January 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication on Cuvier's beaked whale foraging ecology
by Brandon Southall 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of a new paper on beaked whale foraging ecology. Using new methods to directly measure prey characteristics at the depths where these deep-diving animals forage, we compare the relative quality of nearby foraging habitats. Substantial spatial heterogeneity was observed and is considered in light of patterns of beaked whale usage of these areas, within which they are commonly exposed to military active sonars. Southall, B.L., Benoit-Bird, K.J., Moline, M.A., and Moretti, D. (2019). Quantifying deep-sea predator-prey dynamics: implications of biological heterogeneity for beaked whale conservation. Journal of Applied Ecology; https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13334 The full .pdf is available through Open Access at: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.13334 The abstract of the article is provided below: 1. Prey distribution and density drive predator habitat usage and foraging behaviour. Understanding ecological relationships is necessary for effective management in any environment but can be challenging in certain contexts. While there has been substantial effort to quantify human disturbance for some protected, deep‐diving marine mammals, there are virtually no direct measurements of deep‐sea predator–prey dynamics. 2. We used recently developed techniques to measure deep‐water squid abundance, size and distribution within foraging habitat areas of deep‐diving Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) on and around a Navy training range where sonar is often used. Beaked whales are a management priority as both mortal strandings and sublethal disturbance have occurred in association with Navy mid‐frequency sonar. 3. We found large differences in prey (squid) abundance over small horizontal distances. Highest squid densities occurred within a commonly utilized foraging area on the range. Much lower prey abundance was measured in adjacent, bathymetrically similar areas less commonly used for foraging. 4. By combining prey densities with available behavioural and energetic data, we generate relativistic energetic assessments of foraging habitat quality. This provides a simple, yet quantitative means of evaluating fitness implications of spatial prey heterogeneity and associated consequences of disturbance. 5. Synthesis and applications. Given the challenges deep‐diving predators face with limited foraging time in extreme environments, small‐scale prey heterogeneity can have substantial implications for foraging success. Our results provide fine‐scale data within neighbouring beaked whale foraging habitat areas commonly disturbed by sonars. These results have direct management implications and inform population‐level models of disturbance consequences with empirical data on the foraging ecology of these protected species. These issues have been at the heart of recent debate and litigation over spatial management and proposed sonar exclusion zones, which have previously been based entirely on indirect assumptions regarding habitat quality. While limited in temporal and spatial scope, our novel results provide the first direct ecological data to inform such applied decisions. They also highlight broader regulatory implications of different disturbance consequences in nearby areas and demonstrate the value of empirical, biologically based approaches to spatial management of marine ecosystems generally.

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Bioacoustics for ecologists: Hardware, Survey design and Data analysis (BIAC01)
by Oliver Hooker 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

Bioacoustics for ecologists: Hardware, Survey design and Data analysis (BIAC01) https://www.prstatistics.com/course/bioacoustics-for-ecologists-hardware-su… This course will run form the 4th - 8th March 2019 in Glasgow City Centre and will be delivered by Carlos Abrahams and Paul Howden-Leach. Course Overview: This course will introduce and explain the different applications for bioacoustics to answer ecological questions. Starting with a detailed overview of the correct and most efficient methods of data collecting in the field, this course will then go on to show delegates cutting edge methods for analysing and interpreting different types of bioacoustic data. This course will cover different types of bioacoustics and will be relevant to those using bioacoustics to study marine mammals. By the end of this 5-day practical course, attendees will have the capacity to set up and deploy recording devices, download acoustic data, how to analyse this data and report the results. Bioacoustic methods are becoming increasingly recognised as a valuable approach for ecological surveying. Bioacoustics can be used to effectively replace some current techniques whilst increasing the quality of the data collected or can be used in unison to compliment them. They are particularly useful for developing long-term, permanent datasets that can be independently reviewed, particularly for rare species with low detectability, or when working in difficult environments. The course will provide a practical introduction to bioacoustics methods, with a mix of lectures and practical workshops, and some optional fieldwork. It will start with a basic introduction to sound and recording theory, before developing hands-on skills in setting-up and deploying a range of acoustic and ultrasonic audio recorders. Workshops will then cover the download and analysis of audio data, mainly using Kaleidoscope Pro and Audacity software. The processed audio data will then be analysed and presented using R, the free software environment for statistical computing and graphics (http://www.r-project.org/) Example data sets will mostly cover applications for bat and bird surveys, as well as the use of Acoustic Indices as biodiversity metrics. If you are working in different areas of ecology using bioacoustics please feel free to contact oliverhooker(a)prstatistics.com so we can advise if the learning outcomes are transferable to your field of research. Monday 4th – Classes from 09:30 to 17:30 INTRO AND SOUND PROPERTIES Introduction to the course: People on the course Course coverage Resources and references Introduction to bioacoustics: What is sound? Emission and propagation Biological, geological and climate sounds What are ecoacoustics, bioacoustics and soundscape ecology? Acoustic niche hypothesis Uses for bioacoustics: Studying species and populations Studying animal behaviour Studying acoustic communities Tuesday 5th – Classes from 09:30 to 17:30 FIELDWORK DATA COLLECTION AND STORAGE Hardware and its use in acoustic surveys and monitoring: Detectors and microphones – choosing and using equipment Statics vs handheld recording Acoustic vs. ultrasound Field sensor setup – practical considerations Testing, calibration and maintenance Recording programmes Survey design Storing and managing audio data and meta data Existing guidance – WWF, BCT, etc Sound reception: microphones, hydrophones, and frequency sensitivity Digital sound recording Limitations and emerging opportunities in hardware and sensor deployment Practical workshops – setup and deployment Wednesday 6th – Classes from 09:30 to 17:30 ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS Signal processing and frequency analysis Analysis tools for acoustic data Conducting further statistical analyses Limitations and emerging opportunities in acoustic data analysis Practical workshops – using Kaleidoscope for bats and birds Thursday 7th – Classes from 09:30 to 17:30 DATA INTERPRETATION Integrating with stats (R) /QGIS Practical workshops – using R/QGIS for interpretation of Kaleidoscope results Friday 8th – Classes from 09:30 to 16:00 Roundup/conclusions Discussion of delegate own projects/data During the course there will be optional evening/morning field trips arranged to carry out acoustic recording Please email oliverhooker(a)prstatistics.com with any enquiries Check out our sister sites, www.PRstatistics.com <http://www.prstatistics.com/> (Ecology and Life Sciences) www.PRinformatics.com <http://www.prinformatics.com/> (Bioinformatics and data science) www.PSstatistics.com <http://www.psstatistics.com/> (Behaviour and cognition) 1. January 28th– February 1st 2019 AQUATIC ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY DATA ANALYSIS AND SURVEY DESIGN *Glasgow, Scotland,* VEMCO staff and affiliates https://www.prstatistics.com/course/aquatic-acoustic-telemetry-data-analysi… 2. February 4th – 8th 2019 DESIGNING RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT EXPERIMENTS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES (DRES01) *Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Daniel Lakens* https://www.psstatistics.com/course/designing-reliable-and-effecient-experi… 3. 25th February – 1st March 2019 MOVEMENT ECOLOGY (MOVE02) Margam Discovery Centre, Wales, Dr. Luca Borger, Prof. Ronny Wilson, Dr Jonathan Potts https://www.prstatistics.com/course/movement-ecology-move02/ *4. March 4th – 8th 2019* BIOACOUSTICS FOR ECOLOGISTS: HARDWARE, SURVEY DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS (BIAC01) Glasgow, Scotland, *Dr. Paul Howden-Leach * https://www.prstatistics.com/course/bioacoustics-for-ecologists-hardware-su… *5. March 11th – 15th 2019* ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELLING USING R (ENMR03) Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Neftali Sillero http://www.prstatistics.com/course/ecological-niche-modelling-using-r-enmr0… *6. March 18th – 22nd 2019* INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS AND R FOR EVERYONE (IRFE01) *Athens, GREECE, *Dr Aristides (Aris) Moustakas https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-statistics-and-r-for-an… *7. March 25th – 29th 2019* *LANDSCAPE GENETIC DATA ANALYSIS USING R (LNDG03)* *Glasgow, Scotland, Prof. Rodney Dyer* http://www.prstatistics.com/course/landscape-genetic-data-analysis-using-r-… 8. April 1st – 5th 2019 INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL MODELLING FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS USING R (IPSY01) Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Dale Barr, Dr Luc Bussierre http://www.psstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-statistics-using-r-for-p… 9. April 1st – 5th 2019 INDIVIDUAL BASED MODELS FOR ECOLOGSITS (IBME01) *Glasgow, Scotland, *Dr Aristides (Aris) Moustakas https://www.prstatistics.com/course/individual-based-models-using-r-and-net… 10. April 8th – 12th 2019 *MACHINE LEARNING (MLUR01)* *Glasgow, Scotland, *Dr Aristides (Aris) Moustakas https://www.prstatistics.com/course/machine-learning-using-r-mlur01/ 11. April 15th – 19th 2019 *INTRODUCTION TO Q GIS AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS WITH R (QGSE01)* *Glasgow, Scotland, *Dr Luca Nelli https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-gis-and-spatial-analyse… 12. April 22nd – 26th 2019 *GIS USING R (GISR)* *Glasgow, Scotland, *Dr Luca Nelli *https://www.prstatistics.com/course/gis-using-r-gisr01/ <https://www.prstatistics.com/course/gis-using-r-gisr01/>* 13. April 29th – May 3rd 2019 COMPARATIVE GENOMICS (CMGN01) *Glasgow, Scotland, *Dr. Fritz Sedlazeck, Dr. Matthias Weissensteiner https://www.prinformatics.com/course/comparative-genomics-cmgn01/ 14. May 6th – 10th 2019 INTRODUCTION TO MULTILEVEL MODELS (MIXED/HIERARCHICAL) FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS Myuna Bay, AUSTRALIA, Dr. Sean Murphy https://www.psstatistics.com/course/an-exploration-of-r-for-psychologists-f… 15. May 16th – 18th 2019 (please note this a 3-day course from Thursday to Saturday) AQUATIC MOVEMENT ECOLOGY USING R (AMER01) Myuna Bay, AUSTRALIA, Dr. Ross Dwyer, Dr. Vinay Udyawer Link to follow 16. May 16th – 19th 2019 (please note this a 4-day course from Thursday to Monday) INTRODUCTION TO R FOR EVERYONE (IRFE02) Myuna Bay, AUSTRALIA, Dr Aristides (Aris) Moustakas https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-statistics-and-r-for-an… 17. May 20th – 24th 2019 MODEL BASE MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF ABUNDANCE DATA USING R (MBMV03) Myuna Bay, AUSTRALIA, Prof. David Warton https://www.prstatistics.com/course/model-based-multivariate-analysis-of-ab… 18. May 21st – 24th 2019 STATISTICAL TOOLKIT FOR ECOLOGISTS (STKE01) Myuna Bay, AUSTRALIA, Dr Aristides (Aris) Moustakas https://www.prstatistics.com/course/statistical-toolkit-for-ecologists-stke… 19. June 10th – 14th 2019 STABLE ISOTOPE MIXING MODELS USING SIAR, SIBER AND MIXSIAR (SIMM04) Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Andrew Parnell, Dr. Andrew Jackson www.prstatistics.com/course/stable-isotope-mixing-models-using-r-simm04/ 20. June 17th – 21st 2019 SPATIAL MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF ADAPTIVE GENOMIC VARIATION (SPGN01) Glasgow, Dr. Matt Fitzpatrick https://www.prstatistics.com/course/spatial-modelling-and-analysis-of-adapt… 21. June 17th – 21st 2019 *INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON FOR BIOLOGISTS (IPYB06)* *Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Martin Jones* http://www.prinformatics.com/course/introduction-to-python-for-biologists-i… 22. June 24th – 28th 2019 ADVANCED PYTHON FOR BIOLOGISTS (APYB03) Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Martin Jones www.prinformatics.com/course/advanced-python-biologists-apyb03/ *23. July 1st – 5th *2019 *DATA VISUALISATION AND MANIPULATION USING PYTHON (DVMP01)* *Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Martin Jones* http://www.prinformatics.com/course/data-visualisation-and-manipulation-usi… 24. July 29th – August 2nd 2019 INTRODUCTION TO SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL DATA USING R (ISPE01) Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Jakub Nowosad https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-spatial-analysis-of-eco… 25. September 16th – 20th 2019 R PACKAGE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCIBLE DATA SCIENCE FOR BIOLOGISTS (RPKG01) Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Cory Merow, Dr. Andy Rominger https://www.prstatistics.com/course/r-package-design-and-development-and-re… 26. September 30th – October 4th 2019 GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS USING R (GMMR02) Glasgow, Scotland, Prof. Dean Adams, Prof. Michael Collyer, Dr. Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou http://www.prstatistics.com/course/geometric-morphometrics-using-r-gmmr02/ 27. October 7th – 11th 2019 CONSERVATION PLANNING USING PRIORITIZR : FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE (PRTZ01) *Athens, GREECE, *Dr Richard Schuster and Nina Morell https://www.prstatistics.com/course/conservation-planning-using-prioritizr-… 28. October 21st – 25th 2019 A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MIXED MODELS (INCLUDING TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION) (MMTS01) <https://www.prstatistics.com/course/a-complete-guide-to-mixed-models-includ…> Athens, GREECE, Dr Aristides (Aris) Moustakas https://www.prstatistics.com/course/a-complete-guide-to-mixed-models-includ… 29. November 18th – 22nd 2019 INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURED POPULATION MODELS AND DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION MODELS (IIPM01) Athens, GREECE, Dr Cory Merow https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-structured-population-m… 30. November 25th – 29th 2019 ADVANCED RANGE, NICHE, AND DISTRIBUTION MODELING (ASDM01) Athens, GREECE, Dr Cory Merow https://www.prstatistics.com/course/advanced-range-niche-and-distribution-m… -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR statistics 2018 publications - Alternative routes to piscivory: Contrasting growth trajectories in brown trout (Salmo trutta) ecotypes exhibiting contrasting life history strategies. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. Phenotypic and resource use partitioning amongst sympatric lacustrine brown trout, Salmo trutta. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. DOI 10.1093/biolinnean/bly032 prstatistics.com facebook.com/prstatistics/ twitter.com/PRstatistics groups.google.com/d/forum/pr-statistics-post-course-forum prstatistics.com/organiser/oliver-hooker/ 6 Hope Park Crescent Edinburgh EH8 9NA +44 (0) 7966500340 <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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Marine Mammal Graduate Program - Humboldt State University
by Dawn Goley 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

Humboldt State University Marine Mammal Program is seeking applications for 2 graduate positions for Fall 2019 conducting research on northern California pinnipeds and stranded marine mammals. Would prefer candidates who had recent pinniped field experience or experience working with stranded marine mammals. Experience operating small vessels in the north Pacific, conducting marine mammal necropsies and conducting outreach and education to community or school groups preferred, but not required. Please contact Dr. Dawn Goley at Dawn.Goley(a)humboldt.edu and apply to the M.Sc. program in the Department of Biological Sciences here- http://www2.humboldt.edu/biosci/programs/grad/instructions.html Dr. Dawn Goley, Professor of Zoology Director of the Marine Mammal Education and Research Program Director of the HSU Marine Mammal Stranding Program Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521 Office Phone 707-826-4168 / Office Location Science B 236 Office hours - Fall 2018 - Monday 2-3, Thursday 9-11 and 2-3, other times by appointment

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New publication: "Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales"
by Yara Bernaldo de Quirós Miranda 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

Dear Colleagues, We are glad to announce a new review on “Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales <https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2018.2533>”. This review arose from a workshop organized by the Institute of Animal Health of the University of Las Palmas de Gran in September 2017 and counted with the participation of 21 beaked whale experts in different fields such as beaked whale population assessments, behavior, anatomy, physiology, and pathology. This review summarizes the content discussed during the workshop and focuses on questions posed regarding DCS and its role in recent atypical mass stranding events. The article is freely available from: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2018.2533 ABSTRACT Mass stranding events (MSEs) of beaked whales (BWs) were extremely rare prior to the 1960s but increased markedly after the development of naval mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). The temporal and spatial associations between atypical BW MSEs and naval exercises were first observed in the Canary Islands, Spain, in the mid-1980s. Further research on BWs stranded in association with naval exercises demonstrated pathological findings consistent with decompression sickness (DCS). A 2004 ban on MFASs around the Canary Islands successfully prevented additional BW MSEs in the region, but atypical MSEs have continued in other places of the world, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, with examined individuals showing DCS. A workshop held in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, in September 2017 reviewed current knowledge on BW atypical MSEs associated with MFAS. Our review suggests that the effects of MFAS on BWs vary among individuals or populations, and predisposing factors may contribute to individual outcomes. Spatial management specific to BW habitat, such as the MFAS ban in the Canary Islands, has proven to be an effective mitigation tool and mitigation measures should be established in other areas taking into consideration known population-level information. Regards, Prof. Antonio Fernández PhD Yara Bernaldo de Quirós

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Recent publication Bejder et al 2019 Scientific Reports
by Lars Bejder 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

Dear MARMAM community, We (Bejder, Videsen, Hermannsen, Simon, Hanf and Madsen) are pleased to share with you our recent paper in Scientific Reports focusing on quantifying the importance of breeding/resting habitat for humpback whale mothers and calves in Western Australia. A Youtube summary of the paper is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkhbMKbRfi0 The full citation details are: Bejder, Videsen, Hermannsen, Simon, Hanf and Madsen. 2019. Low energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs highlights conservation importance of sheltered breeding areas. Scientific Reports. Volume 9, Article number: 771. Doi 10.1038/s41598-018-36870-7 Abstract: Understanding the behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs and the acoustic environment on their breeding grounds is fundamental to assessing the biological and ecological requirements needed to ensure a successful migration and survival of calves. Therefore, on a breeding/resting ground, Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, we used animal-borne DTAGs to quantify the fine-scale behaviour and energetic expenditure of humpback whale mothers and calves, while sound recorders measured the acoustic environment. We show that: (i) lactating humpback whales keep their energy expenditure low by devoting a significant amount of time to rest, and their use of energy, inferred from respiration rates, is ~half than that of adults on their foraging grounds; (ii) lactating females mainly rest while stationary at shallow depths within reach of the hull of commercial ships, thus increasing the potential for ship strike collisions; (iii) the soundscape is dominated by biological sources; and (iv) even moderate increases of noise from vessels will decrease the communication range of humpback whales. Planned commercial infrastructure in Exmouth Gulf will cause a substantial increase in shipping traffic with the risk of ship strikes and acoustic disturbance potentially compromising energy reserves for the southern migration of humpback whales. The paper is freely downloadable here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36870-7 Kind regards, Lars, Simone, Line, Malene, Daniella and Peter -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [image: University of Hawaii at Manoa] Lars Bejder | Director, Marine Mammal Research Program University of Hawaii at Manoa | Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology *Website*: www.mmrphawaii.org

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Job Openings in National Marine Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
by Benjamin Laws - NOAA Federal 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

NMFS is advertising two job openings in the Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division. Individuals in these positions would serve as senior analysts in the Incidental Take Program. In addition to processing requests for Marine Mammal Protection Act incidental take authorizations, they would provide guidance and oversight in planning, monitoring, and policy development, including QA/QC, management of designated sub-programs, staff training, and development and implementation of measures, processes, and analyses to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the Program. The following announcement for two positions (Biologist, ZP-0401-4) has been posted and will be open for 14 days, from 1/29/19 to 2/11/19: NMFS-2019-0006: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/522694500

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Save the Date!: Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy Annual Meeting - 18 May 2019
by Erica Escajeda 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

Hello Marine Mammal Community! We are pleased to announce that the *23rd Annual Meeting of the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) will take place at the University of Washington, Seattle on May 18, 2019!* The purpose of the annual meeting is to cultivate community among students studying marine mammals by creating a relaxed atmosphere to share research ideas, tribulations, and triumphs. The meeting is also an opportunity to meet other students from across the Pacific Northwest region, explore potential collaborations, and have a great time in a supportive and informal setting. Saturday, 18 May, will involve a full day of student oral and poster presentations, followed by a group dinner. On Sunday, 19 May, there will be an optional fun outing [TBD]. Please save the date and be on the lookout for more details to be announced in the coming weeks. Hope to see you in May! The NWSSMM 2019 Organizing Committee

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New Publication: Evaluating long-term impacts of human interactions to bottlenose dolphins
by Jessica Powell - NOAA Federal 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce our recent publication in Journal of Cetacean Research and Management titled, *Sixteen years later: an updated evaluation of the impacts of chronic human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) at Panama City, Florida, USA. * Our observations indicate that harassment of bottlenose dolphins in Panama City, Florida has escalated: dolphins are being actively provisioned, often for long periods of time; the proportion of conditioned dolphins has increased; interacting dolphins and humans are both at increased risk for injury, illness, or death; and conditioned dolphin activity budgets and movement patterns continue to be negatively impacted by human behaviour. To learn more details about this study, you may access the full publication here: https://archive.iwc.int/?r=7931 Citation: Powell, J.R., Machernis, A.F., Engleby, L.K., Farmer, N.A. and Spradlin, T.R. 2018. Sixteen years later: an updated evaluation of the impacts of chronic human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus truncatus*) at Panama City, Florida, USA. *J. Cetacean Res. Manage. *19: 79-93. Best, Jessica Jessica R. Powell, M.S. Biologist National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-824-5327 jessica.powell(a)noaa.gov

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New publication on Galapagos pinnipeds' habitat use and spatial prioritization
by Francesco Ventura 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our latest research in *Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems*. Ventura F, Matthiopoulos J, Jeglinski JWE. Minimal overlap between areas of high conservation priority for endangered Galapagos pinnipeds and the conservation zone of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst. 2019;29:115–126. Abstract Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) and fur seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) are endangered pinnipeds that live in a highly variable marine environment, influenced by seasonal changes in productivity and by the unpredictable occurrence of El Niño. The Galapagos marine habitat is protected through the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), which has recently undergone a redefinition of its zonation. However, the effectiveness of the GMR in protecting the habitat of Galapagos pinnipeds has never been investigated, and it is unclear how well their habitat use aligns with the newly proposed conservation zone. A spatial prioritization analysis framework was applied based on the complementary use of density estimation (kernel utilization distributions, KUDs) and habitat modelling (resource selection functions, RSFs). Using tracking data collected over two years and under three environmental scenarios (cold season, warm season, and El Niño) in the western archipelago, hot spots of pinniped habitat usage were identified (through KUDs), and predictions about the location of patches of good habitat were generated (through RSFs). The output of KUDs and RSFs was used for a spatial prioritization analysis to delineate areas of high conservation priority. The overlap between these areas and the GMR zonation was then calculated. Both species were found to use largely distinct habitat types: sea lions used the waters over the continental shelf, whereas fur seals used the offshore deep waters and showed a more heterogeneous space usage over time. The spatial prioritization analysis identified three key areas of high conservation priority for both species in the Western Galapagos. These areas were all within the boundaries of the GMR but the overlap with the conservation zone was only 8%. Hence, under the current proposition, the largest proportion of key pinniped foraging habitat in the western archipelago will not be protected from licensed activities in the sustainable use zone, particularly fishing and boat traffic. Publication is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aqc.2943 Best regards, Francesco Ventura

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Marine mammal internship program in Maui, Hawaii
by Stephanie Stack 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

*Pacific Whale Foundation* is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting whales and other marine wildlife through research, education, and conservation. A research internship at our headquarters in Hawaii is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in the field of marine mammal research. *Commitment & Responsibilities* We seek performance-driven, dedicated individuals for long-term internships (approximately 3-4 months) based in Maui, Hawaii. Interns must be available on a full-time basis, including weekends as needed. This internship is primarily office-based and focuses on photo-identification cataloging. Interns assist research staff with processing and analyzing data collected for mysticete (humpback whale) and odontocete (toothed whale and dolphin) studies and related projects. In the office you will learn: how to input and organize data, how to quality control data, how to photographically identify dolphins and whales, how to use database software, and learn about the general biology and ecology of Hawaii’s marine wildlife. In the field you will learn: how to scan for and identify whales and dolphins, how to collect photo-ID data, how to collect underwater footage, and how to make behavioral observations of wild animals. Field days can range from 8-12 hours in length and occur approximately 1-2 times per week. Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures and carrying heavy loads of equipment. *APPLY FOR A RESEARCH INTERNSHIP!* *Requirements* - Possess a university degree or be advanced undergraduates in biology, zoology, marine biology, ecology, or related field; - Available on an unpaid full-time basis for the entire internship period; - Available for all field work; - Have a mature attitude towards research; - Proficient with computers and data entry; specifically using PCs and Microsoft Office; - Willing to spend long hours in front of a computer doing repetitive tasks; - Have a strong work ethic and superior organizational skills; - Be independent, adaptable, and a fast-learner; - Able to collect and process data in a detail-oriented manner; - Have boating experience; - Able to speak, read and write English fluently. *Compensation* There is no financial compensation for internship positions and no housing is provided. Interns are responsible for their own travel and living expenses. There is a public bus system available on the island. *Application Process* Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. or authorized to legally remain in Hawaii if they are not U.S. citizens. International applicants will be considered, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation. Interested candidates should submit an application with the following: - A cover letter including your availability i.e. preferred time period; - A resume describing training, experience and relevant skills; - Names and contact information of three references. Please send these items as e-mail attachments (PDF preferred) to research(a)pacificwhale.org. While we thank you for applying, we will only contact applicants that are selected for an interview. *Pacific Whale Foundation Research Department* 300 Maalaea Rd., Suite 211 Wailuku, HI, 96793, USA Phone: +1 808-856-8305 Email: research(a)pacificwhale.org Website: www.pacificwhale.org/research -- CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission and any accompanying attachments contain information belonging to the sender which may be confidential and legally privileged. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom this electronic mail transmission was sent as indicated above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this transmission and all attachments. Thank you!

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