April 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Low latitude habitat use patterns of a recovering population of humpback whales
by Maria Isabel Gonçalves 24 Apr '18

24 Apr '18

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication in Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK: Gonçalves, M.I.C., Sousa-Lima, R.S., Teixeira, N.N., Morete, M.E., Carvalho, G.H., Ferreira, H.M., Baumgarten, J.E. 2018. Low latitude habitat use patterns of a recovering population of humpback whales. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1-10. DOI 10.1017/S0025315418000255 Abstract: The coast of Brazil is an important low latitude nursery ground for humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*). The number of humpback whales in this region has increased and its population is reoccupying areas where it has been depleted during the whaling period. The goal of this study was to conduct land-based observations during 2014 and 2015 to characterize patterns of habitat use and relative abundance of humpback whales that migrate to one of these reoccupation areas: Serra Grande, Bahia state. The observed mean group size was 2.12 + 0.96 individuals and did not vary through the reproductive season nor between years. Dyads (32.9%) and singletons (26.7%) were more frequently observed, and groups with calves represented 21.2% of the sightings. The mean number of whales counted per hour increased from 2014 (3.44 + 3.35) to 2015 (5.12 + 4.18). Habitat use varied during the season; whales used shallower waters closer to shore as the season progressed. The spatial distribution of groups with calves was dependent on the presence and number of escorts. Spatial segregation of groups with calves closer to shore is a key factor in understanding the overall distribution of whales in the area, suggesting that social strategies are affected by environmental factors, as seen in other wintering grounds. Small-scale studies from landbased stations, in areas such as this where there is no previous knowledge about the species, are cost effective. They provide information about the overall behavioural and spatial patterns while anthropogenic activity is still low, allowing habitat protection and management decisions before implementation and increase of human activities. It can be found online at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-as… Or please feel free to contact me for a PDF: misabelcgoncalves(a)gmail.com Best regards, Maria Isabel C. Gonçalves Bióloga marinha / *Marine biologist* Mestre em Ciências do Mar - Recursos Marinhos / *Master's Degree in Marine Sciences – Marine Resources* Doutora em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade / *PhD in **Ecology and Biodiversity **Conservation* LaB - Laboratório de Bioacústica / *LaB - Laboratory of Bioacoustics* Telefone / *Phone*: (+55) 73 991276590 / 998241751 Skype: isinhas_goncalves

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MEER practical course in cetacean research on La Gomera/Canary Islands
by Fabian Ritter; MEER e.V. 24 Apr '18

24 Apr '18

Dear Fellow Marmamers! The non-profit association M.E.E.R. would like to announce it's next field course in behavioural biology in the Canary Islands: "Field research of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera" from 13 - 27 October 2018 The project M.E.E.R. La Gomera is conducting a study on the interactions between cetaceans and whale watching boats since many years. The participants of these 2-weeks practical courses will get an insight into the behavioural research conducted from whale watching boats operating off the island of La Gomera. In this area, 23 cetaceans species could be identified during the last years, representing one of the highest known species diversities in the world. A link to the list of publications that resulted from this project is given below. The course includes a full training program: theory and practice of behavioural research will be learned and profound background information on whale watching will be given. Research experience that will be gained includes sighting data recording, behavioural sampling, photo identification, data handling and more. Moreover, the research is embedded in conservation efforts aiming at the preservation and promotion of whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans and the establishment of an ecosystem-based marine sanctuary in the waters off La Gomera. M.E.E.R. La Gomera was honoured in 2001 with the international environmental award "Tourismus und Umwelt" by the German Association of Travel Agencies and Travel Operators (DRV). As was said during the bestowal, the project "realises new ways of co-operation of research and tourism in an exemplary and innovative way". For further information (including downloads of a detailed brochure and a booking form) please visit http://m-e-e-r.de/experience-dolphins/?lang=en http://m-e-e-r.de/experience-dolphins/practical-courses/?lang=en The price is 899.- Euro (849,- reduced; 949.- solidary) including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., written working material, certificate of attendance and one year M.E.E.R. e.V. membership. The journey to and from La Gomera is not included in the price. For further information, booking, or any questions please send an e-mail to info(a)m-e-e-r.de Please find a list and downloads of publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera here: http://m-e-e-r.de/publications/?lang=en ********************************************************** Best greetings, Fabian Ritter & Christina Sommer M.E.E.R. e.V. Bundesallee 123, 12161 Berlin info(a)m-e-e-r.de, +49-30-644 97 230 www.m-e-e-r.de www.facebook.com/meer.ev _____________________________________________ The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans in their natural habitats. Our work aims at increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to present ways how humans can deal with nature in a responsible way. Our co-operation partners are the "Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine" (Munich/Germany), and "Oceano La Gomera" (whale watching operator/La Gomera).

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New article
by Phillip Clapham - NOAA Federal 24 Apr '18

24 Apr '18

The following was just published: Clapham, P.J. & Ivashchenko, Y.V. 2018. Whaling catch data are not reliable for analyzing body size shifts. Nature Ecology and Evolution doi 10.1038/s41559-018-0534-2. This is a short rebuttal to a paper published by Clements *et al.* in 2017. There is no abstract, but the entire text is pasted in below. A pdf is available fo anyone unable to access the *Nature* site. -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Leader, Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115, USA tel 206 526 4037 email phillip.clapham(a)noaa.gov *Whaling catch data are not reliable for analyzing body size shifts* Clements *et al. *(1) use length data from the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) catch database to support their contention that a negative shift in body size reflects an “early warning signal” prior to the collapse of stocks of blue, fin, sei and sperm whales. There are several problems with this analysis. First, length data for sperm whales were extensively falsified by both Japan and the USSR. The USSR conducted extensive illegal whaling beginning in 1948 (2), and submitted falsified data on both the length and sex of sperm whales to cover up extensive catches of animals below the minimum legal length (11.6m) (3). Clements *et al. *mention the absence of length data for Soviet Southern Hemisphere catches, but not for the North Pacific. This presumably means that they used the falsified North Pacific data, which were only recently replaced (without lengths) in the IWC database (4). Similarly, it is now known that, for the same reason, Japan routinely falsified data on the lengths and sexes of sperm whales in shore-based whaling operations in the North Pacific (5), and on lengths for pelagic factory fleets there and throughout the Southern Hemisphere (6,7). Consequently, any analysis of sperm whales will be fatally flawed: using changes in the 95% mean size does not help when the data concerned are largely fabricated. The Clements *et al. *analysis also failed to account for the age- and sex-segregated nature of sperm whale distribution, in which catches in high latitudes were primarily of large males while those elsewhere were biased towards the much smaller females and juveniles. Consequently, the shift over time in Southern Hemisphere whaling effort from the ice edge northwards would have resulted in increasing proportions of smaller animals in the catch (even if length and sex were accurately reported). Another problem relates to Southern Hemisphere blue whales. In the early 1960's, catches shifted from “true” blue whales in high latitudes to the significantly smaller pygmy subspecies (*B. musculus brevicauda*) (8, 9), yet the authors did not account for this in their analysis. Furthermore, the reported shift in length for Antarctic blue whales occurred after populations had collapsed to 1% of their former abundance in 1960 (8); thus, a decline in length should have been apparent well before this point. Any as-yet unknown falsifications for other species will further complicate such analyses. A recent study suggested that, with some exceptions, length data reported by Japanese whalers for catches of Southern Hemisphere fin whales are probably largely reliable (10). To date, no one has conducted such an assessment for sei whales; however, the USSR actually over-reported catch numbers for both fin and sei whales to camouflage takes of other species (2), which means that some of the North Pacific length data would have been from non-existent animals. It is indeed likely that over-exploitation of whale stocks resulted in a decline in average lengths over time, and length data might be able to identify signals of diminishing abundance. However, this is valid only if the length data are both reliable and correctly interpreted, and that is not the case for at least two of the species here. The authors thank Trevor Branch for his thoughtful review of this note. Phillip J. Clapham* and Yulia V. Ivashchenko Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle WA 98115, USA *Corresponding author. Email: phillip.clapham(a)noaa.gov References 1. Clements, C.F. et al. Nature Ecol. Evol. 1, 1-12 (2017). 2. Ivashchenko, Y.V. & Clapham, P.J. Mar. Fish. Rev. 76, 1-21 (2014). 3. Ivashchenko, Y.V., Brownell, R.L. Jr. & Clapham, P.J. End. Species Res. 25, 249-263 (2014). 4. Ivashchenko, Y.V., Brownell, R.L. Jr. & Clapham, P.J. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 13, 59-71 (2013). 5. Kasuya, T. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 1, 109-22 (1999). 6. Ivashchenko, Y.V. & Clapham, P.J. Royal Soc. Open Sci. 2, 150177. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150177 (2015). 7. Clapham, P.J. & Ivashchenko, Y.V. Royal Soc. Open Sci. 3, 160506 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160506 (2016). 8. Branch, T.A., Matsuoka, K. & Miyashita, T. Mar. Mammal Sci. 20, 726-754 (2004). 9. Branch, T. A. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 9, 253–262 (2007). 10. Clapham, P.J. & Ivashchenko, Y.V. Paper SC/67a/IA1 available from the International Whaling Commission (2017).

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New Paper - Distribution and abundance of beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae) off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA.
by Keenan-Bateman, Tiffany Fay 23 Apr '18

23 Apr '18

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the recent publication of the following paper in Marine Mammal Science: McLellan, W.A., McAlarney, R.J., Cumming, E.W., Read, A.J., Paxton, C.G.M., Bell J.T., and Pabst, D.A. 2018. Distribution and abundance of beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae) off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA. Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12500 Abstract: Beaked whales are vulnerable to the impacts of disturbance from several sources of anthropogenic sound. Here we report the distribution and abundance of beaked whales off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, U.S.A., an area utilized by the U.S. Navy for training exercises, and of particular interest for seismic geophysical surveys. From May 2011 through November 2015, monthly aerial surveys were conducted at the site. Beaked whales were encountered 74 times (n=205 individuals) during these surveys. Ziphius cavirostris, the most commonly encountered species, was observed in every month of the year. Mesoplodon spp. were encountered in ten months of the year. Photographs of adult males with erupted teeth permitted six sightings to be identified conclusively as M. europaeus; M. mirus was also photographed just outside the study area. Beaked whale surface densities stratified by depth (0.005–0.007/km2) were among the highest reported in the world for small ziphiids. A quantitative comparison of sightings and stranding records suggests that strandings do not accurately reflect the relative abundance of beaked whale species in this area. We conclude that Cape Hatteras, at the convergence of the Labrador Current and Gulf Stream, is a particularly important year-round habitat for several species of beaked whales. This article is available online at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.12500 Or, please feel free to email directly for a PDF copy: mclellanw(a)uncw.edu Best regards, William A. McLellan Department of Biology and Marine Biology University of North Carolina Wilmington 601 S. College Road Wilmington, NC, 28403 Cell: 910-599-2294

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New publication - Tsai and Fordyce 2018 Toipahautea waitaki
by Tsai, CH 23 Apr '18

23 Apr '18

Dear colleagues Ewan and I are very pleased to announce a new paper - describing a new genus and species of baleen whale from the Oligocene of New Zealand - *Toipahautea waitaki*. Tsai CH and Fordyce RE 2018. A new archaic baleen whale *Toipahautea waitaki* (early Late Oligocene, New Zealand) and the origins of crown Mysticeti. *Royal Society Open Science *5: 172453 Abstract A new genus and species of extinct baleen whale †*Toipahautea waitaki *(Late Oligocene, New Zealand) is based on a skull and associated bones, from the lower Kokoamu Greensand, about 27.5 Ma (local upper Whaingaroan Stage, early Chattian). The upper jaw includes a thin, elongate and apparently toothless maxilla, with evidence of arterial supply for baleen. Open sutures with the premaxilla suggest a flexible (kinetic) upper jaw. The blowhole is well forward. The mandible is bowed laterally and slightly dorsally; unlike the Eomysticetidae, there are no mandibular alveoli, and the coronoid process is tapered and curved laterally. Jaw structure is consistent with baleen-assisted gulp-feeding. The age of early Chattian makes †*Toipahautea* a very early, if not the oldest named, toothless and baleen-bearing mysticete, suggesting that the full transition from toothed to baleen-bearing probably occurred in the Early Oligocene. Late Oligocene mysticetes vary considerably in jaw form and kinesis, tooth form and function, and development of baleen, implying a wide range of raptorial, suctorial and filter-feeding behaviour. More study may elucidate the function of jaws, teeth and baleen in terms of opportunist/generalist feeding, as in modern gray whales, versus specialized feeding. We here propose that early mysticetes, when transitioned from toothed to baleen-bearing, were generalists and opportunists instead of specializing in any forms of feeding strategies. In addition, two different phylogenetic analyses placed †*Toipahautea* either in a polytomy including crown Mysticeti, or immediately basal to the crown, and above †Eomysticetidae in both cases. Because the †*Toipahautea waitaki* holotype is an immature individual, it may plot more basally in phylogeny than its true position. This is an open-access paper and you should be able to download the full text at: http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/5/4/172453#disqus_thread Alternatively, please feel free to email me for a pdf copy at: craniata(a)gmail.com; whaletsai(a)ntu.edu.tw; cheng-hsiu.tsai(a)otago.ac.nz Regards and all the best, Tsai 蔡政修（Cheng-Hsiu Tsai さいまさのぶ) Lab of evolution and diversity of fossil vertebrates（古脊椎動物演化及多樣性實驗室） Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University（台灣大學生命科學系） No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106-17, Taiwan（台灣 106-17 台北市羅斯福路 4 段 1 號） Email: whaletsai(a)ntu.edu.tw; craniata(a)gmail.com; cheng-hsiu.tsai(a)otago.ac.nz

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New publication: Using agent-based models to understand the role of individuals in the song evolution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) (Luca Lamoni)
by Luca Lamoni 23 Apr '18

23 Apr '18

My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recently published article: Mcloughlin M, Lamoni L, Garland EC, Ingram S, Kirke A, Noad MJ, Rendell L, & Miranda E. (2018). Using agent-based models to understand the role of individuals in the song evolution of humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*). Music & Science, 1, 2059204318757021. doi:10.1177/2059204318757021 This article can be found online at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2059204318757021#articleCitati… or by contacting me at ll42(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Abstract: Male humpback whales produce hierarchically structured songs, primarily during the breeding season. These songs gradually change over the course of the breeding season, and are generally population specific. However, instances have been recorded of more rapid song changes where the song of a population can be replaced by the song of an adjacent population. The mechanisms that drive these changes are not currently understood, and difficulties in tracking individual whales over long migratory routes mean field studies to understand these mechanisms are not feasible. In order to help understand the mechanisms that drive these song changes, we present here a spatially explicit agent-based model inspired by methods used in computer music research. We model the migratory patterns of humpback whales, a simple song learning and production method coupled with sound transmission loss, and how often singing occurs during these migratory cycles. This model is then extended to include learning biases that may be responsible for driving changes in the song, such as a bias towards novel song, production errors, and the coupling of novel song bias and production errors. While none of the methods showed population song replacement, our model shows that shared feeding grounds where conspecifics are able to mix provide key opportunities for cultural transmission, and that production errors facilitated gradually changing songs. Our results point towards other learning biases being necessary in order for population song replacement to occur. Best regards Luca Lamoni ll42(a)st-andrews.ac.uk -- Luca Lamoni, PhD Student E-mail: ll42(a)st-andrews.ac.uk <ler4(a)st-andrews.ac.uk> School of Biology, University of St. Andrews Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH U.K. Mobile number (UK): +44 7873 906537 Mobile number (ITA): +39 333 7329155 Skype: lucaluca446

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Beaked and killer whales show how collective prey behaviour foils acoustic predators
by Natacha 21 Apr '18

21 Apr '18

Dear colleagues, See below a link to a prepublished version of this paper, now in review in eLife, this version is freely available, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/04/18/303743 This is the abstract: Animals aggregate to obtain a range of fitness benefits, but a common cost of aggregation is increased detection by predators. Here we show that, in contrast to visual and chemical signallers, aggregated acoustic signallers need not face higher predator encounter rate. This is the case for prey groups that synchronize vocal behaviour but have negligible signal time-overlap in their vocalizations. Beaked whales tagged with sound and movement loggers exemplify this scenario: they precisely synchronize group vocal and diving activity but produce non-overlapping short acoustic cues. They combine this with acoustic hiding when within reach of eavesdropping predators to effectively annul the cost of aggregation for predation risk from their main predator, the killer whale. We generalize this finding in a mathematical model that predicts the key parameters that social vocal prey, which are widespread across taxa and ecosystems, can use to mitigate detection by eavesdropping predators. Cheers, we hope you enjoy seeing the amazing coordinated behaviour of beaked whales! Natacha Natacha Aguilar de Soto, PhD Research Fellow BIOECOMAC (Marine Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation) University of La Laguna Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spainnaguilar(a)ull.edu.es <naguilar(a)ull.es> / 922 318324-87 / 636876526 http://cetaceos.webs.ull.es/bioecomac/ Visiting Scholar Scottish Marine Institute. UUniversity of St Andrews. Scotland. UK https://creem2.st-andrews.ac.uk/person/na30/

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JOB OPENING: Hawaii Marine Animal Response - Field Response Manager (Part Time)
by Jon Gelman 20 Apr '18

20 Apr '18

HAWAII MARINE ANIMAL RESPONSE (HMAR) JOB OPENING: FIELD RESPONSE MANAGER (PART TIME) ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the field operations arm of Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance Inc. and is Hawaii’s largest non-profit marine species conservation and response organization. We cover approximately 300 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 Hawaii’s protected marine species. HMAR is supported by private donations, corporate support and government grants. Our work is focused on the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, endangered and threatened sea turtles and protected cetacean species. Under partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the State of Hawaii, HMAR provides important species preservation, conservation and recovery support in important ways. - Our Field Response Teams spends thousands of hours annually patrolling for animals, or responding to specific sightings, so we may document the condition of specific animals, identify potential health issues, track locations of individual animals and record other data needed for species population and recovery research. Our actions save protected marine animals from deaths and injuries caused by disease, hookings, entanglement in marine debris and potentially dangerous or inappropriate interaction with humans and pets. We are involved in animal intervention activity, stranding support and marine animal rescue to enable medical treatment, rehabilitation and release. We engage with the public to teach sustainable human and fishery behaviors resulting in improved public stewardship for these animals to support long-term species recovery. - Our Outreach and Education Team works with Hawaii’s public and private schools to educate children about Hawaii’s protected marine species and to teach each child how they can help with marine animal conservation and stewardship. We also participate in community events, make educational presentations at public venues and assist in development of community policy to inform residents and visitors about Hawaii’s protected marine animals, the threats to species survival, and the actions we can all take to make an impact. - Our Dispatch & Reporting Team manages telephone hotlines which each year receive thousands of calls and mobile app-generated reports from the public or government agencies of protected marine animals seen on shorelines or in near shore waters. This department also records and shares data obtained by our Field Response Teams such as animal condition assessments, animal location information and animal behavior data, with NOAA to facilitate in-depth species research and population conservation and recovery efforts. ABOUT THE JOB OPENING: Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) has an immediate opening for a part-time Field Response Manager on the island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. This job is a part-time position and is exempt from requirements to provide paid health care insurance. The work schedule is 3 weekdays each week. The position is responsible for the following duties: - Patrol shorelines or off-shore islets for, or respond to, sightings of Hawaiian monk seals or reports of sea turtles in distress on land or in shallow waters. - Locate, assess, identify and document Hawaiian monk seal and sea turtle activity to assist NOAA researchers in species recovery research and management. - Assist with or perform animal intervention activity, marine animal rescue and stranding support. - Engage with the public to educate people about protected marine species and to promote responsible viewing, interaction and sustainable fishery activities. - Recruit, train and manage volunteers to ensure field response schedules and coverage needs are met. - Identify public education, outreach and non-profit partnering opportunities. - Develop relationships with law enforcement or other government personnel that can assist with marine animal response and management. - Assist other staff with gaps in personnel coverage and on completing key projects. THE POSITION AND NEEDED CORE COMPETENCIES: - Possess excellent written and oral command of the English language - Be a person with a professional and open personal demeanor that enjoys contact with the public, volunteers and fellow staff - Possess effective personnel management skills - Ability to thrive in a highly dynamic environment and the flexibility to navigate changing organizational needs - Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in stressful conditions - Possess a team-based work ethic and attitude - Ability to work in a virtual environment often without direct supervision - Have a passion for and an understanding of environmental, conservation or wildlife issues REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: - 21 years of age or older - College degree or equivalent - Willingness to commit to this position for a period of at least 2 years - U.S. citizenship or relevant needed work permits and/or visas - A least 1 year in prior supervisory positions or relevant experience - Relevant work experience, preferably in marine animal management, conservation or environmental matters - Valid driver’s license - Ability to swim in open ocean conditions - Experience with small boat operations and open ocean in-water environments (highly desired but not required) - Full-time access to a reliable vehicle (candidates with full-time access to a truck will be given priority) - Proof of insurance with Hawaii minimum liability coverage - Access to a cellular phone with 4G data service - Access to a digital camera (not a smartphone) with at least 35X zoom and Wi-Fi capabilities - Access to binoculars with at least 10X magnification - Access to a personal computer with Internet access - Ability to walk at least 3 miles over shoreline conditions - Ability to lift and carry at least 75 pounds over 100 feet - Be available for emergency response anywhere on the Island of Oahu - Physical abilities to support strenuous activities associated with restraint or transport of heavy marine animals in difficult shoreline terrain and challenging environmental conditions - Pass background check INTERESTED APPLICANTS AND DEADLINE: Please send a letter of interest and your resume for consideration to jon.gelman(a)h-mar.org no later than April 30, 2018. The intent is for the successful candidate to begin work in this position no later than May 31, 2018. Learn more about HMAR at our website http://h-mar.org.

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Correction of the access link. New paper - Impact of whale-watching on Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) in Patagonia: assessing the effects from its beginnings in the context of population growth
by Magdalena Arias 20 Apr '18

20 Apr '18

Dear colleagues, There was an error in the link sent previously to access to the paper: Arias M., Coscarella M. A., Romero M. A., Svendsen G. M., Ocampo Reinaldo M., Curcio N. , Crespo E. A., González R. A. C. 2018. *Impact of whale-watching on Southern Right Whale (**Eubalaena australis**) in Patagonia: assessing the effects from its beginnings in the context of population growth.* Tourism Management Perspectives 27:1-9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.03.005 In the following link you can access to the article for free until June 05, 2018: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1WuiC7sySznNMv Best regards, Magdalena Arias

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Marine Life Studies internships (Josh McInnes)
by jmcinnes＠uvic.ca 20 Apr '18

20 Apr '18

Hi Marmam. I would like to post the following internship information. Marine Life Studies Marine Mammal Research Internship: Monterey Bay, California Background: Marine Life Studies (MLS) is a non-profit organization focussed on the research, education, and conservation of marine mammals that inhabit the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Our main study area is Monterey Bay, located along the Central California Coast. Monterey Bay is a dynamic temperate ecosystem fed by warm currents from the south, and cold water from the California Current to the north. The Monterey Canyon provides a unique ecosystem for many deep water species as well. Over 36 species of cetacean use Monterey Bay, which makes it one of the best places in the world to view cetaceans. Research: For over ten years MLS researchers have been recording and studying marine mammals in this area. Currently we are conducting a study on the distribution, occurrence, population dynamics, foraging, and overall ecology of the numerous toothed cetacean species that visit or use the bay The main species we are studying are: killer whales (Orcinus orca), Rissos dolphin (Grampus griseus), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), Common dolphin (Delphinus sp.), and northern right whale dolphins (Lissodelphis borealis). Our interns will aid our researchers in collection of data in the field during dedicated marine mammal surveys, and the compiling and analysing the data in our office. Interns will have the ability to work and learn in a dynamic environment with MLS marine mammal scientists. Where: Monterey Bay, California USA When: Starting July and August 2018. Note one month is the minimum allotted time for the position. Fieldwork: All field work is conducted aboard our MLS research vessel. Interns must be able to be physically fit and able to spend long hours at sea. The bay opens into the Pacific Ocean and weather conditions can vary from calm sunny days to rough seas. Sea sickness is also a common issue for many that have not spent time in offshore waters. Surveys last anywhere from 4-12 hours. Data Analysis: After trips data is compiled daily. Foul weather days are spent in office working on data. Interns will work with Microsoft Excel, R Statistical programming, Arc GIS, and photo-identification software. Requirements: Currently in a university or college program related to biology, ecology, geography, environmental science, or ocean sciences. Strong English skills and writing. Able to work long days Familiar with Microsoft Excel Knowledge of marine mammals and a background in photo-identification Work well with others and be part of a team ** This is a non-paid internship and housing is not provided. A minimum of one month is required. To apply: please email CV and cover letter to MLS research coordinator Josh McInnes, jmcinnes(a)uvic.ca

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