July 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Autumn 2015 WOW Seal and Cetacean courses
by Powell Strong 09 Jul '15

09 Jul '15

Wildlife Observer Wales courses, Autumn 2015 The WOW Seals course gives the opportunity to gain detailed experience of population monitoring and other study methods during the seal pupping season on the Pembrokeshire Coast. The WOW Cetaceans course is our original course and provides a useful experience of whale, dolphin and porpoise identification, recording, biology and survey methods. An ideal supplement to an MMO course. · WOW Seals 2 day course, £130, 19-20 September 2015 · WOW Cetaceans 3 days, £180, 28-30 October 2015. We will be visiting various sites on the Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion coast for the seal and cetacean field work, including sites that are of current interest for marine renewable energy development. All courses are designed to give students a start along career paths such as marine wildlife monitoring and tour guiding. However, many students simply want to enjoy our coastal wildlife in a structured, informative and fun way. The WOW courses have been running since 2007 and are a partnership between Pembrokeshire College's Coastal and Marine Environment Research<http://coast.pembrokeshire.ac.uk/wow/> Unit and Seatrust,.<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Trust/532791560088466> Both Pembrokeshire College's Coastal and Marine Environment Research Unit and SeaTrust are actively involved with monitoring local marine wildlife populations, including citizen science projects and renewable energy developments. The courses aim to provide participants with nationally recognised qualifications. We train students to identify and record local species as well as give background to biology and field study methods. The courses use the Pembrokeshire coast and islands as well as well as classroom sessions to teach and practice these skills. Bespoke courses can be arranged. More information http://coast.pembrokeshire.ac.uk/wow/ More information p.strong(a)pembrokeshire.ac.uk<mailto:p.strong@pembrokeshire.ac.uk> To Book admissions(a)pembrokeshire.ac.uk<mailto:admissions@pembrokeshire.ac.uk> To book freephone 0800 977 6788 ________________________________ Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau atodedig yn gyfrinachol ac at sylw'r unigolyn neu'r sefydliad a enwir uchod. Bydd unrhyw farn neu sylwadau a fynegir yn perthyn i'r awdur yn unig ac ni chynrychiolant o anghenraid farn Coleg Sir Benfro. Os ydych chi wedi derbyn yr e-bost hwn ar gam, rhowch sylw i'r gweinyddwr ar y cyfeiriad canlynol: postmaster(a)pembrokeshire.ac.uk<mailto:postmaster@pembrokeshire.ac.uk> Cysidrwch yr amgylchedd - a oes wir angen argraffu'r ebost hwn? This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Pembrokeshire College. If you have received this email in error please notify the administrator on the following address: postmaster(a)pembrokeshire.ac.uk<mailto:postmaster@pembrokeshire.ac.uk> Please consider the environment - do you really need to print this email?

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Research paper on Ganges River Dolphin-Nepal
by Shambhu Paudel 09 Jul '15

09 Jul '15

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of our study: Population status and habitat occupancy of endangered river dolphins in the Karnali River system of Nepal during low water season Paudel, S., Timilsina, Y. P., Lewis, J., Ingersoll, T., & Jnawali, S. R. (2015). Population status and habitat occupancy of endangered river dolphins in the Karnali River system of Nepal during low water season. *Marine Mammal Science*, *31*(2), 707-719. Abstract Ganges river dolphin abundance has undergone a predominant decline across its range since monitoring began. In Nepal, disappearance from some of the rivers it once used has already occurred. Today this species can only be found in three river systems in Nepal, the Karnali, Sapta Koshi, and Narayani, but numbers are low in these locations. To determine the abundance of dolphins remaining in the Karnali system (which includes the Karnali, Geruwa, and Mohana), and factors affecting dolphin habitat use, we conducted surveys where we recorded dolphin presence. Dolphins within this river system were sighted only in the Karnali and an abundance estimate of 5.04 ± 0.753 SE was calculated. This pattern of ranging differed from that previously reported (from previous sightings only in the Geruwa to current sightings only in the Karnali). River depth likely contributed to the presence or absence of dolphins. Shifts in available habitat between the Geruwa and Karnali have resulted from changes in the course of the main stream Karnali following construction of the Chisapani irrigation intake. Because of the low numbers of dolphins reported, there is great concern that loss of this species in Nepal is likely in the near future. For more details: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12192/abstract Thanks Shambhu Paudel *Assistant Professor for Wildlife/GIS/RS * * ||*Kathmandu Forestry College ||Kathmandu, Nepal || www.kafcol.edu.np Cell: 977-9841-170723 *South Asia Representative for *World Cetacean Alliance www.worldcetaceanalliance.org

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Fall Marine Mammal Internships
by Brendon Dempsey 09 Jul '15

09 Jul '15

Good morning everyone, The New England Aquarium is currently seeking candidates for Fall 2015 internships! Applications are being accepted for all positions, but a link to our marine mammal internship is below. We hope to receive your application soon! Applications consist of a cover letter, resume, references, a completed questionnaire, an unofficial transcript, and a letter of recommendation. Applications may be sent electronically to intern(a)neaq.org<mailto:intern@neaq.org>. Internships are 2-3 days per week for 12-16 weeks. Marine Mammal Internship<http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/c…> If you have any questions please feel free to reach out or see the links in my signature, below. Best wishes, Brendon Dempsey Intern Coordinator New England Aquarium tel 617.226.2153 BDempsey(a)neaq.org<mailto:BDempsey@neaq.org> www.neaq.org<http://www.neaq.org/> Applying for Internships<http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/a…> Internship Positions<http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/c…> Have questions? Internship FAQ<http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/I…>

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New Paper: Lung function in Cetaceans
by Fahlman, Andreas 09 Jul '15

09 Jul '15

Dear All We would like to announce the publication of our recent paper on lung function and mechanics in cetaceans. Title: Fahlman, A., Loring, S. H., Levine, G., Rocho-Levine, J., Austin, T. and Brodsky, M. (2015). Lung mechanics and pulmonary function testing in cetaceans Journal of Experimental Biology 218, 2030-2038. Abstract: We measured2 and CO2 in six adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during voluntary breaths and maximal (chuff) respiratory efforts. The data were used to estimate the dynamic specific lung compliance (sCL), the O2 consumption rate () and CO2 production rates () during rest. Our results indicate that bottlenose dolphins have the capacity to generate respiratory flow-rates that exceed 130 l Ÿ sec-1 and 30 l Ÿ sec-1 during expiration and inspiration, respectively. The esophageal pressures indicated that expiration is passive during voluntary breaths, but active during maximal efforts while inspiration is active for all breaths. The average sCL of dolphins was 0.31 ± 0.04 cmH2O-1, which is considerably higher than that of humans (0.08 cmH2O-1) and that previously measured in a pilot whale (0.13 cmH2O-1). The average estimated and using our breath-by-breath respirometry system ranged from 0.857 l Ÿ O2 min-1 to 1.185 l Ÿ O2 min-1 and 0.589 l Ÿ CO2 min-1 to 0.851 l Ÿ CO2 min-1, respectively, which is similar to previously published metabolic measurements from the same animals using conventional flow-through respirometry. In addition, our custom-made system allows us to approximate end-tidal gas composition. Our measurements provide novel data for respiratory physiology in cetaceans, which may have significant value for clinical medicine and conservation efforts. Please send an e-mail to Andreas Fahlman: andreas.fahlman(a)tamucc.edu<mailto:andreas.fahlman@tamucc.edu> if you would like a re-print. Thank you Andreas Andreas Fahlman Department of Life Sciences Texas A&M- Corpus Christi 6300 Ocean Dr Unit 5892 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 Ph. +1-361-825-3489 Fax +1-361-825-2025 mail: andreas.fahlman(a)tamucc.edu<mailto:andreas.fahlman@tamucc.edu> web: http://www.comparative-physiology.tamucc.edu/

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Job Posting | Pacific Whale Foundation
by PWF Applications 08 Jul '15

08 Jul '15

Pacific Whale Foundation, headquartered in Hawaii on the beautiful island of Maui, has an immediate opening for a *Research Assistant*. This is a full-time position and salary will be commensurate with skills and experience. *POSITION SUMMARY* The Research Assistant is responsible for assisting with our ongoing marine mammal research in Hawai’i, Australia, and throughout the Pacific. This position reports to the Sr. Research Biologist and is based at Pacific Whale Foundation headquarters in Maui, Hawai’i, where the majority of our research takes place. In addition, approximately 90-120 days of fieldwork might be spent in Australia each year, if required. *DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES* - Data entry and archival tasks - Data processing and analysis - Data quality control - Photo-identification, matching of whale flukes and/or dolphin dorsal fins - Maintenance of photo-id catalogs - Integration of disparate data (photographs, attribute data, and geospatial information) into a relational database (e.g., Discovery, Access) - Data collection in the field on board our research vessel and/or PWF vessel fleet - Skipper and trailer the research vessel - Maintenance of research equipment - Written preparation of publishable materials, for which appropriate credit will be given under the supervision of the Senior Research Scientist and Chief Scientist - Train other PWF employees and teach classes as needed for Eco-U - Participate in Ultimate Whalewatch, Whale Day, Great Whale Count, and other events as needed - Temporal re-location to any of our various field sites (e.g. Australia), for extended periods, as needed - Assistance with public outreach programs (e.g. interpretive education programs and fund raising) - Supervision of volunteers and/or interns - Training of staff and/or interns - Further duties may be assigned as necessary according to the needs and requirements of the Research Department. Supervision and direction will be provided by the Senior Scientist and the Chief Scientist (Greg Kaufman) *REQUIREMENTS* - Graduate degree (such as M.Sc. or Ph.D. in marine biology or related field) and a minimum of 5 years of experience working in the field with marine mammals (preferably odontocetes and/or mysticetes), or equivalent combination of education and experience - Knowledge of database management, GIS software, and statistics (preferred) - Excellent knowledge of field techniques, including photo-identification procedures and methodologies - Experience in driving small vessels, around marine mammals would be a plus - Experience with scientific writing, such as journal articles and reports - Ability to take initiative when working independently or as part of a group - Excellent creative problem-solving skills - Willingness to learn new skills and procedures quickly and train others in their use - Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing - Ability to work long hours in office and field - Enthusiasm and a positive attitude - A sociable and team-oriented spirit · *TO APPLY* Please send your resume and cover letter to: applications(a)pacificwhale.org no later than July 22, 2015. Applicants must be available to start work on Maui in August. All applicants must hold U.S. citizenship or be legally permitted to work in the U.S. We offer great benefits and employee perks, so come join our team! -- *Human Resources Team* -- CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission and any accompanying attachments contain information belonging to the sender which may be confidential and legally privileged. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom this electronic mail transmission was sent as indicated above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this transmission and all attachments. Thank you!

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Fall 2015 marine mammal stranding internships
by Harry, Charles 08 Jul '15

08 Jul '15

Marine Mammal Stranding Internships on Cape Cod, MA The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is currently accepting applications for Marine Mammal Stranding Internships for our fall session 2015 (September - early January 2016). Interns will be placed in one of two available tracks (Response or Necropsy); however, all interns will receive cross-training in both areas. Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization with headquarters in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is a federally authorized response program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding “hot spot” with over 230 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, large whales, porpoises, and dolphins. The Cape Cod region also experiences an unusually high frequency of live, mass stranded dolphins. Response Track Internship Duties - Assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and triage, stranding hotline coverage, dispatching of field responders, opportunistic public outreach, biological data collection, and sampling from dead stranded marine mammals - Assist in stranding preparedness, including cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response gear and equipment - Assist in data entry of stranding reports, case files and sample collection - Assist in organizing, cataloging and archiving stranded marine mammal documentation, including photos and video - General office duties, including training and outreach material preparation and organization Necropsy Track Internship Duties - Assist the Necropsy Coordinator in performing post-mortem examinations in both field and laboratory settings - Assist in maintaining, cleaning, and organizing necropsy equipment and supplies - Assist in photo archiving and data entry - Assist in the archiving, shipping, and tracking of biological samples - Assist in the preparation of necropsy reports - General office duties, including training and outreach material preparation and organization Requirements - Must be at least 18 years old - Must possess a valid driver’s license - Must be of good physical fitness, be able to lift/carry 40lbs, walk long distances in difficult terrain, and work in harsh weather conditions at times - Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively Preferred candidate will also have: - Undergraduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, marine/environmental/animal science - Experience handling animals - Experience driving large trucks - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Learning outcomes While hands-on experience is opportunistic and the number and type of responses will vary, most interns have the opportunity to: - Develop skills in identifying species commonly stranded on Cape Cod and gain knowledge of their biology and ecology - Acquire basic stranded cetacean and pinniped assessment and triage skills - Gain knowledge of response logistics and management, including the use of the Incident Command System - Gain knowledge of the stranding network structure and operation, as well as marine mammal policy as it relates to strandings - Gain basic necropsy skills and knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and physiology - Participate in active research projects, as appropriate Additional Information This internship is unpaid. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the intern. International applicants will be considered, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation, including an international driver’s license. The internship position requires the commitment for the full session (September - early January 2016). Interns are required to attend three days per week, which may include weekends and holidays. Since strandings are unpredictable, applicants with flexible daily schedules are preferred. If the intern intends to receive academic credit, he/she will be responsible for making all arrangements with his/her educational institution. Interns should be prepared to perform in a variety of settings on any given day, including beach, on-water and laboratory. Specialized gear such as dry suits and life jackets will be provided. To apply: Please use the link below to access the online application and to upload supporting materials (Cover Letter, Resume and Letter of Recommendation from college professor or employer) http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment All application materials must be received by Monday, July 27th by 5:00pm EST (If interested in both internship tracks, you must submit a separate application for each) Interviews and final candidate selections will be completed by Friday, August 14th Tentative intern orientation date will be Monday, September 14th Tentative end date will be January 8th, 2016 For more information about IFAW’s global animal welfare and conservation work, please visit www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org> C.T. Harry | Asst. Stranding Coordinator | Marine Mammal Rescue & Research __________________________________________________________ IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare World Headquarters 290 Summer Street - Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 tel.1.508.744.2272 email. charry(a)ifaw.org<mailto:charry@ifaw.org> stranding hotline. 1.508.743.9548 Saving Animals in Crisis Around the World www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org/> The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.

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Latest Images of Dolphin Brain Pathways Reveal New Auditory Area in Temporal Lobe
by Lori Marino 08 Jul '15

08 Jul '15

Dear Colleagues, This is to announce the publication of our new paper entitled: Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Dolphin Brains Reveals Direct Auditory Pathway to Temporal Lobe published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The free-access paper is here: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1811/20151203 We applied a novel technique known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to the preserved brains of two dolphins who died after stranding more than a decade ago. These images revealed that there is more than one auditory primary cortical region in dolphin brains and that the new area is in the temporal lobe. These unprecedented findings show the dolphin brain is more complex than previously thought and suggest a possible revision of current models of auditory processing in cetaceans. You may contact either myself at lorimarino(a)kimmela.org <mailto:lorimarino@kimmela.org> or the lead author, Dr. Greg Berns, at gberns(a)emory.edu <mailto:gberns@emory.edu> . Thank you. Lori Lori Marino, Ph.D. Executive Director The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy

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Fwd: Call for Nominations: NRC Committee on Environmental Science and Assessment for Ocean Energy Management
by Lewandowski, Jill 08 Jul '15

08 Jul '15

Dear Colleagues, The National Research Council’s Ocean Studies Board and Board on Earth Sciences and Resources are soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the *Committee on Environmental Science and Assessment for Ocean Energy Management. *This committee is sponsored by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). BOEM has asked the National Research Council to convene a standing committee to provide scientifically credible, independent, and objective perspectives and information on issues of relevance to BOEM’s environmental assessment and studies programs and to facilitate and support discussions on those issues. Please see the attached document for the Statement of Task. *Approximately 15 experts from scientific disciplines relevant to BOEM’s environmental assessment and studies programs will be appointed for a 1-year term of service. *These disciplines include: · *Biology* - ecology and habitat, avian and bat resources, fish resources, invertebrate resources, benthic resources, threatened and endangered species and other marine mammals · *Oceanography and Atmospheric Science* - currents and eddies, water chemistry and quality, meteorology and air quality, sea ice, geology · *Social Science and Economics* - archaeology, sociology, economics, cultural resources · *Fates and Effects* - sediment disturbance, noise, electromagnetic fields, oil spills, contaminants and toxicity · *Multi-Disciplinary* - climate change, engineering, human health, modeling, monitoring, protocols and frameworks, policy, mitigation and remediation, beach nourishment, facilitation of scientific discussion, application of science to policy. *Please submit your nominations by* *July 15, 2015* using the following form: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2152589/OSB-BOEM-Standing-Committee-Nominatio… Include the candidate’s name, affiliation, email address, and area of expertise, as well as a few sentences about why the nominee is appropriate for this standing committee. Self-nominations are welcome. Thank you in advance for your submissions. Although not all nominations will result in membership on the committee, this process helps ensure that the committee is drawn from a broad pool of qualified experts. If you have any questions about the study or the nomination process, please feel free to contact Stacee Karras at ckarras(a)nas.edu or by phone at 202-334-2364. Sincerely, Deb Glickson Senior Program Officer Stacee Karras Research Associate

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Wokshop at SMM Conference in San Francisco
by Annalisa Zaccaroni 08 Jul '15

08 Jul '15

The workshop "Threats to marine mammals in the Mediterranean Sea: how do they cope with human impact?" will be held at the SMM Conference in San Francisco, on Saturday, December 12th 2015 . The workshop includes a morning session with invited speakers focusing on different potential threats to marine mammals (pathogens, acoustic pollution, chemical pollution, boat traffic) and an afternoon session with presentation from research groups. Young researchers presentation are very well welcome, so we look forward to receive contribution from all the research groups working in the area of Mediterranean sea. You can find the workshop description at https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/ We hope we will have a good participation from Mediterranean researchers, giving their contribution to the workshop and the discussion. Best regards Dr. Annalisa Zaccaroni Dept. Veterinary Medical Sciences University of Bologna Viale Vespucci 2 Cesenatico (FC) 47042 tel. +39 0547 338944 fax +39 0547 338941 mobile +39 347 5951709 annalisa.zaccaroni(a)unibo.it<mailto:annalisa.zaccaroni@unibo.it> Per favore, pensa all'ambiente prima di stampare questo messaggio di posta elettronica. Grazie. Please consider the environment befor printing this document. Thank you. ________________________________ Le informazioni contenute nella comunicazione che precede possono essere riservate e sono,comunque, destinate esclusivamente alla persona o all'ente sopraindicati. La diffusione, distribuzione e/o copiatura del documento trasmesso da parte di qualsiasi soggetto diverso dal destinatario è proibita sia ai sensi dell'art. 616 c.p. che ai sensi del D.Lgs. n. 196/2003. La sicurezza e la correttezza dei messaggi di posta elettronica non possono essere garantite. Se avete ricevuto questo messaggio per errore, Vi preghiamo di contattarci immediatamente. Grazie. This communication is intended only for use by the addressee. It may contain confidential or privileged information. Transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free. If you receive this communication unintentionally, please inform us immediately. Thank you

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Announcing SMM 2015 Workshop on RIEMMCCA: Network of Aquatic Mammal Specialists of Central America and the Caribbean
by Laura J. May-Collado 07 Jul '15

07 Jul '15

*Symposium Agenda: *RIEMMCCA: Network of Aquatic Mammal Specialists of Central America and the Caribbean *Agenda del Simposio: *RIEMMCCA: Red de Investigadores para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Acuáticos de Centroamérica y el Caribe. *Convenors/Organizadores*: Laura J May-Collado (lmacollado(a)gmail.com) (Costa Rica/Panama), Ester Quintana-Rizzo (tetequintana(a)comcast.net) (Guatemala), Mónica Gamboa-Poveda (monicagamboapo(a)gmail.com) (Costa Rica), Antonio Mignucci-Giannoni (mignucci(a)manatipr.org) (Puerto Rico), Anmari Álvarez Alemán (anmari(a)cim.uh.cu) (Cuba), Betzi Pérez (betziperez(a)yahoo.com) (Panamá ). *Date: DECEMBER 12, 2015.* *Duration/Duracion*: full day/todo el dia *Cost/Costo*: pending/pendiente *Overview*: The intent of this symposium is to review the state-of-knowledge of the aquatic mammals of *Central America* and the *Caribbean* and to enhance collaboration and communication between scientists in the region. The symposium will consist of presentations (oral and poster), a discussion session to identify gaps in knowledge and conservation issues, and a talk about importance of communicating our science (public and in peer reviewed journals). We invite national and international scientists working in the region to present their work by submitting a 300 word abstract (English and Spanish abstracts are welcome) to the following email address riemmcca.smm2015(a)gmail.com. Abstract submission will close on August 15, 2015. We are currently seeking for funding to lower the cost of the symposium, thus final costs will be provided in the next couple of weeks. *Resumen*: El objetivo de este simposio es revisar el estado del conocimiento sobre los mamíferos acuáticos de *Centroamérica* y el *Caribe* y promover la colaboración y comunicación entre científicos de la región. El simposio consistirá de presentaciones en formato de charlas y posters sobre trabajos de investigación realizados en la región. El simposio fin alizará con una charla sobre la importancia de comunicar nuestra ciencia (publico y revistas científicas) y una ‘mesa’ redonda para identificar las áreas de importancia en investigación y conservación en la región. Invitamos a todos los científicos nacionales e internacionales trabajando en Centroamérica y el Caribe a enviar un resumen ( en ingles o español ) de 300 palabras a riemmcca.smm2015(a)gmail.com. La recepción de resúmenes estará abierta hasta el 15 de Agosto del 2015. Actualmente estamos buscando alternativas para reducir los costos del simposio, les comunicaremos tan pronto sea posible los resultados de esta búsqueda.

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