October 2010 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

NPRB 2011 RFP released
by Carrie Eischens 05 Jan '11

05 Jan '11

Please distribute (apologies for cross-postings). Dear Colleagues, The North Pacific Research Board announces the release of its regular 2011 Request for Proposals (RFP). Total funds available for the 2011 RFP is $3.55 million. Please consult the 2011 RFP and the NPRB Science Plan for further details on this year's research priorities. Proposals must be submitted online in accordance with instructions in the RFP. Online submission will be available from early November 2010 to December 10, 2010. The deadline for proposal submission is 4 p.m. (Alaska time), December 10, 2010. For more information visit our website at: http://x.jango20.com/y.z?l=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nprb.org%2Fproposals%2Fcurrent_… We look forward to receiving your proposals. Please distribute this notice widely, Cheers, Carrie Carrie Eischens, Ph.D. Program Manager North Pacific Research Board 1007 West 3rd Ave Anchorage, AK 99501 907-644-6712 *You have received this message because your email has been among those compiled for: North Pacific Research Board, COSEE, AOOS and the Alaska SeaLife Center listservs. This e-mail was sent by North Pacific Research Board, located at 1007 W 3rd Ave, Ste 100, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 (USA). To receive no further e-mails, please reply to this e-mail with "unlist" in the Subject line.

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Perception of a cetacean mass stranding in Italy: the emergence of compassion
by Giovanni Bearzi 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

The following article has just become available online: Perception of a cetacean mass stranding in Italy: the emergence of compassion Giovanni Bearzi, Nino Pierantonio, Silvia Bonizzoni, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Massimo Demma. 2010. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.1135 ABSTRACT 1. The view that whales are malicious monsters has been pervasive throughout history. Conversely, the idea that these animals experience suffering has emerged only recently. One way of investigating perceptual, as well as behavioural, shifts is assessing general public reactions to mortality events involving wild, rare and charismatic animals. 2. Here, the responses of 118 individuals to questions regarding the mass stranding of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic Sea coast of Italy in December 2009 are reported through interviews taken at the stranding site and in the direct proximity of the dead animals. 3. When asked why the whales were stranded, 44.1% of the respondents suggested anthropogenic causes and 21.2% non-anthropogenic. The remaining 34.7% mentioned a generic disorientation¹ or stated they did not know. When asked how they felt about the whales, 68.6% expressed feelings of compassion or care towards the animals. Clearly non-compassionate attitudes accounted for only 4.1% of the sample. Finally, 21.2% expressed feelings that were ambiguous in terms of being suggestive of compassionate or non-compassionate attitudes, including 11.9% amazement, 4.2% deprecation and 5.1% powerlessness. 4. These results are in stark contrast with information obtained from accounts of similar events that have occurred in historical times, up until the first half of the 20th century. For centuries, responses to cetacean live strandingstypically including killing and harming of the animalswere either utilitarian or characterized by feelings including fear and a desire to subjugate the beast¹, with no apparent concern for their suffering and death. 5. It is concluded that attitudes towards whalestoday strikingly revolving around sadness, compassion and a sense of losshave changed dramatically over time, with a steep turnaround in the 1970/1980s. Full appreciation of the ongoing evolution in public perception can channel marine conservation efforts and assist in the design of response strategies to marine mammal strandings. --- A pdf copy can be obtained from the journal's web site: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.1135/abstract or from me: giovanni.bearzi(a)gmail.com ________________________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi, Ph.D. President, Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy http://www.tethys.org/giovanni_bearzi.htm http://www.tethys.org/ ________________________________________________

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Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Internships
by Kuczaj Laboratory 29 Oct '10

29 Oct '10

The Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Lab at the University of Southern Mississippi offers an internship to college juniors, seniors and recent graduates. We are currently seeking applicants for the Spring 2011 Internship. We anticipate accepting one or two interns for this internship period. The primary research being conducted at this time involves field abundance surveys and photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins in Mississippi Sound. Anticipated start date is sometime mid to late January. A typical internship generally lasts 3-4 months. Interns work on research projects being conducted by faculty members and graduate students, and will gain experience in both behavioral and acoustic data collection and analysis. Specific experiences vary, depending on the research projects that are ongoing at the time of the internship. This internship is an unpaid voluntary position, and interns are responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing. Interns are also required to receive college credit for the internship; enrollment may be with The University of Southern Mississippi or an academic institution of their choice. Students interested in applying for the internship are required to send: Complete application form (pdf or word) that can be downloaded at http://www.usm.edu/psy-kuczaj/Internships.htmlCV or RésuméLetter of intent describing your career goals, reason(s) for wanting the internship, and what you expect to contribute to and gain from the internshipUnofficial or official copy of your transcriptsAt least two letters of recommendation (preferably from those who can attest to your academic and scientific abilities) All materials should be sent to: Internship Coordinator: Courtney Smith Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Internship Department of Psychology The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive, # 5025 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025 Materials may arrive separately or together, however all must be postmarked by Dec. 1st. Please direct all information requests and related materials to Courtney Smith at kuczaj_laboratory(a)yahoo.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Best, Courtney Smith MA/PhD Student,Internship Coordinator Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Laboratory Department of Psychology The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive, # 5025 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025

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FIRST CALL FOR PROPOSALS THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION THINK TANK 25-28 November 2011
by Dori Dick 29 Oct '10

29 Oct '10

Please see announcement below: FIRST CALL FOR PROPOSALS THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION THINK TANK 25-28 November 2011 The Marine Section will be hosting a special set of marine themed focus groups, designed to address specific problems and hopefully come up with concrete plans and solutions, on marine conservation issues of special concern for the southern hemisphere. The meetings are being planned to be held immediately prior to the SCB global meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand. Workshop themes include: Antarctic issues Reefs in crisis MPA effectiveness Deep sea ecosystems Marine wildlife tourism High seas governance Small, isolated populations Sustainable fisheries We are currently looking for short (one page maximum) proposals for 1-3 day sessions under these themes or other themes directly relevant to marine conservation in New Zealand and the Oceania region. Proposals should be for projects that have a high conservation impact with defined and substantial outputs (e.g. publications, reports, legal text, policy briefs, white papers or action plans). Venues and audiovisual materials will be provided for these meetings. Focus group leaders will be requested to present their findings during a special session during the International Congress for Conservation Biology which immediately follows the Think Tank (28 November to 2 December). For more details International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) visit: http://www.conbio.org/Activities/Meetings/2011/ Proposals will be peer-reviewed and due to limited sessions available, the final selection will be highly competitive. Registration for the Think Tank will be via the ICCB website. Focus group attendance will be limited to the number of spots available (40) in each session, with priority given to experts identified in session proposals. Proposals should identify focus group leader(s) and potential panel leaders (if valid) that have confirmed attendance. (NOTE to US participants- Thanksgiving in 2011 falls on Thursday 24th November, so we highly recommend making the most of the gorgeous scenery and wildlife of New Zealand and take a Thanksgiving vacation in New Zealand – for details about what Christchurch has to offer for single or family vacations see: http://www.nzescape.com/christchurch-attractions.html) More links will also be available soon on the travel section of the ICCB webpage. Please send your proposals to: imccprogram(a)conbio.org by 11 December 2010 Carolyn Lundquist, John Cigliano, Chris Parsons & Carol Scarpaci IMC Think Tank steering committee

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Philippine marine mammal stranding database website
by Lemnuel Aragones 28 Oct '10

28 Oct '10

Dear colleagues and fellow marmamers I would like to announce that the Philippine marine mammal stranding database (from 1998 to 2009) is now up and is hosted by the University of the Philippines (www.pmmsndatabase.upd.edu.ph) The initial paper that came out of this database was recently published in Aquatic Mammals (see details below). The Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings from 1998 to 2009: Animals in the Philippines in Peril? Aragones, Lemnuel V.; Roque, Mary Anne A.; Flores, Mariel B.; Encomienda, Richard P.; Laule, Gail E.; Espinos, Bianca G.; Maniago, Francis E.; Diaz, Gloria C.; Alesna, Edwyn B.; Braun, Robert C. 2010. Aquatic Mammals, (36) 3: 219-233. Abstract:A well-maintained marine mammal stranding database can be an invaluable tool in understanding not only strandings but also changes in the marine environment. This study aimed to examine the following aspects of marine mammal strandings in the Philippines: species composition, temporal (i.e., frequency of stranding per year and seasonality) and spatial (i.e., frequency of stranding per region and province) variation, proportions of alive or dead specimens, and stranding hotspots. In 2008, a systematic collection of data on strandings, including out-of-habitat incidents, resulted in an initial 12-year database—from 1998 to 2009. A total of 178 stranding events were recorded: 163 single, 10 mass, and 5 out-of-habitat strandings, with an average of 15 observed stranding events annually. Twenty-three of the 28 confirmed species of marine mammals in the Philippines were recorded to strand, including first-recorded specimens for the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), and Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus). The top five most frequent species to strand included spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) (n = 26), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) (n = 14), melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) (n = 13), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) (n = 11), and common bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus) (n = 10). Dugongs (Dugong dugon) stranded seven times since 2001. Strandings occurred throughout the year with frequency significantly peaking during the northeast (NE) monsoon (November to March) season. Overall, Regions III (Central Luzon) and VII (Central Visayas) had the highest number of strandings (both n = 27) followed by Regions I (Ilocos) (n = 22) and V (Bicol) (n = 18). The following provinces or local government units were considered hotspots based on high number of strandings observed at each area: Zambales, Cagayan, Zamboanga City, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Pangasinan, and Bataan. Sixty-five percent of all documented stranding events involved live (n = 116) animals. This high percentage might be linked to dynamite fishing (causing acoustic trauma), fisheries interactions, or biotoxins from harmful algal blooms coupled to their foodweb. These strandings in general validate the diverse marine mammal assemblage in the Philippines and reveal the various environmental threats with which they deal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lemnuel V Aragones, PhD Associate Professor Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology University of the Philippines CSRC Bldg, National Science Complex Diliman, Quezon City 1101 PHILIPPINES cellphone: +63 9285018226 email: lemdva2001(a)yahoo.com other email: lvaragones(a)up.edu.ph or lemnuel.aragones(a)up.edu.ph URL: www.iesm.upd.edu.ph ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Effects of Jet A Fuel/Diesel Spills on Marine Mammals
by Gina Lemieux 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Hello, I'm looking for papers from studies that specifically investigated the effects of Jet A fuel, diesel and/or No 2 fuel oil(heating oil) on marine mammals from marine spills. I do not need any papers that studied heavier oils such as crude oil or bunker C oil. Papers I already have include: Barron et al. 2003 Contaminant exposure and effects in pinnipeds: implications for Steller sea lion declines in Alaska Schwartz et al. 2004 Immunophenotypic and functional effects of bunker C fuel oil on the immune system of American mink (Mustela vison) Salazar 2003. Impacts of the Jessica oil spill on sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) populations Thank you in advance Regards, Gina Lemieux, B.Sc., R.P.Bio Marine Biologist Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. 250-383-4535 Reduce your ecological footprint - please think about the environment before printing this email. This email transmission may be privileged and/or confidential and may contain proprietary information for the exclusive use of the intended recipient. Any distribution, use or copying of this transmission, other than by the intended recipient, is not authorized unless otherwise stated in the main body of the transmission. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies.

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Artukhin Yu. B., Burkanov V. N., Nikulin V. S. Accidental By-Catch Of Marine Birds And Mammals In The Salmon Gillnet Fishery In The Northwestern Pacific Ocean
by Vladimir N. Burkanov (NMML IMAP) 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Hello everybody! New book on birds and mammal by-catch is published in Russia (apologies for cross-postings): Artukhin Yu. B., Burkanov V. N., Nikulin V. S. Accidental By-Catch Of Marine Birds And Mammals In The Salmon Gillnet Fishery In The Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Moscow: Skorost' Tsveta, 2010. - 264 p. (in Russian with English summary) ISBN 978-5-9902255-1-0 The origins and development of the salmon driftnet fishery in the northwest Pacific are described. The scope of the modern gillnet fishery in the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as its research and monitoring programs. Gillnet fishery methods in the Russian EEZ and the monitoring effort by commercial Japanese and scientific Russian fleets are described. Marine bird and mammal by-catch data collected during the large scale salmon fishery from the 1990s through the early 2000s are summarized in detail. Species composition and seasonal, inter-annual and geographic variation in by-catch mortality are analyzed. Estimates of bird and mammal mortality in gillnets are presented and the potential effect of the fishery on populations is discussed. Global measures to mitigate gillnet by-catch are presented, as is the potential of implementing some of these measures in Russian waters. Published by the approval of the Scientific Council of Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Geographical Institute Russian Academy of Sciences. The book is published within the Pacific Environment and Resources Center (PERC) and WWF Russia projects, aimed at the conservation of resources and diversity of Pacific Salmons of Kamchatka, sponsored by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. PDF-file (13 Mb) is available from: http://www.knigakamchatka.ru/nauchnye-trudy-nauchno-populyarnye-izdaniya-kam chatki/raboty-uchenyx-issledovateley-kamchatki/artukhin-birds-mammals.html ======================================== Vladimir N. Burkanov, Ph.D. National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NMFS, NOAA 7600 Sand Point Way, NE Building 4. Seattle, WA 98115 Tel. 206-526-4298 Fax. 206-526-6615

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ONR Call for Pre-Proposals on the Effects of Stress in Marine Mammals
by Weise, Michael CIV ONR 322 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Office of Naval Research Marine Mammal Program: Call for Pre-proposals on the Effects of Stress on Marine Mammals Background Marine mammals are exposed to a variety of potentially stressful anthropogenic and natural environmental inputs in both the wild and captive environments. Potential stressors include noise, pollutants, threatening stimuli such as fishing gear, habitat disruption, ecosystem changes in free-ranging animals, and transport/restraint, novel environments, and social interactions for animals maintained under human care. The stress response in captive marine mammals under controlled conditions has been shown to conform to the classical definition of the generalized stress response, which is defined by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis resulting in elevated levels of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones (i.e. cortisol and corticosterone). The involvement of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the stress response is immediate and acute in terrestrial and marine mammals and is characterized by the release of the neurohormones norepinephrine and epinephrine (i.e., the catecholamines). To effectively characterize the hormonal stress response, it is important to understand the natural rhythms of GC and catecholamines that support an animal's normal biological functions, i.e. natural variability must be understood so that the impact of additional stressors can be quantified. Little is known about long-term effects of stress on individuals and populations in marine mammals. Prolonged exposure to stress may result in immune system suppression, reproductive failure, accelerated aging, and slowed growth. If GCs are not the primary mechanism, they and other biomarkers may well be indicators of the cascade of effects leading from behavioral changes to alterations in reproduction and survival. The Office of Naval Research Marine Mammal and Biology Program (MMB) sponsored a workshop entitled 'Effects of Stress on Marine Mammals Exposed to Sound' that was held in Arlington, Virginia, 4-5 November 2009. The purpose of this workshop was to assemble a cross-section of researchers in the field of stress physiology and behavioral research to identify the state-of-the-art science in stress physiology as it may apply to marine mammals, identify research needs for marine mammal stress-related research, and evaluate available or developing technologies for measuring indicators of stress ultimately in free-ranging marine mammals. The workshop report can be downloaded at: <http://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/Departments/Code-32/All-Progr…> Topic Description The ONR MMB is soliciting 1-3 year pre-proposals investigating the stress response in marine mammals. MMB will invest in this topic for the next three to five years, dependent upon available funding. The workshop in November 2009 assisted program officers in defining the scope of stress-related research and specific research and technological needs. Based on the workshop recommendations and available funding in this first year, the MMB program is interested in pre-proposals for FY11 addressing the following needs: 1) Stress-Related Research . Promote an understanding of the natural variation in hormones and/or biomarkers of the stress response in free-ranging marine mammals as it relates to the life history state (e.g. sex, reproductive state, age) and physiological state (e.g. migrating vs. not migrating, fasting vs. non-fasting) of the individual and investigate whether these hormones and/or biomarkers have predictable annual cycles or diurnal cycles. . Better understand and characterize the relationships among hormones (e.g. cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone, catecholamines, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, etc.) or other biomarkers (e.g. immune function, cortisol receptors, etc.) in different matrices (e.g. blood, saliva, blubber, feces, urine, blow etc.). . Define and compare the quantitative and temporal relationships of hormones across the different matrices in captive and free-ranging marine mammals (e.g. how is circulating cortisol reflected in measurements made in the blubber or feces). . Develop a conceptual framework to discuss and consider stress-related research in marine mammals. . Evaluate and determine the viability of grouping marine mammal species to assess/predict stress in free-ranging marine mammals based on taxonomy, ecological niche and/or habitat, diving physiology, social response to predation, or functional hearing groups. . Evaluate and characterize the relationship between the physiological stress response in marine mammals and disturbance (i.e. noise exposure and other anthropogenic sources). Specific attention should go toward differentiating between short-term and longer-term responses, the latter of which may induce immune system suppression, reproductive failure, accelerated aging, and slowed growth. 2) Technological Needs . Partner with existing endocrine labs to develop diagnostic laboratory facilities to support stress-related research on marine mammals. . Develop and validate existing stress-assessment technologies that have not been used for marine mammal species; e.g. test existing hormone assay kits that have not previously been used for marine mammals. Procedures for Submitting Pre-Proposals: Persons with an interest in obtaining support for their stress-related are invited to submit a brief pre-proposal (2-3 pages of text), also referred to sometimes as a planning letter or white paper. The pre-proposal is intended to be an informal document submitted to the program that briefly describes the rationale and nature of the work to be proposed, the approach to addressing questions posed, and estimates the costs of the research. Feel free to contact program officer to discuss the potential overlap between program goals and areas of interest, and your own research as it relates to stress in marine mammals. Pre-proposals should: . Clearly and concisely describe the nature and objectives of the work proposed. . Indicate the amount of time needed to conduct the research. . Provide an estimate of funds required by federal fiscal year (Oct. 1 - Sept. 30) - if applicable, days of ship time and class of ship required should be clearly noted but not included in your budget estimates). . Include a short 1-2 page CV for each principal investigator (PI). . Include complete contact information for each PI, including phone number and e- mail address. Animal use requirements should be taken into consideration when submitting pre-proposals. Proposals can NOT be funded until all animal use documentation, permits, and protocols are received by program officer and approved. Some of this documentation can take months to acquire, so investigators need to plan ONR proposal submissions accordingly. Please submit pre-proposals via email by Wednesday 24 November 2010. Please contact MMB program officer with questions. Please submit pre-proposals to: Michael J. Weise Marine Mammals & Biological Oceanography Program Office of Naval Research - Code 32 703.696.4533 office michael.j.weise(a)navy.mil http://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/Departments/Code-32/All-Progr…

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research stranding pattern dolphins spain/potugal
by Joop Coolen [Stichting De Noordzee] 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

During ECS 2010 a person told me about research performed either in Spain or in Portugal. Researchers released dolphin carcasses offhore and investigated where the dolphins stranded. Resultswere, as i recall, that only 20% of the released carcasses made it to shore. Unfortunately i do not remember who told me about this, nor can I find any references to this research. Does anybody have something to help me find more information on this? Thank you in advance, kind regards, Joop Coolen North Sea Foundation, the Netherlands -- J.W.P. Coolen MSc| Mariene ecologie | Stichting De Noordzee | Drieharingstraat 25| 3511 BH Utrecht T +31(0)30 2340016 | M +31(0)6 21429012 | E j.coolen(a)noordzee.nl <mailto:j.coolen@noordzee.nl> | www.noordzee.nl <http://www.noordzee.nl> | twitter.com/denoordzee <http://twitter.com/denoordzee> Word donateur van Stichting De Noordzee vanaf EUR 2,- per maand. Iets bijzonders gezien op, in of bij de Noordzee? Meld het op www.noordzee.nl <http://www.noordzee.nl>

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Marine Mammal Scientist and Passive Acoustic Monitoring System (PAMS) Operational Technician Vacancies
by Nick Robinson 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Gardline Environmental Ltd is a member of the Gardline Marine Sciences Limited Group of Companies and are a successful Environmental contractor, operating a fleet of inshore boats, conducting major integrated offshore projects on a worldwide basis and inshore projects for major clients in the UK and overseas. As part of our continued growth there are immediate vacancies for the following positions: PAMS OPERATIONAL TECHNICIAN As a PAMS Operational Technician you will be responsible for the maintenance, despatch and receipt of all PAMS equipment. In addition, you will be expected to keep up to date with national and international development of PAMS and implement accordingly. Applicants will ideally be of degree calibre or equivalent in a relevant discipline and possess a full comprehension with the technical composition and use of PAMS. Ideally the candidate would have an understanding of marine mammals, their biology and identification and previous marine survey experience would be advantageous. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENTIST Reporting to the current Marine Wildlife Business Manager, you will be expected to undertaken and develop the application of marine mammal observations, monitoring and recording systems, the compilation and preparation of reports and the processing of observational data and possess a sound knowledge marine mammals, their biology and identification. Ideally you will be of degree calibre or equivalent, and demonstrate the ability to lead and develop projects from implementation to completion and illustrate sound commercial awareness. You will need to be a confident individual with a can do attitude and enjoy being challenged. Previous relevant marine oil and gas or renewable energy industry experience is advantageous. Both positions require the individual to spend in the region of 60 days at sea, dependent on project requirements, with the remaining time being office based (Great Yarmouth). As well as a competitive salary, these roles also include offshore allowances and a range of employee benefits, such as; personal and professional development, a further range of employee benefits and world wide travel opportunities. To apply for these positions please email your CV and covering letter to Allan Tucker, Recruitment Officer on recruitment(a)gardline.com. Closing date: 8th April 2009 Nick Robinson ________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY - This e-mail and any attached files contain information that is confidential and/or may be subject of legal privilege, intended only for use by the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received this message in error and that any dissemination, copying or use of this message or attachment is strictly forbidden, as is the disclosure of the information therein. If you have received this message in error please notify the sender immediately and preserve this confidentiality by deleting the message. No binding contract will result from this e-mail until and unless an officer, on behalf of the sender, signs a written document. Sender accepts no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of this message as it has been transmitted over public networks. Unless otherwise specifically stated any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the sender Company.

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