February 2007 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper about Bottlenose Dolphins and fish farms
by Bruno Diaz 05 May '07

05 May '07

Dear All, The following paper is now available. PDF reprints are available upon request (contact email: B_D_R_I(a)yahoo.com) THE IMPACT OF A FISH FARM ON A BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN POPULATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. Bruno Díaz López, Luca Marini & Federico Polo. Thalassas, An international Journal of marine sciences. Vol 21 (2), 2005. ABSTRACT The increasing presence of aquaculture in coastal waters calls for a better understanding of its environmental effects. Despite a number of studies focusing on the impact of aquaculture on marine mammals, the interaction between common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with fish farms has been the subject of few investigations. In this paper we report the results of our research on the interaction between bottlenose dolphins with a fish farm on the Sardinian coast (Italy) from 1991 to 2004. We divided the study area latitudinally into two sections: southern (Gulf of Olbia) and northern (Gulf of Congianus). In the southern section in November 1995 the plant of a small fish farm was completely increased and transformed. Data were pooled into two periods (1991 to 1994 and 1999 to 2004). All years but 2003 were sampled. During the first and second research periods the same land-based searches were conducted under fair to excellent weather conditions. A total of 255 sightings were carried out in over 1320 hours of research of dolphins: in the first period 52 sightings were recorded in 517 hours of research, in the second period 203 sightings were realized in 803 hours of research. The presence of bottlenose dolphins changed dramatically between the two research periods. Observations of dolphins indicate that they are mainly present in the southern area during the second period. The preference for the southern section seemed to be consistent after the transformation of the fish farm, since 1995. Keywords: bottlenose dolphins, aquaculture, fish farm, marine mammals, Sardinian coast Best regards, Bruno Díaz López Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute www.geocities.com/B_D_R_I B_D_R_I(a)yahoo.com V.Diaz 4 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy tel: 00 39 346 0815414 --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates. --------------------------------- Get amazing travel prices for air and hotel in one click on Yahoo! FareChase

2 1

Remote sensors and marine mammals.
by Sergio Cobarrubia 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

Dear MARMAM readers. Currently I'm developing a project based on the ecology and behavior of the bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Central Coast of Venezuela. I'm looking for information related to the use of remote sensors and the distribution of marine mammals and its relation with upwelling and temperature. In Venezuela we don't have enough sources of information and I´ll be very thankful if anyone can send me papers or information related to that issue. Thnaks and Best wishes. -- Biol. Sergio Cobarrubia Lab. de Conservación y Manejo de Fauna Silvestre Universidad Simón Bolívar Caracas A1080, Venezuela 89000

1 0

Job-posting Visiting professor in Coastal Management
by Shannon Gowans 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

_Please post the following position_ Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, /Coastal Management/, for one-year appointment, to start in September 2007. Ph.D. or ABD is required. We seek someone to contribute to our thriving interdisciplinary environmental studies program whose expertise is in the field of coastal policy, planning and/or management. The ideal candidate will have an environmentally related degree, be an excellent teacher and an active researcher. The teaching load is seven courses per academic year, including introduction to environmental studies, sophomore level coastal management, and other coastally related classes in the candidate's area of expertise. Ability to teach environmental statistics is a plus. Eckerd College, the only independent national liberal arts college in Florida, has a tradition of innovative education and teaching/mentoring excellence and is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Send a letter of application, vita, teaching evaluations, statement of teaching philosophy, graduate and undergraduate transcripts, and three letters of recommendation by March 23, 2007 to Dr. Alison Ormsby, Eckerd College (BES), 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711. No electronic applications please. EOE. Email: ormsbyaa(a)eckerd.edu <mailto:forysea@eckerd.edu> (for questions only). Eckerd College is a small liberal arts college located in St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information please visit the ES discipline's web page: http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/environmentalstudies/ -- ________________________________________ Shannon Gowans Assistant Professor Marine Science and Biology Eckerd College 4200 54th Ave. South St. Petersburg, Florida 33711 Phone: 727-864-8388 Fax: 727-864-7964 Email: gowanss(a)eckerd.edu

1 0

New publications week 06+07
by Jan Herrmann 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

Dear all, here are some new publications of weeks 06 and 07 / 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 Additionally to the below cited publications you will find links to 49 new marine mammal related papers from Volume 87 Issue 1 of the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. This is a special issue made in collaboration with the European Cetacean Society. 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 Fulop, S.A. and K. Fitz (2006): Algorithms for computing the time-corrected instantaneous frequency (reassigned) spectrogram, with applications. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 119(1): 360-371. Van De Vijver, K.I. et al. (2007): Occurrence of perfluorooctane sulfonate and other perfluorinated alkylated substances in harbor porpoises from the Black Sea. Environmental Science & Technology 41(1): 315-320. Moore, L.M. et al. (2007): Seal and whale meat: two newly recognized food allergies. Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 98(1): 92-96. PINNIPEDIA Kukanich, B. et al. (2007): Naive averaged, naive pooled, and population pharmacokinetics of orally administered marbofloxacin in juvenile harbor seals. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 230(3): 390-395. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS Pennisi, E. (2007): Endangered species: U.S. weighs protection for polar bears. Science 315(5808): 25. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

1 0

Libyan Government approves Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans
by bearzi＠tiscali.it 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

An Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans in Libya - produced by the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), Libya’s Environment General Authority (EGA) and Marine Biology Research Center (MBRC) - has been recently approved by the Libyan Government. The Plan includes priority actions on Education and awareness, Capacity building, Research and Management and advocates an ecosystem- based approach to preserve the integrity and diversity of marine ecosystems. In order to elaborate this Plan, a mission to Libya was organised in December 2004. A number of researchers and experts from EGA, MBRC and the Al-Fateh University participated in the meetings and provided valuable information. The mission included visits to local fish markets and interviews with local fishermen. A draft Action Plan was submitted in March 2005. A revision of the draft was completed in November 2006, based on which the final document was produced: Bearzi G. 2006. Action Plan for the conservation of cetaceans in Libya. Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), Libya’s Environment General Authority and Marine Biology Research Center. 50 pp. A light (1.8 Mb) pdf version of the Plan can be downloaded from the ACCOBAMS web site at the link below: http://www.accobams.org/2006.php/news/show/33 _________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi, Ph.D. bearzi(a)inwind.it President, Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy tel. +39 0272001947; fax +39 0286995011 http://www.tethys.org/ http://www.tethys.org/giovanni_bearzi.htm _________________________________ Naviga e telefona senza limiti con Tiscali Scopri le promozioni Tiscali adsl: navighi e telefoni senza canone Telecom http://abbonati.tiscali.it/adsl/

1 0

New paper on dolphin social intelligence
by Richard Connor 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

Dear MARMAMers, The following publication is now available on our website (monkeymiadolphins.org) In addition to reviewing the male alliances in Shark Bay, the paper explores possible reasons for the apparent convergence in the use of synchrony in alliances in humans and dolphins and it also contains a discussion of extreme brain size evolution in mammals (humans, elephants, dolphins). Also, for those interested in the social intelligence hypothesis, I would encourage you to visit the Royal Society Webpage to have a look at other papers in the same volume, which are derived from a meeting last year celebrating the 30th anniversary of Nick Humphrey's landmark publication on the topic. 2007. Connor R.C. Dolphin social intelligence: complex alliance relationships in bottlenose dolphins and a consideration of selective environments for extreme brain size evolution in mammals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. FirstCite Early Online Publishing. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1997 Richard Connor

1 0

Whale Watch Research Position
by whalemuseum 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

Research Assistant /Deckhand Position Allied Whale, the marine mammal research lab of the College of the Atlantic located in Bar Harbor, Maine, seeks research assistants for the 2007 summer field season. The RAs will assist in part with research and data collection on our long term population studies of humpback and finback whales, and work as a paid deckhand aboard a local whale watch boat. Research responsibilities include photo-identification of whales and data collection/entry. Deckhand responsibilities include line handling, vessel cleaning, and passenger safety. Training will be provided. The applicant should have a college background in biology and/or zoology. Some knowledge of research methods is an advantage. Knowledge of marine mammals and seabirds is an asset. Previous experience in photography (conventional and digital) is helpful but not required. Applicants must be positive, flexible, able to work independently, and resistant to sea-sickness. This is an entry level research position designed to offer experience for individuals seeking to develop their professional careers in marine mammal research. The position begins June 1st and applicants must be able to work through Oct with no other commitments, excluding COA schoolwork. Hours will vary depending on schedules and provided housing is mandatory for a fee. Application deadline is March 23rd. Please send a cover letter detailing your reasons for applying, a resume, and two or more letters of reference/recommendation to: Whale Watch R/A Apps Allied Whale 105 Eden St. Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609 Or e-mail to the following two addresses: Toby Stephenson at Stepper3(a)verizon.net, and Kaitlin Allen at Jessica_K._Allen(a)umit.maine.edu

1 0

No Official Irrawaddy Dolphin PA in Myanmar
by Tint Tun 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN AND CASTNET FISHERMEN PROTECTED AREA HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED IN MYANMAR YET. It has been found in some websites, referring to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) website, that a Protected Area for the Irrawaddy dolphin is established in Myanmar by the government. According to the Chapter IV, Article 8(a) of the "The Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law (The State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No. 6/94)" enacted on the 8th. June, 1994, signed by the Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the then State Law and Order Restoration Council, the minister for Forestry may in any area, with the approval of the Government and for the purpose of the objective of this Law, by notification if necessary- (i) designate protected areas according to the categories; (ii) establish zoological gardens and botanical gardens. In the Chapter 8, "Duties and Powers of the Director General", of the "Freshwater Fisheries Law (The State Law and Restoration Council Law No. 1/91)", enacted on 4th March, 1991, signed by Senior General Saw Maung, Chairman of the then State Law and Order Restoration Council, it is described in Article 22, Section (c) that "determining the prohibited species of fish, size, fishing season, place, fishing implement and method of fishing" as a duty of the the Director General of Department of Fisheries. On 28th. December 2005, practicing the above mentioned duties and powers under Article 22 of the "Freshwater Fisheries Law", a notification, No. 11/2005, signed by Khin Ko Lay, Director, Department of Fisheries, for the Director General, was issued by the Department of Fisheries to prohibit the catching fish using with the – (1) gillnet obstructed in waterway; (2) gillnet stretched from bank to bank of the river; (3) drift net longer than 300 feet; and (4) fishing implements and fishing methods that prohibited by the Department of Fisheries from time to time in the Ayeyawady river, starting from the points of Sagaing Division, Shwebo District, Kyaukmyaung Township, in front of Yae Daw Pagoda (Latitude 22.60903°N; Longitude 95.94280°E) and Mandalay Division, Pyin Oo Lwin District, Singu Township (Latitude 22.61039°N; Longitude 95.94774°E) to the points of Sagaing Division, Mingun mountain range, in front of Baw Di Ta Htaung Pagoda (Latitude 22.03937°N; Longitude 96.02235°E) and Mandalay Division, Mandalay city, Nan Daw Kyun point (Latitude 22.03831°N; Longitude 96.03477°E) in order to safeguard and prevent the extinction of Ayeyawady dolphins. The notification also stipulated that- fishermen shall make a gap more than 600 feet between net by net, which are not the prohibited implement; the catching or killing of Ayeyawady dolphins and trade in whole or parts of them is also prohibited and in the case of accidentally caught by fishing net, fishermen shall release them alive without delay. According to the above mentioned Laws and notification, it is quite clear that only the Minister for Forestry has authority to establish a Protected Area and it, maybe, wrongly sighted to the notification No. 11/2005 by the Department of Fisheries as a notification for the establishment of the Protected Area for the Irrawaddy dolphins. Therefore, Protected Area for the Irrawaddy dolphins has not been officially established and existed in Myanmar till today. Tint Tun Marine Biologist Union of Myanmar email: tinttun(a)gmail.com cetaceanmm(a)mail4u.com.mm

1 0

Internship Opportunity
by Fleming, Kimberly 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

Petersburg Marine Mammal Center Internship Opportunity (Point of Contact -- Jeffrey Reynolds, Petersburg Marine Mammal Center Advisor jeff(a)psgmmc.org <mailto:jeff@psgmmc.org> ) Located in Petersburg, Alaska's Little Norway, this project takes place on Mitkof Island in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. Petersburg is also known as the Whale Research Capital of Alaska because of the many world renown marine mammal researchers who use Petersburg as a base of operation. PMMC is a non-profit organization formed in 1998 to "assist research efforts and be a depository for information on research and sightings of marine mammals in Southeast Alaska". We have a small center located in the Viking Travel Building Which is on Main Street in downtown Petersburg. The center is manned by interns during the summer months and the Board of Directors carries out the functions of PMMC year-round. This intern program allows students the opportunity to earn college credit while learning about marine mammals and serving the public. Indoor exhibits, including an interactive computer kiosk, focus on marine mammal life history and distribution. Two interns will be working at the Center staggered shifts for seven days out a week where the work includes, but is not limited to: * Staff the Center during open hours. Manage operations, sales and petty cash. * Interpret AK marine mammal information for Center visitors and public. * Assist and help coordinate where possible with researchers using center. * Prepare/deliver AK marine mammal presentations to visitors and small groups. * Facilitate community outreach and public education of AK marine mammals. Project Duration Two 8-10 week Intern positions are available beginning mid-June through August 31st. Accommodation The volunteer will be accommodated in Forest Service housing near the center of town, making it easy to access to the community and to the Center. Internship Requirements * must be in an internship program through an accredited university * physically fit * desire to gain skills in the environmental education field * interested in working with visitors * possess an interest in working on small projects for the Center * possess a positive attitude! Compensation Travel (contingent/negotiable) to and from Petersburg, lodging, and $500/ month (taxable stipend). Occasional trips to observe marine mammals and other trips with Board of Directors tour operators on a space and time available basis. Other perks are included in the prospectus. Application Deadline Applications deadline is April 1st, 2007. Positions will be filled quickly thereafter More information and Application at: http://www.psgmmc.org/pages/involved/internships.html <http://www.psgmmc.org/pages/involved/internships.html> Jeffrey Reynolds Petersburg Marine Mammal Center Advisor jeff(a)psgmmc.org <mailto:jeff@psgmmc.org>

1 0

Manatee biologist position, St. Petersburg, Florida
by Brock Ramshaw 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

1 0