January 2007 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publications week 01
by Jan Herrmann 22 Jan '07

22 Jan '07

Dear all, here are some new publications of weeks 01 / 2007, 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 Andersen, M.S. and M.L. Miller (2006): Onboard Marine Environmental Education: Whale Watching in the San Juan Islands, Washington. Tourism in Marine Environments 2(2): 111-118. Howard, C. and E.C.M. Parsons (2006): Public Awareness of Whale-watching Opportunities in Scotland. Tourism in Marine Environments 2(2): 103-109. Lusseau, D., L. Slooten, and R.J.C. Currey (2006): Unsustainable Dolphin-watching Tourism in Fiordland, New Zealand. Tourism in Marine Environments 3(2): 173-178. Myers, R.A. et al. (2007): Saving endangered whales at no cost. Current Biology 17(1): R10-R11. Parsons, E.C.M., J. Lewandowski, and M. Lück (2006): Recent Advances in Whale-watching Research: 2004-2005. Tourism in Marine Environments 2(2): 119-132. Parsons, E.C.M., M. Lück, and J.K. Lewandowski (2006): Recent Advances in Whale-watching Research: 2005-2006. Tourism in Marine Environments 3(2): 179-189. Slansky, M. et al. (2006): Echocardiographic evaluation of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37(4): 454-463. Whitt, A.D. and A.J. Read (2006): Assessing Compliance to Guidelines By Dolphin-watching Operators in Clearwater, Florida, USA. Tourism in Marine Environments 3(2): 117-130. PINNIPEDIA OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Jaffe, J.S. et al. (2007): Measurement of the acoustic reflectivity of sirenia (Florida manatees) at 171 kHz. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 121(1): 158-165. Siegal-Willott, J. et al. (2006): Electrocardiography in two subspecies of manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris and T. m. manatus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37(4): 447-453. Tinker, M.T. et al. (2006): Incorporating diverse data and realistic complexity into demographic estimation procedures for sea otters. Ecological Applications 16(6): 2293-2312. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

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new paper on biopsy sampling of bow-riding dolphins
by Kerstin Bilgmann 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

Dear Marmam Readers, We are pleased to announce the release of the following publication in Marine Mammal Science: Kerstin Bilgmann, Owen J. Griffiths, Simon J. Allen, Luciana M. Moller 2007. A biopsy pole system for bow-riding dolphins: sampling success, behavioral responses, and test for sampling bias. Marine Mammal Science. 23(1):218-225. Summary: Biopsy samples from free-ranging cetaceans have proven to be useful for repeated, multimarker genetic analyses to address questions regarding population and social structure and evolutionary relationships. Here we present an alternative technique to the widely used remote biopsy sampling, biopsying of free-ranging, bow-riding dolphins using a modified pole. A total of 144 biopsy samples were collected from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in coastal waters of Australia. Biopsy sampling with the pole generally resulted in mild behavioral responses, regardless of whether the animal was hit or missed, and no differences were detected in species response. There were no sex biases in sampling, and the strength of the behavioral response was independent of the dolphin's sex. When using different boat types, sampling success rates were similar. However, sampling from the smallest boats resulted in stronger behavioral responses, and when sampling from the largest boat, the dolphins' responses were weaker or not noticeable. The biopsy pole technique presented here is an efficient and rapid method for obtaining skin and blubber samples from bow-riding dolphins, and can be used in situations where biopsy guns and crossbows are not convenient, or in conjunction with these remote systems. The pdf file is now available electronically on the Marine Mammal Science website, or you can receive a copy by sending a request to kbilgma(a)gse.mq.edu.au. All the best, Kerstin Bilgmann Marine Mammal Research Group Graduate School of the Environment Macquarie University, Sydney NSW 2109, Australia Email: kbilgman(a)gse.mq.edu.au Ph: + 61 2 9850 7982 Fax: + 61 2 9850 7972

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Arizona State University study abroad course on California sea lions
by Julie Young 19 Jan '07

19 Jan '07

We are pleased to announce the opening of registration for our study abroad course entitled: Field Ecology: Behavior and Conservation of sea lions. This 6-credit course will be taught at ASU and at sea lions breeding colonies on islands in the Gulf of California, Baja, Mexico. Focus will be on the integration of behavior and conservation biology in the California sea lion. Students will learn and apply field methods commonly used to study pinniped populations. Before embarking on our field trip, students will learn the biology of marine mammals and ecology of the sea lions and receive training on the field methods commonly used to estimate population size and to measure behavior on pinnipeds at Arizona State University. The group will be camping on Islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico, with no facilities. Outdoor experience and the ability to work in difficult, hot conditions for long hours is a must. More details can be gained at: http://www.asu.edu/ssc/abroad/summer/mexicofieldecology.html or by emailing julie.k.young(a)asu.edu. Thank you, Julie Young Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Sciences School of Life Sciences Arizona State University, Box 874501 Tempe, AZ 85287-4501 USA phone: 480.965.7563 fax: 480.965.2519 email: Julie.K.Young(a)asu.edu lab: http://sols.asu.edu/faculty/lgerber.php

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OPCFHK scientific project application 07-08
by Anna Situ 18 Jan '07

18 Jan '07

> Dear Sir/Madam, > > The Foundation is now inviting new funding applications for > conservation research projects in 2007-2008. Application form and > guideline can be downloaded from our website: www.opcf.org.hk. > > As the conservation arm of Ocean Park, the Ocean Park Conservation > Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) advocates, facilitates and participates > in the conservation of wildlife and habitats, with an emphasis on the > Asian region, through research and education. Our vision is to ensure > the sustainability of wildlife and biodiversity. > > OPCFHK will allocate HK$ 5 million as funding support in 2007-08. As > our vision is to ensure the sustainability of wildlife and > biodiversity, funding support will be given to research and > conservation projects on, but not limited to, marine mammals, Giant > Pandas, amphibians, fishes, birds and reptiles. To encourage Ocean > Park to directly support the conservation projects, part of this > funding will be allocated for conservation projects conducted by or > collaborated with Ocean Park. We also encourage institutions in Hong > Kong to apply funding for projects based locally in Hong Kong. This > financial assistance will be used to cover project related expenses, > including travelling and field equipment but not to cover the in-house > staff cost. > > Submission deadline for applications is Jan 31, 2007. All the funding > applications will then go through our Scientific Advisory Committee > members (SACs) for review and recommendation. It usually takes 4 to 6 > weeks for the reviewing process. Research projects recommended by SACs > will be further reviewed by the Foundation's Trustees. With Trustees' > approval, confirmation of funding will be announced in June 2007, the > Foundation will set up agreements with the Principal Investigators or > the Institutes who are in charge of the recommended projects. > > Thank you for your kind attention and I am looking forward to your > application. Should you have any questions, please feel free to > contact me. > > I wish you a Happy New Year! > > Yours Sincerely, > Anna Situ > Assistant Scientific Officer > OPCFHK > Tel: 852-2873-8679 > Fax: 852-2553-5840 > E-mail: anna.situ(a)oceanpark.com.hk Disclaimer The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please delete it from your system. If you require assistance, please contact us at opc(a)oceanpark.com.hk Beginning 1 January 2006, Ocean Park raises its conservation commitment further by donating part of the admission to Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (www.opcf.org.hk) to support its research projects and public awareness programmes for wildlife conservation in Asia.

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Funded Graduate Positions in Marine Conservation
by Cathy Schaeff 18 Jan '07

18 Jan '07

We have a number of funded graduate positions at the master's level open in our department for fall 2007. Students in my lab typically work on projects involving marine mammal conservation, assessing population health via fluctuating asymmetry analysis and/or molecular markers. Examples of recent student projects include an assessment of population health of California sea lions (completed in conjunction with Francis Gulland and Denise Greig at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito) and of bottlenose dolphins (with Randy Wells at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota). Support includes tuition remission, stipend and research funds plus the opportunity to be a teaching assistant. Applications can be made online (https://my.american.edu/cgi/mvi.exe/A26.APPL.LOGIN?SCH=CAS) We have a departmental graduate open house on Feb 19th. Financial awards decisions are made in early March. Cathy Schaeff Department of Biology American University 101 Hurst Hall, 4400 Mass. Ave. NW, Washington DC 20016-8007 p: 202.885.2175, f: 202.885.2182 schaeff(a)american.edu <mailto:schaeff@american.edu> http:// www.american.edu/cas/bio/faculty_media/schaeff/index.html <http://www.american.edu/cas/bio/faculty_media/schaeff/index.html>

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Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life
by Arthur N. Popper 18 Jan '07

18 Jan '07

We are pleased to announce an international conference on Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life to take place in Nyborg, Denmark August 13-17, 2007. This meeting will bring together scientists and others interested in the effects of anthropogenicc sound on aquatic organisms to share the latest scientific information and to learn from one another. Details about the meeting can be found at: www.NoiseEffects.umd.edu. Any questions about the meeting can be addressed to one of the organizers listed on the web page. Individuals interested in participating should send an email to Lidia.Wysocki(a)univie.ac.at. Arthur N. Popper **************************************************************** Arthur N. Popper Interim Associate Dean, College of Chemical and Life Sciences Professor, Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 phone: (301) 405-1940 FAX: (301) 314-9358 email: apopper(a)umd.edu web: www.life.umd.edu/biology/popperlab; www.ccebh.umd.edu

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New article on harbour porpoise feeding ecology and habitat use
by Michael Fontaine 17 Jan '07

17 Jan '07

Dear Marmammers, The following article on harbour porpoise feeding ecology and habitat use has just been published in BMC Ecology. If you are interested in, you can download freely the MS at this address: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/7/1/abstract All the best, Michaël Fontaine MC, Tolley KA, Siebert S, Gobert S, Lepoint G, Bouquegneau JM and Das K (2007) Long-term feeding ecology and habitat use in harbour porpoises /Phocoena phocoena/ from Scandinavian waters inferred from trace elements and stable isotopes.BMC Ecology 2007, 7:1 doi:10.1186/1472-6785-7-1 Background We investigated the feeding ecology and habitat use of 32 harbour porpoises by-caught in 4 localities along the Scandinavian coast from the North Sea to the Barents Sea using time-integrative markers: stable isotopes (d13C, d15N) and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, total Hg and Cd), in relation to habitat characteristics (bathymetry) and geographic position (latitude). Results Among the trace elements analysed, only Cd, with an oceanic specific food origin, was found to be useful as an ecological tracer. All other trace elements studied were not useful, most likely because of physiological regulation and/or few specific sources in the food web. The d13C, d15N signatures and Cd levels were highly correlated with each other, as well as with local bathymetry and geographic position (latitude). Variation in the isotopic ratios indicated a shift in harbour porpoise's feeding habits from pelagic prey species in deep northern waters to more coastal and/or demersal prey in the relatively shallow North Sea and Skagerrak waters. This result is consistent with stomach content analyses found in the literature. This shift was associated with a northward Cd-enrichment which provides further support to the Cd 'anomaly' previously reported in polar waters and suggests that porpoises in deep northern waters include Cd-contaminated prey in their diet, such as oceanic cephalopods. Conclusion As stable isotopes and Cd provide information in the medium and the long term respectively, the spatial variation found, shows that harbour porpoises experience different ecological regimes during the year along the Scandinavian coasts, adapting their feeding habits to local oceanographic conditions, without performing extensive migration. -- Michael C. Fontaine - Aspirant FNRS MARE Center - Lab. for Oceanology (Univ. of Liege) B6c Allee de la Chimie, 3 Liege 4000, Belgium e-mail: michael.fontaine(a)ulg.ac.be personal webpage: http://users.skynet.be/fb683753/michaelcfontaine/Home.html CBGP (Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations) - INRA Campus International de Baillarguet CS 30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex France Phone : 0033 4 99 62 33 31 Fax: 0033 4 99 62 33 45

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Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-identification Internships - Summer 2007
by R.H. Defran 16 Jan '07

16 Jan '07

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 two Dolphin Photo-identification Internship positions for the Summer 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, May 7, 2007 to Friday, August 17, 2007. There is some flexibility in these start and end times, however, especially for applicants whose Spring semester would require a later start time. Interns 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 at the bottom of this message. 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 interns 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 March 2007.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 Article On Climate Change And Cetaceans.
by nhy038＠abdn.ac.uk 16 Jan '07

16 Jan '07

Dear Marmammers, The following article on climate change and cetaceans has recently been published in Biology Letters. If you are interested in a copy, please email: c.d.macleod(a)abdn.ac.uk with the subject line "Reprint Request". All the best, Colin MacLeod, C.D., Santos, M.B., Reid, R.J., Scott, B.E. and Pierce, G.J. 2007. Linking sandeel consumption and the likelihood of starvation in harbour porpoises in the Scottish North Sea: could climate change mean more starving porpoises? Biology Letters, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2006.0588 Sandeels are known to be negatively affected by climate change in a number of ways. This study investigated whether these changes are affecting the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), a species which consumes sandeels. Porpoise diet was examined in spring (MarchMay), a critical time of year for survival when sandeels are important prey, from 1993 to 2001 to provide baseline information on the proportion of sandeels consumed. When data from spring 2002 and 2003 were compared to these baseline data, the diet was found to be substantially different, with a significant and substantially smaller proportion of sandeels being consumed in March and May. There were also differences in the number of porpoises starving between the two time periods (33% in spring 2002 and 2003 died of starvation, but only 5% in the baseline period). This suggests that a lower proportion of sandeels in the diet of porpoises in spring increases the likelihood of starvation. Therefore, we suggest that the negative effects of climate change on sandeel availability may have serious negative effects on harbour porpoise populations in the North Sea by increasing the likelihood of starvation in spring. ================================================== Dr Colin D. MacLeod, Research-Teaching Fellow, School of Biological Sciences (Zoology), University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK Tel: 01224 272648 Fax: 01224 272396 Email: c.d.macleod(a)abdn.ac.uk In order to save paper, please do not print out this email unless it is essential =========================================================

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Conference and Workshops on Passive Acoustics for Monitoring Marine Mammals at Sea
by Douglas Gillespie 16 Jan '07

16 Jan '07

Conference and Workshops on Passive Acoustics for Monitoring Marine Mammals at Sea PAMGUARD is convening a conference on passive acoustics for monitoring marine mammals at sea and will be introducing, demonstrating and providing hands on experience with the PAMGUARD software, which is an integrated open source software package for processing and analysing either real time or archived input data from both towed and fixed hydrophones. The PAMGUARD project is a research activity currently supported by the OGP E&P Sound and Marine Life JIP (originally supported by the Industry Research Funders Coalition (IRFC)) The meeting will be held over two days 28th and 29th March 2007 at Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh UK. A one day conference on 28th will be followed by a day of focused workshops and hands on training sessions. The event will be of interest to participants from a range of organisations including- Commercial, Scientific and Military operators of sound sources in the marine environment. PAMGUARD is a tool for underwater acoustic monitoring that can be used for a range of activities, including marine mammal monitoring for mitigation and research purposes. Its open source and modular architecture mean it can be readily adapted to user requirements. Marine biology researchers and academics PAMGUARD is a flexible and adaptable tool that can be used for many research activities including population surveys and behavioural studies. Regulators PAM (Passive Acoustic Monitoring) is a developing method for monitoring marine mammals at sea, which has been used as an element of mitigation requirements for various activities offshore. This event will provide an opportunity to discuss the strengths and shortcomings of PAM as a monitoring tool and include discussions related to providing long-term support, maintenance and future development of PAMGUARD. Marine Mammal Observers and PAM operators The incorporation of PAM in offshore monitoring activities will require MMOs and/or PAM operators to acquire additional skill sets, in order to interpret both visual sightings and acoustic detections of marine mammals in the field. There are advantages in having a single software interface for users in order to improve the effectiveness of both operator training and therefore use of PAM in the field. This event is an opportunity to learn more about this new technology, be amongst the first to receive training with PAMGUARD and to contribute your own practical field experience to its further development. MMO/PAM service providers This event will provide an opportunity to consider the strengths and shortcomings of PAM as a monitoring tool and include discussions related to providing long-term support, maintenance, training and future development of PAMGUARD. Equipment developers and providers This conference is an opportunity to discuss the use of existing equipment or future developments in conjunction with PAMGUARD and include discussions related to providing long-term support, maintenance and the future development of PAMGUARD. Software Developers As PAMGUARD develops beyond the establishment phase there will be increasing opportunities for developers to provide new functionality. PAMGUARD is an open source programming environment that is proving particularly suitable for developing new acoustic detection and localisation applications. Student competition A competition to develop new modules within PAMGUARD will be announced at the conference. Register There will be limited availability of spaces for the focused workshops and hands on training sessions being held on the 2nd day of the event, so please register your interest by the end of January to secure a place. To register your interest in this event and provisionally secure a place for the focused workshops and hands on training sessions, please join the PAMGUARDMeeting list by either sending an email to PAMGUARDmeetin-subscribe(a)googlegroups.com <mailto:PAMGUARDmeetin-subscribe@googlegroups.com> Or following this link <http://groups-beta.google.com/group/pamguardmeetin/boxsubscribe?p=FixAddr&e mail=&_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fgroups-beta.google.com%2Fgroup%2Fpamguardmeetin% 2Fmanage_promote> A more detailed announcement with a list of presentations and workshops will be made in the coming weeks. Registering now will ensure that you receive all further notices, will provisionally secure you a place and assist us with planning the event. Further information regarding PAMGUARD can be found at www.pamguard.org <http://www.pamguard.org>.

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