January 2010 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Rescue and Rehabilitation Internships at The Marine Mammal Center - 2010 season
by Erin Brodie 23 Jan '10

23 Jan '10

[cid:image003.jpg@01CA9C48.3A75AF90] STRANDING DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT The Stranding Department of The Marine Mammal Center is seeking applicants for internships working with stranded pinnipeds, cetaceans and sea otters. These positions are unpaid. Internship Opportunities are available at the following locations. · San Luis Obispo Operations in Morro Bay · Monterey Bay Operations in Moss Landing · Main Hospital in Sausalito Program Description: The Stranding Department Internship is an exciting opportunity for individuals who are interested in increasing their experience and knowledge of marine mammal behavior and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Interns will be responsible for answering the animal hotline and rotating the after hours on-call. Interns will coordinate rescue and triage response throughout the Center's 600-mile rescue range. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in marine mammal rescues and releases. In addition, interns will be required to assist with animal care duties (feed preparations, medical charting, and pen cleaning) for all on-site pinnipeds. Other duties may include: participation in training classes, data entry and tracking, maintaining rescue equipment and assorted miscellaneous tasks. Intern Responsibilities & Qualifications: The internship is open to all applicants 21 years of age or older, with an avid interest in marine biology, zoology, general biology, policy or a related field. If the intern intends to receive university credit for their internship, they are responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institution. Interns must be able to work for a minimum of 3 months, 5 days a week, at least 40 hours per week. Work schedule must be flexible and may include weekends and holidays. This is an unpaid position and all interns are responsible for obtaining housing and transportation. Applicants should demonstrate excellent communication skills and have practical computer knowledge with programs such as Word, Access, and Excel. This internship position involves a fair amount of physical activity, such as: lifting, restraining and moving animals. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a résumé that includes the names of three references, and a cover letter detailing interests, experience, housing accommodations, and availability. Please forward all application materials to the following address: The Marine Mammal Center Marin Headlands 2000 Bunker Road Sausalito, California 94965 Attn: Erin Brodie Or via email to: BrodieE(a)TMMC.org There is some flexibility on the start date of each position, with the earliest start date of February 1 and the last available internship beginning June 14. Internship Period Application Deadline Interviews Notification of acceptance Approximate Internship Time Spring February 8, 2010 February 12, 2010 February 19, 2010 April - June 2010 Summer February 8, 2010 February 19, 2010 February 26, 2010 June - August 2010 Fall June 7, 2010 June 11, 2010 June 14, 2010 August - Sept. 2010 Winter July 19, 2010 July 23, 2010 July 26, 2010 Oct - December 2010 Celebrating its 35th year in 2010, The Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit hospital dedicated to the rescue and release of sick, injured or orphaned marine mammals, and to research about their health and diseases. Volunteers and staff have treated more than 15,700 California sea lions, elephant seals, porpoises, and other marine life. The Center uniquely combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs to advance the understanding of marine mammal health, ocean health and conservation. For more information, please visit our website at www.marinemammalcenter.org<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org>. The Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Forensic Science for Wildlife Biologists at Shoals Marine Laboratory
by William E. Bemis 22 Jan '10

22 Jan '10

Greetings from Shoals Marine Laboratory! This summer, SML is again offering Forensic Science for Wildlife Biologists (BIOSM 4450/VTMED 6435/ZOOL 755) from June 28 to July 5. Study the intersection of law and biology with a team of outstanding instructors. Learn about the anatomy of marine vertebrates, including seals, dolphins, seabirds, and fishes, and develop your incident reporting skills. The full course awards two credits; a non-credit, 5-day workshop option is also available (follow the links for details). Hope to see you on Appledore this summer! Willy William E. Bemis Kingsbury Director of Shoals Marine Laboratory Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology c/o Shoals Marine Laboratory, Stimson Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 web24(a)cornell.edu SML Portsmouth Office 400 Little Harbor Road Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-430-5220 Office 603-430-5221 FAX The website for Shoals Marine Lab is: http://www.sml.cornell.edu/

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Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals vol 35(4), 2009, Special Issue on Sonars and Cetacean Strandings
by Dagmar Fertl 22 Jan '10

22 Jan '10

Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The following are abstracts from the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals, the scientific peer-reviewed journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). The journal publishes papers dealing with all aspects of the care, conservation, medicine and science of aquatic mammals. The journal receives support of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA). As a reminder, the journal is shifting to electronic only; paper copies would be available for an additional charge. Abstracts are presented as a courtesy to the EAAM and the journal editors – Drs. Kathleen Dudzinski (kdudzinski(a)dolphincommunicationproject.org) and Justin Gregg (justin(a)dolphincommunication.com) In conjunction with John Anderson of Terramar Productions, the new Editorial team will grow Aquatic Mammals into a multi-media journal. Please see the journal's website http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org for exciting details about the new feature of real-time publishing, online publishing, ADA compatible publishing, Historical Perspective essays and DVDs. Contact information is provided for the corresponding author for each article. Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and these postings. This issue is a Special Issue on Sonars and Cetacean Strandings. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Ziphius EcoServices dfertl(a)gmail.com http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com Leendert Spoelstra,* J. 2009. Foreword. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):425. *no contact information provided with this article Introduction to the special issue by a Rear Admiral RNLN (retired; Former Director of NATO Undersea Research Centre, NURC (1996-2003)) noting the use of sonar in the marine environment and the value of Marine Mammal Acoustic Risk Mitigation Programs. ************ D’Amico, A.*, and R. Pittenger. 2009. A brief history of active sonar. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):426-434. * Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152-5001, USA; E-mail: angela.damico(a)navy.mil As background for this special issue on strandings and mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), this paper presents a brief history of active sonar, tracing the development of MFAS from its origins in the early 20th century through the development of current tactical MFAS. ***** Filadelfo, R.*, J. Mintz, E. Michlovich, A. D’Amico, and D. R. Ketten. 2009. Correlating military sonar use with beaked whale mass strandings: What do the historical data show? Aquatic Mammals 35(4):435-444. *Center for Naval Analyses, 4825 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22151, USA; E-mail: filadelr(a)cna.org There have been several incidents in which U.S. Navy sonar operations at sea coincided in time and location with a mass stranding of marine mammals, particularly beaked whales. Although a conclusive cause-and-effect relationship has not been established, there is strong evidence and scientific concern that use of military sonar has resulted in beaked whale mass strandings. Most previous attempts to determine whether military sonar use and whale strandings are correlated have looked at mass stranding records of beaked whales and have singled out those instances in which military operations appear to coincide in time and location with a mass stranding event. In this study, historical data on beaked whale mass strandings and military exercises that were likely to include active sonar use were compiled, and sta-tistical analyses were performed to determine the level of correlation between these events for four geographic regions. Strandings were significantly correlated with naval activity in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, but not off the coasts of Japan and southern California. ********* Blanchet, M.-A.*, M. Wahlberg, and T. Ishigami. 2009. First observation of the parturition and peripartum events in a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Aquatic Mammals 35(4):473-480 * Fjord & Bælt, Margrethes Plads 1, 5300 Kerteminde, DenmarkCorresponding Author’s E-mail: marie_blanchet(a)yahoo.fr; current address: Idrettsveien 40 B, 9009 Tromsø, Norway Parturition events in cetaceans are difficult to observe in nature and scarcely described in detail. Observations from animals in captivity offer the possibility to follow complete gestations and to obtain a precise description of the series of events pertaining to pregnancy and parturition. After a gestation period of 11 mo, the parturition of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was observed for the first time at the Danish research facility Fjord & Boelt on 8 August 2007. Five prepartum signs useful to predict the onset of parturition were identified: (1) decrease in appetite (from 5,064 Kcal/d to 907 Kcal/d at 2 d before birth [B-2]), (2) unusual behavior (disinterest in training sessions, seeking of physical contact with the trainers, restlessness), (3) decrease in body temperature of 1.6º C at B-1, (4) swollenness in the genital area, and (5) increase in the inter-mammary distance (from 5 to 8 cm at B-1).During labor, three stages described for other mammals in literature were observed and each stage’s duration recorded: Stage 1 was characterized by uterine contractions and dilation of the cervix (between 2 h 19 min and 7 h 39 min), Stage 2 started with the rupture of fetal membranes (1 h 42 min at least), and Stage 3 comprised the expulsion of the fetus and its membranes (7 h). The total duration of the parturition was at least 16 h 21 min as there is an uncertainty in regards to the exact beginning of the labor. The sequence of visible events occurring during parturition was as follows: apparition of the amniotic sac, apparition of the calf’s flukes, apparition of the peduncle, delivery of the calf, and expulsion of the left horn of the placenta followed by the right horn. As described for other cetaceans, the delivery was caudal. Contractions seemed to be longer and more frequent during the first stage and during the beginning of the second stage of labor. The contractions then shortened and became more regular during the expulsion of the calf. We observed that the expulsion of the calf was not provoked only by contractions but helped at the end by a violent rotational movement of the mother that broke the umbilical cord. The female’s breathing rate increased dramatically towards the end of the expulsion of the calf. ********** Filadelfo, R., J. Mintz, E. Michlovich, A. D’Amico, and D. R. Ketten. 2009. Correlating military sonar use with beaked whale mass strandings: What do the historical data show? Aquatic Mammals 35(4):435-444. *Center for Naval Analyses, 4825 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22151, USA; E-mail: filadelr(a)cna.org There have been several incidents in which U.S. Navy sonar operations at sea coincided in time and location with a mass stranding of marine mammals, particularly beaked whales. Although a conclusive cause-and-effect relationship has not been established, there is strong evidence and scientific concern that use of military sonar has resulted in beaked whale mass strandings. Most previous attempts to determine whether military sonar use and whale strandings are correlated have looked at mass stranding records of beaked whales and have singled out those instances in which military operations appear to coincide in time and location with a mass stranding event. In this study, historical data on beaked whale mass strandings and military exercises that were likely to include active sonar use were compiled, and sta-tistical analyses were performed to determine the level of correlation between these events for four geographic regions. Strandings were significantly correlated with naval activity in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, but not off the coasts of Japan and southern California. ************ Filadelfo, R., Y. K. Pinelis, S. Davis, R. Robert Chase, J. Mintz, J. Wolfanger, P. L. Tyack, D. R. Ketten, and A. D’Amico. 2009. Correlating whale strandings with Navy exercises off Southern California. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):445-451. *Center for Naval Analyses, 4825 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22151, USA; E-mail: filadelr(a)cna.org There have been several incidents when Navy sonar operations at sea coincided in time and location with the mass stranding of marine mammals, particularly beaked whales. Filadelfo et al. (this issue) compiled historical data on large-scale naval exercises and found significant correlations with whale mass strandings in some locations but not in others. In the present study, we compile information on Navy operations off southern California and single strandings of several cetacean species to see if there is a correlation between strandings and Navy exercises in this area. We use information on the state of decomposition of the stranded animals to treat the actual time of stranding as a random variable, and we simulate the correlation between Navy activity and strandings with a Monte Carlo model. For gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the ratio of odds of a stranding occurring as a result of Navy exercises to the odds of a stranding occurring naturally was (0.879, 1.582), consistent with the null hypothesis of no difference in stranding rates between times of Navy exercises and other times. For other species, the 95% CI for the odds ratio was (0.716, 1.394), which is, again, consistent with the null hypothesis. ********* D’Amico, A.*, R. C. Gisiner, D. R. Ketten, J. A. Hammock, C. Johnson, P. L. Tyack, and J. Mead. 2009. Beaked whale strandings and naval exercises. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):452-472 * Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152-5001, USA; E-mail: angela.damico(a)navy.mil Mass strandings of beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) have been reported in the scientific literature since 1874. Several recent mass strandings of beaked whales have been reported to coincide with naval active sonar exercises. To obtain the broadest assessment of surface ship naval active sonar operations coinciding with beaked whale mass strandings, a list of global naval training and anti-submarine warfare exercises was compiled from openly available sources and compared by location and time with historic stranding records. This list includes activities of navies of other nations but emphasizes recent U.S. activities because of what is available in publicly accessible sources. Of 136 beaked whale mass stranding events reported from 1874 to 2004, 126 occurred between 1950 and 2004, after the introduction and implementation of modern, high-power mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). Of these 126 reports, only two reported details on the use, timing, and location of sonar in relation to mass strandings. Ten other mass strandings coincided in space and time with naval exercises that may have included MFAS. An additional 27 mass stranding events occurred near a naval base or ship but with no direct evidence of sonar use. The remaining 87 mass strandings have no evidence for a link with any naval activity. Six of these 87 cases have evidence for a cause unrelated to active sonar. The large number of global naval activities annually with potential MFAS usage in comparison to the relative rarity of mass stranding events suggests that most MFAS operations take place with no reported stranding events and that for an MFAS operation to cause a mass stranding of beaked whales, a confluence of several risk factors is probably required. Identification of these risk factors will help in the development of measures to reduce the risk of sonar-related strandings. ********* Osterrieder, S. K.*, and R. W. Davis. 2009. Summer foraging behaviour of female sea otters (Enhydra lutris) with pups in Simpson Bay, Alaska. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):481-489. *University of Rostock, Institute of Bioscience, Rostock, Germany; E-mail: ost_sylvia(a)yahoo.de In altricial mammals, the mother’s care and attendance are essential for the young to acquire survival skills. Not much is known about mother-pup behaviour in the sea otter population of Simpson Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska. In this study, water depth and location of feeding females with pups of different ages were recorded. Shallow (0 to 20 m) and deep (60 to 80 m) waters were preferred for foraging over those of intermediate depths. There was no significant difference in foraging water depth relative to pup maturity, but female dive duration changed significantly with the age of the pup, likely resulting in increasing surface time for unattended pups. The range of measured dive durations increased with older pups. Dive duration was highly significantly dependent on foraging water depth. ************ McCreery, L.*, and J. A. Thomas. 2009. Acoustic analysis of underwater vocalizations from crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus): Not so monotonous. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):490-501. * Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University–Quad Cities, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL 61265, USA; E-mail: mccreeryl(a)mail.davenport.k12.ia.us Underwater vocalizations of pack-ice crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) were recorded by J. A. Thomas off the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula during the austral breeding season in November 1978. Data were collected by dropping an ANS 57 sonobuoy from the side of a ship to a depth of 15.3 m and recorded on a Nagra III reel-to-reel recorder (system frequency response linear from 20 Hz to 20 kHz ± 2 dB). The acoustic properties of 315 underwater vocalizations were analyzed using Spectrogram real time software. As previous investigators documented, all crabeater seal sounds during the breeding season were of one type, a long groan. D. Cothran recorded a solitary crabeater seal of unknown age and sex foraging during the nonbreeding season in February 2007 in the same general area of the Antarctic Peninsula using a Sony TRV-900 digital underwater video camcorder. Twenty seconds of underwater acoustic data were spectrographically analyzed, and 18 vocalizations were identified and classified into four previously unreported sound types: (1) short groan, (2) whistle, (3) screech, and (4) grunt. For the first time, the acoustic characteristics of the common long groan and four previously undescribed underwater vocalizations by crabeater seals were examined spectrographically with parameters of frequency and time reported herein. The long groan showed little frequency or temporal variation and was repeated by other distant crabeater seals at about 20.0-s intervals. No long groans were recorded during the short February videotape. The four previously undocumented vocalizations were produced while a single crabeater seal foraged in shallow water. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the long groan was acoustically dissimilar to the four new vocalizations; however, only 18 sounds were available for analysis. Still, this videotape documents that this species does produce more than one sound type. Further research should be conducted to adequately document the underwater acoustic repertoire of the crabeater seal, especially outside the breeding season. ************** Wenzel, F. W.,* J. Allen, S. Berrow, C. J. Hazevoet, B. Jann, L. Steiner, P. Stevick, P. López Suárez, and P. Whooley. 2009. Current knowledge on the distribution and relative abundance of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off the Cape Verde Islands, eastern North Atlantic. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):502-510. * NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; E-mail: Frederick.Wenzel(a)noaa.gov During the winter/spring months from 1990 to 2009, 13 cetacean surveys were conducted around the Cape Verde Islands off West Africa. The main target species was the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Study periods varied from 14 to 90 d in duration. Study platforms included a 5-m inflatable boat, a 12-m catamaran, and/or 15-m sailing or motor vessels. Collectively, we obtained 88 individual humpback fluke photographs from this region. These fluke photographs have been compared to over 6,500 individual fluke photographs maintained in the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue. Based on photo-identification, humpbacks in the Cape Verde Islands have a relatively high interannual resight rate (> 22%) compared to other studied breeding locations in the West Indies. While this is partly due to increased probability of detection in a small population, this result nonetheless suggests strong site fidelity to this breeding ground. Three photo-identified individuals from the Cape Verde Islands had been previously photographed on high-latitude feeding grounds off Bear Island, Norway, and Iceland. One Cape Verdean humpback was resighted in the Azores, possibly en route to the northern feeding grounds. These findings are consistent with the belief that the Cape Verde Islands represent a breeding ground for northeastern Atlantic humpback whales. Tourism activities in the Cape Verde Islands are rapidly increasing. A balance is needed whereby conservation, whale watching guidelines, habitat preservation, and enforcement are fully enacted in order to provide protection to both this species and its habitat. In addition, further research is required to clarify the importance of this small population and its breeding ground. ************** Merriman, M. G.*, T. M. Markowitz, A. D. Harlin-Cognato, and K. A. Stockin. 2009. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) abundance, site fidelity, and group dynamics in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):511-522. *Coastal-Marine Research Group, Massey University, Private Bag 102904, North Shore MSC, Auckland, New Zealand; E-mail: m.g.merriman(a)massey.ac.nz Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are consistently observed in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. However, prior to the present study, no research has previously focused on this species within these waters, despite the potential for human impacts. Photo-identification undertaken during boat-based surveys conducted between 2003 and 2005 were used to assess occurrence, abundance, and movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds. Long-term site fidelity was evident, with the majority of individuals resighted over multiple years. Lagged identification rates showed consistency over a 4-y period, with some individuals remaining for longer periods, while others frequently interchanged between different areas of the Marlborough Sounds. Migration rates were high, with approximately 25% leaving and entering the 890 km² region annually. Bottlenose dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds appear to form part of a larger, open, coastal population consisting of 385 individuals, with 211 (95% CI = 195 to 232) dolphins utilizing the region per annum. While their occurrence within these waters is frequent, the Marlborough Sounds appear to be only a section of a much larger home range for this bottlenose dolphin population. ************ Kooyman, M. M., and G. L. Kooyman*. 2009. Historical perspectives: The history of pinniped studies in Antarctica. Aquatic Mammals 35(4):525-556. *Scholander Hall, 0204, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; E-mail: gkooyman(a)ucsd.edu The Kooymans provide us with a detailed account of the history of pinniped studies in Antarctica. Melba Kooyman talks about the discovery and early history of Antarctic pinnipeds. Gerald Kooyman provides a summary of Weddell seal behavioral and physiological studies in McMurdo Sound (1964-1984) _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/

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Field Research Courses in Marine Mammals Science (Winter & Spring 2010)
by Bruno Diaz 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (www.thebdri.com) is happy to announce the new 10 days-long, Field Research-oriented Courses in Marine Mammals Science (FRC) (Winter & Spring 2010 Season). These training courses are specifically designed for those students (undergraduate and postgraduate) seriously interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal science. Students may choose one of the three exclusive courses, listed bellow, depending on where their interests lie. Each academically FRC combines exclusive lectures, hands-on boat-based and computer exercises, assignments and tests. The FRC are limited to 6 students to ensure individualized instruction. Students will be trained during FRC in a wide range of areas including scientific data collection, field research concepts and methodology, computer orientation, use of statistical analysis, presentation and report of findings, and much more. You might well leave a course with a simple research project to carry out in a location of your choice!! FRC are divided in three exclusive training courses (http://www.thebdri.com/education/courses.htm) FRC 1001 (Date: 29th March) MONITORING COASTAL BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN POPULATIONS This FRC provides an in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of marine mammal science and more particularly applied dolphins research. The variety of subjects approached on this FRC provides students with the tools and practical experience needed for a greater understanding of coastal bottlenose dolphin populations and their conservation, as well as deeper insight into behavioural research concepts and methodology. As a result of successful completion of this course, you will be able to select and use appropriate research methods available to characterise the status of a coastal bottlenose dolphin population. FRC 1002 (Dates: 12th April; 17th May) SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION IN A FISSION-FUSION SOCIETY This advanced FRC aims to provide specialization in behavioural methods, focusing in particular on bottlenose dolphin social behaviour and communication, achieving an integrated approach to the understanding of the behavioural complexity of this species. By the end of the course, students will be able to design a project to assess the social organization of a bottlenose dolphin population. In addition, course attendants will get experience in using bioacoustical methods via computer practical sessions involving classification and analyses of bottlenose dolphin vocalizations. FRC 1003 (Dates: 1st March; 3rd May) CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN POPULATIONS This advanced FRC surveys an extensive amount of knowledge and ongoing investigations concerning marine mammals conservation, achieving an integrated approach to address human-dolphin conflicts and advice on mitigation. As a result of successful completion of this specialization course, attendants will gain a deeper insight into the various factors influencing the incidental capture of bottlenose dolphins, use of ecosystem-level models to predict the impact of human activities and explain the importance of local, national, and international policies that aim to protect bottlenose dolphin populations. BDRI has developed a financial aid to support students and unemployment people, covering approximately between 25% (fall-winter season) and 10% (spring-summer season) of the FRC Tuition & Program fee. Comfortable housing (private and double rooms), with shared cooking and bathroom facilities are provided. There is no deadline to apply. However, applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Positions are open until filled. APPLY NOW! Step 1. Read through this general information carefully: www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/courses.pdf decide what course/s you want to study, take note of any dates that may be preferred. Step 2. Once you have decided which course/s you would like to study, it's now time to submit your application by email to info(a)thebdri.com More information: email: info(a)thebdri.com; telephone: 00 39 346 0815414 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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SAMBAH - Static acoustic monitoring of the Baltic Sea harbour porpoise
by Julia Carlström 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

Dear all, We would like to inform you on that project SAMBAH (Static acoustic monitoring of the Baltic Sea harbour porpoise) has been launched. For anyone interested, there will be a workshop about the project in Stralsund, Germany on March 20 in conjunction with the 24th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society (http://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/, SAMBAH workshop contact: julia.carlstrom(a)aquabiota.se) The overall objective of the SAMBAH project is to launch static acoustic monitoring (SAM) as a best practice methodology on a large scale, and to provide reliable assessments of abundance, distribution and preferred habitats of the small and severely reduced population of harbour porpoises (Phocoena Phocoena) in the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea population is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) and the species is listed in Annexes 2 and 4 of the EC Habitats Directive as well as in the national red lists of several EU Member States. The very low density of the population, in combination with a complex of threats and problems, necessitates the development of improved methodologies for collecting data on population size and range, and its fluctuation over time. The project area is defined by waters 5-80 m deep east of the Limhamn and Darss underwater ridges (between Denmark-Sweden and Denmark-Germany, respectively) and south of approximately latitude 60⁰20’N in the Baltic Sea. Within the project area, close to 300 SAM devices will be deployed in a random systematic grid over a period of 2 years. Density estimates will be calculated using adaptations of traditional point transect distance sampling methods, applied to the detection of porpoise groups by the SAM units. Auxiliary data will be collected by the deployment of satellite and acoustic tags, attached to porpoises in Danish waters. Habitat preferences and areas with higher risk of conflicts with anthropogenic activities will be investigated by spatial modelling. SAMBAH will allow formulating appropriate management objectives and identify conservation and mitigation measures. The results should make possible an appropriate designation of SCIs for the species within the Natura 2000 network. SAMBAH also provides a tool for monitoring the population and evaluating the success of future conservation measures. The beneficiaries (partners) of the project are: Kolmården Wildlife Park, SE (coordinator) Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, SE Turku University of Applied Sciences, FI Finnish Ministry of the Environment, FI Särkänniemi Adventure Park, FI University of Gdańsk, PL Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, PL Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, PL National Environmental Research Institute, DK Danish Forest and Nature Agency, DK Collaborators: German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund, DE AquaBiota Water Research, SE CREEM, St Andrews University, UK Ivar Jüssi, State Nature conservation Centre, EE Anda Ikauniece, Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, LV Darius Daunys, Klaipeda University Coastal Research and Planning Institute, LT The project is funded by the EU programme LIFE+ Nature, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water, WWF Finland, the Voivodship Fund for Environment Protection and Water, as well as by all beneficiaries. Logo_SAMBAH_positive_liten AquaBiota_logga_mailsignatur Julia Carlström PhD Marine Ecology / SAMBAH Project Manager AquaBiota Water Research Svante Arrhenius väg 21A, SE-114 18 Stockholm, Sweden Phone +46 (0)8 16 10 27, mobile +46 (0)70 22 44 517 <http://www.aquabiota.se/> www.aquabiota.se / <http://www.sambah.org/> www.sambah.org <mailto:julia.carlstrom@aquabiota.se> julia.carlstrom(a)aquabiota.se / <mailto:info@sambah.org> info(a)sambah.org

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cetaceans visual surveys around Italy
by Simone Panigada 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

Good morning list members, In 2009 two aerial surveys were conducted in the waters of the Pelagos Sanctuary (Western Mediterranean Sea), in winter and summer, underlining some shifts in fin whale distribution and abundance, when compared with previous years. The results will be presented at the upcoming Conference of the European Cetacean Society in Stralsund (22-24 March 2010, http://www.ozeaneum.de/en/ecs-2010.html) To better understand these shifts, the Tethys Research Institute and Ispra (ex-ICRAM) are organizing additional visual surveys to assess abundance and density of cetaceans in the waters around Italy. In particular we will be focusing on the Strait of Sicily (in the winter - February-March 2010), the Pelagos Sanctuary, the Tyrrhenian Sea (north and central) and the Corsica and Sardinia Seas (in the summer 2010). In order to better plan the surveys, especially those outside the Pelagos Sanctuary, we are collecting information on cetaceans' presence and relative abundance in the selected areas. We are therefore kindly asking for recent (unpublished or published) information on distribution of cetaceans, either from dedicated surveys or platforms of opportunity. The information provided do not need to include latitude and longitude (even if desirable) to protect data ownership, but would need to indicate species, date and area. Information on presence and seasonality in the Strait of Sicily (Around the Lampedusa Island) would be very appreciated, given the paucity of data available for that area. We are looking forward to receiving your inputs, with our best regards, Simone Panigada and Giancarlo Lauriano

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volunteer positions
by Imogen Webster 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society (MMCS) is a non-government organization that has worked for almost 30 years to safeguard the marine environment of Mauritius through education. The MMCS takes action to sensitize the local population to the importance of marine biodiversity, focusing on the protection of marine mammals and coral reefs. One of the objectives of the MMCS is to promote the need for marine conservation in Mauritius through the creation of marine parks. This is done through ongoing research activities. In order to continue with our work and research we are looking for willing volunteers who want to gain valuable hands on conservation experience, to come to Mauritius and work with our researchers on current projects. Help would be collecting data both on the sea, on our boat, and on land conducting surveys, data entry, equipment maintenance as well as office based activities. You could be involved in: 1. Monitoring the behavior, ecology and population of the local cetaceans including spinner and bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales and humpback whales 2. the behaviour of dolphin watching boats 3. surveying tourists and operators 4. Working with schools to promote environmental awareness 5. Creating educational games and presentations for information evenings in an effort to gain support for sustainable marine eco-tourism. 6. fundraising events Volunteers will be accommodated in a furnished house in Black River (GPS 20° 21.77'S, 57°21.48'E). It is about 750m from a shopping centre that has a well stocked supermarket and the beach is about 100m away. Accommodation, bedding, laundry facilities and equipment is all provided but food is the volunteers responsibility (allow approx £40-50/week). Volunteers will be expected to contribute to housework, cleaning etc. Openings for volunteers are available immediately. Charges are AUS$405/GBP£200/€250 per week, with an additional fee of £50 to organize airport transfers, staying a minimum of 2 weeks (and a maximum of 8 weeks, because of Government stipulation). For more info on volunteering and application forms, contact: Imogen Webster Principle Research Officer (PhD candidate) iwebster(a)mmcs-ngo.org or www.mmcs-ngo.org

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NOAA announcement on sonar
by Jasny, Michael 19 Jan '10

19 Jan '10

Dear All, Today NOAA announced a new initiative to potentially mitigate harm from U.S. Navy mid-frequency sonar, and from other sources of ocean noise as well. The announcement, which comes in a letter from Dr. Lubchenco (NOAA Administrator) to Nancy Sutley (Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality), is available at www.nrdc.org/media/docs/100119.pdf. The letter specifies that NOAA will conduct a series of workshops (1) to learn more about marine mammal "hotspots," particularly through available predictive habitat models; (2) to develop a plan for assessing the cumulative environmental impacts of sonar, oil exploration, and other sources of intense ocean noise; and (3) to improve marine mammal monitoring on the Navy's ranges. Based on the results of these workshops, the agency will consider additional measures to reduce harm from sonar, in future rulemakings and authorizations under the MMPA. In addition, the agency expresses an interest in conducting comprehensive, multipurpose surveys for marine mammals and sea turtles; and it notes its participation in ongoing negotiations over sonar mitigation between the Navy and NRDC. NOAA puts a good deal of emphasis in the letter on habitat identification and avoidance, stating that "Protecting important marine mammal habitat is generally recognized to be the most effective mitigation measure currently available." It's worth noting, of course, that today's announcement is only a plan and not a prescription, and much will depend on what happens over the next year. Cheers, Michael Michael Jasny Senior Policy Analyst Natural Resources Defense Council 4479 W. 5th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6R1S4 tel. 604-736-9386 mob. 310-560-5536 fax. 310-434-2399 PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law as attorney-client and work-product confidential or otherwise confidential communication. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify us at the above telephone number.

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Operant conditioning classes
by shelley wood 19 Jan '10

19 Jan '10

5 day workshops will be held at Dolphin Discovery Puerto Aventuras Mexico. Both the Basic and Advanced courses offer plenty of hands on contact with marine mammals by ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy. May 31 to June 4 Basic course June 7 to June 11 Advanced course For more information please visit http://www.abcanimaltraining.com/ http://www.facebook.com/dolphin.training Or email Shelley Wood swood(a)abcanimaltraining.com Shelley Wood ABC Training Systems swood(a)abcanimaltraining.com http://www.abcanimaltraining.com/ http://www.facebook.com/dolphin.training

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Research funding from the Joint Industry Program
by Roger.gentry＠comcast.net 19 Jan '10

19 Jan '10

The Joint Industry Program (JIP) has announced that it will continue funding research on the effects of underwater noise on marine animals from 2010 through 2012. The program, now worth up to $35M, funded 62 projects from 2006 through 2008 (see our website, www.soundandmarinelife.org for details). In 2009 the economic downturn and its effects on future research priorities caused the JIP to suspend the funding of new projects for that year only. This suspension did not affect several previously-funded projects that are still ongoing. The program officially resumed on January 1, 2010 with a new suite of partner companies and external advisors, a changed structure, and some new policies. The JIP web site will soon be updated to reflect these changes. No final decision has been reached on the research priorities for 2010 and beyond. However, future research will likely be somewhat less diverse and more focused on immediate industry problems than in the past. No Requests for Proposals will be released until after March 2010. As before, all inquiries about the program should be addressed to info(a)ogp.org.uk , and not to Roger Gentry, former Program Manager and now Special Advisor to the JIP ( roger.gentry(a)comcast.net ), who posted this message.

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