September 2009 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Updates for SMM Pre-Conference Workshop "Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species"
by Janet.Whaley 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

We have two updates to share for the workshop "Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species" preceding the 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals: 1. A draft agenda has been prepared and includes the following: * 8 morning presentations by invited speakers to discuss previous case studies involving: small cetaceans, large cetaceans, pinnipeds, manatees; comparisons and contrasts with terrestrial wildlife species; and a discussion on the ethics of intervention (i.e., when and why should humans intervene when an animal is perceived as being out of habitat?). * 5 afternoon break-out discussion groups involving all workshop participants to tackle the following topics: Process for embarking on an intervention, Science needs, Species-specific needs, Ethical considerations, and Public interest/participation. 2. The registration fee has been eliminated to enable more participants to join the workshop. Please see below for more details about the objectives and goals of the workshop. If you are interested, please register at: http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl…. Workshop Description: Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species Proponent: Barbie Byrd and Janet Whaley, National Marine Fisheries Service Date: 11 October, Full Day Room: 208A Marine mammals that are perceived as "out-of-habitat" or in peril, but are not stranded, pose complex challenges to agencies and groups responsible for determining and implementing the best course of action. Public and political pressures often result in interventions that are not justified based on the health of the population in question. In addition, stranding networks and regulatory agencies may potentially be faced with an increasing number of out-of-habitat cases if marine mammals (or their prey) shift distribution patterns and inhabit "new" areas in response to population-level or ecosystem-wide changes. While protocols for stranding response are well-developed, and some of the same principles apply, protocols for out-of-habitat events are usually developed ad-hoc and based on lessons learned from a handful of prior cases. The ad-hoc nature and resulting inconsistencies of responses to past events highlight the need for specific criteria to help in the decision-making process and to support decisions in the face of dissent. The biennial provides an opportunity for attendees who have dealt with similar situations to gather together to share experiences and help shape guidelines for future use. We propose a 1-day workshop involving international participants and incorporating a range of perspectives from academic researchers, animal welfare and environmental NGOs, and relevant regulatory agencies. The workshop will begin with an overview presentation outlining the structure and goals of the workshop, a presentation on relevant governmental regulations, and 8 20-minute presentations reviewing past case studies. In the afternoon, participants will be separated into breakout groups for about 2 hours to discuss a particular topic. Afterwards, each group would provide a critical review of their topic to all participants. Their analyses will be incorporated into draft guidelines (consensus or range of opinions) to provide criteria for evaluation of future events and determination of the most appropriate responses. A draft report will be circulated to participants for comment. A final version will be distributed following incorporation of comments. Cost: No Fee. Thank you. Barbie Byrd and Janet Whaley

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looking for an article about seal oogenesis
by Helena Katz 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Dear MARMAM, I´m looking for the following article about oogenesis in seals, writen in a rusian journal. SEVERAL FEATURES OF OOGENESIS AND THE HISTOLOGIC STRUCTURE OF THE OVARIES OF THE GREENLAND SEAL (PHAGOPHOCA GROENLANDICA) Parfenov VN, Gabaeva NS. Arkh. Anat Gistol Embriol 1974- Mar; 66(3):33-9 I´m conducting a research about Arctocephalus australis (South American Fur Seal) ovaries and female reproductive tract histomorphology. As I couldn´t find enough information about ovarian embriology in seals, this paper could give important clues about some interesting features found in the ovaries of South American Fur Seals (primordial follicles distribution and interstitial cell abundance). I would be very pleased if someone could send a scaned copy of it or other related articles. In case someone have a conection with a russian library where I can get in contact it would be very helpfull. Thanks a lot, Helena -- Helena Katz Área de Histología y Embriología Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de la República Lasplaces 1550. Montevideo Uruguay. Tel: +598-2- 622 29 33

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OBIS-SEAMAP Workshop at SMM Biennial: No Fee
by Lucie Hazen 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

In order to open the door to all interested parties, we have eliminated the registration fee for this workshop, Introduction to OBIS-SEAMAP, an online portal for visualizing marine mammal observations. We welcome anyone interested in this unique online data center to register on the conference website and join us. Date: October 11th Time: 1:00-5:00 PM Room 208B Link to Workshop: Intro <http://marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id =342:introduction-to-obis-seamap&catid=918:workshops> to OBIS-SEAMAP OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/) is an open access data center for marine mammal, sea bird and sea turtle observations, the primary purpose of which is to encourage collaborations and improve the understanding of these species by making it easy to share and visualize biogeographic data with advanced mapping and query tools. We are rapidly adding published datasets, developing new tools and adding functionality to better serve the research and management communities. Benefits include an off-site archiving service, multi-faceted visualization of your data and increased visibility of your research program while data providers retain ownership of their data. The event, useful for both data providers and users, will include sections focusing on visual survey data, as well as integrating photo-ID and acoustic data. You are invited to participate as potential data providers and/or users of OBIS-SEAMAP. Lucie Hazen Duke University ljhazen(a)duke.edu

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Bottlenose Dolphin Internships - Winter season
by Bruno Diaz 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hi everyone, on behalf of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (www.thebdri.com) I am pleased to announce that our centre is currently accepting internships applications for the Winter term (a minimum of 60 days of participation between February - April) in Sardinia Island, Italy. The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI carries out field research projects and provide scientific and volunteer support. BDRI's researchers are engaged in the conduction of a long term study about the ecology and behaviour of wild unrestrained bottlenose dolphins and the potential effects of human activities (fisheries, aquaculture and tourism) in their distribution and behaviour. An internship period with the BDRI offers an invaluable exposure to boat based field work,marine mammals research, intensive training and mentoring in marine biology. Undergraduate and postgraduate students could present their BDRI's personal research project as their Thesis if requested with the application. Internships can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but students are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the internship. Interns can expect to participate in and learn a variety of facets of marine mammal research as research assistants in two diverse research projects: 1. Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins societies project: We will take and analyse identification photos, study group structure and composition to refine details of dolphin societies and responses to human activities at sea. Volunteers assist with data collection onboard helping to locate, photograph and keep track of bottlenose dolphin groups. Back at the lab volunteers restock field supplies, analyse photos and transcribe data collected. 2. Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin's repertorie and communication use: Knowledge of how individuals within a population communicate and what they are communicating can generate information ranging from measures of habitat use, social relevance, geographical variation, cultural transmission to genetic fitness that can be applied to conservation. Bottlenose dolphins are extremely vocal mammalian species and vocal communication plays an important role in mediating social interactions. Although many vocalizations have been before described in the literature, their association with specific behaviours linked with human activities provides additional contextual information about their potential use as communication signals. There is no compensation for these internship positions and successful applicants will be responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from the research camp (Sardinia, Italy). The BDRI covers 60% of the associated costs during the internships period and the selected internships will pay the 40% of the total costs. BDRI will provide housing, training, use of materials, field work, electricity, gas, boat trips, etc. There is no deadline to apply. However, approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Apply early! Start and end dates are flexible. Positions are open until filled. Successful candidates will be ready and willing to learn, self-motivated, and flexible. Prior field research experience is recommended but not required. Please download the internships general information at: www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/internships.pdf and the application from: www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/applicationinternships.rtf Send cover letter or inquiries by email to the Research Chief, Bruno Diaz Lopez, at info(a)thebdri.com. Please indicate in your cover letter the dates you are available. Selected scientific publications by BDRI: 1. Diaz Lopez B. & Shirai, J.A.B., in press. Mediterranean common bottlenose dolphin's repertoire and communication use. In: Dolphins: Anatomy, Behavior, and Threats, F. Columbus (Ed.), Nova Science Publishers, New York. 2. Diaz Lopez B., 2009. The bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus foraging around a fish farm: Effects of prey abundance on dolphins' behaviour. Current Zoology (Acta Zoologica Sinica) 55(4):243-248. 3. Diaz Lopez B., Bunke, M. and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Marine aquaculture off Sardinia Island (Italy): ecosystem effects evaluated through a trophic mass-balance model. Ecological Modelling 212: 292-303. 4. Diaz Lopez, B., Shirai, J.A.; Bilbao Prieto, A. & M?ndez Fern?ndez, P., 2008. Diving activity of a solitary wild free ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K. 88(6): 1153-1157. 5. Diaz Lopez B. and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins social structure. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 62(6): 887-894. 6. Diaz Lopez B. and Shirai, J.A., 2007. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presence and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the noth-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy)" Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K, 87, 113-117. 7. Diaz Lopez, B., 2006. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Predation on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations". Aquatic Mammals 32(3): 305 - 310 pp. 8. Diaz Lopez, B., 2006. Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia. ICES Journal of Marine Science 63:944-951 pp. 9. Diaz Lopez, B., 2005. Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. International Council for Exploration of the Sea Document CM 2005/X 1. 10. Diaz Lopez, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish farms: could there be an economic impact? International Council for Exploration of the Sea Document CM 2005/X 10. 11. Diaz Lopez, B., Marini, L., Polo, F., 2005. The impact of a fish farm on a bottlenose dolphin population in the Mediterranean Sea. Thalassas 2005, 21(2): 53-58. Bruno Diaz Lopez Chief Researcher / Marine Zoologist Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI V.Armando Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy www.thebdri.com info(a)thebdri.com tel.+ 39 346 081 5414 tel. + 0789 183 1197

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Florida Student Chapter Meeting - October 14, 2009
by Noel Takeuchi 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

*Florida** Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (FSCSMM)* The Florida Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (FSCSMM) will be in Québec City! We will be holding a meeting during the 18thBiennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals and we invite all interested students to attend. *Meeting Time: October 14, 2009* *When: 12:00-1:00PM* *Where: Room 205A * The primary objective of the FSCSMM is to create an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students studying marine mammals to meet, network, discuss and exchange ideas in and around the state of Florida. Please feel free to contact your FSCSMM representatives if you have any questions or concerns. Meghan Bills –billsm(a)ufl.edu Jen McGee – mcgeej(a)vetmed.ufl.edu Noel Takeuchi – nytakeuchi(a)gmail.com

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New publication - Bottlenose dolphins moan like baleen whales
by Sylvia van der Woude 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Dear colleagues, The following article has been recently published online in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Vol. 126, Issue 3): van der Woude, S. E. (2009). "*Bottlenose dolphins (/Tursiops truncatus/) moan as low in frequency as baleen whales*," J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 126, 1552--1562. A PDF copy of the article is available at http://link.aip.org/link/?JAS/126/1552 or by request from s_vdw(a)web.de <mailto:s_vdw@web.de> . Supplementary material (2 videos and 1 PDF file) can be downloaded at ftp://ftp.aip.org/epaps/journ_acoust_soc/E-JASMAN-126-013909 . Kind regards, Sylvia E. van der Woude ABSTRACT: Despite a vast number of investigations on the vocal repertoire of bottlenose dolphins, it is still not fully described. This publication reports on a newly discovered tonal low-frequency vocalization in the species at frequencies similar to baleen whale "moans." Dolphin moans are characterized by a slightly modulated fundamental frequency well below 500 Hz that ranges in duration from 0.2 to 8.7 s. Recordings (68 h) were obtained from eight Black Sea bottlenose dolphins residing in an open sea enclosure in Israel. Of 132 unambiguous moans, 49 occurred clearly associated with the release of air from a dolphin's blowhole, which allowed for identifying five moaning individuals. Reasons why this vocalization has not been previously described in any toothed whale are discussed. Moans might not be part of the species' natural repertoire but likewise might have been overlooked due to their inconspicuousness and scarcity, technical limitations, or methodological biases. The function of moaning is unclear; however, the data suggest that moans are signals of anticipating physical satiation provided by humans, i.e., feeding or petting. To further address these questions, verification of moans in other populations and experimental investigation of the properties of moan production and perception are required. (DOI: 10.1121/1.3177272) /Copyright notice: © 2009 Acoustical Society of America. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the Acoustical Society of America. / //// ---------------------------------------------- Sylvia Eke van der Woude e-mail: s_vdw(a)web.de Germany: Reichenberger Str. 36 10999 Berlin cell phone: 0049 - 173 - 13 886 73 phone: 0049 - 30 - 61 28 28 28 fax: 0049 - 30 - 61 10 14 92 Israel: ILDBR (Int. Lab. f. Dolphin Behaviour Research) c/o Dolphin Reef Southern Beach, P.O.B. 104 Eilat 88100 cell phone: 00972 - 525 - 126 116 phone (lab): 00972 - 8 - 634 18 68 fax (lab): 00972 - 8 - 637 59 21

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Final Announcement for Lost in Translation: The Science-Policy Intersect workshop
by Naomi Rose 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

This is the last announcement for the full day workshop Lost in Translation: The Science-Policy Intersect on Sunday, October 11, 2009 to be held in association with the SMM's 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Quebec City, Canada. Lost in Translation: The Science-Policy Intersect This workshop will address questions regarding whether, when, and how scientists should become involved in the policy arena. After presentations by scientists and a legal expert experienced in working with marine conservation policy issues, the workshop will break into moderated open discussion for the afternoon. Please see the full synopsis for the workshop on the SMM conference web site. Our speakers will be Dr. Naomi Rose, Andrew Wright, Dr. Lance Barrett-Lenard, Dr. Tim Ragen, and Dr. Howard Schiffman. The full program will be sent to registered participants at least one week before the workshop. To register for this workshop, please go to the SMM web site at: http://www.marinemammalogy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=categor y&id=918&Itemid=215 <http://www.marinemammalogy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=catego ry&id=918&Itemid=215> The workshop will take place on Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 8:30am to 5:30pm in Room 207. There will be a registration fee of $35.00US, which will include breakfast (starting at 8am) and coffee breaks - payment (cash or check in US currency) will be collected at the door. Given the large number of workshops being offered at this biennial, if you can attend for only a half-day (no breakfast), we will charge a half-day fee of $10.00US. We have been fortunate to secure a small amount of funding and can now offer student members a discount of $5US on the full-day fee. Student registration for the workshop is therefore $30US. Depending on various factors, we may be able to offer a further discount to students at the door. Please bring proof of your student status to the workshop to obtain the discount. We look forward to seeing you there. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, HSI-Wildlife nrose(a)hsi.org <mailto:nrose@hsi.org> t +1 301.258.3048 f +1 301.258.3082 Humane Society International 700 Professional Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20879 USA hsi.org <http://www.hsi.org/> Join Our Email List <http://www.hsi.org/join> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/hsiglobal> Twitter <http://twitter.com/hsiglobal> <http://www.hsi.org/>

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Call for posters for Quebec Monk seal workshop
by Monk Seal 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Dear Marmam Readers As previously announced on Marmam, before the 18th Biennial Conference in Quebec, the following workshop will take place: “Research, Management Conservation, and Policy in Monk Seal Recovery: A Global Perspective”. This workshop will provide a unique opportunity for members from the various Hawaiian and Mediterranean monk seal programs to come together with some of the greatest minds in the marine mammal field to discuss and share their knowledge, forge new ideas, and develop critical plans and partnerships. During this workshop a poster session will be held. If you have a poster that you feel would be relevant to this workshop (monk seal related or a technique that could be valuable for monk seal research or management) please submit an abstract (Max. 300 words) the latest by Sept 30. Please email us at: MonachusWorkshop(a)gmail.com <MonachusWorkshop(a)gmail.com> Hope to see you there. Charles Littnan, Alexandros Karamanlidis, Pablo Fernandez de Larrinoa, and Lisa Van Atta.

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Proposed Offshore Killer Whale Management Plan posted on SARA Public Registry
by XPAC Species at Risk 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

The proposed Management Plan for the Offshore Killer Whale has been posted on the SARA Public Registry. Please note that the comment period ends on November 9, 2009. The proposed management plan and the online comment form can be found here: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=1855. Michelle Li A/Species at Risk Program Development Officer Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Ocêans Canada 200-401 Burrard St / 200-401 rue Burrard Vancouver BC, V6C 3S4 / Vancouver (C.-B) V6C 3S4 T: (604) 666-2792 / F: (604) 666-3341 Michelle.Li(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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Job Announcement - Part Time Manatee Research Biologist
by Berger, Ryan 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

PART-TIME (20 hrs/wk) MANATEE RESEARCH BIOLOGIST COMPENSATION/BENEFITS: $11.00/ hr, no benefits DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This position, located in Jacksonville, participates in Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) manatee research program in an eight-county area along inland and north east coast Florida. It is designed as a part-time position (approximately 20 hrs/week), working on weekends. Duties include: fielding calls from FWC Law Enforcement, other agencies, and the general public regarding marine mammals, particularly manatees; verification of manatee mortalities and distressed manatees, potentially in need of rescue; recovery of manatee carcasses and transportation of those carcasses to the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory (in St. Petersburg) for necropsy; participation in rescues and transportation of sick and injured manatees to appropriate facility; performing and assisting with field necropsies of manatees when appropriate; photographing and sketching manatees at secondary warm water refugia on the north east coast; using a computer and software programs such as Arcview, Excel, Access and Word; completing paperwork including time sheets, manatee carcass and rescue reports, and technical reports; assisting with manatee outreach programs such as presentations for local groups and agencies; general cleaning of office and equipment, vehicle, trailer and boat maintenance, data entry and other tasks assigned by supervisor. There is also the potential to assist in various duties involved with the FWC North Atlantic Right Whale program. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor's degree with a major in one of the biological sciences or a combination of relevant coursework and job-specific experience. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: The ability to safely operate and trailer boats less than 28 feet in length is highly desired. Applicant must obtain boater safety certification within the first six months of employment. Knowledge and the ability to use personal computers, field gear, and cameras are also highly desired. Applicant must be able to swim proficiently. Field work is highly physical and applicant must be able to lift 50 lbs. Must have the ability to work both as a team member as well as independently in various field situations. Establish and maintain effective working relationships; think logically and apply problem-solving techniques; effectively communicate verbally and in writing; and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License. Marine mammal stranding-response experience is preferred. Must be able to work weekends and holidays, potentially nights, and often under adverse field conditions. This position is open until filled, with an immediate start date. Please send a letter of interest, CV, and three references to Ryan Berger at Ryan.Berger(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Ryan.Berger@MyFWC.com> Ryan Berger Research Associate Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Jacksonville Field Lab 370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville FL, 32218

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