November 2013 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication on the Behaviour and Social Structure of Sperm Whales off Dominica
by Shane Gero 19 Nov '13

19 Nov '13

On behalf of my co-authors, I would like to announce the publication of a new paper on the social structure of sperm whales in the Eastern Caribbean Title: Behavior and social structure of the sperm whales of Dominica, West Indies Authors: Shane Gero, Marina Milligan, Caroline Rinaldi, Pernell Francis, Jonathan Gordon, Carole Carlson, Andrea Steffen, Peter Tyack, Peter Evans and Hal Whitehead Abstract: There is substantial geographic variation in the behavior and social structure of sperm whales worldwide. The population in the Eastern Caribbean is thought to be isolated from other areas in the North Atlantic. We describe the behavior and social structure of the sperm whales identified off Dominica during an eight year study (2005-2012; 92% of photographic identifications) with supplementary data collected from seven other organizations dating as far back as 1981. A total of 419 individuals were identified. Resighting rates (42% of individuals between years) and encounter rates with sperm whale groups (mean = 80.4% of days at sea) among this population were both comparatively high. Group sizes were small (7-9 individuals) and were comprised of just one social unit (mean = 6.76 individuals, SD = 2.80). We described 17 units which have been reidentified off Dominica across 2-27 yr. Mature males are seen regularly off Dominica, but residency in the area lasts only a few days to a few weeks. Males were reidentified across years spanning up to a decade. Management of this population within the multinational Wider Caribbean Region will require governments to work towards international agreements governing sperm whales as a cross-border species of concern. Members of the Society for Marine Mammalogy and other subscribers can download an Early View pdf copy of the paper here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12086/abstract or by contacting me directly: sgero(a)dal.ca This is the 14th publication emanating from The Dominica Sperm Whale Project <http://www.thespermwhaleproject.org/> , others can be found here: http://www.thespermwhaleproject.org/dswpres.html All my best, Shane ************************** Shane Gero, Ph.D. Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, N.S. Canada sgero(a)dal.ca http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/sge/ Twitter_2012_bird_icon 20 <http://ca.linkedin.com/in/shanegero> linkedin_logo20 Learn more about The Dominica Sperm Whale Project at http://www.thespermwhaleproject.org <http://www.thespermwhaleproject.org/> Find us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/spermwhaleproject> or Follow @DomWhale <http://twitter.com/#!/domwhale>

1 0

Celebrate the North Atlantic right whale!
by Monica Pepe 19 Nov '13

19 Nov '13

CELEBRATE the North Atlantic right whale! December 1, 2013 - New Bedford Whaling Museum Guest Lecture: Brian Skerry Photographer, National Geographic Noon: Celebration begins Refreshments & Activities 1:00 Presentations ACT RIGHT NOW Campaign Recap & Lecture: Brian Skerry 2:45: Book signing Ocean Soul by Brian Skerry GET YOUR TICKET TODAY<http://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-the-north-atlantic-right-whale-t…> : http://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-the-north-atlantic-right-whale-t… or at whales.org Early Bird Tickets: $7.50 Available until November 22; ticket price will then increase to $10 We've got a lot to celebrate! Join supporters, researchers, policy makers and educators in recognition of efforts to save the right whale from extinction and to look ahead at the next steps to protect this majestic species. Please see attached for additional information. [WDC - Whale and Dolphin Conservation]<http://www.whales.org/> Monica Pepe Project Supervisor Telephone: +1 508 746 2522 Skype monica.c.pepe WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation 7 Nelson Street Plymouth MA 02360-4044 United States whales.org<http://whales.org> [WDC on Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/whales.org> [WDC on Twitter] <http://www.twitter.com/WHALES_org> [WDC on YouTube] <http://www.youtube.com/wdcsuk> [WDC Blogs] <http://whales.org/en/blog> [WDC E-Newsletter] <http://whales.org/en/newsletter> [http://www.wdcs.co.uk/media/images/EmailSignatureImages/Campaigns/WDCSchang…]<http://www.whales.org/wdc.php> ________________________________ Whale and Dolphin Conservation ("WDC"), Inc. is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. WDC, 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA 02360-4044 Tel: +1 (508) 746-2522 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Finally, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. ________________________________

1 0

Graduate Student Position: Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University
by Jeremy Arthur Goldbogen 19 Nov '13

19 Nov '13

Graduate Student Position: Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University The Goldbogen Lab at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University invites applications for a PhD student starting in 2014. In addition to an interest in the integrative and comparative physiology of marine organisms, the lab seeks candidates with a strong background in mathematics, physics, engineering, statistics and computer science. Research projects of this emerging laboratory may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) functional morphology and biomechanics, 2) foraging ecology and energetics, 3) biologging of kinematic and physiological parameters, and 4) animal behavior and predator-prey interactions. Current interests of the lab include locomotion, diving physiology, cetacean acoustics, and the biomechanics of vertebrate filter feeders from anchovies to blue whales. Candidates interested in either position should email jergold(a)stanford.edu and submit a C.V. including a list of publications and contact information for three references. Lab webpage: http://goldbogen.stanford.edu Information on the PhD program in the Department of Biology can be found here: http://biology.stanford.edu/phd-program Details on the graduate application process can be found here: http://www-marine.stanford.edu/get2hms.html . Jeremy Goldbogen Assistant Professor, Hopkins Marine Station Department of Biology, Stanford University 120 Oceanview Boulevard Pacific Grove, California 93950 jergold(a)stanford.edu http://goldbogen.stanford.edu

1 0

beaked whale stranding in Poland
by Wojtek.Bachara 18 Nov '13

18 Nov '13

Dear All, On 16/11/2013 a 730cm male northern bottlenose whale was found dead and in an advanced state of decomposition near Uniescie town, Mielno, Koszalin, Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomeranian) Voivodeship. This is a first record of the species in Poland. Photos and video of this ziphiid can be found here: http://www.radiogdansk.pl/index.php/wydarzenia/item/8069-martwy-wieloryb-u-… http://www.tvn24.pl/pomorze,42/martwy-wieloryb-pozostanie-na-plazy-nie-udal… I have over 300 strandings of this species. Best wishes, Wojtek Bachara

1 0

New Paper - UAV aerial surveys
by Amanda Hodgson 17 Nov '13

17 Nov '13

Hello all We have just published the following paper describing a trial of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for surveying dugongs. The pdf of the paper can be downloaded from the PLoS ONE link below. cheers Amanda http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079556 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Surveying Marine Fauna: a Dugong Case Study Amanda Hodgson (1); Natalie Kelly (2,3); David Peel (2,3). (1) Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia (2) CSIRO Computational Informatics and Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (3) Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia Corresponding author: a.hodgson(a)murdoch.edu.au Abstract Aerial surveys of marine mammals are routinely conducted to assess and monitor species¹ habitat use and population status. In Australia, dugongs (Dugong dugon) are regularly surveyed and long-term datasets have formed the basis for defining habitat of high conservation value and risk assessments of human impacts. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may facilitate more accurate, human-risk free, and cheaper aerial surveys. We undertook the first Australian UAV survey trial in Shark Bay, Western Australia. We conducted seven flights of the ScanEagle UAV, mounted with a digital SLR camera payload. During each flight, ten transects covering a 1.3 km2 area frequently used by dugongs, were flown at 500, 750 and 1000 ft. Image (photograph) capture was controlled via the Ground Control Station and the capture rate was scheduled to achieve a prescribed 10% overlap between images along transect lines. Images were manually reviewed post hoc for animals and scored according to sun glitter, Beaufort sea state and turbidity. We captured 6243 images, 627 containing dugongs. We also identified whales, dolphins, turtles and a range of other fauna. Of all possible dugong sightings, 95% (CI = 90%, 98%) were subjectively classed as Œcertain¹ (unmistakably dugongs). Neither our dugong sighting rate, nor our ability to identify dugongs with certainty, were affected by UAV altitude. Turbidity was the only environmental variable significantly affecting the dugong sighting rate. Our results suggest that UAV systems may not be limited by sea state conditions in the same manner as sightings from manned surveys. The overlap between images proved valuable for detecting animals that were masked by sun glitter in the corners of images, and identifying animals initially captured at awkward body angles. This initial trial of a basic camera system has successfully demonstrated that the ScanEagle UAV has great potential as a tool for marine mammal aerial surveys.

1 0

New publication: A new method to study inshore whale cue distribution from land-based observations (Patricia Arranz)
by Patricia Arranz 16 Nov '13

16 Nov '13

Dear all, We are pleased to announce our recent publication: "A new method to study inshore whale cue distribution from land-based observations" 1. Patricia Arranz, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, Scotland and Department of Animal Biology, La Laguna University, Spain. 2. David Borchers, Centre for Research into Environmental and Ecological Modeling, University of St Andrews, Scotland. 3. Natacha Aguilar de Soto, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, Scotland and Department of Animal Biology, La Laguna University, Spain. 4. Mark P. Johnson, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, Scotland. 5. Martin J. Cox, Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Scotland. Author for correspondence: parranz(a)st-andrews.ac.uk SUMMARY The challenges involved in the visual detection of some cetacean species make it difficult to obtain information about their distribution and habitat preferences using traditional sampling methods. This is particularly the case for species such as beaked whales that spend a small amount of time at the surface and have inconspicuous surface behavior. The coastal waters around El Hierro (Canary Islands) hold year-round populations of two beaked whale species, Cuvier's (/Ziphius cavirostris/) and Blainville's (/Mesoplodon densirostris/), providing an ideal scenario to set up land-based point transect surveys to study the inshore behavior of these deep-diving species. This work extends traditional distance sampling methods to allow the distribution of animals seen from an observation point on the coast to be modeled with respect to a nonlinear environmental feature (water depth). Depth is a key factor delimiting marine habitats and is especially relevant for understanding the distribution of deep-diving species such as beaked whales, which approach the seafloor to feed. Our model predicts the highest density of beaked whale cues around the 1,000 m isobath and most (90%) of beaked whale groups surfacing in waters with seabed depths between 325 and 1,660 m depth. The distribution of the sightings suggest that the habitat selection of both species is probably driven by an increased prey availability on the slope of the island. Because the number of sightings at a given depth is not necessarily proportional to the number of groups present, in this particular case additional information on surfacing rates, and how they vary with depth, will be required to draw inferences about animal distribution. We conclude that this method is useful to investigate the distribution and habitat selection of animals in relation to environmental variables using observations from land and that future development work will allow covariates in the detection function or multiple environmental features to be considered when implementing density estimates. The pdf can be downloaded from here: _http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12077/abstract_ Or a pdf copy can be obtained upon request to: _parranz(a)st-andrews.ac.uk <mailto:parranz@st-andrews.ac.uk>_ Patricia Arranz, Ph. D. Sea Mammal Research Unit Scottish Oceans Institute School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 8LB Scotland --- Este mensaje no contiene virus ni malware porque la protección de avast! Antivirus está activa. http://www.avast.com

1 0

Volunteers urgently required to assist with a study of bottlenose dolphin in Northland, New Zealand
by Peters, Catherine 16 Nov '13

16 Nov '13

Volunteers urgently required to assist with a study of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Northland, New Zealand Program: The Coastal-Marine Research Group (C-MRG - http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz/) was established under the auspices of the Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (INMS)<http://ins.massey.ac.nz/> at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand in 2000. Since then, both its staff<http://masseyuniversity.webs.com/ourteam.htm> and postgraduate students<http://masseyuniversity.webs.com/students.htm> have undertaken marine mammal research within and beyond New Zealand waters, concentrating specifically on conservation and management orientated questions. Volunteers are required to assist on a PhD study (supervised by Dr Karen Stockin and Dr Mat Pawley, Massey University and Prof Mark Orams, AUT University) to assess the behavioural ecology and conservation of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand. Bottlenose dolphins are classified as nationally endangered within New Zealand waters (Baker et al 2010), with a local population decline recently described (Tezanos-Pinto et al 2013). This study builds upon earlier research undertaken by Tezanos-Pinto (2009) and Constantine (2002) and will among other things, reassess the status and effects of tourism interactions (a decade on from Constantine 2002). Volunteer activities: The field season runs year round and volunteers are required for all periods. A minimum commitment of three months is required, with priority given to those who can commit for longer periods and start in December 2013. The volunteer team will be required to fulfill several key roles: Assist on a 5.5m dedicated research vessel operating from the Bay of Islands. Surveys will involve daily return trips (not overnight) and be conducted in favorable conditions only. As such, no minimum or maximum number of research days onboard the research vessel can be guaranteed Assist with vessel of opportunity data collection in the Bay of Islands Assist with data processing and preliminary analysis on bad weather days Undertake additional responsibilities/roles as the season progresses Effort will placed into allowing all volunteers the opportunity to gain experience on each element. Volunteer requirements: Be adaptable and patient – field work is highly weather dependent and could include long, consecutive days both on and off the water Be enthusiastic and team orientated (both in a living and working environment) A willingness to learn Possess a positive attitude Be polite to, and engage positively with, the local community Be physically fit and able to work in outdoor conditions Speak English Possess basic computer skills (excel, word, etc) Preferred (but not necessary) skills/traits: Be enrolled in, or have completed, a degree in a related field (Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Animal Behaviour, etc) Have small boat experience Have previous (marine) field experience Enthusiasm and demonstrable commitment to the project will supersede formal qualifications. Volunteers will be expected to work and live as part of a team with shared cooking and cleaning duties. Unfortunately, monetary compensation cannot be provided, and volunteers will be required to pay for their own food and accommodation. However accommodation will be provided in the field research house at a reasonable rate. Volunteers must pay and organize for their own transport to the field site (3 hours North of Auckland). Information, prices and assistance can be provided to successful applicants. Application process: Applicants should send a short email cover letter, using ‘volunteer opportunity’ as the subject line, to c.peters(a)massey.ac.nz<mailto:c.peters@massey.ac.nz>. The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this project, your availability and relevant experience. Please also attach a brief CV including at least one reference. Early application is recommended to avoid disappointment. Successful applicants will be notified ASAP. This is a great opportunity to work in a dynamic environment and gain further experience, whilst working on an important research project. For more detailed information on the project please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your interest. Many thanks Cat *********************************************** Catherine Peters PhD Candidate Coastal-Marine Research Group Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 Auckland New Zealand Tel: + 64 (9) 4140800 Ext: 41196 Mob: + 64 (0) 211058040 Email: c.peters(a)massey.ac.nz<mailto:c.peters@massey.ac.nz> Web: http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz/

1 0

Namibia Sperm Whale
by Lisa Steiner 15 Nov '13

15 Nov '13

A sperm whale stranded in Namibia a few days ago. I have photographs of the fluke. If anyone is interested in viewing the images, please contact me wwa2(a)yahoo.com Lisa Steiner Whale Watch Azores

1 0

New publication: Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) as Marine Ecosystem Sentinels
by Jailson Fulgencio de Moura 14 Nov '13

14 Nov '13

Dear Colleagues, We'd like to draw your attention to our paper "Guiana dolphins (*Sotalia guianensis*) as marine ecosystem sentinels: ecotoxicology and emerging diseases” which was recently published in “Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology <http://www.springer.com/series/398> *(Springer)*”. The s ummary is below and the article can be found and downloaded at: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-01619-1_1 - Moura J.M., Hauser-Davis R.A., Lemos L., Emin-Lima R., Siciliano S. (2014)Guiana dolphins (*Sotalia guianensis*)as marine ecosystem sentinels: ecotoxicology and emerging diseases <http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-01619-1_1>. D.M. Whitacre (ed.) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 228, 1-29. *DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-01619-1_1* *--* *Summary* Guiana dolphins (*Sotalia guianensis*) are small cetaceans that inhabit coastal regions down to a 50 m depth. As a coastally distributed species, they are exposed to a variety of human-induced risks that include passive fishing nets, persistent environmental pollution, and emerging diseases. As a top predator *S. guianensis* occupies an important ecological niche in marine ecosystems. However, this niche also exposes this dolphin to extensive biomagnification of marine contaminants that may accumulate and be stored throughout their life of about 30 years. In this paper, we have compiled available data on the Guiana dolphin as regards its exposure to chemical pollutants, pathogenic microbes, infectious diseases, and injuries caused by interactions with passive fishing gears. Our analysis of the data shows that Guiana dolphins are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. Although the major mortal threat to dolphins results from contact with fishing, other human-related activities in coastal zones also pose risks and need more attention. Such human-related risks include the presence of persistent toxicants in the marine environment, such as PCBs and PBDEs. Residues of these chemicals have been detected in Guiana dolphin’s tissues at similar or higher levels that exist in cetaceans from other known polluted areas. Another risk encountered by this species is the nonlethal injuries caused by fishing gear. Several incidents of this sort have occurred along the Brazilian coast with this species. When injuries are produced by interaction with fishing gear, the dorsal fin is the part of the dolphin anatomy that is more affected, commonly causing severe laceration or even total loss. The Guiana dolphins also face risks from infectious diseases. The major ones thus far identified include giardiasis, lobomycosis, toxoplasmosis, skin and skeletal lesions. Many bacterial pathogens from the family Aeromonadaceae and Vibrionaceae have been isolated from Guiana dolphins. Several helminth species have also been observed to affect *S. guianensis* . These results suggest a vulnerability of this species to environmental disturbances. Moreover, there is some evidence that the effects of some infectious diseases may be enhanced from stress caused by habitat impairment. For example, certain diseases and pathogenic organisms in *S. guianensis* may be associated with the high levels of endocrine-disruptor contaminants (e.g., PCBs; DDTs; PBDEs) that have been detected in marine waters. Although the data available on *S. guianensis* is growing, most of the work has been focused on a small portion of the species total area of distribution. Most studies, to date, have been carried out in the Southern region of the distribution, and in northeastern Brazil. Few studies have been conducted in the northern region of the South America or in Central America. Therefore, future studies should be conducted that address the heterogeneity of this species total distribution. The biology and ecology of the Guiana dolphin renders this species potentially useful as a sentinel species for detecting environmental changes, such as chemical and biological pollution. Research about this dolphin is encouraged as a way to assess what coastal environmental changes have occurred and to continue evaluating the health status of this vulnerable species in a changing environment. - - Requests for reprints can be sent to: jailsonfm(a)gmail.com All the best, *________________________________________* * Dr. Jailson F. Moura* *Biologist, Doctor of Public Health and Environment (ENSP/Fiocruz) *

1 0

IMCC3 proposals due tomorrow (Nov. 15) at 5pm!
by Chris Parsons 14 Nov '13

14 Nov '13

Proposals are due tomorrow (Nov. 15) at 5pm! Get your proposals in-let's make this the best IMCC yet! Several marine mammal topics have already been proposed including impacts of pile driving underwater noise, modelling whalewatching impacts and human / marine wildlife conflict . don't miss out CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS, AND FOCUS GROUPS The 3rd International Marine Conservation Congress, Making Marine Science Matter, will be held from 14-19 August 2014 at the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. The call for proposals for symposia, workshops, and focus groups is now! All proposals must be submitted online by 5pm (GMT) on 15 November 2013. Decisions will be made by 15 December 2013. The selection process is highly competitive. For submission guidelines and more information, please visit: http://www.conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2014/registration-participation/sympos ia-workshops Have questions or need help? You can reply to this post or send us messages via FaceBook (www.facebook.com/scbmarine) or Twitter (@SCBMarine). Be sure to forward the IMCC3 Call for Proposals to anyone who may be interested! Send to marine-related societies, listservs, organizations and groups. We can't wait to see you in Glasgow August 2014!

1 0