June 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

PSOs and PAM Operators for Offshore Wind Energy Projects
by Craig Reiser 19 Jun '18

19 Jun '18

PSOs and PAM Operators for Offshore Wind Energy Projects Smultea Sciences is seeking qualified PSOs and certified PAM Operators for vessel-based surveys in support of OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY. Deployments are primarily in the Atlantic Ocean but also in other regions. These are W2 positions and you must be eligible for employment in the United States; visas are not feasible. Rotations are typically 30-45 days in duration. Day rates and related compensation are dependent on experience, project, and position. --Candidates must provide proof of the following, up-to-date credentials: 1.) BOSIET, 2.) Physical or Seafarer's Exam, 3) Negative drug screen, and, 4.) Eligibility for employment in the US (e.g., US Passport, driver's license PLUS social security card, etc.). --Candidates must have PSO/PAM or comparable experience in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. --PAM Operators must have experience with PAMGuard and deploying/monitoring towed arrays for whales and dolphins. Please email your CV, contact information, 2 professional references (name, phone number, email, and position), and a short statement about yourself to: craig.reiser(a)smulteasciences.com<mailto:craig.reiser@smulteasciences.com>. For additional information about what we do at Smultea Sciences, see www.SmulteaSciences.com<http://www.SmulteaSciences.com> and our Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/SmulteaSciences/> page.

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MMO and PSO training courses, Inverness (UK)
by Carolyn Barton 19 Jun '18

19 Jun '18

MMO and PSO training courses are running in Inverness, Scotland, in August: JNCC-recognised MMO course for UK waters, 6 August 2018, GBP 130 PSO course for the Gulf of Mexico, meets BOEM/ BSEE requirements, 7 August 2018, GBP 55 (when taken in conjunction with the MMO course). These courses will cover all the information needed for work as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) in UK waters or Protected Species Observer (PSO) in the US Gulf of Mexico. Taught by an MMO instructor with twenty years experience, course content includes the impact of sound on marine mammals, legislation protecting marine mammals, the requirements of the relevant mitigation measures and the role of the MMO/ PSO. Visual monitoring, an introduction to passive acoustic monitoring and identification of marine mammals (and sea turtles for the PSO course) are also covered. For full details of course content and to download a booking form, see www.carolynbarton.co.uk or e-mail info(a)carolynbarton.co.uk .

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IMMA Communications and Outreach Internship - 6 Month Volunteer Post
by MMPATF IMMA 19 Jun '18

19 Jun '18

*IMMA Communications and Outreach Internship (6 Month Volunteer Post)* IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF) *Type: *Volunteer (Part-Time) *Contact:* immacoordinator(a)gmail.com (Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Programme Coordinator) *Sectors: *Conservation & Wildlife; Marine Conversation *Closing date*: Midnight June 30th - 2018 *Summary of Position* The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF or ‘Task Force’) is seeking a Communications and Outreach volunteer for a 6-month Internship with the Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) initiative. IMMAs are a place-based conservation prioritisation scheme identifying discrete areas, important to marine mammal species, which have the potential to be delineated for the purposes of conservation and management. The Task Force requires a remote working desk-based volunteer to join the IMMA Communications and Outreach team for assisting in the preparation of informative IMMA factsheets, website and e-Atlas updates, news articles and social media posts. Expected tasks will include: - Creation of Informative Factsheets of IMMAs displayed on the IUCN MMPATF online e-Atlas. - Assisting the IMMA Coordinator with the preparation of maps, presentations, and other knowledge products for promoting the IMMA initiative global programme of work. - Moderating IUCN MMPATF social media channels and creation of news content. For additional information please download the full position summary at tinyurl.com/y79ypkba and visit the IUCN MMPATF website at www.marinemammalhabitat.org, or please contact the IMMA Coordinator at immacoordinator(a)gmail.com. Please send your CV and Cover Letter stating your interest in the position to the IMMA Coordinator by the deadline of Midnight, Saturday 30th of June. Dr. Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Coordinator IUCN Joint SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF) Email: immacoordinator(a)gmail.com

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African Bioacoustics Conference (3-7 Dec 2018)
by Simon Elwen 18 Jun '18

18 Jun '18

*African Bioacoustics Community conference: Call for Abstracts And Registration now open!* 3-7 December 2018 Cape Town We are excited to announce that the first *African Bioacoustics Community conference will be held in Cape Town on the **3rd-7th December 2018*. The conference is open to marine mammal researchers working throughout the globe, but we are particularly interested in hearing from those researchers working within the region and those studying migratory species moving through the region. All aspects of marine mammal acoustic behaviour, effects of noise on marine mammals and issues related to detection, classification, localisation & density estimation of marine mammals would be welcome. The goal of the conference and ABC is to build links between researchers working on all taxa but using the common approach of bio-acoustic methods. The ABC conference 2018 is hosted by the University of Cape Town, the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, the Environment and Conservation ( http://www.seec.uct.ac.za/) and Sea Search Research and Conservation ( www.seasearch.co.za ). For further details please refer to the *Website:* https://africanbioacoustic.wixsite.com/abcommunity , join the associated facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/africanbioacousticscommunity / ) , or email directly on : africanbioacoustics(a)gmail.com We look forward to welcoming delegates to Cape Town! ABC Conference Organis e rs Tess Gridley, Anna Bastian, Simon Elwen

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How to use scat DNA sequence data in diet studies: Opinion in Molecular Ecology
by Austen Thomas 18 Jun '18

18 Jun '18

Counting with DNA in metabarcoding studies: How should we convert sequence reads to dietary data? Bruce E. Deagle, Austen C. Thomas, Julie C. McInnes, Laurence J. Clarke, Eero J. Vesterinen, Elizabeth L. Clare, Tyler R. Kartzinel, J. Paige Eveson Molecular Ecology. 2018;00:1–16. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.1111/mec.14734 Abstract Advances in DNA sequencing technology have revolutionized the field of molecular analysis of trophic interactions, and it is now possible to recover counts of food DNA sequences from a wide range of dietary samples. But what do these counts mean? To obtain an accurate estimate of a consumer’s diet should we work strictly with data sets summarizing frequency of occurrence of different food taxa, or is it possible to use relative number of sequences? Both approaches are applied to obtain semi-quantitative diet summaries, but occurrence data are often promoted as a more conservative and reliable option due to taxa-specific biases in recovery of sequences. We explore representative dietary metabarcoding data sets and point out that diet summaries based on occurrence data often overestimate the importance of food consumed in small quantities (potentially including low-level contaminants) and are sensitive to the count threshold used to define an occurrence. Our simulations indicate that using relative read abundance (RRA) information often provides a more accurate view of population-level diet even with moderate recovery biases incorporated; however, RRA summaries are sensitive to recovery biases impacting common diet taxa. Both approaches are more accurate when the mean number of food taxa in samples is small. The ideas presented here highlight the need to consider all sources of bias and to justify the methods used to interpret count data in dietary metabarcoding studies. We encourage researchers to continue addressing methodological challenges and acknowledge unanswered questions to help spur future investigations in this rapidly developing area of research. Article available upon request: austen.thomas(a)gmail.com

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Why are whales so big?
by Peter Teglberg Madsen 18 Jun '18

18 Jun '18

Jeremy and I have given that question some thought in the paper below that may be of interest. Pdf can be downloaded from link or by writing one of us an email. best Jeremy and Peter jergold(a)stanford.edu<mailto:jergold@stanford.edu> / peter.madsen(a)bios.au.dk<mailto:peter.madsen@bios.au.dk> The evolution of foraging capacity and gigantism in cetaceans J. A. Goldbogen, P. T. Madsen Journal of Experimental Biology 2018 221: jeb166033 doi: 10.1242/jeb.166033 Published 12 June 2018 ABSTRACT The extant diversity and rich fossil record of cetaceans provides an extraordinary evolutionary context for investigating the relationship between form, function and ecology. The transition from terrestrial to marine ecosystems is associated with a complex suite of morphological and physiological adaptations that were required for a fully aquatic mammalian life history. Two specific functional innovations that characterize the two great clades of cetaceans, echolocation in toothed whales (Odontoceti) and filter feeding in baleen whales (Mysticeti), provide a powerful comparative framework for integrative studies. Both clades exhibit gigantism in multiple species, but we posit that large body size may have evolved for different reasons and in response to different ecosystem conditions. Although these foraging adaptations have been studied using a combination of experimental and tagging studies, the precise functional drivers and consequences of morphological change within and among these lineages remain less understood. Future studies that focus at the interface of physiology, ecology and paleontology will help elucidate how cetaceans became the largest predators in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. http://jeb.biologists.org/lookup/doi/10.1242/jeb.166033.

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New paper on baleen whale foraging behaviour in the Antarctic
by Ms Kylie Owen 18 Jun '18

18 Jun '18

Dear All, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our recent paper: Owen K, Jenner KCS, Jenner MNM, McCauley RD, Andrews RD (2018) Water temperature correlates with baleen whale foraging behaviour at multiple scales in the Antarctic. Marine and Freshwater Research doi.org/10.1071/MF17288 Abstract How baleen whales locate prey and how environmental change may influence whale foraging success are not well understood. Baleen whale foraging habitat has largely been described at a population level, yet population responses to change are the result of individual strategies across multiple scales. This study aimed to determine how the foraging behaviour of individual whales varied relative to environmental conditions along their movement path. Biotelemetry devices provided information on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) movement at two spatial scales in East Antarctica, and a mixed modelling approach was used at a medium scale (tens of kilometres) to determine which environmental factors correlated with a change in foraging behaviour. Water temperature was linked to a change in foraging behaviour at both spatial scales. At the medium scale, warmer water was associated with the resident state, commonly assumed to represent periods of foraging behaviour. However, fine-scale analyses suggested that cooler water was associated with a higher feeding rate. Variation in whale foraging behaviour with changes in water temperature adds support to the hypothesis that whales may be able to track environmental conditions to find prey. Future research should investigate this pattern further, given the predicted rise in water temperatures under climate-change scenarios. It is available online here: http://www.publish.csiro.au/mf/MF17288 Kind regards Kylie Owen

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First Call: Training Course - An Introduction To Using GIS/QGIS In Biological Research, 1-2 October 2018
by Colin D. MacLeod 18 Jun '18

18 Jun '18

This is the firs call for attendees for our upcoming introductory training course for those who wish to learn how to use GIS in biological research, and it will provide an introduction to using GIS in a wide variety of biological research situations, including marine mammal research, and the course includes two marine-mammal-specific practical exercises (one based around calculating the observed abundance per unit survey effort of dolphins using a grid-based approach, and one based around mapping species richness for North Atlantic beaked whales). It is primmarily based around a GIS software package called QGIS, which is free to use. As a result, it is one of the best options for doing GIS for self-employed MMOs, small environmental consultancies, NGOs, those working on small marine mammal research projects with limited budgets for purchasing software licences and students working at universities who do not have access to commercial GIS software packages. The course will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 1st and 2nd of October 2018, and it will be taught by Dr Colin D. MacLeod, who has more than 15 years experience in using GIS for a wide variety of biological purposes. For those who cannot attend this course in person, a shorter online course based on the same materials is available from our sister site www.GISforBiologists.com. The course will primarily be based around QGIS (also known as Quantum GIS), which provides a user-friendly, open-source, free alternative to commercial GIS software packages, and it is becoming increasingly widely used in both academic and commercial organisations As a result, it is aimed at both those with no GIS experience, but wish to learn how to do GIS with QGIS, and also those who are familiar with using commercial GIS software, such as ArcGIS, but who wish to learn how to use QGIS as an alternative. However, this course is taught using software-independent approach, and it is also open to those who wish to learn how to use ArcGIS to do biological GIS. The practical exercises on this course will be based on those in the recently published GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates by Dr MacLeod, and a free copy of this book will be provided to all participants. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 16 people, and the course will cost £295 per person (£200 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). The course fees can be paid by bank transfer, PayPal, credit/debt card, Bitcoin, Etherium, Litecoin or through your institution. To book a place, or for more information, email info(a)GISinEcology.com. Glasgow has great transport links and is within half a days travel by car or by fast train links from most cities in the UK. For example, it can be reached in as little as 4h 30mins from London by train. It can also be reached by direct flights from many European cities and the flight time is generally under four hours. The course will be held in central Glasgow at the IET Glasgow Teacher Building (14 St Enoch Square, Glasgow, G1 4DB, UK). Attendees will be responsible for their own accommodation. However, Glasgow provides a wide range of accommodation options to fit most budgets. ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com Email: info(a)GISinEcology.com Need to ask a question about using GIS? Try the GIS In Ecology Forum: www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm Books From GIS In Ecology Staff: GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates; RRP: £24.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology; RRP: £44.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology: Supplementary Workbook One - Creating Maps Of Species Distribution; RRP: £19:99 If you wish to purchase these books, visit: http://www.gisinecology.com/Book_Shop.htm To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is unavoidable. ================================================================================== --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Humpback whale research Jervis Bay, NSW - Seeking Research Assistants
by Alexandra Jones 16 Jun '18

16 Jun '18

Dear all, We are seeking Research Assistants for humpback whale research in Jervis Bay, NSW. The research project aims to investigate the habitat usage patterns of mother-calf humpback whale groups in a proposed resting ground during their southern migration, as well as the use of UAVs (drones) in detecting whales. The study will be undertaken in Jervis Bay, approximately 3 hours south of Sydney, from approximately September 14th to November 4th, 2018 (please note these are estimated start and end dates and actual dates may vary slightly). Full-time volunteers are required to participate in land-based observations of whales. Preference will be given to volunteers available for the full 7 weeks; however, if availability is limited, then consideration may be made for individuals with field experience for the first or second half of the fieldwork block (minimum 3 weeks). Land-based theodolite surveys will be undertaken from the lighthouse at Point Perpendicular Jervis Bay, to record the abundance, behaviour and distribution of whales in the Bay and compare with UAV flights. Participants will spend approximately five hours per day (in two shifts) taking observations and about two hours in data checking and processing data. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to participate in data-collection surveys on board vessels in Jervis Bay (one day every one to two weeks). Candidates need to be sociable and outgoing, as they will be expected to work and live as part of a team, with shared cooking and cleaning duties, living fairly isolated on the grounds of the lighthouse. Volunteers must organise and pay for their own transport to Jervis Bay, accommodation will be provided. We may ask for a small contribution to cover part of the food expenses, but the intention is to cover all expenses if funding is adequate. As meals are communal, fussy eaters are discouraged from applying (vegetarians are fine). This project will suit people with a background in science (including recent graduates and graduate students as well as higher level undergraduate students) keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques. Applicants should also be highly motivated and able to concentrate for several hours at a time. Those with previous survey experience, particularly with marine mammals, will be preferred. To apply, please email clearly stating previous relevant experience, availability and suitability, and why you would like to participate, including any other relevant details. Include your CV and details of two professional referees. Closing date for applications is 8 July 2018, and successful applicants will be notified at the end of July. Kind regards, Alex Jones PhD Candidate School of Geosciences The University of Sydney alexandra.jones1(a)sydney.edu.au<mailto:alexandra.jones1@sydney.edu.au>

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Franklin et al 2018: Site-specific female-biased sex ratio of humpback whales during a stopover early in the southern migration
by Wally Franklin 15 Jun '18

15 Jun '18

Hi MARMAM, Further to our posting of 7th February 2018, on behalf of all Authors I am pleased to announce publication in Volume 96, Issue 6, pp533-544, Canadian Journal of Zoology of: Site-specific female-biased sex ratio of humpback whales during a stopover early in the southern migration Trish Franklin; , Wally Franklin; , Lyndon Brooks; , Peter L Harrison Published on the web 20 December 2017. Received March 28, 2017. Canadian Journal of Zoology, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086 <https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086> <> ABSTRACT Previous research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781)), in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, has reported site-specific male-biased sex ratios in breeding grounds and along migratory corridors. However, one recent Southern Hemisphere study reported a female-biased sex ratio in a feeding area within a coastal migratory corridor, indicating that females may preferentially occupy some habitats. We investigated the classes and relative seasonal timing of humpback whales using Hervey Bay as a stopover early in the southern migration. Modeling and analyzes were undertaken using data from resighting histories of 361 individually identified whales between 1992 and 2009. The data consisted of 2,131 sightings categorized by either sex, age, reproductive or maturational status. A female-biased sex ratio of 2.94:1 indicates that Hervey Bay is a preferential stopover for females. The data revealed that the bay is important for mature females who co-occur with immature males and females during August. While during September and October mothers with calves accompanied by a few escorts dominate the Bay. Immature males and females socialize with mature females during August and September. The data support the hypothesis that habitat preferences and differential migration of females and males provides a plausible explanation for site-specific sex-bias in breeding grounds, migratory stopovers and along migratory corridors. A PDF of the article and supplementary information is available at: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086 <https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086> Any enquiries regarding the manuscript please contact: trish(a)oceania.org.au <mailto:trish@oceania.org.au> Regards, Trish Franklin, on behalf of all Authors ........................................................................ Trish Franklin PhD The Oceania Project PO Box 646 Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia ABN 73 052 470 630 ACN 052 470 630 Phone: 0418 797 326 Skype: oceania.org.au Email: trish(a)oceania.org.au <mailto:wally@oceania.org.au> Web: <http://www.oceania.org.au/> The Oceania Project <http://www.oceania.org.au/> iWhales.org <http://www.iwhales.org/> Songlines - Songs of the eastern Australian humpback whales <http://www.songlinesofthewhales.org/> The Oceania Project | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/oceania> <https://vimeo.com/iwhales>The Oceania Project | Vimeo <https://vimeo.com/iwhales> The Oceania Project | SoundCloud <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> The Oceania Project <http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject>| <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales>YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject> Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre <https://www.scu.edu.au/research-centres/marine-ecology-research-centre/whal…> <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/>Dr Trish Franklin <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> <https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/>PhD Thesis <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> Google Scholar Citations <https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=RAOLIrMAAAAJ&view_op=lis…> <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/>Dr Wally Franklin <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/>| <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales>PhD Thesis <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> <https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> Google Scholar Citations <https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=2wA6lL8AAAAJ&view_op=lis…> Humpback whales - Spread the Story <https://www.gofundme.com/theoceaniaproject>

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