From nino.pierantonio at protonmail.com Tue Dec 1 03:20:49 2020 From: nino.pierantonio at protonmail.com (Nino Pierantonio) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:20:49 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: competition for food between dolphins and small pelagic fisheries in the North Aegean Sea Message-ID: Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are very pleased to share with you our most recent paper published in the Ocean and Coastal Management journal. The manuscript presents information on the competition for food between dolphins and fisheries of small pelagic fishes in North Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). The paper is freely available online for the next 50 days (until January 19, 2021) at https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1c9~M3RKK-nkh3. Feel free to read and share the paper with your colleagues and peers. Tsagarakis, K., Panigada, S., Machias, A., Giannoulaki, M., Foutsi, A., Pierantonio, N., & Paximadis, G. (2020). Trophic interactions in the ?small pelagic fish - dolphins - fisheries? triangle: Outputs of a modelling approach in the North Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean, Greece). Ocean & Coastal Management 105474. Abstract ? The aim of this work is to assess potential effects on dolphins caused by fishing Small Pelagic Fish (SPF) in the North Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean, Greece) ecosystem due to competition for food. To this end, an existing Ecopath ecosystem model was updated with dolphins' abundance estimates derived from a recent dedicated aerial survey. The approach included the quantification of trophic impacts and the estimation of the fraction of production of SPF that is consumed by dolphins and their main competitor, the purse seine (PS) fishery. Overall, competition for resources (i.e., SPF) between purse seines and dolphins was at relatively low levels as revealed by the analyses of flows in the "small pelagic fish - dolphins - fisheries" triangle, despite the relatively high abundance of dolphins in the NAS compared to adjacent areas. Specifically, the consumption of anchovy's production by dolphins was very low (3.6%) while consumption by the PS fleet was almost four times higher (13.1%). A much larger fraction (71.8%) of consumption of anchovy's production was attributed to other predators. The competition for sardine was at slightly higher levels than for anchovy (4.6% consumption by dolphins and 20.4% removals by the PS fleet). Even when different SPF abundance estimates were assumed to take into account uncertainty and historical records from acoustic surveys, food competition didn't seem to be an important issue. Nevertheless, as anchovy (and to a lower extent sardine) was found to be a key forage species in the North Aegean Sea ecosystem according to two food web indices (SURF and Connectance indices) estimated, special attention should be placed to ensure that the dolphins' populations are not threatened by food depletion in the future. Please feel free to email with any questions. On behalf of all authors, Nino -- Research Associate Tethys Research Institute www.tethys.org ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1210-8831 Mobile: +44 (0)7581737669 Phone: +44 (0)1249813815 Skype: pierantonio_nino -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: logo-Tehys-horizontal.png Type: image/png Size: 40140 bytes Desc: not available URL: From Nick.Davison at sac.co.uk Tue Dec 1 02:39:53 2020 From: Nick.Davison at sac.co.uk (Nicholas Davison) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2020 10:39:53 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?New_Publication_Neurobrucellosis_due_to_Brucel?= =?utf-8?q?la_ceti_ST26_in_three_Sowerby=E2=80=99s_beaked_whales_=28Mesopl?= =?utf-8?q?odon_bidens=29?= Message-ID: Dear MARMAM readers, we are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper online in the Journal of Comparative Pathology. Nicholas J Davison, Andrew Brownlow, Mariel ten Doeschate, Emma-Jane Dale, Geoffrey Foster, Jakub Muchowski, Lorraine L Perrett?, Mara Rocchi, Adrian M Whatmore and Mark P Dagleish. (2021) Neurobrucellosis due to Brucella ceti ST26 in Three Sowerby?s Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon bidens). Journal of Comparative Pathology 2021, Vol.182, 1-8 Summary Fatal meningoencephalitis due to Brucella ceti infection has been described in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus), short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), which are all within the family Delphinidae. We report B. ceti-associated neurobrucellosis in three juvenile male Sowerby?s beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens) that all had typical lesions of lymphocytic meningoencephalitis, which increased in severity from rostral to caudal regions of the brain. In two cases there was loss of ependymal cells lining the cerebral ventricular system, with large numbers of lymphocytes in the underlying neuropil. This finding suggests that B. ceti gains access to, and multiplies in, the cerebrospinal fluid, and confirms that this is the sample of choice for bacteriological recovery of the causative organism. These findings expand the increasing range of cetaceans susceptible to neurobrucellosis to members of the family Ziphiidae. The paper is available here https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1c7vD506oOYrV Kind Regards. Nick Davison MSc. Stranding Coordinator Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Northern Faculty, An L?chran, Inverness Campus, Inverness Scotland IV2 5NA +00 44 (0)1463 246043 +00 44 (0)7979245893 www.strandings.org Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. This e-mail message is confidential to the intended recipient at the email address to which it has been addressed. If the message has been received by you in error, it may not be disclosed to or used by anyone other than the intended addressee, nor may it be copied in any way. If it is not intended for you please inform us, immediately, then delete it from your system. If the content is not about the business of the organisation then the message is not from us nor is it sanctioned by us. Anything in this e-mail or its attachments which does not relate to SRUC's or SAC Commercial Limited's official business is neither given nor endorsed by SRUC or SAC Commercial Limited. SRUC A Charitable company limited by guarantee, Scottish Charity Number: SC003712. Registered in Scotland, Company Number: SC103046 - Registered Office: Peter Wilson Building, King?s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG SAC Commercial Limited, an SRUC company Registered in Scotland, Company Number: SC148684 - Registered Office: Peter Wilson Building, King?s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lizabeth.kashinsky at noaa.gov Tue Dec 1 13:58:02 2020 From: lizabeth.kashinsky at noaa.gov (Lizabeth Kashinsky - NOAA Affiliate) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2020 11:58:02 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Recruitment: Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program 2021 Seasonal Field Camp Positions - Closing date December 7, 2020 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) works with > the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center through a > cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii to conduct population > assessment and recovery activities on Hawaiian monk seals. JIMAR hires > program staff through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii > (RCUH) and is currently seeking applicants for *two separate > recruitments *for the 2021 field research season: > > > > *HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician-serves as field camp leader* > > *HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant-serves as assistant to field camp > leader* > > > > Selected individuals will study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands within Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National > Monument. This work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal > population monitoring and conservation program by NOAA Fisheries and > includes: conducting trend counts, tagging seals, identifying individual > seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks, > monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, > vaccinating against morbillivirus, performing necropsies, collecting scat & > spew samples for food habitat, parasite load, and hormonal analysis, > collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis, and removing debris capable of > entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data are also collected > at some sites. Researchers at some sites may participate in shark > mitigation activities. > > > > General information about the program can be found via the links below: > > > > http://www.conservationcompass.org/index.php/career-guidance/fantastic-field-camps-seals-turtles-talk-story > > https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal#science > > > The number of positions and/or continuation of the program are subject to > funding and program needs. These positions will be for all or a subset of > the 6 major monk seal sub-populations in the NWHI. Fieldwork is > accomplished by 2-4 member teams consisting of a leader and one or more > assistants in remote camps. Researchers live in either wall tents or > buildings at the various sites. All sites are accessible by ship (2-8 > day travel; 830-2,300 km from Honolulu), and one is also accessible by > plane. Few (if any) resupply opportunities exist and communication with > others outside of field sites is limited throughout deployment due to the > remoteness and lack of infrastructure. > > > The employment period is expected to include approximately one month of > training and packing in Honolulu. Once the field season is over, an > additional ~1-2 weeks of employment may take place in Honolulu to clean up > gear and summarize data. Dates are subject to change, but the positions > may begin as early as late February/early March or April with a field > deployment approximately 4-6 weeks after start dates. Field staff could be > deployed for approximately 4.5-5 months with a tentative return date in > early September. The position end date is expected to be 1-3 weeks upon > return from the field. Applicants must be flexible in their availability as > dates could change, including unforeseen delays such as inclement weather > or other hip delays. > > Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in > Honolulu before deployment are not provided. Transportation between > Honolulu and field sites and food and lodging costs during deployment and > in the field are covered by the program. Due to unforeseen circumstances, > departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result > in additional uncompensated living expenses. > > Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien, and must be > able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and > Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the work > location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel. > > > Instructions to apply for both positions are in the job postings below. *You > must clearly address all qualifications in your cover letter and resume. If > you do not clearly address all qualifications, we may not be able to > consider you as an applicant. *For example, to address the experience > qualification, you must indicate in your cover letter how many years of > field experience you have and be sure that is reflected in your resume. > > > > Interested individuals will need to apply directly to RCUH Human Resources > via one of the methods stated in the job posting. Applications for both > positions must be submitted/received by the* closing date on > 12/7/2020 (11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time receipt time). * If you do not > have access to the RCUH system and the closing date is imminent, you may > send additional documents to rcuh_employment at rcuh.com. If you have > questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call > (808)956-8344 or (808)956-0872. Follow the link below to access both > recruitments. *If applying for both positions, you must do so > separately. * > > > > > > JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician (leader) ? search job ID > # 220543 > > > > JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant - search Job ID #220542 > > > https://hcmweb.rcuh.com/psc/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant > > -- > Lizabeth Kashinsky (she/her) > *JIMAR Program Supervisor* > Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program > > *Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center * > > NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce > > 1845 Wasp Blvd, Building 176 > Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 > > Office: (808) 725-5719 > > Mobile: (808) 285-4578 > > www.fisheries.noaa.gov > > > > > -- Lizabeth Kashinsky (she/her) *JIMAR Program Supervisor* Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program *Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center * NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce 1845 Wasp Blvd, Building 176 Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 Office: (808) 725-5719 Mobile: (808) 285-4578 www.fisheries.noaa.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From info at smruconsulting.com Tue Dec 1 01:25:17 2020 From: info at smruconsulting.com (SMRU Consulting Info) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2020 09:25:17 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Job vacancy: statistical consultant Message-ID: Dear Marmam, We are looking for a statistical consultant to support both the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) and SMRU Consulting (SMRUC). Possible areas of statistical application that we anticipate being important include assessment of impact, design of survey and monitoring schemes and density and abundance estimation. We welcome applications from candidates with a PhD in Statistics or a closely-related discipline, or with a Masters level qualification and PhD-equivalent experience in industry or academia, ideally in a consultancy role. Please see here for full details: https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/J/2325/19/283224/889/statistical-consultant-ar2369rnb Closing Date: 5 January 2021 Start date: March 2021 We look forward to receiving your applications. CREEM: https://www.creem.st-andrews.ac.uk/ SMRU Consulting: http://www.smruconsulting.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fvisser at kelpmarineresearch.com Tue Dec 1 01:36:34 2020 From: fvisser at kelpmarineresearch.com (fvisser at kelpmarineresearch.com) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:36:34 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Postdoc position opening - cetacean foraging ecology In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6f3e8217187773eb392605743765460c@kelpmarineresearch.com> Dear Marmam, We are currently opening a position for a postdoc on marine predator-prey dynamics, with a focus on cetacean foraging ecology. The Royal NIOZ is looking for an excellent, highly motivated postdoc with a keen interest in marine foraging ecology and food web dynamics. The candidate will be working in a multidisciplinary research project driven by the NIOZ department of Coastal Systems and the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED, University of Amsterdam). The project aims to investigate the dynamics between cetacean predators and prey. This project will investigate the foraging strategy and target prey population of several cetaceans, off the Azores.In this multi-disciplinary project, we link expertise in animal movement, marine ecology and behavioural and social ecology. The study will be integrated in an existing long-term field study and NWO Veni Project, with field work taking place at the Azores (Portugal). For this project we seek an outstanding candidate with a special interest in predator-prey dynamics and marine foraging ecology, who combines strong analytical skills with excellent capability to conduct fieldwork in the marine environment. The candidate should have a PhD degree in the field of marine ecology/biology or animal behaviour and demonstrated strong ability in quantitative analysis of multivariate data sets, preferably echo sounder, acoustic and/or multi-sensor tag data. The candidate can handle the challenge of integrating data sets from a variety of sensors, and writing computer code (Matlab/R). The project requires a candidate with demonstrated proficiency in and experience with marine field research, including skills such as tracking/data collection, experiments, prey layer tracking. Furthermore, the candidate should have strong social skills, team-spirit, ability to supervise student teams, a strong work-ethic, ability to work independently and an intrinsic interest to explore new avenues of research. Good English oral and written skills are essential, knowledge of Dutch/Portuguese is a pre. We offer you a fulltime position for 2 years, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end bonus and flexible employment conditions. Our labour policies are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Research Centres (WVOI). Cost of relocation and help with housing is provided by the Royal NIOZ. The candidate will be employed by NIOZ. The work will be executed at NIOZ (Texel Island, the Netherlands) and University of Amsterdam. The full application can be viewed here: https://www.workingatnioz.com/our-jobs/postdoc-%E2%80%9Cpredator-prey-dynamics-in-the-open-ocean%E2%80%9D.html Closing date: January 6th. Interviews: week of January 18th For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Fleur Visser (f.visser at uva.nl). For additional information about the procedure, please contact Sigrid Moerbeek (senior HR advisor, NIOZ). Email: Sigrid.moerbeek at nioz.nl Best regards, Fleur Visser From elena.schall at awi.de Wed Dec 2 00:59:07 2020 From: elena.schall at awi.de (Elena Schall) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2020 09:59:07 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on spatial variabilities in humpback whale acoustic presence in the Southern Ocean Message-ID: We are pleased to announce our new paper in Royal Society Open Science on humpback whales in the Southern Ocean: *Large-scale spatial variabilities in the humpback whale acoustic presence in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean* Elena Schall, Karolin Thomisch, Olaf Boebel, Gabriele Gerlach, Stefanie Spiesecke and Ilse Van Opzeeland Southern Hemisphere humpback whales (/Megaptera novaeangliae/) inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems including both low- and high-latitude areas. Understanding the habitat selection of humpback whale populations is key for humpback whale stock management and general ecosystem management. In the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (/ASSO/), the investigation of baleen whale distribution by sighting surveys is temporally restricted to the austral summer. The implementation of autonomous passive acoustic monitoring, in turn, allows the study of vocal baleen whales year-round. This study describes the results of analysing passive acoustic data spanning 12 recording positions throughout the/ASSO/applying a combination of automatic and manual analysis methods to register humpback whale acoustic activity. Humpback whales were present at nine recording positions with higher acoustic activities towards lower latitudes and the eastern and western edges of the/ASSO/. During all months, except December (the month with the fewest recordings), humpback whale acoustic activity was registered in the/ASSO/. The acoustic presence of humpback whales at various locations in the/ASSO/confirms previous observations that part of the population remains in high-latitude waters beyond austral summer, presumably to feed. The spatial and temporal extent of humpback whale presence in the/ASSO/suggests that this area may be used by multiple humpback whale breeding populations as a feeding ground. The paper is available with open access under the following link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201347 Best regards, Elena Schall -- Elena Schall PhD Student Ocean Acoustics Lab Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Klu?mannstr. 3d 27570 Bremerhaven email: elena.schall at awi.de Phone: +49(471)4831-2157 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mjessopp at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 03:19:01 2020 From: mjessopp at gmail.com (Mark Jessopp) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:19:01 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] new paper on consumption of salmonids and monkfish by seals Message-ID: <63150641-A551-49A6-98C8-80A377A62FE0@gmail.com> Dear MARMAM, I?m pleased to share with you our recent paper available as early online view in Marine Mammal Science ?Genetic evidence for seasonal consumption of monkfish (Lophiusspp.) and salmonids (Salmo spp.) by gray seals? by Mette Schi?nning et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12768 Abstract Recoveries of gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) populations across their eastern Atlantic distribution have led to a steady increase in seal?fishery interactions. Fishers have estimated depredation of salmonids (Salmo spp.) and monkfish (Lophius spp.) as high as 40% and 59% respectively in Ireland. However, empirical evidence for the consumption of these species has been extremely limited due to diagnostic hard part remains not being found in scats or stomach samples. We applied species?specific primers and tested for the presence of monkfish and salmonids in gray seal diet genetically using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on scats. Monkfish occurred in 29.7% of sampled scats, while salmonids occurred in 12.7%. Seasonal and regional variability in occurrence were noted for both species, likely related to the migratory behavior of the prey species and proximity of seal haul?outs to aquaculture sites. Traditional hard part analysis of scats, including scats that tested positive for monkfish and salmonid DNA, failed to find any evidence of either species. This study provides important empirical evidence for the consumption of these species in Ireland that can inform management. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From joshua.reed at hdr.mq.edu.au Wed Dec 2 17:00:57 2020 From: joshua.reed at hdr.mq.edu.au (Joshua Reed (HDR)) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2020 01:00:57 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Publication: Extreme Effects of Extreme Disturbances: A Simulation Approach to Assess Population Specific Responses Message-ID: Dear MARMAN readers, We are pleased to announce our new publication in Frontiers in Marine Science. Reed J, Harcourt R, New L and Bilgmann K (2020) Extreme Effects of Extreme Disturbances: A Simulation Approach to Assess Population Specific Responses. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:519845. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.519845 Abstract: In South Australia, discrete populations of bottlenose dolphins inhabit two large gulfs, where key threats and population estimates have been identified. Climate change, habitat disturbance (shipping and noise pollution), fishery interactions and epizootic events have been identified as the key threats facing these populations. The Population Consequences of Disturbance (PCoD) framework has been developed to understand how disturbances can influence population dynamics. We used population estimates combined with population specific bioenergetics models to undertake a partial PCoD assessment, comparing how the two populations respond to the identified regional threats. Populations were modeled over a 5 year period looking at the influence of each disturbance separately. As expected, the most extreme epizootic and climate change disturbance scenarios with high frequency and intensity had the biggest influence on population trends. However, the magnitude of the effect differed by population, with Spencer Gulf showing a 43% and Gulf St Vincent a 23% decline under high frequency and high impact epizootic scenarios. Epizootic events were seen to have the strongest influence on population trends and reproductive parameters for both populations, followed by climate change. PCoD modeling provides insights into how disturbances may affect different populations and informs management on how to mitigate potential effects while there is still time to act. The paper is available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.519845 Kind Regards, Josh Reed PhD Candidate Marine Predator Research Group Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From emchuron at uw.edu Thu Dec 3 08:46:24 2020 From: emchuron at uw.edu (Elizabeth A McHuron) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2020 08:46:24 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New Publication: Fur seal consumption of commercially important prey Message-ID: Dear colleagues, My collaborators and I are excited to announce the publication of our new paper "Practical application of a bioenergetic model to inform management of a declining fur seal population and their commercially important prey" in Frontiers in Marine Science. The abstract is below and the full article is available open-access here . Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Happy Holidays! Liz McHuron *Abstract* Food availability is a key concern for the conservation of marine top predators, particularly during a time when they face a rapidly changing environment and continued pressure from commercial fishing activities. Northern fur seals (*Callorhinus ursinus*) breeding on the Pribilof Islands in the eastern Bering Sea have experienced an unexplained population decline since the late-1990s. Dietary overlap with a large U.S. fishery for walleye pollock (*Gadus chalcogrammus*) in combination with changes in maternal foraging behavior and pup growth has led to the hypothesis that food limitation may be contributing to the population decline. We developed age- and sex-specific bioenergetic models to estimate fur seal energy intake from May?December in six target years, which were combined with diet data to quantify prey consumption. There was considerable sex- and age-specific variation in energy intake because of differences in body size, energetic costs, and behavior; net energy intake was lowest for juveniles (18.9 MJ sea-day?1, 1,409.4 MJ season?1) and highest for adult males (66.0 MJ sea-day?1, 7,651.7 MJ season?1). Population-level prey consumption ranged from 255,232 t (222,159 ? 350,755 t, 95% CI) in 2006 to 500,039 t (453,720 ? 555,205 t) in 1996, with pollock comprising between 41.4 and 76.5% of this biomass. Interannual variation in size-specific pollock consumption appeared largely driven by the availability of juvenile fish, with up to 81.6% of pollock biomass coming from mature pollock in years of poor age-1 recruitment. Relationships among metabolic rates, trip durations, pup growth rates, and energy intake of lactating females suggest the most feasible mechanism to increase pup growth rates is by increasing foraging efficiency through reductions in maternal foraging effort, which is unlikely to occur without increases in localized prey density. By quantifying year-specific fur seal consumption of pollock, our study provides a pathway to incorporate fur seals into multispecies pollock stock assessment models, which is critical for fur seal and fishery management given they were a significant source of mortality for both juvenile and mature pollock. Elizabeth McHuron, PhD Research Scientist, UW CICOES -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JennaJ at vulcan.com Thu Dec 3 12:29:06 2020 From: JennaJ at vulcan.com (Jenna James) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2020 20:29:06 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Survey: Bioacoustics Workflows for Marine Mammal Researchers Message-ID: <6F1EE97A-EDCC-4E0A-845F-F750F7B98D54@vulcan.com> Hello! My name is Jenna. I am a User Experience Designer at Vulcan Inc., supporting a project on dolphin signature whistle annotation. I am interested in gathering more information and understanding about the marine mammal bioacoustics community, specifically acoustic dataset processes, and annotations. All information collected will be used for research purposes to help inform how we can best support this community. If you?re interested in participating, the survey should take around 10 minutes to complete, and here is the link. Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey. Your input is greatly appreciated! If you have any questions, please contact me at jennaj at vulcan.com Cheers, Jenna, User Experience Designer at Vulcan Inc. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From josephine.chazot at gmail.com Fri Dec 4 03:59:34 2020 From: josephine.chazot at gmail.com (Josephine Chazot) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2020 12:59:34 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper : Recommendations for Sustainable Cetacean-Based Tourism in French Territories: A Review on the Industry and Current Management Actions. Message-ID: My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper in Tourism in Marine Environments : *Recommendations for Sustainable Cetacean-Based Tourism in French Territories: A Review on the Industry and Current Management Actions.* Authors : Chazot, J., Hoarau, L., Carzon, P., Wagner, J., Sorby, S., Ratel, M., & Barcelo, A. Abstract : Whale-watching activities provide important socioeconomic benefits for local communities and constitute powerful platform incentives for marine mammals' protection or more broadly marine environments. However, these activities can cause adverse effects on targeted populations, with considerable downside associated risks of injuries and fatality for whale watchers during inwater interactions. France with its overseas territories has the second largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in which more than half of existing cetacean species are encountered. In these territories, recreational and commercial whale watching, including swim-with cetacean activities, have recently developed. Yet few studies focused on these activities and their associated impacts across French territories, leading to an unclear assessment of the situation. To address this issue, we reviewed cetaceans' occurrence within the French EEZ, whale-watching industry, targeted species, local management of marine mammal-based tourism activities, and regulations in France mainland and some overseas territories (Reunion Island, Mayotte, and French Polynesia). Forty Eight species are encountered in the French EEZ, and 15 are targeted by whale-watching activities. A total of 185 operators, including 34% offering swim-with-cetaceans tours, offered trips in France and overseas in 2019. While several more or less restrictive regulations exist locally, our results indicate that French's national legal framework for marine mammals' protection remains inadequate and insufficient to cope with the recent development of this activity. As conservation biologists, managers, and stakeholders from these French territories, we cooperated to provide general guidelines for a sustainable development of whale watching at a national scale. We urge (1) to legally acknowledge and regulate whale-watching commercial activities; (2) to create a national legal framework regarding whale watching and swim-with marine mammals practices, while accounting for local distinctiveness and disparities across regions; (3) to conduct more research to evaluate local short- and long-term impacts on targeted marine mammal populations as well as the socioeconomic benefits; and (4) to reinforce synergetic relations between the different stakeholders. The paper is available at: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tme/2020/00000015/f0020003/art00006 Thank You, Josephine Chazot -- josephine.chazot at gmail.com 06 12 08 57 12 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From L.L.IJsseldijk at uu.nl Mon Dec 7 04:37:00 2020 From: L.L.IJsseldijk at uu.nl (IJsseldijk, L.L. (Lonneke)) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 12:37:00 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New papers on harbor porpoises from the southern North Sea Message-ID: Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the two recent publications as part of the stranding research on harbor porpoises in the Netherlands: IJsseldijk, L.L., Scheidat, M., Siemensma, M., Couperus, B., Leopold, M., Morell, M., Gr?ne, A., and Kik, M.J.L. (2020) Challenges in the Assessment of Bycatch: Postmortem Findings in Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) Retrieved From Gillnets. Veterinary Pathology Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0300985820972454 Abstract: Bycatch is considered one of the most significant threats affecting cetaceans worldwide. In the North Sea, bottom-set gillnets are a specific risk for harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Methods to estimate bycatch rates include on-board observers, remote electronic monitoring, and fishermen voluntarily reporting; none of these are systematically conducted. Additionally, necropsies of stranded animals can provide insights into bycatch occurrence and health status of individuals. There are, however, uncertainties when it comes to the assessment of bycatch in stranded animals, mainly due to the lack of diagnostic tools specific for underwater entrapment. We conducted a literature review to establish criteria that aid in the assessment of bycatch in small cetaceans, and we tested which of these criteria applied to harbor porpoises retrieved from gillnets in the Netherlands (n ? 12). Twenty-five criteria were gathered from literature. Of these, "superficial incisions," "encircling imprints," and "recent ingestion of prey" were observed in the vast majority of our confirmed bycatch cases. Criteria like "pulmonary edema," "pulmonary emphysema," and "organ congestion" were also frequently observed, although considered unspecific as an indicator of bycatch. Notably, previously mentioned criteria as "favorable health status," "absence of disease," or "good nutritional condition" did not apply to the majority of our bycaught porpoises. This may reflect an overall reduced fitness of harbor porpoises inhabiting the southern North Sea or a higher chance of a debilitated porpoise being bycaught, and could result in an underestimation of bycatch rates when assessing stranded animals. Willems, D., IJsseldijk, L.L., van den Broek, H., and Veraa, S. (2020) Vertebral pattern variation in the North Sea harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by computed tomography. The Anatomical Record Available at: https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24524 Abstract: Vertebral series in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) include cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and caudal. In contrast to studying skeletons from museums, in which small bones can be missed, evaluation of full body computed tomography (CT) scans provides an overview of the vertebral column, while maintaining interrelationship of all structures. The aim of this study was to document variations in vertebral patterning of the harbor porpoise via evaluation of CT images of intact stranded harbor porpoises. The harbor porpoises were divided into age classes, based on developmental stage of reproductive organs on postmortem examination and closure of proximal humeral physis on CT. Numbers of vertebrae per series, fusion state of the syncervical, type of first hemal arch, number of double articulating ribs, and floating ribs were recorded based on CT images. Included in the study were 48 harbor porpoises (27 males and 21 females), which were divided in two age classes (27 immatures and 21 adults). Total vertebral count varied from 63 to 68 with vertebral formula range C7T12?14L12?16Cd29?33. Twenty?five different vertebral formulas were found, of which C7T13L14Ca30 was the most common (n = 8, 17%). Thoracic vertebrae with six, seven, or eight double articulating ribs and zero, one, or two vertebrae with floating ribs were seen. Four different fusion states of the syncervical and four types of hemal arches were recognized. This study showed a great variation in vertebral patterning in the harbor porpoise, with homeotic and meristic variation in the thoracic, lumbar, and caudal vertebral series. Best wishes, Lonneke IJsseldijk Lonneke L. IJsseldijk | Project Manager Cetacean Research | Utrecht University | Veterinary Medicine | Biomolecular Health Sciences | Pathology | Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht | room O.170 | (+3130) 253 5312 | (+316) 244 556 98 | l.l.ijsseldijk at uu.nl| Follow us @ | Instagram | LinkedIn | Online [cid:6089ffc2-cad0-4374-9009-1b5dead237ba] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Outlook-kqvn2vlj.png Type: image/png Size: 11298 bytes Desc: Outlook-kqvn2vlj.png URL: From mncnlr at unife.it Mon Dec 7 08:05:29 2020 From: mncnlr at unife.it (Annalaura MANCIA) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 17:05:29 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on Transcritpomic analysis of North Atlantic Right Whale Message-ID: Dear MARMAM members, On behalf of all the authors, I would like to share with you our last paper published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology: *Transcriptome analysis of cadmium exposure in kidney fibroblast cells of the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) *by Ierardi JL, Velosa A, Mancia A. *Abstract:* An 8X15k oligonucleotide microarray was developed consisting of 2334 Eubalaena glacialis probes and 2166 Tursiops truncatus probes and used to measure the effects, at transcriptomic level, of cadmium exposure in right whale kidney fibroblast cells. Cells were exposed to three concentrations (1 ?M, 0.1 ?M, and 0.01 ?M) of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) for three exposure times (1, 4, and 24 h). Cells exposed to 1 ?M CdCl2 for 4 h and 24 h showed upregulated genes involved in protection from metal toxicity and oxidative stress, protein renaturation, apoptosis inhibition, as well as several regulators of cellular processes. Downregulated genes represented a suite of functions including cell proliferation, transcription regulation, actin polymerization, and stress fiber synthesis. The collection of differentially expressed genes in this study support proposed mechanisms of cadmium-induced apoptosis such as ubiquitin proteasome system disruption, Ca2+ homeostasis interference, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell cycle arrest. The results also have confirmed the right whale microarray as a reproducible tool in measuring differentiated gene expression that could be a valuable asset for transcriptome analysis of other baleen whales and potential health assessment protocols. The full paper is available under the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1cB-v5SMCg%7EbA1 Best regards, Annalaura Mancia -- *Annalaura Mancia, PhD* *Assistant Professor* *University of Ferrara* *Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology* *Via L. Borsari, 46* *44121, Ferrara, FE, Italy* *work: +390532455704* *cell: +393421470120* *fax: +390532455715* *Email: annalaura.mancia at unife.it * *Skype: annalaura5* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Sinead.Murphy at gmit.ie Mon Dec 7 07:21:28 2020 From: Sinead.Murphy at gmit.ie (Sinead Murphy) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 15:21:28 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Harbour Porpoise Publication Message-ID: Dear All, My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the recent publication of our paper Murphy, S., Petitguyot, M.A.C., Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Lockyer, C., Barnett, J., Perkins, M., Penrose, R., Davison, N.J., and C. Minto. 2020. Spatio-temporal variability of harbour porpoise life history parameters in UK waters. Frontiers in Marine Science. doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.502352. The full article is available via open access - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.502352/full [https://www.frontiersin.org/files/MyHome%20Article%20Library/502352/502352_Thumb_400.jpg] Frontiers | Spatio-Temporal Variability of Harbor Porpoise Life History Parameters in the North-East Atlantic | Marine Science Harbor porpoises exhibit early maturation, relatively short gestation/lactation periods and a faster rate of reproduction as compared to other cetacean species. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence both population vital rates and population structure, which ultimately cause changes in dynamics within and between populations. Here, we undertook a retrospective analysis of mortality ... www.frontiersin.org Merry Christmas Sin?ad ABSTRACT: Harbor porpoises exhibit early maturation, relatively short gestation/lactation periods and a faster rate of reproduction as compared to other cetacean species. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence both population vital rates and population structure, which ultimately cause changes in dynamics within and between populations. Here, we undertook a retrospective analysis of mortality data collected over a 24-year period for assessing life history traits of the North-east Atlantic harbor porpoise population. We use time-period specific models for key life history relationships that considered cause of death of individuals (as a proxy for health status), sex and management unit (MU). Sexual variation in asymptotic length, asymptotic age, average length at 50% maturity (L50) and average age at 50% maturity (A50) were observed, with females attaining a larger asymptotic length, larger L50, and delaying attainment of both sexual and physical maturity, compared to males. While females are constrained in their minimum body size due to giving birth to proportionally larger offspring, males exhibited more plasticity in size at sexual maturity, enabling re-allocation of available energy resources toward reproduction. Data were then used to compare biological parameters among two porpoise MUs in United Kingdom waters, both of which in the current study exhibited reduced reproductive rates compared to other geographic regions. In both MUs, females significantly increased their A50 and males significantly declined in their L50. An increase in the age at asymptotic length was also observed in both sexes, along with a significant decline in the Gompertz growth rate parameter that was more apparent in the female data. While availability of suitable prey resources may be a limiting factor, a combination of other factors cannot be ruled out. Porpoises in the Celtic and Irish Seas MU were significantly larger in their maximum length, asymptotic length and L50 compared to porpoises in the North Sea MU throughout the study period, suggesting limited gene flow between these two MUs. These results justify the maintenance of these harbor porpoise MUs or assessment units, as two separate units, within the range of the North-east Atlantic population, and for indicator assessments under the EU?s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Dr Sin?ad Murphy Lecturer in Aquatic Ecology Marine and Freshwater Research Centre Department of Natural Sciences School of Science and Computing Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland, H91 T8NW ? sinead.murphy at gmit.ie sites.google.com/view/sinead-murphy researchgate.net/profile/Sinead_Murphy2 T? an r?omhphost seo faoi r?ir an ts?anta seo leanas at? le f?il ag S?anadh R?omhphost GMIT This email is subject to the following disclaimer available at GMIT Email Disclaimer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vic at dugongs.org Mon Dec 7 07:38:05 2020 From: vic at dugongs.org (Vic Cockcroft) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 17:38:05 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Project Manager - dugong and seagrass conservation Message-ID: <61275473-c9b7-2944-7ad7-0cecc2a3fe1c@dugongs.org> This is a call for Expressions of Interest in the position of Project Manager for a dugong and seagrass conservation project, entitled: Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Livelihoods and Community-based Conservation of Dugongs and Seagrass in Bazaruto Archipelago Region, Mozambique. The Project Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including science, stewardship and broad community relations and relations with our Partners and Funders. The position is in the Bazaruto Archipelago region,Mozambique. For more information take a look atwww.dugongs.org For a full TOR please contact Dr. Vic Cockcroft at_vic at dugongs.org _ and Dr. Almeida Guissamulo at_aguissas at gmail.com _ Closing date for applications is 15 January 2021. -- Centre for Dolphin Studies Dugongs Western Indian Ocean Director: V.G. Cockcroft P.O. Box 1856, Plettenberg Bay South Africa. 6600. Mobile/Cell: 27 (0)81 737 4533 www.dolphinstudies.org www.dugongs.org SKYPE: Cockcroft.s.home This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom addressed. It may contain information that is confidential or subject to copyright. If you are not the intended recipient, please don't disseminate, copy or distribute this message, or associated files. If you have received this message in error, please notify us and delete it from your computer. -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From diversity at marinemammalscience.org Mon Dec 7 18:38:15 2020 From: diversity at marinemammalscience.org (Eric Archer and Tara Cox Ad hoc Diversity Committee) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 18:38:15 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] SMM Forum on Unpaid Positions recording available Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We want to reach to thank all who joined us on November 25, 2020 for our forum on unpaid positions. In particular we would like to thank our panelists, Drs. Auriel Fournier, Diane Gendron, Tara Cox, and Cindy Peter, who took the time to share their experiences and important perspectives. We've had a lot of feedback that these were greatly appreciated and helpful in framing our discussion. For those of you who missed it, a recording of the live event is available on the SMM YouTube Channel here . We covered a lot of ground during the event, and for that we found the discussion to be very productive. However, there were also many comments made and questions posed that we just did not have the time to address. We are in the process of collating those and following up on them. We hope to share these and continue the conversation over the next 4-6 weeks. We welcome any other input members of the community may have in the interim. Thank you for being a part of this important conversation. -- Eric Archer and Tara Cox Co-Chairs, Ad hoc Diversity and Inclusion Committee Society for Marine Mammalogy diversity at marinemammalscience.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edvorak at integratedstatistics.com Tue Dec 8 08:48:28 2020 From: edvorak at integratedstatistics.com (Emma Dvorak) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2020 11:48:28 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Posting: Environmental Specialist - Protected Resources Message-ID: <189ddd2a-9734-e9dc-0d41-a8172c03025c@integratedstatistics.com> Environmental Specialist - Protected Resources Integrated Statistics is looking for an Environmental Specialist to work with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO). The position supports the Protected Resources Division (PRD). The position will begin with a period of remote work to accommodate pandemic restrictions, but may be on-site in Gloucester MA after that. The GARFO Protected Resources Division?s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Program develops and implements measures to respond to, conserve, and protect endangered and protected marine mammals and sea turtles. The program implements recovery programs for endangered marine mammal and sea turtles through the Endangered Species Act and protects marine mammals from commercial fisheries interactions through take reduction planning under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The program also responds to animals in distress through the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network, and the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. *Duties* The Environmental Specialist provides technical assistance to all three programs by undertaking these tasks: _Writing and editing_ * Support the regional right whale recovery coordinator in planning and executing implementation team meetings. * Support the regional take reduction team coordinator in planning and executing take reduction team meetings. * Provide policy and analytical support for the development of policies to reduce entanglements of marine mammals through the amendment of take reduction plans. * Collaboration, organization, and meeting facilitation. * Prepare a final report summarizing the tasks completed under this project. _Data management_ * Conduct data entry. Perform audits and quality control to ensure accuracy. Data includes stranding and disentanglement data for protected species, large whale unusual mortality events (UME), sea turtle cold stun events, etc. * As needed, provide? reports on serious injury/mortality determinations, by obtaining large whale data, compiling results and delivering reports within the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). * As needed, provide? data summary reports that summarize data generated from stranding or entanglement events such as marine mammal UMEs and sea turtle cold stun events. * Coordinate and support report development and analysis of gear which has been removed from marine mammals and sea turtles. _Outreach_ * Assist in conducting education and outreach pertaining to the MMPA and ESA. _Administration_ * Provide backup coverage to sea turtle and marine mammal stranding and disentanglement coordinators on regional stranding and disentanglement response hotlines. * Enter and track incoming review requests for permits and projects, to support PRD Grant and Scientific Permit Review Programs. * Perform administrative support tasks including copying, mailing, filing, ordering supplies and equipment, and budget tracking. * Perform communication support tasks including answering phones, note taking, arranging meetings, copying documents and preparing incoming and outgoing mail. * Prepare administrative records for actions including copying, organizing, and indexing and numbering all relevant documents in support of regional records management specialist. *Qualifications* * A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or a related field. * 5 years of experience in writing technical reports and policy papers. A writing sample and/or test may be requested. * Demonstrated experience working independently with relevant environmental regulations (NEPA, ESA, MMPA, MSFCA) and species or issues of concern. * Demonstrated experience in organizing meetings, including: setup, use, and troubleshooting of various webinar and presentation platforms; agenda building; negotiated decision making; note taking; meeting summation; and debriefing. * Experience in working collaboratively on contentious issues. * Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation. * Attention to detail, excellent organization, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks. * The position is open to US citizens only. * Database, GIS, and R programming skills are a plus. * Knowledge and experience in negotiated decision making is a plus. * Public communication, stakeholder engagement, and outreach experience are pluses. The position is full-time and the rate of pay is $32/hr. The position is eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. To apply for this position, go to www.integratedstatistics.com, click Employment Opportunities, click the job name and click the Apply Here link. Integrated Statistics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its obligations under federal law, Integrated Statistics is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified women, minorities, disabled individuals, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans. For assistance with accessibility of applications, posters, forms, and/or documents, please email the Integrated Statistics office. -- Integrated Statistics, Inc. 16 Sumner Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Cell: (508) 648-8308 Office: (508) 540-8560 Fax: (508) 721-6841 -- Integrated Statistics, Inc. 16 Sumner Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Cell: (508) 648-8308 Office: (508) 540-8560 Fax: (508) 721-6841 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lsk at hawaii.edu Tue Dec 8 12:22:18 2020 From: lsk at hawaii.edu (Lizabeth Kashinsky) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2020 10:22:18 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Closing date extended to December 14: Recruitment: Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program 2021 Seasonal Field Camp Positions - In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) works with >> the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center through a >> cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii to conduct population >> assessment and recovery activities on Hawaiian monk seals. JIMAR hires >> program staff through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii >> (RCUH) and is currently seeking applicants for *two separate >> recruitments *for the 2021 field research season: >> >> >> >> *HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician-serves as field camp leader* >> >> *HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant-serves as assistant to field camp >> leader* >> >> >> >> Selected individuals will study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the >> Northwestern Hawaiian Islands within Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National >> Monument. This work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal >> population monitoring and conservation program by NOAA Fisheries and >> includes: conducting trend counts, tagging seals, identifying individual >> seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks, >> monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, >> vaccinating against morbillivirus, performing necropsies, collecting scat & >> spew samples for food habitat, parasite load, and hormonal analysis, >> collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis, and removing debris capable of >> entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data are also collected >> at some sites. Researchers at some sites may participate in shark >> mitigation activities. >> >> >> >> General information about the program can be found via the links below: >> >> >> >> http://www.conservationcompass.org/index.php/career-guidance/fantastic-field-camps-seals-turtles-talk-story >> >> https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal#science >> >> >> The number of positions and/or continuation of the program are subject to >> funding and program needs. These positions will be for all or a subset of >> the 6 major monk seal sub-populations in the NWHI. Fieldwork is >> accomplished by 2-4 member teams consisting of a leader and one or more >> assistants in remote camps. Researchers live in either wall tents or >> buildings at the various sites. All sites are accessible by ship (2-8 >> day travel; 830-2,300 km from Honolulu), and one is also accessible by >> plane. Few (if any) resupply opportunities exist and communication with >> others outside of field sites is limited throughout deployment due to the >> remoteness and lack of infrastructure. >> >> >> The employment period is expected to include approximately one month of >> training and packing in Honolulu. Once the field season is over, an >> additional ~1-2 weeks of employment may take place in Honolulu to clean up >> gear and summarize data. Dates are subject to change, but the positions >> may begin as early as late February/early March or April with a field >> deployment approximately 4-6 weeks after start dates. Field staff could be >> deployed for approximately 4.5-5 months with a tentative return date in >> early September. The position end date is expected to be 1-3 weeks upon >> return from the field. Applicants must be flexible in their availability as >> dates could change, including unforeseen delays such as inclement weather >> or other hip delays. >> >> Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in >> Honolulu before deployment are not provided. Transportation between >> Honolulu and field sites and food and lodging costs during deployment and >> in the field are covered by the program. Due to unforeseen circumstances, >> departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result >> in additional uncompensated living expenses. >> >> Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien, and must >> be able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic >> and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the >> work location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel. >> >> >> Instructions to apply for both positions are in the job postings below. *You >> must clearly address all qualifications in your cover letter and resume. If >> you do not clearly address all qualifications, we may not be able to >> consider you as an applicant. *For example, to address the experience >> qualification, you must indicate in your cover letter how many years of >> field experience you have and be sure that is reflected in your resume. >> >> >> >> Interested individuals will need to apply directly to RCUH Human >> Resources via one of the methods stated in the job posting. Applications >> for both positions must be submitted/received by the* closing date on >> 12/14/2020 (11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time receipt time). * If you do >> not have access to the RCUH system and the closing date is imminent, you >> may send additional documents to rcuh_employment at rcuh.com. If you have >> questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call >> (808)956-8344 or (808)956-0872. Follow the link below to access both >> recruitments. *If applying for both positions, you must do so >> separately. * >> >> >> >> >> >> JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician (leader) ? search job ID >> # 220543 >> >> >> >> JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant - search Job ID #220542 >> >> >> https://hcmweb.rcuh.com/psc/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant >> >> -- >> Lizabeth Kashinsky (she/her) >> *JIMAR Program Supervisor* >> Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program >> >> *Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center * >> >> NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce >> >> 1845 Wasp Blvd, Building 176 >> Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 >> >> Office: (808) 725-5719 >> >> Mobile: (808) 285-4578 >> >> www.fisheries.noaa.gov >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kinguq at gmail.com Wed Dec 9 10:40:53 2020 From: kinguq at gmail.com (Daniel Pike) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2020 13:40:53 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on North Atlantic killer whales Message-ID: We are pleased to announce the publication of our paper: Pike, D. G., Gunnlaugsson, T., Mikkelsen, B., V?kingsson, G., & Desportes, G. (2020). Distribution and Abundance of Killer Whales in the Central North Atlantic, 1987-2015. *NAMMCO Scientific Publications*, *11*. https://doi.org/10.7557/3.5579 ABSTRACT: The North Atlantic Sightings Surveys (NASS), covering a large but variable portion of the Central and Eastern North Atlantic, were conducted in 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2015. Sightings of killer whales (Orcinus orca), a non-target species, were relatively rare in the Central Atlantic (Icelandic and Faroese) portions of the survey area. In cases where sighting numbers were insufficient, we pooled sightings over several surveys to derive a distance detection function and used this to estimate abundance using standard Distance Sampling methodology. Uncorrected estimates were produced for all surveys, and estimates corrected for perception bias were produced for the 2001 and 2015 surveys. Killer whales were sighted in all areas but were most common in the eastern part of the survey area. Uncorrected abundance in the NASS core area ranged from a low of 4,736 (95% CI: 1,842?12,176) in 1995 to a maximum of 15,142 (95% CI: 6,003?38,190) in 2001. The low precision of the estimates makes the detection of temporal trends unlikely. In 2007 an extension survey revealed relatively high numbers of killer whales to the east of the survey area, in conformity with Norwegian survey estimates in this area. The NASS and other surveys conducted over the period indicate that killer whales number in the low tens of thousands in the Central and Eastern North Atlantic. Regards, Daniel Pike. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cdmacleod at gisinecology.com Fri Dec 11 02:40:45 2020 From: cdmacleod at gisinecology.com (cdmacleod at gisinecology.com) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:40:45 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Online Course - An Introduction to Basic Statistics for Biologists using R - 18th - 21st January 2021 In-Reply-To: <25c3b74abd3183a54a176b303b252f53@gisinecology.com> References: <2499c76e3598d992a632882d524fe382@gisinecology.com> <499c44de88764253ec5f5141ce698824@gisinecology.com> <36dead0e5893273265f7827b3634fe1b@gisinecology.com> <3a5d7eb598b0152bddf12a9ebec1d9c3@gisinecology.com> <25c3b74abd3183a54a176b303b252f53@gisinecology.com> Message-ID: Data preparation and analysis is a key skill for all those working with marine mammals, and of the available software packages, R has rapidly become the most widely used. This means that a knowledge of how to prepare and analyse data in R is essential skill for marine mammalogists. We will be running an instructor-led online course in January 2021 based around our latest book, _An Introduction to Basic Statistics for Biologists using R_. It will be held over Zoom video-conferencing and will provide all the practical knowledge and experience you need to get started with analysing biological data using R. As a result, no previous experience with R or statistical analysis is required to do this course. It will run from the 18th and the 21st of January 2021. The course will consist of four three-hour sessions, and one session will need to be completed each day. However, you will have a choice of completing it between 10:00 and 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time (primarily for those living in Europe, Asia and Africa) or 18:00 to 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time (primarily for those living in North and South America). This choice of time slots for each session allows participants from as wide a range of time zones to participate in the course. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 24 people per session. The fees for this course are GBP 250 per person (with a discounted rate of GBP 195 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). To book a place, or for more information, you can either email us at info at GISinEcology.com or click on the link below. http://gisinecology.com/stats-for-biologists-1/live-online-course-an-introduction-to-basic-statistics-for-biologists-using-r/ About the Course: This is a practical course and it is aimed at anyone who wishes to learn how to carry out basic data processing and statistical analyses on biological data using R. This includes importing data sets into R, error-checking and processing them to prepare them for analysis, calculating basic summary statistics, creating graphs, assessing and transforming their distributions, and running statistical tests such as Shapiro-Wilk tests, t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, paired t-tests, Wilcoxon Matched Pairs tests, F-tests for equality of variance, Levene's tests, ANOVAs, Kruskal-Walis tests, chi-squared tests, correlations and linear regressions. It will also cover how to use R, how to work out how to do things for yourself in R and how to create annotated R script archives of what you have done. Each session will consist of a series of background talk covering specific topics (more details are provided below), followed by related practical exercises based on instructions from An Introduction to Basic Statistics for Biologists using R. As a result, all participants will receive a free copy of this book shipped to their address in advance of the start of the course. While you are encouraged to remain online during the practical sessions, you can choose to go off-line as you work though the exercises (or if you need to take a break). However, if you have any questions, the course instructor will be available throughout the course for you to ask any questions you wish at any point. This course will be hosted by Dr Ross MacLeod, one of the authors of _An Introduction to Basic Statistics for Biologists using R_. At the end of the course, all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and completion. Each certificate is embossed with the GIS In Ecology official stamp to prevent its fraudulent reproduction. In addition, each certificate has its own unique identification number that we will record, along with your name, meaning that we can verify the authenticity of the certificates we issue (and the course you have completed) on request. --- ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com [1] 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 [2] Books From GIS In Ecology Staff: GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates; RRP: ?24.99 An Introduction To Integrating QGIS And R For Spatial Analysis; RRP: ?19.99 An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS And R; RRP: ?19:99 If you wish to purchase these books, visit: http://www.gisinecology.com/book-shop/ To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is unavoidable. ================================================================================== Links: ------ [1] http://www.GISinEcology.com [2] http://www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From morgana.vighi at gmail.com Thu Dec 10 09:45:21 2020 From: morgana.vighi at gmail.com (Morgana Vighi) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2020 18:45:21 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on the impact assessment of historical whaling in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean Message-ID: Dear MARMAM community, on behalf of my co authors, I am pleased to share with you the publication on *ICES Journal of Marine Science* of our recent research: The missing whales: relevance of ?struck and lost? rates for the impact assessment of historical whaling in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean Morgana Vighi, Asunci?n Borrell, Jennifer A Jackson, Emma L Carroll, Maria Grazia Pennino, Alex Aguilar Abstract: The massive impact that open-boat historical whaling (18th to 20th centuries) had on whale populations has been traditionally estimated from records of oil and baleen plate production. However, an unknown proportion of hunted whales were struck, wounded, eventually killed, but lost, and not included in these records, suggesting that whaling impact may be critically underestimated. Whaling logbooks provide a key source for assessing past catches and losses. Here, we extract detailed records of 19875 days of activity in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean from 255 logbooks of offshore whaling voyages. During the period considered (1776?1923), whalers first targeted southern right whales (Eubalaena australis, 2497 sightings and 658 catches), gradually substituted by sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus, 1157 sightings and 843 catches) after 1840. Loss rate factors, calculated to account for the number of ?struck and lost? whales, decreased across time for both species, and were particularly high (ranging 1.09?1.6) for the southern right whale, whose population was drastically reduced by whaling, as compared to previous estimates based on rough catch records. Accurate accounting for these ?lost? individuals is essential for reconstructing the impact of whaling on cetacean populations and for a proper assessment of their initial population size and demographic trends. The article is open access and freely available online at https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa205. Don't hesitate to contact me for any questions or curiosities regarding our research. All the best, Morgana -- Morgana Vighi, PhD +34 633656763 +39 3388269806 skype: morgana.vighi -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mridula.srinivasan at noaa.gov Fri Dec 11 23:11:16 2020 From: mridula.srinivasan at noaa.gov (Mridula Srinivasan - NOAA Federal) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2020 02:11:16 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] SEFSC/NMFS Marine Mammal Branch Chief Vacancy Announcement Message-ID: Hi, Here's a posting for MARMAM. Apologize for the short notice. I am pleased to announce a vacancy for the position of Marine Mammal Branch Chief (Supervisory Fisheries Research Biologist ZP-0482-4 ) within the newly established Marine Mammal and Turtle Division (MMTD) at NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center (Miami/Pascagoula). The Branch Chief will oversee a diverse and dynamic marine mammal team and will conduct, direct, and advance marine mammal research in support of legislative mandates and NMFS priorities. Please review additional details in the job description before applying. *The position will be open for 7 days, from 12/14/20 to 12/21/20. The application window may be extended depending on the number of applications received.* *NMFS-SEFSC-2021-0004*: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/586474900 Please share broadly with any interested/qualified candidates. Thanks, Mridula Mridula Srinivasan, Ph.D. Director, Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division (PRBD)/Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS *Mridula Srinivasan* (*Mree-du-la Sree-nee-va-sun), Ph.D.* *Director, Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division (PRBD)/Marine Mammal and Turtle Division* *Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS* *404.993-0428 (Cell)* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From adfandel at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 12:48:44 2020 From: adfandel at gmail.com (Amber Fandel) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2020 15:48:44 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Effects of intense storm events on dolphin occurrence and foraging behavior Message-ID: My coauthors and I are pleased to announce our newest publication, which discusses the effects of storms on bottlenose dolphin occurrence and foraging. *Title*: Effects of intense storm events on dolphin occurrence and foraging behavior *Authors*: Amber D. Fandel, A. Garrod, A. L. Hoover, J. E. Wingfield, V. Lyubchich, D. H. Secor, K. B. Hodge, A. N. Rice & H. Bailey The paper is available with open access under the following link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76077-3 *Abstract*: As storms become increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change, we must better understand how they alter environmental conditions and impact species. However, storms are ephemeral and provide logistical challenges that prevent visual surveys commonly used to understand marine mammal ecology. Thus, relatively little is known about top predators? responses to such environmental disturbances. In this study, we utilized passive acoustic monitoring to characterize the response of bottlenose dolphins to intense storms offshore Maryland, USA between 2015 and 2017. During and following four autumnal storms, dolphins were detected less frequently and for shorter periods of time. However, dolphins spent a significantly higher percentage of their encounters feeding after the storm than they did before or during. This change in foraging may have resulted from altered distributions and behavior of their prey species, which are prone to responding to environmental changes, such as varied sea surface temperatures caused by storms. It is increasingly vital to determine how these intense storms alter oceanography, prey movements, and the behavior of top predators. Best, Amber Fandel Research Analyst, Project Manager adfandel at gmail.com (970) 640-3749 Pronouns: She, her, hers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From abostwick at psocertifications.com Fri Dec 11 08:38:19 2020 From: abostwick at psocertifications.com (Angela Bostwick) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2020 06:38:19 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] PSO Training Course Online - February 20-21, 2021 Message-ID: <978fd4c7b1ba923af8352f3460dbccaf@psocertifications.com> Hi, MPSC is holding a training course online which provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on February 20-21, 2021. This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to provide Protected Species Observer certification for seismic surveys, and is a long-standing industry standard which is often accepted in various other regions or industries where monitoring and mitigation for protected species is needed. PSOs monitor mainly for ESA-listed animals and marine mammals. PSOs complete certain reports on protected species activity and industry operations, and advise on the measures required to reduce impacts to the animals. As discussed in the course, working offshore as a PSO is fun, but involves long hours of standing watch for the animals; thus, the job requires patience and persistence. The course examines the regulations for reducing impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the animals, and objective documentation of animal behavior for reporting to regulatory agencies. After students have successfully completed the course, we'll also provide advice on applying to PSO positions. Additional information may be found on the MPSC website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at ABostwick at PSOCertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/ From phillip.clapham at gmail.com Wed Dec 9 12:05:20 2020 From: phillip.clapham at gmail.com (Phil Clapham) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2020 12:05:20 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] Internship survey results Message-ID: Awhile back, I posted a request for people to take a survey on internship (or similar entry-level) positions in their organization, whether paid or unpaid. I thank the 21 people (from a wide variety of projects and study areas) who took the time to respond to this. A summary of the results is given below. Phil Clapham INTERNSHIP POSITIONS SURVEY: A SUMMARY OF RESPONSES ? Number of surveys returned: 21 ? Geographic areas represented: US/Canada, UK/Europe, Russia, Arctic, Brazil, Uruguay, Africa, New Zealand ? Size of projects annual budgets: everything from $2,000 to $4 million; the really big budgets were from state institutions (federal or state government) ? Sources of funding: direct government support (4), grants (18), donations/memberships (11), ecotourism/public outreach (8), merchandising (1) ? Is the PI paid as part of the project budget: 100% (6), no but paid as permanent employee of an institution (5), <50% salary (4), 0% salary (6) ? Species studied: cetaceans (20 projects), pinnipeds (1), sirenians (1), other (5) ? Projects involving endangered or threatened species: 14 ? Projects taking on interns or similar positions: all 21 ? Number of interns taken per year: anywhere from 1 to 20 (average 6.5) ? Interns receive: accommodation and/or food (19 projects); pay always (3), pay for some (7), interns are self-supporting (6), interns pay a fee to be part of the project (6); some combination of the above (16) ? Value of interns to the organization: essential to the work (12), important (6), unimportant (3) ? Time spent training interns: anywhere from 10% to 80% (this question was interpreted in different ways so the numbers don't mean much - basically all interns require some investment of effort to train) ? What percentage of interns turn out to be worth the effort of training (i.e. they come to represent a useful addition to the project): 10% to 100% (average 68.7%) ? What do interns gain from the work: experience with research (all 21 projects), field work (20/21), college credit (13 projects, though not necessarily for all interns), management experience with an NGO or other organization (2), data for the intern's use in graduate or other study (8), mentoring for graduate or other work (4), experience with public outreach (3), combinations of some/all of the above (all 21 projects) ? Sex ratio of applicants: heavily biased towards women. One project reported a 50/50 female/male ratio, but all the others were 70-90% female ? Ethnicity breakdown: one project (in Africa) reported 50/50 white/black, another (in Mexico) had 80% hispanic interns; but other than that most project interns were predominantly white (60-100%, average for all projects 85.5%) ? Positions advertized on: MARMAM (14 projects); Society for Marine Mammalogy (3); other, such as a website, university, social media, other listservs etc (11) ? Impact of a ban on unpaid ads on the institution's work would be: little or none (5 projects), significant (5), critical (4), unknown or no answer (7). Eleven respondents felt that the impact on individual opportunities would be significant or high, but the question was probably too vaguely worded to put too much stock into these answers. ? Principal Investigators who started their careers in an unpaid, volunteer position: 20 of 21 ? Value of that experience to the person's career: pivotal (17 of 20), important (1), unimportant (1) ? What is the bare minimum that should be offered to interns (other than research experience): bed and board (10), pay for all (2), pay for some (2), pay and benefits for all (1) *Some observations* 1. Those respondents who believed that all interns should be paid all worked for state institutions with large budgets (i.e. in at least some cases they presumably don't have to spend a lot of time raising money for their projects). 2. Not surprisingly, the ability to pay interns - and their importance to the project's work - was a function of the budget; small NGOs where the PI and other staff were not paid, and for whom funding went into project operations, were consistently unable to offer support to interns, who were also usually deemed important or essential to the work. Many of these projects, however, provided at least accommodation and food when in the field (though of the 19 that did this, six charged people a fee to participate, so it's really only 13). Some institutions provided ongoing support for interns after their time was finished, either through graduate study help or (in a few cases) hiring good interns back later on as members of the research team. 3. Most of the less well-funded institutions said variations of the same thing: that they wished they could afford to pay interns, but the budgets wouldn't support that. It is interesting that most project PIs felt that accommodation and food should be a minimum requirement, at least when on field work. However, some also made the point that they didn't see why they should be spending scarce resources to pay someone inexperienced and untested; while acknowledging that there was obviously a bias towards interns who could afford to volunteer, many felt that the exchange of labor for the chance to participate in research and "try out" a career was a fair trade (some had very strong views on this!) 4. It is certainly significant that almost all the Principal Investigators involved began their careers with a volunteer position, and that the majority of those said the experience was pivotal to their careers. 5. This is not news, but marine mammal research continues to attract far more women than men, at least at the level discussed here. 6. Again, not news... but obviously marine mammal research continues to be predominantly a white field. The only deviations from this trend among respondents were projects in non-white countries which prioritized local involvement in research. 7. One PI in a developing country made the interesting point that using western volunteers tends to limit buy-in from local people to research and conservation efforts. Again, thanks to those who responded. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dlm22 at st-andrews.ac.uk Mon Dec 14 03:28:03 2020 From: dlm22 at st-andrews.ac.uk (David Lawrence Miller) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2020 11:28:03 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Online course: Spatially explicit models for distance sampling data Message-ID: <1c81e64e-8218-4499-d132-99950491f860@st-andrews.ac.uk> Spatially explicit models for distance sampling data: density surface modelling in practice 8-12th March 2021 1600-1800 GMT//1100-1300 EST//0800-1000 PST This online course will cover how to fit spatial models to distance sampling data ("density surface modelling") in R. This will include: - Brief overview of distance sampling - Generalized additive models - Fitting, checking and selecting density surface models - Predicting abundance - Making maps Examples will be based around a line transect survey of sperm whales in the western Atlantic. Format: The course will consist of 5 live sessions delivered over videoconference. Between these sessions there will be practical R exercises to complete and to assist with these practicals. Each videoconference session will include time for lecturing and discussion of practical exercises. Enrolment is limited to 15. Prerequisites: You should already know about distance sampling, for example by having taken an introductory workshop in person or online (either interactively or via our free pre-recorded lectures). You should also have experience using R. Prior to the course we will running a software test meeting to ensure everyone can participate satisfactorily. Cost: ?250 Registration deadline: 15 January 2021 More information, with links to registration: https://workshops.distancesampling.org/dsm-march-2021 Feel free to contact dlm22 at st-andrews.ac.uk for more information. From ivlarkin at ufl.edu Mon Dec 14 08:04:24 2020 From: ivlarkin at ufl.edu (Larkin,Iskande (Iske)) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:04:24 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Reminder: UF Spring online course - Aquatic Wildlife Health Message-ID: Hi All, Registration is currently open for Spring 2021. The University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Health Program, is offering the Aquatic Wildlife Health course for those that may be interested. Class begins Jan 11th and runs through Wednesday April 21st. Registration will remain open until Friday, Jan 15th. We will continue to accept applications through the week of Jan 11th, however, be aware you may be late in getting into the class while your application is processed. Aquatic Wildlife Health Issues is an online course (3 credits) designed to introduce students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) to the natural history, anatomy, physiology, behavior and common health issues of aquatic species: whales and dolphins, seals and sea lions, manatees, sea turtles, crocodilians, fish and invertebrates. For more information about the class or enrollment, contact Dr. Iskande Larkin (ivlarkin at ufl.edu). Sincerely, Dr Iske Larkin [Description: AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Lecturer & Education Coordinator Interim Director Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________ Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to or from University of Florida employees via email may be subject to disclosure. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3806 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From panti4 at unisi.it Mon Dec 14 03:45:19 2020 From: panti4 at unisi.it (Cristina Panti) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2020 12:45:19 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on Mediterranean Cuvier's beaked whale ecotoxicology Message-ID: Dear MARMAM members, On behalf of all the authors, I would like to share with you our last paper published on Scientific Reports: "First assessment of POPs and cytochrome P450 expression in Cuvier?s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) skin biopsies from the Mediterranean Sea" The publication can be found at: https://rdcu.be/ccaRP Abstract: The Cuvier?s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is one of the least known cetacean species worldwide. The decreasing population trend and associated threats has led to the IUCN categorising the Mediterranean subpopulation as Vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the ecotoxicological status of Cuvier?s beaked whale in the NW Mediterranean Sea. The study sampled around the 20% of the individuals belonging to the Ligurian subpopulation, collecting skin biopsies from free?ranging specimens. The levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and induction of cytochrome?s P450 (CYP1A1 and CYP2B isoforms) were evaluated. Results highlighted that the pattern of concentration for the target contaminants was PCBs > PBDEs and the accumulation values were linked to age and sex, with adult males showing significantly higher levels than juvenile. Concerns raised by the fact that 80% of the individuals had PCB levels above the toxicity threshold for negative physiological effects in marine mammals. Therefore, these findings shed light on this silent and serious threat never assessed in the Mediterranean Cuvier?s beaked whale population, indicating that anthropogenic pressures, including chemical pollution, may represent menaces for the conservation of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. Thank you for your interest in the paper! Best regards, Cristina ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> Cristina Panti, PhD Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences University of Siena Via P.A. Mattioli, 4 53100, Siena Italy Ph. +39 0577 232245 Fax. +39 0577 232930 https://plasticbustersmpas.interreg-med.eu/ https://www.unisi.it/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Thomas.Doniol-Valcroze at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Mon Dec 14 16:55:45 2020 From: Thomas.Doniol-Valcroze at dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Doniol-Valcroze, Thomas) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:55:45 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on narwhal abundance in the eastern Canadian High Arctic Message-ID: <3c361571f74f48c5b3d721d445a9b111@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> We are pleased to announce the publication of a paper on narwhal abundance: Doniol-Valcroze, T., Gosselin, J-F., Pike, D. G., Lawson, J. W., Asselin, N. C., Hedges, K., & Ferguson, S. (2020). Narwhal abundance in the Eastern Canadian High Arctic in 2013. NAMMCO Scientific Publications, 11. The paper is available in open access at the following link: https://doi.org/10.7557/3.5100 Abstract: In summer, narwhals (Monodon monoceros) migrate from Baffin Bay to northeastern Canada and northwest Greenland, where they are hunted by Inuit for subsistence. To prevent localized depletion, management of narwhals is based on summer stocks. The High Arctic Cetacean Survey (HACS), conducted in August 2013, was the first survey to estimate abundance of all 4 Canadian Baffin Bay narwhal summer stocks, as well as putative stocks in Jones Sound and Smith Sound, in the same summer. Narwhal abundance was estimated using a double-platform aerial survey. Distance sampling methods were used to estimate detection probability away from the track line. Mark-recapture methods were used to correct for the proportion of narwhals missed by visual observers on the track line (i.e., perception bias). We used a data-driven approach to identify single and duplicate sightings, using 4 covariates to compare differences in sightings made by front and rear observers based on: time of sighting, declination angle, group size, and species identity. Abundance in fjords was estimated using density surface modelling to account for their complex shape and uneven coverage. Estimates were corrected for availability bias (narwhals that are not available for detection because they are submerged when the aircraft passes overhead) using a new analysis of August dive behaviour data from narwhals equipped with satellite-linked time depth recorders. Corrected abundance estimates were 12,694 (95% CI: 6,324-25,481) for the Jones Sound stock; 16,360 (95% CI: 3,833-69,836) for the Smith Sound stock; 49,768 (95% CI: 32,945-75,182) for the Somerset Island stock; 35,043 (95% CI: 14,188-86,553) for the Admiralty Inlet stock; 10,489 (95% CI: 6,342-17,347) for the Eclipse Sound stock; and 17,555 (95% CI: 8,473-36,373) for the East Baffin Island stock. Total abundance for these 6 stocks was estimated at 141,908 (95% CI: 102,464-196,536). Sources of uncertainty arise from the high level of clustering observed, in particular in Admiralty Inlet, Eclipse Sound, and East Baffin Island, as well as the difficulty in identifying duplicate sightings between observers when large aggregations were encountered. Best regards, Thomas Doniol-Valcroze, PhD Head, Cetacean Research Program Pacific Biological Station Fisheries and Oceans Canada Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7 thomas.doniol-valcroze at dfo-mpo.gc.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From DAllen at mmc.gov Tue Dec 15 16:27:36 2020 From: DAllen at mmc.gov (Dee Allen) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:27:36 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] U.S. Marine Mammal Commission Fiscal Year 2021 Funding Opportunity Message-ID: The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission will be accepting proposals until April 15, 2021 for science in support of marine mammal conservation, protection, research, and management. Funding requests are limited to $35,000 USD. We are seeking proposals that will further the conservation and management goals of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and assist the Commission in fulfilling its duties under the MMPA. Projects addressing human impacts on marine mammals and their ecosystems, or proposing research with clear management applications, are highly encouraged. Additional weight will be given to proposals that: 1) focus on species or population(s) of conservation concern (e.g., designated as depleted under the MMPA or similar legislation; listed under the Endangered Species Act; assigned to an IUCN Red List threatened category), or 2) increase the inclusion or representation of people from underrepresented groups in marine mammal research, management, or conservation. Projects that leverage other resources, have matching funds, or are collaborative in nature are strongly encouraged. REQUIRED: All projects MUST include an outreach, communication, or engagement component that furthers marine mammal conservation or management efforts. This may include, for example, engaging with government agencies, bringing together stakeholders, including industry or the maritime or fishing community, or providing training opportunities. Conference presentations and publications, while encouraged, do NOT meet this requirement. Proposal deadline: Tuesday, April 15th 2021 11:59pm EDT Applicant notification: by Thursday, July 29th 2021 Proposals should be submitted electronically to the Marine Mammal Commission e-mail address: rpo at mmc.gov. Please be sure to refer to both the Current Funding Opportunities as well as the Proposal Requirements pages prior to submitting proposals. More details can be found on the Commission's webpages below: Current funding opportunities: https://www.mmc.gov/grants-and-research-survey/current-funding-opportunities/ Proposal requirements: https://www.mmc.gov/grants-and-research-survey/current-funding-opportunities/proposal-requirements/ Eligibility: Applicants from both within the U.S. as well as outside the U.S. are eligible to apply (including both non-U.S. citizens and those affiliated with non-U.S. institutions). For questions or additional information, please contact Samantha Simmons, Scientific Program Director (ssimmons at mmc.gov) or Dee Allen, Scientific Program Officer (dallen at mmc.gov). Dee Allen Scientific Program Officer Marine Mammal Commission 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814-4498 301-504-0087 dallen at mmc.gov Follow us on Twitter: @MarineMammalCom Visit us online: www.mmc.gov The Marine Mammal Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. Government. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From els.vermeulen at up.ac.za Tue Dec 15 22:01:33 2020 From: els.vermeulen at up.ac.za (Els Vermeulen) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2020 08:01:33 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper - SRW foraging Message-ID: Dear all, On behalf of all my co-authors, we are happy to share our most recent publication on South Africa's southern right whales, entitled "Decadal shift in foraging strategy of a migratory southern ocean predator". ABSTRACT: Rapid anthropogenic climate change is expected to impact a host of ecological parameters in Southern Ocean ecosystems. Of critical concern are the consequences of these changes on the range of species that show fidelity to migratory destinations, as philopatry is hypothesised to help or hinder adaptation to climate change depending on the circumstances. Many baleen whales show philopatry to feeding grounds, and are also capital breeders that meet migratory and reproductive costs through seasonal energy intake. Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis, SRWs) are capital breeders that have a strong relationship between reproductive output and foraging success. The population dynamics of South Africa?s population of SRWs are characterised by two distinct periods: the 1990s, a period of high calving rates; and the late 2010s, a period associated with lowered calving rates. Here we use analyses of stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotope values from SRW biopsy samples (n = 122) collected during these two distinct periods to investigate foraging ecology of the South African population of SRWs over a time period coincident with the demographic shift. We show that South African SRWs underwent a dramatic northward shift, and diversification in foraging strategy between 1990s to 2010s. Bayesian mixing model results suggest that during the 1990s, South African SRWs foraged on prey with isotopic values similar to South Georgia krill. In contrast, in the 2010s, we infer that South African SRWs foraged on prey with isotopic values consistent with the waters of the Subtropical Convergence, Polar Front and Marion Island. This shift could represent a strategy to cope with changes in preferred prey or habitat. By linking reproductive decline to a shift in foraging strategy for the first time in SRWs, we show that altering foraging strategies may not be sufficient to adapt to a changing ocean. The article is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gcb.15465 or can be requested via email to els.vermeulen at up.ac.za Kind regards, Els ----- Dr Els Vermeulen - Research Manager Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria, South Africa Office: Shop 11 Astoria Village, Main Road, Hermanus 7200 Cell: +27 (0)60 9714301 www.mammalresearchinstitute.science/whale-unit www.adoptawhale.co.za -- This message and attachments are subject to a disclaimer. Please refer to? http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf ?for full details. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Abbo.van.Neer at tiho-hannover.de Tue Dec 15 23:43:55 2020 From: Abbo.van.Neer at tiho-hannover.de (van Neer, Abbo) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2020 07:43:55 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on combining the marking of seals with taking of biopsy samples Message-ID: <5d9731ec68334dbe9f3948fc4194927a@tiho-hannover.de> Dear MARMAM community, on behalf of my co-authors, I am happy to share with you a new publication in the Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology with the title: An Innovative Approach for Combining Marking of Phocid Seals with Biopsy Sampling by Using a New Type of Livestock Ear Tags van Neer, A., Rubio-Garcia, A., Gross, S., Salazar-Casals, A., Arriba-Garcia, A., Wohlsein, P., & Siebert, U. Abstract: Marking of seals is done for different purposes such as re-identification of single individuals within a rehabilitation centre, or to conduct capture-mark-recapture studies assessing ecological parameters on a population scale. Until today most studies use conventional livestock ear tags applied to the interdigital tissue of the flippers of seals. Here we present a different type of tag which combines the marking of an animal with the acquisition of a biopsy sample. This combination enables researchers to gain more data within the same handling time, following the three Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) used in animal experiments to optimise the ratio between animal suffering versus knowledge gain. This study describes a first trial within a seal rehabilitation centre, with the aim to assess the application process of this new tag as well as the rate of bleeding and healing following the application. Results show that the new tag type is suitable even in places with unrestricted public access and enables the researcher to gain additional data further supporting ethical justification. The article is open access and freely available online via http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume12/issue1/scientific.pdf Please feel free to get in touch with us in case you have any questions regarding the work conducted or the use of these flipper tags. I would like to wish everybody a great Christmas in these troubled times Stay healthy and happy and take care of each other!!! Cheers Abbo ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Abbo van Neer Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 25761 B?sum Germany ? +49 5 11 - 8 56 - 81 62 Fax: +49 5 11 - 8 56 - 81 81 abbo.van.neer at tiho-hannover.de https://www.tiho-hannover.de/itaw SAVE FORESTS - Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Andrew.Wright at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Thu Dec 17 03:54:03 2020 From: Andrew.Wright at dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Wright, Andrew) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2020 11:54:03 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Special Article Collection: Approaches to addressing underwater noise in Canada Message-ID: <06059a4e17e640eabae728a64d1cab55@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> Dear listserve members, Apologies for cross-posting. Marine Pollution Bulletin is currently accepting manuscripts for a special collection under the theme "Approaches to addressing underwater noise in Canada." All manuscripts must be submitted by the deadline of February 28, 2021. Complementing existing research and noise-reduction efforts around the country, the Government of Canada has recently initiated various efforts to reduce anthropogenic noise in the oceans arising from its own activities, as well as the industries it manages. For example, research programs that have been funded under the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) and the Whales Initiative are currently working to support management by establishing a better understanding of noise impacts on Southern Resident killer whales and North Atlantic right whales. Elsewhere, joint government-university research efforts have examined shipping noise in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Arctic Ocean. On the management side reductions in noise levels are expected from the vessel slow-downs that have been implemented in key whale habitats on both the east and west coasts. Technical workshops organized by Transport Canada have advanced the development of quiet ship design standards and technologies. The Department of National Defence has developed enhanced mitigation measures for naval exercises near habitats used by the Southern Resident killer whale. In support of all these efforts, Fisheries and Oceans have taken steps to identify appropriate metrics for measuring anthropogenic noise and examine the applicability of the noise threshold approach used in the United States to Canadian regulations and law. To address the fragmented regulatory environment, the Government of Canada is currently developing a national Ocean Noise Strategy to better coordinate ocean noise management and research activities. This special collection of papers is intended to gather together information on all these efforts, as well as those by external partners, to help interested parties review and assess them collectively. If you are planning to submit an article please let us know so we can keep track of potential manuscripts, identify appropriate reviewers in a timely manner, and manage workload. Best wishes, Andrew Wright, Heather Breeze, and Emma Marotte, Guest Editors -- Dr. Andrew J. Wright NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division | Division des sciences de l'?cosyst?me et de la mer Maritimes Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada| R?gion des maritimes P?ches et Oc?ans Canada Bedford Institute of Oceanography | Institut oc?anographique de Bedford 1 Challenger Dr., PO Box 1006 | 1 promenade Challenger CP 1006 Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 4A2 andrew.wright at dfo-mpo.gc.ca +1 (902) 440-5937 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ritter at m-e-e-r.de Thu Dec 17 01:39:41 2020 From: ritter at m-e-e-r.de (Fabian Ritter; MEER e.V.) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2020 10:39:41 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New Paper: A Critique of the EU Technical Measures Regulation / Cetacean Bycatch Message-ID: <9953b489-cea2-1826-635a-790959342427@m-e-e-r.de> Dear fellow MARMAMers, on behalf of lead author Sarah Dolman and co-authors Jo Swabe, Peter Evans, Mark Simmonds and myself I am happy to announce our critical review of the EU Technical Measures Regulation with a special focus on cetacean bycatch, published in Marine Policy: Dolman S, Evans PGH, Ritter F, Simmonds M, Swabe J (2020). *Implications of New Technical Measures Regulation for Cetacean Bycatch in European Waters.* Marine Policy?124 (104320). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104320 Abstract: For decades, cetacean bycatch has been a major conservation and welfare concern in the European Union with high numbers of harbour porpoises, dolphins and whales dying each year. Despite binding legal requirements to monitor and reduce bycatch, cetacean bycatch monitoring has been insufficient in most fisheries and areas to generate reliable estimates of bycatch rate. Measures to reduce bycatch have been limited and not always directed at the most problematic fisheries. EU cetacean bycatch legislation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/ 2004) was repealed and replaced by a new Regulation, /Regulation on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures (2019/1241)/. Whilst some improvements have been made in the new Regulation, scientific advice of the ICES Bycatch Working Group (ICES WGBYC), and other expert regional bodies, such as ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS, were not incorporated explicitly and some measures in the adopted Technical Measures Regulation weaken both the provisions of the existing cetacean bycatch legislation and the Commission?s original proposal. The bycatch measures adopted for cetaceans are not suffi- cient to mitigate bycatch effectively in European waters. Management solutions to reduce bycatch are identified and a number of general recommendations towards development of national and regional management plans, implementation and enforcement to that end are made. Greetings to all, and stay well and healthy! Fabian -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: SIGNATUR_FR_klein 2019.png Type: image/png Size: 243278 bytes Desc: not available URL: From cdmacleod at gisinecology.com Fri Dec 18 03:41:42 2020 From: cdmacleod at gisinecology.com (cdmacleod at gisinecology.com) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 11:41:42 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Online Training Courses: An Introduction To Using GIS/QGIS In Biological Research - 25th to 28th January 2021 In-Reply-To: <499c44de88764253ec5f5141ce698824@gisinecology.com> References: <2499c76e3598d992a632882d524fe382@gisinecology.com> <499c44de88764253ec5f5141ce698824@gisinecology.com> Message-ID: <4f985f78ed41f9b7628e926bc84b9e7b@gisinecology.com> _GIS In Ecology_ will be holding a new online training course on using GIS in biological research between the 25th and 28th of January 2021. GIS has become a critical skill for many marine mammalogists regardless of whether they are working on academic research, conservation, management or environmental impact assessment, and this course provides the perfect introduction for those who wish to learn how to use GIS for any of these purposes. While aimed at biologists in general, it in includes a number of practical exercises that use marine mammal data (including calculating abundance per unit survey effort based on data on dolphins from Scotland, and calculating grids of species richness using data on beaked whales from the North Atlantic). In addition, the course will primarily be taught using QGIS, a free, open-source GIS software package, meaning that the skills learned on this course can be used by anyone working with marine mammals, regardless of their budgets and funding. The course will be held using the Zoom video-conferencing platform, and will consist of four three-hour sessions. One session will need to be completed each day. However, you will have a choice of completing it between 10:00 and 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time (primarily for those living in Europe, Asia and Africa) or 18:00 to 21:00 Greemwich Mean Time (primarily for those living in North and South America). This choice of time slots for each session allows participants from as wide a range of time zones to participate in the course. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 24 people per session. The fees for this course are GBP 250 per person (with a discounted rate of GBP 195 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). To book a place on it, or for more information, visit the course's dedicated webpage at http://gisinecology.com/online-course-an-introduction-to-using-gis-qgis-in-biological-research/. Alternatively, you can email info at GISinEcology.com with the subject line Introductory Online GIS Course January 2021. This course will be taught by Dr Colin D. MacLeod, the author of _ GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates_ [1] (Pictish Beast Publications), and will provide an introduction to using GIS in a wide variety of biological research situations ranging from the basics of making maps through to studying the spread of diseases and creating maps of species biodiversity. It will consist of a series of background sessions on using GIS mixed in with practical sessions where you will work directly with GIS software to complete various tasks which biological researchers commonly need to be able to do. Each three-hour session will consist of a background talk covering a specific topic, followed by practical exercises based on instructions from one of our workbooks. While you are encouraged to remain online during the practical sessions, you can choose to go off-line as you work though the exercises (or if you need to take a break). However, if you have any questions, the course instructor will be available for you to ask any questions you wish at any point. This course will primarily be based around QGIS (also known as Quantum GIS), which provides a user-friendly, open-source, free alternative to commercial GIS software packages, and it is becoming increasingly widely used in both academic and commercial organisations As a result, it is aimed at both those with no GIS experience, but wish to learn how to to do GIS with QGIS, and also those who are familiar with using commercial GIS software, such as ArcGIS, but who wish to learn how to use QGIS as an alternative. However, this course is taught using software-independent approach, and it is also open to those who wish to learn how to use ArcGIS to do biological GIS. When you attend this course you will receive a free copy of _GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction for Undergraduates [1]_as the practical exercises in that course are based on the ones contained in that book. At the end of the course, all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and completion. Each certificate is embossed with the GIS In Ecology official stamp to prevent its fraudulent reproduction. In addition, each certificate has its own unique identification number that we will record, along with your name, meaning that we can verify the authenticity of the certificates we issue (and the course you have completed) on request. To attend this course, you must have your own laptop computer with an appropriate GIS software package installed on it. Our recommended GIS software for this course is the freely available QGIS software. For those wishing to use QGIS, you will need to download and install QGIS 2.8.3 (for those using Windows computers) or 2.8.4 (for those using Macs) rather than the latest version. The best way to download the correct version of QGIS for this course is to use the links on our GIS For Biologists webpage, which can be found here [2]. If you would prefer to use ESRI's ArcGIS software instead of GIS, this can be accommodated, but please let us know at the time of booking that this is the option you would like to use. This course will be followed by a second, more advanced online course that will be held between the 15th and the 18th of February 2021 titled 'An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) In The Marine Environment'. More information on this course can be found at http://gisinecology.com/online-course-an-introduction-to-species-distribution-modelling-in-the-marine-environment/. --- ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com [3] 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 [4] Books From GIS In Ecology Staff: GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates; RRP: ?24.99 An Introduction To Integrating QGIS And R For Spatial Analysis; RRP: ?19.99 An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS And R; RRP: ?19:99 If you wish to purchase these books, visit: http://www.gisinecology.com/book-shop/ To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is unavoidable. ================================================================================== Links: ------ [1] http://gisinecology.com/gis-for-biologists-a-practical-introduction-for-undergraduates-2/ [2] http://gisinecology.com/gis-for-biologists/ [3] http://www.GISinEcology.com [4] http://www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From duignanp at TMMC.org Thu Dec 17 19:57:10 2020 From: duignanp at TMMC.org (Padraig Duignan) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 03:57:10 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Paper: Freshwater skin disease in dolphins, a case definition based on pathology and environmental factors in Australia Message-ID: <1F3E1CE3-5054-4DB4-B34B-3EDB86D6C163@contoso.com> Dear Marmam members, We would like to bring your attention to a new TMMC/Murdoch/MMF paper on the detrimental effects of freshwater exposure in coastal bottlenose dolphins which is an emerging cause of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. In this study we provide a case definition for freshwater skin disease (FWSD) based on two outbreaks that occurred in Australia. The first affected Burrunan dolphins (Tursiops australis) in Victoria?s Gippsland Lakes in 2007. Coincidentally, a similar event is occurring there at the present time (see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/burrunan-dolphin-deaths-in-gippsland/12900270). The second event occurred in 2009 and affected the resident Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus) in the Swan and Canning Rivers. Simultaneous with the Gippsland Lakes outbreak, the first FWSD outbreak in US waters was recorded for common bottlenose dolphins (T. truncatus) entrapped in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, for that event, the dermatopathology was not described as necropsies were not conducted. By contrast, the outbreaks in Australia occurred in areas where the resident dolphin population was well documented by long-term and ongoing field ecology and behavior studies with many known individuals; the waters inhabited by the dolphins were intensively monitored for physical and chemical parameters before, during and after the events; and when mortalities occurred, carcasses were retrieved in a timely manner for necropsy and sampling. Based on these data, FWSD occurs when there is a sudden (days) and profound (>25ppt to <5ppt) decrease in salinity, that persists for weeks to months. The skin lesions appear initially as patchy pallor that progresses to raised targetoid areas of ulceration and colonization by variably colored mats of algae, diatoms, fungi and bacteria. Histologically, the early changes are cell swelling in the mid layer of the epidermis (hydropic change) that progresses to full depth ulceration or inflammation arising from the superficial dermis to create intra-epidermal pustules that erupt as ulcers. Death may ensue from fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance (Think severe third degree burns over most of the body surface). For some, resolution may occur depending on prevailing salinity or presumably intercurrent disease or individual immune status. In Australia, the outbreaks followed resumption of season rainfall following a prolonged drought that flooded the Gippsland Lakes (normally brackish to marine saline) with fresh water. In Western Australia, unusually high winter-spring rainfall in the river catchments similarly turned a normally marine/brackish habitat to freshwater. In the Gulf of Mexico, events have followed the heavy rainfall and storm surges in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey and as hurricane seasons become more severe as in 2020, these events are likely to increase in frequency. A common denominator is extreme weather events the like of which are on the rise with climate change and for that reason, we regard FWSD as an emerging disease of cetaceans in vulnerable coastal habitat. To read the paper in full please use this link: https://rdcu.be/ccfbl P?draig Duignan (TMMC, Sausalito, CA), Nahiid Stephens (Murdoch University, Western Australia) and Kate Robb (The Marine Mammal Foundation, Vic., Australia). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fannie.shabangu at yahoo.com Thu Dec 17 10:44:50 2020 From: fannie.shabangu at yahoo.com (Fannie Shabangu) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:44:50 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Sperm whales clicking throughout the year References: <1762365383.1262063.1608230690722.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1762365383.1262063.1608230690722@mail.yahoo.com> Dear MARMAMers My co-author and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper published in Endangered Species Research. Shabangu FW, Andrew RK (2020) Clicking throughout the year: sperm whale clicks in relation to environmental conditions off the west coast of South Africa. Endang Species Res 43:475-494. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01089 Abstract Knowledge of cetacean occurrence and behaviour in southern African waters is limited, and passive acoustic monitoring has the potential to address this gap efficiently. Seasonal acoustic occurrence and diel-vocalizing patterns of sperm whales in relation to environmental conditions are described here using passive acoustic monitoring data collected off the west coast of South Africa. Four autonomous acoustic recorders (AARs) were deployed on 3 oceanographic moorings from July 2014 to January 2017. Sperm whale clicks were detected year round in most recording sites, with peaks in acoustic occurrence in summer and late winter through spring. Diel-vocalizing patterns were detected in winter, spring and summer. Higher percentages of sperm whale clicks were recorded by AARs deployed at 1100 m water depth compared to those concurrently deployed at 850 and 4500 m, likely inferring that the whales exhibited some preference to water depths around 1100 m. Acoustic propagation modelling suggested a maximum detection range of 83 km in winter for sperm whale clicks produced at 1100 m. Random forest models classified daylight regime, sea surface height anomaly and month of the year as the most important predictors of sperm whale acoustic occurrence. The continuous acoustic occurrence of sperm whales suggests that the study area supports large biomasses of prey to sustain this species? food requirements year round. This is the first study to describe the seasonal acoustic occurrence and diel-vocalizing patterns of sperm whales off the west coast of South Africa, extending knowledge of the species previously available only through whaling records. The the paper can be downloaded at: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v43/p475-494/ Best wishes, Fannie_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Fannie W. Shabangu, PhD Marine Biologist Fisheries Management Branch Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Cape Town, South Africa Email: FannieS at daff.gov.za; fannie.shabangu at yahoo.com Mobile: +27 74 220 0210 Tel: +27 21 402 3553 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jenipher_cate at fws.gov Thu Dec 17 15:39:37 2020 From: jenipher_cate at fws.gov (Cate, Jenipher R) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2020 23:39:37 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Position Announcement in Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Message-ID: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Marine Mammals Management office in Alaska is advertising to fill 2 positions in our office. Our office has trust responsibility of polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters in Alaska. Our work primarily consists of implementing mandates under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, research and monitoring of these species to inform our management actions, implementing bilateral and international agreements, and working with Alaska Natives for co-management of subsistence use. The positions being advertised here are for a wildlife biologist in either the polar bear or sea otter/walrus programs. We are looking for highly motivated and committed individuals to function as part of an existing interdisciplinary team to monitor, manage, and research sea otters/polar bears pursuant to existing legal, regulatory, and conservation frameworks. Additional responsibilities include the developing and implementing community-based conservation and co-management efforts with Alaska Natives and the ability to collaborate with state, federal, regional, and international partners in managing, mitigating, and/or researching human-marine mammal conflicts. More information about our programs can be found on our website (https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/marine-mammals). The job announcements can be found here (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/587521000 or here https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/587521600) or by searching for the following job announcement numbers on the USAJobs website (R7-21-10989454-21-KL-DE and R7-21-10989453-21-KL-MP). Questions about the positions can be sent to either the Sea Otter and Walrus Program Lead, Dr. Jenipher Cate at jenipher_cate at fws.gov, or the Polar Bear Program Lead, Dr. Dave Gustine at david_gustine at fws.gov. Happy Holidays, Jenipher Cate, PhD Marine Mammals Management - Walrus and Sea Otter U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Phone: 907-205-8322 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Mariano.Domingo at uab.cat Fri Dec 18 01:21:45 2020 From: Mariano.Domingo at uab.cat (=?Windows-1252?Q?Mariano_Domingo_=C1lvarez?=) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 09:21:45 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publications Message-ID: My co-authors and I are very pleased to share with you two recently published papers in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. The first paper presents the causes of death of cetaceans in the Catalan Coast 2012-2019. The second one analyses the risk factors for ingestion of debris and another abnormal material in the necropsied cetaceans. Please feel free to contact me for any questions. On behalf of all authors, Mariano Domingo Causes of cetacean stranding and death on the Catalonian coast (western Mediterranean Sea), 2012-2019 Mar?a Cuvertoret-Sanz, Carlos L?pez-Figueroa, Alicia O?Byrne, Albert Canturri, Bernat Mart?-Garcia, Ester Pintado, Lola P?rez, Llilianne Ganges, Alex Cobos, Mar?a Lourdes Abarca, Juan Antonio Raga, Marie-Fran?ois Van Bressem, Mariano Domingo *Corresponding author: mariano.domingo at uab.cat DAO 142:239-253 (2020) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03550 ABSTRACT: The causes of cetacean stranding and death along the Catalan coast between 2012 and 2019 were systematically investigated. Necropsies and detailed pathological investigations were performed on 89 well-preserved stranded cetaceans, including 72 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, 9 Risso?s dolphins Grampus griseus, 5 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, 1 common dolphin Delphinus delphis, 1 Cuvier?s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris and 1 fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. The cause of death was determined for 89.9% of the stranded cetaceans. Fisheries interaction was the most frequent cause of death in striped dolphins (27.8%) and bottlenose dolphins (60%). Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) was detected on the Catalan coast from 2016 to 2017, causing systemic disease and death in 8 of the 72 (11.1%) striped dolphins. Chronic CeMV infection of the central nervous system was observed from 2018-2019 in a further 5 striped dolphins. Thus, acute and chronic CeMV disease caused mortality in 18% of striped dolphins and 14.6% of all 89 cetaceans. Brucella ceti was isolated in 6 striped dolphins and 1 bottlenose dolphin with typical brucellosis lesions and in 1 striped dolphin with systemic CeMV. Sinusitis due to severe infestation by the nematode parasite Crassicauda grampicola caused the death of 4 out of 6 adult Risso?s dolphins. Maternal separation, in some cases complicated with septicemia, was a frequent cause of death in 13 of 14 calves. Other less common causes of death were encephalomalacia of unknown origin, septicemia, peritonitis due to gastric perforation by parasites and hepatitis caused by Sarcocystis spp. Ingestion of foreign materials by odontocetes along the Catalan coast: causes and consequences A. Lacombe, E. Pintado, A. O?Byrne, A. Allepuz, L. P?rez-Rodriguez, M. Domingo *Corresponding author: mariano.domingo at uab.cat DAO 142:23-31 (2020) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03527 ABSTRACT: Ingestion of abnormal materials by cetaceans has been reported worldwide, but few studies have investigated the causes of foreign material ingestion. We retrospectively analysed necropsies performed between 2012 and 2019 on 88 cetaceans stranded along the coast of Catalonia, Spain, and evaluated the association of abnormal ingested materials with 2 risk factors, namely disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and maternal separation. Abnormal materials were found in the digestive tract in 19 of 88 (21.6%) cetaceans; of these, 13 (60%) had lesions in the CNS, such as morbilliviral encephalitis, neurobrucellosis or encephalomalacia, and 3 were diagnosed as having experienced maternal separation. In a logistic regression model, CNS lesions and maternal separation were identified as risk factors for ingestion of foreign material, but with wide confidence intervals, probably due to the small sample size. In contrast, abnormal ingestion was not identified in any of the 25 (28%) cetaceans whose cause of death was attributed to interaction with humans. Abnormal ingestion should be interpreted with caution, and efforts should be made at necropsy to exclude CNS diseases through pathologic and microbiologic investigations. If disease of the CNS is a significant risk factor for ingestion of marine debris by small odontocetes, results of monitoring programmes may be biased by the prevalence of CNS disease in a specific area or population. Mariano Domingo Profesor del Departamento de Sanidad Animal de la UAB Investigador del Subp. Enfermedades Ex?ticas del CReSA Edifici CReSA, s/n, Campus de la Universitat Aut?noma 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) Catalunya Tel.: +34 93 581 4567 mariano.domingo at uab.cat -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Thomas.Doniol-Valcroze at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Fri Dec 18 10:47:47 2020 From: Thomas.Doniol-Valcroze at dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Doniol-Valcroze, Thomas) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 18:47:47 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on bowhead whale abundance Message-ID: <6a70927e37e04f48a3c16722fd82d9ab@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> We are pleased to announce the publication of a paper on bowhead whale abundance in the eastern Canadian Arctic: Doniol-Valcroze, T., Gosselin, J.-F., Pike, D. G., Lawson, J. W., Asselin, N. C., Hedges, K. J., & Ferguson, S. H. (2020). Distribution and Abundance of the Eastern Canada - West Greenland Bowhead Whale Population Based on the 2013 High Arctic Cetacean Survey. NAMMCO Scientific Publications, 11. The paper is available in open access at the following link: https://doi.org/10.7557/3.5315 Abstract: The hunting of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) is an integral part of Inuit culture. An up-to-date abundance estimate of the entire Eastern Canada - West Greenland (EC-WG) bowhead population is necessary to support sustainable management of this harvest. The High Arctic Cetacean Survey (HACS) was conducted in August 2013, primarily to update abundance estimates for known stocks of Baffin Bay narwhal (Monodon monoceros). As the ranges of narwhal and bowhead largely overlap, the survey area was expanded to cover the summer range of bowhead whales. Bowhead whale abundance was estimated using 3 aircraft to cover the large survey area within a short time frame. Distance sampling methods were used to estimate detection probability away from the track line. Double platform with mark-recapture methods were used to correct for the proportion of whales missed by visual observers on the track line (perception bias). Abundance in Isabella Bay, an area known for high bowhead density, was estimated using density surface modelling to account for its complex shape and uneven coverage. Estimates were corrected for availability bias (whales that were not available for detection because they were submerged when the aircraft passed overhead) using a recent analysis of satellite-linked time depth recorders transmitting information on the diving behaviour of bowhead whales in the study area in August of the same survey year. The fully corrected abundance estimate for the EC-WG bowhead whale population was 6,446 (95% CI: 3,838-10,827). Possible sources of uncertainty include incomplete coverage and the diving behaviour of bowhead whales. These results confirm earlier indications that the EC-WG stock is continuing to recover from past overexploitation. Best regards, Thomas Doniol-Valcroze, PhD Head, Cetacean Research Program Pacific Biological Station Fisheries and Oceans Canada Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7 thomas.doniol-valcroze at dfo-mpo.gc.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From danieladrummond at yahoo.com.br Fri Dec 18 05:36:22 2020 From: danieladrummond at yahoo.com.br (Daniela Mello) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:36:22 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on serum chemistry of wild-caught Amazon river dolphins References: <927477613.1678972.1608298582374.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <927477613.1678972.1608298582374@mail.yahoo.com> Dear MARMAMers, ? My co-authors and I are pleased toannounce the publication of a new paper about serum chemistry values of 107wild-caught Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) published in MarineMammal Science DOI: 10.1111/mms.12765 ? Abstract: Blood values of wild cetaceanpopulation are a valuable tool to drive proper management of threatenedspecies. Reference intervals of 26 serum analytes were determined from 107apparently healthy Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) wild?caughtin the Mamirau? Sustainable Development Reserve (3?3?S, 64?51?W), centralAmazon, Brazil. No differences were detected between males and females orbetween pregnant and nonpregnant females. Calves had higher serum calcium thanjuveniles and adults, and alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in calvesand juveniles than adults as a result of bone growth. Adults showed highercreatinine levels than juveniles due to higher body mass, and higher urea thancalves. Positive correlation was found between body length and body weight withcreatinine, urea, and alanine aminotransferase activity; whereas calcium andalkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase (CK) activities negatively correlatedwith these body parameters. Cardiac rate and respiratory frequency appear tohave not correlated with any serum analyte, while stress level positivelycorrelated with CK. Storage of frozen samples for 60?days at ?80?Csignificantly altered 10 of the 19 analytes after one freeze?thaw cycle.Important differences were detected among age classes, stress level, and samplestorage and should be taken into account before any clinical or physiologicalinterpretations. ? The link to the abstract can be found at ?https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12765 and a pdf can be requested to danielamello at hotmail.com Thank you and kind regards, ? Daniela Mello. ?-- ?Daniela M. D. de Mello, PhD Aquatic Mammals Laboratory National Institute of Amazonian Research,Brazil Phone: +55(11) 996041122 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From spaudel at email.arizona.edu Fri Dec 18 06:23:59 2020 From: spaudel at email.arizona.edu (SHAMBHU PAUDEL) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 07:23:59 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Ecological responses to flow variation inform river dolphin conservation Message-ID: Dear all: Hydrological alteration ( by dams/barrage/hydropower) is threatening freshwater ecosystems and their native biotic inhabitants. Here, we quantify flow-ecology relationships that aid the formulation of flow management guidelines across regional scales. As South Asian river dolphins already at risk of extinction from dams, and hundreds of hydroelectric dams have been planned throughout the Amazon, we suggest immediate actions to incorporate flow-ecology relationships in their water use management plans to avoid the risks of native and sensitive aquatic species extinctions. We develop flow-ecology relationships in reference to river dolphin conservation. Check this out! Abstract: Many environmental flow (e-flow) studies and applications have predominantly used state?(i.e., at a single time point) and rate?(i.e., temporal change) based demographic characteristics of species representing lower trophic levels (e.g., fish communities) to build flow-ecology relationships, rather than using a process that incorporates population dynamics. Recent studies have revealed the importance of incorporating data on species traits when building flow-ecology relationships. The effects of flow on keystone megafauna species (i.e., body mass ? 30 kg) reverberate through entire food webs; however, the relationships between flow and these species are not well understood, limiting the scope of the relationships used in flow management. Here, we fill this gap by incorporating the habitat selection traits at different flows of a freshwater apex predator, Ganges River dolphin (GRD, *Platanista gangetica gangetica*), which plays a significant role in maintaining the structure, functions and integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Using temporally and spatially measured GRD habitat selection traits, we quantified flow-ecology responses in the Karnali River of Nepal during the low-flow season when habitat was heavily reduced and water demand was highest. We define ecological responses as suitable habitat templates with enough usable surface area to support GRD fitness by improving reproduction and survival. We measured the available and occupied habitats to develop flow-ecology responses. Variation in flow resulted in substantial differences in the ecological response across time and space, suggesting that aquatic species adjusted in a variety of habitats to support their life histories and maintain viable populations. The limited availability of suitable habitats combined with uninformed water regulations by humans likely places GRDs under severe physiological stress during low-water seasons (i.e., January?April), suggesting that reduced flows contribute to the process of endangering and extirpating highly sensitive endemic aquatic biodiversity. Our study reveals that ad hoc or experience-based flow management is no longer tenable to maintain the integrity and functionality of aquatic ecosystems. We stress that quantifying the flow-ecology relationships of foundational species, particularly megafauna, in response to flow variation is crucial for monitoring the effects of water alterations and determining the minimum flows needed for maintaining healthy and functional freshwater ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Link: Ecological responses to flow variation inform river dolphin conservation | Scientific Reports (nature.com) Thank you! Shambhu Paudel -- *Ph.D. Candidate / **Russell E. Train Fellow (EFN/WWF-USA) * School of Natural Resources & the Environment Wildlife Conservation and Management Environment & Natural Resources 2 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA Web:https://conservation.arizona.edu/person/shambhu-paudel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gderango at gmail.com Sat Dec 19 15:32:01 2020 From: gderango at gmail.com (Geno DeRango) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2020 15:32:01 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Individual variation of hormones and behavior in sea lions Message-ID: Dear all, My co-authors and I are happy to present our new paper on state conditions, hormones, and behavior in Galapagos sea lion pups. The PDF is available open-access on Researchgate or direct from Oecologia: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347504732 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-020-04815-5 Abstract: Between-individual variation in behavior can emerge through complex interactions between state-related mechanisms, which include internal physiological constraints or feedback derived from the external environment. State-related conditions can be especially influential during early life, when parental effort and exposure to social stress may canalize consistent differences in offspring hormonal profiles and foster specific behavioral strategies. Here, we unravel how relevant state variables, including sex, somatic condition, local population density, and maternal traits, contribute to within-cohort differences in stress, sex, and thyroid hormone axes in dependent Galapagos sea lions with the primary goal of understanding downstream effects on boldness, docility, habitat use, and activity. Pups within denser natal sites had higher levels of cortisol and thyroid T4, a prohormone and proxy for metabolic reserves, likely as an adaptive physiological response after exposure to increased numbers of conspecific interactions. Furthermore, considering maternal effects, mothers in better body condition produced pups with higher testosterone yet downregulated basal cortisol and thyroid T4. This hormonal profile was correlated with increased boldness toward novel objects and attenuated stress responsiveness during capture. Intriguingly, pups with increased thyroid T3, the biologically active form, maintained faster somatic growth and were observed to have increased activity and extensively explored surrounding habitats. Collectively, these findings provide comprehensive evidence for several links to hormone-mediated behavioral strategies, highlighted by variation in socio-environmental and maternally derived input during a foundational life stage. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions at gderango at gmail.com . Best regards, -- Geno DeRango PhD Student Department of Animal Behaviour Bielefeld University Galapagos sea lion Project -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From len.thomas at st-andrews.ac.uk Sat Dec 19 07:00:39 2020 From: len.thomas at st-andrews.ac.uk (Len Thomas) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2020 15:00:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Online distance sampling design,and simulation course Message-ID: <47d61806-d2bc-a432-bdca-cab45eb6e0e1@st-andrews.ac.uk> Practical design and simulation to optimise distance sampling surveys 15th March 15:10 - 17:00 GMT 16th / 17th March 15:30 - 17:00 GMT Distance sampling surveys are a common way to estimate marine mammal density and abundance. Visual line transect surveys of marine mammals are commonly conducted from aerial or shipboard platforms, while passive acoustic density estimation, using marine mammal vocalizations, is often based on point transect methods. This online workshop will cover how to generate optimal distance sampling survey designs within budgetary and logistical constraints. We will build on the design theory provided in our introductory workshops and look at how to optimise our design in real world settings. We will be considering how to get the most accurate / precise results for our budget, while testing how robust our design is to departures from our design assumptions. We will be using our R package 'dssd' to generate surveys and then optimise them using our new simulation package 'dsims' (release date: 31st January 2021). Some of our examples will be drawn from real-world marine mammal surveys. Discussions on the third day of the workshop will be tailored to participants own survey design challenges - sign up early and let us know about the survey you are planning! More detailed course information can be found at: https://workshops.distancesampling.org/design-march-2021 Feel free to contact the principal instructor Laura Marshall (lhm at st-andrews.ac.uk) for more information. For information about other distance sampling workshops we are running, see https://workshops.distancesampling.org/ -- Len Thomas len.thomas at st-andrews.ac.uk lenthomas.org @len_thom Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling and School of Mathematics and Statistics The Observatory, University of St Andrews, Scotland KY16 9LZ Office: UK+1334-461801 Admin: UK+1334-461842 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532. From lmunger at hawaii.edu Sun Dec 20 10:51:14 2020 From: lmunger at hawaii.edu (Lisa Munger) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2020 10:51:14 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] new publication: Weddell seals produce ultrasonic vocalizations Message-ID: *Weddell seals produce ultrasonic vocalizations* by Paul A. Cziko*, *Lisa M. Munger, Nicholas R. Santos*, and *John M. Terhune Published online 18 December 2020 The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America *148*, 3784 (2020); https://doi-org.libproxy.uoregon.edu/10.1121/10.0002867 *Abstract: *Seals (phocids) are generally not thought to produce vocalizations having ultrasonic fundamental frequencies (?20 kHz), although previous studies could have been biased by sampling limitations. This study characterizes common, yet, previously undescribed, ultrasonic Weddell seal (*Leptonychotes weddellii*) vocalizations. The vocalizations were identified in more than one year (2017?2018) of broadband acoustic data obtained by a continuously recording underwater observatory in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Nine recurrent call types were identified that were composed of single or multiple vocal elements whose fundamental frequencies spanned the ultrasonic range to nearly 50 kHz. Eleven vocal elements had ultrasonic center frequencies (?20 kHz), including chirps, whistles, and trills, with two elements at >30 kHz. Six elements had fundamental frequencies always >21 kHz. The fundamental frequency of one repetitive U-shaped whistle element reached 44.2 kHz and descending chirps (?3.6 ms duration) commenced at ?49.8 kHz. The source amplitude of one fully ultrasonic chirp element (29.5 kHz center frequency) was 137 dB re 1 ?Pa-m. Harmonics of some vocalizations exceeded 200 kHz. Ultrasonic vocalizations occurred throughout the year with the usage of repetitive ultrasonic chirp-based calls appearing to dominate in winter darkness. The functional significance of these high-frequency vocalizations is unknown. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Carolin.Philipp at tiho-hannover.de Mon Dec 21 05:44:29 2020 From: Carolin.Philipp at tiho-hannover.de (Philipp, Carolin) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2020 13:44:29 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on methodological efficiency of microplastic investigation in seals from German waters Message-ID: Dear all, on behalf of all my co-authors, we are happy to share our latest publication in the Journal Sustainability with the title: Handle with Care - Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German waters Philipp, C.; Unger B.; Fischer, E.K.; Schnitzler, J.G.; Siebert, U. Abstract: The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to reduce the marine debris burden in the marine environment by 2020. This requires an assessment of the actual situation, which includes the occurrence as well as the caused impacts. Information on both is scarce when it comes to top predators like marine mammals and the burden of microplastic. This is hampered by the limited access to free ranging marine mammals for collecting samples, as well as sample handling. The present study investigated gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) regularly occurring in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea with the aim of gaining information on the occurrence of microplastics. In total, 255 particles ?100 ?m (70 fibres, 185 fragments) were found in exemplary ten intestine and nine faecal samples. The findings ranged from zero fibres and six fragments, up to 35 fibres and 55 fragments per sample. Additionally, this study established a protocol for sample handling, microplastic isolation (?100 ?m) and quantification of gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of marine mammals with a low share of contamination. This approach helps to quantify the presence of microplastics in free-ranging marine mammals and is therefore applicable to assess the real burden of microplastic presence in the marine environment. The article is open access and freely available at https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/24/10424 Please, feel free to get in contact with us, if you have any questions regarding our study. We would like to wish you all healthy and jolly Christmas holidays. Kind regards, Carolin Philipp ____________________________________________ M.Sc. Carolin Philipp 0511-856-8170 Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 / 25761 B?sum / Germany https://www.tiho-hannover.de/index.php?id=6767 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edvorak at integratedstatistics.com Mon Dec 21 07:41:28 2020 From: edvorak at integratedstatistics.com (Emma Dvorak) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:41:28 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Large Whale Biologist position Message-ID: <74151b69-f5e3-9089-5735-aab2dded546d@integratedstatistics.com> Large Whale Biologist Integrated Statistics is looking for a Large Whale Biologist to work with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). The position supports the Protected Species Branch. The position may? begin with a period of remote work to accommodate COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, but will be on-site in Woods Hole, MA after that. The Large Whale Biologist assists with the collection and analysis of aerial and shipboard survey data, including researching the distribution of right whales and other large whale species in relation to ecological conditions and human activities, and the impacts of those factors on right whale behavior, health, population dynamics, and ecology. The visual survey information collected by NOAA is used to assist in the management of protected species, evaluate the impacts of various human activities on the species, and aid in education and conservation efforts. *Duties* The Large Whale Biologist will engage in these tasks: * Participate in aerial surveys for right whales. Flight crew responsibilities include visually scanning for whales from bubble windows, recording sightings data on custom computer software, and photographing whales for individual identification using a digital SLR camera with a telephoto lens. Aircraft ditch training is required. * Participate in small vessel and shipboard surveys for right whales. Vessel-based duties include visually scanning for whales, photographing whales for individual identification, collecting biopsy samples from select individuals using crossbows, assisting with oceanographic and zooplankton sampling, and supporting unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations. Small boat certification may be requested. * Manage survey and photographic data. Data processing duties include QA/QC of aerial and shipboard sightings and effort data, evaluating sightings relative to seasonal and dynamic management areas, accurate and timely completion of summary spreadsheets and survey reports, preliminary matching of right whale individual identification images, and maintenance of data processing programs and databases, including an R Shiny application. * Support scientific and management needs. Writing and policy tasks include analyzing data and preparing presentations for stakeholder meetings, environmental impact statements, biological opinions, scientific manuscripts and stock assessment reports. * Assist with Protected Species Branch website content development and maintenance, and engage in public education and outreach activities. * Perform additional occasional duties, such as assisting with whale carcass relocation, supporting disentanglement efforts, and assisting with whale necropsies. *Qualifications* * A Bachelor?s degree in biology, ecology, natural resource management, marine biology, or a closely related field is required. A Master?s degree is desirable. * At least one full year of experience working on aerial and/or shipboard surveys for right whales or other protected species. Aircraft ditch training, boat trailering, and small boat handling skills are desired. * Experience with marine mammal visual survey data collection and processing methods, including use of spreadsheets and Google drives. * Demonstrated programming and database skills, including working with R (and R Shiny), PL/SQL, and Oracle are desired. * Training and experience in statistical design and statistical approaches for addressing scientific questions. * Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written (including visual presentations) with a variety of audiences including technical, scientific, and the general public. A writing sample may be requested. * Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Track record of success in telework/remote work conditions, and at sea in potentially difficult conditions. * Strong project management skills, ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities and strict timelines. Attention to detail. * Driver?s license and US passport. This is a full time position for one year, with the possibility of extension. The position is eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. Some projects will require travel, spending up to three weeks at a time at sea or away from home, including abroad (primarily Canada). To apply for this position, fill out the online application )or visit www.integratedstatistics.com, click Employment Opportunities, click the job name and click the Apply Here link). Integrated Statistics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its obligations under federal law, Integrated Statistics is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified women, minorities, disabled individuals, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans. For assistance with accessibility of applications, posters, forms, and/or documents, please email the Integrated Statistics office. -- Integrated Statistics, Inc. 16 Sumner Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Cell: (508) 648-8308 Office: (508) 540-8560 Fax: (508) 721-6841 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mjmartin at sandiego.edu Sun Dec 20 14:55:29 2020 From: mjmartin at sandiego.edu (Morgan J. Martin) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2020 16:55:29 -0600 Subject: [MARMAM] Two new publications about using PAM in distance sampling and estimating abundance of Heaviside's and dusky dolphins Message-ID: Dear MARMAM Community, My co-authors and I are very pleased to share with you two recently published papers in *Frontiers in Marine Science* and the *African Journal of Marine Science*. The first paper provides the first abundance estimates for Heaviside's and dusky dolphins off Namibia. The second paper is a methods paper describing how we used PAM from a towed hydrophone array in combination with visual observers on line transect ship surveys to increase the detectability of Heaviside's dolphins. *First Abundance Estimates of Heaviside?s (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) and Dusky (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) Dolphins Off Namibia Using a Novel Visual and Acoustic Line Transect Survey* Morgan J. Martin, Tess Gridley, Jean-Paul Roux and Simon H. Elwen To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.555659 *Abstract:* Knowledge of a population?s abundance is of primary importance for conservation management. However, robust estimates of abundance are often difficult to obtain, especially for cetaceans which spend most of their lives submerged. Cetacean abundance is commonly estimated using aerial or vessel-based line transect surveys and distance sampling methods. During 2012?2014, the first line transect surveys to estimate cetacean abundance were conducted in Namibian waters. Surveys took place in the Namibian Islands? Marine Protected Area (NIMPA), a large MPA located along the southern Namibian coastline. A combined visual and acoustic double-platform survey configuration was used to investigate the factors affecting detectability of the endemic Heaviside?s dolphin (*Cephalorhynchus heavisidii*) and dusky dolphin (*Lagenorhynchus obscurus obscurus*). The present analysis estimates the probability of detection on the transect line (g(*0*)) for these two species and generates density and abundance estimates which incorporate a correction for both animals missed on the transect line and attractive responsive movement. The average annual baseline density and abundance estimates for Heaviside?s dolphins in the NIMPA region during 2012?2014 were 0.08 individuals/km2 (CV = 28.6%, 95% CI = 0.04?0.15 individuals/km2) and 1594 individuals (CV = 28.6%, 95% CI =776?3275), respectively. The average annual baseline density and abundance estimates for dusky dolphins in the NIMPA region during 2012?2014 were 0.16 individuals/km2 (CV = 26.2%, 95% CI = 0.10?0.28 individuals/km2) and 3493 individuals (CV = 26.2%, 95% CI: 2015?6052), respectively. A discussion on the distribution of Heaviside?s and dusky dolphins is provided for this region where such information is urgently needed. Based on existing knowledge of the species and area, these estimates are regarded as reasonable. They indicate moderate sized populations of animals within the NIMPA and provide an important first baseline on which future estimates can build. *Towed passive acoustic monitoring complements visual survey methods for Heaviside?s dolphins Cephalorhynchus heavisidii in the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area* Tess Gridley , Morgan J. Martin , Jeffery Slater , J-P Roux , Rene J. Swift and Simon H. Elwen To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2020.1848925 *Abstract:* The genus *Cephalorhynchus* contains four dolphin species, of which three are classified as Near Threatened or Endangered and one subspecies is close to extinction. Understanding the species? abundance, distributions and habitat preferences is necessary for effective management to prevent further population declines. Heaviside?s dolphin* C. heavisidii* is endemic to the Benguela ecosystem off southwest Africa, and like other *Cephalorhynchus* species these dolphins produce narrowband high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation clicks with a centroid frequency around 125 kHz. We conducted dedicated visual and acoustic line-transect surveys within and adjacent to the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area in 2012?2014. Acoustic data were processed in the passive acoustic monitoring software PAMGuard, using the default porpoise click detector and classifier to identify NBHF echolocation clicks. Click detection and classification in PAMGuard included a large excess of false positives, which were easily identified by manual verification of events, and ultimately provided 52 definite detections. The acoustic methods provided data in offshore areas and during overnight periods, but were imperfect and not suitable for ecologically important shallow coastal areas. While demonstrating the utility of passive acoustic monitoring in line-transect surveys targeting *Cephalorhynchus* species, the study shows that both visual and acoustic methods were needed to collect data throughout the range of Heaviside?s dolphin. Please feel free to email me for a pdf copy of either paper. Thank you for your interest in our research! Merry Christmas, Morgan J. Martin, PhD Postdoctoral researcher University of Victoria, B.C. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From akuegler at hawaii.edu Mon Dec 21 18:51:16 2020 From: akuegler at hawaii.edu (Anke Kuegler) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:51:16 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on Hawaii humpback whale population trends Message-ID: Aloha MARMAM Community, My co-authors and I are happy to share our recent publication in Endangered Species Research on trends in Hawaii's humpback whale population inferred from male song chorusing. The PDF is available as Open Access: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01080 *Abstract: * Approximately half of the North Pacific humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae stock visits the shallow waters of the main Hawaiian Islands seasonally. Within this breeding area, mature males produce an elaborate acoustic display known as song, which becomes the dominant source of ambient underwater sound between December and April. Following reports of unusually low whale numbers that began in 2015/16, we examined song chorusing recorded through long-term passive acoustic monitoring at 6 sites off Maui as a proxy for relative whale abundance between 2014 and 2019. Daily root-mean-square sound pressure levels (RMS SPLs) were calculated to compare variations in low-frequency acoustic energy (0-1.5 kHz). After 2014/15, the overall RMS SPLs decreased between 5.6 and 9.7 dB re 1 ?Pa2 during the peak of whale season (February and March), reducing ambient acoustic energy from chorusing by over 50%. This change in song levels co-occurred with a broad-scale oceanic heat wave in the northeast Pacific termed the ?Blob,? a major El Ni?o event in the North Pacific, and a warming period in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation cycle. Although it remains unclear whether our observations reflect a decrease in population size, a change in migration patterns, a shift in distribution to other areas, a change in the behavior of males, or some combination of these, our results indicate that continued monitoring and further studies of humpback whales throughout the North Pacific are warranted to better understand the fluctuations occurring in this recently recovered population and other populations that continue to be endangered or threatened Please do not hesitate to contact me at akuegler at hawaii.edu. Mahalo, Anke Kuegler -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From leslemos at hotmail.com Mon Dec 21 16:02:47 2020 From: leslemos at hotmail.com (Leila Soledade Lemos) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 00:02:47 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on gray whale fecal hormone assessment Message-ID: Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are very pleased to share with you our newest publication at Conservation Physiology, entitled: Assessment of fecal steroid and thyroid hormone metabolites in eastern North Pacific gray whales By Leila S Lemos, Amy Olsen, Angela Smith, Todd E Chandler, Shawn Larson, Kathleen Hunt, and Leigh G Torres Abstract: Baleen whale fecal samples have high potential for endocrine monitoring, which can be used as a non-invasive tool to identify the physiological response to disturbance events and describe population health and vital rates. In this study, we used commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to validate and quantify fecal steroid (progestins, androgens and glucocorticoids) and thyroid hormone metabolite concentrations in eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) along the Oregon coast, USA, from May to October of 2016?2018. Higher mean progestin metabolite concentrations were observed in postweaning females, followed by pregnant females. Mean androgen, glucocorticoid and thyroid metabolites were higher in mature males. Progestin, glucocorticoids and thyroid fecal metabolites varied significantly by year, with positive correlations between progestin and androgen, and between glucocorticoid and thyroid metabolites. We also present two case studies of a documented injured whale and a mature male displaying reproductive competitive behavior, which provide reference points for physiologically stressed individuals and adult breeding males, respectively. Our methods and findings advance the knowledge of baleen whale physiology, can help guide future research on whale physiology and can inform population management and conservation efforts regarding minimizing the impact of anthropogenic stressors on whales. The article is open access and it's available at: https://academic.oup.com/conphys/article/8/1/coaa110/6025074?searchresult=1 [https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/conphys/Issue/8/1/153/m_cover.png?Expires=1671658651&Signature=bSYF-8HxQOMhn-65biF7bMYDvV4s~u-aiZ1KImvcVAB2SE24CnIGWs1CCdjPzdYrZHrd1Eoi2xTm8UxG-GS~VJSBVj0oV~z4RCMVdZ9bxdW3CUx22qVxPqxuYyZHiOF6R8r1y1m0fLOuOuxWszsQw2J9IGVpuvzMPxHSAU4~UL0xKzyH8Jf3S~xUx~4WAhekGK-NahbbehYNFx0tcJup3PTHY-g6mOmGXEm8OQD-pQAYn-TInP4BsPyNC~5FcFWl-HEixpP43Yz9NCcKUeuRa0gRT38PIZsoEoXRKgNVJ4J3SBtBU3Z16T7dX3wgcybbZu1At21j2XBk83ieajDOFw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIE5G5CRDK6RD3PGA] Assessment of fecal steroid and thyroid hormone metabolites in eastern North Pacific gray whales An improved understanding of baleen whale hormone physiology is required to manage populations and reduce anthropogenic impacts. Gray whale fecal samples were a academic.oup.com Please, feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding our study. Kind regards, [cid:1a9984ea-709a-4428-84d3-2ff419d96756] Leila S. Lemos, Ph.D. Institute of Environment Florida International University (971) 3409610? https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leila_Lemos https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-soledade-lemos-94972415/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Outlook-vimjvx5h.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 56780 bytes Desc: Outlook-vimjvx5h.jpg URL: From SMccormack at virginiaaquarium.com Tue Dec 22 09:15:41 2020 From: SMccormack at virginiaaquarium.com (Sarah R. Mccormack) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 17:15:41 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Virginia Aquarium - Sea Turtle & Marine Mammal Stranding Response Batten Fellowships Message-ID: The Virginia Aquarium?s Research & Conservation Division is now accepting applications for Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Stranding Response Batten Fellowships. The application deadline is January 31, 2021. Fellows are expected to work 800 hours over approximately five months, starting between May and July. Fellowships will be fulfilled in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines and positions are subject to change based on the most current recommendations. Housing is not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Fellows are fully responsible for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic credit. This competitive position includes modest compensation to help offset personal and incidental expenses over the course of the appointment period. Position Overview Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) Fellows promote the conservation of marine animal species through research, rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Fellows will be trained in all aspects of stranding response. Stranding work is unpredictable, therefore experiences will vary by fellowship session. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities as possible during each session. Duties * Respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in the field. * Participate in all aspects of post-mortem examinations: cutting and sampling, data collection & entry, photographing, report writing, carcass removal, and cleaning. * Perform daily husbandry tasks, including food preparation, feeding, and cleaning the rehab area, kitchen and associated supplies and equipment. * Assist staff with new patients, including: daily treatments, restraining animals for exams, collecting vital rates (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) and morphometrics, taking photographs, administering medications, and performing wound care. * Assist with research projects and field activities involving sea turtles and marine mammals. * Ensure response preparedness by stocking response bags, fueling vehicles, and cleaning/restocking gear and supplies. * Assist with releases of rehabilitation patients, public outreach events, and volunteer/cooperator training. * Assist staff with daily administrative tasks, including answering hotline calls, data entry, completing response paperwork, and when trained acting as stranding and live animal lead (under the supervision of a staff member), as well as acting as after-hours hotline point of contact. * Complete other projects and tasks as assigned by VAQS staff. Required Qualifications * Must be at least 18 years old. * Must be a rising junior, recent graduate, or currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in a science-based (or veterinary) program. * Must be self-motivated, articulate, mature, reliable, and responsible. Should work well independently as well as with a team. * Must be physically fit with the ability to lift 50lbs and walk long distances (>5 mi/8 km) on the beach in adverse conditions such as extreme heat and cold, humidity, rain, and/or wind. * Be able to swim and be comfortable in and around open water and boats. * Be willing to learn how to drive response vehicles, if accepted (required). Preferred Qualifications * Demonstrate interest in a career in marine or veterinary science. * Have some experience in stranding response, field research, and/or wild/exotic animal care. * Have basic math and computer skills using MS spreadsheets, relational databases, and data entry (advanced programs such as SQL, GIS, R, etc. preferred). * Be comfortable around dead and decomposing animals. * Be comfortable driving large pick-up trucks and vans. Position Requirements * Attend VAQS orientation and City of Virginia Beach Defensive Driving. * Possess a valid U.S. driver?s license. * Pass a City of Virginia Beach background check. * Be available to perform support activities (24-7) as needed during the period of appointment. Fellowship Learning Objectives * Develop fundamental hands-on stranding response and rehabilitation skills: * Perform basic post-mortem examinations on sea turtle and marine mammals. * Perform basic health assessments of rehabilitation patients, including collecting vital rates, treating wounds, administering medications, and processing blood samples. * Be able to complete Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) and Marine Mammal Stranding Level A forms. * Enter stranding data in Microsoft Access. * Complete an individual project with a final deliverable (paper/report and oral presentation). Fellow Schedule Fellow is expected to be available 4-5 days per week, 8am-4:30pm. Weekend and holiday coverage is expected. Minimum Commitment Required 800 hours Fellow Supervisor/Mentor VAQS Volunteer Manager and project supervisor Work Location Virginia Aquarium?s Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center Application Requirements A complete application includes: * Cover letter. There is some flexibility with Fellowship start/end dates; please include any known schedule conflicts in your cover letter. * Fellowship expectations letter. This should include what you expect to do and get from your experience at VAQS. * Resume * College transcript(s) * Two letters of recommendation; one must be an academic reference. If applying via email, please send application to interns at virginiaaquarium.com and send a copy of the application to vaqstranding at gmail.com. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If applying via mail, please send application to: Volunteer Services Office ? Batten Fellows Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23451 For more information about the application process, please visit: https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us/Pages/Fellowships.aspx Sarah McCormack Stranding & Research Scientist: Field Response & Volunteer Manager P: (757) 385-6485 C: (917) 880-2160 SMccormack at VirginiaAquarium.com Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385-7575 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 [cid:24f83061-fb8b-4e74-9ea2-ea895cdd3a28] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Outlook-axlbl03n.png Type: image/png Size: 16035 bytes Desc: Outlook-axlbl03n.png URL: From naguilar at ull.edu.es Wed Dec 23 06:06:56 2020 From: naguilar at ull.edu.es (Natacha) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:06:56 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Post request: Sighting of a right whale newborn at the Canary Islands In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear Marmam colleagues A historical event at El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain on the 22nd of December 2020. A 4 m long N Atlantic right whale calf with foetal folds was filmed by the little fishing harbour of La Restinga, by divers of the diving center Fan Diving (https://fan-diving-el-hierro.business.site/). See the beautiful video https://www.facebook.com/1202708786/posts/10224640760385426/ Eubalaena glacialis is considered functionally extinct in the NE Atlantic, where it used to breed at Cintra Bay at the African coast near Canary Islands. The video shows that the calf is a newborn, the flukes are still soft (comments of Vidal Martin, SECAC).This means that the calf was born not too far from the Canary Islands and makes the sighting a message of hope, is there a remannent breeding population in the NE Atlantic? The main threat to the North Atlantic right whale is ship strikes, and the Canary Islands is a hot spot for ship strikes of sperm whales and other cetaceans. e.g. see Fais et al 2016 ( https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0150660) or Arbelo et al. 2013 ( https://www.int-res.com/articles/dao2013/103/d103p087.pdf) The fact that the calf was alone is not good news.The mother should have been by the side of such a young calf. Local scientists, with the help of the insular government of El Hierro, are raising public awareness to get eyes in the water from the coast to detect further sightings. If this happens, what should we do? should we try to recover the calf? Advices wellcome May 2021 bring you tons of whales and bring the word recover biodiversity to gain global health! Natacha --- Dra. Natacha Aguilar de Soto Research and teaching fellow Department of Animal Biology, Edaphology and Geology Faculty of Sciences (Biology) https://www.facebook.com/BIOECOMAC/ https://www.instagram.com/bioecomac/ www.cetabase.info > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From anantpande1984 at gmail.com Sat Dec 26 01:12:00 2020 From: anantpande1984 at gmail.com (Anant Pande) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2020 14:42:00 +0530 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on dugongs from India Message-ID: Dear Marmamm peeps Happy to share with a recent article that we published using primary data and open access gene sequences on dugongs. Please find the article here. Mitochondrial phylogeography reveals high haplotype diversity and unique genetic lineage in Indian dugongs (Dugong dugon) - Srinivas - - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems - Wiley Online Library Abstract 1. India plays a significant role in dugong conservation by having the largest population within South Asia. The status of dugongs in India is largely unknown due to a paucity of reliable ecological data. This study generated mitochondrial control region sequences from 10% of dugong individuals from existing populations within India. Furthermore, data generated in this study were compared with the global data to assess genetic lineages, population structure, and genetic diversity of Indian populations. 2. Multiple analyses suggest that the Indian dugong populations are part of a single genetic cluster, comprising South Asia, North-west Indian Ocean, and South-west Indian Ocean populations. Despite small population size, they retain high genetic diversity with unique mitochondrial DNA haplotypes within South Asia. Within India, novel haplotypes are observed from all dugong habitats sampled, with overall high haplotype diversity (0.85 ? 0.04) but low nucleotide diversity (0.005 ? 0.001). Indian populations exhibit genetic differentiation with higher within-population variance (63.41%) than among populations (36.59%). Two of the haplotypes observed in India are shared with Sri Lanka, implying genetic connectivity between these populations. 3. The genetic data from Indian dugong populations provide critical insights into the identification of dugong corridors and important dugong conservation zones in India. We suggest site-specific interventions, including the creation of new marine protected areas and boundary reorganization and expansion of other existing protected areas, to ensure population connectivity. In addition, simultaneous efforts towards seagrass meadow restoration, reduction of dugong mortalities, and community participation in dugong conservation are recommended for population recovery of this threatened marine herbivore. Please feel free to write back to me at anantpande1984 at gmail.com for a PDF. regards Anant Pande, Ph.D Department of Endangered Species Management Wildlife Institute of India Anant Pande, Ph.D Project Scientist Chandrabani, Dehradun- 248001 Ph no: +91-135-2646211-215 ext. 5007 Twitter: @AnantPande28 Former Team Lead - Indian Polar Research Network Project SEABIRD - http://pagodroma.blogspot.com https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anant_Pande [image: Mailtrack] Sender notified by Mailtrack 12/26/20, 02:40:30 PM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cristina.oterosabio at studenti.unipd.it Tue Dec 29 03:52:40 2020 From: cristina.oterosabio at studenti.unipd.it (Cristina Otero Sabio) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:52:40 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Submission: New publication on cetacean lung anatomy (Cristina Otero-Sabio) Message-ID: New publication on cetacean lung anatomy (Cristina Otero-Sabio) Dear colleagues my Co-Authors and I are happy to share with you our recent article at Journal of Morphology, entitled: Microscopic anatomical, immunohistochemical, and morphometric characterization of the terminal airways of the lung in cetaceans Otero?Sabio, C.; Centelleghe, C.; Corain, L.; Gra?c, J.M.; Cozzi, B.; Rivero, M.; Consoli, F.; Peruffo, A. The PDF is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.21304 Abstract: The lungs of cetaceans undergo anatomical and physiological adaptations that facilitate extended breath?holding during dives. Here, we present new insights on the ontogeny of the microscopic anatomy of the terminal portion of the airways of the lungs in five cetacean species: the fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*); the sperm whale (*Physeter macrocephalus*), the Cuvier's beaked whale (*Ziphius cavirostris*); the bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*); and the striped dolphin (*Stenella coeruleoalba*). We (a) studied the histology of the terminal portion of the airways; (b) used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to characterize the muscle fibers with antibodies against smooth muscle (sm?) actin, sm?myosin, and desmin; (c) the innervation of myoelastic sphincters (MESs) with an antibody against neurofilament protein; and (d) defined the diameter of the terminal bronchioles, the diameter and length of the alveoli, the thickness of the septa, the major and minor axis, perimeter and section area of the cartilaginous rings by quantitative morphometric analyses in partially inflated lung tissue. As already reported in the literature, in bottlenose and striped dolphins, a system of MESs was observed in the terminal bronchioles. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of smooth muscle in the terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar septa in all the examined species. Some neurofilaments were observed close to the MESs in both bottlenose and striped dolphins. In fin, sperm, and Cuvier's beaked whales, we noted a layer of longitudinal smooth muscle going from the terminal bronchioles to the alveolar sacs. The morphometric analysis allowed to quantify the structural differences among cetacean species by ranking them into groups according to the adjusted mean values of the morphometric parameters measured. Our results contribute to the current understanding of the anatomy of the terminal airways of the cetacean lung and the role of the smooth muscle in the alveolar collapse reflex, crucial for prolonged breath?holding diving. Please do not hesitate to contact me at cristina.oterosabio at studenti.unipd.it Best regards and Happy New Year Cristina Otero-Sabio Ph.D Candidate Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA) University of Padova Viale dell?Universit?, 16 35030 Legnaro - Agripolis (PD), Italy phone: + 34 660 908 580 e-mail: cristina.oterosabio at studendi.unipd.it -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kelly at dolphins.org Tue Dec 29 09:26:24 2020 From: kelly at dolphins.org (Kelly Jaakkola) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:26:24 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on dolphin lateralization Message-ID: Dear All, We are placed to announce our new publication: Jaakkola, K., Loyer, C., Guarino, E., Donegan, K., & McMullen, C. (2021). Do dolphins really have a rightward lateralization for action? The importance of behavior-specific and orientation-neutral coding. Behavioural Brain Research, 401, 113083. Abstract: Because each side of the vertebrate body is controlled by a different side of the brain, studies of behavioral lateralization can provide insight into functional cerebral asymmetries in humans and other animals. The current study examined behavioral lateralization for a variety of behaviors in a group of 26 dolphins, in order to assess the claim that cetaceans show strong rightward action asymmetries indicative of a left-hemisphere specialization for action. We distinguished between side asymmetries and whole body turning actions, and devised a new coding system to counter the problem that previous studies of rolling behaviors (i.e., rotations around the long axis) have used contradictory coding systems depending on species' typical orientation. Our results did not support a generalized population-level rightward action asymmetry across multiple behaviors. Instead, we suggest that many dolphin behavioral asymmetries may be better explained as a result of perceptual processing asymmetries common across many vertebrates. You can access the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113083 Or email me directly for a copy: kelly at dolphins.org Cheers, -- Kelly /Kelly Jaakkola, PhD Director of Research, Dolphin Research Center Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums / -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stephanie.ploen at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 02:38:20 2020 From: stephanie.ploen at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Stephanie_Pl=C3=B6n=2C_PhD?=) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:38:20 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication- "Long-term demographic and spatio-temporal trends of Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) bycatch in bather protection nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." Message-ID: Dear MARMAM members, On behalf of all my co-authors, I would like to share with you our most recent paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science, section Marine Megafauna: "Long-term demographic and spatio-temporal trends of Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops aduncus*) bycatch in bather protection nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." Abstract: Bather protection nets have been in place off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, since the 1950?s. Besides sharks, they also catch a number of other marine vertebrates, including dolphins, the majority of which are Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins *Tursiops aduncus*. Previous analyses of dolphin bycatch in the nets indicated the potential impacts on the local populations, but a lack of information on population structure has to-date hindered a more detailed assessment. A recent re-assessment of the status and population delineations of *T. aduncus* off South Africa prompted a re-examination of demographic, spatial, and temporal patterns of its catches in bather protection nets over a 36-year period (January 1980 to December 2015). In total, 1169 dolphins were caught, including a slightly greater number of females and juveniles than other sex-classes, raising concern about the potential long-term effects on population demographics. More dolphins were caught off the North than the South coast. Temporal trends indicate that the bycatch during June and July every year (peak Sardine Run period) as a percentage of overall dolphin bycatch has been steadily decreasing from 39.8% in 1980 to 13% in 2015. A large inter-annual fluctuation can be seen, probably as a result of the inter-annual intensity of the Sardine Run. Although our results do not indicate a long-term decline of the individual populations as previously predicted, revised abundance estimates and data on the demographics and movement patterns of the animals are urgently required to accurately assess the impact of bycatch on the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin populations off KZN and to advise conservation and management decisions going forward. The article is available at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.542675/full or can be requested via e-mail from: stephanie.ploen at gmail.com Kind regards, Stephanie Dr. Stephanie Pl?n Bayworld Centre for Research and Education (BCRE) Port Elizabeth, South Africa Cell: +27-76-3791067 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie_Ploen *https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vt at osc.co.uk Tue Dec 29 03:40:21 2020 From: vt at osc.co.uk (Dr. Victoria Todd) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:40:21 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Todd et al., 2020 JASA paper on underwater drilling noise in the Dogger Bank and relevance to harbour porpoise In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear Marmamers, Pleased to announce publication of our latest paper on 28 December 2020: Todd, V.L.G., Williamson, L.D., Jiang, J., Cox, S.E., Todd, I.B., and Ruffert, M. (2020): Proximate underwater soundscape of a North Sea offshore petroleum-exploration jack-up drilling-rig in the Dogger Bank. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 148, 3971-3979. Please find the article here: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002958 Abstract Little is known about localized, near-field soundscapes during offshore hydrocarbon drilling campaigns. In the Dogger Bank, North Sea, underwater noise recordings were made 41-60 m from the drill stem of the Noble Kolskaya jack-up exploration drilling-rig. Aims were to document noise Received Levels (RLs) and frequency characteristics of rig-associated near-field noise. The rig produced Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) of 120 dB re 1?Pa in the frequency range of 2-1,400 Hz. Over transient periods, RLs varied by 15-20 dB between softest (holding) and noisiest (drilling) operations. Tonal components at different frequencies varied with depth. Support-vessel noise was significantly louder than the jack-up rig at frequencies <1 kHz, even in its noisiest 'boulder-drilling' phase, though radiated noise levels were higher above 2 kHz. Rig SPLs fell rapidly above 8 kHz. Marine mammals, such as harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) forage regularly near offshore oil & gas rigs and platforms, and it is predicted that animals experience different noise regimes as they traverse the water column, and can potentially detect the higher-frequency components of drilling noise to a distance of 70 m from the source; however, while levels were unlikely to cause auditory injury, effects on echolocation behavior are still unknown. If you require a pdf, please don't hesitate to ask me on info at osc.co.uk. Kind regards, -- Dr. Victoria Todd Managing Director Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk MMO or PAM requirement? We wrote the book. Now available on Amazon: www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nmauroo at connect.hku.hk Wed Dec 30 21:32:41 2020 From: nmauroo at connect.hku.hk (Mauroo, Nathalie France) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2020 13:32:41 +0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication - Crassicauda sp. in an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) Message-ID: Dear colleagues, Myself and my co-authors are pleased to announce a new publication arising from our research on stranded Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Hong Kong. Mauroo, NF., Beh, PSL., Harris, E., Chan, SY., Gibson, DI. (2020) Crassicauda sp. in an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis). Veterinary Record Case Reports 8: e000865. doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2019-000865 Abstract A female Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) stranded in Hong Kong waters presented on postmortem examination with a single nematode with a diameter of 0.1 cm in the mammary gland, as well as mild multifocal chronic mastitis on histological examination. The parasitic material was recognised as a species of Crassicauda. To our knowledge, this is the first record of a species of Crassicauda occurring in an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and also represents a new geographical record for this genus in the South China Sea. Wishing you all a Healthy New Year 2021! Best wishes, Nathalie Dr Nathalie Mauroo, DVM, PhD, CertZooMed,MRCVS nmauroo at hkwhf.org.hk Hong Kong Wildlife Health Foundation www.hkwhf.org.hk -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From holmbergius at gmail.com Thu Dec 31 08:13:38 2020 From: holmbergius at gmail.com (Jason Holmberg) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:13:38 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New presentation: Automating Wildlife Conservation for Cetaceans Message-ID: Dear readers, I am pleased to announce a recorded online presentation entitled "Automating Wildlife Conservation for Cetaceans" delivered recently at NeurIPS, presenting the engineering work of Wild Me (wildme.org) for fully automated, multi-feature, multi-species machine learning for Photo ID in the Flukebook.org platform. The recorded link for the in-depth presentation is here: https://slideslive.com/38942314/automating-wildlife-conservation-for-cetaceans Citation: Parham, J. "Automating Wildlife Conservation for Cetaceans". 34th Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2020), 6-12 December 2020. Online Conference, Canada (C20-12-06). Conference presentation. Follow up questions are invited and can be directed to Jason Parham ( parham at wildme.org) or Jason Holmberg (jason at wildme.org). Thank you, Jason Holmberg Jason Holmberg (he/him/his) Executive Director, Wild Me A.I. and humans combating extinction together. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dwalk at mmome.org Thu Dec 31 09:25:37 2020 From: dwalk at mmome.org (Walk, Dominique) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2020 12:25:37 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammals of Maine Summer Internship Announcement Message-ID: Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is now accepting applications through February 3rd for the summer 2021 harbor seal pup season internship. MMoME is a non-profit organization federally authorized to respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles between Kittery and Rockland, Maine, covering some of the busiest seal stranding activity on the East Coast. MMoME also operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center which provides critical care to sick and injured pinnipeds. Additionally, our mission heavily encompasses marine mammal research, education, and outreach. MMoME is seeking up to 4 motivated, flexible, positive, and independent interns who will be given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Interns will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as Level A data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The internship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick area), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Interns will work as a team alongside veterinary preceptors to accomplish MMoME?s broad scope of work during our busiest time of year, and will be required to dedicate a minimum of 40-50 hours per week to the internship (minimum of 4 days/week). These hours will include holidays, weekends, and late nights and early mornings. This internship is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff may be able to assist with sourcing options. *KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:* *STRANDING RESPONSE:* respond to live and dead cetacean, pinniped and sea turtle strandings to collect Level A data, perform health assessments, and monitor, relocate, and collect for humane euthanasia or rehabilitation. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required; *PATIENT CARE:* assist with all aspects relating to the care of sick, injured and abandoned pinnipeds (primarily harbor seal pups) undergoing short, or long-term care at MMoME?s center. Tasks include primarily cleaning, but also meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, medical record maintenance, and transport to other long-term care facilities; *NECROPSY:* transport carcasses to necropsy and compost sites, assist staff with necropsy of fresh dead pinnipeds and cetaceans, archive necropsy samples, and maintain and clean necropsy equipment; *EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:* give presentations to the public about the organization, attend outreach events, and help create educational materials; *OTHER TASKS:* additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, extensive cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *REQUIREMENTS:*-Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. This internship is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in, or recently graduated (within two years) from an accredited college or university; -The ideal candidate is working towards a career in marine mammal science, veterinary technology, marine biology, environmental education, or related field; -Must commit to at least three months, and be available from May 10th to August 15th, or October 15th. *All interns must be able to start on May 10th* , preference given to those that can stay through the end of August or later. -Must have a valid driver?s license, a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, and comfortable driving a full-size truck in urban and rural areas; -Must be able to work independently and as part of a team with other veterinary and non-veterinary interns, and be adaptable to a changing and unpredictable schedule; -Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds; -Individuals that are passionate, responsible, hardworking, eager to learn, flexible, able to work under minimal supervision, able to work well with others as a team member, and detail-oriented are encouraged to apply; -Preference given to individuals with a demonstrated interest in marine mammals, and are specifically interested in marine mammal response and care. Previous marine mammal experience or animal husbandry a plus. *HOW TO APPLY: *Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: why you would like to be considered for this internship, how you meet the requirements, what your expectations are of this internship, what you think MMoME?s expectations are of interns, what you hope to gain from this internship and the start and end dates you can commit to. Your application must also include a resume and one professional letter of recommendation. Completed applications can be sent to info at mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST February 3rd, 2021. *Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.* For more information on MMoME and our internship programs, visit https://www.mmome.org/internship/. We look forward to your application for this exciting experience! *Dominique Walk* *Assistant Stranding Coordinator* *Marine Mammals of MaineOffice: 207-844-8718* *Reporting Hotline: 1-800-532-9551* *www.mmome.org * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dwalk at mmome.org Thu Dec 31 09:34:29 2020 From: dwalk at mmome.org (Walk, Dominique) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2020 12:34:29 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammals of Maine Summer Veterinary Preceptorship Announcement Message-ID: Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is now accepting applications through February 3rd, 2021 for marine mammal veterinary preceptorship positions. MMoME is a non-profit organization federally authorized to respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles between Kittery and Rockland, Maine, covering some of the busiest seal stranding activity on the East Coast. MMoME also operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center which provides critical care to sick and injured pinnipeds. Additionally, our mission heavily encompasses marine mammal research, education, and outreach. We are seeking to fill up to 3 positions to assist with the upcoming harbor seal pup season. Preceptors, interns, and volunteers are critical in fulfilling our mission and are given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. On a day-to-day basis, preceptors work under the supervision and direction of core MMoME staff and join our marine mammal veterinarian for regular patient rounds and a mentored project. Additionally, preceptors work daily alongside non-veterinary interns as a team to accomplish our broad scope of work during our busiest time of year. Preceptors will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as Level A data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The preceptorship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Preceptors will be required to dedicate a minimum of 40-50 hours per week (minimum of 4 days/week), and will include holidays, weekends, late nights, early mornings, and overnight care for critical patients as needed. This opportunity is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff may be able to assist with sourcing options. *KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES SHARED AMONG ALL PRECEPTORS AND NON-VETERINARY INTERNS:* *STRANDING RESPONSE:* respond to live and dead cetacean, pinniped, and sea turtle strandings in the field to collect Level A data, perform health assessments, and monitor, relocate, and collect for humane euthanasia or rehabilitation. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required; *PATIENT CARE:* assist with all aspects relating to the care of sick, injured and abandoned pinnipeds (primarily harbor seal pups) undergoing short, or long-term care at MMoME?s center. Tasks include primarily cleaning, as well as meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, medical record maintenance, cleaning, and transport to other long-term care facilities; *NECROPSY:* transport carcasses to necropsy and compost sites, assist staff with necropsy of fresh dead pinnipeds and cetaceans, archive necropsy samples, and maintain and clean necropsy equipment; *EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:* give presentations to the public about the organization, attend outreach events, and help create educational materials; *OTHER TASKS:* additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, extensive cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *PRECEPTOR-SPECIFIC TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:*-Collect and process biological and diagnostic samples from stranded marine mammals, as well as from triage and rehabilitation pinniped patients in MMoME?s care. For example, blood samples from live marine mammals for diagnostic health evaluation, swabs from live and dead marine mammals for disease monitoring with partner research labs and patient health testing, culture samples from live and dead cases, necropsy tissue samples for histology or PCR testing, etc.; -Clinical rounds with MMoME?s veterinarian; -Assist staff and veterinarian with, and carry out clinical procedures such as IV, IM, or SQ injections and intravenous fluid therapy; -Provide after-hours medical care of triage or rehab patients in need of extended critical care as needed, and as directed by staff and veterinarian; -Conduct a project mentored by MMoME?s veterinarian (case study, nutritional study, etc.) to be completed during the preceptorship and presented to MMoME staff, veterinarian, and community. Research opportunities may be available depending on student interest, time, and permitting. *REQUIREMENTS:*-Must be actively enrolled in a veterinary program pursuing a DVM or similar degree. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year domestic and international students are encouraged to apply. -Must be available to start no later than May 17th, 2021 and commit to the full period extending through August 15th. Preference given to those that can start prior to May 17th. -Must have demonstrated experience with physical restraint of animals in a clinical setting. Wildlife handling is preferred, though not required. -Must be able to work well as a positive team member with other preceptors and non-veterinary interns, staff, and veterinarian, work well with limited supervision, and be adaptable to a changing and unpredictable schedule; -Must be able to lift 50 pounds; -Must have a valid driver?s license, a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, and comfortable driving a full-size truck in urban and rural areas; -Preference given to applicants with marine mammal or other wildlife husbandry experience, and a demonstrated interest in marine mammal or conservation medicine; -Proof of Rabies vaccination or current titer. *HOW TO APPLY: *Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: why you would like to be considered for this internship, how you meet the requirements, what your expectations are, what you think MMoME?s expectations are, what you hope to gain from this opportunity, and the start and end dates you can commit to. Your application must also include a resume, one professional letter of recommendation, a copy of your current transcripts, and proof of rabies vaccine or current titer. Completed applications can be sent to info at mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST February 3rd, 2021. *Incomplete or late applications will not be considered*. For more information on MMoME or the preceptorship, visit www.mmome.org/veterinary-preceptorship/. We look forward to your application for this exciting experience! *Dominique Walk* *Assistant Stranding Coordinator* *Marine Mammals of MaineOffice: 207-844-8718* *Reporting Hotline: 1-800-532-9551* *www.mmome.org * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bubac at ualberta.ca Thu Dec 31 12:12:31 2020 From: bubac at ualberta.ca (Christine Bubac) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2020 15:12:31 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?New_publication=3A_=E2=80=9CSurface_behaviors_?= =?utf-8?q?correlate_with_prey_abundance_and_vessels_in_an_endanger?= =?utf-8?q?ed_killer_whale_=28Orcinus_orca=29_population=E2=80=9D_?= =?utf-8?q?=28Christine_Bubac=2C_Amy_Johnson=29?= Message-ID: Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper: Bubac C.M.*, Johnson A.C.*, and Otis R. 2020. Surface behaviors correlate with prey abundance and vessels in an endangered killer whale (*Orcinus orca*) population. Marine Ecology, e12626. *Authors contributed equally. Abstract: Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) (*Orcinus orca*) are an endangered population in the United States and Canada, partly due to declines of their primary prey species, Chinook salmon. Prey availability influences various aspects of SRKW behavior, including distribution patterns and social structure. Yet, it is unclear to what extent a limited prey source influences the frequency of surface-active behaviors (SABs), behaviors with important ecological implications. Here, we used long-term datasets (1996-2019) to examine the relationships between the abundance of Chinook salmon, vessel presence, and the frequency with which SRKWs perform SABs. Salmon abundance was a significant predictor of SAB frequency, with fewer SABs performed in times of lower salmon abundance. SRKWs displayed more SABs when more whale watching vessels were present, and the whales spent a greater amount of time in the study area, performing more milling as opposed to traveling behavior, when vessel numbers were higher. Lastly, we found pod-specific differences, such that K pod displayed significantly fewer SABs than either J or L pods.The observed relationships between SRKW behavior and both salmon abundance and vessel presence have implications for social network cohesion and foraging success. Our study adds to a growing body of literature highlighting factors affecting SRKW behavior as they experience increased threats from decreased prey availability, habitat loss, and anthropogenic disturbance, with implications for trans-boundary management and conservation efforts. The article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12626. Alternatively, the article is available upon request via email to: bubac at ualberta.ca or acj1 at ualberta.ca Kind regards, Christi Bubac -- Christi Bubac PhD Candidate, Ecology Dept. of Biological Sciences University of Alberta bubac at ualberta.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: