May 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

solitary cetaceans worldwide
by Liz Sandeman 29 May '18

29 May '18

Dear Marmam subscribers Marine Connection is currently updating its 2008 report 'Lone Rangers' which lists solitary cetaceans worldwide since 1912 as well as including recommendations for their protection and continued welfare. Since publishing our original report, we have continued to gather details of other solitary/friendly cetaceans which have been known to have frequented various areas/countries, however, I would appreciate if anyone has details on solitary dolphins or whales recorded since 2008, if they could contact me direct to ensure the list is complete. Many thanks. Liz Sandeman Programmes Officer Office 01667 404273 Mobile 07931 366352 liz(a)marineconnection.org<mailto:liz@marineconnection.org> Registered UK charity no 1062222 Follow us: Website<http://marineconnection.org/> * Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/Marine-Connection-165471010204959/> * Twitter<https://twitter.com/MC_org?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5E…> * Pinterest<https://uk.pinterest.com/marineconnectio/>

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Somewhere between acceptable and sustainable: When do impacts to resources become too large in protected areas?
by Gende, Scott 28 May '18

28 May '18

Please see the recent publication of the following article in Biological Conservation: *Gende, S.M., Hendrix, A.N., and J. Schmidt. 2018. Somewhere between acceptable and sustainable: When do impacts to resources become too large in protected areas? Biological Conservation 223: 138-146.* Utilization of marine and terrestrial protected areas is fundamentally important for their acceptance and success. Yet even appropriate uses can negatively impact resources requiring managers to make decisions as to when the impacts become unacceptably large. These decisions can be difficult because the level at which impacts occur may be far below the level at which resource persistence is threatened. In Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, managers must make a recurring decision regarding the number of cruise ships that are allowed to enter the park each year. Cruise ships bring>95% of all visitors to the park but have been involved in several lethal collisions (ship strikes) with humpback whales. Using an individual-based simulation model, we demonstrate that increasing the annual ship volume from current to maximum allowable levels would have negligible impacts on population growth of whales. Over the next 30 years the median number of collisions would likely increase from 3 (95% CI: 0–7) to 4 (1–8) or, worst case scenario, from 5 (0–7) to 8 (3−13), while median annual growth rates would, at most, shift from 4.4% (3.7%–5.2%) to 4.2% (3.5%–4.9%), depending upon assumptions. By comparison, a median of 67 (50–82) ship strikes would need to occur over the next 30 years to threaten the persistence of whales. Confronted with an impact level that is far below what would threaten the conservation of whales, managers are tasked with the decision of placing values on 2 million additional visitors for every additional dead whale. We argue that decision-making related to use-impact trade-offs for protected areas could be more consistent and effective if site-values are defined explicitly, clearly communicated among stakeholders, and linked to biological metrics. Protected areas managers can then utilize monitoring programs to evaluate management effectiveness when the objective is conserving both resources and values. Full text of the paper can be found at: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1X22z1R~eAqTs Best, Scott -- Scott M. Gende, Ph.D. Senior Science Advisor Glacier Bay Field Station 3100 National Park Road, Juneau, AK 99801 907-364-2622 (office); 907-364-2606 (fax) https://www.nps.gov/articles/scott-gende.htm

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Selling LIMPET tags
by Jourdain Eve 27 May '18

27 May '18

Dear colleagues, Norwegian Orca Survey (Andenes, Norway) is selling four satellite tags to deploy on large cetaceans. More specifically, the four tags are of SPOT-240C LIMPET type, with stacked dart finmount (Wildlife Computers; www.wildlifecomputers.com) These tags were bought to Wildlife Computers in September 2017 but, due to changes in design of the ongoing studies, their deployment was cancelled. The tags are completely new and have been stored in -20°C for battery saving since. Accessories necessary to set up and deployment including sterilized 6-petal darts, deployment arrow and communication cable are delivered with the tags. For more information, please get in touch at post(a)norwegianorcasurvey.no Regards, Eve Jourdain Founder & PhD candidate Norwegian Orca Survey

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Fwd: Special Session on Passive Acoustic Density Estimation at upcoming ASA Meeting in Victoria Canada
by Thomas Norris 26 May '18

26 May '18

A special session on *Passive Acoustic Density Estimation*: Recent Advances and Outcomes for Terrestrial and Marine Species “ is being held during the upcoming 176th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) on 5-9 November 2018 to be held in the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia Canada. *Abstracts are due next Tuesday, the 29th of May*. *In the past, similar sessions at ASA have included marine mammal biologists and bioacoustic researchers presenting their work on related to science and conservation of marine mammals. We are encouraging researchers working on a wide range of taxonomic study subjects, including marine mammals, to present talks at this special session.* You can submit an abstract via this link: https://asa2018fall.abstractcentral.com/ Please indicate the “Animal Bioacoustics Technical Committee” in the pull-down menu on the abstracts submission page and also which session you wish to present your talk in. Choose the following PACS (classification number) *43.80.*Ka : Sound production by animals: mechanisms, characteristics, populations, biosonar Please note that poster sessions are not expected to be held for this session, so only submit an abstract if you are willing to give a talk. For more details on the meeting including travel, accommodation and registration fees, please follow the link below: https://acousticalsociety.org/176th-meeting-acoustical-society-of-america/ I look forward to seeing (and hearing) many interesting talks If you have questions about the session, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Tom Norris thomas.f.norris(a)bio-waves.com <Thomas.f.norris(a)bio-waves.com> (ASA Animal Bioacoustics Technical Committee & Session Co-chair) and Tiago Marques (Session Co-Chair) University of St. Andrews Tom Norris Chief Scientist Bio-Waves inc. www.bio-waves.net

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summer volunteer research positions baleen whales, St Lawrece
by Christian Ramp 25 May '18

25 May '18

Please post the three volunteer position listed below. *Volunteer opportunity in Quebec, Canada * *August 6**th **– October 7**th **2018 * Research team Member, English or French speaker URGENT * * *Employer : Mingan Island Cetacean Study, under the supervision of our Research Coordinator. * Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) is a non-profit, charitable research organization based in both Canada and the United States, dedicated to ecological studies of marine mammals and marine ecosystems. Founded in 1979 by Richard Sears, MICS was the first organization to carry out long-term research of cetaceans in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and first to carry out long-term studies of the endangered blue whale. The principal study areas include the Quebec North Shore in the Mingan Island / Anticosti region, the Gaspe Peninsula and St. Lawrence Estuary. MICS focuses on photo-identification for the following species: blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale and minke whale. For more information on our research, our ongoing projects and our scientific publications, please visit our website: www.rorqual.com <http://www.rorqual.com/>. Our station also runs 2 outreach programs: - Week-long ecotourism trips where the public joins us in the field as we carry out our research activities and educate them about cetaceans research and conservation; this helps us fund the research - Museum visitors who come to learn about cetacean biology and ecology, as well as the research work being done at the station /All team members actively participate in these 2 important programs. / We are looking for one person to become part of our team at MICS for the 2018 field research season, based in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan (Quebec, Canada) * * *Location * Mingan Island Cetacean Study field research station 378 Bord de la Mer Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan Quebec, G0G 1V0 Canada * * *Dates * From August 6th to October 7th, 2018, Full-time. * * *Job description * Team members participate in all tasks required to conduct research in the field and to help in any operational aspects. Days are spent at sea and on land, based on weather and a rotating schedule. - On land, at the station (70% of the time) : o Data management after a day at sea : logbook writing, database entries. o Matching (photo-identification using our dedicated software). o Maintenance of the research equipment o Education/outreach: guided museum visits - At sea (30% of the time) : o Visual monitoring of the research area o Introduction to navigation at sea o Data collection (Photo-Id, data recording, field notes) o Maintenance and preparation of the navigation and research equipment at the start and end of the day o Education and outreach for ecotourists on board *Requirements * - Be 18 years old or more - Education : Relevant university or college degree in progress (Biology, ecology, environmental sciences, etc…) or recently graduated. - English speaker, French would be a bonus. - Similar experience not essential, but would be a bonus. - MICS is a non-profit organisation, this is an unpaid position. New team members have to cover their own transportation costs. - Accommodation and food are provided by MICS. - New team members have to be flexible and able to work in team in sometimes difficult conditions (7 days / week, long hours at sea, cold weather). *Learning outcomes * New team members will gain experience and knowledge on our focus study species, day-to-day fieldwork, basic navigation at sea, operational aspects of a research station at sea and on land. They will also gain confidence when interacting with tourists and visitors, and live a rich experience within a diverse and international team. * * *How to apply : * Please send a CV and cover letter to mics(a)rorqual.com <mailto:mics@rorqual.com>, before June 1st. Interviews will occur the week after for all selected candidates. Feel free to contact us via email for any further questions. Have a great day ! MICS Team MICS Team Mingan Island Cetacean Study (+1) 418 949 2845 (+1) 450 465 9176 www.rorqual.com <http://www.rorqual.com/> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mingan-Island-Cetacean-Study-MICS/47587634708> Twitter <https://twitter.com/minganwhales> *Offre d’emploi / Volunteer opportunity: 11 juin – 5 Aout 2018 * 2 Membres d’équipe de recherche - bénévole – Québec, Canada URGENT *Employeur et responsable immédiat : *Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan, sous la supervision du responsable de la recherche. La station de recherche des îles Mingan (MICS pour Mingan Island Cetacean Study en anglais) est un organisme à but non lucratif consacré à l'étude écologique des mammifères marins. Fondée en 1979 par Richard Sears, la station fut la première à mener des recherches à long terme sur les cétacés dans le golfe du Saint-Laurent, en particulier sur le rorqual bleu, une espèce menacée de disparition. Les principales zones d'étude se situent le long de la Côte-Nord du Québec dans la région de Mingan et de l'île d’Anticosti, et le long de la péninsule Gaspésienne. La Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan se concentre sur des travaux de photo-identification des espèces suivantes : rorqual bleu, rorqual commun, rorqual à bosse et petits rorquals. La station de recherche conserve en particulier le catalogue de baleines bleues de l’Atlantique Nord. Pour avoir plus d’information sur nos recherches, les projets scientifiques en cours et la liste de nos publications, veuillez visiter notre site Internet : www.rorqual.com <http://www.rorqual.com/> La station de recherche anime également deux programmes ouverts au public : - Un programme d’écotourisme visant à accueillir le grand public dans nos activités de recherche, les participants viennent partager le quotidien d’une station de recherche, nous aider dans nos travaux et en financer une partie par leur séjour. - La visite de notre musée sur place dont les visiteurs découvrent la biologie et l’écologie des baleines, et nos travaux de recherche. Les membres d’équipe participent grandement à ces deux programmes d’éducation. Pour notre saison 2018, nous recherchons deux personnes pour travailler à la station de recherche basée à Longue-pointe-de-Mingan (Québec, Canada). *Statut d’emploi * Temps plein *Lieu de travail * Bâtiment de la Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan / Parcs Canada 378 Bord de la Mer Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan G0G 1V0 *Période en fonction * Du 10 Juin au 5 Aout 2018 *Description de tâches * Les membres de l’équipe de recherche prennent part à toutes les tâches nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de la Station. Le temps de travail est réparti entre les journées en mer et les journées à la station. - À la station (70% du temps) : o Traitement des données photographiques recueillies en mer : rédaction des journaux de bord, entrée de données dans la base de données o Travail d’appariement de photos pour la photo-identification (matching), o Entretien de l’équipement de recherche, o Animation des visites guidées du musée - En mer (30% du temps) : o Monitoring visuel de notre zone de recherche, , o Introduction aux bases de la navigation o Prise de données (Photo-Id, notes) o Maintenance du matériel de navigation et de recherche en fin de journée, o Interprétation et sensibilisation pour les touristes sur le bateau *Exigences et conditions de travail * - Être agé(e) de 18 ans et plus. - Scolarité universitaire ou collégial en cours dans un domaine pertinent pour l’emploi (biologie, écologie, sciences environnementales) ou récemment diplomé. - Parler français couramment, l’anglais est un atout. - L’expérience dans ce domaine est un bonus, mais non essentielle. - La station de recherche étant un organisme à but non lucratif, ce stage est non rémunéré. Le(s) stagiaire(s) devront se charger de leur transport vers la station de recherche (un transport peut etre arrangé depuis/vers l’aéroport le plus proche : Sept-iles). - Logement et nourriture : les membres d’équipe sont logés et nourris durant toute leur période sur place. - Les membres d’équipe doivent faire preuve de flexibilité et etre capable de travailler en équipe dans des conditions parfois difficiles (7 jours/semaine, longues heures en mer, possiblement par temps froid). *Apprentissage * Le(s) nouveau(x) membre d’équipe gagneront de l’expérience et des connaissances sur le fonctionnement d’une station de recherche, sur le travail de terrain, sur les espèces étudiées autant à terre qu’en mer, ils vont également gagner en confiance et vivre une riche expérience en interaction avec le public et les visiteurs. * * *Pour appliquer : * Merci d’envoyer votre CV et une lettre de motivation à l’adresse suivante : mics(a)rorqual.com <mailto:mics@rorqual.com>, jusqu’au 20 Mai. Des entrevues auront lieu dans la semaine du 21 Mai, pour les candidatures retenues. Si vous avez des questions, n’hésitez pas à les envoyer à la même adresse courriel. Au plaisir de lire vos candidatures! L’équipe du MICS l’Equipe du MICS Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan (+1) 418 949 2845 (+1) 450 465 9176 www.rorqual.com <http://www.rorqual.com/index.php?lang=fr> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/Station-de-recherche-des-%C3%8Eles-Mingan-MICS-479…> Twitter <https://twitter.com/minganwhales> *Offre d’emploi / Volunteer opportunity * *6 Aout – fin Septembre 2018 * Membre d’équipe de recherche – bénévole, francophone URGENT *Employeur et responsable immédiat : *Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan, sous la supervision du responsable de la recherche. La station de recherche des îles Mingan (MICS pour Mingan Island Cetacean Study en anglais) est un organisme à but non lucratif consacré à l'étude écologique des mammifères marins. Fondée en 1979 par Richard Sears, la station fut la première à mener des recherches à long terme sur les cétacés dans le golfe du Saint-Laurent, en particulier sur le rorqual bleu, une espèce menacée de disparition. Les principales zones d'étude se situent le long de la Côte-Nord du Québec dans la région de Mingan et de l'île d’Anticosti, et le long de la péninsule Gaspésienne. La Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan se concentre sur des travaux de photo-identification des espèces suivantes : rorqual bleu, rorqual commun, rorqual à bosse et petits rorquals. La station de recherche conserve en particulier le catalogue de baleines bleues de l’Atlantique Nord. Pour avoir plus d’information sur nos recherches, les projets scientifiques en cours et la liste de nos publications, veuillez visiter notre site Internet : www.rorqual.com <http://www.rorqual.com/> La station de recherche anime également deux programmes ouverts au public : - l’accueil d’écotouristes qui viennent partager le quotidien d’une station de recherche. - La visite de notre musée sur place dont les visiteurs découvrent la biologie et l’écologie des baleines, et nos travaux de recherche. Les membres d’équipe participent grandement à ces deux programmes d’éducation. Pour notre saison 2018, nous recherchons une personne pour travailler à la station de recherche basée à Longue-pointe-de-Mingan (Québec, Canada). * * *Statut d’emploi * Temps plein * * *Lieu de travail * Bâtiment de la Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan / Parcs Canada 378 Bord de la Mer Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan G0G 1V0 * * *Période en fonction * Du 6 Aout à fin Septembre 2018 * * *Description de tâches * Les membres de l’équipe de recherche prennent part à toutes les tâches nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de la Station. Le temps de travail est réparti entre les journées en mer et les journées à la station. - À la station (70% du temps) : o Traitement des données photographiques recueillies en mer : rédaction des journaux de bord, entrée de données dans la base de données o Travail d’appariement de photos pour la photo-identification (matching), o Entretien de l’équipement de recherche, o Animation des visites guidées du musée - En mer (30% du temps) : o Monitoring visuel de notre zone de recherche, , o Introduction aux bases de la navigation o Prise de données (Photo-Id, notes) o Maintenance du matériel de navigation et de recherche en fin de journée, o Interprétation et sensibilisation pour les touristes sur le bateau *Exigences et conditions de travail * - Être agé(e) de 18 ans et plus. - Scolarité universitaire ou collégial en cours dans un domaine pertinent pour l’emploi (biologie, écologie, sciences environnementales) ou récemment diplomé. - Parler français couramment, l’anglais est un atout. - L’expérience dans ce domaine est un bonus, mais non essentielle. - La station de recherche étant un organisme à but non lucratif, ce stage est non rémunéré. Le(s) stagiaire(s) devront se charger de leur transport vers la station de recherche (un transport peut etre arrangé depuis/vers l’aéroport le plus proche : Sept-iles). - Logement et nourriture : les membres d’équipe sont logés et nourris durant toute leur période sur place. - Les membres d’équipe doivent faire preuve de flexibilité et etre capable de travailler en équipe dans des conditions parfois difficiles (7 jours/semaine, longues heures en mer, possiblement par temps froid). *Apprentissage * Le(s) nouveau(x) membre d’équipe gagneront de l’expérience et des connaissances sur le fonctionnement d’une station de recherche, sur le travail de terrain, sur les espèces étudiées autant à terre qu’en mer, ils vont également gagner en confiance et vivre une riche expérience en interaction avec le public et les visiteurs. * * *Pour appliquer : * Merci d’envoyer votre CV et une lettre de motivation à l’adresse suivante : mics(a)rorqual.com <mailto:mics@rorqual.com>, jusqu’au 20 Mai. Des entrevues auront lieu dans la semaine du 21 Mai, pour les candidatures retenues. Si vous avez des questions, n’hésitez pas à les envoyer à la même adresse courriel. Au plaisir de lire vos candidatures! L’équipe du MICS l’Equipe du MICS Station de Recherche des Iles Mingan (+1) 418 949 2845 (+1) 450 465 9176 www.rorqual.com <http://www.rorqual.com/index.php?lang=fr> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/Station-de-recherche-des-%C3%8Eles-Mingan-MICS-479…> Twitter <https://twitter.com/minganwhales>

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MARINE MEGAFAUNA OF THE FALKLANDS - Volunteer oportunity
by simo_liste＠tiscali.it 24 May '18

24 May '18

VOLUNTEERS FIELD HELPERS RECRUITMENT ------------------------------------ PROJECT: Long term study of MARINE MEGAFAUNA of the FALKLAND ISLANDS. POSITION: Volunteer (unpaid) field helper. DURATION: about 3 months and a half, two shifts: 1) late August 2018 to early December 2018, and 2) early December 2018 to late March 2019; exact dates in the field to be established later. LOCATION: Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, Southern Atlantic Ocean. Sea Lion Island on Google maps: https://www.google.com/maps?q=Sea%25Lion%25Island,%2520Falkland%25Islands>https://www.google.com/maps?q=Sea%25Lion%25Island,%2520Falkland%25Islands DUTIES: - Southern elephant seals: counts, marking, mapping, observation of behavior, pup handling, collection of samples, sedation and handling of females for TDR and satellite tag deployment - Killer whales: photoidentification, observation and videotaping of behavior, necropsies of preys - Falklands skuas: counts, nest identification and mapping, observation of behavior - Raptors: counts, nest identification and mapping, observation of behavior - Marine birds: counts and mapping of different species (different species of penguins, cormorants, gulls, geese, and ducks) - Environmental monitoring: collection of microclimatic data, habitat classification, collection of GIS data DEADLINE: June 10th 2018; please note that, capabilities being equal, positions will be allocated with a first come first served policy. DESCRIPTION Volunteer field helpers are required for the 2018-2019 field season of various long-term research projects on marine megafauna of the Falkland Islands, carried out by the Elephant Seal Research Group. The field work site is Sea Lion Island. Successful applicants will receive adequate training and will help with: - a long term project (23 years) on individual life histories and breeding strategies of southern elephant seals - a long term project (5 years) on social and hunting behaviour of mammal-eating killer whales - a study of Falklands skua demography, behavior and vocal communication - various monitoring projects on the different marine and raptor bird species breeding on Sea Lion Island - general environmental monitoring of the island, including the collection of data for the Sea Lion Island GIS Volunteers will be supervised by the PIs and/or by trained technicians. Previous experience of field work is appreciated but not essential. We are recruiting helpers for two shifts; - late August to early December: focus is elephant seals breeding, killer whales predation on weaned elephant seal pups, establishment of pairs and territories by skuas - early December to late March: focus are elephant seal weaned pups and moulters, general killer whales activity and behavior, study of skuas behavior and communication, monitoring of breeding of marine birds and raptors, collection of general environmental data Only applicants who can stay for a whole shift (about 3 months and a half) can be taken into consideration. No volunteer is allowed to apply to stay for both shifts, so please state clearly in your cover letter for which one you are applying (first or second) or, if you are available for both, which of the two you prefer (although we cannot guarantee to meet your preference). Applicants are required to pay all expenses to get to Sea Lion Island, and telephone/Internet expenses while there. Accommodation and food at SLI will be provided by the ESRG. Accommodation on SLI is rather basic and self-catering, but comfortable for a field research setting (heating, hot water, shower, Internet connection hotspot in the nearby lodge). We are asking volunteers a 300 GBP contribution to help us with management expenses and individual research equipment repair/maintenance. Applicants will be required to work in the field for the whole length of the day, seven days per week, with just an half day of rest per week. Volunteers are required to help with cooking, cleaning of their cabin and general maintenance tasks. The data collection protocol is complex, the field work is physically demanding, and the weather is often not very good. People without a good tolerance to cold are discouraged to apply. It is a very rewarding, but demanding, experience. The island is a wonderful place with large unspoiled sandy beaches, and a very rich and very tame wildlife. It is the best hot spot for wildlife watching in the Falklands, it is an Important Birds Area and an Important Plants Area, a RAMSAR convention site, and a National Nature Reserve. APPLICATION To apply please send 1) a cover letter describing your interest in the position and summarizing your qualifications for it, 2) a detailed CV, and 3) a copy of an identification document (with picture). Reference letters (3 maximum) are appreciated, but not essential, and should be sent directly to the email address mentioned below. If you think you may have extra documentation that can be relevant (eg, copy of a thesis, certificates, etc.) please mention them in your email, but don't send them unless we ask. Please put all documents in a single PDF file, name it as "your_surname - ESRG2018 - application", and email it as an attachment of an email to Dr. Filippo Galimberti (fil_esrg(a)eleseal.org) Deadline for first call applications is June 10th, 2018. Due to the limited number of positions available we warmly suggest perspective candidates to apply as soon as possible. Further details about the position are available here: http://www.eleseal.org/info_helpers_eng.html Thanks The ESRG team Con Mobile Open 6 GB hai 6 Giga, 600 minuti e 300 SMS per il tuo smartphone a 9€ al mese per sempre. Passa ora a Tiscali Mobile, il nostro mese è vero! http://tisca.li/Open6GB0318

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Cetacean Acoustic Workshop
by aylin akkaya 24 May '18

24 May '18

Marine Mammals Research Association in hand with DokuzEylül University are happy to announce our upcoming acoustic workshop under"Giant Guardians of the Deep Sea" Project, supported by WWF-Turkey.The workshop takes place between the 1th and 2nd June 2018 in the Dokuz EylülUniversity, Izmir, Turkey. You can find the workshop program in detail (AKUSTİK ÇALIŞTAYI / ACOUSTIC WORKSHOP) and we arehonored to see you in the workshop! To join the workshop, please send e-mail to akkayaaylinn(a)gmail.com or ersinbas07(a)gmail.com by stating Name, Organization, Tittle and Telephone till 29 May 2018. The workshop topics:-Introduction of the project “Giant Guardians of Deep Seas” by Dr. Aylin Akkaya Bas-Marine Mammal Researches in Turkish waters by Doç.Dr. Harun Güçlüsoy-The Application of Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Cetacean Conservation by Dr. Jonathan Gordon-Acoustics of Marine Mammals, The Application of Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Cetacean Conservation, Passive Acoustic Monitoring Systems and PamGuard 1 and 2 by Benjamin Wambergue It is recommended that the participant should download the computer programs, PamGuard, Raven and ArcGIS. For the further questions regarding workshop, please e-mail to akkayaaylinn(a)gmail.com or ersinbas07(a)gmail.com Best wishes, | | | | | | | | | | | AKUSTİK ÇALIŞTAYI / ACOUSTIC WORKSHOP | | |

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New Publication: Structure and phylogeography of pantropical spinner and spotted dolphins
by Matthew S Leslie 23 May '18

23 May '18

I am pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Royal Society Open Science: Leslie, M.S. and P.A. Morin. 2018. Structure and phylogeography of two tropical predators, spinner (Stenella longirostris) and pantropical spotted (S. attenuata) dolphins, from SNP data. R. Soc. open sci. 5 171615; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171615. Published 25 April 2018 Abstract: Little is known about global patterns of genetic connectivity in pelagic dolphins, including how circumtropical pelagic dolphins spread globally following the rapid and recent radiation of the subfamily delphininae. In this study, we tested phylogeographic hypotheses for two circumtropical species, the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) and the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), using more than 3000 nuclear DNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in each species. Analyses for population structure indicated significant genetic differentiation between almost all subspecies and populations in both species. Bayesian phylogeographic analyses of spinner dolphins showed deep divergence between Indo-Pacific, Atlantic and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) lineages. Despite high morphological variation, our results show very close relationships between endemic ETP spinner subspecies in relation to global diversity. The dwarf spinner dolphin is a monophyletic subspecies nested within a major clade of pantropical spinner dolphins from the Indian and western Pacific Ocean populations. Population-level division among the dwarf spinner dolphins was detected—with the northern Australia population being very different from that in Indonesia. In contrast to spinner dolphins, the major boundary for spotted dolphins is between offshore and coastal habitats in the ETP, supporting the current subspecies-level taxonomy. Comparing these species underscores the different scale at which population structure can arise, even in species that are similar in habitat (i.e. pelagic) and distribution. The open access full text of the paper can be found here: http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/5/4/171615 <http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/5/4/171615> Many thanks, Matt ========================= Matthew S. Leslie Ph.D. Secretary’s Distinguished Research Fellow National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution

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Immediate vacancy for MMO and/or PAMO
by Recruitment 23 May '18

23 May '18

Dear MMOs and PAM Operators (PAMOs), OSC has an immediate vacancy (mobilising on 25th May 2018) for an MMO and/or PAMO to be part of a four-person MMO and PAM team on a piling project in UK waters. Opportunities for MMOs and PAMOs in other geographical locations arise periodically, so general applications are always welcome, but this project requires personnel who are EU citizens or in possession of a suitable work visa. If you are interested and available, and not already on OSC's database, please provide copies of your CV, passport, driving licence (probably not needed, but useful for future reference), offshore survival and medical certificates, MMO and/or PAM and degree certificates. For documents not already in electronic format, please scan these, as photographs of documents are not often accepted. Please use relevant software programmes to minimise any scanned file sizes so that they remain clearly legible, yet easy for us to share by email with stakeholders. Please apply by email only to recruitment(a)osc.co.uk; recruitment enquiries to other OSC email addresses will not be considered. Please feel free to circulate this email amongst colleagues seeking contract (freelance) and permanent employment. Thanks and kind regards, --- Recruitment Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk

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RESEARCH INTERN POSITION SUMMER/FALL 2018
by Elena Fontanesi 22 May '18

22 May '18

RESEARCH INTERN POSITION SUMMER/FALL 2018 Costa Balenae is currently looking for and accepting interns to join our pilot project on bottlenose dolphins in the Western Ligurian Sea, Imperia (Italy) from June to October. (DEADLINE 28th MAY) Programme: Interns are invited to assist the biologists of Costa Balenae in two different activities: 1. Research project on bottlenose dolphins: * Boat-based surveys (10-12 per month) * Photo-id matching/classwork * Data entry * Opportunistic surveys 2. Whale watching excursions: * Assisting the biologist on board * Collecting data of cetaceans and other marine fauna * Assisting the participants Schedule: Period: from 1st June to 31st October. Minimum required: 30 days Number of interns per month: 2 This is a great opportunity to get involved in cetacean research, enjoy marine biodiversity while gaining fieldwork experience, travelling and exploring the beautiful Liguria region while supporting cetacean research and conservation. Fieldwork will be made in coastal waters (Western Ligurian Sea). Surveys will be conducted onboard dedicated vessels (5-6 m inflatable boat) 10-12 times per month. Training will focus on collecting photo for photo-ID purposes, environmental, geographical (GPS) and dolphins' behavioural data. Fieldwork will help participants gaining first-hand experience in collecting data on free-ranging cetaceans and improve skills on cetaceans boat-based surveys as well as on the use of the photo-ID technique. Surveys are weather dependent and they can change during the period. Opportunistic surveys will be conducted on whale watching boats or different types of fishing boats. Interns will be involved 5 days a week, 6-8 hours/day (depending on fieldwork or labwork) During free time, interns will have the opportunity to experience all sorts of activities: swimming, diving, hiking, exploring historical sites, visit museums, sailing. Skills/qualification: * Minimum age of 18 * Prior experience in cetaceans or boat-based surveys is not required, but preferred * Degree or on-going studies in biology, natural science, veterinary or similar (preferred) * Strong motivation and interest in cetaceans and research * Speak, read and write in fluent English * Be adaptable as fieldwork is weather dependent * Be prepared to spend many hours on a small zodiac (5-6 m) and under the sun * Be sociable and willing as they are expected to live and work in an international team * Boat driving licence or experience in handling small boats (preferred) About the project The dolphins research project “Delfini del Ponente” is the first project focused on monitoring bottlenose dolphins in the Western Ligurian Sea. Due to the morphology of the seafloor, this area is not a usual habitat for this species and historically, sightings have a been more rare and sporadic than in the Levantine side of the region. The continental shelf is, in fact, very short and high depths (around 2000 m) are reached quite close to the shore making the area suitable for other cetacean species but not for bottlenose dolphins, which tend to remain in waters with depth not exceeding 200 m. Despite this knowledge of the range of the species, an interesting change has been noted in recent years in the area. Reports of bottlenose dolphins by boats, fishermen and whale watching vessels are almost tripled compared to previous seasons. Therefore, the project aims to monitor bottlenose dolphins in the region to understand the extent of this change and what drove it. It is structured on an annual basis, in order to obtain data not only on the distribution during the summer, but also changes during the different seasons. Internship fee Delfini del Ponente is a self-funded research project, so participation in this programme requires a tuition fee. Fee includes the accommodation in an apartment in Imperia, tuition and all associated field costs during the internship period (use of research vessel, training, use of equipment, field trips). Transportation expenses to and from Imperia (Italy), own insurances, and food costs during the stay are not included in the fee. Information about Costa Balenae Costa Balenae is a cooperative organization founded by a group of biologists and naturalists with twenty years of experience in the fields of scientific research, environmental education, territorial development and sustainable tourism. The passion for nature, its conservation and the development of commercial tourism activities that make knowledge, awareness and sustainability a point of strong entrepreneurial imprinting are the main characteristic of the cooperative. How to apply: Send your CV with a letter of interest (please indicate the preferred period, date of arriving and departure) to info(a)costabalenae.it<mailto:info@costabalenae.it> addressed to Davide Ascheri no longer than the 28th of May. Successful applicants will be contacted for a skype interview. For any further enquiry and detail, please send an email to info(a)costabalenae.it<mailto:info@costabalenae.it> Davide Ascheri Biologist - Costa Balenae Whale and Nature Watching info(a)costabalenae.it

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