July 2009 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

franciscana habitat use
by Daniel danilewicz 23 Jul '09

23 Jul '09

Dear all The following paper on habitat use of franciscanas has been published. PDFs are available with the first author (daniel.danilewicz(a)gmail.com) Danilewicz, D., Secchi, E.R., Ott, P.H., Moreno, I.B., Bassoi, M., Borges-Martins, M. (2009). Habitat use patterns of franciscana dolphins (*Pontoporia blainvillei*) off southern Brazil in relation to water depth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 89(5), 943–949. SincerelyDaniel -- Dr. Daniel Danilewicz Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio Grande do Sul - GEMARS www.gemars.org.br Projeto Monitoramento de Baleias por Satelite - Instituto Aqualie http://projetobaleias.com.br msn: daniel_danilewicz(a)hotmail.com

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Abstracts - Journal of Cetacean Research and Management Vol. 10(3), 2008
by Dagmar Fertl 23 Jul '09

23 Jul '09

Dear Marmam and ECS-listserve subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) publishes The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management thrice yearly (Spring, Autumn, and Winter), with at least one supplement that will contain the full report of the IWC Scientific Committee. The following is posted on behalf of the IWC and the journal editor. Further information can be found at: http://www.iwcoffice.org/publications/JCRM.htm. A guide for authors is included in the first volume of each issue and on the IWC website: http://www.iwcoffice.org/publications/authorsguide.htm. Please do not contact me or the listserve editors for pdfs. Email addresses are provided for the corresponding authors. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Ziphius EcoServices http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com *************************************** Punt, A.E. 2008. A note on the modelling of MSY-related parameters when population dynamics are stochastic. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):183-189. Contact email: aepunt(a)u.washington.edu A method is outlined for calculating the values for the parameters which determine MSYR and MSYL in the types of population dynamics models on which Implementation Simulation Trials and Evaluation Trials are based in the face of environmental variability in fecundity (birth rate) and survival. The method is illustrated using a minke whale-like biology in which MSYR is defined in terms of harvesting of the mature female component of the population. Results are shown for various levels of environmental variation in survival and fecundity. ****************************************************************** Aldrin, M., R. Bang Huseby, and T. Schweder. 2008. A note on tuning the Catch Limit Algorithm for commercial baleen whaling. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):191-194. Contact email: magne.aldrin(a)nr.no The Catch Limit Algorithm for commercial baleen whaling developed by the International Whaling Commission converges slowly to a steady depletion (proportion of carrying capacity), and consequently 300 years of management is proposed as horizon for tuning and computer simulation. Long-term depletion is rather insensitive to the parameter currently used for tuning, and an alternative control parameter is suggested for this purpose. *************************** Rugh, D.J.*, W.R. Koski, J.C. George, and J.E. Zeh. 2008. Interyear re-identifications of bowhead whales during their spring migration past Point Barrow, Alaska, 1984-1994. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):195–200. *contact email: Dave.Rugh(a)noaa.gov As a part of a review of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) stocks, a study was conducted to evaluate how much mixing occurs in the whales’ spring migration, a period which immediately follows the mating season. This study has used aerial photography of bowhead whales during their spring migration near Point Barrow, which has resulted in 5,800 images, primarily from 1984 through 1994. These photographs included 40 different whales seen in at least two years, and of these, two were seen in three different years, making for a pair-wise sample size of 42 matches between years. Differences between dates of initial sightings and subsequent sightings (i.e. resightings) ranged from -31 to +23 days comparing month and day only, irrespective of year. These resightings were well dispersed across most of the bowhead spring migration; 98% of the photographs were taken across 45 days from 19 April through 2 June. Models for predicting resighting date from initial sighting date, whale length, presence of a calf, year of initial sighting and year of subsequent sightings were considered, and the best model was chosen using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). The best model included most predictors but did not include initial sighting date. Thus, all of the available evidence indicates that individual mature bowheads do not have a consistent migration timing past Barrow; instead, in subsequent years they may appear on almost any date within the normal migratory period. This wide mixing and near-random distribution of resighting dates throughout the spring migration is indicative of a single stock of whales that have a somewhat plastic schedule. ********** Lowry, L.F., K.J. Frost, A. Zerbini, D. DeMaster, and R.R. Reeves. 2008. Trend in aerial counts of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Bristol Bay, Alaska, 1993-2005. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):201-207. Contact email: llowry(a)hawaii.rr.com Thirty-eight aerial surveys of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) were conducted in Bristol Bay, Alaska, during six different years between 1993 and 2005. Belugas were sighted mainly close to shore in the upper parts of Nushagak and Kvichak bays, as well as along the coast between these bays and in the lower parts of major rivers. Data from 28 complete counts made in good or excellent survey conditions were analysed for trend. Counts ranged from 264 to 1,067. The estimated rate of increase over the 12-year period was 4.8%/year (95% CI = 2.1%-7.5%). Such a rate of increase suggests that either the population was below the environmental carrying capacity in the early 1990s or, alternatively, that factors that had been limiting population increase were alleviated after that time. A review of possible changes in human-caused mortality, predation and prey availability did not reveal a single likely cause of the increase. Among the factors that could have played a role are recovery from research kills in the 1960s, a modest decline in subsistence removals and a delayed response to increases in Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) abundance in the 1980s. The positive growth rate for this population shows that in recent years there has been no substantial negative impact of human or natural factors, acting either alone or in combination, and there is no need for changes to the current management regime. ************************************************************************************** Afsal, V.V., K.S.S.M. Yousuf, B. Anoop, A.K. Anoop, P. Kannan, M. Rajagopalan, and E. Vivekanandan. 2008. A note on cetacean distribution in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas during 2003-07. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):209-215. Contact email: vafsal(a)gmail.com Relatively little is known about the distribution of cetaceans in Indian seas due to lack of systematic surveys. For collecting data on species distribution, 35 opportunistic surveys were conducted onboard FORV Sagar Sampada between October 2003 and February 2007 in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas. In 5,254 hours of sighting effort, a total of 473 cetacean records were made with 5,865 individuals. The occurrence of 10 species from three cetacean families was confirmed. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was the most frequently sighted species, whereas the spinner dolphin was dominant in terms of abundance. Long-beaked common dolphins, Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin and sperm whales were also recorded at frequent intervals. Cetaceans were found to have a wide geographical distribution in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas. High abundance and species richness were recorded in the Southeastern Arabian Sea and southern Sri Lankan waters. From the information collected during the present study, the platform of opportunity has proved to be a useful means for cetacean survey. *************************************************** Palka, D.L.*, M.C. Rossman, A.S. VanAtten, and C.D. Orphanides. 2008. Effect of pingers on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the US Northeast gillnet fishery. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):217–226. Contact email: Debra.Palka(a)noaa.gov Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the US Northeast gillnet fishery is managed under the Harbour Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP), which was implemented on 1 January 1999. The HPTRP divides this fishery into management areas that are either completely closed to all gillnets or closed only to gillnets that do not use pingers. Questions about pingers that have arisen include: (1) would pingers be as effective in an operational fishery as in controlled scientific experiments; (2) would the fishery comply with these regulations; and (3) would harbour porpoises habituate to pingers? To investigate these questions, data from over 25,000 gillnet hauls observed by the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program after the implementation of the HPTRP, 1999-2007, were examined. In a 1994 controlled scientific experiment conducted in part of this fishery that used 15cm mesh gillnets, the bycatch rate in pingered nets was 92% less than that in nets without pingers. In contrast, in the operational fishery, the bycatch reduction in pingered nets was 50-70%, depending on the time, area and mesh size. In particular, there was no observed bycatch in pingered nets that used the same mesh size as used in the experiment. Thus, it seem that the apparent decrease in pinger effectiveness in the operational fishery was partially due to the type of gillnet used and lack of compliance. Pinger usage started out high in 1999 (the first year required), dropped substantially during 2003-05 and perhaps due to outreach activities increased beginning in 2006. During years of high pinger usage, 87% of the tested pingers were functional, while only 36% of the tested pingers were functional during years of low pinger usage. In general, as expected, observed bycatch rates in hauls without pingers were greater than bycatch rates in hauls with the required number of pingers. Unexpectedly, bycatch rates of observed hauls with an incomplete set of pingers were higher that in observed hauls without pingers. Confounding factors that could partially explain this apparently contrary result are discussed. There was no evidence for temporal trends in the bycatch rates, suggesting that harbour porpoises had not habituated to the pingers. In conclusion, in the US Northeast gillnet fishery, harbour porpoises do not appear to have habituated to pingers, and pingers appear to have reduced the bycatch rate, particularly when the required number of pingers were used and in nets using mesh sizes of 15cm or less. ************************************************************************************** Berrow, S., R. Cosgrove, R.H. Leeney, J. O’Brien, D. McGrath, J. Dalgard, and Y. Le Gall. 2008. Effect of acoustic deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):227–233. Contact email: simon.berrow(a)shannondolphins.ie Not all delphinids are similarly affected by acoustic deterrent devices (pingers). At-sea trials were carried out to assess a range of acoustic signals and deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins. In initial tests two acoustic deterrent devices, which previously produced an evasive response by bottlenose dolphins, failed to elicit any similar behaviour in common dolphins. A new signal output device, which permitted a range of signals to be tested at various source levels and characteristics was subsequently developed but again no significant effects on the behaviour of common dolphins were observed. Two commercially available acoustic deterrents, which had deterred common dolphins in previous studies, produced an occasional mild evasive response. Significant modification of the signal type or source level may be more effective, but our results suggest that pingers, at their current state of development, may not provide a consistently effective deterrent signal for common dolphins. *************************************************************** Trippel, E.A.*, N.L. Holy and T.D. Shepherd. 2008. Barium sulphate modified fishing gear as a mitigative measure for cetacean incidental mortalities. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):235-246. Contact email: edward.trippel(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Incidental mortality from entanglements in fishing gear in threatening cetacean populations worldwide. In eastern Canadian waters, entanglement deaths of the critically endangered transboundary North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) are a key conservation concern and incidental mortalities of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in gillnets are a major source of mortality. Since the 1990s, a number of mitigation techniques to reduce mortalities in both species have been tested and the use of some in the US commercial fishery have been legislated. Despite this, the North Atlantic right whale population remains in a precarious state and entanglement deaths of harbour porpoise have been increasing in recent years. Further, mitigation devices, such as acoustic alarms, carry with them concerns about habituation, noise pollution, maintenance requirements and cost. The modifying of the physical characteristics of commercial fishing gear has shown some promise at reducing entanglement mortalities in initial testing while avoiding many of the drawbacks of other mitigation methods. In this study the current state of development and effectiveness of mitigation techniques through the addition of barium sulphate to fishing gear rope and twine was investigated. The development of neutrally buoyant groundline, through the addition of barium sulphate, was undertaken in order to reduce the probability of large whale entanglement in lobster pot gear. The resulting product maintained a much lower profile in the water column relative to traditional polypropylene groundline, however, it was found unsuitable for hard-bottom areas as it was susceptible to chaffing and breaking. In order to reduce mortalities once large whales are entangled, a weak rope was developed again with the addition of barium sulphate. The breaking strength of this product was found to be 1,065 lb, which meets the US legislated limits (1,100 lb), as opposed to traditional polypropylene rope which had a breaking strength of over 2,400 lb. To meet the challenge of harbour porpoise entanglements, a gillnet twine was developed to have an increased acoustic profile and a more stiff form through the addition of barium sulphate. In field testing trials, the barium sulphate modified gillnets reduced harbour porpoise bycatch and the minimal effects on targeted groundfishes. Although they are in an early state of development, barium sulphate modified fishing gear shows promise at reducing entanglement deaths of cetaceans. *************************************************************** Reeves, R.R.*, T.D. Smith, and E.A. Josephson. 2008. Observations of western gray whales by ship-based whalers in the 19th century. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(3):247-256. Contact email: rrreeves(a)okapis.ca Animals belonging to the small, endangered population of western gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are observed today primarily during the summer open-water season in feeding areas off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia. The migration route(s) and wintering area(s) used by this population are largely unknown. Gray whales once had a fairly extensive distribution in the Sea of Okhotsk but little detailed information has been published on when and where they occurred. Open-boat, ship-based whalers from the United States and a few other countries conducted an intensive hunt for bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica) in the Sea of Okhotsk from the 1840s to 1970s. According to entries in voyage logbooks, the American whalers regularly encountered (and sometimes hunted) gray whales in the far northeastern corner of the Okhotsk Sea (Shelikhov Bay, Gizhiginskaya Bay and Penzhinskaya Gulf) between early May-late August. They also observed gray whales in summer along the northern coast of the sea (especially Tauskaya Bay), around the Shantar Islands, in Sakhalin Bay, off Cape Elizabeth at the northern tip of Sakhalin Island and along the west coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. No evidence was found in the logbooks studied of gray whales (and indeed of whaling effort) off northeastern Sakhalin Island where most observations of gray whales occur in the present day. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Store, access, and share your photos. See how. http://windowslive.com/Online/SkyDrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_SD_photos_072009

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Early Bird Registration - SMM 18th Biennal Conference
by Catherine BAJZAK 22 Jul '09

22 Jul '09

Early Bird Registration As you are aware the early bird registration for the conference in Quebec City closed last night July 20 at midnight. To give those who need a bit of extra time we have decided to extend the deadline until midnight on Friday 24 July, 2009 . In addition we updated our FAQs for those who had questions about completing their registrations. The FAQs are here: http://www.marinemammalscience.org/faq Look forward to seeing you in Quebec Mike Hammill Chair, Quebec 2009 mailto: Congres_SMM2009(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca _________________________________________________________________ Découvrez toutes les possibilités de communication avec vos proches http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/default.aspx

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Internship Opportunity
by Quincy Gibson 17 Jul '09

17 Jul '09

Pacific Whale Foundation (Maui, Hawaii) is seeking interns for its Marine Mammal Research Program. Pacific Whale Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting whales and other marine life through research, education, and conservation. Our researchers have studied whales and dolphins throughout the Pacific for over 29 years and we currently conduct projects in Hawaii, Australia and Ecuador. To learn more, please visit www.pacificwhale.org. Pacific Whale Foundation is seeking dedicated individuals to assist with our research efforts. Interns will work in the research lab at Pacific Whale Foundation headquarters in Ma¹alaea, Maui. Intern positions involve working with our Research Staff to process and analyze data from our humpback whale studies in Australia, as well as our odontocete (toothed whale & dolphin) studies in Hawaii. Tasks will include photo-identification matching of whale flukes and/or dolphin dorsal fins, data entry, scanning archived slide images, and other duties. Additional opportunities to assist with data collection in the field and on the research vessel may become available. No prior research experience is required; full training will be provided. Applicants should have basic computer proficiency; experience with Excel and Photoshop is preferred. Attention to detail and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team are also desired qualities. Positions are available immediately and will remain open until filled. Accepted applicants will be expected to work a minimum of 30 hours per week for a 6-week period. Shorter durations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As a reward for their hard work, interns will be offered a complimentary ticket for a snorkeling/dolphin watching eco-tour each week. There is no financial compensation for these positions and interns are responsible for their own living and transportation expenses. Shared intern housing is available for a reasonable fee. To apply, please send a cover letter, current resume, and two letters of recommendation to research(a)pacificwhale.org. If you prefer to mail your application, all materials should be sent to: Research Department Pacific Whale Foundation 300 Ma¹alaea Rd., Ste. 211 Wailuku, HI 96793 (808) 856-8305

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JOB OPPORTUNITY - Executive Director, American Cetacean Society
by Kathy Zagzebski 17 Jul '09

17 Jul '09

Executive Director Job Description Summary: The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Cetacean Society (ACS). The Executive Director works at the direction of the ACS President, is responsible to the Board of Directors, and is evaluated by the Executive Committee of the Board. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the implementation and management of Board objectives and directives, consistent with ACS's mission and financial objectives. Introduction: ACS has been without an Executive Director for over 15 years. The President and Board have been filling the role in the interim, assisted by an office administrator. ACS's 2009 budget is $180,000. The National and Chapter Boards are eager to welcome an Executive Director who is suited to help build upon our strengths while developing a sustainable future. Program Development and Administration: * In conjunction with the Board of Directors, assure that ACS has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress. * Provide leadership in developing program, organizational, and financial plans with the Board and staff, and carry out plans and policies authorized by the Board. * Support the Chapters and promote development of new chapters. * Promote active and broad participation by volunteers in all areas of ACS's work. * Maintain official records and documents; ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. * Develop and maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in cetacean biology, management, and conservation. Budget and Finance: * Develop and maintain sound financial practices. * Work with the Treasurer and the Board to prepare a budget; ensure that ACS operates within budget guidelines. * Ensure that adequate funds are available to permit ACS to carry out its programs. * Jointly with the President and Secretary of the Board, conduct ACS's official correspondence; jointly with designated officers, execute legal documents on behalf of ACS. Communications & Marketing: * Ensure that the Board is kept fully informed on the condition of ACS and all important factors influencing it. * Publicize ACS's activities, programs, and goals. * Establish sound, collaborative relationships with community groups and other organizations. * Represent ACS's programs and point of view to agencies, organizations, and the general public. * Oversee publication of ACS's newsletter Spyhopper and journal Whalewatcher. Staff and Volunteers - Recruitment, Retention, Training, & Evaluation: * Be responsible for the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers. (Note: there currently is one part-time office administrator on staff.) * Ensure that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are held, and that sound human resource practices are in place. * Encourage staff and volunteer development and education, and assist program staff and volunteers in relating their specialized work to the total program of ACS. * Maintain a climate that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff (including volunteer staff) of top quality people. Conditions of Employment: * The normal work week is 40 hours weekdays, including occasional evening and weekend work. * Occasional travel required. * Paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave. * Health insurance, FICA, Workers' compensation, unemployment insurance. * The continuation of employment is contingent upon successful fundraising. Qualifications: * Minimum of two years experience working in a nonprofit organization, including supervising paid and volunteer staff and working with a volunteer President and Board of Directors. * Bachelor's degree in a related field. * Successful experience raising money and managing fundraising programs. Proven ability to obtain grant funding and manage a membership program. * Experience in nonprofit fiscal management, including fund accounting, budgeting, and grant management. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Demonstrated ability in written and oral communications and interpersonal skills. * Proven ability to develop and execute a strategic plan. * Demonstrated conceptual skills and problem solving capabilities. * Proven ability to think "outside the box". * Computer skills (M.S. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, QuickBooks, internet, etc.). * Background in marine mammals, including natural history, policy, and conservation desirable. Personal Characteristics: * A leader who can articulate a vision and motivate people to act with a shared vision. * An individual whose style is at once decisive and direct as well as collegial and approachable. * A person who is accessible, supportive, and flexible. * An executive with a "hands on" approach to work and a passion for results. * A good listener who inspires confidence and trust and is open to ideas of others. * An excellent manager who respects and supports the capabilities and independence of staff and volunteer leadership. * A person with integrity, a good sense of humor, and a high level of energy. * A conservationist with enthusiastic commitment to ACS's mission, growth and development. E-mail cover letter, resume, a one-page writing sample related to fundraising, and the names and contact information of three professional references to: acsedsearch(a)acsonline.com. Position open until filled. The American Cetacean Society is an equal opportunity employer. About ACS: The American Cetacean Society protects whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through public education, research grants, and conservation actions. Founded in 1967, ACS is the oldest whale conservation group in the world. ACS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in San Pedro, California with chapters in Orange County, Los Angeles, Channel Islands (Santa Barbara and Ventura), Monterey, San Francisco, and Puget Sound (Seattle). Our members live throughout the United States and in more than 20 countries. We take our responsibility as participants in the web of life seriously, and volunteer our time and resources to not just protect whales, dolphins and porpoises, but to promote the health of our oceans and ultimately our planet as well. For more information, visit: http://www.acsonline.org <http://www.acsonline.org/> . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathy Zagzebski President & Executive Director The National Marine Life Center P.O. Box 269, 120 Main Street Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-0269 phone: 508 743-9888 x301 cell: 774 313-8850 fax: 508 759-5477 e-mail: kzagzebski(a)nmlc.org web: http://www.nmlc.org/ <http://www.nmlc.org/> "Caring for stranded marine animals." I GoodSearch for the National Marine Life Center. You can help, too, just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch - <http://www.goodsearch.com/> www.goodsearch.com <http://www.goodsearch.com/> . Thanks for your support! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Florida Manatee Research Job Vacancy
by Brill, Katie 17 Jul '09

17 Jul '09

Florida Manatee Research Job Vacancy OPS Research Staff Job #77900922 Department: Wildlife Research Location: St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas County) Rate of Pay: $11.00/hr (40 hrs/wk) including some weekends and occasional holidays; no benefits provided Close Date: Open until filled Contact: Katherine Brill Position Description: Serve as member of FWC's manatee necropsy, carcass salvage, and rescue team. Conduct necropsies at the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory or in the field on manatees and other marine mammal carcasses, record observations, and complete associated necropsy reports. Responsible for preparation and labeling of sample containers, carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments. Recover marine mammal carcasses for necropsy from Florida's Northwest region (coastal and inland waterways of Manatee County to Escambia County). Assist in manatee rescue and transport operations in the Northwest region. Assist with manatee rescues and capture operations away from designated area as needed. Process skeletal collection requests according to FWC and USFWS guidelines; prepare skeletal remains for curating and shipping and process federal, state, and international permits for tracking skeletal collections and information requests. Maintain inventories of tissues and tissue requests. Manage associated database of inventories including metadata. Responsible for vessel maintenance and associated boater safety reports. Manages the processing and labeling of manatee necropsy slides, digital images, archiving of digital images, and overseeing the image log database. Participate in public outreach efforts ad appropriate. Prepare research papers and technical reports. Serve with other MMPL staff members in the rotating, on-call duty (that includes weekends and occasional holidays) for the purpose of responding to marine mammal emergencies and carcasses. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Knowledge of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and state and federal legislation protecting manatees * Knowledge of methods of data collection and principles and techniques of research and analysis * Knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques * Knowledge of SLR digital cameras, filters, and lenses * Experience creating and managing databases, spreadsheets, and word processing using Microsoft Access, Excel, and Word * Able to trailer flatbeds and watercraft vessels * Able to safely operate watercraft vessels 26' in length and smaller * Be capable of daily manual labor requiring handling of heavy and sharp objects and working under unpleasant conditions * Must be physically fit, able to lift at least 75 lbs, and be able to swim sufficiently to save oneself * Able to conduct fieldwork in all weather conditions * Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships * Be comfortable speaking to the public * Possess or be able to obtain a Florida driver's license within a month of employment Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences or one year of professional biological experience in a field or lab research program. Experience with dissection, pathology, or animal necropsies. TO APPLY: Please reply to this posting with a cover letter, resume, and references or submit a completed State of Florida Employment Application to the contact listed below. An application can be printed from https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com. Katherine Brill Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory 3700 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33711 (727)893-2904 Fax: (727)893-2907 Katie.brill(a)myfwc.com

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Acoustic pingers?
by Gene Buck 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

Colleagues: I'm looking for something that might summarize the current state of knowledge and/or general evaluation on the usefulness and/or effectiveness of acoustic pingers for marine mammal deterrence. Are these devices useful or not; if useful, for what species under what circumstances? What are the limitations of marine mammal deterrence using acoustic pingers? Any suggestions or citations? Gene Buck, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Congressional Research Service gbuck(a)crs.loc.gov Phone: (202) 707-7262 *This information is intended only for the congressional addressee or other individual to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of this information is only at the discretion of the intended recipient. If you received this message in error, please contact me and delete the material from any computer. The foregoing has not been cleared by CRS review and is not for attribution. This response is provided to help in urgent situations.*

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Recent publication: Geographic variation in harp seal pup vocalizations and mother-pup behavior
by Ilse van Opzeeland 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to announce the recent publication on geographic variation in harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) pup vocalizations and mother-pup behavior. This article was publised online in Aquatic Biology, with open access: http://www.int-res.com/articles/ab2009/6/b006p109.pdf Van Opzeeland IC, Corkeron PJ, Risch D, Stenson G, Van Parijs SM (2009) Geographic variation in vocalizations of pups and mother-pup behavior of harp seals Pagophilus groenlandicus. Aquatic Biology 6: 109-120 ABSTRACT All harp seal populations form breeding aggregations on the Arctic pack ice. However, pack ice conditions vary spatially and temporally among these aggregations with variation in environmental and oceanographic conditions, which may affect the behavioral interactions between mothers and their newborn pups. We investigated the variation in mother-pup behavior between harp seal breeding aggregations in the NE (Greenland Sea) and NW Atlantic coastal shelf region (Front). Acoustic cues provided by the pups are thought to be important in facilitating reunions with their mothers. Consequently, we measured variation in vocal parameters among seals to investigate geographic differences in pup vocalizations. Classification trees showed a distinctive split between Front and Greenland Sea pup vocalizations. There were no clear differences between male and female pups at the Front, where 42% of male and 38% of female pup calls could be attributed to a given individual. This contrasts with the Greenland Sea, where 55% of vocalizations of female pups were attributed to individuals compared with only 8% for males. Analyses of behavioral observations of mother-pup pairs made in the afternoon and evening showed that pups in the Greenland Sea suckled more and were more alert than pups in the Front. Further, mother-pup attendance patterns differed between sites. Mothers at the Front attended their pups 85.1% of the time, whereas mothers in the Greenland Sea attended their pups 52.2% of the time. These substantial differences between sites might be related to evolutionary changes in behavior resulting from commercial hunting or variable environmental conditions. Sincerely, Ilse Van Opzeeland I.C. Van Opzeeland Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research Ocean Acoustics Lab Am Alten Hafen 26 27568 Bremerhaven GERMANY Phone: +49-471-4831-1169 Fax: +49-471-4831-1149 Web: www.awi.de/acoustics

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New Articles
by David S. Janiger 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

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)cox.net (note new email address) 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)cox.net djaniger(a)nhm.org Janiger Journals ADIE, SUSAN and BJORN L. BASBERG. POLAR RECORD 45(3):243-263. 2009. The first Antarctic whaling season of Admiralen (1905-1906): the diary of Alexander Lange. 1.035 MB AHRENS, LUTZ; URSULA SIEBERT and RALF EBINGHAUS. CHEMOSPHERE 76(2):151-158. 2009. Temporal trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German Bight, 1999-2008. 0.822 MB BAJPAI, SUNIL; DARYL P. DOMNING; DEBI R. DAS and VIJAY P. MISHRA. NEUES JAHRBUCH FUR GEOLOGIE UND PALAONTOLOGIE-ABHANDLUNGEN 252(3):257-267. 2009. A new Middle Eocene sirenian (Mammalia, Protosirenidae) from India. 1.342 MB BAJZAK, CATHERINE E.; STEEVE D. COTE; MIKE O. HAMMILL and GARRY STENSON. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 385:285-294. 2009. Intersexual differences in the postbreeding foraging behaviour of the Northwest Atlantic hooded seal. 0.449 MB BARAJ, BESNIK; LUIS FELIPE NIENCHESKI; GILBERTO FILLMANN and LUCIANO HERMANNS. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY 57(1):1-6. 2009. Biochemical normalization of trace metals in Arctocephalus australis. 0.260 MB BEARZI, MADDALENA; CHARLES A. SAYLAN and ALICE HWANG. MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH 60(6):584-593. 2009. Ecology and comparison of coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in California. 0.474 MB BERROW, SIMON; RONAN COSGROVE; RUTH H. LEENEY; JOANNE O'BRIEN; DAVID MCGRATH; JEPPE DALGARD AND YVES LE GALL. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 10(3):227-233. 2008. Effect of acoustic deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). 1.116 MB BERROW, SIMON; JOANNE O'BRIEN; IAN O'CONNOR and DAVID MCGRATH. BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY 109B(1):35-46. 2009. Abundance estimate and acoustic monitoring of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) in the Blasket Islands' candidate special area of conservation. 0.345 MB BIUW, MARTIN; BJORN A. KRAFFT; G. J. GREG HOFMEYR; CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN and KIT M. KOVACS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 385:271-284. 2009. Time budgets and at-sea behaviour of lactating female Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella at Bouvetoya. 1.021 MB BLANC, ANDREA; DORA RUCHANSKY; MARIO CLARA; FEDERICO ACHAVAL; ALFREDO LE BAS and JUAN ARBIZA. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 45(2):519-521. 2009. Serologic evidence of influenza A and B viruses in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis). 0.146 MB CARDONA-MAREK, TAMARA; KATRINA K. KNOTT; BENJAMIN E. MEYER and TODD M. O'HARA. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 28(7):1416-1424. 2009. Mercury concentrations in southern Beaufort Sea polar bears: Variation based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. 0.202 MB CHEN, TANIA LI; SANDRA S. WISE; SCOTT KRAUS; FARIBA SHAFFIEY; KAITLYNN M. LEVINE; W. DOUGLAS THOMPSON; TRACY ROMANO; TODD O'HARA and JOHN PIERCE WISE, SR. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 50(5):387-393. 2009. Particulate hexavalent chromium is cytotoxic and genotoxic to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) lung and skin fibroblasts. 0.145 MB CHINNADURAI, SATHYA K.; BRIGID V. TROAN; KAREN N. WOLF; RYAN S. DEVOE; C. J. J. HUIJSMANS; MIRJAM H. A. HERMANS and PETER C. WEVER. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 40(2):393-397. 2009. Septicemia, endocarditis, and cerebral infarction due to staphylococcus aureus in a harp seal (Phoca groenlandica). 0.390 MB CHURNSIDE, JAMES; LEV OSTROVSKY and TIM VEENSTRA. OCEANOGRAPHY 22(1):206-209. 2009. Thermal footprints of whales. 0.299 MB COLBERT, DEBBORAH E.; JOSEPH C. GASPARD, III; ROGER REEP; DAVID A. MANN and GORDON B. BAUER. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 212(13):2104-2111. 2009. Four-choice sound localization abilities of two Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus latirostris. 0.535 MB COLLIER, ROGER. CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL 180(13):1290-1291. 2009. Harp seal heart valves being tested for human use. 4.575 MB CUNNINGHAM, LOUISE; JOHN M. BAXTER; IAN L. BOYD; CALLAN D. DUCK; MIKE LONERGAN; SIMON E. MOSS and BERNIE MCCONNELL. AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS 19(4):398-407. 2009. Harbour seal movements and haul-out patterns: Implications for monitoring and management. 0.394 MB DAU, BRYNIE KAPLAN; KIRSTEN V. K. GILARDI; FRANCES M. GULLAND; ALI HIGGINS; JAY B. HOLCOMB; JUDY ST. LEGER and MICHAEL H. ZICCARDI. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 45(2):355-362. 2009. Fishing gear-related injury in California marine wildlife. 0.212 MB DENNISON, SOPHIE E.; LISA J. FORREST; MICHELLE L. FLEETWOOD and FRANCES M. D. GULLAND. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 40(2):385-388. 2009. Concurrent occipital bone malformation and atlantoaxial subluxation in a neonatal harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). 0.260 MB DOKSAETER, LISE; OLAV R. GODO; ERIK OLSEN; LEIF NOTTESTAD and RUBEN PATEL. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 66(6):1029-1036. 2009. Ecological studies of marine mammals using a seabed-mounted echosounder. 0.265 MB EHRET, DANA J.; BRUCE J. MACFADDEN and RODOLFO SALAS-GISMONDI. PALAIOS 24(5):329-333. 2009. Caught in the act: Trophic interactions between a 4-million-year-old white shark (Carcharodon) and mysticete whale from Peru. 0.412 MB ELLIS, BLAKE C.; SEBASTIANO GATTONI-CELLI; ANNALAURA MANCIA and MARK S. KINDY. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 33(8):901-912. 2009. The vitamin D3 transcriptomic response in skin cells derived from the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. 0.513 MB FIRE, SPENCER E.; ZHIHONG WANG; TOD A. LEIGHFIELD; STEVE L. MORTON; WAYNE E. MCFEE; WILLIAM A. MCLELLAN; R. WAYNE LITAKER; PATRICIA A. TESTER; ALETA A. HOHN; GRETCHEN LOVEWELL; CRAIG HARMS; DAVID S. ROTSTEIN; SUSAN G. BARCO; ALEX COSTIDIS; BARBARA SHEPPARD; GREGORY D. BOSSART; MEGAN STOLEN; WENDY NOKE DURDEN and FRANCES M. VAN DOLAH. HARMFUL ALGAE 8(5):658-664. 2009. Domoic acid exposure in pygmy and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia spp.) from southeastern and mid-Atlantic US waters. 0.315 MB FORCADA, JAUME; DONALD MALONE; J. ANDREW ROYLE and IAIN J. STANILAND. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 220(12):1513-1521. 2009. Modelling predation by transient leopard seals for an ecosystem-based management of Southern Ocean fisheries. 0.430 MB FORMAN, DAN; NATHAN WEST; JANET FRANCIS and EDWARD GUY. MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, RIO DE JANEIRO 104(2):295-297. 2009. The sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in British marine mammals. 0.348 MB GOLDSTEIN, TRACEY; JONNA A. K. MAZET; VERENA A. GILL; ANGELA M. DOROFF; KATHY A. BUREK and JOHN A. HAMMONDI. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES 15(6):925-927. 2009. Phocine distemper virus in northern sea otters in the Pacific Ocean, Alaska, USA. 0.497 MB HAELTERS, JAN and KEES (C. J.) CAMPHUYSEN. Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM, Belgium), the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ, The Netherlands) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) report. 56pp. 2009. The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena L.) in the southern North Sea: Abundance, threats, research- and management proposals. 2.612 MB HANDEL, STEPHEN; SEAN K. TODD and ANN M. ZOIDIS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 125(6):EL225-EL230. 2009. Rhythmic structure in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) songs: Preliminary implications for song production and perception. 0.208 MB HARVEY, JOHN W.; KENDAL E. HARR; DAVID MURPHY; MICHAEL T. WALSH; ELIZABETH C. NOLAN; ROBERT K. BONDE; MELANIE G. PATE; CHARLES J. DEUTSCH; HOLLY H. EDWARDS and WILLIAM L. CLAPP. VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY 38(2):183-193. 2009. Hematology of healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus). 0.859 MB HATUN, H.; M. R. PAYNE; G. BEAUGRAND; P. C. REID; A. B. SANDO; H. DRANGE; B. HANSEN; J. A. JACOBSEN and D. BLOCH. PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY 80(3-4):149-162. 2009. Large bio-geographical shifts in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean: From the subpolar gyre, via plankton, to blue whiting and pilot whales. 1.816 MB HERNANDEZ-MORA, GABRIELA; CHARLES A. MANIRE; ROCIO GONZALEZ-BARRIENTOS; ELIAS BARQUERO-CALVO; CATERINA GUZMAN-VERRI; LYDIA STAGGS; RACHEL THOMPSON; ESTEBAN CHAVES-OLARTE and EDGARDO MORENO. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY 16(6):906-915. 2009. Serological diagnosis of Brucella infections in odontocetes. 1.019 MB HIGDON, JEFF W. and STEVEN H. FERGUSON. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 19(5):1365-1375. 2009. Loss of Arctic sea ice causing punctuated change in sightings of killer whales (Orcinus orca) over the past century. 0.781 MB HOFFMAN, JOSEPH I. CONSERVATION GENETICS 10(4):989-992. 2009. A panel of new microsatellite loci for genetic studies of Antarctic fur seals and other otariids. 0.151 MB KLEPAC, PETRA; LAURA W. POMEROY; OTTAR N. BJORNSTAD; THIJS KUIKEN; ALBERT D. M. E. OSTERHAUS; JOLIANNE M. RIJKS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 276(1666):2469-2476. 2009. Stage-structured transmission of phocine distemper virus in the Dutch 2002 outbreak. 0.186 MB LOSETO, L. L.; G. A. STERN; T. L. CONNELLY; D. DEIBEL; B. GEMMILL; A. PROKOPOWICZ; L. FORTIER and S. H. FERGUSON. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 374(1):12-18. 2009. Summer diet of beluga whales inferred by fatty acid analysis of the eastern Beaufort Sea food web. 0.346 MB LUCKE, KLAUS; URSULA SIEBERT; PAUL A. LEPPER and MARIE-ANNE BLANCHET. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 125(6):4060-4070. 2009. Temporary shift in masked hearing thresholds in a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) after exposure to seismic airgun stimuli. 0.998 MB MCKINNEY, MELISSA A.; ELIZABETH PEACOCK and ROBERT J. LETCHER. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 43(12):4334-4339. 2009. Sea ice-associated diet change increases the levels of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in polar bears. 1.343 MB NELSON, T. A.; D. DUFFUS; C. ROBERTSON; K. LABEREE and L. J. FEYRER. JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH (Special Issue) 56:1537-1541. 2009. Spatial-temporal analysis of marine wildlife. 0.963 MB OHKUBO, MAKOTO; KOUJI TOKUTAKE; HARUKA ITO; KATSUTOSHI YOSHIDA and AKIO SHIMIZU. MAMMAL STUDY 33(2):83-86. 2008. Haplotype of the mitochondrial DNA control region of a neonatal finless porpoise stranded around the Yokohama Port. 0.434 MB PETERS, SHANAN E.; MOHAMMED SAMEH M. ANTAR; IYAD S. ZALMOUT and PHILIP D. GINGERICH. PALAIOS 24(5):290-302. 2009. Sequence stratigraphic control on preservation of Late Eocene whales and other vertebrates at Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt. 2.496 MB PULSTER, ERIN L.; KELLY L. SMALLING; ERIC ZOLMAN; LORI SCHWACKE and KEITH A. MARUYA. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 28(7):1390-1399. 2009. Persistent organochlorine pollutants and toxaphene congener profiles in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) frequenting the turtle/Brunswick River Estuary, Georgia, USA. 0.334 MB ROSENFELD, HENNING; STEPHAN LASSEN and ANDREAS PRANGE. JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH 8(6):2923-2932. 2009. Characterization of haptoglobin in the blood plasma of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 5.704 MB ROSSONG, M. A. and J. M. TERHUNE. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 87(7):609-617. 2009. Source levels and communication-range models for harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) underwater calls in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. 0.317 MB RYAN, PETER G.; CHARLES J. MOORE; JAN A. VAN FRANEKER and COLEEN L. MOLONEY. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 364(1526):1999-2012. 2009. Monitoring the abundance of plastic debris in the marine environment. 0.846 MB SCHIAVONE, A.; S. CORSOLINI; K. KANNAN; L. TAO; W. TRIVELPIECE; D. TORRES, JR. and S. FOCARDI. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 407(12):3899-3904. 2009. Perfluorinated contaminants in fur seal pups and penguin eggs from South Shetland, Antarctica. 0.300 MB SCHIAVONE, ALESSANDRA; SIMONETTA CORSOLINI; NICOLETTA BORGHESI and SILVANO FOCARDI. CHEMOSPHERE 76(2):264-269. 2009. Contamination profiles of selected PCB congeners, chlorinated pesticides, PCDD/Fs in Antarctic fur seal pups and penguin eggs. 0.306 MB THEWISSEN, J. G. M.; LISA NOELLE COOPER; JOHN C. GEORGE and SUNIL BAJPAI. EVOLUTION: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 2(2):272-288. 2009. >From land to water: The origin of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. 1.232 MB TOUGAARD, JAKOB; OLUF DAMSGAARD HENRIKSEN and LEE A. MILLER. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 125(6):3766-3773. 2009. Underwater noise from three types of offshore wind turbines: Estimation of impact zones for harbor porpoises and harbor seals. 0.125 MB TSUKROV, IGOR; JUDSON C. DECEW; KENNETH BALDWIN; REGINA CAMPBELL-MALONE and MICHAEL J. MOORE. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 374(2):93-103. 2009. Mechanics of the right whale mandible: Full scale testing and finite element analysis. 1.146 MB WILLIAMS, ROB and LEN THOMAS. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 142(7):1542-1547. 2009. Cost-effective abundance estimation of rare animals: Testing performance of small-boat surveys for killer whales in British Columbia. (Orcinus orca) 0.232 MB WISE, JOHN PIERCE, SR.; ROGER PAYNE; SANDRA S. WISE; CAROLYNE LACERTE; JAMES WISE; CHRISTY GIANIOS, JR.; W. DOUGLAS THOMPSON; CHRISTOPHER PERKINS; TONGZHANG ZHENG; CAIRONG ZHU; LUCILLE BENEDICT and IAIN KERR. CHEMOSPHERE 75(11):1461-1467. 2009. A global assessment of chromium pollution using sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species. 0.359 MB WISZNIEWSKI, JOANNA; SIMON J. ALLEN and LUCIANA M. MOELLER. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 77(6):1449-1457. 2009. Social cohesion in a hierarchically structured embayment population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. 0.412 MB YEUNG, LEO W. Y.; NOBUYOSHI YAMASHITA; SACHI TANIYASU; PAUL K. S. LAM; RAVINDRA K. SINHA; DNYANDEV V. BOROLE and KURUNTHACHALAM KANNAN. CHEMOSPHERE 76(1):55-62. 2009. A survey of perfluorinated compounds in surface water and biota including dolphins from the Ganges River and in other waterbodies in India. 1.516 MB YONEZAWA, TAKAHIRO; NAOKI KOHNO and MASAMI HASEGAWA. GENE (AMSTERDAM) 441(1-2):89-99. 2009. The monophyletic origin of sea lions and fur seals (Carnivora; Otariidae) in the Southern Hemisphere. 1.646 MB YUEN, QUEENY W. H.; MICHAEL T. C. YING; FIONA M. BROOK and REIMI E. KINOSHITA. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 35(6):1005-1009. 2009. Reliability of 2D ultrasound measurements of testis size in dolphins taken under voluntary behavior. 0.321 MB ZUEMER, RICHARD L.; CAROLINE E. CAMERON; STEPHEN RAVERTY; JOHN ROBINSON; KATHLEEN M. COLEGROVE; STEPHANIE A. NORMAN; DYANNA LAMBOUM; STEVEN JEFFRIES; DAVID P. ALT and FRANCES GULLAND. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 137(1-2):105-110. 2009. Geographical dissemination of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona during seasonal migration of California sea lions. 0.279 MB

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African manatee conservation training workshop- request for nominations
by Lucy Keith 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

Hello! We are pleased to announce the 3rd and final year of West African Manatee Research Training Programme. This is an opportunity for African scientists to participate in the Earthwatch/NCRC West African manatee community conservation and research project on the Afram Arm of Volta Lake, Ghana. Over the past 2 years we have trained 15 individuals from 8 West African countries. In 2009 we will be running 2 teams: Team 1: 18th – 31st October 2009 Team 2: 15th – 29th November 2009 Earthwatch has funding to bring 8 West African scientists and conservationists to join each training expedition. The Earthwatch Capacity Development Programme covers the costs of the training and all travel expenses to/from the rendezvous site in Accra, Ghana. However, all Fellows MUST commit to the entire 2-week training programme. We are targeting nationals in West African countries who already have an interest in manatee research and conservation or who have the potential to start a West African manatee conservation research project in their own country. Following last year’s success, we are especially interested in hosting young and/or female scientists. Training includes: Introduction to the Order Sirenia, History of Manatee Evolution, Manatee Field Research Techniques, Field research equipment and data sheets training; Manatee Genetics, Manatee habitat measurements and water quality analysis and Conservation Strategies for the Protection of Sirenians. Training seminars and field work will be done each day. Our work in Volta Lake is done under primitive and hot conditions (huts and tents) from a remote field station near a small village on the northern coast of the Afram Arm of Volta Lake. Last year, highlights of the expedition included a football match and special ceremony in the adjacent village. If you would like to apply for this training opportunity, please contact sstauntonlamb(a)earthwatch.org.uk Nomination forms must be completed and submitted by 10th August 2009 Cheers from Earthwatch, Nature Conservation Research Centre, Dr. Patrick Ofori-Dansen, Lucy Keith and Caryn Self-Sullivan About Earthwatch Earthwatch is an international environmental charity which is committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of life on earth to meet the needs of current and future generations. Our mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch has a global reach, with offices in Oxford (UK), Boston (USA), Melbourne (Australia) and Tokyo (Japan). Website: www.earthwatch.org/europe About NCRC Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) is recognized internationally as a leader in developing rural ecotourism and community protected areas as a means of economic development and resource conservation. NCRC’s initiatives have facilitated sustainable economic development in scores of poor rural areas of Ghana and other nations in West Africa. Founded in Ghana in 1996, NCRC has grown rapidly to become Ghana’s leading indigenous conservation organisation, as well as a key actor in West African civil society. Website: http://www.ncrc-ghana.org/ About Sirenian International Sirenian International, Inc., is a organization of grassroots people who share a dedication to manatee & dugong research, education, and conservation through inter-cultural collaboration. We are a partnership of scientists, students, educators, conservationists, and the public. We believe in the process of integrating science, education, and culture to catalyze positive change in our shared environment, Mother Earth Website: http://www.sirenian.org/ About Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Trust is an international organization of scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity. For more than 35 years, Wildlife Trust has focused its efforts on conservation. Today, we are known for our innovative research on the intricate relationships between wildlife, ecosystems and human health. Wildlife Trust Research Scientist Lucy Keith is the lead on West African manatee projects and currently conducts research in Gabon, Angola, Senegal and is in the process of building a collaborative partnership for manatee genetics with researchers from 15 West African countries. Website: http://www.wildlifetrust.org/edge_of_the_sea/project.shtml _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutor…

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