December 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New video on North Atlantic right whales
by Bort, Jacqueline E CIV NAVFAC LANT, EV 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

U.S. Fleet Forces Command is pleased to announce our fourth video vignette featuring one of our marine species monitoring projects: Protecting the Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/RSe_ZM9M0wE?list=PLtC0B59YY9AlfrOjU705XMsAHwx4EtwRf It highlights the right whale tagging and tracking efforts conducted by our scientific partners Duke University, Syracuse University, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the Southeast Atlantic during right whale calving season. The video also gives an inside look at how the Navy distributes whale sighting information to the U.S. Atlantic fleet, and the protective measures the Navy implements in the Southeast right whale critical habitat. For more information on this and other Navy marine species monitoring projects, please visit http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/ Jacqueline Bort Thornton Marine Resources Specialist, Environmental Conservation (EV53) Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic 6506 Hampton Blvd | Norfolk, VA | 23508-1278 jacqueline.bort(a)navy.mil Please consider the environment before printing this email. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸¸><((((º>

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Seeking a Research Assistant for Gray Whales Count, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
by Michael H Smith 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

One RESEARCH ASSISTANT (RA) POSITION AVAILABLE - seeking a volunteer Research Assistant for research on Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrating northbound through the nearshore of the Santa Barbara Channel. Gray Whales Count (GWC) is seeking a Research Assistant (RA) to fill out research team to work with Project Coordinator and team of observers to assist in our annual survey, conducted from shore at Counter Point, in the Coal Oil Point Reserve, Goleta, California, USA, adjacent to the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). This position is open to citizens of the United States of America and those authorized to work in the United States with an appropriate visa in hand. The 2016 survey begins Tuesday, February 16 and continues every day through May 26, from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Sunday. We are looking for a passionate, caring individual who would be willing to commit for fifteen weeks, including the fourteen-week survey and wrap-up and be available to begin Saturday, February 13 to train and assist with preparations. GWC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for research and education. The primary goal of research is to estimate the number of Gray whales and Gray whale calves migrating northbound through our corridor and to share our data to complement similar sampling-studies along the California coast. A secondary goal is to document the variety and quantity of other marine mammals in the ocean area around our site, which is now a Marine Protected Area. We are able to monitor human activity, including interactions with marine mammals, including Gray whales. Goals of education are to teach the process of scientific research to Counters and to give them the opportunity to conduct a meaningful study, to experience marine mammals in their natural environment, and to share this process and their enthusiasm with publics through direct interchange, outreach, and various media. RA will be trained by the Project Coordinator and, in-turn, share the responsibility for research and education. Applicable skills learned and achieved include: > Process, concepts, and protocols of the survey > Ability to identify a multitude of marine mammal species from a distance, including but not limited to: Gray whales, Humpback whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Harbor seals, California Sea lions, Sea otters, etc. > Identify behaviors of these marine mammals > Distinguish calves from juveniles and adults > Identify vessels and vessel operations > Gather detailed, consistent data, with ability to teach and check others’ work > Learn about marine mammals in their natural environment and the forces that affect them, both natural and anthropogenic > Developing responsibility and a working relationship within a team Because of the training required, applicants must be willing to commit full-time to the project for the time period involved (minimum of 15 weeks, which can be extended if the applicant desires to be involved with data entry and analysis). This will entail up to 9 hours of work a day for at least 5 days a week. (With training, RAs are required to work everyday the first two weeks.) The Count is 7 days per week and the RA may commit additional hours to the Count as desired. The more time you can put in, the more you will get out of your experience. Priority will be given to those candidates with associative career goals. Previous experience is a plus but not a condition. This is a unique opportunity to gain extensive experience in scientific fieldwork in an environment rich with diverse populations of marine mammals. You will work with equally diverse individuals who are caring, attentive, and curious. Gray whales are a sentinel species traveling from temperate lagoons in Mexico, along the dynamic California Current at the eastern edge of the North Pacific Ocean to the Arctic waters of northern Alaska in one of the longest marine mammal migrations. There are boundless avenues of exploration, and Gray Whales Count can begin your journey. Requirements: > Even though we are situated in Southern California, you must be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. Fieldwork can be, at times, physically and mentally demanding. > Willingness to work long hours. > Commit for a minimum of fifteen weeks, full time (minimum five days per week). > Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, zoology, environmental science, animal behavior or a related field. > Previous field experience with marine wildlife and observation is a plus but not required. > Ability to work in a team environment to produce consistent, high quality results. We cannot stress this enough. You will be trained to be a leader of an operation with people of differing experience and dedication. > Be enthusiastic and possess a caring, positive attitude, with a strong desire to learn. > Be adaptable and patient. The migration is characterized by pulses rather than a steady stream; and weather is the unknown factor: wind, rain, and fog can shut us down. > We strive for a perfection that cannot be attained. We are forgiving and learn from experience. This is a volunteer position. The selected RA will be responsible for her or his own transportation to and from Santa Barbara/Goleta, California and daily to the survey site. Recognizing that living costs are high in this area, Gray Whales Count will award a $500 stipend to assist the RA with expenses upon successful completion of the RA position. RAs will be responsible for all for living expenses while volunteering for Gray Whales Count. To apply: Please send cover letter/résumé to Project Coordinator, Michael Smith michael(a)graywhalescount.org <mailto:michael@graywhalescount.org>. We strongly recommend you look over our website: graywhalescount.org <http://www.graywhalescount.org/GWC/The_Count/The_Count.html> to familiarize yourself with our operation. In the cover letter, please address why you wish to participate in Gray Whales Count and what you hope to achieve in your experience and include how this might advance your career goals. There is no deadline to apply. The position will remain open until it is filled. Please consider applying early in order to arrange travel plans and to secure room and board. Thank you. Michael H Smith, Project Coordinator Gray Whales Count <http://www.graywhalescount.org/GWC/The_Count/The_Count.html> nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation for research and education 1 Fellowship Circle Santa Barbara, CA 93109 USA (805) 698-3505 mobile michael(a)GrayWhalesCount.org <mailto:michael@GrayWhalesCount.org> project-collaborators include: Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington <http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/index.htm> Journey North, Norwich, Vermont <http://www.learner.org/jnorth/gwhale/index.html> NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla <http://swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd/> Scripps Whale Acoustic Lab, SIO / UCSD, La Jolla <http://cetus.ucsd.edu/> UCSB's Coal Oil Point Reserve, Goleta <http://coaloilpoint.ucnrs.org/> _______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM(a)lists.uvic.ca <mailto:MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca> https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam <https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam>

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Those Right Whale interested parties
by Rob Banks - NOAA Affiliate 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

For those who are interested in Right Whales: A local drone pilot got some amazing footage of a Right Whale in close proximity the shore up here in Gloucester: https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/and-heres-the-drone-… Still Shots: https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/martin-del-vecchio-r… Cheers rob -- Rob Banks Project Manager dse inc. NMFS/FDSD/APS/QA Team Gloucester, Mass Phone: 978.281.9186 https://www.linkedin.com/in/corgimas

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Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life
by Campbell, John, IOGP 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

On behalf of the Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life, I am pleased to announce the release of two Requests for Proposals on the following topics: * Improvements for Towed Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Technology * Marine Mammal Observer / Protected Species Observer Data Analysis The RFP documents can be down-loaded from the JIP Web site at: http://www.soundandmarinelife.org/funding/rfps.aspx For further information please contact info(a)soundandmarinelife.org Thank you 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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WORKSHOPS REMINDER: Introduction to Statistical Modelling and Flexible Models for Correlated Count or Multi-Category Data, University of St Andrews, Jan 2016
by Lindesay Scott-Hayward 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

Apologies for cross-posting. We would like to announce two workshops on statistical modelling in January 2016: 1) Introduction to Statistical Modelling (12th - 15th Jan 2016) and 2) Flexible Models for Correlated Count or Multi-Category data (18th - 21st Jan 2016) The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) at the University of St. Andrews will be running two 'Statistical Modelling' workshops to introduce both basic and more advanced techniques. Introduction to Statistical Modelling (4 days) This workshop will take place 12th - 15th January 2016 and will cover Exploratory Data Analysis, Confidence Intervals, Linear Models, Generalised Linear Models to help participants analyse continuous, presence/absence and count data and Generalised Estimating Equations for modelling correlated data. Flexible Models for Correlated Count or Multi-Category data (4 days) This workshop will take place 18th - 21st January 2016 and covers one dimensional and two dimensional smoothing using more traditional and recently developed methods. The correlated aspect of the data is addressed using Generalised Estimating Equations (GEEs). These will be covered in more detail than in the introductory workshop. The initial example will be using count data (Poisson) however towards the end of the workshop we will also cover models for categorical data (e.g. Binomial, Binary and Multinomial response types). Both courses will be heavily data-based and presented using large scale offshore wind farm and clinical trials data. The R software package will be used for workshop-based practicals. Computer sessions take place in our computer classroom (attached to the seminar room) and participants can use our computers or bring their own laptops. For more information and registration, please visit the webpage: http://creem2.st-andrews.ac.uk/introduction-to-statistical-modelling-and-sp… Please note that early registration closes on the 14th December. Many Thanks, Lindesay Scott-Hayward

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