October 2006 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Job Posting Extended - Marine Mammal Spatial Analyst
by Chip Deutsch 16 Oct '06

16 Oct '06

The deadline for the following position with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, Florida has been extended to Nov 3. Previous applicants need not reapply to be considered. > For more detailed information and to apply through People First, > please visit our web site: > http://jobs.myflorida.com/viewjob.html?refnode=410233 > For personnel information and assistance, you can also contact > Kathy.Kulaas(a)MyFWC.com. Please do NOT reply to the sender. > Position Description: > > The Fish & Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) is seeking candidates > for the position of Associate Research Scientist. Job duties include: > integrates GIS methods and analytical techniques with spatial > databases resulting in applications and spatially explicit models of > marine mammals including North Atlantic right whales and Florida > manatees primarily to provide information to natural resource > managers. Works to develop models of marine mammal movements, risk > assessments, and effectiveness of proposed management strategies using > empirical data on spatial distribution, habitat variables, and vessel > traffic patterns. Serves as scientific lead for FWRI's right whale > research program and supervises GIS staff and field coordinator for > right whale project. Provides statistical inference from existing > spatial databases, and assists in the development of efficient > sampling designs for the collection of future data. Works closely with > scientific and technical staff to assist in the maintenance and > continued development and deployment of GIS databases and metadata > related to our marine mammal program. Responsible for the supervision > of assigned personnel in a coaching and mentoring manner to maintain a > team-oriented approach to section goals. Other duties include but are > not limited to: recruitment, training, planning and directing work, > reviewing performance with employee and ensuring compliance with FWRI > rules, policies and procedures. Maintains a professional working > environment that promotes teamwork within working units and with their > sections in the Institute. > Education: A master's degree and 4 yrs. of professional experience as > described above; or a doctorate with 2 years of experience. Candidates > with PhD will be given preference. > Desired Qualifications: > Knowledge of research techniques for wildlife and habitats. Ability to > collect and manage data; plan, organize, and coordinate work > assignments; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; a > demonstrated ability to supervise assigned personnel in a coaching and > mentoring manner and to establish and maintain effective working > relationships, and to work in excess of 40 hours per week if needed. > Skill in use of ArcGIS including programming (such as Python or other > scripting languages) and experience with ArcGIS Model builder, > statistical software, and database management. > Salary: $49,558 / yr > This position is a State of Florida Full Time Employee (FTE) position > which provides a full benefit package.

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new publications on bottlenose dolphins social behavior
by rconnor＠umassd.edu 13 Oct '06

13 Oct '06

Two new publications are now available to be downloaded from www.monkeymiadolphins.org Richard 2006. Connor, R.C., Smolker, R. and L. Bejder. Synchrony, social behaviour and alliance affiliation in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus. Animal Behaviour. 2006. Connor, R.C., Mann, J. and Watson-Capps, J.J. A sex-specific affiliative contact behavior in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops sp. Ethology. 112: 631-638.

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New publications week 40
by Jan Herrmann 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Dear all, here are some new publications of week 40 / 2006, which haven't been announced on MARMAM earlier AFAIK. By clicking the following link you are guided to a website, where the following references are linked to their according journal homepages. There you can find abstracts and contact information: http://www.mmbib.com/news.html Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Thank you. Thanks to all of you who sent in reprints to be included in the weekly announcements. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann CETACEA Berchok, C.L., D.L. Bradley, and T.B. Gabrielson (2006): St. Lawrence blue whale vocalizations revisited: Characterization of calls detected from 1998 to 2001. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 2340-2354. Darling, J.D., M.E. Jones, and C.P. Nicklin (2006): Humpback whale songs: Do they organize males during the breeding season? Behaviour 143(9): 1051-1101. DeLorenzo Costa, A. et al. (2006): Environmental factors affecting zooplankton in Cape Cod Bay: implications for right whale dynamics. Marine Ecology Progress Series 323(): 281-298. Gaspà Rebull, O. et al. (2006): Tracking fin whale calls offshore the Galicia Margin, North East Atlantic Ocean. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 2077-2085. Krysl, P. et al. (2006): Simulating the effect of high-intensity sound on cetaceans: Modeling approach and a case study for Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris). The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 2328-2339. Li, S. et al. (2006): Sonar gain control in echolocating finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) in an open water. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 1803-1806. Madsen, P.T. et al. (2006): Quantitative measures of air-gun pulses recorded on sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) using acoustic tags during controlled exposure experiments. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 2366-2379. Tiemann, C.O. et al. (2006): Three-dimensional localization of sperm whales using a single hydrophone. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 2355-2365. Urazghildiiev, I.R. and C.W. Clark (2006): Acoustic detection of North Atlantic right whale contact calls using the generalized likelihood ratio test. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 1956-1963. van der Meij, S. and K. Camphuysen (2006): The distribution and diversity of whales and dolphins (Cetacea) in the southern North Sea: 1970-2005. Lutra 49(1): 3-28. PINNIPEDIA Bowen, W.D. et al. (2006): Reproductive performance in grey seals: age-related improvement and senescence in a capital breeder. Journal of Animal Ecology 75(6): 1340-1351. Page, B. et al. (2006): Spatial separation of foraging habitats among New Zealand fur seals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 323(): 263-279. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Miksis-Olds, J.L. and J.H. Miller (2006): Transmission loss in manatee habitats. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120(4): 2320-2327. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

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Marine Mammals Ashore 2005
by Lounsbury, Valerie 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Marine Mammals Ashore: A Field Guide for Strandings Marine Mammals Ashore: A Field Guide for Strandings, 2nd edition (J.R. Geraci and V.J. Lounsbury) was published in 2005 by the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. Prices, including shipping and handling, are as follows: U.S. or Canada - $44 (airmail); other countries (surface, 4-8 weeks) - $47; other countries (airmail, 7-12 days) - $54. All chapters have been updated and expanded, with emphasis on topics that include enhancing network organization, public education and media relations; natural and human-related mortality in each major marine mammal group; recognizing, responding to, and investigating unusual mortality events; new or updated protocols for specimen and data collection, including basic guidelines for investigating possible noise-related strandings and collecting environmental data and samples; and zoonoses and other public health issues. The book also includes an updated overview of marine mammal stranding frequency and distribution in North America, with coverage extended to Canada and Mexico. There are almost 600 new references-and a few new carcass disposal stories! Added features include sections by guest contributors on tagging, monitoring and tracking, disentanglement, and protocols for response to human-related injuries. In the Spring 2006 Society of Marine Mammalogy Newsletter, Book Review Editor Dr. Ian Stirling concluded: "This outstanding book is essential for anyone involved with any of the stranding networks around the world and any labs or teaching institutions that have students, research projects, or teaching related to strandings. The 372-page second edition features water- and tear-resistant paper, a vinyl cover, and durable plastic coil binding. For more information or to order, please visit http://www.aqua.org/research_marinemammalsashore.html. You can also email vlounsbury(a)aqua.org for an order form or information on bulk orders. While supplies last, get a free copy of the Marine Mammals Ashore CD-ROM (1998) with every order. Support for the second edition ((c) 2005 by National Aquarium in Baltimore) was provided by NOAA/NMFS John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program and Office of Protected Resources; NOAA/NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research; Marine Mammal Commission; National Aquarium in Baltimore; Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration; and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Program in Comparative Medicine. __________________________ Valerie Lounsbury Science Resource Manager National Aquarium in Baltimore Biological Programs Pier 3, 501 East Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202-3194 410-986-2327 410-576-1080 (fax) vlounsbury(a)aqua.org \par\i This electronic mail transmission may contain confidential or privileged information. As such, if you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or disclosing it.\i0

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Cetacean Testes Measurements
by KelleyT＠DFO-MPO.GC.CA 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Hi, I am researching mating systems and testes size in cetaceans, and I am looking for data on testes weight, diameter, and body length at maturity for both males and females, separately. I would like to get as much data as possible, so if anyone could send me any data they have on any cetacean species, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Trish Trish Kelley Phone (204) 984-2425| facsimile / télécopieur (204) 984-2403 <mailto:KelleyT@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> KelleyT(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Central & Arctic Region | Région du Centre et de l'Arctique Fisheries and Oceans Canada | 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6 Pêches et Océans Canada | 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 Government of Canada | Gouvernment du Canada

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New Articles
by David S. Janiger 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Hi, All Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. File sizes have been included. Abstracts also available on request. I'll be at the ACS conference in Ventura next month, so the next posting will be a week later, probably 11/16. Hope to see some of you there. Please don't hit the reply button. Make all requests to: janiger(a)bcf.usc.edu Cheers! David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(a)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(a)nhm.org Janiger Journals ACEVEDO, JORGE A.; ANELIO AGUAYO-LOBO and LUIS A. PASTENE. REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA MARINA Y OCEANOGRAFIA 41(1):11-19. 2006. Filopatría de la ballena jorobada (Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781), al área de alimentación del estrecho de Magallanes. (Site fidelity of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781) to the Magellan Strait feeding ground) 0.323 MB AZNAR, F. J.; P. FOGNANI; J. A. BALBUENA; M. PIETROBELLI and J. A. RAGA. PARASITOLOGY 133(3):369-380. 2006. Distribution of Pholeter gastrophilus (Digenea) within the stomach of four odontocete species: The role of the diet and digestive physiology of hosts. 0.219 MB BIANUCCI, GIOVANNI and WALTER LANDINI. ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 148(1):103-131. 2006. Killer sperm whale: A new basal physeteroid (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Late Miocene of Italy. 1.373 MB BODSON, ANAIS; LARS MIERSCH; BJOERN MAUCK and GUIDO DEHNHARDT. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1550-1557. 2006. Underwater auditory localization by a swimming harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). 0.321 MB BROWN, JUDITH C. and PATRICK J. O. MILLER. ECHOES - NEWSLETTER OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 16(3):45-47. 2006. Classifying killer whale vocalization using time warping. 0.252 MB BUTLER, PATRICK J. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 145(1):1-6. 2006. Aerobic dive limit. What is it and is it always used appropriately? 0.287 MB CARSTENSEN, J.; O. D. HENRIKSEN and J. TEILMANN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 321:295-308. 2006. Impacts of offshore wind farm construction on harbour porpoises: Acoustic monitoring of echolocation activity using porpoise detectors (T-PODs). 0.571 MB CARVAJAL, JUAN; LUIS E. DURAN and MARIO GEORGE-NASCIMENTO. SYSTEMATIC PARASITOLOGY 5(4):169-173. 1983. Ogmogaster heptalineatus n.sp. (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) from the Chilean sea lion Otaria flavescens. 0.253 MB CHAMPAGNE, CODY D.; DORIAN S. HOUSER and DANIEL E. CROCKER. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY - REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 291(4):R1129-R1137. 2006. Glucose metabolism during lactation in a fasting animal, the northern elephant seal. 0.767 MB CORNICK, LESLIE; WILLIAM NEILL and WILLIAM E. GRANT. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 190(1):107-114. 2006. Assessing competition between Steller sea lions and the commercial groundfishery in Alaska: A bioenergetics modelling approach. 0.306 MB CREMER, MARTA JUSSARA; FERNANDO AUGUSTO SLIVA HARDT and ANTONIO JOSE TONELLO JUNIOR. BIOTEMAS 19(2):83-86. 2005. Evidence of epimeletic behavior involving a Pontoporia blainvillei calf (Cetacea, Pontoporiidae). 0.137 MB DALEBOUT, MEREL L.; DANIEL E. RUZZANTE; HAL WHITEHEAD and NILS I. OIEN. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 15(11):3115-3129. 2006. Nuclear and mitochondrial markers reveal distinctiveness of a small population of bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) in the western North Atlantic. 0.205 MB ENDO, TETSUYA; OSAMU KIMURA; YOHSUKE HISAMICHI; YASUHIKO MINOSHIMA; KOICHI HARAGUCHI; CHIHARU KAKUMOTO and MARI KOBAYASHI. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(1):145-150. 2006. Distribution of total mercury, methyl mercury and selenium in pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca) stranded in the northern area of Japan: Comparison of mature females with calves. 0.174 MB HAMMERSCHLAG, NEIL; R. AIDAN MARTIN and CHRIS FALLOWS. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES 76(2-4):341-350. 2006. Effects of environmental conditions on predator-prey interactions between white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) at Seal Island, South Africa. 0.336 MB HATCH, LEILA T.; ERIK B. DOPMAN and RICHARD G. HARRISON. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 41(1):12-27. 2006. Phylogenetic relationships among the baleen whales based on maternally and paternally inherited characters. 1.142 MB HORIKOSHI-BECKETT, CHIFUYU and BRUCE A. SCHULTE. ZOO BIOLOGY 25(4):285-301. 2006. Activity patterns and spatial use of facility by a group of captive female manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). 0.593 MB HOUSER, DORIAN S. and JAMES J. FINNERAN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1713-1722. 2006. A comparison of underwater hearing sensitivity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) determined by electrophysiological and behavioral methods. 0.151 MB HOWARD, RED S.; JAMES J. FINNERAN and SAM H. RIDGWAY. ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA 103(3):626-632. 2006. Bispectral index monitoring of unihemispheric effects in dolphins. 0.459 MB HUNG, C. L. H.; Y. XU; J. C. W. LAM; D. W. CONNELL; M. H. W. LAM; S. NICHOLSON; B. J. RICHARDSON and P. K. S. LAM. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(1):190-196. 2006. A preliminary risk assessment of organochlorines accumulated in fish to the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in the Northwestern waters of Hong Kong. 0.287 MB IWANAMI, KENTARO; HAJIME MITA; YASUHIKO YAMAMOTO; YOSHIHIRO FUJISE; TADASU YAMADA and TOMOHIKO SUZUKI. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 145(2):249-256. 2006. cDNA-derived amino acid sequences of myoglobins from nine species of whales and dolphins. 1.105 MB KEXIONG WANG; DING WANG; TOMONARI AKAMATSU; KAORU FUJITA and RIKA SHIRAKI. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1361-1365. 2006. Estimated detection distance of a baiji's (Chinese river dolphin, Lipotes vexillifer) whistles using a passive acoustic survey method. 0.142 MB KHAN, CHRISTIN B.; HAL MARKOWITZ and BRENDA MCCOWAN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1684-1694. 2006. Vocal development in captive harbor seal pups, Phoca vitulina richardii: Age, sex, and individual differences. 0.198 MB KWAN, DONNA; HELENE MARSH and STEVE DELEAN. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 33(2):164-171. 2006. Factors influencing the sustainability of customary dugong hunting by a remote indigenous community. 0.229 MB LAIDRE, KRISTIN L. and RONALD J. JAMESON. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 87(4):799-807. 2006. Foraging patterns and prey selection in an increasing and expanding sea otter population. 0.172 MB LANYON, J. M. and G. D. SANSON. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 270(2):277-289. 2006. Mechanical disruption of seagrass in the digestive tract of the dugong. 0.536 MB LIGHTSEY, JESSICA D; SENTIEL A. ROMMEL and ALEXANDER M. COSTIDIS. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 37(3):262-275. 2006. Methods used during gross necropsy to determine watercraft-related mortality in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). 2.336 MB LOCKWOOD, SERENA K.; JUDITH L. CHOVAN and JOSEPH K. GAYDOS. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 37(3):281-291. 2006. Aerobic bacterial isolations from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) stranded in Washington: 1992-2003. 0.065 MB LUIS DO VALLE, ANDERSON and FRANCIELLI CRISTINE CUNHA MELO. BIOTEMAS 19(1):75-80. 2005. Alteracoes comportamentais do golfinho Sotalia guianensis (Gervais, 1953) provocadas por embarcacoes. (Behavioral alterations in the gray dolphin Sotalia guianensis (Gervais, 1953) caused by sea traffic) 0.072 MB LUSSEAU, SUSAN MAERSK and STEPHEN R. WING. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 321:283-293. 2006. Importance of local production versus pelagic subsidies in the diet of an isolated population of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops. 0.222 MB MORISHITA, JOJI. MARINE POLICY 30(6):802-808. 2006. Multiple analysis of the whaling issue: Understanding the dispute by a matrix. 0.135 MB MURPHY, SINEAD and EMER ROGAN. ACTA ZOOLOGICA (STOCKHOLM) 87(4):315-329. 2006. External morphology of the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis: Growth, allometric relationships and sexual dimorphism. 0.362 MB MYERS, MATTHEW J.; LORRIE D. REA and SHANNON ATKINSON. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 145(1):90-98. 2006. The effects of age, season and geographic region on thyroid hormones in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.300 MB NORTON, SCOTT A. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY 55(4):723-724. 2006. Dolphin-to-human transmission of lobomycosis? 0.121 MB PANIGADA, SIMONE; GIOVANNA PESANTE; MARGHERITA ZANARDELLI; FREDERIC CAPOULADE; ALEXANDRE GANNIER and MASON T. WEINRICH. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 52(10):1287-1298. 2006. Mediterranean fin whales at risk from fatal ship strikes. 0.255 MB PARSONS, E. C. M.; NAOMI A. ROSE; CLAIRE BASS; CLARE PERRY and MARK P. SIMMONDS. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 52(9):1118-1120. 2006. It's not just poor science - Japan's "scientific" whaling may be a human health risk too. 0.090 MB PONGANIS, P. J.; T. K. STOCKARD; D. H. LEVENSON; L. BERG and E. A. BARANOV. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 145(1):123-130. 2006. Intravascular pressure profiles in elephant seals: Hypotheses on the caval sphincter, extradural vein and venous return to the heart. 0.538 MB QUINTANA-RIZZO, ESTER; DAVID A. MANN and RANDALL S. WELLS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1671-1683. 2006. Estimated communication range of social sounds used by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 0.321 MB RAJAMANI, LEELA; ANNABEL S. CAHANBAN and RIDZWAN ABDUL RAHMAN. AMBIO 35(5):266-268. 2006. Indigenous use and trade of dugong (Dugong dugon) in Sabah, Malaysia. 0.126 MB RAMU, KARRI; NATSUKO KAJIWARA; PAUL K. S. LAM; THOMAS A. JEFFERSON; KAIYA ZHOU and SHINSUKE TANABE. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(2):516-523. 2006. Temporal variation and biomagnification of organohalogen compounds in finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from the South China Sea. 0.362 MB REICH, KIMBERLY J. and GRAHAM A. J. WORTHY. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 322:303-309. 2006. An isotopic assessment of the feeding habits of free-ranging manatees. 0.198 MB (Will need Acrobat 6.0 or greater to view) RIDGWAY, SAM; DON CARDER; JAMES FINNERAN; MANDY KEOGH; TRICIA KAMOLNICK; MARK TODD and ALLEN GOLDBLATT. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 209(18):3621-3628. 2006. Dolphin continuous auditory vigilance for five days. 0.489 MB ROSS, HOWARD A. and SUMATHI MURUGAN. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 40(3):866-871. 2006. Using phylogenetic analyses and reference datasets to validate the species identities of cetacean sequences in GenBank. 0.176 MB SASAKI, TAKESHI; MASATO NIKAIDO; SHIRO WADA; TADASU K. YAMADA; YING CAO; MASAMI HASEGAWA and NORIHIRO OKADA. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 41(1):40-52. 2006. Balaenoptera omurai is a newly discovered baleen whale that represents an ancient evolutionary lineage. 0.990 MB SEGURA, IRIS; AXAYACATL ROCHA-OLIVARES; SERGIO FLORES-RAMIREZ and LORENZO ROJAS-BRACHO. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 133(3):336-346. 2006. Conservation implications of the genetic and ecological distinction of Tursiops truncatus ecotypes in the Gulf of California. 0.740 MB SHAPIRO, ARI D. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1695-1705. 2006. Preliminary evidence for signature vocalizations among free-ranging narwhals (Monodon monoceros). 0.570 MB SIMMONDS, MARK PETER. APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE 100(1-2):103-116. 2006. Into the brains of whales. 0.309 MB SONNE, CHRISTIAN; PALL S. LEIFSSON; RUNE DIETZ; ERIK W. BORN; ROBERT J. LETCHER; LARS HYLDSTRUP; FRANK F. RIGET; MAJA KIRKEGAARD and DEREK C. G. MUIR. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 40(18):5668-5674. 2006. Xenoendocrine pollutants may reduce size of sexual organs in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). 0.543 MB SPITZ, JEROME; YANN ROUSSEAU and VINCENT RIDOUX. ESTUARINE, COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE 70(1-2):259-270. 2006. Diet overlap between harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin: An argument in favour of interference competition for food? 0.323 MB STEVICK, P. T.; J. ALLEN; P. J. CLAPHAM; S. K. KATONA; F. LARSEN; D. K. MATTILA; P. J. PALSBOLL; R. SEARS; J. SIGURJONSSON; T. D. SMITH; G. VIKINGSSON; N. OIEN and P. S. HAMMOND. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 270(2):244-255. 2006. Population spatial structuring on the feeding grounds in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). 0.513 MB SUN, LIGUANG; XUEBIN YIN; XIAODONG LIU; RENBIN ZHU; ZHOUQING XIE and YUHONG WANG. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 368(1):236-247. 2006. A 2000-year record of mercury and ancient civilizations in seal hairs from King George Island, West Antarctica. 0.304 MB TEUTEN, EMMA L.; BYRON E. PEDLER; ALEXANDRA N. HANGSTERFER and CHRISTOPHER M. REDDY. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(1):336-344. 2006. Identification of highly brominated analogues of Q1 in marine mammals. 0.270 MB TSUTSUMI, CHIKA; KOTARO ICHIKAWA; NOBUAKI ARAI; TOMONARI AKAMATSU; TOMIO SHINKE; TAKESHI HARA and KANJANA ADULYANUKOSOL. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1356-1360. 2006. Feeding behavior of wild dugongs monitored by a passive acoustical method. 0.217 MB VAN DER MEIJ, SANCIA E. T. and KEES C. J. CAMPHUYSEN. LUTRA 49(1):3-28. 2006. The distribution and diversity of whales and dolphins (Cetacea) in the southern North Sea: 1970-2005. 1.921 MB WILLIAMS, ROB; DAVID LUSSEAU and PHILIP S. HAMMOND. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 133(3):301-311. 2006. Estimating relative energetic costs of human disturbance to killer whales (Orcinus orca). 0.284 MB WILSON, J. W.; M. -H. BURLE and M. N. BESTER. POLAR BIOLOGY 29(10):905-908. 2006. Vagrant Antarctic pinnipeds at Gough Island. 0.293 MB WOLKERS, HANS; BERT VAN BAVEL; INGRID ERICSON; ELI SKOGLUND; KIT M. KOVACS and CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 370(1):70-79. 2006. Congener-specific accumulation and patterns of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in adult male walruses from Svalbard, Norway: Indications for individual-specific prey selection. 0.293 MB ZHAO, LIYING Y.; MICHAEL A. CASTELLINI and DONALD M. SCHELL. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 79(5):965-976. 2006. Metabolic adjustments to varying protein intake in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina): Evidence from serum free amino acids. 0.166 MB

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Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-identification Internships - Spring 2007
by R.H. Defran 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

From: Dr. R.H. Defran: rh.defran(a)gmail.com The Marine Mammal and Protected Resources (MMPR) Program in Charleston, South Carolina is recruiting to fill one or two Dolphin Photo-identification Internship positions for the Spring of 2007. The MMPR is organized within NOAA's National Ocean Service and is located at the Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) laboratory in Charleston, SC. The intern position involves a commitment of 20 hours per week extending over a 15 week period from Monday, January 8, 2007 to Friday, April 20, 2007. The intern will participate in the field and laboratory activities of the Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution Project (CDAD). Three useful sources of information about the CDAD project are: 1) Zolman, E. 2002. Residence patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Stono River estuary, Charleston County, South Carolina. Marine Mammal Science 18:879-892; and 2) The Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution (CDAD) Project: Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) for Field and Photographic Analysis Procedures; and 3) Speakman, T., E. Zolman, J. Adams, R.H. Defran, D. Laska, L. Schwacke, J. Craigie, and P. Fair. 2006. Temporal and spatial aspects of bottlenose dolphin occurrence in coastal and estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 37. You can download pdf versions of these documents at the web sites listed below. The CDAD project carries out boat-based photo-identification surveys in the coastal and inland waterways of the Charleston SC area. This research is designed to provide an understanding of the population characteristics, including temporal and spatial aspects of the distribution of Charleston area Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The internship offers an excellent opportunity for qualified and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in photo-identification methodology and analysis under the mentorship of experienced dolphin researchers. There is no compensation for this internship position and the successful applicant will be responsible for their living and transportation expenses during the time of the internship. During the internship interns must have a personal vehicle to allow them to travel to and from the laboratory and to some of the local field sites in the Charleston area. Ideal internship applicants will be advanced undergraduates or a recent graduate of a scientifically oriented university program in the behavioral or biological sciences. A typical applicant should have a strong interest in the scientific study of cetacean behavioral ecology, have potential interests in future graduate study in marine mammal science, and is an individual who seeks extensive and intensive exposure to the field work, data analysis techniques, and research literature in this field. Preference will be given to the selection of an intern with well developed computer skills and boat-based field experience. The internship application will consist of a letter of interest, transcripts of university coursework and two letters of recommendation from professors or research supervisors who are familiar with your scholarship, research skills and work habits. Interested applicants should first correspond with Dr. Defran by email before preparing and submitting application materials. We anticipate filling this internship position by late November, 2006. Interested applicants should correspond by email to: Dr. R.H. Defran Email: rh.defran(a)gmail.com Defran Home Page: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/CBL/Director.html Zolman .pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Zolman2002.pdf CDAD SOP .pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/CDAD_Internsh… Speakman et. al. pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a…

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New paper on Charleston, SC dolphins
by R.H. Defran 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

On behalf of Todd Speakman The Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research at Charleston, SC is pleased to announce the publication of "Speakman, T., E. Zolman, J. Adams, R.H. Defran, D. Laska, L. Schwacke, J. Craigie, and P. Fair. 2006. Temporal and spatial aspects of bottlenose dolphin occurrence in coastal and estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 37." Hard copy reprints may be requested by email from Todd Speakman ( Todd.Speakman(a)noaa.gov) A PDF copy of this TM may be downloaded from: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a… Note that this PDF has an extensive appendix containing sighting information for each identified dolphin and takes about 4 or 5 minutes to download. or http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a…. This PDF is the same as that above but without the lengthy appendix, and downloads quickly. Todd Speakman Todd.Speakman(a)noaa.gov Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research NOAA/NOS/NCCOS 219 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, South Carolina 29412-9110

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M.E.E.R. field course, springtime 2007
by Fabian Ritter, MEER e.V. 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

------ Dear All! The non-profit association M.E.E.R. would like to announce it's next field course in behavioural biology in the Canary Islands: "Assisting in field research of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera" from 11-25 March 2007 The project M.E.E.R. La Gomera is conducting a study on the interactions between cetaceans and whale watching boats since many years. The participants of these 2-weeks practical courses will get an insight into the behavioural research conducted from whale watching boats operating off the island of La Gomera. In this area, 21 cetaceans species could be identified during the last years, representing one of the highest known species diversities in the world. A list of publications that resulted from this project is given below. The course includes a full training program: the theory and practice of behavioural research will be learned and profound background information on whale watching will be given. Research experience that will be gained includes sighting data recording, behavioural sampling, photo identification and others. The course is fully accepted for the study of Biology at the Humboldt-Universitaet Berlin (Germany) and the University of Vienna (Austria). Moreover, the research is embedded in conservation efforts aiming at the preservation and promotion of whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans and the establishment of a marine sanctuary in the waters off La Gomera. M.E.E.R. La Gomera was honoured in 2001 with the international environmental award "Tourismus und Umwelt", which is granted since 1987 by the German Association of Travel Agencies and Travel Operators (DRV). As was said during the bestowal, the project "realises new ways of co-operation of research and tourism in an exemplary and innovative way". For further information (including downloads of a detailed brochure and a booking form) please visit http://www.m-e-e-r.de/praktikum.0.html One course is offered during the 2006 autumn field season: 11-25 March 2007. The price is 875.- € including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., written working material, certificate of attendance and one year MEER e.V. membership (The journey to and from La Gomera is not included in the price.) Early bookings are accepted until 31 December 2006 at a price of 814.- € For further information, booking, etc., please send an e-mail to newsletter(a)m-e-e-r.de _____________________________________ The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans in their natural habitats. Our work aims at increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to present ways how humans can deal with nature in a responsible way. Our co-operation partners are the "Deutsche Umwelthilfe" (Radolfzell/Germany) "Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine" (Munich/Germany), " and the "Club de Mar" (whale watching operator/La Gomera). _____________________________________________ Publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera: Ritter, F. & Ladner, U.A. 1996. Whale Watch Research on La Gomera: A new Interdisciplinary Approach. European Research on Cetaceans 9. Proc. 9th Ann. Conf. ECS, Lisbon 1996, 48ff. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Their Interaction with Whale Watching-Boats and Swimmers. Diploma Thesis to the University of Bremen, Faculty of Biology. 114pp. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1998. First Report of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) Frequenting the Canary Island Waters. European Research on Cetaceans 12. Proc. 12th Ann. Conf. ECS, Monaco, 20-24th January 1998, 95-98. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1999. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Dense Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS, 25.2, 55-61. Ritter, F. 2001. Twenty-one Cetacean Species off La Gomera (Canary Islands): Possible Reasons for an extraordinary Species Diversity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the ECS, 5-7 May 2001, Rome, Italy. Ritter, F. 2002. Behavioural Observations of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) with a special Reference to their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS 28.1, 46-59. Smit, V., Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. 2003. Feasibility study: Land-based observations of cetaceans off La Gomera. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. 2003. Boat-Related behaviours as a tool for the development of species-specific whale watching guidelines. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. 2003. Interactions of Cetaceans with Whale Watching Boats - Implications for the Management of Whale Watching Tourism. M.E.E.R. e.V., Berlin, Germany, 91 pp. Mayr, I. & Ritter, F.: PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION OF ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHINS OFF LA GOMERA (CANARY ISLANDS) WITH NEW INSIGHTS INTO SOCIAL ORGANISATION. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the ECS, La Rochelle, France, April 2005. Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. (2006): The Year of the Whale - Extraorbinary occurrence of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) off La Gomera (Canary Islands). Poster presented at the 20th Annual Conference of the ECS in Gdynia, April 2006. -- _________________________ Fabian Ritter MEER e.V. Bundesallee 123 D-12161 Berlin TEL/FAX: (0)30-85 07 87 55 e-mail: info(a)m-e-e-r.de www.m-e-e-r.org _________________________ "The dolphins were having a great relaxed time and had no major answers they wished to know the question to." (after Douglas Adams)

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Abstracts: beaked whale diving behavior
by Robin W Baird 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Two new publications/reports are available on Cuvier's and Blainville's beaked whale diving behavior. The report also contains information on site fidelity of Kogia sima in Hawaii. Full citations and abstracts are below, and pdf files of both can be downloaded from www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/hawaii.htm Robin ------------------------- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr and J. Barlow. 2006. Diving behaviour of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales in Hawai'i. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:1120-1128. Abstract Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are thought to be among the longest and deepest diving mammals, and some species appear to be prone to mass-strand in response to high-intensity sonar. We studied diving behaviour of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier, 1823) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris (Blainville, 1817)) beaked whales in Hawaiian waters using suction-cup attached time-depth recorders. Six whales, two Cuvier's and four Blainville's, were tagged and 41 hours of dive data were collected. While Cuvier's beaked whales were found in significantly deeper water depths (median depth = 2,079 m) than Blainville's beaked whales (median depth = 922 m), several aspects of diving were similar between the species: 1) both regularly dove for 48-68 minutes to depths greater than 800 m (maximum 1,408 m for Blainville's, 1,450 m for Cuvier's); 2) ascent rates for long/deep dives were substantially slower than descent rates, while for shorter dives there were no consistent differences; and 3) both spent prolonged periods of time (66 - 155 minutes) in the upper 50 m of the water column. Based on time intervals between dives for the Cuvier's beaked whales, such long dives were likely aerobic, but both species appeared to prepare for long dives by spending extended periods of time near the surface. --------------------------- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2006. Studies of beaked whale diving behavior and odontocete stock structure in Hawai'i in March/April 2006. Report prepared under contract No. AB133F-06-CN-0053 to Cascadia Research from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, La Jolla, CA. SUMMARY Small-boat surveys were undertaken in March/April 2006 off the west side of the island of Hawai'i for the purposes of obtaining dive data from Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) and Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) beaked whales, as well as collecting biopsy samples and photo-identification of these and other species of odontocetes for studies of stock structure and residency patterns. There were 157 sightings of 13 species of odontocetes in 4,264 km of effort, with 120 genetic samples from seven species and over 29,000 photographs from 13 species obtained. Photographic matching to existing catalogs is currently underway for eight species. Site fidelity of dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) was evidenced by a high rate of both within- and between-year photographic re-sightings. Photographs of distinctive individual Cuvier's (3) and Blainville's (11) beaked whales were obtained from 8 encounters (2 with Cuvier's, 6 with Blainville's). One of the three Cuvier's and three of the 11 Blainville's had been previously documented in the area, with matches for two individuals (one of each species) spanning a 15-year period, demonstrating long-term site fidelity for both species. Time-depth recorder/radio tags were deployed on three Blainville's beaked whales, with 30.65 to 64.53 hours of data collected from each individual (sum = 135 hours). Overall dive patterns were similar to the smaller sample of dive data for this species presented by Baird et al. (2006), with dives >800 m occurring an average of once every 2.49 hour and averaging approximately 1,100 m in depth and 54 minutes in duration (maximum 1,520 m, 83.4 minutes). One Blainville's beaked whale was tagged in deep water (>3,000 m) and regularly dove to 1,100 - 1,500 m. Diel patterns were assessed using data from these individuals and from one tagged in 2004 by Baird et al. (2006). Deep (>800 m) dives occurred slightly more often at night (mean = 0.46 h-1, SD = 0.11) than during the day (mean = 0.35 h-1, SD = 0.08), though this difference was not significant, and deep dive depths and durations were similar between the day and night. Dives to mid-water (100-600 m) occurred more than five times as often during the day (mean = 1.74 h-1, SD = 0.44) than at night (mean = 0.32 h-1, SD = 0.23), and whales spent more time in the top 100 m at night than during the day. Dive data collected simultaneously from two individuals in the same group (one adult male, one adult female) indicated whales closely coordinated their dive depths in the top 600 m of the water column (average vertical distance between the pair of 10 m), while below 600 m the whales diverged and likely foraged independently (average vertical distance of 95 m). ======================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Phone 1-360-943-7325 Fax 1-360-943-7026 e-mail: rwbaird(a)cascadiaresearch.org www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/robin.htm

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