November 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

RESEARCH ASSISTANT (RA) POSITIONS AVAILABLE
by Michael H Smith 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Gray Whales Count (GWC) is seeking volunteer Research Assistants (RA) to work with Project Coordinator and team of observers to assist in our annual survey of the northbound migration of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrating through the nearshore of the Santa Barbara Channel. We work from shore at Counter Point, in the Coal Oil Point Reserve, Goleta, California, USA, adjacent to the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). This position is open to citizens of the United States of America and those authorized to work in the United States with an appropriate visa in hand. The 2019 survey begins Wednesday, February 13 and continues every day through May 29, from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Sunday. GWC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for research and education. The primary goal of research is to estimate the number of gray whales and gray whale calves migrating northbound through our corridor and to share our data to complement similar sampling-studies along the California coast. A secondary goal is to document the variety and quantity of other marine mammals in the ocean area around our site, which is now a Marine Protected Area. Applicable skills learned and achieved include: > Process, concepts, and protocols of the survey, including use of equipment and data-entry. > Ability to identify a multitude of marine mammal species from a distance, including but not limited to: gray whales, humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbor seals, California sea lions, sea otters, etc. > Gather detailed, consistent data, with ability to teach and check others’ work > Learn about marine mammals in their natural environment and the forces that affect them, both natural and anthropogenic > Developing responsibility and a working relationship within a team Because of the training required, applicants must be willing to commit full-time to the project for the time period involved, approximately 100 days. Priority will be given to those candidates with associative career goals. Previous experience is a plus but not a condition. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain extensive experience in real-time, scientific fieldwork in an environment rich with diverse populations of marine mammals. You will work with equally diverse individuals who are caring, attentive, and curious. Gray whales are a sentinel species traveling from temperate lagoons in Mexico, along the dynamic California Current at the eastern edge of the North Pacific Ocean to the Arctic waters of northern Alaska in one of the longest marine mammal migrations. Requirements: > Even though we are situated in Southern California, you must be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. Fieldwork can be, at times, physically and mentally demanding. > Willingness to work long hours. > Commit for a minimum of 100 days, full time (minimum five days per week). > Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, zoology, environmental science, animal behavior or a related field. > Previous field experience with marine wildlife and observation is a plus but not required. > Ability to work in a team environment to produce consistent, high quality results. We cannot stress this enough. > Be enthusiastic and possess a caring, positive attitude, with a strong desire to learn. > Be adaptable and patient. The migration is characterized by pulses rather than a steady stream; and weather is the unknown factor: wind, rain, and fog can shut us down. This is a volunteer position. The selected RAs will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Santa Barbara/Goleta, California and daily to the survey site. Recognizing that living costs are high in this area, Gray Whales Count will award a $500 stipend to assist each RA with expenses upon successful completion of the RA position. RAs will be responsible for all for living expenses while volunteering for Gray Whales Count. To apply: Please send cover letter/résumé to Project Coordinator, Michael Smith michael(a)graywhalescount.org <mailto:michael@graywhalescount.org>. We strongly recommend you look over our website: graywhalescount.org <http://www.graywhalescount.org/GWC/The_Count/The_Count.html> to familiarize yourself with our operation. In the cover letter, please address why you wish to participate in Gray Whales Count; how this particular experience will be meaningful to you; and how this might advance your career goals. There is no deadline to apply. The position will remain open until it is filled. Please consider applying early in order to arrange travel plans and to secure room and board.

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New publication: Multimodal mother-offspring recognition in sea lions
by Kaja Wierucka 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to share our recent publication in Animal Behaviour: Wierucka K., Pitcher B. J., Harcourt R., Charrier I. (2018). Multimodal mother-offspring recognition: the relative importance of sensory cues in a colonial mammal. Animal Behaviour, 146, 135-142. Abstract: Animals often employ multiple sensory modalities for communication and recognition; however, the combination of sensory cues used by individuals in given contexts will vary. Although mother-offspring recognition has been widely investigated and is known to be a multimodal process in gregarious mammal species, there is a dearth of information about the interactions between various sensory cues. Here we show how acoustic, olfactory and visual cues are used in a synergistic way in Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea, mother-offspring recognition. We interpret the results using a cost-benefit perspective to disentangle the evolutionary pressures on each component of this communication system. Although olfactory cues can convey individual identity information it was their presence, not their congruency, that prompted female sniffs. We found that calls needed to be from the female's own pup for the identification process to be successful, with the information encoded in acoustic cues overriding that of olfactory cues. Despite each sensory cue accurately conveying identity information when presented in isolation, in a multimodal setting their importance, function or role may change and seems to be driven by the costs and benefits of obtaining information resulting from the constraints imposed by the active space of cues. The article can be accessed at https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Y6NnmjLmWZe. Best wishes, Kaja

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New publication: Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in humpback whale songs
by Jennifer Allen 25 Nov '18

25 Nov '18

Dear MARMAM, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the following publication: Jenny A. Allen, Ellen C. Garland, Rebecca A. Dunlop, & Michael J. Noad. (2018). Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in the songs of humpback whales. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Vol. 285 no. 1891 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2088 Abstract: Much evidence for non-human culture comes from vocally learned displays, such as the vocal dialects and song displays of birds and cetaceans. While many oscine birds use song complexity to assess male fitness, the role of complexity in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song is uncertain owing to population-wide conformity to one song pattern. Although songs change gradually each year, the eastern Australian population also completely replaces their song every few years in cultural ‘revolutions’. Revolutions involve learning large amounts of novel material introduced from the Western Australian population. We examined two measures of song structure, complexity and entropy, in the eastern Australian population over 13 consecutive years. These measures aimed to identify the role of complexity and information content in the vocal learning processes of humpback whales. Complexity was quantified at two hierarchical levels: the entire sequence of individual sound ‘units’ and the stereotyped arrangements of units which comprise a ‘theme’. Complexity increased as songs evolved over time but decreased when revolutions occurred. No correlation between complexity and entropy estimates suggests that changes to complexity may represent embellishment to the song which could allow males to stand out amidst population-wide conformity. The consistent reduction in complexity during song revolutions suggests a potential limit to the social learning capacity of novel material in humpback whales. The paper is available via the following link: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1891/20182088 [http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/sites/default/files/highwire/royprsb…]<http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1891/20182088> Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in the songs of humpback whales<http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1891/20182088> rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Much evidence for non-human culture comes from vocally learned displays, such as the vocal dialects and song displays of birds and cetaceans. While many oscine birds use song complexity to assess male fitness, the role of complexity in humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) song is uncertain owing to population-wide conformity to one song pattern. Although songs change gradually each year, the eastern Australian population also completely replaces their song every few years in cultural ‘revolutions’. Revolutions involve learning large amounts of novel material introduced from the Western Australian population. We examined two measures of song structure, complexity and entropy, in the eastern Australian population over 13 consecutive years. These measures aimed to identify the role of complexity and information content in the vocal learning processes of humpback whales. Complexity was quantified at two hierarchical levels: the entire sequence of individual sound ‘units’ and the stereotyped arrangeme Alternatively, please email me on j.allen3(a)uq.edu.au<mailto:j.allen3@uq.edu.au> or jenny.allen(a)griffith.edu.au<mailto:jenny.allen@griffith.edu.au> for a pdf copy. Best regards, Jenny Allen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Jenny Allen Honorary Research Fellow Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland Gatton Campus QLD, Australia 4343 mobile (AUS): +61 424 773 994 mobile (US): +1 508 281 1813

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Deadline Approaching - Marine Animal Response Internship in Hawaii
by Jon Gelman 25 Nov '18

25 Nov '18

JOIN OUR FIELD RESPONSE TEAM on the beautiful island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. We are accepting applications for interns for our Spring 2019 internship period. The deadline is December 15, 2018. Here is more detail about this opportunity. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the field operations arm of Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance Inc. and is the largest Hawaii-based non-profit marine species conservation and response organization. We cover over 200 miles of coastline on the islands of Oahu and Molokai with our team of volunteers, interns and staff. We are a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, conservation and stewardship of protected marine species in Hawaii. We focus our work on marine species whose natural behaviors and habitat put animals in close proximity to and are therefore most affected by human behavior. These species include the Hawaiian monk seal, the Green sea turtle, the Hawksbill sea turtle, the Spinner dolphin and the Humpback whale. HMAR is supported by private donations, corporate funding and government grants and operates under partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More information about HMAR is available at http://h-mar.org. FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERN DUTIES: - Responding to sightings of endangered or threatened marine species such as Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles to provide shoreline response to haul-outs and strandings. - Perform or assist in field escalations, interventions or stranding support. - Report on animal behavior, provide animal assessment information, provide photo-documentation and other important data used in protected marine species research, health management and species recovery efforts. - Perform outreach to the public to teach sustainable human interaction and fishery behaviors and encourage stewardship of protected marine species. - Participate in dispatch and reporting activity such as the taking and documenting phone call reports of marine species activity, coordinating field response activity, data entry and generating reports. LOCATION: These positions require on-island travel throughout the island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERN GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: - This is an un-paid internship that requires the intern to live on the island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii for the period beginning 2 weeks prior to the start of the internship until the end of the internship. The intern is responsible for all lodging, living and transportation costs associated with the internship. - U.S. citizenship or possession of a passport and all applicable visas and work permits are needed prior to and during the internship period. - 18 or more years of age. - English language fluency. - Must be a degree-seeking student or a graduate of a college or university program associated with one of the following courses of study: marine biology, marine ecology, conservation, environmental science or a related field. - Minimum grade point average (GPA). For college/university graduates, a 2.7 cumulative GPA prior to the internship. For current students, a 2.7 cumulative GPA prior to and during the internship. - If college credit for this internship is desired it is the responsibility of the intern to obtain necessary approvals from the applicable college or university. - Ability to walk in sandy, rocky and sometimes unstable shoreline conditions for 2 miles. - Ability to work outdoors in a sunny, rainy, windy and hot climate. - Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 75 pounds for 100 feet in shoreline beach and rocky conditions. - Ability to swim required. - Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in potentially stressful conditions. - Possess a team-based work ethic and attitude. - Acceptance of our Intern Policies, Waivers, Releases and Indemnifications. - Attend mandatory in-field or classroom training sessions as required. - Possess an interest in and a desire to engage with the public. - Must have access to a reliable car or truck (truck preferred) during the internship period. Motorcycles or scooters will not be sufficient. - Possession a valid drivers license. - Proof of automobile insurance carrying Hawaii minimum liability coverage levels. - Access to a cellular phone with 4G data service and camera. - Access to binoculars with at least a 10X magnification level, OR access to a digital camera (not a smartphone) with at least a 35X zoom lens and Wi-Fi capability. One of these two items is required. FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERNSHIP ACTIVITY EXPECTATIONS: - Internship term: Minimum of 3 months (may be extended for up to 1 year upon mutual agreement). Start date for 3-month minimum internship is somewhat flexible but must be between January 1, 2019 and March 15, 2019. Interns must be on Oahu, settled and ready to begin training at least 2 weeks prior to internship start date. - Hours per week: 20 hours minimum, however due to the unpredictable nature of marine animal response the intern may sometimes be required to work beyond, or outside of, their normal scheduled hours. Work hours flexibility is required. Travel time to and from training and field response locations is not included in these minimum hours. The intern must be able and willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays. - The intern must be available for response anywhere on the Island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERNSHIP DEADLINE AND APPLICATION PROCESS: The deadline for Spring 2019 internships is December 15, 2018. To apply, please go to http://h-mar.org/apply and complete the online application. IN ADDITION to completion of the online application, please submit the following information via email to LAURA.MARIN.SAMPER(a)H-MAR.ORG. (1) A cover letter of interest, maximum of 1 page, including your dates of availability. (2) Confirmation that you have, or will have, access to a reliable car or truck during the internship period (truck preferred). (3) A resume describing your training, experience, relevant skills and GPA (maximum of 2 pages). (4) Names and contact information for three references. Your application cannot be considered unless both the online application and the required documents listed above are received. We look forward to receiving your application and thank you for your interest in Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR).

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Paper on beluga lung function
by Andreas 24 Nov '18

24 Nov '18

Dear MARMAMers On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce the publication of our article: Characterizing respiratory capacity in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) Andreas Fahlman, A. Epple, A., Garcia-Parraga,D. Robeck,T. Haulena, M., Piscitelli-Doshkov, M., Brodsky, M. Respiraotry Physiology and Neurobiology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2018.10.009 Abstract We measured respiratory flow, breath duration, and calculated tidal volume (VT) in nine belugas (Delphinapterus leucas, mean measured body mass: 628 +-151 kg, n=5) housed in managed care facilities. Both spontaneous (resting at station) and trained maximal respirations (chuffs) were measured. The mean (+-s.d.) inspiratory VT for spontaneous breaths (16.7 +- 4.7 l, range: 7.5-18.7 l) was larger than those predicted based on respiratory scaling equations from terrestrial mammals and was 32 +- 10% of estimated total lung capacity (TLCest) based on an equation from static measurements made on a range of cetaceans and pinniped lungs, and 52 +- 18% of estimated vital capacities (VC, mean: 27.7 +- 8.9 l, range: 16.7-40.3 l) based on respiratory measurements obtained during trained maximal respirations. Expiratory flow (Vexp, spontaneous: 26.1 Å} 5.5 l s−1, chuff: 66.8 +- 22.5 l s−1) was significantly higher as compared with inspiratory flow (Vinsp, spontaneous: 22.3 +- 4.6 l s−1, chuff: 30.1 Å} 8.4 l s−1), and the maximal expiratory flow recorded was 212 l s–1. The breath duration was shorter for forced breaths (Expiration: 518 +- 101 ms; Inspiration: 905 +- 170 ms; Total: 1423 +- 227 ms) as compared with spontaneous breaths (Expiration: 995 +- 176 ms; Inspiration: 1098 +- 219 ms; Total: 2093 +- 302 ms). These data provide baseline estimates of the respiratory capacity of belugas. The full pre-print article, is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2018.10.009 For a pdf copy, please email afahlman(a)whoi.edu

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Education and Outreach Assistant Opportunity - Sea Watch Foundation
by Chiara Giulia 23 Nov '18

23 Nov '18

*Education and Outreach Assistant Opportunity – Sea Watch Foundation* The Sea Watch Foundation (_http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/_) is seeking an *Education and Outreach Assistant *for the 2019 season. This position will suit a volunteer who has a strong interest in marine conservation and recognises the importance of educating and raising awareness by involving the public. This position can be very busy, so applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to deal with varied and heavy workloads. The assistant will be responsible in aiding the Sightings Officer with the following duties: ·Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch event (27^th July – 4^th August 2019) ·Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to local schools ·Researching and writing articles ·Creating educational/promotional materials (posters, displays, flyer) ·Assisting in the organisation of training courses ·Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, website) ·Raising Sea Watch Foundation’s profile locally (organising events, manning the Sea Watch stand on the pier, liaising with local boat operators to produce educational materials) ·Interacting with the media (radio, TV and newspapers) ·Representing Sea Watch at public events and within the UK generally ·Liaising with the Adopt a Dolphin Coordinator for the promotion of Sea Watch Foundation and the Adopt a Dolphin scheme The Education and Outreach Assistant will also have some opportunity to be involved in the fieldwork aspects of the ‘Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project’ (_http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/cardigan-bay-monitoring-project_; land-based and boat-based surveys). This project, undertaken on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, manages the conservation of a coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, the largest in the UK. Monitoring of harbour porpoise and grey seal populations is also part of the project. The field season will run from *April to October 2019* and has been split into four periods of seven weeks for Research Interns. Our Education and Outreach Assistant is required to stay for at least half of the season (choosing Period 1-2 or 3-4) but can also choose to stay the whole season. The assistant will be based in New Quay, West Wales. Accommodation is provided at a rate of approximately £73/week in a house, sharing with the Research Interns. The assistant is responsible for their own travel and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. *Education & Outreach Assistant periods for summer 2019: * *Period 1 & 2: *08/04 – 14/07 *Periods 3 & 4:* 15/07 – 20/10 *Important skills/qualifications* *Essential:* ·a strong interest in marine conservation and education ·outgoing personality with confidence to interact with the public ·excellent verbal and writing skills ·must have initiative and bring their own ideas and personality to the position ·strong commitment to volunteering work ·an ability to work in an organised and reliable manner and to manage a variable workload, including appropriate delegation ·an ability to get on well with others in a small team and within shared accommodation *Desirable:* ·a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar ·a strong interest and some knowledge of British cetaceans ·good IT skills (Office package) ·prior experience in public speaking ·experience with postings in social media ·prior experience in boat-based survey work ·willingness to work long hours outdoors in often very changeable Welsh weather ** *To apply:* Please send your CV and a cover letter reporting any relevant experience you have and *specifying the period(s) you would prefer to volunteer for, *as well as contact details of two referees,**to Chiara Giulia Bertulli (_chiara.giulia.bertulli(a)seawatchfoundation.org.uk <mailto:chiara.giulia.bertulli@seawatchfoundation.org.uk>_). *Deadline: 4^th February 2019. * *Please specify EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ASSISTANT APPLICATION into your subject title.* Applicants must be available for interview via Skype between the 11^th and 15^th February and will be notified of the outcomes by the 17^th February 2019. *The Sea Watch Foundation* The Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental research charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. It is the longest-running research charity in UK focusing upon cetaceans around the British Isles, and maintains a national sightings database, the largest in Europe. It works closely with all the UK statutory conservation agencies, and has provided advice to the UK government, the UNEP Regional intergovernmental Conservation Agreement - ASCOBANS, and the European Commission, as well as the major conservation charities and marine industries operating in the UK. *Public awareness* We aim to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the marine wildlife and the habitats supporting them, to encourage respect and conservation of the marine environment for future generations. We also run training courses for the public in cetacean identification and survey methods. A list of recent of recent awareness and education achievements is given below: ·Sea Watch Director, Peter Evans, received the European Cetacean Society Conservation Award, 2012 ·Sea Watch Foundation was recipient of the UNEP/ASCOBANS “Outreach and Education Award”, 2009 ·Sea Watch Foundation was voted best UK animal adoption scheme by BBC Wildlife, December 2008 -- Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli Sightings Officer Sea Watch Foundation +44 (0) 1545 561227 www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk ResearchGate www.researchgate.net/profile/Chiara_Bertulli/contributions

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Marine Mammal Monitoring Project Volunteer Internship Opportunities - Sea Watch Foundation
by Chiara Giulia 23 Nov '18

23 Nov '18

The Sea Watch Foundation <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/>, a non-profit organisation dedicated to marine research, conservation, and public education is seeking applications for the following: ** *Sea Watch Foundation Research Internship* Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation (SWF) with the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project”. The project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of vessel-based and land-based surveys. SWF has been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Welsh government (through funding provided by Natural Resources Wales) for over a decade. Cardigan Bay contains Britain’s largest coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, for which two Special Areas of Conservation have been established under the EU Habitats Directive. Interns will help the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and the Sightings Officer by taking part in the following tasks: •Land-based surveys •Boat-based surveys •Photo-identification matching •Data entry •Raising public awareness •Education initiatives and events •Assisting with and participation in training courses and other needs of the charity. In addition to these tasks, we have some specialist equipment, two hydrophones and a drone, to opportunistically collect acoustic and aerial data during boat-based surveys. Sea Watch have also been contributing to a project to collect dolphin blow samples for population genetics and microbiome analyses. Interns interested in these subjects may also have the opportunity to assist in data collection for these projects. Interns are required from early April until the end of October 2019. The research season is split into four separate periods, each lasting 7 weeks. The research periods for the 2019 season are: Period 1: April 8 - May 26 Period 2: May 27 - July 14 Period 3: July 15 - September 1 Period 4:September 2 - October 20 Interns are expected to arrive on the first day of their chosen period and depart on the first day of the next period. Start and end dates are not flexible. Preference will be given to those applying for more than one period. Interns will be based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Accommodation is provided by a private landlord through rental of a house that interns share at a rate of around £73 per person per week. Rooms are shared between two or three people, with a total of nine people in the house at any given time. Interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. _Important skills/qualifications_ Essential: •an ability to work independently in a meticulous and reliable manner •strong commitment to volunteering work •willingness to work long hours outdoors in often changeable Welsh weather •good IT skills (Office package) •an ability to get on well with others in a small team and in shared accommodation • Desirable: •a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans •a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar •prior experience in boat-based survey work •good verbal and written communication skills and in public speaking •experience in interacting with the public All interns will be trained in cetacean observation and identification, in boat survey protocols, and photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins. Normal office hours are from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs but field work regularly falls outside these hours, particularly land-based watches which take place throughout the day in two hour shifts from 07:00 to 21:00. Interns will sometimes be scheduled onto ‘early’ and ‘late’ shifts to accommodate these. Line transect surveys are all day surveys and will typically start in the early morning hours and run for at least 8 hours. Prospective interns should be aware that they will be contributing to ongoing, established research projects that routinely inform government agencies on the status of cetaceans in the UK, and accordingly are expected to take the internship seriously and prioritise it over extra-curricular activities. Working in a small NGO environment in a tight knit team can be a challenging experience and requires a high degree of flexibility, tolerance and a positive attitude. After initial training, interns will often be expected to work in the absence of direct supervision so the ability to work independently and maintain a positive, proactive outlook is essential. Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts in national and international research and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science. International applications are welcome, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met and we ask applicants to highlight their chosen visa option in their application. *Potential funding sources to support your internship with Sea Watch* SWF is aware that undertaking unpaid work can be challenging, however, as a small charity we are currently not able to offer compensation for internships. There are some outside funding bodies that may be able to help you fund your internship. If you are accepted for an internship, we are happy to provide letters to support your funding application. If you are a current student or recent graduate it is worth checking whether your university offers financial support for students undertaking field work related to their degree subject. This site offers a comprehensive list of potential grants to apply for: https://www.originalvolunteers.co.uk/volunteer-abroad-grants-gap-year-fundi… If you are interested in this position, please contact Katrin on *katrin.lohrengel(a)seawatchfoundation.org.uk* with a completed application form and CV. -- Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli Sightings Officer Sea Watch Foundation +44 (0) 1545 561227 www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk ResearchGate www.researchgate.net/profile/Chiara_Bertulli/contributions

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Research Assistant and Intern Coordinator Opportunity - Sea Watch Foundation
by Chiara Giulia 23 Nov '18

23 Nov '18

The Sea Watch Foundation <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/>, a non-profit organisation dedicated to marine research, conservation, and public education is seeking applications for the following: ** *RESEARCH ASSISTANT/INTERN COORDINATOR IN CARDIGAN BAY 2019* ** This position is responsible for assisting the Monitoring Officer in the running of the /“Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project”/ and coordinating the project interns. The project is based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales, and works towards delivering on the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of line-transect, photo-identification, land-based and acoustic surveys. *Start Date: April 1^st , 2019 End Date: October 27^th , 2019* *_Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:_* * Coordination between the Monitoring Officer, Sightings Officer and project interns – in charge of the intern shared house and the intern weekly office rota. * Assisting the Monitoring Officer & Sightings Officer in training interns and other volunteers in land- and boat-based surveys, photo ID studies, database entry, and more. * Assisting the Monitoring Officer in all phases of the research. * Assisting the Sightings Officer with maintenance of the national sightings network. * Optional opportunity to undertake a personal research project supervised by the Monitoring Officer. Research topic will be chosen according to Sea Watch Foundation requirements and applicant’s interests. *_Requirements:_* The successful applicant is expected to have completed a BSc degree (or higher) in biology, marine biology, zoology, chemistry, or related field and able to demonstrate previous experience in marine mammal research. A strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans and experience are beneficial. The applicant should ideally have some experience using DSLR cameras. Practical experience of photo-identification (both photography and matching) is desirable. Experience with other equipment regularly used by Sea Watch Foundation such as hydrophone, theodolite, digiscope and aerial camera drone is advantageous. The applicant must be proficient with database and word processing software and be willing to learn new software applications. Specific experience in use of Access and GIS would be advantageous. Knowledge of other relevant software such as PAMGuard or Raven is useful but not essential. The preferred candidate should have a proven track record as a team player since the project will involve working closely with other researchers but must also be able to supervise small groups of people given that they will be coordinating a team of at least 8 interns. The Research Assistant and interns live and work together daily which requires a high degree of diplomacy and interpersonal skills to maintain relationships and team morale. Previous experience working successfully in similar roles is essential. Applicants should be aware that they will be assisting in running ongoing, established research projects that routinely inform government agencies on the status of cetaceans in the UK and accordingly are expected to take the internship seriously and prioritise it over extra-curricular activities. Working in a small NGO environment in a tight knit team can be a challenging experience and requires a high degree of flexibility, tolerance and a positive attitude. Applicants must be self-motivated, with the drive and determination to work independently and responsibly without direct supervision. The work load is varied and therefore a high degree of organisation, attention to detail and ability to prioritise are essential. If a personal research project is undertaken, this brings the opportunity to submit work for scientific publication, and for presentation at the European Cetacean Society Conference. However, this is a challenging position and it is up to the Research Assistant to pursue project work while not prioritising it over existing tasks. The Research Assistant is expected to work 6 days a week with office hours running from 9AM to 6PM with an hour lunch break. Field work regularly falls outside of office hours, particularly land-based watches which take place throughout the day in two hours shifts from 7AM to 9PM. Line transect surveys are all day surveys and will typically start in the early morning hours and run for at least 8 hours. The Research Assistant is also entitled to one week’s holiday during the season, the dates of which should be agreed upon at the start of placement if possible. *This position is unpaid but (shared) accommodation will be provided in the intern house free of charge. * The Research Assistant will be responsible for their own travel expenses to New Quay for the 2019 field season. Due to the touristic background of New Quay, part-time paid evening work is generally easy to find if required by the applicant. There are a number of external organisations that may offer grants to partially cover living expenses (see below). International applications are welcome, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met and the chosen visa option should be highlighted in the application form. *To apply:* Please send your CV and application form, with a cover letter and contact details of two referees, reporting any relevant experience you have, to Katrin Lohrengel- katrin.lohrengel(a)seawatchfoundation.org.uk *Deadline: 11th January 2019*. Please specify RESEARCH ASSISTANT/INTERN COORDINATOR in your subject title. Successful applicants will be notified of the outcomes by 10^th February 2019. *Potential funding sources to support your internship with Sea Watch * SWF is aware that undertaking unpaid work can be challenging. However, as a relatively small charity it is currently not able to offer compensation for internships. However, there are some outside funding bodies that may be able to help you fund your internship. If you are accepted for an internship, we are happy to provide letters to support your funding application. If you are a current student or recent graduate it is worth checking whether your university offers financial support for students undertaking field work related to their degree subject. This site offers a comprehensive list of potential grants to apply for: Gap Year Funding list https://www.originalvolunteers.co.uk/volunteer-abroad-grants-gap-year-fundi… *About the Sea Watch Foundation* The Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental research charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. It is the longest-running research charity in UK focusing upon cetaceans around the British Isles, and maintains a national sightings database, the largest in Europe. It works closely with all the UK statutory conservation agencies, and advises UK government, the UNEP Regional intergovernmental Conservation Agreement - ASCOBANS, the European Commission, as well as the major conservation charities and marine industries operating in the UK. At Sea Watch Wales, we are dedicated to raising awareness, knowledge and conservation of the marine wildlife of the region. Our work is funded by the Countryside Council for Wales, Defra, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and Environment Wales; and we work closely with the local management authority, Ceredigion County Council. Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts in national and international research and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science. *Public awareness* **We aim to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the local marine wildlife and the habitats supporting them, to encourage respect and conservation of the area and its wildlife for future generations. We also run training courses for the public in cetacean identification and survey methods. A list of recent of recent awareness and education achievements is given below: * Sea Watch Director, Peter Evans, received the European Cetacean Society Conservation Award, 2012 * Sea Watch Foundation was recipient of the UNEP/ASCOBANS “Outreach and Education Award”, 2009 * Sea Watch Foundation was voted best UK animal adoption scheme by BBC Wildlife, December 2008 *Research* The purpose of our research here is to monitor the marine mammal populations inhabiting Cardigan Bay, so as to gain information to aid the conservation and long-term well being of these animals and the local marine environment. This is achieved by conducting various projects including: * Estimating the abundance and distribution of bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and grey seals within Cardigan Bay using distance sampling and opportunistic boat surveys * Maintaining and updating a catalogue of photographically identified bottlenose dolphins in Wales in order to study their abundance, social structure, movements and life histories. -- Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli Sightings Officer Sea Watch Foundation +44 (0) 1545 561227 www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk ResearchGate www.researchgate.net/profile/Chiara_Bertulli/contributions

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Press Release: Minister Canney Welcomes Ground Breaking Research into Ireland’s Offshore Habitats and Species
by Press Office DCENR 23 Nov '18

23 Nov '18

[Communications_MARK_MASTER_Std_Colour] Press Release: Minister Canney Welcomes Ground Breaking Research into Ireland’s Offshore Habitats and Species 23rd November 2018 The Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Mr. Sean Canney T.D. today (Friday, 23 November 2018) welcomed publication of the findings from the ObSERVE Programme, a government funded initiative, to enhance our knowledge and understanding of protected species and sensitive habitats offshore Ireland through high quality data collection. The ObSERVE Programme is being delivered by the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment, in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. €2.7m has been invested by government in the programme to date. Today, the ObSERVE team are announcing the findings of the twin ObSERVE Aerial and ObSERVE Acoustic projects, led by University College Cork and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology respectively, both of which began in the spring of 2015 and spanned three years of data collection and analysis. The projects surveyed large areas of the Atlantic Margin, Celtic and Irish seas. Key Findings Whales: · Twenty species of cetacean (i.e., whales, dolphins & porpoises) were recorded, analysed and mapped with almost 2,200 sighting records over the two-year field study. · Cumulative abundance of 380 Sperm whales was found using acoustic detection and tracking methods. · Species such as the Beluga/White whale were found - a mainly Arctic species · Minke whales were the most frequently observed and abundant baleen whale species, numbering approximately 12,000 in summer and 5,000 in winter and there were significant sightings of Minke whale calves · Fin whales occurred in Irish waters both in summer and winter, the analysis showing the continental slope and nearby deep waters to be an important area for this species, possibly for feeding and/or migration. · Many sound recordings were made of rarely-seen beaked whales, which are deep-diving offshore species poorly known to science. · At least three species of beaked whales were recorded during the ObSERVE surveys, primarily in deep oceanic waters along the continental margin, the Porcupine and eastern Rockall Basins. The records collected during the aerial project were sufficient to provide the first estimates recorded for this study area of 2,500 individuals in summer and 4,000 in winter. · Endangered Blue whales could be detected underwater up to 115-200km away and strong seasonal patterns in their sounds were noted and described. Dolphins: · Considerable variation was found in the distribution, abundance and movements of dolphin species · Bottlenose dolphins were much more abundant during the winter than the summer, with densities in the second winter (2016-17) being among the highest ever recorded. Overall the ObSERVE Programme highlights the importance of Ireland’s Atlantic Margin for many whale and dolphin species. Seabirds: · Aerial surveys highlight the importance of the Atlantic Margin for seabirds with almost half a million seabirds located within the study area during both summer and winter, with bird densities highest in coastal areas. 10,000 sightings of seabirds were recorded, representing 24 species. · The Western Irish Sea is shown to be of major importance for seabirds. 6,687 km of fine-scale aerial surveys were carried out in this area in 2016[1]. They estimated 100,000 birds present in summer, 90,000 in winter, with migrating seabirds boosting these estimates to 300,000 in the autumn. · White-tailed Tropicbirds were found during ObSERVE Aerial, a species usually seen in the tropics. Welcoming the findings, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Sean Canney T.D., said: “The ObSERVE programme, shows how important it is that government keeps investing in research into our marine environment. The information gathered by the ObSERVE Programme has significantly improved our knowledge of the environment, offshore Ireland, and will help to point the way forward for future regulation and sustainable development in tandem with advancing the conservation of protected species”. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD said: The ObSERVE Programme is important in advancing our knowledge and protection of Ireland’s offshore environment, and will be invaluable to conservation authorities responsible for the protection of marine biodiversity. Dr Simon Berrow, GMIT and Dr Joanne O’Brien, GMIT (ObSERVE Acoustic) said: “The innovative ObSERVE project has provided a unique insight into the distribution and abundance of cetaceans in the offshore waters of Ireland. By combining a range of aerial to acoustic techniques it has not only provided an invaluable new dataset for abundant and widespread species but has provided the first insights into rare and illusive species that spend nearly their entire life underwater at great depths. Through collaboration with international experts the ObSERVE project has not only built research capacity in Ireland but has established Ireland as a world leader in the proper environmental management of our offshore resources. The results of the ObSERVE project provide robust data to inform not only managers of our offshore resources but also to inform our marine conservation agencies on their obligations. This will ensure ObSERVE will be used for a wide range of issues and stimulate further use of this data”. Dr Mark Jessopp UCC (ObSERVE Aerial) commented: “The ObSERVE aerial programme was particularly ambitious and logistically challenging, but has provided essential information on the distribution of cetaceans in summer and winter over two consecutive years. In addition, it has provided essential information on seabirds during both the summer breeding and overwintering periods. This is the first time we have been able to get robust estimates of cetacean abundance in winter and seabird abundance at sea essential to inform management and conservation of populations”. The ObSERVE Programme is contributing vital information on the occurrence, distribution and density of sensitive species within key offshore areas. This and future information generated under the programme will provide robust environmental baseline data and confidence to the regulatory regime in assessing offshore activities including oil & gas exploration, cables and offshore wind, and to conservation authorities responsible for the protection of marine biodiversity. ObSERVE Programme reports and datasets are being made available to all interested parties through the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment’s website[2] and, in addition, through the National Biodiversity Data Centre[3] which provides an online platform for mapping Ireland’s biodiversity. Note for editors The ObSERVE Acoustic project was carried out by an international consortium led by the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology with partners the Marine Institute, JASCO Applied Sciences, SMRU Consulting and the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group. ObSERVE Acoustic was designed to provide scientific information on cetaceans, based specifically on the underwater sounds that they produce. This used both static underwater listening devices specially designed to withstand extreme pressures in the deep ocean, and towed hydrophone systems deployed from Ireland’s Celtic Voyager and other vessels. Together these methods tapped into the array of underwater sounds made by more than a dozen species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. In total 1,657 days with a total of nearly 3.8 million echolocation clicks and 375,000 tonal whistles made by cetaceans was captured by static recorders[4]. Three mobile surveys were carried out over a total survey length of 7,000 km[5], recording as many as 24 million candidate clicks and involving 1,322 cetacean encounters. This has yielded new insights regarding the occurrence, distribution, abundance and migration habits of important species that are rarely seen at the sea surface. The ObSERVE Aerial project was carried out by an international consortium led by University College Cork with international partners IMARES, Alnilam and Aerosotravia. ObSERVE Aerial used a team of trained observers flying over the sea in a specially equipped aeroplane, covering the majority of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone. They travelled along survey lines, to record the occurrence, distribution and numbers of whales, dolphins, porpoises and seabirds, sharks and sea turtles[6]. A total survey length of 37,097 km was covered and this has delivered vital information on the occurrence, distribution and density of sensitive species within key offshore areas. [summary map (2)] Figure 1 - ObSERVE Aerial project: Map of Ireland and surrounding marine waters showing combined aerial survey lines for coverage in summer and winter 2015-17 (grey zig-zag lines) and aerial survey lines targeting seabirds in the Irish Sea in summer/autumn/winter 2016 (red parallel lines). [SAM MOORINGS] Figure 2 [Fig4.116] Figure 3 - ObSERVE Acoustic project: Map of Ireland and surrounding marine waters showing (above, Figure 2) the positions of eight Static Acoustic Monitoring [SAM] systems for detecting and recording underwater sounds in spring/summer/autumn 2015-16, and (below, Figure 3) colour-coded survey lines for towed Passive Acoustic Monitoring [PAM] of cetaceans, which sampled the same seasons. —— Press Office —— Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide & Comhshaoil Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment 29-31 Bóthar Adelaide, Baile Átha Cliath, D02 X285 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin, D02 X285 —— T +353 (0)1 678 2441 M +353 87 693 7580 press.office(a)dccae.gov.ie<mailto:press.office@dccae.gov.ie> www.dccae.gov.ie<http://www.dccae.gov.ie/> —— You have received this email because you have previously engaged with us or have expressed an interest in being included on our mailing list. If you no longer wish to receive emails with details of press releases, please let us know by emailing press.office(a)dccae.gov.ie<mailto:press.office@dccae.gov.ie> with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line and we will remove you from our records. ________________________________ ________________________________ [1] Figure 1 [2] www.dccae.gov.ie/observe<http://www.dccae.gov.ie/observe> [3] www.biodiversityireland.ie<http://www.biodiversityireland.ie> [4] Figure 2 [5] Figure 3 [6] Figure 1 Disclaimer: This electronic message contains information (and may contain files), which may be privileged or confidential. The information is intended to be for the sole use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information and or files is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify the sender immediately. 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New publication: The influence of cooperative foraging with fishermen on the dynamics of a bottlenose dolphin population
by Carolina Bezamat de Abreu 23 Nov '18

23 Nov '18

Dear colleagues, on behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce our most recent publication: Bezamat C, Simões-Lopes PC, Castilho PV, Daura-Jorge FG. 2018. The influence of cooperative foraging with fishermen on the dynamics of a bottlenose dolphin population. Marine Mammal Science, doi:10.1111/mms.12565. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12565 Abstract Recent years have seen an increasing interest in individual behavioral variation. However, the implications of such variation for population dynamics are often unknown. We studied the dynamics of a bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus gephyreus*) population from southern Brazil, where some individuals forage cooperatively with artisanal fishermen. We fitted mark‐recapture models to 10 yr of photo‐identification data to investigate the influence of this foraging specialization on dolphins’ population parameters, controlling for sex and ranging behavior. We estimated adult survival to be high (0.949 ± 0.015 SE), weakly influenced by home range size, sex or the frequency of interaction with fishermen. The slightly higher survival probability for individuals with smaller home ranges could stem from the benefits of reduced spatial requirements implied by the specialized foraging. Foraging also influenced the probability of resighting individuals, and there was no temporary or permanent emigration. Abundance fluctuated slightly over the years from 54 (95% CI = 49–59) to 60 (95% CI = 52–69) individuals, with no evident population trend. Despite such apparent population stability, we confirm this population remains small and geographically isolated which may threaten its viability and the viability of its unusual, localized foraging specialization. Our study also illustrates how accounting for individual variation can portray animal population dynamics more realistically. If you have any questions or comments about the publication, please contact me at: carolinabezamat(a)gmail.com Cheers, MSc Carolina Bezamat PhD candidate Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos (LAMAq) Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Brazil

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