January 2016 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Summer 2016 marine mammal stranding internship
by Harry, Charles 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internship The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is currently accepting applications for Marine Mammal Stranding Internship for our summer session 2016 (June 6th 2016 – August 29th 2016). Please see below for future internship sessions. 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. Specific Internship Duties - Manage stranding hotline and dispatch volunteers for stranding calls received during office hours - Assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and triage, 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, sample collection, and lab results - Assist in organizing, cataloging and archiving stranded marine mammal documentation, including photos, video and datasheets - General office duties, including training and outreach material preparation and organization - 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 the archiving, shipping, and tracking of biological samples - Assist in the preparation of necropsy reports Specific Focus Areas Interns will be cross-trained in all areas of stranding response and every effort will be made for interns to gain a wide-range of experiences. However, each intern will have specific “focus areas” of either: field response, necropsy, or outreach. Interns will be paired with staff based on these particular focus areas and individual tasks and projects will be related to one of these areas. Each individuals’ “focus” will be determined by staff once they have been selected for the program. Please indicate in your cover letter your primary preferred focus and any other areas of interest if your primary choice is not available. The final determination will be made by staff but we will make an effort to assign interns based on their preferences. 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, be comfortable on small boats in nearshore waters, able to swim, and work in harsh weather conditions at times - Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively - Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have graduated within 2 years - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Preferred candidate will also have: - Undergraduate and/or graduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, marine/environmental/animal science - Previous marine mammal stranding response/research experience - Experience handling animals - Experience driving large trucks 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 (June 6th 2016 – August 29th 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, boots and life jackets will be provided. Please keep in mind that stranding work is unpredictable and changes seasonally. We cannot guarantee the type and number of strandings and experiences you will receive during your internship. We will do our best when possible to give interns a varied experience. To apply: Please use the link below to access the online application and to upload the required documents: 1. Cover Letter (please indicate which focus area(s) you prefer) 2. Resume 3. Letter of Recommendation from college professor or employer (can be uploaded or directly emailed to RecruitMMRR(a)ifaw.org<mailto:RecruitMMRR@ifaw.org> by the recommender. (It is your responsibility to ensure your letter of recommendation has been submitted on time, or you will not be considered for the internship.) http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment All application materials must be received by Friday, March 11th by 5:00pm EST Internship notification of acceptance will be sent by Monday, April 18th , 2016 Required intern orientation will be June 6-8, 2016 Future Internship Session Dates: The IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships are offered 3 times a year; you must re-apply for each session. Fall Session Dates: September 12th 2016 – January 9th 2017 Application due date: July 8th 2016 Winter Session Dates: January 23rd 2017 – May 15th 2017 Application due date: October 28th 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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Summer Internships at New England Aquarium
by Intern 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

Good morning everyone, The New England Aquarium is currently seeking candidates for Summer 2016 internships! Applications are being accepted for all positions, but a link to our Marine Mammal internship as well as our Marine Mammal Education and Research internship is below. We hope to receive your application soon! Applications consist of a cover letter, resume, references, a completed questionnaire<http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/d…>, 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 and all positions are unpaid. The priority deadline is listed as January 31st but we will continue to accept applications beyond that date; any applications received prior to January 31st receive priority consideration. Marine Mammal Internship<http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/c…> Marine Mammal Education and Research<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 – Kogia whales in Brazilian coast - PlosOne
by Jailson Fulgencio de Moura 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

Dear MARMAM subscribers, We are pleased to announce the recent publication of our paper *“Stranding Events of Kogia Whales along the Brazilian Coast”* (January, 2016) in *PlosOne*. Moura, J.F., Acevedo-Trejos, E., Tavares, D.C., Meirelles, A.C.O., Silva, C.P.N., Oliveira, L.R., Santos, R.A., Wickert, J.C., Machado, R., Siciliano, S. & Merico, A. (2015) *Stranding events of Kogia whales along the Brazilian coast*. PLoS ONE, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146108 Abstract The genus *Kogia*, which comprises only two extant species, *Kogia sima* and *Kogia* *breviceps*, represents one of the least known groups of cetaceans in the global ocean. In some coastal regions, however, stranding events of these species have been relatively common over the last decades. Stranding provides the opportunity to investigate the biology of these cetaceans and to explore the epidemiological aspects associated with the mortality of the organisms found on the beach. A number of disturbances (including pelagic fisheries, chemical pollution, boat strikes, and noise pollution) have been confirmed to pose a particular threat to the *Kogia* species. However, no study has yet investigated potential relationships between environmental conditions and stranding events. Here we analyse how a collection of environmental, physical, and biological variables, such as wind, sea surface temperature (SST), water depth, and chlorophyll-a, correlate to *Kogia* stranding events along the Brazilian coast. The results of our statistical analyses suggest that *K. sima* is more likely found in warm tropical waters, which provide an explanation for the high frequency of stranding in northeastern Brazilian coast. In contrast, *K. breviceps* appears to have a preference for temperate and productive waters. Wind speed results to be also an important factor for predicting *Kogia* strandings in Brazilian coast. Additionally, literature information in combination with our own data and analyses of stomach contents confirms that oceanic cephalopods constitute the primary nutritional source of both *Kogia* species. By using the available information as a qualitative proxy for habitat preference and feeding ecology, our study provides a novel and comprehensive assessment of *Kogia* stranding data in relation to environmental conditions along the Brazilian coast. A full copy of the paper can be downloaded at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0146108 Sincerely yours, -- Dr. Jailson F. Moura Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology System Ecology Group Fahrenheitstrasse 6 D - 28359 Bremen, Germany Tel:+49(0)421/23800-105 www.zmt-bremen.de

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Request information Steno live capture
by Dani Kerem 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

Hello MARMAM, would you please post the below: Dear list members, For a chapter on Mediterranean rough-toothed dolphin, I am trying to follow up on a statement by Anne Collet (Live-Capture of Cetaceans for European Institutions, report to the Scientific Committee of the IWC, 1984), saying: "R. Busnel (pers. comm.) reported that about 10 rough-toothed dolphins were taken in the Mediterranean Sea in the 1950s...on behalf of the Laboratoire de Physiologie Acoustique in France." Anyone having more information (e.g. the whereabouts of their capture) or who may point me to where it may be found, is kindly requested to contact me directly. Sincerely, Dani Dan H. Kerem, PhD IMMRAC (Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center) The Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies The Charney School for Marine Sciences The University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel http://maritime2.haifa.ac.il/eng/DK.asp http://immrac.org <http://immrac.org/> Phone: 972-4-8249449 Fax: 972-4-8240493 e-mail: dankerem(a)research.haifa.ac.il '

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Reclassification Notice
by Intern 10 Jan '16

10 Jan '16

Hello, Save the Manatee Club requests that you distribute the FWS's reclassification notice regarding the Florida Manatee, along with information regarding submitting comments to FWS. The notice can be found at this link http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=u.s.-fish-and-wildlife-service-to-… and is copied below. "MIAMI, Fla. – As a result of significant improvements in its population and habitat conditions, and reductions in direct threats, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that the West Indian manatee<http://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammal/manatee/> is proposed to be downlisted from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposal to downlist the manatee to threatened will not affect federal protections currently afforded by the ESA, and the Service remains committed to conservation actions to fully recover manatee populations. The ESA defines an endangered species as one currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, and a threatened species as one that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. Given its review of the best scientific and commercial information available, including analyses of threats and populations, the Service proposes that the West Indian manatee no longer falls within the ESA’s definition of endangered and should be reclassified as threatened. The Service will publish its proposal in the Federal Register tomorrow, beginning a 90-day comment period in which the public is invited to submit scientific or technical information that will aid the agency in reaching its final decision. “The manatee is one of the most charismatic and instantly recognizable species,” said Michael Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. “It’s hard to imagine the waters of Florida without them, but that was the reality we were facing before manatees were listed under the Endangered Species Act. While there is still more work to be done to fully recover manatee populations, their numbers are climbing and the threats to the species’ survival are being reduced. Today’s proposal is a positive step that recognizes the progress citizens, conservation groups, the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and our own Service employees have made working together.” The manatee protection measures currently in place would remain in force if the species is downlisted from endangered to threatened. These measures by the Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, other state and federal agencies, and industries resulted in the establishment of over 50 manatee protection areas and have played a key role in reversing the species’ decline. Retrofitted water control structures have resulted in significant decreases in manatee fatalities, and power companies are working cooperatively with federal and state conservation managers to address warm water outflows at wintering manatee congregation sites. Florida counties have made significant progress in developing and implementing manatee protection plans and siting boat facilities to reduce boater impacts on manatees. The Service works with the Coast Guard to enforce manatee protection areas and minimize collisions with high-speed boats. Significant advances have also been made in reducing the threat from entanglement in fishing gear. Additionally, manatee rescue, rehabilitation and release organizations help save dozens of manatees yearly, with a majority successfully released back into the wild. Today, the range-wide minimum known population is estimated to be at least 13,000 manatees, with more than 6,300 in Florida. When aerial surveys began in 1991, there were only an estimated 1,267 manatees in Florida, meaning that over the last 25 years there’s been a 500 percent increase in the species population in that state. “The manatee’s recovery is incredibly encouraging and a great testament to the conservation actions of many,” said Cindy Dohner, the Service’s Southeast Regional Director in conjunction with an event at the Miami Seaquarium to announce the Service’s proposal. “Today’s proposal is not only about recognizing this progress, but it’s also about recommitting ourselves to ensuring the manatee’s long-term success and recovery. “As part of its balanced approach to the recovery of the manatee, the Service recognizes that even as it proposes to update the manatee’s status under the ESA with this proposal, it may at times need to strengthen protection for the species in specific local areas,” Dohner added. “For example, the Service is reviewing comments on a proposal to establish greater protection for manatees at Three Sisters Springs, which is part of the agency’s Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge north of Tampa, Florida.” The manatee also remains protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Today’s action follows an extensive review of the threats the species faces, and the conservation actions put into place to help recover the manatee. The proposal relies on the most recent science and recommendations from a 2007 West Indian Manatee Five-Year Status Review. It also serves as a 12-month finding in response to a petition filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation and Save Crystal River, Inc. In its review, the Service considered the status of the West Indian manatee throughout its range. West Indian manatees are found in the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Greater and Lesser Antilles. The finding and additional information is available online at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/<http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FWS-R4-ES-2015-0178>. In the Keyword box, enter Docket Number FWS-R4-ES-2015-0178. Background information on the Florida and Antillean sub-species is available at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammal/manatee/. To ensure the Service’s review is complete and based on the best available scientific and commercial information, the Service is requesting information concerning the status of the West Indian manatee throughout its entire range (see range map<http://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammal/manatee/images/west-indian-man…>). Specifically, the Service seeks information on the manatee’s biology, distribution, abundance, population trends, demographics and genetics; habitat conditions; the threat posed by climate change; past and ongoing conservation measures that have been implemented for the species, its habitat or both; threat status and trends within the geographical range; and a wide variety of other information. Public comments on this proposal can be made until April 7, 2016. To learn more about how to submit comments as well as locations for future public hearings on the proposal, seeFrequently Asked Questions<http://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammal/manatee/pdf/manatee-frequently…>. The ESA plays a critical role in conserving and recovering our most at-risk wildlife, and has prevented the extinction of 99 percent of the species originally listed as threatened or endangered. Listing a species such as the manatee brings worldwide attention to its plight and drives coordinated conservation efforts across a range of potential partners. The ESA also provides crucial conservation funding for recovery efforts to reduce threats, protect and restore habitats, and increase populations. Listen to the press conference: Your browser does not support the audio element. Download the audio<http://www.fws.gov/southeast/audio/manatee-reclassification-2016-01-07.mp3> A transcript of the recording will be available for download as soon as it is ready. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who can make it happen, visit www.fws.gov<http://www.fws.gov/>. Connect with the Service Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast<http://www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast>, follow tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwssoutheast<http://www.twitter.com/usfwssoutheast>, watch the YouTube Channel athttp://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from the Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast." Along with the notice, please include the following link and/or information regarding submitting a comment to FWS. http://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammal/manatee/pdf/manatee-frequently… "You may submit information by one of the following methods: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Keyword box, enter Docket Number FWS-R4-ES-2015-0178, which is the docket number for this action. Then, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen under the Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Send a Comment or Submission.” (2) U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-R4- ES-2015-0178, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Headquarters, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (3) Attend the public hearing scheduled below during the open comment period: Location: Orlando, FL Date: Saturday, February 20, 2016 Venue: Buena Vista Palace Convention Center, 1900 Buena Vista Drive, The Great Hall, Orlando, Florida, 32830 Informational Open House: 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Formal Public Hearing: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those needing reasonable accommodations to participate in the public hearings should contact Chuck Underwood of the North Florida Ecological Services Office at 904-731-3332 or via e-mail to chuck_underwood(a)fws.gov at least one week prior to the desired meeting date. All comments and information submitted during the open comment period, regardless of which submission method is selected, will be reviewed and considered by Service staff prior to making a final decision. Additionally, comments submitted electronically don’t also need to be mailed. Comments submitted by mail need not be sent electronically as well. Oral comments given at public hearings will be captured by a court reporter as part of the official hearing transcript and need not be submitted by other methods. All comments and transcripts will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov and be available for review. The Service will post all information received, including comments and hearing transcripts, on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that the Service will post any personal information that is provided (see the Request for Information section of the Federal Register notice for more details). In order to allow sufficient time for biologists to review and consider submitted information and conduct the review, submissions must be received on or before Thursday, April 7, 2016." Thank you for your time. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Regards, Michelle Culver Conservation Intern Save the Manatee Club 500 N. Maitland Ave. Maitland, FL 32751 Email: intern(a)savethemanatee.org

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New paper on echolocation of the Risso's dolphin
by Adam Smith 10 Jan '16

10 Jan '16

Dear Colleagues, We are happy to announce the publication of the following article in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. "Transmission beam characteristics of a Risso's dolphin" by Adam B. Smith, Laura N. Kloepper, Wei-Cheng Yang, Wan-Hsiu Huang, I-Fan Jen, Brendan P. Rideout, and Paul E. Nachtigall. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.4937752 Abstract: The echolocation system of the Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) remains poorly studied compared to other odontocete species. In this study, echolocation signals were recorded from a stationary Risso’s dolphin with an array of 16 hydrophones and the two dimensional beam shape was explored using frequency-dependent amplitude plots. Click source parameters were similar to those already described for this species. Centroid frequency of click signals increased with increasing sound pressure level, while the beamwidth decreased with increasing center frequency. Analysis revealed primarily single lobed, and occasionally vertically dual-lobed, beam shapes. Overall beam directivity was found to be greater than that of the harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, and a false killer whale. The relationship between frequency content, beam directivity, and head size for this Risso’s dolphin deviated from the trend described for other species. These are the first reported measurements of echolocation beam shape and directivity in G. griseus. [ http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.4937752] Aloha, -- Adam B. Smith Ph.D. Candidate Marine Mammal Research Program Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawaii at Manoa

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Helping need to identify a deep sea squid found in caribbean waters
by Wilfried Steffen 10 Jan '16

10 Jan '16

Dear Marmamers, We live parts of the year on the island of Dominica in the eastern Caribbean. The island is known to host some families of sperm whales year round. Years ago we found a carcass of the potential prey of these whales and it was identified as Pholidoteuthis adami by a German squid expert. But recently we found another almost complete body of a deep sea squid, probably brought up by a hunting sperm whale, that we could not identify yet. Therefor we would ask to help us with the identification. It would help to expand our knowledge of the diet of the sperm whales in this area. You will find some pictures here: deep sea squid found off Dominica http://www.wale-hautnah.de/squid/ Sincerely yours Andrea and Wilfried Steffen Sperm whale research pottwal(a)pottwale.de www.pottwale.de http://www.wale-hautnah.de/squid/

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IMCC4 Call for Abstracts
by Leslie Cornick 10 Jan '16

10 Jan '16

Call for Abstracts for the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress The Call for Abstracts for the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress is now open! IMCC4 will be held from 31 July - 3 August 2016 at the Delta Conference Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada (YYT). We are now accepting abstracts for oral (spoken), speed (short spoken), and poster presentations, as well as proposals for OceansOnlinefacilitated discussions. OceansOnline, held 4 August, is a full add-on day to IMCC4 focused on communication and online tools for marinescience and conservation. All abstracts must be submitted online by 5pm (GMT) on 7 March 2016. Decisions will be made by the end of March 2016. Complete instructions for submission are available at the meeting website: http://conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2016/registration-participation/call-for-…. The selection process is highly competitive. The overall theme of the congress is Making Marine Science Matter. For marine conservation to be effective, marine conservation science must matter to stakeholders, policy makers, and practitioners. To accomplish this, the congress will be organized around specific topics of interest for marine conservation in general, as well as for the local area. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but merely a guide for proposers. Other topics of interest are welcome. * Fisheries, aquaculture and the oceans * Marine food security * Conservation and management of the Arctic and Antarctic * Conservation engineering * Ocean science technology * Marine energy * Climate, ocean acidification, and the changing oceans * Culture and the marine environment * Advancing marine conservation through international treaties * Effective marine conservation planning * Communicating marine conservation * Participation in marine conservation science (e.g. citizen and indigenous science) * Marine tourism * Marine policy * Estuary and coastal restoration * Conservation at the land-sea interface In addition, the SCB Marine Section developed a list of 71 research questions critical to the advancement of marine conservation (http://conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2016/about/71-questions/) We encourage proposals that address one or more of these questions but welcome all abstracts related to marine conservation science and practice. Thank you for helping IMCC Make Marine Science Matter! Website: http://conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2016 Facebook: https://goo.gl/TFcaGJ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IMCC2016 Blog: https://imcc2016.wordpress.com/ -- Samantha Oester (@samoester) President-Elect, SCB Marine Section (@SCBMarine) Communications Co-Chair, 27th International Congress for Conservation Biology Meeting Chair, International Marine Conservation Congress (@IMCC2016) Invited Member, Explorers Club Commission on Education and Communication, IUCN (@IUCN_CEC) Research Assistant and PhD Candidate, George Mason University

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Missing fin whale skeleton
by Eric Archer - NOAA Federal 09 Jan '16

09 Jan '16

I am trying to track down the skeleton of a fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*) that was once hanging at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, PA USA. The skeleton was collected by Edward Cope from San Clemente, California in 1895 and donated to the Wistar a few years later. It was described in True 1904. "The Whalebone Whales of the Western North Atlantic" as measuring 62 feet, 10 inches long. The name applied by Cope for this specimen was *Balaenoptera velifera*, originally described in 1869, currently synonymized with *B. physalus*. As there doesn't appear to be any surviving material for the holotype of*Balenoptera velifera*, the specimen from the Wistar Institute would be the next candidate to designate as a lectotype for a new subspecies of fin whales in the eastern north Pacific: *Balaenoptera physalus velifera*. The skeleton is no longer at the Wistar Institute. I have been in touch with directors at the Wistar and scoured the internet and the evidence is that sometime soon after a new director, Hilary Koprowski, arrived in 1957, the skeleton was shipped to the Field Museum in Chicago. However, the current curator of the mammal collection at the Field Museum says that the skeleton is not in their collection nor does anyone there have any recollection or knowledge of it. It is also not in the Smithsonian or at the American Natural History Museum. If anyone has any knowledge of this specimen or knows of someone who might, I would greatly appreciate their contact information. I am currently working on writing up the description for this subspecies and would like to identify the lectotype as well as potentially obtain some bone sample for mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Thank you in advance. Regards, Eric Archer ---- *Eric Archer, Ph.D.* Southwest Fisheries Science Center NMFS, NOAA 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA 858-546-7121 (work) 858-546-7003 (FAX) Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics ETP Cetacean Assessment Program: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-etp " *The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes.*" - Randall Munroe "*Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.*" - Benjamin Franklin "*...but I'll take a GPS over either one.*" - John C. "Craig" George

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archived samples
by Frances Gulland 09 Jan '16

09 Jan '16

Dear MarMammers, As we start the New Year, at The Marine Mammal Center, we are consolidating our tissue archive of liver and kidney samples from marine mammals that stranded along the central California coast over the last decade. If you are interested in requesting samples of liver or kidney that have been stored at -20 C for many years, for research purposes, please contact Frances Gulland for further information. Thank you Frances Gulland, email: gullandf(a)tmmc.org<mailto:gullandf@tmmc.org>, The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA 94965

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