January 2009 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

internship
by Simone Cromwell 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

Please post the following internship offering on your website. Thanks, -Simone The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), a nonprofit organization based in Blue Hill, Maine, is recruiting to fill a Watershed Research Internship position for the field season 2009. This is a full-time position requiring a commitment from early April through October. MERI is a scientific research and education organization dedicated to understanding the impacts of environmental pollutants on wildlife and human health, and to interpreting this information to a broad audience. Current projects include a watershed monitoring initiative, phytoplankton (red tide) monitoring, and a long-term eco-toxicological investigation of northwestern Atlantic harbor seals. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual working toward a career in marine or freshwater ecology, environmental and natural sciences, or chemistry to gain practical experience in the field and in the lab. The ideal candidate will possess a personal interest in environmental monitoring and a commitment to the mission of the organization. Primary Job Responsibility: This position will involve assisting the Research Department with the implementation of the Blue Hill Bay Watershed Monitoring Project. Primary responsibilities will include water quality sampling at fresh and marine water sites, water chemistry analysis in the field and in the lab, data entry and analysis. Additional duties may include assisting with phytoplankton monitoring and research dissemination/outreach activities. Job Description: * Conduct in-situ water quality monitoring using a DataSonde multi probe and sample collection at marine and freshwater sites throughout the Blue Hill Bay Watershed * Perform lab chemistries and bacterial culture preparation and analysis following established standard operating procedures and quality assurance protocols * Assist with data entry in the field and in the lab and updating of laboratory records and logs * Assist with preparation of result summaries, reports, fact sheets and Power Point presentations * Articulate and promote the MERI mission to the public * Perform other duties relating to the organization's goals and mission as required Reports to: Watershed Project Coordinator and Research Staff Qualifications: Applicants should possess a BA or BS degree in ecology, environmental sciences, marine sciences, chemistry or a related major (Juniors and Seniors may also apply). Field and laboratory experience, good writing skills and a basic knowledge of statistics is required. Experience with spectrophotometers and multi-parameter probes, knowledge of habitat assessment techniques and familiarity with environmental sampling and monitoring methods is preferred. Applicants must also be able to work outside in a variety of environmental conditions, be comfortable working on a marine research vessel and be available to work occasional nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel required; photography, ArcGIS, statistics (SPSS), and graphics experience is desirable but not necessary. Applicant must possess a valid driver's license and a good driving record. Time Requirements: April 20th - October 30th. Full-time (40 hours/week); additional hours to be agreed upon by employee and Director. Compensation: Stipend and housing in Blue Hill. Housing is located within walking distance to Marine Environmental Research Institute. To Apply: If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit by e-mail or mail a current CV and three references to: scromwell(a)meriresearch.org Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street Blue Hill, ME 04616 Tel: (207) 374-2135 Fax: (207) 374-2931 Website: www.meriresearch.org MERI is an Equal Opportunity Employer Simone Cromwell Watershed Project Coordinator Marine Environmental Research Institute 55 Main Street, PO Box 1652 Blue Hill, ME 04614 207.374.8980

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Allied Whale Summer Internship
by Robin Sewall 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

Allied Whale, the marine mammal research lab of College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, conducts population and foraging ecology of fin and humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine using photo ID, genetic, and stable isotope sampling. The lab also responds to marine mammal strandings on the Maine Coast and operates the Bar Harbor Whale Museum. Allied Whale is dedicated to education through research, and relies upon student and volunteer help with photo ID, catalogue curation, marine mammal stranding response, and museum operation. Summer fieldwork, in which students and volunteers are encouraged to take part, is conducted from the mainland as well as from our offshore marine research station. Our team operates a small fleet of research vessels and often has the opportunity to work aboard local whale watch boats. Interns for the 2009 field season will be involved in data collection and analysis and various other research and marine mammal response operations. Interns will spend time working on the water aboard rigid hull inflatables or our 26' cuddy-cabin vessel. Research activities are varied but may include photographing and biopsying fin whales and humpback whales, conducting biological surveys, taking part in oceanographic data collection, and observing behavior from shore-based and whale-watch platforms. Boats are launched from the mainland, as well as from our research station on Mount Desert Rock, a small island 26 miles offshore, where interns will be based for short periods of time. Some days will also be spent working in the office matching and cataloguing photographs collected from the current and previous seasons, entering and transcribing data, and maintaining field equipment. There will be some opportunity to work on other projects, if interested, though the main focus of the internships will be on data collection and analysis. Other ongoing projects include: - Working with our Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program to respond to stranded marine mammals along the Maine coast, performing health assessments, obtaining NOAA level A data, and transporting animals to rehab facilities - Assisting in the operation of the Bar Harbor Whale Museum, which includes exhibit curation, interpretation, and public outreach - Collecting photo ID, location, and behavioral data of fin whales and humpback whales while aboard local whale watch boats, in conjunction with the whale watch interns Two interns are needed from late May / early June to mid September. A fee covering housing and a deposit must be paid in full by May 1. All positions are unpaid, however room and board is provided during stays on MDR. Applicant Requirements: - Ability to work and live under adverse conditions both on and off the water - Ability to work well with others in close quarters for extended periods of time - Willingness to work on datasets, administrative tasks, and other office tasks when not in the field - Strong interest in marine/environmental sciences - Strong work ethic and enthusiasm - Data management skills recommended - Previous experience with fin and/or humpback photo ID useful - Knowledge of Gulf of Maine cetaceans, sea birds, and pinnipeds helpful - Experience working in Excel and Adobe Photoshop a plus Please contact Robin Sewall with questions at the email address below. Application review will begin March 8, 2009. Applicants should email a CV, three references, and cover letter outlining your interest in this position to rsewall(a)coa.edu with subject 'Internship 2009', or mail to: Internship Coordinator Allied Whale 105 Eden Street Bar Harbor ME 04609

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Allied Whale Research Assistant / Deckhand Position
by Robin Sewall 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

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 2009 summer field season. The RAs will assist with research and data collection on our long-term population studies of humpback and fin whales, as well as work as a 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 October with no other commitments. Hours will vary depending on schedules and provided housing is mandatory for a fee. Application deadline is March 8, 2009. Please email a cover letter detailing your reasons for applying, a resume, and two or more letters of reference/recommendation to Robin Sewall at rsewall(a)coa.edu, or mail to: Whale Watch R/A Apps Allied Whale 105 Eden St. Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

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OBIS-SEAMAP - Invitation to Participate
by Lucie Hazen 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

Support from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Oceanographic Partnership Program is fostering the continued growth and refinement of OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu) We currently host over 2.25 million records from 237 datasets on the global distribution of marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds. And, to better meet the needs of our user community, we recently rolled out a new and more intuitive interface. We would like to invite you to join our community and become a data provider. We welcome all data sets, including both systematic and opportunistic observations of marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds, from around the world. We are also seeking photos for many of our species profiles. Please have a look at our website and the information provided below. What is OBIS-SEAMAP? Established by the Census of Marine Life program in 2001, OBIS-SEAMAP is a consortium of organizations and individuals who share a vision to make marine biogeographic data freely available over the World Wide Web. OBIS-SEAMAP is an interactive, online digital database of marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle data. The global database includes observations made from line transect surveys, photo-identification work, shore-based counts, strandings and satellite telemetry. Why does it matter? We believe that, by making these observations available to the global research community, we can improve our understanding, management and conservation of marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. Why should I contribute? By publishing your data sets on OBIS-SEAMAP you can: 1) Reach a broad audience with the results of your research; 2) Highlight publications that have resulted from collection of these data (OBIS-SEAMAP provides a convenient means for data dissemination and outreach to other researchers and resource managers); 3) Compose customized maps of your data; 4) View your data in the context of oceanographic observations, other data sets, and in the context of global distribution maps; 5) Have an off-site archive of your data. Interested? Contributing your data to OBIS-SEAMAP is very easy. You can simply send it to us or upload it yourself if you prefer. The minimum fields required are species, location (latitude and longitude), and date/time. We particularly welcome datasets that include observation effort (such as survey track lines) and other in-situ data. What about data ownership and privacy? Your data cannot be used in any report or publication without your written permission. All users must agree to our explicit Terms of Use Agreement before viewing your data. Under this Agreement, users may NOT use any data in a publication or product without the express permission of you, the data provider. For more information, please visit Data Provider FAQ (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/about/provider_faq) We welcome your inquiries, comments and suggestions, and look forward to working with you! The OBIS-SEAMAP Team Andy Read, Pat Halpin, Ei Fujioka, Ben Best, Connie Kot, Lucie Hazen, Ben Donnelly, Erin LaBrecque, Kim Urian, and Andrew DiMatteo ____________________ Lucie Hazen Research Associate Duke University Marine Lab ljhazen(a)duke.edu 252-504-7633

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Dolphin Research Internship, Charleston, SC
by Todd Speakman 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

The Marine Mammal and Protected Resources (MMPR) Program in Charleston, South Carolina is recruiting to fill two Dolphin Photo-identification Internship positions for the summer of 2009. The MMPR is organized within NOAA’s National Ocean Service and is located at the Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) laboratory in Charleston, SC. The intern position involves a commitment of 20 hours per week extending over a 15 week period from Monday, May 4, 2009 to Friday, August 14, 2009. There is some flexibility in these start and end times. Interns will participate in the field and laboratory activities of the Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution Project (CDAD). Three useful sources of information about the CDAD project are: 1) Zolman, E. 2002. Residence patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Stono River estuary, Charleston County, South Carolina. Marine Mammal Science 18:879-892; and 2) The Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution (CDAD) Project: Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) for Field and Photographic Analysis Procedures; and 3) Speakman, T., E. Zolman, J. Adams, R.H. Defran, D. Laska, L. Schwacke, J. Craigie, and P. Fair. 2006. Temporal and spatial aspects of bottlenose dolphin occurrence in coastal and estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 37. You can download pdf versions of these documents at the web sites listed below. The CDAD project carries out boat-based photo-identification surveys in the coastal and inland waterways of the Charleston SC area. This research is designed to provide an understanding of the population characteristics, including temporal and spatial aspects, of the distribution of Charleston area Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The internship offers an excellent opportunity for qualified and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in photo-identification methodology and analysis under the mentorship of experienced dolphin researchers. There is no compensation for this internship position and the successful applicant will be responsible for their living and transportation expenses during the time of the internship. During the internship interns must have a personal vehicle to allow them to travel to and from the laboratory and to some of the local field sites in the Charleston area. Ideal internship applicants will be advanced undergraduates or a recent graduate of a scientifically oriented university program in the behavioral or biological sciences. A typical applicant should have a strong interest in the scientific study of cetacean behavioral ecology, have potential interests in future graduate study in marine mammal science, and is an individual who seeks extensive and intensive exposure to the field work, data analysis techniques, and research literature in this field. Preference will be given to the selection of interns with well developed computer skills and boat-based field experience. The internship application will consist of a letter of interest, transcripts of university coursework and two letters of recommendation from professors or research supervisors who are familiar with your scholarship, research skills and work habits. Interested applicants should first correspond with Todd Speakman by email before preparing and submitting application materials. We anticipate filling this internship position by the first week of March 2009. Interested applicants should correspond by email to Todd Speakman Email: Todd.Speakman(a)noaa.gov Zolman .pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Zolman2002.pdf CDAD SOP .pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/CDAD_Internsh… Speakman et. al. pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a…

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Voluntary Field Assistants Required, Galapagos
by Paddy Brock 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

Voluntary Field Assistants Required Galapagos Islands, 17th Feb - 13th May 2009 The project is an investigation into immune system ontogeny and the differential ability of the sexes to respond to infection in the Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki). Sea lions are well suited to studies of sexual selection because they are sexually dimorphic and live in crowded conditions that can lead to high levels of pathogen-driven mortality. I'm using a combination of field challenge experiments and laboratory techniques to characterise how males and females combat infection. This research will contribute to my PhD and follows on from previous work carried out by my supervisor Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse. Two field assistants are sought to help with the sampling of sea lion pups on the Galapagos Islands of San Cristobal and Santa Fe between 17th February and 13th May 2009. We will initially tag as many pups as possible from each island. Then we will recapture tagged pups as frequently as feasible and examine body condition, carry out an eye exam and take a blood sample. This process requires three people as the pups need to be restrained, data needs to be recorded and samples need to be processed on site. Blood samples and data will be further processed in the Galapagos Genetics Epidemiology and Pathology Laboratory in the evenings. Some camping may be involved, so applicants must be comfortable working in remote environments with minimum conveniences. While food and accommodation are provided, volunteers will have to cover the cost of their flights. Good candidates will have field experience in remote locations, an interest in evolutionary biology and functional Spanish. Veterinary field and lab experience would be useful but are not required. Priority will be given to Ecuadorian applicants. If interested, please get in touch as soon as possible and to apply please include a CV and covering letter (paddy.brock(a)ioz.ac.uk) Paddy Brock Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park London NW1 4RY Tel: 00 44 (0) 20 7449 6496 Email: paddy.brock(a)ioz.ac.uk http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/ioz/people/brock.htm The Zoological Society of London is incorporated by Royal Charter Principal Office England. Company Number RC000749 Registered address: Regent's Park, London, England NW1 4RY Registered Charity in England and Wales no. 208728 _________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been sent in confidence to the named addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or distribute it in any form, and you are asked to contact the sender immediately. Views or opinions expressed in this communication may not be those of The Zoological Society of London and, therefore, The Zoological Society of London does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. The recipient(s) must be aware that e-mail is not a secure communication medium and that the contents of this mail may have been altered by a third party in transit. If you have any issues regarding this mail please contact: administrator(a)zsl.org. ___________________________________________________________________________ This message has been scanned for viruses by MailControl, a service from BlackSpider Technologies.

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Dolphin and whale plastic ingestion information wanted for 2008
by Groitl Robert 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Dear all, we are a small NGO researching pollution through plastic. We have posted our research and results on our websites www.green-ocean.org <http://www.green-ocean.org/> and www.plastic-sea.com <http://www.plastic-sea.com/> . PDF of the research project you can download under http://www.green-ocean.org/index.php?file=downloads So far our findings are horrific. We would like to ask for your assistance. Do you have any observations / findings, research material on: * Dolphins and whales mortalities through digestion of plastic please only for the year 2008 * Data on the concentration of plastic in the sea We would greatly appreciate your help and assistance. Please mail any data to: office(a)green-ocean.de If you would like to find out more about our own project, research and findings, please do not hesitate to send us a request by email. Dr. Robert Groitl Dip.E.D. Oceanography Green-Ocean e.V. <http://www.green-ocean.org/> www.green-ocean.org <http://www.plastic-sea.com/> www.plastic-sea.com <http://sea-watch.green-ocean.org/> http://sea-watch.green-ocean.org <mailto:office@green-ocean.de> office(a)green-ocean.de * Italien: 0039 329 069 7001 * Deutschland: 0049 152 264 59 319 Diese E-Mail Nachricht enthält vertrauliche und/oder rechtlich geschützte Informationen.Wenn Sie nicht der richtige Adressat sind oder diese E-Mail irrtümlich erhalten haben, informieren Sie bitte sofort den Absender und vernichten Sie diese Mail. This e-mail message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient (or have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail. * Save Paper - Do you really need to print this e-mail? Wenn Sie keinen weiteren Informationen von uns erhalten möchten senden Sie bitte eine <mailto:office@green-ocean.de?subject=Bitte%20keine%20weiteren%20Information en> Email und wir entfernen Sie sofort aus unserem Verteiler.

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Summer Environmental Education Volunteer with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (ref: EDU09)
by laurasmith＠blueyonder.co.uk 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Summer Environmental Education Volunteer with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (ref: EDU09) WDCS Wildlife Centre in Scotland is looking for an Environmental Education Residential volunteer for the summer. WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society,is the leading international charity dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Volunteering at the wildlife centre will provide you with a wide range of experience in environmental education including delivering outreach work to schools and leading group visits to the centre, organising local events, managing other volunteers and carrying out general administration duties including updating contact database and photo catalogue, writing press releases and articles, and promoting the work of WDCS. This diversity of work will provide the volunteer with a breadth of experience of working for an international conservation organisation and may also open doors to other opportunities within WDCS as it continues its development and growth. The Education Volunteer will be provided with shared accommodation and a budget of £30 per week for food. WDCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin. Candidate Requirements Fluency in English. Must be 18 years or over Experience of working with a range of community groups and organisations,including schools Experience of working with volunteers Good problem solver with flexible,can-do approach Ability to work effectively with people of all ages and abilities Excellent organisational and proven administrative skills, including the ability to prioritise a challenging workload Experience of supervising groups and individuals Excellent communications skills at all levels and to all sectors of the community IT literate (Word, Excel, Access, email etc) Full clean driving license and access to a vehicle. How to Apply To get a full job description and application pack, go to http://www2.wdcs.org/hych/volunteer/morayfirth.php or contact Laura Smith on laura.smith(a)wdcs.org or 01343 820 339 Please send completed application forms to Laura Smith at: laura.smith(a)wdcs.org Or WDCS Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Fochabers Moray IV32 7PJ CLOSING DATE 5pm 30th January

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Re: [MARMAM] Correction to Comments sought for impact on mm by proposed geophysical survey in SE Asia
by JOHN WANG 11 Jan '09

11 Jan '09

Dear All, One of the e-mail addresses to which to send comments about the proposed geophysical survey in SE Asia in the posting was incorrect. It should be: PR1.0648–XL89(a)noaa.gov A dash was missing between the '8' and 'X'. The other e-mail address should be fine. Sorry about the error. Cheers, John Y. Wang, Ph.D. FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group Trent University (Adjunct Professor) George Mason University (Affiliate Professor)

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new U.S. report on improvements needed in the process to protect marine mammals from fishing
by Robin W Baird 11 Jan '09

11 Jan '09

The U.S. Government Accountability Office just released a report that MARMAM subscribers might be interested in. The title is:National Marine Fisheries Service - Improvements are needed in the federal process used to protect marine mammals from commercial fishing. The report is available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0978.pdf An Associated Press article on the report from January 7, 2009 is pasted below. GAO: Dolphins, whales lack protection from fishing By HOPE YEN - 4 days ago WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration has failed to provide protections required by law to more than a dozen marine mammals potentially at risk of death or injury due to commercial fishing, congressional investigators said Wednesday. The report by the Government Accountability Office assessed the National Marine Fisheries Service, which identifies potentially endangered animals such as whales and dolphins that can become entangled in fishing gear or lobster traps. It found that out of 30 marine mammals deserving protection under federal guidelines, the agency had failed to set up teams of experts to provide protection for 14 of them. According to the GAO, the fisheries service was generally aware it needed to take protective measures for the additional mammals, which included the Hawaiian stock of false killer whales and the Central North Pacific stock of humpback whales. But it had not done so because officials said they either had faulty data and lacked money to obtain better information, or believed factors other than commercial fishing were to blame. The GAO also said the fisheries service generally lacked a "comprehensive strategy" for assessing the effectiveness of its animal protection measures and often missed deadlines to set up teams and devise safety plans. The report urged Congress to have the fisheries service report on any data limitations. Lawmakers should also consider steps to ensure the agency complies with federal law, it said. The fisheries service "faces a very large, complex and difficult task in trying to protect marine mammals from incidental mortality and serious injury during the course of commercial fishing operations," investigators wrote. The GAO report comes a day after President George W. Bush designated what he called "three beautiful and biologically diverse areas of the Pacific Ocean" as national marine monuments in what was the largest marine conservation effort in history. Bush used his announcement to broadly defend his environmental record. "For an administration that is desperately trying to create a legacy of ocean stewardship before leaving office, it is disappointing to hear that they have dropped the ball on reducing incidental deaths of mammals due to commercial fishing," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va. He is chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which requested the GAO report. <http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0978.pdf>

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