September 2013 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Fwd: request for recordings
by Lourdes Gonzalez Caraballo 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

Hello. my name is Lourdes González and I am a graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico. I am currently doing my thesis and am looking for recordings of echolocation clicks of different Odontocete species that could be used to measure basic echolocation variables like min./max. frequency, peak frequency, centroid frequency, ICI and click duration. If anyone can help me with this you can e-mail me at lourdes.gonzalez6(a)upr.edu. Thank you very much.

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20th Biennial Workshop: Structural-functional shifts in marine mammals, present and past
by Ewan Fordyce 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Workshop: Structural-functional shifts in marine mammals, present and past Sunday 8 December Marine mammal evolution has involved structural changes that are profoundly different from those of terrestrial mammals. In all marine mammals, many changes reflect the initial invasion of water. Other structural changes occurred in later history, sometimes linked to major ecological shifts involving, for example, feeding, diving, vision, and acoustics. The success of some clades – in terms of taxonomic and ecological diversity – plausibly reflects such structural changes. Yet other structural changes involved simplification or losses in, for example, limbs and feeding apparatus. For at-risk species, and for extinct clades known only from fossils, one might consider the roles of “bad genes” (structural blind alleys) or “bad luck.” Recent phylogenetic studies based on morphology and molecules of living species, and fossils, provide a continually refined framework on which to consider structural-functional changes and ecological shifts. We seek contributions that consider structural and ecological shifts conferring “success” or extinction, whether based on direct observations of modern structures, on molecular approaches, or on fossils. The programme will involve talks of 15 minutes, with opportunities for discussion. Interested to present your work? If so - - Deadline for abstracts is Friday 11 October - Email your abstract to Ewan Fordyce, ewan.fordyce(a)otago.ac.nz - Abstract should be formatted as for the main Biennial meeting (length 300 words maximum) to optimise production of a printed abstract volume - Indicate whether you are presenting a talk or poster at the main meeting - Abstracts will be subject to review Associated with the workshop (day, time and venue to be finalised), we hope to make available for viewing a neonate pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata, partly dissected to show some of the musculoskeletal system and viscera. This is in planning stage at present; those indicating interest in the workshop will be emailed an update nearer the time. Register formally through the SMM Biennial website. Organisers: R Ewan Fordyce (University of Otago), and postgrad students, postdocs and associates in Otago's Cetacean Evolution Research Group: Robert Boessenecker Joshua Corrie Carolina Loch Felix Marx Moyna Müller Yoshihiro Tanaka Cheng-Hsiu Tsai R. Ewan Fordyce Professor, Department of Geology University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, NZ

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Publication on bowhead whales in the Beaufort Sea
by Cynthia Christman - NOAA Federal 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Greetings, We are pleased to announce our recent publication in Polar Biology. The citation and abstract are below. If you would like a pdf of the publication, please contact me at cynthia.christman(a)noaa.gov. Regards, Cynthia L. Christman Field Research Leader III Contractor with Ocean Associates, Inc. Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Mammal Laboratory 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg. 4 Seattle, WA 98115 Phone Number: (508) 274-3142 Email: cynthia.christman(a)noaa.gov Christman CL, Citta JJ, Quakenbush LT, Clarke JT, Rone BK, Shea RA, Ferguson MC, Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen. 2013. Presence and behavior of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in July 2011. Polar Biology: 1-6. DOI 10.1007/s00300-013-1395-4 Abstract The Western Arctic bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is highly adapted to sea ice and annually migrates through the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. While the overall distribution and seasonal movements of bowhead whales are mostly understood, information about their distribution in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in early to mid-summer has not been well documented. In July 2011, we conducted an exploratory flight in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, north of Camden Bay (71 N 144 W), near the location of a single satellite-tagged bowhead whale. Eighteen bowhead whales were observed, and behavior consistent with feeding was documented. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of behavior consistent with feeding north of Camden Bay in mid-July. Few studies have focused on bowhead whale distribution in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in early to mid-summer, and no long-term, region-wide surveys have been conducted during summer. Bowhead whales are already exposed to anthropogenic disturbance in the Canadian Beaufort Sea in summer, the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in fall, and the Chukchi and Bering seas from fall through spring. The presence of bowhead whale aggregations in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in summer should be considered when assessing the cumulative effects of human-related activities.

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Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) devices
by Irene Vollmy 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Dear list members Peter Dobbins, Ultra Electronics and I, Irene Voellmy, University of Bristol, are currently conducting a survey to evaluate current and future requirements for Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) devices for research (e.g. aquatic animals, acoustic environments), conservation and anthropogenic noise emission monitoring purposes. This survey is conducted as part of an ongoing study investigating the current state of the art in PAM systems. In this survey, we particularly investigate whether and where users of PAM systems locate gaps in available devices and how further developments of the techniques could meet these requirements. If you are a user of PAM systems, we would be grateful if you could take part in this survey and complete the questionnaire on: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J355HDV The deadline for completed questionnaires is *30 September 2013*. The survey should not take more than 15 minutes and your information will only be used for statistical purposes. Your name and contact details will not be linked to your answers and will not be conveyed to third parties. Thank you very much for your help and your time, Irene Voellmy and Peter Dobbins -- Irene Voellmy School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Woodland Road Bristol BS8 1UG Irene.Vollmy(a)bristol.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)117 95 45945

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Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Internship at IMMS
by Billie Stevens Serafin 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

*Winter/Spring 2014 Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Internship* The IMMS Research Internship Program is designed as a way for students interested in a career in marine science to gain valuable research experience in a real-world setting. Interns will participate with multiple projects involving bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and diamondback terrapins. As an intern, you will be trained in all aspects of dolphin photo-id research, sea turtle satellite tracking, and other current research projects at IMMS. Interns will also participate in other operations at IMMS including stranding response, education, and animal care. Our goal is to give Interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience in marine science research. Interns must: - Commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks. The internship can be extended depending on work performance. - Be available to work Mon-Fri and must be available for all boat trips. Some field days may fall on the weekends. - Have strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to admit mistakes. - Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills. - *Principle Duties include*: data entry, searching and cataloging journal articles, learning all research protocols, cropping and sorting photo-id fin images, learning to use photo-id programs such as Darwin (fin matching software), and FinBase (Microsoft Access), boat based field research (21’ and 31’ boats), and learn how to use ArcGIS - *Secondary Duties involve*: Assisting with animal care staff, attending marine mammal necropsies, responding to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings, and assisting with educational tours. - *Field days: * Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme seasonal conditions. Seasonal temperatures range from over 100 °F in summer to 30 °F in winter. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least two or three times a week. Applicants must be 18 or older and must have a genuine interest in marine research. Applicants should be actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in oceanography, marine science/biology, biology, or a related field. Previous research experience in any capacity is a plus. Applicants must be able and willing to fulfill all duties outlined for this Internship Program. This is an unpaid position and Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Once accepted, IMMS staff will be able to assist Interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations. *Deadline to Apply for the Winter/Spring Session (1/6/14 - 3/2/14 and 3/10/14 - 5/6/14) is November 1, 2013* *Please visit **http://imms.org/internship.php*<http://imms.org/internship.php> * for application and full details*

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New paper on bearded seal vocal communication
by Isabelle Charrier 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Dear colleagues, We are glad to announce a new publication on the perception of geographical vocal variations in bearded seals. Charrier I, Mathevon N and Aubin T (2013) Bearded seal males perceive geographic variation in their trills. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-013-1578-6# Abstract Geographic variation in animal vocalisations, ranging from micro- to macro-variations, has now been widely documented. These dialects can impair communication between separated groups or populations and thus may play a role in speciation processes. Although the existence of geographical variation has been already shown in some pinnipeds species, the extent to which individuals perceive it is poorly understood. Here, we studied this question in the bearded seal Erignatus barbatus, a species found across different arctic regions. As in other phocids, bearded seal males emit sophisticated acoustic displays while defending an aquatic territory during the breeding season. First, we used playbacks to demonstrate that the trill has a function in territorial defence. Second, we used synthetic trills from two distinct populations (Nunavut and Greenland), to show that bearded seal males perceived the geographic variation in the trills. Males from Greenland responded more strongly to trills from local males than those from a distant area (Nunavut). This study provides the first experimental evidence that phocid males can perceive geographic variation in their vocalisations. Acoustic analyses combined with playback experiments can help to identify distinct populations in bearded seals. This may then provide information on both strength and scale of breeding site fidelity in this and potentially other species. Best regards, Isabelle Charrier -- ************************************************************************ Isabelle CHARRIER Equipe Communications Acoustiques, CNPS-CNRS UMR 8195 Université Paris Sud, Bat.446, 91405 Orsay, FRANCE Tel:(33-1).69.15.68.26 Fax:(33-1).69.15.77.26 Email: isabelle.charrier(a)u-psud.fr new Isabelle's website: http://www.cb.u-psud.fr/pinniped/ Bioacoustics Team website: http://www.cb.u-psud.fr/ ************************************************************************

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New publication: Distribution of Tursiops truncatus in Southeastern Brazil: a Modeling Approach for Summer Sampling
by Rodrigo Tardin 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Dear All, We are pleased to announce publication of the following paper: Tardin, R.H., Simão, S.M., Alves, M.A.S (2013) Distribution of Tursiops truncatus in Southeastern Brazil: a Modeling Approach for Summer Sampling. Natureza & Conservação 11(1):65-74. The pdf can be accessed online or via email request: rhtardin(a)gmail.com Abstract: Distribution modeling is a relatively new tool to study cetaceans distribution and is used to understand their relationships with the habitat, which in turn, can be used for several purposes. This is the ﬁrst attempt to model Tursiops truncatus distribution in South- Atlantic Ocean. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was developed to investigate how the distribution of T. truncatus in Cabo Frio, Brazil, during summer (December to February) is inﬂuenced by depth, distance to coast, slope,. Furthermore, we tested the efﬁciency of a model with number of groups (total occurrence) as response variable compared to a presence-absence data. Our results indicated that total occurrence model was more robust than presence-absence. Dolphins were found regarding to depth most frequently around 30-60 m and decreasing in more profound depths. Dolphins occurrence decreased as distance to coast increased. Our results show that Cabo Frio is an important site for T. truncatus since it may provides feeding resources and a safe place against predators. However the fast development of human activities may threaten this important area and therefore this dolphin species in Brazilian waters. Sincerely, Rodrigo -- 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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help for an entangled bottlenose dolphin needed
by Martina Duras 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Dear list members, A bottlenose dolphin entangled in fishing gear was observed during our last field trip. The fishing gear is deeply embedded in the back, mouth angle, and the chest wall and intensive hypergranulation is overgrowing the embedding line. According to the locals since June this animal regularly appears close to a fishing farm. During our observation the dolphin approached our boat up to 10 meters; it was swimming slowly and alone. We presume that it would be possible to sedate the animal and to surgically remove the fishing gear, but our team has no experience in this field. A step-by step protocol for such cases and experienced staff would be needed. We are thankful for any help and suggestions. There are two links to photos of the entangled dolphin: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108230737213371629100/albums/59215349092… https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108230737213371629100/albums/59215511973… Best regards, Martina Duras, DVM, PhD Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Heinzelova 55 10000 Zagreb Croatia

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New publication
by Ilse van Opzeeland 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

We are pleased to announce publication of the following paper: Calling in the cold: pervasive acoustic presence of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Antarctic coastal waters (2013). Ilse Van Opzeeland, Sofie Van Parijs, Lars Kindermann, Elke Burkhardt and Olaf Boebel. PLOS ONE 8(9): e73007. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073007. Abstract: Humpback whales migrate between relatively unproductive tropical or temperate breeding grounds and productive high latitude feeding areas. However, not all individuals of a population undertake the annual migration to the breeding grounds; instead some are thought to remain on the feeding grounds year-round, presumably to avoid the energetic demands of migration. In the Southern Hemisphere, ice and inclement weather conditions restrict investigations of humpback whale presence on feeding grounds as well as the extent of their southern range. Two years of near-continuous recordings from the PerenniAL Acoustic Observatory in the Antarctic Ocean (PALAOA, Ekström Iceshelf, 70°31'S, 8°13'W) are used to explore the acoustic presence of humpback whales in an Antarctic coastal area. Humpback whale calls were present during nine and eleven months of 2008 and 2009, respectively. In 2008, calls were present in January through April, June through August, November and December, whereas in 2009, calls were present throughout the year, except in September. Calls occurred in un-patterned sequences, representing non-song sound production. Typically, calls occurred in bouts, ranging from 2 to 42 consecutive days with February, March and April having the highest daily occurrence of calls in 2008. In 2009, February, March, April and May had the highest daily occurrence of calls. Whales were estimated to be within a 100 km radius off PALAOA. Calls were also present during austral winter when ice cover within this radius was >90%. These results demonstrate that coastal areas near the Antarctic continent are likely of greater importance to humpback whales than previously assumed, presumably providing food resources year-round and open water in winter where animals can breathe. Best Regards, Ilse Van Opzeeland

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URGENT: Seeking assistants for research on Bottlenose dolphins in Bunbury, Western Australia.
by Randal Counihan 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

Seeking assistants for research on Bottlenose dolphins in Bunbury, Western Australia. Dates: commences immediately for several months (ends early 2014). Project title: South West Marine Research Program long term monitoring project. Institution: Cetacean Research Unit, Murdoch University - www.mucru.org Overview: I am seeking experienced field assistants to assist with boat-based photo-ID and behaviour analysis in south-west Australia from 31 August 2013. This is a long term project, 7 years so far, with the current phase extending into 2014. The South West Marine Research Program is a long-term, multifaceted project on the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins of South West Australia. This program is based in Bunbury (south of Perth) and is a collaboration between Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit and numerous industry and non-profit partners. The research, of PhD and masters students, focuses on dolphin population dynamics, abundance, social structure and behaviour, habitat use, conservation genetics and foraging ecology. Long-term data will be collected and used to investigate population dynamics and habitat use, in order to aid in future conservation and management efforts. Benthic habitat mapping and photo identification fieldwork is conducted from Busselton to Binningyup within a 540km2 area consisting of coastal beaches, inshore bays, estuarine inlets and a river. http://mucru.org/research-projects/south-west-marine-researchprogram/ This is an opportunity to gain experience in field techniques for small cetacean research, while contributing to a project with a high conservation and management value. Location: Bunbury is a small city, approx. 2 hours South of Perth. The project will be based in the Dolphin Discovery Centre, where Murdoch have office facilities. Duties: Field work will involve searching for dolphins, driving the boat, taking photos, making and recording field observations, equipment cleaning and basic maintenance. Fieldwork is highly weather dependent and will vary between weekdays and weekends. When weather permits days on the water could be long and on consecutive days. There will be a fair amount of office work involved including data entry, fin matching and project organisation. Computer programs used for data are: FinBase, ACDSee, Logger, Microsoft Access, Excel and Word. Prerequisites: Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, animal behaviour or a related field.Previous field experience with wildlife (field data collection, photo identification, boat handling skills). Experience with research on small cetaceans is desirable but not essential. Be enthusiastic, team oriented and have a positive attitude as well as a genuine interest in wildlife science. Expenses: Unfortunately, we are unable to provide monetary compensation or living provisions and research assistants will be responsible for their own travel to Western Australia and living expenses. Please note, the Bunbury backpackers provide good discounts for assistants of the Dolphin Discovery Centre. If you are interested in volunteering, please send a CV, a brief covering letter outlining your relevant experience, and contact details of two relevant referees to randalcounihan(a)gmail.com. Randal Counihan randalcounihan(a)gmail.com Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit (MUCRU) Dolphin Discovery Centre, P.O. Box 1178, Lot 830 Koombana Drive, Bunbury, WA. 6230

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