October 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Monterey Bay Whale Watch Naturalist Position
by MBWW Assistant 30 Oct '19

30 Oct '19

Monterey Bay Whale Watch is looking for a part-time (full time in summer) experienced Marine Biologist/Naturalist/Deckhand! Come join a dedicated team of Marine Biologists in one of the most diverse and productive whale watching areas in the world. Help lead tours, educate the public, and collect data on a variety of different organisms including Humpback Whales, 6 species of dolphins, Blue Whales, and Orcas. More about our research : On every trip, one of the Marine Biologist's most important tasks is to collect data on a variety of different organisms that we see in Monterey Bay. This includes: filling out data sheets, taking Photo-ID pictures, and observing behaviors of different cetacean species. We also are working on different Photo-ID catalogs and digitizing our data that we have been collecting for several decades. Our company has been doing research on Orcas and Humpback Whales for over 30 years and our Marine Biologists play a key role in helping collect data on both of these species, as well as several others. We also collaborate with Cascadia Research Collective and HappyWhale, as well as other local research organizations. Required Experience: - Bachelors Degree in Marine Science or related field (minimum required education level) - At least 2 years of Naturalist experience - Knowledge of the history, cetaceans, and birds of Monterey Bay - Excellent speaking ability - comfortable interacting with the public both on a microphone to over 100 people and individually - Enthusiastic and outgoing personality Preferred Experience: - 4 years of Naturalist experience - Deckhanding experience (able to fill in as deckhand or double duty when needed) - Photo-ID/data entry/research experience We are looking to hire someone ASAP. This position is open to only applicants currently living in the U.S. and preferably already living on the west coast. Please send a resume/CV and a word document including : your cover letter, availability, and potential start date to mbwwassistant(a)gmail.com.

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Call for applicants for short term travel funding in Conservation Genetics
by Eric Archer - NOAA Federal 30 Oct '19

30 Oct '19

Forwarding a call for short term scientific visits relating to conservation genetics for anyone interested: https://sites.google.com/fmach.it/g-bike-genetics-eu/open-calls/stsm-calls?… This is essentially 2500 euros to spend several weeks embedded in another lab or research group to exchange skills, start a project, etc. -- *Eric Archer, Ph.D.* Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/NOAA) 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA 858-546-7121 (work) 858-546-7003 (FAX) Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics GitHub: github.com/ericarcher Adjunct Professor, Marine Biology Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego http://profiles.ucsd.edu/frederick.archer " *The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes.*" - Randall Munroe "*Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.*" - Benjamin Franklin "*...but I'll take a GPS over either one.*" - John C. "Craig" George

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Recruitment: Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program 2020 Seasonal Field Camp Positions - Closing date November 12, 2019
by Lizabeth Kashinsky - NOAA Affiliate 29 Oct '19

29 Oct '19

The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) works with the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center through a cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii to conduct research and recovery activities on Hawaiian monk seals. JIMAR hires program staff through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH) and is currently seeking applicants for *two separate recruitments *for the 2020 field research season: *HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician-serves as field camp leader* *HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant* Selected individuals will study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal population monitoring and conservation program by NOAA Fisheries and includes: conducting trend counts, tagging seals, identifying individual seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks, monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, vaccinating against morbillivirus, performing necropsies, collecting scat & spew samples for food habitat, parasite load, and hormonal analysis, collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis, and removing debris capable of entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data are also collected at some sites. Researchers at some sites may participate in shark mitigation activities. General information about the program can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal#science The number of positions and/or continuation of the program are subject to funding. These positions will be for all or a subset of the 6 major monk seal sub-populations in the NWHI. Fieldwork is accomplished by 2-4 member teams in remote camps. Each team will include a paid leader and either paid assistants and volunteers or up to two volunteers assisting a paid leader. Volunteer positions will be recruited for in a separate announcement. Researchers live in either wall tents or buildings at the various sites. All sites are accessible by ship (2-8 day travel; 830-2,300 km from Honolulu), and one is also accessible by plane. Few (if any) resupply opportunities exist and communication with others outside of field sites is limited throughout deployment due to the remoteness and lack of infrastructure. The employment period will include approximately one month of training and packing in Honolulu. Once the field season is over, an additional ~1-2 weeks of employment will take place in Honolulu to clean up gear and summarize data. Dates are subject to change, but the positions are tentatively scheduled to begin in late February/early March with a field deployment date in early to mid-April. Field staff will be deployed for approximately 4.5-5 months with a tentative return date in early September. The position end date is tentatively scheduled for some time in mid-September. Applicants must be flexible in their availability as dates could change, including unforeseen delays due to inclement weather and ship delays. Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in Honolulu before deployment are not provided. Transportation between Honolulu and field sites and food and lodging in the field are provided. Due to unforeseen circumstances, departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result in additional uncompensated living expenses. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien, and must be able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the work location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel. Instructions to apply for both positions are in the job postings below. *Please clearly address all qualifications in your cover letter. If you do not clearly address all qualifications in your cover letter, we may not be able to consider you as an applicant. *For example, to address the experience qualification, you must indicate in your cover letter how many years of field experience you have and be sure that is reflected in your resume. Interested individuals will need to apply directly to RCUH Human Resources via one of the methods stated in the job posting. Applications for both position must be submitted/received by the* closing date on 11/12/2019 (11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time receipt time). * If you do not have access to the RCUH system and the closing date is imminent, you may send additional documents to rcuh_employment(a)rcuh.com. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808)956-8344 or (808)956-0872. Follow the link below to access both recruitments. If applying for both positions, you must do so separately. JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician (leader) – search job ID # 19550 JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant - search Job ID #19549 https://hcmweb.rcuh.com/psc/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_S… -- Lizabeth Kashinsky JIMAR/Program Supervisor Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program NOAA IRC NMFS/PIFSC/PSD 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 Ph: (808) 725-5719 Fax: (808) 725-5567

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PhD opportunity, bottlenose dolphin acoustics, Cardigan Bay
by Simon Allen 29 Oct '19

29 Oct '19

Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to disseminate the details of the following opportunity (for EU/UK students only) to win a prestigious PhD scholarship to work on bottlenose dolphins in Wales through the University of Bristol (UoB). The NERC GW4+ project is detailed on findaphd.com: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/fine-scale-acoustic-and-movement-beha… Background: Bottlenose dolphins are a qualifying feature of three Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in the UK, two of which are in Cardigan Bay, Wales. Although the population in Cardigan Bay is thought to be stable over the long-term, recent monitoring suggests a decline over the last decade, the reasons for which remain unclear. It is possible that dolphins are moving outside of the Cardigan Bay SACs, an aspect that requires further investigation, along with fine-scale acoustic and movement behaviour to assess habitat use and, ultimately, guide conservation and management. Aims and methods: Significantly advance our knowledge of how individual dolphins use habitat in Cardigan Bay and Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SACs, Wales. The project will utilise acoustic monitoring techniques such as towed arrays and fixed-bottom acoustic recorders with detailed systematic behavioural observation to determine the fine-scale characteristics of how individuals within the broader population interact, range, use habitat and how these behaviours fluctuate temporally. The signature identification method will also be used to explore habitat use and ranging patterns of specific individuals in Cardigan Bay. This project provides an opportunity for long-term monitoring of cetacean vocalisations and underwater, ambient noise levels in the Cardigan Bay SACs. We will explore how habitat types vary in ambient noise levels and how this may influence dolphin visitation rates. Ultimately, the results of this project will shed important light on individual dolphin ranging patterns, as well as identifying critical areas of use, thereby informing the management of this population, central in UK and Irish waters. Funding Notes: NERC GW4+ DTP competition funded project. Fees, stipend and research costs are covered for UK students and residents for 3.5 years. Candidate: We seek a highly motivated student with a marine science, conservation or behavioural ecology background. Knowledge of bioacoustics and practical skills including small boat handling would be advantageous. This is an industrial CASE award. Time is spent during the 3.5-year studentship at the CASE partner, Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Up to 4 months per year will be spent at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) in Wales for fieldwork. The remainder will be spent at the UoB. The candidate will be supervised by Drs. Stephanie King (UoB), Simon Allen (UoB) and Sarah Perry (CBMWC), with input from Dr. Tom Stringell (NRW). Please use the link provided above to apply, or email Dr. King (Stephanie.King(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:Stephanie.King@bristol.ac.uk>) for further advice. Cheers, Simon (on behalf of the supervisory panel). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Simon J Allen School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TQ UK Mob: +44 (0) 77047 53101 Email: Simon.Allen(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:Simon.Allen@bristol.ac.uk> Web: http://www.sharkbaydolphins.org Twitter: @SimonJAllen1 [cid593186FF-D039-4065-8F5B-69FB89D68B2E(a)uzh.ch] Recent papers: Declines in dolphin survival and reproduction following a heatwave https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)30217-9?_return… Sexual displays involving marine sponges by Australian humpback dolphins http://rdcu.be/w3tL Abundance and fidelity of dolphins to a trawl fishery https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-05189-0<https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.natu…>

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Research Internship at Dolphin Research Center
by Christina McMullen 29 Oct '19

29 Oct '19

Dolphin Research Center - Research Internship Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is currently accepting applications for Research Interns for the Winter 2020 term (Jan-May). DRC is a not-for-profit education and research facility, providing sanctuary and a forever home to a family of dolphins and sea lions. DRC is located on Grassy Key, in the heart of the Florida Keys. Internships at DRC are an exciting way to develop career skills as well as an opportunity to see how a marine mammal facility operates. Research interns participate in DRC's ongoing behavioral, cognitive, and field research projects, giving them broad exposure to a variety of research methodologies. Interns receive extensive on-the-job training in observing marine mammal behavior, collecting observational data, working with research equipment, and assisting with experimental research sessions. Note: conducting your own research projects is not part of this position. Specific job duties include: · Collecting observational behavioral data · Preparing stimuli for cognitive research sessions · Assisting in setting up and breaking down equipment for cognitive and acoustic research sessions · Operating video equipment · Entering or scanning data into the computer for analysis · General support of the facility through participation in the volunteer resource pool (facility maintenance, bird care, assisting with public programs, guest interactions, etc.) Internships require a minimum of a 16-week commitment, 40 hours per week. The internship is unpaid, and interns are responsible for providing their own housing. DRC will provide assistance in locating housing and/or matching up interns and volunteers desiring roommates. Successful candidates will be ready and willing to learn, self-motivated, and flexible. Prior research experience is recommended but not required. The deadline to apply is November 15th, 2019. To apply, you must complete the application available at www.dolphins.org. Click "Careers", and then "Internships”. It is mandatory that you please provide the following materials: - A completed Application Form (including your Internship Preferences in order of choice) - A current Resume - Transcript (may be unofficial unless you are seeking a credit for your internship) - Two Letters of Recommendation with an original signature. (If currently enrolled in college, one letter must be from your Faculty Advisor) Application may be submitted online or in physical form. Please send your application, supporting documentation and any additional information you wish that you feel would be beneficial to us in processing your application by email to drc-vr(a)dolphins.org, by fax to the attention of Volunteer Resource at (305) 743-7627, or by regular mail: Dolphin Research Center Attn: Volunteer Resources Department 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050 USA Select publications: Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Donegan, K., & King, S.L. (2018). Bottlenose dolphins can understand their partner’s role in a cooperative task. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 20180948. ( http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0948) King, S.L., Guarino, E., Keaton, L., Erb, L., & Jaakkola, K. (2016). Maternal signature whistle use aids mother-calf reunions in a bottlenose dolphin,Tursiops truncatus. Behavioural Processes, 126, 64-70. King, S. L., Guarino, E., Donegan, K., Hecksher, J., & Jaakkola, K (in press). Further insights into postpatrum signature whistle use in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Marine Mammal Science. Jaakkola, K. (2014). Do animals understand invisible displacement? A critical review. Journal of Comparative Psychology, Vol. 128, No. 3, 225-239. Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Rodriguez, M., & Hecksher, J. (2013). Switching strategies: A dolphin's use of passive and active acoustics to imitate motor actions. Animal Cognition, 16, 701-709. Jaakkola, K. (2012). Cetacean cognitive specializations. In J. Vonk & T. Shackleford (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Evolutionary Psychology (pp. 144–165). New York: Oxford University Press. Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., & Rodriguez, M. (2010). Blindfolded imitation in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 23, 671-688. Jaakkola, K., Guarino, E., Rodriguez, M., Erb, L., & Trone, M. (2010). What do dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) understand about hidden objects? Animal Cognition, 13, 103-120. Jaakkola, K., Fellner, W., Erb, L., Rodriguez, A. M., & Guarino, E. (2005). Understanding the concept of numerically “less” by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology.

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New publication: Recreational vessels without Automatic Identification System (AIS) dominate anthropogenic noise contributions to a shallow water soundscape (Hermannsen et al. 2019)
by Line Hermannsen 29 Oct '19

29 Oct '19

Dear all, We are happy to announce that the following paper is now published in Scientific Reports: Hermannsen, L., Mikkelsen, L., Tougaard, J., Beedholm, K., Johnson, M. and P.T. Madsen, “*Recreational vessels without Automatic Identification System (AIS) dominate anthropogenic noise contributions to a shallow water soundscape*”, Scientific Reports (2019) 9:15.477. In this paper, we conduct a case study correlating vessel presence to ambient noise levels in a shallow coastal area. The results show that recreational boats without AIS dominate the soundscape, including at frequencies that may impact harbour porpoises. We therefore emphasise the importance of accounting for recreational boats, in particular in shallow coastal waters, to not underestimate vessel noise loads and the impacts on marine species. To accompany this paper and to help improve models of vessel noise emissions, we have also published the recordings and theodolite tracks of 46 motorised recreational boats, divided into different boat types at zenodo.org (10.5281/zenodo.3465461). *Abstract* Recreational boating is an increasing activity in coastal areas and its spatiotemporal overlap with key habitats of marine species pose a risk for negative noise impacts. Yet, recreational vessels are currently unaccounted for in vessel noise models using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Here we conduct a case study investigating noise contributions from vessels with and without AIS (non-AIS) in a shallow coastal area within the Inner Danish waters. By tracking vessels with theodolite and AIS, while recording ambient noise levels, we find that non-AIS vessels have a higher occurrence (83%) than AIS vessels, and that motorised recreational vessels can elevate third-octave band noise centred at 0.125, 2 and 16 kHz by 47–51 dB. Accordingly, these vessels dominated the soundscape in the study site due to their high numbers, high speeds and proximity to the coast. Furthermore, recreational vessels caused 49–85% of noise events potentially eliciting behavioural responses in harbour porpoises (AIS vessels caused 5–24%). We therefore conclude that AIS data would poorly predict vessel noise pollution and its impacts in this and other similar marine environments. We suggest to improve vessel noise models and impact assessments by requiring that faster and more powerful recreational vessels carry AIS-transmitters. *Link to full text*: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-51222-9 Best regards, Line *Line Hermannsen, PhD* Postdoctoral fellow at Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Denmark Phone: (+45) 22 82 56 61 Email: lihe(a)bios.au.dk www.marinebioacoustics.com

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Invitation to take part in Training Internships - Namibian Dolphin Project - Jun-Aug 2020.
by Simon Elwen 29 Oct '19

29 Oct '19

The Namibian Dolphin Project, was established in 2008 to study the whales, dolphins and turtles of Namibia. Since then we have published over 20 papers on humpback whales, bottlenose, dusky and Heaviside's dolphins and green and leatherback turtles in Namibia - significantly contributing to the knowledge in the region. Our research ranges from gathering baseline data on abundance and distribution of species to investigating human impacts such as boat traffic and port development on dolphins and entanglement on seals, to more blue skies work on interactions between sociality, genetics and vocal behaviour in cetaceans and fur seals. Our results have directly contributed to conservation such as IUCN red list assessments, marine spatial planning and environmental impact assessments. Our main field season is during the southern hemisphere winter (June to August) when bottlenose dolphins are abundant in the bay and humpback whales are migrating past. We are inviting a maximum of 6 students or graduates to join us during this busy field work period as an intern - to help us run the project, and collect data and learn field and analytical skills 'on the job'. Internships are for a minimum of One month (up to the full 3 months) during our main field season Jun-Aug 2020 and targeted at students looking to get *field experience* and *training* in marine mammal research techniques. These internships are intense and the team is busy 6 days a week with field work, data processing, attending whale and dolphin strandings and necropsies and education events. Importantly there is a focus on active training in field techniques including photo-ID and line-transect, acoustic data processing, boat skills as well as discussion groups on scientific ethics and the scientific publication process. The majority of training is provided by project PI’s Dr Simon Elwen and Dr Tess Gridley. Please Look at the NDP website and social media pages Facebook/namibiandolphinproject instagram/namibiandolphinproject for more details about us and our current work. Brochure with more details on the website here: http://www.namibiandolphinproject.org/get-involved/volunteer-internship-pro… If you would like to join us - please email Info(a)SeaSearch.co.za with a CV and brief motivation. Regards Dr Simon Elwen -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Simon Elwen Ph.D. - Director Sea Search Research & Conservation and the Namibian Dolphin Project Research Associate: Department of Zoology and Botany - Stellenbosch University & Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria

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Population Ecologist
by Jessica Post 28 Oct '19

28 Oct '19

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) is located in Gulfport, MS and was established in 1984 for the purposes of studying marine mammals in the northern Gulf of Mexico. IMMS is also the only rehabilitation facility for marine mammals and sea turtles in Mississippi. The Population Ecologist will be responsible for overseeing the daily aspects of the IMMS common bottlenose dolphin Photo ID program, including boat trips, data analysis and evaluation, and the preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Applicant should be legally able to work in the United States and fluent in written and spoken English. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: * Conduct regular photo-identification surveys of the Mississippi Sound and surrounding areas, examining the population structure and ecology of the Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau bottlenose dolphin BSE stock * Develop new lines of inquiry, building upon core research activities at IMMS * Assist in project oversight and reporting * Management of Darwin and FinBase databases * Prepare grant/permit applications and reports as needed * Assist with marine mammal and sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release as needed * Assist in the post-release monitoring of sea turtles and marine mammals through use of satellite tags * Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals using new and existing data sets * As needed, assist in lab-based marine mammal and sea turtle necropsies as well as field necropsies of marine mammals. Desired Qualifications: * PhD in Ecology, Marine Biology, Biology, or related field * Ability to manage large databases such as FinBase (experience with Access a plus) * Experience with ArcGIS and R * Experience with satellite telemetry * Knowledge of, and experience maintaining and applying for, federal and state permits * Experience supervising staff/interns in the field and office settings * Familiarity with the reporting process for marine mammal and sea turtle strandings * Experience with marine mammal necropsies * Experience assisting in veterinary procedures for marine mammals and sea turtles * Experience with marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation To Apply: In order to apply please send your CV, cover letter, 1-2 copies of recently published works, and contact information for 3 references to moby(a)imms.org<mailto:moby@imms.org>. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Start date is flexibly, and salary is commensurate with experience. Jessica Post Research Assistant Research Intern Coordinator The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies 10801 Dolphin Lane Gulfport, MS 39503

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SEAMAMMS 2020!
by Richardson, Jill L 28 Oct '19

28 Oct '19

The 2020 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) will take place on March 27-29 in Miami, Florida, hosted by the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). SEAMAMMS is a long-standing, regional, student-oriented, scientific marine mammal meeting. Preference will be given to marine mammal research conducted by students in the mid-Atlantic or Southeast Region, though all are welcome to attend. For meeting details, including registration, abstract submissions, and hotel specials, please visit: https://seamamms.wordpress.com<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fseamamms.…> . We hope to see you in Miami! Regards, Jill Jill Richardson, Ph.D. Department of Marine Ecosystems and Society (MES) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (305) 421-4340 jrichardson(a)miami.edu

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New paper on behavioural development in southern right whale calves
by Lybkær Kronborg Nielsen, Mia 28 Oct '19

28 Oct '19

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the following paper have been published in Marine Ecology Progress Series: Nielsen MLK, Sprogis KR, Bejder L, Madsen PT, Christiansen F (2019) Behavioural development in southern right whale calves. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 629:219-234. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13125 In this study we used unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to obtain recordings of southern right whale mother-calf pair behaviour on a breeding ground in South Australia. We collected recordings over a period of three months to investigate the development of mother-calf behaviour with the rapid growth of calves prior to the long migration to the feeding areas. Please find the abstract and the link to the paper below: Abstract: Most baleen whales migrate to low-latitude breeding grounds during winter to give birth and nurse their calves during the early stages of growth and development. While mothers invest a large amount of energy into the early development of their calves, the time allocated to important behaviours associated with maternal care (e.g. nursing) as well as the energetics related to the rapid growth of calves are important to quantify and understand to inform conservation measures. To investigate this, we conducted behavioural focal follows of southern right whale Eubalaena australis mother–calf pairs on a breeding ground in South Australia using unmanned aerial vehicles. Over the breeding season, we conducted behavioural focal follows of 51 mother–calf pairs for a total of 58 h across 75 d. Our observations showed that the proportion of time calves spent in nursing position and the duration of potential nursing bouts increased with increasing calf size throughout the breeding season, suggesting that calves seek to maximise energy acquisition. With increasing body size, the absolute metabolic expenditure of calves increased, underlining the importance of mothers being able to maintain low energy expenditure to ensure sufficient energy available for their calves during the nursing season. Our findings from this undisturbed population (1) demonstrate the considerable changes that calves undergo during the ~3 mo they spend on the breeding ground and (2) highlight the importance of these areas to be protected from anthropogenic disturbances that could disrupt the crucial maternal care, energy transfer and rapid early development of calves. Access to the paper: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13125 Best regards, Mia L. K. Nielsen PhD student Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour University of Exeter +44 07561 709803 ml659(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:ml659@exeter.ac.uk> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mia_Nielsen14 https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=tIuTwrcAAAAJ&hl=en

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