April 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Reminder: Upcoming DOSITS webinars on marine mammals and underwater sound
by Holly Morin 16 Apr '18

16 Apr '18

****apologies for cross postings**** There is still still time to register for the upcoming* marine mammals/underwater acoustics webinars*, which are part of the *Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS)* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dosits.org&d=DwMFAg…> *four-part webinar serie**s**. *Each webinar will last approximately 60 minutes and be comprised of one, focused presentation, followed by an extended period of facilitated discussion. The first two webinars of this four-part series will focus on topics related to *marine mammals*. Subsequent webinars will take place in fall 2018 and focus on fishes. - *Dr. Darlene Ketten* will provide a review of *sound reception in marine mammals* on *Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 12:00pm ET* - *Dr. Brandon Southall* will provide a review of the *potential effects of sound on marine mammals* on *Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at 12:00pm ET * *Interested individuals must register in advance for each webinar. * To register please visit: *http://eepurl.com/do0eqH* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__eepurl.com_do0eqH&d=DwM…> Prior to each webinar, an outline of the webinar with links to background content on DOSITS will be made available. *Participants are encouraged to review these outlines before the webinars*. Outlines will be available on the DOSITS site shortly. To learn more about this webinar series or other upcoming webinar dates and speakers, please visit the DOSITS webpage, Webinar Series for Regulators of Underwater Sound <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…> . Associated webinars and their resources were conducted in 2015 and 2016 webinars and have been archived here <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…> . Questions? Please contact Holly Morin at holly_morin(a)uri.edu.

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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 16 Apr '18

16 Apr '18

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication: 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 Abstract: Historically, the distribution range of the southern right whale in Argentina was restricted to Península Valdés. During the last decades the population has been expanding its distribution range. The presence of whales in areas such as the San Antonio Bay has become so common, that in 2012 an experimental whale-watching program was settled. The objectives were to characterize the whale-watching activity and its potential effects on the colonizing groups. Data were collected on-board the whale-watching vessels between 2012 and 2016, and analysed using GLM. Whale-watching is growing in San Antonio Bay, and the interactions are focused on the less vulnerable groups. At longer distances, most of the whale reactions were neutral regardless of the maneuvers and the group type, while at closer distant passive manoeuvres elicit more approach reactions. The results of this study have significant implications for whale-watching regulations in this new area of distribution of the species. A PDF copy of the publication can be downloaded from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211973618300345 Best regards, Magdalena Arias -- Lic. Magdalena Arias CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Centro de investigación aplicada y transferencia tecnológica en recursos marinos “Almirante Storni” (CIMAS - CENPAT - CONICET) Güemes 1030 - San Antonio Oeste (R8520CXV). Río Negro - Argentina.

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Job announcement: Postdoctoral Associate marine species distribution modeler
by Jason Roberts 16 Apr '18

16 Apr '18

Dear colleagues, We at the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (https://mgel.env.duke.edu/) at Duke University (Durham, North Carolina, USA) are seeking a skilled and highly motivated species distribution modeler to join our team as a Postdoctoral Associate. We are a high collaborative research laboratory that specializes in developing and applying spatial analysis methods and technologies to research questions and management problems in the marine environment. The new team member will leverage knowledge and skills from a number of fields, including marine mammal ecology and biology, statistical modeling, oceanography, and scientific programming to model the density of marine mammals in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and/or the Arctic. The results of this research will further our understanding of species-environment relationships in these regions and be applied immediately to ongoing and upcoming U.S. protected species management actions. This is a two-year position, with extension beyond that contingent upon evaluation and funding. Please see the attached file for a detailed job description and additional information. Please contact mgel-hiring(a)duke.edu to apply or ask any questions. We look forward to hearing from you! With best regards from our director Pat Halpin and the rest of our team, Jason Roberts

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IMarEST-Whalefish Course Student Bursary
by Niru Neil Dorrian 15 Apr '18

15 Apr '18

The IMarEST provides 5 bursaries per year to fund places on the Whalefish Marine Research Techniques & Conservation Course, held on the Isle of Cumbrae (1hr 30min from Glasgow) 10-12th August 2018.The bursary is targeted at IMarEST student members studying marine and/or environmental sciences. The course provides an introduction to marine megafauna research techniques, acoustic and photo ID technology/research, human impact on the marine environment and conservation issues, alongside an opportunity to meet marine biological professionals, researchers and consultants, to network and further enhance CV development. The course is recognised by the IMarEST as contributing to CPD. ELIGIBILITY - Current IMarEST Student (SIMarEST) member which is free to eligible students. FUNDING - Each bursary is funded at £100 (GBP). The successful applicants will have to contribute the remaining £150 (GBP) for the course themselves. This will also cover food and accommodation. APPLICATION PROCESS - Personal Statement: Description of why you feel you would benefit from attending the course. Contact details for a referee who is willing to provide a written statement in support of your application For more information on the course and how to apply - https://www.imarest.org/funding/whalefish-bursary Sincerely Niru Dorrian -- Niru Neil Dorrian, BSc (Hons) RMarSci MIMarEST Co - Founder & Marine Mammal Biologist Whalefish Mail: niru(a)whalefish.org Url: www.whalefish.org Cell: +44 (0)7888747719 *Connect - Share - Inspire*

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Mystic Aquarium - Animal Rescue Fellowship
by Schuh, Janelle 15 Apr '18

15 Apr '18

All, Please see below for an exciting new opportunity within the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program. This posting is specific to a fellowship position which is more advanced than our internship role. Applications for the fall semester are due May 31. Thanks!! Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program Fellowship Fellowship summary The Animal Rescue Program (ARP) Fellowship position is an expanded internship. The goal of the program is to provide college students or recent college graduates that are pursuing a career in veterinary medicine an opportunity to expand their animal skills by learning proper techniques for treating marine animals. Application deadlines are as follows: Spring fellowship (Jan-May): September 30 Summer fellowship (May-Aug): January 31 Fall fellowship (Sept-Dec): May 31 Demonstrate excellent representation of the aquarium at all times through a positive, can-do attitude and teamwork focused work ethic. The ARP Fellow is responsible for the day-to-day operations and general organization of the Animal Rescue Clinic (ARC) with guidance from ARP staff. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: diet preparation, cleaning and maintenance of ARP areas, record keeping, and providing medical treatments to animals with guidance from ARP staff and Aquarium veterinarians. Medical treatments may include restraint for procedures, tube feeding, intravenous blood samples, subcutaneous fluids, intramuscular injections, etc. The ARP Fellow will also provide training and guidance to ARP volunteers and interns, as requested. Minimum requirements Must be willing to consistently provide internal and external customer service above and beyond expectation. One of the following degree options is required: a degree from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program, current enrollment in an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program, current undergraduate enrollment (3rd or 4th year) in a pre-veterinary track program, current enrollment (1st or 2nd year) in an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Medicine degree program, or a bachelor's degree with equivalent animal experience to above. Experience working in a veterinary clinic setting is strongly desired. Current valid driver's license required. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office. Must be able to work independently as well as part of a team, possess strong written and verbal communication skills, and have flexibility, a high attention to detail, strong organization and time management skills, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Candidate must be able to meet the physical demands of the position which include prolonged standing and kneeling, lifting objects, and working in outdoor conditions. Responsibilities and essential functions All fellowships are unpaid with a minimum 12-16 week commitment required. The position is scheduled five days per week for a minimum of 40 hours each week. Applicants must be willing to work a flexible schedule, as hours may include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Housing is not provided. To perform this fellowship position successfully, an individual must be able to execute each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. * Assist ARP and veterinary staff in obtaining samples collected from stranded animals * Perform and/or assist ARP and veterinary staff with clinical procedures and injections, fluid therapy, collection of diagnostic samples, tube feeding, and wound care * Perform and/or assist in overall ARC operations including feeding and caring for rehabilitating animals, delivering medications and supplements, cleaning and maintaining animal units, maintaining quarantine protocols, and record keeping * Assist ARP and veterinary staff with gross necropsy procedures, when necessary * Provide mentorship to interns/volunteers who are working within the ARC * All fellows are responsible for working in a safe manner at all times * Every fellow must properly use, and keep in good order, all personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied to them as protection from recognized hazards * Every fellow must report any unsafe condition * Every fellow must have a working knowledge of all Facility wide, and Department specific, safety procedures that relate to their position, including, but not limited to: Emergency Evacuation, Lockdown Procedure, and Fire Extinguisher Use * Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisor Project requirement ARP fellows will be required to complete a project by the end of their term. This project will be focused on some aspect of veterinary medicine with guidance from ARP staff. The final product will be a 12 minute PowerPoint presentation provided to Aquarium staff/interns/volunteers based on the project selected. Please visit the below website to apply. http://www.mysticaquarium.org/careers/internships/#arcfellowship Janelle Schuh Animal Rescue Program Manager 860.572.5955 x154 | Hotline x107 | Cell 860.514.7132 [MA_Web]

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Volunteer Research Assistants needed in Findhorn, North East Scotland, for summer 2018.
by North 58° Sea Adventures 14 Apr '18

14 Apr '18

Research assistants Volunteer Research Assistants needed in Findhorn, North East Scotland, for summer 2018. North 58° Sea Adventures is a family owned and operated business, operating from Findhorn Marina since 2012. North 58° aims to offer our trip boats as a platform for research in order to better understand the wildlife we encounter on our tours. We are seeking voluntary research assistants to assist for an 8 week period from beginning of July to end of August. Research will comprise of sighting data, photo identification and behavioural studies, mainly of Seals’ and Bottlenose Dolphins but occasionally also Basking sharks, Minke whales and other dolphin species. Research will be conducted on our wildlife watching tours (either on short 2 hour trips or full day excursions. Successful candidates will rotate between 3 roles; 1) naturalist position on fauna tours, assisting guides and collecting data, 2) managing wildlife centre 3) data organisation. The roles will be rotated and bad weather days used as data catch up or days off. We are preferably looking for people that have; • A strong interest and education in Marine biology/ecology or other related field- specifically marine mammals and large marine vertebrate • Guiding experience- must be good at communicating with the public and have ability to interpret local and wildlife info to passenger guests • Observation Experience- including use of binoculars and DSLR cameras • Experience on boats- not susceptible to seasickness easily • Ability to work calmly and politely under pressure and in sometimes stressful situations • Ability to learn, be adaptive, hardworking, positive and outgoing as well as have a lot of patience • Willingness to work long hours outdoors, in sometimes unfavourable conditions • Some photo ID and matching experience is desirable • Ability to work well both within a team and as an individual • Physical fitness- working on RIBs can be bumpy and are therefore not recommended working platforms for anyone with severe back or knee problems. Accommodation Food and Travel Assistants will be responsible for their own travel costs, and personal expenses but accommodation will be provided throughout the research period. Accommodation is a large static caravan on site at Findhorn Marina. Each assistant will get their own room, however living area, kitchen, bathroom, etc will be communal with the other research assistants. You will be a moments’ walk from the Marina building where most land work will take place. This is an excellent opportunity for an early career biologist or naturalist to gain valuable fieldwork skills, as well as research techniques, on the water experience and public interpretation through guiding. How to Apply: Please email your cv, covering letter specifying any relevant experience and qualifications to Pippa Low (pippa(a)north58.co.uk) by the 30th of April. For further information regarding our company please visit www.north58.co.uk Kind Regards, North 58° Sea Adventures Findhorn Marina adventure(a)north58.co.uk www.north58.co.uk 01309690099

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New publication: New Determination of Prey and Parasite Species for Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whales
by Asha de Vos 14 Apr '18

14 Apr '18

It is with great pleasure that we announce the publication of our new paper: New Determination of Prey and Parasite Species for Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whales. Abstract: Blue whales are little studied, face significant anthropogenic threats and within the Northern Indian Ocean, have a restricted range, making them an archetype for conservation needs of megafauna around the world. We studied feeding behavior of blue whales using dietary DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples. While globally blue whale populations feed predominantly on Euphausiidae, 87% of prey DNA amplicons extracted from fecal samples from this population were sergestid shrimp, demonstrating that blue whales can locate and feed on dense swarms of other types of prey when they occur. Within the Indian Ocean sergestids are present within the top 300 m, which correlates with the deep scattering layer observed by hydroacoustics. Studies suggest that this requirement to dive deeper in search of prey likely explains the prevalence of fluke up diving within this population of blue whales relative to other parts of the globe. Furthermore, this study revealed the presence of acanthocephalan endoparasites within the stomach and intestines of the Northern Indian Ocean blue whales. This represents the first record of Acanthocephala in blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean and highlights the need for further studies on both the ecto- and endoparasitic flora and monitoring of health of these cetaceans for their management and conservation. Full citation: de Vos, A., Faux, C., Marthick, J., Dickinson, J., Jarman, S. (2018), New determination of prey and parasite species for Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whales, Front. Mar. Sci. 5: 104. Full paper available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2018.00104/full Thanks Asha -- ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> Asha de Vos Ph.D. Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation National Geographic Explorer TED Fellow WEF Young Global Leader Founder, Oceanswell Www.oceanswell.org

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New publication: A Guide to Composting Marine Animal Mortalities
by Keith Matassa 13 Apr '18

13 Apr '18

Could you please post? Dear Colleagues: My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the availability of a recent publication in the NOAA Greater Atlantic Region Policy Series titled: A Guide to Composting Marine Animal Mortalities. A series of collaborative pilot projects for composting of marine animal parts and remains were developed in response to ongoing regional marine mammal disposal challenges. This guide outlines the process and recommendations for setting up a composting site or using existing sites to dispose of marine animal remains. ABSTRACT Marine mammal disposal has been problematic for response agencies over the years due to logistical or biological complications. Routine methods of disposal continuously increased in price, or manpower demands, to properly dispose of biological material to maintain biosecurity. In 2006, the University of New England's Marine Animal Rescue Center (UNE MARC) collaborated with Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Composting School to develop a project to evaluate composting as a disposal option for marine animal carcasses. This manual is a result of the years of consultation, collaboration, trials, and operation of the pilot marine animal compost site at UNE. A PDF copy of the guide can be downloaded from: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/policyseries/index.php/GARPS… Mark King, Keith Matassa and Mendy Garron (2018). A Guide to Composting Marine Animal Mortalities. Greater Atlantic Region Policy Series, Vol 18, No1. Thank you Keith A. Matassa Executive Director Pacific Marine Mammal Center | 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-494-3050, Extension #202 (p) | 949-494-2802 (f) | www.pacificmmc.org [PMMCNewLogo2012Reduced] The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates, releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education and collaboration.

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2018 DCLDE Workshop in Paris, France
by Olivier ADAM 13 Apr '18

13 Apr '18

Dear MARMAM Community, Here are some news about the 8th session of the International Workshop on Detection, Classification, Localization, and Density Estimation of marine mammals using passive acoustics (2018 DCLDE Workshop) that will be held from 4 to 8 June 2018, in Paris, FRANCE. 1. Following some requests, we have decided to postpone the deadline for abstract submission; it is now April 18, 2018! You will have some more days to finalize your abstract and to send it to us. Then, the notification for acceptance will be given at the end of this month, so you will have time to prepare your venue to Paris. 2. The challenge to automatically detect acoustic events is already open. You can download the dataset right now and participate to this challenge! Try to be the winner and to win the 1st prize of 150 euros! 3. The 2 thematic tutorial sessions will be simultaneously held on Monday, June 4th from 8:30 am to 6 pm. So please select one: - Machine learning (Deep learning) for Bioacoustics : learning representation, organized by Prof. H. Glotin, LIS, University of Toulon, France and DYNI team. Detection signal processing based versus Autoencoder ; Learning representation on Monophonic versus Stereophonic recordings ; practical examples and exercises on PC with TensorFlow will be given with the BOMBYX long term submarine stereo dataset : http://sis.univ-tln.fr/~glotin/SABIOD/VAMOS/ , mostly on weak transient biosignals (distant Physeter and others). - A primer on density estimation from passive acoustic data, organized by Dr. L. Thomas, Dr. T. Marques, and Dr. D. Harris, St Andrews, UK No extra fees are required, but you need to have a pass to access the University. So, if you want to participate in a session, please send right now an email to Olivier Adam, olivier.adam(a)upmc.fr You can have all information directly on our website: http://sabiod.univ-tln.fr/DCLDE/ Sincerely, Olivier ADAM ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

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survey on passive acoustic monitoring of marine biodiversity
by Lisa Munger 13 Apr '18

13 Apr '18

Dear marine mammal research community, I am involved in drafting an invited manuscript for Frontiers in Marine Science on the use of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as a tool for monitoring marine biodiversity (see Frontiers topic announcement at https://goo.gl/FMErBs) My co-authors are Dr. Linda Weilgart (Dalhousie University), Dr. Aran Mooney and Dr. Ashlee Lillis (both at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution). As part of our data collection for the manuscript, we have designed a survey for researchers and experts in this field (link to survey below). Our goals are to 1) summarize where we are now in this area of research, including current technologies and methodologies in use, current limitations/challenges, etc. and 2) discuss ways forward for PAM to be integrated into global ocean observing networks. Survey link: https://goo.gl/forms/8wkCKO6stUQ83odk1 If you work in PAM of marine biodiversity, we would greatly appreciate your time and effort in responding to this survey by the end of this month (30 April 2018). Please share with colleagues as appropriate. Sincerely, Lisa, Lindy, Aran, and Ashlee -- Dr. Lisa Munger Science Director Oceanwide Science Institute oceanwidescience.org

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