June 2009 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

NMFS Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
by Lisa VanAtta 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RECOVERY COORDINATOR NOAA Fisheries Service's Pacific Islands Regional Office is currently accepting applications for a Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator. This position serves as the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator's job duties will include working with U.S. Federal, State, and local agencies to coordinate monk seal recovery efforts, such as developing and implementing monk seal management and conservation efforts. The Coordinator will identify research needs related to management and recovery actions, as mandated by the ESA and MMPA, while coordinating and communicating with agencies, community, and stakeholders regarding monk seal conservation issues. The deadline to apply is June 19, 2009. For more information regarding duties, evaluations, and applications, please refer to www.usajobs.gov. The job announcement number is: NMF-PIR-2009-0008. The agency contact is Barbara Schloetter, barbara.w.schloetter(a)noaa.gov . NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office's Protected Resources Division is dedicated to protecting and recovering endangered and threatened species of sea turtles, monk seals and cetaceans as mandated by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Through management, conservation and recovery efforts as well as public outreach and education, the program strives to ensure the recovery and survival of the protected marine species of the Pacific Islands Region for future generations. More information is available at www.fpir.noaa.gov Thank you for your interest - Lisa Van Atta Assistant Regional Administrator Protected Resources Division Pacific Islands Regional Office NOAA Fisheries Service 1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 alecia.vanatta(a)noaa.gov

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New Publication On Cetaceans And Climate Change
by Macleod, Colin D. 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

The following paper is now available which considers the likely effects of climate change on cetacean species ranges and their conservation implications. It can be downloaded from the Endangered Species Reseach website (http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v7/n2/p125-136/ ) or a PDF can be obtained from the author (email: c.d.macleod(a)abdn.ac.uk) MacLeod, C.D. 2009. Global climate change, range changes and potential implications for the conservation of marine cetaceans: a review and synthesis. Endangered Species Research. 7: 125-136. doi: 10.3354/esr00197 ABSTRACT: Global climate change has already resulted in an increase in oceanic water temperatures in some areas and is predicted to lead to further increases throughout much of the world in the foreseeable future. One possible response of cetacean species to these increases in water temperature is that species’ ranges may change. Here, I provide a framework for assessing which cetacean species’ ranges are likely to change as a result of increases in water temperature and whether they will expand, shift poleward or contract based on their current distributions. Based on this framework, it is predicted that the ranges of 88% of cetaceans may be affected by changes in water temperature resulting from global climate change. For 47% of species, these changes are anticipated to have unfavourable implications for their conservation, and for 21% the changes may put at least one geographically isolated population of the species at high risk of extinction. This framework suggests that certain characteristics put some species at greater risk from such changes than others. These include a range that is restricted to non-tropical waters (including temperate species) and a preference for shelf waters. These characteristics are shared by most porpoises and Lagenorhynchus species and by all members of the genus Cephalorhynchus. As a result, species in these taxa are potentially at particular risk from changes in range in response to increasing water temperatures. However, further research is required to assess whether these predictions are, indeed, correct. KEY WORDS: Global climate change; Cetaceans; Species ranges; Niche conservatism; Range changes; Conservation All the best, Colin ========================================================= Colin D. MacLeod, Ph.D. School of Biological Sciences (Zoology), University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 3JG, UK Tel: 01224 272648 Fax: 01224 272396 Email: c.d.macleod(a)abdn.ac.uk To save paper, please do not print this email unless it is essential. ========================================================= The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.

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SMM Biennial Conference Student Travel Grant Applications – Changed Dates
by Lynne Williams 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

BODY { font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px; } * SMM Biennial Conference Student Travel Grant Applications – Changed Dates For students planning on attending the upcoming SMM Biennial Conference in Quebec City in October 2009, please be aware that there have been some changes to the dates for the student travel grant applications. We will now be opening the application for these travel grants on Monday, June 15th, 2009. The new closing date for submission for the student travel grant applications is Sunday, July 12th, 2009. This closing date is after the announcement of abstract acceptances is made (July 10th). Remember, to qualify for this grant, you need to: 1) make sure you are a current SMM student member at the time of submission, 2) be currently enrolled as a student at a recognized academic institution, 3) be first author on an accepted oral or poster presentation, and 4) register for the conference by the early registration deadline. (You are allowed to apply for a student travel grant before you find out if your abstract is accepted; I will make sure everyone on the final application list has an accepted abstract, though, which may require removing some names at which point you will be notified.) Notification of the student travel grant awards will be made no later than Wednesday, July 15th, 2009. If you are granted an award, you will need to make sure you register for the conference by the end of the early registration period (July 20th, 2009 - note that this has changed) or the award will be granted to someone else. More information on the upcoming Biennial Conference can be found on the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s website (http://www.marinemammalogy.org/) [1] Thanks! Lynne Williams, SMM Student Member-at-Large 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd. Beaufort, NC 28516 lynnee.williams(a)duke.edu [2] Links: ------ [1] http://www.marinemammalogy.org/) [2] mailto:lynnee.williams@duke.edu

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Dolphin Research Internship, Charleston, SC
by Todd Speakman 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '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 fall 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 14 week period from September 14, 2009 to December 18, 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. 2) The Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution (CDAD) Project: Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) for Field and Photographic Analysis Procedures. 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 July 13 2009. Interested applicants should correspond by email to Todd Speakman Email: Todd.Speakman(a)noaa.gov <mailto:Todd.Speakman@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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New minke whale publication
by Dr Kevin Robinson 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article in the Journal Of Coastal Conservation: Robinson K.P., Tetley M.J. & Mitchelson-Jacob E.G. (2009) The distribution and habitat preference of coastally occurring minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in north-east Scotland. Journal of Coastal Conservation 13(1): 39-48 (DOI: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11852-009-0050-2> 10.1007/s11852-009-0050-2). Abstract: The coastal waters of the Moray Firth in northeast Scotland (57º41’N 2º40’W) provide rich, inshore feeding grounds for minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) during the summer and autumnal months. In order to better understand the habitat selection, movements and feeding ecology of the animals utilising this North Sea region, distribution data from the southern coastline of the outer Moray Firth were subsequently examined with respect to the marine physiography of the area, specifically the environmental variables water depth, slope, aspect and sediment-type. A total of 305 minke whale encounters – collected from dedicated boat surveys conducted between May and October 2001 to 2006 inclusive – were used in the construction of a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the 860 square-km study site. The subsequent analysis revealed a strong spatial preference by whales in this location for water depths between 20 and 50 metres (mean 46.9 m, SD = 30.9), steep slopes (mean 75.7 degrees, SD = 8.9), a northerly-facing aspect and sandy-gravel sediment type. Kruskal-Wallis tests for variance confirmed that the distribution of B. acutorostrata was significantly different across each of these physiographic features examined (P < 0.05). In particular, water depth and sediment type were shown to be highly correlated with the frequency of whales observed (Spearman’s Rank Correlation P < 0.05 for depth and sediment respectively). From these results, we conclude that sea bottom characteristics may be used to predict the fine-scale distribution of minke whales on their feeding grounds; the physiographic features identified providing valuable proxies for inferring prey distributions in the absence of fisheries data. However, an appreciation of both abiotic and biotic factors (using a combination of GIS and remote sensing outputs) is clearly desirable for ecosystem-based management approaches for the coastal conservation of these whales. The application of GIS capacities to ecological studies based largely on field data of these marine mammals is highly recommended in the present study to cetologists, environmental modellers and conservation managers alike. The article may be downloaded directly from www.springerlink.com/content/t34m4145qj41m4l4/ Best wishes Kevin Dr. Kevin Robinson <mailto:kev.robinson@crru.org.uk> kev.robinson(a)crru.org.uk Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) P.O. Box 11307 Banff AB45 3WB SCOTLAND Tel: (+44) 01261 851696 Email: <mailto:mailbox@crru.org.uk> mailbox(a)crru.org.uk Website: www.crru.org.uk Recognised Scottish Charity No. SC 035473 Supported by the Earthwatch Institute <http://www.earthwatch.org/> www.earthwatch.org & Care for the Wild International <http://www.careforthewild.com/> www.careforthewild.com

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Allocare in sperm whales
by Shane Gero 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Behavioral Ecology: Shane Gero, Dan Engelhaupt, Luke Rendell, and Hal Whitehead (2009) Who Cares? Between-group variation in alloparental caregiving in sperm whales Abstract: Although the details of the various systems of allocare in primates, rodents, and carnivores have been well described, little is known about the existence of alloparental care in cetaceans. It is believed that the matrilineal social organization of the sperm whale functions to provide vigilant allomothers for calves at the surface while mothers make deep dives for food. Sperm whale females do have a system of allocare, but details are unknown. This study aimed to elucidate sperm whale allocare, in particular: who escorts whose calf and whether or not calves suckle from nonparent females. Using photo identification and behavioral calf follows, we examined patterns of adult-infant interactions for 23 sperm whale calves in the Sargasso and Caribbean Seas. Although multiple individuals of both sexes escorted the calves, the system of escorting differed between the 2 sites. For all calves studied in the Caribbean, we found that 1 female provided most of the allocare but did not nurse the calf, whereas in the Sargasso, multiple females provided care for, and nursed, the young. We discuss differences between populations that may have resulted in the observed differences in these 2 systems of allocare and how these findings fit with current hypotheses on the roles of kin selection and reciprocal altruism in cooperative care in mammals. The article may be downloaded directly from the Behavioral <http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/arp068?ijkey=jDzF4Zu2GG0J2Cv&k eytype=ref> Ecology website Otherwise please contact me for preprints. Cheers, Shane ********************************** Shane Gero, M.Sc. NSERC Ph.D. Candidate Killam Scholar Whitehead Lab Biology Dept. Dalhousie University Halifax, NS B3H 4J1 Canada Tel: (902) 494-3723 Fax: (902) 494-3736 sgero(a)dal.ca http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/sge/

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Recent paper on bubbles in drowned bycatch
by Michael Moore 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

A pdf of the following paper is available from mmoore 'at' whoi.edu Vet Pathol 46:536--547 (2009) DOI: 10.1354/vp.08-VP-0065-M-FL Gas Bubbles in Seals, Dolphins, and Porpoises Entangled and Drowned at Depth in Gillnets M. J. MOORE, A. L. BOGOMOLNI, S. E. DENNISON, G. EARLY, M.M. GARNER, B. A. HAYWARD, B. J. LENTELL, AND D. S. ROTSTEIN Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 025433 (MJM, ALB, GE); Department of Surgical Sciences (Radiology), School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 (SED); Northwest ZooPath, 654 W. Main, Monroe, WA 98272 (MMG); NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, MA 02543 (BAH, BJL); College of Veterinary Medicine & NOAA Cooperative Center for Marine Animal Health, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996 (DSR) Abstract. Gas bubbles were found in 15 of 23 gillnet-drowned bycaught harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus), harbor (Phoca vitulina) and gray (Halichoerus grypus) seals, common (Delphinus delphis) and white-sided (Lagenorhyncus acutus) dolphins, and harbor porpoises (Phocaena phocaena) but in only 1 of 41 stranded marine mammals. Cases with minimal scavenging and bloating were chilled as practical and necropsied within 24 to 72 hours of collection. Bubbles were commonly visible grossly and histologically in bycaught cases. Affected tissues included lung, liver, heart, brain, skeletal muscle, gonad, lymph nodes, blood, intestine, pancreas, spleen, and eye. Computed tomography performed on 4 animals also identified gas bubbles in various tissues. Mean6SD net lead line depths (m) were 92644 and ascent rates (ms21) 0.3 6 0.2 for affected animals and 76 6 33 and 0.2 6 0.1, respectively, for unaffected animals. The relatively good carcass condition of these cases, comparable to 2 stranded cases that showed no gas formation on computed tomography (even after 3 days of refrigeration in one case), along with the histologic absence of bacteria and autolytic changes, indicate that peri- or postmortem phase change of supersaturated blood and tissues is most likely. Studies have suggested that under some circumstances, diving mammals are routinely supersaturated and that these mammals presumably manage gas exchange and decompression anatomically and behaviorally. This study provides a unique illustration of such supersaturated tissues. We suggest that greater attention be paid to the radiology and pathology of bycatch mortality as a possible model to better understand gas bubble disease in marine mammals.

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