April 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Announcement of the Watkins Memorial Marine Mammal Bioacoustics Symposium, 26-29 March 2015
by Laela Sayigh 20 Jul '17

20 Jul '17

Dear colleagues, This message is to announce the upcoming Watkins Memorial Marine Mammal Bioacoustics Symposium, to be held 26-29 March 2015 in Massachusetts (location TBA). This symposium will consist of a combination of invited and contributed presentations on all aspects of marine mammal bioacoustics, including communication, echolocation, hearing, methods in marine mammal bioacoustics, effects of noise on marine mammals, and bioacoustics as a tool in marine mammal conservation. There will also be a session on Bill Watkins' legacy to marine mammal bioacoustics. Further announcements will follow with more specifics, but registration and abstract submissions are expected to commence in the fall of 2014. For more information, contact Laela Sayigh, lsayigh(a)whoi.edu.

1 6

JOB(S) POSTING involving Marine Mammals: Marine Acoustic Technician and Marine Wildlife Observer vacancies
by Nick Robinson 07 Jun '16

07 Jun '16

Gardline Environmental Ltd is a member of the Gardline Marine Sciences Limited Group of Companies and is a successful Environmental contractor, operating a fleet of inshore boats, conducting major integrated offshore projects on a worldwide basis and inshore projects for major clients in the UK and overseas. As GEL’s Marine Wildlife Department continues its expansion we are seeking to add to the diverse team and expertise in the following roles; MARINE ACOUSTIC TECHNICIAN(s) The candidate(s) will be expected to conduct acoustic surveys through the use of passive acoustic monitoring systems (PAMS) and noise measurement systems during offshore activities both nationally and internationally. The candidate will play a key role in the development of in-house systems and be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of all Marine Wildlife Departmental acoustic equipment, in accordance with HSSE and QA standards. Compilation and preparation of PAMS and noise monitoring reports including the processing of acoustic data is required. Projects may include marine mammal mitigation or monitoring, ambient noise measurements and operational noise monitoring. The candidate will be responsible for the appropriate collection and processing of data both at sea and in the office. This role will require you to work in the office (Great Yarmouth), but we have an expectation that you will spend up to 120 days at sea at locations worldwide, during a 12-month period. Applicants will be of degree calibre or equivalent in a relevant discipline and possess an understanding of marine acoustics, including both hardware and need to have field experience. Additionally, familiarity with the use of PAMS, CPODs or other underwater noise monitoring equipment is desirable. MARINE WILDLIFE OBSERVER(s) The candidate(s) will be expected to undertake a wide variety of marine wildlife surveys, including marine mammal observations, passive acoustic monitoring, seabird and environmental impact activities in the field, as well as providing general assistance to the project managers, lead scientists and report writer with the production of marine wildlife reports. You will be responsible for the appropriate collection and processing of data both at sea and in the office. This role will require you to work in the office (Great Yarmouth), but we have an expectation that you will spend approximately 120 - 180 days at sea, at locations worldwide, dependent on project requirements, during a 12-month period. Applicants will ideally be of degree calibre or equivalent in a relevant discipline and possess an understanding of marine mammals, their biology and identification and need to have a minimum of two years field experience. Familiarity with the use of Passive Acoustic Monitoring System (PAMS) or previous marine survey experience would certainly be advantageous. To apply for your choice of role, please send your CV and a Cover Letter to Nick Robinson at nick.robinson(a)gardline.com<mailto:nick.robinson@gardline.com>. Incomplete Applications will not be considered. Closing date: 21st April 2013 ________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY - This e-mail and any attached files contain information that is confidential and/or may be subject of legal privilege, intended only for use by the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received this message in error and that any dissemination, copying or use of this message or attachment is strictly forbidden, as is the disclosure of the information therein. If you have received this message in error please notify the sender immediately and preserve this confidentiality by deleting the message. No binding contract will result from this e-mail until and unless an officer, on behalf of the sender, signs a written document. Sender accepts no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of this message as it has been transmitted over public networks. Unless otherwise specifically stated any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the sender Company. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System, on behalf of the Gardline Group of Companies. For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 6

New papaer: Dolphins Adjust Species-Specific Frequency Parameters to Compensate for Increasing Background Noise
by Elena Papale 07 May '15

07 May '15

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce the publication of a new paper: "Dolphins Adjust Species-Specific Frequency Parameters to Compensate for Increasing Background Noise" Elena Papale, Marco Gamba, Monica Perez-Gil, Vidal Martel Martin, Cristina Giacoma PLoS ONE 10(4): e0121711. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121711 A PDF version of the paper is available online at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0121711 or via email request to: elena.papale(a)iamc.cnr.it ABSTRACT An increase in ocean noise levels could interfere with acoustic communication of marine mammals. In this study we explored the effects of anthropogenic and natural noise on the acoustic properties of a dolphin communication signal, the whistle. A towed array with four elements was used to record environmental background noise and whistles of short-beaked common-, Atlantic spotted- and striped-dolphins in the Canaries archipelago. Four frequency parameters were measured from each whistle, while Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) of the background noise were measured at the central frequencies of seven one-third octave bands, from 5 to 20 kHz. Results show that dolphins increase the whistles frequency parameters with lower variability in the presence of anthropogenic noise, and increase the end frequency of their whistles when confronted with increasing natural noise. This study provides the first evidence that the synergy among SPLs has a role in shaping the whistles' structure of these three species, with respect to both natural and anthropogenic noise. Best, Elena -- -- Elena Papale, PhD Institute for Coastal Marine Environment National Research Council Via del Mare 3 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP) Italy elena.papale(a)iamc.cnr.it elenabiancapapale(a)gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

1 1

Humpback whale research internships in Ecuador
by Pierre Gallego 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

HUMPBACK WHALE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN ECUADOR (with possibility for Galapagos Islands extension) The Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) in Ecuador, together with the Marine Biology Association Odyssea (www.odyssea.lu <http://www.odyssea.lu/>), is offering humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) research internships in the Machalilla National Park in Ecuador. This is where Pacific humpback whales congregate to give birth to their calves, and mate. Dr Cristina Castro from PWF in Ecuador has been carrying out research on humpback whales for 18 years in this National Park. These internships are available for durations of either 7, 10 or 14 or 28 days, from June until the end of October 2015. Volunteers will be introduced to and participate in the research techniques involving boat-based photo identification, biopsy sampling, behavioral studies and acoustics. No previous experience is required. Cost of the internship: ranging between 1100 to 1840 USD, depending on the length of stay: 7 day internship 1100USD 10 day internship 1250USD 14 day internship 1640USD 28 day internship 1840USD This fee includes: - Full internship program with lectures, practical training and workshops - Transfers from and to Manta airport - Basic accommodation in small studios (some single, some shared for 2 persons maximum) in Puerto Lopez with kitchen and private bathroom - Boat-based humpback whale photo-identification and behavioral data collection - Training sessions in cetacean research techniques and software, as well as analyzing data with scientific supervision - Lectures on cetacean biology and conservation - Isla de La Plata tours including snorkeling trips - Spanish lessons - Multiple group dinners This fee does not include flights to and from Ecuador, food (except for lunch boxes on boat trips and a some dinners when out late during field work), compulsory health and travel insurance, and personal expenses. Trips to the Galapagos can be organized in addition to the internship (with additional costs). At the end of the internship a certificate will be issued summing up all the skills acquired by the participants. If you are interested in joining this internship, please contact us at info(a)odyssea.lu <mailto:pgallego@student.ulg.ac.be> and we will send you the detailed dates and prices. Dr Pierre Gallego President of Odyssea

1 0

New paper: Recovering cortisol from harbour porpoise skin
by Thea Østergaard Bechshøft 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Dear all, I am very happy to finally be able to share our new paper with you (published open access): Citation Bechshoft T, Wright AJ, Weisser JJ, Teilmann J, Dietz R, Hansen M, Björklund E, Styrishave B (2015) Developing a new research tool for use in free-ranging cetaceans: recovering cortisol from harbour porpoise skin. Conserv Physiol 3: doi:10.1093/conphys/cov016. Abstract We developed a chemical analytical procedure for sampling, extracting and determining epidermal skin cortisol concentrations (SCCs) in the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In brief, this involved a pressurized liquid extraction with a two-step solid-phase clean-up. A derivatization step was conducted prior to detection. To evaluate the new assay, cortisol was analysed in three different sample types obtained from four harbour porpoises: skin plates, dorsal fin skin plugs (with and without lidocaine) and epidermal scrapes. Skin cortisol concentrations could be measured using the new assay in the majority of the tested skin samples down to a minimal sample size of 49 mg dry weight (dw). Water content ranged from 10 to 46% in the plug samples, which had SCCs from 2.1 to 77.7 ng/g dw. Epidermal scrape samples had the highest water content (83-87%) and lower SCCs (0.6-15 ng/g dw), while the skin plates had intermediate water contents (60-66%) and SCCs of 2.6-13.0 ng/g dw. SCC was slightly higher in plugs with lidocaine than without (average values of 41 and 33 ng/g dw, respectively). Substantial within-individual variations in cortisol concentrations are also common in other matrices such as blood and hair. Some important factors behind this variation could be e.g. the animal's sex, age, body condition, reproductive stage, and the body region sampled, as well as season, moulting cycles and water temperature. Clearly, more research into SCCs is required. The findings described here represent the first critical steps towards using epidermal skin cell samples to assess chronic stress levels in cetaceans and the development of a widely applicable health-assessment tool in these species. For a pdf copy, see: http://conphys.oxfordjournals.org/content/3/1/cov016.abstract Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best, Thea Thea Bechshøft, Biologist, MSc, PhD Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358 4000 Roskilde, Denmark E-mail: thbe(a)dmu.dk<mailto:thbe@dmu.dk>

1 0

Houston PAM level 1 and PAM level 2 training courses - June 25-27th 2015
by Sam Nichols 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

*PAM LEVEL 1 AND PAM LEVEL 2 COURSES - HOUSTON, USA, JUNE 25-27th 2015Seiche PAM level 1 course* Comprehensive and hands-on PAM training for delegates with a scientific background in biology or marine sciences who have successfully completed a certified PSO or MMO course. Day 1 (classroom) Sound In Water Marine Mammals Anthropogenic Noise in the Sea Effects of Anthropogenic Noise on Marine Mammals Local Mitigation Guidelines PAM Principles and the Role of the PAM Operator Day 2 (classroom) PAM Hardware & Operations PAM Software PAMGuard Workshop Day 3 (on a vessel) Set-up and deployment of PAM systems and visual observer stations Troubleshooting Real-time mitigation and reporting *Seiche PAM level 2 course* This new three day course builds on Seiche’s Level 1 course to develop practical PAM knowhow for troubleshooting problems, deployment and more advanced use of PAMGuard for mitigation. It is aimed at delegates with some PAM experience or who have completed Level 1. A scientific background is preferred, ideally in biology and marine sciences. The skills developed on the course can be applied to all PAM equipment currently in the marketplace. Delegates will have a mix of interactive sessions, lectures and hands-on access to equipment. The course begins by refreshing delegates’ knowledge on sound in water, marine mammal acoustics, PAM and PAMGuard. It moves on to explore advanced settings for identifying and localizing marine mammal species. This will then be applied using real-life data for projects requiring mitigation – such as shutdowns on seismic surveys. How to troubleshoot problems with both hardware and software will be covered, drawing on Seiche’s extensive experience of in-field support. Delegates will be able to take a closer look at the inner workings of the kit in a hands-on session. The course finishes with practical demonstrations of the best deployment methods of PAM kit, with seismic vessels specifically in mind. Thorough support material is provided. Modules covered: • Sound in Water: a review • PAM and PAMGuard: a review • Identifying Marine Mammal Detections during Seismic Surveys • Localizing Marine Mammal Detections during Seismic Surveys • Advanced Settings of PAMGuard • PAMGuard Software Troubleshooting • Marine Mammal Vocalizations • Report Writing for Marine Mammal Detections • PAM Hardware: inner working of the kit • Practical PAM Hardware: troubleshooting and repairing kit • Deployment Methods and Troubleshooting • Practical Deployment For more info and booking, please contact Sarah Hancock by emailing s.hancock(a)seiche.com.

1 0

Job opportunity: Research assistant in the Falkland Islands
by Amélie Augé 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Hi everyone, The South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) is looking for a research assistant for 6 months to work on review, data collation and mapping of whale distribution and recovery around the Falkland Islands. This is part of a Darwin Plus project 'Marine spatial planning for the Falkland Islands'. Find all the details, contacts and how to apply here: http://south-atlantic-research.org/jobs/123-marine-spatial-planning-researc… Closing date 20 May 2015 ___________________________ Dr Amélie Augé SAERI Stanley, Falkland Islands *Out of the office with no internet until 15 May*

1 0

Society for Marine Mammalogy 's 21st Biennial Conference: Housing is Open!
by Ellen M Hines 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

[cid:image003.png@01D076C8.A2BA75D0]<https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/> [Click here to book your room!]<https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowSMM151/> Housing is Now Open! Book your hotel room now at specially negotiated prices - the lowest around. In addition to these great rates, you'll receive outstanding customer service and enjoy additional benefits by booking in the block. Book early for the best room selection. Great rates are now available - ACT FAST! BOOK YOUR ROOM TODAY <https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowSMM151/> BENEFITS OF BOOKING WITH EXPERIENT Supporting The Society for Marine Mammalogy's 21st Biennial Meeting Low Rates Ability to Waitlist Online No Prepayment Required Onsite Housing Assistance [Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/marinemammalogy>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/marinemammalogy> Need assistance? Reply to this email or call our customer service department at 800 967-8852 (toll free), 847 996-5832 (International residents) or email SMM(a)experient-inc.com.<mailto:SRCD@experient-inc.com> [Experient: Official Housing Provider] 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 310 | Frederick, MD 21703 [http://www.elabs10.com/images/mlopen_post.html?rtr=on&siteid=2010000623&mid…]

1 0

New publication:"Visual and behavioral evidence indicates active hunting by sperm whales"
by 夏芽里青木 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

Dear Colleagues, I'm pleased to announce the publication of a new paper: "Visual and behavioral evidence indicates active hunting by sperm whales" K Aoki, M Amano, T Kubodera, K Mori,R Okamoto, K Sato Mar Ecol Prog Ser 523:233-241 ABSTRACT: It is hypothesized that sperm whales employ active pursuit strategies for hunting prey, mainly deep-sea squid at great depths, but no visual evidence has been obtained to confirm this. We recorded the hunting behavior of sperm whales using animal-borne cameras and accelerometers simultaneously deployed on 17 whales, and obtained 42.8 h of diving data, including 17 715 images. A statistical comparison indicated no clear effect of light (with or without flashing white lights from cameras) on diving behavior of tagged whales. Although 98.5% of the still images were of empty water and uninformative, 5 classes of images with visible material were identified: (1) suspended material, possibly squid ink (n = 17), (2) unidentified particles (n = 4), (3) possible animal body parts (n = 2), (4) other sperm whales (n = 221), and (5) the seafloor (n = 8). All image classes were recorded at deeper depths (mean ± SD = 785 ± 140 m), except Class 4 images, which were recorded only at depths <339 m, suggesting that tagged whales swam alone while foraging at great depths. Simultaneous use of speed and image sensors revealed that Class 1 images were associated with bursts of speed up to approximately twice (3.3 ± 1.0 m s－1, max. 6 m s－1) the mean swim speed (1.8 ± 0.4 m s－1). These images, likely derived during chasing prey, support the hypothesis that sperm whales actively hunt to capture prey. A PDF version of the paper is available online at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v523/p233-241/ Supplementary movies are here: http://www.int-res.com/articles/suppl/m523p233_supp/

1 0

Peter Best
by Robert Best 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

To the Marine Mammal Research Community Dear All It is with great sadness that we need to let you know that Peter Best passed away on Wednesday 22nd April after a long illness. His colleagues have kindly written the following summary of his career. “Described as the world’s foremost authority on the whales and dolphins of the Southern African region, Peter was born in London in 1939 and was educated at Bradfield College, Berkshire, England where he obtained his A levels in 1957. Before going to University he spent two summer seasons on the Antarctic whaling factory Balaena as a chemist’s assistant, and a winter at the Saldanha whaling station, near Cape Town, where he collected biological specimens and in particular obtained detailed information on the little known Bryde’s whale being taken there. He achieved his Bachelor of Arts Honours degree from Cambridge University in 1962, and worked as a whale research officer with the Fisheries Development Corporation of South Africa in Cape Town between 1962 and 1969. In 1971 he received his Doctor of Philosophy from Cambridge University on “Studies of South African Cetacea with special reference to the sperm whale (Physeter catodon)”, one of the earliest Cambridge graduate degrees based on fieldwork away from the University (another was Jane Goodall’s on chimpanzees). Between 1969 and 1984 he was employed as a Professional/Senior/Chief Professional Officer at the Sea Fisheries Research Institute, in Cape Town, where he oversaw marine mammal research. In 1985 Peter joined the staff of the Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria, first as an Antarctic/Senior Research Officer between 1985 and 2004, and as an Extraordinary Professor thereafter. Peter was a leading figure in Southern African, Southern Hemisphere and global marine mammal research. Amongst his international colleagues, Peter was seen as amongst, if not the best, cetacean field biologist in the world. His field experience was extensive and included, amongst other field research, specimen collection at whaling stations in South Africa and at sea in the Antarctic; whale-marking off South Africa and in the Indian Ocean; participation in sighting surveys of large whales in the Antarctic and in the Western Indian Ocean, and at sea and aerial surveys of fur seals off the South African west coast and Namibia. However, Peter is probably best known for his extensive aerial surveys of southern right whales off South Africa where he undertook fixed-wing surveys between 1969 and 1987 and photographic surveys by helicopter between 1979 and 2004 and continued to oversee this programme until 2014. This, now 36-year- long, research programme has resulted in one of the longest time - series of large whale research information in the world, tracking the remarkable recovery of this population. His interests in right whale biology extended to photogrammetry, genetic and satellite tracking studies. Through student supervision, Peter initiated shore based surveys of migrating humpback whales off both the east and west coasts of South Africa, an intensive photo-identification project on Heaviside's dolphins between 1999 and 2001 and more recently a study on southern right whale feeding off the South African west coast. During his tenure with the Mammal Research Institute, Peter supervised seven PhD and five MSc students. Peter was a respected and valued member of a number of research committees and fora, amongst others the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, 1971-1982 and an invited participant thereafter (including as Vice-chairman of the Scientific Committee in 1982 and 1983); the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/Species Survival Comission (SSC) Group of Specialists on Whales between 1971 and 1975, the IUCN/SSC Group of Specialists on Seals between 1983 and 1986 and the IUCN/SSC Group of Specialists on Cetaceans from 1985 onwards. He was a charter member, and later honorary member of the Society of Marine Mammalogy, an Associate Editor of Marine Mammal Science between 1985 and 1995, and a member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s Committee of Scientific Advisors from 2003 onwards. He published over 160 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Peter’s 338-page seminal “Whales and Dolphins of the Southern African Subregion” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2007, the same year that he was the Conference Chair of the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, held in Cape Town. Amongst the numerous awards Peter received were the Cape Times Centenary Medal in 1993, the Gold Medal of the Zoological Society of Southern Africa in 1998, the Gilchrist Memorial Medal in 2005 and the University of Pretoria’s Commemorative Research Medal in 2008. In 2004 Peter was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa. Peter married Margaret Ann Ralph (Maggi) in June 1974 and is survived by her, their son Robert and daughter Alison.” Peter’s funeral service will be held at 15h00 on Wednesday, the 29th April at St Andrews Church, 77 Kildare Road, Newlands, Cape Town. Our wish is for any memorial donations to be made to the Whale Unit of the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute (please contact Ken Findlay kenfin(a)mweb.co.za for details). The Best family

1 0