October 2011 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Request for Pontoporia skull and mandibles pictures, photographs and/or papers
by Sociedad Ecológica SEA VIDA 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Dear fellow MARMAMERS, I write on behalf of Dr. Omar Linares, from the Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas, to request for any article, paper, illustration and/or pictures of Pontoporia skull and mandibles. We have reference by Higa et al. (2002), but mandibles are lacking. We thank you very much in advance for your help. cheers Jaime

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New Publication available: Odontocetes - The toothed whales (2011) by Boris M. Culik
by Heidrun Frisch 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Dear List Members, This book has now become available: Odontocetes - The toothed whales (2011) by Boris M. Culik CMS Technical Series No. 24 Bonn, Germany 312 pp. ISBN 978-3-937429-92-2 Available via Earthprint at http://www.earthprint.com/productfocus.php?id=3957&q=odontocetes US$ 50 This reference book by Boris M. Culik, APL professor at Kiel University, Germany, and cetacean biologist for over 20 years, is intended for marine biologists, students and conservationists. Based on his Review of Small Cetaceans first published online in 2001, Culik describes in this encyclopaedia all 72 toothed whale species (odontocetes), from the smallest, the Gulf of California vaquita to the largest, the gigantic sperm whale. This book presents the most recent scientific findings on the distribution, migration, behaviour and threats related to all odontocetes. Up-to-date maps provided by the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group show the currently known distribution of each species. Colour illustrations by Maurizio Würtz, Genoa University and Artescienza, Italy, provide a realistic view of these marine mammals and nicely complement the book. The conservation status of the toothed whales has worsened dramatically since 2001. Since then, more species have been listed in the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable and Nearly Threatened, while the Baiji river dolphin, which used to live in the Yangtze River, is now probably extinct. One major threat to toothed whales world wide is entanglement in fishing gear. This alone claimed an unsustainably high death toll and for 86% of all toothed whale species, entanglement and death in gillnets, traps, weirs, purse seines, longlines and trawls poses a major risk. Lack of food and forced dietary shifts due to overfishing pose additional threats to 13 species. This encyclopaedia outlines the most recent findings in many areas of cetacean biology, from genetic work to habitat and dietary preferences, schooling and reactions to human induced noise. It will greatly facilitate the development and implementation of action plans that may help reduce the threats to many whale species. Earthprint is the official non-profit online bookshop of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). By purchasing this book, you support the work of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Ms Heidrun FRISCH ASCOBANS Coordinator / CMS Marine Mammals Officer UN Campus - Room 927 Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10 - 53113 Bonn, Germany Phone +49 228 815 2418 - Fax +49 228 815 2440 / 49 Skype: cms_marinemammalsofficer h.frisch(a)ascobans.org<mailto:h.frisch@ascobans.org> / hfrisch(a)cms.int<mailto:hfrisch@cms.int> www.ascobans.org<http://www.ascobans.org/> / www.cms.int<http://www.cms.int/> [cid:image001.png@01CC641E.04D29D90]<http://www.cms.int/index.html>

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tissue metals analysis in Brazil; need help
by William Rossiter 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Posted by CSI on behalf of Leila Lemos, leslemos(a)HOTMAIL.COM. Please reply to her. Hello everybody I'm from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I'm about to finish my master's degree. My research is the analysis of metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Se and Zn) in hepatic tissue of small cetaceans from the north coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I'm trying to improve my discussion, but I'm having difficulties in find some works so I can compare with my data. I want to know if somebody have any work on these species: /Feresa attenuata/ /Steno bredanensis/ /Orcinus orca/ /Stenella frontalis/ I could find a couple of works on /Orcinus orca/ and /Stenella frontalis/ but NOTHING on /Feresa attenuata/ and /Steno bredanensis/... And can be from any place, because I'm trying to make a comparison with all the other regions... Please, if somebody would help me that would be awesome!!! Thanks a lot, ** ** /*Leila Lemos*/ /*55 21 7872-0171 */ /*id 10*76509*/ *//*

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EPA Graduate Fellowships for the Environment‏
by Tracy Gill 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Please forward . . . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for Graduate Fellowships, for master’s and doctoral level students in environmental fields of study. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Environmental Entrepreneurship; Global Change; Built Environment and Land Use/ Protection; Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/Pacific Islander Communities; Green Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use; and Green Engineering/Building/Chemical Products & Processes/Materials Development. $4.5 million expected to be available, 80 fellowships anticipated. Responses due 11/8/11. For more info, including contacts, go to: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2012/2012_star_gradfellow.html. Refer to Sol# EPA-F2012-STAR. (Grants.gov 9/15/11)

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M.Sc. and Ph.D. opportunities in marine mammal acoustics in Australia
by Christine Erbe 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

The Centre for Marine Science & Technology at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, is looking for motivated students to undertake research towards an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in underwater acoustics or marine bioacoustics. We currently have M.Sc. and Ph.D. topics available in the following areas: · The physics of anthropogenic noise (noise source characterisation, research into the underlying noise generation mechanisms, development of predictive noise models etc.) · Underwater sound propagation · Underwater acoustic technology & measurements · Underwater soundscapes & ambient noise (source characterisation, temporal & geographic variability, trends etc.) · Bioacoustic analysis software development · Passive acoustic monitoring of cetaceans, including population density estimation · Noise effects on marine animals (mammals, fish, plankton, birds etc.) Most of our current projects require a strong background in acoustics, physics, engineering or computer science. Depending on topic, students will be supervised by Dr. Alec Duncan, Dr. Christine Erbe, Dr. Alexander Gavrilov, Dr. Rob McCauley or Dr. Chandra Salgado-Kent. While students are encouraged to apply for scholarships [http://scholarships.curtin.edu.au/] financial support is available for these projects and can be used towards domestic or international tuition and/or living support. Interested applicants please email a CV by 15 November 2011 to either Christine Erbe [Christine.Erbe(a)curtin.edu.au] or Rob McCauley [R.McCauley(a)cmst.curtin.edu.au] Centre for Marine Science & Technology Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102 Australia

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New publication - Killer whale social structure (Suzanne Beck)
by suzanne beck 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the recent publication of the following paper on killer whale social structure. It has been made available online in advance via the following link: http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/10/09/beheco.arr151.abs… Beck S, Kuningas S, Esteban R, Foote AD (2011) The influence of ecology on sociality in the killer whale (Orcinus orca). Behavioral Ecology. doi:10.1093/beheco/arr151. Abstract The persistence and size of social groups can be plastic and governed by ecological selection or be under greater genetic control and constrained by phylogenetic inertia. Comparing sociality of phylogenetically divergent populations under the same ecological conditions or between groups within a population under different ecological conditions can identify the relative influence of ecological selection on group formation. Here, we compare the size and persistence of social groups within a community of Atlantic killer whales, comparing between data collected from an area around Scotland where the whales have mainly been seen to hunt seals and data collected from an area around Iceland where the whales have mainly been seen to hunt herring. Additionally, we compare the observed social structure with that of previously studied Pacific ecotypes. Atlantic killer whale groups in both locations had a stable long-term primary social tier (association index level . 0.8) similar to that of Pacific killer whales. However, associations between these groups were much lower when hunting for seals than for fish in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. The occurrence of these differences in sociality between Atlantic groups, which are linked in a single social network, suggests that ecological selection partially determines sociality in this species. Furthermore, if sociality was constrained by phylogenetic inertia, then the Atlantic killer whales would all be expected to be more similar to the Pacific fish-eating ecotype than the more phylogenetically distant Pacific mammal-eating ecotype. Our study suggests that sociality in killer whales is to some extent plastic and can be adapted to the local ecological conditions. Cheers Suzanne Beck (suuz_beck(a)hotmail.com)

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Half-time veterinarian job, Seattle Aquarium
by C.J. Casson 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

The Seattle Aquarium is owned by the City of Seattle and under nonprofit management. The Aquarium currently serves over 825,000 visitors and 50,000 school children and their teachers annually. Guided by the mission of Inspiring Conservation of our Marine Environment, the Seattle Aquarium has a realistic plan for phased growth based on record-setting attendance, membership and fundraising growth, an energized Board of Directors and professional management. The current annual budget is $12 million. In addition to a diverse collection of fish and invertebrates, the collection includes northern fur seals, northern sea otters, harbor seals, river otters, seabirds, shorebirds, and occasionally stranded sea turtles. Purpose of position: Provide and maintain a complete program of veterinary care for the Seattle Aquarium. Essential Functions: 1. Perform diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic veterinary procedures for the Aquarium's mammal and bird collection. 2. Provide pre/post-procedural care, nutrition, euthanasia and post mortem examinations for the Aquarium's mammal and bird collection as needed. 3. Diagnose, prescribe and administer biological and pharmaceuticals as needed. 4. Provide emergency care for the Aquarium's mammal and bird collection. 5. Establish and maintain the Aquarium's preventative medicine program for the mammal and bird collection. 6. Coordinate and schedule back-up emergency medical care for the Seattle Aquarium mammal and bird collection. 7. Work collaboratively with the Aquarium's contract fish veterinarian in the diagnoses and treatment of the Aquarium's fish and invertebrate collection. Position closes on October 31st, 2011. If interested, please contact C.J. Casson at: c.casson(a)seattleaquarium.org

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Humpback Whale Field Intensive Program Announcement
by Mithriel MacKay 09 Oct '11

09 Oct '11

> > *Humpback Whale Field Intensive Program at MCERC in Puerto Rico* > > > > The marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center is inviting interested > students to participate in the second season for 14 day field intensives > focused on cetacean behavioral ecology in Puerto Rico. Join our research > team studying humpback whales *(Megaptera novaeangliae)* wintering off > Puerto Rico. Space is limited to 4 students per 14 day session for boat and > land based research platforms during the field season from January 2012-May > 2012. > > This field intensive training program is well suited for students > (undergraduate and graduate) of all skill levels interested in cetacean > behavioral ecology, and conservation. The field intensive culminates in a > certificate acknowledging training including: > > research experience in vessel and land based data collection and > recording of humpback whale behaviors , photographic techniques under a > variety of conditions, photo identification of individual humpbacks and > dolphins, theodolite tracking and computer interface, passive acoustic > sampling and analysis, assessing environmental factors, permit requirements > for marine mammal research involving endangered species, and overview of > ecology on this island bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. > > > > > *100% of fees support this research project and associated lectures.*Participants are directly involved in data collection and analysis for Phd > Dissertation related research for humpback whale occupancy, habitat use, and > movement off Puerto Rico as well as an examination of reaction to human > activity near shore (including boats, divers, surfers, and aircraft) under > the direction of Mithriel MacKay, PhD Candidate, Texas A&M University at > Galveston*. *$1500.00 per student includes travel between field stations, > training program in scientific methods, room and board at the project base > station, reference materials related to the project, including field > methods, and a certificate of completion. Fees do not include travel to and > from Ponce Puerto Rico and compulsory insurance. Students landing in Ponce, > Puerto Rico will be picked up at the airport and brought to the base station > in Guayanilla. ** > > > > To apply for this field intensive, please visit the website below and > download the forms indicated. Please be sure to read the description of the > project and the base station. > > > > Website: www.compusafe.biz/humpbacks_off_puerto_rico > > Click on the “courses” tab > > Information and applications can be found on page 15 of the > course catalog > > > > Please be sure to indicate first, second, and third choice for > dates from the following 2012 schedule: > > Session 1 Jan 11-24 > > Session 2 Jan 26-Feb8 > > Session 3 Feb 15-28 > > Session 4 March 1- 14 > > Session 5 March 21-April 3 > > > > > > -- > *}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale>* Mithriel M. MacKay Ph.D. Candidate Marine Mammal Research Program Department of Marine Biology Texas A&M University, Galveston (830) 688-9878 Director of Research and Education Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center HC02 6231 Guayanilla, PR and PO Box 63435 Pipe Creek, Texas 78063 www.compusafe.biz/Humpbacks_off_Puerto_Rico

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Internships at Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (Maine)
by Shannon Prendiville 09 Oct '11

09 Oct '11

The University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center is currently accepting applications for the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center 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 computer entry of data. Additional duties and projects may be assigned by staff. These positions are unpaid and interns are required to find their own housing and transportation. Interns should expect to be scheduled to cover a variety of shifts including weekday, nights, weekends and holidays. The ideal candidates should be mature and motivated, and possess a strong work ethic and excellent observational and communication skills. The deadline for Spring Applications is November 15, 2011; Summer Applications are due March 1, 2012. Interested applicants can find all information and application materials on our website 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/Internship Supervisor Shannon Prendiville Animal Care and Lab Technician Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 sprendiville(a)une.edu 207.602.2750

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Lethal Entanglement in Large Whales - Open Access
by Michael Moore 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

*Cassoff RM, Moore KM, McLellan WA, Barco SG, Rotstein DS, Moore MJ * Lethal entanglement in baleen whales Disease of Aquatic Organisms 2011 96:175-185 is now online and available Open Access from: http://www.int-res.com/articles/feature/d096p175.pdf Note there is a substantial supplemental online file at: http://www.int-res.com/articles/suppl/d096p175_supp.pdf Note also: it is Open Access so no need to request reprints - just go to the links above.... -- Michael Moore Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 508 289 3228

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