April 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Mystic Aquarium Research Internships
by Freeman, Kathleen 03 Apr '15

03 Apr '15

Gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment with guidance from a mentor who is a member of our Research staff. Our Research team conducts research in many aspects of marine animal health, husbandry, and ecology. This is accomplished through detailed analysis of behavior, specimens, data records and a combination of field, in-house, and laboratory-based research projects that focus on animal behavior, ecology, infectious disease, neuro-immunology, and physiology. The internship program reflects our mission, "to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration." Internships are available for the fall, spring and summer. Interns have the opportunity to attend weekly educational seminars, receive feedback from supervisors, and work on independent projects to enhance their knowledge and resumes. Application deadlines are as follows: Spring internships (Jan-May): September 30 Summer internships (May-Aug): January 31 Fall internships (Sept-Dec): May 31 Please see the Mystic Aquarium website for more information on the internship program and instructions on completing an application. http://www.mysticaquarium.org/get-involved/internships Essential Responsibilities Here are some of the potential duties for Research internships. Please note that duties will vary depending on the intern's principle focus during the internship. More details can be acquired during the interview process. Videotape, observe, describe and analyze animal behavior Prepare chemical solutions and biological reagents Assist with specimen collection Management of biological specimens Assist with biological assays and experiments Data entry and database management Data analysis, table and graph construction Report writing Requested Requirements The applicant must be enrolled in or recently graduated from college in order to participate. Internships are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students can receive academic credit from their school for the internship, but it is the student's responsibility to arrange for the credit. All internships are unpaid. Research and Water Quality Lab internships vary in number of days per week and the number of hours per week. They may be as much as 40 hours and five days per week or they may be less. A minimum of 16 hours per week is required. The time commitment involved can be discussed during the interview process and will be consistent most weeks. Most internships follow the college year (Spring, Summer and Fall semesters). Dates of the program may be adjusted to fit other school calendars or programs. Contact Email Address Interninfo(a)searesearch.org<mailto:Interninfo@searesearch.org> Kathleen Freeman Internship Coordinator & Mission Programs Administrator Human Resources Department / Mission Programs Phone | 860-572-5955 Ext 306 kfreeman(a)searesearch.org<mailto:kfreeman@searesearch.org> www.mysticaquarium.org<http://www.mysticaquarium.org/> [cid:image001.jpg@01D06AE5.5079F7D0] [Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: FBicon]<http://www.facebook.com/mysticaquarium>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: twitterlogo]<http://twitter.com/mysticaquarium>[Description: cid:image007.png@01CBE934.31FFF3E0]<http://www.youtube.com/user/MysticAquarium>

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Water Quality Internship At Mystic Aquarium
by Freeman, Kathleen 03 Apr '15

03 Apr '15

Gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment with guidance from a mentor who is a member of our dedicated Water Quality staff. The Water Quality Lab staff works closely with the Life Support Technicians in order to maintain exceptional water quality in all aquatic exhibits at Mystic Aquarium ensuring proper habitats for all animals. Daily Duties Perform all tests required to maintain critical parameters in marine mammals pool systems Perform all tests required to maintain critical parameters in fish and aquatic invertebrate exhibits Monitor all chemical feed pumps Record keeping and data entry Assist with ensuring compliance with state discharge permits Interns have the opportunity to attend weekly educational seminars, receive feedback from supervisors, and work on independent projects to enhance their knowledge and resumes. Application deadlines are as follows: Spring internships (Jan-May): September 30 Summer internships (May-Aug): January 31 Fall internships (Sept-Dec): May 31 Please see the Mystic Aquarium website for more information on the internship program and instructions on completing an application. http://www.mysticaquarium.org/get-involved/internships Kathleen Freeman Internship Coordinator & Mission Programs Administrator Human Resources Department / Mission Programs Phone | 860-572-5955 Ext 306 kfreeman(a)searesearch.org<mailto:kfreeman@searesearch.org> www.mysticaquarium.org<http://www.mysticaquarium.org/> [cid:image001.jpg@01D06AE5.5079F7D0] [Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: FBicon]<http://www.facebook.com/mysticaquarium>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: twitterlogo]<http://twitter.com/mysticaquarium>[Description: cid:image007.png@01CBE934.31FFF3E0]<http://www.youtube.com/user/MysticAquarium>

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necropsy data request
by Mithriel MacKay 03 Apr '15

03 Apr '15

Hi Everybody, I have a research assistant working on a project and in need of some necropsy data. We are finding the contact list for folks that gather this data a bit difficult to follow and would appreciate some help directly through the MARMAM list. Specifically, we are in need of body length measurements of humpback whales from the rostrum to dorsal (anatomical) landmarks and similar (dorsal) body length measurements. If you have this data and are willing to share please contact either one of us at the following email addresses: Jonny Reid jonathanjreid(a)gmail.com Mithriel MacKay Mithriel(a)Marine-Eco.org Many thanks for the help! -- *}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> **}-wh^ale> * *}-wh^ale>* Mithriel M. MacKay Ph.D. Candidate Marine Mammal Behavioral Ecology Group Department of Marine Biology Texas A&M University, Galveston (830) 688-9878 mithriel.mackay(a)gmail.com and Director of Research and Education Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center San German, Puerto Rico, USA and Pipe Creek, Texas 78063 Website www.Marine-Eco.org <http://www.marine-eco.org/> E-mail Mithriel(a)Marine-Eco.org <MCERC.mail(a)gmail.com> Education HUb www.Marine-Eco.org/mcerc-moodle

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Summer Field Courses in Marine Science @ BMSC
by BMSC University Programs 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

Hello, The Bamfield Marine Science Centre is offering several field courses this summer for students seeking an immersive, hands-on academic experience. 3-week courses are equivalent to one (1) upper-level university course at your home institution, and 6-week courses are equivalent to two (2) upper-level university courses. At this time, applications are being accepted for the following courses: Block 1: -Ethnobotany (3 weeks: May 25 - June 12)* Block 2: -Biology of Marine Fishes (6 weeks: June 15 - July 24) -Terrestrial & Freshwater Conservation (3 weeks: June 15 - July 3) -Survey Methods for Coastal Wildlife (3 weeks: June 15 - July 3) - This course will include marine mammal surveys -Coastal Community Ecology (3 weeks: July 6 - 24) -Coastal Field Archaeology (6 weeks: July 6 - August 14)** Block 3: -Coastal Biodiversity and Conservation (6 weeks: July 27 - Sept 4) -Science and the Sea (6 weeks: July 27 - Sept 4)* -Sex and Evolution (3 weeks: August 17 - Sept 4) -Ecological Models and Data (3 weeks: August 17 - Sept 4)*** *Can be taken by non-Biology majors **This course is designed for Archaeology and Anthropology students ***Credit granted to both Graduate and Undergraduate students Prerequisites, course descriptions, and other info: http://www.bamfieldmsc.com/university/courses2015/summer15_des.html Apply now: http://www.bamfieldmsc.com/university/apply.html Questions? Email us at [university(a)bamfieldmsc.com -> https://egw.bamfieldmsc.com/index.php?menuaction=felamimail.uidisplay.displ…] Regards, University Programs, BMSC --

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Urgent: Volunteers required in Portugal for MMOs in monitoring campaigns in the Atlantic Ocean (Isabel Sousa Pinto)
by Ana Mafalda Tomás Correia 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

The Faculty of Sciences from University of Porto / Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research is preparing its 4th year of cetacean monitoring in cargo ships from Continental Portugal (Porto/Lisbon) to Madeira (Caniçal), Azores (Ponta Delgada/Horta/Praia da Vitória) and, for the 1st time, to Cape Verde Islands (Sal/Boavista).. Sampling season will start in May for the Cape Verde route and in July for the other; and will go on up to October. We are seeking volunteers for the 2015 MMOs team with, at least, one month of availability within the sampling season. Training will be provided but people with cetacean monitoring experience will be preferred. Participants can also participate in data entry and data analysis if they wish to work/learn with GIS and habitat modelling techniques, and we encourage the use of this experience for university reports or internships (given that the course director allows it). Successful applicants should possess or be enrolled in a BS or MS course in biology or related, be reliable, dedicated, adaptable and patient, as this work is highly weather dependent and requires consecutive days of work at sea. These are unpaid positions and travel expenses to or within Portugal are not covered, however, all the expenses on board are (food and accommodation). Occasional accommodation in the mainland, in between surveys, is not covered, however, deals with Oporto’s local hostels are undergoing in order to provide lower rates. If you are an undergraduate or graduated student interested in pursuing a careen in marine mammal research, this is an excellent opportunity to learn and gain experience at sea. Application deadline is 30th April; however if you want to start in May or June, please submit your application as soon as possible. We will inform you on our decision by 15th May, with exception of the volunteers selected for May to June period, who will be informed in April. To apply please send a Motivation Letter, *Curriculum Vitae* and availability within sampling season, to: ispinto(a)ciimar.up.pt and anamafaldacorreia(a)gmail.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Isabel Sousa Pinto Prof. Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - Director of Coastal Biodiversity Lab R. dos Bragas, *289. 4050-123* Porto, Portugal Email: *ispinto(a)ciimar.up.pt <ispinto(a)ciimar.up.pt>* *www.cimar.org/CIIMAR/en/index.htm <http://www.cimar.org/CIIMAR/en/index.htm>*

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Request for right whale and humpback whale morphometric and body condition data from strandings/carcasses/catches
by Fredrik 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

Dear colleagues, As part of a larger bioenergetic study on baleen whales, I am looking for data on right whale and humpback whale morphometrics and body condition from carcasses (strandings, commercial/scientific catches, and similar). I am interested in data from all age classes (adult, juvenile, calves). Knowing that detailed data on these two species is quite scarce, I am looking for any of the following information (I am obviously not expecting to find all this information from the same animals): Morphometrics: -Body length (as well as distance between different body parts) -Girth (or half girth) (single or multiple sites) -Blubber thickness (single or multiple sites) -Total body weight -Blubber weight -Muscle weight -Visceral fat weight -Bone weight -Weight of other internal organs (heart, kidney, liver) -Stomach size/volume Chemical composition: -Blubber lipid concentration (total lipids, protein and water) -Muscle lipid concentration -Visceral fat lipid concentration -Bone lipid concentration -Lipid concentration in other organs (heart, kidney, liver) -Oil yield from different tissues and organs Reproductive variables: -Sex -Foetus length/weight -Number of corpora (Corpus luteum, Corpora albicantia and Corpora abberantia) in ovaries -Size of uterine cornua/horns -Testis volume/weight If your lab/organisation have any of this information (for either right whales or humpback whales), and potentially willing to share it, please email me on f.christiansen(a)murdoch.edu.au. Best regards, Fredrik Christiansen Postdoctoral Research Fellow Cetacean Research Unit, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia +61 417 502 098, f.christiansen(a)murdoch.edu.au http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=vkA5Y3EAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fredrik_Christiansen3/?ev=hdr_xprf

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Marine Conservation Summer Institute
by Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D. 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

Enrollment is filling quickly…!!! Duke University 2015 MARINE CONSERVATION SUMMER INSTITUTE: Science, Policy and Ethics of Marine Conservation 6 July through 7 August 2015 Marine Laboratory Campus Nicholas School of the Environment Beaufort, NC 2015 Themes • Human Dimensions and the Marine Environment • Coastal Aquaculture and Conservation • Ocean Energy and Sustainability • Invasive Species • Sea Turtle & Marine Mammal Conservation & US Oceans Law Duke Faculty Instructors Dr. Doug Nowacek, Conservation Technology (Institute Director) Dr. Xavier Basurto, Sustainability & Ocean Governance Dr. James Morris, NOAA, Marine Ecology Dr. Andy Read, Conservation Biology, Marine Vertebrates Mr. Steve Roady, Environmental Law Distinguished Guest Lecturer: Dr. Joao Ferreira, Marine Aquaculture The Marine Conservation Summer Institute<http://superpod.ml.duke.edu/mcsi/> (MCSI) is an intensive 5-week program that uses a trans-disciplinary approach to engage students and professionals in global marine conservation topics. The institute immerses students in the world of marine conservation biology and policy, giving them a set of fundamental tools for addressing and understanding issues of conserving marine biodiversity in the context of 21st Century society. The Institute is set in the vibrant educational and research setting of the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina. The institute is open to advanced undergraduates, graduates, environmental professionals, and international practitioners. The 2014 MCSI hosted 32 participants from 21 countries; we expect similar representation in 2015. Advanced Registration is open and will remain open until the course is filled, but space is limited. The five-week course consists of one introductory week covering the basics of natural and social science as they relate to marine conservation, followed by four intensive week-long modules led by experts and consisting of plenary lectures, discussions, field trips, and other activities. During week 5, participants will synthesize products (e.g., by building story maps) that become legacy resources of the Institute. MCSI focuses on hands-on, team-based, experiential learning with meaningful faculty-student engagement that are hallmarks of the educational environment at the Marine Laboratory. Students will be in the field and at the discussion table, learning from the faculty and from one another. Eligibility Open to national and international practitioners, graduate students, advanced undergraduates. Duke Credits 7 credits (2 course equivalents) Fees Tuition: $7,238 Room & Board: $2,414 Duke Fees: $180.75* * International students will incur additional fees for passports, visas, and health insurance. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxsfxMT1eWg WEBSITE: www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/mcsi<http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/mcsi> TWITTER @DukeMCSI <https://twitter.com/DukeMCSI> Questions? Contact mcsi(a)duke.edu<mailto:mcsi@duke.edu> Douglas P. Nowacek, Ph.D. Repass-Rodgers Chair of Marine Conservation Technology Nicholas School of the Environment & Pratt School of Engineering Duke University Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd. Beaufort, NC 28516 http://superpod.ml.duke.edu http://oceanography.ml.duke.edu

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New publication modelling the energetics of migrating humpback whales
by Janelle Braithwaite 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

My co-authors and I are pleased to share with you our recent publication in Conservation Physiology: *Optimal migration energetics of humpback whales and the implications of disturbance <http://conphys.oxfordjournals.org/content/3/1/cov001.full?sid=3d296d25-3cb8…>* Janelle E. Braithwaite, Jessica J. Meeuwig, and Matthew R. Hipsey Whales migrate long distances and reproduce on a finite store of energy. Budgeting the use of this limited energy reserve is an important factor to ensure survival over the period of migration and to maximize reproductive investment. For some whales, migration routes are closely associated with coastal areas, exposing animals to high levels of human activity. It is currently unclear how various forms of human activity may disturb whales during migration, how this might impact their energy balance and how this could translate into long-term demographic changes. Here, we develop a theoretical bioenergetic model for migrating humpback whales to investigate the optimal migration strategy that minimizes energy use. The average migration velocity was an important driver of the total energy used by a whale, and an optimal velocity of 1.1 m s−1 was determined. This optimal velocity is comparable to documented observed migration speeds, suggesting that whales migrate at a speed that conserves energy. Furthermore, the amount of resting time during migration was influenced by both transport costs and feeding rates. We simulated hypothetical disturbances to the optimal migration strategy in two ways, by altering average velocity to represent changes in behavioural activity and by increasing total travelled distance to represent displacement along the migration route. In both cases, disturbance increased overall energy use, with implications for the growth potential of calves. Best, Janelle Braithwaite janelle.braithwaite(a)gmail.com

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opinion issued in Navy sonar/ explosives case
by Jasny, Michael 31 Mar '15

31 Mar '15

Dear All, A federal court in Hawaii has just issued an opinion in our case challenging Navy sonar and explosives activities, off Southern California and Hawaii, and NMFS' decision to authorize the Navy's take of marine mammals. The Court ruled for Plaintiffs on all claims: for all parties under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, and in favor of Conservation Council for Hawaii on the additional ESA and National Environmental Policy Act claims it raised in the related case. Among other points, it held, under the MMPA, that there was no "rational connection" between the facts on record and NMFS' determination that the takes resulting from the activity would have a "negligible impact" on marine mammal populations. It also held that the agency's acceptance of the Navy's mitigation claims-namely that no mitigation beyond the use of safety zones was practicable-is arbitrary and capricious. As the Court remarked, in declining to address some of the narrower arguments made by Plaintiffs: [T]he problems this court identifies are so fundamental that the court cannot conceive of a new Final Rule or new LOAs that simply tweak the earlier documents and regurgitate old language. If NMFS addresses the matters identified here, any new Final Rule or new LOAs will need to be so completely different from existing documents that present issues should be irrelevant. In this case, NMFS authorized the Navy to take marine mammals some 9.6 million times over 5 years, mostly through behavioral disruption and temporary threshold shift, in the course of its sonar and explosives activities. It also authorized some 2000 instances of permanent threshold shift and about 135 mortalities. Please send me an email offline if you'd like a copy of the opinion or have any questions. Best, Michael Michael jasny Director, Marine Mammal Protection NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL 4479 W. 5th Avenue Vancouver, bc v6r1s4 T 604.736.9386 c 310.560.5536 mjasny(a)NRDC.ORG<mailto:mjasny@NRDC.ORG> Please save paper. Think before printing.

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