March 2007 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Bottlenose Dolphin Research Volunteers
by Bruno Diaz 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Dear Editors, Please post the following... Thank you! ******************************************************************************************************** Bottlenose Dolphin Research Volunteers in Sardinia The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI - www.thebdri.com) is a small private center for research, education, and training in bottlenose dolphins ecology and behaviour. BDRI's researchers are engaged in the conduction of a long-term study about the ecology and behaviour of a Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin population (Tursiops truncatus). No specific experience is required to work as a volunteer with the BDRI. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the research, and will receive full training in survey techniques. Volunteers will help measure different aspects of the dolphins behaviour by using a variety of instruments, to identify individuals, record behaviours and sounds. Conditions: a.. Minimum age of 18; b.. A lot of motivation and interest in dolphin research c.. The ability to work a flexible, full-time schedule; d.. Enthusiasm, and the open-mindedness to work, live and communicate with other people of mixed nationality and background. Benefits: Get involved in bottlenose dolphin research Gain fieldwork experience Learn to use different research instruments: GPS, Hydrophone, Secchi disk, digital camera, sonar, camcorder, anemometer, etc. Help advance our knowledge of bottlenose dolphins to improve their conservation Enjoy the outdoors of the beautiful Emerald Coast Meet interesting people Enjoy the culinary talents of BDRI's researchers and express your own. The volunteer costs include training and all associated field costs during your stay with us, accommodations, three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the research station where interns and research staff live together and are responsible for cooking and cleaning duties. Rooms are shared. Cost does not include transportation to and from the research camp on Golfo Aranci (Sardinia Island), personal items, or special dietary requirements. Volunteering period can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but participants are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the volunteering. Further information, fees and how to apply can be found on our website (www.thebdri.com) by phoning BDRI on +39 346081541 or by e-mailing me at info(a)thebdri.com Recent selected scientific publications by BDRI: 2007 1. Díaz López et al., 2007. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presence and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the noth-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy)" Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K, 87, 113-117. 2006 2. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Predation on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations". Aquatic Mammals 32(3): 305 - 310 pp. 3. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shiray, J.A., 2006. "Estudio multiescalar de la influencia de la acuicultura en la presencia de delfines mulares Tursiops truncatus (Montagu 1821)". CIVA, 2006, 282 - 290pp. 4. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia". ICES Journal of Marine Science 63: 944-951 pp. 5. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shiray, J.A., 2006. Diurnal & Nocturnal behaviour of bottlenose dolphin groups with emphasis on foraging activity on the northeastern coast of Sardinia (Italy). In European Research on Cetaceans 20th - European Cetacean Society 2006 Gdynia, Polonia. 6. Bernal Shiray, J. A., Díaz López, B., Méndez Fernández, P., Bilbao Prieto, A. & Díaz da Silva, J.I., 2006. "Analysis of diving behaviour of a solitary male bottlenose dolphin in the inshore waters of Galicia (Spain)" In European Research on Cetaceans 20th - European Cetacean Society 2006 Gdynia, Polonia. 2005 7. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. ICES Document CM 2005/X 1. 8. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish farms: could there be an economic impact? ICES Document CM 2005/X 10. 9. Díaz López, B., Marini, L., Polo, F., 2005. The impact of a fish farm on a bottlenose dolphin population in the Mediterranean Sea. Thalassas An international Journal of Marine Sciences, 2005, 21 (2): 53-58. 10. Díaz López, B. & Shiray, A., 2005. Analysis of diving behaviour on bottlenose dolphins studied in the inshore waters of Sardinia. Talk presented at the 6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. November. Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy. 11. Díaz López, B., 2005 & Shiray, A., 2005. A survey of anti-bottlenose dolphin control at marine fish farm. Talk presented at the 6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. November. Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy. Bruno Díaz López Research Biologist / Marine Zoologist Chief Researcher The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI V.Armando Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy http://www.thebdri.com info(a)thebdri.com Tel: + (39) 346 0815414

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Body mass, length, and fluke span data for cetaceans
by B Garcia Carreras 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

Dear MARMAM readers, I am a postgraduate student doing a project on baleen whale biomechanics. As part of the project, I am studying the morphological differences between mysticete and odontocete cetaceans. I am missing data in the overlapping range (mysticetes smaller than a minke whale, and odontocetes larger than killer whales), and would appreciate if anyone could tell me where I could find more information on these species. I would be particularly interested in body mass and length, and fluke span data for specific individuals. Thank you very much in advance. Best regards, Bernardo P.S.: Information has so far been found in: Lockyer (1976), Lockyer & Waters (1986), Vikingsson et al. (1988), Bose et al. (1990), Vikingsson (1990, 1995, unpublished), Tolley et al. (1995), Rohr et al. (1998), Fish & Rohr (1999), Palacios (1999), Zylber et al. (2002), Palacios et al. (2004), Sanvicente-Anorve et al. (2004). I can provide a full list of references upon request. ------------------------------------------ Bernardo Garcia Carreras Postgraduate Researcher (Biomimetics) Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath ------------------------------------------

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new PhD thesis
by Claudio Corbelli 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

Hello! I would like to announce that a new PhD thesis from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada in now available: Claudio Corbelli, 2006- "An evaluation of the impact of commercial whale watching on humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the effectiveness of a voluntary Code of Conduct as a management strategy". The thesis (3.5K) is available for one week on line at : Link: http://www.yousendit.com/download/T2dmV0p4bEFlM1EwTVE9PQ Or you can ask for a Pdf copy directly from the author: claudio(a)whalecenter.org Thanks Claudio Claudio Corbelli, PhD Assistant Director and Stranding Coordinator The Whale Center of New England PO Box 159 Gloucester MA 01930, USA ph: 1-978-281-6351 fax: 1-978-281-5666 www.whalecenter.org

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New Website "The Mediterranean Monk Seal"
by monachus 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

NEW WEBSITE "THE MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL" Dear friends, We are pleased to inform you that since the beginning of January this year, you can visit one of the most complete websites in Spanish about the Mediterranean monk seal It contains exhaustive information about the species, its problems and the conservation initiatives aimed at halting its decline. The website has been designed under the auspices of the Monk Seal conservation project on the Cape Blanco-Guerguerat Peninsula, run by the CBD-Habitat Foundation for more than 10 years. You can access a large number of videos, photos, educational and awareness-raising materials and an exhaustive amount of information at www.focamonje.es and www.cbd-habitat.com Interaction is one of the main features of this new website, so in addition to the large and varied body of information about the species, it has a large number of videos and photos that let you see with your very own eyes the different age groups and discover their everyday behaviour such as lactation and feeding, neither of which has been published on the Web before. You can also check the species' historic distribution range and the few places where populations of the animal still survive. There is another feature of the new website that we want to highlight: a special section devoted to a recently begun project in conjunction with fishermen from the Spanish deepwater fleet in the Mauritania area, REDFOM or the Monk Seal Sighting Network. It is particularly concerned with encouraging the involvement of fishing industry workers in the protection of the Monk Seal by reporting observations on the high seas. It includes a form that people can fill in to report sightings, and it has another web access portal: www.redfom.com However, instead of telling you all about it, we suggest you visit the site and discovery it for yourself. Fundación CBD-Habitat

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New Articles
by David S. Janiger 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Hi, All Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. File sizes have been included. Abstracts also available on request. 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 AKINEDEN, O.; J. ALBER; C. LAMMLER; R. WEISS; U. SIEBERT; G. FOSTER; S. TOUGAARD; S. M. J. M. BRASSEUR and P. J. H. REIJNDERS. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 121(1-2):158-162. 2007. Relatedness of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains isolated from harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) of various origins of the North Sea during 1988-2005. 0.242 MB ANONMYOUS. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 54(1):6-7. 2007. Scientists press Japan to stop dolphin drive slaughter. 0.104 MB AZEVEDO, ALEXANDRE F.; ALVARO M. OLIVEIRA; SIMONE C. VIANA and MONIQUE VAN SLUYS. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 87(1):201-205. 2007. Habitat use by marine tucuxis (Sotalia guianensis) (Cetacea: Delphinidae) in Guanabara Bay, south-eastern Brazil. 0.200 MB AZNAR, F. J.; C. AGUSTI; D. T. J. LITTLEWOOD; J. A. RAGA and P. D. OLSON. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY 37(2):243-255. 2007. Insight into the role of cetaceans in the life cycle of the tetraphyllideans (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). 0.234 MB BEARZI, GIOVANNI. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 21(1):1-3. 2007. (Editorial) Marine conservation on paper. 0.173 MB BUCKLES, ELIZABETH L.; LINDA J. LOWENSTINE; ROBERT L. DELONG; SHARON R. MELIN; REGINA K. VITTORE; HONG-NEI WONG; GATELY L. ROSS; JUDITH A. ST LEGER; DENISE J. GREIG; REBECCA S. DUERR; FRANCES M. D. GULLAND and JEFFERY L. STOTT. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 120(1-2):1-8. 2007. Age-prevalence of Otarine Herpesvirus-1, a tumor-associated virus, and possibility of its sexual transmission in California sea lions. 0.134 MB CARTER, SARAH K.; GLENN R. VANBLARICOM and BRIAN L. ALLEN. HYDROBIOLOGIA 579:233-249. 2007. Testing the generality of the trophic cascade paradigm for sea otters: A case study with kelp forests in northern Washington, USA. 0.301 MB CLARK, CHERYL A.; JENNIFER M. BURNS; JASON F. SCHREER and MIKE O. HAMMILL. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 177(2):217-227. 2007. A longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of total body oxygen store development in nursing harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 0.466 MB COTTE, CEDRIC and CHRISTOPHE GUINET. DEEP SEA RESEARCH PART I: OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS 54(2):243-252. 2007. Historical whaling records reveal major regional retreat of Antarctic sea ice. 0.775 MB DANIL K. and S. J. CHIVERS. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 85(1):108-121. 2007. Growth and reproduction of female short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in the eastern tropical Pacific. 0.957 MB DIETZ, RUNE; FRANK F. RIGET; CHRISTIAN SONNE; ROBERT J. LETCHER; SEAN BACKUS; ERIK W. BORN; MAJA KIRKEGAARD and DEREK C. G. MUIR. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 146(1):166-173. 2007. Age and seasonal variability of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in free-ranging East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). 0.310 MB DIPAOLA, STEVE; CAITLIN AKAI and BILL KRAUS. ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR 15(1):99-113. 2007. Experiencing belugas: Action selection for an interactive aquarium exhibit. 0.637 MB DONGLI WANG; SHANNON ATKINSON; ANNE HOOVER-MILLER; SUNG-EUN LEE and QING X. LI. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 146(1):268-280. 2007. Organochlorines in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) tissues from the northern Gulf of Alaska. 1.034 MB FERNANDEZ-GIMENEZ, MARIA E.; HENRY P. HUNTINGTON and KATHRYN J. FROST. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 33(4):306-315. 2006. Integration or co-optation? Traditional knowledge and science in the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee. 0.106 MB FIELD, IAIN C.; COREY J. A. BRADSHAW; HARRY R. BURTON and MARK A. HINDELL. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 331:281-290. 2007. Differential resource allocation strategies in juvenile elephant seals in the highly seasonal Southern Ocean. 0.202 MB (View with Acrobat 6.0>) FINNERAN, JAMES J. and DORIAN S. HOUSER. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 121(3):1775-1782. 2007. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) steady-state evoked responses to multiple simultaneous sinusoidal amplitude modulated tones. 0.194 MB FLOREZ-GONZALEZ, LILIAN; ISABEL CRISTINA AVILA; JUAN CAPELLA ALZUETA; PATRICIA FALK F.; FERNANDO FELIX; JORGE GIBBONS; HECTOR M. GUZMAN; BEN HAASE; JULIO CESAR-HERRERA C.; VIVIANA PENA; LUIS SANTILLAN; ISABEL CRISTINA TOBON B. and KOEN VAN WAEREBEEK. Fundación Yubarta Colombia, Carrera 24 F Oeste No.3-110 Tejares de San Fernando, Cali (Valle)-COLOMBIA. 106pp. 2007. Estrategia para la conservación de la ballena jorobada del Pací ?co Sudeste. Lineamientos de un plan de acción regional e iniciativas nacionales. 4.607 MB FUJIWARA, Y.; M. KAWATO; T. YAMAMOTO; T. YAMANAKA; W. SATO-OKOSHI; S. TSUCHIDA; T. KOMAI; S. S. CUBELIO; T. SASAKI; K. JACOBSEN; K. KUBOKAWA; K. FUJIKURA; T. MARUYAMA; Y. FURUSHIMA; K. OKOSHI; H. MIYAKE; M. MIYAZAKI; Y. NOGI; A. YATABE & T. OKUTANI. MARINE ECOLOGY 28(1):219-232. 2007. Three-year investigations into sperm whale-fall ecosystems in Japan. 1.356 MB GASTON, ANTHONY J.; STEPHEN A. SMITH; ROBERT SAUNDERS; G. ILYA STORM and JANE A. WHITNEY. POLAR RECORD 43(1):33-47. 2007. Birds and marine mammals in southwestern Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada. 0.554 MB GOETZ, KIMBERLY T.; DAVID J. RUGH; ANDREW J. READ and RODERICK C. HOBBS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 330:247-256. 2007. Habitat use in a marine ecosystem: Beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas in Cook Inlet, Alaska. 0.747 MB (View with Acrobat 6.0>) HAO, YU JIANG; DAO QUAN CHEN; QING ZHONG ZHAO and DING WANG. THERIOGENOLOGY 67(4):673-680. 2007. Serum concentrations of gonadotropins and steroid hormones of Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis in middle and lower regions of the Yangtze River. 0.461 MB HOFFMAN, J. I.; J. FORCADA; P. N. TRATHAN and W. AMOS. NATURE (LONDON) 445(7130):912-914. 2007. Female fur seals show active choice for males that are heterozygous and unrelated. 0.175 MB IRIARTE, VERONICA. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 5(1):73-76. 2006. Killer whale (Orcinus orca) occurrence at Isla de Lobos, Uruguay. 0.216 MB JIAN YANG; HINOYA HARINO and NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI. CHEMOSPHERE 67(2):244-249. 2007. Transplacental transfer of phenyltins from a pregnant Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) to her fetus. 0.128 MB JOHNSON, AMBER and ALEJANDRO ACEVEDO-GUTIERREZ. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 85(2):290-294. 2007. Regulation compliance by vessels and disturbance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). 0.105 MB KRAHN, MARGARET M.; DAVID P. HERMAN; CRAIG O. MATKIN; JOHN W. DURBAN; LANCE BARRETT-LENNARD; DOUGLAS G. BURROWS; MARILYN E. DAHLHEIM; NANCY BLACK; RICHARD G. LEDUC and PAUL R. WADE. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 63(2):91-114. 2007. Use of chemical tracers in assessing the diet and foraging regions of eastern North Pacific killer whales. 0.767 MB KUCZAJ, II, STAN A. and DEIRDRE B. YEATER. AQUATIC MAMMALS 32(4):413-422. 2006. Dolphin imitation: Who, what, when, and why? 0.117 MB LALAS, CHRIS; HILTRUM RATZ; KIRSTY MCEWAN and SHAUN D. MCCONKEY. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 135(2):235-246. 2007. Predation by New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) as a threat to the viability of yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) at Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. 0.410 MB LAPLANCHE, CHRISTOPHE. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 121(3):1519-1528. 2007. A Bayesian method to estimate the depth and the range of phonating sperm whales using a single hydrophone. 0.778 MB LARAN, SOPHIE and VIOLAINE DROUOT-DULAU. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 87(1):345-352. 2007. Seasonal variation of striped dolphins, fin- and sperm whales' abundance in the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). 0.268 MB LUCIFREDI, IRENA and PETER J. STEIN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 121(3):1383-1391. 2007. Gray whale target strength measurements and the analysis of the backscattered response. 0.925 MB MAKHADO, A. B.; R. J. M. CRAWFORD and L. G. UNDERHILL. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 28(3-4):681-687. 2006. Impact of predation by Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus on Cape gannets Morus capensis at Malgas Island, Western Cape, South Africa. 0.089 MB MANGERUD, JAN; STEIN BONDEVIK; STEINAR GULLIKSEN; ANNE KARIN HUFTHAMMER and TORE HOISAETER. QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS 25(23-24):3228-3245. 2006. Marine 14C reservoir ages for 19th century whales and molluscs from the North Atlantic. 1.000 MB MARTINA, BYRON E.; GEORGES M. G. M. VERJANS; THIJS KUIKEN; GEERT VAN AMERONGEN and ALBERT D. M. E. OSTERHAUS. MICROBES AND INFECTION 9(1):40-46. 2007. In vitro and in vivo replication of seal gammaherpesviruses in cells of multiple species. 0.980 MB MOS, L.; M. TABUCHI; N. DANGERFIELD; S. J. JEFFRIES; B. F. KOOP and P. S. ROSS. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM) 81(3):319-328. 2007. Contaminant-associated disruption of vitamin A and its receptor (retinoic acid receptor alpha) in free-ranging harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). 0.531 MB MURASE, HIROTO; TSUTOMU TAMURA; HIROSHI KIWADA; YOSHIHIRO FUJISE; HIKARU WATANABE; HIROSHI OHIZUMI; SHIROH YONEZAKI; HIROSHI OKAMURA and SHIGEYUKI KAWAHARA. FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY 16(2):186-201. 2007. Prey selection of common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Bryde's (Balaenoptera edeni) whales in the western North Pacific in 2000 and 2001. 2.019 MB NEWSOME, S. D.; M. A. ETNIER; C. M. KURLE; J. R. WALDBAUER; C. P. CHAMBERLAIN and P. L. KOCH. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 332:211-224. 2007. Historic decline in primary productivity in western Gulf of Alaska and eastern Bering Sea: Isotopic analysis of northern fur seal teeth. 0.451 MB OLAVARRIA, C.; C. S. BAKER; C. GARRIGUE; M. POOLE; N. HAUSER; S. CABALLERO; L. FLOREZ-GONZALEZ; M. BRASSEUR; J. BANNISTER; J. CAPELLA; P. CLAPHAM; R. DODEMONT; M. DONOGHUE; C. JENNER; M.-N. JENNER; D. MORO; M. OREMUS; D. PATON; H. ROSENBAUM and K. RU MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 330:257-268. 2007. Population structure of South Pacific humpback whales and the origin of the eastern Polynesian breeding grounds. 0.254 MB OLESON, ERIN M.; JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS; WILLIAM C. BURGESS; MARK A. MCDONALD; CARRIE A. LEDUC and JOHN A. HILDEBRAND. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 330:269-284. 2007. Behavioral context of call production by eastern North Pacific blue whales. 1.736 (View with Acrobat 6.0>) PACK, ADAM A. and LOUIS M. HERMAN. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY 121(1):34-45. 2007. The dolphin's (Tursiops truncatus) understanding of human gazing and pointing: Knowing what and where. 0.119 MB QUAKENBUSH, LORI T. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 54(2):232-236. 2007. Polybrominated diphenyl ether compounds in ringed, bearded, spotted, and ribbon seals from the Alaskan Bering Sea. 0.093 MB REA, L. D.; D. A. S. ROSEN and A. W. TRITES. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 85(2):190-200. 2007. Utilization of stored energy reserves during fasting varies by age and season in Steller sea lions. 0.202 MB ROCH, MARIE A.; MELISSA S. SOLDEVILLA; JESSICA C. BURTENSHAW; E. ELIZABETH HENDERSON and JOHN A. HILDEBRAND. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 121(3):1737-1748. 2007. Gaussian mixture model classification of odontocetes in the Southern California Bight and the Gulf of California. 0.834 MB SANVITO, SIMONA; FILIPPO GALIMBERTI and EDWARD H. MILLER. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 73(2):287-299. 2007. Vocal signalling of male southern elephant seals is honest but imprecise. 1.035 MB SANVITO, SIMONA; FILIPPO GALIMBERTI and EDWARD H. MILLER. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 85(2):207-220. 2007. Having a big nose: Structure, ontogeny, and function of the elephant seal proboscis. 1.408 MB SANVITO, SIMONA; FILIPPO GALIMBERTI and EDWARD H. MILLER. ETHOLOGY 113(2):137-146. 2007. Observational evidences of vocal learning in southern elephant seals: A longitudinal study. 0.717 MB SARGEANT, BROOKE L.; AARON J. WIRSING; MICHAEL R. HEITHAUS and JANET MANN. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 61(5):679-688. 2007. Can environmental heterogeneity explain individual foraging variation in wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.)? 0.295 MB SCHULTE-PELKUM, N.; S. WIESKOTTEN; W. HANKE; G. DEHNHARDT and B. MAUCK. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 210(5):781-787. 2007. Tracking of biogenic hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). 0.645 MB SENANAYAKE, S. P. J. NAMAL and FEREIDOON SHAHIDI. JOURNAL OF FOOD LIPIDS 14(1):78-96. 2007. Acidolysis of seal blubber oil with lauric acid. 0.184 MB SOLDEVILLA, M. S.; S. M. WIGGINS; J. CALAMBOKIDIS; A. DOUGLAS; E. M. OLESON and J. A. HILDEBRAND. CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS REPORTS 47:79-91. 2006. Marine mammal monitoring and habitat investigations during CalCOFI surveys. 0.683 MB STENSLAND, EVA and PER BERGGREN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 332:225-234. 2007. Behavioural changes in female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in response to boat-based tourism. 0.201 MB TEUTEN, EMMA L. and CHRISTOPHER M. REDDY. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 145(3):668-671. 2007. Halogenated organic compounds in archived whale oil: A pre-industrial record. 0.155 MB THOMPSON, PAUL M. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 54(2):123-127. 2007. Developing water quality standards for coastal dolphins. 0.122 MB TOLLIT, D. J.; S. G. HEASLIP; R. L. BARRICK and A. W. TRITES. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 85(1):1-15. 2007. Impact of diet-index selection and the digestion of prey hard remains on determining the diet of the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.430 MB URASHIMA, TADASU; MAMI KOBAYASHI; SADAKI ASAKUMA; YUSUKE UEMURA; IKICHI ARAI; KENJI FUKUDA; TADAO SAITO; TOSHIHIRO; MOGOE; HAJIME ISHIKAWA and YUTAKA FUKUI. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 146(2):153-159. 2006. Chemical characterization of the oligosaccharides in Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis lesson) milk. 0.294 MB WANG, JOHN Y. and SHIH-CHU YANG. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 8(3):283-292. 2006. Unusual cetacean stranding events of Taiwan in 2004 and 2005. 1.049 MB WATANABE, NOZOMI; JUN HATANO; KIYOSHI ASAHINA; TOSHIHIDE IWASAKI and SATOSHI HAYAKAWA. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 146(1):105-118. 2007. Molecular cloning and histological localization of LH-like substances in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) placenta. 1.631 MB WEIR, CAROLINE R.; KAREN A. STOCKIN and GRAHAM J. PIERCE. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 87(1):327-338. 2007. Spatial and temporal trends in the distribution of harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and minke whales off Aberdeenshire (UK), north-western North Sea. 0.405 MB YUEN, MICHELLE M. L.; PAUL E. NACHTIGALL; MARLEE BREESE and STEPHANIE A. VLACHOS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 121(3):1768-1774. 2007. The perception of complex tones by a false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). 0.394 MB

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Panama dolphin capture proposal
by Naomi Rose 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Hello MARMAM members: I have just returned from a three-day visit to the Republic of Panama. For the past two years or so, a company called Ocean Embassy (www.oceanembassy.com <http://www.oceanembassy.com/> and see press release below) has been seeking permission of the Panamanian government to build a resort featuring captive dolphins and to stock this dolphinarium with dolphins captured from local waters (from both sides of the isthmus). If you would like to see the original proposal or other materials related to this situation, I would be happy to send them to anyone on request. I am posting to MARMAM because, in my opinion, Ocean Embassy is misrepresenting several conservation, science, and education concepts as part of its marketing strategy. For example, the proposal is to capture dolphins before any population surveys are completed. (Panama's coastal waters have never been surveyed for dolphin abundance.) The proposal states that initially 28 dolphins will be captured - I was present when an Ocean Embassy representative stated that this number is now 18 - and a quota of 80 dolphins has been established for the following five years. A research program is set to begin after the initial captures occur (and the quota of 80 will be taken while abundance surveys are on-going) and only one Caribbean dolphin population will be studied at all (in the Bocas del Toro region), although dolphins will be captured on the Pacific side. This plan is presented in Ocean Embassy's materials as "precautionary" and the captures and a planned captive breeding program as "essential to the study of this species." Ocean Embassy rhetoric even implies that captive breeding is a mandatory element of any dolphin conservation program in the Caribbean (see the press release re: the SPAW Protocol). I also heard the same Ocean Embassy representative state that capturing dolphins before doing research was necessary to establish a "control group," although a control for what was not made clear. No mention is made in the proposal of plans to conduct international trade in these animals, but the proposed quota (as many as 80 dolphins over five years) and the plans for captive breeding suggest strongly that this is the ultimate intention. I am appalled at the misrepresentation of scientific and conservation concepts currently taking place in Panama. In the 14 years I have been working in the field of marine mammal protection advocacy, I have never seen quite such an egregious and propagandistic misuse of science and conservation to sell this type of business development plan. I think purely as a matter of principle, regardless of one's position on captivity or capture, marine mammal biologists should speak out against this project. If companies like Ocean Embassy can masquerade as research and conservation organizations with impunity, when they not only are just business ventures but are actually perverting scientific, conservation, and management principles to further their own commercial interests, then we can hardly expect governments to continue to respect and heed legitimate science. If there is a growing number of politicians and decision-makers who are dismissive of legitimate science, then some of the blame must rest with scientists who don't think they should get involved in politically charged or controversial issues. I would like to call on anyone on MARMAM who is equally appalled at this situation to write letters to the president of Panama (who so far supports Ocean Embassy and its proposal), to clarify for him that the manner in which Ocean Embassy represents science and conservation is inconsistent with that of the international marine mammal science, conservation, and management communities. He needs to hear this from many quarters, but particularly from independent researchers - to date, calls for a proper scientific basis for quotas, which are coming from the environmental and animal protection communities, are being dismissed as "radical" and "self-serving". During my visit to Panama, my concerns were summarily dismissed by Ocean Embassy, and I myself was characterized as someone who "calls herself an expert on dolphins, but has no experience working with dolphins. She has never held a baby dolphin, nor worked with adult dolphins. She has never studied dolphins, conducted research on dolphins, nor rescued injured or stranded dolphins." [My Spanish is rudimentary, but I think I have the gist; however, I would be happy to provide anyone with the original Spanish version of this statement, which was distributed at an Ocean Embassy press conference in Panama City on March 6, 2007.] If you are interested in additional information on this situation and/or in writing a letter to the government of Panama, please email me. Again, I am not asking for letters protesting captivity or even capture - I am asking for letters offering the decision-makers in Panama a description of genuine concepts of science, conservation, and sustainable management of marine mammal resources, instead of the twisted, counterfeit version being offered by Ocean Embassy. The following is the English press release from Ocean Embassy (dated January 29, 2007), announcing the approval of the plan to build a dolphinarium in San Carlos, Panama (near Panama City). To clarify, a permit to capture dolphins has not yet been issued. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR DOLPHINS BEGINS IN PANAMA Panama City, Panama--(January 29, 2007) - Panama will become the first country in Central America, and one of the few in the world, to launch a comprehensive marine mammal conservation strategy. Ocean Embassy Panama, a marine life park under construction in Playa Corona, San Carlos will be a significant contributor in these efforts to protect Panama's marine resources. The strategy includes extensive field research and multi-level educational programs which will be undertaken to assess Panama's wild dolphins, to provide care for sick and injured animals and to engage the public with new knowledge, according to Ocean Embassy Panama (OEP) President, Robin Friday. Ocean Embassy's marine mammal experts and independent scientists will conduct a five-year research study on the abundance, travel patterns, and health parameters of dolphins along both coasts of Panama. According to OEP veterinarian Dr. Rene Varela, "Our studies will provide an accurate assessment of wild marine mammal health and the condition of the marine environment in which they exist. Performed over a long period of time, this study will create a comprehensive view of environmental and ecosystem health of Panama's coastal areas. From these findings, OEP will reap a wealth of important data to be shared with scientists, wildlife officials, universities and government agencies in Panama and all over the world. Successful breeding programs are one of the primary objectives of most respected zoos and aquariums in the world. Part of OEP's conservation strategy is to establish a dolphin breeding program that is essential, among other things, to study this species that is so popular worldwide. Zoological breeding programs have saved more than 19 animal species from extinction, such as the California condor (large bird of prey), China's panda and Brazil's golden lion tamarin (small primate), among others. As a major component of its conservation plan, OEP has requested permission to initiate its research objectives with a broad sampling of wild dolphins. Ninety-six percent of the animals will be evaluated at sea. The remaining animals, considered a "precautionary quota," will experience uncompromised enriching care in a spacious and pristine habitat as part of OEP's research and educational programs. Each set of animals serves as unique and important contributors to the understanding of Panama bottlenose dolphin health. According to OEP President, Friday, "We have the ideal team of professional marine life conservationists to carry out our plans. Not only do we have the skills and experience to provide the best care for animals -- we save animals. Over the last 30 years, our experts have provided assistance to hundreds of sick and injured wildlife around the world." OEP identified Panama as the ideal location to launch its new generation of marine "embassy" and education programs, due to Panama's will and proven commitment to responsibly manage the marine environment and establish strict environmental regulations, stated Friday. By acknowledging OEP's conservation strategy, Panama is implementing one of the most important provisions of the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol, of which Panama is a signatory. According to Article 10 of the SPAW Protocol, "Each Party shall formulate and adopt policies and plans for the management of captive breeding of protected fauna (animals) and propagation of protected flora (plants)." OEP's research programs respond to this provision and others within this Protocol. In conclusion, Friday states, "working with a government that wants its people to direct their interest towards the sea and pay special attention to its oceans, we have the opportunity to create one of the most integrated conservation strategies in the world. Panamanians will be the majority of our team and will be significant contributors in the development of these new endeavors. We are determined to become a new and active voice for the protection and understanding of the environment." ### OEP's concepts and projects are designed to be progressive, multi-faceted and invested in four core areas: 1) independent critical conservation programs in the local area; 2) uncompromised care for our animals including innovative and holistic environments; 3) economic growth through employment, service contracts and tourist development; and 4) effective marine educational programs. ************************* Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist Treaty Law, Oceans and Wildlife Protection Humane Society International 700 Professional Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20879 USA Ph 301 258 3048 Fax 301 258 3082 Eml nrose(a)hsi.org http://www.hsi.org <http://www.hsi.org/> http://www.hsus.org <http://www.hsus.org/> "You are a marine biologist. You of all people must know life isn't fair." ("Surface" - NBC drama, airing Mondays Fall 2005) NOTICE: This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately at the telephone number above. Thank you.

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new paper on dolphin sonar
by Peter Dobbins 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Dear Marmamers, The following paper has just been published: Dolphin sonar - modelling a new receiver concept Peter Dobbins Bioinspiration & Biomimetics (ISSN: 1748-3190) Volume 2 No 1, pages 19-29 Abstract: Observations suggest that dolphin sonars function well in the very shallow, reverberant, near-shore region of the ocean, and significantly out-perform man-made systems under such conditions. The echolocation characteristics of many small cetaceans have been measured directly and the high performance of biosonar systems is not in question, but explanations for their resolution, target detection, localization and tracking abilities are inadequate and deserve further investigation. The dolphin's lower jaw has been identified as part of an echo-receptor, and several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this. In one of these, the regularity of dolphin teeth was considered as a sonar array. This paper explores the physics of such systems with models based on established radar and sonar principles, and using data from various dolphin species. The insights gained from this modelling then lead to speculative proposals for new sonar receiver concepts that may have advantages over more conventional designs in shallow water operation. The article can be found online at: http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1748-3190/2/1/003 <http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1748-3190/2/1/003> or requested via email to peter.dobbins(a)sea.co.uk ________________________________________________________________________ The contents of this email (including any attachments) are confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of its contents is strictly prohibited, and you should please notify the sender immediately and then delete it (including any attachments) from your system.

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Study Killer Whales in the Wild in 2008
by Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Spend 10 weeks off campus studying endangered killer whales in the wild! http://beamreach.org/?1sp8mm070314 Beam Reach is for you if you want to: study endangered orcas in the wild sail for 5 weeks on a biodiesel electric catamaran work with experts in killer whale conservation and acoustics learn about marine conservation and sustainability learn in a small group and get lots of individual time with instructors work on real science and your own research project spend 5 weeks at Friday Harbor Labs earn 18 credits from the University of Washington You dont have to be a science major to apply; you just have to be interested in the marine environment and want to spend 10 weeks studying off campus. We are now accepting applications for our Spring 08 program (March 31-June 7, 2008). We do have a few spaces left in our fall 07 program: Aug 20 - Oct 28, 2007 Dive In: http://beamreach.org/?2sp8mm070314 Let me know if you have any questions. Tracy _____________________________________________________________________ Beam Reach http://beamreach.org Marine Science and Sustainability School 6537 16th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98115 Dr. Scott Veirs, President 206.251.5554 Tracy Smith, Admissions 800.839.7495

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Marine Mammal Observers
by Jody Weir 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Position: Marine Mammal Observer Raincoast Conservation Foundation is seeking 2 volunteer Marine Mammal Observers to join our boat-based team for surveys in Spring 2007. We plan to do systematic coverage of Queen Charlotte Basin, and a representative sample of mainland inlets on the north and central coast of British Columbia aboard the Achiever, a 23 meter research boat. We will have a team of 6 marine mammal observers who rotate through four positions, and one seabird observer. The spring surveys will be commencing in early April and ending sometime in early June. The cost of room and board will be covered by the project for the duration of the surveys. If interested, please email your resume to rob(a)raincoast.org and cc. jody(a)raincoast.org For more information, please see the Cruise Report (pdf) on our website: www.raincoast.org Thanks, Jody Weir Marine Program Coordinator Raincoast Conservation Foundation www.raincoast.org 1-250-655-1229 ext.231

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Subject: Harbour porpoise survey interships
by Cormac Booth 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Subject: Harbour porpoise survey internships We are seeking skilled research assistants for the 2007 season to carry out land-based theodolite surveys for harbour porpoise. The fieldwork will be carried out near Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, running from mid-April/May to September. This work with be carried out in conjunction with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) The harbour porpoise (/Phocoena phocoena/) is the commonest cetacean species found in UK inshore waters, and one of the most ecologically significant. Some populations are severely affected by interactions with fisheries and noise pollution is also a concern. Relatively little known about the species’ fine scale distribution. This project will study the distribution of harbour porpoises at fine scales and investigate the roles of oceanographic factors driving it. Volunteers should have a background in zoology, marine biology or a related field, be dedicated, hard-working and be prepared to work long hours in the field. Experience with theodolites and/or marine mammals survey methods and with Microsoft Excel / Access data processing would be advantageous. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide salary or housing for research interns, though assistance with finding suitable accommodation will be available through HWDT. If you are interested, please provide a Curriculum Vitae with references, and a covering letter outlining your interests and suitability for this project to Cormac G Booth (cgb8(a)st-andrews.ac.uk <mailto:cgb8@st-andrews.ac.uk>) by Monday 26^th March 2007. Cormac G Booth PhD Candidate Sea Mammal Research Unit Gatty Marine Laboratory University of St Andrews cgb8(a)st-andrews.ac.uk <mailto:cgb8@st-andrews.ac.uk>

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