January 2011 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

AWI Accepting Grant Proposals for the 2011 Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards
by Serda Ozbenian 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

To view this release online, please visit: http://www.awionline.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetails/i/35167/pid/200 [cid:image003.jpg@01CB1829.127563C0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AWI Accepting Grant Proposals for the 2011 Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards March 25, 2011 is the deadline to apply for grants toward the development of innovative strategies for humane, non-lethal wildlife management and non-invasive scientific research. Washington, D.C. (January 24, 2011) -- AWI is now accepting applications for its 2011 Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards. This award program, named in honor of the organization's late founder and president for over 50 years, provides $10,000 grants to award recipients to help spur innovative and creative research on humane, non-lethal tools and techniques for wildlife conflict management and the scientific study of wild species. Habitat destruction and degradation, urban and suburban sprawl, and ongoing challenges posed by invasive species make conflicts between wildlife and humans inevitable. Homeowners, property managers, and biologists need effective, non-lethal, and humane strategies to deal with conflicts-whether the encounter involves coyotes, deer, Canada geese, bears, exotic species, or a host of other animals. Though humane techniques to address some situations have been developed, more are needed. Scientists and animals would also benefit from the development of non-invasive methods that facilitate more efficient and effective studies of wild species. The Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards were established to stimulate and support efforts to discover new techniques, test existing products, develop educational tools, and devise new strategies to humanely defuse wildlife conflicts or devise non-invasive wildlife research methodologies. With this award program we aim to honor Mrs. Stevens' legacy and inspire a new generation of compassionate wildlife scientists, managers and advocates. For complete application requirements, plus examples of applications and related AWI Quarterly articles from past recipients, visit the AWI website at: http://www.awionline.org/csaward. ##30## Media Contact: Serda Ozbenian, AWI, (202) 446-2144

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New publication on pygmy killer whale movements
by Robin Baird 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

New publication Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, M.B. Hanson and R.D. Andrews. 2011. Movements of two satellite-tagged pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) off the island of Hawai'i. Marine Mammal Science doi: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00458.x No abstract is available but a summary is below. Pygmy killer whales are one of the rarest and least-known delphinids. Although they are only rarely encountered (an average of once every 35 days on the water in Hawai'i), long-term photo-identification efforts have suggested that there is a resident population off the island of Hawai'i (see McSweeney et al. 2009). In December 2008 and April 2009 we remotely-deployed dorsal-fin attached satellite tags on two individuals off the island of Hawai'i. Locations were received over 10 days and 22 days, greatly increasing what was known about habitat use and providing the first movement data for this species. Both individuals remained strongly associated with the island of Hawai'i for the duration of the tag attachments. Median distances from shore were 4.07 km and 4.66 km, and median depths were 1,093 m and 977 m. Although the sample size is small, the results provide further evidence that individuals are resident to the island of Hawai'i and there may be multiple stocks of pygmy killer whales within the Hawaiian EEZ, as there are for many other species of odontocetes. For a pdf copy and more information on pygmy killer whales in Hawai'i see www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/pygmykillerwhales.htm<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/pygmykillerwhales.htm> and for general information on our Hawai'i research program see www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/hawaii.htm<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/hawaii.htm> Robin ============================================================================= Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA www.cascadiaresearch.org<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/> Follow Cascadia on facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cascadia-Research-Collective/110495958982184>

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REMINDER: Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center Intern Applications Due March 1
by Shannon Prendiville 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Still figuring out summer plans? It's not too late to apply! Applications are being accepted until March 1. ************************************************************************************************************************************************ The University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center is currently accepting applications for the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Internship Program. We are looking for highly motivated, dynamic candidates who will work closely in a team setting with staff and volunteers to assist with all aspects of veterinary care and husbandry of sick and injured seals, cetaceans and/or sea turtles. Other responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Daily care of animals, transport of live/dead marine animals, water quality testing, maintenance of daily food and medical records, necropsy, education/docent tours and data-entry. Additional duties and projects may be assigned by staff. These positions are typically unpaid and interns are required to find their own housing and transportation. Interns should expect to be scheduled to cover a variety of weekday shifts, nights, weekends and holidays. The ideal candidate should be mature and motivated, and possess a strong work ethic and excellent observational and communication skills. The deadline for Summer Applications is March 1, 2011. Interested applicants can find all information and application materials at http://www.une.edu/research/msc/marc/internship.cfm Applications and questions can be submitted to MARCinfo(a)une.edu c/o Kristen Patchett, Volunteer Supervisor/Internship Coordinator. ************************************************************************************************************************************************

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Translating scientific papers
by William Rossiter 29 Jan '11

29 Jan '11

Dear MARMAM, There is a need to provide Japanese translations of specific peer-reviewed marine mammal literature published in English. This is a request for information about English-Japanese translation services capable of accurate translations of scientific terms, or Japanese marine mammal scientists on MARMAM, particularly students, to assist with this effort. Please respond directly to me off MARMAM if you have any suggestions. Thank you, William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O. Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA t/c: 203.770.8615, f: 860.561.0187 rossiter(a)csiwhalesalive.org www.csiwhalesalive.org

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Re: [MARMAM] Sea Lion Observers Needed Camas, WA - Positions Filled
by Jack Loranger 24 Jan '11

24 Jan '11

Thanks to everyone who responded to my request. The positions have been filled. I will not be replying to individual responses because there are so many, but I will keep the responses for consideration in future projects. Thanks again! Jack Loranger

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Deadline Approaching: Dolphin Research Internships - Summer 2011
by Kel Melillo Sweeting 24 Jan '11

24 Jan '11

The deadline for the internship positions outline below is approaching: 4 February 2011. Please contact kelly(a)dcpmail.org with any questions. Dolphin Communication Project (DCP) - Volunteer Research Assistants/Interns - Summer 2011 Connecticut, USA and Bimini, The Bahamas The Dolphin Communication Project (DCP, www.dolphincommunicationproject.org) is currently seeking two interns for the summer of 2011. These internships have both field and office components, both of which are mandatory, and total 8-12 weeks, depending on DCP's schedule. DCP looks at how dolphins communicate and attempts to shed more light on the meaning of their interactions. With research ongoing since 1991, our questions focus primarily on communication and behavior among dolphins. As a team, DCP research scientists study four groups of dolphins in three countries. Interns are needed at our Bimini, Bahamas research site, where we study wild Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins. An abbreviated publication list is available at the end of this post. Responsibilities In the field: ¨ Travel to and assist for 3-4 weeks at our Bimini research site (exact dates TBD, likely beginning mid-July, following the office component) ¨ Assist gathering data (general observations, photographs) during 4-6 hour/day boat excursions (weather and schedule dependent) ¨ Complete photo-identification of dolphins from still photography and video as well as other data analysis tasks ¨ Assist with on-board and outreach education as well as web-based projects ¨ Represent DCP in a responsible, mature and respectful manner At the office: ¨ Travel to and assist office staff for 4-6 weeks at our Connecticut office (exact dates TBD, likely prior to field component, beginning approximately 1 June) ¨ Process and analyze data, including, but not limited to: photo-identification of individuals from other DCP research sites, conducting detailed focal follows from video data for behavioral analyses, and acoustic analysis of dolphin sounds ¨ Assist in the development and implementation of education programs for schools and the general public Requirements Successful interns must have basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Current enrollment in a degree-seeking program, background in science and/or animal behavior and experience on boats and/or with photo-identification are all desired, but not necessarily required. The successful candidates will be comfortable on a boat for several hours at a time in varying conditions, including extreme heat. They will also be proficient swimmers with the desire to improve free-diving skills. They will be able to work as a team both at the office and in a fairly remote and isolated field setting. Good writing and public speaking skills are a must, as is attention to details. Interns must be at least 18 years of age. Expenses and Compensation This is an unpaid internship. Interns are responsible for their own transportation to Bimini and Connecticut. There is a $1,000.00 fee which will cover expenses in the field, including room and partial board. Room, board and transportation while in Connecticut are the responsibility of the intern, although assistance in securing this may be available. Interested applicants should review information at this link: http://tinyurl.com/DCPinternship. Interested applications should read this page thoroughly before applying. Send a completed application (downloadable and detailed at the link above) to kelly(a)dcpmail.org. Applications are due 4 February 2011. Due to field schedules, only electronic applications will be accepted. Interviews (via telephone or Skype) will be arranged for selected candidates. For more information, please contact Kelly Melillo-Sweeting at kelly(a)dcpmail.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selected Refereed Publications: (for a full list of publications by DCP researchers, please visit: http://www.dolphincommunicationproject.org/main/index.php?option=com_conten…) Dudzinski, K.M., Clark, C.W., Würsig, B. 1995. A mobile video/acoustic system for simultaneously recording dolphin behavior and vocalizations underwater. Aquatic Mammals 21(3): 187-193. Dudzinski, K.M. 1998. Contact behavior and signal exchange among Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Aquatic Mammals 24(3): 129-142. Dudzinski, K.M., M. Sakai, M., Masaki, K., Kogi, K., Hishii, T., Kurimoto, M. 2003. Behavioral observations of adult and sub-adult dolphins towards two dead bottlenose dolphins (one female and one male). Aquatic Mammals 29(1): 108-116. Gregg, J.D., Dudzinski, K.M., Smith, H.V. 2007. Do dolphins eavesdrop on the echolocation signals of conspecifics? International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 20: 65-88 Paulos, R.D., Dudzinski, K.M., Kuczaj, S.A. 2008. The role of touch in select social interactions of Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Ethology 26: 153-164. Dudzinski, K.M., Thomas, J. Gregg, J.D. 2008. Communication. In (W.F. Perrin, B. Würsig, H.C.M. Thewissen, eds) Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, second edition. Academic Press, Inc. Dudzinski, K.M., Gregg, J.D., Ribic, C.A., Kuczaj, S.A. 2009. A comparison of pectoral fin contact between two different wild dolphin populations. Behavioural Processes, 80:182-190 Melillo, K.E., Dudzinski, K.M., Cornick, L.A. 2009. Interactions between Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins off Bimini, The Bahamas, 2003-2007. Aquatic Mammals, 35:281-291 Dudzinski, K.M., Gregg, J.D., Paulos, R.D., Kuczaj, S.A. 2010. A comparison of pectoral fin contact behaviour for three distinct dolphin populations. Behavioural Processes, 84: 559-567. _______________________________ Kelly Melillo Sweeting Bimini Research Manager Dolphin Communication Project www.dolphincommunicationproject.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Humpback whale in Dover Strait
by blandine melis 24 Jan '11

24 Jan '11

Dear MARMAMMERS, Since the 30th of December, an humpback whale is present off the coasts of the Nord-Pas de Calais, in the Strait of Dover (north of France). This animal has been observed tree times (the 30rd december, the 11th january (Sangatte) and the 19th january (Boulogne)). We managed to make some photos from the coast, in particular in attempts to identify the animal through photo ID catalogue by the fluke. The animal was swimming not so far from the shore (min : 800m), apparently hunting. The humpback whale didn’t seem to suffer from troubles. The main danger of this animal is the marine traffic which is particularly dense in this area. This is the third observation of this species until the last 10 years. A first animal was observed in February 2006 front of Dunkerque and washed ashore in Nieuport (Belgium) in March of the same year. The second observation was a female and her calf in 2008. If you have any information about humpback whale in the Southern North Sea or in The Eastern Channel, please share with us. link for the picture of the animal seen the 11th of January http://web.me.com/oceamm/filechute/11%20janvier%202011.JPG Best regards -- Valentine SimarChargée d'études à OCEAMMObservatoire pour la Conservation et l'Etude des Animaux et Milieux marins 51 rue du General de Gaulle 59123 Zuydcoote(0033) 3 28 61 88 97 www.oceamm.org

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Marine Mammal Graduate Program at HSU
by Dawn Goley 23 Jan '11

23 Jan '11

The Marine Mammal Education and Research Program is currently accepting applications for fall admission into the Master's program in the Department of Biological Sciences at Humboldt State University. Students would be involved in on-going research focused on the behavioral ecology of marine mammals in northern California. There are 3 positions open for fall admissions and qualified applicants are encouraged to visit the departmental website for application instructions (http://www.humboldt.edu/biosci/programs/grad.html) Deadline is February 1, 2011. Contact Dawn Goley (pdg1(a)humboldt.edu) for additional information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dawn Goley, Ph. D. Professor of Zoology HSU Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator Director of the Marine Mammal Education and Research Program Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University Arcata, California 95521-8299 office - Science B - 234 voice mail - 707-826-4168 fax - 707-826-3201

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Photos of female large whale genitals
by Alexandros Frantzis 23 Jan '11

23 Jan '11

Dear all, We are looking for photos or good drawings of the external view of female genitals of stranded large whales, when the genital slit is "naturally" opened after the stranding. We are particularly interested in sperm whales, but other large whale species may be useful as well. We would like to have such material only for visual comparisons with our own material from Greece. It is astonishing how many photos can be found in the internet for male whale genitals, but not a single for females. If anyone can provide a copy of a relevant reference or specific pages of it with photos or drawings (e.g. Matthews L. H. 1938,// The /Sperm Whale/, Physeter catodon. Discovery Rep., 17, 93), this would also be a great help. Thanks a lot in advance, Alexandros PS: You can keep this e-mail in your collection of funny requests that cetologists may have! :-) -- ___________________________________________ Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Scientific director Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute Terpsichoris 21 16671 Vouliagmeni, GREECE Tel.: +30-210-8960108 e-mail: afrantzis(a)otenet.gr website: http://www.pelagosinstitute.gr ___________________________________________

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SEACR Summer Internship
by Jacqueline Clare 22 Jan '11

22 Jan '11

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