April 2011 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Recent publication: Pathological Findings in South American Fur Seal Pups at Guafo Island, Chile
by Hector Paves 04 Apr '11

04 Apr '11

The following article (in press) is available online for those of you that are interested: * Pathological Findings in South American Fur Seal Pups (Arctocephalus australis gracilis) found dead at Guafo Island, Chile* M. Seguel*, E. Paredes*, H. Pavés+, R. Molina*, F. Henr?quez*, F. De Groote* and R. Schlatter++ *Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, + Laboratorio de Estudios en Biología y Conservación de Mamíferos y Aves Acuáticas and ++ Instituto de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja s/n, Valdivia, Chile Summary During four breeding seasons (2004-2008), 78 necropsy examinations were performed on South American fur seal pups (Arctocephalus australis gracilis) found dead on Guafo Island, southern Chile (43º360S, 74º430W). Tissue samples from 65 pups were examined microscopically. The primary causes of death were enteritis with microscopical lesions of bacteraemia (28.2%), starvation (23.1%), drowning (21.8%), trauma (19.2%) and stillbirth (2.6%). Those pups with enteritis and microscopical lesions of bacteraemia had haemorrhagic enteritis (100%), interstitial pneumonia (86%), periportal hepatitis (73%) and vasculitis (18%). The pups that died from starvation had atrophy of hepatocytes (61%) and cholestasis (61%). The pups that drowned had bronchoalveolar oedema (65%) and foreign bodies in the airways (65%). In animals that died from trauma, the main lesions were skull fractures (67%). This range of pathological findings is within what would be expected in a healthy otariid breeding colony Keywords: Arctocephalus australis; pathology; South American fur seal The article can be downloaded from Journal of Comparative Pathologywebsite (Next vols/iss) http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/623050/descrip… -- Saludos cordiales, Dr. Hector Paves Post-Doctorate Research Fellow Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada h.paves(a)fisheries.ubc.ca ><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><> Dr. Hector Paves Hernandez, Bio. Marino, Doctor en Ciencias, M/Sist& Ecologia Investigador, LECMAA-IZUA, Laboratorio de Estudios de Biologia y Conservacion de Mamiferos y Aves Acuaticas Oficina 333, Instituto de Zoologia, Las Encinas 220, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile Fonos: Oficina: 56-63-293456 / LECMAA: 56-63-221592 / IZUA: 56-63-221315, Fax: IZUA: 56-63-221315 Investigador, LOCEB-BIMA, Laboratorio de Oceanografia Biologica, Instituto de Biologia Marina, Universidad Austral de Chile Investigador, Centro de Estudios GEOSMAR -Chile, Osorno E-mail: hector.paves(a)docentes.uach.cl, 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, 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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Re: [MARMAM] International Whaling Commission – Large-scale Whalewatching Experiment (LaWE): scoping call for participation
by Scott Taylor 04 Apr '11

04 Apr '11

It is of concern that nowhere in the Bunbury document is there mention of research into the agency of cetaceans and their choice to investigate, observe, interact with, or otherwise approach humans. This is a factor in interspecies contact that must be taken into account if a fully realised ecological, biocentric, and non-dominionist interaction regime is to be developed. It would be advisable, it seems to this researcher, to seek to define, from a non-hierarchical, non-anthropocentric perspective, why cetaceans seek out humans and their vessels. Whales watch humans, too. Whale-watching is a two-way experience. How humans are to manage themselves when in the presence of cetaceans is an important area of research, but it can only be fully informed if the choice, the intentional act of cetaceans to approach humans for reasons of their own, is taken into account. The Bunbury document takes a view of whale-watching as a source of negative effect, a presumption that cannot but skew the results. It would be advisable to revisit these guidelines to include the agency of cetaceans, and their interests as non-human animals with minds, agendas, interests, and desires of their own, beyond the ken of human understanding. While this is a challenging research area, many aspects of a more full understanding of the cognitive, ethological, behavioural, and historic qualities are known. Comparative Psychology is a good place to begin. (see Journal of the International Society for Comparative Psychology). See also Herzing, D. (2010) SETI meets a social intelligence: Dolphins as a model for real-time interaction and communication with a sentient species. Acta Astronautica, 67, 1451-1454. and Wilke, M., Bossley, M. & Doak, W. (2005) Managing Human Interactions with Solitary Dolphins. Aquatic Mammals, 31, 427-433. Another research group, with a mandate to report to the IWC on the Agency of Cetaceans, would be advisable, to more fully inform the LaWE. Sincerely, C. Scott Taylor BSocSc (Hon) PhD candidate University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia

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New dates for SEACR Marine Research Internship Posting - July 2011
by Jacqueline Clare 03 Apr '11

03 Apr '11

SEACR MARINE RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS – SUMMER 2011 The Society for Ecological and Coastal Research - SEACR - is a non-profit organization, established in 1998, dedicated to scientific research on the ecology of near-shore marine systems. SEACR is sponsoring several long-term ongoing research projects on gray whale ecology in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada. The projects are organized and run by the Whale Research Lab of the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (http://www.geog.uvic.ca/whalelab/) INTERNSHIPS Enthusiastic individuals with a keen interest in nature and science are invited to discover the challenges of marine field research along Canada's coastal rainforest through SEACR's Marine Research Intern Program! MRIP is a volunteer program where Research Interns assist experienced and dedicated marine biologists and ecologists with their field research. Through MRIP, Research Interns will live and work at a remote research field-station in the coastal rainforest of Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, to aid researchers with ongoing field research related to coastal and marine ecology. Internships are offered on a competitive basis, at cost and provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, the Pacific coastal ocean environment, marine mammal research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work and play hard! We are offering a 2 week Marine Research Internships for July 2011. There is no deadline to apply. However, approved applications are reviewed and accepted on a first-come, first serve basis and spaces are quite limited. 2 Week Option: July 1-July 15 QUALIFICATIONS This internship is an excellent opportunity for an individual working toward a career in marine science to gain practical experience in the field. Ideal candidates possess a personal interest in marine ecology and a commitment to conservation research. Marine research is difficult and challenging work, so being a Research Intern is not for everyone! Those who wish to participate in MRIP must be in good physical health, especially free of back and leg injuries, as the field hours (in the boat and in the lab) can be long - though very satisfying! This is not a program that certifies individuals in field research. It is, however, an experience that delivers a unique opportunity for education, development of field ecology research skills, travel, and enjoyment of wildlife. THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT Flores Island is the home of the Ahousaht First Nations peoples and is nestled in world-famous Clayoquot Sound, in the Pacific Coast rainforest. Flores is an excellent place to learn about marine ecology and the study of nature. Along with learning field and technical skills during the course of work, when the opportunity arises research Interns may engage in informal talks with graduate students, take hikes along the Wild Side Trail, have beach campfires, and interact with the Ahousaht First Nations peoples. Professors from the University of Victoria, local scientists and previous MRIP researchers will be frequent visitors to the field research station. Flores Island's natural beauty, sandy beaches, and abundant wildlife will keep you enthralled. Being here is the experience of a lifetime. APPLICATION PROCESS If you are interested in applying for a position, please see the details of our application process on our website http://www.geog.uvic.ca/whalelab/seacr-application.html Questions regarding the MRIP application or internships can be directed by email to: whalelab(a)gmail.com **************************** Society for Ecological and Coastal Research P.O. Box 35052 Victoria, British Columbia CANADA V8T 5G2 whalelab(a)gmail.com

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April 15 Deadline: Submit Proposals for a Workshop or Symposium at the 19th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (Tampa, FL)
by Cheryl Bonnes 01 Apr '11

01 Apr '11

*April 15 Deadline: Submit Proposals for a Workshop or Symposium at the 19th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (Tampa, FL) *The Society for Marine Mammalogy 19th Biennial Conference will be held in Tampa, Florida beginning with workshops and symposia on Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27, and the conference continuing through December 2, 2011. Workshops offer an opportunity for a focused forum on timely topics and a flexible format for talks or group discussion. Visit the conference website for additional information and to submit a workshop proposal form: http://www.marinemammalscience.org/workshops. *The deadline to propose a workshop is April 15, 2011. * Notification of acceptance will be by May 13, 2011. Please contact workshops(a)marinemammalscience.org if you need further information about workshops and symposia. Posted by Cheryl Bonnes (cheryl.bonnes(a)noaa.gov <mailto:cheryl.bonnes@noaa.gov>)

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Distance sampling workshops, August/September 2011, University of St. Andrews
by Eric Rexstad 01 Apr '11

01 Apr '11

The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) is hosting two linked workshops in the summer of 2011 in our purpose-built facilities at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. The aim of these workshops is to train participants in the latest methods for design and analysis of distance sampling surveys, including line and point transects. The workshops are taught by leading researchers in the field, using industry-standard software. The first workshop (30 August - 2 September) will run at an introductory level, and will focus on "conventional" distance sampling methods, as described in the standard reference book "Introduction to Distance Sampling." The workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will learn how to use the program "Distance." Participants will gain a solid grounding in both survey design and methods of analysis for distance sampling surveys. Note this year we have moved the 'automated survey design' topic out of the advanced workshop into the introductory workshop. The advanced distance sampling workshop (5-7 September) will include advanced treatment of: incorporating covariates in detection function modelling, analyses in which detectability on the transect line is not assumed to be perfect (the so-called g(0) problem) and spatial (or density surface) modelling. The aim of this workshop is to bring participants up to date with the latest developments in distance sampling methods and software. It is also an opportunity for those actively engaged in the design, analysis and execution of distance sampling surveys to discuss common issues and problems, and set future research directions. The workshop will be a combination of lectures and computer sessions, with considerable time for discussion. For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses with their data. Computer sessions take place in our modern computer classroom (attached to the seminar room); participants can use our computers or bring their own laptops. Additional details regarding the workshop can be found at our website http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distance.workshops/distance2011/workshop_over… -- Eric Rexstad Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St. Andrews St. Andrews Scotland KY16 9LZ +44 (0)1334 461833 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532

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