September 2005 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Programmatic EIS scoping meetings planned
by Shor, Alexander N. 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced its intention to prepare a Programmatic EIS/Overseas EIS to address potential impacts on the marine environment related to the use of seismic sources in support of NSF-funded research by U.S. academic scientists. The National Marine Fisheries Service will be invited to be a cooperating agency in the preparation of the Programmatic EIS/OEIS. To begin the process, NSF is holding a series of public scoping meetings. Public scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, and locations: 1. Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 1-5 P.M., Silver Spring Metro Center Building 4, Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD; 2. Thursday, October 6, 2005, 5-9 p.m., J. Erik Jonsson Center of the National Academy of Sciences, Carriage House, 314 Quissett Avenue, Woods Hole, MA; 3. Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Room C126, 1000 Discovery Drive, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; 4. Friday, October 14, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Egan Civic and Convention Center, Space 1, 13-14, 555 West Fifth Ave. Anchorage, AK; 5. Monday, October 17, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 100 Vaughn Hall, Discovery Way, La Jolla, CA; and 6. Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI. Written comments will be accepted at these meetings as well as during the scoping period, and can be sent to NSF by October 28, 2005. Information on addressing comments and details on NSF's proposal is available in the September 22, 2005 Federal Register. Alexander Shor Program Director Oceanographic Instrumentation and Technical Services Division of Ocean Sciences, NSF 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 725 Arlington, VA 22230 Phone: (703) 292-7711 (Direct Line) Phone: (703) 292-8583 (Program Assistant) Fax: (703) 292-9085; Email: ashor(a)nsf.gov

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call for tissue samples
by Delphinus CapeVerde 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

The Cetacean Research Group of the University of Thessaly is conducting research on the distribution and genetic differentiation of Mediterranean striped dolphin populations (Stenella coeruleoalba). Any possible assistance on the collection of tissue samples for DNA analysis will be greatly appreciated. The study will result in a PhD and relevant peer-reviewed publications available to the open scientific community. If you are interested in contributing a tissue sample (i.e. from a tissue library or stranded animal) please contact: Vasilis Podiadis info(a)delphinus.gr University of Thessaly School of Agricultural Sciences Dept. of Agriculture, Animal Production and Aquatic Environment __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com

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Right Whale Air Survey Contract Solicitation (fwd)
by MARMAM Editors 22 Sep '05

22 Sep '05

From: "Barb Zoodsma" <Barb.Zoodsma(a)noaa.gov> The Department of Commerce, NOAA, issued a solicitation on August 26, 2005, for a contract to conduct right whale aerial surveys along the United States' Southeast Coast (Georgia/Florida coastline). The primary objective of this work is to locate right whales on their winter calving grounds and to report those locations in near-real time to mariners operating commercial, military, and other vessels in these areas so they may take actions to reduce the likelihood of collisions with right whales. Surveys will be flown from December 1, 2005, until March 31, 2006. The deadline for submitting proposals is September 26, 2005. The requirement was advertised in the FedBizOpps on June 7, 2005. For additional information or to receive a copy of the solicitation, please contact Jackie Shewmaker at (816)426-7462 or Jacquelyn.A.Shewmaker(a)noaa.gov. My apologies for the late posting to this listserv. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions, and ensure your message has an appropriate subject heading (ie., not "Message for MARMAM") -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. -To subscribe to MARMAM, go to lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(a)uvic.ca -MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/marmam.htm

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Whaling for Food - New WCW Publication
by World Council of Whalers 22 Sep '05

22 Sep '05

New WCW Publication - available now. Whaling for Food, a publication of the World Council of Whalers, provides some answers to the question "Why do some people continue to eat whales (when most of us do not)?" As the book notes, "for some people, whales are no longer a necessary food source, yet for some others, whales continue to be their nutritionally-best source of healthy food and to expect them to give up this cherished food (when there are no objective reasons for doing so) makes no sense whatsoever." Essays in this book provide information on some foods enjoyed in countries where whale has been a customary food for many generations and continues to be cherished by members of those societies to this day. Whaling for Food also contains numerous recipes and photos that illustrate the importance of whales as an essential part of some peoples' distinctive food culture and ethnic identity. Edited by Kathy Happynook WCW Publications; 8.5 x 5.5 format, 30 colour photos, numerous black and white photos, illustrations, glossary, 101 pages, $10.00 (CDN) ISBN 0-9733760-1-5 To order a copy click on the New WCW Publication link on the home page of the World Council of Whalers website http://www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com For more information contact the WCW Secretariat: World Council of Whalers PO Box 361 Qualicum Beach, BC V9K1S9 Phone/Fax 250 228-1048 wcw(a)island.net www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com

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SMM Biennial Workshop on Solitary Sociables
by Courtney Stark 21 Sep '05

21 Sep '05

WORKSHOP ON THE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF SOLITARY, SOCIABLE ODONTOCETES December 10, 2005 Conveners: Dr. Toni Frohoff, Courtney S. Vail, and Dr. Mike Bossley Presenters: Scientists, managers, and government personnel from approximately a dozen countries who have worked with solitary, sociable cetaceans Pre-registration deadline: November 21, 2005 The Workshop on the Research and Management of Solitary, Sociable Odontocetes will be held on Saturday, December 10th, as part of the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in San Diego, California (see http://www.marinemammalogy.org for conference details). It will be convened from 09:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Manchester Grand Hyatt (the Conference site). Although the pre-registration deadline is November 21, 2005, on-site registration will commence at 08:00AM, prior to the workshop if space is available. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Participants will not be provided lunch, but a variety of foraging options will be available within the hotel during the lunch break. Please join us for what may be the first workshop specifically designed to discuss and identify critical research and management needs as well as provide a forum for increasing our knowledge of the unique opportunities and challenges that solitary, sociable odontocetes present and how we can best respond to them. This workshop will provide an invaluable opportunity for researchers and managers from around the world to present new case studies and information, share video footage, evaluate various methods, and discuss current problems and possible solutions. We will address the growing phenomenon of solitary, sociable odontocetes, their interactions with humans, and the often-conflicting management challenges that arise in providing for the needs of the animals and an increasing number of people eager to interact with them. Observations of solitary odontocetes who regularly engage in sociable interactions with boaters and swimmers appear to be increasing in many areas around the world. In the past, these animals have typically been small delphinids and, most commonly, bottlenose dolphins. However, there has been a notable growth in the occurrence of other solitary sociable odontocetes; specifically, orcas and beluga whales. Although these animals provide unique opportunities for research, their interactions with humans typically warrant immediate, intensive and innovative methods of management to minimize hazards to humans and the animals. The goal of this workshop is to provide a cohesive update and understanding to augment the relatively few studies of these animals that have been published and the even smaller amount of information that is available about their management. On the day of the workshop, registered attendees will receive a preliminary report that will include the agenda for the workshop, a literature review of published literature on the research and management of solitary sociable cetaceans, summaries of workshop presentations and other relevant information. A limited number of copies of this report will be available following the workshop to those who were not able to attend. Following the workshop, proceedings from the workshop will include a summary of meeting results and recommendations that will also be compiled and posted for distribution. Please do not request reports at this time as we will post information on how they can be ordered and/or viewed via website after the workshop (www.wdcs.org) Workshop Registration forms and additional details can be found at www.wdcs.org/solitaries If you have specific questions or comments about the workshop, feel free to contact Courtney Vail (courtney(a)wdcs.org) We thank the Society for Marine Mammalogy for assistance with this workshop and for the opportunity to convene it. See you at the conference and at the workshop! ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________

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Abstract: Distribution and habitat characteristics of the genus Stenella in the southwest Atlantic Ocean
by Ignacio Moreno 20 Sep '05

20 Sep '05

A new paper on Stenella distribution has been published. Reprints available upon request to: Ignacio Moreno - iggy.moreno(a)gmail.com Moreno IB, Zerbini AN, Danilewicz D, de Oliveira Santos MC, Simões-Lopes PC, Lailson-Brito J Jr., Azevedo AF (2005) Distribution and habitat characteristics of dolphins of the genus Stenella (Cetacea: Delphinidae) in the southwest Atlantic Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 300:229-240 ABSTRACT: The distribution of dolphins of the genus Stenella is poorly known in the southwest Atlantic Ocean. A complete review of records (n = 311) of these dolphin species was performed to describe distribution and habitat. Atlantic spotted dolphins S. frontalis occur in both southern (21 to 33° S) and northern Brazil (north of 06° S), with a hiatus in its distribution off eastern South America. This species presents the highest preference for nearshore habitats, restricted to waters within the 1000 m isobath. Pantropical spotted dolphins S. attenuata are found in tropical waters as far south as 22° S and are mainly observed off northeastern South America. They occur beyond the continental shelf break in depths >850 m. Clymene dolphins S. clymene are distributed in deep waters (1390 to 4500 m) as far south as 30° S. Strandings are more common where the continental shelf is narrower. Spinner dolphins S. longirostris are found in oceanic waters as far south as 30° S. They inhabit tropical waters over the shelf and slope (depths ranging from 170 to 2700 m). The striped dolphin S. coeruleoalba is the least known species of the genus in the western South Atlantic. Most records are from temperate waters in southern Brazil and Argentina. The distributions of S. attenuata, S. clymene and S. longirostris overlap to a great extent and are predominantly oceanic and associated with warm ocean currents. S. frontalis seems to prefer a different, coastal habitat, influenced both by warm currents and upwelling areas. The discontinuous distribution of this species suggests that an isolated population inhabits the southern coast of Brazil. KEY WORDS: Stenella · Atlantic Ocean · Brazil · Uruguay · Argentina · Distribution · Habitat characteristics -- Ignacio Moreno iggy.moreno(a)gmail.com Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio Grande do Sul - GEMARS Rua Felipe Neri, 382/203 90440-150 - Porto Alegre/RS - Brasil e-mail: gemars(a)terra.com.br http://www.ufrgs.br/ceclimar/gemars

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FW: Marine Conservation Organization Announces Grants in Historical Marine Ecology
by Jen Palmer 20 Sep '05

20 Sep '05

For Immediate Release Contact: Dr. Lance Morgan (707) 938-3214 (office) Dr. Elliott Norse (425) 968-0449 (office) Marine Conservation Organization Announces Grants in Historical Marine Ecology September 20, 2005 (Bellevue, WA and Glen Ellen, CA) Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) announced today the 2005 Mia J. Tegner Memorial Research Grant in Marine Environmental History and Historical Marine Ecology award winners. This grant program is one of the first in the world to specifically help scientists document the interaction of human activities upon ocean life and marine ecosystems. Information from these studies are crucial for helping lawmakers, regulators, managers and conservationists set appropriate targets for marine conservation efforts. This year, MCBI awarded 5 grants from a pool of 76 proposals, which represented scientists or science teams from 31 nations. The Tegner Award program seeks to document the state of marine biological diversity prior to human industrial activities. In many cases, researchers and conservationists do not know the base-line environment they are studying, but indigenous or traditional ecological knowledge can help fill this gap. Conservation biologists are increasingly aware of an ecological syndrome termed "Shifting Baselines", whereby today's researchers cannot fully interpret current ecological health against a backdrop of long-term gradual environmental degradation and change which may span decades to centuries. The 2005 Tegner Award winners will be looking to establish historical pictures of populations and communities from such novel techniques as historical photo archives to traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous peoples to historical analysis including analyses of log books, maps and other historical documents. In some cases researchers will be working with aboriginal communities to access indigenous knowledge of ecology. Many of this year's 2005 Tegner research projects focus on traditional ecological knowledge, as it is becoming increasingly apparent that management strategies for indigenous societies based solely on ecological or biological data are seriously inadequate. The 2005 award winners are: 1) Jo Marie Acebes (Philippines) "Historical whaling in the Philippines: origins of 'indigenous subsistence whaling', mapping whaling grounds and comparison with current known distribution." The history of whaling in the Philippines is largely undocumented. Acebes' study will determine the origins and development of 'indigenous subsistence whaling' and will map the historical whaling grounds of local people's and foreign whalers. The data obtained in this study will be compared to current whale distributions in the Philippines and will be used to assess conservation and management. 2) Darrin Drumm (New Zealand) University of Otago, "Tracking a millennium of reef exploitation and ecological impacts of human interactions with the reefs of the southern Cook Islands: a study of archaeological, anthropological and contemporary evidence." Drumm's study will develop a historical account of human exploitation practices of the coral reefs of the Cook Islands over a 700-1,000 year period. This research will help focus conservation efforts by providing a baseline of the historical, pre-impact conditions as well as an understanding of the magnitude of human-related impacts on the coral reefs and their resources. By providing an understanding of the full social and historical dimensions of indigenous interactions with the marine environment, this study will also use indigenous ecological knowledge to help inform management decisions. 3) Heather Lazrus (USA) University of Washington, "Global climate change in the South Pacific: traditional environmental knowledge and community responses on Polynesian Atolls." Lazrus' ethnographic research will focus on understanding ways that traditional ecological knowledge can increase community social and ecological resilience to global climate change on Funafuti and Nanumea Atolls, located in the nation of Tuvalu. Tuvalu has been inhabited for over 2000 years, thus, accumulated local knowledge of ecological changes may provide robust systems for dealing with ecological disasters during this time. In addition to providing environmental baselines of this region, this study will also assess modes of social adaptation to these changes over time. The information obtained in this project will assist the government of Tuvalu with conservation strategies towards the anticipated impacts of global climate change in the future. 4) Joelle Prange (Australia) Marine Studies Program, University of the South Pacific. "Integrating scientific and local indigenous knowledge of coral reef communities of the Great Astrolabe Reef, Fiji." The South Pacific is an area of distinct biological diversity; however conservation of these regions greatly depends upon the combination of culture and science. Prange's research will be one of the first studies to document and integrate indigenous and scientific knowledge of coral reef communities within the Astrolabe Reef, Fiji. The goal 'is to compare community understanding of coral reef communities with scientific descriptions, and to utilize this information, if appropriate, in development of resource/inventory maps. 5) John Reed (USA) Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution: "Effects of bottom trawling on a deep-water coral reef". Using photographic archives Mr. Reed will look to analyze the historic extend and composition of deep-water Oculina reefs off the coast of Florida prior to widespread bottom trawl activity. The unique Oculina coral reef ecosystem is biologically diverse and productive, thus vulnerable to mechanical anthropogenic impacts. These fisheries, which target shrimp, have resulted in the estimated loss of 90% or more of Oculina deep-water reefs. Reed's study will seek to establish baseline conditions of these reefs. Dr. Mia J. Tegner, a marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, lost her life in January 2001 while carrying out research off southern California. She studied the ecology of kelp forest communities and abalone populations, and was particularly interested in understanding how marine populations and ecosystems have changed as a result of human activities. This pioneering research earned her appointments as a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. These memorial research grants were started to honor her memory by Marine Conservation Biology Institute with funding from the Christensen Fund. Marine Conservation Biology Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science of marine conservation biology and promoting cooperation essential to protecting and recovering the Earth's biological integrity. Founded in 1996, it is headquartered in Bellevue, WA, and has offices in Glen Ellen, CA and Washington, DC. Go to www.mcbi.org <http://www.mcbi.org/> for more information on this and other MCBI projects, publications and staff. *** NEW ADDRESS & PHONE *** Lance Morgan, Ph.D. Chief Scientist Marine Conservation Biology Institute 14301 Arnold Dr. Suite 25 Glen Ellen, CA 95442 USA V. 707.938.3214 F. 707.996.4842 lance(a)mcbi.org

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tagged bottlenose dolphin in Gulf of Mexico (fwd)
by MARMAM Editors 20 Sep '05

20 Sep '05

From: ScarGeo(a)aol.com On a pelagic birding trip offshore from South Padre Island Texas in the Gulf of Mexico Sept. 17th, a bottlenose dolphin was seen with a black tag on its dorsal and blue tattooing on its side. The tattooing was not legible under the water. It was feeding with Spotted and other Bottlenose around a shrimp boat. Does anyone have any information on this dolphin? SPI Dolphin Research Center Scarlet Colley, Director spinaturecenter.com South Padre Island, Texas 956-299-0629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions, and ensure your message has an appropriate subject heading (ie., not "Message for MARMAM") -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. -To subscribe to MARMAM, go to lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(a)uvic.ca -MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/marmam.htm

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MARMAM archives etc
by MARMAM Editors 20 Sep '05

20 Sep '05

A number of subscribers have pointed out that the MARMAM archives normally available at the ESCRIBE site are no longer functioning. For those trying to access older messages sent to MARMAM, these messages can be obtained in a monthly archive by sending a message to: listserv(a)uvvm.uvic.ca saying get marmam logYYMM (where YY = year, MM = month) Please remember that the Listserv treats ALL text as a command, so no additional text (e.g., signature) should be included in the message. Also, since MARMAM has been switched over to the Mailman system, messages are available in a searchable format through the following site: http://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam Note the above web link is also the site that people should use to subscribe or unsubscribe from the list. The old method of writing to listserv(a)uvvm.uvic.ca will not work for subscriptions. Thanks very much, MARMAM Editors ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions, and ensure your message has an appropriate subject heading (ie., not "Message for MARMAM") -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. -To subscribe to MARMAM, go to lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(a)uvic.ca -MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/marmam.htm

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The Mammals of North America, 2nd Edition by E. Raymond Hall will soon be available from The Blackburn Press
by Blackburn Press 19 Sep '05

19 Sep '05

The classic book, The Mammals of North America, 2nd Edition, by E. Raymond Hall, 2 volumes, ISBN 1-930665-29-6, will soon be available from The Blackburn Press. Order by September 30 and receive 10% off the list price of $137.95. Credit cards will not be charged until we ship the book. Books will be available mid to late October 2005. Enter your order now on our website http://www.blackburnpress.com/biologybooks.html or via fax at 973-228-7276. Reprinted here from the 1981 edition, The Mammals of North America is the only work to provide all-inclusive information for the entire continent and continues to be an indispensable reference source for zoologists, botanists, entomologists, epidemiologists, parasitologists - all whose interests touch on the native mammals. E. Raymond Hall was one of the outstanding mammalogists of the century. The Mammals of North America is considered to be among the most important faunal works ever published. Hall was President of the American Society of Mammalogists in 1940-41. He was Director of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas in Lawrence from 1944 until his retirement in 1967. The Blackburn Press was founded with the mission of keeping in print and available for purchase book titles that larger publishers have lost interest in and have declared "out-of-print." We specialize in scientific, medical, and technical books and textbooks. The Blackburn Press is interested in hearing of other titles we might consider returning to print. Your suggestions are welcome. Thank you. Mary S. Donovan The Blackburn Press Publishers of classic scientific and technical books Post Office Box 287 Caldwell, NJ 07006 Tel: 973-228-7077 Fax: 973-228-7276 E-mail: mdonovan(a)blackburnpress.com Explore the latest additions to our list at www.Blackburnpress.com All of our books are available at www.Amazon.com

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