From kelly at dolphins.org Wed Jul 1 11:31:17 2020 From: kelly at dolphins.org (Kelly Jaakkola) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2020 14:31:17 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Animal welfare needs unbiased science Message-ID: Dear All, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication: Jaakkola, K., Bruck, J. N., Connor, R. C., Montgomery, S. H., & King, S. L. (2020). Bias and misrepresentation of science undermines productive discourse on animal welfare policy: A case study. /Animals, 10/, 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071118 Abstract: Reliable scientific knowledge is crucial for informing legislative, regulatory, and policy decisions in a variety of areas. To that end, scientific reviews of topical issues can be invaluable tools for informing productive discourse and decision-making, assuming these reviews represent the target body of scientific knowledge as completely, accurately, and objectively as possible. Unfortunately, not all reviews live up to this standard. As a case in point, Marino et al.?s review regarding the welfare of killer whales in captivity contains methodological flaws and misrepresentations of the scientific literature, including problematic referencing, overinterpretation of the data, misleading word choice, and biased argumentation. These errors and misrepresentations undermine the authors? conclusions and make it impossible to determine the true state of knowledge of the relevant issues. To achieve the goal of properly informing public discourse and policy on this and other issues, it is imperative that scientists and science communicators strive for higher standards of analysis, argumentation, and objectivity, in order to clearly communicate what is known, what is not known, what conclusions are supported by the data, and where we are lacking the data necessary to draw reliable conclusions. The paper is open access, available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1118 All the best, 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 B.J.Godley at exeter.ac.uk Wed Jul 1 13:59:39 2020 From: B.J.Godley at exeter.ac.uk (Godley, Brendan) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2020 20:59:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Call for applications: ESR Editors (Marine Mammal Expertise Sought) Message-ID: Dear Colleagues As a new strategy to recruit new Editors for the journal Endangered Species Research (ESR), we have published a Call For Applications for prospective Editors (linked via the ESR home page). The call has also been posted on ESR's Twitter and Facebook pages. Please help spread the word so that we can reach as many potential candidates as possible. ESR has become a major venue for marine mammal research so we definitely seek to enhance our strengths. Best, Brendan Brendan Godley Chair in Conservation Science #ExeterMarine?Strategy Lead Centre for Ecology and Conservation (CEC) University of Exeter, Penryn Campus? https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/marine/researchthemes/ ? Twitter:?@BrendanGodley Twitter:?@ExeterMarine I recently gave a?TEDx Talk??Sea Turtles: United by Oceans? You can watch it here:?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT3PQN9bojc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From eiren.jacobson at st-andrews.ac.uk Wed Jul 1 04:40:51 2020 From: eiren.jacobson at st-andrews.ac.uk (Eiren Jacobson) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2020 11:40:51 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Letter to the SMM re. unpaid work Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We have drafted a letter to the leadership of the Society for Marine Mammalogy asking them to help eliminate unpaid work from the field of marine mammal science. The letter can be found here: https://bit.ly/3gjM0gd And can be co-signed here: https://bit.ly/2YO4sHZ Briefly, the pipeline of unpaid positions reinforces the existing racial and socioeconomic makeup of marine mammal scientists. If the Society is committed to increasing diversity in marine mammal science, it will lead the way by asking members to compensate all workers appropriately and refusing to advertise unpaid positions. We are aware that advertising unpaid positions is common practice on this listserv, and we encourage those seeking research support to consider how unpaid positions amplify existing barriers to participation and reinforce systemic discrimination. Currently, the letter has nearly 200 co-signatories. We invite further co-signatures from marine mammal scientists of any specialty, nationality, or career stage. We also welcome co-signatures from anyone who opted not to pursue a career in marine mammal science due to the prevalence of unpaid work and other systemic barriers to participation. Sincerely, Eiren Jacobson, University of St Andrews Chloe Malinka, Aarhus University Margaret Siple, University of California, Santa Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From annebelle.kok at gmail.com Thu Jul 2 07:20:29 2020 From: annebelle.kok at gmail.com (Annebelle Kok) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 16:20:29 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Diving apart together: call propagation in diving long-finned pilot whales Message-ID: On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of the following paper: Kok, ACM, van Kolfschoten, L, Campbell, JA, von Benda-Beckmann, AM, Miller, PJO, Slabbekoorn, H, and Visser, F (2020). Diving apart together: call propagation in long-finned pilot whales. Journal of Experimental Biology 223, jeb207878. Abstract: Group-living animals must communicate to stay in contact. In long- finned pilot whales, there is a trade-off between the benefits of foraging individually at depth and the formation of tight social groups at the surface. Using theoretical modelling and empirical data of tagged pairs within a group, we examined the potential of pilot whale social calls to reach dispersed group members during foraging periods. Both theoretical predictions and empirical data of tag pairs showed a potential for communication between diving and non-diving group members over separation distances up to 385 m (empirical) and 1800 m (theoretical). These distancesmatch orexceed pilot whale dive depths recorded across populations. Call characteristics and environmental characteristics were analysed to investigate determinants of call detectability. Longer calls with a higher sound pressure level (SPL) that were received in a quieter environment were more often detected than their shorter, lower SPL counterparts within a noisierenvironment. Ina noisierenvironment, calls were louderand had a lower peak frequency, indicating mechanisms for coping with varying conditions. However, the vulnerability of pilot whales to anthropogenic noise is still ofconcern as the ability to cope with increasing background noise may be limited. Our study shows that combining propagation modelling and actual tag recordings provides new insights into the communicative potential for social calls in orientation and reunion with group members for deep-diving pilot whales. The paper is available online at https://jeb.biologists.org/content/223/10/jeb207878 or as accepted manuscript on Research Gate. Kind regards, Annebelle Kok (email: akok at ucsd.edu) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jdjm at bios.au.dk Thu Jul 2 03:06:22 2020 From: jdjm at bios.au.dk (Jamie Donald John Macaulay) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 10:06:22 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] 3D porpoise beam profile Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to share our new publication in JASA on the 3D beam pattern of porpoise clicks: Macaulay J, Malinka CE, Gillespie D, & PT Madsen (2020) ?High resolution three-dimensional beam radiation pattern of harbour porpoise clicks with implications for passive acoustic monitoring.? J Acoust Soc Am 147: 4175-4188. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0001376 Abstract: The source properties and radiation patterns of animal vocalisations define, along with propagation and noise conditions, the active space in which these vocalisations can be detected by conspecifics, predators, prey, and by passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). This study reports the 4? (360? horizontal and vertical) beam profile of a free-swimming, trained harbour porpoise measured using a 27-element hydrophone array. The forward echolocation beam is highly directional, as predicted by a piston model, and is consistent with previous measurements. However, at off-axis angles greater than ?30?, the beam attenuates more rapidly than the piston model and no side lobes are present. A diffuse back beam is also present with levels about ?30 dB relative to the source level. In PAM, up to 50% of detections can be from portions of the beam profile with distorted click spectra, although this drops substantially for higher detection thresholds. Simulations of the probability of acoustically detecting a harbour porpoise show that a traditional piston model can underestimate the probability of detection compared to the actual three-dimensional radiation pattern documented here. This highlights the importance of empirical 4? measurements of beam profiles of toothed whales, both to improve understanding of toothed whale biology and to inform PAM. View this, along with recent publications from our lab, here. On behalf of all coauthors, Jamie Macaulay Marine Bioacoustics Lab, Aarhus University, Denmark @jam_machund -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Steve.Ferguson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca Thu Jul 2 06:30:24 2020 From: Steve.Ferguson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Ferguson, Steve) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 13:30:24 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Comparing temporal patterns in body condition of ringed seals living within their core geographic range with those living at the edge Message-ID: <84C10A360DE36E41B2E8E7C4A530D3C23ABE3B16@DFMBR3TWPEXP001.ENT.dfo-mpo.ca> Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I would like to share our recently published paper on ringed seal body condition changes: Ferguson, S.H., D. J. Yurkowski, B. G. Young, A. T. Fisk, D. C. G. Muir, X. Zhu, and G. W. Thiemann. 2020. Comparing temporal patterns in body condition of ringed seals living within their core geographic range with those living at the edge. Ecography http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecog.04988 ABSTRACT: Ecological theory suggests that demographic responses by populations to environmental change vary depending on whether individuals inhabit central or peripheral regions within the species? geographic range. Here, we tested this prediction by comparing a population of ringed seals Pusa hispida located at high latitudes as part of their core range (core) with a population located at the southern extremity of their range (peripheral). First, we compared the two regions? environmental trends in timing of sea-ice breakup and freeze-up, open-water duration and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). We found that the core region shifted to progressively warmer conditions in the early 1990s; whereas, in the peripheral region, the warming trend shifted in 1999 to one with no warming trend but high inter-annual variability. Next, we examined how body condition, inferred from blubber depth, responded to temporal changes in sea-ice and climatic variables ? variables that have been shown to influence ringed seal demography. Core seals displayed minimal seasonal changes in body condition; whereas peripheral seals displayed a 20?60% amplitude seasonal change in body condition with a phase shift to earlier initiation of fat accumulation and loss. Finally, we tested for interannual differences and found that both core and peripheral seals responded similarly with decreased body condition following more positive NAO. Environmental variables influenced body condition in opposite directions between the two regions with core seals declining in body condition with later spring breakup and shorter open-water duration, whereas peripheral seals showed opposite relationships. Seals living at the core likely benefit from an evolved match between adaptation and environmental variation resulting in dampened seasonal and interannual fluctuations in body condition. Knowledge of how different populations respond to environmental change depending on geographic location within a species range can assist in anticipating population specific responses to climate warming. Previous episodes of the north-south trilogy are also available here: Ferguson SH, Yurkowski DJ, Young BG, Willing C, Zhu X, Muir DCJ, Fisk AT, Thiemann GW. 2019. Do intraspecific life history patterns follow interspecific predictions? A test using latitudinal variation in ringed seals. Population Ecology 61(4): 371-382. https://esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/1438-390X.12008 Ferguson, S.H., X. Zhu, B.G. Young, D.J. Yurkowski, G.W. Thiemann, A.T. Fisk, D.C.G. Muir. 2018. Geographic variation in ringed seal growth rate and body size. Canadian Journal of Zoology 96: 649?659. https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjz-2017-0213#.XvJsWm-P7X4 Please let me know if you'd like a PDF copy. Thanks, Steven Ferguson Fisheries and Oceans Canada University of Manitoba steve.ferguson at dfo-mpo.gc.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cindy.elliser at pacmam.org Thu Jul 2 12:23:02 2020 From: cindy.elliser at pacmam.org (cindy Elliser) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 12:23:02 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Prey-related asphyxiation in harbor porpoises and importance of American shad on adult female mortality Message-ID: <002e01d650a6$3506a730$9f13f590$@pacmam.org> Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication on prey-related asphyxiation of harbor porpoises in the Oceans special issue, Marine Mammals in a Changing World. Reference: Elliser, C.R.; Calambokidis, J.; D'Alessandro, D.N.; Duffield, D.A.; Huggins, J.L.; Rice, J.; Szczepaniak, I.; Webber, M. Prey-Related Asphyxiation in Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) along the U.S. West Coast: Importance of American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) on Adult Female Harbor Porpoise Mortality. Oceans 2020, 1, 94-113. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans1030008 Abstract: Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) diets are predominantly comprised of small fish species (<30 cm) and squid. However, predation on larger species (up to 63 cm) occurs, raising the question of increased risk of asphyxiation associated with this behavior. Literature was reviewed and stranding data from 1983 to 2020 from the U.S. West Coast (including California, Oregon and Washington) were searched for cases of prey-related asphyxiation of harbor porpoises and analyzed in relation to age, sex, reproductive status and prey species. Twenty-nine cases were documented. Twenty-seven cases involved large prey; non-native American shad caused the asphyxiation in 87% of the cases where the prey species was identified. The majority (92%) of harbor porpoises were females, and at least 83.3% were pregnant or recently post-partum. Reproductively active females may be more likely to attempt potentially risky behavior in order to compensate for their increased energetic needs. Increasing numbers of non-native American shad may pose a unique danger in this region for harbor porpoises not adapted to deal with the challenges of that prey. This may be a cause for concern, as there is likely an interaction between location, age and reproductive status on the diet composition and foraging strategies of harbor porpoises. The article is open access and can be found at this link: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/1/3/8 Please feel free to email with any questions: cindy.elliser at pacmam.org Thanks, Cindy R. Elliser, PhD Research Director Pacific Mammal Research www.pacmam.org 360-202-2860 Cindy R. Elliser, PhD Research Director Pacific Mammal Research www.pacmam.org 360-202-2860 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From AEpple at virginiaaquarium.com Thu Jul 2 11:43:58 2020 From: AEpple at virginiaaquarium.com (Alexandra L. Epple) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 18:43:58 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Publication: Novel Necropsy Findings Linked to Peracute Underwater Entrapment in Bottlenose Dolphins Message-ID: On behalf of my co-authors, we are pleased to announce the publication of our recent article in Frontiers in Marine Science that highlights novel internal lesions in bottlenose dolphins entangled in fishing gear. Epple, Alexandra L., Joanna T. Daniel, Susan G. Barco, David S. Rotstein, and Alexander M. Costidis. 2020. "Novel Necropsy Findings Linked to Peracute Underwater Entrapment in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)." Frontiers in Marine Science 7:503. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00503. Abstract: Peracute underwater entrapment (PUE) is a recognized cause of death associated with anthropogenic trauma in marine mammals. We describe internal lesions likely resulting from extreme agonal exertion in bottlenose dolphins due to entanglement and forced submergence in fishing gear during PUE. We reviewed necropsy findings from bottlenose dolphins with known PUE statuses in Virginia, United States from 2016?2019 (n = 31) for the presence of five lesions: pulmonary petechiae, pulmonary perivascular edema, hemorrhagic pulmonary lymph, separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, and acute abdominal hernias. Of the 31 cases, 23 were considered PUE cases due to the presence of external ligature marks consistent with entanglement in fishing gear. Of the animals examined, pulmonary perivascular edema, pulmonary petechiae, and hemorrhagic pulmonary lymph were found in both PUE and non-PUE cases. Though found in one non-PUE case, pulmonary perivascular edema was significantly related to PUE. There was no significant relationship between PUE and pulmonary petechiae or hemorrhagic pulmonary lymph. Rectus abdominis muscle separations and acute abdominal hernias were only found in PUE cases and nine animals exhibited either one (n = 7) or both (n = 2) of these traumatic lesions. Although these two lesions were relatively rare, there was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of one or both of the lesions and positive PUE status. This study suggests that pulmonary perivascular edema, acute hernias and separations of the rectus abdominis muscles may be useful for diagnosing PUE in the absence of external fishery interaction lesions, and highlights the severity of agonal fisheries interactions. The article is open access and can be downloaded here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00503 or a PDF can be requested from AEpple at VirginiaAquarium.com. Alexandra Epple, M.Sc. Stranding & Research Scientist: Data & Operations Office: (757) 385-6487 AEpple at VirginiaAquarium.com Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385-7575 Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 [cid:2d04e441-658e-46ed-9100-9afeb69af723] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Outlook-xbf1iscq.png Type: image/png Size: 16035 bytes Desc: Outlook-xbf1iscq.png URL: From burnhamr at uvic.ca Thu Jul 2 13:13:35 2020 From: burnhamr at uvic.ca (burnhamr) Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2020 13:13:35 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on gray whale maternal behaviour Message-ID: My colleague and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper on the maternal behaviour of gray whales in a foraging area on Canada's west coast Burnham, R.E., Duffus, D.A. Maternal behaviors of gray whales (_Eschrichtius robustus_) on a summer foraging site Mar Mam Sci. 2020;1-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12710 Abstract: The weaning period for gray whale (_Eschrichtius robustus_) calves is important for maternal instruction and learning. We examined observational and acoustic data from a foraging site for evidence of calf development and mother-young information transfer. Site survey data demonstrated an initial prioritization of calf protection by using shallow shoreline areas. Foraging in more open water was only noted in late summer, perhaps an indicator of the maturation of the calf. Other indicators of development were found in acoustic recordings made over two summers. Motherese call types have been reported from recordings made in breeding lagoons, but have not before been described outside of calving regions. They were present in recordings from this study site, predominantly in the early summer and not heard past late July. We suggest vocal repertoire may evolve as the calf ages, and more adult calling behaviors eventually replace motherese. Long-term mark-recapture analyses demonstrated a high return of calves to the area to forage in summers subsequent to weaning, suggesting maternally inherited prey preference and site use behaviors. From our findings we suggest a calf's first summer is a highly critical period for development and may be formative in shaping future behaviors and habitat use patterns. The paper can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12710 or email me for a PDF Best, Rianna Burnham, PhD -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Lance.Miller at CZS.org Thu Jul 2 11:24:32 2020 From: Lance.Miller at CZS.org (Miller, Lance) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 18:24:32 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Special Issue - Cetaceans: Conservation, Health, and Welfare Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, I am writing to inform you of a new special issue in the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens entitled "Cetaceans: Conservation, Health, and Welfare." I would like to encourage anyone to submit research articles, review articles, or short communications that would advance our understanding on the topic. Submissions are now being accepted, the deadline is March 1, 2021 and accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Thank you for your consideration, and if you have any questions please reach out to me directly. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/JZBG/special_issues/cetaceans Sincerly, Lance Miller, Ph.D. Vice President of Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513 Phone: 708-688-8433 Email: Lance.Miller at CZS.org Website: https://www.czs.org/Centers-of-Excellence/Center-for-Animal-Welfare Cetaceans: Conservation, Health, and Welfare Research on cetaceans is of continued importance to help ensure the sustainability, health, and welfare of both wild and professionally managed populations. With the sustained increase in anthropogenic factors impacting wild cetaceans, determining strategies to help to conserve populations while monitoring their health and welfare is critical. Similarly, it is also essential to continuously look for new ways to enhance the health and welfare of cetaceans under professional care. The Special Issue is dedicated to research on cetaceans both in the wild and under professional care that advances our understanding of their conservation, health, and welfare. Examples of potential submissions include: * Studies of population abundance, distribution, and behavior; * Impact of anthropogenic factors and conservation management strategies; * Statistical, technological, and methodological advancements; * Validation and reference values for positive and negative indicators of health and welfare; * Factors impacting health and welfare; * Conservation education research and visitor studies; * Review articles on conservation, health, or welfare. Dr. Lance Miller Guest Editor Manuscript Submission Information Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website. Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions. Keywords * animal behavior, animal welfare, conservation biology, conservation education, population abundance, population management, sustainability, veterinary medicine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: cetaceans.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 136204 bytes Desc: cetaceans.pdf URL: From rwbaird at cascadiaresearch.org Thu Jul 2 16:03:47 2020 From: rwbaird at cascadiaresearch.org (Robin Baird) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 23:03:47 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: spotted dolphin fishery interactions in Hawai'i Message-ID: New publication Baird, R.W. and D.L. Webster. 2020. Using dolphins to catch tuna: assessment of associations between pantropical spotted dolphins and yellowfin tuna hook and line fisheries in Hawai'i. Fisheries Research 230, 105652. doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105652. In Hawaiian waters fishermen use the association between pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) to catch tuna. Targeting fishing effort around or in spotted dolphin groups has the potential to lead to bycatch, and anecdotal reports of hooking dolphins exist. We recorded information on fishing vessels associated with spotted dolphin groups from 2008 through 2018 to inform discussions about potential bycatch. Associations occurred from O'ahu to Hawai'i Island, but were most prevalent off Hawai'i Island, where 29.7% of spotted dolphin groups had fishing vessels present. When fishing vessels were present, trolling through the dolphin group envelope was recorded in 91.7% of encounters, and re-positioning through the dolphin group and dropping hook and line fishing gear at the leading edge of the group was recorded in 54.2% of encounters (most of which also had vessels trolling through). Associations occurred over all four oceanographic seasons, with no obvious seasonal trend. Off Hawai'i Island, fishing vessels with spotted dolphin groups were concentrated in a narrower depth range than dolphin groups without fishing vessels present. Groups with fishing vessels were also concentrated in a smaller geographic area that corresponded to proximity to harbors and boat launches. The number of fishing vessels that associated with spotted dolphin groups off Hawai'i Island was estimated in the low hundreds (159, (SD=12) for 2012; 330 (SD=17) for 2013). Overall, our results suggest that fishing vessel associations with pantropical spotted dolphins in Hawaiian waters are widespread, occur frequently, and involve many participants, suggesting the risk of accidental hooking may be greater than perceived. A pdf copy can be obtained from https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1bKUhbiU1p3E1 or you can contact me for a copy. Robin ================================================================= Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist, Cascadia Research Collective Affiliate Faculty, Hawai?i Institute of Marine Biology Mailing address: Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Follow us on Facebook Updates on our summer 2020 Kona field project -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Jay.Cordeiro at umb.edu Fri Jul 3 06:20:06 2020 From: Jay.Cordeiro at umb.edu (Jay R Cordeiro) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2020 13:20:06 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Marine Mammals Library sale to benefit VIVA Vaquita Message-ID: A message to our friends and colleagues. Northeast Natural History & Supply is pleased to offer here a fine collection of marine mammal and whaling books from the private collection of marine mammal biologist Dr. Thomas A. Jefferson and transferred to the non-profit organization, VIVA Vaquita. Dr. Jefferson is a marine mammal conservation biologist at the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center in southern California Most of the books have been donated (many by the late Dr. Edward D. Mitchell, and bearing his signature and/or stamp) with the proceeds used to raise funds for conservation work on the world's most endangered species of marine mammal, the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) of Mexico. 100% of the funds raised will be donated to VIVA Vaquita and used in work to prevent the extinction of this and other species of endangered marine mammals. For more information on VIVA Vaquita, visit the website: http://vivavaquita.org/ The complete list with titles and pricing is online on our website at: https://sites.google.com/site/northeastnaturalhistory/home/Newest-Lists For those hungry for MORE MARINE MAMMALS BOOKS, please see our former book catalogue of over 450 works issued previously. Many of these remain and are still available for purchase. The complete catalogue is viewable HERE: https://sites.google.com/site/northeastnaturalhistory/home/Prior-Catalogues/multiple-lists-whales-and-whaling Please direct all correspondence to Northeast Natural History & Supply by emailing j.cordeiro at nenaturalhistory.com Jay ?for there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men? ? Herman Melville, Moby Dick Jay Cordeiro Northeast Natural History & Supply PO Box 361 West Dennis, MA 02670 j.cordeiro at nenaturalhistory.com Website: https://sites.google.com/site/northeastnaturalhistory/home Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastNaturalHistorySupply/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com Fri Jul 3 19:35:22 2020 From: sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com (Sergio Cobarrubia) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2020 22:35:22 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PROJECT RESEARCH IN VENEZUELA. INTERNS AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM 2020. Message-ID: BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PROJECT RESEARCH IN VENEZUELA. INTERNS AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM 2020. BACKGROUND: The Laboratory of Ecosystems and Global Change (LEGC) of the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC, www.ivic.gob.ve) invites the second season of internships-volunteering (2020) in the study of coastal dolphins. LEGC is a scientific team that among its research lines on the fauna of coastal and riparian ecosystems, it has established the first one on aquatic mammals in Venezuela. On the other hand, Provita is an important NGO that contributes to the research and conservation in Venezuela. This research will begin with a project focused on sociobiology (social structure, social networks and bioacoustics) of resident groups of the coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the central coast of Venezuela. This, after an experience of 5 years in that locality studying ecological aspects of T. truncatus ( https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-018-0401-1). The coast of Aragua not only home this species, but also the Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), the common dolphin (Delphinus sp.) and the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Of which basic information is collected too. LEGC interns and volunteers are young, hard-working who are willing to contribute to research by learning as they experience fieldwork in teams, field techniques for collecting and processing data and methodologies. All team members and interns share academic space, housing in the Institute, housework in the study area, knowledge and experience in a friendly and multicultural environment. The internship consists of three weeks: The first week of theoretical-practical introduction (24 theoretical hours and 16 practicals hours) at the IVIC Ecology Center ( www.ivic.gob.ve/es/investigacion-3/centros-31/ecologia-316). The second week of seven field surveys for data collection (42 h) on the Cata Bay (Aragua state) and the third week for data processing and analysis at the IVIC Ecology Center (40 h). The volunteering consist of the second and third weeks. WHERE: Theory: LEGC, Center of Ecology (IVIC) Miranda State, Caracas (10 23 N - 66 58 W). Practice: Cata Bay, western coast of the (rain forest) National Park Henry Pittier, Aragua state (central coast of Venezuela) 150 km from Caracas (DC) (10 29 N - 67 44 W). PROGRAM: Interns (Three weeks), Volunteers (Two weeks). 1st WEEK (LEGC-Ecology Center, 40 hours. For Interns). - Monday: What is a cetacean? The cetaceans and the human in history. Origin, evolution and diversity. Adaptations for aquatic life: Anatomy and Physiology. Life histories. Biogeography Distribution. Ecology Behavior. Conservation. - Tuesday: Identification of species reported for Venezuela. Basic logistics for the study of cetaceans on the mainland, sea and air. Basic equipment to collect information. - Wednesday: How to detect cetaceans and record an effective sighting? Basic data to collect during a sighting, calibration and use of GPS. Configuration and use of the SLR cameras. Download of sightings (GIS). Download pictures and selection (software). - Thursday: Daily encounter ratio. Photo-identification as a tool for ecological and behavioral studies. Estimates of abundance. Local distribution and areas of action. - Friday: Residential patterns. Behavior (deployments, states, daily budget). Habitat use. Social structure and social networks. Bioacoustics. Saturday: Break. Sunday: Transfer to the Cata Bay. 2nd WEEK (Cata Bay-Provita, 42 hours. For Interns and Volunteers). The field surveys will be carried out in a fishing vessel of 9 m in length by 2 of beam, no roof. The field work will depend on the climatic conditions, however, the Aragua coast offers few climatic inconveniences throughout the year. There will be 7 mornings of field surveys in the week, after each survey is lunch, rest and then proceed to download the data of sightings and then interpret them preliminarily and discuss them. We recommend wearing a long-sleeved shirt, cool pants, hat and sunscreen (30-50 PF). In the field surveys, it will be implemented: - The identification and recognition of the elements of the marine landscape and the method of tracking and detection of cetaceans. - Ethical navigation mode to study cetaceans. - The basic data collection / sighting. - Use of GPS. - Use of SRL digital camera. - Counting of individuals and composition of a group. - Identification of the behavioral states that configure group behavior and its recording. - Use of hydrophone. - Identification and counting of birds. -Identification and counting of vessels and other antropic objects. In the afternoon the information of the sightings will be downloaded: - Sighting forms. - Latitude and longitude. - Photographs and their selection. - Voice recordings (behavior). - Recordings of vocalizations. - Shark whales sightings. - Birds sightings. - Vessels and anthropic objects sightings. 3rd WEEK (LEGC-Ecology Center, 40 hours. For Interns and volunteers). PRACTICAL FEES: Accommodation (IVIC students residence and apartment in Cata Bay), food and transport (airport-IVIC-Cata Bay-IVIC-airport) are paid. The cost of internships is US $ 720 for the compensation of logistical expenses of the field surveys. For more information, please contact:sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com. There is also the opportunity for 6-week internships and two field survey sessions (1,250 USD). The logistic cost for volunteers is US $ 500. *Ask all your questions, especially to mitigate concerns regarding Venezuela. Since our nation is the object of an intense media campaign where opinion matrices project false dystopian scenarios.* WHEN: During the year there will be 6 internships-volunteering sessions (February, April, June, August, October, November). For interns, second, third and fourth week of the months scheduled. For volunteers, third and fourth week of the scheduled months. VACANTS: 4 people / session. Not included in the rate: - Meals in restaurants - Free time activities - Personal insurance (all participants must have health and / or travel insurance) - Personal expenses. INTEREST IS EXPECTED: - Being over 18 years - Iterns: Preference will be given to undergraduate students and professional students (biology, marine biology, environmental, conservation and plus). - Volunteer: No preferences. - Have a mature attitude towards the investigation of marine mammals and environment. - Be autonomous and flexible. - To be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors in the sea - Speak Spanish, English or Portuguese. ACADEMIC CREDITS: The LEGC will certify the work performed by intern or volunteer through a diploma with the recognition of the hours (academic-practical) worked. APPLICATION AND QUESTIONS: Applicants must write to sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com with the subject "DOLPHINS PROJECT_Name". You will be sent a confirmation email with all the details about the study area and the species present, the practices and requesting your CV resume, motivation letter (small statement about what your expectations are and why you want to work with LEGC) and the internship month of your choice. Applications will be accepted throughout the year, however, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. PLUS: The possibility of making one-day expedition to the pelagic habitat is opened, this other expedition will allow us to watch Atlantic spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins or pilot whales. -- *Sergio Enrique Cobarrubia Russo* Laboratorio de Ecosistemas y Cambio Global Centro de Ecolog?a Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cient?ficas Venezuela. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From selina at dmad.org.tr Sat Jul 4 05:43:43 2020 From: selina at dmad.org.tr (Selina Brouwer) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2020 14:43:43 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] Last places Remote Internship Message-ID: Dear all, *We only have a few places left for our Remote Internship, please find the * *information** below.* The borders of many countries remain closed and it is currently almost impossible to travel safe due to the outbreak of COVID-19, but that doesn't mean that you can't benefit from our knowledge and develop your career or get help with your thesis remotely. You can receive both research and public outreach experience working with the DMAD team. http://www.dmad.org.tr/remote-internships WHO ARE DMAD AND WHAT DO WE DO? DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association have scientific projects running in Turkey, Montenegro and Albania. We conduct long-term studies of marine mammals in Istanbul, Antalya, the Levantine Sea, Montenegrin coastal waters and the northern coastline of Albania. We aim to address questions about marine mammal abundance, distribution and behaviour, define critical habitats and investigate the impact of major threats, ranging from tourism to hydrocarbon exploration. Our wider attention focuses on the promotion and implementation of awareness initiatives targeted at the local community. More details on the projects can be found here: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-projects ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP: The DMAD team provides lectures and training as well as constant support. You will be given the chance to learn the most popular methodologies used in marine mammal research including: -Cetacean species identification within the Mediterranean -Population statuses and threats to marine mammals within the Mediterranean -Software used in the field (Pythagoras, Logger 2010) -Data analysis using GIS, R, Distance, Mark -Passive Acoustic Monitoring using PamGuard -Residency Pattern Analysis -Scientific support on manuscript and technical report writing including thesis supervision-Population PARTICIPATION FEE: The internship is for 2 months and is about 100 hours and requires a contribution fee of 380euro, which fully goes to supporting the project. WHATS INCLUDED IN THE FEE: -PDF copies of the training and lectures -Audio recordings -Scientific support through weekly Skype calls -Real data and practical examples to work through -Certification HOW TO APPLY Our next Remote Internship starts on the 20th of July 2020 and has a limited number of places. Email your CV and cover letter to info at dmad.org.tr, explaining the subject of your thesis in the cover letter. If you wish to have more info about our other internships and work please take a look at some of our web pages and social media: Our research: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-projects Our remote internships: http://www.dmad.org.tr/remote-internships Our publications: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-publications Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinemammalsresearch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMADforNature/ All the best, DMAD team *info at dmad.org.tr * *www.dmad.org.tr * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ann.osiecka at gmail.com Sat Jul 4 05:21:06 2020 From: ann.osiecka at gmail.com (Anna Osiecka) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2020 14:21:06 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: prolonged nursing in the Namibian Cape fur seals Message-ID: Dear colleagues, Me and my co-authors are happy to share our newest work on extended maternal care in the Cape fur seals observed at the Cape Cross colony in Namibia. Anna N Osiecka, Jack Fearey, Tess Gridley, Simon Elwen, ?Observation of prolonged nursing in Cape fur seals (*Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus*) at Cape Cross colony, Namibia?, African Zoology (2020) https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1768144 Abstract Extended nursing periods have been observed in some pinniped species. Here, we document multiple cases of such prolonged nursing in Cape fur seals in Namibia. Over three separate visits to the Cape Cross breeding colony, we observed five unusual nursing interactions. These included animals of estimated age from one to over three years suckling on awake and permitting females. One of these observations included two individuals (juvenile and pup) suckling simultaneously. In three out of five cases, the female sniffed the large suckling animal, and the lack of aggression suggested mutual recognition. We suggest that the most likely scenario for these observations is that the larger animals might be the mothers? offspring from the previous year maintaining contact over at least three years. Such prolonged nursing may occur in cases where the year?s pup is not born, dies or is outcompeted by older siblings, which can result in large energetic advantages for the offspring, by maintaining a feeding relationship with mothers over more than one year. We suggest that animals that extend suckling over more than one year may increase their overall success, although possibly inhibiting their mother?s pregnancy in a given year. Under poorer conditions, investing more in an older calf may also be more cost effective to the mother than risking a new pregnancy. However, further detailed investigation is necessary to explain extended nursing in this socially complex mammal. You can contact me personally for a pdf copy, or find it here: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/WAC5BNSMCKDTUD6WZZMK/full?target=10.1080/15627020.2020.1768144 Kindest regards, Anna N Osiecka -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From laura.joan at gmail.com Sat Jul 4 16:17:20 2020 From: laura.joan at gmail.com (Laura Joan Feyrer) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2020 16:17:20 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New OA publication: Prolonged maternal care in northern bottlenose whales alters our understanding of beaked whale life history Message-ID: New open access publication from the Northern Bottlenose Whale Project / Whitehead Lab Feyrer LJ, Zhao ST, Whitehead H, Matthews CJ. Prolonged maternal investment in northern bottlenose whales alters our understanding of beaked whale reproductive life history. PloS one. 2020 Jun 23;15(6):e0235114. Nursing and weaning periods are poorly understood in cetaceans due to the difficulty of assessing underwater behaviour in the wild. However, the onset and completion of weaning are critical turning points for individual development and survival, with implications for a species? life history including reproductive potential. ?15N and ?13C deposited in odontocete teeth annuli provide a lifetime record of diet, offering an opportunity to investigate variation and trends in fundamental biology. While available reproductive parameters for beaked whales have largely been inferred from single records of stranded or hunted animals and extrapolated across species, here we examine the weaning strategy and nursing duration in northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) by measuring stable isotopes deposited in dentine growth layer groups (GLGs). Using a collection of H. ampullatus teeth taken from whales killed during the whaling era (N = 48) and from two stranded specimens, we compared ontogenetic variation of ?15N and ?13C found in annual GLGs across all individuals, by sex and by region. We detected age-based trends in both ?15N and ?13C that are consistent across regions and males and females, and indicate that nursing is prolonged and weaning does not conclude until whales are 3?4 years old, substantially later than previous estimates of 1 year. Incorporating a prolonged period of maternal care into H. ampullatus life history significantly reduces their reproductive potential, with broad implications for models of beaked whale life history, energetics and the species? recovery from whaling. A copy is freely available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235114 Cheers, Laura Joan Feyrer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From admin at osc.co.uk Thu Jul 2 02:08:13 2020 From: admin at osc.co.uk (Admin Team) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 09:08:13 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Job opportunity: Statistical Modeller Message-ID: Ocean Science Consulting Limited is currently seeking a Statistical Modeller Vacancy: Statistical Modeller Type: Full-time, permanent position Salary: ?34,000 - ?40,500 depending on qualifications and experience Location: Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, UK Application deadline: 31st August 2020 Company Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is a privately-owned technology-focused marine-science company involved principally in the global supply of underwater noise and marine mammal monitoring, and risk mitigation services. OSC reinvests >80% of profits into Research & Development (R&D), orientated primarily towards high-level research on the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and other marine mammal species, Rigs-to-Reefs using Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) footage, underwater noise measurement and modelling, and improving marine mammal and environmental monitoring standards worldwide. See www.osc.co.uk/publications-and-press-covers. Role OSC seeks to expand its UK-based team. This is a rare opportunity for permanent employment as a Statistical Modeller. The commercial post doc role involves working primarily in OSC's R&D wing, although suitable candidates may also be considered for a combination of consultancy/commercial duties. It is anticipated that over the course of the first year, the candidate will bring to completion ca. five manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Applicants must therefore be able to source, consolidate, analyse, interpret, and present these data in the form of high-level, peer-reviewed papers, that must be brought to completion on commercial and not academic timescales (i.e. weeks, not months), with minimal supervision from line managers. This is a highly unusual position for academic research in a commercial consultancy. The candidate may also be presented with urgent commercial requests as these arise and must therefore be able to switch from one project to another. Prioritisation is of high importance. Additional details can be found on: http://www.osc.co.uk/careers/vacancies or https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CAO635/statistical-modeller Key duties -Conduct statistical analysis of pre-existing datasets; -Write manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals; -Oversee the peer-review process; and, -Support colleagues with analysis of commercial datasets as and when required. A successful candidate will have the following: Required -A completed PhD in a relevant scientific discipline (statistics/oceanography/marine biology/marine ecology, etc.); -The position requires a PhD; however, students may apply, but be aware that starting salary will be ?27,000-30,000 (depending on qualifications and experience until the PhD is completed), and the position would be part time until the PhD was completed; -Strong statistical analysis background ideally in R (e.g. GLM, GAM, PCA, HBM, INLA, time series analysis, distance sampling, abundance estimation, survey design, PCoD, etc.); -A minimum of two, first author, ecological-modelling related peer-reviewed scientific papers in a top journal (i.e. not a proceedings paper); -Experience sourcing and processing oceanographic datasets (synoptic satellite-derived or modelled data, etc.) and handling data of various types including: netCDF, csv, txt, etc.; -Excellent spoken and written English (to peer-reviewed, non-copy-edited level); -A genuine interest in marine mammals and benthic ecology, and an understanding of the physical parameters of the ocean which affect them; -Ability to collaborate within a team setting to produce high-calibre publications and reports; and, -Must be legally allowed to work in the UK prior to employment (we cannot assist with visas). Desirable -Machine learning and image processing (of ROV imagery); -Experience making publication-quality maps in QGIS; and, -Experience with referencing software (e.g. EndNote). Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter to: admin at osc.co.uk. This address can also be used for informal enquiries. Successful candidates will be invited to an interview via Microsoft Teams. An interview task will be provided comprising both written and practical components. The successful candidate will be working under the supervision of Dr Victoria Todd and Dr Laura Williamson. Best wishes, Laura -- Dr. Laura Williamson Senior Analyst Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK M: +44 (0)7528 545 167 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 jhawse at islandpress.org Mon Jul 6 07:36:31 2020 From: jhawse at islandpress.org (Jen Hawse) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 14:36:31 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Don't Forget to Download Vaquita for Free Today! Message-ID: Ending tomorrow! Island Press is offering the e-book Vaquita: Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez by Brooke Bessesen for free. This conservation detective story examines the world's most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita. Living in Mexico's Upper Gulf region, the "panda of the sea" has seen its numbers drastically reduced in the past several decades. Who is to blame? Brooke Bessesen takes us on a journey to uncover the story. She interviews townspeople, fishermen, scientists, and activists, teasing apart a complex story filled with villains and heroes, a story whose outcome is unclear. In this fast-paced, soul-searing tale, Brooke learns that there are no easy answers when extinction is profitable. If you'd like to dive deeper into the subject we have a webinar and study/reader's guide available as well. Read Vaquita, for free, now till July 7. Please share this with your network far and wide! Together, we can spread the word about this vulnerable species before it's too late. A lucid, informed, and gripping account...a must-read. -Science Passionate...a heartfelt and alarming tale. -Publishers Weekly Intrepid conservation detective story. -Nature Compelling. -Library Journal Wonderful, heartbreaking... beautifully written. -Nature Conservancy A well-told and moving tale of environmentalism and conservation. -Kirkus STARRED -Booklist Jen Hawse | Partnerships Manager | she, her Island Press 2000 M St NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20036 202.232.7933 x60 | http://www.islandpress.org Twitter: @IslandPress | Facebook.com/IslandPress Join our newsletter: http://bit.ly/IP-newsletter This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the addressee and may not be disclosed to or used by anyone other than the addressee. If you have received this e-mail in error, please advise the sender immediately and delete the email (and all attachments) from your computer system. Thank you. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edvorak at integratedstatistics.com Mon Jul 6 13:36:52 2020 From: edvorak at integratedstatistics.com (Emma Dvorak) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 16:36:52 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Quantitative Modeler Message-ID: Quantitative Modeler Integrated Statistics is looking for a Quantitative Modeler to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). This position will support the Protected Species Branch (PSB) of NOAA NMFS NEFSC. PSB?s mission includes assessing the population status of protected species (cetaceans, sea turtles, seabirds, and seals) within U.S. waters, and evaluating threats to species and populations due to anthropogenic activities. Detailed assessments of species distributions and abundances are essential to understand broad scale spatial and temporal movements and behaviors. For risk assessment and mitigation of impacts, information on seasonal and inter-annual variability in distribution, ecology, and behavior at smaller spatial scales is used to estimate potential impacts on protected species due to localized activities (e.g., fishery bycatch, military exercises, energy exploration, shipping traffic, etc.). The Quantitative Modeler will work on a project modeling spatial analysis of whales and other marine species, relative to fishing gear and aquaculture. The modeler will build on an existing software product to expand its capabilities and support its use by stakeholders. *Duties* The Quantitative Modeler will take responsibility for these tasks: * Rebuild the current R shiny app, or potentially develop another user interface. The goal is to improve graphics, maps, outputs, etc. * Expand the current application to: o Cover other whale species. o Cover other gear types. o Update and/or expand whale layers. o Expand the geographical scope to Canada. o Add the ability to input/collect data on stratified / targeted rope strength. * Provide modeling support to GARFO Protected Resources Division. * Collaborate with NEFSC staff on related economic analyses. * Collaborate with aquaculture entanglement working group. * Improve the gear threat model by expanding it to gather external data (such as entanglement of other species and location) and to work in collaboration with other organizations such as the New England Aquarium. *Qualifications* The Quantitative Modeler should possess these qualifications and skills: * A Master's degree in Quantitative Ecology, Fisheries, or a closely related subject that involves spatial manipulation and analysis of multivariate data streams. Work experience may potentially be substituted. * At least five (5) years of extensive experience working with and knowledge of: o Statistical analyses using generalized linear or additive models; o Bayesian hierarchical models; o Development of species distribution models; o Computer programming experience to create simulated object or animal distribution data; o Commercial fishery observer data. * Excellent programming skills in at least one of the following platforms of statistical software: R, Splus, SAS, AD Model Builder, Template Model Builder, or C++. * Experience and understanding of basic statistical methods. * Excellent communication skills both verbally and using written materials (including visual presentations), targeting a variety of audiences including technical, scientific, and the general public, as appropriate. * Independent worker with strong time management skills and attention to detail. * Able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and strict timelines. The position is expected to last one year. The rate of pay will be $33-37/hr, depending on skills and experience, and the position will be eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. To apply for this position, go to https://jobs.intstats.com/JobDetails.jsp?jobListingId=259 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 clementchion at gmail.com Mon Jul 6 07:07:23 2020 From: clementchion at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Cl=C3=A9ment_Chion?=) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 10:07:23 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Postdoc - Machine Learning for the re-identification of St. Lawrence Belugas Message-ID: Dear Marmamers, We are now recruiting a postdoc in Machine Learning for beluga re-identification in the St. Lawrence Estuary. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to work on a huge database of more than 30 years of photo-ID! All details below. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best regards, Cl?ment Prof. Cl?ment Chion , PhD Universit? du Qu?bec en Outaouais (UQO) D?partement des sciences naturelles ISFORT 819-595-3900 poste: 1467 819-503-2539 *Project title* Machine learning approach for the automatic re-identification of individuals of the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga whales population using photo-identification data. *Context and Objective* Re-identifying animals in the wild using photo-identification (photo-ID) allows to determine key ecological parameters of wildlife populations ( *e.g.*, abundance, carrying capacity, community structure). For over 31 years, the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM) has built and maintained a photo-ID database for the population of the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga (SLEB) taken from a research boat. Those shots of belugas? flanks allowed to identify about 350 individuals among the whole population, which counts around 1000 individuals. The traditional re-identification process involves the examination of each photo by an operator to locate any distinctive marks allowing to either identify a known individual or add a new one to the database. This task is a very tedious task, and in the past 31 years, only 21 years of photo-ID have been partially processed. Moreover, more photos are taken every year than it is possible to process manually. However, those data are of major importance to characterize the social dynamics of the SLEB population. Indeed, the recognition of individuals making different herds is the key to identify distinct communities, which each have their own pattern of use of the summer habitat and site-fidelity. Therefore, the vulnerability of each SLEB community with regard to human activities (*e.g.*, navigation) depends on spatiotemporal patterns of habitat use that must be characterized to the best of our knowledge. In this context, the objective of the project is to investigate a machine learning approach (e.g., based on Siamese neural networks), but also the existing relevant literature from the privacy domain, for the automatic re-identification of known individuals from the beluga population but also to discover new individuals that were unregistered until then. The automatization of this process will notably enable the reduction of the biases introduced by the human judgement for the recognition of the individuals with distinctive marks. The postdoctoral candidate must have the following qualities: motivation, curiosity, sense of initiative, autonomy, creativity as well as demonstrating excellent capacities to work as part of a team. He/she will be encouraged to travel to present the results to international scientific conferences, in addition to the meeting with partners and relevant stakeholders. The selected candidate will also contribute to the production and writing of project deliverables. *Background and skills * ? PhD in Computer Science and/or recognized experience in the development of unsupervised and supervised machine learning algorithms ? Experience in technology transfer ? Capacity to write grant and funding demands ? Ability to communicate (oral and written) scientific results to experts and non-experts, including the writing of scientific papers and the review of the state-of-the-art in English *Assets* ? Experience in Siamese neural networks ? Experience in deep learning and/or in anonymisation/re-identification ? Proficiency in spoken French *Period* ? Start: Now ? End: March 31, 2022 *R?mun?ration* ? 50 k$/year + funding available for conferences *Location* ? Gatineau, Montr?al or Ripon (Qu?bec, Canada) *Application procedure* ? Send by email a CV (academic format), cover letter outlining your motivation along with your skills and assets with regard to the project, and the name and contact information of three referees from Academia : ? Pr Cl?ment Chion (clement.chion at uqo.ca) ? Pr S?bastien Gambs (gambs.sebastien at uqam.ca) ? *Deadline* : July 31, 2020, or until the position is filled -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kacates at alaska.edu Mon Jul 6 16:57:11 2020 From: kacates at alaska.edu (Kelly Cates) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 15:57:11 -0800 Subject: [MARMAM] [New Publication] Pairing Sighting Histories with Endocrine Markers to Assess Stress In Humpback Whales Message-ID: My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new manuscript in General and Comparative Endocrinology: Cates, K. A., Atkinson, S., Pack, A. A., Straley, J. M., Gabriele, C. M., & Yin, S. (2020). Corticosterone in Central North Pacific Male Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): Pairing Sighting Histories with Endocrine Markers to Assess Stress. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 113540. Abstract: Developing a better understanding of the stress response is critical to ensuring the health and sustainability of marine mammal populations. However, accurately measuring and interpreting a stress response in free-ranging, large cetaceans is a nascent field. Here, an enzyme immunoassay for corticosterone was validated for use in biopsy samples from male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Analyses were conducted on 247 male North Pacific humpback whale blubber samples, including 238 non-calves and 9 calves that were collected on the Hawaiian breeding and Southeast Alaskan feeding grounds from 2004 to 2006. Significant relationships were found when corticosterone concentrations were examined by year, age class and distribution between locations. When examined by year, corticosterone concentrations for male humpback whales were higher in Hawaii in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006 (p < 0.05). Corticosterone concentration also varied by age class with initially high concentrations at birth which subsequently tapered off and remained relatively low until sexual maturity was reached around age 8?10 years. Corticosterone concentrations appeared to peak in male humpback whales around 15?25 years of age. Blubber biopsies from Alaska and Hawaii had similar mean corticosterone concentrations, yet the variability in these samples was much greater for whales located in Hawaii. It is clear that much work remains to be done in order to accurately define or monitor a stress response in male humpback whales and that specific attention is required when looking at age, sex, and yearly trends. Our results suggest that a stress response may be most impacted by age and yearly oceanographic conditions and needs to be initially examined at the individual level. The URL can be found here or please contact kacates at alaska.edu to request a copy of the manuscript. Cheers, *Kelly Cates, *PhD Student College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Juneau Fisheries Division, University of Alaska Fairbanks 'May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view'* ><((((?>`?.??.???`?.??.><((((?>`?.??.???`?.??.><((((?>* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sandro.mazzariol at unipd.it Mon Jul 6 21:36:52 2020 From: sandro.mazzariol at unipd.it (Sandro Mazzariol) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2020 06:36:52 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New article on the use of drone for blow sampling in small odontocetes In-Reply-To: <2675abbe-3439-7026-036f-f2f59b19d58a@unipd.it> References: <2675abbe-3439-7026-036f-f2f59b19d58a@unipd.it> Message-ID: Dear collegues we're happy to share with you the publication on Plos One of a paper investigating the application of a specific sampling tool attached to a UAV to analyze the blow from small cetaceans and their respiratory microbiome. *Centelleghe C, Carraro L, Gonzalvo J, Rosso M, Esposti E, Gili C, Bonato M., Pedrotti D., Cardazzo B, Povinelli M., Mazzariol S. (2020) The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to sample the blow microbiome of small cetaceans. PLoS ONE 15(7): e0235537. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235537* Recent studies describe the use of UAVs in collecting blow samples from large whales to analyze the microbial and viral community in exhaled air. Unfortunately, attempts to collect blow from small cetaceans have not been successful due to their swimming and diving behavior. In order to overcome these limitations, in this study we investigated the application of a specific sampling tool attached to a UAV to analyze the blow from small cetaceans and their respiratory microbiome. Preliminary trials to set up the sampling tool were conducted on a group of 6 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care, housed at Acquario di Genova, with approximately 1 meter distance between the blowing animal and the tool to obtain suitable samples. The same sampling kit, suspended via a 2 meter rope assembled on a waterproof UAV, flying 3 meters above the animals, was used to sample the blows of 5 wild bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Ambracia (Greece) and a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), to investigate whether this experimental assembly also works for large whale sampling. In order to distinguish between blow-associated microbes and seawater microbes, we pooled 5 seawater samples from the same area where blow samples' collection were carried out. The the respiratory microbiota was assessed by using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene via Illumina Amplicon Sequencing. The pooled water samples contained more bacterial taxa than the blow samples of both wild animals and the sequenced dolphin maintained under human care. The composition of the bacterial community differed between the water samples and between the blow samples of wild cetaceans and that under human care, but these differences may have been mediated by different microbial communities between seawater and aquarium water. The sperm whale's respiratory microbiome was more similar to the results obtained from wild bottlenose dolphins. Although the number of samples used in this study was limited and sampling and analyses were impaired by several limitations, the results are rather encouraging, as shown by the evident microbial differences between seawater and blow samples, confirmed also by the meta-analysis carried out comparing our results with those obtained in previous studies. Collecting exhaled air from small cetaceans using drones is a challenging process, both logistically and technically. The success in obtaining samples from small cetacean blow in this study in comparison to previous studies is likely due to the distance the sampling kit is suspended from the drone, which reduced the likelihood that the turbulence of the drone propeller interfered with successfully sampling blow, suggested as a factor leading to poor success in previous studies. The publication can be found at the link here below https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235537 Sandro Mazzariol -- Prof. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) - Universit? degli Studi di Padova Cetaceans strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sui CEtacei (CIRCE) AGRIPOLIS - Ed. Museo Viale dell'Universit? 16 35020 - Legnaro (PD) tel.: +39 049 827 2963 fax: +39 049 827 2973 skype: smazzariol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Patrick_Charapata1 at baylor.edu Sun Jul 5 09:26:47 2020 From: Patrick_Charapata1 at baylor.edu (Charapata, Patrick) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2020 16:26:47 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?New_Publication_-_Reproductive_and_stress?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=90related_hormones_in_whiskers_from_two_North_Pacific_ph?= =?utf-8?q?ocids=3A_Harbor_and_ringed_seals?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello MARMAM Members, On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I am pleased to share with you all our new research note ?Reproductive and stress?related hormones in whiskers from two North Pacific phocids: Harbor and ringed seals?, now available in early view at Marine Mammal Science. The article can be found here: https://bit.ly/38mVbJT. Keogh MJ, Charapata P, Karpovich S, Jones A, Sprowls C, Marshall CD. Reproductive and stress-related hormones in whiskers from two North Pacific phocids: Harbor and ringed seals. Mar Mam Sci. 2020;1?12. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12709 Summary ?Several populations of North Pacific pinnipeds are currently listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, endangered under the Endangered Species Act, of the United States or with unknown status, highlighting the need for new methods to assess the reproductive rates of these populations. Most phocids are annual breeders with estrus and parturition occurring on terrestrial or ice platforms. In phocids, serum progesterone concentrations remain elevated during late gestation, supporting identification of pregnancy after implantation (Gardiner, Boyd, Follett, Racey, & Reijnders, 1999; Gardiner, Boyd, Racey, Reijnders, & Thompson, 1996; Mellish & Iverson, 2005; Reijnders 1990). However, current sampling methods based on blood and feces only provide a snapshot of reproductive status. Recently, methods were developed to measure cortisol in whiskers (Karpovich, Skinner, Kapronczai, Smith, & Janz, 2019), highlighting the potential to measure reproductive hormones in whiskers from free-ranging phocid seals. Unlike other tissues currently used for determining reproductive status, whiskers do not require special storage or handling, which can be challenging in remote field conditions. More importantly, the potential to use whiskers to measure reproductive hormones may alleviate problems associated with a single sample by capturing reproductive hormone concentrations sequentially along the length of the whisker, allowing for the examination of hormone con- centrations over the course of one year for phocids (Greaves, Hammill, & Eddington, 2004; Hirons, Shell, & St. Aubin, 2001; L?bcker, Condit, Beltran, Bruyn, & Bester, 2016; Zhao & Schell, 2004). Given the potential utility of measuring reproductive hormones in phocid whiskers, our objectives were to (1) validate enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to measure reproductive and stress-related steroid hormones in phocid whiskers, (2) compare the patterns of multiple steroid hormones along the length of whiskers to evaluate the retention of steroid hormones in phocid whiskers, (3) apply immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods to explore deposition of progesterone and cortisol along harbor seal whiskers, and (4) investigate the influence of age class (i.e., adult vs. subadult) and reproductive state on hormone concentrations in whiskers. ?In this study, we report a novel method to measure reproductive hormones in phocid whiskers, providing another tool for future studies. We found hormones are deposited throughout the length of a phocid whisker, helping to validate the utility of whiskers as a reliable matrix for measuring reproductive hormones. We found differences in whisker progesterone concentrations between adults and subadults from two phocid species and between pregnant and nonpregnant adult harbor seals. There may be other reproductive steroid hormones, such as testosterone, that may also be useful for assessing age class. The timing of the whisker collection for both phocid species may influence detection of the rise in progesterone in the whisker likely associated with active gestation. Nevertheless, phocid whiskers contain hormones incorporated during the estimated years' worth of growth (Beltran et al., 2015, Hirons et al., 2001, L?bcker et al., 2016). Analysis of hormone concentrations from whiskers could be beneficial in accruing long-term physiological data from keratinized tissues in phocids. Further, whiskers in archived collections from museums, stranding networks, and gov- ernment agencies could serve as a reservoir of samples to perform retrospective studies on phocid reproductive and stress physiology, helping to understand how future environmental changes may impact phocid physiology. Please email lead and corresponding author (Mandy Keogh, mandyjkeogh at gmail.com) if you have any questions or are interested in the manuscript. I would be happy to provide a PDF of the manuscript upon request (Patrick_charapata1 at baylor.edu). Cheers, Patrick Charapata PhD Candidate, Baylor University Patrick_charapata1 at baylor.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From intern at sealrescueireland.org Sun Jul 5 09:44:50 2020 From: intern at sealrescueireland.org (Gale Loescher) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2020 17:44:50 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Seal Rescue Ireland is Hiring for a Marketing and Media Coordinator! Message-ID: Seal Rescue Ireland: Marketing and Media Coordinator Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) is a charity organisation which operates a busy marine animal rescue and rehabilitation centre located in Courtown, Co. Wexford. As the only facility that fully rehabilitates seals within the Republic of Ireland, SRI responds to strandings nationwide. Most reports are for young grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and common seal (Phoca vitulina) pups found sick, injured or orphaned across the Irish coastline. In addition, SRI pursues understanding and public engagement of ocean conservation and sustainability through education, community outreach and research programmes. SRI has a growing social media presence, and is gaining international recognition for its work. SRI is currently accepting applications for their Marketing and Media Coordinator position. This high paced, full-time position is for a minimum of 6 months, but longer time commitments are encouraged. Compensation is provided in the form of all housing, food, utilities and basic necessities along with a ?300/month stipend. After an initial 3 month period, we will review work performance. This is a position with opportunities for further growth and development. Seal Rescue Ireland is searching for a candidate to fill this position in August. Applications will be accepted until the 20th of July. Due to Covid-19, this position is only open to applicants that are currently residing in Ireland. Reports to: Operations Manager Job Summary: This position will provide the candidate with work experience in all aspects of a rescue and rehabilitation centre with a primary focus on producing quality media content, digital design, written content, photos and video for use on our website, social media, monthly newsletter, adoptions programme, marketing, educational and fundraising projects. The coordinator will lead marketing and advertising projects, fundraising programs and events, and other administrative tasks. This position requires a skilled photographer who will be responsible for capturing consistent photographs and videos of the animals in care, daily activities at the centre, and events on and off-site (i.e. rescues, releases, educational talks, outreach events, etc.), as well as editing and developing content consistent with SRI?s message of ocean conservation and sustainability. Partial involvement in assisting in husbandry care of rehabilitation animals is an option if interested. Requirements: Applicants must have a keen interest in marine conservation, and environmental stewardship. Skills in developing media content and photography are a must, with examples of your work to be submitted with your application. Applicants must have effective communication skills to a wide variety of audiences, the ability to represent SRI in a professional manner at all times and work well in a team environment. Applicants must possess the ability to adapt to an ever-changing work environment, and be available to work nights, weekends and holidays. Public speaking, writing skills, graphic design (preferably Adobe Cloud) and website maintenance skills are encouraged. A degree or pursuit of a degree in business management, communication, marketing, public relations, or a similar field is preferred. Applicants must be fluent in English (C1 Level), since this role involves communicating with the public and developing written content. Duties Include: - Create content and coordinate SRI?s social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and TikTok) - Develop a bi-monthly newsletter and blog posts - Represent SRI at fundraising, educational and networking events - Assist in design, development and maintenance of the SRI website and signage - Keep up-to-date photographs and video of the seals in care - Photograph events and daily tasks for use in media, marketing and promotional purposes - Develop educational and promotional written content - Participate in educational talks and tours and aid in overseeing the gift shop and visitor centre - Assist with clerical duties, admin and office work as needed - Provide assistance to the managers and rehabilitation staff as needed - (Optional)-Assist in the care and maintenance of the Center?s rehabilitation animals (feeding, medical treatment, daily care, routine cleaning of enclosures and work areas), and assist with rescue and release of stranded animals. Application Deadline: 20th of July, 2020 Please visit our website at ( https://www.sealrescueireland.org/marketing-and-media-coordinator/) to download the application form. Then send completed with your resume, cover letter, and examples of your writing and photography to: intern at sealrescueireland.org Attention: Marketing and Media Coordinator Registered Charity: RCN 20108519 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From admin at osc.co.uk Mon Jul 6 04:28:25 2020 From: admin at osc.co.uk (Admin Team) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 11:28:25 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Job opportunity: MMO/PAM Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Message-ID: Vacancies: MMO and PAM vacancies Employment: full-time/permanent Salary: competitive, dependent on qualifications and experience Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) seeks to expand its UK-based team. This is a rare opportunity for permanent, full-time employment as an MMO and/or PAM operator. Applicants should be able to assist competently with reports, publications, articles, and must be self-motivated when offshore to continue these tasks during project downtime. These roles should be based primarily offshore, with project durations lasting from a few days to months at a time, and between offshore projects, personnel will contribute to shore-based duties at the Company's HQ in Dunbar, Scotland. Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is a privately-owned technology-focused marine-science company involved principally in the global supply of underwater noise and marine mammal monitoring, and risk mitigation services. OSC reinvests >80% of profits into Research & Development (R&D), orientated primarily towards high-level research on the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and other marine mammal species, Rigs-to-Reefs using Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) footage, underwater noise measurement and modelling, and improving marine mammal and environmental monitoring standards worldwide. OSC's research has resulted in many peer-reviewed publications (www.osc.co.uk/publications-and-press-covers) and a non-profit book entitled the Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook (http://www.pelagicpublishing.com/the-marine-mammal-observer-and-passive-acoustic-monitoring-handbook.html). Individual Job descriptions can be found on: https://www.osc.co.uk/job-vacancy-mmo-and-pam-vacancies-2/ A successful candidate will have the following: * A degree (minimum 2:1) in a relevant scientific marine discipline (marine biology/ oceanography/marine ecology); * A genuine interest in marine mammals, the processes by which they are studied, and an understanding of the physical parameters of the ocean which affect them; * Prior MMO/PAM work in either research or commercial sector, an interest in spending time aboard vessels/rigs collecting data in a variety of weather conditions; * MMO JNCC certification; * BOSIET, and offshore medical (O&G or ENG1); * UK or EU citizenship, or visa which permits work within the UK; * Ability to work offshore for prolonged periods of time; * Ability to collaborate within a team setting to produce high calibre publications and reports; * Ability to prioritise workloads, and to work under pressure when met with deadlines; and, * Genuine interest about the business and industry, including commercial awareness. Apply only if you meet the requirements. Preference will go towards those with pre-existing offshore certifications, or those willing to acquire qualifications before commencing employment. A sense of humour helps in this industry role. Short-listed candidates should expect to receive small written and skills tests during the interview process. If interested, please send your CV and cover letter to: admin at osc.co.uk . Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Application deadline: 15th August 2020 Best wishes, Laura -- Dr. Laura Williamson Senior Analyst Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK M: +44 (0)7528 545 167 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 JHuggins at cascadiaresearch.org Tue Jul 7 12:11:58 2020 From: JHuggins at cascadiaresearch.org (Jessie Huggins) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2020 19:11:58 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New Publication on the emergence of mucormycosis in marine mammals of the Pacific Northwest Message-ID: My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper on the emergence of the fungal disease mucormycosis in marine mammals of the Pacific Northwest. Citation: Huggins JL, Garner MM, Raverty SA, Lambourn DM, Norman SA, Rhodes LD, Gaydos JK, Olson JK, Haulena M and Hanson MB (2020) The Emergence of Mucormycosis in Free-Ranging Marine Mammals of the Pacific Northwest. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:555. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00555 Abstract: Primary fungal diseases in marine mammals are rare. Mucormycosis, a disease caused by fungi of the order Mucorales, has been documented in few cetaceans and pinnipeds. In 2012, the first case of mucormycosis in the Pacific Northwest was documented in a dead stranded harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Washington state. Since then, mucormycosis has been detected in a total of 21 marine mammals; fifteen harbor porpoises, five harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and one southern resident killer whale (Orcinus orca). Infected animals were predominately found in the inland waters of Washington and British Columbia, and one harbor seal was recovered in northern Oregon. Fungal hyphae were detected histologically in a variety of tissues, including brain, lung, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, muscle, lymph nodes, and skin. Three fungal species were identified from seven cases by PCR screening or fungal culture; Rhizomucor pusillus (four cases), Lichtheimia corymbifera (two cases), and Cunninghamella bertholletiae. Underlying conditions such as emaciation, current or recent pregnancy, multisystemic parasitism, protozoal infection, and herpesvirus were found in several affected animals. Reasons for the appearance and subsequent increase of these fungal infections in marine mammals are unknown. The emergence of this disease as a source of marine mammal mortality in the Pacific Northwest is of particular concern for endangered southern resident killer whales that spend time in this region. Current population-level stressors such as insufficient prey, high levels of contaminants, and noise pollution, could predispose them to these fatal infections. This article is open access and can be downloaded here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00555 Jessie __________________ Jessie Huggins Stranding Coordinator Cascadia Research Collective 218 ? W 4th Ave Olympia, WA 98501 USA www.cascadiaresearch.org Follow Cascadia on Facebook -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mithriel.mackay at gmail.com Wed Jul 8 11:18:49 2020 From: mithriel.mackay at gmail.com (Mithriel MacKay) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2020 14:18:49 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?Fundraiser_in_support_of_the_Bernd_And_Melany_?= =?utf-8?q?W=C3=BCrsig_Excellence_in_Marine_Studies_Scholarships?= Message-ID: The Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center (MCERC) has set up the "Bernd and Melany W?rsig Excellence in Marine Studies" scholarship program. The annual fundraiser for MCERC will support this resource to fund marine mammal research combined with education programs. Bernd and Mel have generously lent their names to this initiative after a request by the MCERC Board of Directors to honor the decades of support and encouragement for students and professionals of marine mammal science. We are currently drafting plans for scholarship support in memory of our colleague and friend, Adrian Dahood-Fritz. Adrian shared her passion for the organisms in the oceans in many formats and forums. We miss her greatly and wish to add another link in the chain of memories she left with us and the enthusiasm she inspired. This fundraiser will also support this resource for marine mammal research and education. We hope you will participate in the fundraiser so that MCERC can be a long-term extension of the support from Bernd, Mel, and Adrian in research and education. Please navigate to www.Marine-Eco.org for more information and opportunities to pitch in to these MCERC scholarship initiatives. You can learn more about the programs offered to university students and professionals as well as citizens scientists on the Education Hub ( www.Education.Marine-Eco.org). Thank you in advance from the faculty and staff at MCERC on behalf of the future beneficiaries of these scholarships. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com Wed Jul 8 11:46:37 2020 From: sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com (Sergio Cobarrubia) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2020 14:46:37 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Individual home ranges of Tursiops truncatus and their overlap with ranges of Stenella frontalis and fishermen in Aragua, Venezuela, South Caribbean (Sergio Cobarrubia-Russo). Message-ID: Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce our new publication: Cobarrubia-Russo SE, Barreto-Esnal GR, Molero-Lizarraga AE, Mariani-Di Lena MA (2020). Individual home ranges of Tursiops truncatus and their overlap with ranges of Stenella frontalis and fishermen in Aragua, Venezuela, South Caribbean. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1?10. https://doi.org/ 10.1017/S0025315420000557 Abstract The coast of Aragua is a home of bottlenose dolphins (BND), Atlantic spotted dolphins (ASD) and fishermen (FIS) from four towns. A photo-identification study was carried out on BND to estimate their home ranges. From 2004 to 2008, 100 field surveys were carried out along 30 km of coastline (92.12 km2 ). In each sighting of BND, information regarding date, time, latitude/longitude and photographs were registered (ASD and FIS were registered without photography). The data were analysed using a Geographic Information System to estimate Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Fixed Kernel (FK) at 95%. The home ranges of BND were estimated for seven individuals. This included three females (29?31 sightings) with estimated areas ranging from 33.90?39.90 km2 with MCP (36.79?43.31% of the study area) and from 80.47?101.31 km2 with FK (109.97?104.26%). For the remaining four dolphins (14?20 sightings) the estimated areas ranged from 9.67?22.34 km2 (MCP), the predominant depth of these home ranges varied from 51?100 m (?2 = 24.5, df = 2, P = 4.785 ? 10?6 ). For the pods of ASD the estimated area ranged 75.23 km2 with MCP (81.66%) and 119.86 km2 with FK (130.11%) with predominant depths of 101?200 m (?2 = 24.5, df = 2, P = 4.785 ? 10?6 ). The area used by FIS ranged 93.27 km2 by MCP and 228.49 km2 by FK. Finally, the overlap area of BND, ASD and FIS ranged 24.75 km2 (26.86%). We point out this locality presents important oceanographic and ecological aspects which deserve to be the subject of application of management plans for the conservation of its habitat and species. A pdf copy can be requested at the following email: sergio.cobarrubia at gmail.com. -- *Sergio Enrique Cobarrubia Russo* Laboratorio de Ecosistemas y Cambio Global Centro de Ecolog?a Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cient?ficas Venezuela. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From diegorita10 at gmail.com Fri Jul 10 01:25:17 2020 From: diegorita10 at gmail.com (Diego Rita) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2020 10:25:17 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Alkenones as water temperature proxy in cetacean tissues Message-ID: Dear Marmam, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Limnology and Oceanography: Methods: *Alkenones as a temperature proxy in fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) tissues* *Rita, D.; Borrell, A.; Aguilar, A (2020) *Alkenones as a temperature proxy in fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) tissues. Limnol. oceanogr.: Methods. DOI:10.1002/lom3.10375 *Abstract*: Alkenones are a group of extremely resilient molecules produced by cosmopolitan haptophyte organisms. The unsaturation index (Uk?37) of di- versus tri-unsaturated C37 alkenones (C37:2?(C37:2+C37:3)-1) can be used to estimate the temperature of the water in which the alkenone-producing organisms grew. Alkenones have been widely used in palaeoceanography, but they have received little attention in other fields. In this study, a method to detect alkenones in fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*) tissues is developed to adapt this technique to the marine ecology field. Five replicas of five tissues (stomach content, external blubber, internal blubber, muscle and liver) were analysed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Alkenones were present in both blubber tissues (66 ?57 ng?g-1 in external blubber and 145 ?89 ng?g-1 in external blubber), and in the stomach content (3126 ?2643 ng?g-1). The calculated Uk?37 index was very similar in the three tissues: 0.54 ?0.03 in the external blubber, 0.55 ?0.08 in the internal blubber and 0.71 ?0.06 in the stomach content. These indexes are equivalent to a sea surface temperature estimates of 17.79 ?0.68?C in the external blubber, 17.84 ?1.84?C in the internal blubber and 21.07 ?1.23?C in the stomach content, which are very similar to the expected temperature for the region. The results of the current study indicate that alkenones biodilute in the trophic web, which could hinder the analyses of alkenones in species with a high trophic level. However, it is shown that alkenones can be detected in fin whale tissues and can be used to approximate the environmental water temperature where these animals feed. The paper can be accessed using the following link: https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lom3.10375 Or send me an e-mail (diegorita at ub.edu) for the full text. Best regards, Diego Rita -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vwar775 at aucklanduni.ac.nz Thu Jul 9 22:24:53 2020 From: vwar775 at aucklanduni.ac.nz (Victoria Warren) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2020 17:24:53 +1200 Subject: [MARMAM] Sperm whale responses to suction-cup tag attachment - new publication Message-ID: Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following article: Short-term responses of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) to the attachment of suction-cup tags. Victoria E. Warren, Patrick J.O. Miller, and Peter L. Tyack Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2020, Vol 645, 219-234; doi: https:// doi.org/10.3354/meps13344 ABSTRACT Animal-mounted data logging devices are used to study the behaviour, physiology, and ecology of free-ranging marine mammals, as well as their reactions to controlled exposures. It is important to consider whether collected data are representative of natural behaviour or biased by responses to tagging. In species with stereotypical diving behaviour, tagging responses can be quantified by identifying anomalous dives. Data from 36 suction cup tag deployments on sperm whales (*Physeter macrocephalus)* from 4 locations were analysed to consider whether tagging effects were evident within 5 dive parameters: maximum dive depth, dive duration, descent speed, depth difference between start of clicking and first prey capture attempt, and buzz rate. Linear mixed models were generated for each response parameter and covariates for dive index were added to assess whether model fit improved when the order of dives was taken into account. Time-decaying tagging effects were noted in maximum dive depth (first dives were 25% shallower than average) and buzz rate (first dives contained 34% fewer buzzes per minute than average). In the Azores, the first 3 dives subsequent to tag attachment featured faster descent speeds than average. The whales were likely responding to the cumulative ?dose? of research activity at the surface: multiple boat approaches, tag placement, and general disturbance. Disturbance should be minimised during tagging, and the extent and duration of responses should be quantified. Modelling of quantified tagging responses could enable correction of these responses in tag data. The article can be downloaded from https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v645/p219-234/ or a PDF can be requested via email to vwar775 at aucklanduni.ac.nz Kind regards, Victoria Warren -- Victoria Warren PhD Candidate, Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 0985, New Zealand -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.bierlich at duke.edu Thu Jul 9 15:29:46 2020 From: kevin.bierlich at duke.edu (KC Bierlich) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2020 22:29:46 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New aerial photogrammetry toolset Message-ID: We are pleased to announce the publication of two open-source software packages developed for aerial photogrammetry: MorphoMetriX and CollatriX MorphoMetriX is a flexible photogrammetry graphical user interface (GUI) developed in PyQt5 for making efficient manual morphometric measurements of wild animals via aerial imagery. It was designed as a simple to use and accurate program for robust morphometric analysis that does not require knowledge of any scripting language for customization. The user can import an image and create custom length, area, and angle measurements, as well as measure perpendicular widths based off a length measurement (i.e., used to calculate body condition). MorphoMetriX allows the user to input flight and sensor parameters (such as altitude, focal length, pixel dimensions) so that all measurements in pixels are automatically scaled to real world values (i.e., meters). All measurements and their labels are exported into a .csv, along with an image (.png) of all the measurements that were made on the animal. CollatriX is a graphical user interface (GUI) developed using PyQt5 to collate outputs from MorphoMetriX (Torres & Bierlich, 2020). CollatriX was designed as a user-friendly GUI that collates the measurement outputs into a single data sheet (.csv) based on the animal?s individual ID. CollatriX includes a ?safety? function to correct user input errors by allowing the user to provide the correct altitude, focal length, and pixel dimension per image through a csv. Furthermore, CollatriX has two add-on functions, one to correct for altitude error from Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS or drone) flights and another for calculating different animal body condition metrics, following body volume from Christiansen et al. (2018) and body area index (BAI) from Burnett et al. (2018). The framework of CollatriX was also designed to have the flexibility to accommodate and encourage other future add-on functions. Papers: Torres, W., & Bierlich, K. (2020). MorphoMetriX: a photogrammetric measurement GUI for morphometric analysis of megafauna. Journal of Open Source Software, 5(45), 1825. doi:10.21105/joss.01825 Available at joss.theoj.org/papers/10.21105/joss.01825 Bird, C. & Bierlich, K. (2020). CollatriX: A GUI to collate MorphoMetriX outputs. Journal of Open Source Software, 5(51), 2328. doi:10.21105/joss.02328 Available at https://joss.theoj.org/papers/10.21105/joss.02328 Cheers, KC Kevin (KC) Bierlich, MEM 2016 PhD Candidate Duke University Marine Lab Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab kcb43 at duke.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marinolori at outlook.com Tue Jul 7 11:48:45 2020 From: marinolori at outlook.com (Lori Marino) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2020 18:48:45 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Live Webinar on Chronic Stress in Captive Orcas Message-ID: Join Drs. Lori Marino, Naomi Rose and Veronica Slootsky for a discussion of their findings on how chronic stress impacts orcas in captivity. Date: July 14 Time: 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qJuus9jWRzusAb5us77VuA For more information and background: Journal of Veterinary Behavior. For questions contact info at whalesanctuary.org Thank you. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From atonay at istanbul.edu.tr Sat Jul 11 05:42:33 2020 From: atonay at istanbul.edu.tr (Arda M. Tonay) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2020 15:42:33 +0300 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on population genetic structure of the short-beaked common dolphin Message-ID: <000c01d65780$c07a9de0$416fd9a0$@istanbul.edu.tr> Dear All, Apologies for cross posting. We would like to inform you that the new paper on population genetic structure of the short-beaked common dolphin from the Black Sea and the Turkish Straits System has been published in the Mitochondrial DNA Part A. Tonay, A.M., Uzun, B., Dede, A., ?zt?rk A.A., Danyer E., Danyer Aytemiz, I., Bilgin, S., ?zt?rk, B., Bilgin, R. 2020. Population genetic structure of the short-beaked common dolphin from the Black Sea and the Turkish Straits System. Mitochondrial DNA Part A. DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2020.1788008 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24701394.2020.1788008 Abstract Our study aims to assess the population connectivity, evolutionary history, and conservation status of the short-beaked common dolphin in the Black Sea and Turkish Straits System (TSS). We also include DNA sequences from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to provide a regional perspective to our localized study. Analysis of 366 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA D-loop fragments from 37 samples collected from short-beaked common dolphins in the Black Sea, TSS, and Aegean Sea revealed 13 haplotypes, eight of which have not been previously reported. While analysis of samples archived on GenBank revealed 89 different haplotypes across the region. The haplotype network contains two main peripheral groups that include individuals from all locations. Haplotypes from the Atlantic Ocean are scattered across the network and no obvious population separation was detected. Some shared haplotypes potentially indicate multi-directional colonization events of the Mediterranean Sea from the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, some less widely distributed haplotypes suggest some level of more recent genetic connectivity through the Strait of Gibraltar and the TSS and point out the importance of these straits in the dispersal of short-beaked common dolphins. The haplotype and nucleotide diversity values were lower in the Black Sea, TSS, and western Mediterranean Sea when compared to the Atlantic Ocean, supporting the expansion of Atlantic populations into the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. Differentiation was observed between the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, TSS and the Black Sea based on ?st but not between Mediterranean and the Black Seas. For common dolphins, which have high dispersal potential, the protection of open seas and narrow seaways to enhance connectivity may be crucial. Pdf requests can be sent to atonay at istanbul.edu.tr Regards Arda Arda M. TONAY Ph.D Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, ?stanbul University Marine Biology Dep. Ordu Cad. No:8 Laleli, 34134 ?stanbul, Turkey Tel: ?+90 212 455 5700/16459 Fax: +90 212 514 0379 atonay at istanbul.edu.tr http://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/ Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) P.O. Box 10 Beykoz, 34820 ?stanbul, Turkey Tel: +90 216 424 0772 Fax: +90 216 424 0771 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------ L?tfen bu e-postay? yazd?rmadan ?nce ?evreye olan etkisini dikkate al?n?z. Unutmay?n?z ki; d?nyadaki ka??t t?ketiminin yar?s? kazan?l?rsa, her y?l 8 milyon hektar orman alan? (Ege B?lgesi b?y?kl???nde) yok olmaktan kurtulacakt?r. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Please take into account the impact on the environment before printing this e-mail. Do not forget that if we reduce our paper consumption by half, every year 8 million hectares of forest (an area?the size of Aegean Region in Turkey) will be saved from vanishing. ------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lochcarolina at gmail.com Fri Jul 10 18:13:53 2020 From: lochcarolina at gmail.com (Carolina Loch Silva) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2020 13:13:53 +1200 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on baleen structure and properties in the Southern right and Pygmy right whales Message-ID: Dear MARMAM subscribers, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the following paper in the *Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials*: *Structure and properties of baleen in the Southern right (Eubalaena australis) and Pygmy right whales (Caperea marginata)* Carolina Loch, Shaun Vaz Viegas, J. Neil Waddell, Catherine Kemper, Richard B. Cook and Alexander J. Werth https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103939 *Abstract* Baleen is a resilient and keratinised filter-feeding structure attached to the maxilla of mysticete whales. It is strong and tough, yet a pliant and resilient material, that withstands extreme pressures in the oral cavity during feeding. We investigated the structure, water content, wettability and mechanical properties of baleen of the Southern right (SRW) and Pygmy right whales (PRW), to understand the effects of hydration on the physical and mechanical properties of baleen. Sixty 25 ? 15mm baleen subsamples were prepared from one individual of SRW and PRW. Half were hydrated in circulated natural seawater for 21 days and half were dry. Water content analysis showed that SRW baleen was 21.2% water weight and PRW was 26.1%. Wettability testing indicated that surfaces of both hydrated and dried SRW and PRW baleen were hydrophilic, with hydrated samples of both species having lower contact angle values. For the SRW, the average contact angle of hydrated baleen was 40? ? 13.2 and 73? ? 6 for dried samples. Hydrated PRW baleen had an average contact angle of 44? ? 15.3, which was lower than in dried samples (74? ? 2.9). Three-point bending mechanical tests showed that the average maximum flexural stress of dried SRW (134.1 ? 34.3 MPa) and PRW samples (117.8 ? 22.3 MPa) were significantly higher than those of hydrated SRW (25.7 ? 6.3 MPa) and PRW (19.7 ? 4.8 MPa) baleen. Scanning electron microscope images showed the stratification of the outer cortical layer, with cross-linked keratin fibres observed within and between baleen keratin sheets. Hydrated baleen, as in its natural and functional behaviour, has greater flexibility and strength, attributes necessary for the complex filter feeding mechanism characteristic of whales. Hydration must be considered when addressing the physical and mechanical properties of baleen, especially when using dried museum specimens. Full text is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751616120304938?dgcid=author Or alternatively, a *pdf* can be requested at: carolina.loch at otago.ac.nz Best regards, _______________________________________ Carolina Loch Silva, PhD Senior Lecturer in Oral Biology Department of Oral Sciences Sir John Walsh Research Institute Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Phone: +(64) 03 479-9255 http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/people/profile/index.html?id=2033 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From phillip.clapham at gmail.com Fri Jul 10 09:33:10 2020 From: phillip.clapham at gmail.com (Phil Clapham) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:33:10 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science: a response Message-ID: At the risk of becoming unpopular with some good folks, I have to offer a different perspective on unpaid positions to that given in the letter posted by Eiren Jacobson on 2nd July, addressed to the leadership of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. The authors of the letter are of course correct in that unpaid positions favor those who can afford to work for free, and as such they exclude numerous people, including minorities. Maybe a few institutions do intentionally exploit younger people in this way. However, for many, this situation is a simple reflection of the state of funding in marine mammal science. Many institutions - notably smaller non-profits - have a hard time raising enough money to pay their own staff, support basic field work, and keep the lights on. If you ban advertisements of unpaid positions, you are depriving countless people of the only opportunity they may ever get to participate in marine mammal science. I'm a good example. When I arrived on Cape Cod in the fall of 1980, I volunteered at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown. They weren't about to pay me, a young guy with zero experience; no one at the institution was receiving much or any salary, and our research budget for the entire year was a few thousand dollars. Yes, I was able to support myself (barely) for a few months. And yes, that was forty years ago; but for many small institutions, life today isn't radically different in terms of funding. Indeed, these days there is more competition for money than there was when I entered the field. If I had insisted on being paid, or if the student internships we later offered were subject to a ban on advertizing, I and many other individuals who are today well known in the field would never have had that chance to work with a research program, and try out for themselves the idea of a career involving study of these fascinating animals. My wife, Dr Yulia Ivashchenko, has a similar story: had she not volunteered for an underfunded whale research project in Russia, she almost certainly would not be involved in the field today. By accusing underfunded institutions of unethical or illegal behavior, and depriving everyone of such opportunities just because some are disadvantaged, you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We'd all like to see everyone who wants to be involved, paid and given health insurance. But the harsh reality of funding is that this is often not possible. Funding is hard enough to come by in the US, and far more difficult in many other countries. Do people really want to hobble projects in the developing world from recruiting assistance with poorly funded studies which sometimes involve critical conservation issues? There is a much broader issue here which the letter does not address, and that is the failure of society in general, and the education system in particular, to encourage minority and other under-represented school kids to enter science. During the ten years or so that I directed the internship program at the Center for Coastal Studies, we were able to offer internship positions that included accommodation and a small stipend; it wasn't much, but was at least sufficient to keep our interns fed during the two or three months they spent with us. Every year, we had anywhere from fifty to a couple of hundred applicants for the five or six internship slots we offered. They were almost all undergraduates - and, tellingly, close to 100% were white. I suspect that many institutions offering paid internships see a similar disparity in applicants today. Given that our internships were actually paid at a basic level, what this says is that the lack of minority applicants had little to do with financial inequities. Rather, the problem begins much earlier than the undergraduate level. As the infamous Sheldon Cooper once said in an episode of The Big Bang Theory in which they're trying to recruit more women into science, you have to start at least in middle school. As is well known, girls are still often actively discouraged from pursuing STEM careers early on, and by the time you're dealing with the university level, as Sheldon noted, it's too late. The same applies even more markedly to minorities. I've been involved in this field for forty years, and I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of African-Americans I've known who've been significantly involved in US whale or seal research. So yes, try harder to fund internships and other entry-level positions. But there also needs to be a concerted effort by the Society, and by the field in general, to reach out to schoolchildren, notably girls and minorities, and to aggressively promote programs that encourage kids from all backgrounds to see careers in science as achievable (and cool). Put bluntly, you can offer paid internships all you want, but you probably won't see people from under-represented populations flocking to apply when an interest in the field was never cultivated - or was culled out of them - at an earlier age. Given the dismal statistics regarding minority involvement in our field and the current explosion of attention on minority issues, I would think that the time is ripe to seek funding from foundation or other sources for well-thought-out programs aimed at recruiting under-represented young people - including school kids - into science. I would respectfully suggest that those who signed Jacobson's letter concentrate on this potentially game-changing idea instead of berating and hamstringing underfunded researchers. Most of these are well-intentioned people who are just trying to keep things going, while giving at least some students potentially invaluable opportunities to jump-start a career in our field. -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Research Associate Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Senior Scientist Seastar Scientific Inc. Vashon Island, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From traciemerrill at hotmail.com Sat Jul 11 10:08:07 2020 From: traciemerrill at hotmail.com (tracie merrill) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2020 17:08:07 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] The Whale Museum's 2020 Marine Naturalist Training Program is going virtual! Message-ID: The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA, has been training marine naturalists since 1994. Because of the pandemic, we have decided to offer our 2020 marine naturalist training program (MNTP) summer session virtually. Dates for this session are: July 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22 (with one day off on July 19). Our marine naturalist training course is an intensive 6-day overview of the natural history of the San Juan Islands and the marine waters of Washington and Southern British Columbia (known as the Salish Sea). This course includes an in-depth treatment of the ecology and conservation of local marine species, including cetaceans (especially Southern Resident killer whales), pinnipeds, mustelids, and marine invertebrates and birds. Not only will participants learn identification and biology of species but also about TWM's marine mammal research (San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammals Sighting Network/Database, Be Whale Wise laws and guidelines and Soundwatch Boater Education Program, and collaboration in shore based observation/acoustic research at Lime Kiln Point State Park. Presentations will be given by highly trained local naturalists, environmental educators, and scientists. The upcoming summer session will be a dynamic, high-quality virtual experience that leaves graduates qualified as a regional professional or volunteer naturalist. Tuition is $425 for members of The Whale Museum/Orca Adopters or $475 for non-members. More information as well as course registration can be found at https://whalemuseum.org/pages/marine-naturalist-training Sent from Outlook -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From genevieve.davis at noaa.gov Tue Jul 14 06:38:58 2020 From: genevieve.davis at noaa.gov (Genevieve Davis - NOAA Federal) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:38:58 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on baleen whale distributions in the western North Atlantic using passive acoustic data Message-ID: Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the Early View of our publication in Global Change Biology: Davis, G. E., Baumgartner M. F., Corkeron, P. J., Bell, J., Berchok, C., Bonnell, J.M., Bort Thornton, J., Brault, S., Buchanan, G. A., Cholewiak, D. M., Clark, C. W., Delarue, J., Hatch, L. T., Klinck, H., Kraus, S. D., Martin, B., Mellinger, D. K., Moors?Murphy, H., Nieukirk, S., Nowacek, D. P., Parks, S. E., Parry, D., Pegg, N., Read, A. J., Rice, A. N., Risch, D., Scott, A., Soldevilla, M. S., Stafford, K. M., Stanistreet, J. E., Summers, E., Todd, S., and Van Parijs, S. M. Exploring movement patterns and changing distributions of baleen whales in the western North Atlantic using a decade of passive acoustic data. Glob Change Biol. 2020; 00:1-29. ABSTRACT: Six baleen whale species are found in the temperate western North Atlantic Ocean, with limited information existing on the distribution and movement patterns for most. There is mounting evidence of distributional shifts in many species, including marine mammals, likely because of climate?driven changes in ocean temperature and circulation. Previous acoustic studies examined the occurrence of minke (*Balaenoptera acutorostrata *) and North Atlantic right whales (NARW; *Eubalaena glacialis *). This study assesses the acoustic presence of humpback (*Megaptera novaeangliae *), sei (*B. borealis *), fin (*B. physalus *), and blue whales (*B. musculus *) over a decade, based on daily detections of their vocalizations. Data collected from 2004 to 2014 on 281 bottom?mounted recorders, totaling 35,033 days, were processed using automated detection software and screened for each species' presence. A published study on NARW acoustics revealed significant changes in occurrence patterns between the periods of 2004?2010 and 2011?2014; therefore, these same time periods were examined here. All four species were present from the Southeast United States to Greenland; humpback whales were also present in the Caribbean. All species occurred throughout all regions in the winter, suggesting that baleen whales are widely distributed during these months. Each of the species showed significant changes in acoustic occurrence after 2010. Similar to NARWs, sei whales had higher acoustic occurrence in mid?Atlantic regions after 2010. Fin, blue, and sei whales were more frequently detected in the northern latitudes of the study area after 2010. Despite this general northward shift, all four species were detected less on the Scotian Shelf area after 2010, matching documented shifts in prey availability in this region. A decade of acoustic observations have shown important distributional changes over the range of baleen whales, mirroring known climatic shifts and identifying new habitats that will require further protection from anthropogenic threats like fixed fishing gear, shipping, and noise pollution. The full article is Open Access and available online at: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15191 Please feel free to contact me (genevieve.davis at noaa.gov) with any questions. Best wishes, Genevieve -- Genevieve Davis Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA *Phone: 508-495-2325* *genevieve.davis at noaa.gov * NEFSC Passive Acoustic Research: www.fisheries.noaa.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pjbouchet at gmail.com Mon Jul 13 06:13:32 2020 From: pjbouchet at gmail.com (Phil Bouchet) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 14:13:32 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication: Productivity aggregates killer whales and other cetaceans in the Bremer Sub-Basin, south-western Australia Message-ID: <15062FE0-48D1-4AE6-A2D3-43894CCA72CE@contoso.com> Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper on the distribution and abundance of cetaceans in the Bremer Sub-Basin, Western Australia ? with a particular focus on killer whales. The paper is freely available from the journal?s website. Salgado Kent CP, Bouchet PJ, Wellard R, Parnum I, Fouda L, Erbe C (2020). Seasonal productivity drives aggregations of killer whales and other cetaceans over submarine canyons of the Bremer Sub-Basin, south-western Australia. Australian Mammalogy, DOI: 10.1071/AM19058 https://www.publish.csiro.au/am/AM19058 **Abstract** Cetaceans are iconic predators that serve as important indicators of marine ecosystem health. The Bremer Sub-Basin, south-western Australia, supports a diverse cetacean community including the largest documented aggregation of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Australian waters. Knowledge of cetacean distributions is critical for managing the area?s thriving ecotourism industry, yet is largely sporadic. Here we combined aerial with opportunistic ship-borne surveys during 2015?2017 to describe the occurrence of multiple cetacean species on a regional scale. We used generalised estimating equations to model variation in killer whale relative density as a function of both static and dynamic covariates, including seabed depth, slope, and chlorophyll a concentration, while accounting for autocorrelation. Encountered cetacean groups included: killer (n?=?177), sperm (n?=?69), long-finned pilot (n?=?29), false killer (n?=?2), and strap-toothed beaked (n?=?1) whales, as well as bottlenose (n?=?12) and common (n?=?5) dolphins. Killer whale numbers peaked in areas of low temperatures and high primary productivity, likely due to seasonal upwelling of nutrient-rich waters supporting high prey biomass. The best predictive model highlighted potential killer whale ?hotspots? in the Henry, Hood, Pallinup and Bremer Canyons. This study demonstrates the value of abundance data from platforms of opportunity for marine planning and wildlife management in the open ocean. Kind regards, Phil Dr. Phil Bouchet | Postdoctoral Research Fellow Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling (CREEM) The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens University of St Andrews, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ, Scotland (UK) E pjbouchet at gmail.com | pb282 at st-andrews.ac.uk Twitter @pjbouchet ? Web pjbouchet.github.io -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aligalezo at gmail.com Tue Jul 14 10:28:45 2020 From: aligalezo at gmail.com (Ali G) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 13:28:45 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on juvenile social development in bottlenose dolphins Message-ID: My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new article in Behavioral Ecology: *Juvenile social dynamics reflect adult reproductive strategies in bottlenose dolphins* Allison A Galezo, Vivienne Foroughirad, Ewa Krzyszczyk, C?line H Fr?re, Janet Mann ABSTRACT The juvenile period is a challenging life-history stage, especially in species with a high degree of fission?fusion dynamics, such as bottlenose dolphins, where maternal protection is virtually absent. Here, we examined how juvenile male and female bottlenose dolphins navigate this vulnerable period. Specifically, we examined their grouping patterns, activity budget, network dynamics, and social associations in the absence of adults. We found that juveniles live in highly dynamic groups, with group composition changing every 10 min on average. Groups were generally segregated by sex, and segregation was driven by same-sex preference rather than opposite-sex avoidance. Juveniles formed strong associations with select individuals, especially kin and same-sex partners, and both sexes formed cliques with their preferred partners. Sex-specific strategies in the juvenile period reflected adult reproductive strategies, in which the exploration of potential social partners may be more important for males (which form long-term alliances in adulthood) than females (which preferentially associate with kin in adulthood). Females spent more time alone and were more focused on foraging than males, but still formed close same-sex associations, especially with kin. Males cast a wider social net than females, with strong same-sex associations and many male associates. Males engaged in more affiliative behavior than females. These results are consistent with the social bonds and skills hypothesis and suggest that delayed sexual maturity in species with relational social complexity may allow individuals to assess potential associates and explore a complex social landscape without the risks associated with sexual maturity (e.g., adult reproductive competition; inbreeding). The full article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/araa068. Feel free to email me at aligalezo at gmail.com for a PDF of the article. Cheers, Allison Galezo PhD Candidate, Duke University, Alberts Lab -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From c.trotter2 at newcastle.ac.uk Wed Jul 15 03:49:43 2020 From: c.trotter2 at newcastle.ac.uk (Cameron Trotter (PGR)) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:49:43 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Northumberland Dolphin Dataset 2020 Release (NDD20) References: <6a022446-d3d6-467f-87ee-53eb00a0d8b3@Spark> Message-ID: <0e73b072-16c4-45ad-9a58-1f17e29fb797@Spark> Dear Colleagues, We are very happy to share our new dataset, the Northumberland Dolphin Dataset 2020 (NDD20). This dataset would be of particular interest to those wishing to utilise machine learning models for mammal re-identification or the development of automatic photo-id systems, such as Siamese Neural Networks or more conventional Convolutional Neural Networks. Please see below for details: We introduce the Northumberland Dolphin Dataset 2020 (NDD20), a challenging image dataset annotated for both coarse and fine-grained instance segmentation and categorisation. This dataset, the first release of the NDD, was created in response to the rapid expansion of computer vision into conservation research and the production of field-deployable systems suited to extreme environmental conditions - an area with few open source datasets. NDD20 contains a large collection of above and below water images of two different dolphin species for traditional coarse and fine-grained segmentation. All data contained in NDD20 was obtained via manual collection in the North Sea around the Northumberland coastline, UK. NDD20 was released at this year?s FGVC7 Workshop as a part of CVPR2020. Our accompanying paper can be accessed at https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.13359.pdf, with the dataset itself available at https://doi.org/10.25405/data.ncl.c.4982342. On behalf of all coauthors, Cameron Trotter c.trotter2 at ncl.ac.uk Cloud Computing CDT & Marine MEGAfauna Lab, Newcastle University, UK -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cdmacleod at gisinecology.com Tue Jul 14 01:49:49 2020 From: cdmacleod at gisinecology.com (cdmacleod at gisinecology.com) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:49:49 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New Online Training Courses: An Introduction To Integrating QGIS/GIS And R For Spatial Analysis - 6th to 8th May 2020 In-Reply-To: <2499c76e3598d992a632882d524fe382@gisinecology.com> References: <2499c76e3598d992a632882d524fe382@gisinecology.com> Message-ID: <499c44de88764253ec5f5141ce698824@gisinecology.com> _GIS In Ecology_ will be holding a new online training course on using GIS in biological research between the 17th and 20th of August 2020. 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 British Summer (primarily for those living in Europe, Asia and Africa) or 18:00 to 21:00 British Summer 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 20 people. 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 August 2020. 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 24th and the 27th of August 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 dannymorick at gmail.com Mon Jul 13 23:10:00 2020 From: dannymorick at gmail.com (Danny Morick) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:10:00 +0300 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?publication_option_for_wild_marine_mammals?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=99_health_related_articles?= Message-ID: Subject: publication option for wild marine mammals? health related articles: *Animals* Special Issue - Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses of Wild Marine Animals Dear MARMAM subscribers, *Animals* Special Issue - Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses of Wild Marine Animals ((IF=2.323, Q1, Veterinary Sciences) is accepting articles related to marine animals' diseases and, hopefully, will have a special chapter for marine mammal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses. Researchers in this field are welcome to submit articles for peer review and contribute to marine mammal research and conservation. Over the past few decades, there has been a global increase in the reporting of diseases affecting marine mammals. Climate change is additional pressure on marine ecosystems that are already subject to many anthropogenic disturbances, such as overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. Environmental conditions play a crucial role not only in pathogen transmission between marine mammals but also as risk factors for clinical disease occurrence. Dolphins, seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals are all susceptible to infectious diseases and some of these pathogens can transmit diseases to humans. Marine zoonoses represent a public health problem, which is an understatement considering the status of the world's citizenry and socio-economic fallout. Numerous pathogens and many different transmission modes are involved, and many factors influence the epidemiology of disease transmission. Surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, research, training, and education are key elements in combating the upsurge of infectious agents and zoonoses in and from the sea. For further details, please contact: Dr. Danny Morick, DVM, Ph.D., CertAqV Email: dmorick at univ.haifa.ac.il *Guest Editor * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From eric.archer at noaa.gov Sun Jul 12 22:41:40 2020 From: eric.archer at noaa.gov (Eric Archer - NOAA Federal) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 22:41:40 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science: a response In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I appreciate Phil Clapham's well-written opinion on unpaid positions, but in general disagree with his conclusion that they do not represent a significant barrier to entry to the field. I can offer my own experience as a similar, yet counter example to Phil's. I am one of those few African Americans that Phil can count on one hand as being involved in marine mammal science I have been in the field for about 30 years, and I do not know another African American in the field. That is, at least two of Phil's fingers don't know each other. Like Phil, I also owe my entrance to the field to a volunteer position. If it wasn't for the generosity of Jim Mead, Charley Potter, and others at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, who allowed me to volunteer there for two summers during my last two undergraduate years, I don't know where I'd be. There were many unpaid positions that I wanted to participate in, but there was no way I could afford the travel, lodging, and loss of income to take them. The only reason that I could volunteer at the Smithsonian was that my parents lived in the Washington, DC area and I was living with them during the summer. I also took on part time summer work, but if I had to work full time, I would never have been able to volunteer. I knew people who did have to work more hours to help pay for school or help their families, and they thought I was extremely lucky. I felt extremely guilty that friends and relatives did not have the same opportunity that I did, but vowed to not waste the opportunity I'd been given. In short, I was only a few socio-economic rungs away from not being able to pursue my dream. Today, Phil would need fewer fingers. My point is this: We are all a product of the current system. We all have benefited from somebody taking a chance on us and most of us have made sacrifices or taken advantage of opportunities to participate in work where we had to fund ourselves. Few of us have been paid at the start to get those critical first few experiences or make those important first connections. We all have been lucky. The voices that we won't hear in this debate are those that didn't have those opportunities. How many people are we missing from this field because they had to make a choice of doing something to pay for school, family, or just existence rather than being able to put it into their future? Phil makes an excellent point about the need to expose more underrepresented people to the field. The SMM Diversity and Inclusion Committee is pursuing several avenues to make a closer connection between the society and minority serving institutions and make our science more available to a wider group of young students. However, I'm absolutely convinced that although this is an important filter to be addressed, it doesn't mean we shouldn't pay attention other obvious barriers like the issue of unpaid internships. While I don't agree with all of the demands of the Jacobsen et al letter, I signed it because I strongly support the spirit of the initiative and want to encourage the very discussion that we're having now. I think we can all agree that we need to do everything we can to get as many voices to the table as possible. Changing the way we think about unpaid internships is one of them. Phil has outlined the harm that these changes would have to research projects. I just wanted to add some words to voice the silent harm experienced by people that we will never hear from. Kind Regards, Eric Archer On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 8:05 AM Phil Clapham wrote: > At the risk of becoming unpopular with some good folks, I have to offer a > different perspective on unpaid positions to that given in the letter > posted by Eiren Jacobson on 2nd July, addressed to the leadership of the > Society for Marine Mammalogy. The authors of the letter are of course > correct in that unpaid positions favor those who can afford to work for > free, and as such they exclude numerous people, including minorities. > Maybe a few institutions do intentionally exploit younger people in this > way. However, for many, this situation is a simple reflection of the state > of funding in marine mammal science. > Many institutions - notably smaller non-profits - have a hard time > raising enough money to pay their own staff, support basic field work, and > keep the lights on. If you ban advertisements of unpaid positions, you are > depriving countless people of the only opportunity they may ever get to > participate in marine mammal science. I'm a good example. When I arrived > on Cape Cod in the fall of 1980, I volunteered at the Center for Coastal > Studies in Provincetown. They weren't about to pay me, a young guy with > zero experience; no one at the institution was receiving much or any > salary, and our research budget for the entire year was a few thousand > dollars. Yes, I was able to support myself (barely) for a few months. And > yes, that was forty years ago; but for many small institutions, life today > isn't radically different in terms of funding. Indeed, these days there is > more competition for money than there was when I entered the field. > If I had insisted on being paid, or if the student internships we later > offered were subject to a ban on advertizing, I and many other individuals > who are today well known in the field would never have had that chance to > work with a research program, and try out for themselves the idea of a > career involving study of these fascinating animals. My wife, Dr Yulia > Ivashchenko, has a similar story: had she not volunteered for an > underfunded whale research project in Russia, she almost certainly would > not be involved in the field today. > By accusing underfunded institutions of unethical or illegal behavior, > and depriving everyone of such opportunities just because some are > disadvantaged, you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We'd all > like to see everyone who wants to be involved, paid and given health > insurance. But the harsh reality of funding is that this is often not > possible. > Funding is hard enough to come by in the US, and far more difficult in > many other countries. Do people really want to hobble projects in the > developing world from recruiting assistance with poorly funded studies > which sometimes involve critical conservation issues? > There is a much broader issue here which the letter does not address, > and that is the failure of society in general, and the education system in > particular, to encourage minority and other under-represented school kids > to enter science. During the ten years or so that I directed the > internship program at the Center for Coastal Studies, we were able to offer > internship positions that included accommodation and a small stipend; it > wasn't much, but was at least sufficient to keep our interns fed during the > two or three months they spent with us. Every year, we had anywhere from > fifty to a couple of hundred applicants for the five or six internship > slots we offered. They were almost all undergraduates - and, tellingly, > close to 100% were white. I suspect that many institutions offering paid > internships see a similar disparity in applicants today. > Given that our internships were actually paid at a basic level, what > this says is that the lack of minority applicants had little to do with > financial inequities. Rather, the problem begins much earlier than the > undergraduate level. As the infamous Sheldon Cooper once said in an > episode of The Big Bang Theory in which they're trying to recruit more > women into science, you have to start at least in middle school. As is > well known, girls are still often actively discouraged from pursuing STEM > careers early on, and by the time you're dealing with the university level, > as Sheldon noted, it's too late. The same applies even more markedly to > minorities. I've been involved in this field for forty years, and I can > probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of African-Americans > I've known who've been significantly involved in US whale or seal research. > So yes, try harder to fund internships and other entry-level > positions. But there also needs to be a concerted effort by the Society, > and by the field in general, to reach out to schoolchildren, notably girls > and minorities, and to aggressively promote programs that encourage kids > from all backgrounds to see careers in science as achievable (and cool). > Put bluntly, you can offer paid internships all you want, but you probably > won't see people from under-represented populations flocking to apply when > an interest in the field was never cultivated - or was culled out of them - > at an earlier age. > Given the dismal statistics regarding minority involvement in our field > and the current explosion of attention on minority issues, I would think > that the time is ripe to seek funding from foundation or other sources for > well-thought-out programs aimed at recruiting under-represented young > people - including school kids - into science. I would respectfully > suggest that those who signed Jacobson's letter concentrate on this > potentially game-changing idea instead of berating and hamstringing > underfunded researchers. Most of these are well-intentioned people who are > just trying to keep things going, while giving at least some students > potentially invaluable opportunities to jump-start a career in our field. > > -- > Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. > Research Associate > Smithsonian Institution > National Museum of Natural History > > Senior Scientist > Seastar Scientific Inc. > Vashon Island, WA > > _______________________________________________ > MARMAM mailing list > MARMAM at lists.uvic.ca > https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam > -- *Eric Archer, Ph.D. *(he/him/his) Program Leader, Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/NOAA) 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA 858-546-7121 (work) 858-546-7003 (FAX) Adjunct Professor, Marine Biology Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego http://profiles.ucsd.edu/frederick.archer GitHub: github.com/ericarcher " *The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes.*" - Randall Munroe "*Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.*" - Benjamin Franklin "*...but I'll take a GPS over either one.*" - John C. "Craig" George -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kdudzinski at dolphincommunicationproject.org Wed Jul 15 09:47:06 2020 From: kdudzinski at dolphincommunicationproject.org (Kathleen Dudzinski) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 12:47:06 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Summer Update from Aquatic Mammals journal Message-ID: <5D510736-5DAD-4101-8488-2FDF4565F2AB@dolphincommunicationproject.org> Dear MARMAM and ECS Talk subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The titles listed below represent the contents of the most recent issue (Volume 46, issue 4, 2020) of Aquatic Mammals that is published online. Aquatic Mammals is the longest running peer-reviewed journal dedicated to research on aquatic mammals and is published quarterly with manuscripts available as published PDFs in real time. Further information about the journal can be found at: http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/ In other journal news: 1) At the end of July, we will resume shipping the print copies of Aquatic Mammals to print subscribers; issues 1 thru 4 will be sent in one packet to each print subscriber. 2) We have one Historical Perspectives essay in issue 46.4 and will have one in 46.5. Given these challenging times, we have decided to make all HP essays (from Vic Scheffer?s first essay through current and forward) available for free download to any interested reader. You can access them in the various issues from 2008 through present year. 3) The journal has crept into social media with a Facebook page. Thankfully, Dagmar Fertl, who volunteers her time, uploads posts in advance of each issue?s publication. Authors provide a few sentences and a photo (or 2) about their article as a previous to the full issue being published online. So far, response has been positive. 4) The index files for volumes 44 and 45 (key word and author indices) are now also available for free download from the journal?s index page (under the Issues tab). Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and abstract postings. With regards, Kathleen M. Dudzinski, Ph.D. Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal business at aquaticmammalsjournal.org To submit a manuscript for publication consideration, please visit: http://am.expressacademic.org/actions/author.php Volume 46, Issue 4 Claire Vergneau-Grosset, St?phane Lair, Mario Guay, Karine B?land, Benjamin Lamglait, Marion Jalenques, No?mie Summa, Jean-Fran?ois St-Cyr, and Hugo Joly. (2020). Diagnosis and Management of Goiter in an Atlantic Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus). Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 331-336. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.331 Cayetano Espinosa-Miranda, Benjam?n C?ceres, Olivia Blank, Marjorie Fuentes-Riquelme, and Sonja Heinrich. (2020). Entanglements and Mortality of Endemic Chilean Dolphins (Cephalorhynchus eutropia) in Salmon Farms in Southern Chile. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 337-343. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.337 Audra E. Ames and Valeria Vergara. (2020). Trajectories of Vocal Repertoire Development in Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Calves: Insights from Studies a Decade Apart. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 344-366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.344 Jennifer L. Garten and Frank E. Fish. (2020). Comparative Histological Examination of the Integument of Odontocete Flukes. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 367-381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.367 Holli C. Eskelinen, Jill L. Richardson, and Juliana K. Wendt. (2020). The Effects of Reproductive Status and Water Temperature on the Caloric Intake of Tursiops truncatus. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 382-394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.382 Long Vu, Michael R. McGowen, Charles W. Potter, Truong Anh Tho, Sui Hyang Kuit, Salma T. Abdel-Raheem, and Ellen Hines. (2020). New Records of Fraser?s Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) from the Whale Temples and Fishing Communities of Vietnam. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 395-401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.395 Jodi G. Frediani, Nancy A. Black, and Fred Sharpe. (2020). Postmortem Attractions: Humpback Whales Investigate the Carcass of a Killer Whale-Depredated Gray Whale Calf. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 402-410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.402 Juan P. Gallo-Reynoso, Ana L. Figueroa-Carranza, Isai D. Barba-Acu?a, Donaxi Borjes-Flores, and Itzel J. P?rez-Coss?o. (2020). Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) Along the Western Coast of Mexico. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 411-416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.411 Historical Perspectives: Jay Sweeney. (2020). Genesis and Benefits of Human/Dolphin Interactions Leading to Dolphin Interaction Programs: Personal Observations from 1969 to 2020. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 417-428. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.417 Erratum: Divya Panicker, Dipani Sutaria, Ajith Kumar, and Kathleen M. Stafford. (2020). Erratum: Cetacean Distribution and Diversity in Lakshadweep Waters, India, Using a Platform of Opportunity: October 2015 to April 2016. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 429. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.429 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ukrsc at st-andrews.ac.uk Mon Jul 13 09:13:40 2020 From: ukrsc at st-andrews.ac.uk (UK Regional Student Chapter for the Society of Marine Mammals) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:13:40 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] UKIRSC conference - How and When should we host it? Message-ID: Dear Marmam community, *How* and *when* should we host UKIRSC 2021? The UK and Ireland Regional Student Chapter committee has started to plan our next conference for students in the UK and Ireland. With understandable uncertainty around mass gatherings during and post the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to hear from the UKIRSC community. This is an opportunity for the event to be influenced by the preferences of our attendees to ensure everyone feels included and in a safe environment. We are asking UK and Ireland based students to vote for their preferred option: *Option 1 ? *The UKIRSC to host their first ever virtual online conference in January 2021 *Option 2 ? *Postpone UKIRSC21 until June in the hope to arrange a face-to-face conference hosted by the Sea Mammal Research Unit and the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Please follow the link to our poll *here * . The poll will close on Friday 24th July. Cheers, Izzy, Laura P., James, Cynthia, Mar?a & Laura O. *---------------------------------------------------------------* *Committee Member* *UK and Ireland Regional Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy* *Website*: http://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/ukrsc/ *Facebook*: https://www.facebook.com/UKIRSC/ *Twitter*: https://twitter.com/UKIRSC_SMM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Marie.Noel at ocean.org Tue Jul 14 10:13:33 2020 From: Marie.Noel at ocean.org (Marie Noel) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 17:13:33 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Post Doc opportunity - killer whale health using RNA seq Message-ID: Ocean Wise is seeking to hire a post doc to work on a two year project looking at health effects related to contaminants in killer whales using RNA sequencing. Details on the position can be found in the link below: https://recruiting.ultipro.ca/VAN5001VAMSC/JobBoard/3cc32760-97d8-475c-b01d-1031a9a9fe3a/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=1f843cd6-f927-4ed5-b70c-6be84f351129 Feel free to contact me if you have any questions Thanks Marie Marie Noel, PhD Research Manager Marie.Noel at ocean.org ________________________________ Our vision is a world in which oceans are healthy and flourishing. | ocean.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From peter.evans at bangor.ac.uk Mon Jul 13 05:07:28 2020 From: peter.evans at bangor.ac.uk (Peter Evans) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:07:28 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Melon-headed Whale Picture Request Message-ID: Please could anyone help us. We are looking to be able to include one or two good images of melon-headed whale that shows its identification features for a fact sheet on the species to be included on our charity's website and within a free public recording app. Hoping someone can help. kind rregards, Peter Dr Peter GH Evans Sea Watch Foundation Email: peter.evans at bangor.ac.uk Mae croeso i chi gysylltu gyda'r Brifysgol yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg You are welcome to contact the University in Welsh or English Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 1141565 - Registered Charity No. 1141565 Gall y neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau a anfonwyd gyda hi, gynnwys deunydd cyfrinachol ac wedi eu bwriadu i'w defnyddio'n unig gan y sawl y cawsant eu cyfeirio ato (atynt). Os ydych wedi derbyn y neges e-bost hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i'r anfonwr ar unwaith a dilewch y neges. Os na fwriadwyd anfon y neges atoch chi, rhaid i chi beidio a defnyddio, cadw neu ddatgelu unrhyw wybodaeth a gynhwysir ynddi. Mae unrhyw farn neu safbwynt yn eiddo i'r sawl a'i hanfonodd yn unig ac nid yw o anghenraid yn cynrychioli barn Prifysgol Bangor. Nid yw Prifysgol Bangor yn gwarantu bod y neges e-bost hon neu unrhyw atodiadau yn rhydd rhag firysau neu 100% yn ddiogel. Oni bai fod hyn wedi ei ddatgan yn uniongyrchol yn nhestun yr e-bost, nid bwriad y neges e-bost hon yw ffurfio contract rhwymol - mae rhestr o lofnodwyr awdurdodedig ar gael o Swyddfa Cyllid Prifysgol Bangor. This email and any attachments may contain confidential material and is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email. If you are not the intended recipient(s), you must not use, retain or disclose any information contained in this email. Any views or opinions are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of Bangor University. Bangor University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of the text of the email, this email is not intended to form a binding contract - a list of authorised signatories is available from the Bangor University Finance Office. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dicalvar at ucsc.edu Wed Jul 15 15:29:47 2020 From: dicalvar at ucsc.edu (Diana Alvarado) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:29:47 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on the use of drone photogrammetry to estimate elephant seal mass Message-ID: <1CF922B6-C54B-4BF7-9FE6-21F3D79BF678@ucsc.edu> Dear all, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the Early View of our publication in Marine Mammal Science: Alvarado DC, Robinson PW, Frasson NC, Costa DP, Beltran RS. Calibration of aerial photogrammetry to estimate elephant seal mass. Mar Mam Sci. 2020;1-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12714 Abstract Body mass measurements can provide important insights into the physiology and foraging ecology of marine mammals. Unmanned aerial system (UAS) photogrammetry offers a method that is safer for both animals and researchers and is logistically simpler than traditional weighing methods. Our objectives were: 1) to evaluate the accuracy of UAS photogrammetry for estimating the mass of adult female northern elephant seals and 2) to examine the effect of body position on mass estimates obtained using UAS. We analyzed a series of UAS images of 22 adult female northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) of known mass at A?o Nuevo Reserve (San Mateo County, California, USA). Complete body areas (hereafter, footprint areas, measured in m2) of seals in a dorsal (laying on ventral surface, N=45) or lateral (laying on side, N=7) body position were measured in ImageJ using the standard polygon area selection tool and compared to mass measurements. Linear regressions of measured mass against footprint suggest that mass is more strongly related to dorsal footprints (R2= 0.895, N=45) than lateral footprints (R2= 0.822, N=7). Residual error ranged from -68.7 to +69.3 kg and seal mass was estimated with a mean error of 7.7 kg, or 2.4%, of total body mass. With the predictive models found, UAS photogrammetry will allow us to expand our knowledge of seasonal energetic intake and expenditure, especially in large-bodied and fully aquatic species in remote areas. Mass measurements can inform ecosystem-based resource management by providing information about the inter-annual productivity of the ocean environment and in turn individual, population, and ecosystem-level health in marine mammals. The publication can be found at this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12714 PDF requests can be sent to dicalvar at ucsc.edu Best regards, Diana Alvarado -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From alisongill at intelligentocean.com Wed Jul 15 16:03:17 2020 From: alisongill at intelligentocean.com (Alison Gill) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 23:03:17 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] JNCC MMO (UK) eLearning Course Message-ID: Intelligent Ocean Ltd is pleased to announce the launch of our JNCC MMO eLearning Training Course pricedat ?150 per person. This Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) registered course is required for you to work as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) in UK Continental Shelf waters during offshore projects such as seismic surveys, pile-driving and projects involving the use of explosives. This course has been created in response to the coronavirus crisis and has been approved by the JNCC as a valid alternative to the usual classroom taught course. To complete the eLearning course you simply log in, read, learn and then pass assessments based on the course content. You set the pace of your learning. You will have access to the course for 12 months. Full details of how to purchase this course is available on our website at the following link where you can also find details of the course contents https://www.intelligentocean.com/JNCCMMOeLearning.htm Companies wishing to sign up members of their staff please email info at intelligentocan.com Intelligent Ocean?s staff have extensive experience of working offshore as MMOs and PAM operators in addition to marine mammal survey work and nature guiding. Our training experience and client list can be viewed here https://www.intelligentocean.com/clientlist.htm Intelligent Ocean Ltd www.intelligentocean.com Virus-free. www.avg.com -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cetapublicho at yahoo.co.jp Wed Jul 15 19:44:05 2020 From: cetapublicho at yahoo.co.jp (Hiroshi OHIZUMI) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:44:05 +0900 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on digestion process in the dolphin stomach Message-ID: My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper on the digestion process of ingested prey in the dolphin stomach. Digestion Process of Ingesta in Forestomach of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Hiroshi Ohizumi, Makiko Koide, Hiroko Kusakabe, Keiichi Ueda, Makio Yanagisawa and Haruka Koga. Journal of the School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University. 17, pp 1-9. (2019) http://sdb01.scc.u-tokai.ac.jp/laec-s/mst/kiyou/bull/index.html (You can see the English menu on the page top right. Full text PDF in English is available.) Abstract We investigated the relationship between elapsed time and the process of food digestion in the forestomach and the estimated time for stomach evacuation in an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. The digestion process was observed with a gastroscope to reveal the characteristic progress of digestion of different prey species. Single flying fish (approximately 100 g) and mackerel (approximately 200 g) were similarly digested, despite the difference in their size. Single squid (approximately 100 g) was digested faster than similar sized flying fish. The weight of stomach contents and the digestion time to evacuation showed an apparent positive relationship, and a full stomach content of flying fish was digested to the point of evacuation within approximately 10 hours of ingestion. Since it is an experimental result using only one dolphin, it cannot be immediately applied to the stomach content analysis of wild individuals, but it is considered that the difference in digestion time among prey species can be compared. Best regards, Hiroshi Ohizumi ohizumi at scc.u-tokai.ac.jp Ph.D. Tokai University, Japan. From connect at dolphinencountours.org Thu Jul 16 02:55:50 2020 From: connect at dolphinencountours.org (Dolphin Encountours Research Center) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:55:50 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] =?utf-8?q?New_Publication_on_Moving_towards_a_sustainabl?= =?utf-8?q?e_cetacean-based_tourism_industry_=E2=80=93_A_case_study_from_M?= =?utf-8?q?ozambique=2E?= Message-ID: <8C705B1A-2C6E-4BD3-8E83-36A4A0DF39C7@dolphinencountours.org> Dear Marman Subscribers My co-authors and I are please to announce the publication of our article Moving towards a sustainable cetacean-based tourism industry ? A case study from Mozambique. Diana Rocha, Benjamin Drakeford, Sarah A. Marley, Jonathan Potts, Michelle Hale, Angie Gullan. ABSTRACT Cetacean-Based Tourism (CBT) is often confused with sustainable tourism. However, not every CBT operator has an environmental education component attached to its programme. In reality, CBT has the potential to negatively impact the animals it is targeting; thus management is required to mitigate any harmful effects from tourism activities. This paper analyses the attitudes and perceptions of the marine operators and tourists that partake in dolphin-swim activities in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (PPMR) in Mozambique. Hand-out ques- tionnaire surveys with closed and Likert scale type questions revealed that the tours are an effective means to promote pro-environmental behaviour and consequently increase compliance with the code of conduct. Non the less, in the PPMR, both tourists and operators presented only basic knowledge of the regulations of the reserve and of the dolphin, whale and whale shark code of conduct, indicating that there is a need for improvement. We provide recommendations for improving local management, which are also applicable at the national and international level. Overall, this paper provides knowledge and guidance for moving towards a sustainable based CBT industry in the PPMR. The article can be found here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1bNnt,714Mcsed Pdf requests can be made here: angie at dolphincare.org For the Love of Dolphins Dolphin Encountours Research Center , Main Beach, Ponta do Ouro Mozambique Behind beach front chalets on the way to the boat launch site! www.dolphinencountours.org? | Facebook | ?DERC Report Angie Gullan: +258 84 330-3859 Director & Citizen Scientist ABOUT: DolphinCareAfrica t/a Dolphin Encountours Research Center is an Association that was established in 1998 to fund the long term monitoring of cetaceans through educational and ethical marine mammal edu-tourism within the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve. Dolphin Center [Research]? is the legal entity in Mozambique that trades under Dolphin Encountours Research Center. We celebrate two decades of working with the wild Dolphins of Ponta?. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sclymene at aol.com Wed Jul 15 16:51:36 2020 From: sclymene at aol.com (Thomas Jefferson) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 23:51:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] International Save the Vaquita Day 2020 References: <95785917.2372811.1594857096159.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <95785917.2372811.1594857096159@mail.yahoo.com> This year, International Save the Vaquita Day will be on Saturday, 18 July, from 0900-1600 Pacific time. International Save the Vaquita Day is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world?s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. The main purpose is to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico?s ?Panda of the Sea?. In 2020, due to the unique challenges arising from the COVID-19 epidemic, the event will take place entirely online, with a day-long live stream on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch. Find out more on the official event page: https://vaquita.mx/ or go to https://vivavaquita.org/international-save-the-vaquita-day/.? Please tune in and participate to help in efforts to save the vaquita from extinction! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pdayton at ucsd.edu Sun Jul 12 13:28:00 2020 From: pdayton at ucsd.edu (Paul Dayton) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 13:28:00 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Message-ID: <8AC9AA86-3951-4A9C-BBC0-8AA89A85ECC5@ucsd.edu> Dear Lists people! I would like to join Phil Clapham with a counter argument to the recent posting about unpaid positions in marine mammal science, but also all conservation! I am not sure how to write to the Marmam list, but am pasting my letter and attaching it. Please let me know if this is acceptable. And I suspect most of you are unpaid volunteers as well, and I hope you know that your work is appreciated if unsung. Best regards and I wish you success avoiding this damned virus! I have been stuck in this ancient house for 4 months going on 12 months I fear. Paul Dayton Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Dear Friends, I saw Phil Clapham?s note and learned that Eiren Jacobson was still pushing this issue. I write to offer another objection to this position and to urge the co-signers to reevaluate their support. Phil offered the fact that much marine mammal work is done by relatively impoverished but highly idealistic organizations that would be severely impacted by the loss of volunteers. He also addressed the need to get people involved with marine mammals. Here I hope to broaden his message about the use of volunteers to actually increase diversity in the field, and I hope to persuade you to consider this in the broader context of helping lower income and non-white people move into the field, rather than being excluded as Eiren erroneously argues. I urge those of you who signed the letter to reconsider your signatures to what I feel strongly is a misguided appeal to your sense of fair treatment of other people. In my case I am sure that over my 40+ year career I was responsible for well over 100 volunteers and I strongly reject the argument that they were exploited or that impoverished or minority people were unfairly excluded. Very much to the contrary, in fact. I believe that I received well over 15 requests a year over my 40 years of professorship and there were always volunteers in our lab, usually very well mentored by graduate students but always with me in the background supervising the situation. And as Phil mentioned, we started early as many of them started working for us when they were in high school. They were never exploited, rather they were mentored and brought into marine ecology. Most of the interns in my lab were involved in general ecological research rather than marine mammals, but I was co-advisor or committee member to many marine mammal graduate students and most of them either came into the field via internships or used interns that came to me that I directed to the students. Many of these students have had successful careers in the marine mammal community, and they were damned good mentors. Some may see this letter and offer their own thoughts. Let me address the issue of diversity and class barriers. Eiren?s assertion that this plays to the wealth and excludes those who cannot afford to be a volunteer. Like Phil, I refer back to my own very impoverished undergraduate career working up to 35 hours a week to go to school. I had no ecological direction and actually found low-paying jobs to be able to volunteer with ecology students in Chuck Lowe?s lab at Arizona. The only reason I have had this great career is thanks to the mentoring I received as an unpaid volunteer. I subsequently took this experience to heart and accepted as many of the applicants as I could and made sure that they were well mentored. In many cases it was obvious from our interactions that they had no or very little family financial support, and as I got to know them I can attest that the vast majority were, like I had been, struggling to get through school and find a satisfying career. I can say that in the last several decades most of the students were themselves minorities: African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, and first generation Americans or foreign students. But where Eiren really misses the boat is that most of these interns were so stimulated and well mentored that they switched majors and went into ecology. Over my career I must have written hundreds of letters supporting these student?s graduate school or job applications, and dozens of them went on to advanced degrees and are now working in ecologically related fields. I suspect that almost all of these people now active in our general conservation field were not wealthy and many are minorities. Almost all of these have significant jobs in conservation efforts. And again, referring back to Phil?s letter, many of these interns were encouraged to interact with grade school kids and many are educating young people in their current jobs. I have no words to describe my pride in the success of these unpaid volunteers. Indeed, in the last 2 years, five of them have retired and have made an effort to track me down and thank me for taking them on in the 1970s! Imagine your own pride if you too could receive such messages in your old age. Had Eiren?s position been in place, none of this would have happened. I have always said that I judge my own career by the students I have influenced, and emphatically this includes the interns and volunteers who have passed through my lab. Contrary to the assertions in the letter, these interns do not exacerbate the hideous and increasing wealth gap in the world, nor are they racially divisive; almost all of them serve to improve the status quo in the long run. Certainly, I can point to my own interns as counter examples to the odd claim that they are amplifying these problems. And given that probably almost all interns get intensive mentoring, they surely do not stifle innovation in our field (especially if one looks at the many success stories such as Phil?s magnificent career). Indeed, they enhance innovation, creativity and respect for nature. Eiren and I strongly disagreed about this when she was a student at Scripps. In response I wrote several of the past interns now gainfully employed, and all of them reiterated what I am asserting here, that their experience as unpaid interns changed their lives and was responsible for their success. And again, her assertions of not offering insurance protection, are like other assertions we see these days, is probably simply wrong. I feel sure that all the interns in academia and the government are in fact covered by their insurances. All of ours are covered. I suspect that this is true of the majority of interns. I urge the readers and signers to learn the truth about the interns that are commonly involved in our various research activities. So, consider the reality of the world today and ask yourselves whether we need this sort of misguided controversy. What we need are gentle, warm inclusive people with empathy for other people and compassion for nature. We urgently need many more, not fewer, people helping society come to grasp with the need to nourish and care for nature. We need to attract all people into this struggle, and rather than attack those of us working toward this goal. I believe we need more support. I respectfully ask those of you signing on to this to reconsider. Sincerely Paul Dayton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: response to Eiren.doc Type: application/msword Size: 38912 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edvorak at integratedstatistics.com Thu Jul 16 08:11:52 2020 From: edvorak at integratedstatistics.com (Emma Dvorak) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:11:52 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] Job opening: Marine Mammal Regulatory Biologist - Anchorage, Alaska Message-ID: Marine Mammal Regulatory Biologist - Anchorage, Alaska Integrated Statistics is looking for an Ecologist (marine Mammal Regulatory Biologist) to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals Management Office?s Regulatory program to implement portions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act for the conservation and management of polar bears, northern sea otters, and Pacific walruses in Alaska. This position will focus on identifying, evaluating, and analyzing data collected as part of MMPA incidental take authorizations. *Duties* The Marine Mammal Regulatory Biologist's responsibilities include: * Collecting, verifying, and analyzing data on species distribution and abundance as well as habitat quantity and quality of natural resources. * Conducting or participating in research and monitoring projects. * Entering data and conducting quality control reviews and querying databases to extract data or determine the status of actions. * Conducting biological analysis of proposed actions. * Evaluating the effect of proposed actions on species and habitats. * Implementing habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement projects. * Evaluating the effectiveness of management decisions on species and habitats. * Preparing maps and other geographical displays and analysis. * Conducting literature reviews. * Drafting responses, letters, reports and reviews. * Conducting and documenting site visits. * Attending meetings and conferences. * Organizing and maintaining filing systems (including electronic filing); copying documents and compiling records (including responses to Freedom of Information Requests and Administrative records); and providing meeting support including organization, material preparations, participant assistance, facilitation, and debriefing. *Qualifications* * A Master?s degree in biology, wildlife management, natural resource management, environmental science or a closely related field. * At least 2 years of related work experience, including: o Using statistics, quantitative biology, biometrics, and/or population modeling to develop and analyze data relevant to anthropogenic disturbance of wildlife. o Analyzing changes in distribution, abundance, density, age composition, annual survival, and sex ratios of wildlife. o Using one or more statistical and database management software packages, including R and ArcGIS, to assess potential changes in abundance, distribution, density, and trends in wildlife populations. * Experience participating in regulation and management pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act: o Preparing issue papers, briefing documents, Federal Register notices, rulemaking documents, or other similar species issue papers. o Participating in teams with multiple State and Federal Agencies, Tribes, private industry, and non-government entities. o Working across multiple cultures. o Presenting complex or controversial issues to a variety or audiences. o Reviewing proposed resource development projects and developing recommendations. o Developing written analyses of complex or controversial regulatory proposals, including developing management strategies. * Willingness and desire to work in a fast paced, interdisciplinary environment. * Demonstrated ability to manage timelines and produce materials in a timely manner. * Proficiency with Microsoft Office. Proficiency in R and GIS. * Excellent writing and analytical skills; track record of success in writing technical reports and policy papers. * Strong oral communication skills. The position is expected to last one year. The rate of pay is $32-35/hr, and the position is eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. To apply for this position, go to https://jobs.intstats.com/JobDetails.jsp?jobListingId=262 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 dbirdseed at gmail.com Thu Jul 16 09:56:52 2020 From: dbirdseed at gmail.com (Deborah Bird) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 09:56:52 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on the correlated loss of olfactory anatomy with deeper dive depth and longer dive duration in aquatic arctoid carnivorans Message-ID: My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in Ecology and Evolution on the correlated loss of olfactory anatomy with deeper, longer diving behavior in aquatic carnivorans. Olfaction at depth: Cribriform plate size declines with dive depth and duration in aquatic arctoid carnivorans Deborah J. Bird, Iman Hamid, Lester Fox-Rosales, Blaire Van Valkenburgh Ecology and Evolution. 2020;00:1?15; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.6343 Abstract It is widely accepted that obligate aquatic mammals, specifically toothed whales, rely relatively little on olfaction. There is less agreement about the importance of smell among aquatic mammals with residual ties to land, such as pinnipeds and sea otters. Field observations of marine carnivorans stress their keen use of smell while on land or pack ice. Yet, one dimension of olfactory ecology is often overlooked: while un- derwater, aquatic carnivorans forage ?noseblind,? diving with nares closed, removed from airborne chemical cues. For this reason, we predicted marine carnivorans would have reduced olfactory anatomy relative to closely related terrestrial carnivorans. Moreover, because species that dive deeper and longer forage farther removed from surface scent cues, we predicted further reductions in their olfactory anatomy. To test these hypotheses, we looked to the cribriform plate (CP), a perforated bone in the posterior nasal chamber of mammals that serves as the only passageway for ol- factory nerves crossing from the periphery to the olfactory bulb and thus covaries in size with relative olfactory innervation. Using CT scans and digital quantification, we compared CP morphology across Arctoidea, a clade at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecologies. We found that aquatic carnivoran species from two lineages that independently reinvaded marine environments (Pinnipedia and Mustelidae), have significantly reduced relative CP than terrestrial species. Furthermore, within these aquatic lineages, diving depth and duration were strongly correlated with CP loss, and the most extreme divers, elephant seals, displayed the greatest reductions. These observations suggest that CP reduction in carnivorans is an adaptive response to shifting selection pressures during secondary invasion of marine environments, particularly to foraging at great depths. Because the CP is fairly well preserved in the fossil record, using methods presented here to quantify CP morphology in extinct species could further clarify evolutionary patterns of olfactory loss across aquatic mammal lineages that have independently committed to life in water. The publication can be found at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.6343 PDF requests can be sent to dbirdseed at gmail.com Deborah Bird Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology UCLA 610 Charles E. Young Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90095 Cell: 310-245-2003 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From eduardo.morteo at gmail.com Thu Jul 16 09:45:26 2020 From: eduardo.morteo at gmail.com (Eduardo Morteo) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:45:26 -0500 Subject: [MARMAM] Pilot tests for VaraAppX: A new mobile App to record detailed stranding data of marine mammals Message-ID: Hello everyone, I would like to present to you, a new mobile App to record detailed stranding data for marine mammals. Over the past few years, the Faculty of Statistics and Informatics, together with the Marine Mammal Laboratory (LabMMar, IIB-ICIMAP) of the Institute of Biological Research, both at Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico), have been developing mobile and desktop technologies to facilitate the recording and analysis of information on stranded marine mammals. We called this App VaraAppX, it currently works only in IOS devices (iPhones and iPads), and we are proud to say that it is already available for testing! (https://testflight.apple.com/join/giZbQAIe ). However, it should be noted that to try it, the TestFlight App must be must installed first (https://testflight.apple.com ). The installation of both Apps is free and does not interfere with the normal operation of your devices. It is also important to mention that the App is currently in Spanish, but the architecture is planned for multiple languages, thus international availability will depend upon test results. We know very well that the quality, reliability and privacy of the data of both users and marine mammal strandings are fundamental aspects in the development of platforms of this type. For this reason, the team has carried out exhaustive analyzes in aspects of software architecture and information distribution, in order to keep the ?sensitive? data always in the hands of the right people, without losing the ability to collaborate between different teams. Therefore, for security reasons, currently all the information (data and images) is stored locally, that is, it is not transmitted to any other device or platform, so you may use fictitious or real data during the tests. As I mentioned earlier, we care deeply for the quality, reliability and privacy of the data of both stranding events and users; therefore, all tests will be carried out through the privacy policies by the General Direction of Information Technologies at Universidad Veracruzana (https://www.uv.mx/transparencia/infpublica/avisos-privacidad/) . It is important to note that we only have a little more than two months to test VaraAppX, so if you have an IOS device, Install it and test its functions and capabilities!. If you find an error, take a screenshot and report it through TestFlight. Finally, if you would like to know the story behind our research, or if you want more information about the platforms we have developed, you can read the text below my contact information, or consult the documents in the references section (also below). Unfortunately, the latter are also all in Spanish, but most of them are available online. You may write to me directly and I can provide them for you. On behalf of the entire Development Team, Thank you very much for your attention! We hope you enjoy it, and we look forward to your invaluable feedback. Cheers! E. Eduardo Morteo, Dr. Head Researcher Level C Marine Mammal Laboratory (LabMMar, IIB-ICIMAP) Institute of Biological Research Universidad Veracruzana Calle Dr. Castelazo Ayala S/N, Col. Industrial ?nimas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, CP 91190. Ph/Tel: +52 (228) 841 89 00 E-mail: emorteo at uv.mx http://www.uv.mx/personal/emorteo/ http://uv-mx.academia.edu/EMorteo https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Morteo/?ev=hdr_xprf http://scholar.google.com.mx/citations?user=fDUl-IIAAAAJ Ok, so the story of the development of this App goes like this: The first approach to this technology was presented in the Mexican Marine Mammal Conference (SOMEMMA) (Morteo et al., 2001) with a relational database for Control and Monitoring of Marine Mammals Species (CySdE) in Microsoft Access. It was locally adapted to the needs of a Civil Association (Ensenada Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, ICMME), but due to the level of detail and standardization of the information (adopted from international protocols), it had the potential to be scaled nationally. For this reason, the processes and paper-based forms were approved by the SOMEMMA Stranding Committee at the first national meeting in Puerto Aventuras (Bravo et al., 2003) After a long time without follow-up, and with extraordinary work by both the students and the professors of the Faculty of Statistics and Informatics, this topic was revisited again in another SOMEMMA meeting, with the work of Villa-Garc?a et al. (2016), through the App VarAppmiento. Designed specifically for Android devices, this served only to notify strandings to the Coordination of the National Network of SOMEMMA. It fiished in a beta version for private test, thus it was not publicly distributed. Later, during the 2018 SOMEMMA meeting, Hern?ndez-Rosado et al. (2018) presented VaraAPP, which added functionalities to the previous version for Android, but with a better visual (Borroel-L?pez, 2019) and logical designs. Developed only for IOS (iPhones), it provided the corner stone to scale the technology and processes to an online database; the goal was to concentrate and analyze stranding information on a wider geographic scale. This is where VaraWeb emerged last year, in which Ju?rez-Capistr?n (2019) implemented an online platform, which replaced the relational database (CySdE) presented almost 20 years ago (Morteo et al., 2001). Such platform was improved this year to eliminate the defects of the old CySdE system (i.e., single-user, single-platform, local backup, etc.), and it resulted in a second version of VaraWeb (Bustamante-Zarate and Jim?nez-Jim?nez, 2020) that includes multicriteria filters, simple spatial analyzes, and will allow the data to be divided by work groups with a central administrator (i.e. the coordinator of the National Network). This platform is still in testing and is not yet for public use. Finally, this year Dom?nguez-Delgado (In prep.) culminated the development of a Mobile Application to record level 3 data for marine mammals stranded; we call it: VaraAppX. The purpose of this App is to replace the printed formats for data recording and to provide more efficient means to record, store and (if necessary) distribute the desired information (commonly level 1 information that we already share with the National Network) to the Web Platform (VaraWeb), to be concentrated, supported and (if applicable) analyzed in a general way at the national level. The idea is that if accepted by the Mexican stranding response groups, these tools would be integrated into the operation of the SOMEMMA Stranding Committee and, with their support, these will be to National Federal Authorities to standardize the stranding information in Mexico. References: Bravo, E., G. Heckel, Y. Schramm y E. Morteo. 2003. Manual de Campo para el Registro de Datos en los Formatos de Atenci?n a Varamientos de Mam?feros Marinos de ICMME. Investigaci?n y Conservaci?n de Mam?feros Marinos de Ensenada A.C.. Ensenada, Baja California, M?xico. 18 pp. Bustamante-Zarate A. y Jim?nez-Jim?nez M.L. 2020. Plataforma Web para registro de informaci?n de mam?feros marinos varados v2. Facultad de Estad?stica e Inform?tica, Universidad Veracruzana. Xalapa, Veracruz, M?xico, Veracruz, M?xico. 111 pp. Borroel-L?pez M. Dise?o de interfaz e imagen visual para una aplicaci?n m?vil. Versi?n 1. Facultad de Artes Pl?sticas, Universidad Veracruzana. Xalapa, Veracruz, M?xico. 47 pp. Dom?nguez-Delgado A.E. En prep. VaraAppX: Aplicaci?n m?vil para registro de varamiento de mam?feros marinos. Facultad de Estad?stica e Inform?tica, Universidad Veracruzana. Xalapa, Veracruz, M?xico. 20 de Septiembre de 2018 a la fecha Hern?ndez M.,Cort?s K., P?rez J.C., Morteo E., Delf?n C., Acu?a B., Borroel M. 2018. VaraAPP: iOS mobile APP for storing information of stranded marine mammals in Mexico. XXXVI Reuni?n Internacional para el Estudio de los Mam?feros Marinos. SOMEMMA. 27-31 de mayo, Villahermosa, Tabasco, M?xico. Morteo, E., B. Ortiz, R. Morteo, E. Bravo, Y. Schramm y G. Heckel. 2001. Base de datos para control y seguimiento de especies de mam?feros marinos varados (CYSDE). P?g. 40. XXVI Reuni?n Internacional para el Estudio de los Mam?feros Marinos. SOMEMMA. Ensenada, B.C., M?xico. 6-10 de mayo, Ensenada, Baja California, M?xico. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2314.6407 Ju?rez-Capistr?n. M. 2019. Plataforma Web para registro de informaci?n de mam?feros marinos varados en M?xico. Facultad de Estad?stica e Inform?tica, Universidad Veracruzana. Xalapa, Veracruz, M?xico. 178 pp. Villa-Garc?a H., Cort?s K., P?rez-Arriaga J.C., Morteo E., Delf?n-Alfonso C.A., 2016. VarAppmiento: Plataforma tecnol?gica m?vil para el reporte y seguimiento de mam?feros marinos varados en M?xico. XXXV Reuni?n Internacional para el Estudio de los Mam?feros Marinos. SOMEMMA. 2-6 de mayo, La Paz, Baja California Sur, M?xico. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From interns at aimm-portugal.org Thu Jul 16 07:22:11 2020 From: interns at aimm-portugal.org (AIMM Internships) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:22:11 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL Message-ID: *DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL* *BACKGROUND: *The Marine Environment Research Association - AIMM, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies. The main species observed are Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), although other species such as Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can also be sighted. AIMM Interns are young, hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists for a period of time. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmental friendly and multicultural environment. Interns have the additional option to enrich their time with AIMM by beginning or improving their SCUBA skills with a PADI or SSDI instructor. *WHERE:* Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal *WHEN:* The field season lasts from 1st of July to 31st November 2020. The minimum internship attendance is 14 days, preferably starting on a Monday. *FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in AIMM's research vessel, Ketos. Fieldwork is dependent on weather conditions. The field days can be intense, especially in the peak of summer, but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be trained to: ? Conduct on-board surveys of marine species occurrence; ? Record effort tracks on a handheld GPS; ? Access and collect environmental data; ? Collect data on behavior, group size, species, etc.; ? Collect photos to photo-identification, acoustic recording, and underwater videos; ? Measure water visibility with the Secchi disk methodology; ? Help to collect of drone footage from the marine mammals. *DATA ANALYSIS: *This will be conducted on a daily basis and will entail entering data into established databases and spreadsheets, photo-identification processing, and preliminary data interpretation. *INTERNSHIP FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from our volunteers, partners, and conservation-minded people like you so that we may continue our important research and education programs in the Algarve. This internship requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation and running a non-profit. For more information on internship fees for the 2020 season, please contact: interns at aimm-portugal.org *Included* in the fee is: ? Accommodation in the research house; ? Transportation to/from the marina; ? Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); ? Fieldwork in the research vessel. *Not included* in the fee is: ? Transportation to/from Albufeira; ? Meals in restaurants and snacks; ? Free time activities; ? Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance); ? Personal expenses. *INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO:* ? Be above the age of 16; ? Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment; ? Be autonomous and flexible; ? Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at sea; ? Speak English; ? Participate for minimum 14 days. *Preference will be given* to those who have: ? Relevant marine mammal field experience ? Working experience on research vessels ? Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms ? Experience in photo-identification ? Professional cameras that can be used for photo-ID ? Availability to stay for longer periods of time *INTERNSHIP APPLICATION: * Applicants should fill up the online application at: https://www.aimmportugal.org/application-form AIMM will send a confirmation e-mail with all the details about the internship and asking for your Resume/CV, motivation letter (small statement or a video, on which are your expectations and why do you want to work with AIMM) and the period of time that you want to do the program. OR Applicants should send an e-mail to: interns at aimm-portugal.org, with the subject ?*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP*?. You will receive and e-mail with the availability and all the other details. Applications will be accepted during all season. However, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. The follow links are a shorts videos about the internship in Albufeira. You get a different perspective and feedback from old participants about it: https://youtu.be/hTJJQPHBdI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zTIEQEsftA *Contacts*: interns at aimm-portugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org | -- *AIMM Portugal* - Ass. Investiga??o do Meio Marinho | Marine Environment Research Association *Website*: www.aimmportugal.org [image: AIMM Portugal | facebook] [image: AIMM Portugal | twitter] [image: AIMM Portugal | instagram] [image: AIMM Portugal | youtube] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pw at marspecialists.org Sat Jul 18 11:27:39 2020 From: pw at marspecialists.org (Peter Wallerstein) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 11:27:39 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Job Marine Mammal Rescue Message-ID: JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH MARINE ANIMAL RESCUE SPECIALISTS Marine Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization providing rescue response as far north as the Pacific Palisades, south to Long Beach, and as far west as Catalina Island. MAR conducts hundreds of marine mammal rescues annually. Rescued animals consist primarily of sea lions, seals, and seabirds with occasional dolphins and sea turtles. MAR has rescued 6,000 marine mammals over the past 30 years. MAR also works as a member of the large whale disentanglement network. You must have pinniped rescue experience to apply for this position. POSITION: MARINE ANIMAL RESCUE SPECIALIST MAR is looking for committed individuals who would like to make rescuing marine animals a career. You must have pinniped, especially sea lion rescue experience to apply. Training will be provided by MAR to ensure continued high-level response to any marine animal calls. MAR will not consider candidates looking for a temporary position. Only long-term applicants will be considered. JOB DESCRIPTION: Must be available 5 days a week, 8 hours per day for response, rescue and transportation from jetties, docks, and both common and uncommon stranding locations. Must be able to learn the proper use of specialized marine animal rescue, transportation and safety equipment. Must be able to work in cooperation with local agencies and volunteers and be familiar with all local, state and federal laws pertaining to the rescuing of marine animals. LOCATION: MAR?s authorized territory is Los Angeles County, from Pacific Palisades to Long Beach and west to Catalina, California. HOURS: Approximately 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Be prepared to work long days from January to June. SALARY: Commensurate with experience and skills START: Within 4 months REFERENCES AND REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS A bachelor's degree and marine mammal handling experience ? Provide background/references ? A valid driver?s license with no points ? Minimum two year experience in rescuing seals and sea lions ? Must correctly identify local marine animal species and demonstrate knowledge of birthing seasons and natural behaviors of marine animals ? Some animal-related emergency medical experience ? Must meet challenging physical fitness requirements Must be able to lift 75 pounds into truck ? Must possess 24-hour Hazwhoper certificate ? Skill in small boat handling ? Able to drive 4WD Pickup truck in a sandy environment OTHER REQUIRED RESPONSIBILITIES: ? Maintain rescue and transportation equipment ? Responsible for school visits ? Must be enthusiastic with good communication skills and be able to work with others, including Coast Guard, Lifeguards, Police, etc. ? When on-call, must answer calls promptly ? Must pass County Beach Safety Driving Course ? Coordinate volunteers Send your cover letter, resume and references to the email address below: Contact: Peter Wallerstein, pw at marspecialists.org www.marspecialists.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From emtitcomb at dolphincensus.org Fri Jul 17 17:28:08 2020 From: emtitcomb at dolphincensus.org (Elizabeth Titcomb) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2020 20:28:08 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on linear skin markings in common bottlenose dolphins Message-ID: <736945319.2885.1595032088104.JavaMail.vpopmail@atl4oxapp05pod5> My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in Marine Mammal Science: Linear skin markings in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Elizabeth Murdoch Titcomb, Jessie Stevens, Anne Sleeman, Brandy Nelson, Luke Yrastorza, Adam M. Schaefer, Gregory D. Bossart, John S. Reif and Marilyn Mazzoil Marine Mammal Science: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12685 Abstract: A previously undescribed skin abnormality, referred to as ?linear skin markings? (LSM), has been identified in free?ranging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus ) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (IRL). The lesions were identified during photo?identification surveys conducted from 2002 and 2015. LSM presented as distinct, parallel lines running dorso?ventrally on the torso and varied in length and width. The goals of this study were to determine (1) prevalence of the condition in IRL dolphins, (2) age and sex distribution of affected animals, (3) spatial and temporal distribution patterns, (4) duration of the condition, and (5) development of hypotheses regarding the etiology of the condition. Among 1,357 individual dolphins identified during the study period, 96 (7.0%) showed evidence of LSM. Nearly all (98.8%) cases with an established home range occurred in the northern and central regions of the IRL. The majority of cases of known sex were female (85%), of which 100% had given birth to one or more calves. The mean age of animals with LSM when first observed was 7.3 with a range of 1?20?years. The maximum observed duration of LSM was 15?years. Once observed, the condition persisted indefinitely. The etiology of LSM has not been established. PDF requests can be sent to emtitcomb at dolphincensus.org Elizabeth Titcomb Dolphin Census LLC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jenlouise2010 at gmail.com Sat Jul 18 09:19:15 2020 From: jenlouise2010 at gmail.com (jen adams) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 17:19:15 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Temporarily resident mother and juvenile Tursiops truncatus with circling hunting method Message-ID: Dear colleagues, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch (Isle of Man, British Isles) have just released a website documenting a temporarily resident mother and juvenile *Tursiops truncatus*. The pair have been seen frequently since the calf was born in September 2019, and are spotted within close proximity to our shores. They have developed an interesting 'circling' hunting technique using our shallow sandy bays, which can be seen in the last video on the website's story page. We are interested to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this type or foraging before, and also whether there are any other cases of a lone mother and juvenile displaying such residency for such a long length of time. https://mwdwresidentbottlenose.weebly.com/ Jen Adams -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Hal.Whitehead at Dal.Ca Sat Jul 18 13:45:05 2020 From: Hal.Whitehead at Dal.Ca (Hal Whitehead) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 20:45:05 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Canadian Wildlife Federation Chair in Large Whale Conservation (Assistant Professor) at Dalhousie University Message-ID: The Canadian Wildlife Federation will fund a Chair in Large Whale Conservation (Assistant Professor; tenure track) at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. We are seeking candidates who will conduct research on the quantification of the impacts of environmental variability, including climate change, on the populations and distribution of large whale species, using a variety of approaches (sea-going, empirical and modelling) to foster a mechanistic understanding of distributional patterns, demographic variation and foraging ecology. Preference will be given to candidates who use and develop modern tools and analytical approaches to quantify and predict whale movement, distribution, and oceanographic habitat associations, such as remote sensing and acoustic detection technologies. At-sea experience with physical and biological oceanographic studies and experience with evidence-based advice to influence conservation policy are assets. Ideally, the candidate will have a PhD in biological oceanography or related discipline focused on large whales, postdoctoral experience, a strong publication record, a history of successful funding applications and mentoring experience. A demonstrated ability to collaborate with national and international academic, governmental, non-governmental and industrial agencies and a strong record of public outreach are desirable. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Dalhousie University is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit https://www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity. Candidates can direct enquiries to Whale.ChairSearch at dal.ca. Review of applications will begin September 8, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. See: https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/3196 Posted by Hal Whitehead, but direct enquiries to Whale.ChairSearch at dal.ca From eric.archer at noaa.gov Sat Jul 18 16:56:30 2020 From: eric.archer at noaa.gov (Eric Archer - NOAA Federal) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 16:56:30 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science In-Reply-To: <8AC9AA86-3951-4A9C-BBC0-8AA89A85ECC5@ucsd.edu> References: <8AC9AA86-3951-4A9C-BBC0-8AA89A85ECC5@ucsd.edu> Message-ID: Scripps Institution of Oceanography (where Paul Dayton has been based and done his groundbreaking work in the field) was established in 1903. It became part of the University of California, San Diego in 1912. I, an African American, entered the Marine Biology program in 1990 and defended my Ph.D. in 1996. Since that time, I have stayed in the San Diego area, working at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center which is located on the SIO campus. About five years ago, I became an adjunct professor at SIO. About a decade ago, I became curious about the history of diversity at SIO and started asking around. As best as I can tell, I was the first African American Marine Biology PhD at SIO. Since then, I've been trying to pay attention and have been aware of only two others since that time, with similar numbers in the sister Biological Oceanography program. Let's be generous and say that I've missed a couple. That's still only two handfuls at most. For the record, I'm also unaware of another Black faculty member in MB at SIO. Ever. Here is the current list of SIO faculty. How then do we reconcile the magnitude of minority interns and the good for diversity in the field in Paul's description with the striking lack of diversity at the top of the field? We need to pay attention to outcomes at every level. It is clear that the pipeline is broken in several places. This issue of unpaid internships is only one of them. I want to clearly state that I have the utmost respect for all of the points of view that have been expressed during this discussion as well as their authors. Paul Dayton and Phil Clapham have been role models to me and both have been influential in my career. I knew Eiren Jacobsen as a student at SIO and admired her skills. I think everybody in this debate is well-intentioned and truly wants to help improve the situation. In order to do that, we have to keep talking openly and respectfully listening to each other. Kind Regards, Eric Archer On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 5:01 AM Paul Dayton wrote: > Dear Lists people! > > I would like to join Phil Clapham with a counter argument to the recent > posting about unpaid positions in marine mammal science, but also all > conservation! I am not sure how to write to the Marmam list, but am > pasting my letter and attaching it. Please let me know if this is > acceptable. And I suspect most of you are unpaid volunteers as well, and I > hope you know that your work is appreciated if unsung. > > Best regards and I wish you success avoiding this damned virus! I have > been stuck in this ancient house for 4 months going on 12 months I fear. > > Paul Dayton > > Unpaid positions in marine mammal science > > > > Dear Friends, > > > > I saw Phil Clapham?s note and learned that Eiren Jacobson was still > pushing this issue. I write to offer another objection to this position and > to urge the co-signers to reevaluate their support. Phil offered the fact > that much marine mammal work is done by relatively impoverished but highly > idealistic organizations that would be severely impacted by the loss of > volunteers. He also addressed the need to get people involved with marine > mammals. Here I hope to broaden his message about the use of volunteers to > actually increase diversity in the field, and I hope to persuade you to > consider this in the broader context of helping lower income and non-white > people move into the field, rather than being excluded as Eiren erroneously > argues. I urge those of you who signed the letter to reconsider your > signatures to what I feel strongly is a misguided appeal to your sense of > fair treatment of other people. > > In my case I am sure that over my 40+ year career I was responsible for > well over 100 volunteers and I strongly reject the argument that they were > exploited or that impoverished or minority people were unfairly excluded. > Very much to the contrary, in fact. I believe that I received well over > 15 requests a year over my 40 years of professorship and there were always > volunteers in our lab, usually very well mentored by graduate students but > always with me in the background supervising the situation. And as Phil > mentioned, we started early as many of them started working for us when > they were in high school. They were never exploited, rather they were > mentored and brought into marine ecology. Most of the interns in my lab > were involved in general ecological research rather than marine mammals, > but I was co-advisor or committee member to many marine mammal graduate > students and most of them either came into the field via internships or > used interns that came to me that I directed to the students. Many of these > students have had successful careers in the marine mammal community, and > they were damned good mentors. Some may see this letter and offer their own > thoughts. > > Let me address the issue of diversity and class barriers. Eiren?s > assertion that this plays to the wealth and excludes those who cannot > afford to be a volunteer. Like Phil, I refer back to my own very > impoverished undergraduate career working up to 35 hours a week to go to > school. I had no ecological direction and actually found low-paying jobs > to be able to volunteer with ecology students in Chuck Lowe?s lab at > Arizona. The only reason I have had this great career is thanks to the > mentoring I received as an unpaid volunteer. I subsequently took this > experience to heart and accepted as many of the applicants as I could and > made sure that they were well mentored. In many cases it was obvious from > our interactions that they had no or very little family financial support, > and as I got to know them I can attest that the vast majority were, like I > had been, struggling to get through school and find a satisfying career. I > can say that in the last several decades most of the students were > themselves minorities: African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, > Asians, and first generation Americans or foreign students. > > But where Eiren really misses the boat is that most of these interns > were so stimulated and well mentored that they switched majors and went > into ecology. Over my career I must have written hundreds of letters > supporting these student?s graduate school or job applications, and dozens > of them went on to advanced degrees and are now working in ecologically > related fields. I suspect that almost all of these people now active in our > general conservation field were not wealthy and many are minorities. Almost > all of these have significant jobs in conservation efforts. And again, > referring back to Phil?s letter, many of these interns were encouraged to > interact with grade school kids and many are educating young people in > their current jobs. I have no words to describe my pride in the success > of these unpaid volunteers. Indeed, in the last 2 years, five of them > have retired and have made an effort to track me down and thank me for > taking them on in the 1970s! Imagine your own pride if you too could > receive such messages in your old age. Had Eiren?s position been in place, > none of this would have happened. I have always said that I judge my own > career by the students I have influenced, and emphatically this includes > the interns and volunteers who have passed through my lab. > > Contrary to the assertions in the letter, these interns do not > exacerbate the hideous and increasing wealth gap in the world, nor are they > racially divisive; almost all of them serve to improve the status quo in > the long run. Certainly, I can point to my own interns as counter examples > to the odd claim that they are amplifying these problems. And given that > probably almost all interns get intensive mentoring, they surely do not > stifle innovation in our field (especially if one looks at the many success > stories such as Phil?s magnificent career). Indeed, they enhance > innovation, creativity and respect for nature. > > Eiren and I strongly disagreed about this when she was a student at > Scripps. In response I wrote several of the past interns now gainfully > employed, and all of them reiterated what I am asserting here, that their > experience as unpaid interns changed their lives and was responsible for > their success. And again, her assertions of not offering insurance > protection, are like other assertions we see these days, is probably simply > wrong. I feel sure that all the interns in academia and the government are > in fact covered by their insurances. All of ours are covered. I suspect > that this is true of the majority of interns. I urge the readers and > signers to learn the truth about the interns that are commonly involved in > our various research activities. > > So, consider the reality of the world today and ask yourselves whether > we need this sort of misguided controversy. What we need are gentle, > warm inclusive people with empathy for other people and compassion for > nature. We urgently need many more, not fewer, people helping society > come to grasp with the need to nourish and care for nature. We need to > attract all people into this struggle, and rather than attack those of us > working toward this goal. I believe we need more support. I > respectfully ask those of you signing on to this to reconsider. > > Sincerely > > Paul Dayton > > > > _______________________________________________ > MARMAM mailing list > MARMAM at lists.uvic.ca > https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam > -- *Eric Archer, Ph.D. *(he/him/his) Program Leader, Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/NOAA) 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA 858-546-7121 (work) 858-546-7003 (FAX) Adjunct Professor, Marine Biology Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego http://profiles.ucsd.edu/frederick.archer GitHub: github.com/ericarcher " *The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes.*" - Randall Munroe "*Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.*" - Benjamin Franklin "*...but I'll take a GPS over either one.*" - John C. "Craig" George -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From womeninmmsci at gmail.com Fri Jul 17 15:57:43 2020 From: womeninmmsci at gmail.com (WIMMS) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2020 12:57:43 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science: a response Message-ID: Dear MARMAM community - We are glad that a long overdue discussion has been initiated about the prevalence and effect of unpaid positions in marine mammal science. Clearly, this is a complex and challenging issue that will require input from people from a variety of backgrounds and career stages to adequately address the broader impacts of our field?s reliance on unpaid positions. We support the letter to the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM), drafted by Dr. Eiren Jacobson, Chloe Malinka, and Dr. Margaret Siple and now signed by almost 700 individuals, that seeks to end unpaid positions as the status quo in our field. By supporting this letter, we recognize that unpaid positions are only one factor of many that need consideration in order to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in our field. We also recognize that many of us have been able to advance our careers in marine mammal science as a result of unpaid positions. We conducted a survey on gender-specific experiences in marine mammal science and are actively working to analyze and publish the survey results. Of the 670 respondents (n=586 female), 549 (82%) indicated participating in at least one unpaid work experience opportunity (e.g., an internship or temporary position with a university, non-profit, government agency, or independent scientist). We will explore in our publication some important nuances of this participation and specific ways in which respondents highlighted unpaid work as a barrier to success in marine mammal science, but this percentage speaks to the high prevalence of unpaid work in our field. The aim of changing this as the status quo point of entry into our field is not to disparage or discount individuals who have benefitted from these opportunities, but rather to acknowledge, as Dr. Eric Archer eloquently stated in his response on this thread , ?The voices that we won't hear in this debate are those that didn't have those opportunities.? We cannot deny that expecting most people to work for free limits access to our field to those of a certain economic status, which in the U.S. and many other countries is inextricably tied to race. Even if we increase much-needed efforts to engage diverse young potential scientists, we cannot expect to retain them if the only path forward relies on unpaid work. We also fully acknowledge that change from the status quo will not happen instantaneously, and that the role of funding is not trivial. How change occurs will be very different at a large institution in the U.S. compared to a small non-profit in a low-income nation. Thus, we will need to come together as a community to find creative and innovative ways in which we can collectively increase the accessibility of internships and other work experience positions and thereby increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in marine mammal science. Jacobsen et al. have taken an important step in giving our community an opportunity to engage more broadly with each other, at a pivotal time, on the impact of unpaid positions and, in turn, on other barriers to diversity in our field. If not for this letter to the SMM, it is unlikely that these conversations would be ongoing at this scale at this time. The women who drafted this conversation starter are notably early-career researchers, which makes their willingness to lead this effort especially courageous. We would like to thank them, the letter cosignatories, and all those willing to contribute constructively to this most important discussion. Sincerely, The WIMMS Initiative Organizers Dr. Erin Ashe Dr. Amanda Bradford Dr. Mar?a Constanza Marchesi Cara Gallagher Natalie Mastick Dr. Frances Robertson Dr. Mridula Srinivasan Dr. Karen Stockin -- Women in Marine Mammal Science (WIMMS) Email: womeninmmsci at gmail.com Website: https://wimms.weebly.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womeninmmsci/ Twitter: @womeninmmsci Hashtag: #womeninmmsci -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From eiren.jacobson at st-andrews.ac.uk Sun Jul 19 03:55:06 2020 From: eiren.jacobson at st-andrews.ac.uk (Eiren Jacobson) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2020 10:55:06 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Follow up to letter to the SMM re. unpaid work Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, Thank you for your support of our petition asking the Society for Marine Mammalogy to take a leadership role in eliminating the reliance on unpaid labor in our field. You can find the finalized petition here: https://bit.ly/2OG9Mad and a cover letter here: https://bit.ly/2WBVEDl As we discuss in the cover letter, eliminating the reliance on unpaid labor in marine mammal science will require sustained community involvement and willingness to change. We encourage you to lobby within your individual organizations and to funding bodies to reconsider policies related to unpaid workers. If any of you are interested in organizing further actions related to this issue, please feel free to reach out to us. Sincerely, Dr Eiren Jacobson, University of St Andrews Ms Chloe Malinka, Aarhus University Dr Margaret Siple, University of California, Santa Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rwallace at ursinus.edu Mon Jul 20 04:44:29 2020 From: rwallace at ursinus.edu (Wallace, Richard) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 11:44:29 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Message-ID: <96BA3A32-4AED-4469-8E52-3642708DF463@ursinus.edu> This has been an enormously helpful dialogue, and my thanks to everyone who has contributed, and especially to Eiren for initiating. I am in the camp that believes that unpaid internships are more hurtful than helpful, in the ways that Eiren and her colleagues? letter explains. I have spent the past 19 years teaching at a small liberal arts college where I am the only ?marine mammal person? on the faculty. My marine mammals course and research projects attract every interested biology, marine science, and environmental studies student who graces our campus, and as a result I have taught many first generation and lower-income students over the years (which comprise a significant percentage of our student body?we are not a typical private college in that respect; most of our students work multiple jobs during college in order to afford to be here. They are tired and stressed and working their butts off to achieve their academic goals.). These students turn to me to help them initiate their careers in marine science and conservation. Though it is just my individual experience, I can say unequivocally that most of my students are excluded from the career-boosting benefits of unpaid internships, and many of them end up in other fields out of college as a result of the failure of the marine mammal science and conservation community to provide means of support to help these students get started. It?s the same calculus as choosing a grad school on the basis of the amount of aid you are awarded. For my students, it?s not a decision: you simply have to follow the money. And that is much more true now, with the often crippling amounts of student debt that so many carry, than it was in my day, or when Paul was teaching most of his students at Scripps. Finally, I?ll note that as I worked my way through grad school, I got my start in the marine mammal field thanks to a paid internship at the Marine Mammal Commission 30 years ago this summer?the stipend for which my mentor and then MMC executive director John Twiss felt was his moral duty to provide. (Remember that most federal internships in the U.S. are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act, as are internships at nonprofit organizations.) For me, had John not offered that stipend, I would not have been able to take the internship?a summer that led directly to John offering me a job out of grad school, which led directly to my doctoral dissertation, which led to a career in which I have now taught many hundreds of students the joys of marine mammal science, policy, and conservation. I know this is all just anecdotal personal experience, but I can?t overstate the importance that this issue has played in my life as a student and teacher, so I wanted to share. Thanks for listening and I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Rich -- Richard L. Wallace, Ph.D. Pronouns: He/Him/His Professor of Environmental Studies and Marine Science Director, Food Studies Program Co-Director, Whittaker Environmental Research Station Ursinus College Collegeville, PA https://www.ursinus.edu/live/profiles/103-richard-wallace and Educator-in-Residence Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative Jackson, WY http://nrccooperative.org P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. [A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated] From: MARMAM on behalf of Eric Archer - NOAA Federal Date: Monday, July 20, 2020 at 7:15 AM To: "marmam at lists.uvic.ca" Subject: Re: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Scripps Institution of Oceanography (where Paul Dayton has been based and done his groundbreaking work in the field) was established in 1903. It became part of the University of California, San Diego in 1912. I, an African American, entered the Marine Biology program in 1990 and defended my Ph.D. in 1996. Since that time, I have stayed in the San Diego area, working at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center which is located on the SIO campus. About five years ago, I became an adjunct professor at SIO. About a decade ago, I became curious about the history of diversity at SIO and started asking around. As best as I can tell, I was the first African American Marine Biology PhD at SIO. Since then, I've been trying to pay attention and have been aware of only two others since that time, with similar numbers in the sister Biological Oceanography program. Let's be generous and say that I've missed a couple. That's still only two handfuls at most. For the record, I'm also unaware of another Black faculty member in MB at SIO. Ever. Here is the current list of SIO faculty. How then do we reconcile the magnitude of minority interns and the good for diversity in the field in Paul's description with the striking lack of diversity at the top of the field? We need to pay attention to outcomes at every level. It is clear that the pipeline is broken in several places. This issue of unpaid internships is only one of them. I want to clearly state that I have the utmost respect for all of the points of view that have been expressed during this discussion as well as their authors. Paul Dayton and Phil Clapham have been role models to me and both have been influential in my career. I knew Eiren Jacobsen as a student at SIO and admired her skills. I think everybody in this debate is well-intentioned and truly wants to help improve the situation. In order to do that, we have to keep talking openly and respectfully listening to each other. Kind Regards, Eric Archer On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 5:01 AM Paul Dayton > wrote: Dear Lists people! I would like to join Phil Clapham with a counter argument to the recent posting about unpaid positions in marine mammal science, but also all conservation! I am not sure how to write to the Marmam list, but am pasting my letter and attaching it. Please let me know if this is acceptable. And I suspect most of you are unpaid volunteers as well, and I hope you know that your work is appreciated if unsung. Best regards and I wish you success avoiding this damned virus! I have been stuck in this ancient house for 4 months going on 12 months I fear. Paul Dayton Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Dear Friends, I saw Phil Clapham?s note and learned that Eiren Jacobson was still pushing this issue. I write to offer another objection to this position and to urge the co-signers to reevaluate their support. Phil offered the fact that much marine mammal work is done by relatively impoverished but highly idealistic organizations that would be severely impacted by the loss of volunteers. He also addressed the need to get people involved with marine mammals. Here I hope to broaden his message about the use of volunteers to actually increase diversity in the field, and I hope to persuade you to consider this in the broader context of helping lower income and non-white people move into the field, rather than being excluded as Eiren erroneously argues. I urge those of you who signed the letter to reconsider your signatures to what I feel strongly is a misguided appeal to your sense of fair treatment of other people. In my case I am sure that over my 40+ year career I was responsible for well over 100 volunteers and I strongly reject the argument that they were exploited or that impoverished or minority people were unfairly excluded. Very much to the contrary, in fact. I believe that I received well over 15 requests a year over my 40 years of professorship and there were always volunteers in our lab, usually very well mentored by graduate students but always with me in the background supervising the situation. And as Phil mentioned, we started early as many of them started working for us when they were in high school. They were never exploited, rather they were mentored and brought into marine ecology. Most of the interns in my lab were involved in general ecological research rather than marine mammals, but I was co-advisor or committee member to many marine mammal graduate students and most of them either came into the field via internships or used interns that came to me that I directed to the students. Many of these students have had successful careers in the marine mammal community, and they were damned good mentors. Some may see this letter and offer their own thoughts. Let me address the issue of diversity and class barriers. Eiren?s assertion that this plays to the wealth and excludes those who cannot afford to be a volunteer. Like Phil, I refer back to my own very impoverished undergraduate career working up to 35 hours a week to go to school. I had no ecological direction and actually found low-paying jobs to be able to volunteer with ecology students in Chuck Lowe?s lab at Arizona. The only reason I have had this great career is thanks to the mentoring I received as an unpaid volunteer. I subsequently took this experience to heart and accepted as many of the applicants as I could and made sure that they were well mentored. In many cases it was obvious from our interactions that they had no or very little family financial support, and as I got to know them I can attest that the vast majority were, like I had been, struggling to get through school and find a satisfying career. I can say that in the last several decades most of the students were themselves minorities: African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, and first generation Americans or foreign students. But where Eiren really misses the boat is that most of these interns were so stimulated and well mentored that they switched majors and went into ecology. Over my career I must have written hundreds of letters supporting these student?s graduate school or job applications, and dozens of them went on to advanced degrees and are now working in ecologically related fields. I suspect that almost all of these people now active in our general conservation field were not wealthy and many are minorities. Almost all of these have significant jobs in conservation efforts. And again, referring back to Phil?s letter, many of these interns were encouraged to interact with grade school kids and many are educating young people in their current jobs. I have no words to describe my pride in the success of these unpaid volunteers. Indeed, in the last 2 years, five of them have retired and have made an effort to track me down and thank me for taking them on in the 1970s! Imagine your own pride if you too could receive such messages in your old age. Had Eiren?s position been in place, none of this would have happened. I have always said that I judge my own career by the students I have influenced, and emphatically this includes the interns and volunteers who have passed through my lab. Contrary to the assertions in the letter, these interns do not exacerbate the hideous and increasing wealth gap in the world, nor are they racially divisive; almost all of them serve to improve the status quo in the long run. Certainly, I can point to my own interns as counter examples to the odd claim that they are amplifying these problems. And given that probably almost all interns get intensive mentoring, they surely do not stifle innovation in our field (especially if one looks at the many success stories such as Phil?s magnificent career). Indeed, they enhance innovation, creativity and respect for nature. Eiren and I strongly disagreed about this when she was a student at Scripps. In response I wrote several of the past interns now gainfully employed, and all of them reiterated what I am asserting here, that their experience as unpaid interns changed their lives and was responsible for their success. And again, her assertions of not offering insurance protection, are like other assertions we see these days, is probably simply wrong. I feel sure that all the interns in academia and the government are in fact covered by their insurances. All of ours are covered. I suspect that this is true of the majority of interns. I urge the readers and signers to learn the truth about the interns that are commonly involved in our various research activities. So, consider the reality of the world today and ask yourselves whether we need this sort of misguided controversy. What we need are gentle, warm inclusive people with empathy for other people and compassion for nature. We urgently need many more, not fewer, people helping society come to grasp with the need to nourish and care for nature. We need to attract all people into this struggle, and rather than attack those of us working toward this goal. I believe we need more support. I respectfully ask those of you signing on to this to reconsider. Sincerely Paul Dayton _______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM at lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -- Eric Archer, Ph.D. (he/him/his) Program Leader, Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/NOAA) 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA 858-546-7121 (work) 858-546-7003 (FAX) Adjunct Professor, Marine Biology Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego http://profiles.ucsd.edu/frederick.archer GitHub: github.com/ericarcher "The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes." - Randall Munroe "Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." - Benjamin Franklin "...but I'll take a GPS over either one." - John C. "Craig" George -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 11986 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From holly_morin at uri.edu Mon Jul 20 04:51:11 2020 From: holly_morin at uri.edu (Holly Morin) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 07:51:11 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] DOSITS Underwater Acoustics Webinar: NMFS Regulatory Approach to Underwater Sound Message-ID: ***apologies for cross-postings*** The next webinar in the 2020 *Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) * Webinar Series will take place this *Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 12pm ET*. Jolie Harrison Division Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources, will provide an overview of *NMFS' regulatory approach to underwater noise impacts on protected species, including marine mammals and fishes, and their habitat*. This FREE, 60-minute webinar will include a summary of key regulatory processes through which NOAA addresses noise impacts, mitigation and monitoring efforts, and efficiencies in regulatory compliance. An extended period of facilitated discussion will also be included. *Interested individuals must register for the webinar in order to participate*. To register for the 2020 DOSITS Webinar Series, please visit: https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2020-webinar-series/ *Please note:* 1. *If you have already registered for the 2020 DOSITS Webinar series, you do not need to register again for this webinar. * 2. All webinars in the Underwater Acoustics: 2020 DOSITS Webinar Series for the International Regulatory Community will be *hosted using Zoom*. Webinar testing and troubleshooting tips can be found here . Although Zoom is the preferred mode of connection, if participants are unable to use this platform, a YouTube link will be provided. A connection link for Zoom and YouTube will only be shared with registered participants (*webinar correspondence will come from webinar at dosits.net- please check spam/junk mail folders if necessar*y). 3. A full webinar outline with associated DOSITS links is available to download from the 2020 DOSITS Webinar webpage . *Webinar participants are encouraged to review this outline and associated background content prior to the live webinar even* 4. All webinars will be recorded and archived on the DOSITS website (Decision Makers Webinars ). Participation in this week's webinar can be applied to the *Certificate of Professional Development* offered in conjunction with the 2020 DOSITS Webinar Series. Interested individuals MUST participate in all four of the webinars in the 2020 Underwater Acoustics Webinar Series (live, in person, or via video archive). *In addition to webinar participation interested individuals MUST complete a brief survey specific to each webinar.* The link will be sent to registrants after the webinar has completed, or after they view the video archive. For all 2020 Webinar Series details, please visit: https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2020-webinar-series/. For a full list of all DOSITS Webinars, please visit: https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From milaja.ny at gmail.com Mon Jul 20 23:17:34 2020 From: milaja.ny at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Milaja_Nyk=C3=A4nen?=) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 09:17:34 +0300 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on the abundance monitoring of mobile coastal dolphins Message-ID: Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I'd like to draw your attention to a recently published paper on the abundance monitoring of a mobile population of coastal bottlenose dolphins. Nyk?nen M, Oudejans MG, Rogan E, Durban J, Ingram SN. 2020. Challenges in monitoring mobile populations: Applying Bayesian multi-site mark?recapture abundance estimation to the monitoring of a highly mobile coastal population of bottlenose dolphins. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems DOI: 10.1002/aqc.3355 The article is available on early view at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.3355 Abstract 1. Monitoring the abundance of mobile and wide-ranging cetacean populations for conservation management is challenging, especially when the management is focused on static protected areas. Where abundance estimates are derived from mark?recapture data, such as photo-identification of naturally marked individuals, unpredictable movements of animals in and out of the survey area can reduce ?capture? probabilities and affect the precision and accuracy of resulting estimates. 2. A Bayesian hierarchical log?linear model was applied to photo-identification data collected in summer 2014 to derive a multi-site abundance estimate for a population of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, ranging widely throughout the coastal waters of western Ireland. In addition, the effects of varying levels of sampling effort on the minimum detectable decrease in population size were examined. 3. The abundance (median) of dolphins was estimated as 189 (coefficient of variation (standard deviation/mean), 0.11; 95% highest-posterior density interval, 162-232). Over 50% of the well-marked dolphins encountered throughout the study were sighted in more than one distinct coastal area, thus displaying high mobility. In addition, it was found that it would require biennial surveys to detect a 25% decline in abundance within the six-year reporting period of the EU?s Habitats Directive. 4. Given that the Special Area of Conservation designated for these dolphins consists of two separate areas covering a substantial portion of the west coast of Ireland, the multisite approach is appropriate for monitoring this population. It produces a more precise estimate and is well suited for sparse recapture data collected opportunistically at multiple sites, when the lack of resources prevents large-scale surveys or when concentrating surveys on smaller localized areas fails to capture the broad range and unpredictable occurrence of the animals. The Bayesian multi-site approach could be applied to the management of other wide-ranging marine or terrestrial taxa. For a pdf copy, please contact: milaja.ny at gmail.com. All the best, Milaja Nyk?nen -- Dr Milaja Nyk?nen Post-doctoral researcher University of Eastern Finland Saimaa ringed seal research Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences PO Box 111 FI-80101 Joensuu Finland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From putu.liza at my.jcu.edu.au Mon Jul 20 17:46:38 2020 From: putu.liza at my.jcu.edu.au (Putu Mustika) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:46:38 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper on the relative suitability of cetacean habitat in the northern Savu Sea (Indonesia) Message-ID: Dear all, With gratitude, we announce the following paper as being published in Marine Mammal Science as ?Early View?: ?Maximum entropy model: estimating the relative suitability of cetacean habitat in the northern Savu Sea, Indonesia? The published article is accessible via this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12719 ABSTRACT An understanding of cetacean distribution is necessary to gain insights into crucial ecological processes for species conservation management. However, cetacean habitat preference and distribution in the northern Savu Sea, Indonesia are still poorly understood. We use maximum entropy modelling with five environmental predictors to describe habitat preference and distribution of seven cetacean species in the northern Savu Sea. Our study confirms that static predictors are the most important variables in explaining habitat preferences of seven cetacean species in the northern Savu Sea. Seasonally, each cetacean species has a different environmental preference. Globicephala macrorhynchus prefers the open nearshore areas adjacent to deep waters. Stenella attenuata is associated with nearshore habitats and higher productivity areas. Stenella longirostris prefers nearshore habitat during coastal upwelling events. Tursiops truncatus prefers nearshore sheltered habitat. Grampus griseus habitats are highly related to depth and steep gradients around the isobaths of 200-1,000 m. Feresa attenuata are associated with deep waters and cooler sea temperature. Pseudorca crassidens prefers protective bays with productive waters. This study provides important information for reviewing marine spatial plans of the northern Savu Sea, specifically on managing species fisheries interaction, optimizing surveillance, and regulating marine traffic. Many thanks for your interest and support, and also for the support of the MMS editors and reviewers. Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9202-7857 Marine Megafauna Research Group Misool Foundation Larantuka - Indonesia Dr Putu Liza Mustika (?Icha?) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-4635 https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/putu.liza/ College of Business, Law and Governance James Cook University Australia Townsville Campus -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: smime.p7s Type: application/pkcs7-signature Size: 1409 bytes Desc: not available URL: From ted at happywhale.com Mon Jul 20 18:34:32 2020 From: ted at happywhale.com (Ted Cheeseman) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:34:32 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] Cetacean photo-ID algorithm development collaboration invitation - lateral view / dorsal fin ID Message-ID: Dear Marmam friends, For those involved in cetacean photo-ID, I write to invite you to join an automated image recognition algorithm development effort. In 2019, supported by Google?s Kaggle platform, we hosted an extremely successful algorithm development competition for humpback whale fluke-ID ? the results: a fully automated deep convoluted neural network-based individual ID algorithm that in our tests compared to manual image matching, reduces image management time by at least 98%, and reduces error rates from approximately 6-9% to 1-3%. We learned a lot in the process, and image recognition has progressed such that, again with Google's support, we will host an image recognition algorithm development competition for lateral view cetacean photo-ID images ? that is, dorsal fins and flanks from a lateral view perspective. Our goal is to produce one or several highly accurate and efficient lateral view individual ID algorithms, with open sourced results, and with successful algorithms accessibly deployed. Resulting algorithms may be species specific or may be able to manage multiple species, depending on results. We can?t guarantee success, but experience suggests that we will end up with very effective automated image recognition algorithms for any well represented species in the development dataset. If you are a catalog holder who could benefit from automated image recognition for cetacean photo-ID, please consider joining this collaboration. We will need images by mid-August at the latest. Here below are details of proposed collaborative image use for the algorithm development competition: Our only use of images will be for a Google sponsored Kaggle competition, similar to and building on our extremely successful effort in late 2018/early 2019 ? https://www.kaggle.com/c/humpback-whale-identification . This competition fielded entries from 2129 teams, yielding the current best in class humpback fluke ID algorithm (we implemented the 3rd place winning algorithm), with an accuracy of 97-99% potential matches found in the first proposed result with good to high quality images (manuscript in prep). This algorithm is implemented into the Happywhale information architecture, enabling us to build a fluke ID dataset of, as of today 39,650 individuals, now accounting for an estimated 20% of the world's humpbacks, with no signs of loss of accuracy from too many individuals. This dataset is particularly rich on North Pacific humpbacks, where we believe we have identified > 50% of adult humpbacks alive from the year 2000 to today. Our goal is to produce one or several highly accurate and efficient lateral view individual ID algorithms, with winning results open sourced. To us, success will be a highly effective, efficient and accessible set of photo ID tools to further your work, to add value to mark recapture studies, and improve marine conservation science. We will aim to build an image set representing multiple species such that winning algorithms will effectively utilize shape, edge features, surface features, texture and patterns, thereby hopefully resulting in neural networks that can be trained for as-yet unrepresented cetacean species. Based on the success of the previous competition, I have high expectations for the results; the previous competition rapidly approached 100% accuracy early in the four month window, and in the intervening year and a half since that time, object recognition technology ? and development accessibility ? has made significant strides largely driven by investment in driverless car tech and similar automation efforts. To be clear, there?s no guarantee of success, either that resulting algorithms will be highly accurate or that they will be implementable. I believe however that it is reasonable to expect highly accurate results for any well represented species that is identifiable by the human eye. The team at Kaggle is excited for this, as they were very happy with the outcome from the previous competition, and we?ve learned a fair bit and talked a fair bit since then as to how to step onward together in this, so we can be assured of solid support on the host end. Image contributing collaborators will be included as co-authors in any resulting publications, with opportunities, if desired, to participate in the competition (there are roles for competition hosts to answer questions etc about the biological and environmental reality of photo ID, for example), first access to algorithm development and forthcoming system implementation, as well as any manuscript authorship, editing and review. The competition will begin in approximately October of this year, open for a period of 3-4 months. Competition images will be stripped of all metadata (we will do so), presented in the competition dataset divided between a set for algorithm training, with ID information (re-assigned to have no relation to IDs in existing datasets, whether public or private), and one set as test data, with no ID information. It should be recognized that while these images are stripped of all context, they will be made public for the sake of access by competitors. For a well written exploration of the competition process, from the point of view of the 10th place finisher in the previous effort, here?s a recently published read: https://towardsdatascience.com/a-gold-winning-solution-review-of-kaggle-humpback-whale-identification-challenge-53b0e3ba1e84 . Your use of images will not be limited in any way, apart from if you have an online catalog with the same images present, we should look at if this will potentially create a conflict that could allow ID process cheating among competitors. From you we would like to have as many images as possible, with a maximum of 20,000 ID?d images per species. For rare / difficult to photo-ID species there may be no minimum ? this will be case specific ? but for more commonly photographed species, a minimum contribution should be in the range of a few hundred individuals each photographed in different encounters. The ideal dataset includes a mix of cropped and uncropped images and a range of quality from very high to very poor. For simplicity, there should be just one individual in any image, cropped or uncropped. We want a natural distribution of images; some individuals should be represented by only one image (forcing competitors to accommodate the realistic designation of a ?new individual? class), while some should be represented by many images (from separate encounters, to avoid any contextual matching, such as similar water texture / color). Because a lateral view inherently has the right-dorsal and left-dorsal set, two semi-independent classes per individual, we?d want a mix here as well. If you would like to join as a collaborator, we will need images by mid-August, sooner if possible so that the Kaggle team can begin preparing and developing the competition infrastructure (there?s some interesting questions on this end, such as dealing with some weighing of species by different data set sizes etc). Images can come to us as jpgs either (1) with the IDs indicated in a clear consistent format in the filename, (2) with IDs in a spreadsheet correlated by exact filenames, or (3) as a set of images with ID + date/location attributes that we?d then integrate into Happywhale (as a private dataset at least during the term of the competition) to format for the competition. We do not need annotation of R/L dorsal, etc. We will strip all metadata before adding images to the competition dataset. Of course I am available to discuss any questions, concerns or ideas around this. I am excited for your participation and hopeful for a very constructive outcome. With thanks for your interest, Ted ? Ted Cheeseman ted at happywhale.com www.Happywhale.com https://www.facebook.com/happywhales/ ** know your whales :) ** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: smime.p7s Type: application/pkcs7-signature Size: 1382 bytes Desc: not available URL: From valeria.senigaglia at gmail.com Tue Jul 21 02:23:26 2020 From: valeria.senigaglia at gmail.com (Valeria Senigaglia) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 17:23:26 +0800 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication Message-ID: Dear MARMAN community, My co-author and I are pleased to announce the publication of our latest paper in Tourism in the Marine Environment: Senigaglia V. & Bejder L. 2020. Pregnancy cravings: visitation at a food-provisioning site is driven by the reproductive status of the Bottlenose dolphins. Tourism in Marine Environment. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427320X15943283422072 Abstract Marine wildlife tourism attractions often use food rewards to ensure close-up encounters with free-ranging animals. In Bunbury, Western Australia, the Dolphin Discovery Centre (DDC) conducts a food-provision program where bottlenose dolphins (N= 22; between 2000-2018) are offered food rewards to encourage their visitation at a beach in front of the DDC. We used historical records on individual beach visits by adult female dolphins collected by the DDC from 2000 to 2018 to develop generalized mixed effects models (GLMM) to test whether the frequency of beach visitation was influenced by their reproductive status (pregnant, lactating, non-reproductive) or climatic events (El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation phases) that could affect prey availability. We also quantified the behavioural budget of dolphins during food-provisioning sessions and documented intra and interspecific aggressive behaviours using individual focal follows collected in 2017-2018. Provisioned females spend most of the time resting within the interaction area (66.3%) and aggressive interactions arise as a consequence of dominance behaviour over food access. Visitation rates were most influenced by reproductive status with pregnant and lactating females visiting more frequently the provisioning area (z = 2.085; p = 0.037 and z = 2.437; p = 0.014, respectively). Females that frequently visit the provisioning area expose their dependent calves to regular human interactions at an early age when they are more susceptible to behavioural conditioning. Such experiences could cause the loss of awareness towards humans and promote maladaptive behaviours such as begging, that increase risk of entanglement in fishing gear, boat strikes and propeller injuries. The publication can be found at this link: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tme/pre-prints/content-time_1078866?fbclid=IwAR00jzxs8w3s4tPvO2U5Uk1guoIapDJUtkOi36PWGu5Fz_qxPStXwPCw2Jg PDF requests can be sent to v aleria.senigaglia at gmail.com Stay safe! All the best, Valeria Senigaglia -- *Valeria Senigaglia* *PhD Candidate* Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia Mobile: +61474837914 E-mail: v.senigaglia at murdoch.edu.au -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Britta.Schmidt at tiho-hannover.de Wed Jul 22 08:21:39 2020 From: Britta.Schmidt at tiho-hannover.de (Schmidt, Britta) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 15:21:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] NEW PUBLICATION: Variation in skull bone mineral density of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and West Greenland between 1829 and 2019 Message-ID: <7e05da80b6fb498a9ce36a72f6bd93e6@tiho-hannover.de> Dear MARMAM community, my co-authors and I are happy to announce the publication of our new paper in Environmental International about "Variation in skull bone mineral density of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and West Greenland between 1829 and 2019" Schmidt, B., Sonne, C., Nachtsheim, D., Dietz, R., Oheim, R., Rolvien, T., Persson, S., Amling, M., Siebert, U., 2020. Variation in skull bone mineral density of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and West Greenland between 1829 and 2019. Environ. Int., 143, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105968 Abstract Bone is remodelled constantly through a balance of bone formation and resorption. This process can be affected by various factors such as hormones, vitamins, nutrients and environmental factors, which can create an imbalance resulting in systemic or local bone alteration. The aim of the present study was to analyse the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) over time in skulls of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from the Baltic and Greenland using museum samples. Overall, 303 skulls (102 Male, 89 Female, 112 unknown) were used for bone investigations and were divided into three periods according to collection year: before 1958 (n = 167), between 1958 and 1989 (n = 40) and after 1994 up to 2019 (n = 96). All skulls were examined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to obtain the BMD. Skull BMD of the Baltic seals was positively correlated with the historical polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination having potential effects on the constitution of bones. BMD fluctuated between the three study periods (LM: p-value < 0.001, F-value = 47.5) with the lowest BMD found between 1897 and 1957, in the Gulf of Bothnia, where the highest peak of contaminant concentration was in the second period. BMD levels increased with increasing PCB concentration (LM: p < 0.001). The Greenland population showed significant lower BMD levels in the pollution and post-pollution period than the Baltic population (LM: p < 0.001). It also revealed a higher BMD in males than in females (LM: p=0.03). In conclusion, the variations between 1829 and 2019 in the Baltic Sea and Greenland may to a certain extent reflect normal fluctuations; however, this study revealed several factors affecting BMD, including sex and PCB levels. The publication is freely available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020319231 Britta Schmidt Marine Biologist University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), Germany -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cdmacleod at gisinecology.com Tue Jul 21 14:36:22 2020 From: cdmacleod at gisinecology.com (cdmacleod at gisinecology.com) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 22:36:22 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] New Online Training Course - An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) In The Marine Environment, 24th - 27th August 2020 In-Reply-To: <499c44de88764253ec5f5141ce698824@gisinecology.com> References: <2499c76e3598d992a632882d524fe382@gisinecology.com> <499c44de88764253ec5f5141ce698824@gisinecology.com> Message-ID: <36dead0e5893273265f7827b3634fe1b@gisinecology.com> New Online Training Course - An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) In The Marine Environment, 24th - 27th August 2020 Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) can be used to predict a species distribution across a wide area from more limited set of survey data. As a result, it has become an integral part of many marine mammal conservation and management strategies. However, implementing an SDM project in a biological meaningful way is not always as easy as it at first seems. _GIS In Ecology_ will be holding a new online training course on Species Distribution Modelling in the Marine Environment between the 24th and 27th of August 2020. It 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 British Summer (primarily for those living in Europe, Asia and Africa) or 18:00 to 21:00 British Summer 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 20 people. 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-species-distribution-modelling-in-the-marine-environment/, Alternatively, you can email info at GISinEcology.com with the subject line Introductory Online SDM Course August 2020. This course will be taught by Dr Colin D. MacLeod, the author of _An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS and R_ [1] and a renowned expert in using species distribution modelling in the marine environment. It is aimed at those who want to learn how to integrate GIS into their species distribution modelling projects. The course assumes that you have at least a basic knowledge of GIS, and is not aimed at complete beginners (if you are a complete beginner, you can attend our introductory online GIS course which will be held between the 17th and 20th of August 2020 [2]). 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. Species distribution modelling (also known as habitat modelling, predictive habitat modelling, ecological niche modelling, habitat suitability modelling and essential habitat modelling) is becoming increasingly widely used in marine biology. This course aims to provide an introduction to the concept and practical application of species distribution modelling (SDM) in the marine environment, and how to integrate species distribution modelling with GIS. This includes selection of environmental variables, the creation of raster data layers of environmental variables in a GIS-based environment, processing survey data in GIS, creating spatial visualisations and predictions from SDMs, and validating the predictive ability of SDMs. The practical sessions will involve working through a complete SDM project using an existing data set from start to finish, including creating an SDM using Generalised Additive Modelling (GAM). This means you do not need have your own data to attend. The practical sessions will be conducted in QGIS (our recommended option) or ArcGIS, and R (but no prior experience with R is required). When you attend this course you will receive a free copy of _An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS And R (GIS For Biologists Workbooks) _ [1]as the practical exercises in that course are based on the ones contained in that book. NOTE: If you wish to use ArcGIS software for this course, the older ArcGIS version of this workbook (_An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology - Supplementary Workbook Three_) will be provided instead. 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 [3]. 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. In addition, you will also need to have spreadsheet software, such as Excel, on your computer. Finally, you will also need a working copy of the free statistical software package called R. This can be downloaded from here. ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com [4] 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 [5] 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/an-introduction-to-species-distribution-modelling-sdm-using-qgis-and-r-gis-for-biologists-workbooks-series/ [2] http://gisinecology.com/online-course-an-introduction-to-using-gis-qgis-in-biological-research/ [3] http://gisinecology.com/gis-for-biologists/ [4] http://www.GISinEcology.com [5] http://www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From er26 at st-andrews.ac.uk Wed Jul 22 03:54:19 2020 From: er26 at st-andrews.ac.uk (Eric Rexstad) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:54:19 +0100 Subject: [MARMAM] Three distance sampling training workshops: Aug, Sep, Oct, registration now open Message-ID: <6d3e62e6-e42e-c988-f9e9-2ae0cd2d80b4@st-andrews.ac.uk> In August, September and October of 2020, the University of St Andrews continues its remote delivery of interactive distance sampling training workshops.? We are offering three workshops addressing: * mark-recapture distance sampling * spatial modelling of distance sampling data * introductory distance sampling Registration for all workshops is currently open, but closing date for the August workshop is fast approaching (see below). Description of each workshop, in chronological order, found below along with URLs for registration and additional information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Mark recapture distance sampling training workshop 24th and 25th August 2020* 17:00-19:30 British Summer Time Registration is now open for our training workshop on mark-recapture distance sampling.? Join us by video from anywhere around the world!? For full details, and to register, please go to *https://www.creem.st-andrews.ac.uk/mark-recapture-distance-sampling-workshop/* *Workshop Overview* Conventional distance sampling methods assume that all animals at zero distance are detected with certainty.? However, in some situations this assumption is violated, and some animals are missed, causing a negative bias in the density and abundance estimates.? This occurs on some shipboard surveys of marine mammals, for example, where animals may be missed on the trackline because they are underwater while the survey vessel passes, or because the sea conditions are rough so that even some animals right on the line are missed.? The former (being underwater and so not available for detection) is often called availability bias and the latter perception bias.? This methodology is particularly suited for investigations of cetaceans and other marine mammals. In this two-day workshop, we cover survey protocols and analytical methods for dealing with both perception bias and availability bias. The workshop is intended for those already familiar with the basics of distance sampling. *Instructors*: Len Thomas and David Borchers *Timing* 24th and 25th August 2020 17:00-19:30 British Summer Time // 12:00-14:30 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) // 09:00-11:30 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) *Enrolment limit* 15 participants; registration deadline 31 July *Format and delivery method* The workshop will be a mix of live online interactive sessions, delivered via videoconference software (Microsoft Teams), and computer exercises. There will be two sessions on successive days, with a total class time of 4 hours (including breaks) and an additional computer exercise to complete after the first day and before the second.?? Exercises can be undertaken using Distance for Windows or R (via the mrds package). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Spatially explicit models for distance sampling data: density surface modelling in practice 5-9 October 2020* 5-9 October 2020, 1700-1900 BST // 1200-1400 EDT // 0900-1100 PDT This 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. For full details and to register, visit *https://www.creem.st-andrews.ac.uk/spatial-modelling-live-online-workshop-2/* *Instructor*: David Miller *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 there will be text-based "office hours", where participants questions can be addressed. Each videoconference session will include time for lecturing and discussion of practical exercises. *Enrolment limit:* 15 participants; registration deadline 05 September *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 some basic R knowledge. Prior to the course we will running a software test meeting to ensure everyone can participate satisfactorily. Please contact David Miller (dlm22 at st-andrews.ac.uk) with questions regarding the spatial modelling workshop. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Introductory distance sampling 07-18 September or 21 September - 02 October 2020* Fundamental principles of distance sampling, from the perspective of survey design, field protocol for data gathering and analysis of distance sampling data. For full details, and to register, please go to *https://www.creem.st-andrews.ac.uk/distance-live-online-workshops/* *Instructor*: Eric Rexstad The 21 Sept-02 Oct offering of the workshop is being delivered in the morning UK time (0900-1130) such that participants from east Asia, Australia and New Zealand as well as Europeans can take part, while the 07-18 September workshop will be delivered early evening UK time (1700-1930) for attendees in Europe and the Americas to participate. *Format*: Ten sessions spread across two working weeks.? Combination of lectures and practical exercises along with interactive polls. *Enrolment limit*:? 15 participants for each of the two workshops Registration closing dates: 14 August (for first workshop), 21 August (for second workshop) Please contact Eric Rexstad (eric.rexstad at st-andrews.ac.uk) with questions regarding the introductory workshop. -- Eric Rexstad Centre for Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at marinemammalscience.org Tue Jul 21 13:08:09 2020 From: president at marinemammalscience.org (Charles Littnan) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:08:09 -1000 Subject: [MARMAM] Society for Marine Mammalogy Update on the Unpaid Internship Discussion Message-ID: Aloha Marine Mammal Science and Conservation Community- I wanted to share a quick update on behalf of the Society for Marine Mammalogy Board regarding the petition related to unpaid internships and the subsequent discussion on MARMAM and beyond. It is encouraging to see ongoing dialogue and the evolution of various positions as more voices and perspectives engage on the issue. At the core we all agree that our marine mammal community, and science in general, benefits from increased diversity. We all agree that barriers to diversity and inclusiveness, where they exist, should be dismantled. The challenge we face is finding agreement on what the ?right? course of action should be and which action should come first. The initial dialogue on internships quickly moved to two perspectives: one being that unpaid internships were the barrier that needed addressing, and the other that a focus on underrepresented groups throughout the marine mammal science career pipeline was the necessary action. Thankfully, the discussion has continued to grow in nuance with greater acknowledgment that the pipeline is broken in many places and each spot needs focused attention. This is an issue of ?and? not ?or? - it is both unpaid internships AND lack of access in early education (and so much more) that contribute to the struggle to achieve greater diversity in our field. The SMM has just received the petition, and it will feed into the Board?s ongoing deliberations on this important and multifarious issue. The Board is reviewing the online discussion and available literature, reaching out to a broader cohort of our community, and looking across other professional societies to see if and how they have addressed similar concerns. After this initial process we will work with our membership to find what action by the SMM is in our purview and could address this issue in a meaningful and responsible way. One thing is certain though: one of the most positive actions we can take is to facilitate this dialog further and include our membership to the greatest possible extent. To that end, we will soon host an online forum with a variety of participants and perspectives on this issue. This will be a moderated online discussion that will be archived for future viewing. Our intent is for this to happen in mid-August. While across our community there may not be 100% agreement on the issues raised in the petition or some of the responses to it, I believe we should thank those who have started the discussion and those who have stepped up to respond. This is how our marine mammal society will grow and advance - by asking hard, often uncomfortable questions, and taking necessary steps to improve. We best serve our community and the animals we study by being open to these discussions, self reflective about our roles and perspectives, and willing to evolve when necessary. More information, including ideas for specific actions, will be coming soon. If you have thoughts you would like to share directly with the Board please feel free to email me at president at marinemammalscience.org or contact our Diversity and Inclusion Committee at diversity at marinemammalscience.org. Or visit our website and leave your thoughts on the subject: https://marinemammalscience.org/presidents-blog/update-regarding-petition-related-to-unpaid-internships Be safe and well. Charles -- Charles Littnan, President. Society for Marine Mammalogy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aames at oceanografic.org Wed Jul 22 09:42:39 2020 From: aames at oceanografic.org (Audra Ames) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 16:42:39 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on beluga calf vocal development Message-ID: Dear colleagues, On behalf of myself and my co-author, we are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in the recent issue of Aquatic Mammals. Ames, A. E., & Vergara, V. (2020). Trajectories of Vocal Repertoire Development in Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Calves: Insights from Studies a Decade Apart. Aquatic Mammals, 46(4), 344?366. doi:10.1578/am.46.4.2020.344 ABSTRACT There has been only one published study of beluga vocal development, despite the value of ontogenetic research for our understanding of sound-centered species. Findings from this seminal study were vital to understanding the beluga vocal repertoire, but further empirical study is necessary to determine if other calves follow similar trajectories in sound acquisition and development. Herein, we compare the two-year vocal progression of an additional calf, ?Kylu,? to the previous research. Additionally, we report on changes in acoustic energy distribution and source level of early calf sounds for the first time as part of a larger effort to understand the impacts of underwater noise on neonate vocalizations. From his day of birth, Kylu produced broadband pulse trains with upper-frequency limits above the study?s Nyquist cutoff (128 kHz)?higher than what was reported by the previous study, which was limited by lower sampling rates. Pulsed signals were his most common sound type during his first year as in the previous study. Over Kylu?s first month of life, pulse repetition rate, source level, and third quartile frequencies of the calf?s pulse trains increased significantly. First and third quartile, center, and peak frequencies increased significantly over the first year as did pulse repetition rate and call duration. Mixed calls and tonal sounds were infrequent and not regularly produced until later in the first year of life. Calf acquisition of adult-like mixed call production appeared similarly between studies, while tonal acquisition appeared more variable. Kylu developed a contact call that was most similar to his mother?s as found in the previous study, although slight variation in contact call acquisition was evident. By comparing beluga calves and employing new technology, we reveal species-specific parallels in development and provide new information about beluga calves. The publication can be accessed via https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.344 or you can email a request for a PDF to aames at oceanografic.org Many thanks for your interest in the article, and thank you to the Aquatic Mammals editors and the reviewers of the publication for their contributions to the finished article. Best, Audra -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mmorellyb at hotmail.com Thu Jul 23 01:03:50 2020 From: mmorellyb at hotmail.com (MARIA MORELL) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 08:03:50 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on high frequency hearing and potential markers for detecting cases of hearing loss Message-ID: Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper ?Echolocating Whales and Bats Express the Motor Protein Prestin in the Inner Ear: A Potential Marker for Hearing Loss? in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. The full text is available here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00429/full?fbclid=IwAR0pd5lru2-c-vTPusXvS-iMTq_xAQG3-Q2S9STxs1LH_lFIkuzT4GbL-54 Morell M, Vogl AW, IJsseldijk LL, Piscitelli-Doshkov M, Tong L, Ostertag S, Ferreira M, Fraija-Fernandez N, Colegrove KM, Puel J-L, Raverty SA and Shadwick RE (2020) Echolocating Whales and Bats Express the Motor Protein Prestin in the Inner Ear: A Potential Marker for Hearing Loss. Front. Vet. Sci. 7:429. Doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00429 Abstract Prestin is an integral membrane motor protein located in outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea. It is responsible for electromotility and required for cochlear amplification. Although prestin works in a cycle-by-cycle mode up to frequencies of at least 79 kHz, it is not known whether or not prestin is required for the extreme high frequencies used by echolocating species. Cetaceans are known to possess a prestin coding gene. However, the expression and distribution pattern of the protein in the cetacean cochlea has not been determined, and the contribution of prestin to echolocation has not yet been resolved. Here we report the expression of the protein prestin in five species of echolocating whales and two species of echolocating bats. Positive labeling in the basolateral membrane of outer hair cells, using three anti-prestin antibodies, was found all along the cochlear spiral in echolocating species. These findings provide morphological evidence that prestin can have a role in cochlear amplification in the basolateral membrane up to 120?180 kHz. In addition, labeling of the cochlea with a combination of anti-prestin, anti-neurofilament, anti-myosin VI and/or phalloidin and DAPI will be useful for detecting potential recent cases of noise-induced hearing loss in stranded cetaceans. This study improves our understanding of the mechanisms involved in sound transduction in echolocating mammals, as well as describing an optimized methodology for detecting cases of hearing loss in stranded marine mammals. Best regards, Maria Morell Maria Morell, PhD Research Associate Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Werftstr. 6, 25761 B?sum Germany Phone: +49-(0)5118568178 e-mail: maria.morell at tiho-hannover.de -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From eferguson at oceanscienceanalytics.com Thu Jul 23 17:40:23 2020 From: eferguson at oceanscienceanalytics.com (Elizabeth Ferguson) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:40:23 -0700 Subject: [MARMAM] August Online PAM Software Training Group Message-ID: Hi there MARMAM Community, We would like to inform interested individuals that we are now accepting registration for the August training group of *PAM Software Basics*, the only fully online, IMarEST accredited course designed to teach participants how to use software for the passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals. *PAM Software Basics* is an eight module, course that provides instruction in two industry-leading bioacoustic software programs, Ishmael and PAMGuard. The course provides instruction in topics of file configuration, data collection, sound detection and localization of marine mammals using guided videos and associated activities. Participants are provided a 30-day period to navigate through materials at their own pace and location, and flexible start times are available through monthly training groups. We provide support and feedback along the way to ensure participants gain confidence and comfort with software. Registration details and additional information regarding this unique training can be found at the course page below. PAM Software Basics Regards, Liz Ferguson *CEO and Founder* *Ocean Science Analytics* *www.oceanscienceanalytics.com * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From melissa.soldevilla at noaa.gov Thu Jul 23 14:48:25 2020 From: melissa.soldevilla at noaa.gov (Melissa Soldevilla - NOAA Federal) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 21:48:25 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Postdoctoral opportunities at NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Message-ID: Dear MARMAM members, We are pleased to announce NRC Fellowship opportunities for postdoctoral scholars in the marine mammal group at NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Opportunities are available to conduct research in the four research areas described in the ad below. Please click here to visit the NRC Research Opportunity page for more information, and contact me by email if you have any questions. Best wishes, Melissa The Marine Mammal Program at the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center conducts long-term assessments of marine mammal populations throughout the Gulf of Mexico, southeastern US waters of the North Atlantic, and the Caribbean for conservation and management under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. The SEFSC passive acoustics team collects vessel-based and long-term moored platform passive acoustic recordings to assess marine mammal distribution, density, and abundance trends, and to understand the role of natural and anthropogenic processes driving those trends. This research includes monitoring of man-made and natural sound to assess ocean noise impacts on marine mammals. We are additionally involved in restoration projects to mitigate the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill on marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. Research opportunities exist to 1) develop and implement advanced passive acoustic density estimation methodologies, including time-series trend analyses; 2) measure noise levels and characterize occurrence of anthropogenic noise sources and model impacts on marine mammals; 3) model the ecological features and processes driving marine mammal densities using moored passive acoustic data; and 4) conduct spatially-explicit risk assessments of noise sources (e.g. shipping, seismic surveys) using spatial data such as AIS data and marine mammal density models. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Melissa Soldevilla, PhD Research Fishery Biologist NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, FL 33149 305-361-4238 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrea.ravignani at gmail.com Sat Jul 25 04:44:20 2020 From: andrea.ravignani at gmail.com (Andrea Ravignani) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2020 13:44:20 +0200 Subject: [MARMAM] 2 PhD student positions in Comparative bioacoustics, seal vocal development, evolution of speech, and/or music cognition Message-ID: <4639BB29-C762-441F-9F50-1640162D5B56@gmail.com> Dear all, We are hiring 2 PhD students (4-years, full time, fully funded) to work in Comparative bioacoustics, seal vocal development, evolution of speech, and/or music cognition. PhD students will be part of an international group based in Nijmegen, The Netherlands and will be supervised by Andrea Ravignani. We particularly value motivation, curiosity & interest in our groups? research topics. More info and application guidelines: https://www.mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/2-phd-student-postions-comparative-bioacoustics-group Kind regards, Andrea Andrea Ravignani Group Leader, Comparative Bioacoustics, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics & Visiting Professor, University of Turin ravignani.wordpress.com From ivlarkin at ufl.edu Fri Jul 24 14:43:13 2020 From: ivlarkin at ufl.edu (Larkin,Iskande (Iske)) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:43:13 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Registration open for Fall 2020 - Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues Message-ID: <52940d08622e4923b0c703a1d5181f17@AHC-EXCH03.ad.ufl.edu> Hi All, The University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine would like to send notice that registration for our fall online course is open. Aquatic Animal Conservation 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 controversial issues surrounding aquatic animal species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals, with an emphasis on marine mammals, but also including sea turtles, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystems. Students enrolled at any College or University within the US or internationally can take this course. For more information about this class or enrollment, contact Dr. Iske Larkin (ivlarkin at ufl.edu ). If you are interested in taking this class, registration is now open for Fall (2020). The semester runs from Monday, August 31st - Wednesday, December 9th. Sincerely, Dr 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: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3806 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From SJames at imms.org Sat Jul 25 13:47:15 2020 From: SJames at imms.org (Stephanie James) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2020 20:47:15 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] IMMS Animal Training Internship (Winter 2020) Message-ID: The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS is accepting applications for our Animal Training Internship for the Winter term. *The deadline for applications is September 1st.* Please visit our website for details on how to apply or send questions to sjames at imms.org https://imms.org/internship/ The IMMS Animal Training Internship Program is designed as a way for students/individuals interested in a career in animal care and training to gain valuable experience in a real-world setting. Interns will primarily be trained in aspects of animal care, but will also participate in other activities at IMMS. Our goal is to give interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience. The IMMS animal care and training staff is in charge of caring for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and large parrots. Interns will work directly with animal care staff and be exposed to all aspects of the daily routine. Heavy emphasis is placed on basic tasks such as food preparation, and daily cleaning and facility maintenance. Interns will learn how to train animals with operant conditioning through observation and may assist during sessions. Interns will also complete a project during their internship, give educational presentations to guests before they interact with our animals, as well as help staff with daily water quality. Because we want interns to have a well-rounded experience, they will also be asked to assist in other departments. Interns may participate as 1) environmental educators and assist in giving presentations to the public, 2) research assistants that help with our many wild dolphin based research studies, or 3) emergency responders as IMMS is part of the Southeast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network and responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles. Interested applicants must follow the directions listed on the website to apply. Interns must be: ? 18 years or older. ? A recent graduate or actively pursuing a college degree in the sciences. ? Willing to accept the internship as an unpaid position. ? Able to commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks, 40 hours a week. The internship can be extended depending on work performance. ? Available to work weekdays, weekends, and holidays. ? Able to lift 50 lbs, work long hours on your feet, and work outside in extreme conditions. ? Able to maintain a positive attitude, good work ethic, sense of responsibility, and a strong willingness to learn. ? Financially stable enough to obtain housing and transportation, though IMMS staff will do their best to assist you in making arrangements. ? Able to comply with IMMS rules and regulations. Stephanie James Marine Mammal Trainer ?Animal Care Internship Coordinator Institute for Marine Mammal Studies Gulfport, MS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From logan.kline1997 at gmail.com Wed Jul 29 06:53:59 2020 From: logan.kline1997 at gmail.com (Logan Kline) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2020 09:53:59 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] New publication on estimating vessel presence in Australian Marine Parks and compliance/surveillance implications Message-ID: My co-authors and I are excited to announce the publication of our new paper in Marine Policy. This project was the result of a partnership between NOAA NEFSC Passive Acoustics Group in Woods Hole, MA, USA and Parks Australia in Canberra, ACT, Australia. Sleuthing with sound: Understanding vessel activity in marine protected areas using passive acoustic monitoring. Logan R. Kline, Annamaria I. DeAngelis, Candace McBride, Giverny G. Rodgers, Timothy J. Rowell, Jeremy Smith, Jenni A. Stanley, Andrew D. Read, and Sofie M. Van Parijs. Marine Policy: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104138 Abstract: Monitoring compliance and enforcing laws are integral to ensuring the success of marine protected areas (MPAs), but traditional monitoring techniques are costly and resource demanding. Three SoundTrap 300 recorders were deployed for one month between 1 July and September 12, 2018 to collect acoustic data in two marine parks off southeastern Australia: one recorder in Cod Grounds Marine Park (CGMP) and two in the Solitary Islands Marine Park National Park Zone (SIMP NPZ). Extractive activities such as fishing are not permitted in these zones. Raven Pro 2.0 was used to analyze data for vessel presence. Transmission loss equations for each site were generated using patrol boat GPS tracks and used to predict if acoustically recorded vessels were inside park boundaries based on received sound levels. In CGMP, 41 vessels were predicted within the park during the recording period; 34 vessels were predicted within the SIMP NPZ. Thursdays and Saturdays were identified as peak days for vessel presence in CGMP while Thursdays were the peak day in the SIMP NPZ. Most vessel activity at both locations took place between 06:00 and 17:00 AEST. Peak vessel presence in CGMP occurred at 09:00 AEST while the peak vessel presence in the SIMP NPZ occurred at 16:00 AEST. Approximately 12.7 h of vessel sounds were recorded within CGMP; approximately 3.8 h of vessel noise were recorded within the SIMP NPZ. Passive acoustic monitoring of vessel patterns in Australian Marine Parks has provided valuable insight to redirect compliance decisions on how to focus surveillance efforts. This is an open access article and should be available to all, but please e-mail Logan R. Kline at logan.kline at maine.edu with PDF requests. Thank you, Logan R. Kline -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cetaceanpopulationstudies at gmail.com Tue Jul 28 19:19:32 2020 From: cetaceanpopulationstudies at gmail.com (Cetacean Population Studies) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2020 11:19:32 +0900 Subject: [MARMAM] NEW PUBLICATION - Cetacean Population Studies (CPOPS) Vol. 2 Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We are very pleased to inform you about the Cetacean Population Studies (CPOPS) Vol. 2 publishing online. CPOPS is a peer reviewed online journal focusing on cetacean and other marine mammal studies. For detailed information about CPOPS please see here . The next volume, CPOPS Vol. 3, will be designated as* ?Memorial Volume for Dr. Seiji Ohsumi?* which passed away in November last year. We would greatly appreciate if you could peruse this information and consider contributing in the near future through submitting papers for CPOPS Vol. 3 and also introduce our new journal to your colleagues who may have an interest in cetacean and other marine mammal studies. Best regards, Hidehiro Kato, Ph. D. Chairman, Publication committee for the CPOPS https://cpops.jp -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ACostidi at virginiaaquarium.com Tue Jul 21 08:20:43 2020 From: ACostidi at virginiaaquarium.com (Alexander M. Costidis) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:20:43 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science: a response to a response Message-ID: Dear fellow SMMers, Watching this discussion unfold, I feel compelled to contribute. While I cannot help but support the open and honest exchange of ideas and philosophies, I find myself wholeheartedly agreeing with Phil Clapham. As someone who has both benefited tremendously from being unpaid labor, and also seen others benefit from it, I cannot in good conscience support an outright professional ban on such opportunities. I believe that would be a misguided broad brush stroke that takes away positive programs rather than creating more of them. There is no question that the system as a whole needs to be re-examined carefully, but as I believe Phil alluded to, it is a structural change that is needed. Many (perhaps even most) organizations that are not part of a large university or government system simply do not have the resources to pay people to receive an education, which is what many internships provide. Internships in this business are frequently unlike veterinary or medical internships, in which a certain expertise and/or certification has already been acquired by the intern. Intern candidates often have little to no relevant experience and are not much different from a brand new volunteer. Some have considerable experience or education in other areas, but are trying new things. A one-size-fits-all strategy for addressing the baked-in inequities seems restrictive at best, as the inequities are not all one size or one shape. Many organizations do everything they can to facilitate people's education. It is done as unpaid community outreach, unfunded participation in graduate student committees, unsupported participation in student conferences, and providing volunteerism and internships. Those internship opportunities are not charged for in the way an academic institution would charge for an education, despite having many similarities. Those same organizations often have staff that are not paid what they deserve based on their work ethic, their competencies, their qualifications, or their dedication. Their operations are often chronically underfunded on federal, municipal and institutional levels. All these things take a toll on staff retention, conservation effectiveness, etc. Perhaps because this is personal, it seems reciprocally unfair to categorize all organizations with blanket statements of unfairness, when many are already stretched thinly, with funds diluted beyond belief, trying their best to make a small bit of difference. Having such organizations stop offering unpaid internships without already having a viable alternative to this process will likely have other unintended consequences, such as reduced capacity for research or conservation work. This will not only affect those interns who have and continue to benefit from robust internship programs, but will likely also impact the very animals we are all so passionate about helping. I would urge this passionate and vocal community to come together to build more opportunities, rather than suggest removal of pre-existing ones which have given many people the chance to course correct or enrich their lives. To that end, I offer up a few modest suggestions that might conceivably help jump start such an effort, if embraced. 1) Create consortium of organizations that offer internships. Each organization contributes seed money to an endowment or some other means of growing a fund to support financial need-based internships within the consortium. Those organizations can use their political and economic clout and their media presence to promote additional outside support. Such a consortium may also help with promoting successful interns toward employment opportunities within the consortium. 2) SMM members join to form virtual classes or thematic video shorts that can help address the very insightful point Phil made about reaching young people and infecting them with our excitement and passion, on topics so few of them are ever exposed to until it's too late. Many of us have been to SMM video night and seen the exciting whale tagging videos, gross necropsy videos, heartbreaking bycatch videos, etc. Those same visuals that move us, could move current students, form future researchers, and reach broader audiences. 3) Unified messaging (and lobbying) to government and funding agencies for need-based federal/national support of career training programs related to marine mammal science. Perhaps this could have some sort of accreditation process to weed out those organizations with questionable intern practices and questionable intern education. 4) Grant funded academic research programs that depend on free labor to run large programs should indeed re-examine if/how intern funding is written into grant proposals. It is common practice for grant budgets to have graduate student funds built into them, so if those projects will require intern labor, perhaps that should be a consideration. There has to be recognition however that such practices could impact competitiveness of many grant applications by inflating the budgets in a funding environment that is already anemic. Perhaps it can be built into the institutional overhead costs? My kindest regards to every single one of you across the world, and my best wishes that we all overcome whatever challenges we currently face. Stay safe. Alexander M. Costidis, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Stranding Response & Biomedical Research Phone: +1 (757) 385-6482 Cell: +1 (727) 543-6263 ACostidi at VirginiaAquarium.com Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385- 7575 Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451, USA [cid:342dcebf-83c5-426d-83ca-cf08d096bb60] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rwallace at ursinus.edu Sat Jul 25 10:17:26 2020 From: rwallace at ursinus.edu (Wallace, Richard) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2020 17:17:26 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science In-Reply-To: References: <8AC9AA86-3951-4A9C-BBC0-8AA89A85ECC5@ucsd.edu> Message-ID: Hello again Marmam folks, I?ve been thinking a lot about Eric Archer?s email, below, and how it so compassionately opened up the conversation we were having about unpaid internships. Having said my piece about internships, I wanted to follow up only briefly by saying that I too hope we can continue to openly consider the broader issues Eric raises, and which are the objective of making internships accessible to all?i.e., increasing access to and diversity in the fields of ocean sciences. In the interests of fostering further discussion, or at least contemplation, I offer these two suggested readings: Rachel Bernard and Emily Cooperdock?s 2018 essay in Nature Geoscience, ?No progress on diversity in 40 years,? in which they review four decades of demographic data in geosciences, including marine science. For all of us who are data-driven, this is a powerful piece. Marine biologist Stephanie MacDonald?s excellent essay published two weeks ago, ?Diversity in Ocean Science: The Experience of Black Women.? This essay appears on the blog of the excellent website Women in Ocean Science which, if you don?t know it, you should. Most respectfully, Rich W -- Richard L. Wallace, Ph.D. Pronouns: He/Him/His Professor of Environmental Studies and Marine Science Chair, Environmental Studies Department Director, Food Studies Program Co-Director, Whittaker Environmental Research Station Ursinus College Collegeville, PA https://www.ursinus.edu/live/profiles/103-richard-wallace and Educator-in-Residence Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative Jackson, WY http://nrccooperative.org P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. [A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated] From: MARMAM on behalf of Eric Archer - NOAA Federal Date: Monday, July 20, 2020 at 7:15 AM To: "marmam at lists.uvic.ca" Subject: Re: [MARMAM] Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Scripps Institution of Oceanography (where Paul Dayton has been based and done his groundbreaking work in the field) was established in 1903. It became part of the University of California, San Diego in 1912. I, an African American, entered the Marine Biology program in 1990 and defended my Ph.D. in 1996. Since that time, I have stayed in the San Diego area, working at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center which is located on the SIO campus. About five years ago, I became an adjunct professor at SIO. About a decade ago, I became curious about the history of diversity at SIO and started asking around. As best as I can tell, I was the first African American Marine Biology PhD at SIO. Since then, I've been trying to pay attention and have been aware of only two others since that time, with similar numbers in the sister Biological Oceanography program. Let's be generous and say that I've missed a couple. That's still only two handfuls at most. For the record, I'm also unaware of another Black faculty member in MB at SIO. Ever. Here is the current list of SIO faculty. How then do we reconcile the magnitude of minority interns and the good for diversity in the field in Paul's description with the striking lack of diversity at the top of the field? We need to pay attention to outcomes at every level. It is clear that the pipeline is broken in several places. This issue of unpaid internships is only one of them. I want to clearly state that I have the utmost respect for all of the points of view that have been expressed during this discussion as well as their authors. Paul Dayton and Phil Clapham have been role models to me and both have been influential in my career. I knew Eiren Jacobsen as a student at SIO and admired her skills. I think everybody in this debate is well-intentioned and truly wants to help improve the situation. In order to do that, we have to keep talking openly and respectfully listening to each other. Kind Regards, Eric Archer On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 5:01 AM Paul Dayton > wrote: Dear Lists people! I would like to join Phil Clapham with a counter argument to the recent posting about unpaid positions in marine mammal science, but also all conservation! I am not sure how to write to the Marmam list, but am pasting my letter and attaching it. Please let me know if this is acceptable. And I suspect most of you are unpaid volunteers as well, and I hope you know that your work is appreciated if unsung. Best regards and I wish you success avoiding this damned virus! I have been stuck in this ancient house for 4 months going on 12 months I fear. Paul Dayton Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Dear Friends, I saw Phil Clapham?s note and learned that Eiren Jacobson was still pushing this issue. I write to offer another objection to this position and to urge the co-signers to reevaluate their support. Phil offered the fact that much marine mammal work is done by relatively impoverished but highly idealistic organizations that would be severely impacted by the loss of volunteers. He also addressed the need to get people involved with marine mammals. Here I hope to broaden his message about the use of volunteers to actually increase diversity in the field, and I hope to persuade you to consider this in the broader context of helping lower income and non-white people move into the field, rather than being excluded as Eiren erroneously argues. I urge those of you who signed the letter to reconsider your signatures to what I feel strongly is a misguided appeal to your sense of fair treatment of other people. In my case I am sure that over my 40+ year career I was responsible for well over 100 volunteers and I strongly reject the argument that they were exploited or that impoverished or minority people were unfairly excluded. Very much to the contrary, in fact. I believe that I received well over 15 requests a year over my 40 years of professorship and there were always volunteers in our lab, usually very well mentored by graduate students but always with me in the background supervising the situation. And as Phil mentioned, we started early as many of them started working for us when they were in high school. They were never exploited, rather they were mentored and brought into marine ecology. Most of the interns in my lab were involved in general ecological research rather than marine mammals, but I was co-advisor or committee member to many marine mammal graduate students and most of them either came into the field via internships or used interns that came to me that I directed to the students. Many of these students have had successful careers in the marine mammal community, and they were damned good mentors. Some may see this letter and offer their own thoughts. Let me address the issue of diversity and class barriers. Eiren?s assertion that this plays to the wealth and excludes those who cannot afford to be a volunteer. Like Phil, I refer back to my own very impoverished undergraduate career working up to 35 hours a week to go to school. I had no ecological direction and actually found low-paying jobs to be able to volunteer with ecology students in Chuck Lowe?s lab at Arizona. The only reason I have had this great career is thanks to the mentoring I received as an unpaid volunteer. I subsequently took this experience to heart and accepted as many of the applicants as I could and made sure that they were well mentored. In many cases it was obvious from our interactions that they had no or very little family financial support, and as I got to know them I can attest that the vast majority were, like I had been, struggling to get through school and find a satisfying career. I can say that in the last several decades most of the students were themselves minorities: African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, and first generation Americans or foreign students. But where Eiren really misses the boat is that most of these interns were so stimulated and well mentored that they switched majors and went into ecology. Over my career I must have written hundreds of letters supporting these student?s graduate school or job applications, and dozens of them went on to advanced degrees and are now working in ecologically related fields. I suspect that almost all of these people now active in our general conservation field were not wealthy and many are minorities. Almost all of these have significant jobs in conservation efforts. And again, referring back to Phil?s letter, many of these interns were encouraged to interact with grade school kids and many are educating young people in their current jobs. I have no words to describe my pride in the success of these unpaid volunteers. Indeed, in the last 2 years, five of them have retired and have made an effort to track me down and thank me for taking them on in the 1970s! Imagine your own pride if you too could receive such messages in your old age. Had Eiren?s position been in place, none of this would have happened. I have always said that I judge my own career by the students I have influenced, and emphatically this includes the interns and volunteers who have passed through my lab. Contrary to the assertions in the letter, these interns do not exacerbate the hideous and increasing wealth gap in the world, nor are they racially divisive; almost all of them serve to improve the status quo in the long run. Certainly, I can point to my own interns as counter examples to the odd claim that they are amplifying these problems. And given that probably almost all interns get intensive mentoring, they surely do not stifle innovation in our field (especially if one looks at the many success stories such as Phil?s magnificent career). Indeed, they enhance innovation, creativity and respect for nature. Eiren and I strongly disagreed about this when she was a student at Scripps. In response I wrote several of the past interns now gainfully employed, and all of them reiterated what I am asserting here, that their experience as unpaid interns changed their lives and was responsible for their success. And again, her assertions of not offering insurance protection, are like other assertions we see these days, is probably simply wrong. I feel sure that all the interns in academia and the government are in fact covered by their insurances. All of ours are covered. I suspect that this is true of the majority of interns. I urge the readers and signers to learn the truth about the interns that are commonly involved in our various research activities. So, consider the reality of the world today and ask yourselves whether we need this sort of misguided controversy. What we need are gentle, warm inclusive people with empathy for other people and compassion for nature. We urgently need many more, not fewer, people helping society come to grasp with the need to nourish and care for nature. We need to attract all people into this struggle, and rather than attack those of us working toward this goal. I believe we need more support. I respectfully ask those of you signing on to this to reconsider. Sincerely Paul Dayton _______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM at lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -- Eric Archer, Ph.D. (he/him/his) Program Leader, Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/NOAA) 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA 858-546-7121 (work) 858-546-7003 (FAX) Adjunct Professor, Marine Biology Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego http://profiles.ucsd.edu/frederick.archer GitHub: github.com/ericarcher "The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes." - Randall Munroe "Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." - Benjamin Franklin "...but I'll take a GPS over either one." - John C. "Craig" George -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 11986 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From putu.liza at my.jcu.edu.au Thu Jul 30 21:56:56 2020 From: putu.liza at my.jcu.edu.au (Putu Mustika) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 04:56:56 +0000 Subject: [MARMAM] New paper: Incorporating in-situ prey distribution into foraging habitat modelling Message-ID: <2956DC2A-83C2-4F69-AAF2-82B2168C6397@my.jcu.edu.au> Dear all, With gratitude, my main author (Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra) and I announce the following paper as being published in ?Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems? as ?Early View?: ?Incorporating in-situ prey distribution into foraging habitat modelling for marine megafauna in the Solor waters of the Savu Sea, Indonesia? The published article is accessible via this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3379 Many thanks for your interest and support, and also for the support of the Aquatic Conservation editors and reviewers. Icha Dr Putu Liza Mustika https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-4635 Cetacean Sirenian Indonesia James Cook University Australia On behalf of Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9202-7857 Misool Foundation, Larantuka, Indonesia ABSTRACT ? Many marine animals aggregate seasonally at predictable locations to exploit their prey in oligotrophic environments, making them vulnerable to human disturbance. ? The foraging strategies and habitats of manta rays and Stenella spp. in the Solor waters were largely unknown, despite the importance of this information for their effective management, e.g. through the establishment of marine protected areas in this region. ? Over the last few decades, the use of foraging habitat models in describing the foraging strategy and delineating the predicted habitats has grown in popularity. However, most of these studies have relied on remotely sensed data such as sea surface chlorophyll?a to estimate prey distribution. Very few studies have used the distribution of in situ prey, which is that closer to the trophic level of modelled species, although such a strategy would improve model performance. ? The study compares foraging habitat model performance for manta rays and Stenella spp. in the waters of Solor using remotely sensed sea surface chlorophyll?a concentrations and in situ zooplankton biomass as proxies for prey quantities and distribution. A Maximum Entropy model that integrated species sightings with environmental predictors was used to quantify the importance of predictors in explaining habitat preference and distribution of manta rays and Stenella spp. and to compare model performance and predict foraging habitats. ? Results indicate that the use of prey proxy closer to the trophic level of examined species improve model performance, ecological explanations, and spatial predictions. ? The zooplankton biomass distribution performed much better in explaining the manta rays' habitats compared to that of Stenella spp., indicating that a trophic level gap might influence the zooplankton's ability to predict foraging habitats of Stenella spp. ? This study highlights the importance of integrating foraging habitat models into marine protected area design to ensure the effectiveness of species management. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: smime.p7s Type: application/pkcs7-signature Size: 1409 bytes Desc: not available URL: From marmameditors at gmail.com Fri Jul 31 11:52:14 2020 From: marmameditors at gmail.com (MARMAM Editors) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:52:14 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] A note from the MARMAM Editors to the community regarding SMM and unpaid internships Message-ID: Dear MARMAM Community, We, the MARMAM Editors, want to thank everyone for participating in the discussion on the role of unpaid internships and barriers to diversity in the field of marine mammalogy. This is a timely discussion and we want to thank those of you who posted for providing an open, honest, and courteous dialogue. To use Dr. Eric Archer?s words, ?I think everybody in this debate is well-intentioned and truly wants to help improve the situation. In order to do that, we have to keep talking openly and respectfully listening to each other.? There were a few postings that we did not release from the queue because they were signed ?Anonymous? or ?A student? from obviously newly made email accounts for the purpose of sending the post, or the posting repeated viewpoints that were already made. It is part of the MARMAM Editorial Policy that each posting we release from the queue be attributed to a person, group, or organization. But we also recognize that providing a viewpoint steeped in personal experiences within a discussion about removing barriers to equality and fostering equity, inclusion, and diversity can be challenging if you are early in your career. We acknowledge that repercussions are real. The two anonymous postings will be collated and sent from the MARMAM email account. We are not trying to stifle any voices, but a Listserv is not a good tool to have a free-flowing conversation, especially one as important and nuanced as breaking down barriers to inequalities in our field. No posts have been deleted, and all postings that were not released from the queue will be forwarded to both the President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) and the SMM Diversity and Inclusion Committee by Monday, August 3rd. We ask that all future postings on the topic of unpaid internships within the SMM be sent to Dr. Charles Littnan as the President of the SMM ( president at marinemammalscience.org*)* or the SMM Diversity and Inclusion Committee (diversity at marinemammalscience.org). If you are a member of the SMM, you can log into the SMM website and leave your thoughts on the subject: https://marinemammalscience.org/presidents-blog/update-regarding-petition-related-to-unpaid-internships . You can read Dr. Littnan?s update on the unpaid internship discussion in the MARMAM archive here: https://lists.uvic.ca/pipermail/marmam/2020-July/012031.html And a note of clarification: MARMAM is not affiliated with any organization. We are not associated with the SMM or any other marine mammal society or organization. We are a small group of marine mammal researchers, managers, and conservationists who volunteer our time to make sure your inboxes do not get overloaded with spam, and we strive to provide you with consistently formatted postings so you can easily find information that matters to you. The views expressed in any posting are the express views of that person, group, or organization. They are not necessarily the views of the Editors. All Editors are all based in the US and we are all members of the SMM, but MARMAM is not a communication tool solely for the SMM. As of today, MARMAM has over 15,000 subscribers worldwide. MARMAM is, and will continue to be, a tool for the communication of marine mammal research and conservation around the globe. We hope you are all well and safe. Sincerely, Your MARMAM Editors Erin LaBrecque Robin Baird Annie Gorgone Courtney Smith -- *The MARMAM listserv is for the communication of marine mammal research and conservation.* https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marmameditors at gmail.com Fri Jul 31 12:17:21 2020 From: marmameditors at gmail.com (MARMAM Editors) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 15:17:21 -0400 Subject: [MARMAM] From the MARMAM Editors: anonymous postings from the unpaid internship discussion Message-ID: Dear MARMAM Community, These are the two anonymous postings we previously mentioned. The entirety of each posting has been copied into this one posting. Neither posting has been edited in any way. The MARMAM Editors Erin LaBrecque Robin Baird Annie Gorgone Courtney Smith __________________________________________________________________________ Dear MARMAN community, I am an early career scientist from an underrepresented minority who is currently an unpaid intern. I have been disheartened by the status quo of unpaid experience in the field for several years. I am reaching out in response to Phil Clapham and Paul Dayton, both of whom dismiss critical discussions to reform a system from which they continue to benefit, and who are biased by their interactions with success stories: like Eric Archer suggests, we do not hear from those who had to choose putting food on the table over contributing to a field they love. Here, I offer a perspective from a contemporary unpaid worker. The expectation of unpaid work in marine mammal science actively discourages bright, passionate, and hardworking students, especially minorities, from reaching their potential and bringing valuable insights to our field. Of all the disciplines in biology, ecology and evolution remains a sub-field with especially poor racial diversity (e.g. O?Brien et al. 2020, Social Psychology of Education). Phil Clapham pins the crux of the issue on a lack of early exposure to science, yet marine mammals are undeniably charismatic and interesting to the public. Surely, if interest from middle school students was the main cause of underrepresentation in MARMAM, we should at least be doing as well as the field of molecular biology (with its core concepts that are much harder to comprehend) in terms of diversity. Middle schoolers dreaming of becoming marine biologists was so common in my generation that it became a clich?. We should absolutely strive for greater public engagement with science, but a lack of interest from young students is certainly not the greatest barrier to entry for minorities entering our field. I have worked unpaid alongside two types of people who are serious about marine mammal research: those who are supported by their families while they work without pay, and those who must find ways to support themselves. It is not uncommon for the former to spend over a year gaining a diversity of (often international) consecutive experiences, while the latter saves up money for years to afford to work for free for a few months, then repeats the cycle again (assuming that they have not moved on by this point). As someone who fits more into the latter group, I do not see how I can compete with the former, especially given that paid job postings demand years, not weeks or months of direct experience. Not to mention the sheer impossibility of working unpaid while being financially responsible for other family members! Unfortunately, members of racial minorities disproportionately find themselves in this position regardless of their grit or competence. I am glad Paul Dayton has mentored minority students during his tenure, but I suspect that he has interacted with exceptions, not the rule. The staff pages of research institutions do not show the diversity that he claims exists, and I am inclined to believe Eric Archer, an actual Black marine scientist, when he affirms the existence of these barriers. Phil Clapham rightly points out that many research programs struggle for funding, but when I think of ?small underfunded non-profits,? my mind does not go to prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian or Scripps. To put it bluntly, if even these organisations are barely scraping by and relying on unpaid workers to complete essential tasks, maybe we need to rethink our models for conducting research. Perhaps a diversity of solutions are needed, but it is absolutely an urgent discussion that we should be having openly, and I appreciate that Eiren Jacobson?s letter has brought the issue of unpaid work to the forefront. Even more modest initiatives, like capping the number of volunteer hours allowed per week or ensuring that full-time field work at least covers living expenses can make a big difference to would-be applicants. Some smaller organisations may well have no choice but to rely on ?internship fees,? but let us call it what it is: edutourism or ecotourism. We all chose to be marine scientists because we love and want to protect the ocean. Not one of us is a scientist because it is lucrative, but if we want new and interesting perspectives, entrants to the field must be able to make a living. The plight of marine mammals grows more urgent every day, and we desperately need a diversity of expertise if we are to tackle these global issues. That starts with finding ways to encourage historically excluded members of society to meaningfully participate in research and outreach, beyond a short volunteer stint. I want to remind those who think this is a minority opinion that people in my position are not likely to speak out for fear of alienating those we want to work with. I truly hope to one day work to improve the field from the inside, but for now I have no choice but to focus on a backup career plan because unfortunately, I cannot survive on great mentorship and passion alone. Anonymous _________________________________________________________________________ Good morning MARMAM Administrators, Thank you for what you do for all of us within this community. It is important work and I am grateful. I am not sure if Students are permitted to offer insight to the current conversation regarding unpaid internships but if so, I would like to offer this: Your words are being read, we the future of this field are watching and offer some advice. Be careful not to tokenize the experience of your unpaid interns that you might claim were within the minority scope. Just because you struggled personally and made it doesn?t mean that others should struggle as well. Beyond this, be mindful of your privilege when making comparisons. As Dr. Archer said, the voices of those who did not make it are not here to be heard. This is not a personal attack on your ability to care for interns but rather an opportunity for our field to step up. If there is a way to be more inclusive and care for your interns, why would should we not explore this option? Be careful not to qualify your words where you are unqualified to speak on the experience and disproportional disparities that students and volunteers within the Black, Indigenous or Person of Colour community must face. Be wary of tone-policing, the use of DARVO, and/or amplifying your own voice above those within the BIPOC community. Thank you for your consideration. A student -- *The MARMAM listserv is for the communication of marine mammal research and conservation.* https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jodifredi at aol.com Fri Jul 31 13:11:12 2020 From: jodifredi at aol.com (jodifredi at aol.com) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 20:11:12 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [MARMAM] New Publication on interspecies postmortem attentive behavior (iPAB) in humpback whales (Jodi Frediani) In-Reply-To: <777508916.9806999.1596150231077@mail.yahoo.com> References: <777508916.9806999.1596150231077.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <777508916.9806999.1596150231077@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1845660573.582079.1596226272131@mail.yahoo.com> My co-authors and I are pleased to announce publication of our short note in Aquatic Mammals. Jodi G. Frediani, Nancy A. Black, and Fred Sharpe,?Postmortem Attractions: Humpback Whales Investigate the Carcass of?a Killer Whale-Depredated Gray Whale?Calf. Aquatic Mammals 2020,?46(4), 402-410, DOI 10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.402 IntroductionScientists have observed postmortem attentiveness to a deceased member of one?s own species, or thanatology, in various animal taxa including cacophonous aggregations in crows (Swift & Marzluff, 2015), skull fondling by elephants (McComb et al., 2006), and leaf-dropping/adornment by chimps (Anderson, 2016). Biologists, cetacean field researchers, captive cetacean trainers, naturalists and whale watchers?have observed cetaceans caring for, attending to, being aroused by, or showing interest in dead or dying individuals (see Bearzi et al., 2018 for a review). Recently, a female Southern Resident killer whale carried and pushed her deceased calf for approximately 1,000 miles over at least 17 days (Center for Whale Research, 2018).?To date, nearly all records of postmortem attentive behavior (PAB) in cetaceans are from odontocetes and directed towards members of their own species (Hubbs, 1953; Norris & Prescott, 1961; Caldwell & Caldwell, 1996; Calloway, 2010).???Among the mysticetes, only one observation of PAB has been published (Pack et al., 1998). This involved two adult humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) males displaying?sexual interest in?a dead adult conspecific that had been observed in ongoing, strenuous competitive activities (rapid travel, chasing, head lunging) nearly two hours previously (Pack et al., 1998).?Such activities are common behaviors in competitive groups (Baker et al., 1984). The cause of death was not determined. Here we report on two adult humpback whales investigating and making gentle physical contact (touching with flippers, flukes, back, abdomen and top of head) with a dead gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf. This extends the list of unusual social behaviors exhibited by humpbacks, while also providing the first report of interspecies postmortem attentive behavior (iPAB) between wild species of cetaceans. ? The note is available here:??https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.402? ??PDF requests can be sent to:?jodifredi at aol.com Best Regards,Jodi? Jodi Frediani?831-426-1697jodifredi at aol.comJodi Frediani Photography Wild Monterey Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: