October 2017 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper on harbour porpoise sleep
by Andrew Wright 26 Oct '17

26 Oct '17

Dear Marmam, We are pleased to announce that our new paper on sleeping at depth in wild harbour porpoise is now in press with Animal Behaviour. It is available from myself (marinebrit(a)gmail.com) or online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347217303020. Highlights, abstract and keywords follow below. Best, Andrew -- Andrew Wright, Ph.D. VaquitaAreBrowncoats: Where Sci-Fi meets Science, the Cosmos meets Conservation and Firefly meets Flipper. Shiny https://www.facebook.com/vaquitaarebrowncoats. Andrew J. Wright, Tomonari Akamatsu, Kim N. Mouritsen, Signe Sveegaard, Rune Dietz, Jonas Teilmann. 2017. Silent porpoise: potential sleeping behaviour identified in wild harbour porpoises. Animal Behaviour. Volume 133, November 2017, Pages 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.09.015 Highlights • Cetaceans only sleep with half of their brain at a time: unihemispherical sleep. • Behavioural sleep criteria were applied to data from tagged wild harbour porpoise. • Stereotyped parabolic-shaped dives found with low bioacoustic and physical activity. • Matching all possible criteria, parabolic dives are proposed to represent sleeping. • Quiet sleeping periods have implications for conservation and acoustic methodology. Abstract All animals sleep and it is essential for maintaining optimal brain function. However, cetaceans engage in the unusual practice of unihemispherical sleep, where only half of their brain sleeps at a time, due to their constant need for movement and breathing. Most studies of sleep in cetaceans have occurred in captivity. However, tagging devices have now developed to the point where the data collected from wild animals can be assessed against published criteria for defining sleep behaviourally. Seven acoustic and behavioural data loggers were deployed on harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, in Danish waters between May 2010 and August 2011 and stayed on the animals between 53 and 72 h, recording 1884 to 2755 valid dives per animal. Parabolic dives with significantly reduced bioacoustic activity and a stereotyped behavioural pattern were identified as potential sleeping periods. The recordings for nearly half of the parabolic dives were found to contain no vocalization (echolocation clicks), significantly more than other dive types. Of the remaining parabolic dives, the click rate was, when normalized to their individual means, also significantly lower than detected in other dive types. Additionally, parabolic dives were shallow compared to all other dive types, and found to have a stereotypic low-energy profile. They were also found to contain fewer rolls and incorporate a lower vertical descent rate than most other dive types. If the data are representative, harbour porpoises spend a small, but meaningful amount of their diving time engaged in parabolic dives and thus potentially sleeping. All animals have a fundamental need for undisturbed sleep. These quiet periods thus need to be considered in studies of anthropogenic effects, but also those employing passive acoustic monitoring techniques, as well as in efforts to reduce incidental bycatch in fisheries, given the associated periods of reduced environmental awareness. Keywords A-tag; acoustic tags; data storage tags; echolocation; harbour porpoise; Phocoena; satellite telemetry; sleeping behaviour

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Manatee Photo-identification Internships
by Johnson, Jennifer 25 Oct '17

25 Oct '17

Manatee Photo-identification Internships The manatee photo-identification program is based in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). FWRI is the research arm of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a state agency. For more information about FWRI, please visit: http://www.myfwc.com/research/. FWRI's manatee photo-identification research focuses on long-term monitoring of Florida manatees in southwest Florida. The program's primary goal is to document individual manatees, which allows us to estimate annual adult survival and reproductive rates and to model population dynamics for state and federal assessments of Florida manatee status and recovery. Photo-identification data also provide insight regarding manatee movements, site fidelity, habitat use and behavior. Interns will primarily assist staff members with photographing manatees and collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites around Tampa Bay. Interns will also be responsible for a number of lab-based photo-identification tasks, such as downloading images, entering information into databases, scanning data sheets and matching images to known animals. Interns often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Most field work is land-based; however, during the winter session opportunities are available to assist with boat-based manatee photo-identification. Other responsibilities may include but are not limited to data entry, assisting with manatee genetics research, special projects and outreach activities. This internship provides a great opportunity to gain valuable field and lab experience at a government agency. Two positions are available each year: one in winter (November to March) and one in summer (May to September). Start and end dates are flexible; however, a minimum commitment of four weekdays per week for four months is required. Work hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no compensation for these internship positions and successful applicants will be responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from the institute. Positions are open until filled, and priority will be given to candidates who can commit for longer periods. Qualifications: * Computer proficiency; Microsoft Access literacy preferred. * Working knowledge of SLR digital cameras, filters and lenses preferred but not required. * The ability to lift approximately 50 pounds of equipment. * A valid U.S. Driver's License. * Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab based research methods. If you are interested in applying for an internship with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the following information is required: * A cover letter describing the internship you are applying for; area(s) of academic/research interest; and the dates, days, and hours of availability. * A resume (or curriculum vitae) describing your relevant training and experience. * Current academic transcripts. (unofficial are sufficient) * Names and contact information for three references. Please submit application items as an e-mail attachment to: Interns(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Interns@MyFWC.com> If electronic submission is not possible, hard copies can be mailed to: Internship Coordinator FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5020 Applicants may contact FWRI's Manatee Photo-identification Project Manager, Kari Rood, (Kari.Rood(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Kari.Rood@MyFWC.com>, 727-502-4737) with questions regarding the internship.

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internship and volunteer positions during Grey seal pup season at A Seal (Holland)
by vincent serbruyns 25 Oct '17

25 Oct '17

A Seal, a rescue center for Harbour- and Grey seals in Stellendam, Holland is accepting applications for internship and volunteer positions during the Grey seal pup season (from the 15th of December 2017 till the 31st of March 2018). A Seal is a nonprofit organization that aims to be a centre of expertise for marine mammals with a focus on rehabilitation of the Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and the Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) which are the most common marine mammals of the dutch part of the North Sea. A Seal’s Internship Program is structured and designed to provide students in animal care and veterinary assistance(undergraduate degree and intermediate vocational degree) with hands-on experience in the field of seal rehabilitation. Responsibilities: * Assisting during all phases of seal rehabilitation (intake; quaranteens; inside baths; outside baths and release at the Dutch coast). * (Force- and tube-) feeding of the seals * Food preparation * Cleaning of pens and common facilities Qualifications: . Must possess a strong work ethic, have high attention to detail and the ability to work with limited supervision . Must be self-motivated, enthusiastic, friendly and able to work in a team of volunteers . Must be 18 or older . Must be available on weekends, holidays and during the evening hours . During this internship the intern will experience physical activity, such as: lifting, restraining and moving animals. Prior experience is not required and all training is provided. This is an unpaid position. Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Housing facilities (single room; shared kitchen and bathroom with other interns), 250 meters from A Seal, can be rented at limited charge. Those who can work full-time hours for at least 4 weeks will be given preference. Please visit www.aseal.nl<http://www.aseal.nl/> for more information on our center (in dutch). Application with full CV can be sent to: More information can be acquired from: Vincent Serbruyns (Team leader Seal care / Intern coordinator) A Seal - Zeehondenopvang Stellendam Haringvlietplein 3a 3251 LD Stellendam Holland Europe E-mail : vincent.serbruyns(a)aseal.nl Office: 0031 (0)88 27 47 780 www.aseal.nl<http://www.aseal.nl/> Connect with us on social media! Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/stichtingaseal/?fref=ts

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IndoCet Consortium: membership application
by IndoCet 24 Oct '17

24 Oct '17

Dear Colleagues, The IndoCet Consortium, the Indian Ocean Network for Cetacean Research, was officially launched during an Inception Workshop held on July 6, 2017 in Reunion Island. IndoCet is now open to all researchers and conservationists working in the western Indian Ocean and interested in being involved. If you wish to join the Consortium, please submit your application by October 31, 2017, by filling in the recently updated application form online: <http://indocet.org/join-us/> http://indocet.org/join-us/ If you encountered difficulties previously, please submit again on the revised webpage. Membership applications will be reviewed during the next annual meeting of the Executive Committee, in November 2017. Best regards, Violaine Dulau, Chair Salvatore Cerchio, Co-Chair IndoCet Consortium www.indocet.org <http://www.indocet.org>

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2018 Living Seas Volunteer Positions Avaliable at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, West Wales
by CBMWC 23 Oct '17

23 Oct '17

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our Living Seas volunteer team at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC). Volunteers will gain valuable experience whilst helping us to collect data on the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay, man our visitor centre and inspire visitors and the public through community engagement activities. About CBMWC The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is a non-profit organisation based in New Quay, west Wales, UK. Since 1996 we have been dedicated to raising awareness of the local marine environment through education and research. Using boat-based and land-based surveys, photo-ID and acoustic studies we monitor bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seal populations in the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and wider Irish Sea. We also run a busy visitor centre as well as our Discovery Room which offers marine educational and awareness raising activities for families, schools and groups. In April 2015 we became part of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) and we deliver the Trusts Living Seas programme. What You Will Gain Volunteering for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales at CBMWC is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a positive contribution to marine conservation and meet new people who share your interests. You will learn about the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay, gain experience in field work, research methods, data processing, public awareness and education programmes. The data you collect will contribute to long running research studies on bottlenose dolphin site usage, abundance, photo-identification and acoustic studies. Past volunteers have gone on to further education, work as Marine Mammal Observers and to work for other conservation or Government organisations. The volunteer programme at CBMWC has received national recognition after achieving the Investing in Volunteers Award (IiV), the UK's quality standard for volunteer management, in January 2017. We provide a fantastic volunteer experience! Volunteer Roles We have a number of opportunities available for the 2018 field season. Living Seas Volunteers <https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife- centre/volunteer/livingseas-volunteers/> Living Seas Volunteers will assist with the delivery of our Living Seas research and engagement objectives and are required for specific periods from 12th March to 5th November 2018. Block A - 12th March - 16th April (5 weeks) Block B - 16th April - 14th May (4 weeks) Block C - 14th May - 9th July (8 weeks) Block D - 9th July - 3rd September (8 weeks) Block E - 3rd September - 5th November (9 weeks) Living Seas Research Assistant <https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife- centre/volunteer/research-assistant/> The Research Assistant will assist the Living Seas Science Officer with a range of research projects including data collection, assisting with research equipment maintenance and data analysis. This role is for the full field season from 12th March to 5th November 2018. ShoreFin Volunteer <https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife- centre/volunteer/shorefin-volunteers/> The volunteers will be responsible for the ShoreFin project, conducting bottlenose dolphin photo ID, data analysis and writing the annual ShoreFin report. This role is for the full field season from 12th March to 5th November 2018. SeaSeal Volunteer <https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife- centre/volunteer/seal-photo-id/> The volunteers will be responsible for the SeaSeal project, conducting Atlantic grey seal surveys, photo ID, data analysis and writing the annual SeaSeal report. This role is for the full field season from 12th March to 5th November 2018. Living Seas Education Volunteer <https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife- centre/volunteer/living-seas-education-volunteer/> The volunteer will assist with the delivery of our Living Seas community engagement and education objectives. This role is for the full field season from 12th March to 5th November 2018. For more information on each role and details on how to apply then please visit our website https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife-c entre/volunteer/ The closing date for applications is 23:59pm on Sunday 14th January 2018 For futher information please contact Laura Evans on 01545 560224 or volunteer(a)cbmwc.org ----------------------------- Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, Ffon/Phone: 01545 560224 Website: www.cbmwc.org <http://www.cbmwc.org/> Website: www.welshwildlife.org

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New publication on cetaceans in the Red Sea
by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara 23 Oct '17

23 Oct '17

Dear Colleagues, on behalf of all my co-authors I am delighted to announce the following publication: Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Kerem D., Smeenk C., Rudolph P., Cesario A., Costa M., Elasar M., Feingold D., Fumagalli M., Goffman O., Hadar N., Mebrathu Y.T., Scheinin A. 2017. Cetaceans of the Red Sea. CMS Technical Series 33, 86 p. ISBN 978-3-937429-21-2 Abstract. Based on a review of the literature, complemented by original observations at sea made by the authors during the past 34 years, the cetacean fauna in the Red Sea appears to be composed of a total of 16 species: three Mysticetes (Bryde’s whale, Balaenoptera edeni; Omura’s whale, B. omurai; and humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae) and 13 Odontocetes (dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima; killer whale, Orcinus orca; false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens; short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus; Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus; Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea; rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis; Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus; common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus; pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata; spinner dolphin, S. longirostris; striped dolphin, S. coeruleoalba; Indo-Pacific common dolphin, Delphinus delphis tropicalis). This review presents the very first documented and confirmed sightings of B. omurai, K. sima and S. bredanensis in the Red Sea. Of all the above species, however, only nine (Bryde’s whale, false killer whale, Risso’s dolphin, Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, spinner dolphin, and Indo- Pacific common dolphin) appeared to occur regularly in the Red Sea, the remaining seven only occurring sporadically as vagrants from the Indian Ocean. Even regular species appeared not to be uniformly distributed throughout the Red Sea, e.g., with Indo- Pacific common dolphins mostly limited to the southern portion of the region, and the Gulf of Suez only hosting the two bottlenose dolphin species and Indian Ocean humpback dolphins. No convincing evidence was found of the Red Sea occurrence of two whale species mentioned in the literature: the common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, and the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus. The absence from the region of deep diving species (e.g., Ziphiidae and the sperm whale) can be explained by the geomorphology of the Straits of Bab al Mandab, with its extended shallow sill likely to discourage incursions by such species into the Red Sea. The coordinated effort and the different expertise of the authors has contributed to amending previous mistakes and inaccuracies, verifying and validating specimen identification, highlighting features of relevance for species taxonomy and, most importantly, drawing a fundamental baseline to inform conservation of cetaceans in the Red Sea. The publication is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and colleague Chris Smeenk, who has served as co-author and co-editor of this work and passed away days before it went to press. The document can be freely downloaded from the website of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals at: http://cms.int/en/publication/cetaceans-red-sea-cms-technical-series-no-33 <http://cms.int/en/publication/cetaceans-red-sea-cms-technical-series-no-33> Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy disciara(a)gmail.com

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PAM and PSO observer positions for marine mammal vessel survey
by Mari Smultea 22 Oct '17

22 Oct '17

Smultea Sciences is looking for certified PAM (passive acoustic monitoring) operators and Protected Species visual observers (PSO) for a large vessel-based project in the Atlantic. Requirements: --PAM - Experience with deploying/monitoring towed arrays for dolphins and whales, PAMGuard, preferably in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic. Experience with Mysticetus software a plus. --Must be available November 15th - mid to late December. --Must provide proof of up-to-date: (1) BOSIET, (2) physical fitness, (3) negative drug test, (4) U.S. Residency -- 2 References (names, positions, email, phone number) If interested, please send your CV, confirm your availability for mid-November to late December, and your phone number and email where you can be reached to: Holly Dramis Business Operations Manager 907-317-8291 Holly.Dramis(a)smulteasciences.com<mailto:Holly.Dramis@smulteasciences.com>

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Bayesian Capture-Recapture workshop at 2017 SMM conference in Halifax
by Krista Nicholson 22 Oct '17

22 Oct '17

Dear MARMAM'ers, We have had a few last minute cancellations to a Bayesian Capture-Recapture (CR) workshop at the 2017 Biennial SMM Conference. This is a full-day workshop held on Sunday, October 29, 2017, 08:00-17:00. This workshop is run in response to recent advances in CR modelling showing that there are number of advantages in implementing Bayesian CR models over other popular methods. These advantages will be highlighted and discussed throughout the workshop. The workshop will include an introduction to Bayesian theory and beginner/intermediate tutorials on R and JAGS. JAGS is the popular and flexible Bayesian scripting language that can code CR models and much more! The workshop is suitable for students, researchers, professors, veteran program MARK users, and anyone who is already familiar with CR and would like to learn how to implement Bayesian CR models. Intermediate familiarity with R and CR is expected.The learning aspects of the workshop will be focused on Bayesianism and performing Bayesian CR analyses with the BUGS/JAGS syntax (through R). You can register for this workshop online at the conference website http://www.smmconference.org/# <https://mail.murdoch.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=h6RSqikoVjNw7Id0DJAkO8tv8icY9c…> , however as we are so close to the workshop please also e-mail me at k.nicholson(a)murdoch.edu.au should you be interested in attending the workhop. All the best, Dr. Robert Rankin and Krista Nicholson

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New paper: "Novel method for identifying individual cetaceans using facial features and symmetry: A test case using dolphins"
by Tilen Genov 21 Oct '17

21 Oct '17

Dear colleagues We are delighted to announce the publication of a new paper in Marine Mammal Science: Tilen GENOV, Tina CENTRIH, Andrew J. WRIGHT & Gi-Mick WU. 2017. *Novel method for identifying individual cetaceans using facial features and symmetry: A test case using dolphins*. *Marine Mammal Science*. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12451 *ABSTRACT*: Individual identification plays a major role in our understanding of the biology, ecology and behavior in cetaceans. Being able to tell individuals apart can provide invaluable insight into basic biological and scientific questions, but is also highly relevant to science-based conservation. Given the importance of individual identification, it appears vital to improve existing identification methods and find new ones. Here, we present a novel identification method of using facial information, with common bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) as a case study. In dolphins, dorsal fins are typically used for identification, but not all individuals or species are sufficiently marked. We show that facial features in bottlenose dolphins are long-term and consistent across the left and right sides, and may enable calves (which tend to have unmarked fins) to be re-identified after weaning, thus increasing cross-generational knowledge. This novel method can complement dorsal fin identification by helping document mark changes over time and reduce false negative or positive errors. It also shows that current identification methods can still be improved. With increasing prevalence of digital photography and computer-aided matching, it may become more viable to use 'unconventional' means of identification. We encourage other researchers to explore their photographic records for similar discoveries. The article is available from the journal website: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12451/full or from me: tilen.genov(a)gmail.com Kind regards, Tilen Genov ____________________________________________ Tilen Genov MRes Marine Mammal Science Morigenos - Slovenian Marine Mammal Society Kidricevo nabrezje 4 6330 Piran Slovenia www.morigenos.org www.facebook.org/morigenos PhD student Sea Mammal Research Unit Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews United Kingdom https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tilen_Genov Department of Biodiversity Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies University of Primorska Glagoljaska 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia www.famnit.upr.si

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Internship with Cascadia Research Collective, Attn: SMM conference attendees
by Sabre Mahaffy 19 Oct '17

19 Oct '17

Cascadia Research Collective in Olympia, Washington is now accepting interns for U.S. west coast and Hawaiʻi research for winter, spring and summer 2018! We will be at the 22nd Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada next week and conducting interviews for winter, spring and summer 2018 internships. Anyone attending the conference who is interested in an internship with Cascadia should contact us by October 22nd to arrange an interview. Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit research and education organization founded in 1979. Most of our research is focused on whale and dolphin populations along the west coast of North America and in Hawaiʻi. CRC is currently filling positions for: Winter 2018 (January-March) Spring 2018 (April-June) Summer 2018 (July-September) Internships are unpaid, office-based positions in Olympia, WA and housing is not provided. International applicants will also be considered, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation. Internship Details: CRC gives priority to juniors or seniors with a science background who are seeking academic credit as well as those enrolled in (or planning to attend) graduate school in a marine science-related field. A full time commitment (40 hours per week) is preferred. Internships are generally three months in length, although exceptions can be made depending on the academic calendar of the college or university. Much of CRC’s work involves photo identification, using natural markings unique to each individual to catalog and track individuals over time. This allows us to study association patterns and movements over extended periods of time, revealing information on population structure and social organization. Interns will spend a large portion of their time comparing new photographs to those in our existing catalogs, and may additionally be involved in digital image processing and data entry. Additionally, interns may have opportunities to participate in Washington state stranding response, which may include beach surveys, data and specimen collection, data entry, and assisting in necropsies of pinnipeds & cetaceans. US West Coast Research: Interns will assist staff on our long-term photo-ID studies of baleen whales, including humpback, blue, and gray whales off the US West Coast and the inside waters of Washington state. For more information see www.cascadiaresearch.org Hawaiʻi Research: Interns will assist staff on our long-term photo-ID studies of a variety of species of odontocetes (e.g., rough-toothed dolphins, false killer whales, beaked whales) found in Hawaiian waters. For more information see www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii.htm For a full description of the internships available, please visit: www.cascadiaresearch.org/interns.htm Photo identification requires a high degree of focus and attention to detail, and interns can expect to spend the majority of their time comparing photographs. Successful applicants should have the following skills: - strong communication skills - focus and attention to detail - willingness to spend long hours in front of a computer - ability to work independently If you are interested in interning with Cascadia, please visit our website and send a CV and a letter of interest that describes why you are applying for the position and how the experience will help you be successful in meeting long-term goals. For a US west coast project internship please send the information to: Kiirsten Flynn: kflynn(a)cascadiaresearch.org<mailto:kflynn@cascadiaresearch.org> For Hawaiʻi project internship please send the information to: Sabre Mahaffy: mahaffys(a)cascadiaresearch.org<mailto:mahaffys@cascadiaresearch.org> If you would like to be considered for either, please indicate that in your letter and send to both.

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