November 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New OPEN ACCESS paper on statistical standards in noise exposure criteria
by Andrew Wright 29 Nov '15

29 Nov '15

Dear marmammers, I am please to announce my new OPEN ACCESS paper: Sound Science: Maintaining Numerical and Statistical Standards in the Pursuit of Noise Exposure Criteria for Marine Mammals, Front. Mar. Sci., 24 November 2015 | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2015.00099 It is available in its entirety at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2015.00099/abstract Abstract: Establishing noise exposure criteria for marine mammals has proven to be a difficult and contentious issue. Over the last decade, several attempts have been made to provide scientifically-based exposure criteria. While representing the “best available science” on the issue, these criteria, and the assumptions underpinning them, have led to considerable discussion among both scientists and policy-makers. However, one area where there has been little or no debate is around the use of appropriate statistical and other numerical procedures in the various criteria-establishing methodologies. A common issue, arising from a desire to include as much data as possible, is pseudoreplication. Examples from acoustic criteria are the use of many data points from a single animal to establish a value for one species and the use of several points from one species to set values for a functional hearing group. Less fundamental, but equally problematic for the application of the criteria to policy, is the failure to adequately represent uncertainty around proposed criteria through the use of confidence intervals. Other issues include the uneven treatment of different data in terms of transformation protocols and extrapolation, and the determination of which “outliers” to discard. Each of these errors introduces bias into the resulting criteria. Thus, despite the paucity of relevant data, we need to meet such statistical standards to truly provide objective advice that rises to the level of the “best available science.” Best, Andrew -- Andrew Wright, Ph.D. VaquitaAreBrowncoats: Where Sci-Fi meets Science, the Cosmos meets Conservation and Firefly meets Flipper. Shiny https://www.facebook.com/vaquitaarebrowncoats.

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Abstract: Foraging hotspot for pilot whales and Blainville's beaked whales in Hawai'i
by Robin Baird 28 Nov '15

28 Nov '15

New publication: Abecassis, M., J. Polovina, R.W. Baird, A. Copeland, J.C. Drazen, R. Domokos, E. Oleson, Y. Jia, G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster and R.D. Andrews. 2015. Characterizing a foraging hotspot for short-finned pilot whales and Blainville's beaked whales located off the west side of Hawai'i Island by using tagging and oceanographic data. PLOS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142628. Abstract Satellite tagging data for short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) were used to identify core insular foraging regions off the Kona (west) Coast of Hawai'i Island. Ship-based active acoustic surveys and oceanographic model output were used in generalized additive models (GAMs) and mixed models to characterize the oceanography of these regions and to examine relationships between whale density and the environment. The regions of highest density for pilot whales and Blainville's beaked whales were located between the 1000 and 2500 m isobaths and the 250 and 2000 m isobaths, respectively. Both species were associated with slope waters, but given the topography of the area, the horizontal distribution of beaked whales was narrower and located in shallower waters than that of pilot whales. The key oceanographic parameters characterizing the foraging regions were bathymetry, temperature at depth, and a high density of midwater micronekton scattering at 70 kHz in 400-650 m depths that likely represent the island-associated deep mesopelagic boundary community and serve as prey for the prey of the whales. Thus, our results suggest that off the Kona Coast, and potentially around other main Hawaiian Islands, the deep mesopelagic boundary community is key to a food web that supports insular cetacean populations. The paper can be found at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0142628 Robin ==================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Ave Olympia, WA 98501 USA www.cascadiaresearch.org<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/> Follow Cascadia on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cascadia-Research-Collective/110495958982184> Watch us on youtube<https://www.youtube.com/user/CascadiaResearch> Updates from our Nov 2015 Kona field project<http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/Hawaii/Nov2015.htm>

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Report of the Third Southeast Asian Marine Mammals Symposium is available
by Ellen M Hines 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

Dear Colleagues, on behalf of my co-authors and the many contributors, I am happy to announce that the Report of the Third Southeast Asian Marine Mammals Symposium (SEAMAM III) is available as published by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals on the following link: http://www.cms.int/en/publication/report-third-southeast-asian-marine-mamma… many thanks to the UNEP/CMS Secretariat and our sponsors! Ellen Hines, PhD Associate Director & Professor of Geography Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies San Francisco State University 3150 Paradise Drive Tiburon, CA 94920 USA 1 415 338 3512 Fax: 1 415 338 6243 ehines(a)sfsu.edu<mailto:ehines@sfsu.edu> http://rtc.sfsu.edu/research/in_hines.html

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whale watching survey
by Green Concrete Films 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

WHALE WATCHING SURVEY I have finished the production of a two minute whale watching SciCommercial video. The video is part of my PhD research on the science communication of whale watching. My main interest is in how to improve the communication of science related to whale watching with the general public. The video is now online as part of a short survey. Please support the research by viewing the video and completing the short survey. This should take about 10 minutes. I’m also looking for avenues to promote the survey to a more general public with or without special interest in whales. This includes potential visitors, travellers, tourism sites, whale watching operators, NGOs and educational outreach platforms. I would appreciate any suggestion you may have in this regard. Thank you in advance for completing the survey. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to complete it. Please feel free to circulate the survey/video as widely as possible within your networks. Survey link: https://otago.asia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7WWXFc3KSU940yV <https://otago.asia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7WWXFc3KSU940yV> I would also like to make you aware of the Good Whale Watching Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/Good-Whale-Watching-1491368984500557/> community page and www.goodwhalewatching.com <http://www.goodwhalewatching.com/> Best wishes Wiebke Finkler PhD Candidate University of Otago New Zealand

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3 PhD Studentship opportunities Seals Seabirds
by WELCH A.J. 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

Three competitive PhD studentship opportunities are available in evolutionary and ecological genetics at Durham University, UK. These 3.5-year fellowships provide a full tuition fee waiver at Durham University, a competitive living stipend, and a considerable research allowance. For more information about these projects see here<https://sites.google.com/site/andreannajwelch/people/graduate-student-oppor…> or contact Dr. Andreanna Welch at a.j.welch(a)durham.ac.uk. 1) The effects of maternal stress response and microbiome on seal pup condition and survival Co-supervised with Sean Twiss Maternal effects are now recognised as important contributors to phenotypic variation. One potential mechanism that has been largely overlooked is via the transfer of beneficial bacteria during birth and through lactation. Studies in humans have shown that these bacteria provide many health benefits to the young, but that communities transferred can be influenced by the mother’s condition and stress level. Adult grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) exhibit consistent individual differences in behaviour with some mothers showing high levels of responsiveness to stressors while others show little. The student will apply recently developed metagenomic techniques to investigate this potential short-term fitness consequence of maternal coping style. Seals are among the few animal species for which coping styles have been identified and linked with fitness consequences in wild populations. However, the mechanisms through which behavioural responses to stress modulate offspring condition and survival remain essentially unknown. Given that wildlife are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic influences, and that behaviour is often the first form of response to environmental changes, this project will provide important insights towards understanding how stress may influence individual fitness as well as future population trajectories. Eligibility: Primarily UK nationals Deadline for consideration: January 15th, 2016 2) Tracking the impact of Holocene environmental change in Patagonia on pinniped distribution, abundance and dispersion using ancient DNA Co-supervised with Rus Hoelzel When environments change, as during the current process of anthropogenic climate change, regional populations may respond by migrating to track suitable habitat, they may expand, decline or go extinct, or they may adapt. In this study the student will employ next generation sequencing methods, ancient DNA, and coalescent analyses to determine past demographic profiles of two sympatric pinniped species with contrasting life histories along the coast of Patagonia, a region of major transitions during the Holocene. Thus students will have the opportunity to test hypotheses about the importance of various environmental parameters. Understanding these dynamics will become increasingly critical for effective management and nature reserve design to promote conservation in the future as environments change. This will also improve our understanding of the process of biodiversity evolution, which is determined by both effective population size and connectivity. Eligibility: Primarily UK nationals Deadline for consideration: January 22nd, 2016 3) Reconstructing the evolutionary history of ecological dynamics and extinction risk in Procellariiform seabirds During their evolutionary history, birds have colonized the open oceans beyond the continental shelves only rarely. The Procellariiformes (albatrosses, shearwaters, storm- petrels, etc.) are by far the largest group of oceanic birds, but their molecular phylogeny is poorly known. As part of an international collaboration, the student will use capture enrichment and next generation sequencing methods to collect a rich genomic dataset and resolve the phylogeny of all extant and recently extinct Procellariiformes, at and below the species level. This will advance our understanding of the evolutionary history of oceanic birds, allow exploration of the role of ecology in diversification, and inform conservation management of this globally-threatened group. Eligibility: All nationalities Deadline for consideration: January 4th, 2016 Durham University is consistently rated as one of the top 100 universities in the world. Located in northeast England, the university is situated in a scenic town that lies within a 20-minute train ride of the thriving city of Newcastle. The department offers a supportive research-driven environment with projects ranging from the cellular to the ecosystem level. For more information see here<https://www.dur.ac.uk/biosciences/>. To apply please send an email to a.j.welch(a)durham.ac.uk with 1) a two-page covering letter detailing your reasons for applying and why you have selected this project, 2) your current CV with contact information for at least two references, 3) Full transcripts of previous qualifications obtained to date. Only the best applicants will be asked to submit an application.

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Protected Species Observer Training in Honolulu, Hawaii - January 9th
by Angela Bostwick 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

MPSC will be holding BOEM/BSEE-compliant PSO Training in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 9 (course given in a single day). The PSO certification course covers the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, and how to visually locate and identify the animals. Course comprehension is measured with examinations on regulations and animal identification. Lunch is provided and included in the $800 course fee (college/recent graduate and group discounts available), along with various identification guides, regulatory documents, and advice on applying to PSO positions. MPSC will also be offering PSO training February 26-27 in Galveston, TX. For more information or to register, please contact Angela at ABostwick(a)PSOcertifications.com, by phone at 832-523-2402, or visit the website at ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com <http://protectedspeciesobservers.com/>. Credit cards and check/money orders accepted. Thank you, Angela Bostwick, M.S. Founder, Marine Protected Species Consulting ------------------------------------------------------------------- ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers <https://www.facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers>

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ECS Conservation Award Nominations
by Conor Ryan 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

Dear Colleagues, Apologies for any cross-posting. This is the first call for nominations for the ECS Conservation Award <http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/mandy-mcmath-conservation-award>. This will be announced and presented for the sixth time during the 30th ECS conference in Madeira from 14-16 March. The award is for an outstanding contribution to the field of marine mammal conservation and/or welfare, with particular emphasis on contributions to environmental education and/or to conservation in practice (e.g. leading to improved legislation or management). The award will be judged on the basis of a proposal made using the format given below and related material as described. It will be decided upon by consensus, or a majority vote of the ECS Conservation Award Committee. The winner of the award will be announced during the ECS AGM or Conference. Self-nominations are strongly discouraged. The Committee reserves the right not to present the award if no appropriate nominations are received. Nominations should conform to the following format: Name(s) of person(s)/institution/body nominated for award Address and contact details Description of the work/body of work proposed for the award (maximum length of proposal 250 words) Note that the award can be given for a single conservation-education tool (such as a book or for an entire body of work - i.e. a series of linked contributions). Full references for the material identified above and any relevant web-links. Name of nominator(s) Address and contact details The nomination, and any supporting material if deemed necessary, should be sent to the Chair of the Award Committee by 26th February, 2015. Mark Peter Simmonds ECS Conservation Award Chair Email: mark.simmonds(a)sciencegyre.co.uk

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New publication on Endoparasite survey of free-swimming baleen whales and sperm whales
by Mónica Cordeiro de Almeida e Sil va 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

Dear MARMAM members, We’re pleased to announce that a paper on the endoparasitic fauna of baleen whales and sperm whales has just been published online: Hermosilla C., Silva L.M.R., Kleinertz S., Prieto, R., Silva, M.A., Taubert, A. Endoparasite survey of free-swimming baleen whales (Balaenoptera musculus, B. physalus, B. borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) using non/minimally invasive methods. Parasitology Research. DOI 10.1007/s00436-015-4835-y. Abstract: A number of parasitic diseases have gained importance as neozoan opportunistic infections in the marine environment. Here, we report on the gastrointestinal endoparasite fauna of three baleen whale species and one toothed whale: blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), and sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from the Azores Islands, Portugal. In total, 17 individual whale fecal samples [n = 10 (B. physalus); n = 4 (P. macrocephalus); n = 2 (B. musculus); n = 1 (B. borealis)] were collected from free-swimming animals as part of ongoing studies on behavioral ecology. Furthermore, skin biopsies were collected from sperm whales (n = 5) using minimally invasive biopsy darting and tested for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Besnoitia besnoiti DNA via PCR. Overall, more than ten taxa were detected in whale fecal samples. Within protozoan parasites, Entamoeba spp. occurred most frequently (64.7 %), followed by Giardia spp. (17.6 %) and Balantidium spp. (5.9 %). The most prevalent metazoan parasites were Ascaridida indet. spp. (41.2 %), followed by trematodes (17.7 %), acanthocephalan spp., strongyles (11.8 %), Diphyllobotrium spp. (5.9 %), and spirurids (5.9 %). Helminths were mainly found in sperm whales, while enteric protozoan parasites were exclusively detected in baleen whales, which might be related to dietary differences. No T. gondii, N. caninum, or B. besnoiti DNA was detected in any skin sample. This is the first record on Giardia and Balantidium infections in large baleen whales. A PDF copy of the paper can be downloaded from: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-015-4835-y <http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-015-4835-y> Best regards, Carlos Hermosilla Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Carlos Hermosilla, DVM, DipEVPC, Visiting Professor(UACH) Institute of Parasitology Justus Liebig University Giessen Schubertstr. 81 35392 Giessen GERMANY Tel.:+0049-641-9938457 E-mail:Carlos.R.Hermosilla@vetmed.uni-giessen.de

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European Association for Aquatic Mammals annual symposium
by Sonia Matias 27 Nov '15

27 Nov '15

The 44th annual symposium of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals will be held at the Mundomar Benidorm, Spain, on March 11-14, 2016. Read more on http://www.eaam2016.com The call for abstracts is open. Please refer to the link http://www.eaam2016.com/call-for-papers/ Kind regards, EAAM board

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Joint Industry Programme on Sound and Marine Life - RFP Announcement
by Campbell, John, IOGP 26 Nov '15

26 Nov '15

Dear Sir/Madam On behalf of the Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life, I am pleased to send you a Request for proposals document entitled "Marine Mammal Observer / Protected Species Observer Data Analysis". I hope you will be able to circulate this to the MARMAM community. Thank you Yours sincerely JOHN A CAMPBELL John Campbell Technical Director email: jac(a)iogp.org phone: +44 20 3763 9707 International Association of Oil & Gas Producers 209-215 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NL, UK reception: +44 20 3763 9700 web: www.iogp.org [IOGP logo] <https://twitter.com/IOGP_News> Follow @IOGP_News This e-mail was sent by The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP). IOGP is registered in England. Registration number: 1832064. Registered office: 209-215 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NL.

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