June 2006 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Temporary Job posting with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
by Dyanna Lambourn 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

There is currently one temporary Scientific Technician 2 opportunity with Wildlife Program, Science Division in Pierce County. Position: Scientific Technician 2 Duration: 3-3.5 month temporary Start Date: 07/17/06 Salary: Range 36, Step A, $2268 monthly Position description: This is a temporary position funded by a Prescott Marine Mammal Stranding Grant administered by NOAA Fisheries and awarded to WDFW, Marine Mammal Investigations Unit. The incumbent will assist with the investigation of marine mammal strandings and mortality in Washington waters. Responsibilities: Assist with live and dead stranded marine mammal response throughout western Washington but primarily within South Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Assist with necropsies and sample collection from dead marine mammals. Will walk and drive beaches to identify and collect stranded marine mammals. Assist with land and boat based census and observations at local haulout sites. May assist with capture and tagging operations. Complete data entry including Level A stranding data forms. Required skills: marine mammal identification, basic knowledge of marine mammal anatomy, ability to work unsupervised, excellent attention to detail abilities and good communication skills. Must have experience with Microsoft Office products specifically: Excel, Access and Word. Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science and two years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1. OR Graduation from high school or GED including one year of high school science and two years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist. College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes. If you are interested in this temporary opportunity, or would like additional information, please contact Monique Lance lancemml(a)dfw.wa.gov by June 20, 2006. Please send a cover letter and resume including the names, phone numbers and e-mails of three professional references electronically. Phone inquiries 253.589.7235. Please pass this opportunity on to anyone who may be interested but does not have e-mail.

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Job posting in Victoria, BC
by Anna Hall 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Job Posting in Victoria, British Columbia A marine naturalist is required to work aboard a whale watching vessel which operates out of Victoria, British Columbia. Employment is expected to commence in June 2006, and is seasonal. Applicants should have demonstrateable experience in natural history interpretation, working with the public, and good knowledge of the biological and ecolgocial issues related to southern British Columbia. An undergraduate degree in biological sciences (or related discipline) is not required, but is desireable. Knowledge of Britich Columbia cetaceans and pinnipeds is required. Extra consideration will be given to applicants with First Aid and/or completion of Transport Canada Marine Emergency Duties courses. Must be willing to accomodate a flexible schedule, work in the outdoors and work well as part of a team. Hourly wage to be discussed at time of interview. Please direct resumes to: Alan McGillivray, owner of Prince of Whales alanmcgillivray(a)shaw.ca. Only those applicants considered candidates for the position will be contacted.

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Underwater turbines and impacts on marine mammals
by ngibbs＠doc.govt.nz 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

Hi We are assessing an application by an energy company that is proposing to install underwater marine tidal turbines over an area of 219 sq kms in the Cook Strait (passage of water between the north and south islands). The region that the turbines are proposed to be located is within an area that humpbacks utilise while on their northern migration to winter breeding grounds, and that southern right whales are likely to use in winter during their breeding season. We are seeking information about the potential and actual effects that these turbines may have on whales, as well as other marine fauna. Could you please contact me if you have any information that may be useful for our assessment. Kind regards Nadine Gibbs Technical Support Officer - Freshwater & Marine Department of Conservation Wellington Conservancy 181 Thorndon Quay PO Box 5086 Wellington, New Zealand ph: ++64 4 472 5821 fax: ++64 4 499 0077 vpn: 8430 ############################################## This e-mail (and attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. ##############################################

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Research Internship
by Maddalena Bearzi 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

Research Internship Project: Long-Term Monitoring of Bottlenose Dolphins, Pinnipeds and Seabirds in the Santa Monica Bay, CA and Adjacent Areas; and Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphin Population Flow along the California Coast Ocean Conservation Society is offering an excellent opportunity to gain experience with marine mammal research, both in the field and in the lab. We are seeking interns for a long-term monitoring project on top marine predators in California coastal waters. The study is conducted from a 52¹ sailboat & 10¹ inflatable based in Marina del Rey, CA, with regular monthly research cruises of 4-5 days in length and several long-range surveys per year of up to 10 days in length. The field study involves approximately 90+ days per year at sea and an equal amount of lab time. Interns will work closely with the Principal Investigator and a small crew of researchers. Because of the training required, interns must be willing to commit to the project for at least three months. Duties include boat-based, field data collection including photo-id, video, behavioral data collection and aspects of lab data analysis, photo-id/fin matching and GIS plotting. At sea, interns will be required to stand watches, assist in boat handling and piloting, and participate in all regular duties aboard the research boat. Interns will share in the upkeep and maintenance of the boat and the research equipment. Applicants should have a strong background in Marine Biology - Oceanography with knowledge and experience of marine mammals and/or seabirds, and be computer literate with a working knowledge of PC/Mac operating systems and proficiency with MS Word and MS Excel. Familiarity with software including MS Access, ArcView, PhotoShop, Logger and bioacoustic analysis programs is helpful. Photo-id and behavior studies utilize professional digital still and video cameras and experience with this type of equipment is a plus. Familiarity with boat handling and safety at sea for power and sail vessels will be also helpful. Interns should be fast learners with good communication skills, be adaptable and flexible as hours will vary and weekend days may be required, and be self-motivated. OCS does not provide salary or housing and interns will be responsible for their own living expenses. Food at sea and research expenses are covered by OCS. The application should contain: a) Cover letter explaining your qualifications and interest b) Current Curriculum Vitae c) Two references with contact information (email, telephone & address) Applications should be sent to: Email: info(a)oceanconservation.org Address: OCS Internship P.O. Box 12860 Marina del Rey, CA 90295

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New publications week 21
by Jan Herrmann 07 Jun '06

07 Jun '06

Dear all, here are some new publications of week 21 / 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. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann CETACEA Fujihira, T. et al. (2006): Developmental capacity of Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) vitrified oocytes following in vitro maturation, and parthenogenetic activation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Zygote 14(2): 89-95. Yang, G. et al. (2006): Conservation Options for the Baiji: Time for Realism? Conservation Biology 20(3): 620-622. Kleiman, D.G. (2006): Conservation Focus: Baiji, Freshwater Dolphin. Conservation Biology 20(3): 620. Wang, D. et al. (2006): Conservation of the Baiji: No Simple Solution. Conservation Biology 20(3): 623-625. Reeves, R.R. and N.J. Gales (2006): Realities of Baiji Conservation. Conservation Biology 20(3): 626-628. López, B.D. (2006): Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia, Italy. ICES Journal of Marine Science 63(5): 946-951. PINNIPEDIA Stapleton, H.M. et al. (2005): Determination of HBCD, PBDEs and MeO-BDEs in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) stranded between 1993 and 2003. Marine Pollution Bulletin 52(5): 522-531. Basu, N., M. Kwan, and C.H. Man (2006): Mercury but not Organochlorines Inhibits Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptor Binding in the Cerebrum of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida). Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A: Current issues 69(12): 1133-1143. Hennen, D. (2006): Associations between the Alaska Steller sea lion decline and commercial fisheries. Ecological Applications 16(2): 704-717. Lewis, M. et al. (2006): Southern elephant seals north of the Antarctic Polar Front. Antarctic Science 18(2): 213-221. Pang, D.S.J. et al. (2006): The effects of two dosages of midazolam on short-duration anesthesia in the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37(1): 27-32. Petrauskas, L., P. Tuomi, and S. Atkinson (2006): Noninvasive monitoring of stress hormone levels in a female Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pup undergoing rehabilitation. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37(1): 75-78. Jounela, P. et al. (2006): Interactions between grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and harvest controls on the salmon fishery in the Gulf of Bothnia. ICES Journal of Marine Science 63(5): 936-945. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Holley, D.K., I.R. Lawler, and N.J. Gales (2006): Summer survey of dugong distribution and abundance in Shark Bay reveals additional key habitat area. Wildlife Research 33(3): 243-250. Sheppard, J.K. et al. (2006): Movement heterogeneity of dugongs, Dugong dugon (Müller), over large spatial scales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 334(1): 64-83. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

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Two lost old articles - Cetaceans of Venezuela !! ...
by ignacio agudo 07 Jun '06

07 Jun '06

Dear marmammers, A good day for all !! ... To proceed, two articles of the crop on "Venezuelan Cetacean" (see: Romero et al 2001 - NOAA Technical Report NMFS 151 Fishery Bulletin) that met "disappeared" since the year of 1993: 1.- Identidad Taxonómica Específica de Esqueleto Ballena Barbada - Museo del Mar de Cumaná (English Abstract). Rev. Ecol. Lat., 3 (1-3): 31-38. http://www.ciens.ula.ve/~cires/recol-v3n1a06.pdf 2.- Ocurrencia de Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) en Venezuela (English Abstract). Rev. Ecol. Lat., 4 (1-3): 07-10 http://www.ciens.ula.ve/~cires/recol-v4n1a02.pdf Source: Revista de Ecologia Latinoamericana - RECOL, Mérida, Venezuela http://www.ciens.ula.ve/~cires/recol-contents.html Regards, Ignacio Agudo. iagudo(a)lycos.com -- _______________________________________________ Search for businesses by name, location, or phone number. -Lycos Yellow Pages http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.as…

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PCG Upwellings Newsletter Vol. 11, #1: Davidson Period
by Kieckhefer＠aol.com 06 Jun '06

06 Jun '06

The latest edition of Upwellings Newsletter is now available online as a pdf at: http://www.pacificcetaceangroup.org/html/newsletter.html The main topics covered in this issue are: - The Uncertain Future of Western North Pacific Gray Whales by Dr. David W. Weller Dr. Weller directs the Western Gray Whale Project and has spent more time studying this population than any other scientist in the world. He is an expert in marine mammal behavioral ecology and conservation biology and has spent the past 22 years studying whales and dolphins worldwide. - Critically Endangered Cetacean Species by Dr. Thomas A. Jefferson For the past 10 years nearly all of Dr. Jefferson's work has been related to conservation and management of marine mammals threatened by human activities. His current research focuses on the conservation biology of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) populations in Hong Kong and surrounding waters. TOP 10 CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF CETACEANS (in order, with the most endangered first): 1) Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) 2) Gulf of CA harbor porpoise or vaquita (Phocoena sinus) 3) North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) 4) North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) 5) South Asian River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) 6) Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) 7) Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) 8) Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) 9) Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) 10) Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) ______ Thomas R. Kieckhefer PACIFIC CETACEAN GROUP P.O. Box 835 Moss Landing, CA 95039 831-763-3608 (office/h) Email: Newsletter(a)pcg-ca.org Web Site: www.pcg-ca.org PCG Mission: The Pacific Cetacean Group (PCG) is a California based non-profit organization 501(c)3 founded in 1994. Our mission is to inspire conservation of marine mammals and other marine life through scientific research, education, and the arts.

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New publication: Australian Snubfin and humpback dolphins
by Guido Parra 04 Jun '06

04 Jun '06

Dear Marmamers, The following paper on Australian Snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins was recently published: Parra, G. J., Schick, R. and Corkeron, P. J. 2006. Spatial distribution and environmental correlates of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Ecography 29:1-11 Abstract We present data on the spatial distribution of Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins using boat-based line transect surveys in three adjacent bays located in the Far Northern Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, northeast Queensland. We used Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and both randomization and Mantel tests to examine the relationship between the spatial distribution of the dolphins and three simple, readily quantified, environmental variables: distance to land, distance to river mouth, and water depth. Mantel tests allowed us to make clear inferences about the correlation of the species' distributions with environmental variables, while taking into account spatial autocorrelation and intercorrelation among variables. Randomization tests indicated snubfin and humpback dolphins occur closer to land than would be expected at random. Two-sample randomization tests indicated snubfin dolphins were found closer to river mouths than were humpback dolphins. Taking spatial autocorrelation into account, Mantel tests indicated all environmental variables were correlated with the spatial distribution of snubfin and humpback dolphins. Interspecific differences in spatial distribution appeared to be related to proximity to river mouths. Preference by snubfin and humpback dolphins for nearshore, estuarine waters is likely related to the productivity of these tropical coastal areas. This spatial analysis suggests that existing protected areas in this region may not include the most critical habitats for snubfin and humpback dolphins. The techniques used here shown relationships between the spatial distribution of the dolphins and environmental features that should facilitate their management and conservation. The paper is available through the online early issue service of Blackwell: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.2006.0906-7590.04411.x. Those without a subscription to the journal can request a PDF copy from me: g.parra(a)uq.edu.au Cheers Guido ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guido J. Parra, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia Ph: (07) 3365-3066 Mob: 0437630843 Fax: (07) 3365-1255 Email: g.parra(a)uq.edu.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Publication - "Marine Mammals as Sentinel Species for Oceans and Human Health".
by Stephen McCulloch 04 Jun '06

04 Jun '06

Request to post the following publication: Steve McCulloch Dear Marmamers I'm happy to announce the following publication in the June issue of Oceanography (Vol 19, No. 2, June 2006), of a 'Case Study' related to marine mammal health. The citation is: Gregory D. Bossart - 2006. "Marine Mammals as Sentinel Species for Oceans and Human Health". There's no abstract. Those without a subscription to the journal can get a pdf from me at the email address below. Gregory D. Bossart, V.M.D., Ph.D. Director and Head of Pathology Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 5600 US 1 North Ft. Pierce, Florida 34946 772.465.2400 (Ext 556) 772.466.4853 (Fax) gbossart(a)hboi.edu www.hboi.edu <http://www.hboi.edu/> MARMAM mailing list MARMAM(a)lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

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Marine Sound Collection Newsletter Issue 4
by Shelagh A. Smith 04 Jun '06

04 Jun '06

Hello all, The latest edition of the Marine Sound Collection Newsletter is now available online at http://mlsource.ornith.cornell.edu/marine/ newsletters/MCNIssue4.pdf. The big topics covered in this issue are: - Release of the acoustic parameters website. This site describes the initial acoustic measures (or features) choosen for use with the sound archive. At the site you can participate in this project by downloading the measures to test in Matlab and providing feedback on these measures in an online forum (http://ethodata.org/features) - New equipment: several new solid state recorders have been released since our first review of new recorders a year ago. I will be at ASA in Providence this upcoming week and will present a talk on the feature extraction project, as well as describe some new components being released in the latest version of the visualization tool. The talk is at 0800 Friday 9 June in session 5aABb for those who will be in attendance; please come hear about this project and how you can help develop these tools! Cheers, Shelagh Shelagh A. Smith Assistant Curator, Marine Collection Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds www.animalsoundarchive.org Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, New York 14850 Phone: 607.254.2492 Fax: 607.254.2439 The Mission of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: "To interpret and conserve the Earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds."

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