (Laura J. May-Collado) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 16:26:23 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] final extension of abstract submission for RIEMMCCA workshop at SMM Message-ID: Hi everyone we are extending the abstract submission deadline to *September 10, 2015*. We encourage all scientists from Central America and the Caribbean to participate. This is a great opportunity to learn what is happening in our countries and also a great opportunity to establish regional collaboration. *Symposium Agenda: *RIEMMCCA Network of Aquatic Mammal Specialists of Central America and the Caribbean *Date: DECEMBER 12,* *? 2015 at the San Francisco Biennial (all day)* *Cost*: ?$45 *Overview*: The intent of this symposium is to review the state-of-knowledge of the aquatic mammals of *Central America* and the *Caribbean* and to enhance collaboration and communication between scientists in the region. The symposium will consist of presentations (oral and poster) and a discussion session to identify gaps in knowledge and conservation issues, importance of communicating our science (public and in peer reviewed journals) and future research directions for the region. We invite national and international scientists working in the region to present their work by submitting a 300 word abstract (English and Spanish abstracts are welcome) to the following email address riemmcca .smm2015 at gmail.com. Abstract submission will close on *SEPTEMBER 10, 2015*. Thanks! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mandy.shoemaker at navy.mil Thu Sep 3 15:38:52 2015 From: mandy.shoemaker at navy.mil (Shoemaker, Mandy L CIV NAVFAC EXWC, EV13) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 22:38:52 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Navy Living Marine Resource Program Environmental Need Topics - call for pre-proposals Message-ID: <5B7C928F3D16924A9E12E47C4B7A88093C9B9D60@NAWEPRTHXM02V.nadsuswe.nads.navy.mil> The Navy Living Marine Resources (LMR) applied research program is seeking pre-proposals in two topic areas related to underwater sound produced by human activities and its effects on marine life. Topics include: 1) behavioral response research to study the effects of sound on marine mammals and 2) marine species hearing research related to the acoustic effects criteria. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit the LMR website, http://www.lmr.navy.mil/Preproposals.aspx, for more information about the LMR program and the solicitation. Federal government applicants are not eligible to submit pre-proposals under the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), but will be able to submit pre-proposals directly to the relevant Navy statement of need by selecting Federal Government when submitting. Academic, non-federal government, nonprofit, and private sector submitters should select Private/Academia, when submitting their pre-proposal. The need topics can be viewed within the BAA at www.neco.navy.mil, www.fbo.gov, or at www.lmr.navy.mil/Preproposals.aspx. All submissions must be made via the LMR website. The solicitation period will close at 5:00 pm, Pacific Daylight Time on 23 OCTOBER, 2015 (see website or BAA for official dates and other guidance). Anu Kumar Program Manager Living Marine Resources Program Mandy Shoemaker Senior Marine Resources Specialist Living Marine Resources Program -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: smime.p7s Type: application/pkcs7-signature Size: 5623 bytes Desc: not available URL: From perrtreer at savannahstate.edu Fri Sep 4 09:54:16 2015 From: perrtreer at savannahstate.edu (Perrtree, Robin) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 16:54:16 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Spring Dolphin Research Internship in Savannah, GA Message-ID: The Savannah State University Dolphin Sciences Laboratory (SSUDS lab) is accepting applications for Spring 2016 interns. There are 2 positions available. Application deadline is October 15th. The SSUDS lab is located adjacent to the marsh on the campus of Savannah State University in coastal Georgia. The SSUDS lab and Dr. Tara Cox study spatial ecology and conservation biology of long-lived marine vertebrates, marine and coastal policy and management, and human interactions with marine mammals. Current projects include: Human-interaction behaviors (particularly begging), stock structure and abundance estimates, and diet of common bottlenose dolphins. Interns will support graduate research on common bottlenose dolphins living in the local waterways. In addition, there may be opportunities to help other marine science graduate students with diverse fieldwork. Dates: Jan 11 - May 27 (Start and end dates are flexible) Location: Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia Time: Interns are expected to commit to ~30 hours per week and their time will be split between lab and field work. Dolphin surveys will be conducted 2 days per month. Lab duties include: photo-identification, data entry and double checking Conference duties: The SSUDS lab will be hosting SEAMAMMS (regional conference) in spring 2016, interns will assist with conference preparation and hosting. Field duties: assisting with small boat-based photo-identification surveys including sighting dolphins, data recording, photography, and environmental measurements Qualifications: * Minimum age of 18 years old * Currently or recently enrolled in a college-level program in marine biology, biology, zoology, or related field * Strong interest in marine mammals, the environment, and conservation * Computer proficiency, especially MS Office * Enthusiastic, attentive to detail, responsible, and dedicated * Works well in a team environment as well as individually * Ability to work long days in the sun/cold on a small boat To apply please submit the following via email with the subject "SSUDS Internship" to perrtreer at savannahstate.edu. All attached files must be named starting with your last name (i.e. Perrtree-SSUDS_coverLetter_spring_2016.doc). * A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position, how the experience will help you meet your long-term goals, and your dates of availability. * A resume (or curriculum vitae) describing your relevant training and experience. * Current academic transcripts (unofficial are sufficient). * Names and contact information for two references. This position is unpaid, and interns are responsible for providing their own housing and transport to Savannah, GA. If accepted, we can provide contact information for possible shared housing opportunities with SSU students. This is a great opportunity to work with scientists and graduate students in the field and lab while gaining experience with photo-identification and boat-based marine mammal surveys. Savannah State University offers a Master of Science in Marine Sciences; thus, successful interns may have future opportunities for graduate study in the SSUDS lab. For more information about Marine Sciences at SSU please visit: http://www.savannahstate.edu/cost/nat-science/marine-sci.shtml Robin Perrtree SSUDS Lab Manager Robin Perrtree SSUDS Lab Manager Marine Sciences Technician Savannah State University Office: Harris Hall 103 912-358-3301 (office) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From psocertifications at gmail.com Thu Sep 3 17:51:42 2015 From: psocertifications at gmail.com (Angela Bostwick) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 16:51:42 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] Protected Species Observer Training - Galveston, TX Message-ID: Marine Protected Species Consulting is offering BSEE-compliant Protected Species Observer training on Saturday, September 26, in Galveston, TX. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive certification to act as a PSO for seismic projects in the Gulf of Mexico. Included in the $800 course fee: continental breakfast, snacks, lunch, regulatory documents, and various identification guides. Additional information is available at www.ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com. Interested students, please contact Angela by email at PSOCertifications at gmail.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder, Marine Protected Species Consulting ------------------------------------------------- www.ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://www.facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers From mbaumgartner at whoi.edu Sat Sep 5 12:58:21 2015 From: mbaumgartner at whoi.edu (Mark Baumgartner) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2015 15:58:21 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Ocean Sciences top predator session Message-ID: <45035EF2-8F06-4638-9ED2-23EBD50CA2F2@whoi.edu> Dear Colleagues, The 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting will be held 21-26 February 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The meeting is an important venue for scientific exchange across broad marine science disciplines, with sessions on all aspects of oceanography. We would like to call your attention to a session we will be chairing entitled "Advances in the ecology, behavior, physiology, or conservation of marine top predators" (ME002). This session has been convened at the Ocean Sciences meetings since 2010, and it provides a wonderful opportunity for researchers studying a variety of taxa (including marine mammals) to meet, exchange ideas, and explore commonalities in research methods, scientific questions, and conservation efforts. Please consider submitting an abstract and attending the meeting. Abstracts are due by 23 September 2015 (2 weeks from Wednesday). More information on the session is below. Mark Baumgartner, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, mbaumgartner at whoi.edu Daniel Palacios, Oregon State University, daniel.palacios at oregonstate.edu ------------------ Topic: Marine Ecosystems Title: ME002. Advances in the ecology, behavior, physiology, or conservation of marine top predators Session ID#: 9588 Session Description: Top predators are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, and as such, their ecology, behavior and physiology can influence important processes such as trophic interactions, carbon flow, and nutrient recycling. Virtually all top predators have a history of over-exploitation or they have special management status because of their sensitivity to marine industrial activities and other human uses (e.g., bycatch, shipping, resource exploration/extraction). Basic research on top predators often focuses on gaps in our understanding of their ecology, but unlike many other branches of biological oceanography, research can also be motivated directly by management and conservation needs. This session will focus on studies of the ecology, behavior, and physiology of marine top predators that either advance our scientific understanding or support the conservation of these important taxa. Because Ocean Sciences provides a unique forum for marine ecologists, marine biologists, and oceanographers to interact, we seek contributions from researchers studying a wide variety of taxa, including fish, squid, reptiles, seabirds, and marine mammals, from anywhere in the world?s oceans. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sn1608 at googlemail.com Sat Sep 5 17:11:25 2015 From: sn1608 at googlemail.com (Sam Nichols) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2015 01:11:25 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Protected Species Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Training Courses - 6-10 October, Houston, Texas Message-ID: Seiche Training is running its two day Protected Species Observer (PSO) and three day Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) training courses in Houston, 6-7 and 8-10 October 2015. PSO course 6-7 October This two day BSEE-compliant course provides the skills needed to become a Protected Species Observer. Highest quality training both in the classroom and on board a vessel to allow delegates to gain experience with marine mammal identification while at sea. Certificate for offshore work awarded upon successful completion of course. Cost - $800 PAM course 8-10 October Houston This three day PAM course provides the skills needed to become an offshore PAM operator. Run by Seiche's highly experienced team with thorough support material, interactive PAMGuard workshops and a boat session, this course will expand delegates' knowledge of acoustic monitoring and provide insight into industry requirements for environmental mitigation. Cost - $800 Please contact s.hancock at seiche.com for more information, modules and costs. PSO & PAM courses also running in Abu Dhabi (8-12 November), Plymouth UK (23-27 November with JNCC MMO accreditation) and San Francisco (7-11 December). www.seiche.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From daniel.dunn at duke.edu Tue Sep 1 07:53:19 2015 From: daniel.dunn at duke.edu (Daniel Dunn) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 14:53:19 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Ocean Sciences 2016 Session on Dynamic Ocean Management Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, My co-chairs and I are excited to announce the following session at the 2016 Ocean Sciences meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana; February 21-26, 2016): Dynamic Ocean Management: Managing at Finer Scales for Mobile Ocean Resources (link to session webpage) Session ID: 9332 Session Description: Dynamic ocean management aims to respond to the movement of managed species, ocean users, and underlying ocean features. Higher temporal resolution of management measures can create efficiency gains and allows managers to address problems that were previously intractable. Understanding patterns in space and time for both target and non-target species can allow management to explicitly respond to the dynamic movements of marine animals and people that rely on them. Dynamic approaches are particularly important for highly mobile species as well as resource users that follow features such as fronts and eddies that evolve rapidly in space and time. Advances in remote sensing, archival tagging, hand-held technology, and species-distribution models have improved our ability to predict areas of low to high risk of unwanted species interactions in near-real time. That information can be disseminated to alert users to changing dynamic management areas via website and mobile applications. This session will explore (1) life history traits and ecosystems that may benefit from dynamic ocean management approaches; (2) how both human and marine resources respond to dynamic oceanography; (3) empirical examples to help quantify the efficacy and efficiency of dynamic management; and (4) ultimately data frameworks that can improve responsiveness of ocean management. Chairs: Elliott L. Hazen, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA, United States Daniel Dunn, Duke University Marine Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Beaufort, NC, United States Sara Maxwell, Old Dominion University, Department of Biology, Norfolk, VA, United States Rebecca Lewison, San Diego State University, Biology, San Diego, CA, United States The abstract submission site is now open and abstracts are due by 23 September, 11:59 p.m. EDT. We look forward to your abstracts and an exciting session! Sincerely, Daniel Daniel C. Dunn, Ph.D. Research Scientist Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab Duke University Beaufort, NC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From seebca01 at luther.edu Sun Sep 6 10:35:32 2015 From: seebca01 at luther.edu (Cassie Seebart) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2015 13:35:32 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Clearwater Marine Aquarium: call for Internship Applications Message-ID: *CALL FOR INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS* (Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL) Clearwater Marine Aquarium conducts rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts for sick or injured marine life. If rescued animals are deemed un-releasable due to their physical limitations or need for continuous care, Clearwater Marine Aquarium can provide permanent care for these animals. Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers intensive, hands on internships for individuals interested in particular aspects of the marine animal care field. The *Stranding Team Internship *provides interns with a unique opportunity to gain hands on experience in the response of live and dead dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and North American river otters. Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with the monitoring, rescue, transport, data collection, rehabilitation, release, and necropsy of stranded aquatic animals. Interns will also be given ample opportunities to further their skill sets relating to writing and public speaking. This will be achieved through duties such as writing weekly newsletters and presenting daily guest narrations. The Stranding Team seeks enthusiastic, dedicated, and hardworking individuals who are interested in promoting wildlife conservation through stranding efforts. The *Marine Mammal Training Internship* is designed to give individuals an inside look into what it takes to care for marine animals, with emphasis on common bottlenose dolphins, North American river otters and African great white pelican. During your internship, you will learn how to prepare diets, clean to USDA standards, maintain exhibits, provide enrichment/mental stimulation and give public presentations to educate our visitors as well as promote environmental conservation. Through a classroom lecture series, you will also learn how trainers use principles such as positive reinforcement, operant conditioning and shaping to train. Candidates should be able to perform physically demanding duties and ideally be enrolled in a four-year college program in psychology, biology, marine biology or another related field. Hands-on animal experience, such as volunteering at an animal shelter or completing other marine mammal internships at another facility is required. SCUBA, First Aid and CPR certification is also a plus. The *Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Internship* offers a hands-on learning experience caring for rehabilitating sea turtles as well as permanent residents at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Interns will be exposed to all aspects of the field including stranding, triage, food prep, exhibit maintenance, operating under USDA and FWC standards, animal restraint, basic target training, enrichment, daily husbandry and, occasionally, more extensive surgical procedures. Interns are able to practice many duties necessary for future animal care careers. After completing this internship, previous interns have used their experiences to gain employment in vet clinics or animal rehabilitation jobs, gained admission to veterinary school, or pursued educational and conservational outreach. The Sea Turtle department has an additional *Sea Turtle Nesting Internship*, in the summer only, during which nesting interns will assist in patrol of about 25 miles of beach. Interns will conduct all aspects of sea turtle nesting including nest marking, night patrol, hatchling release, inventory, caging, data input, and much more. Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers 3 internship time frames annually. The Spring Internship runs from January 2016 through May 2016. The application deadline for this internship is October 1, 2015. To learn more about Clearwater Marine Aquarium?s animal care internships and how to apply, please visit the ?About Us? page on www.seewinter.com and select the link for ?Internships.? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org Mon Sep 7 08:03:43 2015 From: volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org (Volunteer Coordinator) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 16:03:43 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] FINAL OFFER FOR CETACEAN LIVE-ABOARD SURVEY IN THE HEBRIDES Message-ID: <00eb01d0e97e$6363a450$2a2aecf0$@hwdt.org> *LAST REDUCTIONS OF THE 2015 FIELD SEASON!* Dear All, The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) conducts cetacean surveys throughout our field season from aboard our research yacht (http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk/research-Silurian.asp) Silurian. Every year we welcome aboard enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to contribute directly to our research work. Volunteers, in effect, become marine mammal scientists for the duration of the survey; living and working aboard Silurian, assisting with day-to-day running, as well as working together as a team to carry out visual and acoustic surveys. To find out more about the research onboard please follow the link (http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk/research-on-silurian.asp). We have produced a short a short video about joining us aboard, please CLICK HERE to watch Volunteers will assist fully in the collection of data, with mega-fauna and sea bird identification training provided. Acoustic and visual methods are combined to produce comprehensive data sets. During encounters photographs are taken of dorsal fins to try and identify the individual, gaining a better understanding of species movements and interactions with each other. The data collected, and subsequent information produced is essential when monitoring the distribution, relative abundance and habitat preference of cetacean species in the Hebrides. Only with coherent data can effective conservation and management strategies be designed to enable long-term protection of the amazing species found in Hebridean waters. As a volunteer onboard Silurian, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand the amazing variety of marine wildlife the UK has to offer including whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sharks and seabirds. You will explore some of the remotest, wildest parts of the British Isles - anchoring each night in a different secluded bay off one of the many Hebridean islands, venturing ashore to explore if you wish. The opportunity to gain sailing experience is also available, although no certificates are issued. Rendezvous location is in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, where HWDT is based. More information on specific surveys will be provided on request. There is a monetary value attached to participating which includes accommodation (aboard) and food throughout the duration. The income generated allows HWDT to continue this well established research programme, you can be assured that without your contribution the research couldn't be undertaken. 2015 Survey Dates: * 22nd - 30th September; ?685 (35% off original price) ? 5th - 13th October*; ?805 (15% off original price) * Joint Warrior Military Exercise Monitoring Survey (http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk/stand_alone.asp?page=militarysurvey.asp) For further information about our surveys please go online to: http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk/get-involved-join-us-onboard.asp For Further information about HWDT please go online to: www.hwdt.org Or contact HWDT?s volunteer coordinator Morven Russell Email: volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org Telephone: 01688 302620 Thank you, and hope to see you aboard this season! Morven Russell Volunteer Coordinator Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust 28 Main Street Tobermory Isle of Mull PA75 6NU Tel: 01688 302620 volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org www.hwdt.org Please note my standard working days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and understanding of Scotland?s whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) and the Hebridean marine environment through education, research and working within Hebridean communities as a basis for the lasting conservation of local species and habitats. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kristina.cammen at maine.edu Mon Sep 7 11:45:31 2015 From: kristina.cammen at maine.edu (Kristina Cammen) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 14:45:31 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New Paper: Genomewide investigation of adaptation to harmful algal blooms in bottlenose dolphins Message-ID: My co-authors and I would like to share the news that several papers resulting from our investigation of the influence of genetic variation on susceptibility of bottlenose dolphins to harmful algal blooms have been published over the past year. Our most recent publication, ?Genomewide investigation of adaptation to harmful algal blooms in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus),? is now available as Early View online in the journal Molecular Ecology. Cammen, K. M., Schultz, T. F., Rosel, P. E., Wells, R. S. and Read, A. J. (2015), Genomewide investigation of adaptation to harmful algal blooms in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Molecular Ecology. doi: 10.1111/mec.13350 Abstract. Harmful algal blooms (HABs), which can be lethal in marine species and cause illness in humans, are increasing worldwide. In the Gulf of Mexico, HABs of *Karenia brevis* produce neurotoxic brevetoxins that cause large-scale marine mortality events. The long history of such blooms, combined with the potentially severe effects of exposure, may have produced a strong selective pressure for evolved resistance. Advances in next-generation sequencing, in particular genotyping-by-sequencing, greatly enable the genomic study of such adaptation in natural populations. We used restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to investigate brevetoxicosis resistance in common bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*). To improve our understanding of the epidemiology and aetiology of brevetoxicosis and the potential for evolved resistance in an upper trophic level predator, we sequenced pools of genomic DNA from dolphins sampled from both coastal and estuarine populations in Florida and during multiple HAB-associated mortality events. We sequenced 129 594 RAD loci and analysed 7431 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The allele frequencies of many of these polymorphic loci differed significantly between live and dead dolphins. Some loci associated with survival showed patterns suggesting a common genetic-based mechanism of resistance to brevetoxins in bottlenose dolphins along the Gulf coast of Florida, but others suggested regionally specific mechanisms of resistance or reflected differences among HABs. We identified candidate genes that may be the evolutionary target for brevetoxin resistance by searching the dolphin genome for genes adjacent to survival-associated SNPs. Other related papers include: Cammen KM, Wilcox LA, Rosel PE, Wells RS, Read AJ (2015) From genome-wide to candidate gene: An investigation of variation at the major histocompatibility complex in bottlenose dolphins exposed to red tides. Immunogenetics 67:125-133. Cammen KM, Rosel PE, Wells RS, Read AJ (2014) Lack of variation in voltage-gated sodium channels of common bottlenose dolphins exposed to neurotoxic algal blooms. Aquatic Toxicology 157:150-158. All PDFs are available from the respective journals? websites. Alternatively, pdf requests can be sent to kristina.cammen at maine.edu. -- Kristina Cammen NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology School of Marine Sciences University of Maine, Orono -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From simon.elwen at gmail.com Tue Sep 8 06:10:21 2015 From: simon.elwen at gmail.com (Simon Elwen) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 15:10:21 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] PhD Opportunity - Cetacean acoustics - Cape Town South Africa Message-ID: A PhD position is available to join a project investigating the environmental factors limiting the ranges of cetaceans around the Western Cape, South Africa, with implications for climate change. The area lies at the border between two biogeographic zones with the range limits of 5 species of dolphin occurring within the study area (Indo-Pacific bottlenose Indian Ocean humpback, dusky, Heaviside's and common dolphins). In addition, southern right, Bryde's and humpback whales occur regularly. The project will be using a range of data sources including citizen science, historic archives, small boat surveys for photo ID, and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). The PhD project on offer will use the PAM data and involve comparing and analysing data collected with different acoustic recorders (C-PODs and Sound Traps). The project will focus on using modelling techniques to investigate long-term trends in cetacean presence and interaction with environmental and biological covariates. Beyond this core question, there is considerable scope to taylor aspects of the PhD to your interests (or be involved through co-supervision of lower-level students) with questions focussing on call types and rates for some poorly described focal species, detection distances, sound scape modelling, human interaction etc. Students will be registered through the University of Pretoria but based predominantly in Cape Town with the Sea Search Africa research group ( www.seasearch.co.za). We are looking for self motivated and independent students who show initiative and demonstrate project leadership skills. Essential skills include: - Strong analytical background, and experience with acoustic data. - Familiarity with Matlab and or R and PamGuard, - Analysing large and diverse data sets and data modelling. - Publication focussed and experienced - Driving license Preferred skills - - Small boat work with cetaceans (to join photo-ID surveys) - SA Class IV diver or ability and desire to achieve such (to assist with instrument deployments) The position does have a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Grantholder linked bursary but as per NRF guidelines, preference will be given to South African citizens or permanent residents. Although recent changes in the exchange rate make the amount seem laughable in USD or GBP, it is a useful amount of money in South Africa. Additional remuneration / salary supplementation is available through various short contract jobs through Sea Search Africa, including a 6 month acoustic monitoring contract starting ASAP. Applications and enquiries may be sent to Dr Simon Elwen ( simon.elwen at gmail.com) ASAP. Please include a Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae Regards Simon Elwen -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Simon Elwen Ph.D. Research Fellow at the Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Based at Sea Search Africa - 4 Bath Rd ,Muizenberg Cape Town. Phone: +27 21 788 1206 (Off SA), +27 71 139 5951 (Mob SA), +264 81 421 4968 (Mob Namibia) Sea Search Africa: www.seasearch.co.za & Namibian Dolphin Project: www.namibiandolphinproject.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rebeccaboys at hotmail.com Tue Sep 8 09:02:00 2015 From: rebeccaboys at hotmail.com (Rebecca Boys) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 16:02:00 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] North Atlantic Beaked Whale Photo-ID Project In-Reply-To: References: , , Message-ID: Please could the following message be sent out on MARMAM. Thank you. Dear MARMAM, Apologies for cross posting. We are trying to develop a photo-ID database for the North Atlantic beaked whales in collaboration with as many partners as possible. The project is being run by Universidade La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife in collaboration with the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) and its partners. We are asking for photographs and data of any beaked whale species in the North Atlantic to be submitted on the Cetabase website: http://www.cetabase.info/index-i.php You will retain ownership of any photos and data that you submit, and your contribution will help us to gain vital information on these data deficient species. Please find below the instructions for using Cetabase. If you have any problems please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you, Rebecca Boys rebecca at worldcetaceanalliance.org Without collaboration we will achieve nothing more than a drop in the ocean. ~ Jean-Michel Cousteau, Honorary President, WCA Studio 3, Lower Promenade, Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1ET, UK Office: +44(0)1273 355011. www.worldcetaceanalliance.org North Atlantic Beaked Whale Photo-ID Project ? trial phase I am writing to ask if you would be happy to submit a small number of beaked whale images from your database or image archive as part of a trial we are running until 20th October 2015. Our plan is to develop a North Atlantic Beaked Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue in collaboration with as many partners as possible, and this trial will help us understand who is willing to help and what data may be available. The project is being led by the University of La Laguna (ULL) in collaboration with the World Cetacean Alliance and its Partners. We are asking if you could submit five images or more of beaked whales to the ULL Cetabase website at: http://www.cetabase.info/index-i.php . You will retain ownership of the images and data use and your contribution will give us vital information on the potential for further collaboration and data gathering throughout the North Atlantic. We will then review the contributions at the World Whale Conference in the Azores, 26-27 October 2015, and provide you with a feedback report and next steps after this event. If you can help with just a few minutes of your time to upload some images and information to Cetabase we would be extremely grateful. Please don?t hesitate to get in touch for more information or assistance with Cetabase. Once the trial is complete we will contact you again with the initial results and our next step plans to continue the project. With best wishes, Rebecca Boys Email: rebecca at worldcetaceanalliance.org Further info Most beaked whale species remain poorly studied yet we are aware of a number of threats, including an extreme sensitivity to loud sounds. Scientific studies are also increasingly showing how site faithful beaked whales can be, so local populations could be at high risk when threatened by continual man-made impacts such as military sonar activity in specific locations. Photo-identification of beaked whales remains an important tool for us to learn more about their distribution, movements and life history parameters. It is essential that we continue to photo-identify beaked whales and make our information available in a central resource if we are to improve our attempts to protect them and their habitats. INSTRUCTIONS CETABASE 1. HOW TO REGISTER AS A USER The first step to using the resources CETABASE makes available is to register as a user. To do this, select Collaborate in the main menu. You must fill in a series of details and add a brief explanation of your objectives, the species and study area. Once registered, each time you access Cetabase you have to log in as a user. The username is your e-mail and you choose the password. You can alter or update your details at any time via the Change My Data tab that appears in the menu on the left. 2. PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION CATALOGUE Cetabase offers a unique tool to create a virtual photo-identification catalogue according to species and sighting area, so that anyone, wherever they are in the world can create their own catalogue and/or access the different catalogues available. 2.1 Create a new individual To add a new individual, you enter through the menu, Individuals: New individual. Various fields are displayed, ready to be filled in. ALL are mandatory except for Name (Mnemo) and Observations. 5.2- Individuals/Sightings Sighting Statistics: the following tables may be generated: a) Overall record of captures catches with Q and M: - for a species - for all species b) Capture case-histories for each species c) Table of sightings arranged by season d) General table of sightings with individuals - for a species - for all species e) Social Composition Table (under construction) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mauricio.cantor at ymail.com Tue Sep 8 10:52:39 2015 From: mauricio.cantor at ymail.com (Mauricio Cantor) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 14:52:39 -0300 Subject: [MARMAM] Multilevel animal societies can emerge from cultural transmission Message-ID: Dear MARMAMers, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new findings on sperm whale societies, published today. The article is available open access at: Cantor M, Shoemaker LG, Cabral R, Flores CO, Varga M, Whitehead H. 2015. Multilevel animal societies can emerge from cultural transmission. Nature Communications. 6:8091 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9091. Abstract Multilevel societies, containing hierarchically nested social levels, are remarkable social structures whose origins are unclear. The social relationships of sperm whales are organized in a multilevel society with an upper level composed of clans of individuals communicating using similar patterns of clicks (codas). Using agent-based models informed by an 18-year empirical study, we show that clans are unlikely products of stochastic processes (genetic or cultural drift) but likely originate from cultural transmission via biased social learning of codas. Distinct clusters of individuals with similar acoustic repertoires, mirroring the empirical clans, emerge when whales learn preferentially the most common codas (conformism) from behaviourally similar individuals (homophily). Cultural transmission seems key in the partitioning of sperm whales into sympatric clans. These findings suggest that processes similar to those that generate complex human cultures could not only be at play in non-human societies but also create multilevel social structures in the wild. Thank you so much, Mauricio Cantor Dalhousie University whitelab.biology.dal.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sclymene at aol.com Tue Sep 8 15:31:20 2015 From: sclymene at aol.com (Thomas Jefferson) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 18:31:20 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Announcing the publication of: Marine Mammals of the World, 2nd Edition Message-ID: <14faf15b6c6-3dc3-116e7@webstg-a03.mail.aol.com> Announcing the publication of: Marine Mammals of theWorld, 2nd Edition: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification By Thomas A. Jefferson, Marc. A. Webber, and RobertL. Pitman. Illustrations by Uko. Gorter. Elseveier link: http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?locale=en_US&isbn=9780124095427&_requestid=260041&_requestid=260069 KeyFeatures Contains superb photographs of every species of marine mammal for accurate identification Authors possess nearly 80 years of collective experience with almost all of the species and distinctive geographic forms described in the guide Provides the most detailed and anatomically accurate illustrations currently available, including more than 750 new illustrations Special emphasis is placed on the identification of species in "problem groups," such as the beaked whales, long-beaked oceanic dolphins, and southern fur seals Includes sources for more information Contains updated taxonomy including four new species Description Thisnew edition of Marine Mammals of the World describes and illustratesnewly discovered and rarely photographed species, making it the mostcomprehensive and up-to-date marine mammal identification guide available. Thisedition continues to meet the research-focused needs of marine biologists andconservation biologists by providing a tremendous influx of new photos, takingadvantage of advances in digital and auto-focusing photography, and theemergence of marine mammal studies and "whalewatching" around the world.The book encompasses cetacean, pinniped, and sirenian species, as well asextinct species, and describes basic biology and taxonomic groupings of marinemammals. For more information, contact Tom Jefferson, sclymene at aol.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From scbmarinecomms at gmail.com Wed Sep 9 03:06:12 2015 From: scbmarinecomms at gmail.com (SCBMarine Communications) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2015 11:06:12 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Applications open for SCB Marine Small Grants Program (Deadline - Oct 1st) Message-ID: Dear Friends, The Society for Conservation Biology, Marine Section, is pleased to announce that applications are open for our *new* Small Grants program! The program provides funding ($500 ? 700 USD) to marine conservation research projects in areas of acute need, especially for research in the developing world, or for those organizations with limited access to conservation funding. Apply now! Application deadline is Oct. 1st, 2015 Eligibility: members of SCB Marine. If you are not a member yet, follow these simple instructions: - Join or renew your membership at the Society for Conservation Biology (http://conbio.org/membership/become-a-member) - Log in to the member area - In the vertical bar on the right-hand side of the webpage under ?My Society Involvement?, click ?Join a Section? - Choose ?Marine?! Note: SCB members may join up to two sections for free To apply, visit: http://birenheide.com/scbmarinegrants/index.php For more information and guidelines, see: http://conbio.org/groups/sections/marine/small-grants Please apply, and share the news of the program and funding availability with friends and colleagues! Sincerely, SCB Marine Section -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ctaylor at sea2shore.org Wed Sep 9 03:34:29 2015 From: ctaylor at sea2shore.org (Cynthia Taylor) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2015 06:34:29 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] REQUEST FOR ARTICLES - SIRENEWS Message-ID: <039701d0eaeb$1c4f5640$54ee02c0$@org> The editors of Sirenews, the newsletter of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group, would like to request articles for the upcoming edition. Updates on manatee and dugong research, management, education, and conservation activities from around the world are encouraged. The deadline for submissions is OCTOBER 1, 2015. Please submit articles to ctaylor at sea2shore.org. Thank you - Cynthia Taylor and James Powell Sea to Shore Alliance ___________________________ Cynthia R. Taylor Assistant Director/Research Scientist HI RES S2S LOGO 4411 Bee Ridge Rd. #490 Sarasota, FL 34233 USA 941.232.4587; ctaylor at sea2shore.org www.sea2shore.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2049 bytes Desc: not available URL: From luisfreitas07 at gmail.com Wed Sep 9 11:56:23 2015 From: luisfreitas07 at gmail.com (Luis Freitas) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2015 19:56:23 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] 2016 European Cetacean Society in Madeira, Portugal Message-ID: The 30th Annual European Cetacean Society conference will take place in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal, from 14 - 16 March 2016, organized by the Madeira Whale Museum (Museu da Baleia da Madeira). Associated workshops will take place on the 12 and 13 March. The theme of the conference is: "Into the Deep - Research and Conservation on Oceanic Marine Mammals". Madeira is a picturesque oceanic Island with a sub-tropical climate, with deep waters close to shore that allow oceanic cetacean species to come close to shore. In total 28 cetacean species are given to Madeira, besides a colony of the Mediterrean monk seal. Many of these species are present in these waters during the time of the conference. For more information check the conference webpage at http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/30th-annual-conference-funchal-madeira. The page will be progressively updated over the next weeks with relevant information. Submission of abstracts and workshop proposals will be welcome from the 14th September (Monday) until the 16 October 2015 (23:45 CET). Looking forward to see you in Madeira 2016 ECS Conference, Lu?s Freitas Chair of the Conference Organising Committee Head of the Science Unit - Madeira Whale Museum Rua da Garcia Moniz, n? 1 9200 - 031 Cani?al Madeira - Portugal -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From alex.kusmanoff at rmit.edu.au Tue Sep 8 17:36:57 2015 From: alex.kusmanoff at rmit.edu.au (Alex Kusmanoff) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2015 10:36:57 +1000 Subject: [MARMAM] 5 minute whale conservation survey Message-ID: Hi all As a part of my PhD research into information framing and attitudes toward conservation issues, I am currently conducting a short 5 minute online survey about reasons to protect whales. I am seeking as many participants as possible, from all walks of life, and everybody over 18 is eligible. I would greatly appreciate your participation, and especially if you would share the link with your own contacts and anybody else whom you think may be interested. I am particularly interested in seeking participants who may not ordinarily be conservation oriented, so if you have any such contacts who you think might take part, please forward it to them. The link is: http://tinyurl.com/whale-survey Many thanks in advance! Alex Kusmanoff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From wayne.mcfee at noaa.gov Thu Sep 10 06:25:05 2015 From: wayne.mcfee at noaa.gov (Wayne Mcfee - NOAA Federal) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:25:05 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Kogia breviceps strandings in relation to environmental factors Message-ID: Dear MARMAM Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following NOAA Technical Memorandum publication: Berini, C. R., Kracker, L. M. and W. E. McFee. 2015. Modeling pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps, De Blainville 1838) strandings along the southeast coast of the United States from 1992 to 2006 in relation to environmental factors. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 203. 44 pp. Abstract: Pygmy sperm whales are the second most commonly stranded marine mammal in the Southeastern Unites States (SEUS). They most often strand alive and the causes of these events remain largely unknown. Generalized linear models were built to identify potential relationships among environmental factors and the occurrence of pygmy sperm whale strandings in the SEUS. Two methods were used to model environmental parameters depending on the nature of the data. One method used data from NOAA buoys compiled over a week before a stranding event. Predictor variables included hourly wind direction and speed, wave height, average wave period, barometric pressure, and water temperature. The other method used Sea Surface Temperature data from satellite images compiled monthly, monthly Multivariate El Ni?o Southern Oscillation Index (MEI), and bathymetric data. Frontal features were extracted from the images using ArcMap Geographic Information System and landscape metrics were computed on these images in FRAGSTATS. The model compiled from buoy data was relatively stronger (AIC = 497.5) at predicting strandings. It indicated that more strandings occurred when there were sustained high wind speeds, low barometric pressures, and swell waves in the week before stranding events. While the other model was relatively weaker (AIC = 718.7), it showed that less numerous fronts and high MEI index were generally associated with a higher number of strandings. This study is a step toward appreciating which environmental factors may contribute to the observed marine mammal stranding patterns as well as the distribution of pygmy sperm whales. It is an attempt at building predictive statistical models that could be useful for the management of cetaceans. The article can be downloaded from: www2.coastalscience.noaa.gov/publications/ Alternatively, you may e-mail me for a pdf at wayne.mcfee at noaa.gov Thank you. Wayne McFee NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR 219 Ft. Johnson Rd. Charleston, SC 29412 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Emily at dolphins.org Thu Sep 10 12:22:10 2015 From: Emily at dolphins.org (Emily Guarino) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:22:10 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Dolphin Research Internships Message-ID: Dolphin Research Internships Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is currently accepting applications for Research Interns for the Winter term. DRC is a not-for-profit education and research facility, home to a family of bottlenose dolphins and sea lions. DRC is located on Grassy Key, in the heart of the Florida Keys. Internships at DRC are an exciting way to develop career skills as well as an opportunity to get "behind the scenes" to see how a marine mammal facility operates. Research interns participate in DRC's ongoing behavioral, cognitive, and communication research projects, giving them broad exposure to a variety of research methodologies. Interns receive extensive on-the-job training in observing marine mammal behavior, collecting observational data, working with research equipment, and assisting with experimental research sessions. Specific job duties include: * Collecting observational behavioral data * Preparing stimuli for cognitive research sessions * Assisting with equipment for cognitive research sessions * Setting up hydrophone arrays for communication recordings * Operating video equipment * Entering or scanning data into the computer for analysis * General support of the facility through participation in the volunteer resource pool (facility maintenance, bird care, assisting with public programs, guest interactions, etc.) Publications: Jaakkola, K. (2014). Do animals understand invisible displacement? A critical review. Journal of Comparative Psychology, Vol. 128, No. 3, 225-239 Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Rodriguez, M., & Hecksher, J. (2013). Switching strategies: A dolphin's use of passive and active acoustics to imitate motor actions. Animal Cognition, 16, 701-709 Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., & Rodriguez, M. (2010). Blindfolded imitation in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 23, 671-688 Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Rodriguez, M., Erb, L., & Trone, M. (2010). What do dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) understand about hidden objects? Animal Cognition, 13, 103-120 Jaakkola, K., Fellner, W., Erb, L., Rodriguez, A. M., & Guarino, E. (2005). Understanding the concept of numerically "less" by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 119, 296-303 Internships require a minimum of a 16-week commitment, 40 hours per week. The internship is unpaid, and interns are responsible for providing their own housing. DRC will provide assistance in locating housing and/or matching up interns and volunteers desiring roommates. Successful candidates will be ready and willing to learn, self-motivated, and flexible. Prior research experience is recommended but not required. The deadline to apply is * October 1st*. To apply, you must download the application available at www.dolphins.org. Click "Our Research", and then "Research Internship". The application, and all associated materials (resume, transcript, and letters of rec.) must be mailed to DRC. -------------------------------- Emily Guarino emily at dolphins.org Dolphin Research Center 58901 Overseas Hwy. Grassy Key, FL 33050 www.dolphins.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jonathan.scordino at makah.com Thu Sep 10 20:34:21 2015 From: jonathan.scordino at makah.com (Jonathan Scordino) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:34:21 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Announcement: Marine Mammal Technician for Makah Tribe's Marine Mammal Program Message-ID: <004201d0ec42$c41a77d0$4c4f6770$@makah.com> The Makah Tribe is seeking to hire a Technician for the Marine Mammal Program. The Technician's job will involve a mix of field and office work. Primary tasks include helping with vessel based marine mammal surveys in Northwest Washington near the Makah Indian Reservation, data entry, and responding to reports of stranded marine mammals. The Tribe currently has funding for the position for roughly 2 years and are actively submitting proposals for more years of funding. The position will pay $11.62 to $13.67 an hour, based on experience and education. Working in Neah Bay is a unique experience but can be challenging for some. It is about 50 miles to the nearest stoplight and we receive over 100 inches of rain a year. For those that can handle the environment of Neah Bay the experience can be quite rewarding. Applications are due to the Makah Tribe's Human Resources Department by 5 pm on September 16th. All questions regarding applying for the position should be sent to Tabitha Herda (tabitha.herda at makah.com ). Applications and the full job description can be found at http://makah.com/makah-tribal-info/employment/. Thank you, Jonathan Scordino Marine Mammal Biologist Makah Fisheries Management (360) 645-3176 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From becwellard at gmail.com Thu Sep 10 22:35:19 2015 From: becwellard at gmail.com (Bec Wellard) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:35:19 +0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Vocalisations of Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in the Bremer Canyon, Western Australia. Message-ID: ? Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following publication in PLoS ONE: Wellard, R., Erbe, C., Fouda, L., Blewitt, M., (2015),* Vocalisation of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Bremer Canyon, Western Australia*. PLoS ONE 10(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136535 Abstract: To date, there has been no dedicated study in Australian waters on the acoustics of killer whales. Hence no information has been published on the sounds produced by killer whales from this region. Here we present the first acoustical analysis of recordings collected off the Western Australian coast. Underwater sounds produced by Australian killer whales were recorded during the months of February and March 2014 and 2015 in the Bremer Canyon in Western Australia. Vocalisations recorded included echolocation clicks, burst-pulse sounds and whistles. A total of 28 hours and 29 minutes were recorded and analysed, with 2376 killer whale calls (whistles and burst-pulse sounds) detected. Recordings of poor quality or signal-to-noise ratio were excluded from analysis, resulting in 142 whistles and burst-pulse vocalisations suitable for analysis and categorisation. These were grouped based on their spectrographic features into nine Bremer Canyon (BC) ?call types?. The frequency of the fundamental contours of all call types ranged from 600 Hz to 29 kHz. Calls ranged from 0.05 to 11.3 seconds in duration. Biosonar clicks were also recorded, but not studied further. Surface behaviours noted during acoustic recordings were categorised as either travelling or social behaviour. A detailed description of the acoustic characteristics is necessary for species acoustic identification and for the development of passive acoustic tools for population monitoring, including assessments of population status, habitat usage, migration patterns, behaviour and acoustic ecology. This study provides the first quantitative assessment and report on the acoustic features of killer whales vocalisations in Australian waters, and presents an opportunity to further investigate this little-known population. The article can be downloaded from: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0136535 Alternatively, if you are unable to download the article please email me for a pdf at: becwellard at gmail.com Kind regards, Rebecca Wellard. *PhD Candidate* *Centre for Marine Science and Technology* Curtin University GPO Box U1987 Perth, Western Australia 6845 *Email? ?*becwellard at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From wally at oceania.org.au Thu Sep 10 19:39:24 2015 From: wally at oceania.org.au (Wally Franklin) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:39:24 +1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Doctoral thesis on Humpback whales in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia Message-ID: <65E851E0-ABA6-47C2-9459-57498ED9F042@oceania.org.au> MARMAM Colleagues I am pleased to announce acceptance of my Doctoral thesis, which is now available online from Southern Cross University ePublications at: http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/ TITLE: Abundance, population dynamics, reproduction, rates of population increase and migration linkages of eastern Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) utilising Hervey Bay, Queensland ABSTRACT: Hervey Bay is located to the south of the putative breeding and overwintering grounds of the eastern Australian humpback whale population in the Great Barrier Reef. Previous research has established that large numbers of humpback whales stopover in Hervey Bay during the early stages of the southern migration to Antarctic summer feeding areas. In this study robust design modeling of long-term capture histories of individual humpback whales and analysis of photo-identification data ? obtained during observations of humpback whales in Hervey Bay over 21 years (1992 to 2012) and from other locations across the Pacific, eastern Australia, western Australia, east Africa and Antarctic Area IV and V feeding areas - are used to address a core question: What is the role and function of Hervey Bay during the migration of eastern Australian (Group E1) humpback whales? The data are used to investigate the specific questions: how many humpback whales use Hervey Bay within season and over years; how long do humpback whales using Hervey Bay stay in the Bay; is there site-fidelity to Hervey Bay; what proportion of eastern Australian humpback whales are using Hervey Bay, what is the rate of reproduction and rates of population increase of humpback whales using Hervey Bay; and what patterns are evident for migratory movements and interchange with other regions, including potential feeding areas in Antarctica. The estimated yearly abundance of humpback whales visiting Hervey Bay increased from 791 in 1997 (95% CI, 407-1176) to 4406 in 2009 (95% CI, 3343-5470). The trajectory of increase in estimated abundance over the 17 years was near linear and slightly greater than the trajectory of increase in the estimated abundance of the whole eastern Australian humpback whale population. A relatively constant proportion of eastern Australian humpback whales visited Hervey Bay each year (mean = 34%, standard deviation = 5.3%). Between years apparent survival was estimated to be relatively constant over years at 95% (SE = 0.012, 95% CI, 0.918:0.966) and near to the upper limits of biologically plausible survival levels for humpback whales. The near constant proportion of whales occurring in Hervey Bay from the eastern Australian population and the very high site-fidelity of some of those whales in Hervey Bay, suggest that the same cohorts of humpback whales return regularly to Hervey Bay. This study provides the first evidence that a specific sub-group from the eastern Australian humpback whale population uses Hervey Bay and that the sub-group is growing at a greater rate than the eastern Australian population. Between week entry probabilities display a regular form over years, with variation in the proportion of yearly visitors present prior to the beginning of sampling in each season (mean = 17%, SD = 6.5%), which may be related to the shifts in the timing of the migration. Within season abundance is heavily skewed to the first half of the season, with approximately 83% of entries occurring in the first five weeks of the season and 17% of entries occurring during the last five weeks of the season. There are two distinct peaks in abundance within season; the highest in week 3 and the second highest abundance occurs in week 8 each year. The lowest probability of entry (1.2%, 95% CI, 0.0004-0.028) and the lowest between week apparent survival (1.3%, 95% CI, 0.062-0.262) occurs between weeks 5 and 6. These results coincide with the mid-season departure of the mature female, immature and older male, and female cohorts, and the arrival of lactating females with older calves and accompanying mature male escort cohorts that dominate the latter half of the season. Temporary emigration was estimated to be constant over years at 14.1% (SE = 0.038; 95% CI, 0.081:0.234) and is consistent with a hypothesis that two cohorts ? each comprising of breeding females depending upon their breeding status - visit Hervey Bay in alternate years. The typical residency time of humpback whales visiting Hervey Bay is about 1.4 ? 2.0 weeks (mean = 1.6 weeks, SD = 0.34). The observed proportion of calves to whales in Hervey Bay (weekly average 1997 to 2009 = 17.9%) is consistent with the estimated growth rate of the eastern Australian population and calf survival of humpback whales that utilise Hervey Bay may be higher than for the eastern Australian population as a whole. Modelling of the population trajectory of humpback whales utilising Hervey Bay reveals that observed abundance estimates exhibit a logistic trend with a faster growth rate in the mid-1970s, near linear growth during the early and mid-2000s and a slightly decreasing growth rate by 2009. The average rate of increase in abundance of humpback whales utilising Hervey Bay between 1997 and 2009 was estimated at 14.2% (95%CI 11.1% to 15%). The analysis of all natural marks - including ventral tail fluke marks, dorsal fin shapes and lateral body marks - observed on 79 individual humpback whales over long time-spans ranging from 2 to 21 years, showed very low levels of change in primary and secondary natural marks, no significant difference in the proportion of changes in the natural marks on ventral tail flukes compared the dorsal fin shapes and to the natural lateral body marks. The use of dorsal fin shapes and lateral body marks in conjunction with ventral tail fluke natural marks provides a reliable mechanism to minimise and manage misidentification in large humpback whale photo-identification datasets. Analysis of photo-identification data of fluke matches between New Caledonia and Hervey Bay revealed low levels of intermingling between eastern Australia and New Caledonia, consistent with these populations being discrete breeding populations. Matches between eastern Australia and New Zealand provided the first evidence that eastern Australian humpback whales are travelling through southern New Zealand waters en-route to and from Antarctic feeding areas. Analysis of photo-identification data of fluke matches between the Balleny Islands and Hervey Bay supports the hypothesis that Antarctic Area V waters, in the vicinity of the Balleny islands, is a summer feeding area for some eastern Australian humpback whales, including at least some whales resighted in Hervey Bay. While matching of fluke catalogues from Antarctic Area IV with fluke catalogues from Eastern Australia, Western Australia and East Africa provided evidence that the humpback whales photographed in the Antarctic Area IV feeding area are from a different population to the African and Australian populations. There was weak evidence supporting the hypothesis that the whales photographed in Antarctica are from the Western Australian population. Photo-identification photography data also showed that humpback whales from eastern Australia do not always travel directly to Antarctic Area V to feed and may exhibit a diverse range of feeding destinations after leaving Australian coastal waters This study presents the first evidence that the humpback whales utilising Hervey Bay may be a sub-group of the eastern Australian (E1) humpback whale population. Hervey Bay provides a unique stopover for extended residency early in the southern migration for mature females, either early pregnant or resting, accompanying immature males and females, and lactating females with new calves during the latter season. Humpback whales from Hervey Bay use complex migratory pathways to and from Antarctic feeding areas and are involved in low levels of migratory interchange with nearby Pacific populations. This study provides the first evidence that eastern Australian humpbacks use the southern waters of New Zealand en-route to and from Antarctic feeding areas. Data presented in this study suggests that utilising Hervey Bay as a stopover may contribute to the social development and high survival rates of calves and younger humpback whales. This may provide a reproductive advantage to these eastern Australian humpback whales and be a factor in the relatively high rates of increase in abundance observed in humpback whales using Hervey Bay compared to the eastern Australian breeding populations and to other humpback populations. Wally Franklin PhD, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW wally at oceania.org.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From adwhitt at gmail.com Fri Sep 11 08:39:31 2015 From: adwhitt at gmail.com (Amy Whitt) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 10:39:31 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] New Publication: Killer whales harassing sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico Message-ID: Dear colleagues, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce our new publication: Whitt, A.D., M.A. Baran, M. Bryson, and L.E. Rendell. 2015. First report of killer whales harassing sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 41(3): 252-255. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1578/AM.41.3.2015.252 In this short note, we describe an interesting and prolonged interaction between five killer whales and 19 sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico. This encounter provides a rare insight into the lives of the cryptic Gulf of Mexico killer whales and their potential predation on the sperm whale population in the northern Gulf. To obtain a PDF, please go to http://dx.doi.org/10.1578/AM.41.3.2015.252 or contact Amy Whitt (amy at azuraco.com) for a reprint. -- *Amy D. Whitt, M.E.M.* CEO, Senior Scientist amy at azuraco.com Azura Consulting LLC WOSB | EDWOSB www.azuraco.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From m.j.tetley at gmail.com Fri Sep 11 08:27:21 2015 From: m.j.tetley at gmail.com (Michael Tetley) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 16:27:21 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) Criteria Consultation - Autumn 2015 Message-ID: *Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) Criteria Consultation* *- Autumn 2015* The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF) has developed a classification scheme for the identification of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). The aim of the IMMA classification is to identify and delineate discrete habitat areas that are judged to be important for one or more marine mammal species and that have the potential to be managed for conservation. This will require the application of a standardized process for the collation and categorization of evidence, using a consistent protocol and agreed methodology. The MMPATF is now seeking initial consultation with the marine mammal science and conservation community on the IMMA selection criteria. The consultation will last from September until the end of October. The results of the consultation will be used to assist the IMMA development team and will inform MMPATF presentations at the Society for Marine Mammalogy Biennial Conference in San Francisco this December. If you would like to contribute to the IMMA consultation please follow the link below to access the online IMMA survey. Please read through the information carefully and provided responses to the questions provided. *Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) criteria survey - Autumn 2015* For additional information about the development process of the IMMA classification please use the following link below: *IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force* Any assistance or information you can provide the MMPATF regarding the development of the IMMA classification scheme would be most helpful and appreciated. *Michael J. Tetley - **IMMA Coordinator* *IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas **Task Force* *Email - m.j.tetley at gmail.com * *Erich Hoyt and **Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara - Co-Chairs* *IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas **Task Force* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From srichardson at coastalstudies.org Fri Sep 11 14:38:04 2015 From: srichardson at coastalstudies.org (Stephanie Richardson) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 17:38:04 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Internship - Right Whale Research Program, Provincetown, MA USA Message-ID: Internship - Right Whale Research Program Provincetown, MA - USA The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is seeking right whale interns for the upcoming 2016 winter/spring season (approximately January 1st to May 15th, 2016). This person will work with both the aerial and habitat survey teams documenting the abundance, distribution, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay. The intern will assist staff members in the field with photographing right whales and collecting behavioral and environmental data while on the waters of Cape Cod Bay. The successful applicant will also be responsible for a number of lab-based tasks including database entry, downloading and cataloging images, and photo-identification matching of images to known animals. Interns are required to work a minimum of four full days per week and must be available for the full field season. *Requirements:* - A degree: preferably in biological/environmental sciences. - Experience with digital SLR cameras. - Data entry: basic computer skills in programs such as Office. - Detail-oriented. - Experience working on boats and ability to withstand harsh elements. - Must work and live well in a team. - Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab based research methods. - A valid US drivers license and personal transportation would be beneficial but is not essential. Shared housing will be provided along with a small stipend to cover general living expenses. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand their skills in marine mammal survey techniques and will offer the successful applicant the unique chance to work with a critically endangered cetacean species, the North Atlantic right whale. This internship will afford the successful applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established institution, with highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in photo-identification, matching, data entry, and analysis. Experience in oceanographic sampling will also be gained. CCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale, information about the CCS Right Whale Research Program is available at: http://coastalstudies.org/right-whale-research Please submit cover letter, resume, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient), and contact information for two professional references together in one PDF document by October 15, 2015 to: Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager Email: srichardson at coastalstudies.org 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02657 -- Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager Center for Coastal Studies 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02657 t. (508) 487-3622 Ext. 113 f. (508) 487-4495 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org Sat Sep 12 03:32:11 2015 From: volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org (Volunteer Coordinator) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2015 11:32:11 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Final call to assist in Cetacean Research Survey in the Hebrides Message-ID: <00c701d0ed46$48edc4e0$dac94ea0$@hwdt.org> *FINAL BERTHS AVAILABLE ON LIVE ABOARD EXPEDITION* Dear All, The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) conduct cetacean surveys from aboard our research yacht Silurian, collecting visual and acoustic data with the aim to better understand the cetacean populations found in the Hebrides ? one of the most important areas for cetaceans in Europe with twenty-four species, nearly a third of the world total, reported in this region. Every year we welcome aboard enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to contribute directly to our research work. Volunteers, in effect, become marine mammal scientists for the duration of the survey; living and working aboard Silurian, assisting with day-to-day running, as well as working together as a team to carry out visual and acoustic surveys. To find out more about the research onboard please CLICK HERE . We have produced a short a short video about joining us aboard, please CLICK HERE to watch Volunteers will assist fully in the collection of data, with mega-fauna and sea bird identification training provided. Acoustic and visual methods are combined to produce comprehensive data sets. During encounters photographs are taken of dorsal fins to try and identify the individual, gaining a better understanding of species movements and interactions with each other. The data collected, and subsequent information produced is essential when monitoring the distribution, relative abundance and habitat preference of cetacean species in the Hebrides. Only with coherent data can effective conservation and management strategies be designed to enable long-term protection of the amazing species found in Hebridean waters. As a volunteer onboard Silurian, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand the amazing variety of marine wildlife the UK has to offer including whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sharks and seabirds. You will explore some of the remotest, wildest parts of the British Isles - anchoring each night in a different secluded bay off one of the many Hebridean islands, venturing ashore to explore if you wish. The opportunity to gain sailing experience is also available, although no certificates are issued. Rendezvous location is in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, where HWDT is based. More information on specific surveys will be provided on request. There is a monetary value attached to participating which includes accommodation (aboard) and food throughout the duration. The income generated allows HWDT to continue this well established research programme, you can be assured that without your contribution the research couldn't be undertaken. There are only a couple of berths remaining on the following survey: * 22nd - 30th September; ?525 (50% off original cost of ?1,050) For further information about our surveys please CLICK HERE . For Further information about HWDT please go online to: www.hwdt.org Or contact HWDT?s volunteer coordinator Morven Russell Email: volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org Telephone: 01688 302620 Thank you, and hope to see you aboard this season! Morven Russell Volunteer Coordinator Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust 28 Main Street Tobermory Isle of Mull PA75 6NU Tel: 01688 302620 volunteercoordinator at hwdt.org www.hwdt.org Please note my standard working days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and understanding of Scotland?s whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) and the Hebridean marine environment through education, research and working within Hebridean communities as a basis for the lasting conservation of local species and habitats. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rebecca.green at boem.gov Mon Sep 14 07:20:36 2015 From: rebecca.green at boem.gov (Green, Rebecca) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 09:20:36 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Call for Abstracts: Biologically-Enabled Ocean Observing session at Ocean Sciences meeting Feb 2016, New Orleans, LA. USA Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, Please consider submitting your abstracts on marine mammal and related LMR observing to our Ocean Sciences 2016 session (Feb. 21-26th, New Orleans). Integration of active and passive acoustics, as well as other types of bio-sensors (as described below) into ecosystem observing systems are encouraged contributions to this session. The deadline for abstract submissions is *Wednesday, 23 September 23:59 EDT.* *Session Topic:* Ocean Observing and Data Management *Session ID:* 9235 *Session Title:* Evolving Biologically-Enabled Ocean Observing Systems: Integrating Biological Observations with Physicochemical Measurements for Informed Ecosystem-Based Decision Making *Chairs:* Rebecca Green (BOEM), Gabrielle Canonico (IOOS), Barbara Kirkpatrick (GCOOS), Heidi Sosik (WHOI), *Coordinated with: *Jay Pearlman (J&F Enterprise), Samantha Simmons (MMC), Francisco Chavez (MBARI) *Session Description:* The rapidly expanding efforts to integrate biological, physical, and chemical measurements into a ?whole ecosystem? understanding of coastal and oceanic regimes will play an increasing role in informing conservation and management needs. Sustained, interdisciplinary observing now spans spatial, temporal, and trophic scales, utilizing a wide variety of platforms (e.g., moored observatories, gliders, profiling floats, satellites) and technologies, including rapidly advancing biological observing capability, such as eDNA tools for assessing biodiversity, in-situ bio-optical instrumentation for measuring planktonic assemblages, acoustic telemetry for tracking tagged animals, and passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammal vocalizations. Expanding national and international networks contribute to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) and Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), and other programs collecting long-term biological observations. Incorporation of living marine resources into the ocean observing framework is a high priority as we strive toward a long-term understanding of ecosystem trends to inform policy in a world faced by multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors to our coastal and marine environments. This session will address both advances in sensors and in systems necessary to achieve this long-term understanding. We hope you will contribute your research and perspectives to this session! Regards, Session Organizing Team *Rebecca Green, PhD* *Senior Oceanographer* *Environmental Studies Program* *Bureau of Ocean Energy Management* *Gulf of Mexico Region* *phone: (504) 736-2740* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From frances.c.robertson at gmail.com Mon Sep 14 09:52:52 2015 From: frances.c.robertson at gmail.com (Frances Robertson) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 09:52:52 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Biennial marine mammal conference workshop reminder: mitigation performance standards Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, The following workshop will be held at the 21st Biennial Conference of Marine Mammals in San Francisco. Incorporating new mitigation technologies into guidelines for seismic surveys and other underwater acoustic activities: Producing performance standards Subject: Seismic survey guidelines, mitigating acoustic exposures, new mitigation technologies Date/Time: Sunday, December 13, 2015; 8:30 AM ? 5:30 PM Organizers and contact email: Andrew Wright (anwright at doc.govt.nz) and Frances Robertson (frances.c.robertson at gmail.com) Cost: $80 (Early Bird); $90 (After October 1st, 2015) The aim of this workshop is to discuss ways to include the ability to assess the viability of potential mitigation measures and new sound source technology into seismic survey guidelines and codes of conduct for other underwater producing activities. Current guidelines are reasonably prescriptive in terms of requiring the use of marine mammal observers (MMOs) and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) at the possible expense of other detection technologies. Similarly, the specific mention of airgun array sizes in seismic survey guidelines may limit the commercial use of potentially less impactful survey technologies. The need for a mechanism for allowing the incorporation of new technologies and methodologies into acoustic exposure guidelines is thus clear. Likewise, it seems likely that this could be best achieved through some performance standard that any technology could be assessed against. However, it is not clear what exactly this performance standard should be. One option for mitigation technologies is to use the proportion of animals successfully detected, although this requires establishing thresholds for correct detection, false positive and false negative rates. In contrast, new source technologies may require the establishment of target sound propagation levels before they can be introduced. In both cases, the extent to which current technologies are able to meet these standards would also need to be assessed. Accordingly, this workshop intends to explore the various options for performance standards and discuss potential threshold levels. Methodologies for measuring if new technologies meet any such standards will also be discussed. For more details and to register for this workshop please follow this link: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#seismic2 Best wishes, Frances Robertson and Andrew Wright -- Frances C. Robertson, PhD *Marine Mammal Biologist* Canada (+1) 604 339 4967 frances.c.robertson at gmail.com www.distantfin.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cafaro.valentina at gmail.com Mon Sep 14 15:01:07 2015 From: cafaro.valentina at gmail.com (Valentina Cafaro) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 00:01:07 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Habitat overlap between bottlenose dolphins and seabirds: a pilot study to identify high-presence coastal areas in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Message-ID: Dear MARMAM, my coauthors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication: Habitat overlap between bottlenose dolphins and seabirds: a pilot study to identify high-presence coastal areas in the Tyrrhenian Sea. V. CAFARO, D. ANGELETTI, B. BELLISARIO, A. MACALI, C. CARERE, J. ALESSI. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2015. doi:10.1017/S0025315415001447 Abstract The identification of foraging hotspots able to support the co-existence of multiple top predators provides a potential approach to addressing protection measures for marine ecosystems. In this study, we conducted visual surveys in the central Tyrrhenian Sea to determine areas with simultaneous presence of bottlenose dolphins, four species of seabirds (Audouin?s gull, Yellowlegged gull, Yelkouan shearwater and Cory?s shearwater), and baitballs occurring at the surface, indicating the presence of potential prey items. We also analysed their occurrence in relation to topography (depth, slope and distance from the shore) and seabed types. Kriging analysis identified areas with simultaneous presence of several marine top predators. Dolphin distribution appeared to be linked to gentle slope (6?10 m) and muddy seabed, possibly associated with prey distribution, whereas the four seabird species were more frequent in areas with a water depth of 100?150 m, gentle slope and muddy seabed, apart from Audouin?s gull, which preferred a depth of 10?20 m. Baitball distribution was linked to depth (20?40 m), gentle slope (6?10 m) and muddy seabed. The overlapping presence of bottlenose dolphins, seabirds and baitballs allowed the identification of foraging areas, presumably representing biodiversity and productivity hotspots, located in waters of 50?100 m depth at the mouths of two rivers. This approach provides a promising tool for identifying highly productive coastal areas, and should also be recommended for wider-scale surveys. For a PDF please email to: cafaro.valentina at gmail.com or darioangeletti at unitus.it Best wishes. Valentina Cafaro -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mjasny at nrdc.org Mon Sep 14 16:36:46 2015 From: mjasny at nrdc.org (Jasny, Michael) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 23:36:46 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] settlement reached in Navy sonar case Message-ID: <38974EE26996FC418D7995963A5DBD82017BB33BBD@SFMAIL5A.nrdc.org> All, Last year, a number of conservation groups filed litigation in U.S. federal court challenging Navy sonar and underwater explosives activity off Southern California and Hawaii. As I reported last March, the Court ruled in favor of plaintiffs on multiple grounds. Since then, our groups and the Navy have engaged in intensive negotiations to see if we could come to agreement on a court order that protects marine mammals while meeting national security needs. The parties reached agreement in principle last month, and today the Court entered our agreement as an Order. For the first time, notably, the Navy has agreed to restrict and limit mid-frequency sonar (and explosives) activities off the U.S. west coast and to expand restrictions off Hawaii beyond humpback whales. The settlement protects blue whale foraging grounds off San Diego County, beaked whale habitat around California's Channel Islands, and waters around the Big Island, Maui, and Molokai that host numerous small, resident populations of odonocetes. Other provisions are intended to reduce ship-strike risk for large whales and secure research funds for beaked whale populations off Southern California. The settlement is the product of genuinely constructive, good-faith discussions among the parties: the Navy, NMFS, and our organizations. My sincere hope is that we can extend the same constructive effort to other areas where sonar activities are concentrated. Please let me know if you'd like a copy of the settlement. Cheers, Michael Michael jasny Director, Marine Mammal Protection NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL 4479 W. 5th Avenue Vancouver, bc v6r1s4 T 604.736.9386 c 310.560.5536 mjasny at NRDC.ORG Please save paper. Think before printing. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From chsalvadeo at yahoo.com.mx Mon Sep 14 19:24:49 2015 From: chsalvadeo at yahoo.com.mx (christian salvadeo) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:24:49 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: The Effect of Climate Variability on Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) within Their Wintering Areas In-Reply-To: <1535971134.1548206.1442077956167.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1535971134.1548206.1442077956167.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <364588383.293.1442283889354.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following publication in PLoS ONE: The Effect of Climate Variability on Gray?Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) within Their?Wintering Areas AbstractThe environmental conditions of the breeding and feeding grounds of the gray whale?(Eschrichtius robustus) fluctuates at inter-annual scales in response to regional and basin?climate patterns. Thus, the goals of this study were to assess if there are any relationships?between summer sea ice on their feeding ground and counts of gray whale mother-calf?(MC) pairs at Ojo de Liebre Lagoon (OLL); and if El Ni?o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences?the winter distribution of gray whales MC pairs in the three primary breeding lagoons?of OLL, San Ignacio Lagoon (SIL) and Santo Domingo Channel north of Bahia Magdalena?(SDCh). Maximum February counts of MC pairs were compared with the length of the openwater?season at the Bering Sea during the previous year. Then, an ENSO index and sea?surface temperature anomalies outside the primary lagoons was compared with the maximum?February counts of MC pairs at these lagoons. Results showed that maximum counts?of MC pairs in OLL correlates with sea ice conditions in their feeding grounds from the previous?feeding season, and this relationship can be attributed to changes in nutritive condition?of females. ENSO-related variability influences distribution of MC pairs in the southern area?of SDCh during the warm 1998 El Ni?o and cold 1999 La Ni?a. This supports the hypothesis?that changes in the whales? distribution related to sea temperature occurs to reduce thermal-?stress and optimize energy utilization for newborn whales. Although this last conclusion?should be considered in view of the limited data available from all the whales? wintering locations?in all the years considered. The article can be downloaded from:?http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0134655 Kind regards, Christian Salvadeo CIBNOR-UABCSLa Paz, BCSM?xico -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From victoria.angeline13 at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 06:39:07 2015 From: victoria.angeline13 at gmail.com (Victoria Howard) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:39:07 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal Research Internship Message-ID: *Winter/Spring 2016 Marine Mammal Research Internship* The IMMS Research Internship Program is designed as a way for students interested in a career in marine science to gain valuable research experience in a real-world setting. Interns will participate with multiple projects involving bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and diamondback terrapins. As an intern, you will be trained in all aspects of dolphin photo-id research, sea turtle satellite tracking, and other current research projects at IMMS. Interns will also participate in other operations at IMMS including stranding response, education, and animal care. Our goal is to give Interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience in marine science research. Interns must: - Commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks. The internship can be extended depending on work performance. - Be available to work Mon-Fri and must be available for all boat trips. Some field days may fall on the weekends. - Have strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to admit mistakes. - Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills. - *Principle Duties include*: data entry, searching and cataloging journal articles, learning all research protocols, cropping and sorting photo-id fin images, learning to use photo-id programs such as Darwin (fin matching software), and FinBase (Microsoft Access), boat based field research (21? and 31? boats), and learn how to use ArcGIS - *Secondary Duties involve*: Assisting with animal care staff, attending marine mammal necropsies, responding to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings, and assisting with educational tours. - *Field days: *Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme seasonal conditions. Seasonal temperatures range from over 100 ?F in summer to 30 ?F in winter. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least two or three times a week. Applicants must be 18 or older and must have a genuine interest in marine research. Applicants should be actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in oceanography, marine science/biology, biology, or a related field. Previous research experience in any capacity is a plus. Applicants must be able and willing to fulfill all duties outlined for this Internship Program. This is an unpaid position and Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Once accepted, IMMS staff will be able to assist Interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations. *Deadline to Apply for the Winter/Spring Session (1/4/16 - 3/25/16 and 3/7/16 - 5/27/16) is November 1, 2015* *Please visit **http://imms.org/internship.php* * for application and full details* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From boesseneckerrw at cofc.edu Tue Sep 15 12:18:43 2015 From: boesseneckerrw at cofc.edu (Boessenecker, Bobby) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:18:43 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: anatomy, feeding ecology, and relationships of new transitional baleen whale Waharoa ruehwnua, Oligocene of New Zealand Message-ID: Hi all, here's another new paper on fossil baleen whales from New Zealand: Boessenecker, R.W. and R.E. Fordyce. 2015. Anatomy, feeding ecology, and ontogeny of a transitional baleen whale: a new genus and species of Eomysticetidae (Mammalia: Cetacea) from the Oligocene of New Zealand. PeerJ 3:e1129. Abstract: The Eocene history of cetacean evolution is now represented by the expansive fossil record of archaeocetes elucidating major morphofunctional shifts relating to the land to sea transition, but the change from archaeocetes to modern cetaceans is poorly established. New fossil material of the recently recognized family Eomysticetidae from the upper Oligocene Otekaike Limestone includes a new genus and species, Waharoa ruwhenua, represented by skulls and partial skeletons of an adult, juvenile, and a smaller juvenile. Ontogenetic status is confirmed by osteohistology of ribs. Waharoa ruwhenua is characterized by an elongate and narrow rostrum which retains vestigial alveoli and alveolar grooves. Palatal foramina and sulci are present only on the posterior half of the palate. The nasals are elongate, and the bony nares are positioned far anteriorly. Enormous temporal fossae are present adjacent to an elongate and narrow intertemporal region with a sharp sagittal crest. The earbones are characterized by retaining inner and outer posterior pedicles, lacking fused posterior processes, and retaining a separate accessory ossicle. Phylogenetic analysis supports inclusion of Waharoa ruwhenua within a monophyletic Eomysticetidae as the earliest diverging clade of toothless mysticetes. This eomysticetid clade also included Eomysticetus whitmorei, Micromysticetus rothauseni, Tohoraata raekohao, Tokarahia kauaeroa, Tokarahia lophocephalus, and Yamatocetus canaliculatus. Detailed study of ontogenetic change demonstrates postnatal elaboration of the sagittal and nuchal crests, elongation of the intertemporal region, inflation of the zygomatic processes, and an extreme proportional increase in rostral length. Tympanic bullae are nearly full sized during early postnatal ontogeny indicating precocial development of auditory structures, but do increase slightly in size. Positive allometry of the rostrum suggests an ontogenetic change in feeding ecology, from neonatal suckling to a more specialized adult feeding behaviour. Possible absence of baleen anteriorly, a delicate temporomandibular joint with probable synovial capsule, non-laterally deflected coronoid process, and anteroposteriorly expanded palate suggests skim feeding as likely mode of adult feeding for zooplankton. Isotopic data in concert with preservation of young juveniles suggests the continental shelf of Zealandia was an important calving ground for latitudinally migrating Oligocene baleen whales. Pdf freely available here: https://peerj.com/articles/1129/ Kind regards, Robert W. Boessenecker & R. Ewan Fordyce From orcasestrecho at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 15:36:16 2015 From: orcasestrecho at gmail.com (A. Mel Cosentino) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 23:36:16 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: JNCC guidelines for minimising the risk of injury and disturbance to marine mammals from seismic surveys: We can do better Message-ID: Dear Marmamers We are pleased to announce the following publication in Marine Pollution Bulletin JNCC guidelines for minimising the risk of injury and disturbance to marine mammals from seismic surveys: We can do better Abstract The U.K.?s Joint Nature Conservation Committee 1998 guidelines for minimising acoustic impacts from seismic surveys on marine mammals were the first of their kind. Covering both planning and operations, they included various measures for reducing the potential for damaging hearing ? an appropriate focus at the time. Since introduction, the guidelines have been criticised for, among other things: the arbitrarily-sized safety zones; the lack of shut-down provisions; the use of mitigation measures that introduce more noise into the environment (e.g., soft-starts); inadequate observer training; and the lack of standardised data collection protocols. Despite the concerns, the guidelines have remained largely unchanged. Moreover, increasing scientific recognition of the scope and magnitude of non-injurious impacts of sound on marine life has become much more widespread since the last revisions in 2010. Accordingly, here we present feasible and realistic recommendations for such improvements, in light of the current state of knowledge. The article can be downloaded from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15300096 Alternatively, you are welcome to send us a pdf request. A. Mel Cosentino -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From naomi at awionline.org Fri Sep 11 16:37:02 2015 From: naomi at awionline.org (Naomi Rose) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 23:37:02 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Hemochromatosis in captive dolphins In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear MARMAMers: A recent paper (Mazzaro et al. 2012) has come to my attention, regarding iron indices in dolphins: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3527756/pdf/cm2012000508.pdf The authors conclude that ?Compared with those in managed collections, wild dolphins were 15 times more likely to have low serum iron (100 ?g/dL or less), and this measure was associated with lower haptoglobin. In conclusion, bottlenose dolphins in managed collections are more likely to have greater iron stores than are free-ranging dolphins.? In addition, the authors note that a ?25-y retrospective study of one population [the dolphins in the Navy Marine Mammal Program] demonstrated that 67% of dolphins [who had died] had excessive hepatic hemosiderin deposition at time of death, 92% of which had hemosiderin deposition in Kupffer cells; hemolytic anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and viral infections were not associated with hemosiderin deposition, and the primary hypothesis is that dolphins in managed collections may be susceptible to iron storage disease,? and ?A total of 25% (28 of 115) of samples [from living dolphins] from managed collections had high serum iron (exceeding 300 ?g/dL).? They point out that ?determining why this situation occurs among some dolphin populations [presumably those in captivity] and not others [presumably those in the wild] may improve the treatment of hemochromatosis in dolphins.? I was unaware of the prevalence of hemochromatosis and related indices in captive dolphins until some days ago, when it was brought to my attention that two dolphins in a facility in Finland are suffering from the disease. Mazzaro et al. (2012) conclude that the ?primary hypothesis? is that captive dolphins may be more susceptible to the disease, but from my perspective, that hypothesis seems to be supported by the data in Mazzaro et al. (2012) itself (which looked at two separate captive populations, as well as two separate free-ranging populations). The next step, therefore, would be to consider hypotheses as to why captive dolphins are more susceptible to this disease than free-ranging dolphins ? and also to ask the question of whether cetacean species other than bottlenose dolphins (in captivity or free-ranging) are susceptible to the disease or its related indices. I have inquired with colleagues on this point and apparently no one is yet looking into these questions. There is some research ongoing with free-ranging dolphins regarding numerous health issues (including conditions related to iron indices) that may be associated with or exacerbated by climate change, oil spills and so on, but no one appears to be looking into the question as to why such a large percentage of captive dolphins suffer from some degree of hemochromatosis, a disease that can lead to diabetes, chronic pain, organ failure, etc. I know of at least one instance where a captive dolphin was euthanized as a result of suffering from hemochromatosis. The first idea I had was that the inability of captive dolphins to dive deeply and the general lack of the need to breath-hold might make iron-based adaptations to breath-holding (i.e., greater amounts of hemoglobin and myoglobin) a liability in captivity, in terms of contributing to excessive iron loads. The fact that phlebotomy appears to be a relatively successful treatment for hemochromatosis in captive dolphins seems to bear this idea out. I am not a physiologist, but regardless of the likelihood of that etiology, it seems that this relatively recent discovery of what amounts to a significant welfare concern for captive dolphins should be a primary research question among public display facilities holding cetaceans. I am concerned that this does not appear to be the case and would welcome feedback from the marine mammal community, including anyone who can point me to evidence that I am wrong about the lack of ongoing research into this question. Naomi Rose ____________________________ [13_AWILogo_ONLY] NAOMI A. ROSE, PH.D. Marine Mammal Scientist ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE 900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Washington, DC 20003 naomi at awionline.org T: +1 202 446 2120 ~ F: +1 202 446 2131 ~ C: +1 240 401 4269 www.awionline.org P Please consider the animals and their habitat before printing. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2475 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From mithriel.mackay at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 13:47:48 2015 From: mithriel.mackay at gmail.com (Mithriel MacKay) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:47:48 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Humpback Whale Field Intensive in Puerto Rico USA Message-ID: *Humpback Whale Field Intensive in Puerto Rico, USA* *Join our team in 2016!* We have opened the week long internship programs for the Humpback Whale Field Intensive Program. You will be a critical part of our research team collecting data on humpback whales from land and boat surveys. You will learn data sampling, theodolite tracking, fluke and fin identification, and related software programs for managing data during each week-long session. This is a skill builder for field techniques in marine biology and marine mammal research. For more details: Navigate to www.Marine-Eco.org/mcerc-moodle, MCERC's Education Hub web site. Go to the block on the right side of the Home Page and click on "Humpback Whale Field Intensive" to see a description and categories. To find out more about the Marine and Coastal Ecology research Center navigate to: www.Marine-Eco.org website www.Marine-Eco.Jimdo.com photo gallery www.Facebook/research center Facebook page MCERC is a 501c3 non-profit organization. all program fees support research and education. *Who*: any person over 18. ideal for university students with an interest in marine biology, ecology , or related field NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! *What:* a week-long program designed to give field experience *Where*: San German, Puerto Rico, USA *When*: January through April 2016 (weeks posted on the Education Hub) *How*: send us an email saying you are interested in the "HWFI" and we will send you access to the Education Hub to register. email MCERC.mail at gmail.com *Why*: to build field research skills for marine biologists Places in the sessions for whale research with MCERC fill very quickly. If you are in need of a particular weekend, please consider signing up as soon as possible. The program fee is $1300.00USD for each week long session and includes a bunk at the field house, all meals, transportation to and from all field excursions, instruction by the MCERC faculty. The program fee does not include transportation to and from San German, Puerto Rico, USA. Join us for our 6th season of humpback whale research in the beautiful Caribbean Sea! Questions? email MCERC.nmail at gmail.com *}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> * *}-wh^ale>* Mithriel M. MacKay Ph.D. Director of Research and Education Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center San German, Puerto Rico, USA and Pipe Creek, Texas 78063 Website www.Marine-Eco.org E-mail Mithriel at Marine-Eco.org Education HUb www.Marine-Eco.org/mcerc-moodle Photo Gallery www.Marine-Eco.Jimdo.com Facebook www.Facebook.com/researchcenter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From danielcdunn at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 12:57:13 2015 From: danielcdunn at gmail.com (Daniel Dunn) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2015 15:57:13 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Ocean Sciences 2016 Session on Dynamic Ocean Management (abstracts due in a week!) Message-ID: <007901d0f0b9$e2118780$a6349680$@gmail.com> Dear Colleagues, There is one week left to put in abstracts for the 2016 Ocean Sciences meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana; February 21-26, 2016). My co-chairs and I welcome submissions to our session on the burgeoning issue of dynamic, or real-time, management of marine resources. Dynamic ocean management attempts to align the temporal and spatial scales of management with that of the resource and resource users to improve the efficiency and efficacy of management measures. We look forward to an interesting discussion on scale in resource management and hope to see you there! Dynamic Ocean Management: Managing at Finer Scales for Mobile Ocean Resources (link to session webpage ) Session ID: 9332 Session Description: Dynamic ocean management aims to respond to the movement of managed species, ocean users, and underlying ocean features. Higher temporal resolution of management measures can create efficiency gains and allows managers to address problems that were previously intractable. Understanding patterns in space and time for both target and non-target species can allow management to explicitly respond to the dynamic movements of marine animals and people that rely on them. Dynamic approaches are particularly important for highly mobile species as well as resource users that follow features such as fronts and eddies that evolve rapidly in space and time. Advances in remote sensing, archival tagging, hand-held technology, and species-distribution models have improved our ability to predict areas of low to high risk of unwanted species interactions in near-real time. That information can be disseminated to alert users to changing dynamic management areas via website and mobile applications. This session will explore (1) life history traits and ecosystems that may benefit from dynamic ocean management approaches; (2) how both human and marine resources respond to dynamic oceanography; (3) empirical examples to help quantify the efficacy and efficiency of dynamic management; and (4) ultimately data frameworks that can improve responsiveness of ocean management. Chairs: Elliott L. Hazen, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, Monterey, CA Daniel Dunn, Duke University Marine Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Beaufort, NC Sara Maxwell, Old Dominion University, Department of Biology, Norfolk, VA Rebecca Lewison, San Diego State University, Biology, San Diego, CA The abstract submission site is now open and abstracts are due by 23 September, 11:59 p.m. EDT. We look forward to your abstracts and an exciting session! Sincerely, Daniel (daniel.dunn at duke.edu) Daniel C. Dunn, Ph.D. Research Scientist Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab Duke University Beaufort, NC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmmatias at fc.ul.pt Thu Sep 17 07:28:40 2015 From: lmmatias at fc.ul.pt (Luis Matias) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:28:40 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: A single-station method for the detection, classification, and location of fin whale calls using ocean-bottom seismic stations Message-ID: <55FACE18.5060506@fc.ul.pt> Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following publication in JASA: Matias, L. and Harris, D. (2015).*A single-station method for the detection, classification,and location of fin whale calls using ocean-bottom seismic stations*.J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 138, 504 Abstract: Passive seismic monitoring in the oceans uses long-term deployments of Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs). An OBS usually records the three components of ground motion and pressure, typically at 100?Hz. This makes the OBS an ideal tool to investigate fin and blue whales that vocalize at frequencies below 45?Hz. Previous applications of OBS data to locate whale calls have relied on single channel analyses that disregard the information that is conveyed by the horizontal seismic channels. Recently, Harris, Matias, Thomas, Harwood, and Geissler [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 3522?3535 (2013)] presented a method that used all four channels recorded by one OBS to derive the range and azimuth of fin whale calls. In this work, the detection, classification, and ranging of calls using this four-channel method were further investigated, focusing on methods to increase the accuracy of range estimates to direct path arrivals. Corrections to account for the influences of the sound speed in the water layer and the velocity structure in the top strata of the seabed were considered. The single station method discussed here is best implemented when OBSs have been deployed in deep water on top of seabed strata with low P-wave velocity. These conditions maximize the ability to detect and estimate ranges to fin whale calls. The article can be downloaded from: http://scitation.aip.org/content/asa/journal/jasa/138/1/10.1121/1.4922706 Alternatively, if you are unable to download the article please email me for a pdf at: lmatias at fc.ul.pt Kind regards, Luis Matias ------------------------------------ Luis Manuel Matias Instituto D. Luiz Campo Grande, Ed. C8, piso 3 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal Tel. +351.217500812 Fax. +351.217500119 E-mail. lmatias at fc.ul.pt http://idl.ul.pt/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From elizabethatchoi at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 07:10:03 2015 From: elizabethatchoi at gmail.com (Elizabeth Atchoi) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:10:03 +0300 Subject: [MARMAM] URGENT - October Positions for Cetacean Research Message-ID: ***Urgent October and November Positions - DMAD Seeking Volunteers*** There are new positions available on marine mammal research in the Antalya Bay, Turkey URGENT placement needed for October and November, special offer: only 500 Euros per month. *The Project: Marine Mammals Research Association (DMAD) founded for the purpose of contributing to the scientific knowledge on marine mammals for the conservation and sustainable management of marine biodiversity. Despite the large cetacean biodiversity, there haven?t been any long-term studies on this region. Therefore, the project aims to fulfil the gaps of missing long-term studies in the area by collecting data on cetacean abundance, distribution, behaviour and site fidelity. This project provides an excellent opportunity for post-grads, students and individuals interested in getting more experience and knowledge in the field of marine mammal research. *Requirements: We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and hard-working individuals to join our team. Minimum commitment is one month, although for a fuller experience we recommend two or more. A biology background is not mandatory but advantageous, as well as an ability to dedicate yourselves to the study. We will be on the field early in the morning or until late in the afternoon, boat trips can be day long (12 hours), and there is much data to process and enter. A good level of endurance is necessary as well as the ability to live and work in a multicultural team, sharing the same home. *Your Duties include: Collecting sighting and behavioural data (using binoculars, theodolite and different software?s) both during land and boat surveys Organizing photo-ID catalogue Entering data House cleaning and up keeping duties *Conditions: This position is unpaid and requires a contribution from the volunteers which covers the accommodation and project related activities. Food will be at each one?s responsibility, although in Turkey food isn?t expensive and should be around 75 Euro per month or less. We have positions available all year round that require a contribution of 700 Euros per month, for people staying longer than 3 months there is a discount price. Expect long working days in the field, and to wake up very early (around 4:30 a.m.). The work will be carried under adverse weather conditions, in the summer: under the sun with very high temperatures (up to 45 Celcius), in the winter: windy and cold days. The typical week is divided in 3 days of fieldwork 1-2 days of office work and 1-2 days for you to enjoy the lovely Turkish Riviera and the city of Antalya. You will learn about different software?s used in cetacean research, techniques and tools for spotting dolphins/whales, identify individuals, amongst other things. There will also be space and opportunity for you to suggest and create your own project, as well as contribute to publications we might be working on. There may be opportunities to join into offshore surveys or other projects while you are here. *How to apply Please send a cover letter and CV to info at dmad.org.tr. For more information please visit www.dmad.org.tr or email us. Have a good day, Aylin Akkaya Bas -- Elizabeth Atchoi Project Supervisor at DMAD Website // Facebook -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jj_alava at yahoo.com Fri Sep 18 11:14:23 2015 From: jj_alava at yahoo.com (Juan Jose Alava) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:14:23 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] New contribution: Food Web Bioaccumulation Model for Resident Killer Whales from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean as a Tool for the Derivation of PBDE-Sediment Quality Guidelines Message-ID: <1858173402.1617585.1442600063181.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Dear colleagues, I hope this message finds you well. I am pleased to share our new contribution on "Food Web Bioaccumulation Model for Resident Killer Whales from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean as a Tool for the Derivation of PBDE-Sediment Quality Guidelines." Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology pp 1-14First online: 20 August 2015 doi:10.?1007/?s00244-015-0215-y Juan?Jos??Alava, Peter?S.?Ross & Frank?A.?P.?C.?Gobas Abstract Resident killer whale populations in the NE Pacific Ocean are at risk due to the accumulation of pollutants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). To assess the impact of PBDEs in water and sediments in killer whale critical habitat, we developed a food web bioaccumulation model. The model was designed to estimate PBDE concentrations in killer whales based on PBDE concentrations in sediments and the water column throughout a lifetime of exposure. Calculated and observed PBDE concentrations exceeded the only toxicity reference value available for PBDEs in marine mammals (1500??g/kg lipid) in southern resident killer whales but not in northern resident killer whales. Temporal trends (1993?2006) for PBDEs observed in southern resident killer whales showed a doubling time of ?5?years. If current sediment quality guidelines available in Canada for polychlorinated biphenyls are applied to PBDEs, it can be expected that PBDE concentrations in killer whales will exceed available toxicity reference values by a large margin. Model calculations suggest that a PBDE concentration in sediments of approximately 1.0??g/kg dw produces PBDE concentrations in resident killer whales that are below the current toxicity reference value for 95?% of the population, with this value serving as a precautionary benchmark for a management-based approach to reducing PBDE health risks to killer whales. The food web bioaccumulation model may be a useful risk management tool in support of regulatory protection for killer whales. Alava, J.J., Ross, P.S., Gobas, A.P.C. 2015. Food web bioaccumulation model for resident killer whales from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean as a tool for the derivation of PBDE-Sediment Quality Guidelines. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. DOI: 10.?1007/?s00244-015-0215-y The article can be found at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280740512_Food_Web_Bioaccumulation_Model_for_Resident_Killer_Whales_from_the_Northeastern_Pacific_Ocean_as_a_Tool_for_the_Derivation_of_PBDE-Sediment_Quality_Guidelines Or obtained from the publisher:?http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00244-015-0215-y?wt_mc=internal.event.1.SEM.ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst# Best Wishes,Juan Jose Alava ------------------------------------------------------- Juan Jose Alava, PhD? Adjunct Professor Resource and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6,Canada E-mail: jalavasa at sfu.ca https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Juan_Jose_Alava/contributions?ev=prf_act -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Jobs at oceanassoc.com Thu Sep 17 17:59:23 2015 From: Jobs at oceanassoc.com (Jobs.Ocean.Associates) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:59:23 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] MMPA & NEPA Policy Analyst open position In-Reply-To: <5580B13B.8060000@OceanAssoc.com> References: <5580B13B.8060000@OceanAssoc.com> Message-ID: <55FB61EB.4020308@OceanAssoc.com> Ocean Associates, Inc. is seeking a candidate to support the National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Regional Office in Honolulu or remotely with efforts associated with MMPA and NEPA rule-makings and listings. Please follow the link to our application webpage to read more details. https://home2.eease.adp.com/recruit2/?id=18954442&t=1 From MFlannery at calacademy.org Fri Sep 18 14:28:00 2015 From: MFlannery at calacademy.org (Flannery, Moe) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:28:00 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Announcement: Oral Pathologies workshop at SMM 2015 Message-ID: <5C50A2FFF4983F4B81F7CC2C6BAD99914B31D3F1@MAILBOX01.calacademy.org> Dear Marine Mammal Colleagues, We would like to invite you to a half-day workshop entitled "Dental and temporomandibular pathology in marine mammals" in association with the SMM Biennial Conference on Sunday, December 13th from 9:00am - 1:00pm. This workshop will be held at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Workshop participants will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the scientific research collection and free admission to the museum. Below is a brief description of the workshop. More information can be found at the SMM conference website. Workshop Summary: This workshop will highlight recent research on dental and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology in several marine mammal species. Invited talks will cover pathologies found in pinnipeds, mustelids, and cetaceans. The use of museum specimens and fresh carcasses as research tools will be highlighted. This workshop will provide a unique insight into the current research being conducted on marine mammals as part of a collaborative effort between the University of California, Davis, the Marine Mammal Center, and the California Academy of Sciences. First, detailed characterization and documentation of dental and TMJ disorders conducted by board certified veterinary dentists and veterinary students using a large dry skull collection will be presented. This also includes dental radiography on selected studies. Second, we will highlight studies that are carried out on carcasses from stranded marine mammals. During these studies, tissue characterization that includes biomechanics, histologic, biochemical and electron microscopy are conducted to reveal the structure-function relationship of the TMJ. Workshop participants will be exposed to diagnosis of dental and TMJ disorders in marine mammals by experts in the field. Participants will also have an opportunity for hands-on examination of various dental pathologies in museum specimens. Workshop will be held at the California Academy of Sciences. This workshop would be limited to 50 people and will include tours of the CAS museum collection. Date and Time: December 13th, 2015, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm For further information and to register please go to the Society's website: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#dental If you have any questions about the workshop please feel free to contact us: Frank Verstrate (fjverstraete at ucdavis.edu) Boaz Arzi (barzi at ucdavis.edu) Moe Flannery (mflannery at calacademy.org) Christine Fontaine (fontainec at tmmc.org) Thanks, Frank, Boaz, Christine, and Moe Maureen Flannery Ornithology and Mammalogy Collection Manager California Academy of Sciences p. 415.379.5371 f. 415.379.5738 mflannery at calacademy.org www.calacademy.org 55 Music Concourse Drive Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA 94118 Dive into the world of the ocean's mightiest and most mysterious mammals in our newest exhibit, Whales: Giants of the Deep. Now through November 29. Facebook | Twitter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Michael.Burkard at eawag.ch Fri Sep 18 04:31:39 2015 From: Michael.Burkard at eawag.ch (Burkard, Michael) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:31:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication about humpback whale cell line Message-ID: <731F3995-058B-42D5-AF27-D991DBEFFF8F@eawag.ch> Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper: ?Establishment of the first humpback whale fibroblast cell lines and their application in chemical risk assessment" Abstract: This paper reports the first successful derivation and characterization of humpback whale fibroblast cell lines. Primary fibroblasts were isolated from the dermal connective tissue of skin biopsies, cultured at 37?C and 5% CO2 in the standard mammalian medium DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Of nine initial biopsies, two cell lines were established from two different animals and designated HuWa1 and HuWa2. The cells have a stable karyotype with 2n = 44, which has commonly been observed in other baleen whale species. Cells were verified as being fibroblasts based on their spindle-shaped morphology, adherence to plastic and positive immunoreaction to vimentin. Population doubling time was determined to be ?41 h and cells were successfully cryopreserved and thawed. To date, HuWa1 cells have been propagated 30 times. Cells proliferate at the tested temper- atures, 30, 33.5 and 37 ? C, but show the highest rate of proliferation at 37? C. Short-term exposure to para,para? -dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p? -DDE), a priority compound accumulating in southern hemisphere humpback whales, resulted in a concentration-dependent loss of cell viability. The effective concentration which caused a 50% reduction in HuWa1 cell viability (EC50 value) was approximately six times greater than the EC50 value for the same chemical measured with human dermal fibroblasts. HuWa1 exposed to a natural, p,p?-DDE-containing, chemical mixture extracted from whale blubber showed dis- tinctively higher sensitivity than to p,p?-DDE alone. Thus, we provide the first cytotoxicological data for humpback whales and with establishment of the HuWa cell lines, a unique in vitro model for the study of the whales? sensitivity and cellular response to chemicals and other environmental stressors. A PDF version of the paper is available online at: http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Rgvp_,OE92iql or https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281641631_Establishment_of_the_first_humpback_whale_fibroblast_cell_lines_and_their_application_in_chemical_risk_assessmen or via e-mail request to michael.burkard at eawag.ch Cheers, Michael Burkard [cid:61A2A85B-F56E-4AB5-85C9-260FAD2F1118 at guests.emp-eaw.ch] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-1.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 104802 bytes Desc: PastedGraphic-1.tiff URL: From stephanie.venn-watson at nmmpfoundation.org Thu Sep 17 14:14:26 2015 From: stephanie.venn-watson at nmmpfoundation.org (Stephanie Venn-Watson) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:14:26 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Information on hemochromatosis in dolphins Message-ID: Greetings MARMAM, Hemochromatosis (also called iron overload) is a condition in humans and other animals involving high iron in the body. It often goes undetected with no clinical signs for decades, but can become clinically relevant when a person is 30 to 50 years old. Because managed dolphins are increasingly living to this age, investigating hemochromatosis has been part of our geriatric dolphin health research program. In our most recent study, more than 1 in 4 dolphins in the wild had hemochromatosis. After studying this condition in both populations for some time, however, we think we have a solution - a trace saturated fatty acid called C17:0 present in varying levels in fish - that may protect against and reverse hemochromatosis in dolphins. We are assessing this potential solution with the help of zoological parks and aquariums. Our scientists are now working with leaders in metabolism at Salk University for Biological Studies, Medical University of South Carolina, University of California San Diego, and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego to learn more about dolphin metabolism, dietary C17:0, and how we may improve the health of dolphins, inform conservation efforts to protect wild dolphin nutrition sources, and improve the health of children with this same condition. Best regards, Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH Director, Translational Medicine and Research Program National Marine Mammal Foundation -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ehines at sfsu.edu Sun Sep 20 20:30:39 2015 From: ehines at sfsu.edu (Ellen M Hines) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 03:30:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] new paper out on line transect abundance estimates of Irrawaddy dolphins in Thailand Message-ID: <420FBCF28440F445AC7C05B401AD7952BF43FFA2@EMX42.ad.sfsu.edu> Hi all, we are happy to offer this open source publication: Line transect estimates of Irrawaddy dolphin abundance along the eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand Ellen M. Hines1*, Samantha Strindberg2, Chalatip Junchumpoo3, Louisa S. Ponnampalam4,5, Anoukchika D. Ilangakoon6, Justine Jackson-Ricketts7 and Somchai Monanunsap8 * 1Department of Geography and Environment, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, USA * 2Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA * 3Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Eastern Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Rayong, Thailand * 4Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia * 5The MareCet Research Organization, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia * 6Independent Researcher, Maharagama, Sri Lanka * 7Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA * 8Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Southern Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Songkhla, Thailand Effective conservation of coastal marine mammals is largely dependent on reliable knowledge of their abundance, as well as the ecological and human factors driving their distribution. In developing countries, lack of resources and capacity frequently impedes research needed to estimate abundance and to determine the ecological requirements of coastal marine mammals and the impact of threats related to coastal development and fisheries. Over the course of 5 years, we developed practical research methods and trained local scientists in Thailand to use accepted line transect distance sampling methods for abundance assessment. The study focused on a little-known coastal and freshwater species found throughout Southeast Asia, namely the Irrawaddy dolphin, which has been sighted regularly along the coast of the eastern Gulf of Thailand. During 5 years of line transect boat surveys in Trat Province, the eastern-most province in Thailand, we found an average of 423 dolphins distributed within 12 km of the coast. Compared to other abundance estimates of coastal Irrawaddy dolphins in Southeast Asia, this is a relatively large number. This population could extend into the northern coast of Cambodia, where surveys are currently being planned. The Thai government has begun talks with Cambodia about a transboundary marine protected area that would include areas in both countries where coastal Irrawaddy dolphins are found. Collaboration between scientists in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam is further needed to determine dolphin movement and habitat use across borders. Here is the link: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2015.00063 Best, Ellen Ellen Hines, PhD Associate Director & Professor of Geography Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies San Francisco State University 3150 Paradise Drive Tiburon, CA 94920 USA 1 415 338 3512 Fax: 1 415 338 6243 ehines at sfsu.edu http://rtc.sfsu.edu/research/in_hines.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shane.gero at bios.au.dk Mon Sep 21 01:35:27 2015 From: shane.gero at bios.au.dk (Shane Gero) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 08:35:27 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] WIKIPEDIA workshop Message-ID: <2161B95135EBEF45B719AA3529C0F7EB3619C5BB@SRVUNIMBX01.uni.au.dk> Dear all, We would like to repost the Wikipedia Workshop being offered at the SMM conference in San Francisco. The Society is sponsoring the workshop so that it can be offered at the accessible price of only $20. The workshop offered in conjunction with The Wiki Education Foundation will build skills in using Wikipedia itself, but also techniques and tools available for using Wikipedia in teaching, outreach, and science communication. The workshop will also focus on using these new skills to advance current content on Wikipedia about marine mammals; and get attendees involved in the Society's Wikisprints which run biannually to update public content about the species we study and the conservation issues relating to them. No publication in any journal will have the same daily impact in advancing public understanding as a well cited Wikipedia article which are accessed thousands of times a day. If you want your research to reach a wider audience, Wikipedia is a great way to do so. Why not come learn how? Sign up here: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#wikipedia My best, Shane **************************** Shane Gero Education Committee Chair Society for Marine Mammalogy http://www.marinemammalscience.org/ [facebook_logo20] [Twitter_2012_bird_icon 20] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image004.png Type: image/png Size: 3192 bytes Desc: image004.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.png Type: image/png Size: 2981 bytes Desc: image005.png URL: From mbaumgartner at whoi.edu Mon Sep 21 02:59:28 2015 From: mbaumgartner at whoi.edu (Mark Baumgartner) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 05:59:28 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Reminder: Ocean Sciences top predator session References: <45035EF2-8F06-4638-9ED2-23EBD50CA2F2@whoi.edu> Message-ID: <0186AD78-3568-449A-B99A-C7618C12C5F1@whoi.edu> Dear Colleagues, This is a reminder to consider attending the 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana this February, and to submit an abstract to session ME002: Advances in the ecology, behavior, physiology, or conservation of marine top predators. Details about the session are below. Mark Baumgartner, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, mbaumgartner at whoi.edu Daniel Palacios, Oregon State University, daniel.palacios at oregonstate.edu > From: Mark Baumgartner > Subject: Ocean Sciences top predator session > Date: September 5, 2015 at 3:58:21 PM EDT > > Dear Colleagues, > > The 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting will be held 21-26 February 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The meeting is an important venue for scientific exchange across broad marine science disciplines, with sessions on all aspects of oceanography. We would like to call your attention to a session we will be chairing entitled "Advances in the ecology, behavior, physiology, or conservation of marine top predators" (ME002). This session has been convened at the Ocean Sciences meetings since 2010, and it provides a wonderful opportunity for researchers studying a variety of taxa (including marine mammals) to meet, exchange ideas, and explore commonalities in research methods, scientific questions, and conservation efforts. Please consider submitting an abstract and attending the meeting. Abstracts are due by 23 September 2015 (2 weeks from Wednesday). More information on the session is below. > > Mark Baumgartner, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, mbaumgartner at whoi.edu > Daniel Palacios, Oregon State University, daniel.palacios at oregonstate.edu > > ------------------ > > Topic: Marine Ecosystems > Title: ME002. Advances in the ecology, behavior, physiology, or conservation of marine top predators > Session ID#: 9588 > > Session Description: > Top predators are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, and as such, their ecology, behavior and physiology can influence important processes such as trophic interactions, carbon flow, and nutrient recycling. Virtually all top predators have a history of over-exploitation or they have special management status because of their sensitivity to marine industrial activities and other human uses (e.g., bycatch, shipping, resource exploration/extraction). Basic research on top predators often focuses on gaps in our understanding of their ecology, but unlike many other branches of biological oceanography, research can also be motivated directly by management and conservation needs. This session will focus on studies of the ecology, behavior, and physiology of marine top predators that either advance our scientific understanding or support the conservation of these important taxa. Because Ocean Sciences provides a unique forum for marine ecologists, marine biologists, and oceanographers to interact, we seek contributions from researchers studying a wide variety of taxa, including fish, squid, reptiles, seabirds, and marine mammals, from anywhere in the world?s oceans. > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From J.Symons at murdoch.edu.au Mon Sep 21 05:53:21 2015 From: J.Symons at murdoch.edu.au (John Symons) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 12:53:21 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Seeking research assistants for the Cetacean Research Unit, Western Australia Message-ID: <045F6D4F1CCCFE47B5608A7D5A152AB07D097FA7@Exch-AD-MBX4.ad.murdoch.edu.au> Program: The South West Marine Research program is a long-term, multi-faceted project on the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins of South West Australia. This program is based in Bunbury (south of Perth) and is a collaboration between Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit (www.mucru.org) and numerous industry and non-profit partners. The research focuses on dolphin population dynamics, abundance, social structure, behaviour, habitat use, conservation genetics, effects of human activity and foraging ecology. http://mucru.org/our-research/research-projects/south-west-marine-research-program/ Position: Here, I am specifically seeking research volunteers to assist with data collection and processing. Long-term data will be used to investigate effects of human activity on the population of bottlenose dolphin in this area, in order to aid in future conservation and management efforts. Fieldwork is conducted from Busselton to Binningup within a 540 km2 area consisting of coastal beaches, inshore bays, estuarine inlets and a river. Using a rigid sampling design, this research is conducted year round via standardised line transect surveys (up to 5 nm offshore) from a small research vessel. For further information on the boat-based photo-identification procedure, see the following open-access publication: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0076574 Additionally, land based data collection of vessel usage within the study area is conducted using distance sampling methods from a land based station in Bunbury. This experience will be most useful to students or anyone hoping to pursue a career in behavioural ecology, population biology, marine conservation or marine science. Office: Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, South West Marine Research Program office is based at the Dolphin Discovery Center in Bunbury. http://dolphindiscovery.com.au/ Duties: Field: spotting wildlife, data collection, boat driving, photo identification. Office: Data entry, fin matching, project organisation. Land based: Use of binoculars with bearing and reticles for distance sampling of vessel traffic within the study area. Computer programs used for data are: FinBase, ACDSee, Logger, Microsoft Access, Excel, and Word. Assistants should: Be adaptable, patient, and enthusiastic as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. Fieldwork will vary between weekdays and weekends. When the weather permits fieldwork could be long and on consecutive days. Due to the training required, applicants must be willing to the project full-time for a minimum of two months. Applicants willing to participate for an extended duration will be given preference. Preferred skills/traits: 1. Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, animal behaviour or a related field. 2. Previous field experience with wildlife (field data collection, photo-identification, boat handling skills). 3. Be enthusiastic, team oriented and have a positive attitude as well as a genuine interest in wildlife science. 4. No history of debilitating seasickness. Time Period: Seeking skilled research assistants for periods beginning in September 2015 through July 2016 with a commitment greater than 2 months preferred. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide monetary compensation or living provisions and research assistants will be responsible for their own travel to Western Australia and living expenses. If you are interested in volunteering or interning, please provide a cover letter including your time of availability, a short CV and contact information for at least 2 references to the attention of John Symons (J.Symons at murdoch.edu.au). Short-listed candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. John Symons PhD Candidate Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University South Street Murdoch WA 6150 Australia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fkershaw at nrdc.org Mon Sep 21 10:34:33 2015 From: fkershaw at nrdc.org (Kershaw, Francine) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 17:34:33 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Workshop announcement: Integrating genetics into the Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) Identification Process Message-ID: Dear MARMAM members, We would like to encourage anyone working in the fields of marine mammal genetics, spatial ecology, or marine spatial planning to attend our full-day workshop "Integrating genetics into the Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) Identification Process" at the Biennial in San Francisco on Sunday, December 13th. Please see an overview of the workshop below or the full description on the SMM conference website. This workshop will be relatively hands-on with a small number of invited speakers, however if you are interested in presenting please get in touch. You can register for the workshop through the conference website: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/conference-registration/. Please don't hesitate to contact us via email at fkershaw at nrdc.org and hrosenbaum at wcs.org or by phone at +1-212-727-4564 if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing many of you in December! Best wishes, Francine Kershaw & Howard C. Rosenbaum Integrating genetics into the Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) identification process This workshop aims to address the following question: How can we integrate genetic information into spatial planning tools to support the identification of IMMAs? Genetic information has the potential to be highly informative in the application of the criteria employed to identify Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in a manner that complements and enhances existing approaches based in biodiversity metrics, habitat maps, satellite telemetry studies, and expert opinion. Therefore, there is a significant need to ensure this data is considered in a systematic way during the IMMA identification process. It is the goal of this workshop to examine how genetic data for marine mammals can be visualized geospatially to support the identification of IMMAs using the marine spatial planning tool SeaSketch. Developing an approach for integrating genetics into spatial planning for marine mammals also poses a series of unique considerations. For example, many species are highly mobile, are often only sampled in parts of their geographic range, and display a range of life history behaviors that may result in complex genetic population patterns. The second part of this workshop will focus on developing recommendations on how these issues can be clearly communicated to planners to ensure that genetic data are correctly interpreted when being used for IMMA identification. Francine Kershaw, Ph.D. Marine Mammals Science Fellow Natural Resources Defense Council 40 W 20th Street New York, NY 10011 USA T 212.727.4564 C 917.450.0994 fkershaw at nrdc.org nrdc.org https://columbia.academia.edu/francinekershaw Howard C. Rosenbaum, Ph.D. Director Ocean Giants Program Global Conservation Programs Wildlife Conservation Society 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx, New York 10460 USA T 718-220-5184 F 718-364-4275 hrosenbaum at wcs.org http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/ocean-giants.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ocrab at rcn.com Mon Sep 21 11:34:21 2015 From: ocrab at rcn.com (Susan Barco) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:34:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [MARMAM] Stranding Response Coordinator-Virginia In-Reply-To: <979664486.93286706.1442860423123.JavaMail.root@rcn.com> Message-ID: <1597087947.93287647.1442860461985.JavaMail.root@rcn.com> Position closes Oct 5th The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is seeking a full-time Stranding Response Coordinator for its nationally recognized Stranding Response Program. ? Program staff and volunteers respond to approximately 100 marine mammal stranding events and 200-250 sea turtle stranding events each year in Virginia. Most of the responses involve dead strandings and necropsy investigations, but the Aquarium's Marine Animal Care Center is an active rehabilitation center for?sea turtles and can rehabilitate pinnipeds.?On occasion,?we have also provided triage for small cetaceans. The Stranding Response Coordinator will supervise four full time and one or more hourly staff as well as volunteers, fellows?and interns and will be responsible for managing budgets for?grants and contracts associated with the Program. Funding for the program is primarily through donations, grants and contracts and the Stranding Response Coordinator will be expected to apply for grants, seek contractual agreements?and participate in fundraising efforts. The Stranding Response Coordinator is supervised by the director of Research?& Conservation and works closely with the Research Coordinator. Interested parties please apply through the City of Virginia Beach's WAVE application portal (if the link below does not take you directly to the job announcement, please copy and paste it into your browser and search postings for Senior Curator-Stranding Response Coordinator). The formal job title is Senior Curator-Stranding Response Coordinator. If applying, please make sure that you include all pertinent information on the application and not rely on attachments such as CVs and resumes. A link is provided below.?This is a City of Virginia Beach position and benefits are provided. If you have questions about the position, please contact Sue Barco at sgbarco at virginiaaquarium.com . The position closes on Oct 5th . ? https://www.vbcareers4gov.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1439295380690 ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From annalisa.zaccaroni at unibo.it Tue Sep 22 12:26:09 2015 From: annalisa.zaccaroni at unibo.it (Annalisa Zaccaroni) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 19:26:09 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Workshop reminder Message-ID: <2749B4B8DA99834CAFA461354445D547013E55DA1D@E10-MBX4-DR.personale.dir.unibo.it> Dear MARMAM members, We would like to remember to all those working in the field of or interested to the problematics linked to human-cetaceans interactions to attend our full-day workshop " Threats to marine mammals in the Mediterranean Sea: how do they cope with human impact?" at the Biennial in San Francisco on Saturday, December 12th. Confirmed and tentative speakers of the morning session are at present: Prof. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara: introductory, plenary lecture Dr. Simone Panigada: impact of naval traffic on cetaceans Dr. Manuel Castellote: impact of acoustic pollution on cetaceans Dr. Josue Delgado (to be confirmed): pathogens in cetaceans Dr. Annalisa Zaccaroni: chemical pollution, levels of exposure and potential adverse effects on marine mammals In the afternoon session presentation from research groups are previewed. There is no specific topic for presentation, so any kind of research concerning the Mediterranean area is welcome. Young researchers presentation are very well welcome, so we look forward to receive contribution from all the research groups working in the area of Mediterranean sea. We hope we will have a good participation from Mediterranean researchers, giving their contribution to the workshop and the discussion. You can find the workshop description at https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/ You can register for the workshop through the conference website: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/conference-registration/. For abstracts submission and for information contact us via email at annalisa.zaccaroni at unibo.it We look forward to seeing many of you in December! Best wishes, Dr. Annalisa Zaccaroni Dept. Veterinary Medical Sciences University of Bologna Viale Vespucci 2 Cesenatico (FC) 47042 tel. +39 0547 338944 fax +39 0547 338941 mobile +39 347 5951709 annalisa.zaccaroni at unibo.it -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mariorrivera at gmail.com Tue Sep 22 20:37:42 2015 From: mariorrivera at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Mario_Rivera=2DChavarr=C3=ADa?=) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 21:37:42 -0600 Subject: [MARMAM] Manatee acoustics Message-ID: Hello Heres is our new paper: The relationship between acoustic habitat, hearing and tonal vocalizations in the Antillean manatee (*Trichechus manatus manatus*, Linnaeus, 1758) Could be downloaded here: http://bio.biologists.org/content/early/2015/09/02/bio.013631.full Will appreciate any feedback. Thank you -- Mario Rivera-Chavarria Biologist. Phones: 506 60107084 Any information contained in this e-mail and any attachment(s) hereto are confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, kindly notify the sender by reply email and discard all its contents. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From charry at ifaw.org Wed Sep 23 06:41:05 2015 From: charry at ifaw.org (Harry, Charles) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:41:05 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Winter 2016 marine mammal stranding internships Message-ID: <4A281105B1F2F94982E3F26DE28D388455990A8B@HQ00SM02.ifaw.net> IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internship The International Fund for Animal Welfare?s (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is currently accepting applications for Marine Mammal Stranding Internship for our winter session 2016 (January 19th 2016 ? May 23rd 2016). Please see below for future internship sessions. Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization with headquarters in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW?s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is a federally authorized response program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding ?hot spot? with over 230 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, large whales, porpoises, and dolphins. The Cape Cod region also experiences an unusually high frequency of live, mass stranded dolphins. Specific Internship Duties - Manage stranding hotline and dispatch of volunteers for stranding calls received during office hours - Assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and triage, opportunistic public outreach, biological data collection, and sampling from dead stranded marine mammals - Assist in stranding preparedness, including cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response gear and equipment - Assist in data entry of stranding reports, case files, sample collection, and lab results - Assist in organizing, cataloging and archiving stranded marine mammal documentation, including photos, video and datasheets - General office duties, including training and outreach material preparation and organization - Assist the Necropsy Coordinator in performing post-mortem examinations in both field and laboratory settings - Assist in maintaining, cleaning, and organizing necropsy equipment and supplies - Assist in the archiving, shipping, and tracking of biological samples - Assist in the preparation of necropsy reports Specific Focus Areas Interns will be cross-trained in all areas of stranding response and every effort will be made for interns to gain a wide-range of experiences. However, each intern will have specific ?focus areas? of either: field response, necropsy, or outreach. Interns will be paired with staff based on these particular focus areas and individual tasks and projects will be specific to one of these areas. Each individuals ?focus? will be determined by staff once they have been selected for the program. Please indicate in your cover letter which focus area you would prefer and/or if you would be interested in other focus areas as well. The final determination will be made by staff but we will make an effort to assign interns based on their preferences. Requirements - Must be at least 18 years old - Must possess a valid driver?s license - Must be of good physical fitness, be able to lift/carry 40lbs, walk long distances in difficult terrain, be comfortable on small boats in nearshore waters, able to swim, and work in harsh weather conditions at times - Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively - Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have graduated within 2 years - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Preferred candidate will also have: - Undergraduate and/or graduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, marine/environmental/animal science - Previous marine mammal stranding response/research experience - Experience handling animals - Experience driving large trucks Learning outcomes While hands-on experience is opportunistic and the number and type of responses will vary, most interns have the opportunity to: - Develop skills in identifying species commonly stranded on Cape Cod and gain knowledge of their biology and ecology - Acquire basic stranded cetacean and pinniped assessment and triage skills - Gain knowledge of response logistics and management, including the use of the Incident Command System - Gain knowledge of the stranding network structure and operation, as well as marine mammal policy as it relates to strandings - Gain basic necropsy skills and knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and physiology - Participate in active research projects, as appropriate Additional Information This internship is unpaid. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the intern. International applicants will be considered, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation, including an international driver?s license. The internship position requires the commitment for the full session (January 19th 2016 ? May 23rd 2016). Interns are required to attend three days per week, which may include weekends and holidays. Since strandings are unpredictable, applicants with flexible daily schedules are preferred. If the intern intends to receive academic credit, he/she will be responsible for making all arrangements with his/her educational institution. Interns should be prepared to perform in a variety of settings on any given day, including beach, on-water and laboratory. Specialized gear such as dry suits, boots and life jackets will be provided. Please keep in mind that stranding work is unpredictable and changes seasonally. We cannot guarantee the type and number of strandings and experiences you will receive during your internship. We will do our best when possible to give interns a varied experience To apply: Please use the link below to access the online application and to upload the required documents: 1. Cover Letter (please indicate which track(s) you would prefer) 2. Resume 3. Letter of Recommendation from college professor or employer (can be uploaded or directly emailed to RecruitMMRR at ifaw.org by the recommender. (It is your responsibility to ensure your letter of recommendation has been submitted on time, or you will not be considered for the internship.) http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment All application materials must be received by Monday, October 26th by 5:00pm EST Internship notification of acceptance sent by Friday, November 30th Intern orientation dates will be January 19-21, 2016 *required to attend Future Internship Session Dates: The IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships are offered 3 times a year; you must re-apply for each session. Summer Session Dates: June 6th 2016 ? August 29th 2016 Application due date: March 11th 2016 Fall Session Dates: September 12th 2016 ? January 9th 2017 Application due date: July 8th 2016 Winter Session Dates: January 23rd 2017 ? May 15th 2017 Application due date: October 28th 2016 For more information about IFAW?s global animal welfare and conservation work, please visit www.ifaw.org. C.T. Harry | Asst. Stranding Coordinator | Marine Mammal Rescue & Research __________________________________________________________ IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare World Headquarters 290 Summer Street - Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 tel.1.508.744.2272 email. charry at ifaw.org stranding hotline. 1.508.743.9548 Saving Animals in Crisis Around the World www.ifaw.org The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lahuckst at ucsc.edu Wed Sep 23 16:36:57 2015 From: lahuckst at ucsc.edu (Luis Huckstadt) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:36:57 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] SMM Conference - Stable Isotopes Workshop Message-ID: Dear all, As the early bird deadline to register for the conference and workshop approaches, we would like to extend the invitation to our workshop ( https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#isotope) and encourage students that might be interested in presenting a poster to submit their abstracts for consideration to the email address lahuckst at ucsc.edu. Workshop Organizers:Luis Huckstadt and Seth Newsome Workshop Description: This full day workshop will be dedicated to marine mammal researchers currently working or interested in using Stable Isotopes Analysis (SIA) to study ecological, physiological and movement patterns of marine mammals. SIA is a powerful tool in biological studies of cryptic species such as marine mammals, and their use is increasing in our field. However, there is a great potential for expansion and new studies, while we also need to address the limitations and best practices when using this methodologies. This workshop will cover (1) basics aspects about SIA (with special focus on students and researches with limited knowledge on the field), (2) SIA in diet studies (including trophic fractionation and turnover rates, use of mixing models, and tools available to analyze data), (3) compound specific SIA, where researchers we will address the potential of this novel technique and present data on amino acid d15N and d13C, and (4) a session on use of SIA to study life history and maternal strategies. The workshop will also include a poster session, where students can display their research on SIA and interact with colleagues and other students. Registration for the workshop should be done through the conference website (https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/) Cost: $80 (Before Sept. 15th) $90 (After Sept. 15th) For more information, please visit https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#isotope Kind regards, Luis Huckstadt and Seth Newsome ---------------------------------------- Luis A. Huckstadt, Ph.D. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab 100 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From research at pacificwhale.org Wed Sep 23 19:08:29 2015 From: research at pacificwhale.org (Research Department) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:08:29 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammal Research Internship in Hawaii Message-ID: Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF), based in Maui, Hawai?i, 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 30 years and currently conduct projects in Hawai?i, Australia, and Ecuador. We offer internships in our Marine Mammal Research Program year-round. *Commitment* PWF seeks performance-driven and dedicated individuals for long-term internships. The date ranges for our internships are: - May ? August - September ? December (NOW INTERVIEWING) However, these dates can be flexible for exceptional candidates. Successful applicants are expected to dedicate 30-40 hours per week working both in the office and on our research vessel. Applicants must be available to work Monday - Friday and be available for all boat trips. Some field days may fall on the weekends. *Responsibilities* Interns will be based at PWF?s headquarters in Ma?alaea, Maui and will participate with multiple projects involving mysticetes (humpback whales) and odontocetes (numerous species of toothed whales and dolphins). Primary responsibilities are office-based and may include: - Photo-identification matching of whale flukes and/or dolphin dorsal fins; - Data entry and archival tasks; - Data processing and analysis; - General operational tasks. Additional responsibilities may include vessel-based data collection on board PWF?s eco-tours, and/or research-specific surveys within the four-island region of Maui, weather permitting. Each intern may be assigned to a specific cetacean project (with ancillary duties supporting field projects) according to skill set and availability. Occasionally, interns may be asked to assist staff in other projects (including events) as the need arises. *Requirements* Ideal applicants should: - Be advanced undergraduates or recent graduates in biology, zoology, marine biology, ecology, or a related field; - Be available to work Mon-Fri and must be available for all boat trips, including some field days that fall on the weekends. - Have a mature attitude towards research; - Be proficient with computers and data entry; specifically using PCs and the Microsoft Office suite of products; - Have a strong work ethic, attention to detail and superior organizational skills; - Have the ability to admit to mistakes; - Be independent, adaptable, and a fast-learner; - Be enthusiastic and possess a positive attitude; - Be sociable and team-oriented; - Be able to collect data in a detail-oriented manner; - Have boating experience; - Speak, read and write English fluently. Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme weather conditions. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur approximately two times per week. Applicants with little biology or marine expertise that possess outstanding skills in programming, statistical analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and database management are also welcomed to apply. *Compensation* There is no financial compensation for these positions and interns are responsible for their own living and transportation expenses. There is public transportation available on the island. Once accepted, the PWF staff will be able to assist in finding suitable housing options. *Application process* Applicants must be authorized to legally remain in Hawai?i if they are not U.S. citizens or authorized to work in the U.S. Interested candidates should submit an application with the following: - A cover letter including your availability, i.e. preferred time period (1 page only); - A resume describing training, experience and relevant skills (2 pages only); - Names and contact information of three references. Please send these items as e-mail attachments (PDF preferred) to research at pacificwhale.org - No phone calls or drop-ins, please. Mahalo, *Research Department* Pacific Whale Foundation 300 Ma'alaea Rd., Suite 211 Wailuku, HI 96793, USA Phone: +1 808-856-8305 Fax: +1 808-243-9021 Email: research at pacificwhale.org Website: www.pacificwhale.org -- Run & Walk For The Whales - January 30, 2016 World Whale Day - February 13, 2016 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission and any accompanying attachments contain information belonging to the sender which may be confidential and legally privileged. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom this electronic mail transmission was sent as indicated above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this transmission and all attachments. Thank you! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From e.schrijver at savewave.eu Thu Sep 24 07:13:43 2015 From: e.schrijver at savewave.eu (e.schrijver at savewave.eu) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 16:13:43 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Call for killer whale and long-finned pilot whale recordings Message-ID: <20150924161343080000.266917.5477@savewave.eu> Dear colleagues, SaveWave is a Dutch eco-company that aims to reduce dangerous interactions between marine wildlife and fishing activities world wide. We have been successfull at reducing bird by-catch with our WWF award winning SeaBird Saver last year. Currently, there are many concerns for interactions between killer whales ans longline vessels. For this we have developed a device that can be used to emit a very wide range of sounds underwater to deter killer whales from longlining vessels. Next to artificially built signals, we would also like to tweak natural signals. Therefore we are currently looking for signals from killer whales (Orcinus orca) and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas). During field work, a strong reaction from killer whales to long-finned pilot whales was observed, making trialing with these specific signals very interesting indeed. We are currently looking for signals that meet the following criteria: " Killer whale or long finned pilot whale clicks, whistles and pulsed calls " Frequency between 6 and 30 khz " High quality recordings " Preferably long recordings (10 seconds and more) " Preferably .wav files " Killer whales: preferably residents " Recordings on both species during: socializing, interactions with other pods, territorial and aggressive behavior. If you would like to contribute to our cause, please contact me at e.schrijver at savewave.eu for further information. Best regards, Ernst Schrijver Marine Biologist SaveWave BV P.O Box 81 2600 AB Delft The Netherlands Email: e.schrijver at savewave.eu Phone: + 31(0)15 28 525 91 Fax: + 31 (0)15 262 28 75 Web: http://www.savewave.eu From amy.sloan at noaa.gov Wed Sep 23 09:44:23 2015 From: amy.sloan at noaa.gov (Amy Sloan - NOAA Federal) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 12:44:23 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Announcement: Three Full Time Positions Open in the NMFS Office of Protected Resources Message-ID: ? There are three full time positions open in the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources. These positions are in the Permits and Conservation Division for processing scientific research and enhancement permit requests pursuant to Sections 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act in conformance with NMFS' policies and regulations for marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds excluding walrus) and threatened and endangered species including fish (sawfish, sturgeon) and sea turtles. The announcement is open on USAJOBS from 9/23/2015 to 10/7/2015. Below is the link to the vacancy announcement. http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/415489100 Please share with qualified applicants. Thank you! Amy Sloan Deputy Chief?/Research Permit Program Lead Permits and Conservation Division NMFS Office of Protected Resources 1315 East West Hwy Silver Spring, MD 20910 ?http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From L.L.IJsseldijk at uu.nl Thu Sep 24 01:10:46 2015 From: L.L.IJsseldijk at uu.nl (IJsseldijk, L.L. (Lonneke)) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:10:46 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with (muco)cutaneous lesions in harbour porpoises Message-ID: <6BC1BCED8C004745BF5CE50DD7366CEA29DA30C7@WP0045.soliscom.uu.nl> Dear all, I am pleased to announce the following publication: ?Identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with (muco)cutaneous lesions in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)?. Steven J. van Beurden, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Soledad R. Ordonez, Christine Forster, Geert de Vrieze, Andrea Grone, M. Helene Verheije, Marja Kik. In: Archives of Virology. DOI 10.1007/s00705-015-2607-8 Abstract: Herpesviruses infect a wide range of vertebrates, including toothed whales of the order Cetacea. One of the smallest toothed whales is the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), which is widespread in the coastal waters of the northern hemisphere, including the North Sea. Here, we describe the detection and phylogenetic analysis of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with mucocutaneous and skin lesions in stranded harbour porpoises along the Dutch coast, tentatively designated phocoenid herpesvirus 1 (PhoHV1). Phylogenetically, PhoHV1 forms a monophyletic clade with all other gammaherpesviruses described in toothed whales (Odontoceti) to date, suggesting a common evolutionary origin. This paper can be accessed through: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00705-015-2607-8 Alternatively, pdf requests can be addressed to l.l.ijsseldijk at uu.nl Kind regards, Lonneke IJsseldijk Also on behalf of the other authors. Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, BSc Project co?rdinator Cetaceans Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Department of Pathobiology T +31 30 253 5312, M +31 6 244 556 98 L.L.IJsseldijk at uu.nl Yalelaan 1, PO Box 80158, 3508 TD Utrecht The Netherlands -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From msato at rockisland.com Thu Sep 24 07:20:10 2015 From: msato at rockisland.com (Mike Sato) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 07:20:10 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Killer Whale Expert and Author Erich Hoyt in October "Orca Tour 2015" Talks in B.C. And Puget Sound Message-ID: September 24, 2015 KILLER WHALE EXPERT AND AUTHOR ERICH HOYT IN OCTOBER ?ORCA TOUR 2015? TALKS IN BC AND PUGET SOUND Contact: Donna Sandstrom, The Whale Trail, (206) 919-5397 Internationally-renowned author and killer whale expert Erich Hoyt will speak in October along the Whale Trail at locations in British Columbia and Puget Sound. ?Orca Tour 2015? celebrates the seasonal return of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales to central Puget Sound and builds awareness of the whales throughout their range. This transboundary tour is especially timely with the birth of the fifth calf in the Southern Resident Killer Whale pods since December 2014. Promoted by The Whale Trail and local sponsoring organizations, Hoyt?s talks are scheduled for: ? Oct. 3- Saturna BC. ?Creatures of the Deep? hosted by Saturna Island Marine Research & Education Society and sponsored by the Capital Regional District at the Saturna Community Hall; ? Oct. 6- Sidney BC. ?Adventures with Orcas in the North Pacific? hosted by Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre and Raincoast Conservation Foundation at the Centre; ? Oct. 10- Olympia WA. ?Adventures with Orcas in the North Pacific? hosted by The Whale Trail at the Olympia Friends Meeting Hall; ? Oct. 11- Tacoma WA. ?Adventures with Orcas in the North Pacific? hosted by Citizens for a Healthy Bay at the UW Carwein Hall; and ? Oct. 13- Seattle WA. ?Ants, Orcas and Creatures of the Deep? hosted by The Whale Trail at the Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle. Tickets for the Saturna talk are available at the door for $10; for the Sidney talk, go to Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/orcatoursidney-tickets-18576310244?aff=es2 . Tickets for the Washington talks are available through Brown Paper Tickets, http://brownpapertickets.com (search Erich Hoyt). Erich Hoyt?s first killer whale expedition to Johnstone Strait sailed from Victoria, BC in June 1973. He proceeded to spend parts of the next 10 summers with orcas, culminating in his now classic book Orca: The Whale Called Killer. He is the author of 22 books including The Earth Dwellers and Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. His most recent book is the greatly expanded Creatures of the Deep, with state-of-the-art photographs and stories of amazing species new to science. In 1999 Hoyt, a Whale and Dolphin Conservation Research Fellow, co-founded the Far East Russia Orca Project (FEROP) to learn more about orca pods targeted for aquarium captures and to get Russian students involved in science and conservation of killer whales in Russian waters. Now in its 15th year, FEROP has recorded the Russian pods and photo-IDed some 1500 orcas off Kamchatka and in the Commander Islands ? including three white orcas found so far in the study areas. ?We are living in an era and in a part of the world where whale research has exploded,? said Hoyt. ?And we?ve got some amazing orca stories to tell here?mostly positive, some heartbreaking, but all compelling.? ?Orca Tour 2015? celebrates the growing transboundary success and collaboration between British Columbia organizations and The Whale Trail ? a model for conservation everywhere. The Whale Trail is working closely with the BC Cetacean Sightings Network and other groups to add new Whale Trail sites from Victoria to Prince Rupert. Interpretive panels will be installed at five locations this fall, and 30 sites in the southern Gulf Island will be marked with distinctive Whale Trail markers. East Point, Saturna Island was the first BC Whale Trail site, and the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney is the most recent. Orca Tour 2015 marks an historic return to Olympia, where Erich gave his first presentation in the region almost 40 years ago. Erich spoke during the first Orca Symposium at Evergreen State College in 1976. The Symposium coincided with orca captures in nearby Budd Inlet that led to their banning in Washington State. For more information on The Whale Trail and Orca Tour 2015, go to http://orcatour.org and http://www.facebook.com/orcatour2015 http://www.thewhaletrail.org and http://www.facebook.com/thewhaletrail.org # # # -- Mike Sato Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told http://salishseacommunications.blogspot.com/2011/10/salish-sea-communication s-truth-well.html msato at rockisland.com 206.229.2844 http://salishseacom.com http://salishseanews.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From elizabeth.edwards at noaa.gov Thu Sep 24 08:32:27 2015 From: elizabeth.edwards at noaa.gov (Elizabeth Edwards - NOAA Federal) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:32:27 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New Paper: Global distribution of fin whales in the post-whaling era (1980-2012) Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following publication in Mammal Review: Edwards EF, Hall C, Moore TJ, Sheredy C and Redfern JV (2015). Global distribution of fin whales *B**alaenoptera physalus* in the post-whaling era (1980?2012). Mammal Review Volume 45, Issue 4, pages 197?214. Abstract: 1. The global distribution of fin whales *B**alaenoptera physalus* is not fully understood. Existing maps can be divided into two conflicting categories: one showing a continuous global distribution and another showing an equatorial hiatus (gap in the global distribution) between approximately 20?N and 20?S. Questions also remain about the seasonal distribution of fin whales. 2. To explore the suggested equatorial hiatus and seasonal distribution patterns, we synthesised information on fin whale distribution in the post-whaling era (1980?2012) from published literature, publicly available reports and studies conducted by various organisations. We created four seasonally stratified maps showing line-transect density estimates, line-transect survey effort, acoustic detections, and sightings. 3. An equatorial hiatus in the global distribution of fin whales during the post-whaling era is supported by numerous line-transect surveys and by the rarity of equatorial acoustic detections and sightings, and corroborated by whaling era reports, morphological analyses, and genetic analyses. 4. Our synthesis of post-whaling era data is consistent with results from other studies indicating that fin whales are more abundant at higher latitudes during warmer months and more abundant at lower latitudes (although these latitudes are still greater than 20?) during colder months. However, our synthesis and results from other studies also indicate that some fin whales in both hemispheres remain in higher latitudes (50??60? north or south) during colder months and in lower latitudes (to approximately 20??30? north or south) during warmer months, indicating that seasonal fin whale movements differ from the seasonal migrations of blue whales*B**alaenoptera musculus* and humpback whales *M**egaptera novaeangliae*. 5. Our maps of global fin whale distribution provide a comprehensive picture of current knowledge and highlight important geographical and temporal data gaps. Surveys should be conducted within the identified data gaps in order to increase fine-scale spatial and temporal knowledge of distribution patterns, improve fin whale taxonomy, and identify areas of elevated fin whale densities that may require management of threats, such as ship strikes. The article is located at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mam.12048/abstract If you are unable to download the article, please contact me for a pdf at: elizabeth.edwards at noaa.gov. Sincerely, Liz Edwards -- *Elizabeth Edwards, Ph. D.* Marine Mammal and Turtle Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center NMFS/NOAA 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037-1509 (858) 546-7099 (office) Elizabeth.Edwards at noaa.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From erin.oleson at noaa.gov Thu Sep 24 11:26:57 2015 From: erin.oleson at noaa.gov (Erin Oleson - NOAA Federal) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:26:57 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Bioacoustician position open at PIFSC Message-ID: Aloha. The Cetacean Research Program within the Protected Species Dvision at NOAAs Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center is recruiting for a bioacoustician to join our group. This new position will play a lead role in using passive acoustics for cetacean assessment within the Pacific Islands Region, including use of our existing towed array and autonomous datasets, and development of new projects. The application period is open until October 2nd. And as with most Fed positions- U.S. citizens only. http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/414908700 DUTIES: The successful candidate will be capable of taking on the following duties, specific to this position: - Use existing and collect new datasets for assessment of cetaceans in the Pacific Islands Region. This includes working with Program Leader to develop the project design, execution of data collection and/or analysis, and reporting on findings. - Use of existing and development of new routines in ?MALAB? and/or ?R? for the purposes of analyzing passive acoustic datasets for cetaceans. This may include development or modification of existing routines for detection, classification, and localization of cetacean sounds within a variety of datatypes, such as towed hydrophone arrays, mobile and stationary autonomous recorders, and other sensor platforms. - Conducting multi-variate statistical analyses for the purposes of understanding the relationship between cetacean occurrence and/or behavior and environmental or anthropogenic factors. - Use of cetacean detection, classification, and localization hardware and software for real-time applications. - Application of underwater acoustic signal processing tools for proper analysis of acoustic datasets sampled at a variety of sample rates, duty-cycles, and with various sensor configurations. - Application of existing and development of new approaches for incorporating passive acoustic detection, classification, and localization datasets into cetacean abundance estimation. - Drafting and reviewing scientific reports and papers for peer-reviewed journals. - Participate in periods of up to 2 months per year to direct data collection at sea, including leading, as needed an acoustic team or other project teams. -- Erin Oleson Leader, Cetacean Research Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center NOAA Fisheries erin.oleson at noaa.gov www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cetacean Mailing address: NOAA IRC NMFS/PIFSC/PSD/Erin Oleson 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 (808) 725-5712 -- Erin Oleson Leader, Cetacean Research Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center NOAA Fisheries erin.oleson at noaa.gov www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cetacean Mailing address: NOAA IRC NMFS/PIFSC/PSD/Erin Oleson 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 (808) 725-5712 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From janiger at cox.net Sun Sep 27 05:59:11 2015 From: janiger at cox.net (David S. Janiger) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2015 05:59:11 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New Articles Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.20150927055911.012c5eb0@pop.west.cox.net> Hi, All Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Larger file sizes have been included. Abstracts also available on request. Please let me know of any mistakes. Make all requests to: janiger at cox.net Cheers! David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (323) 585-3553 (M,T,W,F) (213) 763-3369 (Th) janiger at cox.net djaniger at nhm.org Janiger Journals ACEVEDO, JORGE; ESTEBAN CARRENO; DANIEL TORRES; ANELIO AGUAYO-LOBO and SERGIO LETELIER. POLAR BIOLOGY 38(9):1559-1564. 2015. Cephalopod remains in scats of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at Cape Shirreff, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. ALEXANDER, AMY B.; CHRISTOPHER S. HANLEY; MARY C. DUNCAN; KYLE ULMER and LUIS R. PADILLA. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46(3):652-656. 2015. Management of acute renal failure with delayed hypercalcemia secondary to sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis and rhabdomyolysis in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). AMSON, ELI; CHRISTIAN DE MUIZON; DARYL P. DOMNING; CHRISTINE ARGOT and VIVIAN DE BUFFRENIL. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY 35(3):e922981. 7pp. 2015. Short communication. Bone histology as a clue for resolving the puzzle of a dugong rib in the Pisco Formation, Peru. ARNOULD, JOHN P. Y.; JACQUOMO MONK; DANIEL IERODIACONOU; MARK A. HINDELL; JAYSON SEMMENS; ANDREW J. HOSKINS; DANIEL P. COSTA; KYLER ABERNATHY and GREG J. MARSHALL. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0130581. 13pp. 2015. Use of anthropogenic sea floor structures by Australian fur seals: Potential positive ecological impacts of marine industrial development? 2.821 MB AUBIN, THIERRY; PIERRE JOUVENTIN and ISABELLE CHARRIER. PLOS ONE 10(9) e0134513. 13pp. 2015. Mother vocal recognition in Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella pups: A two-step process. 1.391 MB AVEN, ALLEN M.; RUTH H. CARMICHAEL; MATTHEW J. AJEMIAN and SEAN P. POWERS. MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH 66(4):371-374. 2015. Addition of passive acoustic telemetry mitigates lost data from satellite-tracked manatees. BALL, HOPE C.; MADELINE STAVARZ; JONATHAN OLDAKER; SHARON USIP; RICHARD L. LONDRAVILLE; JOHN C. GEORGE; JOHNANNES G. M. THEWISSEN and ROBERT JOEL DUFF. ANATOMICAL RECORD: ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 298(8):1416-1423. 2015. Seasonal and ontogenetic variation in subcutaneous adipose of the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus). BARBOSA, LORRAINE; CHRISTINE K. JOHNSON; DYANNA M. LAMBOURN; AMANDA K. GIBSON; KATHERINE H. HAMAN; JESSICA L. HUGGINS; AMY R. SWEENY; NATARAJAN SUNDAR; STEPHEN A. RAVERTY and MICHAEL E. GRIGG. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY 45(9-10):595-603. 2015. A novel Sarcocystis neurona genotype XIII is associated with severe encephalitis in an unexpectedly broad range of marine mammals from the northeastern Pacific Ocean. BARNETT, JAMES; AKBAR DASTJERDI; NICK DAVISON; ROB DEAVILLE; DAVID EVEREST; JULIE PEAKE; CHRISTOPHER FINNEGAN; PAUL JEPSON and FALKO STEINBACH. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0124315. 9pp. 2015. Identification of novel cetacean poxviruses in cetaceans stranded in South West England. 3.219 MB BARON, E.; C. HAULER; C. GALLISTL; J. GIMENEZ; P. GAUFFIER; J. J. CASTILLO; C. FERNANDEZ-MALDONADO; R. DE STEPHANIS; W. VETTER; E. ELIJARRAT and D. BARCELO. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 49(15):9073-9083. 2015. Halogenated natural products in dolphins: Brain-blubber distribution and comparison with halogenated flame retardants. 2.002 MB BAUMANN-PICKERING, SIMONE; MARIE A. ROCH; SEAN M. WIGGINS; HANS-ULRICH SCHNITZLER and JOHN A. HILDEBRAND. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 69(9):1553-1563. 2015. Acoustic behavior of melon-headed whales varies on a diel cycle. 3.767 MB BECHSHOFT, T.; A. E. DEROCHER; E. RICHARDSON; P. MISLAN; N. J. LUNN; C. SONNE; R. DIETZ; D. M. JANZ and V. L. ST. LOUIS. ECOTOXICOLOGY 24(6):1315-1321. 2015. Mercury and cortisol in western Hudson Bay polar bear hair. BENNETT, K. A.; J. HUGHES; S. STAMATAS; S. BRAND; N. L. FOSTER; S. E. W. MOSS and P. P. POMEROY. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 88(3):295-310. 2015. Adiponectin and insulin in gray seals during suckling and fasting: Relationship with nutritional state and body mass during nursing in mothers and pups. BERNAL-GUADARRAMA, MARIA JOSE; NUHACET FERNANDEZ-GALLARDO; RAFAEL ZAMORA-PADRON; VICTOR PACHECO; MARIA REYES-BATLLE; BASILIO VALLADARES; JACOB LORENZO-MORALES and ENRIQUE MARTINEZ-CARRETERO. CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY 70(5):685-689. 2015. Evaluation of two commercially available immunological kits for the diagnosis of Helicobacter spp. in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). BIDON, TOBIAS; NANCY SCHRECK; FRANK HAILER; MARIA NILSSON and AXEL JANKE. GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 7(7):2010-2022. 2015. Genome-wide search identifies 1.9 megabases from the polar bear Y chromosome for evolutionary analyses. BISHOP, AMANDA; PADDY POMEROY and SEAN D. TWISS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 527:247-259. 2015. Breeding male grey seals exhibit similar activity budgets across varying exposures to human activity. BLACKWELL, SUSANNA B.; CHRISTOPHER S. NATIONS; TRENT L. MCDONALD; AARON M. THODE; DELPHINE MATHIAS; KATHERINE H. KIM; CHARLES R. GREENE, JR. and A. MICHAEL MACRANDER. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0125720. 29pp. 2015. Effects of airgun sounds on bowhead whale calling rates: Evidence for two behavioral thresholds. 3.015 MB BLANCHET, MARIE-ANNE; CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN; ROLF A. IMS and KIT M. KOVACS. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0132686. 28pp. 2015. Seasonal, oceanographic and atmospheric drivers of diving behaviour in a temperate seal species living in the High Arctic. 7.893 MB BODEWES, ROGIER; THEO M. BESTEBROER; ERHARD VAN DER VRIES; JOSANNE VERHAGEN; SANDER HERFST; MARION P. KOOPMANS; RON A. M. FOUCHIER; VANESSA M. PFANKUCHE; PETER WOHLSEIN; URSULA SIEBERT; WOLFGANG BAUMGARTNER and ALBERT D. M. E. OSTERHAUS. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES 21(4):720-722. 2015. Avian influenza A(H10N7) virus-associated mass deaths among harbor seals. BODEWES, ROGIER; GUILLERMO J. SANCHEZ CONTRERAS; ANA RUBIO GARCIA; REBRIARINA HAPSARI; MARCO W. G. VAN DE BILDT; THIJS KUIKEN and ALBERT D. M. E. OSTERHAUS. JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY 96(5):1109-1114. 2015. Identification of DNA sequences that imply a novel gammaherpesvirus in seals. BOERTMANN, DAVID; LINE A. KYHN; LARS WITTING and MADS PETER HEIDE-JORGENSEN. POLAR BIOLOGY 38(8):1315-1319. 2015. A hidden getaway for bowhead whales in the Greenland Sea. BOESSENECKER, ROBERT W. and R. EWAN FORDYCE. LETHAIA 48(3):326-331. 2015. Trace fossil evidence of predation upon bone-eating worms on a baleen whale skeleton from the Oligocene of New Zealand. 1.393 MB BOHRER DO AMARAL, KARINA; DIEGO J. ALVARES; LARISSA HEINZELMANN; MARCIO BORGES-MARTINS; SALVATORE SICILIANO and IGNACIO B. MORENO. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 472:166-179. 2015. Ecological niche modeling of Stenella dolphins (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. 2.775 MB BOONSTRA, JENNIFER L.; LORRAINE BARBOSA; WILLIAM G. VAN BONN; SHAWN P. JOHNSON; FRANCES M. D. GULLAND; SHERRY K. COX and TOMAS MARTIN-JIMENEZ. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46(3):476-481. 2015. Pharmacokinetics of tramadol hydrochloride and its metabolite O-desmethyltramadol following a single, orally administered dose in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). BOWEN, LIZABETH; A. KEITH MILES; SHANNON WATERS; RANDI MEYERSON; KARYN RODE and TODD ATWOOD. POLAR BIOLOGY 38(9):1413-1427. 2015. Gene transcription in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from disparate populations. BROMAGHIN, JEFFREY F.; TRENT L. MCDONALD; IAN STIRLING; ANDREW E. DEROCHER; EVAN S. RICHARDSON; ERIC V. REGEHR; DAVID C. DOUGLAS; GEORGE M. DURNER; TODD ATWOOD and STEVEN C. AMSTRUP. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 25(3):634-651. 2015. Polar bear population dynamics in the southern Beaufort Sea during a period of sea ice decline. 5.866 MB BRUM, S. M.; V. M. F. DA SILVA; F. ROSSONI and L. CASTELLO. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY 31(4):675-680. 2015. Use of dolphins and caimans as bait for Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein, 1819) (Siluriforme: Pimelodidae) in the Amazon. BRZICA, HRVOJE; KATARINA SPIRANEC; IVA ZECEVIC; HRVOJE LUCIC; TOMISLAV GOMERCIC and MARTINA DURAS. VETERINARSKI ARHIV 85(2):211-226. 2015. New aspects on the laryngeal anatomy of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). BUREK-HUNTINGTON, KATHLEEN A.; JENNIFER L. DUSHANE; CAROLINE E. C. GOERTZ; LENA N. MEASURES; CARLOS H. ROMERO and STEPHEN A. RAVERTY. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 114(1):45-60. 2015. Morbidity and mortality in stranded Cook Inlet beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas. 1.285 MB Authors copy BUTLER, J. R. A.; J. C. YOUNG; I. A. G. MCMYN; B. LEYSHON; I. M. GRAHAM; I. WALKER; J. M. BAXTER; J. DODD and C. WARBURTON. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 160:212-225. 2015. Evaluating adaptive co-management as conservation conflict resolution: Learning from seals and salmon. 1.434 MB CACERES-SAEZ, IRIS; NATALIA A. DELLABIANCA; LIDA E. PIMPER; FEDERICO PEREYRA-BONNET; GUILLERMO HERNAN CASSINI and R. NATALIE P. GOODALL. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 31(2):734-747. 2015. Notes. Sexual dimorphism and morphometric relationships in pelvic bones of Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus c. commersonii) from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. CACERES-SAEZ, IRIS; R. NATALIE P. GOODALL; NATALIA A. DELLABIANCA; H. LUIS CAPPOZZO and SERGIO RIBEIRO GUEVARA. CHEMOSPHERE 138:735-743. 2015. The skin of Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) as a biomonitor of mercury and selenium in subantarctic waters. 1.211 MB CARR, STEVEN M.; ANA T. DUGGAN; GARRY B. STENSON and H. DAWN MARSHALL. PLOS ONE 10(8) e0134207. 22pp. 2015. Quantitative phylogenomics of within-species mitogenome variation: Monte Carlo and non-parametric analysis of phylogeographic structure among discrete transatlantic breeding areas of harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). 1.957 MB CARRILLO, JUAN M.; ROBIN M. OVERSTREET; JUAN A. RAGA and FRANCISCO J. AZNAR. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0127367. 15pp. 2015. Living on the edge: Settlement patterns by the symbiotic barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis on small cetaceans. 2.509 MB CHEREL, YVES; KEITH A. HOBSON and CHRISTOPHE GUINET. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY 29(16):1485-1490. 2015. Milk isotopic values demonstrate that nursing fur seal pups are a full trophic level higher than their mothers. CLESS, ISABELLE T.; HEATHER A. VOSS-HOYNES; ROY RITZMANN and KRISTEN E. LUKAS. APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE 169:78-85. 2015. Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears. 1.590 MB COOK, ROBIN M.; STEVEN J. HOLMES and ROBERT J. FRYER. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY 52(4):969-979. 2015. Grey seal predation impairs recovery of an over-exploited fish stock. CORDES, LINE S. and PAUL M. THOMPSON. POPULATION ECOLOGY 57(3):467-472. 2015. Mark-resight estimates of seasonal variation in harbor seal abundance and site fidelity. CRANCE, JESSICA L.; CATHERINE L. BERCHOK; JULIEN BONNEL and AARON M. THODE. POLAR BIOLOGY 38(10):1767-1773. 2015. Northeasternmost record of a North Pacific fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Alaskan Chukchi Sea. 2.162 MB CUNHA, HAYDEE A.; VERA M. F. DA SILVA; TERESA E. C. SANTOS; STELLA M. MOREIRA; NIVIA A. S. DO CARMO and ANTONIO M. SOLE-CAVA. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY 106(Supp1):565-572. 2015. When you get what you haven't paid for: Molecular identification of "douradinha" fish fillets can help end the illegal use of river dolphins as bait in Brazil. 2.257 MB DALTON, A. J. M.; D. A. S. ROSEN and A. W. TRITES. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 93(8):635-644. 2015. Resting metabolic rate and activity: Key components of seasonal variation in daily energy expenditure for the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). DELL, LEIGH-ANNE; MUHAMMAD A. SPOCTER; NINA PATZKE; KARL A. E. KARLSON; ABDULAZIZ N. ALAGAILI; NIGEL C. BENNETT; OSAMA B. MUHAMMED; MADS F. BERTELSEN; JEROME M. SIEGEL and PAUL R. MANGER. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL NEUROANATOMY 68:61-76. 2015. Orexinergic bouton density is lower in the cerebral cortex of cetaceans compared to artiodactyls. 3.568 MB DELPORT, TIFFANY C.; ROBERT G. HARCOURT; LINDA J. BEAUMONT; KOA N. WEBSTER and MICHELLE L. POWER. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 51(3):555-563. 2015. Molecular detection of antibiotic-resistance determinants in Escherichia coli isolated from the endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea). DHERMAIN, FRANK; GUILLELME ASTRUC; CATHY CESARINI; LAURENT DUPONT; FRANCK DUPRAZ; JOEL GODENIR; NICOLAS KECK; HELENE LABACH and EMMANUEL WAFO. SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF PORT-CROS NATIONAL PARK 29:103-126. 2015. Recensement des echouages de cetaces sur les cotes francaises de Mediterranee, entre 2010 et 2012. (Marine mammals strandings in French Mediterranean, years 2010-2012) 2.157 MB DRAGO, MASSIMILIANO; VALENTINA FRANCO-TRECU; LUIS CARDONA and PABLO INCHAUSTI. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY 29(16):1513-1520. 2015. Diet-to-female and female-to-pup isotopic discrimination in South American sea lions. DUNCAN, COLLEEN; VERENA A. GILL; KRISTIN WORMAN; KATHY BUREK-HUNTINGTON; KRISTY L. PABILONIA; SAM JOHNSON; KELLY A. FITZPATRICK; CHRISTINA WELLER and GILBERT J. KERSH. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 114(1):83-87. 2015. Coxiella burnetii exposure in northern sea otters Enhydra lutris kenyoni. Authors copy DYNDO, MONIKA; DANUTA MARIA WISNIEWSKA; LAIA ROJANO-DONATE and PETER TEGLBERG MADSEN. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 5(11083). 9pp. 2015. Harbour porpoises react to low levels of high frequency vessel noise. ESKELINEN, HOLLI C.; KELLEY A. WINSHIP and JILL L. BORGER-TURNER. ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND COGNITION 2(3):241-253. 2015. Sex, age, and individual differences in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in response to environmental enrichment. ESSON, DOUGLAS W.; HENDRIK H. NOLLENS; TODD L. SCHMITT; KEVIN J. FRITZ; CLAIRE A. SIMEONE and BRENT S. STEWART. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46(3):647-651. 2015. Aphakic phacoemulsification and automated anterior vitrectomy, and postreturn monitoring of a rehabilitated harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) pup. FAHLMAN, ANDREAS; STEPHEN H. LORING; GREGG LEVINE; JULIE ROCHO-LEVINE; TREVOR AUSTIN and MICAH BRODSKY. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 218(13):2030-2038. 2015. Lung mechanics and pulmonary function testing in cetaceans. FAHSBENDER, ELIZABETH; KARYNA ROSARIO; JOHN P. CANNON; FRANCES GULLAND; LARRY J. DISHAW and MYA BREITBART. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 5(9637). 4pp. 2015. Development of a serological assay for the sea lion (Zalophus californianus) anellovirus, ZcAV. FANG, LIANG; DING WANG; YONGTAO LI; ZHAOLONG CHENG; MATTHEW K. PINE; KEXIONG WANG and SONGHAI LI. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0129143. 14pp. 2015. The source parameters of echolocation clicks from captive and free-ranging Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). 1.172 MB FILATOVA, OLGA A.; PATRICK J. O. MILLER; HARALD YURK; FILIPA I. P. SAMARRA; ERICH HOYT; JOHN K. B. FORD; CRAIG O. MATKIN and LANCE G. BARRETT-LENNARD. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(1):251-257. 2015. Killer whale call frequency is similar across the oceans, but varies across sympatric ecotypes. FLOWER, JENNIFER E.; MATTHEW C. ALLENDER; RICHARD P. GIOVANELLI; SANDRA D. SUMMERS; TRACEY R. SPOON; JUDY A. ST. LEGER; CAROLINE E. C. GOERTZ; J. LAWRENCE DUNN; TRACY A. ROMANO; RODERICK C. HOBBS and ALLISON D. TUTTLE. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46(3):456-467. 2015. Circulating concentrations of thyroid hormone in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Influence of age, sex, and season. FRANKOVICH, THOMAS A.; MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN and NICOLE I. STACY. PHYTOTAXA 204(1):33-48. 2015. Three new species of Tursiocola (Bacillariophyta) from the skin of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). 1.214 MB GANNIER, ALEXANDRE. SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF PORT-CROS NATIONAL PARK 29:127-134. 2015. Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) diving behavior as obtained by visual observation methods and consequences in terms of visual detection during surveys. GARCIA-ALVAREZ, NATALIA; ANTONIO FERNANDEZ; LUIS D. BOADA; MANUEL ZUMBADO; ANNALISA ZACCARONI; MANUEL ARBELO; EVA SIERRA; JAVIER ALMUNIA and OCTAVIO P. LUZARDO. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 536:489-498. 2015. Mercury and selenium status of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): A study in stranded animals on the Canary Islands. 1.299 MB GARCIA, ANA RUBIO; GUILLERMO J. SANCHEZ CONTRERAS; CRISTINA JULIA ACOSTA; GERALDINE LACAVE; PIER PRINS and KLAAS MARCK. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46(3):553-559. 2015. Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). GARIBOLDI, MARIA CONSTANZA; JUAN IGNACIO TUNEZ; CRISTINA BEATRIZ DEJEAN; MAURICIO FAILLA; ALFREDO DANIEL VITULLO; MARIA FERNANDA NEGRI and HUMBERTO LUIS CAPPOZZO. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0132854. 15pp. 2015. Population genetics of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei): Introducing a new population from the southern edge of their distribution. 1.169 MB GARLAND, ELLEN C.; ANNE W. GOLDIZEN; MATTHEW S. LILLEY; MELINDA L. REKDAHL; CLAIRE GARRIGUE; ROCHELLE CONSTANTINE; NAN DAESCHLER HAUSER; M. MICHAEL POOLE; JOOKE ROBBINS AND MICHAEL J. NOAD. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 29(4):1198-1207. 2015. Population structure of humpback whales in the western and central South Pacific Ocean as determined by vocal exchange among populations. GINGERICH, PHILIP D. and SAMIR ZOUHRI. JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES 111:273-286. 2015. New fauna of archaeocete whales (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Bartonian Middle Eocene of southern Morocco. 6.043 MB GINTER SUMMARELL, CARLY C.; SUDEEP INGOLE; FRANK E. FISH and CHRISTOPHER D. MARSHALL. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0127941. 15pp. 2015. Comparative analysis of the flexural stiffness of pinniped vibrissae. GOL'DIN, PAVEL and METTE ELSTRUP STEEMAN. PLOS ONE 10(9) e0135500. 19pp. 2015. >From problem taxa to problem solver: A new Miocene family, Tranatocetidae, brings perspective on baleen whale evolution. 8.030 MB GOLDBOGEN, JEREMY A.; ELLIOTT L. HAZEN; ARI S. FRIEDLAENDER; JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS; STACY L. DERUITER; ALISON K. STIMPERT and BRANDON L. SOUTHALL. FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY 29(7):951-961. 2015. Prey density and distribution drive the three-dimensional foraging strategies of the largest filter feeder. GORMEZANO, LINDA J. and ROBERT F. ROCKWELL PLOS ONE 10(6) e0128520. 21pp. 2015. The energetic value of land-based foods in western Hudson Bay and their potential to alleviate energy deficits of starving adult male polar bears. 3.501 MB GRAVENA, WALESKA; VERA M. F. DA SILVA; MARIA N. F. DA SILVA; IZENI P. FARIAS and TOMAS HRBEK. BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 114(4):764-777. 2015. Living between rapids: Genetic structure and hybridization in botos (Cetacea: Iniidae: Inia spp.) of the Madeira River, Brazil. HANSEN, MIE JOHANNE; MADS FROST BERTELSEN; HENRIK CHRISTENSEN and ANDERS MIKI BOJESEN. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY 65(2):388-392. 2015. Bisgaardia miroungae sp nov., a new member of the family Pasteurellaceae isolated from the oral cavity of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), and emended description of the genus Bisgaardia. HASSANIN, ALEXANDRE. COMPTES RENDUS BIOLOGIES 338(7):494-501. 2015. The role of Pleistocene glaciations in shaping the evolution of polar and brown bears. Evidence from a critical review of mitochondrial and nuclear genome analyses. 1.144 MB HERMANNSEN, LINE; JAKOB TOUGAARD; KRISTIAN BEEDHOLM; JACOB NABE-NIELSEN and PETER TEGLBERG MADSEN. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0133436. 17pp. 2015. Characteristics and propagation of airgun pulses in shallow water with implications for effects on small marine mammals. 3.339 MB HERNANDEZ-ORTS, JESUS S.; M. NATALIA PASO VIOLA; NESTOR A. GARCIA; ENRIQUE A. CRESPO; RAUL GONZALEZ; MARTIN GARCIA-VARELA and ROMAN KUCHTA. ZOOTAXA 3636(3):301-335. 2015. A checklist of the helminth parasites of marine mammals from Argentina. HILARIO, ANA; MARINA R. CUNHA; LUCIANA GENIO; ANA RAQUEL MARCAL; ASCENSAO RAVARA; CLARA F. RODRIGUES and HELENA WIKLUND. MARINE ECOLOGY 36( Sup 1):82-90. 2015. First clues on the ecology of whale falls in the deep Atlantic Ocean: Results from an experiment using cow carcasses. HILL, HEATHER M.; SARAH DIETRICH; DEIRDRE YEATER; MARIYAH MCKINNON; MALIN MILLER; STEVE AIBEL and AL DOVE. ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND COGNITION 2(2):105-123. 2015. Developing a catalog of socio-sexual behaviors of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the care of humans. HILL, HEATHER; SARA GUARINO; SHIRLEE CRANDALL; EMILY LENHART and SARAH DIETRICH. ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND COGNITION 2(3):267-284. 2015. Young belugas diversify adult beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) behavior. HOGG, CHRIS; MAGELLA NEVEU; LARS FOLKOW; KARL-ARNE STOKKAN; JAIMIE HOH KAM; RON H. DOUGLAS and GLEN JEFFERY. BIOLOGY OPEN 4(7):812-818. 2015. The eyes of the deep diving hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) enhance sensitivity to ultraviolet light. HOLGUIN-MEDINA, VICTORIA EUGENIA; JOHN FONTENELE-ARAUJO; VICTOR MANUEL ALCARAZ ROMERO; JOSE FRANCISCO CORTES and JAIRO MUNOZ-DELGADO. BIOLOGICAL RHYTHM RESEARCH 46(5):631-645. 2015. Circadian and ultradian activity rhythms in manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in captivity. HUGGINS, JESSICA L.; STEPHEN A. RAVERTY; STEPHANIE A. NORMAN; JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS; JOSEPH K. GAYDOS; DEBORAH A. DUFFIELD; DYANNA M. LAMBOURN; JAMES M. RICE; BRAD HANSON; KRISTIN WILKINSON; STEVEN J. JEFFRIES; BRENT NORBERG and LYNNE BARRE. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 115(2):93-102. 2015. Increased harbor porpoise mortality in the Pacific Northwest, USA: Understanding when higher levels may be normal. 2.415 MB HUON, MATHILDE; ESTHER L. JONES; JASON MATTHIOPOULOS; BERNIE MCCONNELL; FLORENCE CAURANT and CECILE VINCENT. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 79(7):1091-1100. 2015. Habitat selection of gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in a marine protected area in France. 1.473 MB IJSSELDIJK, LONNEKE; KEES C. J. CAMPHUYSEN; JANINE J. NAUW and GEERT AARTS. JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH 103:129-137. 2015. Going with the flow: Tidal influence on the occurrence of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Marsdiep area, The Netherlands. 1.395 MB IRWIN, ROBERT. ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY 20(1):57-82 2015. Canada, aboriginal sealing, and the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention. IWASE, RYOICHI. JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS 54(7). 3pp. 2015. Fin whale vocalizations observed with ocean bottom seismometers of cabled observatories off east Japan Pacific Ocean. 1.770 MB JANSEN, JOHN K.; GAVIN M. BRADY; JAY M. VER HOEF and PETER L. BOVENG. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0129798. 13pp. 2015. Spatially estimating disturbance of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 1.854 MB JENSEN, LASSE FAST; ANDERS GALATIUS and JONAS TEILMANN. MARINE BIODIVERSITY RECORDS 8: e131. 4pp. 2015. First report on a newborn grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) in the Danish Wadden Sea since the 16th century. JOHNSTON, DAVID W.; JAIME FRUNGILLO; AINSLEY SMITH; KATIE MOORE; BRIAN SHARP; JANELLE SCHUH and ANDREW J. READ. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0131660. 12pp. 2015. Trends in stranding and by-catch rates of gray and harbor seals along the northeastern coast of the United States: Evidence of divergence in the abundance of two sympatric phocid species? JOY, RUTH; MICHAEL G. DOWD; BRIAN C. BATTAILE; PAMELA M. LESTENKOF; JEREMY T. STERLING; ANDREW W. TRITES and RICHARD D. ROUTLEDGE. ECOSPHERE 6(5). Article 75. 22pp. 2015. Linking northern fur seal dive behavior to environmental variables in the eastern Bering Sea. 2.040 MB KERNALEGUEN, L.; J. P. Y. ARNOULD; C. GUINET and Y. CHEREL. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 84(4):1081-1091. 2015. Determinants of individual foraging specialization in large marine vertebrates, the Antarctic and subantarctic fur seals. KERNALEGUEN, LAETITIA; YVES CHEREL; TRAVIS C. KNOX; ALASTAIR M. M. BAYLIS and JOHN P. Y. ARNOULD. PLOS ONE 10(8) e0133018. 15pp. 2015. Sexual niche segregation and gender-specific individual specialisation in a highly dimorphic marine mammal. KHUDYAKOV, JANE I.; CORY D. CHAMPAGNE; LIKIT PREEYANON; RUDY M. ORTIZ and DANIEL E. CROCKER. PHYSIOLOGICAL GENOMICS 47(8):318-330. 2015. Muscle transcriptome response to ACTH administration in a free-ranging marine mammal. 2.385 MB KISHIDA, TAKUSHI; J. G. M. THEWISSEN; SHARON USIP; ROBERT S. SUYDAM and JOHN C. GEORGE. PEERJ Volume 3. Article e897. 9pp. 2015. Organization and distribution of glomeruli in the bowhead whale olfactory bulb. 2.374 MB KLOEPPER, LAURA N.; JOHN R. BUCK; ADAM B. SMITH; ALEXANDER YA. SUPIN; JASON E. GAUDETTE and PAUL E. NACHTIGALL. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 218(15):2455-2462. 2015. Support for the beam focusing hypothesis in the false killer whale. KORETSKY, IRINA A. and SULMAN J. RAHMAT. RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA 121(1):31-47. 2015. A new species of the subfamily Devinophocinae (Carnivora, Phocidae) from the Central Paratethys. 3.693 MB KRAUSE, DOUGLAS J.; MICHAEL E. GOEBEL; GREGORY J. MARSHALL and KYLER ABERNATHY. ANIMAL BIOTELEMETRY 3(24). 14pp. 2015. Novel foraging strategies observed in a growing leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) population at Livingston Island, Antarctic Peninsula. 2.353 MB KROG, JEPER S.; METTE S. HANSEN; ELISABETH HOLM; CHARLOTTE K. HJULSAGER; MARIANN CHRIEL; KARL PEDERSEN; LARS O. ANDRESEN; MORTEN ABILDSTROM; TRINE H. JENSEN and LARS E. LARSEN. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES 21(4):684-687. 2015. Influenza A(H10N7) virus in dead harbor seals, Denmark. KUCZAJ, II, STAN A.; ERIN E. FRICK; BRITTANY L. JONES; JAMES S. E. LEA; DAN BEECHAM and FABRICE SCHNOLLER. LEARNING & BEHAVIOR 43(5):289-300. 2015. Underwater observations of dolphin reactions to a distressed conspecific. 2.697 MB KUHN, CAREY E.; JEREMY T. STERLING and TONYA K. ZEPPELIN. ANIMAL BIOTELEMETRY 3(26). 12pp. 2015. Linking northern fur seal behavior with prey distributions: The impact of temporal mismatch between predator studies and prey surveys. 1.513 MB LABACH, HELENE; FRANK DHERMAIN; JEAN-MICHEL BOMPAR; FRANCK DUPRAZ; JEROME COUVAT; LEA DAVID and NATHALIE DI-MEGLIO. SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF PORT-CROS NATIONAL PARK 29:263-266. 2015. Analysis of 23 years of Risso's dolphins photo-identification in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, first results on movements and site fidelity. 1.480 MB LABACH, HELENE; FRANK DHERMAIN and FRANCK DUPRAZ. SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF PORT-CROS NATIONAL PARK 29:267-272. 2015. Suivi de la population de grands dauphins Tursiops truncatus le long des cotes provencales (Mediterranee nord-occidentale). LABROUSSE, SARA; JADE VACQUIE-GARCIA; KARINE HEERAH; CHRISTOPHE GUINET; JEAN-BAPTISTE SALLEE; MATTHIEU AUTHIER; BAPTISTE PICARD; FABIEN ROQUET; FREDERIC BAILLEUL; MARK HINDELL and JEAN-BENOIT CHARRASSIN. PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY 137:52-68. 2015. Winter use of sea ice and ocean water mass habitat by southern elephant seals: The length and breadth of the mystery. 4.835 MB LAFFERTY, KEVIN D. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY: PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 4(3):291-294. 2015. Sea otter health: Challenging a pet hypothesis. LAMBERT, OLIVIER; ALBERTO COLLARETA; WALTER LANDINI; KLAAS POST; BENJAMIN RAMASSAMY; CLAUDIO DI CELMA; MARIO URBINA and GIOVANNI BIANUCCI. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 282(1815). Article 20151530. 8p. 2015. No deep diving: Evidence of predation on epipelagic fish for a stem beaked whale from the Late Miocene of Peru. 1.513 MB LAWSON, GARETH L.; LUIS A. HUCKSTADT; AND ONE C. LAVERY; FREDERIC M. JAFFRE; PETER H. WIEBE; JONATHAN R. FINCKE; DANIEL E. CROCKER and DANIEL P. COSTA. ANIMAL BIOTELEMETRY 3(22). 16pp. 2015. Development of an animal-borne "sonar tag" for quantifying prey availability: Test deployments on northern elephant seals. 2.144 MB LI, SONGHAI; HAIPING WU; YOUHOU XU; CHONGWEI PENG; LIANG FANG; MINGLI LIN; LURU XING and PEIJUN ZHANG. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(2):942-952. 2015. Mid- to high-frequency noise from high-speed boats and its potential impacts on humpback dolphins. 4.060 MB LIN, TZU-HAO; TOMONARI AKAMATSU and LIEN-SIANG CHOU. ESTUARIES AND COASTS 38(4):1376-1384. 2015. Seasonal distribution of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins at an estuarine habitat: Influences of upstream rainfall. LIN, TZU-HAO and LIEN-SIANG CHOU. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(2):1003-1011. 2015. Automatic classification of delphinids based on the representative frequencies of whistles. 1.668 MB LIU, TA-KANG; HSIAO-YIN HUANG and SHAO-LIANG HSU. MARINE POLICY 61:113-120. 2015. Saving the critically endangered Chinese white dolphin in Taiwan: Debate regarding the designation of an MPA. LONATI, GINA L.; ANDREW J. WESTGATE; D. ANN PABST and HEATHER N. KOOPMAN. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 218(16):2620-2630. 2015. Nitrogen solubility in odontocete blubber and mandibular fats in relation to lipid composition. MAGLIO, ALESSIO; CRISTIANO SOARES; MEDJBER BOUZIDI; FRIEDRICH ZABEL; YANIS SOUAMI and GIANNI PAVAN. SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF PORT-CROS NATIONAL PARK 29:167-185. 2015. Mapping shipping noise in the Pelagos Sanctuary (French part) through acoustic modelling to assess potential impacts on marine mammals. 3.802 MB MALASSIS, RAPHAELLE and FABIENNE DELFOUR. LEARNING & BEHAVIOR 43(2):101-112. 2015. Sea lions' (Zalophus californianus) use of human pointing gestures as referential cues MANNOCCI, LAURA; PASCAL MONESTIEZ; JEROME SPITZ and VINCENT RIDOUX. JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY 42(7):1267-1280. 2015. Extrapolating cetacean densities beyond surveyed regions: habitat-based predictions in the circumtropical belt. 5.928 MB MARTIN, SUMMER L.; STEPHEN M. STOHS and JEFFREY E. MOORE. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 25(2):416-429. 2015. Bayesian inference and assessment for rare-event bycatch in marine fisheries: A drift gillnet fishery case study. MASBOU, JEREMY; DAVID POINT; JEROEN E. SONKE; FREDERIC FRAPPART; VINCENT PERROT; DAVID AMOUROUX; PIERRE RICHARD and PAUL R. BECKER. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 49(15):8977-8985. 2015. Hg stable isotope time trend in ringed seals registers decreasing sea ice cover in the Alaskan Arctic. 1.349 MB MATIAS, LUIS and DANIELLE HARRIS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(1):504-520. 2015. A single-station method for the detection, classification and location of fin whale calls using ocean-bottom seismic stations. 1.974 MB MATLEY, JORDAN K.; AARON T. FISK and TERRY A. DICK. POLAR RESEARCH 34. Article Number 24295. 11pp. 2015. Foraging ecology of ringed seals (Pusa hispida), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in the Canadian High Arctic determined by stomach content and stable isotope analysis. MAYAKA, THEODORE B.; ARISTIDE TAKOUKAM KAMLA and CARYN SELF-SULLIVAN. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0128579. 23pp. 2015. Using Pooled Local Expert Opinions (PLEO) to discern patterns in sightings of live and dead manatees (Trichechus senegalensis, Link 1785) in lower Sanaga Basin, Cameroon. 4.440 MB MEYER, STEFAN; BRUCE C. ROBERTSON; B. LOUISE CHILVERS and MARTIN KRKOSEK. MARINE BIOLOGY (BERLIN) 162(8):1587-1596. 2015. Population dynamics reveal conservation priorities of the threatened New Zealand sea lion Phocarctos hookeri. MONSARRAT, SOPHIE; MARIA G. PENNINO; TIM D. SMITH; RANDALL R. REEVES; CHRISTINE N. MEYNARD; DAVID M. KAPLAN and ANA S. L. RODRIGUES. DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS 21(8):925-937. 2015. Historical summer distribution of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): A hypothesis based on environmental preferences of a congeneric species. MOONEY, T. ARAN; WEI-CHENG YANG; HSIN-YI YU; DARLENE R. KETTEN and I-FAN JEN JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A NEUROETHOLOGY, SENSORY, NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY 201(8):751-761. 2015. Hearing abilities and sound reception of broadband sounds in an adult Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus). 1.498 MB MORIN, PHILLIP A.; KIM M. PARSONS; FREDERICK I. ARCHER; MARIA C. AVILA-ARCOS; LANCE G. BARRETT-LENNARD; LUCIANO DALLA ROSA; SEBASTIAN DUCHENE; JOHN W. DURBAN; GRAEME M. ELLIS; STEVEN H. FERGUSON; JOHN K. FORD; MICHAEL J. FORD; CRISTINA GARILAO; M. THOMAS P. GILBERT; KRISTIN KASCHNER; CRAIG O. MATKIN; STEPHEN D. PETERSEN; KELLY M. ROBERTSON; INGRID N. VISSER; PAUL R. WADE; SIMON Y. W. HO and ANDREW D. FOOTE. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 24(15):3964-3979. 2015. Geographic and temporal dynamics of a global radiation and diversification in the killer whale. (Orcinus orca) 1.786 MB MOSNIER, A.; T. DONIOL-VALCROZE; J.-F. GOSSELIN; V. LESAGE; L. N. MEASURES and M. O. HAMMILL. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 314:15-31. 2015. Insights into processes of population decline using an integratedpopulation model: The case of the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). 3.800 MB MOUSSAY, CLELIA; MARION PEIRACHE; MARION CORRE and ALAIN BARCELO. SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF PORT-CROS NATIONAL PARK 29:187-194. 2015. Grille d'evaluation pour l'autorisation d'une course d'engins nautiques dans le Sanctuaire Pelagos (Mediterranee). (Evaluation grid for boat races authorisation in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean) 1.307 MB MURPHY, CHRISTIN T.; COLLEEN REICHMUTH and DAVID MANN. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 218(15):2463-2471. 2015. Vibrissal sensitivity in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). MURPHY, SINEAD; JONATHAN L. BARBER; JENNIFER A. LEARMONTH; FIONA L. READ; ROBERT DEAVILLE; MATTHEW W. PERKINS; ANDREW BROWNLOW; NICK DAVISON; ROD PENROSE; GRAHAM J. PIERCE; ROBIN J. LAW and PAUL D. JEPSON. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0131085. 32pp. 2015. Reproductive failure in UK harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena: Legacy of pollutant exposure? 2.575 MB NOWACEK, DOUGLAS P.; CHRISTOPHER W. CLARK; DAVID MANN; PATRICK J. O. MILLER; HOWARD C. ROSENBAUM; JAY S. GOLDEN; MICHAEL JASNY; JAMES KRASKA and BRANDON L. SOUTHALL. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 13(7):378-386. 2015. Marine seismic surveys and ocean noise: Time for coordinated and prudent planning. 2.455 MB OBBARD, MARTYN E.; SETH STAPLETON; KEVIN R. MIDDEL; ISABELLE THIBAULT; VINCENT BRODEUR and CHARLES JUTRAS. POLAR BIOLOGY 38(10):1713-1725. 2015. Estimating the abundance of the southern Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation with aerial surveys. 1.735 MB ONOFRI, LAURA and PAULO A. L. D. NUNES. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 530:213-222. 2015. Microeconomic framework for the economics of whales. ORBACH, D. N.; G. G. ROSENTHAL and B. WURSIG. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 93(6):503-507. 2015. Copulation rate declines with mating group size in dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). PEDRO, SIMONE LIMA SAO; JOAO MARCELO PEREIRA ALVES; ANDRE SILVA BARRETO and ANDRE OLIVEIRA DE SOUZA LIMA. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0134516. 11pp. 2015. Evidence of positive selection of aquaporins genes from Pontoporia blainvillei during the evolutionary process of cetaceans. 1.953 MB PEREZ-JORGE, SERGI; THALIA PEREIRA; CHLOE CORNE; ZENO WIJTTEN; MOHAMED OMAR; JILLO KATELLO; MARK KINYUA; DANIEL ORO and MAITE LOUZAO. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0133265. 16pp. 2015. Can static habitat protection encompass critical areas for highly mobile marine top predators? Insights from coastal East Africa. 1.864 MB PETERS, KRISTIAN J.; KATHY OPHELKELLER; NATHAN J. BOTT; BRUCE E. DEAGLE; SIMON N. JARMAN and SIMON D. GOLDSWORTHY. MARINE ECOLOGY 36(3):347-367. 2015. Fine-scale diet of the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) using DNA-based analysis of faeces. PHOTOPOULOU, THEONI; MICHAEL A. FEDAK; JASON MATTHIOPOULOS; BERNIE MCCONNELL and PHIL LOVELL. ANIMAL BIOTELEMETRY 3(21). 11pp. 2015. The generalized data management and collection protocol for conductivity-temperature-depth satellite relay data loggers. 1.652 MB PILFOLD, NICHOLAS W.; ANDREW E. DEROCHER; IAN STIRLING and EVAN RICHARDSON. OIKOS 128(8):1098-1107. 2015. Multi-temporal factors influence predation for polar bears in a changing climate. PINHEIRO, FLAVIA C. F.; SALVATORE SICILIANO; JAILSON F. DE MOURA and DAVI C. TAVARES. MARINE BIODIVERSITY RECORDS 8: e129. 3pp. 2015. Severe mutilation of a baleen whale in a longline fishery off the Brazilian coast. POPOV, VLADIMIR V.; DMITRY I. NECHAEV; EVGENIA V. SYSUEVA; VIATCHESLAV V. ROZHNOV and ALEXANDER YA. SUPIN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(1):377-388. 2015. Spectrum pattern resolution after noise exposure in a beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas: Evoked potential study. 2.161 MB PORSMOGUER, SEBASTIAN BITON; DANIELA BANARU; CHARLES F. BOUDOURESQUE; IVAN DEKEYSER; AMELIA VIRICEL and MANUEL MERCHAN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 532:177-183. 2015. DNA evidence of the consumption of short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis by the shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus. PROFETA, FRANCESCA; CRISTINA ESMERALDA DI FRANCESCO; FULVIO MARSILIO; WALTER MIGNONE; FABIO DI NOCERA; ESTERINA DE CARLO; GIUSEPPE LUCIFORA; GUIDO PIETROLUONGO; MARINA BAFFONI; CRISTIANO COCUMELLI; CLAUDIA ELENI; GIULIANA TERRACCIANO; NICOLA FERRI; GABRIELLA DI FRANCESCO; CRISTINA CASALONE; ALESSANDRA PAUTASSO; SANDRO MAZZARIOL; CINZIA CENTELLEGHE and GIOVANNI DI GUARDO. RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE 101:89-92. 2015. Retrospective seroepidemiological investigations against Morbillivirus, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. in cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline (1998-2014). PRUSS, H.; J. LEUBNER; N. K. WENKE; G. A. CZIRJAK; C. A. SZENTIKS and A. D. GREENWOOD. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 5(12805). 7pp. 2015. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) Knut. 1.259 MB QUINTARD, BENOIT; CAROLINE LOHMANN and BRICE LEFAUX. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46(3):621-623. 2015. A case of Trychophyton rubrum dermatophytosis in a Patagonian sea lion (Otaria byronia). RAMASCO, VIRGINIE; FREDERIC BARRAQUAND; MARTIN BIUW; BERNIE MCCONNELL and KJELL T. NILSSEN. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 3(1), Article 15. 15pp. 2015. The intensity of horizontal and vertical search in a diving forager: The harbour seal. 1.752 MB REISINGER, RYAN R.; MARK KEITH; RUSSEL D. ANDREWS and P. J. N. DE BRUYN. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 473:90-102. 2015. Movement and diving of killer whales (Orcinus orca) at a Southern Ocean archipelago. 2.340 MB RESSLER, P. H.; P. DALPADADO; G. J. MACAULAY; N. HANDEGARD and M. SKERN-MAURITZEN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 527:13-29. 2015. Acoustic surveys of euphausiids and models of baleen whale distribution in the Barents Sea. 2.110 MB ROBBINS, JOOKE; AMY R. KNOWLTON and SCOTT LANDRY. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 191:421-427. 2015. Apparent survival of North Atlantic right whales after entanglement in fishing gear. ROBERTS, J. and C. LALAS. POLAR BIOLOGY 38(9):1483-1491. 2015. Diet of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) at their southern breeding limits. ROUBIRA, PAULINE; DELPHINE BOSCH and ILHAM BENTALEB. PROCEDIA EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE 13:173-176. 2015. Pb isotopic compositions of fin whale baleen plates - a clue to unravel individual migrations between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea? RUBIO-GUERRI, CONSUELO; DANIEL GARCIA-PARRAGA; ELVIRA NIETO-PELEGRIN; MAR MELERO; TERESA ALVARO; MONICA VALLS; JOSE LUIS CRESPO and JOSE MANUEL SANCHEZ-VIZCAINO. BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH 11(53). 7pp. 2015. Novel adenovirus detected in captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) suffering from self-limiting gastroenteritis. 1.525 MB RUDD, ALEXIS B.; MICHAEL F. RICHLEN; ALISON K. STIMPERT and WHITLOW W. L. AU. PACIFIC SCIENCE 69(2):155-164. 2015. Underwater sound measurements of a high-speed jet-propelled marine craft: Implications for large whales. SAHANATIEN, VICKI; ELIZABETH PEACOCK and ANDREW E. DEROCHER. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 5(14):2851-2864. 2015. Population substructure and space use of Foxe Basin polar bears. 1.486 MB SALVADEO, CHRISTIAN J.; ALEJANDRO GOMEZ-GALLARDO U.; MAURICIO NAJERA-CABALLERO; JORGE URBAN-RAMIREZ and DANIEL LLUCH-BELDA. PLOS ONE 10(8) e0134655. 17pp. 2015. The effect of climate variability on gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) within their wintering areas. 1.606 MB SANCHEZ-CALABUIG, M. J.; J. DE LA FUENTE; R. LAGUNA-BARRAZA; P. BELTRAN-BRENA; E. MARTINEZ-NEVADO; S. D. JOHNSTON; D. RIZOS; A. GUTIERREZ-ADAN and J. F. PEREZ-GUTIERREZ. THERIOGENOLOGY 84(6):983-994. 2015. Heterologous murine and bovine IVF using bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa. 1.235 MB SCHAEFER, ADAM M.; ELIZABETH MURDOCH TITCOMB; PATRICIA A. FAIR; HUI-CHEN W. STAVROS; MARILYN MAZZOIL; GREGORY D. BOSSART and JOHN S. REIF. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 97(1-2):544-547. 2015. Mercury concentrations in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting the Indian River Lagoon, Florida: Patterns of spatial and temporal distribution. SCHERER, RICK D.; ANDREW C. DOLL; LORRIE D. REA; AARON M. CHRIST; CRAIG A. STRICKER; BRIANA WITTEVEEN; THOMAS C. KLINE; CAROLYN M. KURLE and MICHAEL B. WUNDER. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 527:261-274. 2015. Stable isotope values in pup vibrissae reveal geographic variation in diets of gestating Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus. SCHWARZ, LISA K.; STELLA VILLEGAS-AMTMANN; ROXANNE S. BELTRAN; DANIEL P. COSTA; CHANDRA GOETSCH; LUIS HUCKSTADT; JENNIFER L. MARESH and SARAH H. PETERSON. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0131877. 24pp. 2015. Comparisons and uncertainty in fat and adipose tissue estimation techniques: The northern elephant seal as a case study. 2.031 MB SEPULVEDA, MARITZA; SETH D. NEWSOME; CUIDO PAVEZ; DORIS OLIVA; DANIEL P. COSTA and LUIS A. HUCKSTADT. PLOS ONE 10(8) e0134926. 18pp. 2015. Using satellite tracking and isotopic information to characterize the impact of South American sea lions on salmonid aquaculture in southern Chile. 2.200 MB SHOELE, KOUROSH and QIANG ZHU. JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 382:363-377. 2015. Drafting mechanisms between a dolphin mother and calf. 6.391 MB SIERRA, EVA; JOSUE DIAZ-DELGADO; MANUEL ARBELO; MARISA ANDRADA; SIMONA SACCHINI and ANTONIO FERNANDEZ. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 51(3):696-702. 2015. Herpesvirus-associated genital lesions in a stranded striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Canary Islands, Spain. 1.823 MB SILBER, GREGORY K.; JEFFREY D. ADAMS; MICHAEL J. ASARO; TIMOTHY V. N. COLE; KATIE S. MOORE; LESLIE I. WARD-GEIGER and BARBARA J. ZOODSMA. PEERJ Volume 3. Article e866. 21pp. 2015. The right whale mandatory ship reporting system: A retrospective. 1.814 MB SILLS, JILLIAN M.; BRANDON L. SOUTHALL and COLLEEN REICHMUTH. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 218(14):2250-2259. 2015. Amphibious hearing in ringed seals (Pusa hispida): Underwater audiograms, aerial audiograms and critical ratio measurements. SMITH, LAUREL A.; JASON S. LINK; STEVEN X. CADRIN and DEBRA L. PALKA. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 25(2):373-389. 2015. Consumption by marine mammals on the Northeast US continental shelf. 3.213 MB SOMO, DEREK A.; DAVID C. ENSMINGER; JEFFREY T. SHARICK; SHANE B. KANATOUS and DANIEL E. CROCKER. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 88(5):471-482. 2015. Development of dive capacity in northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris): Reduced body reserves at weaning are associated with elevated body oxygen stores during the postweaning fast. 1.534 MB SPRINGER, MARK S.; ANTHONY V. SIGNORE; JOHANNA L. A. PAIJMANS; JORGE VELEZ-JUARBE; DARYL P. DOMNING; CAMERON E. BAUER; KAI HE; LORELEI CRERAR; PAULA F. CAMPOS; WILLIAM J. MURPHY; ROBERT W. MEREDITH; JOHN GATESY; ESKE WILLERSLEV; ROSS D. E. MACPHEE; MICHAEL HOFREITER and KEVIN L. CAMPBELL. PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 91:178-193. 2015. Interordinal gene capture, the phylogenetic position of Steller's sea cow based on molecular and morphological data, and the macroevolutionary history of Sirenia. 1.963 MB SQUADRONE, S.; P. BRIZIO; E. CHIARAVALLE and M. C. ABETE. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS 58:418-425. 2015. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), found stranded along the Adriatic coast (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea), as bioindicators of essential and non-essential trace elements in the environment. 2.850 MB SQUADRONE, S.; E. CHIARAVALLE; S. GAVINELLI; G. MONACO; M. RIZZI and M. C. ABETE. CHEMOSPHERE 138:633-641. 2015. Analysis of mercury and methylmercury concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios for a toxicological assessment of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the most recent stranding event along the Adriatic coast (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) 2.135 MB STIMPERT, ALISON K.; STACY L. DERUITER; ERIN A. FALCONE; JOHN JOSEPH; ANNIE B. DOUGLAS; DAVID J. MORETTI; ARI S. FRIEDLAENDER; JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS; GLENN GAILEY; PETER L. TYACK and JEREMY A. GOLDBOGEN. ANIMAL BIOTELEMETRY 3(23). 12pp. 2015. Sound production and associated behavior of tagged fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Southern California Bight. 2.109 MB SURMA, SZYMON and TONY J. PITCHER. FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY 24(3):291-305. 2015. Predicting the effects of whale population recovery on Northeast Pacific food webs and fisheries: An ecosystem modelling approach. SUZUKI, MIWA; ANDREW Y. LEE; JOSE PABLO VAZQUEZ-MEDINA; JOSE A. VISCARRA; DANIEL E. CROCKER and RUDY M. ORTIZ. GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 216:86-89. 2015. Plasma FGF21 concentrations, adipose fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and ?-klotho expression decrease with fasting in northern elephant seals. SVENDSEN, GUILLERMO MARTIN; MARIA ALEJANDRA ROMERO; GABRIELA NOEMI WILLIAMS; DOMINGO ANTONIO GAGLIARDINI; ENRIQUE ALBERTO CRESPO; SILVANA LAURA DANS and RAUL ALBERTO GONZALEZ. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0126182. 20pp. 2015. Environmental niche overlap between common and dusky dolphins in North Patagonia, Argentina. 5.260 MB SWAIN, DOUGLAS P.; HUGUES P. BENOIT and MIKE O. HAMMILL. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 84(5):1286-1298. 2015. Spatial distribution of fishes in a Northwest Atlantic ecosystem in relation to risk of predation by a marine mammal. 3.730 MB TAJIMA, YUKO; KYOKO SASAKI; NOBUYUKI KASHIWAGI and TADASU K. YAMADA. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE 77(8):989-992. 2015. A case of stranded Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) with lobomycosis-like skin lesions in Kinko-wan, Kagoshima, Japan. 1.101 MB THOMAS, AMBER and KATHRYN ONO. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0128930. 16pp. 2015. Diving related changes in the blood oxygen stores of rehabilitating harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina). THOMAS, HOWELL W. and LAWRENCE G. BARNES. CONTRIBUTIONS IN SCIENCE, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 523:1-35. 2015. The bone joint pathology osteochondrosis in extant and fossil marine mammals. 3.679 MB TOENNES, STEFAN W.; MARTIN PETERS; CHRISTINE OSMANN; WERNER POGODA and DIETRICH MEBS. BERLINER UND MUNCHENER TIERARZTLICHE WOCHENSCHRIFT 128(5-6):252-256. 2015. Death of a South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) after the ingestion of toads - evaluation of toad poisoning by toxicological analysis. 4.474 MB THOMISCH, KAROLIN; OLAF BOEBEL; DANIEL P. ZITTERBART; FLORE SAMARAN; SOFIE VAN PARIJS and ILSE VAN OPZEELAND. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(1):267-278. 2015. Effects of subsampling of passive acoustic recordings on acoustic metrics. 1.799 MB TOMONAGA, MASAKI; YUKA UWANO; SATO OGURA; HYANGSUN CHIN; MASAHIRO DOZAKI and TOYOSHI SAITO. SPRINGERPLUS Vol. 4, Article 352. 7pp. 2015. Which person is my trainer? Spontaneous visual discrimination of human individuals by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 2.939 MB TOUGAARD, JAKOB. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0132391. 7pp. 2015. Underwater noise from a wave energy converter is unlikely to affect marine mammals. VALENZUELA-TORO, ANA M.; CAROLINA S. GUTSTEIN; MARIO E. SUAREZ; RODRIGO OTERO and NICHOLAS D. PYENSON. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY 35(3):e918883. 7pp. 2015. Elephant seal (Mirounga sp.) from the Pleistocene of the Antofagasta Region, northern Chile. VAN DOLAH, FRANCES M.; MARION G. NEELY; LAUREN E. MCGEORGE; BRIAN C. BALMER; GINA M. YLITALO; ERIC S. ZOLMAN; TODD SPEAKMAN; CARRIE SINCLAIR; NICHOLAS M. KELLAR; PATRICIA E. ROSEL; KEITH D. MULLIN and LORI H. SCHWACKE. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0130934. 21pp. 2015. Seasonal variation in the skin transcriptome of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the northern Gulf of Mexico. 3.338 MB VENN-WATSON, STEPHANIE K.; CELESTE PARRY; MARK BAIRD; SACHA STEVENSON; KEVIN CARLIN; RISA DANIELS; CYNTHIA R. SMITH; RICHARD JONES; RANDALL S. WELLS; SAM RIDGWAY and ERIC D. JENSEN. PLOS ONE 10(7) e0132117. 17pp. 2015. Increased dietary intake of saturated fatty acid heptadecanoic acid (C17:0) associated with decreasing ferritin and alleviated metabolic syndrome in dolphins. 1.205 MB VOLPOV, BETH L.; ANDREW J. HOSKINS; BRIAN C. BATTAILE; MORGANE VIVIANT; KATHRYN E. WHEATLEY; GREG MARSHALL; KYLER ABERNATHY and JOHN P. Y. ARNOULD. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0128789. 19pp. 2015. Identification of prey captures in Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) using head-mounted accelerometers: Field validation with animal-borne video cameras. 1.739 MB VOLPOV, BETH L.; DAVID A. S. ROSEN; ANDREW W. TRITES and JOHN P. Y. ARNOULD. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL, SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 185(6):695-708. 2015. Validating the relationship between 3-dimensional body acceleration and oxygen consumption in trained Steller sea lions. WELLARD, REBECCA; CHRISTINE ERBE; LEILA FOUDA and MICHELLE BLEWITT. PLOS ONE 10(9) e0136535. 26pp. 2015. Vocalisations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Bremer Canyon, Western Australia. 6.358 MB WILSON, RORY P.; NIKOLAI LIEBSCH; AGUSTINA GOMEZ-LAICH; WILLIAM P. KAY; ANDREW BONE; VICTORIA J. HOBSON and URSULA SIEBERT. PEERJ Volume 3. Article e957. 17pp. 2015. Options for modulating intra-specific competition in colonial pinnipeds: The case of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Wadden Sea. 1.305 MB WISNIEWSKA, DANUTA M.; JOHN M. RATCLIFFE; KRISTIAN; BEEDHOLM; CHRISTIAN B. CHRISTENSEN; MARK JOHNSON; JENS C. KOBLITZ; MAGNUS WAHLBERG and PETER T. MADSEN. ELIFE 4, Article e05651. 16pp. 2015. Range-dependent flexibility in the acoustic field of view of echolocating porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). 3.144 MB WOLSAN, MIECZYSLAW; SATOSHI SUZUKI; MASAKAZU ASAHARA and MASAHARU MOTOKAWA. PLOS ONE 10(8) e0137100. 28pp. 2015. Tooth size variation in pinniped dentitions. 5.220 MB YAMAMOTO, YUKIKO; TOMONARI AKAMATSU; VERA M. F. DA SILVA; YAYOI YOSHIDA and SHIRO KOHSHIMA. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 138(2):687-693. 2015. Acoustic characteristics of biosonar sounds of free-ranging botos (Inia geoffrensis) and tucuxis (Sotalia fluviatilis) in the Negro River, Amazon, Brazil. YANG, HUA; HA T. NGUYEN; PAUL J. CARNEY; ZHU GUO; JESSIE C. CHANG; JOYCE JONES; CHARLES T. DAVIS; JULIE M. VILLANUEVA; LARISA V. GUBAREVA and JAMES STEVENS. JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY 88(5):2801-2812. 2015. Structural and functional analysis of surface proteins from an A(H3N8) influenza virus isolated from New England harbor seals. 2.122 MB ZAITSEVA, K. A.; V. I. KOROLEV and A. V. AKHI. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 51(2):152-155. 2015. Short Communications. Original Russian Text published in Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, 2015, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 133-136. Hearing sensitivity to band-pass filtration of low-frequency noise spectrum in the dolphin Tursiops truncatus. ZEPPELIN, T. K.; D. S. JOHNSON; C. E. KUHN; S. J. IVERSON and R. R. REAM. PLOS ONE 10(6) e0127615. 21pp. 2015. Stable isotope models predict foraging habitat of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska 3.993 MB ZERBINI, ALEXANDRE N.; MARK F. BAUMGARTNER; AMY S. KENNEDY; BRENDA K. RONE; PAUL R. WADE and PHILLIP J. CLAPHAM. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 532:269-281. 2015. Space use patterns of the endangered North Pacific right whale Eubalaena japonica in the Bering Sea. 2.908 MB From joelle.de.weerdt at gmail.com Wed Sep 23 08:19:15 2015 From: joelle.de.weerdt at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Jo=C3=ABlle_De_Weerdt?=) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 17:19:15 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Cetacean research assistants - Nicaragua Message-ID: Dear, Please find the announcement of cetacean research assistants in Nicaragua for ELI-Scientific. Thanks a lot. Kind regards, *Jo?lle De Weerdt* *Cetacean Research Assistant * *About ELI-Scientific* ELI-Scientific is a nonprofit organization based in France that has been created in January 2015. Our organization aims at promoting, protecting and conserving cetaceans. We have set up the research project ?Cetacean Conservation in Nicaragua?. ELI-Scientific is recruiting two research assistants for field work, photo-identification and data entry from January to March 2016. This project aims to generate knowledge on cetacean presence, distribution and habitat use patterns. The Research Assistant will have a unique opportunity to participate to a pioneer research project under the supervision of the Team Leader and the Project Director. The expected output is to generate: 1) scientific data on cetaceans in Nicaragua, 2) environmental awareness to the local communities in order to create a socio-economic relevance in conserving and protecting their natural environment and 3) responsible eco-tourism. Master students or persons aiming to work on a research project are strongly encouraged to apply to this position. All team members will have a training beforehand on the field methodologies and protocols as well as on data management. *Location: *Padre Ramos North-West of Nicaragua *Period: *January - March 2016 (3 month) *Type of agreement: *Full time. 1 Day off per week. Research assistants should expect to spend at least 4 days a week on the field and 1 day a week in working with data and should be willing and able to work a 6 days per week during the 12-week field study. *Duties:* - Assist in Boat based surveys in collecting data on cetaceans - Photo-identification of whale and dolphin species - Update photo-ID catalogue - Data entry of collected data *Skills and qualifications:* - *Bsc or Mc in biology / environmental sciences* - *Fluency in Spanish* - *Enthusiastic, conscientious and hard working* - Have background in cetacean ecology - Experience of working in developing countries - *Experience in delivering educational activities* - Proactive with ability to work unsupervised - Interest in wildlife and conservation - Being comfortable on a small boat - Excellent verbal and written communication skills - Being able to work in a small team *Desirable skills:* - An interest and knowledge of marine life - A background in marine biology - Speaking English and French is a plus - Be able to swim *Successful candidate will:* - *G*ain valuable experience in cetacean survey techniques and behavioral studies - Work in a very dynamic environment - Get insight in running a research project in developing countries *Accommodation and expenses:* There is no monetary compensation for this study. Accommodation and food will be provided for 450 euros/month or 500$/month. This depends on the funds obtained by the NGO and/or the participant. The Research assistant is responsible for its own transportation. Travel from Managua to the study site will be covered. *Funds:* European students or unemployed persons are encouraged to apply and can contact us to discuss funding opportunities. *To apply:* Please email a CV, 2 references and cover letter outlining your experience and motivations. Send this to joelle.deweerdt at eli-s.com with ?Research assistant 2015? in the subject line. The application deadline is 18 October 2015. Interviews via Skype are possible. *Contact:* For further information and any queries, please contact *Jo?lle De Weerdt, Project coordinator* Email: joelle.deweerdt at eli-s.com Tel: 0032 497 71 20 87 Website: www.eli-s.com Facebook: ELI-Scientific -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature elis JDW.jpg Type: image/jpg Size: 63076 bytes Desc: not available URL: From michael.simpkins at noaa.gov Fri Sep 25 10:37:23 2015 From: michael.simpkins at noaa.gov (Michael Simpkins - NOAA Federal) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:37:23 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Protected Species Branch job opportunity - Woods Hole, MA Message-ID: Hello all, We are in the final stages of building the recruitment package for a Supervisory Research Fishery Biologist or Ecologist to lead the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Protected Species Branch in Woods Hole, MA. The Protected Species Branch is a group of very experienced and talented field biologists and analysts focused on marine mammal and sea turtle conservation (see http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/). In the near future, the Branch is likely to expand its research efforts to include work on endangered and threatened fish, through incorporation of the Center?s Atlantic Salmon Research and Conservation Task (see http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/salmon/). The Center?s marine mammal, sea turtle, and diadromous fisheries scientists work on some of the most endangered marine species (Atlantic salmon and North Atlantic right whales); use cutting edge technologies and transform them to operational research and monitoring tools; lead international, national, and regional research programs; and collaborate with a large array of federal, state, tribal, academic, industry, and non-governmental organizations, as well as the international science community. This is an exciting time and place to work on protected marine species. The Branch Chief who oversees this work is a critical position for the Center, and we hope to attract a strong applicant pool of candidates with science-supervisory experience. To improve our chances of attracting strong applicants, we wanted to reach out broadly to let interested candidates know this opportunity is coming. Anyone interested should start preparing their materials at USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov). Once the job announcement is posted, there will likely be a 2 week or less application period, and we wanted interested candidates to have a little time in advance to start getting their USAJOBS resume, transcripts, etc. in order. We expect the announcement to post in the next few weeks. -- Mike Simpkins, Ph.D. Chief, Resource Evaluation and Assessment Division Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone: 508-495-2358 Fax: 508-495-2032 From jonathan.shannon at noaa.gov Fri Sep 25 08:27:58 2015 From: jonathan.shannon at noaa.gov (Jonathan Shannon - NOAA Federal) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:27:58 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New ArcGIS story map: Predicting Cetacean Density w/ Geospatial Models Message-ID: Greetings MARMAM, Please see below announcement on a new ArcGIS story map explaining how government agencies and academic institutions work together to create marine mammal models for ocean planning applications. *??Story Map Explains Creation of Marine Mammal Models for Ocean Planning Applications* A new story map on MarineCadastre.gov, Predicting Cetacean Density with Geospatial Models , describes how scientists use data collected by NOAA, state agencies, and academic institutions to produce detailed maps of cetacean distributions. This involved analyzing how sightings of cetaceans relate to environmental conditions such as water temperature and ocean currents to better understand where these animals may be found in areas which had no sightings. This story map translates how the data was modeled in a way managers can understand so they can more easily use this valuable information for ocean planning applications. Providing scientists and managers with critical information on mammal presence, distribution, and behavior is vital to understand the potential effects of offshore energy activities, mitigate the likelihood of ship strikes, and evaluate acoustic impacts of offshore construction and seismic testing. For more information, contact Mark.Finkbeiner at noaa.gov. Best regards, Jonathan Shannon *Outreach Specialist* NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources U.S. Department of Commerce Office: 301-427-8431 jonathan.shannon at noaa.gov *Webhttp://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/ Facebookwww.facebook.com/noaafisheries Twitterwww.twitter.com/noaafisherie sYouTubewww.youtube.com/usnoaafisheriesgov The views expressed in this message are my own and do not necessarily reflect any position of NOAA, the Department of Commerce, or the government of the United States.* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jason.roberts at duke.edu Fri Sep 25 11:18:11 2015 From: jason.roberts at duke.edu (Jason Roberts) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 18:18:11 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Reminder: Workshop: Spatial models for distance sampling data using R and ArcGIS, October 2015, Duke University Message-ID: There are still some seats available for our upcoming workshop: On 27-30 October 2015 Duke Environmental Leadership program in collaboration with the University of St Andrews will offer a workshop on spatial modelling methods for distance sampling line transect data. The workshop will cover: the basics of organizing survey data in ArcGIS using the MGET toolbox, developed at the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke; followed by building and evaluating spatially explicit models of abundance (using environmental predictors) in R, using packages developed at the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, St Andrews. The aim will be to demonstrate an end-to-end workflow for spatial modelling of distance sampling data, and illustrate the underlying theory behind both spatial modelling using generalized additive models and distance sampling (we will focus on the "density surface modelling" approach). The course is intended for graduate students/postdocs/faculty in applied ecology, government/industry scientists and wildlife managers interested in developing spatially explicit models of abundance. Prior knowledge of R and ArcGIS will be highly advantageous, as is a quantitative background. The course will be taught by David L Miller (St Andrews), Jason J Roberts (Duke) and Eric Rexstad (St Andrews), at the Duke campus in Durham, NC, USA. The deadline for registration is 12 October 2015. Detailed information on the course content and registration can be found at https://nicholas.duke.edu/del/distance. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions not covered there. Best regards, Jason Roberts (jason.roberts at duke.edu) From kurousagi0914 at gmail.com Thu Sep 24 23:52:25 2015 From: kurousagi0914 at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?5bGx5pys55+l6YeM?=) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 15:52:25 +0900 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Post-conflict affiliation as conflict management in captive bottlenose dolphins Message-ID: Dear. all I'm pleased to announce the following paper on post-conflict affiliation in bottlenose dolphins Yamamoto C., Morisaka T., Furuta K., Ishibashi T., Yoshida A., Taki M., Mori Y., Amano M. Post-conflict affiliation as conflict management in captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Scientific reports 5. [Abstract] Post-conflict affiliation between former opponents or between one of the former opponents and bystanders might have the function of conflict management, which reduces the costs associated with aggressions. One of the suggested functions of post-conflict affiliation is decreased renewed aggressions directed from aggressors to victims. However, the effect of post-conflict affiliation on renewed aggressions by victims has not been investigated. We examined whether post-conflict affiliations decreased the number of renewed aggressions initiated by winners or losers in captive bottlenose dolphins. Both winners and losers initiated renewed aggressions. However, these aggressions decreased after post-conflict affiliation between former opponents, initiated by bystanders to winners, initiated by losers to bystanders, and initiated by bystanders to losers. Post-conflict affiliation between former opponents is suggested to function as reconciliation. Post?conflict affiliation initiated by losers to bystanders is suggested to function as the protection of losers. Post-conflict affiliations initiated by bystanders to one of former opponents are suggested to function as both appeasement and protection of the opponent who affiliates with bystanders. This is an open-access and everyone can download this paper from the following site: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep14275 Please email me at "kurousagi0914 at gmail.com" if you have any trouble to download it. All the best, Chisato Yamamoto -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ??????????????????? ???????? ???? kurousagi0914 at gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Chisato Yamamoto Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University E-mail: kurousagi0914 at gmail.com From kmatassa at pacificmmc.org Fri Sep 25 10:48:04 2015 From: kmatassa at pacificmmc.org (Keith Matassa) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 17:48:04 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Position- Animal Care Supervisor Pacific Marine Mammal Center Message-ID: Please Post Position Announcement: Full Time Animal Care Supervisor- Pacific Marine Mammal Center The Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Laguna Beach, CA, is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a position of full time (40hr)benefited position of Animal Care Supervisor. The successful candidate will work closely in a team setting with the other staff to assist with all aspects of veterinary care and husbandry of sick and injured marine mammals that are rehabilitated at PMMC, and help train and oversee volunteers in all aspects of animal care. RESPONSIBILITIES: Husbandry of marine animals, maintenance of daily food and medical records, supervision and training of volunteers, preparation and presentation of training sessions for volunteers, analysis of water samples, shipping and logging of biological samples, assistance to Veterinarian, Animal Care Director, and other staff with daily animal medical regimes, shared coverage of stranding phone, entry of computer data, and other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: A BS in Biology (or a related discipline) or a Veterinary Technician Certificate and a minimum of 5 yrs experience working with marine mammals in a captive environment are required. Additional laboratory or veterinary technician experience is preferred. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a team, supervise volunteers, and be adept at both animal husbandry and medical procedures associated with sick and injured marine mammals. Candidates must also be able to work with, handle, and restrain animals ranging in size from 15- 500 lbs. For general information on the facility, please go to PMMC's website http://www.pacificmmc.org Applications should include a cover letter and resume, and be submitted to: Michele Hunter, PMMC, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach CA, 92651, or email applications to mhunter at pacificmmc.org. No phone calls please. Review of applications will begin on October 1st, 2015 and continue until the position is filled. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. Keith A. Matassa Executive Director Pacific Marine Mammal Center | 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-494-3050, Extension #202 (p) | 949-494-2802 (f) | www.pacificmmc.org [PMMCNewLogo2012Reduced] The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates, releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education and collaboration. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2641 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From atonay at istanbul.edu.tr Tue Sep 29 02:23:57 2015 From: atonay at istanbul.edu.tr (Arda M. Tonay) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 12:23:57 +0300 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on stomach contents of striped dolphins in the eastern Med. Message-ID: <003701d0fa98$97f36c70$c7da4550$@istanbul.edu.tr> Dear All, Apologies for cross posting. We would like to inform you that the new paper on stomach contents of striped dolphins has been published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. The pdf copy is available online via the following link. Dede, A., Salman, A., Tonay, A.M. 2015. Stomach contents of by-caught striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. doi:10.1017/S0025315415001538 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315415001538 Abstract Stomach contents of six striped dolphins taken as by-catch in the swordfish fishery in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the Turkish coast were examined. In total, 29 taxa were identified to species or family and 1777 individual food items (1394 bony fishes, 289 cephalopods, 94 crustaceans) were counted. Diaphus spp. and Ceratoscopelus maderensis were the most remarkable ones, as they accounted for 70.45% of the total number of fishes. Onychoteuthis banksii, on the other hand, was the only cephalopod species found in all stomach content analyses and represented 38.06% of the total number of cephalopods. Bony fish species: Myctophum punctatum, Notoscopelus elongatus, Electrona risso, Sudis hyalina, Moridae sp., Phycidae sp., Sternoptychidae sp. and cephalopods: Pterygioteuthis giardi and Chtenopteryx sicula were reported the first time in the stomach contents of striped dolphin in the Mediterranean Sea. Alternatively, pdf requests can be sent to atonay at istanbul.edu.tr Regards Arda Arda M. TONAY Ph.D Faculty of Fisheries, ?stanbul University Marine Biology Dep. Ordu Cad. No:200 Laleli, 34480 ?stanbul, Turkey Tel: ?+90 212 455 5700/16434 Fax: +90 212 514 0379 atonay at istanbul.edu.tr http://suurunleri.istanbul.edu.tr/ Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) P.O. Box 10 Beykoz, ?stanbul, Turkey Tel: +90 216 424 0772 Fax: +90 216 424 0771 Bu elektronik posta ve beraberinde iletilen butun dosyalar sadece gondericisi tarafindan alinmasi amaclanan yetkili gercek ya da tuzel kisinin kullanimi icindir.Eger soz konusu yetkili alici degilseniz bu elektronik postanin icerigini aciklamaniz, kopyalamaniz, yonlendirmeniz ve kullanmaniz kesinlikle yasaktir ve bu elektronik postayi derhal silmeniz gerekmektedir. ISTANBUL UNIVERSITESI bu mesajin icerdigi bilgilerin dogrulugu veya eksiksiz oldugu konusunda herhangi bir garanti vermemektedir. Bu nedenle bu bilgilerin ne sekilde olursa olsun iceriginden, iletilmesinden, alinmasindan ve saklanmasindan sorumlu degildir. Bu mesajdaki gorusler yalnizca gonderen kisiye aittir ve ISTANBUL UNIVERSITESI'nin goruslerini yansitmayabilir. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, forwarding, copying or use of any of the information is strictly prohibited, and the e-mail should immediately be deleted. ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this message and hereby excludes any liability of any kind for the information contained therein or for the information transmission, reception, storage or use of such in any way whatsoever.The opinions expressed in this message may belong to sender alone and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bsharp at ifaw.org Mon Sep 28 11:10:29 2015 From: bsharp at ifaw.org (Sharp, Brian) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:10:29 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Mass Stranding Workshop at the 2015 SMM Biennial - early registration ends Wednesday Message-ID: Early bird registration for the 21st Biennial Conference of the Society for Marine Mammalogy ends this Wednesday, September 30th. Now is the time to take advantage of the discounted rate and sign up for pre-conference workshops. https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/conference-registration/ When you do, consider attending the Mass Stranding Response and Investigation Workshop to be held on Sunday, December 13th . This full-day workshop is designed specifically for individuals who participate in mass stranding response or related research, and those individuals that are tasked with management and policy decisions regarding mass strandings. The workshop will incorporate invited speakers and open round table discussions throughout the full day session. An overarching goal of the workshop will be to increase ongoing communication between agencies and individuals throughout the world that participate in mass stranding response and investigation. Presentations and discussions will address a number of topics including elements such as data collection, response protocols, and human safety guidelines, while simultaneously including the underlying theme of the role of animal welfare in response efforts. Workshop Objectives: * Improve mass stranding response globally through data and experience sharing * Introduce and invite participation in the Mass Stranding Google Site * Present a summary and related action items resulting from the IWC workshop on mass strandings as relevant to international responders, managers, industry representatives and researchers * Discuss the use of common language and definitions * Discuss opportunities for shared resources in mass stranding response * Compile and disseminate data and protocols relating to mass stranding prevention and mitigation * Identify emerging trends in mass stranding events * Share approaches to response and new equipment to aid in response efficiency and welfare We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco. -Brian Brian Sharp Program Manager | Marine Mammal Rescue and Research ___________________________________________________________ IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare 290 Summer Street - Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 tel. 1.508.744.2273 email. bsharp at ifaw.org cel. 1.774.836.6169 Stranding Hotline: 1.508.743.9548 Saving Animals in Crisis Around the World www.ifaw.org The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From krista.rankmore at gmail.com Sun Sep 27 09:32:15 2015 From: krista.rankmore at gmail.com (Krista Rankmore) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2015 05:32:15 +1300 Subject: [MARMAM] COMMON DOLPHIN PHOTO-ID VOLUNTEER POSITION IN THE HAURAKI GULF, NEW ZEALAND Message-ID: *COMMON DOLPHIN PHOTO-ID VOLUNTEER POSITION IN THE HAURAKI GULF, NEW ZEALAND* A volunteer is required to assist with a PhD study investigating the abundance, social structure and site fidelity of common dolphins ( *Delphinus* sp.) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. This PhD project is part of the ongoing research of the New Zealand Common Dolphin Project (NZCDP) and the Coastal-Marine Research Group (C-MRG) at Massey University Albany, Auckland (http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz ). PROJECT BACKGROUND: The Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, is an important habitat for common dolphins that occur in the Gulf year round and use the region extensively for foraging and nursing. Common dolphins in this region consistently utilise inhabit coastal waters, making them vulnerable to the effect of tourism, pollution, and inshore recreational bycatch. DATES: Volunteers are needed from October 2015 to February 2016, and a minimum commitment of one month is required (priority will be given to those who can commit for longer periods). LOCATION: Auckland, New Zealand RESPONSIBILITIES: ? The volunteer position primarily involves analysing photo-id data (in particular dorsal fin pigmentation) from multiple regions around New Zealand to assess movement patterns and site fidelity of common dolphins in New Zealand waters. Volunteers should be prepared to work long days in the office analysing of photographs and matching them with the photo-id catalogue. ? There will also be opportunities to participate in opportunistic marine mammal field work from tour-platform in the Hauraki Gulf. As this is a volunteer position, there is unfortunately no monetary compensation or living provisions. The volunteer would therefore need to arrange their own accommodation in Auckland, living expenses, travel costs and visa. QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will have a mature and independent attitude towards marine mammal research, and have a willingness to learn photo-id techniques. Previous experience in photo-id would be advantageous. The project is well suited to upper level undergrads, recent grads and graduate students who are interested in learning about photo-id. APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants should send a short email to k.rankmore at massey.ac.nz, using ?photo-id? as the subject line. The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this project, the dates when you are available to assist on the project, your qualifications and relevant experience. Please also attach a brief CV including at least one reference acknowledging your relevant experience. Kind regards, Krista Hupman PhD Candidate Coastal-Marine Research Group Institute of Natural Sciences Massey University -- ------------------------------------- Krista Hupman (nee Rankmore) PhD Student Coastal-Marine Research Group Institute of Natural Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 North Shore City 0745 Auckland New Zealand Tel: +64 (0) 9 414 0800 EXT 41196 Mob: +64 (0) 22 025 6290 Fax: +64 (9) 443 9790 Email: krista.rankmore at gmail.com http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From matthew.schlesinger at dec.ny.gov Mon Sep 28 11:06:10 2015 From: matthew.schlesinger at dec.ny.gov (Schlesinger, Matthew D (DEC)) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:06:10 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Whale monitoring position at NY Natural Heritage Program Message-ID: The New York Natural Heritage Program is hiring a Marine Zoologist to oversee whale monitoring efforts in the New York Bight. The position will be based in East Setauket, NY. We will begin reviewing applications on October 26, 2015. Please see the official posting here: https://esf.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=64135 Thank you, Matt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Matthew D. Schlesinger, Ph.D. Chief Zoologist, New York Natural Heritage Program Adjunct Assistant Professor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-4757 Office: (518) 402-8939, Cell: (518) 478-5261 NEW EMAIL: matthew.schlesinger at dec.ny.gov www.nynhp.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From N.Stephens at murdoch.edu.au Mon Sep 28 17:15:29 2015 From: N.Stephens at murdoch.edu.au (Nahiid Stephens) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 00:15:29 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Honours opportunity in dolphin health/molecular biology available in Western Australia Message-ID: Dear MARMAM members - We are looking for a full-time Honours student (with an undergraduate degree in either Biomedical or Veterinary Science or similar BSc; as well as familiarity and/or experience with PCR-based molecular techniques) to start in January 2016 at Murdoch University (Perth, Western Australia). The project title is "Identification and characterisation of viruses associated with genital mucosal lesions in a bottlenose (Tursiops sp) dolphin from Western Australia," and the project objectives are: * Develop expertise in PCR and gene/genome sequencing. * Identification, sequencing and genomic characterisation of any herpesviruses, papillomaviruses and/or novel viruses that may be present. * Conduct phylogenetic analyses of any viruses found. The project description can be viewed at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/School-of-Veterinary-and-Life-Sciences/Our-courses/Honours/Honours-opportunities/ (under the Veterinary Biology discipline heading). Potential candidates can contact me by email (see details below) regarding eligibility. Best Wishes - Nahiid Stephens. Nahiid Stephens BSc BVMS (Hons) MANZCVSc (VetPath) Lecturer in Pathology School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University Murdoch WA 6150 Phone: +61 8 9360 2666 Email: N.Stephens at murdoch.edu.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From YamatoM at si.edu Mon Sep 28 11:35:04 2015 From: YamatoM at si.edu (Yamato, Maya) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:35:04 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Whales can survive traumatic injury to the ears Message-ID: <3C0D90F983FB4B499AAA3054EC76FF22335D61E3@SI-MSEDAG02.US.SINET.SI.EDU> Dear Colleagues, We would like to share our new paper about ear bone injuries in cetaceans: Yamato, M., Khidas, K., Pyenson, N. D., Fordyce, R. E. and Mead, J. G. (2015), Extensively remodeled, fractured cetacean tympanic bullae show that whales can survive traumatic injury to the ears. Journal of Anatomy. doi: 10.1111/joa.12385 Abstract: Underwater human activities and anthropogenic noise in our oceans may be a major source of habitat degradation for marine life. This issue was highlighted by the opening of the United States Eastern Seaboard for seismic oil and gas exploration in 2014, which generated massive media coverage and widespread concern that seismic surveys could kill or deafen whales. We discovered 11 new specimens of fractured and healed cetacean ear bones, out of a survey of 2127 specimens housed in museum collections. This rare condition has been previously reported only in two specimens of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) from the early 1900s, summarized by Fraser & Purves (1953). All of our new specimens are represented by species for which this condition had never been reported previously, including both baleen and toothed whales. The baleen whale specimens (Balaenoptera physalus, Balaenoptera borealis, Balaenoptera acutorostrata) were collected during Canadian commercial whaling operations in the Atlantic Ocean in the 1970s; the specimens include ear bones with well-healed fractures, demonstrating that baleen whales are capable of overcoming traumatic injury to the ears. The toothed whale specimens (Delphinus sp., Berardius bairdii) were found dead on beaches in 1972 and 2001, respectively, with less remodeled fractures. Thus, ear injuries may be more lethal to the echolocating toothed whales, which rely on hearing for navigation and foraging. We explore several hypotheses regarding how these injuries could have occurred, and conclude that the most parsimonious explanations appear to be both direct and indirect effects of lytic processes from disease or calcium depletion, or damage from external pressure waves. Although further research is required to confirm whether the fractures resulted from natural or human-induced events, this study underscores the importance of museum collections and the work of stranding networks in understanding the potential effects of modern human activities on marine mammal health. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joa.12385/abstract If you are unable to download the article, please email me for a PDF at yamatom at si.edu. All the best, Maya -- Maya Yamato, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History yamatom at si.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lklifeart at sbcglobal.net Tue Sep 29 09:28:35 2015 From: lklifeart at sbcglobal.net (Lynette Koftinow) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:28:35 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] Posting for SF Bay American Cetacean Society Student Research Grants In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <680460807.2617152.1443544115825.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> ??? Dear colleagues, The American Cetacean Society-San Francisco Bay Chapter (ACS-SF Bay) would like to encourage students to apply for our upcoming 2015 Student Research Grants.? ACS - SF BAY Guidelines for Student Research Grant: The San Francisco Bay American Cetacean Society?chapter?Grants-in-Aid of Research fund offers small?research grants for direct costs of scientific, field-based projects?focusing on cetaceans. The Society invites proposals from all?cetacean-related disciplines, including the social sciences, which focus?on cetaceans and/or their habitats.? SF Bay ACS?chapter?particularly welcomes?applications from early-career researchers such as graduate students and?researchers with less than 10 years? post-doctoral experience,?and?researchers whose work focuses on small cetaceans in Northern?California, with emphasis in the Bay Area. The SF Bay American Cetacean Society chapter has a long-standing commitment to providing?young scientists with ?seed money? for research projects in?cetacean-related disciplines.?? Currently,?SF Bay?ACS?chapter?grant awards range from $500?to $1,000; the Society highly encourages funds to be used in a ?match??program to maximize funding potential. Funding is available to applicants who are themselves active (dues-paying)?SF Bay?ACS?chapter?members or whose faculty?advisers?are active members.?SF Bay?ACS?chapter?funds are?intended to strengthen conservation efforts through applied field-based?research and opportunities outside of the laboratory.? Funds may not be?used for salaries, stipends, honoraria,?or other compensatory expenses. The National?American Cetacean Society?and other chapters of ACS also participate in grant-making?initiatives and will also submit Request For Proposals (RFPs) coincident?with their funding cycles.? For information about specific chapters and?their grant-making programs, please visit the Chapter page of the National?American Cetacean Society?website:?www. acsonline.org. Proposals should include: 1.? Application cover sheet, with title of proposal, field research group,?contact information (email, phone and departmental contacts) for the faculty lead or principle investigator (PI), second PI (if applicable) and?any proposed graduate student participant list (with contact information). 2.? A brief narrative (1-2 pages, single-spaced) describing the research?program, overall purpose, specific research objectives/questions, study timeline and benchmarks, significance of the research in advancing our?understanding the biology and conservation of cetaceans and/or their habitats, and how the research can or does advance conservation efforts?aimed at a particular taxa, species, or habitat. 3.? An itemized, one-year budget, including estimated costs for supplies,equipment, travel, etc. Costs should be kept reasonable. A budget justification should be included.? Budget should not exceed requested?funding amount; however, details of additional funding sources supporting the research and how those funds will be used are helpful in evaluating?applications. 4.? Curriculum Vitae (CV) for each principle investigator. The application deadline for the 2015?San Francisco Bay?American Cetacean Society chapter Small?Grants-in-Aid of Research Program is Friday, November 6th, 2015. Funding?is limited and proposals will be peer-reviewed for scientific rigor,?conservation benefit and cost effectiveness. Awards will be announced on Monday, November 23, 2015.?? Applications should?be sent by email to?Lynette R. Koftinow President San Francisco Bay?American Cetacean Society chapter?@?acs.sfbay at gmail.com. ?Questions regarding the program may also be?directed to her. Respectfully, Lynette R. Koftinow President San Francisco Bay American Cetacean Society (415) 937-0641?(office) acs.sfbay at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From 1mmcgowen1 at gmail.com Wed Sep 30 01:53:25 2015 From: 1mmcgowen1 at gmail.com (Michael McGowen) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2015 09:53:25 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New Paper: A phylogenomic analysis of the role and timing of molecular adaptation in the aquatic transition of cetartiodactyl mammals In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Our new paper is now available online: 'A phylogenomic analysis of the role and timing of molecular adaptation in the aquatic transition of cetartiodactyl mammals? in Royal Society Open Science http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/2/9/150156 Abstract Recent studies have reported multiple cases of molecular adaptation in cetaceans related to their aquatic abilities. However, none of these has included the hippopotamus, precluding an understanding of whether molecular adaptations in cetaceans occurred before or after they split from their semi-aquatic sister taxa. Here, we obtained new transcriptomes from the hippopotamus and humpback whale, and analysed these together with available data from eight other cetaceans. We identified more than 11?000 orthologous genes and compiled a genome-wide dataset of 6845 coding DNA sequences among 23 mammals, to our knowledge the largest phylogenomic dataset to date for cetaceans. We found positive selection in nine genes on the branch leading to the common ancestor of hippopotamus and whales, and 461 genes in cetaceans compared to 64 in hippopotamus. Functional annotation revealed adaptations in diverse processes, including lipid metabolism, hypoxia, muscle and brain function. By combining these findings with data on protein?protein interactions, we found evidence suggesting clustering among gene products relating to nervous and muscular systems in cetaceans. We found little support for shared ancestral adaptations in the two taxa; most molecular adaptations in extant cetaceans occurred after their split with hippopotamids. Michael R. McGowen, PhD Royal Society Newton International Fellow School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary, University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS United Kingdom +44 (0)20 78823622 1mmcgowen1 at gmail.com m.mcgowen at qmul.ac.uk https://evolve.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/rossiter/people/michael-mcgowen/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Jack.Lawson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Wed Sep 30 04:56:37 2015 From: Jack.Lawson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Lawson, Jack) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2015 09:26:37 -0230 Subject: [MARMAM] Last Day for Early Bird Registration for the Workshop - Unmanned Aerial Systems: Powerful and Cost-Effective Tools for Marine Science and Conservation Message-ID: <1257AF89E3C565479D0453323BAA98A22BA8BB@SVNLNEWEX01.ENT.dfo-mpo.ca> Good morning everyone, As many of you already know, we are organizing a workshop on hardware, applications, and issues associated with using unmanned aerial systems (UAS) at the Biennial conference in San Francisco. UAS offer a very capable and dynamic platform to study a growing variety of marine issues, and marine mammal researchers have been quick to seize new opportunities to utilize autonomous or remotely-controlled platforms in their research. While opening up new avenues for our studies, this hardware is evolving quickly, and faces varied (and at times unpredictable) regulatory regimes. This workshop will offer attendees the opportunity to learn what others have been doing with UAS systems, where UAS development is headed in the (near) future, and what regulations we are, or might, face in different countries and contexts. Not to mention we will see some amazing marine mammal and sea turtle imagery from vantage points heretofore unavailable to researchers! If you are attending the conference please consider participating in this workshop. It has proven to be one of the most popular workshops by number of early bird registrants, and we were able to secure a larger room to accommodate all those interested so far (but hurry, there is a limit to how many we can accommodate!): Title: Unmanned Aerial Systems: Powerful and Cost-Effective Tools for Marine Science and Conservation Overview: The intent of this workshop is to review the state-of-the-art for regulations, hardware, software, and data management in studies of marine species using various types of remotely-controlled or autonomous aerial platforms. Date/Time: Sunday, December 13, 2015; 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Organizers and contact emails: Dave Johnston (david.johnston at duke.edu), Eric A. Ramos (eramos at gradcenter.cuny.edu), Laura May-Collado (lmaycollado at gmail.com), Jack Lawson (jack.lawson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Diana Reiss (dlr28 at columbia.edu), Marcelo O. Magnasco (mgnsclb at mail.rockefeller.edu) General Description and Agenda: The intent of this workshop is to review the state-of-the-art for regulations, hardware, software, and data management in studies of marine mammals using various types of remotely-controlled platforms. In this full-day meeting we will present and discuss four main topics: (1) regulatory updates (U.S., Canada, Europe, Others) - an overview of existing and proposed operating regulations, legal initiatives, and outstanding issues - including permitting. No-fly zones and software/hardware solutions to automate Class A and B airspace protection. "Common sense" operational guidelines. (2) Brief presentations on emerging applications; coupled with discussions on sensors. (3) platform features, uses, costs, and limits - a discussion, highlighted by specific examples, of each type of platform detailing its demonstrated applications, advantages, limits, and future. We would include fixed-wing and rotary-winged UAVs. (4) workflow, data management, and operational best practices - a discussion, highlighted by specific examples, of how best to utilize these platforms and integrate multiple data flows (e.g., video, imagery, GPS, topographic information) for post-operation analyses. In addition to a number of presentations, a product from this workshop will be a "best practices guide" manuscript to submit to Marine Mammal Science, plus a detailed list of UAS operators and developers around the world. We are currently finalizing the agenda, and will forward this to participants in the near future. Cost: $80 (Early Bird); $90 (After September 30, 2015) You can follow a link to register for this, and other, workshops: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/ On behalf of this workshop's organizers, we look forward to seeing participants at the Biennial, and this excting workshop! Dr. Jack Lawson Research Scientist / Chercheur scientifique Marine Mammals Section / Section de mammif?res marins Fisheries and Oceans Canada / P?ches et Oc?ans Canada NAFC, 80 East White Hills Rd. St. John's, NL / Terre-Neuve et Labrador Canada A1C 5X1 (709) 772-2285 (709) 772-4105 (FAX) jack.lawson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mbearzi at earthlink.net Tue Sep 29 17:34:51 2015 From: mbearzi at earthlink.net (Maddalena Bearzi) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:34:51 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] NEW PAPER: Effects of Ocean Recreational Users on Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins Message-ID: We are pleased to announce the publication of our paper: Fandel, A. Bearzi, M. & T. Cook. 2015. Effects of Ocean Recreational Users on Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Santa Monica Bay, California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 114(2): 63-75 Abstract.?Coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have been observed in proximity to swimmers, kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders and surfers along near- shore corridors in the Santa Monica Bay, California. >From 1997 to 2012, a total of 220 coastal boat-based focal follows of dolphin schools were conducted in this area to determine a) the type and proximity of encounters between ocean recreational users and coastal dolphins, and b) the effects of these encounters on bottlenose dolphins? behavior. The majority of encounters involved dolphins and surfers (77.93%, n=145 encounters), and overall, neutral reactions were observed in response to encounters (61.93%, n=176 behavioral responses). Interactions between bottlenose dolphins and recreational users were recorded only once, and changes in dolphin behavior were observed more frequently when recreational users were at distances of less than three meters from a school. Although the current impact of human activities on coastal bottlenose dolphin behavior does not appear to be significant in the Santa Monica Bay, there is a need to: 1) adopt a precautionary approach in view of the increasing presence of ocean recreational users along this coastline, and 2) regularly monitor these encounters to determine potential changes in the type and proximity of encounters, as well as changes in dolphin behavioral responses. This paper is available at: http://scholar.oxy.edu/scas/vol114/iss2/1/ Best Regards, Amber Fandel, Maddalena Bearzi & Taylor Cook For more info, contact: Maddalena Bearzi, Ph.D. Ocean Conservation Society, President po box 12860 marina del rey, ca 90295 usa 310.822.5205 mbearzi at earthlink.net www.oceanconservation.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 42B03D45-1A03-436A-82AD-2168EE01AD9C[7].png Type: image/png Size: 8325 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 1786C38D-FFAD-4B51-A667-6B0CB3C8DFAE[9].png Type: image/png Size: 1593 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: 5E51BD13-CA15-468A-929E-85D013350ADE[9].png Type: image/png Size: 4820 bytes Desc: not available URL: From s.monteiro at ua.pt Tue Sep 29 08:38:15 2015 From: s.monteiro at ua.pt (=?iso-8859-1?Q?S=EDlvia_Monteiro?=) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:38:15 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on Long-finned pilot whale population diversity and structure in Atlantic waters Message-ID: Dear Marmam Readers, I am very pleased to announce the following publication: Monteiro SS, M?ndez-Fernandez P. Piertney S, Moffat C and others (2015). Long-finned pilot whale population diversity and structure in Atlantic waters assessed through biogeochemical and genetic markers. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 536:243-257. Abstract Integration of ecological and genetic approaches is a particularly powerful strategy to identify natural population diversity and structure over different timescales. To investigate the potential occurrence of population differentiation in long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas in the North Atlantic, both biogeochemical (fatty acids and stable isotopes) and genetic (mito - chondrial DNA) markers were analyzed in animals from 4 regions within the North Atlantic: the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, the United Kingdom, the Faroe Islands and the United States of America. Genetic data revealed strong regional levels of divergence, although analysis of molecular variance revealed no differentiation between the northeastern and northwestern Atlantic. Results from biogeochemical tracers supported previous dietary studies, revealing geographic and ontogenetic dietary variation in pilot whales. Fatty acids revealed ecological differentiation between all regions analyzed, while stable isotopes showed an overlap between some sampling regions. These results suggest that both ecological and genetic factors may drive the levels of pilot whale differentiation in the North Atlantic. The ecological differentiation observed may be related to the exploitation of different foraging niches (e.g. oceanic vs. coastal), which can be highly influenced by prey distributions or oceanographic phenomena. Genetic differentiation may result from historical or contemporary processes or even limited dispersal mediated through the social structure displayed by this species and potential foraging specialization. These results highlight some problems when assessing population structure across multiple markers and the ecological vs. evolutionary timescales over which differences may accumulate. Notwithstanding, the data provide preliminary information about pilot whale diversity and stocks in the North Atlantic, giving essential baseline information for conservation plans. For an early view of this paper, please visit: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v536/p243-257/ If you are unable to download the article, please contact me by email and I will be happy to send you a copy: s.monteiro at ua.pt Best wishes, Silvia Monteiro ---------------------------------------- Postdoctoral researcher CESAM (Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar) University of Aveiro Portugal Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem/Portuguese Wildlife Society University of Minho Portugal -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kris.Carlyon at dpipwe.tas.gov.au Wed Sep 30 19:52:18 2015 From: Kris.Carlyon at dpipwe.tas.gov.au (Carlyon, Kris (DPIPWE)) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2015 02:52:18 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] MARMAMM post - tagged fur seal Message-ID: <70FBFCA513CDFF4388B4604090270D3B3B5C64@EXM2-5.connect.tas.gov.au> G'day MARMAM, The attached photos show an emaciated and lethargic NZ fur seal (A. forsteri) that hauled out on the Tasmanian east coast on 14 Sep 2015, and unfortunately died a day later. You'll see it has a brown disk-shaped tag in the left flipper (number 148/13). Does anyone recognise this tag? Any information regarding the origin and date/location of tagging would be really appreciated. Many thanks, Dr Kris Carlyon MARINE CONSERVATION PROGRAM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BRANCH DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, PARKS, WATER and ENVIRONMENT Level 3, 134 Macquarie Street Hobart TAS l GPO Box 44 Hobart TAS 7001 Australia Ph: +61 3 6165 4324 | Mob: +61 419 376 061 | Whale Hotline: 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537) [MCP COLOUR] ________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER The information in this transmission may be confidential and/or protected by legal professional privilege, and is intended only for the person or persons to whom it is addressed. If you are not such a person, you are warned that any disclosure, copying or dissemination of the information is unauthorised. If you have received the transmission in error, please immediately contact this office by telephone, fax or email, to inform us of the error and to enable arrangements to be made for the destruction of the transmission, or its return at our cost. No liability is accepted for any unauthorised use of the information contained in this transmission. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4661 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Above1.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 130448 bytes Desc: Above1.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Tag 148 13 cropped.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1118857 bytes Desc: Tag 148 13 cropped.jpg URL: From pdoukakis at ucsd.edu Wed Sep 30 10:03:18 2015 From: pdoukakis at ucsd.edu (Doukakis, Phaedra) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2015 17:03:18 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Degree program at SIO Message-ID: <89CA9577CE90324980DF64F9D3DEFAF2733C8838@XMAIL-MBX-AC1.AD.UCSD.EDU> Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego announces a January 14, 2016 application deadline for the Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MAS MBC) program. The MAS MBC program equips students with the knowledge they need to improve conservation of marine biodiversity in the world's most diverse and threatened eco-regions. An innovative program curriculum focuses on development of local capacity and science-based management tools. This 12-month intensive master's program is geared toward early- to mid-career professionals interested in marine conservation careers. The multidisciplinary program will begin in June 2016 and includes courses in natural, social, and information sciences; marine policy, economics, and law; and training in important cultural and communications skills. Courses and fieldwork for the MAS MBC program are led by professors from the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (CMBC) at Scripps Oceanography and from a variety of top-ranked departments at UC San Diego, including the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies and the Department of Economics, as well as Communications, Visual Arts, and others. Government agencies such as NOAA?s Southwest Fisheries Science Center and non-government agencies enhance the program by providing special lectures and discussions. No more than 20 students are admitted to the program each year. For more information on the program and to access an online application, please visit: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/masters/mas/mbc Program Manager: Jane Weinzierl, (858) 822-2886, mbc at ucsd.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: