September 2013 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

JOB OPPORTUNITY AS A FULL-TIME ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND 2013.
by Megan Whittaker 14 Sep '13

14 Sep '13

JOB OPPORTUNITY AS A FULL-TIME ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND 2013. Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company and has been running since 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, abide by IceWhale guidelines as well as integrating our own and are the first and only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland. Elding also provides a platform for marine biologists to study the cetaceans we encounter on our tours to help build our knowledge and understanding. For further information please visit our website at www.whalewatching.is Elding is looking for a full-time guide, one that can speak fluently English and German and is from a EEA country . Please specify if you speak other languages too. Duration: Full-time starting as soon as possible. Shifts mainly work on a 2-2-3 schedule (two days on, two off etc. and you have every other weekend off Fri-Sun) but you maybe asked to work other times too if needed. Employee’s will be responsible for their own accommodation, travel, travel insurance and living expenses. Accommodation can be provided at the beginning of your stay to give you time to find somewhere. Further information on living and working in Iceland can be found athttp://www.eures.is/files/Eures_1605012664.pdf and http://classifieds.grapevine.is/. Salary is roughly in the area of 270,000ISK/month before taxes. Employment Duties · Narrating clearly and fluently to passengers the biology, conservation and ecology of the marine life found in Faxafloi Bay and other areas around Iceland.· Spotting wildlife for passengers· Cleaning – the main cleaning is done at the end of the day or when cancelled due to bad weather and yes it also means cleaning up vomit and toilets.· Looking after the welfare and security of passengers onboard.· Bar work – Each vessel has a bar where light refreshments are sold· Hospitality – this is done both onboard and in the office when needed· Other work/tasks – i.e. selling tickets, distributing brochures, answering the phone, translating documents etc… Preferred skills/qualifications · A strong interest and education in marine science specifically cetaceans and marine birds· A good knowledge of conservation issues related to marine life· Confidence to narrate and interacted with large groups of the public· Must be a quick learner, adaptive, hard working, outgoing and generally a very positive person (finding beauty in the little things)· Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in stressful situations.· Must have experience on boats preferably of boats above 17m and not acceptable to seasickness easily· Good spotting skills· Maritime safety and First Aid certified is an advantage but not necessary as qualifications can be taken when in Iceland.· Photography skills is desirable· Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable weathers. Elding prides itself on teamwork, no job is too small or too big for any of our staff members. We work together to make sure everything is finished for the following day. So being a team player is also very important. How to apply: Please email your cv, covering letter specifying any relevant experience you may have with the contact details of two referees to Megan Whittaker (megan(a)elding.is) Please also specify the earliest you can start.

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New paper on hair cortisol vs. a changing climate
by Thea Østergaard Bechshøft 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

Dear all - for those of you working with furry marine mammals and nutritional stress/effects of a changing climate, we have a new paper out on polar bears that might be of interest to you: Bechshøft TØ, Sonne C, Rigét FF, Letcher RJ, Novak MA, Henchey E, Meyer JS, Eulaers I, Jaspers V, Covaci A & Dietz R. 2013. Polar bear stress hormone cortisol fluctuates with the North Atlantic Oscillation climate index. Polar Biology, 36: 1525-1529 Abstract: Polar bears are heavily dependent on sea ice for hunting sufficient prey to meet their energetic needs. When the bears are left fasting, it may cause a rise in the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is the major corticosteroid hormone in most mammals, including polar bears. Production and regulation of this stress hormone are vital for the body as it is part of a myriad of processes, including in relation to metabolism, growth, development, reproduction, and immune function. In the present study, we examined the correlation between East Greenland polar bear hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a matrix that reflects longer-term hormone levels, and the fluctuations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, a large-scale climate phenomenon applied as a proxy for sea ice extent in the Greenland Sea along the coast of East Greenland. In doing so, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.88; p = 0.0004) was found between polar bear hair cortisol and the NAO, explaining 77 % of the variation in HCC observed between years over the period 1989-2009. This result indicates that interannual fluctuations in climate and ice cover have a substantial influence on longer-term cortisol levels in East Greenland polar bears. Further research into the implications and consequences inherent in this correlation are recommended, preferably across multiple polar bear populations. For a pdf copy, please either contact me or follow the link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-013-1364-y Wishing you all a grand weekend :) Best, Thea Thea Bechshøft, Biologist, MSc, PhD Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358 4000 Roskilde, Denmark E-mail: thbe(a)dmu.dk<mailto:thbe@dmu.dk>

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Aerial Observer- Right Whale Research Program
by Stephanie Richardson 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

*Aerial Observer- Right Whale Research Program* *Provincetown, MA USA * The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) is seeking an right whale aerial survey observer for the 2014 winter/spring season (January 6th to May 15th, 2014, with potential for an earlier start date). Responsibilities include: participation in aerial surveys of Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters, photo analysis, and data entry. The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications: prior experience as a marine mammal aerial survey observer, experience in matching right whales (or other species of cetaceans), at least a B.S. with courses in biology, and the ability to function in a team environment. This is a full-time seasonal position. Housing will be provided at no cost. General information about the PCCS Right Whale Research Program is available at: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/fieldnotesintro.htm Please submit cover letter, resume and two references by October 15, 2013 to: Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02657 Email: srichardson(a)coastalstudies.org

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New publication on Brucella in Antarctic seals
by Silje-Kristin Jensen 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

Dear MARMAM readers We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper on Brucella in Antarctic seals. Title: Brucella antibody seroprevalence in Antarctic seals (Arctocephalus gazella, Leptonychotes weddellii and Mirounga leonina). ABSTRACT Brucellosis is a worldwide infectious zoonotic disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Brucella, and Brucella infections in marine mammals were first reported in 1994. A serosurvey investigating the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies in 3 Antarctic pinniped species was undertaken with a protein A/G indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) and the Rose Bengal test (RBT). Serum samples from 33 Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli were analysed, and antibodies were detected in 8 individuals (24.2%) with the iELISA and in 21 (65.6%) with the RBT. We tested 48 southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina sera and detected antibodies in 2 animals (4.7%) with both the iELISA and the RBT. None of the 21 Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella was found positive. This is the first report of anti-Brucella antibodies in southern elephant seals. The potential impact of Brucella infection in pinnipeds in Antarctica is not known, but Brucella spp. are known to cause abortion in terrestrial species and cetaceans. Our findings suggest that Brucella infection in pinnipeds is present in the Antarctic, but to date B. pinnipedialis has not been isolated from any Antarctic pinniped species, leaving the confirmation of infection pending. Full pdf can be downloaded from Diseases of Aquatic Organisms: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v105/n3/p175-181/ or pdf requests can be sent to: skj3(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Best wishes Silje-Kristin Jensen, Ingebjørg Helena Nymo & co-authors -- .·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> *Silje-Kristin Jensen* MASTS Prize PhD Student Sea Mammal Research Unit Scottish Oceans Institute, Univ. of St. Andrews St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, Scotland Office: +44 (0) 1334 467 203 Mobile: +44 (0) 7742 127 322 Skype: trupsi Email: skj3(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Website: http://www.sealyeh.com

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Integrating Marine Mammal Conservation: Human Dimensions and the Practitioner
by Leslie Cornick 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

Hello MARMAMers! Please join us in New Zealand at the SMM Biennial for the following half-day workshop on Dec 8. We look forward to seeing you there! Cheers, Leslie Integrating Marine Mammal Conservation: Human Dimensions and the Practitioner Date: 8 Sun. Afternoon Only Duration: Half Day Cost: $25 stud mem, $50 mem, $50 stud nonmem, $75 non mem Organizer: Leslie Cornick Organizer email: lcornick(a)alaskapacific.edu Description: == Note: This workshop was previously titled "Integrating marine mammal conservation: 21st century challenges" == Marine mammal conservation is unique because many species are difficult to study due to their pelagic nature, resulting in significant data gaps. All marine mammals are protected in the US under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and some species have additional protection under the Endangered Species Act. However, few species exist only in the US, so conservation plans often must include international cooperation, including First Nations tribes. Marine mammals also frequently interact with industry via competition, by-catch, and critical habitat designation. Many marine mammal species are consumed by subsistence users, and internationally through commercial and scientific whaling exemptions to the IWC. Thus, marine mammal conservation must take a multidisciplinary approach (oceanography, fisheries biology), and integrate priorities of diverse stakeholders (policy makers, industry, subsistence users). This workshop will present the summaries from presentations at the 2013 ICCB symposium that brought together stakeholders in fisheries, indigenous food security, biology, and policy to consider challenges, solutions, and best practices for advancing an integrated approach to marine mammal conservation. A significant outcome of the ICCB symposium was the need for marine mammal biologists and practitioners to understand the human dimensions and implications of their work for local communities. This symposium will include key human dimensions training for biologists and conservation practitioners. The final symposium in this three-part series will occur at the Third International Marine Conservation Congress in 2014. ************************************************************ Leslie A. Cornick, Ph.D. Department Chair, Environmental Science Professor, Marine Biology Alaska Pacific University lcornick(a)alaskapacific.edu 907-232-3112

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new publications
by Marina Piscitelli 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

Dear MARMAM subscribers, We are happy to share two new publications listed below: (1) Lillie MA, Piscitelli MA, Vogl AW, Gosline JM, and Shadwick RE. 2013. Cardiovascular design in fin whales: high-stiffness arteries protect against adverse pressure gradients at depth. J Exp Biol 216 : 2548-2563. Abstract Fin whales have an incompliant aorta, which, we hypothesize, represents an adaptation to large, depth-induced variations in arterial transmural pressures. We hypothesize these variations arise from a limited ability of tissues to respond to rapid changes in ambient ocean pressures during a dive. We tested this hypothesis by measuring arterial mechanics experimentally and modeling arterial transmural pressures mathematically. The mechanical properties of mammalian arteries reflect the physiological loads they experience, so we examined a wide range of fin whale arteries. All arteries had abundant adventitial collagen that was usually recruited at very low stretches and inflation pressures (2-3kPa), making arterial diameter largely independent of transmural pressure. Arteries withstood significant negative transmural pressures (-7 to -50kPa) before collapsing. Collapse was resisted by recruitment of adventitial collagen at very low stretches. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis of depth-induced variation of arterial transmural pressure. Because transmural pressures depend on thoracic pressures, we modeled the thorax of a diving fin whale to assess the likelihood of significant variation in transmural pressures. The model predicted that deformation of the thorax body wall and diaphragm could not always equalize thoracic and ambient pressures because of asymmetrical conditions on dive descent and ascent. Redistribution of blood could partially compensate for asymmetrical conditions, but inertial and viscoelastic lag necessarily limits tissue response rates. Without pressure equilibrium, particularly when ambient pressures change rapidly, internal pressure gradients will develop and expose arteries to transient pressure fluctuations, but with minimal hemodynamic consequence due to their low compliance. Article is available online at the Journal of Experimental Biology website or by email from Margo Lillie at lillie(a)zoology.ubc.ca (2) Piscitelli MA, Raverty SA, Lillie MA, and Shadwick RE. 2013. A review of cetacean lung morphology and mechanics. J Morph *Early View online. *(DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20192) Abstract Cetaceans possess diverse adaptations in respiratory structure and mechanics that are highly specialized for an array of surfacing and diving behaviors. Some of these adaptations and air management strategies are still not completely understood despite over a century of study. We have compiled the historical and contemporary knowledge of cetacean lung anatomy and mechanics in regards to normal lung function during ventilation and air management while diving. New techniques are emerging utilizing pulmonary mechanics to measure lung function in live cetaceans. Given the diversity of respiratory adaptations in cetaceans, interpretations of these results should consider species-specific anatomy, mechanics, and behavior. Article is available online at the Journal of Morphology early view or by email from Marina Piscitelli at piscitellim(a)gmail.com. Please note there is substantial online supplemental material (appendices) online as well. Best Wishes, Marina ______________________________ Marina A. Piscitelli, Ph.D. Candidate Department of Zoology The University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC CANADA V6T 1Z4 ________________________________

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Tenure Track Position in Wildlife Biology at the level of Assistant Professor at University of North Dakota
by Melvin Klassen 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

The position will begin 16 August 2014. Review of applications will begin Oct 21, 2013, and continue until the position is filled. ________________________________ From: HerpDigest [asalzberg(a)herpdigest.org] Sent: September 11, 2013 2:50 PM Subject: Tenure Track Position in Wildlife Biology at the level of Assistant Professor Open at University of N. Dakota The Department of Biology at the University of North Dakota invites applications for a tenure track position in Wildlife Biology at the level of Assistant Professor. The position is integral to our undergraduate major in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and will also strengthen the department’s teaching and research missions in ecology and evolutionary biology. We seek an individual with expertise in field-based, hypothesis-driven research involving the ecology of mammals. Specific interests may include but are not limited to human dimensions of wildlife biology, plant-herbivore interactions, disease ecology, and behavioral ecology. The successful candidate will benefit from our location in the northern plains (including three University-owned field stations in the region) and opportunities to engage with state and regional resource management agencies and conservation organizations. The University is committed to development of competitive research programs and the successful candidate will demonstrate the potential to establish a productive and extramurally funded research program. Teaching duties will not exceed two courses per year during the first several years. Course offerings will depend on the candidate’s specific expertise, but may include courses such as Ecology of Mammals, Conservation Biology, or wildlife-related courses focused on human dimensions. The department offers graduate degrees through the Ph.D. and active training of graduate students is expected. A Ph.D. is required for this position and postdoctoral experience preferred. The position will begin 16 August 2014. Review of applications will begin Oct 21, 2013, and continue until the position is filled. Send, in the following order, a cover letter, CV, statements of teaching and research interests, three representative reprints, and the names and contact information for at least three references as a single PDF file to Dr. Robert Newman at robert.newman(a)und.edu<mailto:robert.newman@und.edu>. Address for mail contact is University of North Dakota, Department of Biology, 10 Cornell St., Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019. For more information: www.und.edu/dept/biology/jobs.htm<http://www.und.edu/dept/biology/jobs.htm>. The University of North Dakota is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and we strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups. Veteran’s preference does not apply to this position.

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Post-Doc Opportunity
by Jennifer Dunn 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

The Marine Conservation Ecology Group at Duke University seeks a postdoctoral researcher to work on analysis of data obtained from multi-sensor tags that sample acoustics, accelerometers and depth and are deployed on a variety of cetacean species. Applicants should possess a Ph.D. in statistics, animal behavior, or ecology with a demonstrated interest in the quantitative analysis of foraging ecology, vocal behavior and/or kinematics. We are particularly interested in individuals who are well versed in Matlab and/or R and who have experience in integration and analysis of complex data sets. The successful candidate will conduct data analysis, prepare reports and manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed journals and will work under the co-supervision of Drs. Doug Nowacek and Andrew Read. We expect the successful candidate to engage fully in the intellectual life of our laboratory and take advantage of research, mentoring and teaching opportunities as they arise. The Duke University Marine Laboratory, located in Beaufort, NC, is a vibrant research and educational community located on the North Carolina coast and is part of the Nicholas School of the Environment. This is a one-year, full-time appointment with an annual salary of $50,000, with the possibility of renewal. The position carries standard health insurance and benefits from Duke University. Prospective applicants should send a CV, statement of interest and the names of three references to Jennifer Dunn (jennifer.dunn at duke. edu) by October 31st 2013. US and international applicants will be considered.

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NZ Coastal Society Conference, 19-22 November 2013
by Don Neale 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

Hi all If you're in New Zealand a couple of weeks before the 2013 Marine Mammal Biennial, and if you have an interest in things coastal/marine, why not think about coming to the NZ Coastal Society conference as well?! Earlybird Registration discounts end next Friday (20th) for the NZ Coastal Society 2013 conference "The Coast - Rough Around the Edges", to be held 19-22 November in the wonderful seaside town of Hokitika, on the South Island's West Coast. http://www.coastalsociety.org.nz/conference2013/ It'd be great to have you attend. A great option for travel is the conference bus from Christchurch. The Society has a broad-based group of members with common interests in the sustainable management of NZ's coastal & marine environment, underpinned by sound science, engineering and policy practice, comprehensive monitoring, involved communities and effective national networks. You can be sure of wide-ranging discussions, a scenic fieldtrip to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes, and some of our famous West Coast hospitality! Please pass this on to others you think might be interested. Don Neale Technical Advisor - Marine, Mätanga Mätai Ahu Moana Marine Ecosystems Team Department of Conservation-Te Papa Atawhai DDI: +64 3 756 9118 Hokitika Office Private Bag 701, HOKITIKA 7842 cnr. Sewell Street & Gibson Quay, HOKITIKA 7810 T: +64 3 756 9100 Conservation for prosperity Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai www.doc.govt.nz

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Undergraduate Study of Marine Mammals in Alaska plus internships available
by Deborah D Boege-Tobin 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

Preliminary announcement - The Semester by the Bay program at the Kachemak Bay Campus of KPC-UAA in Homer, Alaska is now seeking undergraduate students and interns for our Fall 2014 cohort. Opportunities include course and field work with local marine mammals, including behavioral ecology, catalog photo-identifications, and skeletal articulations. In-state tuition is available for most courses and many internships offer free or reduced housing. Please visit www.semesterbythebay.org<http://www.semesterbythebay.org> or email dtobin(a)uaa.alaska.edu<mailto:dtobin@uaa.alaska.edu> for more information.

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