June 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

International Workshop on Bottlenose dolphin conservation and monitoring in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea
by susan.gallon＠laposte.net 22 Jun '15

22 Jun '15

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that an international workshop on bottlenose dolphin conservation and monitoring in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea will be held at the Villa Méditerranée, http://www.villa-mediterranee. org/ , in Marseille (France), on the 01 & 02 December 2015. Abstracts are now being accepted for both spoken and poster presentations until the 31 st of August 2015 . For more information, please visit http://www.gdegem.org/ international-workshop Contact workshop(a)gis3m.org with any questions about the event. We look forward to seeing you in Marseille! Hélène Labach, Coordinator, Project manager at GIS3M ( Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique pour les Mammifères Marins de Méditerranée et leur environnement )

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PhD projects available in the Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Lab (CEAL), University of Queensland, Australia
by Rebecca Dunlop 21 Jun '15

21 Jun '15

The Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory (www.uq.edu.au/whale<http://www.uq.edu.au/whale>) has two available PhD projects in humpback whale social sounds. 1) The effects of noise on social sound communication This project will focus on how natural and anthropogenic sources of noise affect social sound communication in humpback whales. It will explore how different sounds are propagated in different environments and the effects of increasing noise on social sound propagation. 2) Population variation in social communication This project will explore the use of social vocalisations in different geographic populations and different contexts (feeding, breeding and migrating) looking for geographic and contextual similarities in social sound use. Outcomes of this study will provide more information on the function of specific social vocalisations. Applicants should have a strong interest in bioacoustics (essential), and previous experience in acoustic analysis techniques (preferred). Overseas applicants, to be competitive for an international scholarship, must: 1) provide evidence of a strong academic record 2) hold an honours degree (first class) or masters degree in a related subject and 3) have at least one published scientific paper Applicants within Australia or New Zealand must meet criteria 1 and 2 only. To apply, reply with an email to Dr Rebecca Dunlop (r.dunlop(a)uq.edu.au<mailto:r.dunlop@uq.edu.au>) including a cover letter (indicating your preferred project), a CV and contact details of three referees. The closing date is 1st September 2015.

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CORRECTION: Announcing Workshop on Sea Pen Sanctuaries at SMMC 2015
by Naomi Rose 21 Jun '15

21 Jun '15

Due to some conflicts in scheduling, the sea pen sanctuary workshop: Sea-Pen Sanctuaries: Progressing Towards Better Welfare for Captive Cetaceans https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#seapen has been rescheduled to Sunday, December 13, 2015; 8:30am-5:30pm Thank you and apologies for any inconvenience. ____________________________ [13_AWILogo_ONLY] NAOMI A. ROSE, PH.D. Marine Mammal Scientist ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE 900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Washington, DC 20003 naomi(a)awionline.org<mailto:naomi@awionline.org> T: +1 202 446 2120 ~ F: +1 202 446 2131 ~ C: +1 240 401 4269 www.awionline.org<http://www.awionline.org/> P Please consider the animals and their habitat before printing. From: MARMAM [mailto:marmam-bounces@lists.uvic.ca] On Behalf Of Lori Marino Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2015 6:46 PM To: marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca Subject: [MARMAM] Announcing Workshop on Sea Pen Sanctuaries at SMMC 2015 Dear Friends and Colleagues - This is to let you know about an exciting workshop organized by myself and Naomi Rose on sea pen sanctuaries for captive dolphins and whales! YOU CAN SIGN UP NOW AND RESERVE YOUR ATTENDANCE AT: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#seapen Thanks, Lori Marino Description Sea-Pen Sanctuaries: Progressing Towards Better Welfare for Captive Cetaceans Date/Time: Saturday, December 12, 2015; 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Organizers and contact email: Lori Marino (Marinolori(a)outlook.com<mailto:Marinolori@outlook.com>) and Naomi Rose (naomi(a)awionline.org<mailto:naomi@awionline.org>) Description: In this full-day workshop we will explore the potential for the development of sea-pen, retirement sanctuaries or refuges for captive cetaceans in North America. In light of increasingly strong evidence for a failure to thrive in captive cetacean facilities (dolphinariums), a growing number of scientists and other cetacean welfare experts support a science-based plan for transfer of cetaceans from dolphinariums to sea-pen sanctuaries. Sea-pen sanctuaries would provide a more autonomous life for cetaceans who are currently on display and trained to perform and used in captive breeding programs in dolphinariums. But there are currently no established sea-pen sanctuaries for orcas or other cetaceans anywhere in North America. The lack of such sanctuaries restricts the feasibility of arguments to progress to this next phase of captive cetacean welfare. In this workshop we will explore the critical elements needed for an effort to establish North American sea-pen sanctuaries for orcas and other cetaceans by bringing together experts in marine mammal science and veterinary practice, training and husbandry, law, engineering, sanctuary accreditation, including marine mammal captivity experts, who will provide insights and discuss realistic steps towards achieving this overall goal. The first half of the workshop will include brief presentations, highlighting relevant components of this effort, followed by an afternoon session devoted to substantive discussion of critical issues, both logistical and theoretical. Confirmed and tentative participants include: * Lori Marino, Naomi Rose (co-organizers), Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Julie Woodyer, Dave Phillips, Don Baur (tentative), Michael Parks (tentative), Michael Gosliner (tentative), Pierre Gallego (tentative), Courtney Vail, John Hargrove. Others TBD. Cost: $80 (Early Bird); $90 (After September 15, 2015) Lori Marino, Ph.D. Executive Director The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy 4100 Kanab Canyon Road Kanab, Utah 84741 (435) 644-4436 lorimarino(a)kimmela.org<mailto:lorimarino@kimmela.org>

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New Publication in press: Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Predation on Whales in Sri Lankan Waters.
by Georgina L Gemmell 21 Jun '15

21 Jun '15

Dear Marmamers, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce a new publication (Short Note) in press, to be published in the journal Aquatic Mammals. Gemmell, G. L., McInnes, J. D., Heinrichs, S. J. & de Silva Wijeyeratne, G. (In Press) Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Predation on Whales in Sri Lankan Waters. If you would like to receive a copy of the In press PDF, please contact myself (Georgina Gemmell – OPSL Co-Founder and Lead Administrator) at georgina.wildoceans(a)gmail.com. The official print version will appear in the December 2015 issue of Aquatic Mammals Journal, available only to subscribers. This short note provides the first insight into the dietary habits of the little-known killer whale population seen off Sri Lanka, in the Northern Indian Ocean. Orca Project Sri Lanka, a public-science and Photo ID study of the local killer whale population, received photographs and footage documenting two separate attacks on cetaceans in Sri Lankan waters, these are (1) an attack on a pod of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and (2) an attack on a mesoplodont beaked whale (Mesoplodon sp.) In addition to these accounts, we also present circumstantial evidence of an attack on a blue whale (Balaenoptera mus¬culus). Among the most significant findings were the predator and prey strategies observed in account (1): the killer whales attacked the sperm whales in an apparent wound-withdraw strategy. All age and sex classes appeared to be involved with the large adult male killer whale playing a pivotal role, delivering the blow that separated a smaller sperm whale from the rest of the herd. The sperm whales did little to defend themselves: their main defensive behaviour was maintaining a tight group on the surface, at times forming a rosette (or ‘marguerite’- heads inwards, tails out) - a behaviour which up until now has only been described from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is unclear whether any sperm whales were killed in the attack, but the observation of blood and an oil slick on the surface suggest that at least one sperm whale had been injured. Other noteworthy findings include, to our knowledge, the first record to confirm killer whales preying on mesoplodonts (2), which until now were only suggested as prey based on scars consistent with killer whale teeth observed in a beached specimen of M. densirostris. And Account (3), the first strong circumstantial evidence to support killer whales opportunistically preying on blue whales in Sri Lankan waters. Overall, these observations provide crucial insight into the behaviour of this little-studied killer whale population, and also contribute to the overall knowledge available for killer whales preying on large cetaceans. All the best Georgina Gemmell -- *Georgina Gemmell* Lead Administrator, Orca Project Sri Lanka

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Opportunity for iTAG software users to meet and discuss at SMM 2015
by Viquerat, Sacha 21 Jun '15

21 Jun '15

Hello! I would like to offer all users of iTAG software (https://sourceforge.net/projects/itagbiology/) the opportunity to have an informal meeting with me during this years SMM in San Francisco. This will be a great opportunity to get up to date news on iTAG development and to meet with other people who are using iTAG as well. All users that will be attending the conference and who would like to ask specific questions, make bug reports or feature requests are welcome to reply via: itag.biology(a)yahoo.com<mailto:itag.biology@yahoo.com> Once I have a general idea of the number of people willing to attend, I will try to find a good time and place so that we can all convene. Cheers, Sacha Sacha Viquerat University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) Werftstr. 6 25761 Büsum Germany +49 511 856-8172 Fax. +49 511 856-8181

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SF Bay American Cetacean Society Chapter Student Grants-in-Aid of Research Funds
by Lynette Koftinow 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Dear colleagues, The American Cetacean Society-San Francisco Bay Chapter (ACS-SF Bay) would like to encourage students to apply for our upcoming 2015 Student Research Grants. ACS - SF BAY Guidelines for Student Research Grant: The San Francisco Bay American Cetacean Society chapter Grants-in-Aid of Research fund offers small research grants for direct costs of scientific, field-based projects focusing on cetaceans. The Society invites proposals from all cetacean-related disciplines, including the social sciences, which focus on cetaceans and/or their habitats. SF Bay ACS chapter particularly welcomes applications from early-career researchers such as graduate students and researchers with less than 10 years’ post-doctoral experience, and researchers whose work focuses on small cetaceans in Northern California, with emphasis in the Bay Area. The SF Bay American Cetacean Society chapter has a long-standing commitment to providing young scientists with ‘seed money’ for research projects in cetacean-related disciplines. Currently, SF Bay ACS chapter grant awards range from $100 to $1,000; the Society highly encourages funds to be used in a ‘match’ program to maximize funding potential. Funding is available to applicants who are themselves active (dues-paying) SF Bay ACS chapter members or whose faculty advisers are active members. SF Bay ACS chapter funds are intended to strengthen conservation efforts through applied field-based research and opportunities outside of the laboratory. Funds may not be used for salaries, stipends, honoraria, or other compensatory expenses. The National American Cetacean Society and other chapters of ACS also participate in grant-making initiatives and will also submit Request For Proposals (RFPs) coincident with their funding cycles. For information about specific chapters and their grant-making programs, please visit the Chapter page of the National American Cetacean Society website: www. acsonline.org. Proposals should include: 1. Application cover sheet, with title of proposal, field research group, contact information (email, phone and departmental contacts) for the faculty lead or principle investigator (PI), second PI (if applicable) and any proposed graduate student participant list (with contact information). 2. A brief narrative (1-2 pages, single-spaced) describing the research program, overall purpose, specific research objectives/questions, study timeline and benchmarks, significance of the research in advancing our understanding the biology and conservation of cetaceans and/or their habitats, and how the research can or does advance conservation efforts aimed at a particular taxa, species, or habitat. 3. An itemized, one-year budget, including estimated costs for supplies,equipment, travel, etc. Costs should be kept reasonable. A budget justification should be included. Budget should not exceed requested funding amount; however, details of additional funding sources supporting the research and how those funds will be used are helpful in evaluating applications. 4. Curriculum Vitae (CV) for each principle investigator. The application deadline for the 2015 San Francisco Bay American Cetacean Society chapter Small Grants-in-Aid of Research Program is Friday, November 6th, 2015, and will cover proposed field work to be undertaken through winter of 2015. Funding is limited and proposals will be peer-reviewed for scientific rigor, conservation benefit and cost effectiveness. Awards will be announced on Monday, October 26, 2015. Applications should be sent by email to Lynette R. Koftinow, President San Francisco Bay American Cetacean Society chapter @ acs.sfbay(a)gmail.com. Questions regarding the program may also be directed to her. Respectfully, Lynette R. Koftinow President San Francisco Bay American Cetacean Society (415) 937-0641 (office) acs.sfbay(a)gmail.com

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International Workshop on Bottlenose dolphin conservation and monitoring in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea
by Susan Gallon 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that an international workshop on bottlenose dolphin conservation and monitoring in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea will be held at the Villa Méditerranée, http://www.villa-mediterranee.org/, in Marseille (France), on the 01 & 02 December 2015. Abstracts are now being accepted for both spoken and poster presentations until the *31st of August 2015*. For more information, please visit http://www.gdegem.org/international-workshop Contact workshop(a)gis3m.org with any questions about the event. We look forward to seeing you in Marseille! Hélène Labach, Coordinator, Project manager at GIS3M -- Susan Gallon Coordinatrice, Chargée de projets / Coordinator, Project manager Intérimaire GIS3M - Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique pour les Mammifères Marins de Méditerranée et leur environnement www.gis3m.org / www.facebook.com/GISMMM Le Kalliste Bât B4, 1 avenue Clément Monnier, 13960 Sausset-les-pins, France Tel : +33(0)953929263 Email : *sgallon(a)gis3m.org* <hlgis3m(a)gmail.com>

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New paper on cortisol and mercury
by Thea Østergaard Bechshøft 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Dear all - perhaps of most interest to those of you working with endocrine disrupting contaminants, my colleagues and I recently published a new study on the relationship between mercury (MeHg) and cortisol. Although mercury has been found to have endocrine disrupting properties in other species, exceedingly few such studies have been done on mammals.For a pdf copy, please either contact me or follow the link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10646-015-1506-9 Best, Thea Reference Bechshoft T, Derocher AE, Richardson E, Mislan P, Lunn NJ, Sonne C, Dietz R, Janz DM, St. Louis VL. 2015. Mercury and cortisol in Western Hudson Bay polar bear hair. Ecotoxicology, DOI: 10.1007/s10646-015-1506-9 Abstract Non-invasive methods of assessing animal health and life history are becoming increasingly popular in wildlife research; hair samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus), are being used to study an ever broader range of anthropogenic and endocrine compounds. A number of contaminants are known to disrupt endocrine function in polar bears. However, the relationship between mercury and cortisol remains unknown, although mercury is an endocrine disruptor in other species. Here, we examine the relationship between concentrations of cortisol and total mercury (THg) analyzed in guard hair from 378 polar bears (184 females, 194 males) sampled in Western Hudson Bay, 2004-2012. The difference in mean cortisol concentration between female (0.8 ± 0.6 pg/mg) and male (0.7 ± 0.5 pg/mg) polar bears bordered on significance (p = 0.054). However, mean mercury concentration was significantly greater (p = 0.009) in females (4.7 ± 1.4 μg/g) than males (4.3 ± 1.2 μg/g). Hair cortisol in males was significantly influenced by mercury, age, and fatness, as well as interactions between mercury and year, mercury and fatness, and year and fatness (all: p < 0.03) (multiple regression analysis, whole model: r2 = 0.14, F7,185 = 4.43, p = 0.0001). Fatness was the only significant variable in the multiple regression analysis for females (r2 = 0.06, F1,182 = 13.0, p = 0.0004). In conclusion, a significant, but complex, relationship was found between mercury and cortisol concentrations in hair from male, but not female, polar bears.

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REQUEST FOR INTERNS: 'RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING BEST PRACTICE’
by Dylan Walker 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Dear colleagues, *REQUEST FOR INTERNS TO ASSIST PRODUCTION OF ‘BEST PRACTICE FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING’* *BACKGROUND* The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is the world’s largest Partnership working to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans). Together we represent 70 Partners in 35 countries worldwide. Through cooperation, the Partners of the World Cetacean Alliance aim to conserve and protect cetaceans and their habitats in the world’s oceans, seas and rivers, to ensure their continued health and survival. The WCA is committed to developing and implementing new concepts for responsible whale and dolphin watching tourism with the potential to inspire and educate millions of people. We are looking for two post-graduates with relevant qualifications to assist with producing a report on best practice in responsible whale and dolphin watching for destinations worldwide. We view this as the essential next step to ensuring that the whale and dolphin watching industry becomes more responsible and sustainable. The successful interns will assist our team in creating a *Best Practice Framework *for all destinations. This Best Practice Framework will be used by destinations promoting or developing whale and dolphin watching to guide and inform the localised standards that may already exist. In addition, by showcasing effective models within this Framework it will also assist those destinations either starting up, or with limited resources, particularly in the developing world, by illustrating the models most likely to lead to success for them. *REQUIREMENTS* We are looking for two interns with good research and report writing capabilities to gather information and write, in collaboration with other authors, a Best Practice Framework for Responsible Whale Watching destinations. The roles will require excellent written and communication skills, including designing and implementing survey questionnaires, calling and writing to whale watching stakeholders around the world, and report writing. Some calls will need to be made during unsociable hours. *WHERE* Interns will be based at the World Cetacean Alliance office in Brighton, UK. *WHEN* The internship will last for eight weeks from early July until the end of August. There is also an opportunity to present findings at the World Whale Conference, Azores, 26-30 October. *BENEFITS* · 1. Interns will benefit from the support, experience, and networking opportunities provided by the World Cetacean Alliance and its Partners · 2. Interns will be named authors on the report · 3. WCA will cover the cost of travel (UK to Portugal) and accommodation to attend the World Whale Conference in October to present the findings of the report. This will also be an excellent opportunity to meet and network with people working in the travel industry *HOW TO APPLY* Applicants should send their CV and a short covering email describing why they are interested in this internship to Dylan Walker at: dylan(a)worldcetaceanalliance.org before 30 June 2015. World Cetacean Alliance Studio 3 Lower Promenade Madeira Drive Brighton BN2 1ET United Kingdom www.worldcetaceanalliance.org Tel: +44 (0)1273 355011

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New paper on defining management units for cetaceans
by Signe Sveegaard 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Dear all, We are pleased to inform you that our article "Defining management units for cetaceans by combining genetics, morphology, acoustics and satellite tracking" is now published in Global Ecology and Conservation and available online. You can find the article here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415000384 or request a copy by email to: SSV(a)bios.au.dk<mailto:SSV@bios.au.dk> Authors Signe Sveegaard, Anders Galatius, Rune Dietz, Line Kyhn, Jens C. Koblitz, Mats Amundin, Jacob Nabe-Nielsen, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Liselotte W. Andersen, Jonas Teilmann Abstract Managing animal units is essential in biological conservation and requires spatial and temporal identification of such units. Since even neighbouring populations often have different conservation status and face different levels of anthropogenic pressure, detailed knowledge of population structure, seasonal range and overlap with animals from neighbouring populations is required to manage each unit separately. Previous studies on genetic structure and morphologic separation suggests three distinct populations of harbour porpoises with limited geographic overlap in the North Sea (NS), the Belt Sea (BS) and the Baltic Proper (BP) region. In this study, we aim to identify a management unit for the BS population of harbour porpoises. We use Argos satellite data and genetics from biopsies of tagged harbor porpoises as well as acoustic data from 40 passive acoustic data loggers to determine management areas with the least overlap between populations and thus the least error when abundance and population status is estimated. Discriminant analysis of the satellite tracking data from the BS and NS populations showed that the best fit of the management unit border during the summer months was an east-west line from Denmark to Sweden at latitude 56.95°N. For the border between BS and BP, satellite tracking data indicate a sharp decline in population density at 13.5°E, with 90% of the locations being west of this line. This was supported by the acoustic data with the average daily detection rate being 27.5 times higher west of 13.5°E as compared to east of 13.5°E. By using this novel multidisciplinary approach, we defined a management unit for the BS harbour porpoise population. We recommend that these boundaries are used for future monitoring efforts of this population under the EU directives. The boundaries may also be used for conservation efforts during the summer months, while seasonal movements of harbour porpoises should be considered during winter. All the best Signe Sveegaard PhD, researcher Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399 4000 Roskilde Denmark Mail: ssv(a)bios.au.dk<mailto:ssv@bios.au.dk>

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