May 2016 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

FW: Job Posting for Education Curator
by Jenny Atkinson 19 May '16

19 May '16

CORRECTED COPY From: Jenny Atkinson [mailto:jenny@whalemuseum.org] Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2016 9:33 AM To: 'marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca' <marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca> Subject: Job Posting for Education Curator Position: Education Curator Location: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, USA The Whale Museum is seeking a person to fulfill the role of Education Curator. Year-round FT employment, includes benefits. Established in 1979 as the first U.S. museum dedicated to whales living in the wild, The Whale Museum's mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. Our facility is located on San Juan Island, northwest of Seattle, Washington. This remote island is accessible only by ferry, boat or plane. The Education Curator's responsibilities include but are not limited to: * conduct education programs, guided tours, other educational programs, and special events as needed * development and implementation of programs, events and activities that address the Museum's mission to education and build stewardship within the community as well as with visitors * management and evaluation of the education programs and associated volunteers * help coordinate volunteer recruitment, database management, and scheduling * The Education Curator works closely with the E.D., staff and/or contracted consultants to plan, budget and implement educational programs and outreach projects/events associated with their areas of responsibility. The successful candidate will be highly flexible. Work schedule requires some evening and weekend coverage. Qualifications: * Bachelor's Degree required (Master's preferred), plus a minimum of 3 years of experience in a related field (natural history museum, science center or similar educational institution). * Strong knowledge of marine ecosystems and marine mammal biology and natural history, specifically the Southern Resident orcas and the Salish Sea. * Strong verbal and written communication skills necessary for department planning and grant writing, as well as conducting educational programs and tours as needed. * Ability to create and present age appropriate learning experiences related to the marine ecosystem. * Ability to understand the educational field and curriculum specific information. * Team player with excellent interpersonal skills, able to interact effectively with Museum staff & board, volunteers, visitors, and members. * Ability to multi-task and work flexible schedule, specifically some weekends and evenings. * Able to collect and synthesize information; effective problem solving skills. * Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. * Computer skills should include word processing, database management, spreadsheets, graphics, and social media. Specific programs include: Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Access, Excel, and Publisher. Electronic submissions are encouraged. It is suggested that a PDF compiled with the requested information be submitted. While it is planned for the Education Curator to be in place by July 2016, start date is negotiable for the right candidate. Active review of submitted applications will begin May 25, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Application package should include: a cover letter, resume and up to five references (either reference letter or contact information for each reference). Note: International applicants required to have approved Visa and documentation to work in the U.S. at the time of submission. Please send to: Jenny L. Atkinson, Executive Director The Whale Museum P. O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Email: jenny(a)whalemuseum.org <mailto:jenny@whalemuseum.org> Website: www.whalemuseum.org <http://www.whalemuseum.org> Jenny L. Atkinson Executive Director The Whale Museum P. O. Box 945 (62 1st St., N.) Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Phone: (360) 378-4710 ext. 26 Website: <http://www.whalemuseum.org/> www.whalemuseum.org Mission: to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.

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Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy 2016 Annual Meeting Program Schedule
by Jessica Rhian Hale 19 May '16

19 May '16

Greetings! The 20th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy is coming up this Saturday the 21st of May in Seattle! If you are planning to register at the door or join the meeting remotely via GoToMeeting on Saturday, see below. Registration and breakfast start at 9 am PST at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences building (SAFS) on the University of Washington campus in Seattle (1122 NE Boat St., Seattle, WA 98105). If you would like the detailed schedule and abstract book, please email us. We will print out hard copies of the schedule to distribute at registration, but will not print the abstract book. If you would like to attend the meeting remotely via GoToMeeting, you can do so by following the instructions below. We look forward to seeing you in Seattle! Erica Escajeda (escajeda(a)uw.edu) , Jessie Hale (jrh33(a)uw.edu) , and Donna Hauser (dhauser(a)uw.edu) NWSSMM 20th Annual Meeting Organizers ---------------------------------------------- GoToMeeting instructions: 1. Go to this link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/640804677 2. Use your computer audio to listen in. Don't worry about using a microphone, your microphone should be on mute. 3. Enter your name under "Join meeting as..." 4. Use the chat feature to type in questions during presentations and we will relay them to the presenter. Meeting ID: 640-804-677 -- http://halejessie.wordpress.com/

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Scientist II: Chemical Tracer Analyses of NOAA Trust Resources and Their Prey, Northwest Fisheries Science Center
by Daniel Grosse 19 May '16

19 May '16

Scientist II: Chemical Tracer Analyses of NOAA Trust Resources and Their Prey, Northwest Fisheries Science Center Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a Scientist II to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), in Seattle, WA. For more than 40 years, the Environmental Chemistry Program at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center has conducted research on NOAA trust resources, with a focus on developing state-of-the-art analytical methods that generate high quality data needed to understand the effects of human and environmental factors on the health and ecology of aquatic organisms. These projects include ensuring seafood safety, examining predator-prey relationships and their marine distribution, assessing the impacts of toxic contaminants across aquatic ecosystems, and identifying contaminants of emerging concern. This knowledge is vital to the development of strategic management plans for NOAA’s marine and freshwater resources and includes developing advanced sampling and analytical methods for toxic contaminants and other chemical and biochemical markers; modifying existing analytical methods to measure chemical markers in a wide range of matrices and species; and establishing quality assurance protocols and criteria for analytical measurements. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) established the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) (Title IV) in 1992. The MMHSRP operates in support of the Recovered Protected Species goal of National Marine Fisheries Services’ Strategic Plan. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center serves as the NMFS lead for the biomonitoring components and quality assurance of chemical analyses of marine mammals and their potential prey for the Program. Information generated by these components addresses deficiencies in data quality and quantity on the levels of toxic chemicals in marine mammals, refines methods and approaches for understanding linkages between exposure and specific biological effects or biological processes, and improves the dissemination of the information to constituents and resource managers. The collection and dissemination of these data increases our understanding of the causes of disease and mortality events in marine mammals and provides high quality data to assess the status and trends in contaminant accumulation by U.S. marine mammal populations. Furthermore, these data will provide a measure of the quality of their habitat. The work associated with this task order will enable the NWFSC to complete chemical tracer analyses of marine mammals and their potential prey in a timely manner and ensure that the data are of high quality for inclusion in peer-reviewed reports and publications. In addition, the NWFSC has conducted environmental contaminant studies on outmigrant juvenile Chinook salmon that occur in the lower Columbia River and the Salish Sea for two decades. Additional contaminant data are needed for outmigrant salmon as they pass through each system, including watersheds that occur in regions associated with urban, industrial or agricultural practices. To address this data gap, samples of juvenile salmon and their prey collected in these areas will be analyzed for toxic contaminants and the data will be used in life-cycle models to determine the potential effects of exposure as the outmigrants travel through the systems. Over the past 35 years, the NWFSC has conducted chemical contaminant analyses associated with oil spill and stormwater toxicity studies, including analyses of seafood products, marine mammals, fish and prey, as well as water samples. In recent years, the NWFSC’s oil spill and stormwater research has focused on investigations of the effects on early life history stages of fish. Chemistry data obtained from these research studies combined with biological effects to fish larvae and embryos can be used for environmental monitoring studies and future oil spill impact assessments. The contract is for full-time work. Excellent employee benefits are provided including paid medical insurance, and holiday, vacation and sick leave, and more. The work location will be at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle WA 98102. Duties: Provide assistance in conducting studies on environmental factors affecting fishery resources, including exposure to pollutants, as it relates to the protection of NOAA trust resources including fish and marine mammals. The contractor shall be responsible for tissue/fluid preparation of marine mammals and their prey (e.g., fish, squid), as well as extraction and cleanup of tissue samples of marine organisms for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, chemical contaminants, including petroleum-related polycyclic aromatic compounds, persistent organic pollutants and other chemical markers (e.g., lipids). Duties shall include sample preparation, sample extraction using an accelerated solvent extractor or solid phase extraction and cleanup of sample extracts using gravity flow cleanup columns and automated cleanup using high-performance liquid chromatography with size exclusion chromatography. Task #1 Prepare, extract and cleanup approximately 40 tissue and fluid samples of Steller sea lions, and associated quality assurance samples for persistent organic pollutants and percent lipid using analytical protocols and methods developed and validated by the NWFSC. These sample analyses must pass the NWFSC’s laboratory quality assurance criteria. Archive these sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain sample extract inventory of these extracts and samples. Task #2 Help prepare, extract, cleanup and analyze approximately 40 whole body samples of juvenile salmon and their prey, as well as the associated quality assurance samples for persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and percent lipid using analytical protocols and methods developed and validated by the NWFSC. These sample analyses must pass the NWFSC’s laboratory quality assurance criteria. Archive these sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain sample extract inventory of these extracts and samples. Task #3 Help prepare, extract and cleanup approximately 60 water samples, as well as the associated quality assurance samples for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using analytical protocols and methods developed and validated by the NWFSC. These sample analyses must pass the NWFSC’s laboratory quality assurance criteria. Archive these sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain sample extract inventory of these extracts and samples. Required minimum education, knowledge, and experience: Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major directly related in a field of study as related to the requirements of the specific task order with emphasis in fisheries, oceanography, social science, natural science, mathematics, or hydrology. Additional required qualifications include: Experience in sample preparation and extraction for analyses of any of the following: chemical contaminants such as persistent organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, percent lipid and lipid classes, fatty acids and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. Ability and experience to follow performance-based laboratory quality assurance protocols, including following clean-laboratory practices for chemical tracer analyses. Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. Resumes must include the following: Work history Education Previous experience in a same or similar position with the same or similar requirements Professional references If you are interested in being considered for this position, please APPLY THROUGH OUR ADP WEB PORTAL, AT THIS LINK:https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=oceans&job… <https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=oceans&jobId=24…> - Include your name in the document file name. - Sending your resume in readable (not scanned) PDF or Word format is preferred. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check. Ocean Associates Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to self-identify their race, gender, national origin, disability status and veteran status. OAI is required to use the information it collects as part of its future affirmative action efforts in hiring. The information is collected anonymously by computer and is not connected to your application. You will see a place to check certain boxes in OAI's online application. Even though the information is anonymous, self-identification is voluntary. You can always check the box that says you decline to self-identify. Note: If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the "Notes" section on the second page of the online application. Thank you. -Dr. John Everett, President, OAI ________________ Daniel Grosse, Ph.D. Senior Associate Ocean Associates, Incorporated 4007 N. Abingdon Street Arlington, Virginia USA 22207 DanGrosse(a)oceanassoc.com Tel: 202-258-9700 Fax: 202-244-4667 On the web at http://www.OceanAssoc.com

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'STATS COURSE - Genetic data analysis/exploration using R'
by Oliver Hooker 19 May '16

19 May '16

"Genetic data analysis/exploration using R" Delivered by Dr. Thibaut Jombart http://prstatistics.com/course/genetic-data-analysis-using-r-gdar/ This course will run from 16th – 20th August, Millport Field Station, Ilse of Cumbrae, Scotland This course will provide an extensive overview of exploratory methods for the analysis of genetic data using the R software and aim to equip participants with powerful resources for tackling increasingly common challenges in genetic data analysis. The course is aimed at PhD students, research postgraduates, and practicing academics as well as persons in industry working with genetic data in fields such as molecular ecology, evolutionary biology, and phylogenetics. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to various statistical approaches for the analysis of genetic data. Course content is as follows Day 1 Introduction to phylogenetic reconstruction • Lecture 1a: Reconstructing phylogenies from genetic sequence data. Three main approaches covered: distance-based phylogenies; maximum parsimony; and likelihood-based approaches. • Lecture 1b: Short R refresher. • Practical 1: Phylogenetic reconstruction using R. Three main approaches plus rooting a tree; assessing/testing for a molecular clock; and bootstrapping. Main packages: ape, phangorn. Day 2 Introduction to multivariate analysis of genetic data • Lecture 2: Key concepts in multivariate analysis. Focus on using factorial methods for genetic data analysis. • Practical 2: Basics of multivariate analysis of genetic data in R. Topics include: data handling, population genetic tests of population structure (PCA, PCoA). Main packages: adegenet, ade4, ape. Day 3 Exploring group diversity • Lecture 3: Approaches to identifying and describing genetic clusters. Topics include: hierarchical clustering, K-means, population-level multivariate analysis (between-group-PCA, DA, DAPC). • Practical 3: Applying the approaches covered in morning lecture and emphasising their strengths and weaknesses. Main packages: adegenet, ade4. Day 4 Spatial genetic structure • Lecture 4: Discussing the origin and significance of spatial genetic patterns, and how to test or them. • Practical 4: Visualising and analysing spatial genetic data. Topics: spatial density estimates, Moran/Mantel tests, mapping principal components in PCA, spatial PCA. • Main packages: adegenet, glmnet. Main packages: adegenet, glmnet. Day 5 Using R for reproducible science • Lecture 5: Using R for reproducible science. • Practical 5: Practical session based on morning lecture • Main packages: knitr, Sweave, rmarkdown • Option to discuss own data (time permitting) Please email any inquiries to oliverhooker(a)prstatistics.com or visit our website www.prstatistics.com Please feel free to distribute this material anywhere you feel is suitable Upcoming courses - email for details oliverhooker(a)prstatistics.com INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON FOR BIOLOGISTS (May) ADVANCES IN SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF MULTIVARIATE ECOLOGICAL DATA (July) ADVANCES IN DNA TAXONOMY USING R (August) INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMAITCE USING LINUX (August) INTRODUCTION TO BAYESIAN HIERARCHICAL MODELLING (August) MODEL BASED MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL DATA USING R (October) LANDSCAPE (POPULATION) GENETIC DATA ANALYSIS USING R (October) APPLIED BAYESIAN MODELLING FOR ECOLOGISTS AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS (October) PHYLOGENETIC DATA ANALYSIS USING R (November) SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGIC AL DATA USING R (November) ADVANCING IN STATISTICAL MODELLING USING R (December) Dates still to be confirmed - email for details oliverhooker(a)prstatistics.com STABLE ISOTOPE MIXING MODELS USING SIAR, SIBER AND MIXSIAR USING R INTRODUCTION TO R AND STATISTICS FOR BIOLOGISTS BIOINFORMATICS FOR GENETICISTS AND BIOLOGISTS Oliver Hooker PR statistics 3/1 128 Brunswick Street Glasgow G1 1TF +44 (0) 7966500340 www.prstatistics.com www.prstatistics.com/organiser/oliver-hooker/

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Job advert - intern position
by sandra＠whalewatchsa.com 18 May '16

18 May '16

Dear all, Dyer Island Cruises is an ecotourism company based in Gansbaai, South Africa which offers whale watching tours from July to December and eco-tours the rest of the year. We are a Fair Trade certified company and also highly involved in research and conservation. We are looking for an Intern helping out on our whale watching vessel 'Dream Catcher' for the period of July - September 2016, your main duties/responsibilities will be:  help with guiding whale watching tours  help to collect scientific data  taking trip videos/photos  updating/writing daily blog  general crew work on the boat Qualifications/Skills  fluent in English  experience working on boats  interest in conservation and marine wildlife (especially whales)  experience with Microsoft Office and editing programs such as Picasa  good people skills Your benefits  learn about cetaceans, other marine wildlife from international scientist  improvement of boat skills  improve of guiding/wildlife skills and teamwork If you are an enthusiastic and healthy person, who loves to work with marine wildlife, international people and don't mind to work long hours at sea then you should take the chance and apply! Send your application and CV to sandra(a)whalewatchsa.com We are looking forward to hear from you! Kind regards, Dyer Island Cruises Team, Sandra

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Final underwater acoustics webinar for the international regulatory community: opportunity to ask additional questions
by Holly Morin 17 May '16

17 May '16

Regulators, decision makers, public affairs officers, industry representatives, and other members of the international regulatory community have a high need for training materials on underwater acoustics as well as instructional resources that can be quickly accessed and viewed. To meet this need, the Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) <http://www.dosits.org/> Team has been facilitating a free, five-part webinar series for the international regulatory community on topics related to underwater sound. The fifth and final webinar in this series will provide a brief summary of the previous webinars, and offer an opportunity for participants to follow up on the topics presented and ask additional questions. A panel of previous webinar speakers will be online and available to answer questions. We are requesting that individuals submit questions in advance, although some time will be allotted to answer questions asked during the webinar. The webinar will be held Thursday, June 2, 2016, at 12:00pm (US East Coast time). To submit questions in advance, individuals must first register for the webinar (please note, if you do not plan on submitting questions in advance, but would like to participate in the webinar, you still need to register ahead of the webinar date). To register for this webinar, please visit: http://dosits.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e142faad1ca3ef0f816ca8553&id… <http://dosits.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e142faad1ca3ef0f816ca8553&id…> All previous webinars, and their associated resources, are archived on the DOSITS website (Webinar Series for Regulators of Underwater Sound <http://www.dosits.org/resources/all/decisionmakers/ircwebinar/>; http://www.dosits.org/resources/all/decisionmakers/ircwebinar/ <http://www.dosits.org/resources/all/decisionmakers/ircwebinar/>) Questions? Please contact Holly Morin at holly_morin(a)uri.edu <mailto:holly_morin@uri.edu>. This webinar series is being sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute (API). The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS; www.dosits.org <http://www.dosits.org/>) is a comprehensive, educational website on underwater sound, designed to provide accurate scientific information at levels appropriate for all audiences, including decision-makers.

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New paper on enamel ultrastructure in pinnipeds
by Carolina Loch 16 May '16

16 May '16

DearMARMAM subscribers, Weare pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in the currentissue of The Science of Nature: Enamel ultrastructure of fossil and modern pinnipeds: evaluating hypothesesof feeding adaptations in the extinct walrus Pelagiarctos CarolinaLoch, Robert Boessenecker, Morgan Churchill and Jules A. Kieser doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1366-z Volume103(44), May 2016, Pages 1-8 Abstract This study aimed to assess the enamelultrastructure in modern otariid pinnipeds and in the extinct walrus Pelagiarctos. Teeth of the New Zealandfur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri),sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), and Pelagiarctos thomasi were embedded,sectioned, etched and analyzed via scanning electron microscopy. The enamel ofNZ otariids and Pelagiarctos was prismatic and moderately thick, measuring150-450 µm on average. It consisted of transversely oriented Hunter-Schregerbands (HSB) from the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) to near the outer surface,where it faded into prismless enamel less than 10 µm thick. The width of HSBwas variable and averaged between 6-10 prisms, and they presented an undulatingcourse both in longitudinal and cross sections. The overall organization of theenamel was similar in all teeth sampled; however, the enamel was thicker incanines and postcanines than in incisors. The crowns of all teeth sampled wereuniformly covered by enamel; however, the grooved incisors lacked an enamelcover on the posterior side of the buccal face. Large tubules and tuft-likestructures were seen at the EDJ. HSB enamel as well as tubules and tufts at theEDJ suggest increased occlusal loads during feeding, a biomechanical adaptationto avoid enamel cracking and failure. Despite overall simplification in toothmorphology and reduced mastication, the fossil and modern pinnipeds analyzedhere retained the complex undulating HSB structure of other fossil and living Carnivora,while other marine mammals such as cetaceans developed simplified radialenamel. Full text is available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00114-016-1366-z Or alternatively, a pdf can be requested at:carolina.loch@otago.ac.nz ________________________________________ Carolina Loch Silva, PhD Research Fellow Sir John Walsh Research Institute Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Phone: +(64) 03 479-9073 & Research Collaborator Geology Department, University of Otago and Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos UFSC Florianópolis, SC - Brasil http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/people/craniofacial-biomechanics/otago054438.h…

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New publication: End-lactation syndrome (ELS) in southern sea otters
by Sarah Chinn 15 May '16

15 May '16

Hello, My co-authors and I are excited to announce our recent publication, "The High Cost of Motherhood: End-Lactation Syndrome in Southern Sea Otters (*Enhydra lutris nereis*) on the Central Coast of California, USA" in Journal of Wildlife Diseases. Full citation: Chinn, S. M., Miller, M. A., Tinker, M. T., Staedler, M. M., Batac, F. I., Dodd, E. M., & Henkel, L. A. (2016). THE HIGH COST OF MOTHERHOOD: END-LACTATION SYNDROME IN SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS (ENHYDRA LUTRIS NEREIS) ON THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST, USA. *Journal of wildlife diseases*, *52*(2), 307-318. The paper can be downloaded here: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.7589/2015-06-158 Or, please request a copy, sarahchinn(a)gmail.com Abstract: Sea otters (*Enhydra lutris*) have exceptionally high energetic requirements, which nearly double during lactation and pup care. Thus, females are extremely vulnerable to caloric insufficiency. Despite a number of compensatory strategies, the metabolic challenge of reproduction culminates in numerous maternal deaths annually. Massive depletion of energy reserves results in a case presentation that we define as end-lactation syndrome (ELS), characterized by moderate to severe emaciation not attributable to a concurrent, independent disease process in females dying during late pup care or postweaning. We compiled detailed data for 108 adult female southern sea otters (*Enhydra lutris nereis*) examined postmortem that stranded in California, US, 2005–12, and assessed pathology, reproductive status, and the location and timing of stranding. We introduce simple, grossly apparent, standardized physical criteria to assess reproductive stage for female sea otters. We also describe ELS, examine associated risk factors, and highlight female life history strategies that likely optimize reproduction and survival. Our data suggest that females can reset both the timing and energetic demands of reproduction through fetal loss, pup abandonment, or early weaning as part of specific physiologic checkpoints during each reproductive cycle. Females appear to preload nutritionally during delayed implantation and gestation to increase fitness and reproductive success. We found that ELS was a major cause of death, affecting 56% of enrolled adult females. Peak ELS prevalence occurred in late spring, possibly reflecting the population trend toward fall/winter pupping. Increasing age and number of pregnancies were associated with a higher risk of ELS. Although the proportion of ELS females was highest in areas with dense sea otter populations, cases were recovered throughout the range, suggesting that death from ELS is associated with, but not solely caused by, population resource limitation. Cheers, Sarah Chinn MS Candidate, Department of Biology Sonoma State University sarahchinn(a)gmail.com or chinns(a)sonoma.edu

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New paper: Context specificity of Atlantic spotted dolphin acoustic signals in the Canary Islands
by Elena Papale 15 May '16

15 May '16

Dear colleagues, on behalf of my co-authors I'm pleased to announce the publication of our paper titled: "Context specificity of Atlantic spotted dolphin acoustic signals in the Canary Islands" Full citation: Elena Papale, Monica Perez-Gil, Juliana Castrillon, Enrique Perez-Gil, Leire Ruiz, Antonella Servidio, Marisa Tejedor, Cristina Giacoma & Vidal Martín (2016): Context specificity of Atlantic spotted dolphin acoustic signals in the Canary Islands, Ethology Ecology & Evolution, DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2016.1171256 Abstract The behavioural context provides opportunities for studying the use and characteristics of acoustic signals. We analysed the context-specific use of acoustic signals in a population of Atlantic spotted dolphins around the Canary archipelago. We calculated the whistle diversity, the mean value of whistle stereotypy and the repetition rate of both tonal and burst-pulsed sounds. Eleven parameters of frequency, signal duration and modulation were measured from each whistle. Results showed that whistle diversity and whistle and chirp repetition rates were negatively correlated with group size, but only whistle diversity and the mean number of stereotypy were related to behavioural activity. Whistles were more complexly modulated during high behavioural activity than when engaged in moderate movements. Furthermore, during socialising and feeding, the highest mean value of stereotypy was displayed, and the parameters of non-stereotyped whistles had lower variability. Our results suggest the use of a complex communication system to improve the efficiency of communication through context-specific signal combinations, the usage of different signals and their modulation pattern. Our study produces evidence to support the hypothesis that acoustic plasticity and differences in call characteristics may be indicative of behavioural and social acoustic environment. A PDF version of the paper is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2016.1171256 or via email request to: elena.papale(a)iamc.cnr.it Best, Elena -- -- Elena Papale, PhD Institute for Coastal Marine Environment National Research Council Via del Mare 3 91021 Torretta Granitola (TP) Italy elena.papale(a)iamc.cnr.it elenabiancapapale(a)gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

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Summer Marine Mammal Biology course offered at Cal Berkeley
by Wendy Markowitz 14 May '16

14 May '16

A summer course in Marine Mammal Biology has just been listed in the Department of Integrative Biology (IB 41) at the University of California, Berkeley. The course will include: evolution, functional morphology, behavioral ecology, conservation and management of cetaceans, sirenians, pinnipeds, and a few other marine carnivores (e.g., sea otters and polar bears). There will be trips to the collections in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology on the UC Berkeley campus and the Marine Mammal Center, training in field research methods, and some great guest lectures by marine mammal experts from around the San Francisco Bay Area. This 2-unit course runs for 8 weeks, Mondays and Wednesdays 3-5pm, on the UC Berkeley campus, starting June 20.Here is the official description from the course catalog:A survey of marine mammal evolution, biology, behavior, ecology, and politics with a concentration on those species found in the North Pacific. Coverage will include: origin and evolution of cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, and sea otters; basic biology and anatomy of marine mammal groups, and North Pacific species in particular; ecological interactions and role in nearshore and pelagic marine communities; and interactions between humans and marine mammals. This course is rarely offered at UC Berkeley and space is limited, so those interested should register soon at summer.berkeley.edu (Integrative Biology 41).

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