October 2013 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Whales, noise, and international law
by Lora Reeve 12 Oct '13

12 Oct '13

New publication: ** Lora L. Nordtvedt Reeve, *Of Whales and Ships: Impacts on the Great Whales of Underwater Noise Pollution from Commercial Shipping and Proposals for Regulation under International Law*, 18 Ocean & Coastal L.J. 127 (2012). Abstract: In the aftermath the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the sea off the eastern coast of the United States nearly emptied of ships and, consequently, of the underwater noise pollution the ships generate, thus opening the opportunity for a unique scientific study of how marine mammals are affected by the noise. By comparing the stress on North Atlantic right whales caused by underwater noise pollution from commercial shipping before and after September 11, scientists were able to demonstrate the significant adverse impact of shipping noise on these critically endangered marine mammals. The findings add to a growing body of literature that provides the scientific basis for emerging global efforts to regulate underwater noise pollution and manage its impact on the great whales. The International Maritime Organization is the primary global agency with the authority to regulate most other pollutants that are discharged from commercial vessels and could therefore regulate underwater noise as a new category of pollutant. Alternatively, other international treaties and regional agreements offer persuasive authority for a new convention dedicated to managing all types of underwater noise, including the noise from shipping activities. Whether through a new convention or revised regulations under the International Maritime Organization, the issue is urgent and requires action now by the international community. Download a pdf at http://mainelaw.maine.edu/academics/oclj/vol-18-no-1.html<http://mainelaw.maine.edu/academics/oclj/vol-18-no-1.html%20> or request from the author at lorareeve(a)mac.com. Lora L. Nordtvedt Reeve, J.D., M.S., M.B.A. Independent Consultant Ocean Law and Policy Document Preparation Marine Environmental Impact Assessment Hawai`i U.S.A. +1 808 756 1877 lorareeve(a)mac.com lreeve(a)hawaii.edu http://www.linkedin.com/in/loralnordtvedtreeve

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Correction: PAM course, Scotland
by Jamie Macaulay 12 Oct '13

12 Oct '13

Regards dates for our next PAM courses: the Intro course is 22/11/2013 and our advanced course will be held 23-24/11/2013. Previous dates indicated that courses are being held this month instead of November. Apologies for any confusion. Pamtech. On 10 Oct 2013 17:37, "Jamie Macaulay" <pamtech.acoustics(a)gmail.com> wrote: > *Introduction and Advanced courses in Passive Acoustic Monitoring using > PAMGuard* > > Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) is a key survey and mitigation tool in > cetacean research. PAMTech (pamtech.eu) is offering introduction and > advanced courses in PAM, teaching the use of acoustic hardware and the > leading research and industry software, PAMGuard (pamguard.org) We are a > small UK-based company made up of PAMGuard developers and experienced field > acousticians who can enable you to get the most out of PAM applications. A > high tutor-to-student ratio on our courses ensures participants can get > individual assistance with their training requirements. > > Our next courses are running on: > > 22/10/2013: > > Introduction to PAMGuard. This one-day classroom-based course provides the > essentials you need to get going with PAMGuard. > > Cost:£200 > > 23/10/2013 and 24/10/2013: > > PAMGuard Advanced: This two-day classroom-based course allows those with > previous PAM experience to get to grips with the more advanced features of > PAMGuard, in particular offline analysis and data management. The course > will include some core analysis modules, but participants will also be able > to tailor training to their particular needs by selecting from a range of > optional modules (including Whistle Detection and Classification, High > Resolution Localisation, Target Motion Localisation, Data Management, > Viewer Mode, Noise Monitoring, MATLAB library (participants must MATLAB > installed on their laptop)). > > Cost £300 > > The courses will take place in St Andrews, Scotland. > > Participants need to bring their own laptops running Ubuntu, Windows XP,7 > or 8. > > Course costs do not include accommodation, travel or food. > > To find out more, contact: pamtech.acoustics(a)gmail.com > > To book go to: > > http://pamtechintro.eventzilla.net/ > > or > > http://pamtechadvanced.eventzilla.net/ > > (50% non-refundable deposit required) > > >

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New publication: False killer whales in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
by Robin Baird 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

New publication available Baird, R.W., E.M. Oleson, J. Barlow, A.D. Ligon, A.M. Gorgone, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2013. Evidence of an island-associated population of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science 67:513-521 Abstract: Two populations of false killer whales, Pseudorca crassidens, are recognized from Hawaiian waters: the Hawaiian insular population, an island-associated population found around the main Hawaiian Islands; and the Hawai'i pelagic population, found in offshore waters. This species has not been previously documented near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. During a 2010 large-vessel survey throughout the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, false killer whales from 11 encounters were individually photo-identified, and photos were compared among encounters and with a catalog of false killer whales from the main Hawaiian Islands. Individuals from three of the encounters, all in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands within the eastern part of the Papahänaumokuäkea Marine National Monument, were the only ones documented that matched with false killer whales previously seen around the main Hawaiian Islands, and the matches were to individuals documented off Kaua'i in 2008 that were of unknown population membership. Two individuals from one of these three 2010 encounters were instrumented with satellite tags attached to dorsal fins, and their movements were documented over 4.6 and 52 days. Movements of the tagged individuals ranged from French Frigate Shoals to Middle Bank ( between Nïhoa and Ni'ihau) and included shallow nearshore waters and deep waters to 147 km from land. Combined, the photo-identification and satellite-tagging results suggest that there is a second island-associated population of this species in Hawai'i that primarily uses the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with a range that overlaps with that of the main Hawaiian Islands insular population. A pdf can be downloaded from http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/BairdetalPacSci2013.pdf and more information is available on false killer whales in Hawai'i at http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/falsekillerwhale.htm Robin P.S., we will have a field project off Hawai'i Island starting later this month and will be posting updates on sightings etc at http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/OctNov2013.htm =============================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Follow us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cascadia-Research-Collective/110495958982184> http://www.cascadiaresearch.org<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/>

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Marine mammal stranding course in Costa Rica
by William Rossiter 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

Posted on behalf of Dr. Gabriela Hernandez, <gabbytica(a)gmail.com>, Microbiología Medica Veterinaria Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería Heredia, Costa Rica This is a request for donated materials for a Costa Rican course for veterinarians on marine mammals, with an emphasis on strandings, to be held 6-7 November 2013. The course will be taught by Dr. Fernando Alegre, veterinarian in charge of the Rescue Center Marine Animals (CRAM) in Barcelona, Spain, and Costa Rican veterinarians Dr. Danilo Leandro, Dr. Gabriela Hernandez, Dr. Rocío Gonzalez and marine biologist Jose David Palacios from Keto Foundation. Attendees include 56 veterinarians from agencies, univerities, and private practices in Costa Rica and Honduras. Requested materials include marine mammal guides, the CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, brochures and protocols for strandings network participants, and information of necropsy of cetaceans. Materials and shipping costs by US citizens could be considered tax deductible donations through Cetacean Society International (CSI), after a bit of paperwork. In addition to a small grant Cetacean Society International is sending the last four "Marine Mammals Ashore" field guides and several older CDs graciously donated by Dr. Valerie Lounsbury of the National Aquarium. If too many resources are received CSI will facilitate the dispersal of extras through Latin America and the Caribbean. Please send materials to arrive by October 21st, with your contact information enclosed, to: Gabriela Hernández Mora 6703 NW 7th St SJO 69429 Miami, Florida 33126-6007 Thank you, Bill William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International 65 Redding Road-0953 Georgetown, CT 06829-0953 t/c: 203.770.8615, f: 860.561.0187 rossiter(a)csiwhalesalive.org www.csiwhalesalive.org

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PAM course, Scotland
by Jamie Macaulay 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

*Introduction and Advanced courses in Passive Acoustic Monitoring using PAMGuard* Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) is a key survey and mitigation tool in cetacean research. PAMTech (pamtech.eu) is offering introduction and advanced courses in PAM, teaching the use of acoustic hardware and the leading research and industry software, PAMGuard (pamguard.org) We are a small UK-based company made up of PAMGuard developers and experienced field acousticians who can enable you to get the most out of PAM applications. A high tutor-to-student ratio on our courses ensures participants can get individual assistance with their training requirements. Our next courses are running on: 22/10/2013: Introduction to PAMGuard. This one-day classroom-based course provides the essentials you need to get going with PAMGuard. Cost:£200 23/10/2013 and 24/10/2013: PAMGuard Advanced: This two-day classroom-based course allows those with previous PAM experience to get to grips with the more advanced features of PAMGuard, in particular offline analysis and data management. The course will include some core analysis modules, but participants will also be able to tailor training to their particular needs by selecting from a range of optional modules (including Whistle Detection and Classification, High Resolution Localisation, Target Motion Localisation, Data Management, Viewer Mode, Noise Monitoring, MATLAB library (participants must MATLAB installed on their laptop)). Cost £300 The courses will take place in St Andrews, Scotland. Participants need to bring their own laptops running Ubuntu, Windows XP,7 or 8. Course costs do not include accommodation, travel or food. To find out more, contact: pamtech.acoustics(a)gmail.com To book go to: http://pamtechintro.eventzilla.net/ or http://pamtechadvanced.eventzilla.net/ (50% non-refundable deposit required)

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Request about information on video camera gear for recording wild seals
by Andreas Salling 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

Dear marmam subscribers, My name is Andreas Salling, and I'm doing my master thesis in biology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, with collaboration from Aarhus University, Institute of BioScience, also in Denmark. I seek any information, tips and/or experience regarding the use of camera equipment to record video footage of seals in their natural habitat. I am interested in the conflict with seals and fisheries, and I am particularly curious about details in the act of stealing fish from gill nets, and hope that experiments with stationary video recording gear can answer some of our questions. I find myself particularly constrained by the relatively short-lived batteries found in widely popular cameras such as the GoPro series. I wish to record longer than the mere couple of hours which seem to be the limit of a GoPro. Any suggestions or tips on solving the battery-life problem will be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone has knowledge on *marine camera traps*, this too will be incredibly helpful. Replies are welcomed at: andreassalling(a)gmail.com Hopeful regards, Andreas.

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New publications
by Stockin, Karen 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce a selection of new 2013 publications from the Coastal-Marine Research Group, Massey University. PDFs can be downloaded directly from our website http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz under 'publications' Dwyer SL, Kozmian-Ledward L & Stockin KA. In press. Short-term survival of severe propeller strike injuries and observations on wound progression in a bottlenose dolphin. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research Filby NE, Bossley M & Stockin KA. 2013. Behaviour of free-ranging short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology (http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO12033) Martinez E & Stockin KA. 2013. Blunt trauma observed in a common dolphin (Delphinus sp.) likely caused by a vessel collision in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Pacific Conservation Biology 19: 19-27 Stockin KA, Amaral AR, Latimer J, Lambert DM & Natoli A. 2013. Population genetic structure and taxonomy of the common dolphin (Delphinus sp.) at its southernmost range limit: New Zealand waters. Marine Mammal Science (DOI: 10.1111/mms.12027) Zaeschmar JR, Visser IN, Fertl D, Dwyer SL, Meissner AM, Halliday J, Berghan J, Donnelly D & Stockin KA. 2013. Occurrence of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) and their associations with common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off north-eastern New Zealand. Marine Mammal Science (DOI: 10.1111/mms.12065) Best wishes, Karen Karen A Stockin, PhD Director, Coastal-Marine Research Group Institute of Natural & Mathematical Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 North Shore City 0745 Auckland New Zealand Tel: +64 (0) 9 414 0800 EXT 41127 Mob: +64 (0) 21 423 997 Fax: +64 (9) 443 9790 Email: k.a.stockin(a)massey.ac.nz<mailto:k.a.stockin@massey.ac.nz> http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz<http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz/> [Description: Massey University logo] Courier Address: Coastal-Marine Research Group, Massey University, Building 5, Gate 4, Eastbourne Road, Old Albany Highway, North Shore, Auckland

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Request for entangling material
by Elizabeth Hogan 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

I am currently working on an initiative with the American Chemistry Council to test for commonalities in the types of plastics (particularly packing bands) removed from rescued marine wildlife. Do any rescue/stranding groups have plastic material that they have removed from an entangled mammal, seabird or sea turtle that they could send to me for testing purposes? We will be testing for data including resin type, product type, company of origin, manufacturer, regional degradability standards, and potential re-formulation for the product that would allow it to carry out its' intended consumer purpose. If you have a sample from an actual entanglement (it cannot be just a debris sample that *could* entangle an animal, but must have actually caused entanglement, per the testing agreement), please contact me and I will cover the shipping costs and return the sample once testing is complete. Please note that you wouldn't need to send the entire piece of material, a portion of it would be fine. Thank you! Elizabeth Hogan Campaign Manager for Oceans & Wildlife World Society for the Protection of Animals Washington, DC Direct Line: 202-374-7068 Skype: hogan.elizabeth WSPA on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/WSPA-USA/104845836238949> WSPA on Twitter<http://twitter.com/WSPAUSA>

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New publication on movements and behaviour of North Atlantic blue and fin whales during spring migration
by Mónica Cordeiro de Almeida e Silva 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Dear Colleagues, The following paper entitled "North Atlantic Blue and Fin Whales Suspend Their Spring Migration to Forage in Middle Latitudes: Building up Energy Reserves for the Journey? "was recently published in PLOS ONE and is available online at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076507 <http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076507> . Kind regards, Mónica Silva MA, Prieto R, Jonsen I, Baumgartner MF, Santos RS (2013) North Atlantic Blue and Fin Whales Suspend Their Spring Migration to Forage in Middle Latitudes: Building up Energy Reserves for the Journey? PLoS ONE 8(10): e76507. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076507. Abstract The need to balance energy reserves during migration is a critical factor for most long-distance migrants and an important determinant of migratory strategies in birds, insects and land mammals. Large baleen whales migrate annually between foraging and breeding sites, crossing vast ocean areas where food is seldom abundant. How whales respond to the demands and constraints of such long migrations remains unknown. We applied a behaviour discriminating hierarchical state-space model to the satellite tracking data of 12 fin whales and 3 blue whales tagged off the Azores, to investigate their movements, behaviour (transiting and area-restricted search, ARS) and daily activity cycles during the spring migration. Fin and blue whales remained at middle latitudes for prolonged periods, spending most of their time there in ARS behaviour. While near the Azores, fin whale ARS behaviour occurred within a restricted area, with a high degree of overlap among whales. There were noticeable behavioural differences along the migratory pathway of fin whales tracked to higher latitudes: ARS occurred only in the Azores and north of 56ºN, whereas in between these areas whales travelled at higher overall speeds while maintaining a nearly direct trajectory. This suggests fin whales may alternate periods of active migration with periods of extended use of specific habitats along the migratory route. ARS behaviour in blue whales occurred over a much wider area as whales slowly progressed northwards. The tracks of these whales terminated still at middle latitudes, before any behavioural switch was detected. Fin whales exhibited behavioural-specific diel rhythms in swimming speed but these varied significantly between geographic areas, possibly due to differences in the day-night cycle across areas. Finally, we show a link between fin whales seen in the Azores and those summering in eastern Greenlandwestern Iceland along a migratory corridor located in central Atlantic waters. Mónica Almeida e Silva Post Doctoral Fellow ------------------------------------------------------ Centro do IMAR da Universidade dos Açores Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas 9901-862 Horta Portugal Phone: (+351) 292200400 Direct phone: (+351) 292200430 Fax: (+351) 292200411 Email: monica(a)uac.pt <mailto:monica@uac.pt> http://www.whales.uac.pt/ <http://www.whales.uac.pt/> http://portulano.org/wkit/index.html <http://portulano.org/wkit/index.html> ----------------------------------------------------- Biology Department, MS#33 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA Email: msilva(a)whoi.edu

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PhD-thesis on Brucella pinnipedialis in hooded seals (Cystophora cristata): infection biology and effect of PCB 153 exposure under experimental conditions
by Nymo Ingebjørg Helena 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

PhD-thesis title: Brucella pinnipedialis in hooded seals (Cystophora cristata): infection biology and effect of PCB 153 exposure under experimental conditions. Author: Ingebjørg Helena Nymo (ingebjorg.nymo(a)nvh.no) Institution: The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Section for Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Tromsø, Norway ISSN: 1890-0364 ISBN: 978-82-7725-254-4 SUMMARY The overall aim of the thesis was to study the infection biology of B. pinnipedialis in hooded seals and its relationship to the possible immunosuppressive effect of PCB 153. Although the infection biology in vivo in the hooded seal is still unclear, the results suggest that B. pinnipedialis is not able to cause the pathology we associate with pathogenic Brucella spp. in other hosts, and it seems unlikely that B. pinnipedialis is affecting hooded seal health under natural conditions. This conclusion is in line with the general lack of Brucella-associated gross pathology when isolating B. pinnipedialis from any pinniped species, including hooded seals. Whether in utero exposure of hooded seals to PCBs, and PCB 153 in particular, is affecting hooded seals to a degree where the outcome of an infection with B. pinnipedialis is altered, is still unknown and warrants further investigation. If anyone is interested in a copy of the thesis they may contact Nymo at ingebjorg.nymo(a)nvh.no Ingebjørg Helena Nymo DVM PhD Post Doctoral Researcher Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine Stakkevollveien 23b 9010 Tromsø Norway Tlf: +47 77 66 54 00/+47 77 66 54 13 Mob: +47 918 38 421 Skype: ingebjorg.helena.nymo http://scholar.google.no/citations?user=p6qrTTkAAAAJ&hl=no&oi=ao https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/312107208925825/ The new e-mail domain name for The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science is @nvh.no. The former domain address @veths.no will still be in use, but it will be discontinued within 1-2 years. Please update your e-mail records. This message verifies that the e-mail has been scanned for virus, and deemed virus-free according to our scanengines.

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