December 2011 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

update on ziphius mass stranding in the Ionian Sea
by Jasny, Michael 02 Dec '11

02 Dec '11

Dear all, I have some additional information on activities taking place in the Ionian Sea that may be associated with yesterday's mass stranding. >From November 27 through today (Dec. 2), the Italian Navy has been conducting a major exercise known as "Mare Aperto" in the central-southern Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and southern Adriatic. The exercise includes maritime surveillance and force projection from the sea. In past years, Mare Aperto has involved as many as 12 ships including frigates and aircraft carriers. At least one of the participating ships in this year's exercise is an Italian Maestrale-class frigate called the Scirocco. The Maestrale class is reportedly equipped with two active sonar systems: the hull-mounted DE 1160B, which, according to Jane's Underwater Warfare, is basically identical to the U.S. Navy's AN/AQS-56; and VDS DE 1164, which is a variable-depth version of the same system. Of course, the exercise covered a wide area, and we don't yet know how closely it may be correlated in space and time with the mass strandings. All possible causes, including other anthropogenic noise sources, should be investigated. But I would urge ACCOBAMS, and anyone with contacts in the region, to request specific information from the Italian Navy on the nature, timing, and location of activities associated with Mare Aperto, including the use of active acoustic systems. Best to all, 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 mjasny(a)nrdc.org

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MarineDebris.Info: new online forum on marine debris management
by jdavis＠marineaffairs.org 02 Dec '11

02 Dec '11

Hello MARMAM, For those of you interested in marine debris and its environmental impacts, including on marine mammals, there is a new online forum for news and discussion on the subject: MarineDebris.Info. It is an e-mail listserv on research, management, and prevention of marine debris. To join, go to: www.marinedebris.info The MarineDebris.Info forum is provided by Marine Affairs Research and Education (MARE) in association with the University of Washington. MARE serves coastal and marine resource managers worldwide with programs to help them share best practices with peers (marineaffairs.org) Other MARE programs include MPA News and the Marine Ecosystems and Management newsletter. Subjects for discussion on the MarineDebris.Info listserv include: • Breaking news on marine debris-related incidents or initiatives • Scientific advances • Response and removal • Research and monitoring • Prevention • Engagement of particular stakeholder groups in problem-solving • Outreach and education • International, regional, and cross-sectoral partnerships • Economic instruments • Governance and policymaking • and more. Please help us spread the word to interested colleagues and contacts. Thanks very much. Kind regards, John ___________________________________________ John B. Davis President Marine Affairs Research and Education (MARE) Woodinville, WA 98077 USA Tel: +1 425 788 8185 E-mail: jdavis(a)marineaffairs.org Web: www.marineaffairs.org

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Statistical modelling workshop, Univ. of St. Andrews 24-27 January 2012
by Lindesay Scott-Hayward 01 Dec '11

01 Dec '11

This workshop may be of interest to marine mammal scientists. Introduction to statistical modelling Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling 24-27 January 2012, University of St. Andrews http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/workshops/statsmodelling12/statsmodelling12.h… The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) at the University of St. Andrews will be running a 4 day `Statistical Modelling’ workshop to introduce basic statistical modelling techniques. The workshop will cover Linear Models and Generalized Linear Models to help participants analyse continuous, presence/absence and count data. The course will be heavily data-based and presented using a marine mammal case study and workshop practicals will be based around an impact assessment analysis. The R software package will be used for workshop-based practicals but no prior experience with the R package is assumed. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Lindesay Scott-Hayward Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM), The Observatory, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ Scotland Tel: +44 (0) 1334 461824 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532

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More Cuvier's beaked whales atypically stranding in the Ionian Sea
by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara 01 Dec '11

01 Dec '11

Dear MARMAM Subscribers, apologies for cross-posting. I just received a note from colleague Prof. Bruno Cozzi from the University of Padua, Italy, that two Cuvier's beaked whales, an adult female (>5 m long) and a 2 m-long calf, stranded last night near the Capo Rizzuto MPA, Ionian coast of Calabria, Italy; the stranding occurred approx. 120 n.m. due west from Corfu, where the stranding of three Cuvier's beaked whales was reported by Alexandros Frantzis. The adult female is dead, while the calf was still alive and was towed to sea by well-meaning, albeit untrained bystanders, before informing on the event. After having been informed about the Capo Rizzuto stranding by employees of the MPA, Bruno alerted the local veterinary authorities ("Istituto Zooprofilattico") in charge. The emergency intervention unit of the University of Padua is trying to get information about the live calf. Eventual inquiries should be directed to the head of unit, Dr. Sandro Mazzariol <sandro.mazzariol(a)unipd.it>, not to me. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara __________________________ Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara giuseppe(a)disciara.net

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Research Technician in Marine Mammal Evolution and Conservation ++ University of Groningen, the Netherlands
by Per J Palsboll 01 Dec '11

01 Dec '11

*Research Technician 0,6fte* The University of Groningen is one of the largest and oldest research universities in the Netherlands. It ranks among the top 200 Universities in the world (The Times World University Rankings, 2010-2011). The Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES) at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences with the University of Groningen invites applications for a position as a research technician placed at the research group Marine Evolution and Conservation (MarECON). MarECON's main research focus is the evolution and conservation of marine mammals. The group has excellent laboratory facilities for molecular analyses. *Research description* We are recruiting a Research Technician for our general research program which utilizes marine mammals, in particularly the large whales, to study the population genetics and evolution in the marine realm. The ultimate goal is to understand the mechanisms driving population genetic structuring and local adaptation of long-range migrating mammals. Many aspects of our research have conservation implications as well. *Qualifications* We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated co-worker, who enjoys acquiring new skills and enjoys working with a team of researchers and students. He /she should have a Bachelor or Masters degree in Biology (HLO) or related field. The ideal candidate will have experience with (or the ability to acquire) modern molecular genetic methods and instrumentation employed in evolutionary and population genetics such as prepare libraries for next generation sequencing, Sanger sequencing, STR genotyping and cloning. Experience with database management is preferred and a good command of written and spoken English necessary. *Additional information* For more information contact Dr. Per Palsboll (mailto:p.j.palsboll@rug.nl) or Dr. Martine Berube (m.berube(a)rug.nl <mailto:m.berube@rug.nl>). *Conditions of employment*** The University of Groningen offers a salary dependent on qualifications and work experience starting at EUR 1986 gross per month up to maximum of EUR 2682 (scale 7, step 10) gross per month for a 100% employment. This position is defined according to the UFO function profile 'Onderwijs-/onderzoeksmedewerker'. The part-time (60%) appointment is initially for a fixed period of 3 years and subject to an evaluation after the first year. *Application* The application should be written in English including a personal motivation, curriculum vitae, as well as the names and addresses of three referees (including telephone number and email address). The application should be emailed to: vmp(a)rug.nl <mailto:vmp@rug.nl>. The reference number is 211195and teh application date January 2nd, 2012. -- Per J. Palsboll, Professor Marine Evolution and Conservation Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands Office phone: +31 50 363 9882 Mobile +31 64 870 3295 Mail address: PO Box 11103 9700 CC Groningen The Netherlands

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Fwd: [ECS-TALK] New atypical mass stranding of Ziphius in the Ionian Sea, Greece
by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara 01 Dec '11

01 Dec '11

Dear MARMAM Subscribers, please find below, for your information, a message that I have just sent to the Secretariat of ACCOBAMS. Should anyone wish to send to the Secretariat a letter supporting my concern, you are most welcome! Best wishes, Giuseppe Inizio messaggio inoltrato: > Da: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara <disciara(a)gmail.com> > Oggetto: I: [ECS-TALK] New atypical mass stranding of Ziphius in the Ionian Sea, Greece > Data: 01 dicembre 2011 10:02:57 GMT+01:00 > A: Marie-Christine Grillo - Compulsione <mcgrillo(a)accobams.net> > Cc: Alexandros Frantzis <afrantzis(a)mail.otenet.gr>, Montanaro Oliviero <Montanaro.oliviero(a)minambiente.it>, Eleni Tryfon <e.tryfon(a)prv.ypeka.gr>, "Alexei Birkun Jr." <alexeibirkun(a)gmail.com>, eramaj(a)moe.gov.al > > Milano, 1 December 2011 > > To: Mrs. Marie-Christine Grillo Compulsione, Executive Secretary, ACCOBAMS > > Cc: Mr. Oliviero Montanaro, ACCOBAMS Focal Point for Italy > Mrs. Eleni Tryfon, ACCOBAMS Focal Point for Greece > Mrs. Elvana Ramaj, ACCOBAMS Focal Point for Albania > Mr. Alexei Birkun, Jr., Chair, ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee > Mr. Alexandros Frantzis, Scientific Director, Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, Vouliagmeni, Greece > > > Dear Mrs. Grillo Compulsione, > > You may already have seen the report by colleague Dr. Frantzis a few hours ago, posted on the ECS-Talk discussion list (below), describing the atypical mass stranding of a minimum of three Cuvier's beaked whales, Ziphius cavirostris, which occurred yesterday, 30 November 2011, on the western shores of the Greek island of Corfu. Based on this very preliminary information it is still impossible to tell whether the stranding event was caused by human activities. However, on the basis of the report there appears to be strong evidence that human noise from an unknown source, similar to sound known to cause atypical beaked whale mass strandings, was generated in the location's marine waters as the strandings were occurring. > > Based on recommendations from the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee, the waters of the eastern Ionian Sea (where the above mentioned strandings of Cuvier's beaked whales have occurred) were listed in MOP Resolution 3.22 ("Marine Protected Areas for cetaceans") as "areas of special importance for the common dolphin and other cetaceans". The deep marine waters off NW Greece and S Albania are widely known to contain important, possibly critical habitat of Cuvier's beaked whales, as also suggested from the modeling exercise performed by Dr. Ana Cañadas, requested by the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS and presented to the Committee's 7th Meeting in Monaco (March 2011)(see map of predicted relative density of animals, 1990-2010, in Dr. Cañadas' report). In that occasion the Meeting agreed that beaked whales should not be exposed to a Sound Pressure Level greater than 140 dB re 1 μPa @ 1 m throughout most of Mediterranean waters deeper than 600 m. > > Based on the above I cannot avoid considering the production of high level noise in the waters off western Corfu a deliberate take of Cuvier's beaked whales, a protected species. > > During the Third (Dubrovnik, 22-25 October 2007) and Fourth Meetings of the ACCOBAMS Contracting Parties (Monaco, 9-12 November 2010), Resolutions were adopted by all Parties (Resolution 3.10 and Resolution 4.17) that are relevant to prevent human-generated noise from jeopardizing the conservation status of protected cetacean species, such as Cuvier's beaked whales, in the ACCOBAMS area. Resolution elements include, amongst others: > > urging Parties to give particular attention to the management of habitats that host sensitive species, such as beaked whales (Res. 3.10, 1, b) > urging Parties to include consideration of the effects of underwater noise in EIAs and in the consequent design of mitigation procedures for any activity that might introduce noise underwater (Res. 3.10, 1, d)(Res. 4.17, 4) > urging Parties and intergovernmental organisations to inform the Secretariat on current and reasonably foreseeable noise-producing activities occurring under their jurisdiction within the ACCOBAMS area (Res. 3.10, 10) > calling upon Parties to request information on the possible impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals in existing procedures relating to EIA and where necessary, to develop specific measures, by the competent national authorities, for activities which produce anthropogenic noise having an impact on marine mammals (Res. 3.10, 11) > inviting Parties to implement mitigation and monitoring measures for noise producing activities within the ACCOBAMS area, including, avoiding key marine mammal habitats, areas of high marine mammal density and marine protected areas, and defining appropriate buffer zones around them; establish safe, precautionary and scientifically-based exclusion zones around the noise source; effectively monitoring for marine mammals in the vicinity of that source; and managing activities in the light of cumulative, seasonal, and historical impacts from multiple sources (Res. 3.10, 12) > strongly requesting Parties to emphasize the need for a precautionary approach and to envisage the appropriate mitigation measures, including a provision for expert review by specialists and a provision for the action to be taken if unusual events, such as atypical mass strandings, occur (Res. 4.17, 5) > directing the Secretariat to distribute to the Parties the findings of the Scientific Committee on the habitat of species particularly vulnerable to noise ... (Res. 4.17, 12) > > Furthermore, Resolution 4.17 contains in its Annex Guidelines "to address the impact of anthropogenic noise on cetaceans in the ACCOBAMS area", with explicit indication of measures to be adopted to avoid that events such as yesterday's Corfu atypical mass stranding of Cuvier's beaked whales will occur. These include 19 specific guidelines of actions to be followed during the course of seismic surveys and airgun uses. > > Since I am unaware whether most of the above Resolution commitments, recommendations and prescriptions were implemented, while I am aware that Cuvier's beaked whales continue to be subject to episodes of atypical mass strandings in the ACCOBAMS area - with the Corfu event being only the last known - I am kindly asking you to inform me and the science and conservation community in the Mediterranean at large about what measures the Parties - with the support of the Secretariat - intend to implement, amongst those that the Parties have agreed upon in the above mentioned Resolutions, so that the illegal takes of a species protected by many international (e.g., ACCOBAMS, CMS, Bern Convention, EU Habitats Directive, SPA-BD Protocol to the Barcelona Convention) and national legal instruments be avoided in the future. In particular, I think that it would be important to know whether the Secretariat or the Parties most concerned by the specific Corfu event (i.e., Albania, Greece and Italy) are informed about the occurrence of noise-producing human activities in the area, and if yes whether an EIA for such activity exists, whether you have seen such EIA, on what scientific bases the EIA was produced and approved by the competent authorities, whether there were Marine Mammal Observers on board, whether the EIA was brought to the attention of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, or whether the EIA was evaluated by cetacean bioacoustic experts. > > Given our extreme concern for the continued existence of Cuvier's beaked whales in the Mediterranean Sea, I look forward to your feedback on my questions above, and take this opportunity for sending you my best regards. > > Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara > President of the Tethys Research Institute - Partner of ACCOBAMS > Former Chair, ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee > > > Inizio messaggio inoltrato: > >> Da: Alexandros Frantzis <afrantzis(a)OTENET.GR> >> Oggetto: [ECS-TALK] New atypical mass stranding of Ziphius in the Ionian Sea, Greece >> Data: 01 dicembre 2011 01:04:32 GMT+01:00 >> A: ECS-TALK(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK >> Rispondi a: Alexandros Frantzis <afrantzis(a)OTENET.GR> >> >> Dear all, >> >> Once more we have bad news regarding Cuvier's beaked whales in the Ionian Sea. The local population unit, which has repeatedly been affected by NATO naval activity (last time in February 2011 east of Sicily) may be steadily heading towards its extinction... >> >> Today 30 November 2011 at least three Cuvier's beaked whales stranded alive and atypically in west Corfu, along 23 km of coast. All whales were led offshore by people who tried to rescue them. One whale died some 200 m offshore. Another whale, after having swam some 600 m offshore, returned and stranded once more (if this wasn't a different animal). It was led once more offshore after the sunset, so no further information is available so far. The third animal was not seen after it was "rescued". >> >> I would like to draw your attention on two "peculiarities": >> >> 1) Independent rescuers in two different stranding areas, reported that they were hearing "whistles" while approaching the single animals. The "whistles" were heard even out of the water at a distance of 100 m from the animal (!), and became much louder when the rescuers entered the water to approach the animal. The rescuers kept hearing the "whistles" until they left the place, two hours after the death of the unique whale present! They thought that there might be other whales calling the stranded animal from further offshore, although they could observe nothing for hours. >> >> Two independent rescuers (separated by 23 km) described these "whistles" as "emission"-pause of 10-15 seconds-"emission"-pause and so on. I wonder if what the rescuers were hearing was the probable sonic cause of the stranding. If you have a similar experience or knowledge, please share it with us. >> >> The rescuers didn't see any military or seismic survey vessels from the shore. A fisherman from the area said that today he saw an "unusual" research vessel offshore that he believes (it is known in the area that seismic surveys have started or are about to start) was performing research for oil. >> >> 2) The whale that died 200 m offshore was found at about 3-4 m depth at an unusual position (to me at least). Its flukes were on the sea bed while the beak and part of the head of the animal was out of the water! For some reason the head could float at surface and the animal never sunk. Does anyone has an explanation? >> >> Unfortunately no necropsy was performed to the animal that died. >> >> The port-police authorities and local volunteers have been alerted and we just hope that tomorrow we won't find more animals along the coasts. >> >> Repeated use of military sonar and now growing seismic survey activity go on in an area that is critical for the two deep diving Mediterranean species, the Cuvier's and the sperm whales. In 2007 ACCOBAMS officially proposed the creation of a MPA for deep diving cetaceans in the eastern Ionian Sea (Hellenic Trench), but nothing has happened so far. >> >> Best wishes, >> Alexandros >> -- >> ___________________________________________ >> >> 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 >> ___________________________________________ >> _________________________________________________________________________ >> Homepage www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ECS-TALK >> >> How to join/leave the ECS-TALK list, how to obtain a Listserv Password, how to post a message to the list, what to do when going on Holiday? http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm gives the answers to these and more questions! >> >> >> > > ____________________________________________________ > Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Ph.D. > President, Tethys Research Institute > Via Benedetto Marcello 43, 20124 Milano, Italy > giuseppe(a)disciara.net • +39 335 6376035 • Skype: patmos1999 > www.tethys.org • www.disciara.net >

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Recent publication: Causes of mortality in South American fur seal pups (Arctocephalus australis gracilis) at Guafo Island
by Hector Paves 30 Nov '11

30 Nov '11

Dear friends, the following article (in press) is available online for those of you that are interested: Causes of mortality in South American fur seal pups (/Arctocephalus australis gracilis/) at Guafo Island, southern Chile (2004--2008) 1. Mauricio Seguel^1 ,Héctor Pavés^2,3,+ <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00534.x/full#fn…> ,Enrique Paredes^4 ,Roberto Schlatter^5 As part of population dynamics studies of the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis gracilis) rookery at Punta Weather in Guafo Island (43? 36'S, 74? 43'W), the causes and extent of pup mortality were monitored. During four breeding seasons, daily counts of live and dead pups were carried out to determine pup production and pup mortality. Dead pups were retrieved from the rookery to perform necropsies. The mean pup production was 1,735.5 ± 336 pups and the mean pup mortality up to 12 wk old was 6.0% ± 2.6%. The major causes of death were enteritis with microscopic lesions of bacteremia (28.4%), starvation (23.5%), drowning (21%), trauma (19.8%), and stillbirths (2.5%). Enteritis with microscopic lesions of bacteremia, and starvation had higher incidence during January (beginning and middle of the breeding season) while most trauma and drowning occurred during February (end of the breeding season). In the 2006--2007 breeding season there was an increase in mortality due to starvation and trauma. Most pup deaths at Guafo Island are generated by extrinsic factors; therefore, additional studies that assess the impact of environmental changes and fishing activities, are needed in order to determine the exact causes of the decline of this species along Chilean coasts. The article can be downloaded from Marine Mammals Sciencewebsite http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00534.x/full Best wishes -- ><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><> Dr. Hector Paves Hernandez, Bio. Marino Doctor en Ciencias, M/Sist& Ecologia Profesor Adjunto, LECMAA, Laboratorio de Estudios en Biologia y Conservacion de Mamiferos y Aves Acuaticas Investigador Postdoctorante Fondecyt, LOCEB, Laboratorio de Oceanografia Biologica Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnologicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile E-mail: hectorpaves(a)uach.cl / hpaves(a)gmail.com , Celular : 56-9-6826729 http://lecmaa.blogspot.com/ http://secure.uach.cl/diracademicos/docentes/default.aspx?id=2038 _____________________________________________ Nota. se omiten los acentos, Nota: No imprimas este correo a menos que sea realmente necesario, Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

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