August 2012 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

GIS field course in Scotland Oct 14 to 24 - places now available
by Dr Kevin Robinson 17 Aug '12

17 Aug '12

Teaming up with GIS In Ecology, the Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) is offering a unique 10 day residential cetacean field course at their field base in Gardenstown in northeast Scotland from 14th to 24th October. The course will incorporate a custom-designed 3 day GIS module (including course manuals and materials) from GIS In Ecology (see www.GISinEcology.com for more information), taught by Dr. Colin MacLeod, a renowned expert in using GIS in ecological research and author of 'An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology'. It will consist of a series of background and practical sessions covering the use of GIS in cetacean and marine research. Practical elements will include learning how to collect field data at sea and how to import this data into a Geographic Information System to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of identified species and analyse the home ranges of known individual animals. A combination of ESRI's ArcGIS 10.1 software and an open-source (and licence free) alternative will be used in this regard, and a uniquely numbered and verifiable certificate of completion for this GIS module of the course will be provided. Additional aspects of this course will include basic instruction in power boat handling, safety at sea and competent crew ability; cetacean identification, taxonomy and nomenclature; photo-identification procedures and mark capture-recapture analyses for bottlenose dolphins and minke whales; an introduction to relational databases and computer-assisted matching software; assessment, first aid administration and methods used in the care, transport and rescue of stranded cetaceans; and practical methods for the re-floatation of live stranded whales and dolphins In short, you will have the opportunity to learn about these mammals and their dynamic marine environment first hand; working closely alongside a dedicated and knowledgeable research team. As you participate in ongoing field studies, you will learn and apply the principles of field research design, data collection and analyses, undertake training in marine mammal rescue techniques, and gain a personal understanding of the conservation issues which drive current research, rescue and conservation activities by cetacean biologists. The cost for this internship course is £1095 [ <http://www.xe.com> for a currency converter, click here], which includes full board (i.e. all accommodation and food costs), your full equipment needs (immersion suits, wet boots etc for boat trips), associated course materials and hand-outs, and all associated field costs during your stay with the CRRU team. You will simply need to arrange your own travel itinerary to Banff in northeast Scotland (nearest airport Dyce, Aberdeen, approx. 1½ hours from the field base by coach) plus any personal spending money. For further details and conditions, please visit <http://www.crru.org.uk/join_the_team.asp> http://www.crru.org.uk/join_the_team.asp. Just 10 places available for this exclusive GIS field team, so immediate booking advised. Founded in 1997, the CRRU boasts over 70 scientific publications to date ( <http://www.crru.org.uk/publications.asp> http://www.crru.org.uk/publications.asp) In cooperation with universities, research institutions and other environmental organisations, current studies focus on the key coastal cetacean species frequenting the outer Moray Firth in NE Scotland namely the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and the minke whale providing robust scientific data for the adoption of management measures and effective conservation strategies for their future protection. Dr. Kevin Robinson <mailto:kev.robinson@crru.org.uk> kev.robinson(a)crru.org.uk Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit | Whale and Dolphin Research | Environmental Education | Wildlife Rescue | Marine Conservation | Consultancy | Recognised Scottish Charity No. SC 035473 PO Box 11307, Banff AB45 3WB, Scotland ( +44 (0)1261 851696 | 126 Suksamran Villas, 12/33 Moo 1 Sairee, Ban Koh Tao, Suratthani 84360, Thailand ( +66 (0) 844 651347 | <http://www.crru.org.uk/> www.crru.org.uk Check out our new Facebook page at: <http://www.facebook.com/crru.org.uk> www.facebook.com/crru.org.uk P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

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Call for Presenters: Educator's Workshop in Conjunction With American Cetacean Society Conference
by Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society 17 Aug '12

17 Aug '12

CALL FOR PRESENTERS: EDUCATOR'S WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 11, 2012 IN CONJUNCTION WITH AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO, CA Workshop Description: Whales and Humans have had a conflicted relationship throughout the years. Teachers - both formal and informal - can help to place that relationship in context. At the same time, whales are an engaging topic that can be used to teach subjects from science to technology, engineering to math, literacy to art. In this workshop, learn about the connections between whales and humans. Get ideas for how you can incorporate whales into your classroom. Come home with hands-on activities to share with your students. Call for Speakers: We're looking for speakers to present 15-45-minute talks and activities on the following subjects: * Whale Biology - hands-on activities that teach basic information about whales. * Scientific Method - Activities that use data to teach about whales. * Activism - Activities that empower students to act to help whales. Talks should be geared toward elementary, middle, high school and/or informal educators. Please visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SBZjQcOYgt1EHA_inX1HWeVuWmRvSgIidQCoO6yV QNU/edit to download a presentation proposal form. Please e-mail it to ACSEducatorsWorkshop(a)gmail.com by September 10, 2012. Selected speakers will be notified by September 18, 2012. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at ACSEducatorsWorkshop(a)gmail.com. Thank you! Jen Kennedy, Executive Director, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, www.blueoceansociety.org Cynde McInnis, Education Coordinator, Cape Ann Whale Watch, www.seethewhales.com Kathy Zagzebski, President, American Cetacean Society Board of Directors, www.acsonline.org

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Publication of a paper that may be of interest to some of you.
by Mikkel Sinding 17 Aug '12

17 Aug '12

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of a paper that may be of interest to some of you, but in a journal that might be off your radar, hence the heads-up: Sinding MHS, Gilbert MTP, Grønnow B, Gulløv HC, Toft PA, Foote AD (2012) Non-destructive DNA extraction from archaeological artifacts made from whale baleen. Journal of Archaeological Science, 39: 3750-3753. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440312002774 Abstract Here we demonstrate the successful extraction and amplification of target species DNA from artefactsmade of whale baleen collected from excavations of past palaeo-Eskimo and Inuit cultures in Greenland.DNA was successfully extracted and amplified from a single baleen bristle of 1.5 cm length dated basedon archaeological context to the period of the Saqqaq culture, more than 4000 years ago and followingdecades of storage at room temperature at the National Museum. The results reveal ancient baleen inarchaeological material as a potential source of DNA that can be used for population genetic studies. Weconclude that genetic investigation of historical baleen collections can contribute to our knowledge ofthe prehistoric population genetics of baleen whales, for example by quantifying the impact of modernwhaling on the genetic diversity of bowhead whales. Please contact me if you are unable to access the article online. Best regards, Mikkel Holger Strander Sinding, mhssinding(a)gmail.com Centre for GeoGenetics The Natural History Museum of Denmark Øster Voldgade 5 - 7 1350 Copenhagen K

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New paper - Three brevetoxin-associated dolphin mortality events in Florida panhandle
by Spencer Fire 16 Aug '12

16 Aug '12

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of the following article: Twiner MJ, Flewelling LJ, Fire SE, Bowen-Stevens SR, Gaydos JK, Johnson CK, Landsberg JH, Leighfield TA, Mase-Guthrie B, Schwacke L, Van Dolah FM, Wang Z, Rowles TK (2012). Comparative analysis of three brevetoxin-associated bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) mortality events in the Florida Panhandle region (USA). PLoS ONE 7: e42974 Abstract: In the Florida Panhandle region, bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) have been highly susceptible to large-scale unusual mortality events (UMEs) that may have been the result of exposure to blooms of the dinoflagellate *Karenia brevis* and its neurotoxin, brevetoxin (PbTx). Between 1999 and 2006, three bottlenose dolphin UMEs occurred in the Florida Panhandle region. The primary objective of this study was to determine if these mortality events were due to brevetoxicosis. Analysis of over 850 samples from 105 bottlenose dolphins and associated prey items were analyzed for algal toxins and have provided details on tissue distribution, pathways of trophic transfer, and spatial-temporal trends for each mortality event. In 1999/2000, 152 dolphins died following extensive* K. brevis* blooms and brevetoxin was detected in 52% of animals tested at concentrations up to 500 ng/g. In 2004, 105 bottlenose dolphins died in the absence of an identifiable *K. brevis* bloom; however, 100% of the tested animals were positive for brevetoxin at concentrations up to 29,126 ng/mL. Dolphin stomach contents frequently consisted of brevetoxin-contaminated menhaden. In addition, another potentially toxigenic algal species, *Pseudo-nitzschia*, was present and low levels of the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) were detected in nearly all tested animals (89%). In 2005/2006, 90 bottlenose dolphins died that were initially coincident with high densities of* K. brevis*. Most (93%) of the tested animals were positive for brevetoxin at concentrations up to 2,724 ng/mL. No DA was detected in these animals despite the presence of an intense DA-producing *Pseudo-nitzschia* bloom. In contrast to the absence or very low levels of brevetoxins measured in live dolphins, and those stranding in the absence of a* K. brevis* bloom, these data, taken together with the absence of any other obvious pathology, provide strong evidence that brevetoxin was the causative agent involved in these bottlenose dolphin mortality events. The full text and pdf are available from: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0042974;… Best regards, -Spencer Fire ----- Spencer E. Fire, Ph.D. Marine Biotoxins Program <http://www.chbr.noaa.gov/habar/eroart.aspx> Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research NOAA/National Ocean Service 219 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412**** Tel: 843.762.8574 Fax: 843.762.8700 Email: spencer.fire(a)noaa.gov

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Comment Period: NOAA Fisheries Draft Marine Mammal SARs until Nov 5th
by Jonathan Shannon 16 Aug '12

16 Aug '12

NOAA Fisheries has published our Draft Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports and they are open for public comment until November 5, 2012. To view the draft reports and the accompanying Federal Register Notice, visit: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/draft.htm You may submit comments, identified by [NOAA–NMFS–2012–0119], by any of the following methods: * * *Electronic Submissions:* Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. * * *Mail:* Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910–3226 Attn: Stock Assessments. *Instructions:* All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). 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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UF Aquatic Animal Health program | Course registration closing soon!
by Larkin,Iskande V 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Hi All, The UF Aquatic Animal Health program offers Distance Learning courses through the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. The Fall semester is quickly approaching and Registration is still OPEN for our fall course, Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues (http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/courses/distance-learning-courses/a…) FALL REGISTRATION CLOSES on Aug. 21st. To learn more about our courses and program please visit the links below or contact us. Don't miss out on this great learning opportunity. Take our course and learn from anywhere in the world! Registration options are available for students seeking university credit or continuing education. These courses are designed for undergraduate students interested in this field of study as well as veterinary/graduate students and professionals already immersed in aquatic animal medicine. Spaces are LIMITED, Register TODAY! * Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues (FALL 2012) (http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/courses/distance-learning-courses/a…) Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues is a 3 credit course that will expose students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) to some of the controversial issues surrounding aquatic animal species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals, with emphasis on marine mammals, but also including sea turtles, fisheries, and marine ecosystems. >Registration is Now Open! For more information contact us: Iske Larkin, PhD Education Coordinator (352) 294-4095 ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu%3cmailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu> AAH Distance Learning Webpage http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/courses/distance-learning-courses/ AAH Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/UFAquatic

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Aerial Observer Position - Provincetown, MA USA
by Stephanie Richardson 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

RIGHT WHALE AERIAL SURVEY OBSERVER The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) isseeking a right whale aerial survey observer for the 2013 winter/spring season(January 2nd through May 15th 2013). The selected candidate will participate in anon-going long term study of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay and theadjacent waters. Responsibilitiesinclude participation in marine mammal aerial surveys, photo-analysis,assisting with maintenance of the in-house catalog, and data processing. Previous experience as a marine mammal aerial surveyobserver and photo-identification (right whales or other large cetaceans) isstrongly desired. Applicants must haveat least a B.S., with courses in biology, and the ability to live and work wellin a team environment. This is afull-time seasonal position. Shared housing will be provided at no cost. General information about the Right WhaleStudies Program at PCCS is available at our website www.coastalstudies.org. Please submitcover letter, resume, and two references by September 15, 2012 to: Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02657 Email: srichardson(a)coastalstudies.org -- Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02652 t. (508) 487-3622 Ext. 113 f. (508) 487-4495 Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM-2:00PM

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New paper on the phylogeography and evolutionary history of the genus Delphinus
by Ana Rita Amaral 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Dear colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the following paper recently published online: Amara AR, Beheregaray LB, Bilgmann K, Freitas L, Robertson KM, Sequeira M, Stockin KA, Coelho MM, Möller LM (2012) Influences of past climatic changes on historical population structure and demography of a cosmopolitan marine predator, the common dolphin (genus Delphinus). Molecular Ecology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05728.x Abstract Climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene have greatly influenced the distribution and connectivity of many organisms, leading to extinctions but also generating biodiversity. While the effects of such changes have been extensively studied in the terrestrial environment, studies focusing on the marine realm are still scarce. Here we used sequence data from one mitochondrial and five nuclear loci to assess the potential influence of Pleistocene climatic changes on the phylogeography and demographic history of a cosmopolitan marine predator, the common dolphin (genus Delphinus). Population samples representing the three major morphotypes of Delphinus were obtained from 10 oceanic regions. Our results suggest that short-beaked common dolphins are likely to have originated in the eastern Indo-Pacific Ocean during the Pleistocene and expanded into the Atlantic Ocean through the Indian Ocean. On the other hand, long-beaked common dolphins appear to have evolved more recently and independently in several oceans. Our results also suggest that short-beaked common dolphins had recurrent demographic expansions concomitant with changes in sea surface temperature during the Pleistocene and its associated increases in resource availability, which differed between the North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins. By proposing how past environmental changes had an effect on the demography and speciation of a widely distributed marine mammal, we highlight the impacts that climate change may have on the distribution and abundance of marine predators and its ecological consequences for marine ecosystems. Abstract link:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05728.x/abs tract For pdf requests or additional information please contact: aramaral(a)fc.ul.pt. Thanks! Ana Rita Amaral -- Ana Rita Amaral, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024 USA Centre for Environmental Biology Faculty of Sciences University of Lisbon Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal E-mail: aramaral(a)fc.ul.pt

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New paper - Shape analysis of odontocete mandibles
by Celia Barroso 14 Aug '12

14 Aug '12

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in Journal of Morphology: Barroso, C., Cranford, T. W., and Berta, A. (2012). Shape analysis of odontocete mandibles: Functional and evolutionary implications. J. Morphol., 273: 1021–1030. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20040 Abstract. Odontocete mandibles serve multiple functions, including feeding and hearing. We consider that these two major functions have their primary influence in different parts of the mandibles: the anterior feeding component and the posterior sound reception component, though these divisions are not mutually exclusive. One hypothesis is that sound enters the hearing apparatus via the pan bone of the posterior mandibles (Norris, Evolution and Environment,1968<http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmor.20040/abstract#bib41>, pp 297–324). Another viewpoint, based on finite element models, suggests that sound enters primarily through the gular region and the opening created by the absent medial lamina of the posterior mandibles. This unambiguous link between form and function has catalyzed this study, which uses Geometric Morphometrics to quantify mandibular shape across all major lineages of Odontoceti. The majority of shape variation was found in the anterior (feeding) region: Jaw Flare (45.0%) and Symphysis Elongation (35.5%). Shape differences in the mandibular foramen, within the posterior (sound reception) region, also accounted for a small portion of the total variation (10.9%). The mandibles are an integral component of the sound reception apparatus in toothed whales and the geometry of the mandibular foramen likely plays a role in hearing. Furthermore, model goodness-of-fit tests indicate that mandibular foramina shapes, which appear conserved, evolved under a selective regime, possibly driven by sound reception requirements across Odontoceti. J. Morphol. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sincerely, Celia Barroso San Diego State University

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Possible solitary orca in Tunisia
by Howard Garrett 13 Aug '12

13 Aug '12

Below is a slightly edited email from a person reporting a solitary orca close to shore in Tunisia on August 11. He called that morning and I asked him to put it in writing in an email. Below my edited version of his email is his original email. No other reports have been received here about this before or after his call and email. If anyone does have any further information about this please email that information to info(a)orcanetwork.org. Thanks, Howard From: houssein b [mailto:housseinb@hotmail.com] August 11 At 5 a.m, for about 15 minutes, one orca (probably a small one) was swimming close to the shore ( about 40 meters). A few people said that they witnessed that before but no one believed them because it never happened before. I heard them talking about it but I didn't believe until I saw it today with my friends and a group of fishers who were freaked out because it could destroy their spun (nets). I hope that you guys can make this info reach the biggest number possible of people and make them know how to react with it because people ignore this specie here and it might be dangerous if someone finds it, specially fishers with harpoons! Houssein B Note: Google "tunisia nabeul manzil tamim" for location. The original email: tunisia _ nabeul_manzel tamim 11/08/2012 at 5 a.m , for about 15 minnutes, one orca (probably a small one) was swimming close to the shore ( about 40 metters) few people said that they witnessed that before but no one believed them because it never happened before and me my self heard them talking about it but I didn't believe untill I saw it today with my friends and a group of fishers who were freaked out because it could distroy their spun. I hope that you guys can make this info reach the biggest number possible of people and make them now how to react with it because people ignore this specie here and it might be dangerous if someone face it specialy fishers with harpoons ! Howard Garrett Orca Network <mailto:info@orcanetwork.org> info(a)orcanetwork.org <http://www.orcanetwork.org/> www.orcanetwork.org 1-866-ORCANET Orca Network - Connecting whales and people in the Pacific Northwest Orca Network is dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. Projects include the Whale Sighting Network and Education Programs, the Free Lolita Campaign, and the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

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