September 2014 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Seeking dolphin whistle recordings
by Kaitlin Palmer 23 Sep '14

23 Sep '14

Dear MARMAMers, As part of a Scottish government project, we are looking to build a whistle classifier to discriminate between bottlenose dolphins and other delphinids in eastern Scottish waters. We are asking whether there is anyone who might be willing to share exemplar delphinid sounds (whistles) with us to train the classifier. Specifically, we are looking for examples of white-sided dolphins, white-beaked dolphins, Risso's dolphins and common dolphins. Therefore, if anybody has any examples of the aforementioned species, we would be eager to chat with you. Ideally, we would like recordings from the northeast Atlantic. At this point, the classifier will be for internal use only. However, we would be keen to discuss potential collaborations depending on the ultimate performance of the classifier. Thank you for your time. Kind Regards, Kaitlin Palmer -- Kaitlin Palmer MASTS PhD student (masts.ac.uk) E-mail: kp37(a)st-andrews.ac.uk <ler4(a)st-andrews.ac.uk> School of Biology, University of St. Andrews Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH U.K. The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland (SC013532)

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SEMINARIO SULLA BIOLOGIA E LA CONSERVAZIONE DEI MAMMIFERI MARINI
by Sabrina Brando 23 Sep '14

23 Sep '14

SEMINARIO SULLA BIOLOGIA E LA CONSERVAZIONE DEI MAMMIFERI MARINI 30-31 ottobre 2014 Pavia, Italia In collaborazione con l’Universitá di Pavia, Italia, nasce la prima edizione del seminario "Mammiferi marini e Ricerca: un'overview metodologica ed applicativa". Interverranno esponenti di importanti istituti di ricerca del panorama italiano, quali Universitá di Pavia, Politecninco di Milano, Istituto Tethys, Istituto Ispra e Filicudi Wildlife Conservation. Durante queste due giornate verranno affrontate tematiche quali l'ecologia, il comportamento, l'acustica, le metodiche di indagine, la conservazione ed il benessere animale negli acquari. Registrazione obbligatoria entro il 29 ottobre 2014 Costo studenti: 50 euro Costo esterni: 100 euro Informazioni e registrazione al sito http://animalconcepts.eu/calendar/2014/mammiferimariniitaly/ Sabrina Brando BSc. AnimalConcepts www.animalconcepts.eu sbrando(a)animalconcepts.eu +31633008373 "Do something wonderful, people may imitate it" - Albert Schweitzer Change habits, not habitats

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New publication: Social foraging in pilot whales
by Fleur Visser 23 Sep '14

23 Sep '14

Dear all, We are happy to announce our recent publication in Behaviour, describing the social context of foraging behaviour in long-finned pilot whales. Observations of the focal group, centred around a tagged whale, were made using a new protocol allowing quantitative sampling of group-level behaviours. This method allowed us to solve the issues inherent to group sampling, and to validate the relation between visual observations of surface behaviour with actual functional behavioural state. The social context of individual foraging behaviour in long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) (2014).�Fleur Visser, Patrick J.O. Miller, Ricardo N. Antunes, Machiel G. Oudejans, Monique L. Mackenzie, Kagari Aoki, Frans-Peter A. Lam, Petter H. Kvadsheim, Jef Huisman�& Peter L. Tyack. Behaviour 151:1473-1477.� Abstract Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are highly social cetaceans that live in matrilineal groups and acquire their prey during deep foraging dives. We tagged individual pilot whales to record their diving behaviour. To describe the social context of this individual behaviour, the tag data were matched with surface observations at the group level using a novel protocol. The protocol comprised two key components: a dynamic definition of the group centred around the tagged individual, and a set of behavioural parameters quantifying visually observable characteristics of the group. Our results revealed that the diving behaviour of tagged individuals was associated with distinct group-level behaviour at the water’s surface. During foraging, groups broke up into smaller and more widely spaced units with a higher degree of milling behaviour. These data formed the basis for a classification model, using random forest decision trees, which accurately distinguished between bouts of shallow diving and bouts of deep foraging dives based on group behaviour observed at the surface. The results also indicated that members of a group to a large degree synchronised the timing of their foraging periods. This was confirmed by pairs of tagged individuals that nearly always synchronized their diving bouts. Hence, our study illustrates that integration of individual-level and group-level observations can shed new light on the social context of the individual foraging behaviour of animals living in groups. The pdf is available at:�http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/156853… or email: fvisser(a)kelpmarinereseach.com � All the �best, Fleur � Dr. Fleur Visser Principal scientist Kelp Marine Research www.kelpmarineresearch.com ---- Post-doctoral research fellow Behavioural Biology Group - Leiden University http://science.leidenuniv.nl/index.php/ibl/bb

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Internship - Provincetown, MA USA
by Stephanie Richardson 22 Sep '14

22 Sep '14

CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES INTERNSHIP RIGHT WHALE PROGRAM The Center for Coastal Studies is seeking an intern for the upcoming 2015 right whale survey season. This person will work with both the aerial survey and population survey teams, who operate between January and May every year. Documenting the abundance, distribution and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay. The intern will primarily assist staff members with photographing right whales and collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites in Cape Cod Bay. The successful applicant will also be responsible for a number of lab-based photo-identification tasks, such as downloading images, database entry, and matching images to known animals using an online catalog. He/ she will be required to work a minimum of four full days per week. The intern will often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail-oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Fieldwork will likely involve one to two surveys per week, between January 2 and May 15, 2015. Applicants must be available for the full field season. *Requirements:* - A degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences. - Experience with digital SLR cameras. - Data entry; basic computer skills in programs such as Excel and Word. - Experience working on boats, and ability to withstand harsh elements. - Must work well in a team. - Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab based research methods. - A valid US drivers license would be beneficial but is not essential. Housing will be provided and a stipend to cover general living expenses. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand their skills in marine mammal survey techniques, and will offer the successful applicant the unique chance to work with one of the world’s most endangered cetacean species, the North Atlantic right whale. CCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale. This internship will afford the successful applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established institution, with highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in photo-identification, matching, data entry and analysis. Experience in oceanographic sampling will also be gained. Details of our work can be found on our website www.coastalstudies.org Please submit your cover letter, resume, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient), and contact information of two references to: Stephanie Richardson Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02657 Email: srichardson(a)coastalstudies.org Deadline for Submissions: October 15, 2014 -- Stephanie Richardson Human Resource Manager Center for Coastal Studies 115 Bradford Street Provincetown, MA 02657 t. (508) 487-3622 Ext. 113 f. (508) 487-4495

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Reminder: Ocean Science Consulting NZ DOC-approved MMO & PAM training course
by OSC Course Coordinator 22 Sep '14

22 Sep '14

Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is running a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) training course, which has been approved by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC), as being consistent with standards in the '2013 code of conduct for minimising acoustic disturbance to marine mammals from seismic survey operations' (the Code). OSC's DOC-approved course is the first and currently only combined MMO and PAM training available in the world for working in NZ waters. The first course ran successfully in May 2014, and due to popular demand, will be available to candidates again in November 2014, in preparation for the Antipodean seismic exploration season. The Code is regarded as international best practice, particularly concerning the establishment of observer training and performance standards. To meet DOC's requirements, OSC had to develop the most comprehensive and intensive training course on the market today. There is a current shortage of trained MMO and PAM Operators for New Zealand waters, so successful graduates will therefore have a significant commercial advantage (PAM Operators in particular). The knowledge, skills and experience derived from this PAM training will also be applicable worldwide. OSC's high quality course involves responsive personal (including one-to-one) tuition throughout, hands-on experience with state-of-the-art PAM equipment during classroom theory and practical sessions, and field practice aboard a custom-designed environmental survey vessel at sea. OSC is a technology-focused marine science company with over a decade of experience in supplying commercial and scientific MMO and PAM services to the offshore and other marine-related industries worldwide (www.osc.co.uk <http://www.osc.co.uk>). Based in Scotland, OSC also has a branch in New Zealand servicing the Asia-Pacific region (www.osc-nz.co.nz <http://www.osc-nz.co.nz>). Our course instructors are highly experienced and degree-level qualified scientists, practiced MMOs and PAM Operators, and authors of the 'Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook' (www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.co.uk <http://www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.co.uk>), which forms the manual for the course. Our knowledge and expertise are second-to-none, so this course is the obvious choice for anyone wishing to train and prepare as a competent MMO and PAM Operator to work in the field anywhere in the world (please note additional local qualifications and experience may be required). The next course will be run in Dunbar, East Lothian, UK, for 10 days from 10--19 November 2014. All candidates must have their own equipment, including reticle binoculars, handheld GPS, ID guide, and a laptop with NZ data forms, software required for their GPS, and PAMGuard pre-loaded. To register for the course, please send your CV to courses(a)osc.co.uk <mailto:courses@osc.co.uk>. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2014. Upon acceptance to the course, a £225GBP non-refundable deposit towards the £2,250GBP total cost per candidate is required to secure your position. Course costs do not include accommodation or food, and candidates are required to make their own travel arrangements to and from Dunbar. Once payment has been received, each candidate will receive an author-signed pre-release copy of the 'Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook', which must be read prior to attending the course. Please note that this is not simply an 'attend-and-pass course'. In accordance with DOC's requirements, successful candidates must achieve 'results of 75% and above', although we will provide further reassessment procedures for those initially scoring less than 75%. This high pass mark is a key selling point for successful candidates. We look forward to seeing you on our course soon. -- MMO & PAM Course Coordinator OSC Limited Ocean House 4 Brewery Lane Belhaven, Dunbar East Lothian, Scotland EH42 1PD T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 F: +44 (0)1368 865 729 W:www.osc.co.uk

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Please post: New publication- Resource partitioning between common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Israeli bottom trawl fishery? Assessment by stomach contents and tissue stable isotopes analysis
by Aviad Scheinin 21 Sep '14

21 Sep '14

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article: Resource partitioning between common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Israeli bottom trawl fishery? Assessment by stomach contents and tissue stable isotopes analysis A.P. Scheinin, D. Kerem, S. Lojen, J. Liberzon and E. Spanier *Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, volume 94, issue 06, pp. 1203-1220.* *Abstract* Common bottlenose dolphin (CBD) and bottom trawlers exploit the same ecological niche. The estimated CBD population along the Israeli coastline consumes roughly 1280 t of prey annually, similar to the mean annual trawl-fishery yield of 1300 t. In the ultra-oligotrophic Levantine Basin, the potential for competition for limited resources therefore exists. We aimed to examine whether the two consumers indeed harvest the same trophic level of the food web and the same members of that level. These questions were addressed by stomach content and stable isotope (d15N and d13C) analyses. The database included 26 prey-containing stomachs collected between 1996 and 2008 and muscle tissue samples of 23 dolphins and of 27 species of commercial fish and invertebrates for stable isotopes analysis. The 59.3 kg combined stomach content included at least 754 prey items, 97.3% of which were fish, belonging to 22 identified species. About half (46.4%) of the prey mass had medium-to-high commercial value. The overall similarity of the composition of the pooled biomass and that of the average commercial catch was expressed by a Pianka index of 0.49. Sparidae (sea bream) was the only family important for both consumers. The mean d15N value of CBD muscle was found to be relatively low compared to other geographical areas and the estimated mean d15N of its diet fell below that of most commercial species tested. Our findings suggest that CBD and the fisheries only partly share resources, with CBD having an overall minor effect on the bottom trawl fishery, mainly on the Sparidae catch. The article can be accessed via: http://journals.cambridge.org/repo_A93iEsQ6 or by requesting an electronic reprint from shani.aviad(a)gmail.com -- __________________________________________________________________ Aviad Scheinin, Ph.D shani.aviad(a)gmail.com The Mediterranean Marine Biodiversity Program coordinator - Hamaarag (Israel's national nature assessment program) http://www.hamaarag.org.il/ Chairman, IMMRAC - Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance center http://immrac.org/ Home address: Hairusim 33, Nes-Ziona 7408937, Israel Tel 972-8-9406584 Mobile 052-3571193 __________________________________________________________________

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Posting for International Veterinary In-Residence program (TMMC)
by Claire Simeone 20 Sep '14

20 Sep '14

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM AT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER (SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA) The Marine Mammal Center International Veterinary In-Residence (IVIR) training program provides marine mammal veterinarians across the globe an opportunity to gain experience in marine mammal medicine and rehabilitation. It is expected that successful applicants will return to their pre-existing programs prepared to implement training programs of their own. This position requires a DVM degree or equivalent. Preference will be given to veterinarians that are currently employed with a marine mammal rehabilitation program or non-profit equivalent. This is an unpaid position. Airfare to San Francisco, CA, as well as shared housing at the TMMC Guest House located within the Marin Headlands, will be provided as part of the program. The house is shared during the busy season with other students, researchers, externs and the veterinary intern. This position is available during the busy season for three months at a time, either from March-May, May-July or July-September. The applicant is responsible for completing all required visa paperwork, and is required to have an international driver’s license. The Marine Mammal Center veterinary staff includes full and part time veterinarians, three veterinary technicians, a medical technologist and research staff. Goals of the program include assisting the veterinary medical staff in providing medical management of a large number of stranded marine mammals (mostly pinnipeds); performing post mortem examinations, sample collection for various research projects, and record keeping. Collaborative research is highly valued at TMMC, and development of a research project, either clinical or using retrospective necropsy data, is highly encouraged. If qualified, applicants should submit the following materials: 1. A cover letter/statement outlining the applicant's goals and interests in the area of aquatic animal medicine. 2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic and/or clinical performance. 3. A current curriculum vitae, limited to 4 pages. 4. Selection of preferred dates (applicants will only be selected during the busy season (March-September), but slight flexibility in scheduling will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis Please submit your application via E-mail if possible: To: vetsciadmin(a)tmmc.org<mailto:vetsciadmin@tmmc.org> Subject: 2015 International Veterinary In-Residence Program Dr. Claire Simeone Conservation Medicine Veterinarian, The Marine Mammal Center 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965-2619 Applications are due by Friday, November 28th, 2014. A selection will be made by the first week in January 2015. www.marinemammalcenter.org<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org> Dr. Claire Simeone – Conservation Medicine Veterinarian The Marine Mammal Center/NOAA-NMFS | 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite | Sausalito, CA 94965 T: 415.480.9665 | simeonec(a)tmmc.org<mailto:simeonec@tmmc.org>

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Tongan Fluke Collective
by alice forrest 20 Sep '14

20 Sep '14

Have you ever been to Tonga?? And do you have any fluke shots from your visit?? The Tongan Fluke Collective (TFC) aims to utilize photographers visiting the Kingdom of Tonga and photographing humpback whales during the breeding and calving season. You can assist by donating your whale fluke photos to the TFC. Each fluke is different and will be added to a vast catalogue of fluke IDs from Tonga, the South Pacific, Australia and Antarctica. Photographers are given full credit for their images and will be updated if their fluke has had a match with other sightings. Upload to the Flickr page here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/tonganflukecollective/ Thank you! Alice Forrest (Tongan Fluke Collective)

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Course for Graduate Students: Cetacean Acoustics
by Marcos Santos 20 Sep '14

20 Sep '14

Course for Graduate Students: Cetacean Acoustics (Nov. 18th to 28th; Sao Paulo, Brazil) Course for up to 8 (eight) Latin American graduate students in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It will be held by the Instituto Oceanografico - Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP) from November 18th to 28th. Ph. D. Laura Kloepper (National Science Foundation funded Postdoctoral Fellow at Brown University and Visiting Scholar Appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; www.laurakloepper.net) will be visiting Brazil and will share information on an important field of cetacean investigation. The course is free of charge for Latin American graduate students, except in the 4 last fieldwork days which will include the amount of around U$ 100 to cover expenses of food and accomodation taxes at the IOUSP research base at the Cananeia estuary. The conceptual framework will be worked from Nov 18th to 24th in the main headquarters of IOUSP in Sao Paulo, and fieldwork working with Guiana dolphin acoustics will be done at the Cananeia estuary from Nov. 25th to 28th. Transportation to the field and back to Sao Paulo will be provided by the IOUSP. The main topics to be covered in this course are: -- why cetacean acoustics is important in Latin America (oil companies, unique geographies, species found in and near, etc) -- introduction to physics of underwater sounds -- introduction to biology and anatomy of sound production in cetaceans -- introduction to tools used to record sounds (hydrophones, amplifiers, recorders) -- using arrays (localization, beam reconstruction, etc) -- software to analyze sounds (focus on free software but also touch on matlab) -- interpreting and understanding sounds: linking to mitigation and monitoring It is a 60h course and may be used as credits to graduate courses. Classes will be in English. Interested students may get in touch with Prof. Marcos Santos (sotalia@gmailcom) who will answer questions about subscriptions (to be opened from October 20th to November 12th; form and docs to be sent by e-mail) and will help with indications on where to stay in Sao Paulo. The ones who want to start searching a place to stay, there is an interesting opportunity to spend less or no money when staying at student's houses close to the university. Check at https://www.facebook.com/usp.ifriends. [USP IFRIENDS] Dr. Marcos C e sar de Oliveira Santos Laborat o rio de Biologia da Conserva ca o de Mam i feros Aqu a ticos Departamento de Oceanografia Biol o gica, Instituto Oceanogr a fico, Universidade de S a o Paulo Pra c a do Oceanogr a fico, 191, Sala 145-A Butant a , São Paulo, SP, Brasil, 05508-120 http://www.sotalia.com.br

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Cetaceans and Indian Ocean tuna fisheries
by Charles Anderson 20 Sep '14

20 Sep '14

Dear Colleagues, The following report has just been published: Anderson, R. C. (2014) Cetaceans and Tuna Fisheries in the Western and Central Indian Ocean. IPNLF Technical Report 2, International Pole and Line Foundation, London. 133 pages. It is freely available from the website of the International Pole-and-Line Federation (www.ipnlf.org) The direct link is: http://ipnlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/IPNLF-Cetaceans-Tuna-Fisheries-2 014_Final.pdf With best regards, Charles Anderson Maldives & UK ABSTRACT This report reviews information on interactions between cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and tuna fisheries in the western and central Indian Ocean. The average annual catch of tuna and related species in the Indian Ocean was just over 1.5 million tonnes during 2008-12. Of this, almost 1.1 million tonnes (71%) came from the western and central Indian Ocean. The main fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species in the region are gillnet (40% of reported catch during 2008-12), purse seine (26%), longline (12%), handline and troll (11%) and pole-and-line (9%). Major gillnet fishing nations include Iran, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman and Yemen. Cetacean bycatch must be large, but is poorly documented. A rough estimation, based on the limited published information available, suggests that something in excess of 60,000 small cetaceans might be taken as bycatch each year. There is an urgent need for monitoring and management of these fisheries including the development of mitigation methods to reduce cetacean bycatch. Large-scale gillnetting on the high seas (using nets in excess of 2.5km length) is banned by both UN convention and IOTC resolution, but is being carried out by Iran, Pakistan and possibly also other countries; compliance is required. More generally, the large and still expanding gillnet capacity within the region needs to be assessed, and if appropriate either capped or reduced. Purse seining in the western and central Indian Ocean is dominated by French and Spanish fleets. An increasing proportion of sets is made on drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) but there has been, and continues to be, a considerable number of sets made on free schools (i.e. non-FAD-associated tuna schools). Most cetaceans do not regularly associate with FADs and the major potential cetacean interactions are with free school sets. During 1981-1999, 9.6% of all sets were reported to have been made in association with baleen whales, probably Brydes whales (Balaenoptera brydei). When encircled, most whales are reported to escape by breaking through the net. Mortality is unknown, but may have been of the order of 10s annually. The association of free schools of large yellowfin tuna with dolphins (mostly spotted dolphins Stenella attenuata and spinner dolphins Stenella longrostris) is more contentious. This association (which is common in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and is exploited by the purse seine fishery there) has always been reported to be rare in the western Indian Ocean. However, the tuna-dolphin association is common in many coastal areas of the region and widespread in the high seas of the western Indian Ocean north of 10°S. Setting on dolphin schools has been also reported to be rare, but its true scale is questioned. Setting on cetaceans has recently been banned by EU regulation (2007) and IOTC resolution (2013), so cetacean bycatch and mortality should be much reduced in the future. 100% coverage by international observers would be ideal. Longline fisheries were dominated for several decades by East Asian nations, but now increasing catches are made by coastal countries, notably India, Sri Lanka and Seychelles. A major issue for longliners is depredation removal of bait and damage of hooked fish by sharks and cetaceans. Several species of cetacean have been implicated, but the main one appears to be the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). There is also some entanglement of cetaceans in longlines (likely following attempts at depredation). Development of mitigation measures is on-going and needs to be continued. It is possible that some longline fishermen are deliberately killing cetaceans. Several coastal countries have handline fisheries for large yellowfin tuna, which fishermen locate by their association with dolphins (mainly spotted and spinner dolphins). There is anecdotal evidence that some dolphins are hooked. Although they invariably break free or are released, the scale of any post-release mortality or of sub-lethal impacts is unknown. From the Maldivian pole-and-line fishery, there are reports of dolphins (probably Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus) taking fish attracted by the lights used during night bait fishing. The scale and potential impacts of these interactions require assessment. There has been a widespread failure to monitor and manage cetacean bycatch in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries, and to develop and implement mitigation measures. The enormous, and still growing, gillnet capacity in the region should be of particular concern. There is a need for increased observer coverage of all fisheries, supplemented by electronic monitoring. Fishery-independent surveys of cetacean distribution and abundance in the western Indian Ocean are also required to inform management.

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