January 2012 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

JOIN A CETACEAN RESEARCH SURVEY IN THE SCOTTISH HEBRIDES
by Olivia Harries 11 Jan '12

11 Jan '12

JOIN A CETACEAN RESEARCH SURVEY IN THE SCOTTISH HEBRIDES The Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust (HWDT) are recruiting participants to join boat based research expeditions off the west coast of Scotland, between May and September 2012. Costs of participating range from £850 - £1,100. Itinerary Rendezvous location is either Tobermory on the Isle of Mull or Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. You will spend up to 10 days onboard, with 8 full days at sea on survey effort. Full training in survey methods will be provided before and during the survey. The area surveyed will depend largely on weather, recent sightings, and at the Science Officer and Skippers discretion but will range between the Mull of Kintyre in the south, the Butt of Lewis in the north and St Kilda in the west. Departure from the vessel will be at the respective rendezvous location. Research Aims The data collected by HWDT is vital for the effective monitoring of marine life within the survey area. Research methodology involves systematic line-transect surveys and passive acoustic monitoring using a towed hydrophone. The data that HWDT gathers is used to estimate relative abundance, describe fine-scale spatial and temporal distribution, identify high-use habitats and monitor anthropogenic impacts. The visual and acoustic data collected during the research survey contributes to HWDT’s extensive dataset. HWDT works closely with conservation and management agencies to identify species and their habitats that are suitable for protection. Research Area A combination of complex water mixing and varied seabed topography, as well as the influence of the Gulf Stream, has resulted in the Hebrides being one of the most productive areas in Europe. However, despite the diversity of cetacean species in the region, management strategies allowing for the conservation of priority species have yet to be implemented. There are resident populations of bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and a small, unique population of killer whale which frequent the area. Commonly sighted species are harbour porpoise, minke whales, common dolphins, white-beaked dolphins and basking sharks. Other wildlife regularly encountered includes grey and common seals, otters and numerous sea bird species. White-sided dolphin, Risso's dolphin and humpback whale have also been sighted from onboard Silurian. The Vessel Silurian, HWDT’s research vessel, has been owned and operated by HWDT since 2001, and was previously used in the filming of The Blue Planet. Large and sturdy, this is the perfect vessel for conducting scientific surveys in the Hebrides. She is 16 metres long and can sleep 10 people comfortably. There are three participant cabins in the forward section of the vessel. Each of these contains two berths and a small amount of storage space for personal belongings. There are two bathrooms onboard, crew quarters, a galley and a saloon. Participant Requirements and Duties This is an excellent opportunity for those who wish to gain experience in the field; invaluable if you wish to pursue a career studying cetaceans. Past experience isn’t a prerequisite, although would be favourable. Good eyesight and hearing is required to run an efficient survey, as is a good pair of sea legs. Participants will gain experience in marine mammal and seabird identification, visual and acoustic data collection including software use (Logger, PAMGUARD and Rainbow Click), photo identification training and the skills acquired from living and working aboard a yacht. The research expedition will involve early starts and late finishes, optimising the daylight hours available. Participant tasks are rotated on an hourly basis. All participants are required to help out with the day to day running of the vessel, sharing cooking and cleaning duties. Evenings will be spent anchored in a remote bay, where you may have the opportunity to venture ashore. In the event of foul weather, contingency activities will be provided. Dates and costs · 7th -13th May, rendezvous in Tobermory, cost is £850 · 16th -22nd May, rendezvous in Tobermory, cost is £850 · 27th May – 5th June, rendezvous in Tobermory, cost is £1,000 · 10th – 18th June, rendezvous in Stornoway, cost is £1,100 · 31st Aug – 8th Sept, rendezvous in Tobermory, cost is £1,000 Unfortunately the budget of this project is very limited, the costs outlined strictly cover boat expenses and allow HWDT to continue the boat based programme. Costs include accommodation (onboard Silurian), insurance while onboard the vessel and food. For more information, please contact Morven Summers: volunteercoordinator(a)hwdt.org or 01688 302620

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Call for Abstracts - AESS 2012 - Santa Clara, CA
by Wallace, Richard 11 Jan '12

11 Jan '12

Dear Marmam Folks, I invite you to explore the call for individual abstracts for the upcoming annual conference of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS), to be held at the University of Santa Clara, California, on June 21-24, 2012. AESS is a welcoming forum for folks interested in a broad, interdisciplinary approach to marine mammal conservation and management, and has enjoyed marine mammal science and management-themed sessions at its past conferences. If you will be in the area, or wish to interact with a broad audience of environmental professionals (mostly academics), I encourage you to consider attending. Apologies for cross-postings. Thanks, Rich Wallace Ursinus College Collegeville, PA [https://documents.clubexpress.com/clubs/939971/graphics/AESS_Announccement_…]<http://www.aess.info/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=939971> Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences 2012 Annual Meeting 21-24 June, Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. Conference Theme: "Preparing for our Environmental Future" Call for Individual Abstracts, including Panels and Posters Submission Deadline: 1 March 2012 The 2012 annual meeting of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) will be held on 21-24 June 2012 in sunny Santa Clara, California. We invite your participation. If you are associated with an accepted Presentation Panel, you still need to submit an individual abstract. Please indicate the panel title in your abstract submission. For everyone else, follow these steps: (1) choose a session type (2) compose your abstract (3) create descriptors of your topic area (4) submit your abstract. Each step is explained further below. [https://documents.clubexpress.com/clubs/939971/graphics/Proposal_Button_sma…] (1) SESSION TYPES There are two (2) session types to choose from: * Presentation Panels * Poster Session Presentation Panels Presentation panels are designed for presentation of research or other scholarly AESS-related endeavors. They consist of 3-4 presenters who are each allotted approximately 20-30 minutes (time includes presentation and discussion). Presentation panels are 1.5 hours in length, and will take place on June 22, 23, and 24 in parallel with discussion symposia and other presentation panels. Poster Session The poster session will take place during a reception on the Saturday evening of the conference. Poster presenters are expected to accompany their poster during the reception. Guidelines will be provided to those whose posters are accepted. (2) ABSTRACT REQUIREMENTS Your abstract should be no longer than 300 words. Please include: * title * overview of content type: o For example, empirical research results, theoretical contribution, project description, pedagogical experiment, presentation of artistic work, personal or institutional experience, etc. * statement of content: o Provide sufficient information that we can judge the quality of your proposal and its relevance to the conference. o For example, research results might include focal question, method, results and conclusion; pedagogical experiment might include description of experiment, outcomes and lessons learned; presentation of artistic work might include creation of the work, presentation to the public and potential impact; etc. * justification for presentation: o This might include applicability to the conference theme,contribution to your field, connection to the mission and goals of AESS and the broader environmental studies and sciences community,and/or scholarly and professional merit. (3) DESCRIPTORS We expect a tremendous variety of proposals. To assist the Program Committee in grouping presentations into coherent sessions, please briefly describe your topic area. The submission form contains a box for up to five (5) terms that describe the thematic content of your proposal, similar to "key words" for a journal article submission but at a more general level. Create a set of 'higher order' terms that best describe your proposal - using terms such as environmental history, climate change, marine policy, campus sustainability, ESS pedagogy, environmental psychology, environmental theatre, biodiversity loss, sustainable development in Africa, ESS programming, etc., etc. (4) SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT To submit your abstract, please visit the AESS website: http://www.aess.info. FURTHER INFORMATION AESS themes AESS is proud of its breadth. To continue our efforts to reach out, we encourage abstracts that: * combine scholarship from multiple disciplines-physical and natural sciences; social sciences, humanities, and the arts; professional schools * bring together theory and practice * blend experience in government, business, foundations, and other areas of society * are submitted by students, faculty, or administrators * are submitted by Environmentalists of Color * are submitted by practicing artists * enhance conference participants' awareness of a sense of place-in the case of the AESS 2012 conference in Santa Clara, this meansthat we encourage proposals with a geographic focus on the San Francisco Bay Area and California. Limitations on Submissions: Individuals may submit more than one proposal. However, the Program Committee reserves the right to select from among a suite of proposals from a single author. Registration Requirements: In order to be included in the 2012 AESS conference program, all presenters must be registered and paid in full by the early registration deadline. Participants who do not comply may be dropped from the conference program. Financial support: AESS and the 2012 AESS conference organizers are not responsible for obtaining funds to support speaker or participant travel to the meeting, and cannot guarantee that any support will be available. REVIEW OF PROPOSALS Abstracts are reviewed by the AESS Program Committee. Notice of acceptance or rejection of individual presentations will be sent out in mid-March. Following this, the committee will organize accepted presentations into sessions. Every effort will be made to group them into coherent thematic areas. Notice of your session assignment will be sent out by late March, about 3 months before the start of the conference. CONTACT If you have questions, contact Ken Wilkening, chair of the AESS Program Committee, at kew(a)unbc.ca<mailto:kew@unbc.ca>.

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new paper - Australian sea lion population structure
by Lowther, Andrew (PIRSA-SARDI) 10 Jan '12

10 Jan '12

Dear list, The latest paper on the influence of foraging behaviour on population structure of Australian sea lions is now available in Animal Behaviour: Lowther, A.D., Harcourt, R.G., Goldsworthy, S.D., Stow, A. (2012). Population structure of adult female Australian sea lions is driven by fine-scale foraging site fidelity. Animal Behaviour doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.12.015 ABSTRACT: The Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is one of the rarest otariids in the world and is notable for an asynchronous, aseasonal breeding chronology. Determining the ecological features that shape the genetic structure of marine predators such as Australian sea lions is challenging because their demersal foraging habitat is difficult to observe and quantify. Recent development in stable isotope screening techniques using milk-dependent pups as proxies for maternal isotope signatures identified temporally stable, alternate (inshore and offshore) foraging ecotypes in adult female Australian sea lions. We combine this technique with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis of samples of 40-60% of all pups produced at seventeen of the largest South Australian colonies to determine if ecological specialisation in foraging ecotype within and between colonies has shaped maternal population structure within the species. Genetic isolation by distance was apparent at very fine geographic scales (>40km) with three distinct clusters of colonies that share multiple haplotypes being interspersed with isolated breeding sites. There was no congruence between mtDNA haplotype distribution and foraging ecotypes suggesting that observed behavioural specialisation was not maintained along matrilines. We propose that foraging specialisation within discrete fine-scale foraging areas and habitats at the individual level limits the dispersive capacity of individual adult female Australian sea lions which in turn drives population structure. Given the vulnerability of this species to extant anthropogenic impacts and given the high degree of female population structure, determining the extent of male-mediated gene-flow in this species is critical. Only then can breeding colony connectivity be established and appropriate management units identified for the species. Andrew Lowther Senior Research Officer (Pinniped Ecology) Threatened, Endangered & Protected Species (TEPS) South Australian Research & Development Institute (SARDI) - Aquatic Sciences 2 Hamra Avenue West Beach SA 5024 AUSTRALIA

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Dolphin Research Internships - Summer Term (February Application Deadline)
by Emily Guarino 10 Jan '12

10 Jan '12

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.

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SURVEY ON WHALING VERSUS WHALE-WATCHING IN ICELAND: FIRST CALL FOR PARTECIPATION
by chiara bertulli 10 Jan '12

10 Jan '12

SURVEY ON WHALING VERSUS WHALE-WATCHING IN ICELAND: FIRST CALL FOR PARTECIPATION Whale-watching activities, one of the fastest growing sectors of the world tourism market, began in Iceland in 1990 (Hoyt, 1995), and have enjoyed over 250% annual growth in recent years. Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002 and started scientific whaling the following year. Although Iceland’s scientific whaling programme provided no immediate monetary benefits, rather, amassing a deficit of €0.5 million per year, nevertheless, Iceland resumed commercial whaling on 17th October 2006. According to Parsons and Rawles (2003), 79% of potential whale-watchers would boycott a country conducting hunts for cetaceans. Since 2009 the Faxaflói Cetacean Research (www.faxa-cetacean.org) has been collaborating with a local Icelandic whale-watching company (Elding Hvalaskoðun Reykjavik ehf, www.elding.is) and the University of Iceland (www.his.is) in order to learn more about who tourists (visiting Iceland) are and where they stand on issues such as whaling, whale-watching and whale meat consumption. Whale-watching tourists boarding daily tours in Faxaflói Bay, Iceland, have been interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire in English. Passengers have responded to questions about whale hunting, whale watching, the coexistence of these two activities and whale meat consumption within Iceland. We are seeking collaborations with whale-watching companies outside of Iceland, which are considered to be similar in size and scope to the whale-watching operations in Iceland to facilitate comparison among data. The goal of this collaboration is to investigate whether the resumption of commercial whaling in Iceland would cause whale-watching tourists to reconsider visiting that country, and thereby evaluate the potential impact on the whale-watching market. Proposed deliverable will include publication in peer-reviewed journals. The funding agency along with all the collaborating organizations will be acknowledged in all publications and scientific and public presentations of the research. Two dataset of data (from the year 2009 and 2011) collected on board whale-watch boats in Reykjavik, are available. Additionally, from 1st June to 6th September 2012 groups of volunteers will ask to distribute questionnaires to tourist in Iceland on board whale-watch boats (for the third year) in Reykjavik and on land (for the first time) in five different locations in Reykjavik and vicinity. This is an initial call and if you have interest in participating into this collaborative effort, please contact us by emailing Chiara Giulia Bertulli (ciarabertulli(a)yahoo.it) Best wishes Chiara G. Bertulli On behalf of the Faxaflói Cetacean Research ********************* Chiara Bertulli PhD student University of Iceland Biology Department Náttúrfræðahús/Askja Sturlugata 7 101 Reykjavik Iceland e-mail:cgb1@hi.is / ciarabertulli(a)yahoo.it mobile:+354-8618307 (Icelandic) +39-3406933102 (Italian) skype: chiara.giulia.bertulli Faxaflói Cetacean Research Principal Investigator and Research Coordinator c/o Elding Whale-watching Ægisgarður 7 101 Reykjavik Iceland www.faxa-cetacean.org

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New paper in PlosONE
by lish＠ihb.ac.cn 09 Jan '12

09 Jan '12

Dear colleagues, The following paper has just been published online in PlosONE: Li S, Nachtigall PE, Breese M, Supin AY (2012) Hearing Sensation Levels of Emitted Biosonar Clicks in an Echolocating Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. PLoS ONE 7(1): e29793. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029793 Contact: songhai(a)hawaii.edu Abstract Emitted biosonar clicks and auditory evoked potential (AEP) responses triggered by the clicks were synchronously recorded during echolocation in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) trained to wear suction-cup EEG electrodes and to detect targets by echolocation. Three targets with target strengths of −34, −28, and −22 dB were used at distances of 2 to 6.5 m for each target. The AEP responses were sorted according to the corresponding emitted click source levels in 5-dB bins and averaged within each bin to extract biosonar click-related AEPs from noise. The AEP amplitudes were measured peak-to-peak and plotted as a function of click source levels for each target type, distance, and target-present or target-absent condition. Hearing sensation levels of the biosonar clicks were evaluated by comparing the functions of the biosonar click-related AEP amplitude-versus-click source level to a function of external (in free field) click-related AEP amplitude-versus-click sound pressure level. The results indicated that the dolphin's hearing sensation levels to her own biosonar clicks were equal to that of external clicks with sound pressure levels 16 to 36 dB lower than the biosonar click source levels, varying with target type, distance, and condition. These data may be assumed to indicate that the bottlenose dolphin possesses effective protection mechanisms to isolate the self-produced intense biosonar beam from the animal's ears during echolocation. The paper is free access at: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029793 All the best Songhai Li Ph.D. -------------------------------------------------------------

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Volunteers sought for common dolphin research project in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
by Dwyer, Sarah 09 Jan '12

09 Jan '12

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO ASSIST WITH BOAT-BASED FIELDWORK IN THE HAURAKI GULF, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND Volunteers are needed to assist with fieldwork for a PhD study investigating the distribution and density of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. This PhD project is part of the ongoing research of the New Zealand Common Dolphin Project (NZCDP) and the Coastal-Marine Research Group (C-MRG) at Massey University Albany, Auckland. (http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz) The field season runs year round and the next vacancy is from mid-March 2012. A minimum commitment of one month is required and priority will be given to those who can commit for longer periods. As this is the final year of fieldwork for this project, volunteers are not required after December 2012. The primary role of the volunteer is to assist on a 5.5m research vessel, which operates in the Hauraki Gulf, North Island. Surveys in the Inner Hauraki Gulf involve daily return trips to Gulf Harbour Marina on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and research trips of 3+ days away at Great Barrier Island are made once per month. Surveys are undertaken when weather and sea conditions are favourable and as such, a minimum or maximum number of research days per week cannot be guaranteed. On adverse weather days volunteers assist with data entry and other tasks. Prior experience working on small research vessels is preferred but not essential. Those with no experience should demonstrate their willingness to learn. Volunteers must be comfortable spending long days at sea on a small open boat. Unfortunately this is not a paid position. Food and accommodation are not provided and volunteers are responsible for their own travel to Auckland. Assistance will be provided to find suitable accommodation in the area. For more detailed information about the project please do not hesitate to contact me. To apply please send a CV and cover letter to Sarah Dwyer: s.l.dwyer(a)massey.ac.nz Many thanks, Sarah ------------------------------------- Sarah Dwyer PhD Student Coastal-Marine Research Group Institute of Natural Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 North Shore MSC New Zealand Tel: +64 (0) 9 414 0800 EXT 41196 Mob: +64 (0) 21 035 4749 Email: S.L.Dwyer(a)massey.ac.nz http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz Please note: I am regularly away on research trips at locations with no internet access and as such I cannot always respond promptly to emails.

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Marine Research Internship- Summer 2012
by Jacqueline Clare 09 Jan '12

09 Jan '12

SEACR MARINE RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS – SUMMER 2012 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 members of the Whale Research Lab of the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca) 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 internships throughout the summer, running June 1st to August 31st. Typically internships are 2 or 4 weeks long, but longer periods maybe considered on an individual basis. 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. 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 & COSTS To qualify as a candidate for the MRIP, see the pre-application process on our website: http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/MRIPapply Unlike many other volunteer internship opportunities, SEACR provides and organizes the room and board for our interns at cost. The internship package includes basic accommodations and three meals per day at the research station. Interns and research staff live together and are responsible for cooking and cleaning duties. Rooms are shared with at least one other person. The internship costs do not include transportation to and from the research camp on Flores Island, personal items, or special dietary requirements. A non-refundable $500 deposit is required upon acceptance to MRIP. Two week Internship - $ 2200 Cdn Four week Internship - $ 3400 Cdn If you are interested in applying for a position, please see the details of our application process on our website http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/MRIPapply 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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ECUA 2012 Abstract submission deadline
by Paul Lepper 09 Jan '12

09 Jan '12

Dear MARMAM, A reminder that ECUA 2012 Abstract deadline is approaching on the 11th January 2012 The 11th European Conference on Underwater Acoustics (ECUA) will be held in Edinburgh between the 2nd and 6th July, 2012. ECUA provides a key international forum for presentation of the latest research and developments in underwater science and engineering. The conference covers all aspects of underwater acoustics but with a strong bioacoustics and ambient and radiate noise theme. Structured sessions are being organized the following areas. BIOACOUSTICS – Keynote: Peter Tyack HEARING RESPONSE Session organizer Klaus Lucke BIOSONAR & BIOMIMETICS Session organizers James Flint & Peter Dobbins PROCESSING OF BIOACOUSTIC SIGNALS Session organizer Paul White BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE TO UNDERWATER SOUND: Session organizers Tony Hawkins, Art Popper & Jakob Tougaard IMPACT OF UNDERWATER SOUND ON MARINE LIFE: RISK ASSESSMENT & MITIGATION Session organizers Sander van Benda-Beckmann & Martin Siderius AMBIENT & RADIATED NOISE – Keynote Michel André MONITORING TECHNIQUES & LONG-TERM TRENDS IN OCEAN AMBIENT NOISE Session organizers Mark Prior & Ross Chapman NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM MARINE PILING Session organizers Stephen Robinson & Paul Lepper OPERATIONAL NOISE FROM MARINE RENEWABLES Session organizers Stephen Robinson & Paul Lepper RADIATED NOISE FROM SHIPS AND SURFACE PLATFORMS Session organizers Christ de Jong & Anton Homm MARINE RENEWABLES: MAPPING AND MONITORING OF DEVICES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT Session organizers Philippe Blondel & Paul Lepper POLAR ACOUSTICS Session organizers Jarek Tegowski & Sasha Gavrilov Also many more session in themes including: ACOUSTICAL OCEANOGRAPHY UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS SENSORS & CALIBRATION SIGNAL PROCESSING Contributed papers are welcome in all areas (please submit an abstract by the 11th January 2012): Please visit the conference website www.ecus2012.com<http://www.ecus2012.com> and look forward to seeing you in Edinburgh. Beat regards, Paul Dr Paul Lepper, PhD, BSc (hons), DIS, MIOA, MASA MIIOA Senior Research Fellow, Underwater Acoustics Research, Advanced Signal Processing Group, School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering<http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/el/index.html>, Loughborough University, LE11 3TU, UK. email: p.a.lepper(a)lboro.ac.uk : [cid:image001.gif@01CCCEFD.7AEB23E0]

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New publications from Turkey
by Arda M. Tonay 09 Jan '12

09 Jan '12

Dear All, Apologies for cross posting. We would like to inform you that the new three article have been published in Journal of the Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment. They are available online via the following links. * Dede, A., Saad, A., Fakhri, M., Öztürk, B. 2012. Cetacean sightings in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea during the cruise in summer 2008. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 18:49-57 http://www.blackmeditjournal.org/blackmeditjournal.org/pdf/vol18no1pdf3.pdf Abstract The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is one of the least studied areas for cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea. Lack of basic knowledge such as species composition and habitats makes it impossible to develop effective conservation measures. Therefore, in order to determine the species composition, size and distribution of cetacean populations, cetacean sighting data were collected during a research cruise carried out in summer (11- 24 July) 2008 in the international water of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Turkish, Lebanese and Syrian territorial waters. Totally 860 nautical miles (nm) of survey effort was made and 16 sightings were recorded. During the study, five Physeter macrocephalus in one sighting, 53 Stenella coeruleoalba in five sightings, two Grampus griseus in one sighting (associated with S. coeruleoalba individuals), two Delphinus delphis in one sighting and 27 Tursiops truncatus in nine sightings were recorded. The overall sighting rate was 0.18 sightings/10 nm. This is a preliminary study for understanding cetacean populations in the Eastern Mediterrannean Sea, but the results of this study will provide basic information for developing conservation plans in the area. * Tonay, A.M., Dede, A., Öztürk, A.A., Ercan, D., Fernández, A. 2012. Unusual mass mortality of cetaceans on the coast of the Turkish Western Black Sea in summer 2009. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 18:65-75 http://www.blackmeditjournal.org/blackmeditjournal.org/pdf/vol18no1pdf5.pdf Abstract Between mid-July and early August, an unusual mass mortality of cetaceans was detected on the Turkish Western Black Sea coast. 114 cetaceans (53 harbour porpoises, 9 common dolphins, 7 bottlenose dolphins, 45 unidentified) were reported dead and nine common dolphins stranded alive, 6 of which were returned to the sea. Only two freshly dead common dolphins were subjected to a complete necropsy, sampling and tissue analysis. Tissue samples from brain, lung, spleen, liver, kidney, muscle and testis were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Histological analysis was conducted and immunohistochemical technique to detect morbillivirus antigen was applied. RNA and cDNA samples were examined for dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) detect by reversetranscription–PCR (RT-PCR) and conventional PCR. Main histopathological lesions were multifocal non-purulent meningitis, severe diffuse alveolar oedema in lung samples, multifocal periportal macrovacuolar hepatic steatosis, interstitial and tubular degeneration with protein casts and calcifications in renal medulla. No evidence for DMV infection was analytically found in both dolphins, and the cause of this unusual mortality is still uncertain. * Tonay, A.M., Dede, A., Maracı, Ö., Bilgin, R. 2012. A preliminary genetic study on the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Turkish Seas. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 18:83-89 http://www.blackmeditjournal.org/blackmeditjournal.org/pdf/vol18no1pdf7.pdf Abstract Mitochondrial DNA sequences of three individuals of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) sampled in the Black Sea, Marmara Sea and Aegean Sea, revealed three polymorphic sites, resulting in three different haplotypes. None of the haplotypes obtained in this study clustered with those in the Atlantic populations, consistent with previous findings. The Black Sea and the Aegean haplotypes sequenced in this study had been previously detected from the Ukraine coast of the Black Sea, supporting the idea that harbour porpoises from the Black Sea dispersed into the northern Aegean through the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits. The third sample from the Marmara Sea had the same unique haplotype as the one found in three individuals from the same sea in an earlier study. This structuring supports the possibility of an isolated population in the Marmara Sea. It should also be noted that this is the first genetic study of the harbour porpoise, in which a sample from the Turkish coast of the Northern Aegean Sea was studied. Regards, Arda M. TONAY PhD Istanbul University Faculty of Fisheries Marine Biology Dep. Ordu Cad. No:200 Laleli, 34480 İstanbul, Turkey Tel: 90 212 455 5700 Fax: 90 212 514 0379 atonay(a)istanbul.edu.tr http://suurunleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/ <http://suurunleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/> Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) P.Box: 10 Beykoz İstanbul, Turkey Tel: 90 216 4240 772 Fax: 90 216 424 0771 www.tudav.org <www.tudav.org> Bu mesaj ve onunla iletilen tum ekler gonderildigi kisi ya da kuruma ozel, gizlilik yukumlulugu tasiyor olabilir. 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