May 2007 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper on cetacean intelligence
by lmarino＠EMORY.EDU 15 May '07

15 May '07

Dear MARMAMERS - Please see the announcement below of our new integrative review of cetacean intelligence. PLoS is an on-line public-access journal and you can go to the website for the full article. Thanks, Lori Marino A group of eminent cetacean researchers respond to headlines charging that dolphins might be "flippin' idiots". They examine behavioural, anatomical and evolutionary data to conclude that the large brain of cetaceans evolved to support complex cognitive abilities. Marino L, Connor RC, Fordyce RE, Herman LM, Hof PR, et al. (2007) Cetaceans Have Complex Brains for Complex Cognition. PLoS Biol 5(5: e139

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Summer research courses
by Bruno Diaz 11 May '07

11 May '07

Hi all, Would like to invite interested people to take a dolphin research BDRI course. Five specific summer training courses designed for students, biologists, and more interested people who seek a broad view of the research tecniques and study of wild Bottlenose dolphins and marine biology: - Field methods in the wild, - Photo-ID and bottlenose dolphins' social structure, - Study of bottlenose dolphin behaviour, - Bioacoustics of bottlenose dolphins, - Study of bottlenose dolphins and human activities Facility: The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (private research centre) Kind of course(s) offered: Specific training courses, useful to carry out Bachelor or MSc thesis work related with bottlenose dolphins Location: Emerald Coast, Golfo Aranci (northeastern coast of Sardinia), Italy Language: English, (if some student doesnot speak english courses also are in Spanish, Portuguese or Italian) Short description of course: Classes will be in a form of both: lectures that will lead to more "informal" discussion, hopefully ending with a constructive brain-storming on the specific topic; as well as instructions with hand-on practical component, especially when it involves data analysis and field techniques. Courses give an insight into the workings of a research team, and provide valuable experience in a wide range of areas including scientific data collection, analysis and presentation; giving public talks and more. Using study techniques that neither harm nor seriously disturb the animals, students conduct ecological and behavioural studies, as well as collecting detailed environmental information. Duration of the course: These intensive educational courses, generally six or thirteen days long (with 20 hours of lessons and 4 days of field work at sea or 40 hours and 9 days at sea respectively). There is the possibility of include several courses lasting a maximum of 10 weeks. Facilities: Accomodation in the research base, own research vessel and laboratory. Conditions for participation: Dedicated to those who are interesting to participate to dolphin research and conservation campaigns. It is open to anyone age 18 and above, with no special prerequisites concerning research experience. No background knowledge of cetaceans is required, we ask only for you willing to learn about the dolphins and their environment. Indicative costs: From 400 a 6 days course, from 800 a 13 days course. Students have a special price. More info: http://www.thebdri.com info(a)thebdri.com 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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Marine Mammal Summer Course
by Ashley Holmes 11 May '07

11 May '07

Biology of Marine Mammals - Now Registering! The Huntsman Marine Science Centre St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada www.huntsmanmarine.ca <http://www.huntsmanmarine.ca/> New Session Just Opened Up! Dates: 28 July - 11 August, 2007 Our location on the Bay of Fundy is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to study several species of whales as well as seals and dolphins within a two-week course framework. There will be frequent field trips at sea and on shore to observe marine mammals in their natural habitats. Major topics include: an introduction to Bay of Fundy marine mammals, their distribution and abundance, origin and evolution, historical zoogeography, adaptations and community ecology as well as future prospects. Lab sessions will include an introduction to behavioural observations as well as dissections of seals and porpoises. Students will also conduct individual research projects. Prerequisite: Introductory Biology Instructor: Dr. Steven Benjamins Evaluation: Written exam (40%); Lab performance (10%); Student projects (40%); Course log (10%). Fee: $1,625 (CDN) Accredited through McGill University For more information, please contact: Ms. Ashley Holmes University Programs Coordinator Huntsman Marine Science Centre phone: (506) 529-1260 fax: (506) 529-1212 <mailto:aholmes@huntsmanmarine.ca> aholmes(a)huntsmanmarine.ca <http://www.huntsmanmarine.ca> www.huntsmanmarine.ca

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Graduate research assistantship
by Godard-Codding, Celine 11 May '07

11 May '07

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP IN MARINE MAMMAL AND SEA TURTLE ECOTOXICOLOGY I am soliciting applications for a graduate research assistant in marine mammal and sea turtle ecotoxicology at the Ph.D. or M.S. level beginning fall 2007 (or as early as June 07) within The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) and the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University. The position comes with a full stipend and will be awarded on a competitive basis. Applicants should have some level of experience and/or interest in genomic and cellular toxicology, mechanistic toxicology, endangered wildlife ecotoxicology and conservation, and biomarkers. Experience with cell culture, gene cloning and expression or proteomics a plus but not required. The successful candidate will be independent and highly motivated. Please contact me via email (celine.godard-codding(a)tiehh.ttu.edu) and send a CV and the names and contact information for 3 references if interested. Information on TIEHH and the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University can be found at: http://www.tiehh.ttu.edu Sincerely, Celine Godard-Codding ***************************************************************** Céline Godard-Codding, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Environmental Toxicology The Institute of Environmental and Human Health Texas Tech University and TTU Health Sciences Center Box 41163 Lubbock, Texas 79409-1163 Office: (806)-885-0337 Fax: (806)-885-4577 *****************************************************************

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Application to expose beaked whales to sonar in Bahamas
by Lindy Weilgart 10 May '07

10 May '07

Although I have not thoroughly reviewed the application to expose beaked whales to naval sonar in the AUTEC naval training range in the Bahamas, I think I understand enough to be able to form an opinion that this research is very ill-advised. Training maneuvers with naval sonar have occurred in this AUTEC range for many years, the range is well-equipped with a large array of bottom-mounted hydrophones, and beaked whales are present. Thus, I am sure that years of archived audio recordings exist of these naval maneuvers which could be analyzed to see how beaked whales react to the sonar. Vocalizing beaked whales could be tracked acoustically to see if there is spatial avoidance of the sonar, vocalizations could be analyzed to determine whether they change when the sonar is present vs. absent, and a wealth of other information must be available in these recordings which would illuminate the potential reaction of beaked whales to sonar. Naturally, there are security restrictions to this information, and the tactical maneuvers must be kept classified, but I am sure there is a way around this problem. Surely, random subsamples can be taken which would not compromise security but would allow useful biological data to be analyzed. My question thus is: why wouldn't these data be analyzed first before putting more beaked whales at risk unnecessarily? And if there are really no archived recordings available (hard to believe), then why not make recordings of future naval maneuvers, which are ongoing? Ideally, naval maneuvers involving sonar should not take place in an area of known beaked whale abundance, but as they are occurring anyway, why not take advantage of the situation? If the Navy is unwilling to move its range to protect beaked whales, why not at least gain useful information that could help the whales? However, as WDCS rightfully points out, these whales cannot be considered naive to sonar and thus could not possibly represent beaked whale populations in general. The most sensitive individuals have probably long since left the AUTEC range. I am also profoundly disturbed that NMFS personell are the holder of this permit (Boreman) and PI (Southall). This appears to me to be a conflict-of-interest situation, and at the very least, provides a very poor example for a regulator of research ostensibly used to protect marine mammals. If the Co-PIs (Boyd, Clark, Ketten, Tyack, Frankel, and Claridge) are so sure that this research will not disturb or endanger whales, then they should take on the primary responsibility and accountability themselves, and be permit holders. I urge other marine mammalogists to comment on this application before May 17. Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D. Dept. of Biology Dalhousie University For more details, visit the website of the permit application: <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/1121-1900_application.pdf>http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/1121-1900_application.pdf and draft Environmental Assessment: <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/1121-1900_ea_draft.pdf>http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/1121-1900_ea_draft.pdf Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D. Research Associate and Assistant Professor Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Ph.: (902) 494-3723 Fax: (902) 494-3736 E-mail: lweilgar(a)dal.ca

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New Articles
by David S. Janiger 10 May '07

10 May '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 ANONMYOUS. POLAR RECORD 43(2):191. 2007. Book review Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology. Second edition. Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, and Kit M. Kovacs. Academic Press, San Diego. 547pp. ISBN 0-12-088552. $69.95. 2006. 0.041 MB BAKER, ALAN N. and BENEDICTE MADON. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. Science For Conservation 272. 23p. 2007. Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera cf. brydei Olsen 1913) in the Hauraki Gulf and northeastern New Zealand waters. 0.794 MB BASBERG, BJORN L. POLAR RECORD 43(2):182-184. 2007. Book review Whaling in the Falkland Islands Dependencies 1904-1931: A History of Shore and Bay-Based Whaling in the Antarctic. Ian B. Hart. Hertfordshire: Pequena. 365pp. ISBN 0-9552924-0-09. 2006. 0.059 MB BECK, CARRIE A.; SARA J. IVERSON; W. DON BOWEN and WADE BLANCHARD. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 76(3):490-502. 2007. Sex differences in grey seal diet reflect seasonal variation in foraging behaviour and reproductive expenditure: Evidence from quantitative fatty acid signature analysis. 0.255 MB CASTINEL, AURELIE; ALEX GRINBERG; REBECCA PATTISON; PADRAIG DUIGNAN; BILL MROY; LYNN ROGERS and IAN WILKINSON. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 122(1-2):178-184. 2007. Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) pups during and after the epidemics on Enderby Island, Auckland Islands. 0.312 MB CHRISTOPHER, STEVEN J.; REBECCA S. PUGH; MICHAEL B. ELLISOR; ELIZABETH A. MACKEY; RABIA O. SPATZ; BARBARA J. PORTER; KATHIE J. BEALER; JOHN R. KUCKLICK; TERI K. ROWLES and PAUL R. BECKER. ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 12(3-4):175-187. 2007. Description and results of the NIST/NOAA 2005 interlaboratory comparison exercise for trace elements in marine mammals. 0.265 MB CONNOR, RICHARD C. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 362(1480):587-602. 2007. Dolphin social intelligence: Complex alliance relationships in bottlenose dolphins and a consideration of selective environments for extreme brain size evolution in mammals. 0.351 MB DONIOL-VALCROZE, THOMAS; DOMINIQUE BERTEAUX; PIERRE LAROUCHE and RICHARD SEARS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 335:207-216. 2007. Influence of thermal fronts on habitat selection by four rorqual whale species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 1.616 MB FELIX, FERNANDO; PEDRO JIMENEZ; JESSICA FALCONI and OSCAR ECHEVERRY. REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA MARINA Y OCEANOGRAFIA 41(2):77-82. 2007. New records and first births of the Galapagos fur seal, Arctocephalus galapagoensis (Heller, 1904), from the mainland coast of Ecuador. 0.735 MB FERNANDEZ-JURICIC, ESTEBAN and MARCELO H. CASSINI. ACTA ETHOLOGICA 10(1):23-28. 2007. Intra-sexual female agonistic behaviour of the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) in two colonies with different breeding substrates. 0.159 MB GUERRERO-RUIZ, MERCEDES; HECTOR PEREZ-CORTES M.; MARIO SALINAS Z. and JORGE URBAN R. AQUATIC MAMMALS 32(3):265-272. 2006. First mass stranding of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. 0.486 MB HADLEY, GILLIAN L.; JAY J. ROTELLA and ROBERT A. GARROTT. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 76(3):448-458. 2007. Evaluation of reproductive costs for Weddell seals in Erebus Bay, Antarctica. 0.154 MB HARDING, ROBERT J. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO QUARTERLY 76(1):515-517. 2007. Book review Twentieth-century shore-station whaling in Newfoundland and Labrador. Anthony B. Dickinson & Chesley W. Sanger. McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal and Kingston. 254pp. $49.95. 2005. 0.082 MB HOLDEN, CONSTANCE. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 315(5816):1199. 2007. Whale sensing. 0.159 MB JACQUES, ISABELLE; MAGGY GRAYON and JEAN-MICHEL VERGER. FEMS (FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN MICROBIOLOGICAL SOCIETIES) MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS 270(2):245-249. 2007. Oxidative metabolic profiles of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals: Contribution to their species classification. 0.141 MB KASS, MICHAEL D. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 315(5819):1663. 2007. The loss of a valuable dolphin. 0.267 MB KRAFFT, BJORN A.; KIT M. KOVACS and CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 335:199-206. 2007. Distribution of sex and age groups of ringed seals Pusa hispida in the fast-ice breeding habitat of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. 0.556 MB LABRADA-MARTAGON, VANESSA; DAVID AURIOLES-GAMBOA and MA ISABEL CASTRO-GONZALEZ. BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH 115(2):107-126. 2007. Relation of dental wear to the concentrations of essential minerals in teeth of the California sea lion Zalophus californianus californianus. 0.231 MB MARCOUX, MARIANNE; LUKE RENDELL and HAL WHITEHEAD. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 61(7):1093-1098. 2007. Indications of fitness differences among vocal clans of sperm whales. 0.162 MB MELLISH, JO-ANN; DANIEL HENNEN; JAMIE THOMTON; LISA PETRAUSKAS; SHANNON ATKINSON and DON CALKINS. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 34(1):43-47. 2007. Permanent marking in an endangered species: Physiological response to hot branding in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.278 MB MERRICK, RICHARD L. and TIMOTHY V. N. COLE. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-202. 14pp. 2007. Evaluation of northern right whale ship strike reduction measures in the Great South Channel of Massachusetts. 1.511 MB MILLER, ANDREW R. and NIVES DOLSAK. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS 7(1):69-96. 2007. Issue linkages in international environmental policy: The International Whaling Commission and Japanese development aid. 0.163 MB MORELL, VIRGINIA. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 316(5824):532-534. 2007. Killing whales for science? 0.375 MB NIKAIDO, MASATO; OLIVER PISKUREK and NORIHIRO OKADA. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 43(1):216-244. 2007. Toothed whale monophyly reassessed by SINE insertion analysis: The absence of lineage sorting effects suggests a small population of a common ancestral species. 1.109 MB PARDINI, A. T.; P. C. M. O'BRIEN; B. FU; R. K. BONDE; F. F. B. ELDER; M. A. FERGUSON-SMITH; F. YANG and T. J. ROBINSON. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 274(1615):1333-1340. 2007. Chromosome painting among Proboscidea, Hyracoidea and Sirenia: Support for Paenungulata (Afrotheria, Mammalia) but not Tethytheria. 0.231 MB PEREZ-CORTES M., HECTOR; CARLOS A. BARRERA A. and FRANCISCO OLLERVIDES. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 5(1):77-79. 2006. First record of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mother and calf inside Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico. 0.134 MB RITTER, FABIAN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 23(2):429-433. 2007. Behavioral responses of rough-toothed dolphins to a dead newborn calf. 0.045 MB SHARP, JULIE A.; CHRISTOPHE LEFEVRE; AMELIA J. BRENNAN and KEVIN R. NICHOLAS. JOURNAL OF MAMMARY GLAND BIOLOGY AND NEOPLASIA 12(1):47-58. 2007. The fur seal - a model lactation phenotype to explore molecular factors involved in the initiation of apoptosis at involution. 0.468 MB SONNE, CHRISTIAN; RUNE DIETZ; PALL S. LEIFSSON; GERT ASMUND; ERIK W. BORN and MAJA KIRKEGAARD. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 6(11). 9p. 2007. Are liver and renal lesions in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) associated with high mercury levels? 0.315 MB SORICE, MICHAEL G.; RICHARD O. FLAMM and SARA MCDONALD. COASTAL MANAGEMENT 35(2-3):357-374. 2007. Factors influencing behavior in a boating speed zone. 1.249 MB SPENCE-BAILEY, L. M.; D. VERRIER and J. P. Y. ARNOULD. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 177(4):483-494. 2007. The physiological and behavioural development of diving in Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) pups. 0.313 MB STONE, IAN R. and ANDREW E. DEROCHER. POLAR RECORD 43(2):171-173. 2007. An incident of polar bear infanticide and cannibalism on Phippsoya, Svalbard. 0.118 MB WAITE, JASON N.; WENDY J. SCHRADER; JO-ANN E. MELLISH and MARKUS HORNING. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES 64(2):296-303. 2007. Three-dimensional photogrammetry as a tool for estimating morphometrics and body mass of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.618 MB WENZEL, GEORGE W. POLAR RECORD 43(2):190-191. 2007. Book review Marine Mammals and Northern Cultures. Arne Kalland and Frank Sejersen. Canadian Circumpolar Institute Press: Edmonton. 349pp. ISBN 1-896445-26-8. 2005. 0.049 MB

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Global Fisheries Subsidies hurt marine mammals
by Griffin, Elizabeth 10 May '07

10 May '07

Dear Colleagues: Oceana is pushing the World Trade Organization (WTO) for an end to global fisheries subsidies that lead to overfishing. Fisheries subsidies hurt marine mammals by increasing fishing effort, which can decrease prey availability and increase bycatch. In addition, fisheries subsidies in some countries have been linked to whaling. Extensive information on the WTO, fisheries subsidies, and our work is available on our website. One of our current initiatives is a scientist sign on letter that asks Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, to push for as strong an outcome as possible in the WTO negotiations to eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies. Daniel Pauly, Boris Worm and Ussif Rashid Sumaila are the lead signers, and we hope they will be joined by scientists from around the world. If you are interested in more information about our work, please check out http://www.oceana.org/north-america/what-we-do/stop-overfishing-subsidie s/ <http://www.oceana.org/north-america/what-we-do/stop-overfishing-subsidi es/> or if you would like to be a signer to the letter, please reply to me at Egriffin(a)Oceana.org. Thank you, Elizabeth Griffin Elizabeth Griffin| Marine Wildlife Scientist ________________________________________ | Protecting the World's Oceans 2501 M Street NW, Suite 300 | Washington, DC 20037 USA T +1.202.467.1913 | F +1.202.833.2070 | C +1.202.271.5645 E egriffin(a)oceana.org | W www.oceana.org <http://www.oceana.org/> May XX, 2007 Director-General Pascal Lamy World Trade Organization Centre William Rappard Rue de Lausanne 154 CH-1211 Geneva 21 Switzerland Dear Director-General Lamy: As members of the international science community, we write to you with our grave concern about the state of the world's oceans. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has an unprecedented and unequalled opportunity to contribute to stopping global overfishing by significantly reducing worldwide subsidies to the fishing sector. An ambitious outcome in the ongoing WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations is vital to the future of the world's fisheries. It is our great hope that you will use your leadership to guide the WTO to meet this global challenge. We have spent lifetimes dedicated to studying the oceans ecosystems and marine fisheries. Many of us remember a time only decades ago when the oceans were viewed as vast storehouses of protein, able to provide food to an increasingly hungry world, food that could be provided by fishermen relying on technology and scientific management. At that time, many of us also started to observe the decline of some fish populations. But we had little idea how massive the problem would become. Modern fishing technology is capable of catching fish at amounts and in places we never would have envisioned. The majority of the world's fish populations are in jeopardy from overfishing and if current trends continue, will be beyond recovery within decades. Fish populations, as well as many other ocean species, have been depleted to a fraction of their historical level. Many of these fish are at the top of the marine food chain, and their disappearance can trigger cascading adverse effects throughout the marine ecosystem. * Ninety percent of all the "big fish"-large-bodied sharks, tuna, marlin and swordfish - have disappeared as the result of industrialized fishing;[1] * The decline of many ocean species is increasingly impairing the ocean's capacity to provide food, maintain water quality, and recover from perturbations.[2] * Despite massive technological advances and increased effort, global catches of food fish have been declining for more than a decade.[3] There is no longer any question -we have reached a critical state. The world's ocean ecosystems are at a tipping point, and overfishing represents one of the greatest threats to their productivity. Yet despite the precarious state of the oceans, many governments continue to provide significant subsidies to their fishing sector. Fisheries subsidies produce such strong economic incentives to overfish that reducing them is one of the most significant actions that can be taken to combat global overfishing. The WTO negotiations represent the best opportunity to control worldwide subsidies to the fishing sector. According to a new study, fisheries subsidies amount to $30 to $34 billion annually, and at least $20 billion go directly towards supporting fishing capacity, such as boats, fuel, equipment, and other operating costs.[4] These subsidies equal approximately 25 percent of worldwide fishing revenue. Fisheries subsidies are not only a major driver of overfishing, but promote other destructive fishing practices. For example, high seas bottom trawling, a practice so environmentally-destructive that the United Nations has called on nations to severely restrict it, would not be profitable without its large subsidies for fuel. Subsidies have also been documented to support illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing - a serious impediment to achieving sustainable fisheries. There are only decades left before the damage we have inflicted on the oceans becomes permanent. We are at a crossroads. One road leads to a world with tremendously diminished marine life. The other leads to one with oceans again teeming with abundance, where the world can rely on the oceans for protein, and enjoy its wildlife. The choices we make today will determine our path for the future. Global overfishing is one of the greatest threats to the oceans. Massive government subsidies continue to perpetuate and exacerbate this problem. The WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations are historic in their intent to address a major environmental issue in the context of trade. But the results of this negotiation go far beyond trade - they will directly impact our ability to ensure the long-term sustainability of the world's fisheries. The WTO has in its hands the opportunity to effect one of the greatest changes towards protecting the world's oceans. We urge you to use your skill and leadership to significantly achieve a successful outcome in the fisheries subsidies negotiations and demonstrate to the world that the WTO can play a constructive role in solving problems of global consequence. Sincerely, cc: Ambassador Guillermo Valles Galmes of Uruguay Chairman, WTO Negotiating Group on Rules [1] R. Myers & B. Worm, Rapid Worldwide Depletion of Predatory Fish Communities. Nature, May 15, 2003, Vol., 423, p. 280-283 [1] B. Worm et al., Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystems Services. Science, November 3, 2006, Vol. 314, p. 787-790 [1] R. Watson & D. Pauly, Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends. Nature November 29, 2001, 414, p. 534-536 4 Sumaila, U. R. and D. Pauly (Editors) 2006. Catching More Bait: A Bottom-up Re-estimation of Global Fisheries Subsidies. Fisheries Centre Research Reports Vol. 14(6) 114 pp. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ [1] R. Myers & B. Worm, Rapid Worldwide Depletion of Predatory Fish Communities. Nature, May 15, 2003, Vol., 423, p. 280-283 [2] B. Worm et al., Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystems Services. Science, November 3, 2006, Vol. 314, p. 787-790 [3] R. Watson & D. Pauly, Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends. Nature November 29, 2001, 414, p. 534-536 4 Sumaila, U. R. and D. Pauly (Editors) 2006. Catching More Bait: A Bottom-up Re-estimation of Global Fisheries Subsidies. Fisheries Centre Research Reports Vol. 14(6) 114 pp.

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Training Scholarship in Wildlife Disease Investigation
by Dr Gareth Pearce 10 May '07

10 May '07

Dear All, We shall shortly be advertising the following vacancy to be based in the Wildlife Health & Conservation Medicine Research Group at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK. It is intended that the scholarship will contain some emphasis on marine mammal disease investigations. For further information, please see our website at http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news/ Best regards Gareth Pearce .......................................................................... Dr Gareth Pearce Wildlife Health & Conservation Medicine Research Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK, CB3 0ES Tel: 01223 337678 e-mail: gpp28(a)cam.ac.uk .......................................................................... Senior Clinical Training Scholarship in Wildlife Disease Investigation Stipend: £18,980 in year one, £19,890 in year two and £20,890 in year three (Tax Free) This is a collaborative 3-year training programme, partly supported by the RCVS Trust, involving veterinary and scientific staff from the Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Cambridge, the International Zoo Veterinary Group, Zoological Society of London, DEFRA, RSCPA Wildlife Centre-East Winch, Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre-Truro and the Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium. The position will offer outstanding opportunities for the scholar to gain a wide range of experience in wildlife disease diagnosis, surveillance, prevention and control; clinical wildlife medicine, rehabilitation and re-introduction; pathology of avian, terrestrial and aquatic species and epidemiological investigation and research. The training programme will provide the scholar with an advanced level of understanding of the role of epidemiology and pathology in particular in the investigation and management of wildlife disease and will involve attending specialised training courses in clinical research methodology and disease dynamics. The programme is designed to prepare the scholar for a future career in specialised wildlife medicine and applied research in the field of wildlife disease investigation and management. The programme is expected to provide the necessary preparation for successful examination for the RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine or Diploma if the Certificate or MSc (Wild Animal Health) is already held. The pathology component of the training will provide an additional platform for further specialisation and study towards a recognised pathology qualification such as DipECVP or MRCPath. Applicants must be Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or hold a degree qualifying them for membership and show evidence of a strong interest in wildlife disease investigation and management. For an informal discussion about the position, please contact Dr Gareth Pearce on 01223 337678 or via e-mail at gpp28(a)cam.ac.uk. Further particulars for the post may be downloaded from http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news Application form (PD18) may be obtained by contacting the General Office in the Department of Veterinary Medicine on 01223 337701 quoting the title of the position or by downloading from http://www.admin.cam.ac.cam/offices/personnel/forms/pd18. Completed application forms along with a CV and letter of application should be sent to Miss Melissa Large at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, or via e-mail to recruit(a)vet.cam.ac.uk. Closing Date 1 June 2007

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South Australian Museum marine mammal aging workshop
by Karen.Evans＠csiro.au 09 May '07

09 May '07

The recently established Marine Mammal Aging Facility at the South Australian Museum, South Australia would like to invite researchers to participate in a workshop focused on age determination in cetaceans and pinnipeds. This workshop is funded by the Australian federal government and is open to 6 to 8 Australian and New Zealand participants. There is no charge for the workshop itself but participants will need to fund and organise their own transport to Adelaide, South Australia and accommodation and meals during the period of the workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring their own material along to the workshop for preparation and aging. It is anticipated that the workshop will be held over the course of 3 days during the week of August 20 2007. For further information on the workshop and registration contact Catherine Kemper at Kemper.Cath(a)saugov.sa.gov.au, or on 08 8207 7458(in Aust) 61 8 82077458(from NZ).

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dolphin internship available
by Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt 07 May '07

07 May '07

Internships available at Ocean Park Hong Kong Full-time unpaid internships are currently being offered by the Acoustic Research Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute of the National University of Singapore in collaboration with Ocean Park Hong Kong. The ARL conducts studies on the cognitive and sensory capabilities of bottlenose dolphins living at Ocean Park with a focus on echolocation and underwater acoustics. Interns receive intensive hands-on experience by participating in all aspects of the ongoing research and laboratory activities, including assistance in the daily research sessions with the dolphins, training of dolphins, data processing and analysis, and also assist with projects administrative and maintenance requirements. Interns should have at least two years of college experience. Individuals from all types of academic disciplines are welcome to apply. Selection is competitive and is based on the applicant’s statement of interest, prior experience, academic record, and letters of reference. The following internship periods for the project are available: Summer (mid-May through August 2007, Fall (mid August 2007 to mid- January 2008) and Spring (early January through May 2008).Arrangements can possibly be made for different starting and ending dates if there are conflicts with school schedules. There is no charge for the internship. Interns are responsible for their own room and board. To apply please submit the following: 1) Statement of Interest 2) Academic records 3) Three letters of reference 4) Curriculum Vitae or for more information please contact (please put “dolphin internship” in the subject line!) Dr M. Hoffmann-Kuhnt Acoustic Research Laboratory Tropical Marine Science Institute National University of Singapore 12 A Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119223 Email: mahoku(a)nus.edu.sg

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