December 2010 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Global Cetacean and Marine Turtle Programme Manager position
by Valerie Burgener 21 Dec '10

21 Dec '10

WWF International, the global conservation organization, is seeking to recruit a Global Cetacean and Marine Turtle Programme Manager based at WWF International in Switzerland Location: This position is based at WWF International in Gland (near Geneva), Switzerland. Role: The Global Cetacean and Marine Turtle Programme Manager provides leadership and technical support for the development, funding and implementation of the WWF Global Marine Turtle Strategy (GMTS) and the WWF Global Cetacean Species Action Plan (Cetacean SAP) — two critical elements of the Species conservation work of WWF. We are looking for: · University degree in preferably natural resources management, biological sciences, zoology, or conservation biology; · At least 5 years experience in wildlife conservation, conservation programme/project management or coordination. Experience coordinating international programmes desirable; · Good technical knowledge of biodiversity conservation in general, and species and marine conservation in particular, with understanding of the major conservation issues affecting cetacean and marine turtle conservation a key asset; · Experience developing fundraising proposals, and cultivating relationship with donors; · Direct work experience with an international conservation NGO or government agency an advantage; · Understanding of field-based activities essential. · Good technical, organizational, interpersonal and team-building skills essential; · Diplomatic and multi-cultural skills; · Fluency in English (written and spoken); excellent presentation skills and ability to translate technical information for a non-technical audience. Other languages (particularly French and/or Spanish) an asset; · Ability to travel to project sites is essential for this position. · Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging. How to apply? For more information on the role and instructions for applying, please consult www.panda.org/jobs . Application deadline: 31 January 2011

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Registration Deadline Extension for the SMM Florida Student Chapter Symposium
by Mcgee,Jennifer L 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

Deadline Extension: All registration forms are now due by January 10, 2011. We are pleased to announce the first annual Florida student chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s research symposium on January 30, 2011 with an ice breaker January 29th. This year’s symposium will be hosted by the University of Florida’s Aquatic Animal Health Program in Gainesville, FL. We encourage all students (graduate, undergraduate, professional, etc.) actively involved or interested in marine mammal research to attend. This is an informal symposium which will give students the opportunity to present their research in a relaxed environment and to meet and exchange ideas with other students from the state of Florida and surrounding areas. We also have scheduled round table discussions with prominent marine mammal researchers from both the academic and government arena. Presentation slots will be 12 minutes with 3 minutes for questions. If you wish to present on your current or proposed research project please submit your abstract (300 word maximum) and registration form available at our website<http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/extension/aquatic/events/#conferences> no later than January 10, 2011 to floridasmm(a)gmail.com<mailto:floridasmm@gmail.com>. All registration forms for attendees are due by the January 10th date. Registration is FREE! In addition to the symposium, a marine mammal anatomy tutorial and dissection is planned for January 31st. Space is limited and filling fast! Also, you will have the unique opportunity to attend free-ranging manatee health assessment captures in Crystal River, Florida with Dr. Bob Bonde (USGS Sirenia Project) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on February 1 or 2, 2011. There are currently only 4 remaining spots available for Feb. 1st and 7 spots for Feb. 2nd, so register soon! To alleviate the cost of room and board, there will be limited free accommodations so again, please register early. Please check our website<http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/extension/aquatic/events/#conferences> and Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=102486243157815> event page for updates. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at floridasmm(a)gmail.com<mailto:floridasmm@gmail.com>. Thank you and we look forward to meeting all of you! The committee of the Florida Student Chapter for the Society for Marine Mammalogy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jennifer L. McGee, M.Sc. Ph.D. Candidate University of Florida-College of Veterinary Medicine Aquatic Animal Health 2015 SW 16th Ave. PO Box 100126 Gainesville, Fl. 32610-0126 (716) 481-4750 "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir "What is man without the beast ? If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beast, soon happens to man. All things are connected. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself" Attributed to - Chief Seattle of the Suguamish American Indians

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Whales of the World poster for sale via American Cetacean Society
by Uko Gorter 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

Dear Marmam subscribers, My recent poster of "Whales of the World, The Order of Cetacea" is at this moment only available for purchase through the American Cetacean Society. Illustrated by Uko Gorter size: 26.375" x 38" This large full color poster depicts all known species (and a few subspecies) of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, of the order Cetacea. A total of 91 illustrations show the wonderful diversity of this group of marine mammals. All drawn to scale at average adult lengths. The poster includes such recent additions as the Australian snubfin dolphin, the Guiana dolphin, and the Omura's whale. Contact Kaye Reznick, American Cetacean Society, business manager. Email: acsoffice(a)acsonline.org Call: (310) 548-6279 Price: $ 20 within the U.S. (includes shipping & handling). Extra charges apply internationally. Support ACS! NOTE: Within a week or so, orders can also be placed through my website (www.ukogorter.com) and a secure PayPal account. So, check often. Best wishes for 2011 to all of you... Uko Gorter Uko Gorter Natural History Illustration 12712 NE 91st Lane Kirkland, WA 98033 www.ukogorter.com uko(a)ukogorter.com 425-827-3437 Attached JPEG of Whales of the World poster:

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ACS Whalewatcher Journal, Climate Change issue, 2010, Vol.39, No.2.
by Uko Gorter 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

Dear MARMAM subscribers, The American Cetacean Society is proud to announce the full-color special issue on Climate Change: Challenges to Cetacean Conservation of our journal "Whalewatcher". Our special guest editor for this issue is Dr. Ian Dutton, president and CEO of the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chairman of the North Pacific Research Board. We would like to take the opportunity to once again thank all authors and photographers who have contributed to this publication. The result is a poignant and timely publication with compelling articles on a tremendously important issue. Whalewatcher, journal of the American Cetacean Society, Volume 39, No. 2. Climate Change: Challenges to Cetacean Conservation. In this issue: – Climate Change Demands a New Approach to Cetacean Conservation, by Ian Dutton – Climate Change: Effects on the Diversity of Whales and Dolphins, by Hal Whitehead – Whales Facing Climate Change in the Pacific Arctic, by Sue E. Moore – Feeling the Heat: Potential Climate Change Impacts on Bottlenose Dolphins, by Randall S. Wells – Top Ten Percent of Cetaceans Affected by Climate-driven Shift in Human Behavior, illustrated plates by Uko Gorter – The Biggest Threat of All, by Elin Kelsey – Climate Change and European Cetaceans, by Mark Peter Simmonds and Sonja Eisfeld – Freshwater-Dependant Cetaceans: Intergrating Climate Change-Related Impacts from Mountain to Sea, by Brian D. Smith and Randall R. Reeves – Aerial Photo Gallery, by Laura Morse (NOAA Fisheries) – Recent Research: Overview of Research on the Impact of Climate Change on Cetaceans, by Dominique Rossi and Ian Dutton To order your copy: Contact Kaye Reznick, American Cetacean Society, business manager. Email: acsoffice(a)acsonline.org Call: (310) 548-6279 Price: $ 6.00 within the U.S. and $10 International (includes shipping & handling) Have you credit card number ready if you're calling. Or, become an ACS member today! Note: We still have copies of our beaked whale issue, dedicated to the late John Heyning, and our Phocoenid issue on the Vaquita and its Relatives, available for purchase. Same pricing applies. Happy Holidays from all of us at ACS! Uko Gorter AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY Cheryl McCormick Ph.D., Executive Director P.O Box 1391 San Pedro, CA 90733-1391 www.acsonline.org acsoffice(a)acsonline.org (310) 548-6279

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Volunteer positions available-Sperm Whales and Tourism New Zealand
by Wendy Markowitz 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

We are looking for volunteers to participate in the Sperm Whales and Tourism research project at Kaikoura, New Zealand. Data are collected from multiple platforms including shore, tour vessels, aircraft, and research vessel based platforms. Skills that will be obtained include behavioural and acoustic data collection from a research vessel, behavioural data collection from shore using a surveyor's theodolite, collection of photographic, video and behavioural data from aircraft and tour vessels, and additional research tasks and data entry and analyses. No prior experience is necessary and training will be provided by research team leaders. You must be comfortable working in the field in a variety of conditions and with a large, international team of scientists and students. The next field season begins January 5th and runs through February 2011. An additional field season begins April 1 and runs through June 2011. Minimum duration to volunteer is one month, with a 3-month commitment preferred. Project funding is limited and you must be able to provide your own transportation to the field site, housing, food and cell phone. Information on the cost of housing in New Zealand can be found at http://www.kaikoura.co.nz. To apply, please provide a letter of interest, C.V. and contact information for 3 references to: manuelpinguinhas(a)gmail.com with a copy to ophelie.sagnol(a)hotmail.fr. Thank you, Manuel Fernandes and Ophélie Sagnol

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PhD Thesis 'The Ecology of Cuvier’s beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris (Cetacea: Ziphiidae), in the Bay of Biscay'.
by jackie smith 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

Dear MARMAMers, A pdf of the following PhD Thesis: Smith, J.A. 2010. The Ecology of Cuvier’s beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris (Cetacea: Ziphiidae), in the Bay of Biscay. Is now available at: www.marine-life.org.uk/jackiesmith.html Abstract This dissertation introduces the habitat use and spatial-temporal distribution of Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris, Cuvier, 1823)in the Bay of Biscay, from surveys carried out by the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme between 1995 and 2007. I have analysed the spatio-temporal distribution of Cuvier’s beaked whale, using dedicated and opportunistic sightings and the interactions with fixed physical variables (depth, slope and aspect), non-fixed environmental variables (sea surface temperature) in the Bay of Biscay, northeast Atlantic. This study used a differing combination of environmental variables and modelling: GAM (General Additive Model), and ENFA (Ecological Niche Factor Analysis), and PCA (Principal Component Analysis). Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing were used to achieve this. The habitat preferences of Cuvier’s beaked whale showed strong correlations with water depths >1000m and <4000m and steep slopes, associated with the Capbreton canyon, in the southeast Bay of Biscay and the continental shelf slopes in northern Biscay. Areas of high suitability for Cuvier’s beaked whale were predicted for the Bay of Biscay and predictions showed high habitat suitability areas over continental shelf slopes and submarine canyons. The variety of modelling techniques used to identify the habitat preferences and to predict areas of high suitability for Cuvier’s beaked whale in the Bay of Biscay all proved advantageous. On a global scale, techniques such as these could be applied to help research worldwide for future implementations of protected areas to conserve and maintain this species. The abundance and distribution of Cuvier’s beaked whales varied between years and seasons, with an increase in sightings over time and a seasonal distribution shifting north during spring and summer. Stranding records were also analyzed and compared with the sightings data, which identified regional patterns in seasonal distribution between France, the UK and Ireland. In addition to Cuvier’s beaked whale, this study investigated other deep-diving cetaceans (Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus, Sowerby’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens, Sperm whale, Physalus macrocephalus, Pilot whale, Globicephala melas) and non-deep diving cetaceans (Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus, and Common dolphin, Delphinus delphis) observed in the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel. The Bay of Biscay is the most northerly range of the Cuvier’s beaked whale in the eastern north Atlantic and with year round observations, it could be suggested the population may be resident.This raises the question, could Cuvier’s beaked whale act as a predictor of increasing water temperatures because of climate change by shifting their distribution further north. Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Dr Jackie Smith. Email: jackie52smith(a)yahoo.co.uk Marinelife is a charity registered: No 1110884 ><((((o>...><((((o>...><((((o>...><((((o>...><((((o> Please consider the environment - do you really need to print this email? RESPECT OUR OCEANS!!! Don't flush things down the loo (other than loo paper) Buy local sustainably-caught fish (or through the Marine Stewardship Council - www.msc.org)

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Hydrophones
by Mauricio Carrasquilla 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

Greetings, I was asked about hydrophones and its prices for monitoring riverin dolphins in the Amazon. Could someone help me with good equipment for such use and costs of these apparatus. Thanks in advance. Mauricio Carrasquilla Marine Biologist Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Colombia, SA Masters in Natural Resources and Environment (C) Instituto Politécnico Nacional (MX) mauricio.carrasquilla(a)gmail.com

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Seal Pup Rehabilitation Internships, BC
by phocid＠aol.com 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Seal Pup Rehabilitation Internships Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre is a registered not for profit organization operating under permits from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada and the Ministry of Water, Land and Air. Recipient of the Islands Trust Environmental Stewardship Award, IWNCC’s focus is on the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned Harbour Seals. This spring and summer we will be awarding 14 internships. Internships last eight weeks and run between late May to late October. In the peak of summer the hours are long. The work day begins at 7:30 a.m. and continues until well past midnight. A shift can be 10 - 12 hours per day, six days a week, with one day off. The internships are on a voluntary basis, however comfortable housing with shared cooking and bathroom facilities are provided as well as wireless internet and a shared vehicle. Interns are accepted internationally and are responsible for their own transportation to and from British Columbia. Interns will work directly under marine mammal rehabilitation specialists and can expect to learn or improve your skills in the following: Safe rescue and handling of Harbour Seal pups. Proper restraint techniques. Stabilizing critical patients and new arrivals. Food preparation through all stages of the rehabilitation process. Gavage (tube) feeding, force feeding and hand feeding techniques. Proper hygiene and isolation protocols to prevent the spread of disease. Administration of oral medications. Behavioral and medical observation and proper record keeping. Natural history of marine mammal species. Fundamentals of how, why and when to administer alternative remedies such as homeopathy and Chinese herbs. Response to the rescue hotline and public interface as well as the logistics of coordinating rescues from many remote locations. General care of many other indigenous avian and mammalian species. For more information and an application see our website at www.sealrescue.org E-mail <iwncc(a)aol.com> 322 Langs Road Salt Spring Island, BC V8K1N3

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recent paper on Amazonian manatee spermatozoa
by Rodrigo Amaral 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce the following paper recently published in ZOOLOGIA. Morphology, morphometry and ultrastructure of the Amazonian manatee (Sirenia: Trichechidae) spermatozoa *Rodrigo S. Amaral, Carolina M. Lucci, Fernando C.W. Rosas, Vera M.F. da Silva, Sônia N. Báo* Vol. 27(6):1014-1017. 2010. Abstract This study describes the morphological, morphometric and ultrastructural characteristics of the Amazonian manatee *Trichechus inunguis* (Natterer, 1883) spermatozoon. The spermatozoa were obtained from a urine sample of an adult *T*. *inunguis* kept in captivity. The spermatozoa were analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The head of Amazonian manatee spermatozoa had a flat oval shape and a well distinguishable midpiece. The mean dimensions of the spermatozoa were: head length, 7.49 ± 0.24 µm; head width, 3.53 ± 0.19 µm; head thickness, 1.61 ± 0.13 µm; midpiece length, 11.36 ± 0.34 µm; flagellum length, 40.91 ± 1.94 µm; total tail length, 52.16 ± 1.06 µm; total spermatozoon length, 60.08 ± 1.40 µm. The Amazonian manatee spermatozoa were similar in shape to other sirenian spermatozoa; however, presenting a different size. This study describes, for the first time, the morphometric and ultrastructural characteristics of the Amazonian manatee spermatozoa, and also demonstrates the possible use of spermatozoa retrieved from urine samples for biological studies. KEY WORDS. Anatomy; reproduction; sirenians; spermatozoon; Trichechus inunguis. This article is now available online at: http://submission.scielo.br/index.php/zool/index or upon request; please email rsamaral(a)usp.br Best regards, Rodrigo Amaral ---- Rodrigo de Souza Amaral., M.V., M.Sc. Laboratório de Dosagens Hormonais - LDH Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - FMVZ Universidade de São Paulo - USP

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Dolphin Research Internships - Summer Term (February Application Deadline)
by Emily Guarino 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Dolphin Research Internships Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is currently accepting applications for Research Interns for the Summer term. DRC is a not-for-profit education and research facility, home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. DRC is located on Grassy Key, in the heart of the Florida Keys. Internships at DRC are an exciting way to develop career skills as well as an opportunity to get "behind the scenes" to see how a marine mammal facility operates. Research interns participate in DRC's ongoing behavioral and cognitive research projects, giving them broad exposure to a variety of research methodologies. Interns receive extensive on-the-job training in observing marine mammal behavior, collecting observational data, working with research equipment, and assisting with experimental research sessions. Specific job duties include: * Collecting observational behavioral data * Preparing stimuli for cognitive research sessions * Assisting in setting up and tearing down equipment for cognitive research sessions * Operating video equipment * Entering or scanning data into the computer for analysis * General support of the facility through participation in the volunteer resource pool (facility maintenance, bird care, assisting with public programs, guest interactions, etc.) Publications: Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Rodriguez, M. (2010). Blindfolded Imitation in a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 23, 671-688. Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Rodriguez, M., Erb, L., & Trone, M. (2010). What do dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) understand about hidden objects? Animal Cognition, 13, 103-120. Jaakkola, K., Fellner, W., Erb, L., Rodriguez, A. M., & Guarino, E. (2005). Understanding the concept of numerically "less" by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology. Internships require a minimum of a 16-week commitment, 40 hours per week. The internship is unpaid, and interns are responsible for providing their own housing. DRC will provide assistance in locating housing and/or matching up interns and volunteers desiring roommates. Successful candidates will be ready and willing to learn, self-motivated, and flexible. Prior research experience is recommended but not required. The deadline to apply is *** February 1st***. To apply, you must download the application available at www.dolphins.org. Click "Research", and then "Internship Information". The application, and all associated materials (resume, transcript, and letters of rec.) must be mailed to DRC. -------------------------------- Emily Guarino Administrative Director of Research emily(a)dolphins.org Dolphin Research Center 58901 Overseas Hwy. Grassy Key, FL 33050 www.dolphins.org

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