April 2012 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Volunteering opportunities
by Nikolina Rako 25 Apr '12

25 Apr '12

Adriatic Dolphin Project Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation Island of Lošinj, northeastern Adriatic Sea, Croatia The Adriatic Dolphin project is the main scientific project of the Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, a non - profit organization dedicated to research and conservation of the Adriatic bottlenose dolphins with field bases on Croatian islands of Lošinj (Northern Adriatic, Kvarnerić) and Vis (Central Adriatic, Dalmatia). ADP Lošinj has a long tradition with eco - volunteering program that offers a unique opportunity to experience encounters with dolphins in their natural surroundings actively participating in the research. This includes boat - based surveying, gaining knowledge in data collection at sea, data entry and participation in preliminary analysis of collected data. The research activities include application of photo - identification techniques, behavioural observations, diet study and acoustic sampling. The eco - volunteers are also invited to participate in various lectures on dolphin research and marine biology offered by the research team. Stages are now available for the period May to September 2012, with the prices that include a discount of 10% for students. Late bookings for volunteer stages in May are now with extra 20% discount. More information you may find on Blue World web site: www.blue-world.org http://www.blue-world.org/en/get-involved/volunteer/ For further details and any question please contact us at info at blue-world.org or adp.losinj at gmail.com On behalf of Blue World Research team Nikolina Rako Adriatic Dolphin Project Lošinj, Head researcher

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3D models of small cetaceans
by Vadim Pavlov 25 Apr '12

25 Apr '12

Dear colleagues, I work on construction of 3D models of small cetaceans in frames of our ongoing project on dolphin hydrodynamics, please see the links below. The following species are of particular interest: right whale dolphin (both species), Dall's porpoise, melon-headed whale, rough-toothed dolphin, and Cephalorhynchus spp. I am wondering if anyone has an access to that species. Ideally it could be by-caught or stranded animals stored in freezing camera. Good body condition is preferable so that I could make the appropriate measurements and photos. If you have such an opportunity, please contact me. Thank you, Vadim Pavlov Here are some examples of 3D models of dolphins and porpoises: http://www.tiho-hannover.de/kliniken-institute/institute/institut-fuer-terr… http://www.tiho-hannover.de/kliniken-institute/institute/institut-fuer-terr… -- Dr. Vadim Pavlov Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 25761 Büsum Germany Tel: 49 511 856 8162 Fax: 49 511 856 8181

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Need volunteers for large whale research in the Strait of Gibraltar
by Pauline Gauffier 25 Apr '12

25 Apr '12

Dear all, Due to cancellations, I'm resending this announcement. The research group CIRCE (http://www.circe.info) is seeking applications from volunteers to help with fieldwork on fin/sperm whale research in the Strait of Gibraltar from May 21th to July 23rd 2012. 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 3 years both in summertime and wintertime. During this next summer survey we are planning to deploy satellite tags on the migrating whales to identify their summering grounds. Volunteers should be available for one or more of the 3 periods of 3 weeks. 21 May-11 June / 11 June-2 July / 2-23 July (See http://www.circe.biz/index.php/components/index.php?option=com_content&view… for more information). You will be responsible for your transport to and from the main centre, but once here, we will provide shared-room accommodation near the research centre and daily 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. Volunteers should be prepared to long working days (9-15h/15-21h) under the sun, the wind and quickly changing hot/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/components/index.php?option=com_content&view…) 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 or English - be available for one (or more) of the 3-week periods Preference will be given to those who: - have previous experience in theodolite handling, including tracking - have previous relevant marine mammal field experience Applicants are asked to 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 experience. Please also attach a brief CV, detailing your previous experiences relevant to this project, and download and attach the registration form from http://www.circe.biz/index.php/components/index.php?option=com_content&view… (also available in Spanish and French). Applications should be sent as soon as possible as they will be examined in order of reception. For more information, do not hesitate to contact me. All the best Pauline ---------------------------- Pauline GAUFFIER CIRCE (España/Spain) http://www.circe.info (+34) 658 199 045 ----------------------------

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Chief Scientist Position
by PWF Applications 24 Apr '12

24 Apr '12

*CHIEF SCIENTIST – MAUI* The position is based on Maui, Hawaii with Pacific Whale Foundation. Primary responsibilities: Develops, designs and conducts Pacific and Indian Ocean-based research projects in cetacean and marine population biology or ecology. Directs the Foundation’s overall scientific programs, provides oversight of all research/science programs, with a focus on the applicability of research to conservation and management issues, and the quality of science. Qualifications: PhD degree in Marine Ecology or relevant field. At least five years of experience working in the field with marine mammals, particularly humpback whales and tropical odontocetes. Demonstrated history of peer-reviewed publication, excellent organizational and technological skills (i.e., database management, ARC-GIS), budgeting, grant writing and fundraising. Must be a leader and team builder with extensive department, project and staff management experience (including interns, volunteers and grad students). Excellent scientific speaking and community outreach skills a must. Pacific Whale Foundation checks references, conducts background checks and drug screens and is an equal opportunity employer. WE DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED APPLICATIONS OR APPLICATIONS WITH PHOTOS, PERSONAL INFORMATION (SUCH AS MEDICAL HISTORY, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, PARENTAL STATUS, ETC.), OR APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE INCOMPLETE OR ILLEGIBLE. TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter and resume to applications(a)pacificwhale.orgdetailing your relevant work experience. Please include the EXACT position title in the subject line of the email. You may also send a hard copy to Pacific Whale Foundation, Attn: Human Resources, 300 Ma’alaea Rd, Suite 211, Wailuku, HI 96793. Please, no phone calls! MAHALO FOR YOUR INTEREST IN PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND REVIEWING YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS. Come join our team! Aloha! * Human Resources Manager *

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NOAA Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program funding opportunity, 1st deadline May 4th
by Jonathan Shannon 24 Apr '12

24 Apr '12

The NOAA Fisheries Service Office of Sustainable Fisheries announces the availability of funds for projects supporting the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP). A Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) document is associated with this competition is available at www.grants.gov (*FFO# - NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2012-2003362*) along with the full application for download. The FFO provides important information for grant applicants, including program priorities, eligibility requirements, amount of available funding, instructions for submitting proposals, review criteria and review process, and more. Prior to submitting proposals, the FFO should be read in its entirety. Deadline for Applications Letters of Intent for the FY2012 BREP competition are due by *May 4, 2012*to derek.orner(a)noaa.gov. Full Applications for the FY 2012 BREP competition are due *May 25, 2012*. *For More Information* For more information about this funding opportunity, please contact Lee Benaka at lee.benaka(a)noaa.gov -- or -- Derek Orner at Derek.Orner(a)noaa.gov. Additional contact information can be found within the Agency Contacts section of the FFO document. Best Regards, Jonathan Shannon NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources http://nmfs.noaa.gov/pr Outreach Specialist 301.427.8431 jonathan.shannon(a)noaa.gov

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Fwd: 6th marine mammals necropsy workshop
by Thierry Jauniaux 24 Apr '12

24 Apr '12

A marine mammal necropsy workshop is organized by the Department of Veterinary Pathology (University of Liege), the Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics LAB (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) and the Marine Mammal Research Center (University of La Rochelle). The session will be held at the Veterinary College on the Sart Tilman campus (Liège, Belgium) on July 10 and 11, 2012. An extra-day is scheduled for the exam and ECTS certification (see below). During the workshop, 20 marine mammals will be extensively necropsied and sampled, based on a standard procedure (Proceedings of the first European Cetacean Society workshop on cetacean pathology: dissection techniques and tissue sampling. ECS Newsletter #17 special issue: 1991, 39 p. by Kuiken T. and Garcia Hartmann M.) adapted in previous European Cetacean Society necropsy workshops. An updated protocol will be available at the beginning of the 2-day workshop. A special attention will be the extraction and fixation (injection) of the inner ear. A morning session will be devoted to dissection, sampling and tissues banking procedures (Jauniaux T.), another one will be reserved for acoustics and inner ear extraction and fixation (André M.); afternoons will be dedicated to necropsies, mostly harbor porpoises. The number of attendees is limited to 20, in order to pair off participants under the supervision of a veterinary pathologist and a specialist of the inner ear dissection. The workshop is open to scientists (post-graduate students and specialists) in biology, toxicology, veterinary medicine involved in marine mammal research, with a maximum of 20 participants. Necropsy and sampling equipment will be available and rubber boots, latex gloves and adequate laboratory coats will be provided. The aim of the workshop is to improve the participants’ proficiency in: (1) dissection and sampling procedures on marine mammals mostly cetaceans, (2) anatomy and gross pathology of marine mammals; (3) skull morphology, extraction and fixation of the cetacean inner ear. Registration fees is 100 euro, including necropsy equipment and protective clothes, documentation (updated necropsy protocol, emphasizing on the inner ear dissection and fixation) and coffee breaks. Payment will be done directly the first day. Attests (payment and participation) will be sent on request. More information, contact Thierry Jauniaux: t.jauniaux(a)ulg.ac.be Regards T. Jauniaux Thierry Jauniaux, DMV, PhD Chair of the ECS http://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/home.php Premier Assistant Université de Liège Pathologie Vétérinaire Assistant Professor, University of Liege Veterinary Pathology T.Jauniaux(a)ulg.ac.be Cell phone: 0032477252302 MARIN Marine Animals Research & Intervention Network

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A brief exchange on modelling small datasets (of vaquita)
by Mike Lonergan 24 Apr '12

24 Apr '12

Marine Mammal Science has kindly published (currently Online Early) a comment I wrote: Lonergan, M. 2012. Insufficient data are available to predict the success of protected areas for the vaquita (Phocoena sinus): A critique of Gerrodette and Rojas-Bracho (2011). Marine Mammal Science. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00537.x/pdf It was querying this paper: Gerrodette, T., and L. Rojas-Bracho. 2011. Estimating the success of protected areas for the vaquita, Phocoena sinus. Marine Mammal Science 27:E101–E125. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00449.x/pdf And elicited this response (also currently Online Early): Gerrodette, T., and L. Rojas-Bracho. 2012. Inference from limited data: A response to Lonergan. Marine Mammal Science. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00569.x/pdf The Comments have no abstracts, but my (probably biassed) summary of the exchange is: I was surprised at a claim that vaquita abundance in 2008 could be estimated much more precisely from a model based on limited historic data than from a survey carried out in that year. I concluded that the model understated some sources of uncertainty, and listed examples. Gerrodette and Rojas-Bracho responded to some of my detailed points, and said that their analysis "demonstrated the remarkable power of modern statistical methods". Essentially we differ on which intuition to favour when unexpected results arise from a plausible representation of a small dataset. Simulation can't entirely answer that question since results should hold up if all their assumptions and priors are taken as correct but will fail if there are sufficiently gross violations - that then leaves the issue of how well the model structure approximates reality. I believe this to be a contained example of the more general practical problem of interpreting limited datasets and appropriately expressing both the strength of the evidence they provide and the assumptions that interpretations depend on. It matters because we mislead if we overstate results but waste information if we overemphasise uncertainty. The pdfs are on the MMS website. I (mel5(a)st-and.ac.uk) am happy to send my Comment to interested individuals; Tim Gerrodette (tim.gerrodette "at" noaa.gov) is listed as corresponding author on the other papers. I would like to hear people's opinions of the wider issue. Regards, Mike. -- Mike Lonergan NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews ________________________________________________________________________________ "The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532"

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Sirenews No. 57 Now Available
by Cynthia Taylor 23 Apr '12

23 Apr '12

*Sirenews No. 5**7*, April 2012, is now available online at http://www.sea2shore.org/newsletters<http://public.sea2shore.org/newsletters>and http://sirenian.org/sirenews/57APR2012.pdf *The current IUCN Sirenian Specialist Group (SSG) will be dissolved and re-established to coincide with the new quadrennial cycle (2013-2016). This edition of the newsletter includes a request from the SSG co-chairs for nominees for SSG membership for the 2013-2016 quadrennial cycle. The form provided in the newsletter should be completed and submitted by 15 May 2012. *** *Sirenews* is the newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Sirenia Specialist Group The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of volunteer experts working together towards achieving the vision of "A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity." The Sirenia Specialist Group is focused on the conservation of manatee and dugong populations around the world. Cynthia Taylor and James Powell, co-editors Sea to Shore Alliance www.sea2shore.org

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MARMAM Interactions between the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) and gillnet fishery in the southern Brazilian coast.
by fabricia barbieri 23 Apr '12

23 Apr '12

The following article has become available online: * * Interactions between the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) and gillnet fishery in the southern Brazilian coast. Fabricia Barbieri, Rodrigo Machado, Camilah Antunes Zappes and Larissa Rosa de Oliveira Ocean & Coastal Management 63 (2012) 16 - 23 ABSTRACT The Neotropical otter (*Lontra longicaudis*) is an aquatic carnivore that interacts with fisheries activities and competes with fisherman for resources. Information about the biology and conservation issues of a species can be obtained from traditional ecological knowledge collected from the communities that share the same resources. In this sense, the objective of this study was to describe conflicts between the otters and two fishing communities (Imbé and Tramandaí) in the Tramandaí Lagoon (29°57′S; 50°11′W), in southern Brazil. We conducted 36 interviews that represented 72% of the local fishermen that use gillnets in the lagoon. All fishermen reported that otters interfered with fishing activities, by feeding on fish in the gillnets, and 75% of those interviewed reported gear damage. Fifty percent of the fishermen reported that observed the otters used the lagoon daily. Many fishermen (41.6%) also reported that the amount of damage attributed to the otters was considered “small”, but the depredation was reported as occurring daily (55.5%). Fishermen from Imbé have a more negative perception of the interaction with otters, probably because they usually fish near to the area most frequently used by otters. This amplifies the magnitude of the conflict and damage. In order to minimize the depredation of fish by otters directly on the gillnets, we suggested some measures to fishery management, as well as additional studies about the potential prey overlap between the Neotropical otter and the fishery. --- A pdf copy can be obtained from the journal's web site (subscribers only): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569112000543 or from me: fabribarbieris(a)gmail.com

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Fall 2012 IMMS Marine Mammal Research Internship
by Jamie Klaus 23 Apr '12

23 Apr '12

Marine Mammal Research Internship at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) Program Description The IMMS Research Internship Program is designed as a way for students interested in a career in marine mammal science to gain valuable research experience in a real-world setting. Interns will be trained in all aspects of dolphin photo-id research and will participate in other current research projects at IMMS. Interns will also participate in other operations at IMMS including stranding response, education, and animal care. Our goal is to give Interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience in marine mammal research. Principle Duties and Requirements Interns must: * Commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks. * Be available to work Mon-Fri from 8:30 AM to 4 PM and must be available for all boat trips. * Have strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to admit mistakes. * Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills. * Principle Duties include: data entry, searching and cataloging journal articles, learning all research protocols, cropping and sorting photo-id fin images, learning to use photo-id programs such as Darwin (fin matching software), and FinBase (Microsoft Access), and boat based field research. * Secondary Duties involve: Working with animal care staff, attending marine mammal and sea turtle necropsies, responding to strandings, assisting with educational tours. * Field days: Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water in sometimes extreme seasonal conditions. Seasonal temperatures range from over 100 ˚F in summer to 30 ˚F in winter. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur once or twice a week. May include overnight trips. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be 18 or older and must have a genuine interest in marine research. Applicants should be actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in oceanography, marine science/biology, biology, or a related field. Previous research experience in any capacity is a plus. Applicants must be able and willing to fulfill all duties outlined for this Internship Program. This is an unpaid position and Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Once accepted, IMMS staff will be able to assist Interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations. To Apply Please visit our website at <http://imms.org/internship.php> http://imms.org/internship.php

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