July 2014 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine Mammal Bycatch Specialist/Fishery Liaison
by Jay Litchfield 29 Jul '14

29 Jul '14

A.I.S., Inc. is recruiting an experienced marine mammal bycatch specialist to function as a fishery liaison for the Southeast Region (from North Carolina to and including Florida. Job duties include but are not limited to the following: (1)facilitate two-way communication with commercial fishermen and NOAA personnel; (2) conduct outreach on current management measures; and (3) contribute to the take reduction plans' effectiveness. The period of employment starts on or about September 30, 2104 and extends to September 29, 2015 with the possibility of extensions for up to 4 additional 12 month periods. Candidates will be selected based on their experience with the commercial fishing industry, marine mammal bycatch issues, wide range of fishing industry communication and ability to travel on a regular basis. At a minimum, candidates should have the following: 1. A minimum of three years past experience working with the current commercial fishing industry on marine mammal bycatch issues from North Carolina through the east coast of Florida; 2. Ability and availability to travel regularly to conduct work specified in this requirement; 3. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of current commercial fisheries and marine mammal fishery interactions from North Carolina through the east coast of Florida; 4. Demonstrated knowledge of current Take Reduction Plans implemented along the Atlantic Coast. Pay will be commensurate with experience. Travel expenses to and from home of record will be reimbursable. Home of record shall be within 100 miles of St. Petersburg, FL. Please click the following link ( http://goo.gl/BD5NbL ) to submit an updated resume reflecting experience listed above, 5 references (name, e-mail address and phone number), and credentials no later than August 13, 2014. For more information or questions, call (617)276-6584 or email (michelef(a)aisobservers.com) Michele Finn, A.I.S., Inc. Gulf of Mexico Operations Manager.

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Underwater Acoustics in the Marine Environment 8th - 10th September 2014, University of Bath Run in association with University of Bath
by Sarah Hancock 29 Jul '14

29 Jul '14

This 3 day course, with an optional 4th day, covers the fundamentals of underwater acoustics including the following topics: ocean environments, noise propagation models, sound field modelling, methods of assessment, impacts of noise on marine life, mitigation, environmental regulations and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), fisheries, JNCC guidelines and emerging studies and technologies across this field. Contact Sarah Hancock at s.hancock(a)seiche.com for all enquiries or visit www.seiche.com

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CRRU GIS Field Course in Scotland, 6-16 Oct 2014
by Dr Kevin Robinson 29 Jul '14

29 Jul '14

Teaming up with GIS In Ecology once again in 2014, the Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) is offering a 11 day residential cetacean field course at their field base in Gardenstown in northeast Scotland from 6 to 16 October. The course will incorporate a custom-designed 3-4 day GIS module (including course manuals and materials) from GIS In Ecology (www.GISinEcology.com) taught by Dr. Colin MacLeod/Dr. Michael Tetley, both renowned experts in using GIS in ecological research. It will consist of a series of background and practical sessions covering the use of GIS in cetacean and marine research. Practical elements will include learning how to collect field data at sea and how to import this data into a Geographic Information System to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of identified species and analyse the home ranges of known individual animals. A combination of ESRI's ArcGIS 10.1 software and an open-source (and licence free) alternative will be used in this regard, and a uniquely numbered and verifiable certificate of completion for this GIS module of the course will be provided. Additional aspects of this course will include basic instruction in power boat handling, safety at sea and competent crew ability; cetacean identification, taxonomy and nomenclature; photo-identification procedures and mark capture-recapture analyses for bottlenose dolphins and minke whales; an introduction to relational databases and computer-assisted matching software; assessment, first aid administration and methods used in the care, transport and rescue of stranded cetaceans; and practical methods for the re-floatation of live stranded whales and dolphins In short, you will have the opportunity to learn about these mammals and their dynamic marine environment first hand, working closely alongside a dedicated and knowledgeable research team. As you participate in the CRRU's ongoing field studies, you will learn and apply the principles of field research design, data collection and analyses, undertake training in marine mammal rescue techniques, and gain a personal understanding of the conservation issues which drive current research, rescue and conservation activities by cetacean biologists. The cost for this internship course is £1,250 [ <http://www.xe.com> for a currency converter, click here], which includes full board (i.e. all accommodation and food costs), your full equipment needs (immersion suits, wet boots etc for boat trips), associated course materials and hand-outs, and all associated field costs during your stay with the CRRU team. You will simply need to arrange your own travel itinerary to Banff in northeast Scotland (nearest airport Dyce, Aberdeen, approx. 1½ hours from the field base by coach) plus any personal spending money. For further details and conditions, please visit <http://www.crru.org.uk/join_the_team.asp> http://www.crru.org.uk/join_the_team.asp. Just 10 places are available for each of these exclusive GIS field teams, so immediate booking is advised. To request a booking form etc, email <mailto:kev.robinson@crru.org.uk> kev.robinson(a)crru.org.uk. Additional dates for standard CRRU courses (without the GIS element) are also available and are listed at <http://www.crru.org.uk/join_the_team.asp> http://www.crru.org.uk/join_the_team.asp at a lower rate of £895. Founded in 1997, the CRRU boasts over 70 scientific publications to date ( <http://www.crru.org.uk/publications.asp> http://www.crru.org.uk/publications.asp) In cooperation with universities, research institutions and other environmental organisations, current studies focus on the key coastal cetacean species frequenting the outer Moray Firth in NE Scotland - namely the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and the minke whale -providing robust scientific data for the adoption of management measures and effective conservation strategies for their future protection. Dr. Kevin Robinson Director, CRRU <mailto:kev.robinson@crru.org.uk> kev.robinson(a)crru.org.uk Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit, PO Box 11307, Banff, AB45 3WB, Scotland, UK | ( +44 (0)1261 851696 | <http://www.crru.org.uk/> www.crru.org.uk Whale and Dolphin Research | Environmental Educational Outreach | Marine Wildlife Rescue | Consultancy | MMO Services Recognised Scottish Charity No. SC 035473

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NEW PUBLICATION: Geographic variation of persistent organic pollutants in Hawaiian monk seals in the main Hawaiians Islands
by Jessica Lopez - NOAA Affiliate 28 Jul '14

28 Jul '14

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article in the journal Endangered Species Research *Geographic variation of persistent organic pollutants in Hawaiian monk seals Monachus schauinlsandi in the main Hawaiian Islands.* Jessica Lopez, K. David Hyrenbach, Charles Littnan, Yina M. Ylitalo Endangered Species Research 24: 249-262, 2014 doi: 10.3354/esr00602 ABSTRACT: Geographic variation in the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was assessed in the serum of Hawaiian monk seals Monachus schauinslandi from the main Hawaiian Islands. Twenty seals were outfitted with tracking devices to map their home ranges, which were then compared with the POP levels in their serum. Seals with similar ranges were shown to have similar POP levels, and seals with home ranges around the island of O‘ahu had significantly higher summed polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers than seals around the islands of Kaua‘i and Moloka‘i. This difference was not seen for summed diphenyl-dichlorotriphenylethanes or chlordanes. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMS) was used to determine if this geographic variation in serum POP levels was associated with specific POPs, watersheds, or state land use districts. The NMS ordination revealed patterns at the island scale, rather than the finer watershed scale. Additionally, there were differences in the land use characteristics adjacent to seals’ home ranges between 2 islands: seals with home ranges around O‘ahu had a high percentage of area adjacent to urban land use districts, and seals with home ranges around Moloka‘i had a high percentage of area adjacent to rural and agricultural land use districts. Integration of serum POP levels and seal home ranges revealed geographic patterns that will help assess the risk of POPs to individual seals. The integrated approach highlighted in this study is applicable to other marine wildlife exposed to local and non-point pollutants. Keywords Hawaiian monk seal, *Monachus schauinslandi, *Persistent organic pollutants, geographic variation Endangered species, satellite tracking, home range analysis, Hawaiian Islands Limited access to the article can be found at doi: 10.3354/esr00602 Please contact Jessica Lopez (Jessica.Lopez(a)noaa.gov) for a pdf copy. Sincerely, Jessica Lopez --------------------------------------- Field Research Supervisor NOAA, NMFS, JIMAR Hawaiian monk seal research program office - 808-725-5743 cell - 808-226-1969 fax - 808-725-5567

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Volunteers needed for Seal Rehabilitation Centre in Pieterburen, the Netherlands
by Guillermo J. Sánchez Contreras 28 Jul '14

28 Jul '14

Dear friends, The Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre (SRRC) in Pieterburen (The Netherlands) is a rehab centre for seals that have been taking care of orphaned, injured and sick seals for more than 40 years. The SRRC has evolved into a specialized hospital for seals with a team of Seal Rehabilitators, Veterinarians and Scientists, and becoming a reference in the marine mammal world. Every year, more than 100 people from all over the world either volunteer or do their internships with us. Being a volunteer or a trainee at our facility is an exciting experience since learning while helping animals and protecting the environment is the main goal. The Winter season is the busiest period of the year at the SRRC since orphaned grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and seriously sick grey seals and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are the main patients admitted. During this period as much as 380 seals can be hosted at the centre. Taking care of all these animals requires a lot of effort and help. That is why the SRRC is offering volunteer/trainee open positions for the Winter period, starting from October 2014 until March 2015. The role of the Volunteer/Trainee is assisting the experienced nurses with the daily care of the seals. This includes but is not limited to preparing diets, treating wounds, sanitation of the facilities, and following strict hygienic protocols. The minimum period requested is 8 weeks, with a maximum of 16 weeks. Longer staying applicants are preferred in this time. The SRRC offers food and full equipped accommodation for volunteers/trainees at the price of 75€/week (gas, electricity, water and Internet are included). All interested applicants should contact Vicky Stoneman (Head of the Volunteers) at vicky(a)zeehondencreche.nl Sincerely yours, -- *Guillermo J. Sánchez Contreras* Veterinary Department Zeehondencrèche Pieterburen Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre SRRC Hoofdstraat 94a 9968 AG Pieterburen The Netherlands Mobile phone: +31 (0)6 12 981176 Email: guillermo(a)zeehondencreche.nl Website: www.zeehondencreche.nl Website english: www.srrc.nl

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New publication on blue whales home ranges off the U.S. West Coast
by Irvine, Ladd 27 Jul '14

27 Jul '14

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the recent publication of our manuscript in PLOS One: Irvine LM, Mate BR, Winsor MH, Palacios DM, Bograd SJ, et al. (2014) Spatial and Temporal Occurrence of Blue Whales off the U.S. West Coast, with Implications for Management. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102959. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102959 http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0102959 This manuscript is the most comprehensive study of blue whale movements to date. In the paper we use a data set of blue whale satellite tracks spanning 15 years to describe the timing of their occurrence off the U.S. West Coast and identify high use areas within and across years. We found that the whales were most abundant in the summer and fall with southward migration typically beginning from mid-October to mid-November. The distribution of tagged blue whales shifted northward in the fall. We found that the two areas of highest use by tagged whales are crossed by heavily used shipping lanes off San Francisco and Los Angeles. We note that moving the shipping lanes could significantly decrease the probability of ships striking the whales. Please contact me with any questions (ladd.irvine(a)oregonstate.edu<mailto:ladd.irvine@oregonstate.edu>) Ladd Irvine Sr. Faculty Research Assistant Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute Hatfield Marine Science Center 2030 S Marine Science Dr. Newport, OR 97365 Phone: 541-867-0394 www.mmi.oregonstate.edu

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New publication on morphology, acoustics and evolution of cetaceans
by Pavel Gol'din 25 Jul '14

25 Jul '14

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the recent publication published online by the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society: Gol'din, P. (2014), ‘Antlers inside’: are the skull structures of beaked whales (Cetacea: Ziphiidae) used for echoic imaging and visual display?. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi: 10.1111/bij.12337 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bij.12337/abstract Skulls of many living and extinct beaked whales (Ziphiidae) contain various bizarre bone and tooth structures. Many of them show sexual dimorphism in their skull anatomy: males have bizarre skull structures, whereas females do not. Opinions differ as to what the function of these structures might be. Some believe that these are weapons; others, that they are sound transmitters. This article argues that these structures are the means of visual display. Many of the bizarre bone structures of beaked whales are not exposed like ‘visuals’ of terrestrial tetrapods, but are located deep in soft tissues. Nevertheless, toothed whales recognize objects (including three-dimensional bodies), using echolocation. So, along with visual means, they can ‘see’ and ‘show’ their internal bone structures with echoic imaging and use them as informational sources in social interactions and in individual or species recognition. Please contact me for comments and questions at: pavelgoldin412(a)gmail.com Regards, Pavel Pavel Gol'din Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology Kiev, Ukraine

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New paper on Domoic acid in the milk of marine mammals off California
by Lauren Rust 25 Jul '14

25 Jul '14

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to annouce our recent publication in Marine Mammal Science. Please contact me directly for copies @ rustl(a)tmmc.org or it can be accessed here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1111/mms.12117/ Domoic acid in milk of free living California marine mammals indicates lactational exposure occurs. Lauren Rust and France Gulland, The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, California 94965, U.S.A.; Elizabeth Frame and Kathi Lefebvre, Northwest Fisheries Science Center NOAA Fisheries, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, Washing- ton 98112, U.S.A. Abstract: California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) have stranded along the California coastline over the last 15 years due to domoic acid (DA) toxicosis (Scholin et al., 2000; Gulland et al., 2002). Domoic acid exposure also causes reproductive failure in California sea lions (Brodie et al., 2006; Goldstein et al.,2009) and controlled studies have demonstrated that DA can cross the placenta and be detected in milk causing developmental effects in young rodents (Maucher and Ramsdell, 2005; 2007). To determine the distribution of DA in naturally exposed marine mammals and the potential for lactational transfer, a range of samples were collected opportunistically from 54 stranded marine mammals in California. Between 2005 and 2013, samples of milk, urine, feces, bile, stomach contents, serum, aqueous humor, amniotic fluid, and pericardium fluid were collected at necropsy and stored at -80 C until processing from California sea lions (n=43), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (n=1), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) (n=2), and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) (n= 9). The majority of samples were collected within one week of stranding, but some as late as 52 days after live stranding and rehabilitation. Samples were tested for domoic acid using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the NOAA NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA, USA. Domoic acid was detected in milk samples (n = 55) at levels ranging from 1.1 ng/ml to 142.6 ng/ml, and in 75% of these animals DA was also detected in other bodily fluids. These marine mammals nurse their young for 6 months to 2 years, potentially exposing them to DA which could cause abnormal development or neurological effects as seen in rats (Xi et al., 1997). Understanding the extent of transfer of DA to developing young will help further our understanding of the long term effects of DA on development. Thank you, Lauren Rust Research Biologist The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road Sausalito, CA 94965 415.289.7328 Rustl(a)tmmc.org

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Discover the last Mediterranean monk seal colony of the world!
by Fundación CBD-Habitat 25 Jul '14

25 Jul '14

http://focamonje.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9b37de09af84c969097519f0… www.monachus.es Monk seal Conservation program http://focamonje.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9b37de09af84c969097519f0… ** Discover the last Mediterranean Monk Seal colony of the world! ------------------------------------------------------------ ** For many years now we have been dedicated to conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal. Since we created the participatory “Seal Coast” reserve in 2001, we have never stopped working to improve and enlarge the most important colony of this species critically endangered located at the Cabo Blanco peninsula coast, Mauritania. Little by little, for somewhat more than a decade, we have gradually built the foundations for the conservation and growth of the colony: surveillance systems, increasing awareness among local fishermen, cleaning and preserving the beaches in the reserve, etc. By doing all that, we have managed to get the population to rise year after year. It seems hard to believe that there are now approximately 250 seals, when just 100 had survived 15 years ago. And every year more than 60 seal pups are born, whereas the year when we arrived the birth rate was barely 25. Without a doubt, these are important, highly satisfactory results, but we need to keep moving forward. Because, despite the good results we have achieved, we never forget the huge responsibility we bear, because we are protecting more than half of this species’ population around the world. That is why, now that the foundations are in place and have grown stronger, we are starting a new stage in which we would like to increase awareness about the programme, in order to let more people know about this scarce but precious species, to make them aware of its fragile state and to get more support, which will help us ensure the species’ preservation. To do so, we have launched this new website (http://focamonje.us8.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9b37de09af84c969097519f…) , where you will find information about the Mediterranean monk seal, about us, our history, the work we do and the results we are achieving. With this website, we are also creating the possibility for private donors and companies to be able to help support the conservation work which we carry out on the coast of Cap Blanc. You can become a member by making a small annual contribution or make a one-time donation for any of the projects we currently have under way . Of course, we also share materials so that you can help us with our work to spread this information. Through these contributions, we hope to be able to partially finance our work so as to ensure the minimum services required for conservation at the reserve for many years to come, without having to depend exclusively upon aid or subsidies, which can sometimes get cut. ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Thank you very much for your support and cooperation! Follow us at: www.monachus.es or www.focamonje.es ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================ Copyright © 2014 Fundación CBD-Habitat, All rights reserved. ... Our mailing address is: Fundación CBD-Habitat C/Gustavo Fernandez Balbuena 2 Madrid, NC 28002 Spain ** unsubscribe from this list (http://focamonje.us8.list-manage2.com/unsubscribe?u=9b37de09af84c969097519f…) ** update subscription preferences (http://focamonje.us8.list-manage.com/profile?u=9b37de09af84c969097519f08&id…) Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…

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Right whale marine spatial planning paper corrected online
by Andrew Wright 24 Jul '14

24 Jul '14

Dear Marmamers, Following the previous announcement regarding our new paper an error was found in some of the details presented in the introduction. While it did not affect any of the work contained in the manuscript, we took steps to correct it for sake of accuracy. The revised proof is now online as of today, 24th June. If I sent you a copy prior to this, please get back in touch and I'll send you the revised version. Apologies for any inconvenience. Again, the details of the paper are: Petruny, L.M., Wright, A.J. & Smith, C.E. 2014. Getting it right for the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): A last opportunity for effective marine spatial planning? Marine Pollution Bulletin. Published Online 4th July 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.004 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14003658 ABSTRACT: The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) faces increasing pressure from commercial shipping traffic and proposed marine renewable energy developments. Drawing upon the successful Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary model, we propose a multi-stakeholder marine spatial planning process that considers both appropriate positioning of offshore wind farms and redefining commercial shipping lanes relative to whale migration routes: placement of wind turbines within certain right whale habitats may prove beneficial for the species. To that end, it may be advisable to initially relocate the shipping lanes for the benefit of the whales prior to selecting wind energy areas. The optimal end-state is the commercial viability of renewable energy, as well as a safe shipping infrastructure, with minimal risk of collision and exposure to shipping noise for the whales. This opportunity to manage impacts on right whales could serve as a model for other problematic interactions between marine life and commercial activities. You can also email me directly for a copy at: marinebrit(a)gmail.com Thanks, Andrew -- Andrew Wright, Ph.D. "We don't have to save the world. The world is big enough to look after itself. What we have to be concerned about is whether or not the world we live in will be capable of sustaining us in it." Douglas Adams

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