January 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Measuring acoustic habitats
by Nathan Merchant (Cefas) 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the fully formatted version of this paper has now been published Open Access in Methods in Ecology and Evolution: Merchant, N.D., Fristrup, K.M., Johnson, M.P., Tyack, P.L., Witt, M.J., Blondel, P., Parks, S.E. (2015). Measuring acoustic habitats. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12330 Please note that a file was missing (PAMGuide.fig) from the pre-proof version of the Supplementary Material due to a publishing error - this has now been fixed in the formatted version. PAMGuide, the software which accompanies this paper, will be maintained on Source Forge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pamguide/ Any updates or additions to the software will be added here, and extensions can be developed collaboratively. With best wishes, Nathan Merchant Summary 1.Many organisms depend on sound for communication, predator/prey detection, and navigation. The acoustic environment can therefore play an important role in ecosystem dynamics and evolution. A growing number of studies are documenting acoustic habitats and their influences on animal development, behaviour, physiology, and spatial ecology, which has led to increasing demand for passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) expertise in the life sciences. However, as yet, there has been no synthesis of data processing methods for acoustic habitat monitoring, which presents an unnecessary obstacle to would-be PAM analysts. 2.Here, we review the signal processing techniques needed to produce calibrated measurements of terrestrial and aquatic acoustic habitats. We include a supplemental tutorial and template computer codes in MATLAB and R, which give detailed guidance on how to produce calibrated spectrograms and statistical analyses of sound levels. Key metrics and terminology for the characterisation of biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic sound are covered, and their application to relevant monitoring scenarios is illustrated through example datasets. To inform study design and hardware selection, we also include an up-to-date overview of terrestrial and aquatic PAM instruments. 3.Monitoring of acoustic habitats at large spatiotemporal scales is becoming possible through recent advances in PAM technology. This will enhance our understanding of the role of sound in the spatial ecology of acoustically sensitive species, and inform spatial planning to mitigate the rising influence of anthropogenic noise in these ecosystems. As we demonstrate in this work, progress in these areas will depend upon the application of consistent and appropriate PAM methodologies. ******* Dr Nathan Merchant Senior Scientist, Underwater Noise Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT +44 (0) 1502 527780 nathan.merchant(a)cefas.co.uk www.cefas.defra.gov.uk [cefas_logo_small] This email and any attachments are intended for the named recipient only. Its unauthorised use, distribution, disclosure, storage or copying is not permitted. If you have received it in error, please destroy all copies and notify the sender. In messages of a non-business nature, the views and opinions expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cefas. Communications on Cefas’ computer systems may be monitored and/or recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes.

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2015 UC Davis Wildlife and Exotic Animal Medicine Symposium
by Julie Sheldon 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Hello! You cordially invited to the *2015 Wildlife and Exotic Animal Symposium *hosted by the Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Medicine (WAAM) and the Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine (AEMC) Clubs at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine! *WHEN*: April 11-12th, 2015 *WHERE*: UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine or Interactive Online Webinar *WHAT*: Lectures, panel discussions and an ultrasound wetlab with experts in the fields of zoo, free-ranging wildlife, and companion exotic animal medicine! CE credits available for veterinarians and technicians. *HOW*: Register *HERE* <http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ce/wildlife/wildlife_and_exotic_animal_medici…> Questions: waam.ucd(a)gmail.com Thank you and we hope to see you in April! Sincerely, Julie D. Sheldon DVM Candidate, Class of 2016 Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Medicine Club President Bayer Animal Health Student Representative UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine [image: Inline image 1] [image: Inline image 2]

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seeking samples of conical barnacles from whales
by John Zardus 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Dear MARMAM community, Several species of acorn barnacles occur on whales worldwide. The most commonly reported is Coronula diadema, a globose crown-shaped species up to 6 or 7 cm in diameter. I am seeking specimens (shell and tissue) of other, apparently less prevalent species that are conical, straight-sided, or flattened (i.e. Coronula reginae and Cetopirus complanatus). Indications are these species occur mostly with hosts from southern oceans. Samples preserved in ethanol (not formaldehyde) are desired. If you have potential samples to share please contact me offline at the address below. I will be happy to supply you with my NMFS collecting permit, advise on preservation and shipment, and to pay for sample shipment. Kind regards, John Zardus John D. Zardus Associate Professor Department of Biology The Citadel 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409 ph. 843-953-7511 fx. 843-953-7264 e. john.zardus(a)citadel.edu

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Abstracts - Journal of Cetacean Research & Management 13(3)
by Dagmar Fertl 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Dear Marmam subscribers, The following are abstracts from the most recent issue (Volume 13, issue 3, 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 Kitakado, T., C. Lockyer, and A.E. Punt. 2013. A statistical model for quantifying age-reading errors and its application to the Antarctic minke whales. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(3):181-190. Contact e-mail: kitakado(a)kaiyodai.ac.jp A statistical method for quantifying age-reading error, i.e. the extent of bias and inter-reader variability among readers, is introduced. The method assumes the availability of an independent ‘control reader’ who produces reference ages for age-reading structures which are also read by additional readers. This control reader is assumed to provide unbiased or consistently biased age estimates so that the additional readers’ age-reading outcomes can be standardised. Linear structures in bias and variance are incorporated in a conditional probability matrix representing the stochastic nature of age-determination for each reader. A joint likelihood function for the parameters related to age-reading bias, variance and nuisance parameters is defined based on observed age-reading outcomes from both the control and additional readers. The method is applied to data for Antarctic minke whales taken during Japanese commercial (1971/72–1986/87) and scientific (JARPA: 1987/88–2004/05, JARPA II: 2005/06–2010/11) whaling. A total of 250 earplugs selected according to a predetermined protocol were used in the analyses to estimate the inter-reader variation for four Japanese readers. One of the authors acted as the control reader. The Japanese readers and the control reader differed in terms of both the expected age given the true age, and variance in age-estimates. The expected age and random uncertainty in age estimates differed among the Japanese readers, although the two readers in charge of age-reading for samples taken during Japanese scientific whaling (JARPA and JARPA II) provided quite similar agereading outcomes. These results contribute to analyses using catch-at-age data for this species. It should also be noted that the model and approach in this paper can be applied to populations other than the Antarctic minke whales, if a control reader is available, even retrospectively. ******** Félix, F., and B. Haase. 2013. A note on the northernmost record of the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in the Eastern Pacific. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(3):191-194. Contact e-mail: fefelix90(a)hotmail.com In this study the first record of the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in Ecuador (2°7.35’S, 80°45.7’W) is presented. It was a single stranding of a calf of 3.43m in length. The species was identified based on morphological characteristics such as the number and colour of baleen plates, the number and extension of ventral grooves, lack of white flipper patch and the waved greyish light colouration pattern on the flanks, among others. Although only a handful of records exist of this species in the Eastern Pacific, it confirms that the breeding area of this species at least reaches the equator in this region. ******** Koh, H.S., J.E. Jo, N.H. Ahn, J.J. Lee, K.S. Kim, and C.W. Jin. 2013. Preliminary study on genetic differences between two species of finless porpoises, genus Neophocaena, with lack of genetic divergence between two subspecies of the narrow-ridged finless porpoise, N. asiaeorientalis: cytochrome b sequence analyses. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(3):195-199. Contact e-mail: syskoss(a)chungbuk.ac.kr Using samples from bycaught finless porpoises, cytochrome b sequences were analysed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The aims were to: (1) determine genetic divergences within the genus Neophocaena; (2) examine interspecific divergences between N. asiaeorientalis and N. phocaenoides; and (3) examine intraspecific divergence between N.a. asiaeorientalis and N.a. sunameri. For this purpose, complete cytochrome b sequences for 12 N.a. sunameri specimens, collected from fishery markets at Pohang in southeastern Korea, were obtained, and these sequences were compared to the corresponding partial (402bp) and complete (1,140bp) sequences of Neophocaena, obtained from GenBank. From a maximum likelihood tree with the partial sequences of the two Neophocaena species, two clades were detected, corresponding to the two species, with average genetic distance of 1.64%, four fixed site differences (1.00%), and a Gst value of 0.64, although we did not examine the specimens from Southeast Asia and contiguous South China Sea. Furthermore, from the complete sequences, we recognised a lack of genetic divergence between the two subspecies of N. asiaeorientalis, with a Gst value of 0.06 and two pairs of identical sequences between them, indicating that our results do not support current subspecies classification. Thus, we newly found that our cytochrome b sequencing results are useful for the examination of interspecific and intraspecific divergences in Neohpocaena, although further genetic analyses with additional specimens of Neophocaena across its distributional range are necessary to confirm the findings in this study. ******** Pitchford, J.L., B.J.S. Serafin, D. Shannon, A.T. Coleman, and M. Solangi. 2013. An analysis of historical bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) strandings in the Mississippi Sound, USA using classification and regression trees (CART). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(3):201-209. Contact e-mail: jpitchford(a)imms.org Trends in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) strandings can be used to examine several factors associated with mortality and life history and are essential for detecting unusual mortality events (UMEs). This study characterised stranding trends in the Mississippi Sound (MS) region of the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) from 1996–2009 using kernel density estimation (KDE) and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. An annual mean of 26.1 strandings (n = 14), SD = 13.7, 95% CI [18.2, 34.0] and a peak in strandings during spring (March–May) were evident from our analyses. Neonates stranded almost exclusively in spring indicating that this is the dominant breeding and calving season in this area. Spatial distributions revealed that the majority of dolphins stranded along central and western portions of the MS Sound near Gulfport, MS and on Ship Island during the spring and summer months, but were more often found in the eastern MS Sound during winter and autumn. Our CART analyses indicated that 1996, which contained a declared UME, was anomalous from other years as the number of adult, sub-adult and juvenile strandings was relatively high during the autumn and winter. Further, our analyses showed that the location of those strandings on Ship Island in autumn and winter was unique from all other years in the historical record. These results represent historical conditions that can be used as a baseline for future studies of the effects of environmental disturbances, including UMEs, in MS. This research also demonstrates the versatility and usefulness of CART for describing historical trends, detecting departures from the norm and explaining UMEs within the framework of a single analysis. This approach represents an objective assessment tool that could be used to assist governmental agencies with determining the onset of a UME and could help support or refute the cause of these events. ******** Benmessaoud, R., M. Cherif, and N. Bejaoui. 2013. Baseline data on abundance, site fidelity and association patterns of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off the northeastern Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(3):211-219. Contact e-mail: benmessaoud_rimel(a)yahoo.fr The common bottlenose dolphin has been studied intensively in numerous locations around the world but very little is known about this species along the South Mediterranean Basin. In this study, the temporal distribution of dolphins, group dynamics, site fidelity and association patterns of common bottlenose dolphins along the northeastern coastal waters of Tunisia was assessed through mark recapture photo-identification techniques. Prior to this study, no research has focused on bottlenose dolphins within these waters, despite the potential for human impacts on this species. A total of 718h of boat-based observations, spanning 284 days, were spent at sea between August 2008 and July 2010. During this period, 253h were spent in direct observation of 317 groups of common bottlenose dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins were observed in all seasons, although seasonality was evident, with more encounters during the summer. Photo-identification studies show that 43 individuals used the northeastern coast of Tunisia on a regular basis, while others were present less often. Based on a social structure analysis it was possible to discriminate different communities related with the spatial distribution of the sightings (Zembra island, Hammamet, Kelibia and Galite island). ******** Towers, J.R., C.J. McMillan, M. Malleson, J. Hildering, J.K.B. Ford, and G.M. Ellis. 2013. Seasonal movements and ecological markers as evidence for migration of common minke whales photo-identified in the eastern North Pacific. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 13(3):221-229. Contact e-mail: jrtowers(a)gmail.com In the eastern North Pacific Ocean, common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are widespread but encountered relatively infrequently. It is generally believed that they make annual migrations between higher latitudes in the summer and lower latitudes in the winter; however, in some temperate coastal regions where common minke whales have been sighted year-round they have been referred to as resident. To determine movement patterns of common minke whales found in coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington we examined photo-identification data that were collected opportunistically from 2005–12. These data were from four non-overlapping areas between 48°N and 53°N. Despite year-round search efforts, common minke whales were only encountered between April and October. Most of the 44 unique individuals identified in 405 encounters displayed fidelity to areas both within and among years. Five of these whales made relatively large-scale intra-annual movements between areas on six occasions. They were documented to move up to 424km in a northerly direction in spring and up to 398km in a southerly direction in autumn. The seasonal patterns of these movements provide new insights into the foraging ranges and migrations of the individuals. Ecological markers provide evidence that the common minke whales photographed undertake annual long distance migrations. Scars believed to be from cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) bites were observed on 43 individuals and the majority of whales documented with good quality images each year had acquired new scars since the previous year. Furthermore, the commensal barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis was observed on three individuals. Since these sharks and barnacles are from relatively warm waters, it can be inferred that they interacted with the common minke whales at lower latitudes. These findings may have important implications for the definition and management of common minke whale stocks and/or populations in the eastern North Pacific.

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pilot whale asphyxia - case request
by IJsseldijk, L.L. (Lonneke) 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Dear all, I am searching for cases of fatal asphyxiation due to fish lodged in pilot whales. Is there anyone familiar with this cause of death in this species? It would be great if you could contact me at L.L.ijsseldijk(a)uu.nl<mailto:L.L.ijsseldijk@uu.nl>. Thanks in advance! Kind regards, Lonneke IJsseldijk Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, BSc Project coördinator Cetaceans Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Department of Pathobiology T +31 30 253 5312, M +31 6 244 556 98 L.L.IJsseldijk(a)uu.nl Yalelaan 1, PO Box 80158, 3508 TD Utrecht The Netherlands

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WODA Workshop on Underwater Sound
by Frank Thomsen 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Dear Colleagues I am pleased to announce the WODA workshop: Underwater Sound in Relation to Dredging: Translating Science into First-Hand Guidance, on Thursday 26 March 2015, in Paris, France. The World Organisation of Dredging Associations (WODA) and Central Dredging Association (CEDA) will co-organise this event. Via interactive presentations, held by international leading experts, guidance will be given on how to assess the effects of underwater sound from dredging operations on marine life. Participants will learn about: * Underwater sound in general and how its impacts should be assessed * How underwater sound should be measured * Sound levels of various dredging activities * Documented impacts of underwater sound from dredging * How dredging noise impacts can be managed The workshop is aimed at: * Regulators * Policy makers * Industry * Stakeholders * Scientists For more information about the WS motivation, content and how to sign-on, please refer to www.cedaconferences.org/UWS<http://www.cedaconferences.org/UWS> See you in Paris! Best regards, Frank Thomsen Ph.D. Senior Marine Scientist DK-EED [DHI logo] DHI Agern Allé 5 DK-2970 Hørsholm Denmark Tel: +45 4516 9200 Direct: +45 4516 9446 frth(a)dhigroup.com<mailto:frth@dhigroup.com> www.dhigroup.com<http://www.dhigroup.com> The expert in WATER ENVIRONMENTS This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorised to receive this message for the intended recipient), you may not use, copy, disseminate or disclose any information contained in it thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please advise the sender appropriately by reply e-mail, and then delete it. Thank you very much.

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LAST CALL: Whale and Dolphin Conservation, NA Field Research Internship
by Monica Pepe 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

FINAL WEEK TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS Whale and Dolphin Conservation, North America (NA), located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, offers internships and field volunteer positions, providing research, policy, education and administration experience in working for an international non-profit organization. We are currently accepting applications for spring and summer 2015 positions, which begin as early as April 1st. The deadline to submit an application for spring/summer positions is Monday, February 2nd. The positions are offered to qualified applicants throughout the year, allowing each participant/student to customize their learning experience based on their interest, skill set, and availability. Successful applicants will become proficient at field data collection, educational outreach, and conservation of marine mammals. Interns will also complete a focused project furthering professional development Background to the program The focus of the WDC internship/volunteer program is to give participants exposure to all aspects of working with a conservation non-profit organization. Successful candidates are tasked with everything from field research to office administration. All interns gain experience with public speaking by interacting with passengers aboard whale watching vessels, participating in school talks and other public outreach events. Other potential opportunities include writing blogs, water sampling, attending workshops/conferences, and responding to stranded animals, though these are not guaranteed opportunities. This program exposes interns to real world experiences that will help them develop the skills and understanding needed to succeed in the field of marine mammal conversation and research. Participants will gain an in-depth perspective of this field and a better understanding of where their interests lie. Through this internship, a number of skills are developed including analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. As part of the field work experience, interns will learn species identification, behavioral sequencing, data collection and photo identification research techniques on marine mammals in the Gulf of Maine. They will also have the opportunity to go out on commercial whale watching boats several times a week (field season is April through October) to photograph and record sightings of humpback, finback, and minke whales, as well as other notable marine wildlife. The frequency of fieldwork is weather dependent. Days not in the field will be spent at the office uploading photos and data into our photo identification database or working on any projects that might be assigned. Based on time of year and the interest level of successful applicants, the intern program may include all or some portion of the following: Education and Outreach * Whale Watch Naturalist Training * Outreach to local schools and the general public * Assisting with and learning about the importance of ecotourism and best practices * Writing blogs about work conducted or current events while interning with WDC * Attendance at conferences and meetings Research * Cataloging individually identifiable humpback and finback whales * Collection of marine mammal sightings and distributional data in the Southern Gulf of Maine * Researching and submitting grant applications * Analyzing body condition of marine mammals through scarring and skin condition * Preparing a report of the previous season's whale sightings with historical analysis, risk issues and the impact of cumulative developmental threats * Attendance and participation in stranding training and events Conservation * Supporting WDC personnel at key conservation meetings * Literature research for written and oral comments submitted to federal agencies At the end of the program our hope is that interns will be able to leave with a comprehensive understanding of both the exciting and routine aspects of what it takes to research and conserve marine mammals. More information can be found at whales.org. There is no fee or compensation for the internship/volunteer positions. Participants must arrange for their own transportation to and from Plymouth and provide their own food. Limited housing with a shared bedroom is available on site for a monthly fee of $300, which is strictly to offset the cost of housing. Assistance can be provided in finding alternate housing at the request of the applicant, and those that can provide their own housing are encouraged to apply. WDC is willing to help qualified students obtain credits for the program through their college or university. The program requires a minimum commitment of 3 months, with the possibility of extending the term on a case-by-case basis. International applicants interested in the internship program must be able to secure their own travel Visa and other required documentation. Candidate Requirements * Fluency in English. * Must be 18 years or older (preference given to students matriculated in or recently graduated from appropriate graduate or under graduate degree programs.) * Be able to show proof of valid health insurance. * Act effectively as a member of a close-knit team. * Be open to long days in the field or office. * Ability to work on sea going vessels for long hours that may require physical labor. * Good computer skills - familiarity with operating PCs and MACs. * Excellent verbal and written communications skills. * Familiarity with literature research protocols is beneficial. * Ability to function well under pressure. * Must be comfortable speaking in front of groups of people of all ages and able to handle unanticipated situations. * Familiarity with DSLR camera, GPS equipment is preferred. * Ability to impart information in an understandable way to the public under a variety of conditions. NOTE: You need not be a marine biology student/graduate to apply. How to Apply Please submit the following via e-mail to monica.pepe(a)whales.org<mailto:monica.pepe@whales.org>: 1. Cover letter and Resume (no more than 3 pages) 2. Contact information for two references including e-mail and phone numbers 3. A supporting document of no more than 500 words answering one of the following: * Do whales die through human's knowledge or ignorance? * Preservation or conservation. Which offers the best route to a sustainable population of an endangered species and why? * How do you convert apathy into interest and then into action? We are currently accepting applications for spring and summer 2015 positions, which begin as early as April 1st. The deadline to submit an application for spring/summer positions is Monday, February 2nd. Applicants should make sure they clearly indicate their availability (specific dates, if possible) in their cover letter. Successful applicants will be contacted after the application deadline to set up an interview. Any additional questions should be directed to Monica Pepe via email at monica.pepe(a)whales.org<mailto:monica.pepe@whales.org> or by calling the office at (508) 746-2522. WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, is the leading international charity dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. WDC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin. [WDC - Whale and Dolphin Conservation]<http://www.whales.org/> Monica Pepe Conservation and Education Manager Telephone: +1 508 746 2522 Skype monica.c.pepe WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation 7 Nelson Street Plymouth MA 02360-4044 United States whales.org<http://whales.org> [WDC on Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/whales.org> [WDC on Twitter] <http://www.twitter.com/WHALES_org> [WDC on YouTube] <http://www.youtube.com/wdcsuk> [WDC Blogs] <http://whales.org/en/blog> [WDC E-Newsletter] <http://whales.org/en/newsletter> [http://www.wdcs.co.uk/media/images/EmailSignatureImages/Campaigns/USOrcasbe…]<http://us.whales.org/dams> ________________________________ Whale and Dolphin Conservation ("WDC"), Inc. is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. WDC, 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA 02360-4044 Tel: +1 (508) 746-2522 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Finally, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. ________________________________

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POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP OFFER - Université du Québec en Outaouais
by jerome.dupras＠uqo.ca 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP OFFER Université du Québec en Outaouais Title of the Project Modeling the acoustic environment of marine mammals in the St. Lawrence Estuary in relation to marine navigation. Description The St. Lawrence Estuary (Quebec, Canada) is the location of many interactions between commercial shipping and recreational boating activities and marine mammals. The impact of this combined navigation on the acoustic environment of marine mammals is a source of concern, particularly with respect to the conservation of endangered species such as beluga, blue and fin whales in the region. Although standards on critical levels for underwater noise have yet to be established for species that frequent the St. Lawrence Estuary, mitigation of the potential impact of noise in the habitat of endangered species requires the prior characterization of the contribution of human activities to the cumulative soundscape. With this in mind, this project aims to model the propagation of noise emitted from human activities in the St. Lawrence Estuary, including the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, with emphasis on navigation. The fleet of vessels that navigate the region is diverse, exhibiting a variety of vessel sizes and types and frequent speed changes. In addition, the St. Lawrence Estuary is characterized by a complex abiotic environment (e.g. locally strong tidal currents, complex bathymetry, water column stratification, heterogeneous seabed composition). The acoustic model to be implemented should consider the variability of factors characterizing noise sources (emission) and the complexity of the physical environment (propagation) to reproduce the insonification patterns throughout the area. The acoustic model will be implemented within the spatiotemporal 3MTSim framework[1], a decision-support tool developed and used to manage boat-whale interactions in the Estuary. Initially, the emphasis will be on quantifying the cumulative noise throughout the area and subsequently the sound frequencies that interfere with the communication space of marine mammals (masking effect); two dimensions characterizing the acoustic quality of wildlife habitats. Model results will be referenced to empirical data collected from hydrophones immersed in the study area. These data consist of systematic recordings of sound levels in strategic locations as well as the tracking of various vessel types used to estimate their sound source levels, which are made available through the collaboration with researchers from Fisheries and Oceans, Canada . The postdoctoral fellow will work with scientists from several disciplines and produce results with the potential to meet current needs for the sustainable management of navigation in the region. The researcher will have the opportunity to present his/her work to the working group on maritime transport and the protection of marine mammals in the St. Lawrence (G2T3M). This group brings together stakeholders from both the maritime transport and marine mammal protection sectors in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Research results will also be presented within the activities of the MEOPAR Network Centre of Excellence (Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network) founding the project. Required Competence · Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering Physics or Physical Oceanography · Programming experience required, knowledge of Matlab and/or Java is an asset · Self-reliant and autonomous · Acoustic modeling experience is an asset · Ability to communicate orally to experts and non-experts as well as producing literature review and writing scientific articles Location * Based in Montréal (Université du Québec à Montréal) and/or Ripon (Université du Québec en Outaouais) with occasional stays in Mont-Joli/Rimouski (Institut Maurice Lamontagne, Fisheries and Oceans Canada) Remuneration · 35 000$ Duration · 12 months (April 1st 2015 to March 31st 2016) Contact · Professor Jérôme Dupras Institut des sciences de la forêt tempérée 58 rue Principale, Ripon (Qc), J0V 1V0 (819) 595-3900 poste 2931 jerome.dupras(a)uqo.ca ________________________________ [1] http://complexity.ok.ubc.ca/projects/3mtsim/

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Request for advice/recommendations - mounting/suspending very large skeletons
by Richard Sabin 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

Dear MARMAM colleagues, As part of our exhibition development programme, the Natural History Museum, London, is seeking recommendations of companies that specialise in the take-down (deconstruction) of old armatures used to support very large, skeletal specimens, and the production of new, custom-built armatures using the latest materials and techniques for mounting bones. We would also appreciate details of companies with a demonstrable capability to design rigging for the suspension of very large skeletal specimens. This is a request for information and recommendations from colleagues worldwide. Any assistance will be gratefully received. Many thanks, Richard C. Sabin Principal Curator, Vertebrate Zoology Group (Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ichthyology) Division of Vertebrates, Department of Life Sciences The Natural History Museum London, SW7 5BD

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New paper on humpback whales
by Phillip Clapham - NOAA Federal 24 Jan '15

24 Jan '15

The following was just published online: Clapham, P.J. & Zerbini, A. 2015. Are social aggregation and temporary immigration driving high rates of increase in some Southern Hemisphere humpback whale populations? *Marine Biology* doi 10.1007/s00227-015-2610-3. *Abstract* Humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) in the Southern Hemisphere were heavily exploited by commercial whaling. Today, their recovery is variable: humpbacks remains surprisingly scarce in some formerly populous areas (e.g. New Zealand, Fiji), while in other regions (such as eastern Australia) they appear to be rebounding at or even above the maximum plausible rate of annual increase. Here, we propose that this phenomenon cannot be explained solely in demographic terms. Through simulation, we test the hypothesis that reported high rates of increase represent a combination of true intrinsic growth rates and temporary immigration, driven by a strong tendency to aggregate for mating. We introduce the idea that overexploitation diminished density at major breeding grounds such that these were no longer viable; then, during subsequent population recovery, a critical mass was attained in certain areas which drew in whales that formerly bred elsewhere. The simulations show that, to maintain high increase rates, the contribution to that rate by temporary immigration from a second, “source” population would have to represent a larger and larger proportion of the source stock and would require relatively large (but quite plausible) intrinsic rates of increase for each population. In the modeling scenarios, the demand for immigrants would eventually exceed the supply and exhaust the source population, but the simulations demonstrated that high increase rates can be sustained over periods of more than 20 years. This hypothesis, if correct, would not only explain excessively high rates of increase in current “hotspots” such as eastern Australia, but would also imply that formerly important areas (e.g. Fiji) host few whales today not necessarily because of a failure to recover, but because the species’ mating system leads the whales concerned to migrate to higher-density breeding grounds elsewhere. Overall, we caution that assessments of depleted animal populations that do not consider the social behavior of a species are missing a potentially vital component of the picture. Pdf reprints are available from me. -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Leader, Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program National Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115, USA tel 206 526 4037 fax 206 526 6615 email phillip.clapham(a)noaa.gov

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