March 2016 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Application deadline March 30: Advances in Marine Wildlife Monitoring with Emphasis on Acoustics and Visual Techniques
by Sam Nichols 08 Mar '16

08 Mar '16

*Application deadline **March 30th:**Advances in Marine Wildlife Monitoring with Emphasis on Acoustics and Visual Techniques, May 2016, Ireland* Marine wildlife research is evolving and changing thanks to exciting new monitoring technologies in this field and Seiche is at the forefront of developing these advanced technologies. For the first time, Seiche is running a 7 day research trip on a small island off the east coast of Ireland, where we will be utilizing some of these new technologies. You will gain hands-on experience using 3 acoustic platforms including towed, digital and conventional hydrophone arrays and an autonomous vehicle. You will learn how thermal imaging techniques can be used as an aid to visual monitoring. This course will mainly consist of fieldwork around Lambay as well as short discussions and data analysis in the evenings. For those that wish to explore this fantastic island and surrounding areas short excursions are also available. Please contact training(a)seiche.com for more information, costs and itinerary. Seiche Training is part of Seiche Ltd, the global underwater acoustics experts.

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EXTENDED Expert Consultation: Visualizing genetic data to identify IMMAs
by Kershaw, Francine 07 Mar '16

07 Mar '16

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce that the expert consultation period for the visualization of genetic data to identify Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) has been extended until Thursday 31st March. Given the importance of this work with respect to developing a section of the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Area Task Force (MMPATF) Toolkit on how genetic data can be used to support the identification of IMMAs, we wished to maximize the opportunity for input and feedback from across the marine mammal community. All the details you need to participate in the evaluation can found below. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions, either by email (fkershaw(a)nrdc.org<mailto:fkershaw@nrdc.org>), phone (+1-212-727-4564), or Skype (francine.kershaw). With best wishes, Francine Kershaw and Howard C. Rosenbaum ______________________________________________ At the workshop, "Integrating genetics into the Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) identification process," held at the Society of Marine Mammalogy Biennial in December, an interdisciplinary group of more than 20 marine mammal experts evaluated how genetic data and information can be visualized geospatially and systematically integrated into the identification of IMMAs. This project represents a partnership between the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Area Task Force (MMPATF), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the University of California - Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). We are now expanding this effort and seeking expert consultation with the wider marine mammal science and conservation community on how genetic data and information can be effectively represented geospatially and graphically to inform the identification of IMMAs. The consultation period will take place from February 1st to March 31st 2016. The evaluation procedure involves accessing two SeaSketch projects for humpback whales and spinner dolphins, examining a selection of the data layers and graphical analytics, and completing a short questionnaire with your thoughts and feedback on each layer/graphic. You are also able leave more general feedback and comments on the projects and broader initiative in the SeaSketch public comment forums. The information and feedback gathered at the workshop and through the expanded consultation process will be incorporated into a genetics 'module' that will form part of the IMMA "Toolkit", currently being developed by the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA MMPATF, to guide the identification of IMMAs. Given the applied nature of this project, we strongly encourage experts both with and without a background in genetics to participate in the consultation. The links for the Humpback whale project<http://humpbacks.seasketch.org/> and the Spinner dolphin project<http://spinners.seasketch.org/>, and a Tutorial<http://seasketch-uploads.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/d1e5cd03-d3cd-4fcb-866a…> on how to complete the evaluation can be found here. You can find additional information about the development process of the IMMA classification via the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA MMPATF website<http://icmmpa.org/iucn-task-force/>. Francine Kershaw, Ph.D. Marine Mammals Science Fellow Natural Resources Defense Council 40 W 20th Street New York, NY 10011 USA T 212.727.4564 C 917.450.0994 fkershaw(a)nrdc.org<mailto:fkershaw@nrdc.org> http://www.nrdc.org https://columbia.academia.edu/francinekershaw Howard C. Rosenbaum, Ph.D. Director Ocean Giants Program Global Conservation Programs Wildlife Conservation Society 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx, New York 10460 USA T 718-220-5184 F 718-364-4275 hrosenbaum(a)wcs.org<mailto:hrosenbaum@wcs.org> http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/ocean-giants.aspx

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Alaska Field Experience Through Texas A&M University at Galveston
by Randall Davis 07 Mar '16

07 Mar '16

ALASKA FIELD EXPERIENCE THROUGH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT GALVESTON Summer 2016 Course Name: COASTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY OF ALASKA Course Number: MARB/MARS 415, MARB/MARS 615 or as an INTERNSHIP WITHOUT UNIVERSITY CREDIT Session dates: Session 1: June 6-17; Session 2: June 20-July 1; Session 3: July 4-July 15 Instructor: Dr. Randall Davis Please contact Dr. Davis at (281) 250-7839<tel:%28281%29%20250-7839> (davisr(a)tamug.edu<https://mail.tamug.edu/owa/14.2.390.1/scripts/premium/redir.aspx?C=FTxU77py…>) for more information. Travel to south-central Alaska for this three credit hour field course or internship. For 12 days, students will live and study at the remote Alice Cove Research Station located along the shores of Prince William Sound. Students will assist in research on behavioral ecology of sea otters and learn about the flora, fauna and geology of this area. An overland day trip will be made to explore the Copper River Delta and visit Sheridan Glacier. There are no prerequisites. Field course fee is $2,200 (airfare to Anchorage and Cordova not included). You do not need to be a student at Texas A&M University to register for an internship. Dr. Randall W. Davis Regents Professor, Depts. of Marine Biology and Wildlife and Fisheries Science Texas A&M University 200 Seawolf Parkway, OCSB Galveston, TX 77553 davisr(a)tamug.edu<mailto:davisr@tamug.edu>

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Protected Species Observer Positions in Jacksonville, Fl
by Maxx Van Waeyenberghe 07 Mar '16

07 Mar '16

Protected Species Observer Positions in Jacksonville, FL Vantage Observing, LLC is looking for experienced manatee observers to work in Jacksonville, FL. The project is a jetty reconstruction which is projected to last until October 2016. Monitoring will take place Monday through Saturday, for 10-12 hours a day. Compensation is based upon experience. Requirements: • Bachelors degree in Marine Biology or related field. • 2 years of protected species observing experience. • Recent experience monitoring manatees and their behaviors in association with in-water construction projects. • Excellent communication and report writing skills. • Work independently and in a team environment. • Work outdoors in the elements for long periods of time. For more information or to submit your resume email VantageObserving(a)gmail.com.

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MMO and PSO training courses, Inverness, UK
by Carolyn Barton 04 Mar '16

04 Mar '16

MMO and PSO training courses are running in Inverness, Scotland, in April: JNCC-recognised MMO course for UK waters, 18 April 2016, GBP 125 PSO course for the Gulf of Mexico, meets BOEM/ BSEE requirements, 19 April 2016, GBP 55 (when taken in conjunction with the MMO course). For details of course content and to download a booking form, see www.carolynbarton.co.uk or e-mail info(a)carolynbarton.co.uk . Carolyn Barton info(a)carolynbarton.co.uk www.carolynbarton.co.uk

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PSO Training in Sarasota, FL on April 9-10
by abostwick 04 Mar '16

04 Mar '16

MPSC is holding Protected Species Observer training on April 9-10 at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, FL. This BOEM/BSEE-compliant PSO certification course covers the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, and how to visually locate and identify the animals. Course comprehension is measured with examinations on regulations and animal identification. Lunch is provided and included in the $800 course fee (college/recent graduate and group discounts available), along with various identification guides, regulatory documents, admission to Mote Marine Aquarium, a tour of the marine mammal and sea turtle hospitals at Mote, and advice on applying to PSO positions. Online registration and payment made be found at the following link: http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/PSOCert.html MPSC is also holding PSO training in Wilmington, NC in June. For more information, please contact Angela at ABostwick(a)PSOCertifications.com <mailto:ABostwick@PSOCertifications.com> , by phone at 832-523-2402 <tel:832-523-2402> , or visit the website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/ Thank you, Angela Bostwick / Founder Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com <http://www.ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com> https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

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New paper using passive acoustics: Spatio-temporal occurrence variability of coastal dolphins in Zanzibar, Tanzania
by Andrew Temple (PGR) 04 Mar '16

04 Mar '16

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors and myself I wish to announce the publication of our new paper on the spatio-temporal variability of Indo-Pacific bottlenose and Indian Ocean humpback dolphins in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Temple AJ, Tregenza N, Amir OA, Jiddawi N, Berggren P (2016) Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Occurrence and Foraging Activity of Coastal Dolphins in Menai Bay, Zanzibar, Tanzania. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0148995. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148995 Abstract Understanding temporal patterns in distribution, occurrence and behaviour is vital for the effective conservation of cetaceans. This study used cetacean click detectors (C-PODs) to investigate spatial and temporal variation in occurrence and foraging activity of the Indo- Pacific bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) and Indian Ocean humpback (Sousa plumbea) dolphins resident in the Menai Bay Conservation Area (MBCA), Zanzibar, Tanzania. Occurrence was measured using detection positive minutes. Inter-click intervals were used to identify terminal buzz vocalisations, allowing for analysis of foraging activity. Data were analysed in relation to spatial (location) and temporal (monsoon season, diel phase and tidal phase) variables. Results showed significantly increased occurrence and foraging activity of dolphins in southern areas and during hours of darkness. Higher occurrence at night was not explained by diel variation in echolocation rate and so were considered representative of occurrence patterns. Both tidal phase and monsoon season influenced occurrence but results varied among sites, with no general patterns found. Foraging activity was greatest during hours of darkness, High water and Flood tidal phases. Comparisons of echolocation data among sites suggested differences in the broadband click spectra of MBCA dolphins, possibly indicative of species differences. These dolphin populations are threatened by unsustainable fisheries bycatch and tourism activities. The spatial and temporal patterns identified in this study have implications for future conservation and management actions with regards to these two threats. Further, the results indicate future potential for using passive acoustics to identify and monitor the occurrence of these two species in areas where they co-exist. The paper is open access and is available at the following link: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0148995 Many Thanks, Andrew Temple -------------------------------------------- Andrew Temple, PhD Candidate Marine Science and Technology Newcastle University NE1 7RU Office: 0191 222 5607 E-Mail: andrew.temple(a)ncl.ac.uk Co-Investigator in the BYCAM project: http://www.wiomsa.org/ongoing-project/by-catch-assessment-and-mitigation-in…

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New Book - 'GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates'
by Colin D. MacLeod 04 Mar '16

04 Mar '16

Hi All, This new book which I have authored about using GIS in biological research is now available (it was released in December 2015). It may be of interest to marine mammalogists, and particularly those who wish to learn how to use either ArcGIS (the leading commercial GIS software package) or QGIS (the leading open source GIS software) in their research. All the best, Colin Now Available - ‘GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates’ by Colin D. MacLeod (Pictish Beast Publications, 352 pages). ’GIS For Biologists’ is a new book that provides an easy-to-understand introduction to using GIS in biological research as well as six practical exercises specifically created to help biologists learn how to use GIS in their daily lives. The instructions for these practical exercises are provided for both ESRI's ArcGIS For Desktop 10.3 and QGIS 2.8.3, the leading open source, and so freely available, GIS software. The exercises cover a range of biological fields ranging from tropical ecology, ornithology, marine mammal biology and epidemiology, and are set in locations ranging from Peru to Scotland, the continental US, northern Mozambique and the North Atlantic. As well as providing the perfect practical exercises for any biologist interested in learning how to use GIS, this book is also well-suited to those who wish to teach GIS to undergraduate, masters or postgraduate students in any biological field, but who do not have the time to develop their own practical course content. This book is supported by a dedicated ‘GIS For Biologists’ webpage (http://www.gisinecology.com/GFB.htm) which provides helpful information on where to get your preferred GIS software, how to download and install it, and how to download the data used in the practical exercises in the book, as well as links to free short videos which have been created to accompany the book's contents. ‘GIS For Biologists’ is available to purchase as a paperback or as a kindle ebook (although due to its fixed page format, it is only available on devices and Kindle apps with 'pinch and zoom' capabilities). It is available from all good book sellers (and Amazon), or for order directly from GIS In Ecology. Free previews of the contents can be downloaded from http://www.gisinecology.com/GFB_book.htm. If you wish to request a desk/examination copy for consideration as a recommended course text for a course you run or are developing, please email cdmacleod(a)GISinEcology.com (desk copies will only be provided on verification of your academic position as a course coordinator/instructor). >From The Back Of The book: This book provides a user-friendly and practical introduction for undergraduates to the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in biological research. Unlike most other books about using GIS, this information is specifically presented in a biological context and it is divided into two sections. The first section provides just enough background information to allow the novice biological GIS user to get started with GIS without getting too bogged down in the theory behind it or making some of the most common mistakes made by beginners. It covers areas such as what GIS is, why GIS is useful in biology, the basics of GIS, common concepts and terms in GIS, how data are contained in a GIS, useful information about what to think about before starting a GIS project and how to break down and translate biological tasks into the language of GIS. This information is all provided in easy-to-read and non-technical language, with specific reference to its application in biological research. The second section, which constitutes the main body of the book, consists of six practical exercises accompanied by detailed instruction sets. The first four exercises introduce the novice biological GIS user to basic, but important, GIS skills, such as making a map, creating new feature data layers, creating raster data layers and joining together data from different data layers. The final two consist of case studies of how GIS can be used to answer real biological research questions. Each of these exercises represents a stand-alone GIS leson which can be completed either on its own or as part of a practical session for an undergraduate class. In addition, each exercise focuses on a different area of biology, such as tropical ornithology, epidemiology, marine biology and rainforest ecology, and on a different part of the world, including the Amazon rainforest, a Scottish field station, Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique, the North Atlantic Ocean and the USA. Instructions for each exercise are provided for both the leading commercial GIS package (ESRI’s ArcGIS® 10.3 software) and the leading freely available open-source GIS software (QGIS 2.8.3, also known as Quantum GIS), meaning that this book can be used to learn, or teach, how to use GIS in biological research, regardless of the availability of commercial software licences. Taken together, the two sections of this book provide the perfect primer to show undergraduates, and other novice GIS users, how useful GIS can be in biological research, why it is rapidly becoming a key skill in many areas of biology, and how to start using it. The PSLS series of books uses Task-Oriented Learning (TOL) to teach the practical application of research skills to the life sciences. This involves demonstrating how these skills can be used in the specific circumstances in which they are likely to be required, rather than concentrating on teaching theoretical frameworks or on teaching skills in a generic or abstract manner. By seeing how the similar processes are used to achieve a variety of different goals within a specific field, it becomes easier for the reader to identify the general rules behind the practical application of these processes and, therefore, to transfer them to novel situations they may encounter in the future. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Habitat-based cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
by Jason Roberts 03 Mar '16

03 Mar '16

My collaborators and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new set of cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. This project integrated nearly 1.1 million linear km of line transect surveys collected since 1992, with the objective of developing the most comprehensive and detailed maps possible for these regions. The paper and all results are open access, freely downloadable, and reusable under a CC-BY 4.0 License. http://www.nature.com/articles/srep22615 http://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/Duke-EC-GOM-2015/ Jason J. Roberts, Benjamin D. Best, Laura Mannocci, Ei Fujioka, Patrick N. Halpin, Debra L. Palka, Lance P. Garrison, Keith D. Mullin, Timothy V. N. Cole, Christin B. Khan, William A. McLellan, D. Ann Pabst & Gwen G. Lockhart Abstract: Cetaceans are protected worldwide but vulnerable to incidental harm from an expanding array of human activities at sea. Managing potential hazards to these highly-mobile populations increasingly requires a detailed understanding of their seasonal distributions and habitats. Pursuant to the urgent need for this knowledge for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, we integrated 23 years of aerial and shipboard cetacean surveys, linked them to environmental covariates obtained from remote sensing and ocean models, and built habitat-based density models for 26 species and 3 multi-species guilds using distance sampling methodology. In the Atlantic, for 11 well-known species, model predictions resembled seasonal movement patterns previously suggested in the literature. For these we produced monthly mean density maps. For lesser-known taxa, and in the Gulf of Mexico, where seasonal movements were less well described, we produced year-round mean density maps. The results revealed high regional differences in small delphinoid densities, confirmed the importance of the continental slope to large delphinoids and of canyons and seamounts to beaked and sperm whales, and quantified seasonal shifts in the densities of migratory baleen whales. The density maps, freely available online, are the first for these regions to be published in the peer-reviewed literature. This project builds upon the efforts of the hundreds of people involved in conducting line transect surveys in these regions over the past two decades. Thanks for the opportunity to analyze the data you helped collect. I hope you will find this project a worthy outcome of your efforts. All the best, Jason Jason Roberts jason.roberts(a)duke.edu<mailto:jason.roberts@duke.edu> Duke Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab

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Marine Science Education Associate Seasonal Position
by marylou＠dolphinsplus.com 03 Mar '16

03 Mar '16

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