January 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper on the enamel ultrastructure in fossil cetaceans
by Carolina Loch 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Dear MARMAM subscribers, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper inPLOS One: Loch C, Kieser JA, Fordyce RE (2015) Enamel Ultrastructure in Fossil Cetaceans(Cetacea: Archaeoceti and Odontoceti). PLoS ONE 10(1): e0116557. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0116557 AbstractThe transition from terrestrial ancestry to a fully pelagic life profoundlyaltered the body systems of cetaceans, with extreme morphological changes inthe skull and feeding apparatus. The Oligocene Epoch was a crucial time in theevolution of cetaceans when the ancestors of modern whales and dolphins(Neoceti) underwent major diversification, but details of dental structure andevolution are poorly known for the archaeocete-neocete transition. We reportthe morphology of teeth and ultrastructure of enamel in archaeocetes, andfossil platanistoids and delphinoids, ranging from late Oligocene (WaitakiValley, New Zealand) to Pliocene (Caldera, Chile). Teeth were embedded in epoxyresin, sectioned in cross and longitudinal planes, polished, etched, and coatedwith gold palladium for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. SEMimages showed that in archaeocetes, squalodontids and Prosqualodon (taxa withheterodont and nonpolydont/limited polydont teeth), the inner enamel wasorganized in Hunter-Schreger bands (HSB) with an outer layer of radial enamel.This is a common pattern in most large-bodied mammals and it is regarded as abiomechanical adaptation related to food processing and crack resistance.Fossil Otekaikea sp. and delphinoids, which were polydont and homodont, showeda simpler structure, with inner radial and outer prismless enamel. Radialenamel is regarded as more wear-resistant and has been retained in severalmammalian taxa in which opposing tooth surfaces slide over each other. Theseobservations suggest that the transition from a heterodont and nonpolydont/limitedpolydont dentition in archaeocetes and early odontocetes, to homodont andpolydont teeth in crownward odontocetes, was also linked to a markedsimplification in the enamel Schmelzmuster. These patterns probably reflectfunctional shifts in food processing from shear-and-mastication in archaeocetesand early odontocetes, to pierce-and-grasp occlusion in crownward odontocetes,with the implication of less demanding feeding biomechanics as seen in mostextant odontocetes. Full text is available at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0116557 Or alternatively, a pdf can be requested at: carolina.loch(a)otago.ac.nz Best regards, ________________________________________ Carolina Loch Silva, PhD Research Assistant Sir John Walsh Research Institute Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Phone: +(64) 03 479-5667 & Research Collaborator Geology Department, University of Otago and Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos UFSC Florianópolis, SC - Brasil http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/people/craniofacial-biomechanics/otago054438.h…

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Abstracts - Journal of Cetacean Research & Management, 13(2)
by Dagmar Fertl 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Dear Marmam subscribers, The following are abstracts from one of the most recent issues (Volume 13, issue 2, 2013) of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. The following is posted on behalf of the IWC and the journal editor. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) publishes the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management thrice yearly (Spring, Autumn, and Winter), with at least one supplement that will contain the full report of the IWC Scientific Committee. This is one of the final issues of JCRM to be published in hard copy format. The IWC is delighted to inform you that the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management will be available free of charge online from Volume 14 (https://iwc.int/jcrm) Back copies will also be available free of charge on the IWC website. Some back copies of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management are available in hard copy format, and these are available for the cost of postage only. For further details, please contact secretariat(a)iwc.int. Contact information is provided for the corresponding author for each article. Please do not contact the listserve editors or me for pdfs or copies of the articles. Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and abstract postings. A guide for authors is included at the website. With regards, Dagmar Fertl Sumich, J.L., S.A. Blokhin, and P.A. Tiupeleyev. 2013. Revised estimates of foetal and post-natal growth in young gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):89-96. Contact e-mail: sumichj(a)onid.orst.edu Patterns of gray whale growth in body length and weight with age are evaluated using published values of foetal and post-natal body dimensions at reported ages, supplemented with previously unpublished measured lengths of 88 mid-gestation foetuses, 82 first-summer calves and 30 secondsummer whales taken in the summer/autumn Chukotkan native subsistence fishery. Gompertz growth models are fitted to foetal and post-natal lengths at age, predicting mean lengths at birth in mid-January of 4.7m, 7.9m at weaning and 8.7m at one year. The late foetal diapause in growth of length is not supported by the available data. Two equations were derived for estimating body weights from the linear body dimensions of length nd maximum girth. For biomass estimates, two equations based on length alone and on both girth and length are derived. A multiple least squares regression equation fit to 14 measurements of the same whale over 14 months of captive rehabilitation predicts mean body weights at birth of 1,100–1,200kg, 5,100–5,200kg at six months (weaning), and 6,700–6,800kg at one year of age. ****** D’Intino, A.M., J.D. Darling, J. Urbán R., and T.R. Frasier. 2013. Lack of nuclear differentiation suggests reproductive connectivity between the ‘southern feeding group’ and the larger population of eastern North Pacific gray whales, despite previous detection of mitochondrial differences. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):97-104. Contact e-mail: timothy.frasier(a)smu.ca During winter, eastern North Pacific gray whales migrate south to calving grounds in the lagoons of Baja California, and in spring they migrate north to their summer feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Although the majority of the population makes this migration, a small subset of the population known as the ‘southern feeding group’ ends their northward migration early, spending summers feeding in waters ranging from northern California to southern Alaska. Previous analyses based on photo-ID and mtDNA data indicate that this seasonal substructuring results from maternally-directed site fidelity to different feeding grounds, and that this site fidelity and feeding ground preference is passed from mothers to their offspring. It is currently assumed, but not known, that the individuals of the southern feeding group mate with the rest of the population, and therefore that the eastern North Pacific gray whale represents one interbreeding population. Testing this assumption and understanding how these whales are related to the rest of the population, is key to making appropriate management decisions, which are particularly relevant given the recent increase in potential removals, or threats in the area such as the proposed resumption of aboriginal whaling, and increased oil pipeline development and subsequent vessel traffic. This paper analyses 15 nuclear microsatellite loci in 59 individuals from the southern feeding group and 40 individuals from the calving lagoons (representative of the larger population) to test the hypothesis that the eastern North Pacific gray whale represents one interbreeding population. No indication of population substructuring was found based on these nuclear loci, suggesting that all sampled whales do indeed represent one interbreeding population. Combined, these data from mitochondrial and nuclear markers therefore suggest one interbreeding population that is seasonally subdivided based on maternally-directed site fidelity to different feeding areas. **** Coughran, D.K., N.J. Gales, and H.C. Smith. 2013. A note on the spike in recorded mortality of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Western Australia. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):105-108. Contact e-mail: Douglas.Coughran(a)dpaw.wa.gov.au An unprecedented number of humpback whales (n = 46) from Breeding Stock D (BSD) were found dead or dying on Western Australian beaches in 2009. This compares to an average of less than four stranded humpback whales in each year in the period between 1989 and 2008. The recorded number of humpback whales on beaches in the year preceding this peak (2008, n = 13) and the two years following the peak (2010, n = 16; 2011, n = 17) were also above the long term average. In 2012 (n = 7), the numbers of stranded whales was closer to the longer term average. The majority of stranded individuals were either calves (44%) or juveniles/sub-adults (49%), with only 7% classified as adults. Most whales appeared emaciated. There were insufficient data to determine cause of death. Three possible hypotheses to explain this spike in mortality are proposed: (1) the increase in mortality of BSD was an artefact of increased detection and reporting; (2) the increase was temporary and transitory; and (3) the spike in mortality represents the start of an increasing trend in mortality as the population approaches carrying capacity. We suggest that hypothesis two is the most plausible but on-going monitoring will be required to test this. ***** Rankin, R.W., D. Maldini, and G. Kaufman. 2013. Bayesian estimate of Australian humpback calving interval under sparse resighting rates: 1987-2009. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):109-121. Contact e-mail: robertw.rankin(a)gmail.com This study estimates a calving interval for humpback whales from a longterm photo-ID catalogue of 2,973 individuals resighted in Hervey Bay, East Australia. The study proposes a modification of two existing methods to handle partial identification of sex and age-classes of whales from visual surveys. One method truncates the data to just breeding females and discards all resighting events prior to the first observed breeding event. The second method utilises the multi-stage mark recapture (MSMR) framework and multi-event extension to include all resighted individuals and their entire encounter history. The performance of each method is assessed and the conditioning required to handle ambiguity of sex and age-classes is detailed, which is subtly different from most other mark-recapture methods. Both truncation and the multi-event methods led to similar estimates of calving intervals: 2.98 years (95% CI: 2.27–3.51) and 2.78 years (95% CI: 2.23–3.68) respectively. More importantly, estimates were more sensitive to the exact specification of resighting probabilities among age and sex classes than to the type of conditioning. However, the multi-event framework resulted in more precise estimates of other important life-history parameters such as apparent survival, and included a wider constituency of age and sex classes. ***** Hakamada, T., K. Matsuoka, S. Nishiwaki, and T. Kitakado. 2013. Abundance estimates and trends for Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in Antarctic Areas IV and V for the period 1989/90-2004/05. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):123-151. Contact e-mail:hakamada@cetacean.jp The Japanese Whale Research Programme under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) conducted sighting surveys during the 1989/90 to 2004/05 austral summer seasons (mainly in January and February), alternating between IWC management Areas IV (70°E–130°E) and V (130°E–170°W), both south of 60°S each (split-)year. These data are analysed to obtain abundance estimates for Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in these Areas. The estimates are calculated by standard line transect analysis methods using the program DISTANCE under the assumption that g(0) = 1. Annual rates of increase in abundance are estimated using log-linear models. The analyses take several recommendations from the 2006 JARPA Review Meeting into consideration. Those addressed here aim to: (a) improve the point estimates of abundance and their precision; and (b) evaluate (through sensitivity tests) the effect of different factors associated with the JARPA survey on the estimates of abundance and trend. GLM models are used to adjust for different strata being surveyed at different times of year over the duration of JARPA, with model selection being based on AICc. Abundance estimates for Area IV range from 16,562 (CV = 0.542) in 1997/98 to 44,945 (CV = 0.338) in 1999/00, while those for Area V range from 74,144 (CV = 0.329) in 2004/05 to 151,828 (CV = 0.322) in 2002/03. Estimates of the annual rates of increase in abundance are 1.8% with a 95% CI of [–2.5%, 6.0%] for Area IV and 1.9% with a 95% CI of [–3.0%, 6.9%] for Area V. Estimates of these trends are robust to the effects of changes in survey timing, the shapes of the shoulders of detection functions, portions of survey tracklines following the ice edge, parts of the Areas in which no survey took place and poor coverage within some strata. Adjustments to allow for the g(0) being less than 1 are made by the application of a regression model, developed from the results of the Okamura-Kitakado (OK) method estimate of minke whale abundance from the IDCR-SOWER surveys, which provides estimates of g(0) from the statistics of the minke whale school size distribution in a stratum. With this adjustment, abundance estimates increase by an average of 32,333 (106%) for Area IV and 89,245 (86%) for Area V, while the estimates of annual rates of increase and their 95% CIs change slightly to 2.6% [–1.5%,6.9%] for Area IV and 1.6% [ 3.4%,6.7%] for Area V. ***** Murase, H., I. Temoai, T. Kirata, S. Finkaso, G. Yasunaga, and L.A. Pastene. 2013. A note on cetaceans off Kiribati and Tuvalu from a research cruise in October 2010. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):153-158. Contact e-mail: muraseh(a)affrc.go.jp This paper summarises the results of a sighting survey conducted around the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) and Tuvalu Islands (Tuvalu) in the central Pacific Ocean between 3 and 17 October 2010. This was the first systematic collection of cetacean sighting data in this region. The main objective of the survey was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of cetaceans around Kiribati and Tuvalu. In addition biopsy samples were obtained to investigate the species identity of Bryde’s-whale-like baleen whales through genetic analyses and to assess feeding ecology of cetaceans in the survey area through the examination of fatty acids. The survey was carried out using a sighting survey vessel, which covered a total of 1,012 n.miles (≈1,875km). A total of 24 schools (640 individuals) of cetaceans was sighted: three schools (five individuals) of Bryde’s-whale-like baleen whales, one school (nine individuals) of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), one school (six individuals) of killer whales (Orcinus orca), one school (14 individuals) of short finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), one school (two individuals) of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), eight schools (483 individuals) of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), and one school (70 individuals) of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses based on the biopsy samples identified two of the Bryde’s-whale-like whales sighted, as of the putative species Balaenoptera brydei. Compositions of fatty acids of Bryde’s and killer whales are presented. The survey provided new information on the distribution and fatty-acid composition of cetaceans around Kiribati and Tuvalu. ***** Stevick, P.T., J.M. Allen, M.H. Engel, F. Félix, B. Haase, and M.C. Neves. 2013. Inter-oceanic movement of an adult female humpback whale between Pacific and Atlantic breeding grounds off South America. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):159-162. Contact e-mail: ptstevick(a)gmail.com We report the first documented movement of an individual humpback whale between the eastern South Pacific stock off Ecuador and the western South Atlantic stock off Brazil. This constitutes the first record of a humpback whale in both the Atlantic and Pacific breeding grounds off South America, and one of a small number of inter-oceanic movements documented to date. It is possible that, even at quite low levels, this movement of individuals between breeding grounds contributes to the current high level of mtDNA diversity in these once-depleted Southern Hemisphere populations. When first sighted, the whale was accompanied by a young calf, and is therefore identified as an adult female. This movement to a different and distant breeding ground is the first reported by a reproductively mature female, and shows that extreme long-distance travellers among humpback whales are not restricted to young males. ***** Iriarte, V., and M. Marmontel. 2013. Insights on the use of dolphins (boto, Inia geoffrensis and tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis) for bait in the piracatinga (Calophysus macropterus) fishery in the western Brazilian Amazon. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):163-173. Contact e-mail: verorcinus(a)gmail.com In the Amazon Basin, the use of the pink dolphin or boto (Inia geoffrensis) for bait in the piracatinga (Calophysus macropterus) fishery was first detected in the year 2000. Since then, this artisanal fishery has become more prevalent as it requires only a few hours of work per night and provides immediate cash earnings. It is thus an attractive addition to (or replacement for) traditional fishing. Previous reports have noted the use of botos as bait, but stated that the most common bait used are caimans (Melanosuchus niger, Caiman crocodilus). Estimates of the number of dolphins killed based on fish landings have been proposed and an apparent decrease in sighting/survival of an artificially-marked boto population was observed. Although stocks/population estimates, trends and actual numbers of hunted dolphins are unknown, the conservation impacts of this activity are of concern. Between October 2010 and November 2011, research was conducted within an area with serious conflicts between dolphins and fishermen as well as intense fishing for piracatinga, i.e. in the lower Japurá River, on the border with the Mamirauá and Amanã Sustainable Development Reserves, where both boto and tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) are used for bait. One-hundred and fifty-seven monitoring surveys were carried out in eight key communities, confirming 114 piracatinga fishing events through direct monitoring and incognito surveys of fishing gear (gaiolas). Empirical evidence of the activity in gaiolas comprised pieces of bait, carcass remains, piracatinga provoked vomits and dolphin fished carcasses. Of those, 31.2% (n = 35) involved cetacean bait (91.4% I. geoffrensis, 8.58% S. fluviatilis), 68.7% (n = 77) caiman bait (96% M. niger, 4% C. crocodilus), and two fishing events used both types. These percentages may be higher/lower in other areas within and outside the Reserves. Given the increasing trend of the piracatinga fishery, the authors believe that precautionary measures for the conservation of Amazonian dolphins are urgently needed. Development of practical short-term solutions (e.g. offal-baited fish traps) and multispecies management together with law enforcement, incentives and educational programmes could allow the future transition of riverine communities from the piracatinga fishery to sustainable, higher income activities. ***** Ryan, C., D. Craig, P. López-Suárez, J.V. Perez, I. O’Connor, and S.D. Berrow. 2013. Breeding habitat of poorly studied humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Boa Vista, Cape Verde. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(2):175-180. Contact e-mail address: cryan(a)mcr-team.org The waters surrounding Cape Verde comprise one of two known breeding grounds for humpback whales in the North Atlantic. The population remains very small and has apparently failed to recover since the cessation of whaling there. During the breeding seasons of 2011 and 2012, sighting surveys were carried out for humpback whales off Boa Vista, the easternmost island of the Cape Verde Island archipelago. The distribution and relative abundance of humpback whales and mother-calf pairs was investigated by plotting effort-corrected sightings using a 2km2 grid-square. The study area, a 206km2 region from the coastline up to 8km offshore, covered the western half of Boa Vista where whales have previously been regularly recorded. Following 1,954km of search effort, 117 sightings of humpback whales were made. An encounter rate of 0.11 whales per km was recorded for both years. It is hoped that these data may assist in implementing conservation measures to protect humpback whales and the habitat of Baia Sal Rei, which appears to be the single most important bay for winter breeding, calving and nursing humpback whales in the eastern North Atlantic.

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Abstracts - Journal of Cetacean Research & Management, 13(1)
by Dagmar Fertl 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, Apologies to those of you who will receive duplicate emails due to cross-posting. The following are abstracts from one of the most recent issues (Volume 13, issue 1, 2013) of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. The following is posted on behalf of the IWC and the journal editor. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) publishes the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management thrice yearly (Spring, Autumn, and Winter), with at least one supplement that will contain the full report of the IWC Scientific Committee. This is one of the final issues of JCRM to be published in hard copy format. The IWC is delighted to inform you that the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management will be available free of charge online from Volume 14 (https://iwc.int/jcrm) Back copies will also be available free of charge on the IWC website. Some back copies of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management are available in hard copy format, and these are available for the cost of postage only. For further details, please contact secretariat(a)iwc.int. Contact information is provided for the corresponding author for each article. Please do not contact the listserve editors or me for pdfs. Thank you for your continued interest in the journal and abstract postings. A guide for authors is included at the website. With regards, Dagmar Fertl ************************************************ Brodie, P., K. Ramirez, and M. Haulena. 2013. Growth and maturity of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Cumberland Sound, Canada, and in captivity: evidence for two growth layer groups (GLGs) per year in teeth. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):1-18. Contact e-mail: p.brodie(a)icloud.com The beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) is one of the few cetaceans to adapt, year-round, to an Arctic environment, one of the most challenging marine habitats, incorporating shallow estuaries, high turbidity, shifting pack-ice and extreme tidal ranges. Adaptation is attributed in part, to year-round herd integrity and synchrony, occupying a sequence of restricted seasonal habitats and calving sites, which are reflected in tooth laminae. Field research, 1966–1969, led to the conclusion that females are sexually mature at 5.75 years and males at 8.75 years, gestation is 15–16 months, reproductive cycle 3 years, with a lifespan of 30–35 years. Newborn and the first four year-classes are recognisable by length, body colour and morphology. The two-year nursing period results in rapid growth, coincident with a training period to acquire social, feeding, and crucial under-ice navigational skills. Belugas in Cumberland Sound had been reduced through exploitation, thus it is unlikely that present numbers are food limited, reflecting maximum rate of increase. We examine growth indices for captive belugas, either captured as calves, or first and second generations born in captivity, to compare known-age animals. Onset of sexual maturity in males and females is similar to findings for Cumberland Sound, which was based on two growth layer groups per year in the teeth, or GLG/2. We analyse studies where previous oral doses of tetracycline, as well as bomb radiocarbon 14C from 1958 were used to argue for single annual GLGs or GLG/1. Dedicated field studies, using appropriate dosage of intramuscular tetracycline, provide evidence for GLG/2. The 14C study appears to have been compromised by preparation technique and burdens sampled in the 1990s may have been of maternal origin, transferred during foetal growth and nursing, or from recent fallout to 1980. Fundamental to the issue of growth-at-age: arguments for GLG/1 are based on back-calculation from adults of unknown age, while GLG/2 is based on projection from newborn to known-age young and adults. Direct observations and cross-referenced parameters do not substantiate GLG/1, which requires halving the growth rate, thus doubling the age of sexual and physical maturity as well as lifespan, resulting in a 40% reduction of the intrinsic rate of natural increase, substantially lower than the present rate of recovery observed. **** Bassos-Hull, K., R.M. Perrtree, C.C. Shepard, S. Schilling, A.A. Barleycorn, J.B. Allen, B.C. Palmer, W.E. Pine, and R.S. Wells. 2013. Long-term site fidelity and seasonal abundance estimates of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the southwest coast of Florida and responses to natural perturbations . Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):19-30. Contact e-mail: kbhull(a)mote.org Information characterising site fidelity and abundance for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the southwest coast of Florida is important for defining stock structure for management purposes. Long-term site fidelity and ranging patterns of bottlenose dolphins in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, Florida were investigated using photo-ID data collected during 566 boat-based surveys from 1982 through 2007. Seasonal abundance estimates were generated from seven multi-week field seasons during 2001 through 2006, before and after a major hurricane and red tide event occurred in the area. In total, 1,154 distinctive dolphins were identified up to 34 times each with 84% of individuals resighted on more than one day. Multiple year residency rates were high with 81% of dolphins sighted in at least two years and 30% over ten or more years. Seventy-six percent of individuals with sightings on two or more days were observed in both summer and winter. Of 249 dolphins sighted on ten or more days in the study area, 83% were never observed outside the study area, indicating strong site-fidelity. Two years after a devastating Category 4 hurricane in 2004 and following two years of Karenia brevis harmful algal blooms, 94% of dolphins were observed in the same region within the study area and abundance estimates remained stable. Documenting range and site fidelity patterns of individuals over long periods of time is helpful for characterizing population structure and for examining changes attributable to environmental factors and perturbations such as hurricanes, harmful algal blooms and climate change. **** Martien, K.K., D.P. Gregovich, and A.E. Punt. 2013. Defining the appropriate ‘Unit-To-Conserve’ under the International Whaling Commission’s Revised Management Procedure. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):31-38. Contact e-mail: Karen.Martien(a)noaa.gov Identifying the appropriate ‘Unit to Conserve’ (UTC) is critical to the success of any management scheme. While the need to define the UTC appropriate to the IWC’s Catch Limit Algorithm (CLA) has long been recognised by its Scientific Committee, little progress has been made on this issue. The CLA was rigorously tested prior to its adoption. However, most of those original performance trials focused on single-population scenarios or two-population scenarios with no ongoing dispersal. None of the trials considered the performance of the CLA across a range of dispersal rates. In this study, the performance of the CLA under a variety of population structure scenarios is examined. This is the first study to investigate the levels of connectivity (i.e. dispersal rate) for which populations require separate management to meet the conservation goals of the CLA. All the trials consisted of two populations that were managed as a single stock for 100 years. Both historical and modern hunts were spatially-biased so that population 1 was the primary target of hunting. Parameters that varied among trials were the relative carrying capacities (K) of the populations, the dispersal rate between them, maximum sustainable yield rate (MSYR1+), and the precision in simulated abundance estimates. All of these parameters had strong effects on the conservation performance of the CLA. Trials with a low MSYR1+ (1%) generally ended with the abundance of population 1 below 0.54K, regardless of the dispersal rate or relative carrying capacities of the two populations. The same was true of trials in which the carrying capacity of population 1 represented only 10% of the total landscape carrying capacity and the CV of the abundance estimates was low, even when dispersal between populations was high (5 × 10–3yr–1) and MSYR1+ was 4%. The results suggest that the appropriate UTCs under the RMP are likely to exchange dispersers at high enough rates that they will be difficult to delineate using existing methods. These results also highlight the value of spatially-diffuse hunting patterns that avoid potential overhunting of unrecognised stocks. **** Bertulli, C.G., M.H. Rasmussen, and M.J. Tetley. 2013. Photo-identification rate and wide-scale movement of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the coastal waters of Faxaflói and Skjálfandi Bays, Iceland. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):39-45. Contact e-mail: ciarabertulli(a)yahoo.it Information on movement and site fidelity is important for conservation and management. Photo-ID of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was conducted from whalewatching vessels within the coastal waters of Faxaflói (a bay on the southwest coast of Iceland) and Skjálfandi (a bay on the northeast coast) between 2007–10 and 2001–10 respectively, to examine fidelity to the sampling locations and movement between them. Images of 292 individual minke whales were obtained in Faxaflói and 61 in Skjálfandi, with an overall ‘annual re-capture proportion’ of 23.3% in the former and 16.4% in the latter. Most (about 80%) of the resighted animals in each bay were re-sighted in one year only. The total number of identified whales has increased in both Faxaflói and Skjálfandi Bays since 2007 and 2001 respectively, suggesting the existence of an open population in both bays. One match was found between the two bays, eight years apart; the distance was approximately 600km between southwest and northeast Iceland. This study shows the value of photo-ID studies from platforms of opportunity such as whalewatching vessels. More data are required from broader geographic areas before firm conclusions can be drawn about movements and site fidelity within Icelandic waters. **** Vermeulen, E. 2013. Abundance estimates of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in Bahía San Antonio, Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):47-51. Contact e-mail: elsvermeulen5(a)gmail.com The abundance of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) was estimated by the means of aerial line-transect surveys for the area of Bahia San Antonio, a bay located in the north-western region of the San Matias Gulf (40°50’S 64°50’W), Rio Negro, Patagonia Argentina. In total, seven aerial surveys were conducted in the first week of August and September 2009, September, October and November 2010, and August, September 2011. Survey effort equalled a total flight time of 12.4h, during which 200 whales were counted in 119 whale groups. Half of the encounters were solitary animals and 17% were mating groups. Corrected abundance estimates showed the highest amount of whales present in the bay during the month of September, with 85+71, 207+108 and 117+55 animals in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively. In adjacent months, less than half the amount of whales seemed to be present. The correction factor g(0)availability resulted 0.392+0.456. Perception bias was not accounted for. These aerial surveys resulted in the first estimates of southern right whale abundance in this north Patagonian bay and indicated a rather abrupt peak during the month of September. This being the peak month for right whale presence is consistent with data from other regions in the Southwest Atlantic, but data obtained in the other months remained scarce and thus results should be interpreted carefully. The complete absence of whales in the area during November 2010 and August 2011 raises further questions on the predictability of the whale’s presence in the area. Overall, more consistent aerial surveys should be conducted to accurately determine the annual and interannual evolution of southern right whale abundance in the study area. **** Silberg, J.N., J.M.V. Acebes, A.M. Burdin, E.G. Mamev, K.C. Dolan, C.A. Layusa, and E.Q. Aca. 2013. New insight into migration patterns of western North Pacific humpback whales between the Babuyan Islands, Philippines and the Commander Islands, Russia. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):53-57. Contact e-mail: joshsilberg(a)gmail.com The population structure of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the North Pacific has received significant attention in recent years through the collaborative Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance, and Status of Humpback whales in the North Pacific (SPLASH) study. However, the analysis of humpback whales in the western North Pacific Asian population was limited in the SPLASH study, due to small sample size. Much of the Asian population summers off Kamchatka, Russia and spends the winters in breeding grounds in Okinawa and Ogasawara, Japan and the Babuyan Islands in the northern Philippines. Prior studies grouped the Commander Islands feeding ground in Russia, with the eastern Aleutian Islands as part of the central humpback whale stock. This paper uses additional years of photo-ID data from both the Philippines (160 whales from 2000–12) and the Commander Islands (531 whales from 2008–10) to establish a previously unreported migratory connection by matching four animals between the two sites. The new migratory linkage found in the present study suggests that a small portion of humpback whales hypothesised to be migrating to a ‘missing’ breeding ground in the central North Pacific are actually migrating to the Philippines. However, additional studies on a wider geographical scale are required. **** Ivashchenko, V.Y., P.J. Clapham, and R.L. Brownell, Jr. 2013. Soviet catches of whale in the North Pacific: revised totals. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):59-71. Contact e-mail: yulia.ivashchenko(a)noaa.gov The USSR conducted a global campaign of illegal whaling beginning in 1948. Catch records for Soviet pelagic operations in the Southern Hemisphere (and the northern Indian Ocean) have been largely corrected, but major gaps have remained for the North Pacific. Here, using newly discovered whaling industry reports, corrected figures for Soviet catches in this ocean are provided. During the period 1948–79, a minimum of 190,183 whales were killed by the USSR in the North Pacific (195,783 if one includes an estimate for sperm whales taken in years for which there are no true data); of these, only 169,638 were reported to the IWC, a difference of 20,568 whales (26,168 including the sperm whale estimate). Figures were falsified for 8 of 12 hunted species, with some catches over-reported to camouflage takes of illegal species. Revised catch totals (caught vs. reported) are as follows: blue whale – 1,621 vs. 858; fin whale – 14,167 vs. 15,445; humpback whale – 7,334 vs. 4,680; sperm whale – 153,686 vs. 132,505; sei whale – 7,698 vs. 11,363; North Pacific right whale – 681 vs. 11; bowhead whale – 145 vs. 0; gray whale – 172 vs. 24. Bryde’s, minke, killer and Baird’s beaked whale catches were reported correctly. Of all the hunted species, sperm and North Pacific right whales were the most heavily impacted. Major falsifications for sperm whales involved figures for both total catch and sex ratio. **** Lammers, M.O., A.A. Pack, E.G. Lyman, and L. Espiritu. 2013. Trends in collisions between vessels and North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hawaiian waters (1975-2011). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):73-80. Contact e-mail: lammers(a)hawaii.edu Injury from collisions with vessels is a growing threat worldwide for many species of whales. Thirty seven years of historical records were examined for evidence of vessel collisions with humpback whales in the main Hawaiian Islands. Between 1975 and 2011, 68 collisions between vessels and whales were reported including 59 witnessed collisions and 9 observed whale injuries that were consistent with a recent vessel collision. No collisions were immediately lethal. The waters between Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, which are known to have one of the highest concentrations of humpback whales in the Hawaiian Islands, had the highest incidence of collisions. Over 63% of the collisions involved calves and subadults, suggesting a greater susceptibility towards collisions among younger animals. The rate of collisions increased significantly over the final twelve breeding seasons of the study and was greater than predicted by the estimated annual increase in the whale population, suggesting that the rising number of reported collisions cannot be explained solely by the annual increase in whale abundance. Although the total number of registered vessels and shipping traffic in Hawaii remained relatively constant between 2000 and 2010, there was a significant increase in the number of vessels between 7.9m and 19.8m in length. Vessels within this size range were also the most commonly involved in collisions during the study period, accounting for approximately two thirds of recorded incidents. It is concluded that from 1975 2011, there was a significant increase in reports of non-lethal collisions between vessels and humpback whales, especially calves and subadults, in the main Hawaiian Islands that likely reflects a combination of factors including the recovery of the population of North Pacific humpback whales, increases in traffic of particular vessel types, and increased reporting practices by operators of vessels. **** Brandon, J.R., and A.E. Punt. 2013. Testing the Gray Whale Strike Limit Algorithm (SLA): allowing environmental variability to influence population dynamics . Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(1):81-88. Contact e-mail: jbrandon(a)u.washington.edu The performance of the Gray Whale SLA is evaluated based on an operating model conditioned on available information for the eastern North Pacific stock of gray whales including: survey estimates of 1+ abundance; calf counts; strandings data; and the extent of sea-ice in the feeding grounds in the Bering Sea in the early season. Multiple scenarios are considered in the analyses to explore the impact of different sources of environmental variation, including scenarios in which future environmental forcing and episodic events are driven by the relationships between reproductive success and survival to sea ice. A variety of sources of uncertainty are considered, including parameter uncertainty, the uncertainty about the relationship between the extent of sea-ice and population dynamics, and observation error. The impact of these sources of uncertainty on the performance of the Gray Whale SLA is small. For all scenarios considered in the simulations, application of the SLA results in the stock being at or near carrying capacity at the end of a 92 year projection period for which sea-ice cover forecasts are available, while still satisfying the needs of aboriginal whalers

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Recent Publication: reproductive traits in female bottlenose dolphins of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
by Pedro Fruet 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Dear all, We are glad to announce a recent publication in Marine Biology: Pedro F. Fruet; Rodrigo Cezar Genoves, Luciana M. Möller, Silvina Botta, Eduardo R. Secchi (2015) Using mark‑recapture and stranding data to estimate reproductive traits in female bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops **truncatus*) of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Marine Biology. DOI 10.1007/s00227-015-2613-0 ABSTRACT Despite bottlenose dolphins being well studied in several regions around the world, there is very limited information about the reproduction of these animals in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA). In this study, data from a long-term mark-recapture and stranding monitoring program were used to estimate life history traits of female bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the Patos Lagoon estuary, a sub-tropical coastal region in the SWA. From the analysis of 32,296 high-quality dorsal fin photographs, the fate of 37 individual females and 66 of their calves was tracked. Results supported a birth pulse dolphin community, with most births occurring during late spring and summer, in association with increasing water temperature and food supply. Female bottlenose dolphins first reproduced at a minimum age of 8 years. Mean inter-birth interval was 3 years (mode = 2), and fecundity was 0.11. A clear change in the δ13C and δ15N profiles in teeth from stranded carcasses near age 2 indicated the most probable weaning age. First and second year annual calf survival estimates were 0.84 (95 % CI 0.72–0.90) and 0.86 (95 % CI 0.74– 0.94), respectively. No evidence was found to support that timing of birth plays a role in calf survival, suggesting that variability in water temperature and food resources within the year is unlikely to impact upon survival of calves. Older females reproduced at lower rates, suggesting an age-related decrease in reproductive fitness. At an individual level, marked variation in reproductive success was observed. Our findings highlight the importance of long-term studies for long-lived mammals to yield individual- and population-level parameters for demographic and viability analyses that are useful for conservation and management The article is fully accessible to all users at libraries and institutions that have purchased a SpringerLink license. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-015-2613-0 <http://www.springer.com/-/10/f9069e3e75584f9abecddf3a0a66299e> Alternatively, PDF of the article can be requested by sending an email to pfruet(a)gmail.com Cheers, Pedro ---------------------------------------------------------------- Pedro F. Fruet Universidade Federal do Rio Grande Museu Oceanográfico Rio Grande, RS, Brasil. email: pfruet(a)gmail.com <pfruet(a)gmail.com.br> www.botosdalagoa.com.br

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Summer 2015 Dolphin Research Internships
by Kel Melillo Sweeting 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Dolphin Communication Project (DCP) - Volunteer Research Assistants/Interns - Summer 2015 Florida, USA and Bimini, The Bahamas The Dolphin Communication Project (DCP, www.dolphincommunicationproject.org) is currently seeking one - two interns for the summer of 2015. These internships have field and office components, both of which are mandatory, and total 8-10 weeks, depending on DCP's schedule. DCP looks at how dolphins communicate and attempts to shed more light on the meaning of their interactions. With research ongoing since 1991, our questions focus primarily on communication and behavior among dolphins. Interns will spend the field portion of this internship at our Bimini, Bahamas research site, where we study wild Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins. An abbreviated publication list is available at the end of this post. Responsibilities In the field: --Travel to and assist for 3-4 weeks at our Bimini research site (exact dates TBD, likely beginning in early July, following the office component) --Assist gathering data (general observations, photographs) during 4-6 hour/day boat excursions (weather and schedule dependent) --Complete photo-identification of dolphins from still photography and video as well as other data entry and analysis tasks --Assist with on-board and outreach education as well as web-based projects --Represent DCP in an enthusiastic, responsible, mature and respectful manner At the office: --Travel to and assist for 4-5 weeks at our Florida (FL) office (exact dates TBD, likely prior to field component, beginning in late May/early June) --Process and analyze data, including, but not limited to: photo-identification of individuals from other DCP research sites, event sampling from video data for behavioral analyses, and acoustic analysis of dolphin sounds --Assist in the development and implementation of education programs for schools and the general public, as needed Requirements Successful interns must have basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Current enrollment in a degree-seeking program, background in science and/or animal behavior and experience on boats and/or with photo-identification are all desired, but not necessarily required. The successful candidates will be comfortable on a boat for several hours at a time in varying conditions, including extreme heat. They will also be proficient swimmers with the desire to improve snorkeling and free-diving skills. They will be able to work as a team both in a small office and in a fairly remote and isolated field setting. Good writing and public speaking skills are a must, as is attention to details. Interns must be at least 18 years of age. Although international applicants are invited to apply, all applicants should know that interns are responsible for their own daily transportation to/from the FL office and public transportation is limited in this area; therefore, all interns should have their own transportation while in FL. Expenses and Compensation This is an unpaid internship. Interns are responsible for their own transportation to Bimini and Florida. There is a $1,000.00 fee that will cover expenses in the field, including room and partial board. Room, board and transportation while in Florida are the responsibility of the intern. Although assistance in finding housing may be available, the ability to find suitable housing in Florida is ultimately the interns’ responsibility. We recommend all applicants complete a preliminary housing search in advance of submitting their applications. Interested applicants should review information at this link: http://tinyurl.com/DCPInternships. Please read this page thoroughly before applying or emailing questions. Send a completed application (downloadable and detailed at the link above) to kelly(a)dcpmail.org. Applications are due 20 February 2015. Due to field schedules, only electronic applications will be accepted. Interviews (via telephone or Skype) will be arranged for selected candidates in early March. For more information, please contact Kelly Melillo Sweeting at kelly(a)dcpmail.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selected Refereed Publications: (for a full list of publications by DCP researchers, please visit: http://www.dolphincommunicationproject.org/index.php/about-dolphins/scienti…) Dudzinski, K.M., Clark, C.W., Würsig, B. 1995. A mobile video/acoustic system for simultaneously recording dolphin behavior and vocalizations underwater. Aquatic Mammals 21(3): 187-193. Dudzinski, K.M. 1998. Contact behavior and signal exchange among Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Aquatic Mammals 24(3): 129-142. Dudzinski, K.M., M. Sakai, M., Masaki, K., Kogi, K., Hishii, T., Kurimoto, M. 2003. Behavioral observations of adult and sub-adult dolphins towards two dead bottlenose dolphins (one female and one male). Aquatic Mammals 29(1): 108-116. Gregg, J.D., Dudzinski, K.M., Smith, H.V. 2007. Do dolphins eavesdrop on the echolocation signals of conspecifics? International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 20: 65-88 Dudzinski, K.M., Thomas, J. Gregg, J.D. 2008. Communication. In (W.F. Perrin, B. Würsig, H.C.M. Thewissen, eds) Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, second edition. Academic Press, Inc. Melillo, K.E., Dudzinski, K.M., Cornick, L.A. 2009. Interactions between Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins off Bimini, The Bahamas, 2003-2007. Aquatic Mammals, 35:281-291 Dudzinski, K.M., Gregg, J.D., Paulos, R.D., Kuczaj, S.A. 2010. A comparison of pectoral fin contact behaviour for three distinct dolphin populations. Behavioural Processes, 84: 559-567. Greene, W., Melillo-Sweeting, K., Dudzinski, K. 2011. Comparing object play in captive and wild dolphins. International Journal of Comparative Psychology 24(3):292-306. Dudzinski, KM, Gregg, JD, Melillo-Sweeting, K, Levengood, A, Seay, B., Kuczaj II, SA. 2012. Tactile contact exchanges between dolphins: self-rubbing versus inter-individual contact in three species from three geographies. International Journal of Comparative Psychology 25:21-43. Dudzinski, KM, Danaher-Garcia, N, Gregg, JD. 2013. Pectoral fin contact between dolphin dyads at Zoo Duisburg, with comparison to other dolphin study populations. Aquatic Mammals. 39(4): 335-343. Melillo-Sweeting, K, Turnbull, S and Guttridge, T. 2014. Evidence of shark attacks on Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Bimini, The Bahamas. Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12082 _______________________________ Kelly Melillo Sweeting Bimini Research Manager Dolphin Communication Project www.dolphincommunicationproject.org

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Marine biology summer volunteer opportunities
by Lucy Hunt 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Hello I would appreciate it if you could circulate the below opportunities that may be of interest to your network. *Marine biology volunteer positions available at Sea Synergy Marine Awareness and Activity Centre, Waterville, Co. Kerry, Ireland: 2015 summer season* Sea Synergy is a new Marine Awareness and Activity Centre set up by marine biologist Lucy Hunt in the beautiful coastal village Waterville located on the famed picturesque Ring of Kerry driving route in SW Ireland. For more info please visit www.seasynergy.ie The marine awareness centre incorporates an interactive marine exhibition of Irish marine life, a small gift shop and a booking office for marine activities in the area. Marine awareness and education programmes are run from the centre throughout the summer including children and adult beach workshops, snorkelling, nature surveys, hatchery and lake tours, summer camps and indoor presentations. Sea Synergy is involved in and reports to a number of ongoing research projects such as Purse Search Ireland, Coastwatch, Shore Thing, Seasearch, IWDG, Birdwatch reporting schemes and involved in Clean Coasts and other marine conservation schemes. There are three full time volunteer positions available for start June – end Sept 2015. Preference will be given to candidates that can volunteer for longer periods of time and who fit the below requirements. (More positions may also be available in August so please include how long you can come for and when you are available). *Education and Outreach officer duties (2):* Working alongside owner of Sea Synergy you will: · Develop the marine education programme · Supervise children and adult marine workshops on the beaches and in the centre · Show people around the exhibition centre · Generate marine awareness presentations and games · Give marine wildlife presentations · Provide marine wildlife talks on boats when possible · Host travelling marine workshops · Create educational and promotional resources · Promote social networking and public relations · Assist in research and field survey work · Work in gift shop/booking office/exhibition reception *Research development officer duties* Working alongside owner of Sea Synergy you will: · Develop research and survey programme incl. Coastwatch, Shore Thing, local nature studies & trails · Record, organise data and report to relevant organisations · Supervise local headland watches for marine mammals and birds · Organise and conduct public whale watches from local headland · Set up and attend boat based surveys when possible · Provide talks/presentations on marine wildlife and survey involvement · Encourage the public in surveys - citizen science · Teach children and public survey methods · Promote social networking and public relations · Work in gift shop/ exhibition reception & centre/booking office *Important skills/qualifications* *Essential:* Age 18years+ · Background in marine biology/environmental science or similar · Keen interest in marine conservation and education · First Aid skills · Be enthusiastic and possess a caring, patient & positive attitude, with a strong desire to learn · Strong commitment to volunteering work · Must be able use to use own initiative and have desire for independent actions/thoughts and work without continuous supervision · Ability to work well in a team · Confidence to interact with the public, especially children · Excellent verbal and writing/reporting skills · Good organizational and workload management skills · Good IT skills *Desirable:* · Strong interest in and knowledge of Irish marine biodiversity · Previous experience snorkeling or scuba diving certificate · Previous experience in public speaking · Previous experience working with children · Previous experience in survey work (e.g. headland watches, coastal surveys) · Previous experience in data handling · Previous experience with aquaria · Ability to work long hours outdoors in variable weather · Capability to work well on boats · Life saving and Advanced First Aid skills · Have own transport *Opportunities:* · Live in one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland for the summer · See some of Ireland’s amazing marine life on watches and surveys · Snorkel, scuba dive and observe Ireland’s coastal waters · Work with like-minded and enthusiastic team · Visit UNESCO world heritage site Skellig Micheal · Be part of survey vessels, wildlife tour boats and Skellig trips · Develop your skills in marine surveying, outreach, education and awareness · Gain experience with Waterville Lakes & Rivers Trust in salmon and seatrout conservation measures To view more of Sea Synergy and the area where you could be working watch this video clip from a recent programme featured on TV3 Lucy Hunt - Sea Synergy Waterville, Co. Kerry <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqViW5xldV8&feature=youtu.be> Shared accommodation can be arranged with the Sea Synergy team at your own expense (ranging from €50-70pw depending on house choice). TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter with your CV and available times for summer 2015 to Lucy Hunt at seasynergy(a)gmail.com. Application deadline is *20th of Feb*. Interviews will be conducted in March via skype/tel or in person. For more information please send an email to seasynergy(a)gmail.com or call +353 (0) 877850929. Add us on Facebook *LH Marine & Sea Synergy* Follow us on Twitter *LHMARINE_info* *www.seasynergy.ie <http://www.seasynergy.ie>*

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New publication on application of stable isotopes to assess the feeding ecology of long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean
by Silvia Monteiro 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Dear Marmam Readers, I am very pleased to announce the following publication: Silvia Monteiro; Marisa Ferreira; José V. Vingada; Alfredo López; Andrew Brownlow; Paula, Méndez-Fernández (2015). Application of stable isotopes to assess the feeding ecology of long-finned pilot whale (*Globicephala melas*) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 466: 55-63 doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2015.01.007. Abstract In order to improve our knowledge on the feeding ecology of long-finned pilot whales (*Globicephala melas*) in Northeast Atlantic waters, skin samples of 68 long-finned pilot whales stranded in Northwest Iberia (*n* = 22) and Scotland (*n* = 46) were analysed using stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N. Isotopic mixing models were applied to obtain a quantitative estimate of the proportion of the main prey species in the diet of pilot whales. Stable isotope analysis revealed that 57.8–73.8% of the diet in Northwest Iberia consisted in curled octopus (*Eledone cirrhosa)*, followed by European flying squid (*Todarodes sagittatus)*, while in Scotland the predominant prey species was either *Histioteuthis* sp. or *T. sagittatus*, depending of the trophic enrichment factor applied. These results are generally in accordance with previous stomach content studies; however, the isotopic analysis may provide new information regarding key prey species and habitat use that could be missed or underestimated if only stomach contents analysis were used. Additionally, considering that the Atlantic Coast of Iberia was responsible for 95% of the landings of the main prey consumed by pilot whales in this area, between 2000 and 2010, these data provide trophic baseline information to be taken into account in fishery impact assessment studies and management decisions. For an early view of this paper, please visit: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098115000088 If you are unable to download the article, please contact me by email and I will be happy to send you a copy:silvia.sm.monteiro@gmail.com Best wishes, Silvia Monteiro

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Passive Acoustic Monitoring Training Level 1 course - New Orleans, 9-11 February 2015
by Sam Nichols 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Seiche Training is running its next course in New Orleans, USA, 9-11 February: *Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) – Level 1* Our well-established three day course provides comprehensive training for personnel new to the offshore industry. This course provides the skills needed to use PAM systems as a PAM operator and is aimed at delegates with a scientific background, preferably in biology and marine sciences. Two days of classroom sessions to include lectures on sound in water, marine mammal and sound production, noise sources and their effect on marine mammals, PAM principles and the role of the PAM operator, Seiche PAM hardware with deployment and operations, PAM software and an introduction to PAMGuard. There will be a hands-on sessions in the classroom with the Seiche PAM equipment to reinforce the lectures and encourage the delegates to get to grips with the system, its set-up, operation and troubleshooting. The final classroom session is an interactive PAMGuard workshop where delegates learn how to build a functioning PAMGuard data model. Simulated sources and recordings are used to show how to effectively detect and localize marine mammals. Day three is a practical session on a vessel where delegates use what they have learned to take an active role in set-up, deployment and operation of the Seiche PAM system at sea and run through troubleshooting scenarios. Thorough support material is provided. Please see www.seiche.com/topics/95-passive-acoustic-monitoring-pam-level-1 for more info and booking. Or contact Sarah Hancock at s.hancock(a)seiche.com. Seiche Training provides market-leading Marine Mammal Monitoring training and Underwater Acoustics courses worldwide. Seiche Ltd is the top supplier of Passive Acoustic Monitoring equipment to the Oil and Gas industry.

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Nigerian MMOs needed
by Emma Forrester - Hydenlyne 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Hydenlyne are an E&P consultancy who supply environmental consultants worldwide. We are currently looking to expand our database of consultants based in Africa - particularly Nigeria. Please get in touch at emmaforrester(a)hydenlyne.com<mailto:emmaforrester@hydenlyne.com> if you're interested in working with us. Kind regards, Emma Forrester Project Manager UK Mobile +44 (0)7730222001 Office +44 (0)1202 900078 Hydenlyne 1 Princes Court Princes Road Ferndown Dorset England BH22 9JG This email is confidential and for the intended recipient(s) only. If you are not the intended or authorised recipient, please maintain this confidentiality, notify the sender immediately and then delete it from your computer systems. Any unauthorised duplication, dissemination or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

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Research Assistants Needed in Reykjavik, Iceland
by Megan Wittaker 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Research Assistant needed in Reykjavik, Iceland, for summer 2015. Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is looking for three voluntary research assistants with a passport from an EEA country to assist for 5 months (1 st May to the 31 st September 2015). Research is conducted in co-operation with the University of Iceland’s research center in H úsavik and it comprises of photo identification and behavioral studies mainly of minke whales and white-beaked dolphins but occasionally also humpback whales, orca, fin whales and basking sharks. Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company established in 2000. Elding has from the beginning worked closely with the University of Iceland offering our boats as a platform for marine biologists so that we can better understand the wildlife we are encountering on our tours. For further information regarding the company please visit our website at www.elding.is . Research will be conducted on the whale watching tours (3 hours, 3 times a day). There will always be two assistants on board taking data and one on land processing, cropping, ID matching and uploading onto an online database. Each researcher will have four days at sea and two days on land processing. Working day averages at about 12-14 hours for those at sea and 6-8 hours those on land. You will have every Sunday off work as well as bad weather days when tours are cancelled. We are looking for assistant that; * Have a strong interest and education in marine science specifically cetaceans and marine birds. * Good spotting skills * Have experience on boats preferably above 17m and not acceptable to seasickness easily. * Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in stressful situations. * Must be a quick learner, adaptive, have a very good sense of humour, hard working, outgoing and generally a very positive person. * Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable weathers. * A Team Player * Physically fit - there may be some heavy lifting. i.e. moving cases of drinks or working with heavy ropes, being on your feet for most the day. * Have their own equipment e.g. DSLR camera and computer. Assistants will be responsible for their own travel costs, travel insurance and personal expenses but accommodation is provided throughout the working period as well as an afternoon hot meal. Further information on living and working in Iceland can be found at http://www.mcc.is/media/frettir/Living_and_working_in_Iceland.pdf and www.iceland.is Accommodation You will be living on an old converted capelin fishing boat that now acts as a permanently stationed gift shop/ waiting area/ small museum for our passengers in the heart of Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik. You will get your own small bedroom but the living area, shower room, kitchen and toilet, with all essentials, will be communal with the other researchers. How to apply: Please email your cv, covering letter specifying any relevant experience and qualifications to Megan Whittaker ( megan(a)elding.is ) by the 31 st February 2015. Megan Whittaker Head Guide Elding Whale Watching Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland Tel. (+354) 519 5090 Elding Whale Watching Elding Viðey Tours Tel: ( +354) 519 5000 elding(a)elding.is www.elding.is / www.videy.com Add us on Facebook Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík Follow us on Twitter: EldingWhale Check our Videos on YouTube: Reykjavik Activities Elding is EarthCheck Certified and our boats carry the Blue Flag. In 2008 we received the Environmental Award of the Icelandic Tourist Board and in 2012 we received VAKINN EnviroGold and Endorsed Travel Service by the Icelandic Tourist Board. - check out our environmental policy Please think of the environment; please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

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