October 2012 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication on baleen whale foraging
by Malene J. Simon 15 Oct '12

15 Oct '12

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that the following article has just been published: Simon, M., Johnson, M. and Madsen, P. T. (2012). Keeping momentum with a mouthful of water: behavior and kinematics of humpback whale lunge feeding. J. Exp. Biol. 215, 3786-3795 Humpback whales and other rorquals were thought to grind to a near halt after each lunge and that reaccelerating their massive bodies from a stationary start was believed to make lunge feeding extortionately expensive. New results from humpback whales tagged with DTAGs (with a high sampling rate sensor suite) provided detailed insights to the lunge technique. The tagged whales does not come to a near halt. Instead they fluke to accelerate the engulfed water. The whales then glide in between lunges at a speed of ~1 m/s while filtering prey and repositioning for the next lunge. This suggests that lunge feeding may be cheaper than previously thought. Contact Malene Simon masi(a)natur.gl<mailto:masi@natur.gl> for a pdf Malene Simon, PhD Greenland Climate Research Centre * Greenland Institute of Natural Resources P.O. box 570 * Kivioq 2 * 3900 Nuuk, Greenland Phone: +299-361250 * Web: http://www.natur.gl

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Volunteers needed for whale research in Spain (19 nov-20 dec)
by Pauline Gauffier 15 Oct '12

15 Oct '12

Dear all, The research group CIRCE (http://www.circe.info) is seeking applications from 5 volunteers to help with fieldwork on fin whale research in the Strait of Gibraltar from 19 November to 20 December 2012(5 weeks) Fin whale project: The fin whales observed in the Strait of Gibraltar are in migration between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and are still recovering from years of hunting. Due to the high and increasing maritime traffic in the Strait, at least 3 ship strikes have been observed with fin whales since 1999 and probably more remain unknown. Therefore, we need to assess for this population the risk of collision with merchant ships or ferries. We will use theodolite tracking from a land station to find the main routes for the fin whales as well as any behavioural changes in relation to boat movements. This project has been running for 4 years both in summertime and wintertime from the Spanish coast of the Strait. During this next winter survey we are planning to (1) deploy satellite tags on the migrating whales to identify their wintering grounds and (2) start a pilot project from a station in Morocco on the other side of the Strait. Conditions: Volunteers should be available for the entire period of 5 weeks. You will be responsible for your transport to and from the main centre, but once here, we will provide accommodation at the research centre and transport to the land station. You will be responsible for your food expenses, but we will arrange communal shopping/cooking so that these expenses will be low (usually no more than 20€/week). Volunteers should be prepared to long working days (9-18h) under the sun, the wind and sometimes cold weather and to help with data entry when bad weather. For more information, a video and the blog of the project, see http://www.circe.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=203&Itemi…) Successful applicants will: - have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research - be autonomous and quickly operational - be able to live and work constructively with others in a team - speak fluently Spanish and/or English - be available for the entire 5-week period Preference will be given to those who: - have previous experience in theodolite handling, including whale tracking - have previous relevant marine mammal field experience Applicants should send an email introducing themselves. The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this project, your qualifications and previous experiences relevant to this project. Please also attach a brief CV, detailing your previous experiences, and download the registration form from http://www.circe.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=203&Itemi… (also available in Spanish and French). For those who are interested, there is an opportunity for arriving earlier and help with pilot whale photo-ID (from 29th October on), please mention it in your email. Applications will be accepted until 22 October 2012 and then your participation will be confirmed during the week (please check your email at that time). For more information, do not hesitate to contact me. All the best Pauline PS: we will have a stand at Whale Fest (www.whale-fest.com) in Brighton on 27-28 Oct if you want to meet us. ---------------------------- Pauline GAUFFIER CIRCE (España/Spain) http://www.circe.info ----------------------------

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A Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) strands in Maui, Hawaii, with first case of morbillivirus in the central Pacific
by Christopher Aguinaldo 12 Oct '12

12 Oct '12

A Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) strands in Maui, Hawaii, with first case of morbillivirus in the central Pacific West, K. L., Sanchez, S., Rotstein, D., Robertson, K. M., Dennison, S., Levine, G., Davis, N., Schofield, D., Potter, C. W. and Jensen, B. (2012), A Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) strands in Maui, Hawaii, with first case of morbillivirus in the central Pacific. Marine Mammal Science. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00616.x Author Information 1 College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawai'i Pacific University, Kaneohe, Hawaii, U.S.A 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A 3 Olney, Maryland, U.S.A 4 Protected Resources Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Services, NOAA, La Jolla, California, U.S.A 5 Marine Mammal Radiology, San Francisco, California, U.S.A 6 Kailua, Hawaii, U.S.A 7 Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A 8 Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, U.S.A *Corresponding author (e-mail: kwest(a)hpu.edu) Article first published online: 9 OCT 2012 Marine Mammal Science http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00616.x/full The Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) is one of the world's most poorly known whales. Until 1999 this species had not been identified from either a live or a dead whale and was known only from the holotype skull collected from Queensland, Australia in 1882 (Longman 1926) and one additional skull from Somalia (Azzaroli 1968). After a detailed assessment of photographs of an unidentified tropical “bottlenose whale” (Pitman et al. 1999), and later genetic confirmation of species identity from stranded animals (Dalebout et al. 2003), at sea identification of this species became possible and sighting reports are no longer uncommon in subtropical and tropical waters, especially in the Indian Ocean (Pitman et al. 1999, Anderson et al. 2006). In the Pacific, a few sighting reports suggest that Longman's beaked whales inhabit Hawaiian waters in low abundance (Shallenberger 1981, Barlow 2006, McSweeney et al. 2007). However, specimens remain scarce and to date this species is known from less than 10 confirmed strandings world-wide (Pitman 2009). This is the first report on a stranding and necropsy findings from a Longman's beaked whale from the Hawaiian archipelago and confirms the presence of this species in waters of the United States. This is the only case of a Longman's beaked whale stranding world-wide where the response included collection of morphometrics, computed tomography (CT) scanning, gross necropsy, histopathology, genetics, and molecular diagnostics for pathogens.

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New NGO report on MPA in the Canary Islands
by Fabian Ritter, MEER e.V. 12 Oct '12

12 Oct '12

Dear colleagues, we would like to inform you that we have recently published the following report dealing with the proposal for an integrated MPA off La Gomera (Canary Islands): *Model for a Marine Protected Area for sustainable Whale Watching off La Gomera (Canary Islands). A report by MEER e.V., Berlin. 37 pp.* This report has been produced on the basis of almost 15 years of cetacean research. A framework for a marine protected area in the waters of La Gomera is laid out. Furthermore the report justifies - on the ground of what is known about the biology and ecology of the cetaceans in the area - why an integrated concept for marine conservation is needed and how it should look like. The report thus covers various management aspects including the ecosystem approach, regulation of user groups, local involvement, public education, development of sustainable whale watching, monitoring and financing. This report is a milestone of our research based on data collection on whale watching vessels of La Gomera, and we think it is a good example how such long-term research can inform management. Please follow this link to download the full report. Please note that there is also a *full Spanish version* available. http://m-e-e-r.de/index.php?id=166&L=2 With best greetings, Fabian -- Fabian Ritter -President- M.E.E.R. e.V. Bundesallee 123 D-12161 Berlin T/F: (0)30-644 97 230 e-Mail: ritter(a)m-e-e-r.de www.m-e-e-r.org --- The dolphins were having a great relaxed time and there were no major answers they wished to know the questions to... (After Douglas Adams) ___ M.E.E.R. ist eingetragen im Vereinsregister Berlin. Steuer-Nr. (German tax ID): 27/672/54225 M.E.E.R. is a registered charity.

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2013 Veterinary Intern at The Marine Mammal Center - Call for Applications
by Heather Groninger 11 Oct '12

11 Oct '12

Announcing the 2013 veterinary intern employment opportunity at The Marine Mammal Center. This listing can also be found on our website here: http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/about-us/organization-information/jobs/ 2013 VETERINARY INTERN ANNOUNCEMENT - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The Marine Mammal Center, an equal opportunity, non-profit employer, is seeking a Veterinary Intern to join our team. The Marine Mammal Center's mission is to expand knowledge about marine mammals-their health and that of their ocean environment-and to inspire their global conservation. Our core work is the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine mammals, supported by state-of-the-art animal care and research facilities, a corps of dedicated volunteers, and an engaged community. The Marine Mammal Center, in collaboration with the University of California at Davis has an exciting opportunity for a Veterinary Intern, based in Sausalito California at The Marine Mammal Center. This position reports to the Director of Veterinary Science with day to day supervision by the Staff Veterinarian and also works closely with the Veterinary Science team. This position is scheduled to start August 1 2013 and is for a one year term. This position requires a DVM degree or equivalent and previous marine mammal or wildlife experience is desirable. Preference will be given to individuals that possess at least one year of clinical veterinary experience. The Marine Mammal Center veterinary staff includes full and part time veterinarians, three veterinary technicians, a medical technologist and research staff. The Veterinary Intern's responsibilities include assisting the veterinary medical staff in providing medical management of a large number of stranded marine mammals (mostly pinnipeds); performing post mortem examinations, sample-taking for various research projects, and record-keeping. A research paper or case report should be completed during the internship. If qualified, applicants should submit the following materials: 1. A cover letter/statement outlining the applicant's goals and interests in the area of aquatic animal medicine. 2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic and/or clinical performance. 3. A current curriculum vitae, limited to 4 pages. Please submit your application to: 2013 Veterinarian Intern Program William Van Bonn, Staff Veterinarian The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965-2619 E-mail: vanbonnb(a)tmmc.org Applications are due by Monday December 3rd. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. A selection will be made by the second week in January 2013. Heather Groninger Human Resources and Operations Manager The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965 415-289-7348 Fax: 415-754-4048 groningerh(a)tmmc.org<mailto:groningerh@tmmc.org> www.tmmc.org<http://www.tmmc.org> Adopt-a-Seal! [cid:image001.jpg@01CDA7B7.0124B8D0] Adopt a past patient like Garnett and you'll give future patients a second chance at life. Adopt-a-Seal today<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/Get-Involved/adopt-a-seal/>!

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Greek speaking MMO required
by Maria Smithies 11 Oct '12

11 Oct '12

Hi All, I am the MMO/PAM coordinator at Hydenlyne. We have potential upcoming work in Greece and require Greek speaking MMOs. If you have the relevant safety and training certificates and can speak Greek please send your CV to mariasmithies(a)hydenlyne.com. Kind regards, Maria Smithies Project Manager (MMO/PAM) UK Mobile +44 (0)7718002915 Office +44 (0)1202 900078 Hydenlyne 1 Princes Court Princes Road Ferndown Dorset England BH22 9JG

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Application of McMaster's technique in live blue whale.
by Lavinia Flores Cascante 10 Oct '12

10 Oct '12

In the lab of cetacean ecology in CICIMAR (La Paz, Mexico) we have lately published a short communications about quantitative parasitology in blue whales… Flores-Cascante, L. and Gendron, D. 2012. Application of McMaster's technique in live blue whale. Veterinary Record;171:9 220 doi:10.1136/vr.100749 (dgendron(a)ipn.mx) Summary: Due to field sampling constrictions, studies on the intestinal parasite load in free ranging cetaceans is lacking. Reports on cetacean parasites have generally been obtained from stranded and harvested animals and thus cannot be considered representative of the “normal’ population. In the case of the blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus few descriptions of the parasitic fauna exist and the information is qualitative. Standardized methodologies are essential to evaluate the baseline data on the population's parasite load, as well as on the relationship between parasite and host, and to optimize long-term study. Here we report the use and optimization of the McMaster technique for the quantization of parasite eggs in feces of terrestrial mammals as applied to the blue whale. We collected 30 feces samples of blue whales during our 2009-2011 winter-spring fieldwork in the southwestern Gulf of California, Mexico. Subsample of feces were collected opportunistically at the sea surface and were preserved in formalin at 5 % and dehydrated for 24hrs. The flotation solution, Zinc Sulfate was chosen over the modified Sheather’s Solution since the transparency allowed better observation of the eggs. The effective sample size was estimated using 0.3, 0.5 and 1gr of dried feces. No significant difference in the count of egg parasites per gram of dry feces (EPG) was found between sample sizes (p> 0.05), and the parasite load was estimated from 0.5 gram at the Helminth level. The average intensity was 356 EPG ranging from 100 to 1250 and corresponded to 19 different blue whale individuals. Three individuals were re-sampled more than once during one season and EPG counts were constant (p>0.05). Adult acanthocephalans of the genus Bolbosoma sp were found in the samples, a genus previously reported for the Northeastern Pacific blue whales. The use of the McMaster technique to assess parasite load in blue whales offers an important new parameter that can be easily monitored. Regards, Lavinia. ----------------------------- Biol. Mar. Lavinia F. Cascante Estudiante de M.C. en Manejo de Recursos Marinos Laboratorio de Cetáceos y Quelonios CICIMAR - IPN La Paz, BCS. México La información de este correo así como la contenida en los documentos que se adjuntan, pueden ser objeto de solicitudes de acceso a la información.

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Post vacancy for a Scientific Secretary at NAMMCO
by Christina Lockyer 10 Oct '12

10 Oct '12

Scientific Secretary - Vacancy The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO), based in Tromsø in northern Norway, has an opening for a Scientific Secretary from January 2013. The Scientific Secretary is responsible for planning, coordinating and participating in the work of the NAMMCO Scientific Committee and its associated Working Groups. A large part of the work will require report writing and also editing and collating scientific publications. This position requires an experienced scientist with a good background in wildlife or fisheries biology. Research experience in or knowledge of marine mammal biology, including knowledge of survey methods and population biology in the context of sustainable management, is highly desirable. Participation in scientific projects of direct relevance to NAMMCO is encouraged where feasible. A higher degree is preferred, and excellent spoken and written English are essential. A working knowledge of a Scandinavian language is desirable but not essential. The person filling this position should be prepared to travel extensively for meetings within the member countries for up to some several weeks each year (e.g. 10 weeks), have good leadership qualities and be able to work confidently alone as well as in a team. The Secretariat is small, and teamwork is important as well as flexibility. The position attracts an international standard salary based on the ICSC-UN professional scale, with generous private pension scheme, as well as assistance in relocation expenses, and 6 weeks annual vacation with paid travel to the home country annually if desired. The initial appointment will be for 3 years on contract, and may be renewable. For further details on the job description and other information, please contact the General Secretary of NAMMCO on christina(a)nammco.no<mailto:nammco-sec@nammco.no> or call +47 77687372, and check out the website on www.nammco.no<http://www.nammco.no/> to learn more about the work of this international organisation and its goals and affiliations. Please send your application, marked "confidential" together with your curriculum vitae detailing qualifications, work experience and publications, and the names, affiliations and contact details of three referees to the General Secretary, NAMMCO, Postboks 6453, 21-23 Sykehusveien 21-23, N-9294 Tromsø, Norway, or electronically directly to christina(a)nammco.no<mailto:christina@nammco.no> to reach NAMMCO latest 12th November 2012. All applications will be acknowledged. Dr Christina Lockyer, General Secretary North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission - NAMMCO P.O. Box 6453 Sykehusveien 21-23 N-9294 Tromsø Norway Tel: +47 77687372 Fax: +47 77687374 Skype: nammco1 E-mail: christina.lockyer(a)nammco.no Website: www.nammco.no

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Fw: Marine Biology Analyst - UKHO
by helen meatcher 10 Oct '12

10 Oct '12

Please could you circulate this job advert? it would be great if a marine mammal expert were to get the job. Many thanks. Helen Marine Biology Analyst - UKHO Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Marine Biology Analyst Based in Taunton, Somerset £29,418 The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) plays a vital role in the UK’s maritime defence capability and supporting safe navigation at sea. As an agency of the MoD and a world-leading supplier of navigational charts and publications, we are at the forefront of hydrographic digital product development and services to the worldwide maritime community. The Royal Navy relies on professional advice and a range of products to help them plan operations and minimise their impact on the environment. As Marine Biology Analyst, you will be required to acquire and analyse data from a variety of sources, including literature and the web, in order to assess the marine environment likely to be encountered on Navy operations. Key responsibilities include identifying suitable internal and external data sources; obtaining and formatting information; analysing marine biological data; and providing specialist advice to the Royal Navy and other customers. Educated to postgraduate degree-level or equivalent in marine biology, the successful candidate must have an in-depth understanding of the marine biological environment and a working knowledge of digital data analysis and databasing techniques. With an awareness of marine conservation legislation, you should also possess a good working knowledge of software packages such as Microsoft Office and GIS as well as data presentation and visualisation techniques. This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and is therefore only open to UK Nationals. Successful applicants will require security clearance; you will therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 5 years. The MoD/UKHO is an Equal Opportunities Employer and seeks to reflect the diverse community it serves. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity for employment, career development and promotion to all who are eligible, on the basis of ability, qualifications and merit. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status and all other protected characteristics. Please visit www.ukho.gov.uk for an information sheet and an application form. Alternatively, you can contact the HR Recruitment Team at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN. Tel: +44 (0)1823 723353. Email: recruitment(a)ukho.gov.uk Closing date for applications is 16 November 2012 Update my topic preferences To subscribe to CMS emails please click here. You can forward this email to a friend or colleague. You can unsubscribe at anytime.

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New note on sound use and behavior in killer whales
by Marla Holt 09 Oct '12

09 Oct '12

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that the following article is now available online. There is no abstract because it is in note form. Holt, M. M., Noren, D. P. and Emmons, C. K. (2012), An investigation of sound use and behavior in a killer whale (*Orcinus orca*) population to inform passive acoustic monitoring studies. Marine Mammal Science. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00599.x The publication is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00599.x/full -- __________________________________ Marla M. Holt, Ph.D. Research Wildlife Biologist Marine Mammal & Seabird Ecology Team Conservation Biology Division NOAA/NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Blvd East Seattle, WA 98112 Phone: 206.860.3261 Fax: 206.860.3475 www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cbd/marine_mammal/marinemammal.cfm <http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cbd/marine_mammal/marinemammal…>

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