March 2013 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

17th Northwest Student Chapter Meeting for the Society for Marine Mammalogy
by Juliana Houghton - NOAA Affiliate 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Hello! The 2013 Annual Meeting of NWSSMM <http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl…>will take place at the University of Washington on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Registration and abstract submission for is now open! Please see the attached document for details and instructions. All are welcome to attend! Please feel free to contact me (stephj5(a)uw.edu) or Donna Hauser ( dhauser(a)uw.edu) with any questions. We are looking forward to seeing you in Seattle! Thanks, Juliana -- Juliana Houghton M.S. Student Aquatic & Fishery Sciences University of Washington julianahoughton.wordpress.com stephj5(a)uw.edu

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Marine mammal bycatch in gillnets
by Kate McClellan 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Hello, We are pleased to announce a new publication in Endangered Species Research on global marine mammal bycatch in gillnet fisheries from 1990-2011. Citation: Reeves RR, McClellan K, Werner T. 2013. Marine mammal bycatch in gillnets and other entangling net fisheries, 1990-2011. Endangered Species Research 20: 71-97 The paper is Open Access: Full article: http://www.int-res.com/articles/esr_oa/n020p071.pdf Supplements: http://www.int-res.com/articles/suppl/n020p071_supp.pdf ABSTRACT: Since the 1970s the role of fishery bycatch as a factor reducing, or limiting the recov- ery of, marine mammal populations has been increasingly recognized. The proceedings of a 1990 International Whaling Commission symposium and workshop summarized fishery and bycatch data by region, fishery, and species, and estimated the significance of the ‘impacts’ of bycatch in passive gear on all cetacean species and subspecies or geographically defined populations. A global review of pinniped bycatch in 1991 concluded that incidental mortality in passive gear had contributed to declines of several species and populations. Here we update the information on cetacean gillnet bycatch, assess bycatch data on marine mammals other than cetaceans (i.e. pin- nipeds, sirenians, and 2 otter species), determine where important data gaps exist, and identify species and populations known or likely to be at high risk from bycatch in gillnets. We found that at least 75% of odontocete species, 64% of mysticetes, 66% of pinnipeds, and all sirenians and marine mustelids have been recorded as gillnet bycatch over the past 20-plus years. Cetacean bycatch information in some areas has improved, facilitating our ability to identify species and populations at high risk, although major gaps remain. Understanding of the scale of pinniped and sirenian bycatch has also improved, but this bycatch remains poorly documented, especially at the population level. This study reveals how little is known about marine mammal bycatch in gillnets in much of the world. Even as other significant threats to marine mammals have become better documented and understood, bycatch remains a critical issue demanding urgent attention if there is to be any hope of preventing further losses of marine mammal diversity and abundance, and of protecting, or restoring, ecological health. Full article: http://www.int-res.com/articles/esr_oa/n020p071.pdf Supplements: http://www.int-res.com/articles/suppl/n020p071_supp.pdf Best, Kate McClellan -- Assistant Scientist II Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction New England Aquarium Boston, MA

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Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Fall Internship
by Shauna McBride 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

The Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Lab at the University of Southern Mississippi plans to offer an internship to college juniors, seniors and recent graduates for the Fall semester of 2013. Interns work on on-going research projects, and will gain experience in both behavioral and acoustic data analyses. Specific experiences depend on the research projects that are ongoing at the time of the internship. We plan to accept 1 to 2 interns for the Fall 2013 internship session, which will extend from late August to mid-December. Interns will assist with video analyses of dolphin social behavior and humpback whale behavior as well as analyses of dolphin acoustic behavior. This internship is an unpaid voluntary position, and interns are responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing. Students interested in applying for the internship are required to send: Completed application Resume/Curriculum Vitae Personal statement describing your career goals, reason(s) for wanting the internship, and what you expect to contribute to and gain from the internship Unofficial or official copy of your transcripts At least two letters of recommendation (preferably from those who can attest to your academic and scientific abilities) **International applicants have a more intensive application process and are required to obtain a J-1 visa if selected. All materials should be sent to the following address: Stan Kuczaj Director, Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Lab Department of Psychology The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive, # 5025 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025 Materials may arrive separately or together. However, all materials must be postmarked by May 1, 2013. Please direct all information requests and related materials to Stan Kuczaj at s.kuczaj(a)usm.edu or visit our website at www.usm.edu/experimental-psychology/marine-mammal-behavior-and-cognition-la…. -- Shauna McBride Department of Psychology The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive, # 5025 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025

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Workshop "From nature to science: scientific illustration on marine mammals throughout the centuries"
by Cristina Brito 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

Dear all, The programme of the workshop "From nature to science: scientific illustration on marine mammals throughout the centuries. Old challenges and new perspectives" to be held on the 7 th of April, during the European Cetacean Society in Setúbal, is already on line and can be dowloaded at: http://projectofct.wordpress.com/workshops/workshops-2013/workshop-programa/ . Abstracts are also available. You just have to click on the titles of the papers. Looking forward to seeing you in Setubal. Best regards. -- Cristina Brito Investigadora Integrada do CHAM - FCSH, UNL http://cham.fcsh.unl.pt/ Investigadora da Escola de Mar www.escolademar.pt Lisboa, Portugal +351217500483

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DCLDE 2013 abstract deadline - extended
by Danielle Harris 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

Dear all, For those of you still wishing to send in an abstract to the 6th International Workshop on Detection, Classification, Localization & Density Estimation of Marine Mammals using Passive Acoustics, the abstract deadline has been extended until Monday 25 March. Registration for the workshop is also now open. Links are off the main workshop website at http://soi.st-andrews.ac.uk/dclde2013/ With best wishes, Danielle Danielle Harris Research Fellow Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, University of St Andrews, St Andrews Fife, KY16 9LZ, Scotland, UK dh17(a)st-andrews.ac.uk (+44)(0)1334 461826 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532 ------------------------------------------------------------------ University of St Andrews Webmail: https://webmail.st-andrews.ac.uk

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3rd Annual Florida Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy Research Symposium
by Florida SMMS 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

The registration deadline for the 3rd Annual Florida Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy Research Symposium has been extended until April 1st ! We will be accepting registration and abstract submissions until that date. Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/FSCSMM/ for more information and the registration form. Please e-mail us at floridasmm(a)gmail.com with any questions. Hope to see you there!

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New publication: Parental Care behavior of Sotalia guianensis in Southeastern Brazil
by Rodrigo Tardin 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

Dear all, We are pleased to inform that the following article was published in Zoologia Parental care behavior in the Guiana dolphin, *Sotalia guianensis* (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in Ilha Grande Bay, southeastern Brazil. Parental care is any form of parental behavior that increases offspring fitness. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to analyze the intensity of parental care in the Guiana dolphin, *Sotalia guianensis* (van Bénéden, 1864). The objectives of this study are as follows: 1) to quantify the degree of parental care in *S. guianensis* in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro; 2) to investigate the influence of behavioral state and group size on the degree of parental care; and 3) to evaluate the differences between the intensity of parental care provided to calves and juveniles. Our results indicate that the intensity of parental care is high in *S. guianensis* and that care is more intense in larger groups. It is possible that these differences serve to maximize hydrodynamic gains and to minimize risks. Our results suggest that parental care is more intense during travel. A possible reason for this greater intensity is that the feeding dynamics show a more random pattern than other behavioral states. Moreover, the results indicate that calves receive more intense care than juveniles. These results suggest that parent-offspring conflict is possible in the study population. For copies, please contact me: rhtardin(a)gmail.com or obtain at the Zoologia website: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S1984-4670201300010… Sincerely, -- Rodrigo Tardin Doutorando em Ecologia e Conservação - IBRAG - UERJ Mestre em Biologia Animal - PPGBA - UFRRJ Especialista em Docência do Ensino Superior - IAVM Laboratório de Bioacústica e Ecologia de Cetáceos - UFRRJ/ IF/ DCA

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Volunteer bottlenose dolphin research assistant opportunity April-May, Cardigan Bay, UK
by CBMWC 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre New Quay Wales <http://www.cbmwc.org/> www.cbmwc.org Bottlenose dolphin research volunteer position available for April-May A volunteer position at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) has just become available for 17th April-14th May to collect data on the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay and to help run our visitor centre and educational activities. About CBMWC The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is a non-profit organisation based in New Quay, west Wales, UK and since 1996 has been dedicated to raising awareness of the local marine environment through education and research. Through boat-based and land-based surveys we monitor bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seal populations, with a focus on the photo-identification of the semi-resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Position description Volunteers are required to help with our ongoing research, education and awareness-raising programmes concerning the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay. CBMWC is almost entirely run by volunteers, so if you are successful in your application, you will be an integral part of our team. Volunteering at CBMWC is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a positive contribution to marine wildlife conservation and meet new people who share your interests. You will learn about the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay, gain experience in field work, research methods, data processing, public awareness and education programmes. The data you collect will contribute to long running research studies on bottlenose dolphin site usage, abundance, photo-identification and acoustic studies. Responsibilities/duties will include (but are not limited to): * Visitor centre operation, including dealing with enquiries and taking boat bookings * Land-based surveys in conjunction with Ceredigion County Council * Boat-based surveys* * Educational activities with children and the general public * Data entry and checking * Updating sightings information * Beach cleans * Please note that boat surveys are weather dependent and volunteers take turns to join trips to act as onboard researcher. During times of bad weather, you will spend more time doing data entry and visitor centre work. You will be expected to work up to 8 hours a days, six days a week. Field work can involve long periods outdoors, in often inclement weather. All volunteers are expected to contribute to all CBMWC activities, tasks and field work and to attend all training sessions provided. As such, if you are only looking to gain field experience, this is not the opportunity for you. Essential skills * An interest in wildlife and conservation * Positive, reliable, conscientious and mature attitude * Ability to work as part of a small team * Strong work ethic with an ability to work unsupervised * Adaptable and patient (particularly as boat work is weather dependent) * Confident in dealing with the public both face to face and over the telephone * Fluency in English * Willing to ask for help if unsure and admit mistakes Desirable skills * Interest and/or experience of working with children in environmental education * Research and surveying experience * IT, photography/videography (own equipment required), design and fundraising skills are useful but not essential Please note that enthusiasm for our work and the marine environment is as valued as experience, since full training is provided. Volunteer fee An administration fee of £35 will be required from all successful applicants. Accommodation and expense arrangements Shared accommodation in a comfortable and fully equipped house will be arranged for successful volunteers (where required) at a cost of £55 per week, including fuel bills. Volunteers are responsible for their own food, travel and accommodation costs. How to apply Download an application form from our website www.cbmwc.org/volunteer/, complete it and email it to volunteer(a)cbmwc.org with Volunteer application 2013 in your subject line. Applicants must be able to commit to the entire four weeks and please ensure before applying that you have sufficient money to cover all your accommodation, food and travel expenses. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 29th March 2013. Applicants will be notified on Monday 1st April. Please contact us if you do not receive an acknowledgement after submitting your form as we have had some emails go missing. For further information Visit www.cbmwc.org/ If you have any questions please email volunteer(a)cbmwc.org with an appropriate subject line or call Laura on +44 (0)1545 560224. __________________________________________________________________ Support our research - adopt a Cardigan Bay dolphin with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Raise money for CBMWC with each internet search you do - it doesn't cost you a penny http://sites.affilyon.co.uk/cbmwc Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Patent Slip Building Glanmor Terrace New Quay Ceredigion SA45 9PS Wales, UK Ffon/Phone: 01545 560224 E-bost/E-mail: <mailto:info@cbmwc.org> info(a)cbmwc.org Website: <http://www.cbmwc.org> www.cbmwc.org For all the latest news and sightings information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter or become a fan of our Facebook page www.cbmwc.org http://twitter.com/CBMWC http://facebook.com/CBMWC Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is supported by the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Group, a marine interest group of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Helping to conserve Cardigan Bay's marine wildlife through education, interpretation and research Helpu i warchod bywyd gwyllt morol Bae Ceredigion drwy addysg ac ymchwil __________________________________________________________________ The contents of this email are confidential and are solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you receive this email in error please delete it and notify us either by email or telephone. It is prohibited to copy, forward or otherwise disclose the contents of this email.

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New Society for Marine Mammalogy Student Chapter - California
by Sarah Peterson 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

We are excited to announce the creation of a new Society for Marine Mammalogy Student Chapter for California. This chapter is currently based out of the University of California Santa Cruz and is sponsored by Dr. Daniel Costa. We would love to have you join if you are a graduate student in California or the surrounding area studying marine mammals! If you are an undergraduate looking for graduate programs or research opportunities in the area, we hope to have a page up very soon with opportunities. Membership is free and is open to any student whether or not they are currently a member with the Society for Marine Mammalogy, although membership with SMM is encouraged. Please check out our website http://smm.pbsci.ucsc.edu for information on how to join. We will be having our first annual conference sometime this fall, which will be open to both graduate and undergraduate students! Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Sarah Peterson and Liz McHuron (University of California Santa Cruz)

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new article on underwater noise of jetskis
by Christine Erbe 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

Dear fellow MARMAM-ers, to those of you studying underwater noise impacts on marine mammals, a new article describing underwater noise of small personal watercraft (jetskis) has just been published online in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. A pdf can be downloaded FOR FREE from: URL: http://link.aip.org/link/?JAS/133/EL326 DOI: 10.1121/1.4795220 Erbe, C. (2013) “Underwater noise of small personal watercraft (jet skis)”, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 133(4): EL326-EL330. Personal watercraft (water scooters, jet skis) were recorded under water in Bramble Bay, Queensland, Australia. Underwater noise emissions consisted of broadband energy between 100Hz and 10kHz due to the vibrating bubble cloud generated by the jet stream, overlain with frequency-modulated tonals corresponding to impeller blade rates and harmonics. Broadband monopole source levels were 149, 137, and 122dB re 1uPa @ 1m (5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles). Even though these are lower than those of small propeller-driven boats, it is not necessarily the broadband source level that correlates with the bioacoustic impact on marine fauna. Cheers, Christine Christine Erbe Centre for Marine Science and Technology Curtin University, Perth GPO Box U1987, Western Australia 6845 Tel.: +61 8 9266 7543 Email: C.Erbe(a)curtin.edu.au Web: http://cmst.curtin.edu.au

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